Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Paul D. Bianco
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Patent number: 6575926Abstract: An improved strap has a base end portion, a second end portion and a main portion which is disposed between the base and the second end portions of the strap. A first side of the strap has a layer formed of foam. A second side of the strap has a layer formed of fabric. The second side of a base end portion of the strap has a layer formed of foam. The layer formed of foam on the first side of the strap is placed in engagement with skin on a body of a patient. The base end portion of the strap is retained against movement relative to the body of the patient by wrapping the strap around a portion of the body of the patient and positioning a portion of the layer formed of foam and disposed on the first side of the strap in engagement with foam disposed on the second side of the base end portion of the strap. A second end portion of the strap is connected with the fabric layer on the second side of the strap at a location between the end portions of the strap.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2000Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: Bonutti 2003 Trust-AInventor: Peter M. Bonutti
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Patent number: 6575913Abstract: A cuff member for a sphygmomanometer that has a manually rotatable spindle mounted in a housing. One end of an inflatable cuff is attached to and wound spirally on the spindle. The spiral-wound portion of the cuff in use remaining at least partially inflatable but provides the effect of a constriction at a position along its length dependent on the extent of the spiral wound portion. The inflatable cuff extends through an opening in the housing. An end unit is attached to the other end of the inflatable cuff. A releasable fastening member fastens the end unit to the housing. A desired effective length of cuff is withdrawn from the housing via the opening to extend in a loop around the upper arm of a patient. A ratchet cooperates with the spindle to allow withdrawal of the cuff from the housing when the spindle is manually rotated in one direction and to restrain withdrawal of the cuff from the housing for rotation of the spindle in the opposite direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2001Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: A.C. Cossor & Son (Surgical) LimitedInventor: Jack Woolley
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Patent number: 6572635Abstract: A suture anchor is formed of a material which absorbs body liquid when exposed to body liquid. The anchor may be at least partially formed of a material having a strong affinity for body liquids. This enables the anchor to absorb body liquid and expand upon being inserted into a patient's body. At least one embodiment of the suture anchor has portions formed of a relatively hard material which does not absorb body liquids and is pressed against body tissue by the material which absorbs body liquid to mechanically interlock the suture anchor and the body tissue. The anchor may be at least partially formed of a cellular material. The cells expand to absorb body liquid. At least one embodiment of the anchor has a pointed leading end portion to form an opening in an imperforate surface on body tissue. The configuration of the anchor may be changed by tensioning the suture while the anchor is disposed in body tissue.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2000Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Bonutti 2003 Trust-AInventor: Peter M. Bonutti
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Patent number: 6568706Abstract: This invention relates to an air bag system for accommodation behind a vehicle covering. The air bag system contains an air bag, which advances in a main inflating direction when the air bag system is triggered, and a gas generator for supplying the air bag with pressure gas during triggering of the air bag system. The gas generator and the air bag are connected by a gas distributing duct which extends at least partially at an angle with respect to the main inflating direction of the air bag. In this case, the gas distributing duct is formed of air bag material. Furthermore, the invention relates to a manufacturing process and a triggering process for such an air bag system as well as to a motor vehicle having such an air bag system, of which at least the air bag is arranged on a sliding roof frame part.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2001Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventor: Olaf Mueller
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Patent number: 6569187Abstract: An improved method is provided to secure a suture relative to body tissue. A suture retainer is moved along first and second sections of a suture toward the body tissue. When a predetermined minimum force is being transmitted between the suture retainer and the body tissue, the first and second sections of the suture are gripped with the suture retainer by plastically deforming material of the suture retainer. The material of the suture retainer cold flows under the influence of force applied against the surface areas on the suture retainer. One or more bends are formed in each of the sections of the suture to increase the holding action between the suture retainer and the sections of the suture. The bends may be formed by wrapping a turn of the suture around a portion of the suture retainer. During movement of the suture retainer toward the body tissue, the bends are moved along the first and second sections of the suture.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2000Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Inventors: Peter M. Bonutti, Matthew J. Cremens, Ping Liu
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Patent number: 6565502Abstract: A needle holder for use in a seed handling assembly that is made as a box-like open-sided metal frame having a bottom, a top and opposed side frame members with a pair of steel shielding plates enclosing the sides of the frame. The top frame member defines at least one row of holes for receiving elongated needles containing radioactive seeds. Feet are attached to opposite sides of the frame to enable the needle holder to be free standing. Lifting elements are attached to the frame to enable the needle holder to be picked up and moved while needles are held in the needle holder and for a person lifting and moving the needle holder to be shielded from radioactive seeds in a needle.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2002Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Capintec, Inc.Inventors: Jessica Bede, Mary Anne Dell, Charles Thiele
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Patent number: 6564655Abstract: Apparatus for sampling a liquid, said apparatus comprising: i) a sampling device capable of automatically taking a known volume of liquid from a source; ii) fixing means connected to said sampling device and removably attachable to a solid phase extraction (SPE) unit, the fixing means being arranged such that liquid taken from a sample by the sampling device is passed directly through the solid phase extraction unit; iii) a reading device able to read labels on an SPE unit attached to said fixing means; iv) a controller arranged to log codes based upon a signal from the reading device, and thereafter issue instructions to an operator and/or operate the sampling device to take an appropriate volume of liquid in response to a signal from said reading device. Methods of sampling using the apparatus are also claimed. These are useful in, for example analysis methods.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2002Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Central Research Laboratories LimitedInventors: Malcolm Trayton Austen, John Robert Dodgson, Monica Backes, David Wenn, Richard Lynn Hedgeley, Mark Seymour
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Patent number: 6560583Abstract: A process and apparatus that enable continual self-adaptation of dynamic transmission devices (saSTDs), allow “smart” filtering of information for transmission from one element to another within a network of interacting elements, such as a “neural network”. An adaptation algorithm (MapSA) incorporated in STDs allows multiple parameters of STDs (which determine its filtering properties) to continuously adapt simultaneously and interdependently. In this manner, complex correlations can be established between the parameters in all STDs within a network of interacting elements. The process according to the invention therefore establishes unique patterns of connection parameters within the network which in turn dictates a novel sequence of information processing steps by the network.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 1999Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: Yeda Research and Development Co., Ltd.Inventor: Henry Markram
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Patent number: 6553684Abstract: A tool and/or the combination of a spring-biased reel type measuring tape and the tool which serves the purpose of measuring and marking a cut on a board. The tool consists of a bracket attached to the spring-biased reel type measuring tape. An apron is pivotally mounted to the bracket for pivoting to a vertical downward position to serve as a bearing surface against a board to be cut. An elongated measuring bar is pivotally mounted to the bracket for pivoting horizontally from a closed position adjacent the measuring tape to an open position angularly displaced away from the measuring tape to serve as a guide for a marking line on the board to be cut. A carriage is slidably mounted in the on the measuring bar for carrying a marking implement suitable for making a marking line on the board to be cut.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2001Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Inventors: Nevin C. Jenkins, Antonio Lebron
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Patent number: 6556903Abstract: A safety system and method for school buses in which sensors are associated with each seat to sense if a person is occupying the seat and if the seat belt is buckled. A display, within the vision of the bus driver, shows the condition of each seat. Sensors determine the head count of students on the bus. An alarm signals a mismatch between the head count and seats occupied. A telecommunications link and a global positioning system provides bus location to a remote station. Additional sensors detect shook, heat, smoke, CO, water and tire pressure.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2002Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Inventors: Andrew M. Chinigo, Martin Fleit, Peter J. Quinones
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Patent number: 6553327Abstract: Apparatus and method for monitoring a system in which a fluid flows and which is characterized by a change in the system with time in space. A preselected place in the system is monitored to collect data at two or more time points correlated to a system event. The data is indicative of a system parameter that varies with time as a function of at least two variables related to system wash-in and wash-out behavior. A calibration map is made on a calculated basis with each pixel or voxel representative of a color hue indicative of wash-out behavior and a color intensity indicative of wash-in behavior. When a satisfactory map is obtained, the collected data is processed on the basis of the map to obtain an image of the preselected place with each spatial unit thereof correlated with a color hue and a color intensity. Software and a data processing system are provided to develop the calibration map. The calibration map and image of the preselected place are also novel implementations.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2001Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Yeda Research & Development Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hadassa Degani
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Patent number: 6543455Abstract: A percutaneous tissue removal apparatus having a flexible drill shaft, a cutting tip mounted on the shaft a power source for transmitting motion to the shaft to move the cutting tip against tissue and a suction source for removing tissue fragments along the shaft to a location outside the tissue mass while cutting. The apparatus may include a container for collecting one or more selected components of the harvested tissue fragments for implantation of the fragments preferably into the body of the patient from whom they were removed. Where the tissue to be cut is bone, a cutting tip is preferably made of a polymeric material which is softer than the cortical portion of the bone, although the cutting tip may be made of a ceramic or a composite material. A second flexible shaft may be provided either within or about the flexible drill shaft.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2002Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Inventor: Peter M. Bonutti
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Patent number: 6543710Abstract: Fluidized-bed opposed jet mills, configured as separator mills, and provided with easy accessibility so that the interior space can be easily cleaned with little effort. The separator wheel is formed together with the bearing unit and the actuator unit as one component, which is detachably attached to the grinding container and can be moved relative to the grinding container by kinematic devices in such a manner that the separator wheel can be removed from the grinding container upward through the discharge outlet for finely ground material, while the discharge device for the finely ground material remains connected to the grinding container. In this manner, the separator mill can be easily assembled and disassembled by the user and the separator mill becomes easily accessible for thorough cleaning. This is particularly advantageous when the material to be ground is changed frequently, as is the case in the pharmaceutical and chemical fields.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2001Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Hosokawa Alpine Aktiengesellschaft & Co. OHGInventors: Georg Konetzka, Hermann Eder
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Patent number: 6545695Abstract: An apparatus for locating a plurality of articles for laser marking comprising a support plate (16) having a plurality of apertures (18) extending from a first surface of the plate (15) to a second surface of the plate (17). The apertures are dimensioned to receive said articles (12) at the first surface of the plate (15), so that the at least a portion of the article is exposed through the aperture (18). Preferably apertures are defined by tapering walls. In use a laser (30) is directed towards a protruding portion of the article (21). The extent to which the articles protrude through the aperture (18) is significantly less than the variation in diameter of articles (12) to be laser marked. This eliminates the need for the laser to focus on individual articles (12).Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2000Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Central Research Laboratories LimitedInventor: Anthony Robert Corless
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Patent number: 6532989Abstract: A hydraulic distributor that has a regulating balance including a housing hollowed in the distributor body and containing coaxially a fixed central core. A tubular plunger is interposed sliding freely, coaxially, between the core and the housing and co-operates with a lateral orifice connected to a working orifice. The core and the plunger define between them an annular chamber. The plunger has a first radial annular surface subjected to the highest charge pressure (LS) and a second annular surface subjected to the pressure of the intake fluid. A central passage in the core constitutes a first orifice emerging at one end of the housing exposed to the highest charge pressure (LS). A second orifice emerges in the annular chamber and a third orifice is located opposite the other end of the housing and remains closed by the plunger as long as the charge pressure of the distributor is below the highest charge pressure (LS).Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2001Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Mannesmann Rexroth S.A.Inventor: Wolfgang Kauss
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Patent number: 6533132Abstract: A portable rack is provided to store one or more fishing rods. A group of elongated modular elements are strung end-to-end to form two associated, vertical, horizontally spaced columns. Each modular element is an integrally molded plastic bar having at its top an integrally molded member and at its bottom an integrally molded construction that includes a hook opening upwardly. The integrally molded construction at the bottom of each modular element forms a quickly attachable and detachable coupling with the integrally molded member at the top of the next succeeding lower modular element. Horizontally aligned hooks support fishing rods. An attachment on each column mounts the vertical column on a mounting structure.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2001Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Inventor: Richard T. Weisenburger
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Patent number: 6523854Abstract: A vehicle part with an airbag device and a support. A cover is arranged flush with an opening in the support that is brought into a retracted position within the support when the airbag is triggered. A covering layer is positioned over the cover. The cover and the covering layer have mutually cooperating interlocking parts that assure that when the airbag is trigged, the covering layer and the cover are retracted within the support. A method for effecting the interlocking of the cover and the covering layer, and a method for providing a weakening of the covering layer along a predetermined line.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2001Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Volkswagen AGInventor: Olaf Muller
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Patent number: D473815Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2002Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: Diamintangibles International, Ltd.Inventor: Avraham Namdar
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Patent number: D474710Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2002Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Diamintangibles International, Ltd.Inventor: Avraham Namdar
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Patent number: D474711Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2002Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: My Diamond Place, Ltd.Inventor: Avraham Namdar