Abstract: An impact attenuator system includes a hyperelastic member that comprises an energy-absorbing material which behaves in a rate-independent hyperelastic manner so that its permanent set is minimized and the material can absorb tremendous amounts of impact energy while remaining fully recoverable.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 17, 2005
Date of Patent:
July 10, 2012
Assignee:
Battelle Memorial Institute
Inventors:
James C. Kennedy, Jr., Charles R. Miele, Chuck A. Plaxico, Joseph R. Preston, Jay R. Sayre, W. Scott Versluis, Carl J. Serman, Kary L. Valentine
Abstract: A system is configured to process steam. The system includes a steam supply line, a corrugator system, a heat sink, and one or more return lines. The corrugator system includes two corrugating rolls. The corrugating rolls each have a plurality of bores formed therethrough. The bores extend substantially longitudinally through the corrugating rolls. The heat sink is configured to draw steam through the corrugator system. The one or more return lines are in fluid communication with one or both of the corrugator system or the heat sink. The one or more return lines are configured to receive condensate communicated from one or both of the corrugator system or the heat sink. A steam trap assembly may also be positioned between the heat sink and a return line. The steam trap assembly may include a steam trap and a bypass line that is operable to selectively bypass the steam trap.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 2, 2008
Date of Patent:
July 10, 2012
Assignee:
Donahue & Associates International, Inc.
Inventors:
John L. Donahue, Robin A. Sommers, D. Shawn Pearson
Abstract: An injection port comprises a body, a fluid reservoir, a septum, and a plurality of fasteners. The fluid reservoir is defined in part by the body and the septum. A needle may be inserted through the septum to reach the reservoir. The fasteners are integral with the body. The fasteners are simultaneously rotatable from a non-deployed position to a deployed position. The fasteners are retracted relative to the body when the fasteners are in the non-deployed position. The fasteners are extended relative to the body when the fasteners are in the deployed position. The fasteners are also simultaneously rotatable from the deployed position to the non-deployed position. The injection port may be coupled with a gastric band via a conduit. The conduit may provide fluid communication between an inflatable member of the gastric band and the reservoir of the injection port as part of a closed fluid circuit.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 29, 2010
Date of Patent:
July 3, 2012
Assignee:
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
Inventors:
Joshua Uth, Randal T. Byrum, Sean P. Conlon
Abstract: The present invention relates to a current distributing circuit arrangement (20, 20?), adapted for charging a plurality of arrays of co-ordinated energy supplying DC-networks (“A” (DC)), (“B” (DC)), wherein the circuit arrangement (20) includes a plurality of setup-related circuits (21, 22, 23, 24) each of which is adapted to a pre selected energy supplying DC-network, (“A” (DC)) with, inter alia, its allocated terminal voltage (350V DC), its allocated capacity and/or its allocated maximized loading current. Respective circuit arrangements (20, 20?) can be allocated an AC-supplied rectifying bridge (21), an after-coupled sinus pump unit (23) and a DC/DC-converter (24) that includes a maximum current limiting circuit (43).
Abstract: A biopsy device comprises a body, a needle, and a cutter actuation mechanism. The needle extends distally from the body. The cutter actuation mechanism rotates and translates the cutter relative to the body and relative to the needle. The cutter has an overmold presenting a lead screw and a hex portion. The cutter actuation mechanism comprises a first gear disposed about the hex portion of the overmold and a second gear engaged with the lead screw of the overmold by a nut that is integral with the second gear. The cutter actuation mechanism is operable to simultaneously rotate the first gear relative to the body at a first rotational speed and the second gear relative to the body at a second rotational speed. With the lead screw and the nut rotating at different rotational speeds, the lead screw rotates relative to the nut at a third rotational speed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 12, 2009
Date of Patent:
June 26, 2012
Assignee:
Devicor Medical Products, Inc.
Inventors:
John A. Hibner, Patrick A. Mescher, Edward A. Rhad
Abstract: A biopsy system comprises a biopsy device and a localization grid plate, which is configured to localize part of a patient and defines a plurality of round openings. A probe of the biopsy device and/or other associated other components may be inserted through a selected one of the openings. The grid plate may thus guide the probe and/or other components as such components are inserted into the localized part of the patient; and may further support the probe and/or other components after insertion. The grid plate may thus be used without a targeting cube or other inserted guide. Alternatively, the openings of the grid plate may be configured to receive a targeting guide having a cylindraceous body. The guide body may define passageways for inserting a probe or other components, and may be rotatable to position the passageways to selectively define an insertion axis for the probe.
Abstract: A biopsy device comprises a handpiece, a fluid collection system, and a power transmission source. The handpiece is configured for grasping by a single hand, and is independently manipulatable by hand for movement of the instrument toward and away from the patient. An elongated piercer extends from the distal end of the handpiece. The piercer has a sharpened distal end for entering the tissue and a port located proximal to the sharpened distal end for receiving a portion of tissue mass. An elongated cutter is disposed coaxially relative to a piercer lumen of the piercer. A distal blade of the cutter slides distally past the port of the piercer to sever the tissue portion drawn into the port by vacuum. The handpiece further comprises a holster for detachably connecting a cutter rotational transmission and a cutter axial transmission to the power transmission source.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 25, 2011
Date of Patent:
June 26, 2012
Assignee:
Devicor Medical Products, Inc.
Inventors:
Salvatore Privitera, John A. Hibner, Jon D. Buzzard, Michael E. Piller, David S. Iverson, Michael J. Reiter
Abstract: A large scale processing method for separating banana pulp from its peel is shown. In this method bananas are separated into two parts (generally in a transverse direction), each part having a tip end and a cut end. A compression force is applied to those banana parts such that the force increases from the tip end to the cut end. A device which implements that process, including a cutting device, a means for feeding bananas into the cutting device, and two processing conveyor devices (to apply the compression force to the banana parts), is also shown.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 28, 2010
Date of Patent:
June 26, 2012
Assignee:
Chiquita Brands International Inc.
Inventors:
Rafael Angel Lopez Alvarez, Raul Fernandez, Illya Ilyin, Jose T. Mejia, Luis Guillermo Bonilla Murillo, Elena Nunez, Audrey Parienov, Julio Schouwe, Julio Vasquez, James H. Wiley
Abstract: The body of a pressure sensing component includes a pressure sensor, a first opening, and a first pair of electrical contacts. A cap of the pressure sensing component comprises a second opening, a wiper seal, and a second pair of electrical contacts. The cap is rotatable relative to the body. When the cap is in a first rotational position, the first and second openings are in fluid communication with each other; and the first pair of contacts are not coupled with the second pair of contacts. When the cap is in a second rotational position, the seal isolates the first opening from the second opening; and the first pair of contacts are coupled with the second pair of contacts. The pressure sensing component may be coupled with a syringe and needle to externally adjust and monitor the pressure of fluid in an implanted gastric band system.
Abstract: A telecommunication system is arranged between a trusted automated interactive system and a non-secure agent. The trusted automated interactive portion is operable for bidirectional communications with a caller. The agent portion is arranged to be bridged onto a communication connection between the caller (or network chat user) and the trusted interactive system under certain conditions. Sensitive data transmitted between the system and a calling user may be blocked from being communicated to the agent even while the agent is bridged onto the connection. In one embodiment, information (such as a verification of authenticity of the caller) pertaining to the sensitive data (but not the sensitive data itself) is communicated to the agent.
Abstract: A biopsy system comprises a control module, a localization assembly, a biopsy device, and a targeting cube. The biopsy device comprises a holster portion and a probe. The probe and/or other associated components are configured to selectively couple with a targeting cube that is configured to selectively couple with a grid plate having apertures for receiving the targeting cube. The targeting cube comprises a body defined by faces. The targeting cube further comprises guide holes that originate and terminate at the faces and pass through the body of the targeting cube to provide passageways through the targeting cube. The intersections of the faces of the targeting cube comprise edges that are comprised of elastomeric material. The elastomeric edges allow for compression and may thus provide a secure fit with a wide range of grid plates having openings of various shapes and sizes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 16, 2009
Date of Patent:
June 12, 2012
Assignee:
Devicor Medical Products, Inc.
Inventors:
Jessica P. Leimbach, Rebecca J. Mollere, Eric B. Smith
Abstract: A system and method is disclosed which integrates a machine learning solution into a large scale, distributed transaction processing system using a supporting architecture comprising a combination of computer hardware and software. Methods of using a system comprising such supporting architecture provide application designers access to the functionality included in a machine learning solution, but might also provide additional functionality not supported by the machine learning solution itself.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 19, 2011
Date of Patent:
June 12, 2012
Assignee:
Convergys CMG Utah, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert D. Birch, Brian D. Craig, Scott A. Irwin, Stephen D. Weagraff
Abstract: Enhancements to customer care capabilities can be prioritized and presented using a repeatable methodology which allows information to be collected, processed, and utilized in a uniform fashion across engagements. Such a methodology can be designed so as to be flexible enough for any customization which is required in particular circumstances. Various tools which can be used in such a methodology include computerized surveys, evaluation formulae, prioritization graphs, and weighing scales.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 27, 2007
Date of Patent:
June 12, 2012
Assignee:
Convergys CMG Utah, Inc.
Inventors:
Cameron Thompson, Ryan Pellet, Devi Jaspal