Patents by Inventor Matthew E. Hermes
Matthew E. Hermes 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).
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Patent number: 7128332Abstract: Wheelchair designs and enhancements are provided for use with conventional wheelchair designs. The designs and enhancements include first and second contoured folding seat panels that are hingedly mounted with respect to the wheelchair frame and that are offer interlocking functionality. The folding seats generally provide contouring in both front-to-back and side-to-side directions. Features are provided to prevent capture of objects between seat panels as they are brought into interlocking engagement. Pivotal footrests that offer enhanced stability in the form of lateral, front-to-back and up-down stability are provided In addition, axle and axle plate combinations are described that provide enhanced flexibility in relative positioning with respect to the wheelchair frame. The disclosed features and functionalities may be incorporated into wheelchair designs, either in whole or in part, to provide enhanced user interaction with the wheelchair.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2004Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: Turbo Wheelchair Co., Inc.Inventors: Matthew E. Hermes, Jane Hermes, Michael P. Chesterfield
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Patent number: 6260699Abstract: Synthetic absorbable sutures are filled with a stabilizing agent, preferably a mixture of glycerol and calcium lactate, and inserted into a retainer having a narrow convoluted passageway. The retainer is inserted into an open foil pouch with a package stabilizing element such as a paper sheet filled with stabilizing agent. The package containing the suture, retainer and package stabilizing element is sterilized, aerated, equilibrated to a relatively high moisture level, and sealed. Long lengths of suture and doubled-over and tripled-over suture may be withdrawn from the retainer with low force without damaging the suture. Bends and kinks in the suture are prevented so as to provide a synthetic absorbable suture having highly desirable out of package hand and feel. The suture an removed from the package exhibits improved tissue drag characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: July 17, 2001Assignee: United States Surgical CorporationInventors: Donald S. Kaplan, Matthew E. Hermes, Ross R. Muth, David L. Brown, Henry A. Holzwarth
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Patent number: 5472702Abstract: A human growth factor (HGF), a human growth factor-containing composition or a medical or surgical device such as a wound dressing or suture filled with a human growth factor-containing composition is sterilized employing an ethylene oxide gaseous sterilizant.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 1994Date of Patent: December 5, 1995Assignee: United States Surgical CorporationInventors: Ross R. Muth, Matthew E. Hermes, Donald S. Kaplan
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Patent number: 5468252Abstract: Synthetic absorbable sutures are filled with a stabilizing agent, preferably a mixture of glycerol and calcium lactate, and inserted into a retainer having a narrow convoluted passageway. The retainer is inserted into an open foil pouch with a package stabilizing element, such as a paper sheet filled with stabilizing agent. The package containing the suture, retainer and package stabilizing element is sterilized, aerated, equilibrated to a relatively high moisture level, and sealed. Long lengths of suture and doubled-over and tripled-over suture may be withdrawn from the retainer with low force without damaging the suture. Bends and kinks in the suture are prevented so as to provide a synthetic absorbable suture having highly desirable out of package hand and feel. The suture as removed from the package exhibits improved tissue drag characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1993Date of Patent: November 21, 1995Assignee: United States Surgical CorporationInventors: Donald S. Kaplan, Matthew E. Hermes, Ross R. Muth, David L. Brown, Henry A. Holzwarth
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Patent number: 5462162Abstract: Synthetic absorbable sutures are filled with a stabilizing agent, preferably a mixture of glycerol and calcium lactate, and inserted into a retainer having a narrow convoluted passageway. The retainer is inserted into an open foil pouch with a package stabilizing element, such as a paper sheet filled with stabilizing agent. The package containing the suture, retainer and package stabilizing element is sterilized, aerated, equilibrated to a relatively high moisture level, and sealed. Long lengths of suture and doubled-over and tripled-over suture may be withdrawn from the retainer with low force without damaging the suture. Bends and kinks in the suture are prevented so as to provide a synthetic absorbable suture having highly desirable out of package hand and feel. The suture as removed from the package exhibits improved tissue drag characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 1994Date of Patent: October 31, 1995Assignee: United States Surgical CorporationInventors: Donald S. Kaplan, Matthew E. Hermes, Ross R. Muth, David L. Brown, Henry A. Holzwarth
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Patent number: 5456697Abstract: A braided suture possesses a cable core which resists any tendency to protrude through the surrounding braid structure.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1993Date of Patent: October 10, 1995Assignee: United States Surgical CorporationInventors: Michael P. Chesterfield, Ilya S. Koyfman, Donald S. Kaplan, Matthew E. Hermes
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Patent number: 5447966Abstract: An absorbable composition useful for treating absorbable surgical devices to render the same storage stable and/or to enhance delivery of the article and/or a medico-surgically useful substance to a wound. The preferred composition includes collagen or a derivative thereof, a plasticizer and a surfactant.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 1994Date of Patent: September 5, 1995Assignee: United States Surgical CorporationInventors: Matthew E. Hermes, Ross R. Muth, Darel L. Gustafson
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Patent number: 5424136Abstract: Useful materials are formed by polymerizing a 1,3 dioxolan-4-one monomer. The 1,3 dioxolan-4-one monomer can be copolymerized with a variety of comonomers, including glycolide, lactide, dioxanone, trimethylene carbonate and caprolactone.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 1992Date of Patent: June 13, 1995Assignee: United States Surgical CorporationInventor: Matthew E. Hermes
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Patent number: 5366081Abstract: Synthetic absorbable sutures are filled with a stabilizing agent, preferably a mixture of glycerol and calcium lactate, and inserted into a retainer having a narrow convoluted passageway. The retainer is inserted into an open foil pouch with a package stabilizing element, such as a paper sheet filled with stabilizing agent. The package containing the suture, retainer and package stabilizing element is sterilized, aerated, equilibrated to a relatively high moisture level, and sealed. Long lengths of suture and doubled-over and tripled-over suture may be withdrawn from the retainer with low force without damaging the suture. Bends and kinks in the suture are prevented so as to provide a synthetic absorbable suture having highly desirable out of package hand and feel. The suture as removed from the package exhibits improved tissue drag characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 1992Date of Patent: November 22, 1994Assignee: United States Surgical CorporationInventors: Donald S. Kaplan, Matthew E. Hermes, Ross R. Muth, David L. Brown, Henry A. Holzwarth
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Patent number: 5349047Abstract: Polyesters having predetermined monomeric sequence are produced by stepwise addition of monomeric hydroxyacids to a growing polymeric chain. Included herein are various polyesters having predetermined primary sequence, various methods of producing polyesters having predetermined primary sequence, various articles formed from polyesters having predetermined primary sequence and various methods of using such articles.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1993Date of Patent: September 20, 1994Assignee: United States Surgical CorporationInventors: Matthew E. Hermes, Bin Huang
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Patent number: 5312437Abstract: An absorbable composition for application to a surgical suture to improve the knot tie-down and/or knot security characteristics thereof is obtained from the reaction of a poly(oxypropylene) glycol and a lactide/glycolide copolymer, optionally, in the presence of an initiator and/or catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1992Date of Patent: May 17, 1994Assignee: United States Surgical CorporationInventors: Matthew E. Hermes, Donald S. Kaplan, Nagabhushanam Totakura, Steven L. Bennett
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Patent number: 5306289Abstract: A braided suture exhibits one or more improved properties, e.g., reduced chatter, greater flexibility and/or better hand, than that of a braided suture of known, or standard, construction and of substantially equivalent size.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1991Date of Patent: April 26, 1994Assignee: United States Surgical CorporationInventors: Donald S. Kaplan, Matthew E. Hermes, Ross R. Muth
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Patent number: 5282829Abstract: The present invention provides a surgical incision or wound closure implant device possessing an interior hollow core region while maintaining the mechanical beam characteristics of the overall structure. In the case of cored biodegradable implant devices the thickness of the cored region can be varied to regulate the speed at which the device is biodegraded. The core region may optionally be filled with a medicinal agent or a stabilizing material.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1991Date of Patent: February 1, 1994Assignee: United States Surgical CorporationInventor: Matthew E. Hermes
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Patent number: 5261886Abstract: A braided suture possesses a cable core which resists any tendency to protrude through the surrounding braid structure.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1992Date of Patent: November 16, 1993Assignee: United States Surgical CorporationInventors: Michael P. Chesterfield, Ilya S. Koyfman, Donald S. Kaplan, Matthew E. Hermes
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Patent number: 5256762Abstract: Compositions comprising polyesters having predetermined monomeric sequence are produced by stepwise addition of monomeric hydroxyacids to a growing polymeric chain. Included herein are various polyesters having predetermined monomeric sequence, methods of their production use as well as articles formed from said compositions.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 1992Date of Patent: October 26, 1993Assignee: United States Surgical CorporationInventors: Matthew E. Hermes, Ross R. Muth
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Patent number: 5248761Abstract: Compositions comprising amino acid terminated polyesters having predetermined monomeric sequence are produced by stepwise addition of monomeric hydroxyacids to an amine to form a growing polymeric chain. Included herein are various amino acid terminated polyesters having predetermined monomeric sequence, methods for their production and use as well as articles formed from said compositions.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1992Date of Patent: September 28, 1993Assignee: United States Surgical CorporationInventor: Matthew E. Hermes
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Patent number: 5226912Abstract: A surgical needle is attached to a braided suture of particular construction to provide a combined surgical needle-braided suture device. A shrinkable tubing is employed to secure the needle to the suture. The tubing shrinks in response to the application of energy, e.g., heat. Attachment parameters may be controlled to provide standard needle attachment or removable needle attachment.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 1990Date of Patent: July 13, 1993Assignee: United States Surgical CorporationInventors: Donald S. Kaplan, Matthew E. Hermes, Ross R. Muth, Herbert W. Korthoff
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Patent number: 5222978Abstract: Synthetic absorbable sutures are filled with a stabilizing agent, preferably a mixture of glycerol and calcium lactate, and inserted into a retainer having a narrow convoluted passageway. The retainer is inserted into an open foil pouch with a package stabilizing element, such as a paper sheet filled with stabilizing agent. The package containing the suture, retainer and package stabilizing element is sterilized, aerated, equilibrated to a relatively high moisture level, and sealed. Long lengths of suture and doubled-over and tripled-over suture may be withdrawn from the retainer with low force without damaging the suture. Bends and kinks in the suture are prevented so as to provide a synthetic absorbable suture having highly desirable out of package hand and feel. The suture as removed from the package exhibits improved tissue drag characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 1990Date of Patent: June 29, 1993Assignee: United States Surgical CorporationInventors: Donald S. Kaplan, Matthew E. Hermes, Ross R. Muth, David L. Brown, Henry A. Holzwarth
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Patent number: 5124103Abstract: An absorbable, annealed surgical device made from a multi-phase, polymeric composition derived from lactide and glycolide. Preferably, the composition has two phases, both phases are continuous, the first phase has about 0-about 25%m glycolide moieties, the overall composition has up to 45%m glycolide moieties, and the first phase constitutes at least 50% (and preferably not more than about 95%) by weight of the composition. The device has a high distortion temperature, good resistance to hot-wet creep, but yet loses tensile strength in vivo quickly. The composition per se is injection-moldable, can be annealed, and is not brittle.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 1990Date of Patent: June 23, 1992Assignee: United States Surgical CorporationInventors: Donald S. Kaplan, Matthew E. Hermes, Ross R. Muth, John J. Kennedy
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Patent number: 5051272Abstract: The storage stability of a polymeric article susceptible to hydrolytic degradation, e.g., an absorbable suture, is improved by applying a storage stabilizing amount of a mixture comprising at least one water soluble hygroscopic polyhydroxy compound and/or ester thereof, e.g., glycerol, monoacetin, diacetin, and the like, and at least one compound having the general formula ##STR1## and hydreates thereof to the article as storage stabilizing agent, said agent being retained by the article prior to sealing of the enclosure in which the suture is packaged.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1988Date of Patent: September 24, 1991Assignee: United States Surgical CorporationInventors: Matthew E. Hermes, Ross R. Muth