Patents Assigned to CORE
  • Patent number: 6228095
    Abstract: A device and method for retrieving specimens from a body cavity during minimally invasive surgery uses a specimen pouch that is deployable from an introducer inserted into the body cavity through a predefined passage such as a cannula. The specimen pouch includes a resilient band that causes the specimen pouch to open automatically and remain open after removal from the introducer. Once removed from the introducer, the specimen pouch is free-standing with no attachment to the introducer or to an externally operated closure mechanism. Closure and removal are accomplished using a conventional forceps or other instrument to grasp a portion of the band and withdraw the band and the opening of the pouch into the introducer. The pouch is configured so that withdrawal of the band into the introducer causes the material around the opening of the pouch to gather and seal the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Core Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: William G. Dennis
  • Patent number: 6228058
    Abstract: A sleeve trocar for piercing tissue to provide a conduit to an internal body cavity insufflated by gas includes a generally tubular sleeve member having a cutting edge and a passageway therethrough. An obturator assembly is telescopically disposed within the sleeve member with the obturator assembly having a moveable portion and a stationary portion, each obturator portion having a blunt face projecting beyond the cutting edge. The present invention also includes a penetration indicator assembly which provides an audible sound upon breach of a body cavity wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Core Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: William G. Dennis, Michael E. Prosek
  • Patent number: 6224545
    Abstract: A surgical retractor apparatus comprising a U-shaped thread assembly slidably engaged with a U-shaped rack. A rotatable threaded rod connects the U-shaped rack and the U-shaped thread assembly. A first swivel having a first blade mount is rotatably connected to the U-shaped rack and a second swivel having a second blade mount is rotatably attached to the thread assembly. A first blade is mounted in the first blade mount and a second blade is mounted in the second blade mount. The swivels have respective threaded screws to adjust the angle of each blade relative to a longitudinal plane passing through the U-shaped rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Core Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Pasquale Cocchia, Lester Cohen
  • Patent number: 6221289
    Abstract: A method and composition for combining ceramic powder and binder to form green elements suitable for shaping and firing uses dry blending techniques. The binder includes a particulate wax component that is not melted in order to combine it with the ceramic powder, but rather, the wax component is combined in particulate form with the ceramic powder. The particulate wax is mixed in conventional blender apparatus in a relatively short time period. The binder composition may also include a lubricity enhancer or slip agent and a dispersion or colloidal binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Core-Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Corbett, Arvid Wegenek, John G. Toth
  • Patent number: 6208258
    Abstract: A circuit for detecting whether or not an AC voltage mains is providing an AC voltage above a predetermined point including a full wave bridge and voltage divider, a voltage detection circuit including a pair of transistors and a zener diode, an optical coupler including a light emitting diode (LED) and photo transistor, a comparator circuit for determining whether or not the AC voltage source has been below a predetermined voltage for a predetermined length of time including a comparator circuit such as a comparator or a FET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Core Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack A. Redilla
  • Patent number: 6196825
    Abstract: A compression molding system has a pair of mold part holders with corner assemblies that perform guidance, stop and stabilization functions. Interchangeable heated mold parts lacking the aforesaid functions, are removably attached to the respective holders in such a manner that sheet metal core and cavity components of the mold parts are properly aligned. The guidance function of the holders guides the movement of the mold parts toward one another, and the stop function limits such movement to provide a predetermined space between the sheet metal components in order to form compression molding material therebetween to a desired shape and thickness. The stabilization function prevents longitudinal and transverse expansion of one of the mold parts relative to the other. The holders are designed to be attached to platens of a press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Core Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Winston, Jarvis M. Pigge
  • Patent number: 6175769
    Abstract: A spinal electrode for use in spinal cord stimulation having portions which are specifically provided for coupling the electrode to the adjacent spinal tissue so that displacement of the electrode cannot easily occur by normal bodily motion as is a failure mechanism of prior electrode designs. The distal end of the electrode which includes the electrical contacts also includes at least one laterally extending non-electrical portion. The extending portions are provided for receiving a suture or wire therethrough. The laterally extending portions may include a readily identifiable distinguishing feature, such as a color dye or a textural difference, so that it can be readily seen as a safe region through which a suture may be passed. Alternatively (or in addition), the laterally extending portions may include a through hole so that the tip of the electrode may be tied to the spinous process (or other spinal bone) by a wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Electro Core Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph P. Errico, Thomas J. Errico
  • Patent number: 6167311
    Abstract: A method for treating psychological disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder, Tourette's syndrome, depression, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, schizophrenia, and attention deficit disorder by stimulation of the thalamus, and in particular regions within the anterior and intralaminar nuclei of the thalamus. The method includes the steps of determining a common group of patients, each suffering from a common specific diagnosis for a psychological disorder; determining which common region of the patients' thalami are involved in carrying the pathological electrical signals which may otherwise be generated in dissimilar and disparate regions of the brains of the patients; surgically implanting an electrode and electrical signal generating device such that the electrode is positioned within the region of the thalamus identified as the common nexus; and selectively adjusting the level of electrical stimulation in accordance with the specific effect of the stimulation of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Electro Core Techniques, LLC
    Inventor: Ali R. Rezai
  • Patent number: 6167400
    Abstract: A method of performing a sliding window search includes the steps of: (a) creating an associative database of a plurality of data strings; (b) receiving a first window of a data block; (c) iconizing the first window of the data block to form a first icon; (d) determining if the first icon has a match in the associative database; (e) determining a first byte icon of a first byte of data in the first window; (f) executing an icon shift function to form a shifted first byte icon; (g) exclusive ORing the shifted first byte icon with the first icon to form a seed icon; (h) determining a second icon for a second window using the seed icon and transforming a new byte of data onto the seed icon; and (i) determining if the second icon has a match in the associative database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: NEO-Core
    Inventor: Christopher Lockton Brandin
  • Patent number: 6163727
    Abstract: A spinal electrode for use in spinal cord stimulation included in a laminar hook so that displacement of the electrode cannot easily occur by normal bodily motion as is a failure mechanism of prior electrode designs. The electrical contacts of the electrode are disposed on the underside of the blade portion of the hook. The head of the hook, which seats above the lamina, is coupled either to the spinous process, or to the head of a hook which is positioned in an opposing orientation. The head of the hook in one embodiment includes a hole through which a wire may be passed to tie the hook to the spinous process, or to the other hook. In a second embodiment, the head of the hook has a notch formed in it so that it may receive an elastomeric band which is used to couple the head of the hook to the spinous process, or to another hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Electro Core Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas J. Errico
  • Patent number: 6157617
    Abstract: A system (50) for network packet accounting includes a network interface card (52) connected to a network connection and detecting a packet. A processor (56) is connected to the network interface card (52) and extracts a network address from the packet. A transform generator (58) is connected to the processor (56) and determines an icon for the network address. An index (60) is connected to the processor (56) and relates the icon to a store location. A store (62) is connected to the processor (56) and holds a plurality of parameters related to a group at the store location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: NEO-Core, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Christopher Lockton Brandin, Robert Lewis Moore
  • Patent number: 6125948
    Abstract: A soil sampling device for collecting samples of soil provides a single use unit with an integrally molded plunger. The soil sampling device includes a cylindrical body having a first chamber and a second chamber, with each chamber comprising a cylindrical wall having a longitudinal axis and an end wall. Optionally, the sampling device may include additional chambers depending on the application. An open end of each chamber defines a mouth which is adapted for inserting into soil. A piston may be positioned within each chamber, and the end walls include a projecting member extending outwardly therefrom which defines a plunger. The end wall includes a reduced cross-section around the projecting member and is adapted to break when a force is applied to the projecting member to thereby permit the plunger enter into the body and thereby push the piston along the longitudinal axis to expel a sample of soil collected in the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Soil Core, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramon R. David, Saeid Yazdani
  • Patent number: 6095189
    Abstract: A fluid flow control valve which includes a fluid flow conduit with one or more fluid inlets and one or more fluid outlets, and with one or more discrete magnetic elements located within the conduit that are positioned by means of a number of selectably activated electromagnets located in association with the conduit. The magnetic element or elements can preferably be positioned either to close fluid flow by engaging a predetermined fluid inlet or outlet thereby to block fluid flow therethrough or to open fluid flow by not blocking fluid flow therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Q-Core Ltd.
    Inventor: Zvi Ben-Shalom
  • Patent number: 6096127
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for forming dielectric thin films having substantially reduced electrical losses at microwave and millimeter wave frequencies relative to conventional dielectric thin films. The reduction in losses is realized by dramatically increasing the grain sizes of the dielectric films, thereby minimizing intergranular scattering of the microwave signal due to grain boundaries and point defects. The increase in grain size is realized by heating the film to a temperature at which the grains experience regrowth. The grain size of the films can be further increased by first depositing the films with an excess of one of the compoents, such that a highly mobile grain boundary phase is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Superconducting Core Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Duane Brian Dimos, Robert William Schwartz, Mark Victor Raymond, Husam Niman Al-Shareef, Carl Mueller, David Galt
  • Patent number: 6093176
    Abstract: A modular trocar assembly having a cannula, a passive valve seal assembly and an instrument seal assembly all releasably joined to define a central axial bore, where the passive valve seal assembly contains a valve seal which prevents passage of gas through the trocar assembly into the atmosphere when no instrument is inserted but which opens to allow for insertion of an instrument, and where the instrument seal assembly contains an instrument reducer seal which prevents passage of gas through the trocar assembly into the atmosphere when an instrument is inserted through the valve seal. The passive valve seal assembly and the instrument seal assembly are preferably composed of plastic so as to be disposable, while the cannula is preferably composed of a sterilizable material to enable reuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Core Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: William G. Dennis
  • Patent number: 6060879
    Abstract: A current magnitude sensing circuit for detecting a malfunction of a DC brushless fan. The current magnitude sensing circuit detects drops in the current magnitude in windings of a fan motor. Depending on the frequency of the current drops in the fan current, the current magnitude sensing circuit outputs either a high or a low voltage signal. The current magnitude sensing circuit operates by charging a capacitor beyond a certain voltage and thereby providing a high fan fail output signal when a fan is spinning too slowly for proper cooling of a device. Another capacitor is charged at a different time constant for setting the fan fail output of the current magnitude circuit low for indicating that the fan is spinning sufficiently fast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: CORE Engineering Inc.
    Inventor: Georg A. Mussenden
  • Patent number: 6051092
    Abstract: Winding cores for the paper industry are restored by removing the metal tips from the ends of the core, trimming the core to eliminate the crimped end portions of the core, providing complementary male and female joint ends to the core, grinding the outer surface of the core to a constant outer diameter less than the industry standard outer diameter to accommodate a finishing layer. The cores with the complementary joints are pressed end to end to form a core master prior to its being ground and then picking up the core masters one by one and bringing them into proximity of a web of liner board material having a length which corresponds to the length of the core master and a width which corresponds to the circumference of the core, contacting the glue bearing liner board web with the core and rotating the core to wrap the web of liner board about the core to provide a finished restored core. The core master is then cut into suitable length winding cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: CSI Core Specialties Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg M. Lynch, Stuart Ostroff
  • Patent number: 5996964
    Abstract: An electromagnetic flow control apparatus includes a fluid flow conduit, a magnetic membrane, and a plurality of discrete sources of selectably variable magnetic fields, such as electromagnets, arranged in an ordered array, to drive the membrane in a desired manner to control the flow of fluid in the conduit. The membrane can preferably be driven between two extreme positions wherein the flow of fluid in the conduit is totally unrestricted in the rest position of the membrane and wherein the flow is highly restricted or stopped completely in the maximum deformation of the membrane radially inward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Q-Core Ltd.
    Inventor: Zvi Ben-Shalom
  • Patent number: 5997702
    Abstract: An aqueous electrolyte ozone generating system includes on electrolyte tank and liquid-vapor separator tank. Electrolyte tank has a liquid supply port located at its upper part which allows ozone gas-containing liquid (generated at an anode) to be supplied to the liquid vapor separator tank. Water at the bottom part of an separator tank flows back to the anode chamber of the electrolyte tank through a return port, and fresh water is replenished to the system simultaneously while the temperature of the water in the separator tank is controlled. Liquid-vapor separator tank is thin in horizontal width and long in the vertical direction. A heat exchanger wall is installed to and covers most of the surface area of at least one side of the separator tank. A temperature control, capable of providing a cooling effect, is integrally installed to the heat exchanger wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Core Corporation
    Inventors: Akihisa Koganezawa, Yukio Akahori
  • Patent number: D436520
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Reel-Core, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard C Bulman