Patents by Inventor Thomas L. Kelly

Thomas L. Kelly 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: 6233473
    Abstract: True body composition is estimated using a dual-energy, fan-shaped distribution of x-rays and signal processing that corrects for mass magnification and other effects due to the geometry of the measurement system. To avoid inaccuracies due to beam hardening and certain other effects, the thickness of attenuating material along respective raypaths is obtained through using a four-dimensional look-up table derived experimentally from step-wedge measurements. To correct for mass magnification effects due to using a fan-shaped distribution of x-rays, another look-up table and interpolation between table entries are used to convert projected mass to true mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Hologic, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Shepherd, Thomas L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 6167666
    Abstract: An early warning leak detector. The early warning leak detector is placed in a hole is formed in the sealed deck of a roof. The early warning leak detector has an exterior shell having a nipple for connecting the early warning leak detector to a hose. Located within the exterior shell is a one way valve. The one way valve allows water to pass through the early warning leak detector while maintaining any negative pressure between the roof deck and the roof membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Inventor: Thomas L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 6092344
    Abstract: A roofing system for use with a cooled building. A first layer of insulation is attached to the roof deck using fasteners. A vapor barrier is formed over the fasteners. A second layer of insulation is formed over the vapor barrier. A board weighs down the second layer of insulation and a waterproof layer is formed over the board. The roofing system prevents thermal conduction into the refrigerated building while allowing the roof to be vented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Inventor: Thomas L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 6009147
    Abstract: A method of calibrating an ultrasound bone analysis apparatus having a pair of transducer assemblies. Each transducer assembly has a transducer and a coupling pad, and is movable relative to the other so that a face of each pad can be moved to a position in which they mutually contact and to a position where the faces contact body parts. The method according to the present application includes transmitting an ultrasound signal from one transducer and receiving a signal corresponding to the transmitted ultrasound signal through the other transducer when the transducer assemblies are in the first position and the second position. A time for the ultrasound signal to pass through the body part is determined, and a width of the body part based on positions of the transducers is determined. Then, using the time and width values a speed of sound of the ultrasound signal passing through the body part with squish compensation is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Hologic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay A. Stein, Steven Teta, Donald Barry, Richard E. Cabral, Tracy L. Ramsdell, Tina LeFebvre, Noah Berger, Tom Richardson, Eric von Stetten, Howard P. Weiss, Thomas L. Kelly, Russell J. Gershman
  • Patent number: 6006482
    Abstract: A laterally air permeable roof assembly having seals at perimetrical edges of the roof and at all penetrations of the roof assembly includes secondary air seals spaced from the perimetrical air seals and the protrusion air seals such that the secondary air seals are isolated from unstable areas of the roof. The unstable areas of the roof are areas which experience a high degree of expansion and contraction in different planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Inventor: Thomas L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5913204
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for surveying and reporting listener opinion of a list of songs such as the songs comprising a radio station music library. A group of music listeners is selected from whom individual listener opinions are recorded. A home music preference test kit is fielded to the select listeners for use in each listener's residence. Data from each music preference test kit is then collected, compiled and tabulated to reflect a mean or average listener opinion for each song in the list.The home music preference test kit includes instructions for completing the test and returning the survey form, a music medium having a preselected number of song hooks representing each song in the library of the radio station. The kit also includes a survey form for recording the listener's opinion of each song based on the song hooks and an honorarium for agreeing to properly complete a survey form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Inventor: Thomas L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5778045
    Abstract: Single and dual-energy x-ray images are obtained in a single scanning procedure, which allows measurement of bone density from the scan information acquired at both energy levels and high resolution digital geometric images from one of the two energy level scan sets. Densitometric and geometric measurements taken from multiple projections may be combined to create three-dimensional densitometric and tomographic images. An interface device allow an operator to select one of a plurality of scanning sequences which correspond to scanning a set of regions of interest in the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Hologic, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric von Stetten, Peter Steiger, Jay A. Stein, Howard P. Weiss, Thomas L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5746758
    Abstract: Disposable intra-arterial augering and dottering-instruments for use in patients in clearing pathways at obstructed or nearly obstructed arterial sites are disclosed. A number of augering tips used on the instruments are disclosed along with a method for releasibly affixing augering tips to the instruments. In addition, a dottering tip is disclosed for use in procedures where it is desired to open a pathway without excising material from the obstructed site. A combined augering and dottering tip is disclosed for a procedure in which material displacement followed by excising of material from within an artery is accomplished without removal of the combined augering and dottering tip until the procedure is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Evi Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory N. Nordgren, Thomas L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5740647
    Abstract: Roofing system is presented comprising a built-up roof(BUR) assembly or modified roof membrane assembly (MRM) which is adhered to gypsum, concrete or composite sheets or panels which have been loose-laid over a roof substrate. This allows the BUR or MRM assemblies to conduct heat to or receive heat from the thermal mass of the loose laid mass-weighted sheets immediately below the BUR or MRM assemblies. The gypsum panels, preformed concrete panels, poured-in-place concrete or composite mass-weighted construction panels which are placed between the BUR or MRM assemblies and the roof substrate causes more gradual changes in temperature between the roof assembly and the roof substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Inventor: Thomas L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5665098
    Abstract: Novel apparatus and related methods are disclosed by which plaque is connected to the head of a removal instrument for removal of a unitary segment of plaque from an artery intact to increase blood flow through the artery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: EndoVascular Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Kelly, Thomas A. Wiita
  • Patent number: 5643298
    Abstract: Disposable intra-arterial augering and dottering instruments for use in patients in clearing pathways at obstructed or nearly obstructed arterial sites are disclosed. A number of augering tips used on the instruments are disclosed along with a method for releasibly affixing augering tips to the instruments. In addition, a dottering tip is disclosed for use in procedures where it is desired to open a pathway without excising material from the obstructed site. A combined augering and dottering tip is disclosed for a procedure in which material displacement followed by excising of material from within an artery is accomplished without removal of the combined augering and dottering tip until the procedure is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Inventors: Gregory N. Nordgren, Thomas L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5643297
    Abstract: Disposable intra-arterial augering and dottering instruments for use in patients in clearing pathways at obstructed or nearly obstructed arterial sites are disclosed. A number of augering tips used on the instruments are disclosed along with a method for releasibly affixing augering tips to the instruments. In addition, a dottering tip is disclosed for use in procedures where it is desired to open a pathway without excising material from the obstructed site. A combined augering and dottering tip is disclosed for a procedure in which material displacement followed by excising of material from within an artery is accomplished without removal of the combined augering and dottering tip until the procedure is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Endovascular Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory N. Nordgren, Thomas L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5632755
    Abstract: Disposable intra-arterial augering and dottering instruments for use in patients in clearing pathways at obstructed or nearly obstructed arterial sites are disclosed. A number of augering tips used on the instruments are disclosed along with a method for releasibly affixing augering tips to the instruments. In addition, a dottering tip is disclosed for use in procedures where it is desired to open a pathway without excising material from the obstructed site. A combined augering and dottering tip is disclosed for a procedure in which material displacement followed by excising of material from within an artery is accomplished without removal of the combined augering and dottering tip until the procedure is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Endo Vascular Intruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory N. Nordgren, Thomas L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5571122
    Abstract: Novel apparatus and related methods are disclosed by which plaque is connected to the head of a removal instrument for removal of a unitary segment of plaque from an artery intact to increase blood flow through the artery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Endovascular Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Kelly, Thomas A. Wiita
  • Patent number: 5213542
    Abstract: A building construction includes a building structure and a ventilator, the ventilator having a stack defining a vent passage, a closure being provided for normally sealing off the vent passage, insulating material supported by the closure and providing an air seal within the vent passage under normal conditions, and vent actuating means operative in response to the presence of combustion products to disable the closure, automatically release the insulating material and exhaust combustion products through the vent passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Inventor: Thomas L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5211651
    Abstract: A catheter atherotome (10) and method for its use for performing partial atherectomy in an artery and thereby enlarging the lumen effectively available for blood flow through the artery. Several blades (34) are mounted at a distal end of a catheter (30), in a helical basket configuration and spaced angularly apart from one another about the associated ends of two concentric sheaths (12, 14) in such a way that longitudinal and rotary relative movement of the sheaths selectively bows the blades arcuately outwardly into a cutting position or draws the blades flat into alignment with the sheaths. The blades (34) have sharpened cutting edges (44) extending helically and directed toward the catheter's proximal end when the blades are bowed. Partial removal of an atheroma is effected by manually pulling the basket knife past an atheroma with the blades (34) in their outwardly bowed cutting positions, with the speed, force, and amount of expansion of the blades determined by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: EVI Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent A. Reger, Thomas L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 5160342
    Abstract: A filter useful in tubular organs of the human body, intended primarily for endovascular use during surgical procedures for removal of plaque and other treatment of stenoses in arteries, in order to entrap particles of plaque or other materials freed from the interior wall of an artery while permitting continued flow of blood through the artery during the procedure of treating the stenosis. Several filter elements are fastened in apart-spaced relationship with one another along a flexible elongate member and are large enough to require the entire flow of blood through the artery to pass through the filter elements. An open-mouthed tubular stocking of porous filter material encloses the filter elements and supports the periphery of each filter element. Successive filter elements, progressing in the direction of blood flow, pass only progressively smaller particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Evi Corp.
    Inventors: Vincent A. Reger, Thomas L. Kelly, LeRoy E. Groshong
  • Patent number: 5108419
    Abstract: A filter useful in tubular organs of the human body, intended primarily for endovascular use during surgical procedures for removal of plaque and other treatment of stenoses in arteries, in order to entrap particles of plaque or other materials freed from the interior wall of an artery while permitting continued flow of blood through the artery during the procedure of treating the stenosis. Several filter elements are fastened in apart-spaced relationship with one another along a flexible elongate member and are large enough to require the entire flow of blood through the artery to pass through the filter elements. An open-mouthed tubular stocking of porous filter material encloses the filter elements and supports the periphery of each filter element. Successive filter elements, progressing in the direction of blood flow, pass only progressively smaller particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: EVI Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent A. Reger, Thomas L. Kelly, LeRoy E. Groshong
  • Patent number: 4888930
    Abstract: A sealed roof deck wind vacuum transfer system is disclosed which provides the need for an air seal barrier in a roof assembly by sealing the underlying roof deck panel joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Inventor: Thomas L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 4860514
    Abstract: A single ply roof installation and method of making and using the same is disclosed. Flexible material securing units are provided for attaching to the underside of the membrane sheets. These securing units have a varying thickness across the surface area and are disposed in the field of the roof so as to attach to the membrane at the seam area of overlapping membrane sheets. Certain embodiments include securing units made of two pieces of the membrane material each piece having a different size, with the pieces welded together by heat or solvent welding. The securing units are distributed in the field of the roof in a regular pattern along seam sections adjoining sheets of the roofing membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Inventor: Thomas L. Kelly