Patents by Inventor Kevin J. Schemansky
Kevin J. Schemansky 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: 8653919Abstract: A hand switch for removable attachment to a powered surgical tool. The switch includes a ring formed with a slot that is snap fit over the tool with which the switch is used. A manually actuatable lever is pivotally mounted to the ring. Internal to the lever is a magnet. The position of the magnet is monitored by a sensor internal to the tool. A tab extends inwardly from the ring. The tab seats in a notch integral with the tool. The seating of the tab in the notch aligned the switch with the sensor internal to the tool.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2011Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Jerry A. Culp, Kevin J. Schemansky, David E. Monk
-
Publication number: 20110266124Abstract: A hand switch for removable attachment to a powered surgical tool. The switch includes a ring formed with a slot that is snap fit over the tool with which the switch is used. A manually actuatable lever is pivotally mounted to the ring. Internal to the lever is a magnet. The position of the magnet is monitored by a sensor internal to the tool. A tab extends inwardly from the ring. The tab seats in a notch integral with the tool. The seating of the tab in the notch aligned the switch with the sensor internal to the tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2011Publication date: November 3, 2011Inventors: Jerry A. Culp, Kevin J. Schemansky, David E. Monk
-
Patent number: 7998157Abstract: A surgical tool system including a handpiece with a power generating unit and a control console for supplying energization signals to the power generating unit. Based on the data in a memory associated with the handpiece, the control console supplies energization signals to the handpiece power generating unit in either a motor drive mode or a direct drive mode. In the motor drive mode the signals are supplied to windings integral with the power generating unit based on the position of a rotor also part of the power generating unit. In the direct drive mode, energizaiton signals are supplied to the power generating unit independent of rotor position.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2007Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Jerry Culp, Kevin J Schemansky, David E Monk
-
Patent number: 7517351Abstract: A surgical tool system (30) with a powered surgical handpiece (32). A removable handswitch (39) is attached to the handpiece. The handswitch includes a slip ring (192) that removably holds the handswitch to the handpiece. A lever arm (212) is pivotally attached to the slip ring. A magnet (190) is fitted in the lever arm. The angle of the lever arm is set by the surgeon to indicate the on/off state and operating speed of the handpiece. Internal to the handpiece is a sensor (94) that generates a signal based on the relative proximity of the magnet. The sensor signal is thus employed as the control signal for regulating the operation of the handpiece. Thus a surgeon can selectively use the handpiece with or without the mounted control switch.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2004Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Jerry A. Culp, Kevin J. Schemansky
-
Publication number: 20080114388Abstract: A surgical tool system including a handpiece with a power generating unit and a control console for supplying energization signals to the power generating unit. Based on the data in a memory associated with the handpiece, the control console supplies energization signals to the handpiece power generating unit in either a motor drive mode or a direct drive mode. In the motor drive mode the signals are supplied to windings integral with the power generating unit based on the position of a rotor also part of the power generating unit. In the direct drive mode, energizaiton signals are supplied to the power generating unit independent of rotor position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2007Publication date: May 15, 2008Inventors: Jerry A. Culp, Kevin J. Schemansky, David E. Monk
-
Publication number: 20040225310Abstract: A surgical tool system (30) with a powered surgical handpiece (32). A removable handswitch (39) is attached to the handpiece. The handswitch includes a slip ring (192) that removably holds the handswitch to the handpiece. A lever arm (212) is pivotally attached to the slip ring. A magnet (190) is fitted in the lever arm. The angle of the lever arm is set by the surgeon to indicate the on/off state and operating speed of the handpiece. Internal to the handpiece is a sensor (94) that generates a signal based on the relative proximity of the magnet. The sensor signal is thus employed as the control signal for regulating the operation of the handpiece. Thus a surgeon can selectively use the handpiece with or without the mounted control switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2004Publication date: November 11, 2004Applicant: Stryker CorporationInventors: Jerry A. Culp, Kevin J. Schemansky, David E. Monk
-
Patent number: 6752816Abstract: A surgical tool system (30) with a powered surgical handpiece (32). A removable handswitch (39) is attached to the handpiece. The handswitch includes a slip ring (192) that removably holds the handswitch to the handpiece. A lever arm (212) is pivotally attached to the slip ring. A magnet (190) is fitted in the lever arm. The angle of the lever arm is set by the surgeon to indicate the on/off state and operating speed of the handpiece. Internal to the handpiece is a sensor (94) that generates a signal based on the relative proximity of the magnet. The sensor signal is thus employed as the control signal for regulating the operation of the handpiece. Thus a surgeon can selectively use the handpiece with or without the mounted control switch.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2001Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Jerry A. Culp, Kevin J. Schemansky, David E. Monk
-
Patent number: 6600414Abstract: A vehicle rollover event detector (10) includes a rollover sensor (14). A first accelerometer (80) senses vehicle acceleration in a direction offset from the front-to-rear axis of the vehicle (12) up to a maximum acceleration sensing level and provides a first acceleration signal indicative thereof. A second accelerometer (96) senses vehicle acceleration in the offset direction at acceleration levels in excess of the maximum acceleration sensing level of the first accelerometer and provides a second acceleration signal indicative thereof. A controller (26) selects the first accelerometer or second accelerometer and provides an actuation signal (110) when the signal from the rollover sensor and the selected first or second accelerometers both indicate a vehicle rollover event.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2001Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventors: Chek-Peng Foo, Huahn-Fern Yeh, Shun-Hsin Chang, Kevin J. Schemansky
-
Publication number: 20020087179Abstract: A surgical tool system (30) with a powered surgical handpiece (32). A removable handswitch (39) is attached to the handpiece. The handswitch includes a slip ring (192) that removably holds the handswitch to the handpiece. A lever arm (212) is pivotally attached to the slip ring. A magnet (190) is fitted in the lever arm. The angle of the lever arm is set by the surgeon to indicate the on/off state and operating speed of the handpiece. Internal to the handpiece is a sensor (94) that generates a signal based on the relative proximity of the magnet. The sensor signal is thus employed as the control signal for regulating the operation of the handpiece. Thus a surgeon can selectively use the handpiece with or without the mounted control switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2001Publication date: July 4, 2002Inventors: Jerry A. Culp, Kevin J. Schemansky, David E. Monk
-
Publication number: 20020075142Abstract: A vehicle rollover event detector (10) includes a rollover sensor (14). A first accelerometer (80) senses vehicle acceleration in a direction offset from the front-to-rear axis of the vehicle (12) up to a maximum acceleration sensing level and provides a first acceleration signal indicative thereof. A second accelerometer (96) senses vehicle acceleration in the offset direction at acceleration levels in excess of the maximum acceleration sensing level of the first accelerometer and provides a second acceleration signal indicative thereof. A controller (26) selects the first accelerometer or second accelerometer and provides an actuation signal (110) when the signal from the rollover sensor and the selected first or second accelerometers both indicate a vehicle rollover event.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2001Publication date: June 20, 2002Applicant: TRW Inc.Inventors: Chek-Peng Foo, Huahn-Fern Yeh, Shun-Hsin Chang, Kevin J. Schemansky
-
Patent number: 6329778Abstract: An integrated surgical tool system (30) for energizing different powered surgical handpieces (32, 33). Internal to each handpiece is a non-volatile memory (72) which stores data regarding the operating parameters of the handpiece. This data, includes information about the speeds at which any motor internal to the handpiece should be driven, the maximum current that should be drawn by the handpiece and the maximum internal temperature of the handpiece. The handpiece is plugged into a complementary control console (36). The control console reads the data in the internal memory. Based on the retrieved data and manual control signals, the control console supplies energization signals to the handpiece so as to cause the appropriate actuation of the handpiece.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Jerry A. Culp, Kevin J. Schemansky, David E. Monk
-
Patent number: 6290019Abstract: A system (10) and an associated method to avert vehicle side rollover for a vehicle (12) that has inflated tires (14A-14D). A sensor (18) senses a parameter indicative of an imminent threat of vehicle rollover to one side of the vehicle (12). A tire deflator device (e.g., 26A) reduces an inflation pressure of one of the vehicle tires (14A) on one side of the vehicle (12) to avert vehicle rollover in response to the imminent threat of vehicle rollover.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2000Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventors: Scott Edward Kolassa, Kevin J. Schemansky
-
Patent number: 6017354Abstract: An integrated surgical tool system (30) for energizing different powered surgical handpieces (32, 33). Internal to each handpiece is a non-volatile memory (72) which stores data regarding the operating parameters of the handpiece. This data, includes information about the speeds at which any motor internal to the handpiece should be driven, the maximum current that should be drawn by the handpiece and the maximum internal temperature of the handpiece. The handpiece is plugged into a complementary control console (36). The control console reads the data in the internal memory. Based on the retrieved data and manual control signals, the control console supplies energization signals to the handpiece so as to cause the appropriate actuation of the handpiece.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1996Date of Patent: January 25, 2000Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Jerry A. Culp, Kevin J. Schemansky, David E. Monk
-
Patent number: 5689159Abstract: A powered medical instrument includes a manually operable foot switch coupled to a motor control unit which in turn is coupled to an autoclavable handpiece containing a brushless sensorless electric motor driving a tool. The motor control arrangement includes a control panel through which a user can select a maximum torque value for the motor, and includes a torque limit circuit which limits the motor torque to the torque limit value selected by the user. The control panel also provides a digital display of actual motor speed and allows the user to digitally specify a maximum motor speed. The output of the foot switch is adjusted by a transfer function and then used to control motor speed, and the transfer function is adjusted as necessary to precisely conform the actual motor speed and thus the displayed speed to the selected maximum speed.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1996Date of Patent: November 18, 1997Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Jerry A. Culp, Kevin J. Schemansky
-
Patent number: 5543695Abstract: A powered medical instrument includes a manually operable foot switch coupled to a motor control unit which in turn is coupled to an autoclavable handpiece containing a brushless sensorless electric motor driving a tool. The motor control arrangement includes a control panel through which a user can select a maximum torque value for the motor, and includes a torque limit circuit which limits the motor torque to the torque limit value selected by the user. The control panel also provides a digital display of actual motor speed and allows the user to digitally specify a maximum motor speed. The output of the foot switch is adjusted by a transfer function and then used to control motor speed, and the transfer function is adjusted as necessary to precisely conform the actual motor speed and thus the displayed speed to the selected maximum speed.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 1995Date of Patent: August 6, 1996Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Jerry A. Culp, Kevin J. Schemansky
-
Patent number: 5461355Abstract: A foot switch includes a base member having an upwardly facing surface, a force sensing resistor disposed on the surface and coupled electrically to a sensing circuit, and an actuating layer disposed on the force sensing resistor and the base member surface. The actuating layer has an elevated portion which is substantially centered over the force sensing resistor, the elevated portion having a convex upper surface which is a portion of a spherical surface. The sensing circuit includes a constant current source connected in series with the force sensing resistor between ground and a predetermined voltage.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 1993Date of Patent: October 24, 1995Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: Kevin J. Schemansky, Jerry A. Culp