Patents by Inventor Ajith Thomas

Ajith Thomas has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Methods and devices for safely penetrating materials
    Patent number: 9561544
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a bi-stable coupling for controlling the depth of a tool insertion, such as drilling, and similar processes. The bi-stable coupling can be used to penetrate (e.g., drill or push) through a material layer of unknown thickness without plunging the tool into the adjacent layer. In accordance with the invention, in a first state, force is applied to the tool to initiate penetration and a reactive force maintains the device in the first state during penetration and when tool penetrates the material, the reactive force is diminished enabling the device to transition to a second state in which the tool becomes retracted. In medical applications, the invention allows for drilling through bone of unknown thickness without plunging into the adjacent soft tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignees: BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, INC., PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
    Inventors: Conor James Walsh, Ajith Thomas, Samuel Benjamin Kesner, Hao Pei, Kechao Xiao, Paul Loschak, Kevin C. Galloway
  • METHODS AND DEVICES FOR SAFELY PENETRATING MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20140239600
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a bi-stable coupling for controlling the depth of a tool insertion, such as drilling, and similar processes. The bi-stable coupling can be used to penetrate (e.g., drill or push) through a material layer of unknown thickness without plunging the tool into the adjacent layer. In accordance with the invention, in a first state, force is applied to the tool to initiate penetration and a reactive force maintains the device in the first state during penetration and when tool penetrates the material, the reactive force is diminished enabling the device to transition to a second state in which the tool becomes retracted. In medical applications, the invention allows for drilling through bone of unknown thickness without plunging into the adjacent soft tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicants: BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, INC., PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
    Inventors: Conor James Walsh, Ajith Thomas, Samuel Benjamin Kesner, Hao Pei, Kechao Xiao, Paul Loschak, Kevin C. Galloway