Patents by Inventor Eric A. Nickel
Eric A. Nickel 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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Patent number: 11324612Abstract: A liner defines a pouch, an opening, a cup, and a first ring positioned on the pouch distal to the opening. The pouch is air-permeable and defines an internal volume for receiving a residual limb. The opening defined by the pouch provides access to the internal volume. The cup is air-impermeable and is positioned on the pouch distal to the opening. The liner is combined with an adapter for connecting a residual limb to a prosthetic limb. The adapter has a socket for receiving the cup, at least one hole positioned within the socket for drainage therefrom and sleeve extending from the socket and surrounding a central space. The adapter also has at least one vent positioned in the sleeve and overlies the air permeable material.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: United States Government as Represented by the Department of Veterans AffairsInventors: Andrew H. Hansen, Eric A. Nickel, Billie Caris Savvas Slater, Stuart R. Fairhurst, Jennifer Leestma
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Publication number: 20210401591Abstract: An ankle-foot prosthesis includes a foot plate, an ankle frame attached to the foot plate, a yoke pivotally connected to the ankle frame and including a member for attaching to a leg, a damper having a first end connected to the yoke and a second end connected to the ankle frame, and a control mechanism for switching the damper between low and high settings.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Inventors: Andrew H. Hansen, Eric A. Nickel
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Patent number: 11129734Abstract: An ankle-foot prosthesis includes a foot plate, an ankle frame attached to the foot plate, a yoke pivotally connected to the ankle frame and including a member for attaching to a leg, a damper having a first end connected to the yoke and a second end connected to the ankle frame, and a control mechanism for switching the damper between low and high settings.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2019Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignees: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Andrew H. Hansen, Eric A. Nickel
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Publication number: 20210085493Abstract: A liner defines a pouch, an opening, a cup, and a first ring positioned on the pouch distal to the opening. The pouch is air-permeable and defines an internal volume for receiving a residual limb. The opening defined by the pouch provides access to the internal volume. The cup is air-impermeable and is positioned on the pouch distal to the opening. The liner is combined with an adapter for connecting a residual limb to a prosthetic limb. The adapter has a socket for receiving the cup, at least one hole positioned within the socket for drainage therefrom and sleeve extending from the socket and surrounding a central space. The adapter also has at least one vent positioned in the sleeve and overlies the air permeable material.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Andrew H. Hansen, Eric A. Nickel, Billie Caris Savvas Slater, Stuart R. Fairhurst, Jennifer Leestma
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Patent number: 10779612Abstract: A rocker shoe has a lower rocker surface extending across the plantar surface of the shoe sole from the heel and terminating short of the toe. A rocker shoe construction kit has a rigid or substantially rigid rocker piece having an upper surface for securing over a major portion of a lower plantar surface of the sole of a shoe upper and a lower surface of predetermined rocker shape, a cushioning layer for securing over the lower surface of the rocker piece, and a layer of tread material configured for securing over the lower surface of the cushioning layer and any exposed portion of the plantar surface of a shoe.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2019Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans AffairsInventors: Andrew H. Hansen, Sara R. Koehler, Charles J. Schultz, Eric A. Nickel
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Publication number: 20190261734Abstract: A rocker shoe has a lower rocker surface extending across the plantar surface of the shoe sole from the heel and terminating short of the toe. A rocker shoe construction kit has a rigid or substantially rigid rocker piece having an upper surface for securing over a major portion of a lower plantar surface of the sole of a shoe upper and a lower surface of predetermined rocker shape, a cushioning layer for securing over the lower surface of the rocker piece, and a layer of tread material configured for securing over the lower surface of the cushioning layer and any exposed portion of the plantar surface of a shoe.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2019Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: Andrew H. Hansen, Sara R. Koehler, Charles J. Schultz, Eric A. Nickel
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Publication number: 20190254844Abstract: An ankle-foot prosthesis includes a foot plate, an ankle frame attached to the foot plate, a yoke pivotally connected to the ankle frame and including a member for attaching to a leg, a damper having a first end connected to the yoke and a second end connected to the ankle frame, and a control mechanism for switching the damper between low and high settings.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2019Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventors: Andrew H. Hansen, Eric A. Nickel
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Patent number: 10376388Abstract: An ankle-foot prosthesis includes a foot plate, an ankle frame attached to the foot plate, a yoke pivotally connected to the ankle frame and including a member for attaching to a leg, a damper having a first end connected to the yoke and a second end connected to the ankle frame, and a control mechanism for switching the damper between low and high settings.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: The United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans AffairsInventors: Andrew H. Hansen, Eric A. Nickel
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Patent number: 10292452Abstract: A rocker shoe has a lower rocker surface extending across the plantar surface of the shoe sole from the heel and terminating short of the toe. A rocker shoe construction kit has a rigid or substantially rigid rocker piece having an upper surface for securing over a major portion of a lower plantar surface of the sole of a shoe upper and a lower surface of predetermined rocker shape, a cushioning layer for securing over the lower surface of the rocker piece, and a layer of tread material configured for securing over the lower surface of the cushioning layer and any exposed portion of the plantar surface of a shoe.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2016Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRSInventors: Andrew H. Hansen, Sara R. Koehler, Charles J. Schultz, Eric A. Nickel
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Patent number: 10105243Abstract: An ankle-foot prosthesis includes a foot plate, an ankle frame attached to the foot plate, a yoke pivotally connected to the ankle frame and including a member for attaching to a leg, a damper having a first end connected to the yoke and a second end connected to the ankle frame, and a control mechanism for switching the damper between low and high settings.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2016Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignees: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Andrew H. Hansen, Eric A. Nickel
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Publication number: 20180295936Abstract: A rocker shoe has a lower rocker surface extending across the plantar surface of the shoe sole from the heel and terminating short of the toe. A rocker shoe construction kit has a rigid or substantially rigid rocker piece having an upper surface for securing over a major portion of a lower plantar surface of the sole of a shoe upper and a lower surface of predetermined rocker shape, a cushioning layer for securing over the lower surface of the rocker piece, and a layer of tread material configured for securing over the lower surface of the cushioning layer and any exposed portion of the plantar surface of a shoe.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2016Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Andrew H. HANSEN, Sara R. KOEHLER, Charles J. Schultz, Eric A. NICKEL
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Patent number: 10058723Abstract: A foldable parallel bar apparatus includes generally U-shaped first and second end frames and a set of handrails connected to and extending between the first and second end frames, wherein the handrails are foldable so as to move the first and second end frames closer to one another thereby compacting the apparatus. When multiple modules of the end frames are connected, they provide an uninterrupted path between the handrails. An alternative embodiment provides base platforms that are foldable relative to each other and handrails that are vertically and horizontally adjustable.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2013Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Veterans AffairsInventors: Eric A. Nickel, Andrew H. Hansen, Adam Stephen Breyette, Binghan Chen, Kristin Huber, Ross Klabon, Thomas C. LaSee, William Gunther Voss, Steven M. Morin
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Publication number: 20170156894Abstract: An ankle-foot prosthesis includes a foot plate, an ankle frame attached to the foot plate, a yoke pivotally connected to the ankle frame and including a member for attaching to a leg, a damper having a first end connected to the yoke and a second end connected to the ankle frame, and a control mechanism for switching the damper between low and high settings.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2017Publication date: June 8, 2017Applicants: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Andrew H. HANSEN, Eric A. NICKEL
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Publication number: 20170071761Abstract: An ankle-foot prosthesis includes a foot plate, an ankle frame attached to the foot plate, a yoke pivotally connected to the ankle frame and including a member for attaching to a leg, a damper having a first end connected to the yoke and a second end connected to the ankle frame, and a control mechanism for switching the damper between low and high settings.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Applicants: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Andrew H. HANSEN, Eric A. NICKEL
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Patent number: 9549827Abstract: An ankle-foot prosthesis includes a foot plate, an ankle frame attached to the foot plate, a yoke pivotally connected to the ankle frame and including a member for attaching to a leg, a damper having a first end connected to the yoke and a second end connected to the ankle frame, and a control mechanism for switching the damper between low and high settings.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2013Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignees: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, REGENTS OF THE UNIVERISTY OF MINNESOTAInventors: Andrew H. Hansen, Eric A. Nickel
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Patent number: 9101520Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel approach to improving the use of wheelchairs by offering the ability for the wheelchair to transition between accommodation for a seated position, and accommodation for a standing position, more particularly, wherein the inventive mobile manual standing wheelchair allows for a standing position during the course of mobile use, and which also permits the user to traverse narrow entrances and doorframes, and also allows the user to have improved access in front for elevated surfaces such as countertops and the like.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignees: The United States of America, as Represented by the Department of Veterans Affair, The Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Gary D. Goldish, Andrew Hansen, Eric A. Nickel
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Publication number: 20150084307Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel approach to improving the use of wheelchairs by offering the ability for the wheelchair to transition between accommodation for a seated position, and accommodation for a standing position, more particularly, wherein the inventive mobile manual standing wheelchair allows for a standing position during the course of mobile use, and which also permits the user to traverse narrow entrances and doorframes, and also allows the user to have improved access in front for elevated surfaces such as countertops and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventors: Gary D. Goldish, Andrew Hansen, Eric A. Nickel
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Patent number: 8696764Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved system for use in rehabilitation and/or physical therapy for the treatment of injury or disease to the lower limbs or extremities. The system can enable an amputee to proceed over any inclined or declined surface without overbalancing. The system is mechanically passive in that it does not utilize motors, force generating devices, batteries, or powered sources that may add undesirable weight or mass and that may require recharging. In particular the system is self-adapting to adjust the torque moment depending upon the motion, the extent of inclination, and the surface topography. An additional advantage of the improvement is that the system can be light and may also be simple to manufacture.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2012Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Northwestern UniversityInventors: Andrew H. Hansen, Eric A. Nickel
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Publication number: 20140087920Abstract: A foldable parallel bar apparatus includes generally U-shaped first and second end frames and a set of handrails connected to and extending between the first and second end frames, wherein the handrails are foldable so as to move the first and second end frames closer to one another thereby compacting the apparatus. When multiple modules of the end frames are connected, they provide an uninterrupted path between the handrails. An alternative embodiment provides base platforms that are foldable relative to each other and handrails that are vertically and horizontally adjustable.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2013Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: U.S. Department of Veterans AffairsInventors: Eric A. NICKEL, Andrew H. HANSEN, Adam Stephen BREYETTE, Binghan CHEN, Kristin HUBER, Ross KLABON, Thomas C. LaSEE, William Gunther VOSS, Steven M. MORIN
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Publication number: 20140088730Abstract: An ankle-foot prosthesis includes a foot plate, an ankle frame attached to the foot plate, a yoke pivotally connected to the ankle frame and including a member for attaching to a leg, a damper having a first end connected to the yoke and a second end connected to the ankle frame, and a control mechanism for switching the damper between low and high settings.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2013Publication date: March 27, 2014Applicant: U.S. Department of Veterans AffairsInventors: Andrew H. Hansen, Eric A. Nickel