Patents by Inventor Alan A. Small

Alan A. Small 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).

  • Patent number: 7564481
    Abstract: A system wherein already-existing computing and memory resources in an electronic camera are used to process an image for printing. Rather than duplicating, in printers, computing and memory resources that are already in digital cameras, significant computing and memory resources need exist only in the camera. A digital camera can support many different printers, each with its own set of parameters such as for example print size, pixel size, colorimetry, sensitometry, and artifacts compensation. Printer parameters are uploaded from the printer to the camera to provide a basis for image processing specific to the associated printer; whereby compensation may be done for variations in the printer characteristics which may occur as a result of printer manufacturing variations, and further so that compensation may be done for different media types which may be installed in the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey Alan Small
  • Publication number: 20080018067
    Abstract: A device 10 for manually transporting a carcass 8 or similar sized object includes a transport member 12, at least one hauling member 18 for manually pulling the transport member 12 with a carcass 8 therein, the hauling member 18 being secured to the transport member 12, at least one carcass member 20 for securing the carcass 8 to the transport member 12, and at least one closing member 22 for wrapping the transport member 12 about the carcass 8 A modified device 200 for hunters to transport a carcass 8 or carry an injured person includes a transport member 12, at least one hauling member 18 for manually hauling the transport member with a carcass 8 therein, the hauling member 18 being secured to the transport member 12, at least one carcass member 20 for securing the carcass 8 to the transport member 12, means for securing the transport member 12 about the carcass 8, and stretcher members 202 for removably receiving lifting members 204, the stretcher members 202 being secured to the transport member 12 such
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventor: Alan Small
  • Publication number: 20070235958
    Abstract: A device for manually transporting a carcass 8 or similar sized object includes a transport member 12, at least one hauling member 18 for manually pulling the transport member 12 with a carcass 8 therein, the hauling member 18 being secured to the transport member 12, at least one carcass member 20 for securing the carcass 8 to the transport member 12, and at least one closing member 22 for wrapping the transport member 12 about the carcass 8.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventor: Alan Small
  • Patent number: 6940541
    Abstract: A system wherein already-existing computing and memory resources in an electronic camera are used to process an image for printing. Rather than duplicating, in printers, computing and memory resources that are already in digital cameras, significant computing and memory resources need exist only in the camera. A digital camera can support many different printers, each with its own set of parameters such as for example print size, pixel size, colorimetry, sensitometry, and artifacts compensation. Printer parameters are uploaded from the printer to the camera to provide a basis for image processing specific to the associated printer; whereby compensation may be done for variations in the printer characteristics which may occur as a result of printer manufacturing variations, and further so that compensation may be done for different media types which may be installed in the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey Alan Small
  • Patent number: 6487317
    Abstract: Image reconstruction is provided by sending low frequency image information via a first transmission channel and high frequency edge information via a second channel. This provides the needed high frequency information which exists in the vicinity of edges, but not the high frequency information which exists in other areas of the image. A process for the compression and transmission of original images containing both low frequency information and high frequency includes the steps of compressing the low frequency information, transmitting the compressed low frequency information, multitoning the low frequency information to form a multitoned reconstruction, multitoning the original image to form a multitoned original, calculating a residual signal as the difference between the multitoned original and the multitoned reconstruction, and transmitting the residual signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey Alan Small
  • Patent number: 5423819
    Abstract: A screw and driver combination designed so that the screw is releasably axially couplable with the driver and so that the screw is positively rotatably engageable with the driver. The screw comprises an axial bore of circular cross section and a counterbore of polygonal cross section. The driver comprises a radially-compressible front portion sized to engage the axial bore of the screw with a minor spring interference fit and an intermediate portion sized to positively rotatably engage the counterbore of the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventors: Alan A. Small, Bernard J. Bourque
  • Patent number: 5269809
    Abstract: A locking mechanism having a locking element carried by one or more strands of suture material. One end of the suture is attachable to an anchor having a slot extending from a trailing end of the anchor toward a leading end. A portion of the suture is at least partially disposable in the slot. A separate locking member engages the locking element to secure tissue relative to the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventors: John O. Hayhurst, Alan A. Small, Jeffrey C. Cerier
  • Patent number: 5258016
    Abstract: A suture anchor and anchor driver device for securely and accurately positioning and installing the suture anchor in place. The anchor has a rounded or pointed head and one or more ridges around it to help force fit the anchor into a hole and to hold it in place. A suture is positioned through the anchor for subsequent use during the surgical procedure. The driver device has a handle and an elongated shaft and is used to position and install the anchor in place. The anchor preferably snap fits onto the end of the shaft. A depth guide can be integrally or removably positioned on the shaft to ensure correct depth of placement. Alternately, the driver shaft is hollow and the anchor is positioned inside it and is implanted with a pusher member. The ends of the suture are affixed to the driver handle. Grooves can be provided on the driver and the anchor to prevent the suture from interfering with the positioning and installation procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventors: Gene P. DiPoto, Jeffrey C. Cerier, Russell F. Warren, Gerard S. Carlozzi, Paul DiCarlo, James W. Dwyer, Alan A. Small
  • Patent number: 5236445
    Abstract: A bone anchor, for securing a suture to a bone, has an open proximal end and a body that tapers to a solid distal tip. The anchor is placed deep in a borehole in a bone using an insertion instrument that is inserted through the open proximal end of the anchor. The tip of the instrument is a spherical knob that snaps into a corresponding recess inside the anchor. The instrument has an oval cross-section that does not bear against the walls of the anchor during insertion. Once the anchor is in place, however, the anchor is expanded by rotating the instrument to bring the exterior of the instrument into contact with the walls of the anchor. The anchor is free to pivot about the spherical knob on the instrument, which allows the anchor to orient itself to the shape and size of the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventors: John O. Hayhurst, Alan A. Small, Jeffrey C. Cerier
  • Patent number: 5224946
    Abstract: A bone anchor (10) for securing a suture to a bone (38). The bone anchor (10) has a tip (16) at its distal end (18) and at least one resilient wall (27) extending to a trailing end (20) of the body (12) of the anchor. The wall (27) has a ridge (14), or barb, formed on an outer surface. The ridge (14) defines an edge (34) that digs into a hole (36) in the bone (38) in which it is positioned. A strand of suturing thread (22) extends through a suture receiving opening (24) in the tip (16) of the anchor. The method of the present invention employs the suture anchor (10) and includes the steps of forming a hole (36) in a bone (38) and inserting the suture anchor (10) to a desired depth in the hole (36) in the bone (38) using an inserter device (100). Suturing thread ( 22) extends from the suture receiving opening (24) in the tip and along the length of the walls (27,28) out of the hole (36) in the bone (38). An anchor spreader (130) is used to firmly seat the anchor (10) in the hole (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventors: John O. Hayhurst, Alan A. Small, Jeffrey C. Cerier, Paul DiCarlo, James W. Dwyer
  • Patent number: 5139499
    Abstract: A screw and driver combination designed so that the screw is releasably axially couplable with the driver and so that the screw is positively rotatably engageable with the driver. The screw comprises an axial bore of circular cross section and a counterbore of polygonal cross section. The driver comprises a radially-compressible front portion sized to engage the axial bore of the screw with a minor spring interference fit and an intermediate portion sized to positively rotatably engage the counterbore of the screw. The screw and driver may be adapted for use with a guide wire insertion system by providing axial bores extending through the entire lengths of the screw and driver. The driver may include a mechanical expansion assembly for causing said said front portion to expand radially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventors: Alan A. Small, Bernard J. Bourque
  • Patent number: 5041129
    Abstract: A suture anchor (10) for securing a suture (20) to body tissue (38) in an athroscopic surgical procedure. The suture anchor is an elongatyed tubular member (12) having first and second ends (14,16). The distal or terminal end (24) of the suture is secured to the first or leading end (14) of the suture anchor (10) with the suture (20) extending through the suture anchor (10). A slot (18) is formed on the suture anchor (10) which extends from the second or trailing end (16) of the suture anchor (10) toward the leading end (14) of the suture anchor (10). The suture anchor (10) is inserted in a first position with the suture (20) extending through the suture anchor (10) from the leading end (14) of the suture anchor (10) to the trailing end (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Acufex Microsurgical, Inc.
    Inventors: John O. Hayhurst, Alan A. Small, Jeffrey C. Cerier
  • Patent number: 5037422
    Abstract: A bone anchor (10) for securing a suture to a bone (38). The bone anchor (10) has a tip (16) at its distal end (18) and at least one resilient wall (27) extending to a trailing end (20) of the body (12) of the anchor. The wall (27) has a ridge (14), or barb, formed on an outer surface. The ridge (14) defines an edge (34) that digs into a hole (36) in the bone (38) in which it is positioned. A strand of suturing thread (22) extends through a suture receiving opening (24) in the tip (16) of the anchor. When tension is applied to the suturing thread (22), it causes the ridge (14) to dig into the walls of the hole (36) in the bone (38). Two resilient walls (27,28) are preferably provided which include an annular ridge-shaped barb (14). The two resilient walls 27, 28 scissor outwardly upon application of tension to the suturing thread. The tip (16) is generally frustoconical with a rounded leading end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Acufex Microsurgical, Inc.
    Inventors: John O. Hayhurst, Alan A. Small, Jeffrey C. Cerier
  • Patent number: D331626
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventors: John O. Hayhurst, Alan A. Small, Jeffrey C. Cerier