Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Crompton, Seager & Tufte, LLC
  • Power window device
    Patent number: 7535191
    Abstract: A power window device that suppresses heating in a motor used to lower and raise a window glass. For each door of a vehicle, the power window device includes an ECU that controls a motor in accordance with the operation of a switch to raise the window glass. A pulse sensor is arranged in the vicinity of the motor to detect the rotation speed of the motor and generate a detection signal. Based on the pulse signal of the pulse sensor, the ECU determines whether the window glass has reached a fully open or fully closed position. When it is determined that the motor has become locked or that the window glass has reached the fully open or fully closed position, the ECU deactivates the motor until predetermined activation conditions are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Adachi, Hirofumi Moriya, Yasuhiro Shimomura, Shinji Shimoie
  • Retrievable IVC filter
    Patent number: 7534251
    Abstract: Retrievable vena cava filters for filtering blood clots within a vessel are disclosed. A retrievable vena cava filter in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality of elongated filter legs each having a hook portion configured to engage the vessel wall, and an expandable member releasably connected to the filter. In certain embodiments, the expandable member may comprise a bendable member and several tubular members, or a coiled wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel M. WasDyke
  • Polymer welding using ferromagnetic particles
    Patent number: 7531122
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for bonding polymeric materials is provided. The apparatus and method both utilize ferromagnetic materials in association with the polymeric materials to be bonded together. The polymeric materials, and the ferromagnetic material, are placed within a magnetic field, which causes hysterisis losses in the magnetic field, and thus elevation in the temperature of both the ferromagnetic material and the polymeric materials to the point where the polymeric materials melt and fuse together. The ferromagnetic materials only rise in temperature to their Curie temperatures, at which point the hysterisis losses cease, and the polymeric material stops being heated. Removing the electromagnetic field allows for cooling and fusing. An interface composition may also be placed between the two polymeric materials to be bonded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Weber, Philip Ebeling
  • Sharps container for used pen needle assemblies
    Patent number: 7516844
    Abstract: A sharps container for pen needle assemblies includes an open top-type receptacle, a cover and a manually movable means. The manually movable means is rotatably positioned on the cover and has portions collectively forming a cup-like means for receiving a used pen needle assembly when the manually movable means is in an open position. When the manually movable means is in a closed position, the used pen needle assembly is transferred by gravity to the bottom of the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Ultimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Erickson, James J Erickson, Timothy A. Bachman
  • Medical devices comprising nanomaterials and therapeutic methods utilizing the same
    Patent number: 7517353
    Abstract: The present invention provides medical devices comprising nanomaterials. By utilizing nanomaterials in the production thereof, the inventive medical devices can be provided with various advantageous properties and/or capabilities. Methods of producing the inventive medical devices are also provided. Inasmuch as the inventive devices are expected to provide certain advantages in their use, there is also provide a method of medical care, including methods of treatment or diagnosis, wherein the inventive devices are brought into therapeutic contact with a body to be treated or diagnosed thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Jan Weber
  • Spatially reconfigurable magnetic resonance coil
    Patent number: 7514926
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a system and method for a coil having a plurality of resonant elements and an adjustable frame. A position of at least one resonant element can be adjusted relative to at least one other resonant element. A variable impedance is coupled to adjacent resonant elements and the impedance varies as a function of a separation distance. Cables are coupled to each resonant element and are gathered at a junction in a particular manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Gregor Adriany, Pierre-Francois Van de Moortele, Johannes Ritter, William Voje, J. Thomas Vaughan, Kamil Ugurbil
  • Banding system and process for banding piled products
    Patent number: 7506492
    Abstract: A banding system for piled products with a machine frame (8), a band feed mechanism (6) disposed on the machine frame for feeding band material (2) from a supply roll (1), means for forming a loop (7) with said band material (2) around the products to be banded, welding means (14, 15) to close said loop, and cutting means (17) for cutting said band material, said means for forming the loop comprising transporting means (111, 13) for transporting the band material (2) around the product to be banded and vacuum means (19, 19?, 24) connected to the transporting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: KBA-Giori S.A.
    Inventors: Hartmut Karl Sauer, Philipp Ulrich Geringer, Gert Wilfried Otmar Lang
  • Medical devices
    Patent number: 7494497
    Abstract: Medical devices, such as medical balloons, catheters having balloons, and stents, having one or more cutting elements are disclosed. In some embodiments, the cutting elements include diamond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Jan Weber
  • Sparse matrix
    Patent number: 7493464
    Abstract: A sparse matrix paging system is provided that dynamically allocates memory resources on demand. In some cases, this is accomplished by dynamically allocating memory resources, preferably only after a page has been requested. Such a sparse matrix paging system may allow a platform with a large linear address space to more efficiently execute on a platform with a smaller linear address space. Preferably, the sparse matrix paging system only indexes those pages that are actually requested and used in the address space on main store pages or backing store pages. Further, the backing store is preferably not involved unless the total address space allocated by the operating system exceeds the available main store pages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventor: James W. Adcock
  • Nano-actuated medical device
    Patent number: 7493160
    Abstract: A medical device is disclosed which may include the use of nanopaper. The medical device may be provided in the form of a balloon catheter wherein the nanopaper is mounted about an electrode and into which an electrically conductive solution is dispersed. An elastomeric sheath may then be provided about the nanopaper. Actuation of the electrode may cause generation of microbubbles causing the nanopaper to expand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Weber, Thomas Holman, Tracee E. J. Eidenschink, John J. Chen
  • Catheter shaft having distal support
    Patent number: 7491213
    Abstract: A catheter comprising an inflatable balloon having a proximal end, a distal end, and an inflation cavity therebetween, a catheter shaft having the inflatable balloon affixed proximate a distal end thereof, the catheter shaft having an inflation lumen fluidly connected to the balloon inflation cavity. A guidewire lumen extends through the balloon cavity within a tubular member which is affixed to the inflatable balloon proximate the distal end. A reinforcing sleeve, having a proximal portion and a distal portion with a lumen extending therethrough, wherein the distal portion of the sleeve extends into the inflation cavity with at least a portion of the tubular member slidably disposed through the lumen thereof and the proximal portion is fixed relative to the catheter shaft and disposed in the catheter shaft inflation lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Perreault, Douglas A. Devens, Jr.
  • Multilayer medical device
    Patent number: 7488339
    Abstract: Multilayer medical devices, apparatuses for making such devices, and methods of making such devices are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest J. St. Pierre, Ronald A. Sahatjian, Peter L. Dayton, David Vafiades
  • Catheter having an improved torque transmitting shaft
    Patent number: 7488338
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a catheter having a torque transmitting shaft which retains adequate flexibility. The catheter includes an elongate shaft having an outer surface. In a preferred embodiment, a raised pattern is disposed on the outer surface. Preferably, the raised pattern improves the transmission of torque along the elongate shaft by including a series of bearing points which contact other bearing points along the shaft when torqued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Tracee E. J. Eidenschink
  • Methods of making medical devices
    Patent number: 7487579
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a medical device, such as an endoprosthesis, includes reducing the size of the medical device, and vibrating the device. In embodiments, the device is vibrated ultrasonically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Eidenschink, Eric B. Stenzel
  • Multilayer interventional catheter
    Patent number: 7485108
    Abstract: The catheter comprises a catheter tube formed of two superposed tubular layers of materials which differ from one another. A tubular mediator layer is arranged between the layers to provide an adhesive anchorage for the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Schneider (Europe) A.G.
    Inventor: Gerhard Kastenhofer
  • Multilayer medical devices
    Patent number: 7481804
    Abstract: A medical device includes at least four layers including a first material and a second material having a different stiffness than a stiffness of the first material, wherein at least one of the layers varies in thickness axially along the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas A. Devens, Jr.
  • Automated marker band nest placement crimper
    Patent number: 7480973
    Abstract: A positioning assembly for automatically positioning a first cylindrical member for crimping to a second cylindrical member has a first plate and a second plate. The first plate has a nest to accommodate at least a portion of the first cylindrical member and/or at least a portion of the second cylindrical member. The second plate has a nest to accommodate at least a portion of the first cylindrical member and/or at least a portion of the second cylindrical member. The first plate is constructed and arranged to be separated from the second plate in a first position. In a second position the first plate is immediately adjacent to the second plate. When in the second position, the first plate and the second plate are situated such that the first cylindrical member and the second cylindrical member would be in proper placement for joining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Miller, Chrismar Scribner
  • Medical device for delivering patches
    Patent number: 7481788
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical device and method for treating the body tissue of a patient. The present invention is also directed to a method of making the medical device and a method of using the medical device. More particularly, the invention relates to a medical device which is inserted into the body for delivery of therapeutic patches to the surface of a body lumen, organ or cavity. In one embodiment, the medical device comprises an elongated member; an umbrella-like expandable assembly which has a plurality of wire elements; and a therapeutic patch. In another embodiment, the medical device comprises an elongated member, a basket-like expandable assembly having a plurality of wire elements; and a therapeutic patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendy Naimark, Maria Palasis
  • Spinal implant
    Patent number: D585551
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Felix Blouin, Bruce Robie
  • Spinal implant
    Patent number: D585553
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher J. Valois