Patents Assigned to Fort Wayne Metals Research Products Corporation
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Patent number: 9994419Abstract: A spool for use in a wire braiding machine, for example, which has a “bi-tapered” design including a central cylindrical section and a pair of tapered (e.g., frusto-conical or parabolic) flanges having surfaces that slope inwardly toward the cylindrical section. In this manner, the spool provides a progressively widening wire fill area, as measured along a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the bobbin, as the wound wire advances progressively radially outwardly from the cylindrical section. This widening wire fill area aids in preventing the formation, propagation and buildup of wire winding defects, such that the wire is more likely to unspool or pay-out from the spool without losing tension, snagging or breaking.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2015Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: FORT WAYNE METALS RESEARCH PRODUCTS CORPORATIONInventors: Jeffery L. Gallmeyer, Mark S. Michael, Jason W. Ferens
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Patent number: 9561308Abstract: A bimetal composite wire including, in cross-section, an outer shell or tube formed of a first biodegradable material and an inner core formed of a second biodegradable material. When formed into a stent, for example, the first and second biodegradable materials may be different, and may have differing biodegradation rates. In a first embodiment, the first biodegradable material of the shell may degrade relatively slowly for retention of the mechanical integrity of a stent during vessel remodeling, and the second biodegradable material of the core may degrade relatively quickly. In a second embodiment, the first biodegradable material of the shell may degrade relatively quickly, leaving a thinner structure of a second biodegradable material of the core that may degrade relatively slowly.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2011Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Fort Wayne Metal Research Products CorporationInventor: Jeremy E. Schaffer
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Patent number: 9200388Abstract: A spool for use in a wire braiding machine, for example, which has a “bi-tapered” design including a central cylindrical section and a pair of tapered (e.g., frusto-conical or parabolic) flanges having surfaces that slope inwardly toward the cylindrical section. In this manner, the spool provides a progressively widening wire fill area, as measured along a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the bobbin, as the wound wire advances progressively radially outwardly from the cylindrical section. This widening wire fill area aids in preventing the formation, propagation and buildup of wire winding defects, such that the wire is more likely to unspool or pay-out from the spool without losing tension, snagging or breaking.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Fort Wayne Metals Research Products CorporationInventors: Jeffery L. Gallmeyer, Mark S. Michael, Jason W. Ferens
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Patent number: 8495919Abstract: A test apparatus and method for determining at least one characteristic of a test specimen. An exemplary test specimen is a shape memory metal alloy and an exemplary characteristic is a transformation temperature of the shape memory metal alloy. The test apparatus may include a chiller unit including a tank containing a chilling medium, such as isopropyl alcohol or denatured alcohol, which holds a removable fixture tray that can accommodate up to ten specimens, or more. The fixture tray holds the test specimens in an initial deformed condition, and the cooling medium may be gradually heated to induce transformation of the specimens. The test apparatus may include a vision-based optical system which includes a camera that tracks the specimens within its field of view.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2010Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: Fort Wayne Metals Research Products CorporationInventor: Douglas A. Geese
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Publication number: 20130174631Abstract: Wire products, such as round and flat wire, strands, cables, and tubing, are made from a shape memory material in which inherent defects within the material are isolated from the bulk material phase of the material within one or more stabilized material phases, such that the wire product demonstrates improved fatigue resistance. In one application, a method of mechanical conditioning in accordance with the present disclosure isolates inherent defects in nickel-titanium or NiTi materials in fields of a secondary material phase that are resistant to crack initiation and/or propagation, such as a martensite phase, while the remainder of the surrounding defect-free material remains in a primary or parent material phase, such as an austenite phase, whereby the overall superelastic nature of the material is preserved.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2013Publication date: July 11, 2013Applicant: FORT WAYNE METALS RESEARCH PRODUCTS CORPORATIONInventor: Fort Wayne Metals Research Products Corporation
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Publication number: 20130153112Abstract: A method for fusing a pair of insulated wires to one another, and a fused wire made by such method, in which the combined or major diameter of the fused wire equals, or very closely matches, the sum of the diameters of the individual wires prior to fusion. In the present method, a pair of wires, each having a coating of insulation that is substantially fully cured, are brought into close abutting contact with one another along a line contact, and thereafter pass through a heating device which heats the coatings above their a thermal transition point of at least one of the pair of wires to fuse the coatings of the wires together along the line contact.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2013Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: FORT WAYNE METALS RESEARCH PRODUCTS CORPORATIONInventor: FORT WAYNE METAL RESEARCH PRODUCTS CORPORATION
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Patent number: 8414714Abstract: Wire products, such as round and flat wire, strands, cables, and tubing, are made from a shape memory material in which inherent defects within the material are isolated from the bulk material phase of the material within one or more stabilized material phases, such that the wire product demonstrates improved fatigue resistance. In one application, a method of mechanical conditioning in accordance with the present disclosure isolates inherent defects in nickel-titanium or NiTi materials in fields of a secondary material phase that are resistant to crack initiation and/or propagation, such as a martensite phase, while the remainder of the surrounding defect-free material remains in a primary or parent material phase, such as an austenite phase, whereby the overall superelastic nature of the material is preserved.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2009Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Fort Wayne Metals Research Products CorporationInventor: Jeremy E. Schaffer
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Patent number: 8404976Abstract: A method for fusing a pair of insulated wires to one another, and a fused wire made by such method, in which the combined or major diameter of the fused wire equals, or very closely matches, the sum of the diameters of the individual wires prior to fusion. In the present method, a pair of wires, each having a coating of insulation that is substantially fully cured, are brought into close abutting contact with one another along a line contact, and thereafter pass through a heating device which heats the coatings above their a thermal transition point of at least one of the pair of wires to fuse the coatings of the wires together along the line contact.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2010Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Fort Wayne Metals Research Products CorporationInventors: Sean P. Telley, Christian W. Stacey
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Publication number: 20110319978Abstract: A bimetal composite wire including, in cross-section, an outer shell or tube formed of a first biodegradable material and an inner core formed of a second biodegradable material. When formed into a stent, for example, the first and second biodegradable materials may be different, and may have differing biodegradation rates. In a first embodiment, the first biodegradable material of the shell may degrade relatively slowly for retention of the mechanical integrity of a stent during vessel remodeling, and the second biodegradable material of the core may degrade relatively quickly. In a second embodiment, the first biodegradable material of the shell may degrade relatively quickly, leaving a thinner structure of a second biodegradable material of the core that may degrade relatively slowly.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: FORT WAYNE METALS RESEARCH PRODUCTS CORPORATIONInventor: Jeremy E. Schaffer
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Publication number: 20110245824Abstract: A wire having an outer shell and a core, the core including at least a first plurality of core segments that may be made of a first core material and a second plurality of core segments that may be made of a second core material different from the first core material. The first and second core segments are arranged in a periodic alternating arrangement along the length of the wire. The outer shell may be made of a metal, such as a biocompatible metal, and the core segments may be made of different materials to provide periodic material properties along the length of the wire.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2011Publication date: October 6, 2011Applicant: FORT WAYNE METALS RESEARCH PRODUCTS CORPORATIONInventor: Jeremy E. Schaffer
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Patent number: 7989703Abstract: A wire having an outer shell and a core, the core including at least a first plurality of core segments that may be made of a first core material and a second plurality of core segments that may be made of a second core material different from the first core material. The first and second core segments are arranged in a periodic alternating arrangement along the length of the wire. The outer shell may be made of a metal, such as a biocompatible metal, and the core segments may be made of different materials to provide periodic material properties along the length of the wire.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Fort Wayne Metals Research Products CorporationInventor: Jeremy E. Schaffer
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Publication number: 20100243292Abstract: A method for fusing a pair of insulated wires to one another, and a fused wire made by such method, in which the combined or major diameter of the fused wire equals, or very closely matches, the sum of the diameters of the individual wires prior to fusion. In the present method, a pair of wires, each having a coating of insulation that is substantially fully cured, are brought into close abutting contact with one another along a line contact, and thereafter pass through a heating device which heats the coatings above their a thermal transition point of at least one of the pair of wires to fuse the coatings of the wires together along the line contact.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: FORT WAYNE METALS RESEARCH PRODUCTS CORPORATIONInventors: Sean P. Telley, Christian W. Stacey
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Patent number: 7745732Abstract: A wire for use in medical applications. The wire is formed by forming a bundle from a plurality of metallic strands and positioning the bundle within an outer tube. The tube and strands are then drawn down to a predetermined diameter to form a wire for use in medical devices. The wire may be covered with an insulating material.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2009Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignees: Fort Wayne Metals Research Products Corporation, W.C. Heraeus GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Mark S. Michael, Hans-Juergen Wachter, Robert J. Myers
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Publication number: 20100107628Abstract: Wire products, such as round and flat wire, strands, cables, and tubing, are made from a shape memory material in which inherent defects within the material are isolated from the bulk material phase of the material within one or more stabilized material phases, such that the wire product demonstrates improved fatigue resistance. In one application, a method of mechanical conditioning in accordance with the present disclosure isolates inherent defects in nickel-titanium or NiTi materials in fields of a secondary material phase that are resistant to crack initiation and/or propagation, such as a martensite phase, while the remainder of the surrounding defect-free material remains in a primary or parent material phase, such as an austenite phase, whereby the overall superelastic nature of the material is preserved.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2009Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: FORT WAYNE METALS RESEARCH PRODUCTS CORPORATIONInventor: Jeremy E. Schaffer
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Publication number: 20100075168Abstract: Fatigue damage resistant metal or metal alloy wires have a submicron-scale or nanograin microstructure that demonstrates improved fatigue damage resistance properties, and methods for manufacturing such wires. The present method may be used to form a wire having a nanograin microstructure characterized by a mean grain size that is 500 nm or less, in which the wire demonstrates improved fatigue damage resistance. Wire manufactured in accordance with the present process may show improvement in one or more other material properties, such as ultimate strength, unloading plateau strength, permanent set, ductility, and recoverable strain, for example. Wire manufactured in accordance with the present process is suitable for use in a medical device, or other high end application.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2009Publication date: March 25, 2010Applicant: FORT WAYNE METALS RESEARCH PRODUCTS CORPORATIONInventor: Jeremy E. Schaffer
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Publication number: 20090260852Abstract: A wire having an outer shell and a core, the core including at least a first plurality of core segments that may be made of a first core material and a second plurality of core segments that may be made of a second core material different from the first core material. The first and second core segments are arranged in a periodic alternating arrangement along the length of the wire. The outer shell may be made of a metal, such as a biocompatible metal, and the core segments may be made of different materials to provide periodic material properties along the length of the wire.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2009Publication date: October 22, 2009Applicant: FORT WAYNE METALS RESEARCH PRODUCTS CORPORATIONInventor: Jeremy E. Schaffer
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Publication number: 20090133899Abstract: A wire for use in medical applications. The wire is formed by forming a bundle from a plurality of metallic strands and positioning the bundle within an outer tube. The tube and strands are then drawn down to a predetermined diameter to form a wire for use in medical devices. The wire may be covered with an insulating material.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2009Publication date: May 28, 2009Applicants: FORT WAYNE METALS RESEARCH PRODUCTS CORPORATION, W. C. HERAEUS GMBH & CO. KGInventors: Mark S. Michael, Hans-Juergen Wachter, Robert J. Myers
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Patent number: 7501579Abstract: A wire for use in medical applications. The wire is formed by forming a bundle from a plurality of metallic strands and positioning the bundle within an outer tube. The tube and strands are then drawn down to a predetermined diameter to form a wire for use in medical devices. The wire may be covered with an insulating material.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2005Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignees: Fort Wayne Metals Research Products Corporation, W.C. Heraeus GmbH & Co., KGInventors: Mark S. Michael, Hans-Jüergen Wachter, Robert J. Myers
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Patent number: 7490396Abstract: A method for constructing a metal wire with embedded filaments or cavities therein for biomedical applications. The method includes first drilling nonconcentric apertures in a symmetrical pattern in a metal rod and then embedding filaments in the apertures. The metal rod is then drawn and thermally-treated to form a metal wire with embedded filaments therein. The filaments may advantageously provide fatigue resistance, radiopacity, and electrical conductance to the metal wire. The method optionally provides an additional step for withdrawing or removing the filaments using various methods to create cavities for cavity access within the metal wire. The metal wire may be finished to provide access to the cavities or filaments embedded therein. The cavities may then be filled with a therapeutic drug for elution inside the human body or used for passage of body fluids.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2006Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Fort Wayne Metals Research Products CorporationInventor: David J Bradley
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Patent number: 7020947Abstract: A method for constructing a metal wire with embedded filaments or cavities therein for biomedical applications. The method includes first drilling nonconcentric apertures in a symmetrical pattern in a metal rod and then embedding filaments in the apertures. The metal rod is then drawn and thermally-treated to form a metal wire with embedded filaments therein. The filaments may advantageously provide fatigue resistance, radiopacity, and electrical conductance to the metal wire. The method optionally provides an additional step for withdrawing or removing the filaments using various methods to create cavities for cavity access within the metal wire. The metal wire may be finished to provide access to the cavities or filaments embedded therein. The cavities may then be filled with a therapeutic drug for elution inside the human body or used for passage of body fluids.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2003Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Fort Wayne Metals Research Products CorporationInventor: David Jeurgens Bradley