Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Heinz
Thomas J. Heinz 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: 7582102Abstract: A pressure control apparatus for restricting a flow of blood through or from a body part includes at least one arcuate member for attaching to the body part. The at least one arcuate member has a first end and an opposite second end. The first end includes a hook for fastening to a buckle mounted at the opposite second end. A mechanical advantage power system includes a turnkey and is connected to the at least one arcuate member and serves to adjusting a pressure of the apparatus on the body part by turning the turnkey. An elongated strap is disposed on at least a circumferential portion of the arcuate member for circumferentially tightening the apparatus around the body part. A locking device closes the apparatus around the body part and is attached to the at least one arcuate member. A cover or shroud is disposed on an outer perimeter of the at least one arcuate member for enclosing a portion of the mechanical advantage power system.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2004Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Pyng Medical Corp.Inventors: Thomas J. Heinz, Royce Rumsey, Ed Bannister, Sai Chung Chan
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Patent number: 7371222Abstract: A cervical support system for restricting head and neck movement of a patient recovering from an injury to or surgery on the spine. The support system includes a supporting member for mounting onto and around the head and neck of the patient. The supporting member includes an injection molded base portion integral with an occipital lobe supporting portion. The base portion is arranged to rest on the shoulder of the patient while the occipital lobe supporting portion is arranged to extend along the neck from the shoulder to the head of the patient. An arcuate member such as a C-collar is disposed on an outer surface of the supporting member. A plurality of adjustment devices such as a turn-tab adjustment mechanism on an outer surface of the arcuate member rotatably connect the arcuate member to the supporting member to position the arcuate member onto, and with respect to, the supporting member.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2004Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: Biocybernetics InternationalInventors: Thomas J. Heinz, Royce Rumsey
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Patent number: 6609642Abstract: A pack comprising a pack body, straps, a sleeve attached to the body, and a lumbar sacral support contained in the sleeve and supporting at least a portion of a weight of the pack when secured about a torso of a user and tightened. A frame can be attached to the body having frame members with lower portions and a band around the lower portions. The sleeve can be attached to the band by a pivot pin. The lumbar sacral support can comprise a pair of support body segments, each having an inner end portion and a front end with the front ends detachably connectable to each other; and a mechanical advantage device bridging together the inner end portions to form a belt. The mechanical advantage device include a cable rove around two banks of pulleys which are attached to the front end portions of the support body segments.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2001Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignee: Bio Cybernetics InternationalInventors: Thomas J. Heinz, Edward Bannister
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Patent number: 6602214Abstract: An orthotic trauma device is provided including an elongated orthosis body adapted to be wrapped around a portion of a body, the orthosis body being formed of a pliant material be easily cut with cloth-cutting scissors; a detachable fastening device provided at distal ends of the elongated orthosis body to releasably secure the distal ends to one another; and means for adjusting the tightness of the orthosis body operatively associated with the detachable fastening device.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 1999Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Bio Cybernetics InternationalInventors: Thomas J. Heinz, Dae Shik Park, Rafn Stefansson
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Publication number: 20020148461Abstract: An orthotic trauma device is provided including an elongated orthosis body adapted to be wrapped around a portion of a body of a wearer of the device, the orthosis body being formed of a pliant material which is adapted to be easily cut with cloth-cutting scissors; a detachable fastening device provided at distal ends of the elongated orthosis body to releasably secure the distal ends to one another; and means for adjusting the tightness of the orthosis body operatively associated with the detachable fastening device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 1999Publication date: October 17, 2002Inventors: THOMAS J. HEINZ, DAE SHIK PARK, RAFN STEFANSSON
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Publication number: 20020074373Abstract: A pack comprising a pack body, straps, a sleeve attached to the body, and a lumbar sacral support contained in the sleeve and supporting at least a portion of a weight of the pack when secured about a torso of a user and tightened. A frame can be attached to the body having frame members with lower portions and a band around the lower portions. The sleeve can be attached to the band by a pivot pin. The lumbar sacral support can comprise a pair of support body segments, each having an inner end portion and a front end with the front ends detachably connectable to each other; and a mechanical advantage device bridging together the inner end portions to form a belt. The mechanical advantage device include a cable rove around two banks of pulleys which are attached to the front end portions of the support body segments.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2001Publication date: June 20, 2002Inventors: Thomas J. Heinz, Edward Bannister
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Publication number: 20010020144Abstract: An orthotic device is provided, including an orthosis body adapted to be wrapped around the torso of a wearer of the device, the orthosis body having at least two segments in juxtaposed relationship. Means are provided at free end portions of the at least two segments to releasably secure the free end portions to one another. At least two cables are provided, each cable operatively connected to the at least two segments. At least two sets of pulleys are mounted on the at least two segments with each cable operatively connected to the at least two segments running through a pulley on each of the at least two segments in alteration, shortening of each cable pulling the at least two segments together and tightening the orthotic device with the aid of a mechanical advantage dependent upon the number of pulleys mounted on each of the at least two segments.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2001Publication date: September 6, 2001Applicant: Bio Cybernetics InternationalInventors: Thomas J. Heinz, Dae Shik Park
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Patent number: 6213968Abstract: An orthotic device is provided, including an orthosis body adapted to be wrapped around the torso of a wearer of the device, the orthosis body having at least two segments in juxtaposed relationship. Means are provided at free end portions of the at least two segments to releasably secure the free end portions to one another. At least two cables are provided, each cable operatively connected to the at least two segments. At least two sets of pulleys are mounted on the at least two segments with each cable operatively connected to the at least two segments running through a pulley on each of the at least two segments in alteration, shortening of each cable pulling the at least two segments together and tightening the orthotic device with the aid of a mechanical advantage dependent upon the number of pulleys mounted on each of the at least two segments.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1999Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: BioCybernetics InternationalInventors: Thomas J. Heinz, Dae Shik Park
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Patent number: 6190343Abstract: A cruciform anterior spinal hyperextension orthosis comprising a front portion having a rigid anterior cruciform brace assembly provided with movable upper and lower arms extending therefrom and arranged vertically, two laterally disposed movable arms extending therefrom horizontally, and body contact pads rotatably secured to the free ends of each of the upper and lower vertically disposed arms. A rear portion is provided adjustably secured to the front portion and having a paraspinal support formed in two juxtaposed segments, a pulley system comprising at least one pulley set having two pulley banks each having a plurality of pulleys, each bank disposed proximate to an adjacent edge of the juxtaposed segment, and a cable running through each pulley of each bank of pulleys in the set in alteration and in series and linking together each of the two juxtaposed segments.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 1999Date of Patent: February 20, 2001Assignee: Bio Cybernetics InternationalInventors: Thomas J. Heinz, Dae Shik Park
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Patent number: 5437617Abstract: A back brace apparatus is disclosed which has electromechanical mechanism for tightening a brace around the trunk of a patient to a desired tension. The electromechanical mechanism is controllable by the patient to effect predetermined tension settings. A cable and pulley arrangement tightened by a motor provides a mechanical advantage so that the brace may be tightened by a small motor. A microprocessor controls the motor to obtain the desired repeatable tension settings.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1994Date of Patent: August 1, 1995Assignee: Bio Cybernetics InternationalInventors: Thomas J. Heinz, Tom Walker, Eric D. Plambeck
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Patent number: 5346461Abstract: A back brace apparatus disclosed which has electromechanical means for tightening a brace around the trunk of a patient to a desired tension. The electromechanical means is controllable by the patient to effect predetermined tension settings. A cable and pulley arrangement tightened by a motor provides a mechanical advantage so that the brace may be tightened by a small motor. A microprocessor controls the motor to obtain the desired repeatable tension settings.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 1992Date of Patent: September 13, 1994Assignee: Bio-Cybernetics InternationalInventors: Thomas J. Heinz, Tom Walker, Eric D. Plambeck
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Patent number: 5226874Abstract: A corset-type back brace apparatus is disclosed which has electromechanical means for tightening a corset around the trunk of a patient to a desired tension. The electromechanical means includes a pair of motor driven rollers which are controllable by the patient to effect predetermined tension settings.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 1991Date of Patent: July 13, 1993Assignee: Bio-Cybernetics InternationalInventors: Thomas J. Heinz, Thomas A. Walker, Eric Plambeck
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Patent number: RE35940Abstract: A back brace apparatus disclosed which has electromechanical means for tightening a brace around the trunk of a patient to a desired tension. The electromechanical means is controllable by the patient to effect predetermined tension settings. A cable and pulley arrangement tightened by a motor provides a mechanical advantage so that the brace may be tightened by a small motor. A microprocessor controls the motor to obtain the desired repeatable tension settings.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 1996Date of Patent: October 27, 1998Assignee: Bio-Cybernetics, InternationalInventors: Thomas J. Heinz, Thomas A. Walker, Eric D. Plambeck