Patents Represented by Attorney Fletcher Yoder
  • Patent number: 8078247
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods that relate to pulse oximetry. Specifically, one embodiment includes an oximeter sensor, comprising, a light emitting element configured to emit light, a light detector configured to receive the light, and a probe configured to contact a patient and provide an indication of whether the oximeter sensor is in contact with the patient based on an impedance measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Paul D. Mannheimer, Michael E. Fein, Marcia Fein, legal representative
  • Patent number: 8073518
    Abstract: A clip-style pulse sensor may be adapted to apply limited, even pressure to a patient's tissue. A clip-style sensor is provided that reduces motion artifacts by exerting limited, uniform pressure to the patient tissue to reduce tissue exsanguination. Further, such a sensor provides a secure fit while avoiding discomfort for the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
    Inventor: Rodney P. Chin
  • Patent number: 8070508
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a strain relief. In various embodiments, the strain relief includes a strain relief body and at least one alignment feature. The strain relief body is configured to provide support for connection of a cable and/or a wire lead of the cable to a frame. The alignment feature is configured to facilitate alignment of the strain relief relative to the frame. In various embodiments, provided are methods of manufacturing a sensor with a strain relief. The methods may include forming the strain relief about a cable and/or wire leads, wherein the strain relief comprises at least one alignment feature, aligning the alignment feature of the strain relief to a complementary alignment feature of a frame, engaging the complementary alignment feature of the frame with the alignment feature of the strain relief, and electrically coupling the cable and/or wire leads to a circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
    Inventor: Robert W. Flagler
  • Patent number: 8071935
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may include devices and methods of manufacturing devices for sensing and monitoring physiological parameters of a patient. Specifically, certain embodiments disclose the use of conductive and nonconductive overmold materials to protect the device, increase reliability, increase comfort, and increase accuracy of the parameters measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
    Inventors: David P. Besko, Daniel J. Peters
  • Patent number: 8069949
    Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, the present invention provides a modular approach to a lubrication package. Certain components such as the filter and cooler are directly connected to a block that has connections to accept them and internal porting to establish the proper flow paths for circulation, cooling and filtration of the circulating lubricant. The block can accept one or more coolers and one or more filters. The isolation valving for redundant equipment can also be integrated into the block. Many connections that had been used in past designs for the piping network are integrated into the block. The block can also be close mounted to the reservoir while a submersible pump further saves space and piping connections. Indeed, having the ability to maintain mechanical equipment (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Edward S. Czechowski, Robert M. Kolodziej, Michael Nuchereno
  • Patent number: 8068891
    Abstract: There is provided a sensor for pulse oximeter systems. The sensor comprises a first source of electromagnetic radiation configured to operate at a first wavelength, a second source of electromagnetic radiation configured to operate at a second wavelength, and a third source of electromagnetic radiation configured to operate at a third wavelength. The emission spectra of the first and third sources of electromagnetic radiation overlap at their half power level or greater and correspond to a center wavelength in the range of 650 to 670 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
    Inventor: Martin P. Debreczeny
  • Patent number: 8068380
    Abstract: Systems, memory arrays and methods (e.g., methods of block repair) are provided. One such system includes a memory array including a memory bank including a plurality of sections, wherein each of the plurality of sections includes at least one redundant row. Further embodiments provide for mapping non-redundant rows associated with a section associated with a block failure to distributed redundant rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Takumi Nasu, Takuya Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 8068046
    Abstract: Methods for reading a data location coupled to an electrical conductor. A counter receives a signal from an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the electrical conductor. The counter produces two or more counts, and in some embodiments, the counts are based in part on a variable reference voltage. An interfuser may be coupled to an output of the counter. The interfuser receives the two or more counts from the counter and reads data conveyed by the data location based on the two or more counts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: R. Jacob Baker
  • Patent number: 8068367
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed, including an electronic device that includes a first data location, a quantizing circuit, and a reference current source, all coupled to an electrical conductor. The reference current source may include a current mirror with a side coupled to the electrical conductor and a second data location coupled to another side of the current mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: R. Jacob Baker
  • Patent number: 8068889
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods that relate to a sensor with memory. Specifically, one embodiment includes a method of sensor operation, comprising a light emitting element configured to emit light, a light detecting element configured to detect the light, and a memory storing a language code or country code, the memory providing access to an oximeter monitor to read the language code or country code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group IP
    Inventors: Michael E. Fein, Marcia Fein, legal representative, Paul D. Mannheimer, Adnan Merchant, Charles Porges, David Swedlow
  • Patent number: 8064974
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods that relate to pulse oximetry. Specifically, one embodiment includes an oximeter sensor comprising a light emitting element configured to emit light, a light detector configured to detect the light, a resistor having a resistance value that is detectable by a monitor, and a memory storing a contact resistance value of a connector that is disposed between the monitor and the resistor when the monitor and the oximeter sensor are communicatively coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Paul D. Mannheimer, Michael E. Fein, Marcia Fein, legal representative
  • Patent number: 8063638
    Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging systems having gradient coil assemblies employing a liquid dielectric medium are provided. In one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging system includes a gradient coil assembly with a plurality of gradient coils. In the gradient coil assembly, at least two of the gradient coils are electrically separated from one another by a fluid medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Derek Allan Seeber
  • Patent number: 8064979
    Abstract: A technique for measuring and characterizing the motion of an internal organ is provided. The technique includes using two or more motion-sensitive sensors, disposed on a patient in a region of interest proximate to the internal organ, which acquire motion data along the surface of the patient. The motion data may then be processed and displayed to depict or characterize the mechanical motion undergone by the internal organ. The mechanical motion may be displayed as an image or video. In addition, the mechanical motion data may be combined with other measured data, such as electrical or acoustic data, or with images acquired by other imaging modalities to generate a composite image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Prathyusha K. Salla, Gopal B. Avinash, Cherik Bulkes
  • Patent number: 8064983
    Abstract: One or more techniques are provided for determining the overall motion of an organ of interest relative to a viewer or imager. Motion data is acquired for the organ of interest and/or for one or more proximate organs using sensor-based and/or image data-based techniques. The sensor-based techniques may include electrical and non-electrical techniques. The image data-based techniques may include both pre-acquisition and acquisition image data. The motion data for the organ of interest and proximate organs may be used to determine one or more quiescent periods corresponding to intervals of minimal motion for the organ of interest and the proximate organs. The one or more quiescent periods may be used to determine one or more gating points that may be used prospectively, i.e., during image acquisition. In addition, the one or more quiescent periods may be used to determine one or more motion compensation factors that may be used during processing and reconstruction of the acquired image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Prathyusha K. Salla, Gopal B. Avinash, Cherik Bulkes
  • Patent number: 8062221
    Abstract: A sensor for carbon dioxide detection may be adapted to have reduced water permeability. A sensor is provided that is appropriate for use in an aqueous medium. The sensor has a barrier with reduced water permeability, but that is permeable to carbon dioxide, that separates the sensor components from the aqueous medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
    Inventors: Martin P. Debreczeny, Joel Colburn, Michael P. O'Neil
  • Patent number: 8065461
    Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for providing data retrieved from a memory device and furnished to a memory bus in response to a read operation to a local bus interface. For instance, a set of conductive traces may be provided that forms a communication path between the memory bus and the local bus interface, such that the communication path formed by the conductive traces bypasses a memory bus interface coupled to the memory bus. In this manner, the data furnished to the memory bus may be communicated directly to the local bus without first being communicated to the memory bus interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. LaBerge
  • Patent number: 8058346
    Abstract: The present invention relates to monovinylarene-conjugated diene copolymer compositions adapted for blendability with acrylate polymers. In some embodiments, such compositions are provided that are particularly resistant to blocking when stored in pellet form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: John D. Wilkey, Carleton E. Stouffer, Steven D. Bridges
  • Patent number: 8057579
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for absorbing acid gases from a synthesis gas prior to combustion. In one embodiment, a vessel is provided for receiving a synthesis gas and a physical solvent. The vessel includes one or more membrane contactors that provide an interface for physical absorption of one or more acid gases from the synthesis gas into the physical solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jennifer Lynn Molaison
  • Patent number: 8060171
    Abstract: A sensor for pulse oximetry or other applications utilizing spectrophotometry may be adapted to reduce motion artifacts by fixing the optical distance between an emitter and detector. A flexible sensor is provided with a stiffening member to hold the emitter and detector of the sensor in a relatively fixed position when applied to a patient. Further, an annular or partially annular sensor is adapted to hold an emitter and detector of the sensor in a relatively fixed position when applied to a patient. A clip-style sensor is provided with a spacer that controls the distance between the emitter and detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
    Inventors: Carine Hoarau, Clark R. Baker, Jr., Edward Karst
  • Patent number: 8058367
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for producing polymer particles of a size just slightly larger than the size of polymer fines. The technique may prevent or limit the occurrence of reactor fouls associated with large polymer particles. The technique also may provide a greater weight percentage of solids in the reactor. The desired polymer particle size may be achieved by employing a catalyst having particles of a size determined based on the expected catalyst productivity. In certain embodiments, the catalyst particle size may be determined based on the expected catalyst productivity, the polymer particle density, the catalyst particle density, and/or the polymer particle size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: John D. Hottovy, Gregory G. Hendrickson