Patents by Inventor Alison Flatau

Alison Flatau 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: 10076446
    Abstract: When sleeping or resting in non-supine positions, reaction forces are distributed over areas of the face and head in contact with a surface, such as a mattress or arm, following a load path through at least one eye. Aspects of the disclosed system and method provide rigid to semi-rigid load bearing facial support configured to absorb and or distribute the reaction force exerted by a surface during non-supine rest or sleep to areas of padding best suited to absorb and or distribute said force such that the load path bypasses the eye, eye orbit, and or its surrounding anatomy to prevent or mitigate deformation, stress, strain, and or damage to the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Inventor: Alison Flatau
  • Publication number: 20150020814
    Abstract: When sleeping or resting in non-supine positions, reaction forces are distributed over areas of the face and head in contact with a surface, such as a mattress or arm, following a load path through at least one eye. Aspects of the disclosed system and method provide rigid to semi-rigid load bearing facial support configured to absorb and or distribute the reaction force exerted by a surface during non-supine rest or sleep to areas of padding best suited to absorb and or distribute said force such that the load path bypasses the eye, eye orbit, and or its surrounding anatomy to prevent or mitigate deformation, stress, strain, and or damage to the eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Alison Flatau
  • Patent number: 5510660
    Abstract: A shaker with a Terfenol-D rod actuator includes a mass coupled to both ends of the rod through a spring seat, a spring seat/adjuster and a spring washer. The actuator is mounted inside a cylindrical coil, which in turn is mounted inside a cylindrical permanent magnet, which in turn is mounted inside a cylindrical housing. An electrical drive system provides a predetermined excitation signal to the coil to cause the rod to vibrate under the influence of the magnetic field generated by the coil. One embodiment features a vibrating mass on one end of the rod. An implantable shaker includes a seal to leak-proof the shaker and a coating of Biomer.TM.. The implantable shaker can be implanted in an animal to test tissue response to certain vibrations. According to another embodiment, the Terfenol-D rod actuator is held in place on one end with a pre-stress adjusting screw, which is threaded into the end of the housing and fixed in place with a jam nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Alison Flatau, David Hall
  • Patent number: 5406153
    Abstract: A shaker with a Terfenol-D rod actuator includes a mass coupled to both ends of the rod through a spring seat, a spring seat/adjuster and a spring washer. The actuator is mounted inside a cylindrical coil, which in turn is mounted inside a cylindrical permanent magnet, which in turn is mounted inside a cylindrical housing. An electrical drive system provides a predetermined excitation signal to the coil to cause the rod to vibrate under the influence of the magnetic field generated by the coil. One embodiment features a vibrating mass on one end of the rod. An implantable shaker includes a seal to leak-proof the shaker and a coating of Biomer.TM.. The implantable shaker can be implanted in an animal to test tissue response to certain vibrations. According to another embodiment, the Terfenol-D rod actuator is held in place on one end with a pre-stress adjusting screw, which is threaded into the end of the housing and fixed in place with a jam nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Alison Flatau, David Hall
  • Patent number: 4284194
    Abstract: A single dispensing surgical suture package containing multiple surgical suture strands is disclosed. The package comprises a panel which has a back, a strand cover flap adjacent and connected to one side of the panel by at least one score line, and a foam layer contained on coordinating surfaces of the panel and the flap. The package also comprises an outer panel containing the panel described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventor: Alison Flatau
  • Patent number: 4089410
    Abstract: A direct dispensing surgical suture label comprising a strand back panel, a strand cover and a strand cover side flap. The needled or non-needled ends of the surgical suture are held in a needle pocket. The needle pocket consists of a needle panel which is adjacent to the top portion of the strand panel and connected to it by a diagonal score line. The needle pocket also consists of needle panel side flaps each consisting of an upper rounded portion and a lower triangular portion. The upper portions are connected to the needle panel and the lower portions are connected to the strand panel by score lines. The needle pocket is protected by a needle cover consisting of an upper and a lower portion which folds over the strand cover and under the needle pocket respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1978
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventors: Lelia Ann Bolanowski, Alison Flatau