Patents by Inventor John E. Ferguson
John E. Ferguson 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: 9907688Abstract: A care unit can include a base member and a plurality of petal members. Each petal member can extend from a first end, engaged with the base member, to a second end, spaced from the base member. Inward-facing surfaces of at least two petal members and the base member can collectively define a cavity for receiving at least a portion of the patient. The care unit can further include one or both of a therapy component, configured to provide a treatment to the patient, or a sensor component, configured to monitor a condition of the patient. The therapy component can be coupled to, or integrated with, one or both of the base member or a petal member and can include an optical light source, a thermal energy source, an oxygen or air source, a sound wave source, a sound wave-cancelling source, or a pulsating source, for example.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2013Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Felicity Pino, Saurav Paul, James Krocak, John E. Ferguson, Nicole Eugenia Pardo Lamos, David Amor, Ashish Singal, Greg Ruth, Blaine Schneider, Kari Roberts
-
Patent number: 9788792Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel approach means of screening various skin surfaces, including hard to reach areas of the human body, as well as more commonly seen areas such as the foot. The present invention can help patients, especially those who are immobile or those with diabetes self-monitor and transmit the skin condition accurately, so that medical providers may assess the risk or presence of skin tissue breakdown. Thus, provision is made for a remote screening device that can be used in telemedicine or home self-monitoring approaches and offers high resolution image, without artifacts or other distortions that might arise from images taken of feet that have been compressed through standing and the like.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2016Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of General Counsel, Professional Staff Group IV(024)Inventors: Gary D. Goldish, Andrew Hansen, Eric Nickel, John E. Ferguson
-
Publication number: 20160183879Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel approach means of screening various skin surfaces, including hard to reach areas of the human body, as well as more commonly seen areas such as the foot. The present invention can help patients, especially those who are immobile or those with diabetes self-monitor and transmit the skin condition accurately, so that medical providers may assess the risk or presence of skin tissue breakdown. Thus, provision is made for a remote screening device that can be used in telemedicine or home self-monitoring approaches and offers high resolution image, without artifacts or other distortions that might arise from images taken of feet that have been compressed through standing and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2016Publication date: June 30, 2016Inventors: Gary D. Goldish, Andrew Hansen, Eric Nickel, John E. Ferguson
-
Patent number: 9163829Abstract: A moving bed heat exchanger (155) includes a vessel having an upper portion (200), a lower portion (210) with a floor (272) including a discharge opening therein, and an intermediate portion (205). The vessel directs a gravity flow of hot ash particles (140) received thereby from the upper portion (200) through the intermediate portion (205) to the floor (272) of the lower portion (210) of the vessel, where the hot ash particles (140) are collected. Tubes in the intermediate portion (205) of the vessel direct a flow of working fluid in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of the gravity flow of the hot ash particles (140) through the intermediate portion (205) of the vessel such that heat from the hot ash particles (140) is transferred to the working fluid thereby cooling the hot ash particles (140).Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Robert V. Jacobs, Glen D. Jukkola, George D. Mylchreest, Bard C. Teigen, Richard E. Waryasz, Laurie Ferguson, John E. Ferguson
-
Publication number: 20140060546Abstract: Care units and related methods providing a comfortable environment for a patient are disclosed. A care unit can include a base member and a plurality of petal members. Each petal member can extend from a first end, engaged with the base member, to a second end, spaced from the base member. Inward-facing surfaces of at least two petal members and the base member can collectively define a cavity for receiving at least a portion of the patient. The care unit can further include one or both of a therapy component, configured to provide a treatment to the patient, or a sensor component, configured to monitor a condition of the patient. The therapy component can be coupled to, or integrated with, one or both of the base member or a petal member and can include an optical light source, a thermal energy source, an oxygen or air source, a sound wave source, a sound wave-cancelling source, or a pulsating source, for example.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2013Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: Regents of the University of MinnesotaInventors: Felicity Pino, Saurav Paul, James Krocak, John E. Ferguson, Nicole Eugenia Pardo Lamos, David Amor, Ashish Singal, Greg Ruth, Blaine Schneider, Kari Roberts
-
Publication number: 20090151902Abstract: A moving bed heat exchanger (155) includes a vessel having an upper portion (200), a lower portion (210) with a floor (272) including a discharge opening therein, and an intermediate portion (205). The vessel directs a gravity flow of hot ash particles (140) received thereby from the upper portion (200) through the intermediate portion (205) to the floor (272) of the lower portion (210) of the vessel, where the hot ash particles (140) are collected. Tubes in the intermediate portion (205) of the vessel direct a flow of working fluid in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of the gravity flow of the hot ash particles (140) through the intermediate portion (205) of the vessel such that heat from the hot ash particles (140) is transferred to the working fluid thereby cooling the hot ash particles (140).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2007Publication date: June 18, 2009Inventors: Robert V. Jacobs, Glen D. Jukkola, George D. Mylchreest, Bard C. Teigen, Richard E. Waryasz, John E. Ferguson, Laurie Ferguson
-
Patent number: 6615750Abstract: A sorbent conditioning and direct feed apparatus is provided for direct feeding of a conditioned solid sorbent to a combustor 12. The sorbent conditioning and direct feed apparatus includes raw solid sorbent storages means 102, particle size reducing means 112 for reducing the particle size of solid sorbent supplied thereto from a relatively larger coarse particle size to a relatively smaller fine particle size, metering means 108 for metering the supply of raw solid sorbent from the raw solid sorbent storage means to the particle size reducing means 112, and transport means 118 for transporting solid sorbent which has been conditioned by the particle size reducing means 112 to the combustor 12, whereby conditioned solid sorbent is fed to the combustor 12 without any intermediate storage of the solid sorbent between the raw solid sorbent storage means 102 and the transport means 118.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2002Date of Patent: September 9, 2003Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) LtdInventors: James F. Durant, John E. Ferguson, Glen D. Jukkola, Reed S C. Rogers
-
Publication number: 20030150365Abstract: A sorbent conditioning and direct feed apparatus is provided for direct feeding of a conditioned solid sorbent to a combustor 12. The sorbent conditioning and direct feed apparatus includes raw solid sorbent storage means 102, particle size reducing means 112 for reducing the particle size of solid sorbent supplied thereto from a relatively larger coarse particle size to a relatively smaller fine particle size, metering means 108 for metering the supply of raw solid sorbent from the raw solid sorbent storage means to the particle size reducing means 112, and transport means 118 for transporting solid sorbent which has been conditioned by the particle size reducing means 112 to the combustor 12, whereby conditioned solid sorbent is fed to the combustor 12 without any intermediate storage of the solid sorbent between the raw solid sorbent storage means 102 and the transport means 118.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2002Publication date: August 14, 2003Applicant: ALSTOM (Switzerland) LtdInventors: James F. Durant, John E. Ferguson, Glen D. Jukkola, Reed SC. Rogers
-
Patent number: 3977213Abstract: Concentric driving and driven clutch rings have teeth in a common radial plane on one end of the rings. The clutch rings are normally coupled together by a coupler ring having teeth engaging the teeth of both clutch rings, this engagement being maintained by an axial clamp bolt. In the event of dangerous overspeed the clamp bolt is broken and the coupler ring is disengaged from the clutch rings by an explosive charge acting on an axial piston. The explosive charge is detonated by a firing pin actuated by a steel ball impelled by centrifugal force. The ball is retained by a magnet until centrifugal force exceeds the magnetic force holding the ball.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 1975Date of Patent: August 31, 1976Assignee: Guy F. Atkinson CompanyInventors: Donald B. Spencer, John E. Ferguson