Patents by Inventor Liam SULLIVAN

Liam SULLIVAN 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: 20260115019
    Abstract: Disclosed are prosthetic systems comprising a powered knee prosthesis and a volitional controller configured to provide control of the prosthesis to the user. The prosthetic system may be configured to enable a user to walk on smooth and/or uneven terrain and to ascend and/or descend stairs. The volitional controller may be configured in a contact state when the prosthesis is in contact with a ground surface and a no contact state when the prosthesis is lifted from the ground surface. When in the contact state, the controller may output a knee torque signal for controlling the powered knee of the prosthesis. The knee torque signal may be based on a target knee torque determined by the knee orientation and the torque measured at the ankle of a prosthetic foot. When in the no contact state, the controller may output a knee torque signal based on a desired knee position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2025
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Inventors: Tommaso LENZI, Lukas R. GABERT, Liam SULLIVAN, Marissa Ann COWAN
  • Patent number: 12527673
    Abstract: Disclosed are prosthetic systems comprising a powered knee prosthesis and a volitional controller configured to provide control of the prosthesis to the user. The prosthetic system may be configured to enable a user to walk on smooth and/or uneven terrain and to ascend and/or descend stairs. The volitional controller may be configured in a contact state when the prosthesis is in contact with a ground surface and a no contact state when the prosthesis is lifted from the ground surface. When in the contact state, the controller may output a knee torque signal for controlling the powered knee of the prosthesis. The knee torque signal may be based on a target knee torque determined by the knee orientation and the torque measured at the ankle of a prosthetic foot. When in the no contact state, the controller may output a knee torque signal based on a desired knee position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2026
    Assignee: The University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Tommaso Lenzi, Lukas R. Gabert, Liam Sullivan, Marissa Ann Cowan
  • Publication number: 20250177720
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a device comprising a first connector including a first elongated hollow member configured to be positioned at least partially within a lumen of a proximal portion of a tube. The first connector provides a clamping force to the proximal portion of the tube. The device also includes a second connector configured to be removably coupled to the first connector. The second connector including a second elongated hollow member configured to be positioned at least partially within a lumen of a distal portion of the tube. The proximal portion of the tube is separated from the distal portion of the tube when the first connector is disconnected from the second connector, and the lumen of the proximal portion of the tube is fluidically connected with the lumen of the distal portion of the tube when the first connector is removably coupled to the second connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: Liam Sullivan, Michael Malone, Joelle Tudor, Emmanuel Pacheco, Austin Higgs, Tova Weiss
  • Publication number: 20250107907
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a volitional controller and prosthetic leg system comprising a volitional controller and a powered prosthetic leg. The volitional controller may be configured to control a powered knee joint and a powered ankle joint to enable a user to walk at different speeds and inclines. The orientation of the components of the powered prosthetic leg may be monitored continuously to enable the system to adapt to changes in the duration of the user's gait. The volitional controller may be configured to determine a target knee torque and a target ankle torque that may be based on the global shank orientation, a prosthetic knee velocity, and a prosthetic ankle velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Tommaso LENZI, Lukas R. GABERT, Liam SULLIVAN, Marissa Ann COWAN
  • Publication number: 20250107905
    Abstract: Disclosed are prosthetic systems comprising a powered knee prosthesis and a volitional controller configured to provide control of the prosthesis to the user. The prosthetic system may be configured to enable a user to walk on smooth and/or uneven terrain and to ascend and/or descend stairs. The volitional controller may be configured in a contact state when the prosthesis is in contact with a ground surface and a no contact state when the prosthesis is lifted from the ground surface. When in the contact state, the controller may output a knee torque signal for controlling the powered knee of the prosthesis. The knee torque signal may be based on a target knee torque determined by the knee orientation and the torque measured at the ankle of a prosthetic foot. When in the no contact state, the controller may output a knee torque signal based on a desired knee position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Tommaso LENZI, Lukas R. GABERT, Liam SULLIVAN, Marissa Ann COWAN