Patents by Inventor Stephen W. Prince
Stephen W. Prince 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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Patent number: 11844708Abstract: Described here are prosthetic systems, devices, and methods of use therefor. Generally, a prosthesis may be configured to set a resistance to rotation of a prosthetic joint based on a phase of gait. The prosthesis may include a first cylinder, a first piston slidable within the first cylinder, a fluid sump, and a fluid circuit. The fluid circuit may include a plurality of interconnected fluid channels having a unidirectional variable-resistance valve and a set of check valves that are configured to provide unidirectional flow through the valve during piston compression and extension.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2021Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Proteor USA, LLCInventors: Stephen W. Prince, Jonathan M. Byars, Robert M. Glidden, IV, Hugo A. Quintero, Michael L. Palmer
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Publication number: 20220087835Abstract: Described here are prosthetic systems, devices, and methods of use therefor. Generally, a prosthesis may be configured to set a resistance to rotation of a prosthetic joint based on a phase of gait. The prosthesis may include a first cylinder, a first piston slidable within the first cylinder, a fluid sump, and a fluid circuit. The fluid circuit may include a plurality of interconnected fluid channels having a unidirectional variable-resistance valve and a set of check valves that are configured to provide unidirectional flow through the valve during piston compression and extension.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2021Publication date: March 24, 2022Inventors: Stephen W. Prince, Jonathan M. Byars, Robert M. Glidden, IV, Hugo A. Quintero, Michael L. Palmer
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Patent number: 11213407Abstract: Described here are prosthetic systems, devices, and methods of use therefor. Generally, a prosthesis may be configured to set a resistance to rotation of a prosthetic joint based on a phase of gait. The prosthesis may include a first cylinder, a first piston slidable within the first cylinder, a fluid sump, and a fluid circuit. The fluid circuit may include a plurality of interconnected fluid channels having a unidirectional variable-resistance valve and a set of check valves that are configured to provide unidirectional flow through the valve during piston compression and extension.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2018Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Proteor USA, LLCInventors: Stephen W. Prince, Jonathan M. Byars, Robert M. Glidden, IV, Hugo A. Quintero, Michael L. Palmer
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Publication number: 20200237531Abstract: Described here are prosthetic systems, devices, and methods of use therefor. Generally, a prosthesis may be configured to set a resistance to rotation of a prosthetic joint based on a phase of gait. The prosthesis may include a first cylinder, a first piston slidable within the first cylinder, a fluid sump, and a fluid circuit. The fluid circuit may include a plurality of interconnected fluid channels having a unidirectional variable-resistance valve and a set of check valves that are configured to provide unidirectional flow through the valve during piston compression and extension.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2018Publication date: July 30, 2020Applicant: Freedom Innovations, LLCInventors: Stephen W. PRINCE, Jonathan M. BYARS, Robert M. GLIDDEN, IV, Hugo A. QUINTERO, Michael L. PALMER
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Patent number: 9763809Abstract: A prosthetic ankle includes a pair of prosthetic members movably coupled together to allow movement of the pair of prosthetic members with respect to one another. A hydraulic actuator or damper including hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic chamber is coupled to one of the pair of prosthetic members. A hydraulic piston is movably disposed in the hydraulic chamber and coupled to another of the pair of prosthetic members. A hydraulic flow channel is fluidly coupled between opposite sides of the chamber to allow hydraulic fluid to move between the opposite sides of the chamber as the hydraulic piston moves therein. A voice coil valve is coupled to the hydraulic flow channel to vary resistance to flow of hydraulic fluid through the flow channel, and thus movement of the piston in the chamber, and thus influencing a rate of movement of the pair of prosthetic members with respect to one another.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2014Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Freedom Innovations, LLCInventors: Michael L. Palmer, Stephen W. Prince
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Patent number: 9283043Abstract: A system for microsurgery includes a first assembly and a second assembly, each including: (1) a planar remote center of motion (RCM) device configured to constrain motion of a surgical instrument attached to the planar RCM device such that an axis of the surgical instrument passes through the RCM while remaining in a planar region defined based on a rotational orientation of the planar RCM device; and (2) a rotational device attached to the planar RCM device and configured such that an axis of rotation of the rotational device passes through the remote center of motion. The rotational orientation of the planar RCM device is defined about the axis of rotation. The first assembly and the second assembly are configured to be positioned such that a distance between the remote centers of motion of the first assembly and the second assembly is no greater than two centimeters.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2011Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Tsu-Chin Tsao, Steven D. Schwartz, Jean-Pierre Hubschman, Jason T. Wilson, Stephen W. Prince, Jean-Louis Bourges
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Publication number: 20150066153Abstract: A prosthetic ankle includes a pair of prosthetic members movably coupled together to allow movement of the pair of prosthetic members with respect to one another. A hydraulic actuator or damper including hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic chamber is coupled to one of the pair of prosthetic members. A hydraulic piston is movably disposed in the hydraulic chamber and coupled to another of the pair of prosthetic members. A hydraulic flow channel is fluidly coupled between opposite sides of the chamber to allow hydraulic fluid to move between the opposite sides of the chamber as the hydraulic piston moves therein. A voice coil valve is coupled to the hydraulic flow channel to vary resistance to flow of hydraulic fluid through the flow channel, and thus movement of the piston in the chamber, and thus influencing a rate of movement of the pair of prosthetic members with respect to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Inventors: Michael L. Palmer, III, Stephen W. Prince
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Publication number: 20130123798Abstract: A system for microsurgery includes a first assembly and a second assembly, each including: (1) a planar remote center of motion (RCM) device configured to constrain motion of a surgical instrument attached to the planar RCM device such that an axis of the surgical instrument passes through the RCM while remaining in a planar region defined based on a rotational orientation of the planar RCM device; and (2) a rotational device attached to the planar RCM device and configured such that an axis of rotation of the rotational device passes through the remote center of motion. The rotational orientation of the planar RCM device is defined about the axis of rotation. The first assembly and the second assembly are configured to be positioned such that a distance between the remote centers of motion of the first assembly and the second assembly is no greater than two centimeters.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2011Publication date: May 16, 2013Inventors: Tsu-Chin Tsao, Steven D. Schwartz, Jean-Pierre Hubschman, Jason T. Wilson, Stephen W. Prince, Jean-Louis Bourges
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Patent number: 7335233Abstract: The present invention relates in one embodiment to magnetorheological fluids utilized in prosthetic joints in general and, in particular, to magnetorheological fluids utilized in controllable braking systems for prosthetic knee joints. Preferred magnetorheological fluids of the present invention comprises polarizable iron particles, a carrier fluid, and optionally an additive. Preferred additives include, but are not limited to functionalized carrier fluids as well as derivatized fluoropolymers. Preferred carrier fluids include, but are not limited, to perfluorinated polyethers.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2006Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignee: Ossur HFInventors: Henry Hsu, Charles R. Bisbee, III, Michael Lars Palmer, Ronald J. Lukasiewicz, Michael W. Lindsay, Stephen W. Prince
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Patent number: 7101487Abstract: The present invention relates in one embodiment to magnetorheological fluids utilized in prosthetic joints in general and, in particular, to magnetorheological fluids utilized in controllable braking systems for prosthetic knee joints. Preferred magnetorheological fluids of the present invention comprises polarizable iron particles, a carrier fluid, and optionally an additive. Preferred additives include, but are not limited to functionalized carrier fluids as well as derivatized fluoropolymers. Preferred carrier fluids include, but are not limited, to perfluorinated polyethers.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2003Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Assignee: Ossur Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Henry Hsu, Charles R. Bisbee, III, Michael Lars Palmer, Ronald J. Lukasiewicz, Michael W. Lindsay, Stephen W. Prince
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Publication number: 20040217324Abstract: The present invention relates in one embodiment to magnetorheological fluids utilized in prosthetic joints in general and, in particular, to magnetorheological fluids utilized in controllable braking systems for prosthetic knee joints. Preferred magnetorheological fluids of the present invention comprises polarizable iron particles, a carrier fluid, and optionally an additive. Preferred additives include, but are not limited to functionalized carrier fluids as well as derivatized fluoropolymers. Preferred carrier fluids include, but are not limited, to perfluorinated polyethers.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2003Publication date: November 4, 2004Inventors: Henry Hsu, Charles R. Bisbee, Michael Lars Palmer, Ronald J. Lukasiewicz, Michael W. Lindsay, Stephen W. Prince