Alicia S Rufner

US Patent:

8178594, May 15, 2012

Filed:

Dec 14, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/967581

Inventors:

Alicia Rufner - Columbia City IN, US
John Knight - Warsaw IN, US
Toni Rowe - Bremen IN, US
Dirk Pletcher - Walkerton IN, US
Ray Gsell - Winona Lake IN, US
Werner Schneider - Rafz, CH
Hallie E. Brinkerhuff - Winona Lake IN, US

Assignee:

Zimmer, Inc. - Warsaw IN

International Classification:

C08F 10/02

US Classification:

522 78, 428409, 428410, 623 1111, 522 79, 522189, 422 22, 422 28, 524110, 524 81, 524324, 524587

Abstract:

An antioxidant combined with UHMWPE prior to subjecting the UHMWPE to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the antioxidant is tocopherol. After the antioxidant is combined with the UHMWPE, the resulting blend may be formed into slabs, bar stock, and/or incorporated into a substrate, such as a metal, for example. The resulting product may then be subjected to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the UHMWPE blend is preheated prior to subjecting the same to crosslinking irradiation. Once irradiated, the UHMWPE blended product may be machined, packaged, and sterilized in accordance with conventional techniques.

US Patent:

20080319137, Dec 25, 2008

Filed:

Apr 10, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/100894

Inventors:

Alicia Rufner - Columbia City IN, US
John Knight - Warsaw IN, US
Toni Rowe - Bremen IN, US
Dirk Pletcher - Walkerton IN, US
Ray Gsell - Winona Lake IN, US
Hallie E. Brinkerhuff - Winona Lake IN, US
Werner Schneider - Rafz, CH

Assignee:

ZIMMER, INC. - Warsaw IN

International Classification:

C08F 110/02
C08F 2/46
B29C 35/08
A61L 2/14
A61L 2/02

US Classification:

5253337, 522189, 522 79, 427487, 522 78, 264494, 264478, 264477, 264459, 422 22, 422 34, 422 28

Abstract:

An antioxidant combined with UHMWPE prior to subjecting the UHMWPE to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the antioxidant is tocopherol. After the antioxidant is combined with the UHMWPE, the resulting blend may be formed into slabs, bar stock, and/or incorporated into a substrate, such as a metal, for example. The resulting product may then be subjected to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the UHMWPE blend is preheated prior to subjecting the same to crosslinking irradiation. Once irradiated, the UHMWPE blended product may be machined, packaged, and sterilized in accordance with conventional techniques.

US Patent:

20090192610, Jul 30, 2009

Filed:

Jan 29, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/362159

Inventors:

Kirt L. Case - Warsaw IN, US
Oludele O. Popoola - Granger IN, US
Robby Kissling - Warsaw IN, US
Brion R. Mimnaugh - North Webster IN, US
Archie W. Newsome - Mentone IN, US
Clarence M. Panchison - Warsaw IN, US
Dirk L. Pletcher - Walkerton IN, US
Randy L. Schlemmer - Bremen IN, US
Zhibin Fang - Warsaw IN, US
Juan Vivanco - Madison WI, US
Alicia Rufner - Columbia City IN, US

Assignee:

ZIMMER, INC. - Warsaw IN

International Classification:

A61F 2/28
A61F 2/32
B29D 31/505

US Classification:

623 1611, 623 2353, 623 2221, 156242

Abstract:

An orthopedic component having multiple layers that are selected to provide an overall modulus that is substantially lower than the modulus of known orthopedic components to more closely approximate the modulus of the bone into which the orthopedic component is implanted. In one exemplary embodiment, the orthopedic component is an acetabular shell. For example, the acetabular shell may include an outer layer configured for securement to the natural acetabulum of a patient and an inner layer configured to receive an acetabular liner. The head of a femoral prosthesis articulates against the acetabular liner to replicate the function of a natural hip joint. Alternatively, the inner layer of the acetabular shell may act as an integral acetabular liner against which the head of the femoral prosthesis articulates.

US Patent:

20100022677, Jan 28, 2010

Filed:

Jul 24, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/179170

Inventors:

Donald Yakimicki - Plymouth IN, US
Brian H. Thomas - Columbia City IN, US
Alicia Rufner - Columbia City IN, US
Dirk Pletcher - Walkerton IN, US
Hallie E. Brinkerhuff - Winona Lake IN, US
Michael E. Hawkins - Columbia City IN, US

Assignee:

ZIMMER, INC. - Warsaw IN

International Classification:

C08J 3/28
C08F 110/02

US Classification:

522161, 5253337

Abstract:

UHMWPE is exposed to crosslinking radiation and than heated utilizing infrared radiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the infrared radiation is provided by an infrared heater having a tungsten heating element with a quartz tube. In this embodiment, the infrared radiation may have the wavelength from about 1.0 micron to about 1.5 microns. In another exemplary embodiment, the UHMWPE is compression molded into bars prior to exposure to the crosslinking radiation.

US Patent:

20100022678, Jan 28, 2010

Filed:

Mar 23, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/408913

Inventors:

Donald Yakimicki - Warsaw IN, US
Brian H. Thomas - Columbia City IN, US
Alicia Rufner - Columbia City IN, US
Dirk Pletcher - Walkerton IN, US
Hallie E. Brinkerhuff - Winona Lake IN, US
Michael E. Hawkins - Columbia City IN, US

Assignee:

ZIMMER, INC. - Warsaw IN

International Classification:

C08F 10/02
C08J 3/28

US Classification:

522161, 5253337

Abstract:

UHMWPE is exposed to crosslinking radiation and than heated utilizing infrared radiation in an inert environment. In one exemplary embodiment, the infrared radiation is provided by an infrared heater having a tungsten heating element with a quartz tube. In this embodiment, the infrared radiation may have the wavelength from about 1.0 micron to about 1.5 microns. In another exemplary embodiment, the UHMWPE is compression molded into bars prior to exposure to the crosslinking radiation.

US Patent:

20100029858, Feb 4, 2010

Filed:

Oct 14, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/579094

Inventors:

Alicia Rufner - Columbia City IN, US
John Knight - Warsaw IN, US
Toni Rowe - Bremen IN, US
Dirk Pletcher - Walkerton IN, US
Ray Gsell - Winona Lake IN, US
Hallie E. Brinkerhuff - Winona Lake IN, US
Werner Schneider - Rafz, CH

Assignee:

ZIMMER, INC. - Warsaw IN

International Classification:

C08F 10/02

US Classification:

5253337

Abstract:

An antioxidant combined with UHMWPE prior to subjecting the UHMWPE to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the antioxidant is tocopherol. After the antioxidant is combined with the UHMWPE, the resulting blend may be formed into slabs, bar stock, and/or incorporated into a substrate, such as a metal, for example. The resulting product may then be subjected to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the UHMWPE blend is preheated prior to subjecting the same to crosslinking irradiation. Once irradiated, the UHMWPE blended product may be machined, packaged, and sterilized in accordance with conventional techniques.

US Patent:

20110028600, Feb 3, 2011

Filed:

Jul 30, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/847741

Inventors:

Alicia Rufner - Columbia City IN, US
John Knight - Warsaw IN, US
Toni Rowe - Bremen IN, US
Dirk Pletcher - Walkerton IN, US
Ray Gsell - Winona Lake IN, US
Werner Schneider - Rafz, CH
Hallie E. Brinkerhuff - Winona Lake IN, US

Assignee:

ZIMMER, INC. - Warsaw IN

International Classification:

B29C 35/08
C08F 6/00
C08J 3/22
B05D 7/00

US Classification:

523351, 524585, 427487, 264494, 264478, 264459, 264477

Abstract:

An antioxidant combined with UHMWPE prior to subjecting the UHMWPE to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the antioxidant is tocopherol. After the antioxidant is combined with the UHMWPE, the resulting blend may be formed into slabs, bar stock, and/or incorporated into a substrate, such as a metal, for example. The resulting product may then be subjected to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the UHMWPE blend is preheated prior to subjecting the same to crosslinking irradiation. Once irradiated, the UHMWPE blended product may be machined, packaged, and sterilized in accordance with conventional techniques.

US Patent:

20120157591, Jun 21, 2012

Filed:

Feb 23, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/403040

Inventors:

Alicia Rufner - Columbia City IN, US
John Knight - Warsaw IN, US
Toni Rowe - Bremen IN, US
Dirk Pletcher - Walkerton IN, US
Ray Gsell - Winona Lake IN, US
Hallie E. Brinkerhuff - Winona Lake IN, US
Werner Schneider - Rafz, CH

Assignee:

Zimmer, Inc. - Warsaw IN

International Classification:

C08L 23/06
C08K 5/1545

US Classification:

524110, 524585

Abstract:

An antioxidant combined with UHMWPE prior to subjecting the UHMWPE to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the antioxidant is tocopherol. After the antioxidant is combined with the UHMWPE, the resulting blend may be formed into slabs, bar stock, and/or incorporated into a substrate, such as a metal, for example. The resulting product may then be subjected to crosslinking irradiation. In one exemplary embodiment, the UHMWPE blend is preheated prior to subjecting the same to crosslinking irradiation. Once irradiated, the UHMWPE blended product may be machined, packaged, and sterilized in accordance with conventional techniques.