Patents by Inventor Thomas H. McGaffigan

Thomas H. McGaffigan 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: 6031958
    Abstract: A simulated laser light system includes a light source which emits substantially parallel light rays and a prismatic element having a plurality of prismatic surfaces. The prismatic surfaces define a curved surface either on the inside or the outside of the prismatic element. The prismatic surfaces redirect the light rays emitted from the prismatic element in a plurality of planes which are perpendicular to a tangent to said curved surface. The simulated laser light system appears to emit light from a centerline of the prismatic element when the light is actually emitted from an exterior surface of the prismatic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Inventor: Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 5964756
    Abstract: A transurethral needle ablation device for use by a human hand to treat the prostate of a human male. The device includes a cartridge assembly having an elongate probe member and a stylet. The elongate probe member has proximal and distal extremities and is provided with a passageway extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity. The stylet is slidably mounted in the passageway of the elongate probe member. A housing is included in the device. The cartridge assembly is removably mountable on the housing. An assembly adapted for actuation by the human hand is carried by the housing and coupled to the proximal extremity of the stylet for causing the distal extremity of the stylet to extend into the tissue of the prostate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Vidamed, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. McGaffigan, Christopher S. Jones
  • Patent number: 5873877
    Abstract: A medical probe device for introduction by way of a natural body opening into a tubular internal anatomical part of the body includes an elongate member having proximal and distal extremities and a passageway extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity along a longitudinal axis, a transparent guide piece mounted on the distal extremity of the elongate member, the transparent guide piece having proximal and distal extremities and a bore therein defining a guide piece lumen extending from the proximal extremity of the guide piece distally at least part way to the distal extremity of the guide piece, the guide piece lumen being in communication with the passageway in the elongate member, an optical viewing element movable within the passageway of the elongate member and having a distal extremity movable within the guide piece lumen, a handle mounted on the proximal extremity of the elongate member, the distal extremity of the optical viewing element mounted within the guide piece lumen so that
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Vidamed, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. McGaffigan, Jack A. McCullough, Christopher S. Jones, Bryan C. Depetrillo
  • Patent number: 5846117
    Abstract: Vehicle lighting system consisting of a vehicle with an integral light source powered either internally by an on-board energy source such as a rechargeable capacitor or a battery. In another embodiment the light source may be powered by an external energy source such as electrical conductors that may be integral with a track. The light source in the vehicle interacts with features on the track. The track acts as a light reflecting and emitting medium so that it accepts the light transmitted from the vehicle, redirects the light rays and emits the light rays in the direction desired. These light rays can be continuous in nature and output or can be discontinuous. The discontinuous feature gives the impression of a pulsing light and this pulsing light is proportional to the vehicle's speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventor: Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 5667326
    Abstract: A flexible tie strut for supporting both compressive and tensile forces, the flexible tie strut includes a tension member and a coaxially mounted compression member, the compression member and the tensile member are interconnected at their respective ends. A coupler for interconnecting flexible tie struts, and a system of couplers and struts are also disclosed. Additionally, wheels are disclosed that have axles having both male and female connection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventor: Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 5526561
    Abstract: A jaw-like cylindrical tool for producing a strong electromagnetic field for causing a Curie point heater to be energized having a curved cross-section that brings the two edges of the jaw-like structure into contact. Closely spaced conductors lie along the inner surface of the structure transverse to its axis while widely spaced conductors lie transverse to said axis along the outer surface of the structure. The inner surface of the structure has a plurality of axially extending ferrite rods lying immediately adjacent the inner surface conductors. The inner and outer surface conductors are connected so that the currents flow in opposite directions, the outer conductors reducing electromagnetic radiation while the ferrites and inner conductor spacing produce a strong central magnetic field irrespective of the field created by the opposing field produced by the outer conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventor: Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 5481799
    Abstract: This invention relates to heat-recoverable devices that are self-heating and auto-regulating. The heat-recoverable articles of this invention comprise the combination of a heat-recoverable material and lossy heating particles, such as ferromanetic or ferrimagnetic particles, which produce heat when subjected to an alternating magnetic field and have a Curie temperature at or above the recovery temperature of the material and preferably below the decomposition temperature of the material. The particles can be in an electrically non-conductive layer, on or in thermal contact with the heat-recoverable material or can be dispersed in the heat-recoverable material. The system of this invention includes the heat-recoverable device or article, an induction coil for producing the magnetic field and an alternating current power supply for the induction coil. Preferably the power supply is high frequency and constant current, which produces efficient heating and preferred auto-regulating properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Metcal, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 5433549
    Abstract: A flexible tie strut for supporting both compressive and tensile forces, the flexible tie strut including a tension member and a coaxially mounted compression member, the compression member and the tensile member being interconnected at their respective ends. A coupler for interconnecting struts, and a system of couplers and struts are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Thomas H. McGaffigan
    Inventor: Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 5427846
    Abstract: This invention provides a system for providing heating in an alternating magnetic field using lossy heat producing magnetic particles. This invention discloses a system comprising a combination of particles wherein the first particles are lossy heat producing particles, which have a preselected Curie temperature to provide self-regulating heating in the alternating magnetic field, and the second particles are nonlossy particles which have high permeability which are not heat producing particles but which maintain the coupling of the magnetic circuit and maintain the desired magnetic field focus and intensity through the area in which the first lossy heat producing particles are positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Metcal, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 5412184
    Abstract: A jaw-like cylindrical tool for producing a strong electromagnetic field for causing a Curie point heater to be energized having a curved cross-section that brings the two edges of the jaw-like structure into contact. Closely spaced conductors lie along the inner surface of the structure transverse to its axis while widely spaced conductors lie transverse to said axis along the outer surface of the structure. The inner surface of the structure has a plurality of axially extending ferrite rods lying immediately adjacent the inner surface conductors. The inner and outer surface conductors are connected so that the currents flow in opposite directions, the outer conductors reducing electromagnetic radiation while the ferrites and inner conductor spacing produce a strong central magnetic field irrespective of the field created by the opposing field produced by the outer conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventor: Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 5406055
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a heat recoverable plastic article such as a tube by deforming the article from a heat-stable configuration to a heat-unstable configuration. The heat-unstable configuration will return to the heat-stable configuration when the article is heated to above the heat recovery temperature. The article is heated such that the article is at a temperature no lower than the heat recovery temperature during the deforming step by lossy particles dispersed in the article or in a tool used in the deforming step. The lossy particles allow auto-regulated heating of the article since the particles cannot be heated beyond their Curie transition temperature when subjected to an alternating magnetic field. These particles are preferably ferrites. Alternatively, the tool can include a braided mesh tubing of a ferromagnetic alloy wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Metcal, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 5376774
    Abstract: Solenoid coils are provided that produce relatively low irradiation of electromagnetic fields with intense fields internally thereof for purposes of heating a metallic element, preferably a ferromagnetic element having a Curie temperature selected for the purpose for which the coil structure is to be employed, the coil structure in one embodiment comprising two coaxial coils of substantially equal diameter interconnected to produce in response to an alternating current being applied thereto out of phase magnetic fields that do not substantially interfere with one another as a result of the spacing between the coils. In a second embodiment the two coils are located between two additional coils that buck axial fields thereby together with fall off of the fields as the cube of the distance from the main coils provide a structure with low external radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute
    Inventors: Thomas H. McGaffigan, Frank A. Doljack, Cristian C. Filimon
  • Patent number: 5319173
    Abstract: This invention relates to heat-recoverable devices that are self-heating and auto-regulating. The heat-recoverable articles of this invention comprise the combination of a heat-recoverable material and lossy heating particles, such as ferromanetic or ferrimagnetic particles, which produce heat when subjected to an alternating magnetic field and have a Curie temperature at or above the recovery temperature of the material and preferably below the decomposition temperature of the material. The particles can be in an electrically non-conductive layer, on or in thermal contact with the heat-recoverable material or can be dispersed in the heat-recoverable material. The system of this invention includes the heat-recoverable device or article, an induction coil for producing the magnetic field and an alternating current power supply for the induction coil. Preferably the power supply is high frequency and constant current, which produces efficient heating and preferred auto-regulating properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Metcal, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 5304767
    Abstract: Solenoid coils are provided that produce relatively low irradiation of electromagnetic fields with intense fields internally thereof for purposes of heating a metallic element, preferably a ferromagnetic element having a Curie temperature selected for the purpose for which the coil structure is to be employed, the coil structure in one embodiment comprising two coaxial coils of substantially equal diameter interconnected to produce in response to an alternating current being applied thereto out of phase magnetic fields that do not substantially interfere with one another as a result of the spacing between the coils. In a second embodiment the two coils are located between two additional coils that buck axial fields thereby together with fall off of the fields as the cube of the distance from the main coils provide a structure with low external radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Thomas H. McGaffigan, Frank A. Doljack, Cristian C. Filimon
  • Patent number: 5231267
    Abstract: A method of producing a heat recoverable plastic article such as a tube by deforming the article from a heat-stable configuration to a heat-unstable configuration. The heat-unstable configuration will return to the heat-stable configuration when the article is heated to above the heat recovery temperature. The article is heated such that the article is at a temperature no lower than the heat recovery temperature during the deforming step by lossy particles dispersed in the article or in a tool used in the deforming step. The lossy particles allow auto-regulated heating of the article since the particles cannot be heated beyond their Curie transition temperature when subjected to an alternating magnetic field. These particles are preferably ferrites. Alternatively, the tool can include a braided mesh tubing of a ferromagnetic alloy wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Metcal, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 5227596
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a heater element which includes a layer of ferromagnetic material is included in a connecting device along with a fusible material such as a solder preform. The connecting device includes, for example, a hollow sleeve formed of heat shrinkable material. The solder preform, the heater element and the heat shrinkable hollow sleeve are integrally formed as a self-contained solder sleeve device such that the heater element is separate from the objects to be joined and does not completely shield to generation of a inductive current in the objects to be joined. The connecting device thus promotes even flow and bonding of the fusible material around a junction between the objects. Further, a connecting device is provided which permits visual inspection of a connection between objects bonded upon activation of the connecting device, thus providing an opportunity to confirm the integrity of the junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignees: Metcal, Inc., AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas H. McGaffigan, Jack A. McCullough
  • Patent number: 5223689
    Abstract: A peak power measurement as a function of various system parameters is made to determine completion of a proper heating operation; in one embodiment by measuring peak power delivered to a level as a function of temperature within a specified time period for a specific load; and in another embodiment by the plot of peak power and ramp-up and ramp-down levels as a function of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Metcal, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Cowell, Thomas H. McGaffigan, James C. Swift
  • Patent number: 5208443
    Abstract: This invention relates to heat-recoverable devices that are self-heating and auto-regulating. The heat-recoverable articles of this invention comprise the combination of a heat-recoverable material and lossy heating particles, such as ferromanetic or ferrimagnetic particles, which produce heat when subjected to an alternating magnetic field and have a Curie temperature at or above the recovery temperature of the material and preferably below the decomposition temperature of the material. The particles can be in an electrically non-conductive layer, on or in thermal contact with the heat-recoverable material or can be dispersed in the heat-recoverable material. The system of this invention includes the heat-recoverable device or article, an induction coil for producing the magnetic field and an alternating current power supply for the induction coil. Preferably the power supply is high frequency and constant current, which produces efficient heating and preferred auto-regulating properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Metcal, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 5182427
    Abstract: A self-regulating heater is provided by placing ferrite-type body member, which is highly lossy when exposed to a high frequency magnetic field and has a predetermined Curie temperature, on or around a central conductor which is connected or is adapted to be connected to a power source which provides high frequency alternating current to the conductor. The current passing through the central conductor produces a magnetic field around the conductor, which causes the ferrite-type body to be heated by internal losses to its Curie temperature. The heater self-regulates at the Curie temperature of the ferrite-type body. The power source is preferably a constant current, impedance matched power source. The ferrite-type body member can be ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic. The ferrite-type body is preferably ferrimagnetic, such as ferrite beads, rings, and the like, which heat by hysteresis losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Metcal, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. McGaffigan
  • Patent number: 5163856
    Abstract: A relatively flat, rectangular multipin connector has a terminal end to each pin adapted to receive the stripped end of a wire to be soldered thereto. Both surfaces of the pin may be arcuate in cross-section, one surface being concave and adapted to receive a wire to be soldered thereto. The convex surface has a covering of a thin layer of ferromagnetic material having an effective Curie temperature above the fusion temperature of the solder to be employed. A sleeve of heat shrinkable material has an interior ring of solder and is positioned over the region of contact between the wire and terminal end of the pin and has fusible plastic at each end. Each wire is placed on an individual pin and successively clamped in place, each between a different pair of jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignees: Metcal, Inc., AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas H. McGaffigan, Philip T. O'Brien