Patents Examined by Bradley Thomas
  • Patent number: 8184438
    Abstract: A modular control device comprises a control board, a sub-module and a housing cover, with a microcomputer mounted on the control board. The sub-module has a sub-module case provided with a wiring layer that is mounted into a wall of the sub-module case. Electronic parts are mounted in the sub-module case to electrically connect to the control board through the wiring layer. A housing cover accommodates the control board and the sub-module. A housing base is joined with the housing cover. The accommodation portion has a shape corresponding to a shape of each of the electronic parts is arranged in the housing cover. The sub-module is mounted to the housing cover with a heat radiation adhesive between the accommodation portion and each of the electronic parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yujiro Kaneko, Masahiko Asano, Hideto Yoshinari
  • Patent number: 8177772
    Abstract: A catheter connection system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a catheter connection system may include at least two components and a deformable sealing element positioned between the at least two components configured to allow, upon deformation, fluid flow through the at least two components. In another embodiment, the catheter connection system may include a sealing element positioned between at least two components, wherein the components are coupled to one another by a locking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: C. R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Christensen, William Randy Barron
  • Patent number: 8179224
    Abstract: The overcurrent protection structure according to the present invention mainly comprises a fusible fuse structure unit disposed in a coating, and the both ends of the fusible fuse structure unit extend outwardly beyond the coating and form a first electrode and a second electrode. In the manufacturing process, the gas-assisted injection molding process enables at least one space for accommodating gas disposed between the fusible fuse structure unit and the coating such that the heat generated by the electrically energized the fusible fuse structure unit will not dissipate through the heat conduction of the coating in order to ensure that it will blow at high temperature when reaching a specific current or a specific temperature and the circuit protection effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventor: Chun-Chang Yen
  • Patent number: 8174350
    Abstract: A thermal overload relay has a case, a main bimetal bending upon detection of an overload current, a release lever rotatably supported by an adjusting link and rotating according to a shifter displaced in response to the bending of the main bimetals, and a contact reversing mechanism for change-over contacts responsive to a rotation of the release lever. The main bimetal, release lever and contact reversing mechanism are disposed in the case. The contact reversing mechanism has a movable plate, and a reversing spring stretched between the other side of the movable plate and a spring support. The other end of the movable plate and the spring support is positioned opposite a support point. The release lever has a release lever supporting part, a reversing spring pushing part, a cam contact part, and a displacement input part, in which the release lever supporting part is pivoted on the adjusting link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Electric FA Components & Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinari Furuhata, Fumihiro Morishita, Takeo Kamosaki
  • Patent number: 8172793
    Abstract: A coated medical device (10) including a structure (12) adapted for introduction into a passage or vessel of a patient. The structure is formed of preferably a non-porous base material (14) having a bioactive material layer (18) disposed thereon. The medical device is preferably an implantable stent or balloon (26) of which the bioactive material layer is deposited thereon. The stent can be positioned around the balloon and another layer of the bioactive material posited over the entire structure and extending beyond the ends of the positioned stent. The ends of the balloon extend beyond the ends of the stent and include the bioactive material thereon for delivering the bioactive material to the cells of a vessel wall coming in contact therewith. The balloon further includes a layer of hydrophilic material (58) positioned between the base and bioactive material layers of the balloon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignees: Cook Medical Technologies LLC, MED Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Brian L. Bates, Anthony O. Ragheb, Joseph M. Stewart, IV, William J. Bourdeau, Brian D. Choules, James D. Purdy, Neal E. Fearnot
  • Patent number: 8169292
    Abstract: A high voltage fuse which includes at least one fuse terminal located at a distal end of the fuse housing. One face of the fuse terminal includes an elongated groove and an opposite face includes at least two elongated grooves. An aperture extends through the fuse terminal from the first face to the second face. The first face is adapted for use with an eyebolt connector component to attach a single conductor to be in direct contact with the fuse terminal. The second face is adapted for use with a parallel groove connector clamping component to attach a pair of conductors in direct contact with the fuse terminal. Alternatively, the grooves on the first and second faces may be provided on a single face of the fuse terminal. The fuse terminal may also serve the function of a spade connector. Thus, the fuse terminal provides improved versatility to allow a variety of connectors to be used therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Gardner, Gene Wood
  • Patent number: 8167852
    Abstract: Microneedle device is provided, which include microneedles that can be easily inserted into skin and dissolve or swell in skin. The microneedle devices comprise a substrate and cone-shaped or pyramid-shaped microneedles for skin insertion set on the substrate. The microneedles for skin insertion contain over 50 weight percent of one or multiple biomaterials chosen from chitosan, collagen, gelatin, hyaluronic acid, and they are fabricated from the materials that can dissolve or swell in the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Cosmed Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ying-shu Quan, Fumio Kamiyama, Yoshikazu Tobinaga, Tomoya Kitagawa, Kentaro Ohshima, Akira Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8169781
    Abstract: A power supply includes a casing, a printed circuit board (PCB) and a heat dissipation module. The PCB is disposed in the casing and has a heat-generating element. The casing has a top cover. The heat dissipation module includes a heatsink and a heat dissipation plate. The heatsink is disposed at the PCB and contacts the heat-generating elements. The heatsink has a surface facing the top cover. The heat dissipation plate is disposed between the heatsink and the top cover and contacts the surface of the heatsink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignees: FSP Technology Inc., 3Y Power Technology (Taiwan), Inc.
    Inventor: Shao-Feng Lu
  • Patent number: 8164909
    Abstract: A base plate for a power module includes: a metal plate, a ceramic base plate joined to the metal plate, and a release agent provided in a joint surface between the metal plate and the ceramic base plate. A remaining amount of the release agent is less than 5 as an amount of boron measured by fluorescence X-ray analysis, and a crystal grain straining region in the joint surface is equal to or less than 40%, or an amount of crystal grain straining in the joint surface is equal to or less than 0.03%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Nagase, Yoshiyuki Nagatomo, Kazuaki Kubo, Takeshi Negishi
  • Patent number: 8164903
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a clamping member for pressing power components (9) against cooling surfaces of the cooling flanges (7) of a housing, particularly for receiving an electronic circuit. The clamping member comprises a housing frame (13) having at least one receiving chamber for the cooling flange (7) and the power semiconductor (9) to be contacted with the cooling flange (7), the receiving chamber being surrounded by the frame walls (14a, 14b, 15) of the housing frame. A pressure element (17) is disposed between a frame wall (14a, 14b) and the power component (9) disposed opposite thereof, or the cooling flange (7) disposed opposite thereof. A separating gap, into which an expanding element (18) can be introduced on one side non-positively and/or positively such that the power component (9) is pressed against the cooling flange (7), is provided between the pressure element (17) and the frame wall (14a, 14b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: EBM-Papst Mulfingen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Best, Mark Heinze, Erich Fiedler, Thilo Egner
  • Patent number: 8157792
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a wound drainage system for draining fluid from a wound of a patient. The system includes a drain catheter. A suction means applies suction at the drain catheter such that fluid is drawn from the wound. While drawing fluid from the wound, a controller periodically increases and decreases the application of suction at the drain catheter. This allows the tissue surrounding the wound drain to relax, thus preventing obstruction of the drain catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Haemonetics Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip B. Dolliver, Alec Bobroff
  • Patent number: 8154377
    Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit breaker for electrical supply lines, particularly power supply lines or battery cables, for motor vehicles, which circuit breaker is comprised of a first connecting element (1), a second connecting element (3) connectable to said first connecting element (1), and a current path whereby in the conducting state of the circuit breaker a current passes between the first connecting element (1) and the second connecting element (3). The technical problem of providing a circuit breaker for electrical supply lines which can be manufactured and advantageously ensures an error-free operation is solved in that a pyrotechnic separating unit (5) is thermally actuatable by Joule heat emitted by at least one of said connecting elements (1, 3) and in that, the connection between the connecting elements (1, 3) can be released by means of the actuated pyrotechnic separating unit (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Auto Kabel Managementgesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Franz-Josef Lietz, Oliver Kastrop, Tomas Schulz, Reiner Mäckel
  • Patent number: 8154375
    Abstract: This invention relates to an overcurrent protection device, which comprises a housing having a first side mounted with first and second wire terminals and a second side installed with a button, an elastic element installed therein for abutting against the button, a memory alloy plate disposed therein and having a first end connected to the first wire terminal and a free end having a first contact, and an elastic metal sheet having two ends movably connected to the first and free ends respectively. When the button is pressed, an extended rod thereof can push the first contact and cause the memory alloy plate to be deformed for enabling the first contact to contact a second contact on the second wire terminal. When the button is released and shifted away from the first contact, a space will be provided for the first contact to return an original status prior to deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventor: Tsan-Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 8154378
    Abstract: A representative embodiment of the invention provides a thermal actuator for a MEMS-based relay switch. The thermal actuator has an “active” arm that is movably mounted on a substrate. The “active” arm has (i) a thermal expansion layer and (ii) a resistive heater that is electrically isolated from the thermal expansion layer. The thermal expansion layer is adapted to expand in response to a temperature change induced by a control current flowing through the resistive heater, thereby bending the “active” arm and moving that arm with respect to the substrate. Due to the fact that mechanical and electrical characteristics of the “active” arm are primarily controlled by the thermal expansion layer and the resistive heater, respectively, those characteristics can be optimized independently to obtain better operating characteristics for MEMS-based relay switches of the invention compared to those attained in the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Validmir Anatolyevich Aksyuk, Flavio Pardo, Maria Elina Simon
  • Patent number: 8154846
    Abstract: A feedthrough capacitor assembly for attachment to a mount having an opening is disclosed. The assembly includes a feedthrough terminal adapted for insertion through said opening for coupling a signal from a first side of the mount to a second side of the mount. The assembly includes a first conductive region extending about and electrically coupled to the feedthrough terminal and a second conductive region extending about the first conductive region. A plurality of capacitors are electrically coupled between the first conductive region and the second conductive region. The plurality of capacitors are arranged about the feedthrough terminal with each capacitor having about the same capacitance as each of the other capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Astec International Limited
    Inventors: Franz Fauer, Christoph Kopp
  • Patent number: 8152793
    Abstract: The membrane shell of an implantable dosage system according to the invention is particularly suitable for subcutaneous applications to release an active agent with steady amounts during a longer period of time. The membrane shell (3) according to the invention comprises a first half (1) and a second half (2), which both halves comprise a continuous closure edge (8, 9), and are adapted to be connected to each other through a closable joint. The closure edges (8, 9) of the halves comprise at least one groove (10) and/or at least one protrusion (11) as continuous or discontinuous, and the membrane shell (3) is adapted to be closed so that at least one protrusion (11) and/or at least one groove (10) of the second half becomes opposed to at least one groove (10) and/or at least one protrusion (11) of the first half through a snap-fit joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Bayer Oy
    Inventors: Antti Keinänen, Jukka Koskinen, Pentti Järvelä
  • Patent number: 8147482
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an ingestible capsule containing drug and a method for controlled administration of the drug in a mammal for treatment of a disease of the GI tract. The capsule has electronic control means for dispensing the drug substantially to the diseased tissue sites of the GI tract, according to a pre-determined drug release profile obtained prior to administration from the specific mammal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: MEDIMETRICS Personalized Drug Delivery B.V.
    Inventors: Jeff Shimizu, Karen I. Trovato
  • Patent number: 8143990
    Abstract: A microfluidic bubble fuse is formed from a hermetically sealed reservoir containing an electrically conductive liquid. The reservoir is interposed between a pair of electrodes such that each electrode is in electrical contact with the fluid within the reservoir, and such that the fluid within the reservoir provides electrical interconnectivity between the electrodes. The reservoir may be implemented on a substrate, in a tube, or in another manner. When the current or voltage across the electrodes increases beyond a threshold, the excess current or voltage will cause a bubble to be created within the fluid to reduce or inhibit the flow of electricity between the electrodes. When the current/voltage is reduced, the bubble will collapse to restore the flow of electricity between the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventor: Daniel Kowalik
  • Patent number: 8144458
    Abstract: An electronic module includes an enclosure having a front face and a rear face. An electronic circuit board is positioned in the enclosure and a processor is mounted to the electronic circuit board. A data storage device is positioned in the enclosure such that the processor is positioned between the data storage device and the electronic circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Wade D. Vinson, John P. Franz, Arthur K. Farnsworth, David W. Sherrod
  • Patent number: 8142417
    Abstract: A clamp adapter for a catheter that has a clamp body that receives an elastomeric clamp bushing. In order to fix a catheter inserted into the clamp bushing, the clamp bushing is axially compressed by a clamp lid. For this purpose, the clamp lid is moved axially on the clamp body with a clamp lever by means of a slotted guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Pajunk GmbH & Co. KG Besitzverwaltung
    Inventors: Horst Pajunk, Heinrich Pajunk