Dirk L Pletcher from 505 Indiana St, Walkerton, IN 46574, age 71, Phone: 5745862002

Name / Title

Company / Classification

Phones & Addresses

Dirk Pletcher
President

Polymeric Development Corporation
Whol Chemicals/Products

505 Indiana St, Walkerton, IN 46574
PO Box 166, Walkerton, IN 46574
5745862002

Us Patents

Process Of Making An Articulating Bearing Surface
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US Patent:

6432349, Aug 13, 2002
Filed:

Jun 29, 1999
Appl. No.:

09/342324
Inventors:

Dirk Pletcher - Walkerton IN
Steve T. Lin - Fort Wayne IN
Assignee:

Zimmer, Inc. - Warsaw IN
International Classification:

B29C 3508
US Classification:

264479, 264 39, 264162, 264322, 264488, 264494
Abstract:

A method of manufacturing an articulating bearing surface for use in an orthopaedic implant is disclosed. A block of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene is irradiated with sufficient radiation energy to crosslink at least a portion of the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. The irradiated block is placed within a reforming apparatus having a complimentary articulating bearing surface. The block is heated and pressed against the complimentary articulating bearing surface, thereby forming the articulating bearing surface.

Method For Attaching A Porous Metal Layer To A Metal Substrate
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US Patent:

6945448, Sep 20, 2005
Filed:

Jun 6, 2003
Appl. No.:

10/455846
Inventors:

Dana J. Medlin - Warsaw IN, US
Steven J. Charlebois - Goshen IN, US
William Clarke - Warsaw IN, US
Dirk L. Pletcher - Walkerton IN, US
Joel G. Scrafton - Leesburg IN, US
H. Ravindranath Shetty - Warsaw IN, US
Dale Swarts - Warsaw IN, US
Assignee:

Zimmer Technology, Inc. - Chicago IL
International Classification:

B23K031/00
B23K031/02
B23K035/12
B23K001/19
US Classification:

2282481, 228253, 228249, 2282623
Abstract:

A method for attaching a porous metal layer to a dense metal substrate, wherein the method is particularly useful in forming orthopedic implants such as femoral knee components or acetabular cups. The method, in one embodiment thereof, comprises providing a structured porous layer; providing a dense metal substrate; providing a binding mixture; applying the binding mixture to the exterior of the substrate; placing the porous layer against the substrate such that the binding mixture is disposed there between forming an assembly; and heat treating the assembly to metallurgically bond the porous layer to the substrate.

Methods Of Preparing Hydrogel Coatings
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US Patent:

8110242, Feb 7, 2012
Filed:

Mar 22, 2007
Appl. No.:

11/689754
Inventors:

Michael E. Hawkins - Columbia City IN, US
Dirk L. Pletcher - Walkerton IN, US
Brian Thomas - Columbia City IN, US
Kai Zhang - Warsaw IN, US
Hallie E. Brinkerhuff - Winona Lake IN, US
Assignee:

Zimmer, Inc. - Warsaw IN
International Classification:

B05D 3/02
B05D 3/10
B05D 3/12
A61F 2/30
A61F 2/50
US Classification:

427 21, 427 224, 427 226, 427307, 427536, 427569, 623 1111, 623 1611, 623 2376
Abstract:

The present invention provides hydrogel coated, implantable medical devices and methods of coating hydrogels onto implantable medical devices. In one embodiment, a hydrogel coated medical device is formed by physically treating a surface of the medical device, chemically treating the surface, applying a hydrogel precursor and then crosslinking the hydrogel precursor to form a hydrogel coating on the surface of the medical device. The present invention may be particularly applicable for coating articulating surfaces on implantable medical devices such as artificial joints.

Antioxidant Stabilized Crosslinked Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene For Medical Device Applications
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US Patent:

8129440, Mar 6, 2012
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
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.

Antioxidant Stabilized Crosslinked Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene For Medical Device Applications
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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.

Polymer [[S]] Compositions Including An Antioxidant
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US Patent:

8399535, Mar 19, 2013
Filed:

Jun 10, 2010
Appl. No.:

12/813401
Inventors:

Dirk Pletcher - Walkerton IN, US
Assignee:

Zimmer, Inc. - Warsaw IN
International Classification:

C08K 5/51
C08K 5/524
A61F 2/30
US Classification:

522 75, 522161, 522 76, 524128, 526352, 623 2358
Abstract:

Certain embodiments described herein are directed to polymer compositions including a protected antioxidant. In some examples, the compositions can also include a deprotected antioxidant, an unprotected antioxidant or both. Methods of producing compositions including a protected antioxidant and articles including a protected antioxidant are also described.

Method For Attaching A Porous Metal Layer To A Metal Substrate
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US Patent:

20050242162, Nov 3, 2005
Filed:

Jun 7, 2005
Appl. No.:

11/146571
Inventors:

Dana Medlin - Warsaw IN, US
Steven Charlebois - Goshen IN, US
William Clarke - Warsaw IN, US
Dirk Pletcher - Walkerton IN, US
Joel Scrafton - Leesburg IN, US
H. Shetty - Warsaw IN, US
Dale Swarts - Warsaw IN, US
International Classification:

B23K020/00
US Classification:

228194000
Abstract:

A method for attaching a porous metal layer to a dense metal substrate, wherein the method is particularly useful in forming orthopedic implants such as femoral knee components or acetabular cups. The method, in one embodiment thereof, comprises providing a structured porous layer; providing a dense metal substrate; providing a binding mixture; applying the binding mixture to the exterior of the substrate; placing the porous layer against the substrate such that the binding mixture is disposed there between forming an assembly; and heat treating the assembly to metallurgically bond the porous layer to the substrate.

Antioxidant Stabilized Crosslinked Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene For Medical Device Applications
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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.