Patents by Inventor Donald E. Stearns

Donald E. Stearns 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: 20250248714
    Abstract: A surgical bur is disclosed having cutting and trailing edges and associated flutes and lands. Each flute includes a cutting edge. Each of the trailing edges relatives in a selected dimension to a preceding cutting edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2025
    Publication date: August 7, 2025
    Inventors: Michael Vu, Donald E. Stearns
  • Patent number: 12256945
    Abstract: A surgical bur is disclosed having cutting and trailing edges and associated flutes and lands. Each flute includes a cutting edge. Each of the trailing edges relatives in a selected dimension to a preceding cutting edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Medtronic PS Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Vu, Donald E. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20240407793
    Abstract: A surgical bur including primary flutes and auxiliary flutes. The primary flutes include (i) first clearance surfaces, and (ii) first rake surfaces with first cutting edges. The primary flutes extend from a proximal end of the surgical bur to a distal end of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes are localized in central regions or distal regions of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes include (i) second clearance surfaces, and (ii) second rake surfaces with second cutting edges. At least one of the auxiliary flutes is located between a pair of adjacent ones of the primary flutes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Patent number: 12064126
    Abstract: A surgical bur including primary flutes and auxiliary flutes. The primary flutes include (i) first clearance surfaces, and (ii) first rake surfaces with first cutting edges. The primary flutes extend from a proximal end of the surgical bur to a distal end of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes are localized in central regions or distal regions of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes include (i) second clearance surfaces, and (ii) second rake surfaces with second cutting edges. At least one of the auxiliary flutes is located between a pair of adjacent ones of the primary flutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic Xomed, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20220378439
    Abstract: A surgical bur is disclosed having cutting and trailing edges and associated flutes and lands. Each flute includes a cutting edge. Each of the trailing edges relatives in a selected dimension to a preceding cutting edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Michael VU, Donald E. Stearns
  • Patent number: 11439410
    Abstract: A surgical dissection tool for cutting bone and other tissue includes a cutting head having an outer surface having non-paired or an odd number of flutes formed therein. Each flute includes a rake surface intersecting with the outer surface to form a cutting edge, and a relief surface opposite the rake surface. The relief surface and the rake surface form a first angle. Each flute also includes a leading angled surface extending from the relief surface to a distal end portion of the cutting head, the leading angled surface and the rake surface forming a second angle substantially the same as the first angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Medtronic PS Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Patent number: 11406396
    Abstract: A surgical bur is disclosed having cutting and trailing edges and associated flutes and lands. Each flute includes a cutting edge. Each of the trailing edges relatives in a selected dimension to a preceding cutting edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Medtronic PS Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Vu, Donald E. Stearns
  • Patent number: 11253271
    Abstract: A surgical bur including flutes and lands. Each of the flutes includes a cutting edge, rake surfaces and a clearance surface. The rake surfaces of one of the flutes are decoupled from each other. Each of the lands is disposed between a pair of the flutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Medtronic PS Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Patent number: 11191551
    Abstract: A surgical bur includes a body and a drill point. The body includes flutes and lands. Each of the flutes includes a cutting edge, a rake face, and a clearance surface. Each of the lands is convex-shaped and disposed between a pair of the flutes. The drill point includes axial relief surfaces. Each of the axial relief surfaces has a planar area, is distinct from the lands and borders (i) a distal portion of one of the cutting edges, (ii) one of the lands, and (iii) one of the clearance surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Medtronic PS Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20210000488
    Abstract: A surgical bur including primary flutes and auxiliary flutes. The primary flutes include (i) first clearance surfaces, and (ii) first rake surfaces with first cutting edges. The primary flutes extend from a proximal end of the surgical bur to a distal end of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes are localized in central regions or distal regions of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes include (i) second clearance surfaces, and (ii) second rake surfaces with second cutting edges. At least one of the auxiliary flutes is located between a pair of adjacent ones of the primary flutes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Patent number: 10786266
    Abstract: A surgical bur including primary flutes and auxiliary flutes. The primary flutes include (i) first clearance surfaces, and (ii) first rake surfaces with first cutting edges. The primary flutes extend from a proximal end of the surgical bur to a distal end of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes are localized in central regions or distal regions of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes include (i) second clearance surfaces, and (ii) second rake surfaces with second cutting edges. At least one of the auxiliary flutes is located between a pair of adjacent ones of the primary flutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Medtronic Xomed, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20200113582
    Abstract: A surgical dissection tool for cutting bone and other tissue includes a cutting head having an outer surface having non-paired or an odd number of flutes formed therein. Each flute includes a rake surface intersecting with the outer surface to form a cutting edge, and a relief surface opposite the rake surface. The relief surface and the rake surface form a first angle. Each flute also includes a leading angled surface extending from the relief surface to a distal end portion of the cutting head, the leading angled surface and the rake surface forming a second angle substantially the same as the first angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: John W. KULAS, Donald E. Stearns
  • Patent number: 10507028
    Abstract: A surgical dissection tool for cutting bone and other tissue includes a cutting head having an outer surface having non-paired or an odd number of flutes formed therein. Each flute includes a rake surface intersecting with the outer surface to form a cutting edge, and a relief surface opposite the rake surface. The relief surface and the rake surface form a first angle. Each flute also includes a leading angled surface extending from the relief surface to a distal end portion of the cutting head, the leading angled surface and the rake surface forming a second angle substantially the same as the first angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic PS Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20190321053
    Abstract: A surgical bur including flutes and lands. Each of the flutes includes a cutting edge, rake surfaces and a clearance surface. The rake surfaces of one of the flutes are decoupled from each other. Each of the lands is disposed between a pair of the flutes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20190239898
    Abstract: A surgical bur is disclosed having cutting and trailing edges and associated flutes and lands. Each flute includes a cutting edge. Each of the trailing edges relatives in a selected dimension to a preceding cutting edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Vu, Donald E. Stearns
  • Patent number: 10335166
    Abstract: A surgical bur including flutes and lands. Each of the flutes includes a cutting edge, rake surfaces and a clearance surface. The rake surfaces of one of the flutes are decoupled from each other. Each of the lands is disposed between a pair of the flutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: MEDTRONICS PS MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Patent number: 10265082
    Abstract: A surgical bur is disclosed having cutting and trailing edges and associated flutes and lands. Each flute includes a cutting edge. Each of the trailing edges relatives in a selected dimension to a preceding cutting edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic PS Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Vu, Donald E. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20180242986
    Abstract: A surgical bur including primary flutes and auxiliary flutes. The primary flutes include (i) first clearance surfaces, and (ii) first rake surfaces with first cutting edges. The primary flutes extend from a proximal end of the surgical bur to a distal end of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes are localized in central regions or distal regions of the surgical bur. The auxiliary flutes include (i) second clearance surfaces, and (ii) second rake surfaces with second cutting edges. At least one of the auxiliary flutes is located between a pair of adjacent ones of the primary flutes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20180206855
    Abstract: A surgical dissection tool for cutting bone and other tissue includes a cutting head having an outer surface having non-paired or an odd number of flutes formed therein. Each flute includes a rake surface intersecting with the outer surface to form a cutting edge, and a relief surface opposite the rake surface. The relief surface and the rake surface form a first angle. Each flute also includes a leading angled surface extending from the relief surface to a distal end portion of the cutting head, the leading angled surface and the rake surface forming a second angle substantially the same as the first angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: John W. KULAS, Donald E. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20180153562
    Abstract: A surgical bur includes a body and a drill point. The body includes flutes and lands. Each of the flutes includes a cutting edge, a rake face, and a clearance surface. Each of the lands is convex-shaped and disposed between a pair of the flutes. The drill point includes axial relief surfaces. Each of the axial relief surfaces has a planar area, is distinct from the lands and borders (i) a distal portion of one of the cutting edges, (ii) one of the lands, and (iii) one of the clearance surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: John W. Kulas, Donald E. Stearns