Patents by Inventor Kevin M. Mihelc

Kevin M. Mihelc 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: 20140228741
    Abstract: A system for intracorporeal gas exchange includes a flexible, rotatable shaft; a plurality of axially spaced agitation mechanisms positioned on the rotatable shaft, such that the rotatable shaft can flex between the axially spaced agitation mechanisms; a plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers adapted to permit diffusion of gas between intracorporeal fluid and an interior of the hollow fibers. The plurality of hollow fibers is positioned radially outward from the agitation mechanisms. A blood contacting medical system includes at least one seal, and a purge system via which a flushing fluid is introduced under pressure over a blood-side face of the seal and caused to flow through a space on the blood side of the seal. The system can further include a rotatable member. The space on the blood side of the seal can be in fluid connection with an annular space adjacent to a rotating element operatively connected to the rotatable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
    Inventors: BRIAN J. FRANKOWSKI, WILLIAM J. FEDERSPIEL, KEVIN M. MIHELC, SAMUEL C. LIEBER
  • Patent number: 8734382
    Abstract: A system for intracorporeal gas exchange includes a flexible, rotatable shaft; a plurality of axially spaced agitation mechanisms positioned on the rotatable shaft, such that the rotatable shaft can flex between the axially spaced agitation mechanisms; a plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers adapted to permit diffusion of a gas between an intracorporeal fluid and an interior of the hollow fibers. The plurality of hollow fibers is positioned radially outward from the agitation mechanisms. A blood contacting medical system includes at least one seal, and a purge system via which a flushing fluid is introduced under pressure over a blood-side face of the at least one seal and caused to flow through a space on the blood-side face of the at least one seal. The system can further include a rotatable member. The space on the blood-side face of the at least one seal can be in fluid connection with an annular space adjacent to a rotating element operatively connected to the rotatable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Brian J. Frankowski, William J. Federspiel, Kevin M. Mihelc, Samuel C. Lieber
  • Patent number: 8398718
    Abstract: A prosthetic hip implant system includes a prosthetic femoral component having a stem portion, a neck portion coupled to the stem portion and a part-spherical head coupled to the neck portion. An acetabular component is provided which has a housing, the housing having a part-spherical inner surface having an open end with a circumferential rim portion. The rim portion has a circumferential radially inwardly extending flange. A bearing element is mounted within the housing and has a part-spherical first outer surface region engaging the part-spherical inner surface of the housing. The part-spherical first outer surface region extends at a first radius from a center. The bearing element has a second part-spherical outer surface region extending a distance from the center less than the first radius to form a stop surface for contacting the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventors: Rodney Ian Walter Richardson, Kevin M. Mihelc
  • Publication number: 20120209398
    Abstract: A prosthetic hip implant system includes a prosthetic femoral component having a stem portion, a neck portion coupled to the stem portion and a part-spherical head coupled to the neck portion. An acetabular component is provided which has a housing, the housing having a part-spherical inner surface having an open end with a circumferential rim portion. The rim portion has a circumferential radially inwardly extending flange. A bearing element is mounted within the housing and has a part-spherical first outer surface region engaging the part-spherical inner surface of the housing. The part-spherical first outer surface region extends at a first radius from a center. The bearing element has a second part-spherical outer surface region extending a distance from the center less than the first radius to form a stop surface for contacting the rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: HOWMEDICA OSTEONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Rodney Ian Walter Richardson, Kevin M. Mihelc
  • Publication number: 20100331767
    Abstract: A system for intracorporeal gas exchange includes a flexible, rotatable shaft; a plurality of axially spaced agitation mechanisms positioned on the rotatable shaft, such that the rotatable shaft can flex between the axially spaced agitation mechanisms; a plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers adapted to permit diffusion of gas between intracorporeal fluid and an interior of the hollow fibers. The plurality of hollow fibers is positioned radially outward from the agitation mechanisms. A blood contacting medical system includes at least one seal, and a purge system via which a flushing fluid is introduced under pressure over a blood-side face of the seal and caused to flow through a space on the blood side of the seal. The system can further include a rotatable member. The space on the blood side of the seal can be in fluid connection with an annular space adjacent to a rotating element operatively connected to the rotatable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Brian J. Frankowski, William J. Federspiel, Kevin M. Mihelc, Samuel C. Lieber