Patents by Inventor Klaus-Dieter Steinhilper

Klaus-Dieter Steinhilper 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: 6921401
    Abstract: In order to configure, in such a way as to be capable of being employed in a simple and secure manner and produced cost-effectively, a surgical connecting element for fixing adjacently arranged bone plates, comprising a first bearing element, a second bearing element and a coupling element, by means of which the first and second bearing element can be coupled to each other in such a way that bone plates lying between the first and second bearing element can be fixed, it is proposed that the second bearing element and the coupling element be so designed and adapted to each other that, by relative movement between the coupling element and the second bearing element transversely to a clamping direction, the bone plates are fixable between the first and the second bearing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Aesculap AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Karl-Dieter Lerch, Manfred Fischer, Klaus-Dieter Steinhilper, Dieter Weisshaupt
  • Publication number: 20050049599
    Abstract: An implant is provided for fixing neighbouring bone plates of the cranial bone in a simple and reliable manner. The implant comprises an outer bearing element for covering a spacing gap between the bone plates, which sits on outer surfaces of the bone plates. The outer bearing element has a first pair of outer openings and a first pair of inner openings. An inner bearing element is provided for covering the spacing gap between the bone plates, which sits on inner surfaces of the bone plates. The inner bearing element has a second pair of outer openings and a second pair of inner openings. A thread-like tensioning element is provided which is threaded through the openings of the outer and inner bearing elements in a displaceable manner, such that, when tensioned, the tensioning element draws the inner bearing element and the outer bearing element together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Applicant: AESCULAP AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Nesper, Klaus-Dieter Steinhilper, Dieter Weisshaupt
  • Publication number: 20040267287
    Abstract: To avoid a maximum displacing force being exceeded in the case of a device for pushing together a thread loop which is formed by a slip knot at the distal free end of the thread which can be displaced along the thread, with a displacing element which can be displaced on the thread in the direction of the loop, it is proposed that the displacing element or the proximal portion of the thread disposed at the end of the displacing element remote from the loop has connected to it a gripping element which releases the connection between itself and the displacing element or the proximal portion of the thread when a specific holding force is exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: AESCULAP AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Nesper, Klaus-Dieter Steinhilper, Dieter Weisshaupt
  • Publication number: 20040116961
    Abstract: In order to provide an implant for fixing adjacent bone plates, in particular cranial bone plates, which has an inner abutment element by means of which a separation gap between the bone plates can be overlapped at a bone plate inner side and has an outer abutment element for overlapping the separation gap at a bone plate outer side lying opposite the bone plate inner side and which is easy for a surgeon to use and by means of which the bone plates may be securely fixed, it is proposed that at least one tension band is guided displaceably through the outer abutment element, by means of which, when a tensile stress is exerted, the inner abutment element and the outer abutment element are mutually braceable, and that the at least one tension band is fixable on the outer abutment element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: AESCULAP AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Nesper, Klaus-Dieter Steinhilper, Dieter Weisshaupt, Karl-Dieter Lerch
  • Publication number: 20040102779
    Abstract: In an implant for fixing neighbouring bone plates of the cranial bone comprising an inner bearing element which covers a spacing gap between the bone plates, an outer bearing element which covers the spacing gap and a connecting device which penetrates the spacing gap and which, when said bearing elements approach one another, connects the bearing elements together by means of a latching or a clamping connection in such a manner that they are no longer able to be moved apart, it is proposed that the two bearing elements be additionally connected by a thread-like tensioning element which is passed through the outer bearing element in displaceable manner and, when tensioned, moves the inner bearing element towards the outer bearing element in order to simplify the process of applying the implant and to ensure a secure connection of the bearing elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: AESCULAP AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Nesper, Klaus-Dieter Steinhilper, Dieter Weisshaupt
  • Publication number: 20020156475
    Abstract: In order to configure, in such a way as to be capable of being employed in a simple and secure manner and produced cost-effectively, a surgical connecting element for fixing adjacently arranged bone plates, comprising a first bearing element, a second bearing element and a coupling element, by means of which the first and second bearing element can be coupled to each other in such a way that bone plates lying between the first and second bearing element can be fixed, it is proposed that the second bearing element and the coupling element be so designed and adapted to each other that, by relative movement between the coupling element and the second bearing element transversely to a clamping direction, the bone plates are fixable between the first and the second bearing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: AESCULAP AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Karl-Dieter Lerch, Manfred Fischer, Klaus-Dieter Steinhilper, Dieter Weisshaupt