Patents by Inventor Sara Koehler McNicholas

Sara Koehler McNicholas 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).

  • Breathable residual-limb socket system
    Patent number: 11938045
    Abstract: Breathable residual-limb system that admits air and allows sweat to evaporate from the surface of the residual limb. In an embodiment, the system comprises a liner sock to be worn on the residual limb, and comprising air-permeable textile forming a substantially cylindrical portion that is closed on a distal end and open on a proximal end and comprising an internal surface and an external surface. The liner sock further comprises a friction-interface material that covers only a portion of the internal surface of the air-permeable textile, such that, when worn on the residual limb, the friction-interface material contacts a surface of the residual limb, and an uncovered portion of the air-permeable textile which the friction-interface material does not cover allows air to pass between an external environment of the liner sock and the surface of the residual limb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignees: United States Government As Represented By The Department Of Veterans Affairs, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e. V.
    Inventors: Andrew Hansen, Sara Koehler-Mcnicholas, Eric Nickel, Kyle Barrons, Felix Starker, Spencer Mion, John Ferguson, Stuart Fairhurst, Ellankavi Ramasamy, Karl Koester, Urs Schneider
  • Single axis ankle-foot prosthesis with mechanically adjustable range of motion
    Patent number: 11712351
    Abstract: An ankle prosthesis can have a base and an upper hinge component that is pivotably attached to the base about an axis. First and second biasing elements can bias the upper hinge component in first and second rotational directions, respectively. At least one selectively extendable and retractable locking element can extend from one of the base and the upper hinge component and engage the other of the base and the upper hinge component to limit the pivotable movement of the upper hinge component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: United States Government As Represented By The Department Of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Sara Koehler McNicholas, Eric Nickel, Stuart Fairhurst, Justin Keister, Andrew H. Hansen
  • Breathable Residual-Limb Socket System
    Publication number: 20230157851
    Abstract: Breathable residual-limb system that admits air and allows sweat to evaporate from the surface of the residual limb. In an embodiment, the system comprises a liner sock to be worn on the residual limb, and comprising air-permeable textile forming a substantially cylindrical portion that is closed on a distal end and open on a proximal end and comprising an internal surface and an external surface. The liner sock further comprises a friction-interface material that covers only a portion of the internal surface of the air-permeable textile, such that, when worn on the residual limb, the friction-interface material contacts a surface of the residual limb, and an uncovered portion of the air-permeable textile which the friction-interface material does not cover allows air to pass between an external environment of the liner sock and the surface of the residual limb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew Hansen, Sara Koehler-Mcnicholas, Eric Nickel, Kyle Barrons, Felix Starker, Spencer Mion, John Ferguson, Stuart Fairhurst, Ellankavl Ramasamy, Karl Koester, Urs Schneider
  • BREATHABLE RESIDUAL-LIMB SOCKET SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20210137707
    Abstract: Breathable residual-limb system that admits air and allows sweat to evaporate from the surface of the residual limb. In an embodiment, the system comprises a liner sock to be worn on the residual limb, and comprising air-permeable textile forming a substantially cylindrical portion that is closed on a distal end and open on a proximal end and comprising an internal surface and an external surface. The liner sock further comprises a friction-interface material that covers only a portion of the internal surface of the air-permeable textile, such that, when worn on the residual limb, the friction-interface material contacts a surface of the residual limb, and an uncovered portion of the air-permeable textile which the friction-interface material does not cover allows air to pass between an external environment of the liner sock and the surface of the residual limb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew Hansen, Sara Koehler-Mcnicholas, Eric Nickel, Kyle Barrons, Felix Starker, Spencer Mion, John Ferguson, Stuart Fairhurst, Ellankavl Ramasamy, Karl Koester, Christopher Dearth, Brad Hendershot, Alison Pruziner, Peter Anderson, Louise Hassinger, David Laufer, Urs Schneider
  • SINGLE AXIS ANKLE-FOOT PROSTHESIS WITH MECHANICALLY ADJUSTABLE RANGE OF MOTION
    Publication number: 20210106442
    Abstract: An ankle prosthesis can have a base and an upper hinge component that is pivotably attached to the base about an axis. First and second biasing elements can bias the upper hinge component in first and second rotational directions, respectively. At least one selectively extendable and retractable locking element can extend from one of the base and the upper hinge component and engage the other of the base and the upper hinge component to limit the pivotable movement of the upper hinge component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Sara Koehler McNicholas, Eric Nickel, Stuart Fairhurst, Justin Keister, Andrew H. Hansen