Patents by Inventor Shane Sterling
Shane Sterling 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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Publication number: 20120179079Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, an orthotic apparatus includes a frame structure having an upper frame portion moveable relative to a lower frame portion. The orthotic apparatus further includes at least one strap attached to the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion of the frame structure. The at least one strap and the frame structure, together, are configured to apply a therapeutic moment to a joint of a limb responsive to positioning the limb within a limb-receiving space formed between the at least one strap and the frame structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2012Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: BELLACURE INCInventors: Shane Sterling, Jay Bublitz
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Patent number: 8167829Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, an orthotic apparatus includes a frame structure having an upper frame portion moveable relative to a lower frame portion. The orthotic apparatus further includes at least one strap attached to the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion of the frame structure. The at least one strap and the frame structure, together, are configured to apply a therapeutic moment to a joint of a limb responsive to positioning the limb within a limb-receiving space formed between the at least one strap and the frame structure.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2007Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Bellacure Inc.Inventors: Shane Sterling, Jay Bublitz
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Patent number: 7993292Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention relate to orthotic apparatuses configured to apply a controllable, therapeutic force to a subject. In one embodiment of the invention, an orthotic apparatus includes a frame structure and an actuator system operable to provide input energy of a first type (e.g., fluid pumped by a pump or an applied voltage). At least one strap structure is attached to the frame structure and operably coupled to the actuator system. The at least one strap structure may be configured to convert at least a portion of the input energy to energy of a second type, the energy of the second type being strain energy. Additional embodiments are directed to inflatable structures and methods of operating the orthotic apparatuses and inflatable structures disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2008Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Bellacure, Inc.Inventors: Shane Sterling, Jay Bublitz
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Patent number: 7662122Abstract: An orthotic knee brace for treating unicompartmental osteoarthritis in a knee joint is described. The brace includes a fabric sleeve mounting and a bracing member removably positioned in the sleeve to provide a therapeutic force on the joint. The force is applied by a force dosimeter assembly that draws an incrementally adjustable amount of force on cables connected to the bracing member. The amount of force applied by the force dosimeter is detected by a force sensor, and is indicated by a force indicator, each also removably attachable on the fabric sleeve mounting. The foregoing features, while exemplified in the context of a knee brace, are adaptable to any orthotic or prosthetic device where it is desired to apply an adjustable amount of force to a point on the device to provide a therapeutic benefit, and to provide a real-time indication to the user of the amount of force being applied.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2005Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: Bellacure, Inc.Inventor: Shane Sterling
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Publication number: 20090105622Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, an orthotic apparatus includes a frame structure having an upper frame portion moveable relative to a lower frame portion. The orthotic apparatus further includes at least one strap attached to the upper frame portion and the lower frame portion of the frame structure. The at least one strap and the frame structure, together, are configured to apply a therapeutic moment to a joint of a limb responsive to positioning the limb within a limb-receiving space formed between the at least one strap and the frame structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2007Publication date: April 23, 2009Applicant: Bellacure, Inc.Inventors: Shane Sterling, Jay Bublitz
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Publication number: 20080294079Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention relate to orthotic apparatuses configured to apply a controllable, therapeutic force to a subject. In one embodiment of the invention, an orthotic apparatus includes a frame structure and an actuator system operable to provide input energy of a first type (e.g., fluid pumped by a pump or an applied voltage). At least one strap structure is attached to the frame structure and operably coupled to the actuator system. The at least one strap structure may be configured to convert at least a portion of the input energy to energy of a second type, the energy of the second type being strain energy. Additional embodiments are directed to inflatable structures and methods of operating the orthotic apparatuses and inflatable structures disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2008Publication date: November 27, 2008Applicant: Bellacure, Inc.Inventors: Shane Sterling, Jay Bublitz
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Patent number: 7201728Abstract: An orthopedic knee brace provides an apparatus for accurately prescribing the anatomical motion of the human knee. The orthopedic knee brace is used for treatment and rehabilitation following surgery to the knee, protection for a surgically repaired knee, and protection for an uninjured knee, among other applications. The orthopedic knee brace actively prescribes asymmetric three-dimensional anatomic motion in six degrees of freedom of the wearer's knee. The rigid connections between the thigh and calf engaging members and the medial and lateral hinges provide the ability of the orthopedic knee brace to prescribe asymmetric three-dimensional anatomic motion in six degrees of freedom by actively prescribing flexion and extension, abduction and adduction, internal/external rotation, anterior/posterior translation, medial/lateral translation, and proximal/distal translation between a femur and a tibia of a wearer's leg.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2003Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Inventor: Shane Sterling
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Publication number: 20060200057Abstract: An orthotic knee brace for treating unicompartmental osteoarthritis in a knee joint is described. The brace includes a fabric sleeve mounting and a bracing member removably positioned in the sleeve to provide a therapeutic force on the joint. The force is applied by a force dosimeter assembly that draws an incrementally adjustable amount of force on cables connected to the bracing member. The amount of force applied by the force dosimeter is detected by a force sensor, and is indicated by a force indicator, each also removably attachable on the fabric sleeve mounting. The foregoing features, while exemplified in the context of a knee brace, are adaptable to any orthotic or prosthetic device where it is desired to apply an adjustable amount of force to a point on the device to provide a therapeutic benefit, and to provide a real-time indication to the user of the amount of force being applied.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2005Publication date: September 7, 2006Inventor: Shane Sterling
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Patent number: 6969364Abstract: An orthopedic knee brace provides an apparatus for accurately prescribing the anatomical motion of the human knee. The orthopedic knee brace is used for treatment and rehabilitation following surgery to the knee, protection for a surgically repaired knee, and protection for an uninjured knee, among other applications. The orthopedic knee brace actively prescribes asymmetric three-dimensional anatomic motion in six degrees of freedom of the wearer's knee. The rigid connections between the thigh and calf engaging members and the medial and lateral hinges provide the ability of the orthopedic knee brace to prescribe asymmetric three-dimensional anatomic motion in six degrees of freedom by actively prescribing flexion and extension, abduction and adduction, internal/external rotation, anterior/posterior translation, medial/lateral translation, and proximal/distal translation between a femur and a tibia of a wearer's leg.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2002Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Inventor: Shane Sterling
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Publication number: 20040054311Abstract: An orthopedic knee brace provides an apparatus for accurately prescribing the anatomical motion of the human knee. The orthopedic knee brace is used for treatment and rehabilitation following surgery to the knee, protection for a surgically repaired knee, and protection for an uninjured knee, among other applications. The orthopedic knee brace actively prescribes asymmetric three-dimensional anatomic motion in six degrees of freedom of the wearer's knee. The rigid connections between the thigh and calf engaging members and the medial and lateral hinges provide the ability of the orthopedic knee brace to prescribe asymmetric three-dimensional anatomic motion in six degrees of freedom by actively prescribing flexion and extension, abduction and adduction, internal/external rotation, anterior/posterior translation, medial/lateral translation, and proximal/distal translation between a femur and a tibia of a wearer's leg.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2003Publication date: March 18, 2004Inventor: Shane Sterling
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Publication number: 20040002674Abstract: An orthopedic knee brace provides an apparatus for accurately prescribing the anatomical motion of the human knee. The orthopedic knee brace is used for treatment and rehabilitation following surgery to the knee, protection for a surgically repaired knee, and protection for an uninjured knee, among other applications. The orthopedic knee brace actively prescribes asymmetric three-dimensional anatomic motion in six degrees of freedom of the wearer's knee. The rigid connections between the thigh and calf engaging members and the medial and lateral hinges provide the ability of the orthopedic knee brace to prescribe asymmetric three-dimensional anatomic motion in six degrees of freedom by actively prescribing flexion and extension, abduction and adduction, internal/extemal rotation, anterior/posterior translation, medial/lateral translation, and proximal/distal translation between a femur and a tibia of a wearer's leg.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2002Publication date: January 1, 2004Applicant: Generation II USA, IncorporatedInventor: Shane Sterling