Patents by Inventor Jochen Walser

Jochen Walser 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: 11786125
    Abstract: An implantable device includes a substrate and protective cover that cooperate to define an enclosed sensor volume. A sealed enclosure is provided within the sensor volume, with an electronic component assembly (ECA) being located within the sealed enclosure. A flexible circuit board assembly (FCBA) is electrically coupled with the ECA through a wall of the sealed enclosure. At least one transducer is provided on the FCBA in contact with the substrate, and the FCBA is held apart from the enclosure via a polymeric spacer provided therebetween. An inert polymer fill is provided within the sensor volume external to the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignees: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC., STITCHTING IMEC NEDERLAND, IMEC VZW
    Inventors: George Mikhail, Binh Vu, Jochen Walser, Dan Dlugos, Mark Fichman, Seulki Lee, Navid Shahriari, Erfan Sheikhi, Maria Op de Beeck
  • Publication number: 20220183558
    Abstract: An implantable device includes a substrate and protective cover that cooperate to define an enclosed sensor volume. A sealed enclosure is provided within the sensor volume, with an electronic component assembly (ECA) being located within the sealed enclosure. A flexible circuit board assembly (FCBA) is electrically coupled with the ECA through a wall of the sealed enclosure. At least one transducer is provided on the FCBA in contact with the substrate, and the FCBA is held apart from the enclosure via a polymeric spacer provided therebetween. An inert polymer fill is provided within the sensor volume external to the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Depuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: George Mikhail, Binh Bao Vu, Jochen Walser, Dan Dlugos, Mark Fichman, Seulki Lee, Navid Shahriari, Erfan Sheikhi, Maria Op de Beeck
  • Patent number: 11322299
    Abstract: Implants or sensors often include and rely on inductive and ferromagnetic electrical components to measure and communicate data outside of the body to an external device, creating a safety concern when a patient with these implants or sensors must undergo an MRI scan. Further, various external devices that include inductive and ferromagnetic electrical components are exposed to potentially damaging MRI scans. An electrical coil assembly can include an electrical coil that includes a substrate and an electrical conductor supported by a first face of the substrate. In an example, the electrical coil assembly further includes a fuse element that is configured to move from a disengaged position in which the electrical fuse conductor is out of contact with the electrical conductor to an engaged position in which the electrical fuse conductor contacts the electrical conductor so as to define a short circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jochen Walser
  • Patent number: 11305112
    Abstract: A bone implant kit includes an implant and first and second electrical stimulation anchors. The implant defines an inner surface inner configured to face a bone to which the bone implant kit is configured to attach, and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. The implant further defines first and second bone fixation holes that each extend from the inner surface to the outer surface. The first and second bone fixation holes are spaced from each other along a longitudinal direction. The first electrical stimulation anchor can be sized and configured for insertion into the first bone fixation hole, and the second electrical stimulation anchor can be sized and configured for insertion into the second bone fixation hole. The first and second electrical stimulation anchors can be configured to respond to a magnetic field so as to generate an electric field between the first and second electrical stimulated anchors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jochen Walser, Mario Gehri, Andre Furrer
  • Publication number: 20220061760
    Abstract: In one example, an anatomical implant has an implant body and a rim. The implant body has an outer surface, and the rim extends from the implant body along an outward direction. The rim has an internal surface, and an external surface opposite the internal surface. The internal surface defines a pocket that can support a sensor therein. In another example, a system comprises the anatomical implant, the sensor, and a cap, where the cap is attached to the rim such that the sensor is hermetically sealed within the pocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Filip Leszko, Jochen Walser, George Mikhail
  • Publication number: 20220022807
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the ossification of an internally fixated fracture in a bone of a subject includes an implantable fixation device and an external wireless reader operative to transmit relative load data experienced by a bone plate across a fracture to a data server where trends in the change in added bone-support provided by the bone plate may be visualized. The implantable fixation device includes a primary load sensor and a reference load sensor, where a load value from the reference load sensor may be used to normalize the load value from the primary load sensor. The external wireless reader is in wireless communication with the implantable fixation device and is operative to receive a signal indicative of the load from each load sensor and to energize each load sensor via inductive charging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: Depuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: George Mikhail, Glen Pierson, Jochen Walser, Jacob Marks, Jared Schneider, Christopher Shane
  • Publication number: 20190351223
    Abstract: A bone implant kit includes an implant and first and second electrical stimulation anchors. The implant defines an inner surface inner configured to face a bone to which the bone implant kit is configured to attach, and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. The implant further defines first and second bone fixation holes that each extend from the inner surface to the outer surface. The first and second bone fixation holes are spaced from each other along a longitudinal direction. The first electrical stimulation anchor can be sized and configured for insertion into the first bone fixation hole, and the second electrical stimulation anchor can be sized and configured for insertion into the second bone fixation hole. The first and second electrical stimulation anchors can be configured to respond to a magnetic field so as to generate an electric field between the first and second electrical stimulated anchors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Jochen Walser, Mario Gehri, Andre Furrer
  • Publication number: 20190043663
    Abstract: Implants or sensors often include and rely on inductive and ferromagnetic electrical components to measure and communicate data outside of the body to an external device, creating a safety concern when a patient with these implants or sensors must undergo an MRI scan. Further, various external devices that include inductive and ferromagnetic electrical components are exposed to potentially damaging MRI scans. An electrical coil assembly can include an electrical coil that includes a substrate and an electrical conductor supported by a first face of the substrate. In an example, the electrical coil assembly further includes a fuse element that is configured to move from a disengaged position in which the electrical fuse conductor is out of contact with the electrical conductor to an engaged position in which the electrical fuse conductor contacts the electrical conductor so as to define a short circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventor: Jochen Walser