Patents by Inventor Daniel Kaercher

Daniel Kaercher has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20140214011
    Abstract: A medical instrument having a shank, at the proximal end of which a handle is arranged, wherein the shank is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and can be secured in various positions of rotation relative to the handle via a licking mechanism. In order for a medical instrument with a shank rotatable about its longitudinal axis to be designed in such a way that, while being easy to handle, it permits a large number of secure and positionally precise rotations of the shank with respect to the handle, the licking mechanism is designed as a latching mechanism which has a perforated disk with recesses and latching elements, wherein the latching elements and/or the perforated disk are spring-loaded relative to each other, and at least one of the latching elements engages in a corresponding recess of the perforated disk in order to fix the shank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel Kaercher, Robin Merz
  • Publication number: 20140155933
    Abstract: A transmission adapter for a medical instrument with a shank, a transmission device movable in the shank, and a manipulating device with a first part, which can be coupled mechanically rigidly to a proximal end of the shank, and a second part, which is movable relative to the first part, includes a first coupling element for releasable mechanical coupling to the second part of the manipulating device, and a second coupling element for releasable mechanical coupling to a proximal end of the transmission device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Jochen Stefan, Daniel Kaercher
  • Publication number: 20130310813
    Abstract: A manipulation device for mechanical connection with connection with the proximal end of a shaft, for forming a medical instrument, includes a plurality of retaining devices, wherein each one of the plurality of retaining devices is designed to releasably retain the proximal end of a shaft or the proximal end of a transmission device for transmitting at least either a force or a torque in the shaft, a manually activatable actuation device, and a coupling device for mechanically coupling the actuation device to the plurality of retaining devices, in such a way that a manual activation of the actuation device causes a release of the plurality of retaining devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel Kaercher, Jochen Stefan
  • Publication number: 20130304083
    Abstract: An articulation device for a medical instrument includes a coupling for releasable mechanical connection of the articulation device to a tool or to the distal end of a shaft, a locking device on the coupling for locking the mechanical connection, and an articulation, which enables the coupling to be angled relative to an end of the articulation device remote from the coupling. The locking device is designed such that the mechanical connection is locked in a predetermined working angular position of the articulation and is releasable in a predetermined release angular position of the articulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel Kaercher, Jochen Stefan
  • Publication number: 20130304063
    Abstract: A medical instrument includes an outer shaft, a manipulation device at the proximal end of the outer shaft, a tool at the distal end of the outer shaft, with a first effecting device for a first function and a second effecting device for a second function, a first transmission device in the outer shaft for transmitting at least either a force or a torque for controlling the first effecting device, and a second transmission device in the outer shaft for transmitting at least either a force or a torque for controlling the second effecting device. The outer shaft is at least either curved or able to be curved or has a pivot joint. The first transmission device and the second transmission device are each designed to be flexible at least in sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Uwe Bacher, Daniel Kaercher, Robin Merz, Sven Schneider, Jochen Stefan
  • Publication number: 20130172859
    Abstract: A transmission adapter for a medical instrument having a shaft, a transmission element that can move within the shaft and an operating device with a first part, which can be mechanically rigidly coupled with a proximal end of the shaft, and a second part, which can move with respect to the first part, includes a first coupling for releasable mechanical coupling with the second part of the operating device and a second coupling for releasable mechanical coupling with a proximal end of the transmission element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel Kaercher, Jochen Stefan
  • Publication number: 20130053835
    Abstract: A shaft for a micro-invasive surgical instrument includes a shaft tube with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a coupling device for detachable mechanical coupling of the shaft with a tool, and a rotation bearing, which mechanically connects the coupling device with the distal end portion of the shaft tube. The rotation bearing is configured in order to allow rotation of the coupling device with respect to the shaft tube about the longitudinal axis of the shaft on the distal end portion of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Uwe Bacher, Daniel Kaercher, Jochen Stefan
  • Publication number: 20120271347
    Abstract: A handling device for a micro-invasive surgical instrument includes a gripping device to hold and guide the handling device, a shaft coupling to couple the handling device with a proximal end of a shaft, and a rod coupling that can slide linearly inside the handling device between a distal assembly position and a range of working positions for coupling with a proximal end of a transmission rod that can be slid inside a shaft coupled with the shaft coupling. The slidable rod coupling is configured, in the assembly position, to receive or release a proximal end of a transmission rod and to hold a proximal end of a transmission rod, in the range of working positions. The shaft coupling is configured to block a proximal end of a shaft in a position in which the proximal end of the shaft holds the rod coupling in the range of working positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel Kaercher, Jochen Stefan
  • Publication number: 20120259358
    Abstract: A handling device for a micro-invasive surgical instrument includes a gripping device to manually hold and guide the handling device, a shaft coupling to detachably mechanically couple the handling device with a proximal end of a shaft, a rod coupling that can slide inside the handling device for detachable mechanical coupling with a proximal end of a transmission rod that can be slid inside a shaft coupled with the shaft coupling, and an orientation device to rotate a proximal end of a transmission rod, which has been inserted into the handling device, into a predetermined orientation or into one of several predetermined orientations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel Kaercher, Jochen Stefan
  • Publication number: 20120259319
    Abstract: A tool, which is detachably coupleable with a shaft for a micro-invasive surgical instrument, includes an articulated device on which a jaw member or other active device is affixed, a connecting component that is rotatably connected with the articulated device and that includes a coupling device for detachable coupling with a distal end of a shaft, a transmission rod to transmit at least either a force or torque from one proximal end of a shaft detachably coupled with the tool to the jaw member or other active device, and a locking device that is coupled with the transmission rod in such a way that the locking device can be rotated with respect to the transmission rod but not slid axially, so that the locking device is mounted in the connecting component in such a way that it can be axially slid but not rotated in relation to the connecting component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Jochen Stefan, Daniel Kaercher, Uwe Bacher
  • Patent number: D692560
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: KARL STORZ GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Daniel Kaercher, Jochen Stefan
  • Patent number: D707356
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Inventors: Durandus Vonck, Daniel Kaercher, Jochen Stefan, Sebastian Wagner