Patents by Inventor Daniel Ulmschneider
Daniel Ulmschneider 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).
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Publication number: 20240237883Abstract: The invention relates to an optical instrument having a housing (12), wherein situated in the housing (12) is a light source (14) which is designed to generate a first light flux which exits at a first interface (16) inside the housing (12), and a light supply (18) which is designed to guide a second light flux from outside the housing (12) into an interior of the housing (12) and to allow said light flux to exit at a second interface (22) inside the housing (12); wherein situated in the housing (12) is a light guide (24) which is designed to receive, either from the first interface (16) or from the second interface (22), light at a first end (26) via a third interface (28).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2022Publication date: July 18, 2024Applicant: Karl Storz SE & Co. KGInventors: Jonas Forster, Andreas Heni, Pascal Heni, Marcus Kupferschmid, Daniel Ulmschneider
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Patent number: 12016527Abstract: A video endoscope, more specifically a video mediastinoscope, and an associated method for its configuration, comprises an elongate rigid shaft and a handle detachably attached to a proximal end section of the shaft, wherein the shaft comprises an optics shaft comprising an imaging optics and an electronic image sensor, wherein the optics shaft and a plug connector housing arranged at a proximal end of the optics shaft form a hermetically sealed unit enclosing the imaging optics and the image sensor, and wherein the handle comprises a handle housing in which an electronics unit is accommodated, wherein the electronics unit is hermetically sealed.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2022Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: KARL STORZ SE & CO. KGInventors: Lawrence Geafer, Andreas Heni, Markus Kupferschmid, Daniel Ulmschneider
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Patent number: 12016532Abstract: The present application relates to an endoscope apparatus including a shaft component with a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft component is arranged in an outer shaft. The endoscopy apparatus includes an image capture device having an objective lens for generating a real image and an image sensor for capturing the image and generating an image signal. The endoscopy apparatus includes a pivot joint device which couples the image capture device to the shaft component in a manner pivotable about two orthogonal axes but rigid in respect of a rotation about the longitudinal axis of the shaft component. The endoscopy apparatus includes a pivot control device to set a pivot position of the image capture device relative to the shaft component which depends on the rotational position of the image capture device and the shaft component relative to the outer shaft.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2021Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: KARL STORZ SE & CO. KGInventors: Markus Kupferschmid, Daniel Ulmschneider, Andreas Heni, Jonas Forster
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Patent number: 11957303Abstract: An apparatus configured for heat dissipation that includes a heat source, a heat sink and a heat conducting element. The heat conducting element conducts heat energy from the heat source to the heat sink along a heat conducting path, and the heat conducting element is arranged in such a way on the heat source and the heat sink and is configured to physically change in such a way with increasing temperature of the heat conducting element that: a) a first cross-sectional area between the heat source and the heat conducting element and/or a second cross-sectional area between the heat conducting element of the heat sink increases, and/or b) a length of the heat conducting path shortens. Further, a video endoscope having such an apparatus and a use of such an apparatus is provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2023Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: KARL STORZ SE & Co. KGInventors: Andreas Heni, Markus Kupferschmid, Daniel Ulmschneider, Jonas Forster
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Patent number: 11950761Abstract: A keypad includes a support, a snap disk on a first side of the support transformable from a released state to a loaded state, a cover forming a seal over the first side, a pocket in the cover, a magnet and a plunger disposed in the pocket, the plunger adapted to engage and transform the snap disk to the loaded state, a magnetic field sensor on a second side of the support, the second side opposite the first side and logic circuitry adapted to obtain a value of a strength of a magnetic field from the sensor, compare the value against a predetermined threshold value that corresponds at least approximately to the strength of a magnetic field, and when the plunger has transformed the snap disk to the loaded state and the value reaches or exceeds the threshold value, output a signal indicating that a key press occurred.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: KARL STORZ SE & Co. KGInventors: Pascal Heni, Daniel Ulmschneider, Markus Kupferschmid
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Publication number: 20240041304Abstract: The disclosure relates to an endoscopic device for a particularly flexible endoscope and/or an endoscopic instrument having at least one deflectable shaft segment that has a least one distal end element and at least one proximal end element, and between the two at least one first intermediate element and at least one second intermediate element that are directly adjacent and can be deflected with respect to each other. Accordingly to the disclosure, the first intermediate element and the second intermediate element are different from each other and are integrally interconnected.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2021Publication date: February 8, 2024Applicant: Karl Storz SE & Co. KGInventors: Alexander Fuchs, Tobias Lottes, Jochen Macht, Uwe Renger, Daniel Ulmschneider
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Patent number: 11766168Abstract: An endoscope, especially a mediastinoscope, includes an elongated shaft and a head piece situated at a proximal end section of the shaft, wherein a heat source is arranged in the head piece. At least one heat pipe extends inside the shaft, wherein a proximal end section of the at least one heat pipe is thermally coupled to the heat source and the endoscope includes an optical system which is closed by a cover glass arranged in a distal end section of the shaft. The heat source is a light source for generating an illumination radiation. The at least one heat pipe extends in the distal direction as far as the distal end section of the shaft, and at least one distal end section of the heat pipe is thermally coupled to the distal end section of the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2020Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: KARL STORZ SE & CO. KGInventors: Daniel Ulmschneider, Christian Czupalla
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Patent number: 11737649Abstract: An apparatus configured for heat dissipation that includes a heat source, a heat sink and a heat conducting element. The heat conducting element conducts heat energy from the heat source to the heat sink along a heat conducting path, and the heat conducting element is arranged in such a way on the heat source and the heat sink and is configured to physically change in such a way with increasing temperature of the heat conducting element that: a) a first cross-sectional area between the heat source and the heat conducting element and/or a second cross-sectional area between the heat conducting element of the heat sink increases, and/or b) a length of the heat conducting path shortens. Further, a video endoscope having such an apparatus and a use of such an apparatus is provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2020Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: KARL STORZ SE & Co. KGInventors: Andreas Heni, Markus Kupferschmid, Daniel Ulmschneider, Jonas Forster
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Publication number: 20230172431Abstract: An apparatus for heat dissipation is provided comprising a heat source, a heat sink and a heat conducting element, wherein the heat conducting element conducts heat energy from the heat source to the heat sink along a heat conducting path, and wherein the heat conducting element is arranged in such a way on the heat source and the heat sink and is configured to physically change in such a way with increasing temperature of the heat conducting element that a) a first cross-sectional area between the heat source and the heat conducting element and/or a second cross-sectional area between the heat conducting element of the heat sink increases, and/or b) a length of the heat conducting path shortens. Further, a video endoscope having such an apparatus and a use of such an apparatus are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2023Publication date: June 8, 2023Inventors: Andreas HENI, Markus KUPFERSCHMID, Daniel ULMSCHNEIDER, Jonas FORSTER
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Patent number: 11659982Abstract: A medical instrument for providing access to the interior of the body comprises a shaft having an elongated base body and a handle. The base body extends between a distal end and a proximal end of the shaft. The handle is coupled to the base body of the shaft at the proximal end. The shaft defines at least a first channel and a second channel that extend through the shaft. The first channel provides a passage for surgical instruments through the shaft. The second channel is adapted to accommodate an observation optics. The second channel is adjacent to at least one secondary channel that is connected to the second channel.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: KARL STORZ SE & Co. KGInventors: Daniel Ulmschneider, Andreas Limberger, Christian Czupalla, Kamilla König-Urban
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Publication number: 20230108695Abstract: A video endoscope that includes a handle with a housing and an interface portion rotatably mounted relative to the housing, and an elongate shaft with one or more electronic image sensors, wherein a proximal end section of the shaft is detachably connected to the interface portion of the handle, where the interface portion includes a first connector element electrically connected to an electric transmission element of the interface portion and the shaft includes a second connector element electrically connected to the one or more electronic image sensors, the first and second connector elements co-operating to form a detachable electrical connection, and where the handle includes an electrical connection assembly arranged at an exterior of the interface portion forming an electrical connection to at least one stationary electric and/or electronic component of the handle in a multiplicity of rotational positions of the interface portion relative to the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2022Publication date: April 6, 2023Applicant: KARL STORZ SE & Co KGInventors: Daniel Ulmschneider, Andreas Heni, Markus Kupferschmid, Lawrence Natusch
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Publication number: 20230096366Abstract: A keypad includes a support, a snap disk on a first side of the support transformable from a released state to a loaded state, a cover forming a seal over the first side, a pocket in the cover, a magnet and a plunger disposed in the pocket, the plunger adapted to engage and transform the snap disk to the loaded state, a magnetic field sensor on a second side of the support, the second side opposite the first side and logic circuitry adapted to obtain a value of a strength of a magnetic field from the sensor, compare the value against a predetermined threshold value that corresponds at least approximately to the strength of a magnetic field, and when the plunger has transformed the snap disk to the loaded state and the value reaches or exceeds the threshold value, output a signal indicating that a key press occurred.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Applicant: KARL STORZ SE & Co. KGInventors: Pascal Heni, Daniel Ulmschneider, Markus Kupferschmid
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Publication number: 20230020728Abstract: A video endoscope, more specifically a video mediastinoscope, and an associated method for its configuration, comprises an elongate rigid shaft and a handle detachably attached to a proximal end section of the shaft, wherein the shaft comprises an optics shaft comprising an imaging optics and an electronic image sensor, wherein the optics shaft and a plug connector housing arranged at a proximal end of the optics shaft form a hermetically sealed unit enclosing the imaging optics and the image sensor, and wherein the handle comprises a handle housing in which an electronics unit is accommodated, wherein the electronics unit is hermetically sealed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Applicant: KARL STORZ SE & Co KGInventors: Lawrence Geafer, Andreas Heni, Markus Kupferschmid, Daniel Ulmschneider
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Patent number: 11547280Abstract: A video endoscope that includes a handle with a housing and an interface portion rotatably mounted relative to the housing, and an elongate shaft with one or more electronic image sensors, wherein a proximal end section of the shaft is detachably connected to the interface portion of the handle, where the interface portion includes a first connector element electrically connected to an electric transmission element of the interface portion and the shaft includes a second connector element electrically connected to the one or more electronic image sensors, the first and second connector elements co-operating to form a detachable electrical connection, and where the handle includes an electrical connection assembly arranged at an exterior of the interface portion forming an electrical connection to at least one stationary electric and/or electronic component of the handle in a multiplicity of rotational positions of the interface portion relative to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: KARL STORZ SE & Co KGInventors: Daniel Ulmschneider, Andreas Heni, Markus Kupferschmid, Lawrence Natusch
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Patent number: 11550402Abstract: A keypad includes a support, a snap disk on a first side of the support transformable from a released state to a loaded state, a cover forming a seal over the first side, a pocket in the cover, a magnet and a plunger disposed in the pocket, the plunger adapted to engage and transform the snap disk to the loaded state, a magnetic field sensor on a second side of the support, the second side opposite the first side and logic circuitry adapted to obtain a value of a strength of a magnetic field from the sensor, compare the value against a predetermined threshold value that corresponds at least approximately to the strength of a magnetic field, and when the plunger has transformed the snap disk to the loaded state and the value reaches or exceeds the threshold value, output a signal indicating that a key press occurred.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2021Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: KARL STORZ SE & Co KGInventors: Pascal Heni, Daniel Ulmschneider, Markus Kupferschmid
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Patent number: 11546573Abstract: An apparatus for capturing a stereo image includes a first objective for producing a first image, a second eye objective for producing a second eye image, a first viewing direction device rotatable about a first axis assigned the first objective, and a second viewing direction device rotatable about a second axis assigned the second objective. The viewing direction of the apparatus is rotatable by simultaneous rotation of the first and second viewing direction devices. The first objective or part is movable in a translational fashion. A cam mechanism is provided and embodied to couple a rotation of the first viewing direction device to a translational movement of the first objective or part.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Karl Storz SE & Co. KGInventors: Andreas Heni, Markus Kupferschmid, Lawrence Natusch, Daniel Ulmschneider
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Patent number: 11490792Abstract: A video endoscope, in particular a video mediastinoscope, comprises an elongate rigid shaft and a handle detachably attached to a proximal end section of the shaft, wherein the shaft comprises an optics shaft comprising an imaging optics and an electronic image sensor, wherein the optics shaft and a plug connector housing arranged at a proximal end of the optics shaft form a hermetically sealed unit enclosing the imaging optics and the image sensor, and wherein the handle comprises a handle housing in which an electronics unit is accommodated, wherein the electronics unit is hermetically sealed. The invention also relates to a method for configuring a video endoscope.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2020Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: KARL STORZ SE & Co KGInventors: Lawrence Geafer, Andreas Heni, Markus Kupferschmid, Daniel Ulmschneider
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Publication number: 20210378496Abstract: The present application relates to an endoscope apparatus including a shaft component with a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft component is arranged in an outer shaft. The endoscopy apparatus includes an image capture device having an objective lens for generating a real image and an image sensor for capturing the image and generating an image signal. The endoscopy apparatus includes a pivot joint device which couples the image capture device to the shaft component in a manner pivotable about two orthogonal axes but rigid in respect of a rotation about the longitudinal axis of the shaft component. The endoscopy apparatus includes a pivot control device to set a pivot position of the image capture device relative to the shaft component which depends on the rotational position of the image capture device and the shaft component relative to the outer shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventors: Markus KUPFERSCHMID, Daniel ULMSCHNEIDER, Andreas HENI, Jonas FORSTER
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Patent number: D1019944Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2021Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: KARL STORZ SE & Co. KGInventors: Katharina Endress, Daniel Ulmschneider
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Patent number: D1039144Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2021Date of Patent: August 13, 2024Assignee: Karl Storz SE & CO. KGInventors: Katharina Endress, Daniel Ulmschneider