Patents by Inventor Stephen Belkoff

Stephen Belkoff 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).

  • Smart screw-driver for preventing inadvertent screw stripping in bone
    Patent number: 9743971
    Abstract: A programmable screw driver and method for affixing screws into bone is disclosed. The screw driver includes a torque sensor for measuring torsional input during screw insertion, a rotational motion sensor for measuring the rotation of the screw driver, and a microprocessor. Once a surgeon rotates a screw to be affixed to the bone, the torque sensor measures the torque and sends this information to the microprocessor. Once a predetermined torque level is attained, the microprocessor begins to measure subsequent rotation of the screw driver until a predetermined rotational limit, thereby causing a signal to be sent to alert the surgeon to stop tightening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Stephen Belkoff, Evan Langdale, Trevor Knight
  • SMART SCREW-DRIVER FOR PREVENTING INADVERTENT SCREW STRIPPING IN BONE
    Publication number: 20140222012
    Abstract: A programmable screw driver and method for affixing screws into bone is disclosed. The screw driver includes a torque sensor for measuring torsional input during screw insertion, a rotational motion sensor for measuring the rotation of the screw driver, and a microprocessor. Once a surgeon rotates a screw to be affixed to the bone, the torque sensor measures the torque and sends this information to the microprocessor. Once a predetermined torque level is attained, the microprocessor begins to measure subsequent rotation of the screw driver until a predetermined rotational limit, thereby causing a signal to be sent to alert the surgeon to stop tightening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Stephen Belkoff, Evan Langdale, Trevor Knight