Patents by Inventor Roland Thomke

Roland Thomke 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: 20080065068
    Abstract: An insert (50) for a clamping element (10) having two jaws (12, 13) for clamping a rod-shaped element comprises at least one jacket element (51). Said jacket element can be inserted into one jaw (12, 13) each of the clamping element (10), thereby allowing to vary, especially reducing, the free space (11) available for a rod. The insert (50) also comprises at least one retaining section (53,54) which fastens at least one part of the insert (50) in or on at least one of the jaws (12,13) of the clamping element. A clamping element can be provided with two jacket elements (51), interlinked via an undulated web, or two or three juxtaposed longitudinal grooves for receiving rods having different diameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Roland Thomke, Damian Fankhauser
  • Publication number: 20070233061
    Abstract: A polymeric external fixator element, such as a rod or a pin or a clamp, has at least one contacting surface. At least one of the contacting surfaces of the element responsible to establish connection between the element and a different external fixator element is provided with a rough ablated structure. The clamping can be improved if one of the polymeric elements comprise fibers having fiber parts protruding above the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: Stryker Trauma S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Lehmann, Roland Thomke
  • Publication number: 20070198012
    Abstract: A two-piece clamping element comprises two separate, i.e., non-integral, opposing first and second clamping jaws forming a laterally open cavity to receive a pin or rod-shaped element. Each clamping jaw has a bore aligned with one another to receive a screw, wherein a pivot bearing is arranged opposite said cavity allowing the two opposing clamping jaws to come in contact to one another. The pivot bearing comprises at least one set of complementary part-cylindrical bearing surface portions. An anti-rotation pin extends between the two jaw members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: Stryker Trauma SA
    Inventors: Roland Thomke, Christian Lutz, Vinzenz Burgherr, Damian Fankhauser
  • Patent number: 7241074
    Abstract: A one-piece clamping element has two opposing clamping jaws forming a laterally open cavity to receive a rod-shaped element. A hinge is located between the jaws, arranged opposite the cavity, and connecting the clamping jaws with one another and thus allowing them to be movable with respect to one another. Each clamping jaw has one bore, aligned flush with one another. One clamping jaw has a receptacle for an anti-rotation device. The receptacle makes it preferable—with the exception of an immediate tightening of the screw in this or another place of an external fixator clamping element used for the same patient—to use the clamping element only once and discarding it after use. Two identical clamping elements, with the possible exception of the size of the rod receptacle, can be placed on top of one another to form an articulation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Stryker Trauma S.A.
    Inventors: Roland Thomke, Vinzenz Burgherr, Christian Lutz, Damian Fankhauser, Clemens Dransfeld, René Fischer
  • Publication number: 20060177263
    Abstract: An insert for an external fixation has two jaws for clamping a rod-shaped element. The insert includes a locking element and is an angled piece having two free ends, with at least one engagement edge for engagement into the rod-shaped element being provided at its one free end. The insert has a recess or bore for engagement with a locking shaft of the clamp provided at the free end thereof that lies opposite to the free end having the rod engagement edge. The insert is angled so that it may extend through a passageway in one of the jaws and into a cavity formed in the jaw for receiving the rod. The insert rod engaging edges are tapered to bite into the rod to prevent its movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Applicant: Stryker Trauma S.A.
    Inventors: Roland Thomke, Vinzenz Burgherr, Damian Fankhauser
  • Publication number: 20060052781
    Abstract: A clamping element for the clamping of multiple rod-shaped elements has two opposing jaws, which have a number of corresponding grooves for the acceptance of a corresponding number of rod-shaped elements such as bone pins. Spring elements are provided, with which in the resting position the closed jaws are tensed, to hold the rod-shaped elements in position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Publication date: March 9, 2006
    Applicant: Stryker Trauma S.A.
    Inventors: Roland Thomke, Vinzenz Burgherr, Christian Lutz, Damian Fankhauser, Clemens Dransfeld, Rene Fischer
  • Publication number: 20060039750
    Abstract: A one-piece clamping element has two opposing clamping jaws forming a laterally open cavity to receive a rod-shaped element. A hinge is located between the jaws, arranged opposite the cavity, and connecting the clamping jaws with one another and thus allowing them to be movable with respect to one another. Each clamping jaw has one bore, aligned flush with one another. One clamping jaw has a receptacle for an anti-rotation device, so that two identical clamping elements, with the possible exception of the size of the rod receptacle, can be placed on top of one another to form an articulation element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Applicant: Stryker Trauma S.A.
    Inventors: Roland Thomke, Vinzenz Burgherr, Christian Lutz, Damian Fankhauser, Clemens Dransfeld, Rene Fischer