Patents by Inventor Daniel W. Bühler

Daniel W. Bühler 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).

  • Patent number: 8795287
    Abstract: A targeting device used in the insertion of an intramedullary nail into a bone. The targeting device includes a guide barrel having a frame portion formed of a non-radiolucent material. The guide barrel also includes a radiolucent material molded over the frame. In addition, the frame includes openings configured to allow a surgeon to view a relatively greater area around the guide barrel in an image of the assembly during surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel D. Fritzinger, Daniel W. Buehler, Rebecca Parrott, Michael A. Kay
  • Publication number: 20080281331
    Abstract: A targeting device used in the insertion of an intramedullary nail into a bone. The targeting device includes a guide barrel having a frame portion formed of a non-radiolucent material. The guide barrel also includes a radiolucent material molded over the frame. In addition, the frame includes openings configured to allow a surgeon to view a relatively greater area around the guide barrel in an image of the assembly during surgery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: ZIMMER, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel D. Fritzinger, Daniel W. Buehler, Rebecca Parrott, Michael A. Kay
  • Publication number: 20080154264
    Abstract: A screw cannula useable with an intramedullary nail system for use with an anatomical structure, such as a femur, for example. The screw cannula may include a groove formed in an exterior surface of the cannula. The groove provides a positive locking mechanism with audible and tactile feedback for a surgeon. The groove additionally provides infinite adjustability of the cannula relative to the anatomical structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: ZIMMER TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. Wack, Daniel W. Buehler
  • Patent number: 6702816
    Abstract: The invention describes a femur marrow nail for insertion between the condylii of a knee joint having an anchoring (4) in the region of the nail tip (3), having a curvature (6) extending in the sagittal plane (5) and having a straight end piece (7) which has fastening bores (12, 13) with axes B, C for its fastening. At least two fastening bores (12, 13) with axes B and C cross the longitudinal axis X of the end piece (7) at a spacing X2, X3 less than 70 millimeters from the end (8) of the end piece (7), and with their axes B and C penetrating a plane (10) which includes the end (8) and is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X at a distance r from the X axis in a region of 10 mm≦r≦116 mm in order to grip hard bone zones with fastening screws (15, 16) in the region of the condylii.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Sulzer Orthopedics Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel W. Bühler
  • Patent number: 6540746
    Abstract: A bone plate for the splinting of a fracture at a bone with a plurality of bone screws. An elastic cushion is provided between the bone screws and the bone plate in the direction towards the fracture. The screw head penetrates through the bone plate completely and lies on the bone with a contact surface under a bias force. A ring body is molded onto the elastic cushion and can be mounted at the lower side of the bone plate. The ring body and the contact surface of the screw head both project beyond the lower side of the bone plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Sulzer Orthopedics Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Bühler, Hans K. Uhthoff, David S. Backman
  • Patent number: 5348133
    Abstract: An apparatus for handling a plurality of lids or other predominately flat articles having two discrete sides, such as a top and bottom, delivering them in a common orientation, which includes a conveyor system for carrying the articles along the apparatus from an inlet end to a final discharge end and an air jet nozzle which directs compressed air to engage at least some of the articles to change their orientation. The conveyor system may include a number of orienting surfaces with at least a single disjoined area to provide conditions for article orientation, or re-orientation in specialized cases. The appropriate arrangement of any two of these surfaces provides varying degrees of automated flipping. Various forces, such as, but not limited to, air, vacuum and gravity, either separately or in combination, may assist in the flipping process. Such forces are selectively enabled by the detection of an improperly oriented article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: CBW Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Powell, Daniel W. Buehler, David E. Carson
  • Patent number: 5197584
    Abstract: An apparatus for handling a plurality of lids or other predominately flat articles having two discrete sides, such as a top and bottom, delivering them in a common orientation, which includes a conveyor system for carrying the articles along the apparatus from an inlet end to a final discharge end and an air jet nozzle which directs compressed air to engage at least some of the articles to change their orientation. The conveyor system may include a number of orienting surfaces with at least a single disjoined area to provide conditions for article orientation, or re-orientation in specialized cases. The appropriate arrangement of any two of these surfaces provides varying degrees of automated flipping. Various forces, such as, but not limited to, air, vacuum and gravity, either separately or in combination, may assist in the flipping process. Such forces are selectively enabled by the detection of an improperly oriented article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: CBW Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Powell, Daniel W. Buehler, David E. Carson