Patents by Inventor Robert W. Hornlein

Robert W. Hornlein 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: 4988334
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical aspirator having an improved irrigation/aspiration manifold and components to facilitate quick connections of the irrigation and aspiration lines to a handpiece. In combination with a handle assembly having an ultrasonic vibrator for vibrating an ultrasonic tip and a nosecone, a nosecone extension defining a rotating joint for connection to the nosecone in an articulating joint for connection to a rigid or flexible flue is provided. The nosecone extension further defines an irrigation cowl having an irrigation port for receiving an irrigation connector for connecting the irrigation fluid to the nosecone extension for passage of irrigation fluid through the nosecone extension and a flue about the surgical tip. An aspiration tubulation connector adapted to securely fit a slot through the nosecone and nosecone extension connects an aspiration port on the tip to the aspiration tube for connection to a pump into a discard area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Valleylab, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Hornlein, Joseph N. Logan, Alan Broadwin, Vaclav O. Podany
  • Patent number: 4931047
    Abstract: An apparatus having a vibratable tip for ultrasonically disintegrating tissue in a surgical procedure and for aspirating the disintegrated tissue and fluids away from the surgical site through an opening in the tip. A connection to an electrosurgical unit provides for delivery of RF cutting current, RF coagulating current or a blend thereof to the tip so that electrosurgical procedures can be conducted separately or simultaneously with ultrasonic aspiration through the tip. It thus is now possible, for example, to electrocauterize simultaneously with ultrasonic fragmentation with a single handheld surgical device. The simultaneous delivery of ultrasonic vibrations and RF current to the tip also has been found to increase the tissue fragmentation rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Cavitron, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Broadwin, Charles Vassallo, Joseph N. Logan, Robert W. Hornlein
  • Patent number: 4881761
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical aspirator having an improved irrigation/aspiration manifold and components to facilitate quick connections of the irrigation and aspiration lines to a handpiece. In combination with a handle assembly having an ultrasonic vibrator for vibrating an ultrasonic tip and a nosecone, a nosecone extension defining a rotating joint for connection to the nosecone in an articulating joint for connection to a rigid or flexible flue is provided. The nosecone extension further defines an irrigation cowl having an irrigation port for receiving an irrigation connector for connecting the irrigation fluid to the nosecone extension for passage of irrigation fluid through the nosecone extension and a flue about the surgical tip. An aspiration tubulation connector adapted to securely fit a slot through the nosecone and nosecone extension connects an aspiration port on the tip to the aspiration tube for connection to a pump into a discard area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: Cooper LaserSonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Hornlein, Joseph N. Logan, Alan Broadwin, Vaclav O. Podany
  • Patent number: 4846790
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical aspirator having an improved irrigation/aspiration manifold and components to facilitate quick connections of the irrigation and aspiration lines to a handpiece. In combination with a handle assembly having an ultrasonic vibrator for vibrating an ultrasonic tip and a nosecone, a nosecone extension defining a rotating joint for connection to the nosecone in an articulating joint for connection to a rigid or flexible flue is provided. The nosecone extension further defines an irrigation cowl having an irrigation port for receiving an irrigation connector for connecting the irrigation fluid to the nosecone extension for passage of irrigation fluid through the nosecone extension and a flue about the surgical tip. An aspiration tubulation connector adapted to securely fit a slot through the nosecone and nosecone extension connects an aspiration port on the tip to the aspiration tube for connection to a pump into a discard area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Cooper LaserSonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Hornlein, Joseph N. Logan, Alan Broadwin, Vaclav O. Podany
  • Patent number: 4832021
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for assembly and disassembly of interchangeable surgical acoustic members includes a fixture for securing by a key a handpiece to which a tip and/or extender is attached. A torquing wrench has a tightening head and an untightening head on the same body, wherein the tightening head permits torquing of the tip and/or extender to a predetermined tightening torque in cooperation with a socket having a central bore therethrough so that the wrench and socket may be slid over an axially elongated combination and used at a point intermediate along the length thereof. In use, the handpiece is secured in the handpiece fixture and receives the tip and/or extender in a handtightened condition to be torqued to a predetermined limit by the torquing wrench while secured against rotation in the handpiece fixture. A table support structure for supporting a handpiece fixture for an alternative operation is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Cooper LaserSonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Kuhl, Alan Broadwin, Robert W. Hornlein
  • Patent number: 4747820
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical aspirator having an improved irrigation/aspiration manifold and components to facilitate quick connections of the irrigation and aspiration lines to a handpiece. In combination with a handle assembly having an ultrasonic vibrator for vibrating an ultrasonic tip and a nosecone, a nosecone extension defining a rotating joint for connection to the nosecone in an articulating joint for connection to a rigid or flexible flue is provided. The nosecone extension further defines an irrigation cowl having an irrigation port for receiving an irrigation connector for connecting the irrigation fluid to the nosecone extension for passage of irrigation fluid through the nosecone extension and a flue about the surgical tip. An aspiration tubulation connector adapted to securely fit a slot through the nosecone and nosecone extension connects an aspiration port on the tip to the aspiration tube for connection to a pump into a discard area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Assignee: Cooper LaserSonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Hornlein, Joseph N. Logan, Alan Broadwin, Vaclav O. Podany