Patents by Inventor Urs Schneider

Urs Schneider 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).

  • Patent number: 11938045
    Abstract: Breathable residual-limb system that admits air and allows sweat to evaporate from the surface of the residual limb. In an embodiment, the system comprises a liner sock to be worn on the residual limb, and comprising air-permeable textile forming a substantially cylindrical portion that is closed on a distal end and open on a proximal end and comprising an internal surface and an external surface. The liner sock further comprises a friction-interface material that covers only a portion of the internal surface of the air-permeable textile, such that, when worn on the residual limb, the friction-interface material contacts a surface of the residual limb, and an uncovered portion of the air-permeable textile which the friction-interface material does not cover allows air to pass between an external environment of the liner sock and the surface of the residual limb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignees: United States Government As Represented By The Department Of Veterans Affairs, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e. V.
    Inventors: Andrew Hansen, Sara Koehler-Mcnicholas, Eric Nickel, Kyle Barrons, Felix Starker, Spencer Mion, John Ferguson, Stuart Fairhurst, Ellankavi Ramasamy, Karl Koester, Urs Schneider
  • Patent number: 11697201
    Abstract: An exoskeleton system includes a first exoskeleton unit configured to support a first body part, a second exoskeleton unit configured to support a second body part, and a control device. The first exoskeleton unit and the second exoskeleton unit are mechanically decoupled from each other. The control device is configured to control, based on a control model, at least one of the first exoskeleton unit and the second exoskeleton unit. The control model is based on a multibody system that models the first exoskeleton unit, the second exoskeleton unit, and at least one of the first body part and the second body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Universitaet Stuttgart
    Inventors: Joerg Siegert, Urs Schneider
  • Publication number: 20230157851
    Abstract: Breathable residual-limb system that admits air and allows sweat to evaporate from the surface of the residual limb. In an embodiment, the system comprises a liner sock to be worn on the residual limb, and comprising air-permeable textile forming a substantially cylindrical portion that is closed on a distal end and open on a proximal end and comprising an internal surface and an external surface. The liner sock further comprises a friction-interface material that covers only a portion of the internal surface of the air-permeable textile, such that, when worn on the residual limb, the friction-interface material contacts a surface of the residual limb, and an uncovered portion of the air-permeable textile which the friction-interface material does not cover allows air to pass between an external environment of the liner sock and the surface of the residual limb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew Hansen, Sara Koehler-Mcnicholas, Eric Nickel, Kyle Barrons, Felix Starker, Spencer Mion, John Ferguson, Stuart Fairhurst, Ellankavl Ramasamy, Karl Koester, Urs Schneider
  • Patent number: 11654311
    Abstract: A trunk control system having a harness assembly and a flexion control assembly. The harness assembly has a backrest member and a harness secured to the backrest member. The backrest member is configured to be moveably coupled to a wheelchair. The backrest member is selectively moveable about and between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position. The harness cooperates with the backrest member to define a receiving space for receiving at least a portion of a torso of a wheelchair user. The flexion control assembly is coupled to the backrest member of the harness assembly. The flexion control assembly is configured to selectively permit or restrict movement of the backrest member about and between the fully retracted position and the fully extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignees: United States Government As Represented By The Department Of Veterans Affairs, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e. V.
    Inventors: Gary Goldish, Andrew Hansen, Stuart R. Fairhurst, Gregory O. Voss, Urs Schneider
  • Patent number: 11504286
    Abstract: A personal mobility device includes a frame, a plurality of wheels attached to the frame and one or more pneumatic motors. Each of the one or more pneumatic motors has a drive shaft in operative connection with at least one of the plurality of wheels. The personal mobility device further includes at least one tank (that is, a storage container) for storage of a pressurized gas in operative connection with the one or more pneumatic motors to supply pressurized gas to the one or more pneumatic motors and a control system in operative connection with the at least one tank and with the one or more pneumatic motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, The United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Rory Alan Cooper, Hongwu Wang, Brandon Joseph Daveler, Benjamin Todd Gebrosky, Garrett G. Grindle, Jonathan L. Pearlman, Urs Schneider, David Minzenmay
  • Publication number: 20210137707
    Abstract: Breathable residual-limb system that admits air and allows sweat to evaporate from the surface of the residual limb. In an embodiment, the system comprises a liner sock to be worn on the residual limb, and comprising air-permeable textile forming a substantially cylindrical portion that is closed on a distal end and open on a proximal end and comprising an internal surface and an external surface. The liner sock further comprises a friction-interface material that covers only a portion of the internal surface of the air-permeable textile, such that, when worn on the residual limb, the friction-interface material contacts a surface of the residual limb, and an uncovered portion of the air-permeable textile which the friction-interface material does not cover allows air to pass between an external environment of the liner sock and the surface of the residual limb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew Hansen, Sara Koehler-Mcnicholas, Eric Nickel, Kyle Barrons, Felix Starker, Spencer Mion, John Ferguson, Stuart Fairhurst, Ellankavl Ramasamy, Karl Koester, Christopher Dearth, Brad Hendershot, Alison Pruziner, Peter Anderson, Louise Hassinger, David Laufer, Urs Schneider
  • Publication number: 20200346342
    Abstract: An exoskeleton system includes a first exoskeleton unit configured to support a first body part, a second exoskeleton unit configured to support a second body part, and a control device. The first exoskeleton unit and the second exoskeleton unit are mechanically decoupled from each other. The control device is configured to control, based on a control model, at least one of the first exoskeleton unit and the second exoskeleton unit. The control model is based on a multibody system that models the first exoskeleton unit, the second exoskeleton unit, and at least one of the first body part and the second body part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Joerg SIEGERT, Urs SCHNEIDER
  • Publication number: 20200324152
    Abstract: A trunk control system having a harness assembly and a flexion control assembly. The harness assembly has a backrest member and a harness secured to the backrest member. The backrest member is configured to be moveably coupled to a wheelchair. The backrest member is selectively moveable about and between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position. The harness cooperates with the backrest member to define a receiving space for receiving at least a portion of a torso of a wheelchair user. The flexion control assembly is coupled to the backrest member of the harness assembly. The flexion control assembly is configured to selectively permit or restrict movement of the backrest member about and between the fully retracted position and the fully extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Gary Goldish, Andrew Hansen, Stuart R. Fairhurst, Gregory O. Voss, Urs Schneider
  • Publication number: 20190021920
    Abstract: A personal mobility device includes a frame, a plurality of wheels attached to the frame and one or more pneumatic motors. Each of the one or more pneumatic motors has a drive shaft in operative connection with at least one of the plurality of wheels. The personal mobility device further includes at least one tank (that is, a storage container) for storage of a pressurized gas in operative connection with the one or more pneumatic motors to supply pressurized gas to the one or more pneumatic motors and a control system in operative connection with the at least one tank and with the one or more pneumatic motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicants: University of Pittsburgh Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, The United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Rory Alan COOPER, Hongwu WANG, Brandon Joseph DAVELER, Benjamin Todd GEBROSKY, Garrett G. GRINDLE, Jonathan L. PEARLMAN, Urs SCHNEIDER, David MINZENMAY
  • Publication number: 20180014949
    Abstract: The invention relates to a prosthetic foot with a housing (12) on which a connector (15) for a below-knee prosthesis can be arranged, with a forefoot (21) and a heel (43), wherein the housing (12) and the forefoot (21) are connected by at least one forefoot spring element (28), wherein the forefoot (21) and the heel (43) are connected by at least one sole spring element (41), and wherein the heel (43) and the housing (12) are connected by at least one heel spring element (30), wherein the end portions belonging to the at least one forefoot spring element (28) and to the at least one sole spring element (41), and assigned to the forefoot (21), are positioned relative to each other with at least one holding mechanism (34) in such a way that the at least one forefoot spring element (28) and the at least one sole spring element (41) are guided movably relative to each other along their longitudinal axis during a rollover movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Stefan Grosskopf, Felix Starker, Andreas Kramski, Andreas Adler, Urs Schneider, Jannis Breuninger
  • Patent number: 9204979
    Abstract: The present invention relates in the field of orthopedics to an artificial ankle which imitates the natural human gait in a proper way, thereby enabling its user to walk not only in a plane environment but also uphill and downhill without any unpleasant effects. The present invention further relates to an artificial foot and an artificial leg containing said artificial ankle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignees: FALZ & KANNENBERG GMBH & CO. KG, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Felix Starker, Urs Schneider, Andrew H. Hansen, Dudley S. Childress, Joachim Pauli, Carsten Pauli, Nancy Childress
  • Patent number: 8679046
    Abstract: The invention relates to a supporting device for a support (12) used to support a lower extremity, in particular a knee joint, a lower leg, a foot or an ankle, an upper leg support (14) and a lower leg support (16) being provided and interconnected via an articulation (17), the upper leg support (14) comprises at least a load-bearing surface (24, 28), the lower leg support (16) comprises at least a load-bearing surface (31), a support fixing (18) is provided, which engages with the support (12), the lower leg support (16) and the support fixing (18) being coupled to one another for the transfer of force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Mark Ital, Thomas Bächle, Ismail Bahadir Pamir, Urs Schneider
  • Publication number: 20140074255
    Abstract: The present invention relates in the field of orthopedics to an artificial ankle which imitates the natural human gait in a proper way, thereby enabling its user to walk not only in a plane environment but also uphill and downhill without any unpleasant effects. The present invention further relates to an artificial foot and an artificial leg containing said artificial ankle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicants: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, FALZ & KANNENBERG GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Felix Starker, Urs Schneider, Andrew H. Hansen, Dudley S. Childress, Joachim Pauli, Carsten Pauli
  • Publication number: 20110319801
    Abstract: The invention relates to a supporting device for a support (12) used to support a lower extremity, in particular a knee joint, a lower leg, a foot or an ankle, an upper leg support (14) and a lower leg support (16) being provided and interconnected via an articulation (17), the upper leg support (14) comprises at least a load-bearing surface (24, 28), the lower leg support (16) comprises at least a load-bearing surface (31), a support fixing (18) is provided, which engages with the support (12), the lower leg support (16) and the support fixing (18) being coupled to one another for the transfer of force. (See FIG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Mark Ital, Thomas Bächle, Ismail Bahadir Pamir, Urs Schneider
  • Publication number: 20110213275
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining the stability of a knee joint. The device comprises includes a measuring sensor (14), which can be attached via a fastening device (16) to a lower leg (12) associated with the knee joint (11). The measuring sensor (14) is designed to measure an acceleration in at least one direction (z) during a movement of the lower leg (12). Furthermore, a processing device (18) is provided for processing measured values of the measuring sensor (14) in order to infer the stability of the knee joint (11) from the processed measured values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: BORT GMBH
    Inventors: Ronald Boos, Gerhard Marquardt, Urs Schneider, Wolfgang Bort
  • Patent number: 7862621
    Abstract: The invention relates to a prosthetic device (30), in particular a foot prosthesis, for fitting leg amputees, with a universal joint mechanism (32), which couples a shaft (34) with a treading attachment (40, 42) through an articulation, wherein the universal joint mechanism (32) comprises a joint element (44) supported such that it is rotatable about a first rotational axis (C) and a second rotational axis (D) differing therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Kloos, Armin Grab, Julia Grunwald, Urs Schneider, Kai Von Lübtow
  • Patent number: 7837635
    Abstract: A device determines at least one characteristic point of a joint which joins together two limbs and is to be measured orthopedically comprising a first coupling element which may be positioned on a first limb adjoining the joint, a second coupling element which may be moved relative to the first coupling element and may be positioned on a second limb adjoining the joint, and a measuring device for determining the position of the first coupling element relative to the second coupling element. The measuring device has at least one reference point rigidly connected to one of the first and second coupling elements, and a reference point detection device rigidly connected to the respective other of the first and second coupling elements. During a movement of the first and second limbs with respect to one another the reference point detection device determines the at least one characteristic point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Karsten Lissek, Urs Schneider, Kai Von Lübtow, Markus Haid, Alfons Fuchs, Roland Bauernfeind
  • Publication number: 20080221485
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining at least one characteristic point of a joint which joins together two limbs and is to be measured orthopedically, said device comprising a first coupling element which may be positioned on a first limb adjoining the joint, a second coupling element which may be moved relative to the first coupling element and may be positioned on a second limb adjoining the joint, and a measuring device for determining the position of the first coupling element relative to the second coupling element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWAND
    Inventors: Karsten Lissek, Urs Schneider, Kai Von Lubtow, Markus Haid, Alfons Fuchs, Roland Bauernfeind
  • Publication number: 20070287911
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and a device for navigating and positioning an object relative to a patient during surgery in an operating room. According to the disclosure, the position and orientation of the object and the patient in the room or a respective area of the patient relative to a reference system are determined quasi continuously in accordance with a scanning rate by means of a three-dimensional inertial sensor system, the momentary position and orientation of the object relative to the patient are determined therefrom, said position and orientation are compared to a desired predetermined position and orientation, and an indication is made as to how the position of the object has to be modified in order to reach the desired predetermined position and orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten
    Inventors: Markus Haid, Urs Schneider, Kai von Luebtow
  • Publication number: 20070255427
    Abstract: Prosthetic device, in particular foot prosthesis The invention relates to a prosthetic device (30), in particular a foot prosthesis, for fitting leg amputees, with a universal joint mechanism (32), which couples a shaft (34) with a treading attachment (40, 42) through an articulation, wherein the universal joint mechanism (32) comprises a joint element (44) supported such that it is rotatable about a first rotational axis (C) and a second rotational axis (D) differing therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Ralf Kloos, Armin Grab, Julia Grunwald, Urs Schneider, Kai Von Lubtow