Patents Issued in April 14, 2016
  • Publication number: 20160100716
    Abstract: The invention discloses a hand blender with a body which can be connected with different stirring tools. The body includes a motor with an output shaft, a deceleration component and a plurality of output connectors. The speed control knob and the safety switch, starting switch which control the moving of the motor are set up of the body. The control circuit includes a half speed control lever and a reverse control lever which can be moved by the corresponding stirring tools. The hand blender can connected with different stirring tools and output different kinds of speeds. It is more convenient and safe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Shu Sang Cheung, Xianliang Ouyang
  • Publication number: 20160100717
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for automatedly and/or remotely preparing food items for consumption. In one aspect, a food preparation system may comprise a refrigeration unit, a cooking unit, a control unit, and a transportation unit configured to transport food items from the refrigeration unit to the cooking unit. In another aspect, various aspects of the refrigeration unit, the cooking unit, and/or the transportation of food items from the refrigeration unit and cooking unit may be initiated or scheduled by a user remotely via a network configured to transmit to, and receive information from, the control unit. The transportation unit may also comprise one or more reservoirs for the delivery of substantially liquid ingredients. Such reservoir contents may be delivered to the cooking unit in concert with or independent of any contents of the refrigeration unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: Yuanji Zhu
  • Publication number: 20160100718
    Abstract: A method of dispensing a composition from a dispensing device includes use of a dispensing device. The dispensing device includes a base and a refill removably connectable with the base. The base has a first actuator and the refill having a second actuator. The method includes the steps of: activating the first actuator to dispense a quantity of a composition from the base; and disconnecting the refill from the base; and activating the second actuator to dispense the composition from the refill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Olga LAHUERTA SALAS, Paulus Antonius Augustinus HOEFTE, Dominic Robert DOYLE, Cedric GOBBER, Ruben GARCIA FABREGA
  • Publication number: 20160100719
    Abstract: A method of releasably securing a portable roll dispenser to a surface includes providing a tacky mat made from a tacky elastomeric polymer composition, wherein the mat has a first side and an opposite second side, and wherein the first side of the mat is smooth and at least a part of the second side is provided with a surface structure; and arranging the first side of the mat on the dispenser; wherein the surface structure includes at least one of at least one projection, a surface texture, and at least one recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventor: Gunnar BREDAHL
  • Publication number: 20160100720
    Abstract: A body drying and personal inspection apparatus is provided for air drying and for providing the user with several inspection and data input devices. The apparatus comprises a base platform and an upright member with one or more handles to support the user. A blower assembly forces air through the base platform and through an elongated blower tube handled by the user. Further provided is an inspection camera coupled to the blower tube and a foot camera within the base platform, both used to capture images of the user's body while on the platform. A display and processing system is also provided that allows images to be processed and displayed, for input to be received via a user input device, and optionally for data to be transmitted to a third party over a network. The base platform also provides weight measuring capabilities for measuring the weight of the user thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: Ernesto Holguin
  • Publication number: 20160100721
    Abstract: A light-weight, portable toilet seat attachment which positions the user in a natural semi-crouching position over a conventional toilet seat to relieve pressure and resulting pain in a user's back, hips or knees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Timothy N. Byrd, Teresa C. Byrd
  • Publication number: 20160100722
    Abstract: An automatic seat lowering device for lowering a toilet seat after use and teaching a child to use the toilet. The automatic seat lowering device includes a housing, a seat lowering arm, and a laser pointing arm, wherein both arms are pivotally secured to the housing. The seat lowering arm is movable between an upright configuration wherein the toilet seat is able to rest thereagainst and a lowered configuration wherein the seat lowering arm rotates so as to lower the toilet seat. A controller is operably connected to a timer disposed on the housing and operably connected to the seat lowering arm so as to automatically move the seat lowering arm, causing the toilet seat to be lowered after the timer has expired. The laser pointing arm can be directed to point to the interior of a toilet bowl so as to indicate to a child where to urinate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: Jason Cunningham
  • Publication number: 20160100723
    Abstract: A toilet system includes a transport conduit, a flush member, an outer seal element with one or more ventilation passages there through, and an actuator system. All of these components may be mounted on a support structure which is installed on the slab or other foundation in the area of a toilet room and adjacent to a wall of the toilet room. A holding tank is located on the opposite side of the toilet room exterior wall from the support structure or other arrangement for supporting the transport conduit and other components of the system. The holding tank includes a ventilation stack and fan to induce airflow through the toilet system. The flush member and the actuator system cooperate to move excreta collected in the transport conduit to the holding tank. The outer seal element and actuator system cooperate to maintain a desired seal between the transport conduit and holding tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas Pirelli
  • Publication number: 20160100724
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a vacuum cleaner adapted for pneumatic connection to a power tool generating dust during its operation, in order to draw at least part of the dust away from the tool into the vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner operating under certain operation parameters when it is turned on. In order to optimize operation of the vacuum cleaner based on the characteristics of the tool and/or its current use, the vacuum cleaner includes a reception mechanism for receiving information regarding characteristics of the tool and/or its current use, a processing and calculation mechanism for processing the received information and for calculating a correction signal for at least one of the vacuum cleaner's operation parameters based on the received information, and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the at least one operation parameter based on the calculated correction signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: Guido Valentini
  • Publication number: 20160100725
    Abstract: Vacuum Portals will alleviate strain and stress of vacuum cleaning. They reach the unreachable, and make vacuum cleaning easy. They target the unreachable, the difficult, and the out of the way accumulated debris and pet hair that is unattainable by current vacuum cleaners. A Vacuum Portal is for cleaning furniture supports, including furniture feet, and other related difficult areas such as baseboards, crevices, corners and stairways with this new vacuum cleaner nozzle. The Vacuum Portal is designed to give higher vacuum suction at the Portals that are openings located on selected places on a vacuum cleaner nozzle. These portals that are vent openings on the vacuum cleaner nozzle that have stronger suction force, being smaller apertures, and these vents can be directed, and as such, can be manually opened and closed as needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: Alex P. Janssen, JR.
  • Publication number: 20160100726
    Abstract: A vacuum accessory tool comprises a nozzle body defining an interior, with an opening formed in the nozzle body and a working air conduit provided on the nozzle body in fluid communication with the opening via the interior. A hair removal assembly is associated with the nozzle body, and can include nubs from a flexible polymeric material adapted to generate an electrostatic charge when the tool moves over and in contact with a carpet surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin T. Downey, Joseph A. Fester
  • Publication number: 20160100727
    Abstract: An agitator assembly for a cleaning apparatus including an agitator having a body with first and second ends, and a first alignment formation and a first securing formation at or adjacent the first end; and a drive member operable to impart rotation about a drive axis, and a second alignment formation adapted to cooperate with the first alignment formation, and a second securing formation adapted to engage the first securing formation. Relative axial movement of the agitator in a first direction towards the drive member causes contact between the first and second alignment formations. Further relative axial movement of the agitator in the first direction causes relative rotation between the agitator and drive member and yet further relative axial movement of the agitator in the first direction causes engagement between the first and second securing formations, substantially to prevent further relative rotational movement between the agitator and drive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: Edward Thomas George Barrett
  • Publication number: 20160100728
    Abstract: A dust collector for filtering dust suspended in air, comprising: a vacuum unit for drawing the air; a cyclone body defining a cyclone body peripheral wall delimiting a plenum, a cyclone air inlet provided in the cyclone body peripheral wall for admitting the air, a cyclone body vacuum inlet in fluid communication with the vacuum unit for drawing the air from the plenum and a cyclone body dust outlet provided at the bottom of the plenum for evacuating the dust from the cyclone body; and baffles extending in the plenum from the cyclone body peripheral wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: Michel Lavoie
  • Publication number: 20160100729
    Abstract: A cyclonic vacuum cleaner including a suction inlet fluidly connected in series to a vac-motor for drawing a dirty airflow in through the suction inlet. The suction inlet is fluidly connected downstream to both a first cyclonic separator and to a flow device via a flow junction, the flow junction configured for dividing the dirty airflow into two separate airflows, a first airflow passing through the first cyclonic separator and a second airflow passing through the flow device, thus stepping down the dirty airflow through the first separator compared to the dirty airflow through the suction inlet. The flow device is either a second cyclonic separator, an air filter or an air turbine. A screening member is upstream of the flow device for screening out dirt particles from the second airflow so that the dirt particles are retained in the first airflow, thus “concentrating” dust loading in the first airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew James BOWER
  • Publication number: 20160100730
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprising a dirty air intake and a cyclonic separating apparatus connected in series. The cyclonic separating apparatus comprises a plurality of cyclonic separators connected in parallel. The vacuum cleaner further comprises a bleed valve provided upstream of the plurality of cyclonic separators. The bleed valve opens to admit bled air into the plurality of cyclonic separators in response to a drop in pressure in the vacuum cleaner. The bleed valve is also connected to the inlets of the plurality of cyclonic separators via a common plenum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Antony Owen DEMAUS, John Scott SUTTON
  • Publication number: 20160100731
    Abstract: Described are swivel systems and swivel assemblies for connecting a vacuum appliance to a vacuum accessory. The assemblies can include first and second arcuate members that each includes a tab and a receiving section so the latter can receive the other member's tab. The assembly can be adapted to be coupled to the accessory to permit the appliance to pivot relative to the accessory about two independent axes. The swivel system can include a vacuum adapter and a connector adapted to permit the vacuum adapter to pivot about a vacuum accessory. A plenum chamber can be formed in the adapter that is in fluid communication with one or more vacuum hoses to balance the airflow within the adapter. With the swivel systems and assemblies described herein, the versatility and efficiency of vacuum appliances and other tools can be improved through their multi-axes rotational capabilities and balanced airflow configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventor: Robert HOLLIS
  • Publication number: 20160100732
    Abstract: A pressure switch configured to be disposed on a path, through which dust passes, to control a dust sensor according to whether a suction pressure is formed in the path, is provided. The pressure switch includes: a body part having a connection tube connected to the path, and an upper surface; first and second terminals configured to be electrically connected to the dust sensor, and at least a portion of which protrudes from the upper surface of the body part; and a flexible cap configured to engage the body part to define a space along with the upper surface of the body part. The flexible cap is deformed in response to a negative pressure being formed in the space, thereby electrically connecting the first and second terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: Kyung-han JEONG
  • Publication number: 20160100733
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cleaning robot including a body; a display unit configured to display information related to various operations of the cleaning robot; a dust collecting box separably coupled with the body to collect dust introduced through a dust suction port; an air cleaning box to replace the dust collecting box and installed at the body to purify air introduced into the body and then discharge the purified air; and a control unit configured to recognize whether a box installed at the body is the dust collecting box or the air cleaning box, and to control the cleaning robot to perform a cleaning mode or an air cleaning mode according to a recognized result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Byung Chan KIM, Woo Ram OH, Sang Sik YOON
  • Publication number: 20160100734
    Abstract: A floor cleaning head 10 comprises a body portion 12 and a pivotally attached nozzle 16. The nozzle 16 comprises resiliently flexible front and rear extending elongate blades 33, 34 depending from the underside thereof and a transversely extending suction mouth 20 disposed between the blades 33, 34, and intersected by a steam inlet duct 37 to form frontal and rear portions 20F, 20R. The orientation of the nozzle 16 is altered by a mechanism 23, such that the leading blade 33, 34 raises to allow dust and debris to pass beneath, while the trailing blade 34, 33 lowers to form a working edge against the floor surface, against which, dust, dirty water and debris gathers for removal by the induced airflow of an attached floor cleaner (not shown). The head 10 is thus configured to perform separate vacuuming and steam cleaning operations simultaneously, in a single pass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Alexander Anthony Denny Bassett, Chengling Zhang
  • Publication number: 20160100735
    Abstract: An apparatus for horizontal surface cleaning includes a cleaning head for engaging horizontal surfaces to be cleaned, a handle pivotally engaging the cleaning head for grasping during horizontal surface cleaning, and a tank affixed to the handle and pivotal therewith relative to the cleaning head. The tank is adapted to contain a surface cleaning liquid. The handle and tank have together an upright orientation during storage and a tilted orientation during horizontal surface cleaning The tank includes a valve that closes during the upright orientation to prevent the liquid from exiting the tank, and opens during the tilted orientation to allow the liquid to exit the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: Pier Antonio Milanese
  • Publication number: 20160100736
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sanitizing utensils are disclosed. A system for sanitizing a utensil includes a shelf removably attached to a counter; an attachment member adjustably secured to the shelf, the attachment member having an aperture formed therein; a container received into the aperture in the attachment member, the container being configured to hold a sanitizing solution; and a removable insert located along an upper periphery of the container. The removable insert has a first cleaning rod extending between opposing first and second sides of the insert; a partition extending between the opposing first and second sides of the insert parallel to the first cleaning rod to form a debris channel, the debris channel having a floor thereunder; and at least one scraping member secured to an upper rim of the insert. The first cleaning rod is not located in the debris channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: DAVID GEORGE BARLOW
  • Publication number: 20160100737
    Abstract: A conveyor warewasher includes at least one spray zone with multiple nozzles for spraying liquid onto wares passing therethrough, the spray zone including a tank for collecting sprayed liquid. The tank includes a drain outlet at the bottom of the tank for draining of the tank and a drain stop movable between a drain outlet closed position and a drain outlet open position. A drain control assembly includes a drain actuator operatively connected to cause movement of the drain stop between the drain outlet closed position and the drain outlet open position, and the drain actuator is moved by a powered device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: Steven H. KRAMER
  • Publication number: 20160100738
    Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub at least partially defining a washing chamber, a liquid spraying system, a liquid recirculation system defining a recirculation flow path, and a liquid filtering system. The liquid filtering system includes a rotating filter disposed in the recirculation flow path to filter the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: WALTER T. BLANCHARD, JACQUELYN R. GEDA, TODD M. JOZWIAK, JOHN A. MILLER, ANTONY M. RAPPETTE, RODNEY M. WELCH
  • Publication number: 20160100739
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a rack assembly with a modular handle for allowing a user to grasp and pull out the rack. The modular handle includes a front piece, a rear body, and two end caps, which fit together to form an aesthetically pleasing handle suitable for the temperature and humidity in a dishwasher environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: DAVID H. CHEN, DEMETRIUS J. SCHAAF, MICHAEL S. SEELEY, JEFFREY R. TAYLOR
  • Publication number: 20160100740
    Abstract: A method for presentation of image sequence data is disclosed. The intensity of the image sequence data is used to derive the navigation guide. Each representative data may correspond to an average pixel value, a median pixel value, a minimum value, or a maximum value of the sub-image or said one or more images. Each representative data may also comprise a term proportional to a mathematical product of adjusted color values. The series of representative data can be plotted along with highlighting an area between a curve corresponding to the series of representative data and a coordinate axis by filling the area with a highlight color. Each representative data may comprise a minimum value and a maximum value associated with the sub-image, or one or more images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Kang-Huai Wang, Gordon C. Wilson, Weiwen Lin
  • Publication number: 20160100741
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an illumination unit configured to irradiate a visual field area with illumination light that produces return light from a specific substance; a sensor unit having a two-dimensional surface on which a plurality of pixels is arranged for receiving the return light from the visual field area and photoelectrically converting the return light to generate electrical signals; a reading unit configured to read out the electrical signals per a specified frame cycle; a reset pulse generation unit configured to generate reset pulses for releasing electric charges accumulated in the plurality of pixels; a reset pulse controller configured to adjust timing of generating the reset pulses such that a plurality of frame cycles is included in a period between generation of two consecutive reset pulses; and an illumination controller configured to cause the illumination unit to emit the illumination light in each of the plurality of frame cycles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru ONO, Satoshi TAKEKOSHI, Shunji TAKEI, Kenji YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20160100742
    Abstract: An insertion apparatus includes an elongated inserting section having a curving section, an input section which is provided in an operating section, receives an arbitrary input to curve the curving section in a movable range including a first range that includes the neutral input position and a second range that has an operation amount from the neutral input position exceeding the first range, a first actuator, a detecting section, a second actuator which gives a force towards the neutral position to the input section, and a control section which operates the first actuator and the second actuator, when the input amount to the input section is in the second range, thereby giving a force to the input section so that an input amount to the input section is in the first range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuhiro OKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160100743
    Abstract: A spiral unit includes a base tube extended along a longitudinal axis and made of a first thermoplastic resin, and a fin disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the base tube along a fin axis spirally extended around the longitudinal axis and made of a second thermoplastic resin. The fin includes a strip portion provided in a state of being bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the base tube and spirally extended along the fin axis. The second resin being mixed with a magnetic material in the strip portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert A. AILINGER, James J. FRASSICA, Richard M. ANDREWS, Hiroaki MIYOSHI
  • Publication number: 20160100744
    Abstract: A spiral unit into which an insertion section of an introduction apparatus having a longitudinal axis is to be inserted, and is rotatable to the insertion section in a state of being disposed on the insertion section, includes a regulator which is removably arranged in a tubular section, holds a state of expanding an inner diameter of the tubular section to regulate reduction of the inner diameter of the tubular section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert E. Ailinger, James J. Frassica, Richard M. Andrews, Hiroaki Miyoshi
  • Publication number: 20160100745
    Abstract: In a bending tube for endoscope on which torsion preventing tab mechanisms are provided on the respective middle parts of first and second slots for bending located in an area from the proximal end of a bending tube body to a predetermined position on the distal end side (the torsion suppressing area), and the bending tube body being permitted to bend by the first and second slots for bending, the torsion preventing tab mechanism of at least any one of the first and second slots for bending arranged on the proximal end side of each of arrays (first and second arrays), other than the first and second slots for bending located at the most proximal end, among the first and second slots for bending arrayed in a same line, respectively, along a longitudinal direction of the bending tube body, is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki SETO, Eijiro SATO, Takeru KONDO, Takashi NARA
  • Publication number: 20160100746
    Abstract: Provided is an endoscope including an inserted portion that has, sequentially from a distal-end side, a distal-end portion, a bending portion, and a flexible portion; a wire that has an exposed portion that is disposed outside the distal-end portion of the flexible portion along the longitudinal direction and whose positions, at a first position and a second position that is separated from the first position on the base-end side, are restrained with respect to the distal-end portion of the flexible portion in a radial direction; and a wire adjusting portion that changes the length between the first position and the second position of the wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiro OKAZAKI, Hiroki HIBINO
  • Publication number: 20160100747
    Abstract: A rigid head for use in a working channel of an endoscope is provided, the rigid head comprising: a body having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis, the body having at least one channel disposed along the longitudinal axis configured to guide fluid in or out of the working channel, wherein the rigid head is configured for disposal within a working channel of an endoscope, the at least one channel configured to guide fluid in and out of the working channel of the endoscope. Body passage devices and methods are provided that allow the guidewire and/or rigid head to be extended in different length endoscope working channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: JET PREP LTD
    Inventors: David Nitsan, Nadav Ben-Da'at, Shay Dubi
  • Publication number: 20160100748
    Abstract: An endoscope has an imaging unit at a distal end portion of an insert section, and a relay board including an imaging signal converter that converts imaging signals output from the imaging unit is provided inside the insert section. Here, a data transmission method of an imaging signal transmitted at least in a section from the imaging unit to the relay board is a low-amplitude differential transmission method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Haruhiko Kohno, Yuichi Hatase
  • Publication number: 20160100749
    Abstract: A medical device, configured for insertion into a body, may include an elongate member extending from a proximal end to a distal end, where the distal end may be configured to be positioned inside the body. The medical device may also include an imaging device positioned at the distal end. The medical device may further include a plurality of light sources positioned at the distal end, wherein a characteristic of light delivered through a first light source may be controlled independent of the characteristic of light delivered through a second light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher A. BENNING, Paul Daniel AQUILINO
  • Publication number: 20160100750
    Abstract: An illumination device according to the present invention includes a light output unit having an output end that outputs illumination light; a diffusion layer that is disposed in a circumferential direction centered on a predetermined axis and that receives the illumination light from the output end, guides the illumination light while diffusing the illumination light, and outputs the illumination light from a surface thereof; and a reflective layer that is provided adjacent to a surface of the diffusion layer at an inner side in a radial direction and that reflects the illumination light outward in the radial direction. The diffusion layer contains a light guide material that guides the illumination light and a diffusion material dispersed and supported in the light guide material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: Koichiro Furuta
  • Publication number: 20160100751
    Abstract: An illuminated surgical retractor system includes an elongate handle having a central channel for receiving a fiberoptic cable therethrough. A trailing end of the fiberoptic cable is operatively attached to a fiberoptic illuminator. The opposite leading end of the fiberoptic cable is releasably secured to an optical coupler positioned within the channel of the handle. A retractor blade assembly releasably supports a light carrier such that an inlet of the light carrier is releasably engageable with the optical coupler and the light carrier communicates with the fiberoptic cable. The light carrier includes a light projecting portion, which conformably engages a blade of the retractor blade assembly and which projects light conducted through the light carrier to illuminate the surgical site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: James M. Davis, Kim A. Marsh
  • Publication number: 20160100752
    Abstract: In some example implementations, there is provided a method for predicting retinal degeneration in multiple eye diseases. The method may include receiving three-dimensional data representative of a plurality of layers of a retina of a subject under test; determining, from the received data, oxygen concentration at one or more of the plurality of layers; detecting, based on the determined oxygen concentration, a region of at least one a high oxygen concentration in the retina or a low oxygen concentration in the retina; and comparing the detected region to reference data to determine whether the retina including the detected region suffers from or will suffer from at least one of a retinal disease or a degeneration of the retina. Related apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin McHugh, Magali Saint-Geniez, Leo Kim
  • Publication number: 20160100753
    Abstract: A non-stereo fundus image is used to obtain a plurality of glaucoma indicators. Additionally, genome data for the subject is used to obtain genetic marker data relating to one or more genes and/or SNPs associated with glaucoma. The glaucoma indicators and genetic marker data are input into an adaptive model operative to generate an output indicative of a risk of glaucoma in the subject. In combination, the genetic indicators and genome data are more informative about the risk of glaucoma than either of the two in isolation. The adaptive model may be a two-stage model, having a first stage in which individual genetic indicators are combined with respective portions of the genome data by first adaptive model modules to form respective first outputs, and a second stage in which the first outputs are combined by a second adaptive mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Jiang LIU, Zhuo ZHANG, Wing Kee Damon WONG, Ngan Meng TAN, Fengshou YIN, Beng Hai LEE, Huiqi LI, Joo Hwee LIM, Carol CHEUNG, Tin AUNG, Tien Yin WONG, Ziyang LIANG, Jun CHENG, Baskaran MANI
  • Publication number: 20160100754
    Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus includes a display control unit configured to cause a display unit to display a fundus image of an eye to be inspected, which is obtained by photographing an image of a fundus of the eye to be inspected by using a photographing optical system, an input unit configured to input whether to store the displayed fundus image, and a selecting unit configured to select, if it is input that the display fundus image is not to be stored, whether to execute rephotograph after automatically controlling a driving unit for driving at least one of a focusing portion formed in the photographing optical system and a photographing unit including the photographing optical system, or to execute rephotograph after manually controlling the driving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Dobashi
  • Publication number: 20160100755
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for normalizing an image of an eye among multiple optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices. The system can receive an OCT image and generate a normalized OCT image. The system is configured to normalize a sample density of the received image, normalize an amount of noise using a suitable noise reduction technique, normalize a distribution of signal amplitudes of the image, and then normalize a signal quality of the image. The resulting normalized image of the eye can then be used in the comparison among OCT images taken from multiple OCT devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Chieh-Li Chen, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Joel Steven Schuman, Chaim-Gadi Wollstein
  • Publication number: 20160100756
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a planar image acquisition unit configured to acquire a planar image of a subject, a tomographic image acquisition unit configured to acquire a tomographic image indicating a polarization state of the subject, and a display control unit configured to cause a display unit to display the planar image and the tomographic image indicating the polarization state side by side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Iwase, Kazuhide Miyata, Tomoyuki Makihira, Makoto Sato, Hiroyuki Shinbata, Ritsuya Tomita, Daisuke Kibe
  • Publication number: 20160100757
    Abstract: An ocular fundus camera system and an associated methodology. The system includes (a) an image sensor disposed along a fundus-image reflection path adjacent that path's downstream end, and in optical communication with light carried in this path, (b) an aperture centered on the reflection path's long axis, operatively associated with, and stationary with respect to, the sensor at a location which is upstream from the sensor, and (c), for accomplishing (1) precision fundus-image focusing on the sensor, and additionally (2) autorefraction, optical, light-content shifting structure, operable selectively for producing, within that portion of the reflection path which is disposed downstream from the shifting structure, relative trans-axial displacement solely of any non-collimated light carried in that portion of the main path which is disposed upstream from the shifting structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Tom N. Cornsweet, Paul R. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20160100758
    Abstract: Provided are a wearable device capable of having a sensor for detecting a biological signal attached thereto or detached therefrom, and a method of controlling the wearable device. The wearable device includes: a strap part configured to be worn on a body part of a user; a first interface configured to accommodate a detachable sensor and receive a biological signal from the detachable sensor in response to the detachable sensor being connected to the wearable device through the first interface; and a main body configured to process the biological signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sanghwa JEONG
  • Publication number: 20160100759
    Abstract: A medical telemeter includes: a displaying section which is configured to display information; a storing section which is configured to store patient information that is information of a patient who uses the medical telemeter; and a controller which, when a predetermined event occurs, is configured to read the patient information stored in the storing section, and is configured to cause the displaying section to display a confirmation message that is based on the patient information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: Yoshinori ENOMOTO
  • Publication number: 20160100760
    Abstract: There are provided a medical imaging apparatus and a method for controlling a medical imaging apparatus. The medical imaging apparatus includes an image registering unit configured to register a pre-imaged medical image with respect to an object based on a first reference point included in the pre-imaged medical image and a second reference point of the object; a location detecting unit configured to detect a user's movement based on the second reference point; and a user interface configured to display a pre-imaged medical image corresponding to the detected movement of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jiwon RYU, Young Sun KIM, Won-Chul BANG
  • Publication number: 20160100761
    Abstract: A system for acquiring an image of veins of a finger includes a camera designed to acquire an image of said finger when it is passed in front of it, a lighting device designed to illuminate said finger and a control unit for controlling the illumination intensity of said lighting device. Also, at least one system measures the transmission power of said finger upstream of the camera with respect to the passage of said finger towards said camera, said control unit being designed to control the illumination intensity of said lighting device according to the transmission power measured by said measuring system. Additionally, a method for acquiring images of veins of a finger is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Michel CRUCHAGA, Sylvaine PICARD
  • Publication number: 20160100762
    Abstract: A catheter for optical biopsy includes a forceps for tissue sampling on its distal end and a forceps control device, a light source and a device for imaging and analysis of a scanned tissue on its proximal end, with the distal and the proximal ends interconnected with an elongated sheath containing a Bowden with a control cable or wire and at least one optical fibre. The sheath, made of flexible plastic, provides a lengthwise channel for the Bowden placement, whereas the channel is open with a fissure along the full length of the sheath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: OPROX, A.S.
    Inventors: Votruba JIRI, Bruha TOMAS, Cech VLADIMIR, Vitek JIRI
  • Publication number: 20160100763
    Abstract: An imaging system for acquisition of NIR and full-color images includes a light source providing visible light and NIR light to an area under observation, such as living tissue, a camera having one or more image sensors configured to separately detect blue reflectance light, green reflectance light, and combined red reflectance light/detected NIR light returned from the area under observation. A controller in signal communication with the light source and the camera is configured to control the light source to continuously illuminate area under observation with temporally continuous blue/green illumination light and with red illumination light and NIR excitation light. At least one of the red illumination light and NIR excitation light are switched on and off periodically in synchronism with the acquisition of red and NIR light images in the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: NOVADAQ TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: John FENGLER, Paul R. WESTWICK, Aurther E. BAILEY, Paul COTTLE
  • Publication number: 20160100764
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting overexposure of skin to ultraviolet light. A system may include a thermal imaging module that captures thermal images of a person's skin. Using the thermal images, the system may determine whether the person's skin has been or is being overexposed to ultraviolet light. The system may be a fixed camera system for monitoring an outdoor area, may be a mobile device having a thermal imaging module within or coupled to the mobile device, or may be part of a tanning system having an ultraviolet light source and a thermal imaging module. The overexposure may be detected in a thermal image based on a temperature of the person's skin, a change in the temperature of the person's skin over time or a temperature difference between portions of the person's skin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: Andrew C. Teich
  • Publication number: 20160100765
    Abstract: According to an aspect there is provided a method of obtaining a measurement of the blood pressure of a subject using a non-invasive blood pressure, NIBP, monitor and including using a pulse rate sensor and a cuff that is to be placed around a limb of the subject, the method comprising using the pulse rate sensor to obtain information on the pulse rate of the subject; adapting a pressure signal filter according to the obtained information on the pulse rate of the subject; starting inflation of the cuff; obtaining a pressure signal representing the pressure in the cuff as the cuff is inflated; filtering the pressure signal using the adapted pressure signal filter during inflation of the cuff; and processing the filtered pressure signal to obtain a blood pressure measurement for the subject during inflation of the cuff.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Jens MUEHLSTEFF, Teun VAN DEN HEUVEL, Erik BRESCH, Lars SCHMITT, Dieter WOEHRLE