Patents by Inventor Martina Heim

Martina Heim 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: 9757138
    Abstract: An instrument (10) having a tool (15) of a particularly simple design comprises jaws (16, 17) with jaw supports (46) supported by spaced-apart hinges on a shared socket part 18. The hinge axes (27, 28) of the hinges are oriented parallel relative to each other and are at a distance from each other. A slit (24) for precisely guiding a knife (25) may be provided between the two. The jaw supports (46) of the jaws (16, 17) are guided in their own hinges with minimal play and hence in a precise manner. They are held against each other by transverse interlocking means (37), thereby ensuring a simple assembly and precise guiding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: ERBE ELEKTROMEDIZIN GMBH
    Inventors: Joachim Guba, Lothar Mitzlaff, Ralf Kuehner, Martina Heim
  • Publication number: 20150073408
    Abstract: A surgical instrument 10 suitable for sealing tissue includes a tool 15 with at least one branch 16 comprising an electrode unit 35, which consists of a sheet metal part 35. The part 35 is anchored in a positive manner in a plastic body 34. Strip sections 40, 41 of the metal part 35 extend into the plastic body 34, encompassing openings 42, 42 or slits 43, 43a, through which the plastic body 34 extends. A positive anchoring of the sheet metal part 35 in the plastic body 34 and minimizing of the heat introduction into the plastic body 34 is thus attained. The thermal capacity of the sheet metal part 35 and the thermal conductivity of the plastic body 34 are low, so that consistently positive coagulation results are reached even after repeated use in short succession, regardless of the initial temperature of the tissue contact surfaces 36.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Marcus Amann, Daniel Schaeller, Volker Mayer, Martina Heim
  • Publication number: 20150073451
    Abstract: An instrument (10) having a tool (15) of a particularly simple design comprises jaws (16, 17) with jaw supports (46) supported by spaced-apart hinges on a shared socket part 18. The hinge axes (27, 28) of the hinges are oriented parallel relative to each other and are at a distance from each other. A slit (24) for precisely guiding a knife (25) may be provided between the two. The jaw supports (46) of the jaws (16, 17) are guided in their own hinges with minimal play and hence in a precise manner. They are held against each other by transverse interlocking means (37), thereby ensuring a simple assembly and precise guiding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Joachim Guba, Lothar Mitzlaff, Ralf Kuehner, Martina Heim
  • Publication number: 20140276806
    Abstract: In the case of an instrument (10) for coagulation and fusion as well as for severing vessels, provision is made for two shanks (19, 20), between which a vessel is to be gripped and fused. A blade (21) for severing the coagulated and fused vessel is provided with an isolator (40), which isolates the blade (21) against at least one of the electrodes or shanks (19, 20), respectively. On the other hand, the blade (21) is preferably in mechanical contact with at least one of the electrodes or shanks (19, 20), respectively, so that a safe separation of the fused biological tissue or vessel, respectively, is attained. This concept can be used to increase the safety of surgery and to miniaturize the tool (18) towards smaller sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: ERBE Elektromedizin GmbH
    Inventor: Martina Heim
  • Patent number: 8636725
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a tool part and a grip part connected to each other via a ball and socket joint or other double-axis joint. The double axis joint allows the surgeon to work in a non-fatiguing, ergonomic and sensitive manner. The tool on the tool part can be activated e.g., mechanically by an actuation member. Additional actuation elements such as, e.g., electrical switches, can be arranged on the grip part to activate the tool. The transmission connection between the grip part and the tool can be achieved via rigid levers and connecting pieces or also via flexible elements (e.g., a traction cord), or rigid components with an integral hinge. To uncouple a pivoting movement of the grip part towards the tool part from an actuation of the tool, at least one joint of the transmission is arranged in the center of the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Amann, Martina Heim, Ralf Kühner, Stefanie Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20120220987
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a tool part and a grip part connected to each other via a ball and socket joint or other double-axis joint. The double axis joint allows the surgeon to work in a non-fatiguing, ergonomic and sensitive manner. The tool on the tool part can be activated e.g., mechanically by an actuation member. Additional actuation elements such as, e.g., electrical switches, can be arranged on the grip part to activate the tool. The transmission connection between the grip part and the tool can be achieved via rigid levers and connecting pieces or also via flexible elements (e.g., a traction cord), or rigid components with an integral hinge. To uncouple a pivoting movement of the grip part towards the tool part from an actuation of the tool, at least one joint of the transmission is arranged in the center of the joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Tobias Amann, Martina Heim, Ralf Kühner, Stefanie Schmidt