Patents by Inventor Tracy Slemker

Tracy Slemker 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: 20130119179
    Abstract: A prosthetic limb lanyard cord retainer spool is provided, which may be mounted onto the side of a prosthetic limb socket to retain slack or excess cord from a lanyard locking system. After the limb has been locked into place, excess cord from the lanyard system may be pressed into a seam formed between the outer wall of the prosthetic limb socket and a radially outer flexible sealing flange of the cord spool to enter a circumferential channel of the cord spool (radially between the outer flexible sealing flange and an inner stem), and may be manually wrapped around the stem of the spool in a circular motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Prosthetic Design, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin S. Piszkiewicz, Paul Galloway, Tracy Slemker
  • Publication number: 20070168045
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a double wall prosthetic limb assembly, a vacuum attachment plate component of the outer-wall socket and a method for fabricating double wall prosthetic limb assemblies. The method involves the use of a prefabricated tooling system for fabricating a dual socket for a prosthetic limb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Tracy Slemker, Steven Steinbarger, Robert Hoskins
  • Publication number: 20070142924
    Abstract: A cosmesis includes a thigh component and a shin component that fit over a prosthetic knee joint. The thigh component and shin component are pivotally joined along an axis of rotation coinciding with that of the prosthetic knee joint. The thigh component and shin component can include internal contours molded into their inside walls to seat the prosthetic knee joint securely therein. The knee ball region of the thigh component can be made relatively thicker to provide a protective cushion and allow the patient to kneel. Additionally, a floating knee cap can be fit over the knee ball area. The upper end of the thigh component can be made of sufficiently thin material to permit rolling onto itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventor: Tracy Slemker
  • Publication number: 20070021858
    Abstract: A method of socket design and fabrication for Below-the-Knee (BK) amputees that utilizes manual measurements. This method, known as BK by Measurement, utilizes a manual measurement procedure where predetermined points are identified and measurements are taken of a patient's residual limb. These measurements are recorded and thereafter entered into a software package enabling customization by the fabrication facility. Prosthetic components fabricated in accordance with the present invention provide a custom fit, while not relying on more expensive digital imaging technology. The invention also provides a method and associated system for recording and retrieving fabrication and/or fitting data associated with a prosthetic component for use with a particular patient, which can include affixing to the prosthetic component a strip debossed with indicia unique to the particular patient or prosthetic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Inventors: Tracy Slemker, Robert Hoskins, Lucinda Busch, Scott Schall, Ralph Simmons
  • Publication number: 20060173554
    Abstract: Improvements to a prosthetic knee-joint assembly include: a proximal segment having lower-profile design with a surface adapted for mounting to an above-knee prosthetic limb socket; a releasable lock featuring at least one of two complementary surfaces with radial grooves, which increase friction between the two surfaces to prevent rotation or sliding of a coupler component with respect to the knee-joint assembly; and visual indicia markings for determining the position of a distal coupling relative to the distal segment of the knee-joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Inventors: Tracy Slemker, Steven Steinberger
  • Publication number: 20060020348
    Abstract: A method of socket design and fabrication for Below-the-Knee (BK) amputees that utilizes manual measurements. This method, known as BK by Measurement, utilizes a manual measurement procedure where predetermined points are identified and measurements are taken of a patient's residual limb. These measurements are recorded and thereafter entered into a software package enabling customization by the fabrication facility. Prosthetic components fabricated in accordance with the present invention provide a custom fit, while not relying on more expensive digital imaging technology. The invention also provides a method and associated system for recording and retrieving fabrication and/or fitting data associated with a prosthetic component for use with a particular patient, which can include affixing to the prosthetic component a strip debossed with indicia unique to the particular patient or prosthetic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventors: Tracy Slemker, Robert Hoskins, Lucinda Busch, Scott Schall, Ralph Simmons
  • Publication number: 20060020349
    Abstract: An immediate postoperative prosthesis including: a base adapted to receive a distal prosthetic component, the base comprising a substantially circular pan having a raised wall extending proximally about its periphery; a plurality of flexible straps mounted to and extending proximally from the interior face of the raised wall of the circular pan, the flexible straps adapted to interface with a postoperative residual limb; and wrap materials wrapped around and substantially solidified about the flexible straps. The invention also includes a process for postoperative fitting of a prosthetic component to a residual limb of a prosthetic recipient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventor: Tracy Slemker
  • Publication number: 20050256589
    Abstract: A lanyard suspension system for a prosthetic limb that includes: (a) a lanyard cord adapted to extend from a distal end of a patient's residual limb; and (b) a lanyard lock assembly adapted to be seated at a distal end of a patient's prosthetic limb socket assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventors: Tracy Slemker, Scott Schall, David Firth, Steven Steinbarger
  • Publication number: 20050203638
    Abstract: A modular prosthetic limb component is adapted to be selectively/removably interconnected between a prosthetic knee component and a prosthetic socket component, where the modular component provides or augments stance flexion approximate the proximate knee component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Tracy Slemker, Scott Schall, Lucinda Busch, Steven Steinbarger, Robert Hoskins
  • Patent number: 6231618
    Abstract: A pyramidal link-plate assembly for coupling a prosthetic limb upright assembly to another prosthetic limb component includes: a base plate member having a dome extending from a distal end and a cavity opening onto a distal apex of the dome, where the cavity includes a conically shaped portion with a diameter that widens with the distance from the distal apex of the dome; and a rotatable member which includes a substantially conically shaped body positioned within the conical portion of the cavity and which includes a frustopyramidal boss extending distally therefrom out through the opening in the distal apex of the dome. The conically shaped body of the rotatable member, positioned within the cavity, also widens with the distance from the distal apex of the dome. The boss is adapted to be received within an a central opening of a conventional annular coupling-socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignees: Prosthetic Design, Inc., CaTech, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Schall, Tracy Slemker, Lanny Wiggins, Steven Steinbarger
  • Patent number: 6033440
    Abstract: A pyramidal link-plate assembly for coupling a prosthetic limb upright assembly to another prosthetic limb component includes: a base plate member having a dome extending from a distal end and a cavity opening onto a distal apex of the dome, where the cavity includes a conically shaped portion with a diameter that widens with the distance from the distal apex of the dome; and a rotatable member which includes a substantially conically shaped body positioned within the conical portion of the cavity and which includes a frustopyramidal boss extending distally therefrom out through the opening in the distal apex of the dome. The conically shaped body of the rotatable member, positioned within the cavity, also widens with the distance from the distal apex of the dome. The boss is adapted to be received within an a central opening of a conventional annular coupling-socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Prosthetic Design, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Schall, Tracy Slemker, Lanny Wiggins, Steven Steinbarger
  • Patent number: 5980803
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for constructing a prosthetic limb socket. The method involves the steps of: a) creating a positive cast of a patient's residual limb; b) positioning a mechanical press on a distal end of the positive cast; c) molding a prosthetic socket component over the positive cast and over the mechanical press; and d) activating the mechanical press such that the prosthetic socket component is pushed apart from the distal end of the positive cast. Preferably, the mechanical press includes a spacer component adapted to abut a distal surface of the positive cast, a pusher component adapted to abut a proximate surface of a socket component formed over the positive cast, and an actuator for moving the pusher component from the spacer component. Thus, the method preferably also involves the step of activating the actuator to move the pusher component from the spacer component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Prosthetic Design, Inc.
    Inventors: Tracy Slemker, Scott Schall