Patents by Inventor Tom Schweitzer

Tom Schweitzer 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).

  • Publication number: 20250049459
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a medical instrument having at least one distal jaw portion with a hardened gripping and/or cutting surface includes the steps of: providing the at least one jaw portion; hardening at least one region of the jaw portion by: (i.) providing a thermal spray device configured for high velocity oxygen fuel spraying; (ii.) feeding a coating material through the thermal spray device to produce particles of the coating material; and (iii.) impinging the produced particles of coating material at the at least one region of the jaw portion to produce a layer of coating material thereby creating the hardened gripping and/or cutting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventors: Gilles Roland Waeldin, Christian Horn, Tom Schweitzer
  • Publication number: 20240024974
    Abstract: A method for producing a surgical instrument for grasping and/or holding and/or guiding a needle includes: a) producing a first arm part and a second arm part, each having a distal holding jaw with a recess and a solder deposit region; b) inserting hard metal inserts into the recesses in the distal holding jaws; c) joining the first arm part and the second arm part so that the first arm part and the second arm part are pivotable relative to one another at a joint; d) filling the solder deposit regions with solder; and e) soldering the hard metal inserts in the distal holding jaws using the solder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Tom Schweitzer, Corvin Motz, Andreas Deutschendorf
  • Publication number: 20230013129
    Abstract: A medical instrument, for example an impact instrument, and a method for producing a medical instrument. The medical instrument includes a proximal end and a distal end. A handle and a striking face facing in a proximal direction are arranged or formed on the proximal end. A tool instrument is arranged or formed on the distal end. An instrument shaft of the instrument extends from the proximal end to the tool element. The handle is configured in the form of a hollow handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Tom Schweitzer, Janina Ackermann, Thomas Schmid, Andreas Deutschendorf
  • Publication number: 20220410245
    Abstract: A medical instrument and a semi-finished instrument. The semi-finished instrument includes an instrument body part blank for forming an instrument body part of the medical instrument. The instrument body part blank is made of a metal, in particular an instrument steel. The semi-finished instrument also includes a distal end region and a recess on the distal end region for accommodating a hard metal element. The recess has an abutment face for the hard metal element. The instrument body part blank includes a solder chamber for accommodating solder. The solder chamber is fluidically connected to the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Tom Schweitzer, Corvin Motz, Andreas Deutschendorf
  • Patent number: 11406410
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft section connected to a handle that has a rigid handle part and a movable handle part. The surgical instrument also has a release mechanism that can be actuated such that the shaft section and the handle are decoupled from each other. The release mechanism has a preferably rocker-like actuating element that can be swiveled such that the shaft section and the handle are released from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: AESCULAP AG
    Inventor: Tom Schweitzer
  • Publication number: 20200000487
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft section connected to a handle that has a rigid handle part and a movable handle part. The surgical instrument also has a release mechanism that can be actuated such that the shaft section and the handle are decoupled from each other. The release mechanism has a preferably rocker-like actuating element that can be swiveled such that the shaft section and the handle are released from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventor: TOM SCHWEITZER
  • Patent number: 10368888
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a first lever element and a second lever element interconnected by a lever element hinge. Each lever element includes a grip portion and a jaw portion. A first spring portion and a second spring portion are proximally connected to the grip portions. A proximal free end of the first spring portion is coupled to a proximal free end of the second spring portion by a hinged joint. The hinged joint includes a hinge pin and at least one bearing eye. The at least one bearing eye forms a continuous longitudinal slit for radial insertion of the hinge pin. The slit extends diagonally relative to the axis of the at least one bearing eye so that at least one spring portion has to be twisted during radial insertion of the hinge pin into the at least one bearing eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Stefan Storz, Tom Schweitzer
  • Patent number: 9888934
    Abstract: A surgical handheld instrument for grasping an object includes two lever elements, each lever element having a grip portion and a jaw portion. A lever joint connects the two lever elements rotatably to each other between their grip portion and their branch portion. Each of the two grip portions is adjoined by a respective spring portion for connecting the two grip portions such that the two lever elements are held resiliently in an open position. To create an easily manageable, elegant and releasable connection for spring ends on surgical instruments, the handheld instrument includes a hinge pin at a free end of one spring portion and a bearing eye at a free end of the other spring portion. The bearing eye has a longitudinal slit for radial insertion of the hinge pin into the bearing eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Stefan Storz, Tom Schweitzer
  • Publication number: 20170367721
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a first lever element and a second lever element interconnected by a lever element hinge. Each lever element includes a grip portion and a jaw portion. A first spring portion and a second spring portion are proximally connected to the grip portions. A proximal free end of the first spring portion is coupled to a proximal free end of the second spring portion by a hinged joint. The hinged joint includes a hinge pin and at least one bearing eye. The at least one bearing eye forms a continuous longitudinal slit for radial insertion of the hinge pin. The slit extends diagonally relative to the axis of the at least one bearing eye so that at least one spring portion has to be twisted during radial insertion of the hinge pin into the at least one bearing eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Stefan Storz, Tom Schweitzer
  • Publication number: 20160361079
    Abstract: A surgical handheld instrument for grasping an object includes two lever elements, each lever element having a grip portion and a jaw portion. A lever joint connects the two lever elements rotatably to each other between their grip portion and their branch portion. Each of the two grip portions is adjoined by a respective spring portion for connecting the two grip portions such that the two lever elements are held resiliently in an open position. To create an easily manageable, elegant and releasable connection for spring ends on surgical instruments, the handheld instrument includes a hinge pin at a free end of one spring portion and a bearing eye at a free end of the other spring portion. The bearing eye has a longitudinal slit for radial insertion of the hinge pin into the bearing eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Stefan Storz, Tom Schweitzer
  • Publication number: 20160331396
    Abstract: A surgical handle for a surgical instrument, in particular a shaft-type instrument for actuating a tool that is distally arranged on an instrument shaft, includes a handle housing on which at least one handle is mounted so as to be movable relative to the handle housing. The handle is coupled via a toggle mechanism to a sliding element that is axially movable in the handle housing in order for the sliding element to be moved as the handle is actuated from the starting position against the restoring force of a spring element, the spring element being embodied by the toggle mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Tom Schweitzer, Wolfgang Sauter
  • Patent number: 8920460
    Abstract: In order to provide a surgical instrument which is particularly simple to manipulate and enables force to be transmitted particularly directly to at least two tool elements wherein the surgical instrument comprises said at least two tool elements which are movable relative to one another and are arranged at a distal end of a guide device of a surgical instrument, and also comprises a force transmission device for transferring an actuating force from a proximal end of the force transmission device to a distal end of the force transmission device for the purposes of moving at least one of the at least two tool elements relative to the guide device, it is proposed that the surgical instrument should comprise a coupling device for selectively coupling the force transmission device directly or indirectly to at least one of the at least two tool elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Tom Schweitzer, Rupert Mayenberger
  • Patent number: 8696636
    Abstract: In order to improve a surgical sealing element holder for holding a surgical sealing element of a surgical sealing system comprising a trocar with a trocar sleeve, the sealing element having an insertion opening which can be widened, such that a sealing element of the sealing system can be replaced in a simple and reliable manner and it is ensured that sealing in relation to a channel of the trocar sleeve is perfect at all times it is suggested that a holder sealing element be provided for sealing the sealing element holder with respect to an inner wall surface of the trocar sleeve. In addition, an improved surgical sealing system is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Tom Schweitzer, Rupert Mayenberger
  • Publication number: 20120238957
    Abstract: In order to improve a surgical sealing element holder for holding a surgical sealing element of a surgical sealing system comprising a trocar with a trocar sleeve, the sealing element having an insertion opening which can be widened, such that a sealing element of the sealing system can be replaced in a simple and reliable manner and it is ensured that sealing in relation to a channel of the trocar sleeve is perfect at all times it is suggested that a holder sealing element be provided for sealing the sealing element holder with respect to an inner wall surface of the trocar sleeve. In addition, an improved surgical sealing system is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Tom Schweitzer, Rupert Mayenberger
  • Patent number: 8246586
    Abstract: In order to improve a surgical sealing element holder for holding a surgical sealing element of a surgical sealing system comprising a trocar with a trocar sleeve, the sealing element having an insertion opening which can be widened, such that a sealing element of the sealing system can be replaced in a simple and reliable manner and it is ensured that sealing in relation to a channel of the trocar sleeve is perfect at all times it is suggested that a holder sealing element be provided for sealing the sealing element holder with respect to an inner wall surface of the trocar sleeve. In addition, an improved surgical sealing system is suggested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Tom Schweitzer, Rupert Mayenberger
  • Patent number: 8137318
    Abstract: In order to improve a surgical protection device for a surgical sealing element of a surgical sealing system comprising a trocar, the sealing element having an insertion opening which can be widened, the protection device comprising a base member which can be arranged on the trocar or on a part thereof, is closed in a ring shape and has an opening and several protection elements which are arranged in circumferential direction and point parallel or towards a longitudinal axis of the protection device, the protection elements having free ends pointing essentially in a distal direction, such that protection of the sealing element can be as complete as possible irrespective of the degree of expansion thereof, it is suggested that at least some of the protection elements have retaining elements on an outer side at their free ends or in the area of their free ends for engagement with the sealing element. Furthermore, an improved surgical sealing system is suggested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Tom Schweitzer, Rupert Mayenberger
  • Patent number: 8057502
    Abstract: In a surgical obturator for piercing a body wall, comprising a tubular housing that at one end forms an introduction tip with a continuously decreasing diameter, and comprising a blade projecting from the introduction tip for making an incision in the body wall, in order to reduce the risk of injury during piercing of the body wall it is proposed that the introduction tip comprises a central protective cap, which is displaceable in longitudinal direction relative to the introduction tip between an advanced inoperative position and a retracted working position, that the blade in the housing is displaceable in longitudinal direction between an advanced cutting position and a retracted protected position, that disposed in the housing is a retraction device that displaces the blade from the cutting position into the protected position, and that the retraction device may be activated by a displacement of the protective cap from the working position into the inoperative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Johann Maliglowka, Rupert Mayenberger, Tom Schweitzer
  • Patent number: 8048099
    Abstract: To enable puncture of a body wall with a greater degree of sensitivity with a surgical obturator for puncturing the body wall having a knife, the cutting edge of which extends outwards from a tip of the obturator in the direction of various sides and backwards in relation to the tip, and which is orientated throughout its entire length parallel to the puncturing direction, so that the cutting edge points in the puncturing direction, it is proposed that the cutting edge be of helical line-shaped configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Johann Maliglowka, Rupert Mayenberger, Tom Schweitzer
  • Publication number: 20110106144
    Abstract: In order to provide a surgical instrument which is particularly simple to manipulate and enables force to be transmitted particularly directly to at least two tool elements wherein the surgical instrument comprises said at least two tool elements which are movable relative to one another and are arranged at a distal end of a guide device of a surgical instrument, and also comprises a force transmission device for transferring an actuating force from a proximal end of the force transmission device to a distal end of the force transmission device for the purposes of moving at least one of the at least two tool elements relative to the guide device, it is proposed that the surgical instrument should comprise a coupling device for selectively coupling the force transmission device directly or indirectly to at least one of the at least two tool elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Tom Schweitzer, Rupert Mayenberger
  • Publication number: 20110040255
    Abstract: A surgical sealing element, for example, for a trocar and/or for sealing shafts of elongated surgical instruments during insertion into a human or animal body, is provided. The surgical sealing element comprises a flexible wall closed annularly, the wall comprising a first edge and a second edge, and an opening for a shaft of a surgical instrument, the opening being variable in diameter and limited by the first edge. In a sealing position, the wall is folded with fold lines extending in a direction towards the first edge in such a manner that the first edge defines a wave line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Tom Schweitzer, Rupert Mayenberger