Patents by Inventor C. Thomas

C. 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).

  • Patent number: 5638228
    Abstract: A cartridge for a data storage disk drive has a retroreflective marker. Light from a source is reflected from the marker almost exactly on its incident path. This property makes possible unique identification of the cartridge with minimal senstivity to light reflected from other surfaces. The marker enables a disk drive enable circuit so that the drive cannot be used with improper cartridges which might damage it. Also, a retroreflective marker is used for write protection of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Iomega Corporation
    Inventor: Fred C. Thomas, III
  • Patent number: 5630238
    Abstract: A bed includes a base frame, a deck coupled to the base frame, an electrical communication network, an air handling unit mounted on the base frame, a plurality of air therapy devices located on the bed, and a plurality of control modules. Each control module includes a connector for coupling a corresponding air therapy device to the air handling unit and to the electrical communication network. Each control module also includes a controller for operating the corresponding air therapy device with the air handling unit based on command signals received from the electrical communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Hill-Rom, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew W. Weismiller, David J. Ulrich, Jay T. Butterbrodt, Kenneth L. Kramer, Jason C. Brooke, Eric R. Meyer, Gregory W. Branson, James M. C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5618751
    Abstract: A trench capacitor with a buried plate is formed with a single etching process by the expedient of filling the trench so formed and lined with diffusion source material with resist by baking and reflowing the resist which also serves to adjust exposure sensitivity of the resist such that exposure and development of the resist removes the resist to a repeatable and uniform depth. Remaining resist allows etching of the diffusion source layer to a very accurate dimension. Thus only a readily formed oxide or TECS layer is needed to confine impurities during diffusion to form the buried plate. An isolation collar can be formed after recess of the fill to avoid formation of step corners and erosion of the isolation collar by repeated fill and etch back processes while permitting maximum capacitance to be achieved for a given trench "footprint".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin M. Golden, Pai-Hung Pan, Kevin J. Stewart, Alan C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5607964
    Abstract: Treating patients prophylactically and therapeutically with dicitrate cyclic diester (dicitrate) can prevent or reduce the effects of calcification-related disease, including some types of kidney stones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: University of Florida
    Inventors: William C. Thomas, Jr., Christopher D. Batich, Daniel L. Purich
  • Patent number: 5605692
    Abstract: An isolated polypeptide comprising a substantially antigenic part of at least one hepatitis A virus epitope, the polypeptide being free from infectious material. The polypeptide is the expression product of a DNA molecule which has been incorporated into a virus, preferably vaccinia virus, using recombinant DNA technology. This expression product, of the recombinant virus containing the DNA molecule coding for it, may be incorporated into a vaccine for immunising against hepatitis A virus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
    Inventors: Howard C. Thomas, Peter Karayiannis
  • Patent number: 5604103
    Abstract: Dicitrate cyclic diester (dicitrate) is a novel compound which is found in patients who do not exhibit symptoms or predisposition to idiopathic renal calculous disease. Kits are provided for the detection of dicitrate cyclic diester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: University of Florida
    Inventors: William C. Thomas, Jr., Christopher D. Batich, Daniel L. Purich
  • Patent number: 5601804
    Abstract: Dicitrate cyclic diester (dicitrate) is a novel compound which is found in patients who do not exhibit symptoms or predisposition to idiopathic renal calculous disease. Dicitrate can be isolated and detected by novel chromatographic methods. Further, treating patients prophylactically and therapeutically with dicitrate cyclic diester can prevent or reduce the effects of calcification-related disease, including some types of kidney stones, or other disease or condition associated with the presence of metal ions. The metal ion complexing properties exhibited by dicitrate are also applicable to the use of the subject compounds as chelating agents and methods of binding, and thereby reducing, the amounts of metal ions in a substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: The University of Florida
    Inventors: William C. Thomas, Jr., Christopher D. Batich, Daniel L. Purich
  • Patent number: 5599930
    Abstract: Substituted indoles of formula (I) ##STR1## are useful anti-AIDS pharmaceuticals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: The Upjohn Company
    Inventors: Donna L. Romero, Richard C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5593445
    Abstract: Bi-axial implants for the replacement of human joints which require multi-axis rotation and translation as well as for the replacement of anatomical ball and socket joints. A first member has a fixation element such as a stem for affixation to a first bone and a convex head, which head is received in a cavity in a second member having a concave surface which member is designed for attachment to a second bone. Located between the convex and concave surfaces is a ring bearing which forms a circular line of contact with the convex head and a circular line of contact with the concave surface. When a load is applied and transferred between the first and second members, the position of the ring bearing shifts to an alignment substantially transverse to the direction in which the load is being applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Inventor: C. Thomas Waits
  • Patent number: 5588167
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing waste from patient care, maintenance, and/or treatment includes an inflatable bladder member disposed to support at least a first portion of the body of the patient. A flexible basin member is fitted over the bladder and receives waste materials, and a filter sheet is disposed atop the basin member. The basin member is connected to a liquid/gas separator and a vacuum blower. A liquid waste pump is connected to the separator to transfer liquid waste to a holding jug. A vacuum wand provides both suction and rinsing liquid via an on-demand pumping supply configuration that enables the rinsing liquid supplied from a rinse jug to be heated. Liquid levels in the rinse liquid jug, the holding jug, and the separator's holding reservoir are sensed by capacitive level sensing devices which supply signals to a microprocessor which controls various functions of the apparatus. Special inflatable sacks are provided to assist turning the patient to facilitate cleansing of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: SSI Medical Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Demetrios A. Pahno, James R. Stolpmann, James M. C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5586346
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided which supports a patient on an inflatable structure. The inflatable structure preferably has two components: a) lower inflatable layer which is selectively operable to provide basic support for the patient and which includes a plurality of laterally offset zone which may be independently inflatable to control rotation of the patient. Further, a second inflatable layer includes a plurality of zones for establishing optimal patient interface pressures and patient comfort levels, and may also include sufficiently independent inner chambers to facilitate the providing of specific therapies such as alternation of primary pressure contact areas, or percussion or vibration of the patient through inner cell inflation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Support Systems, International
    Inventors: Richard B. Stacy, Craig D. Ellis, Barry D. Hand, James M. C. Thomas, Kenith W. Chambers, Stephen E. Glover, Richard I. Barnett, Paul B. King, Ryszard S. Ozarowski, William T. Sutton
  • Patent number: 5572867
    Abstract: A dual wall, air gap exhaust manifold with an integral inlet connecting flange defining an elongated, internal, air injection passageway enclosed by an L-shaped plate welded over an elongated slot in the flange to form the elongated passageway, the L-shaped plate also being welded over a series of short channels which extend between the elongated passageway and the manifold inlet openings. The elongated passageway has an air inlet connector. The spaced dual walls of the manifold runners are joined together at the flange openings, just downstream of the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Benteler Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Bekkering, Ernest C. Thomas, Earl W. Mattson
  • Patent number: 5563142
    Abstract: The present invention includes diaromatic substituted heterocyclic compounds (III) ##STR1## which are useful in treating individuals infected with the HIV virus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: The Upjohn Company
    Inventors: John R. Palmer, Donna L. Romero, Paul A. Aristoff, Richard C. Thomas, Herman W. Smith
  • Patent number: 5553339
    Abstract: A sleeping bag for supporting and insulating an individual during sleep. The inventive device includes a sleeping bag having a pneumatic support assembly for supporting the sleeping bag in a spaced relationship relative to a ground surface. The pneumatic support assembly includes a plurality of elongated flexible air tubes which can be individually pressurized to a desired pneumatic pressure to support the sleeping bag at a desired height and firmness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Inventor: Roy C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5552282
    Abstract: The present invention includes a DNA clone from the myotonic muscular dystrophy gene, a cosmid probe to the myotonic dystrophy site, as well as methods of detecting myotonic muscular dystrophy using RFLP. The method involves the steps of digesting DNA from an individual to be tested with a restriction endonuclease and detecting the restriction fragment length polymorphism with hybridization to probes within the myotonic muscular locus and southern blot analysis. Alternatively, the myotonic muscular dystrophy gene can be measured by determining the amount of mRNA or measuring the amount of protein with an antibody. Further, the myotonic muscular dystrophy gene defect can be detected using either fluorescence in situ hybridization or pulsed field gel electrophoresis using the probes described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Baylor College of Medicine
    Inventors: C. Thomas Caskey, Ying-Hui Fu, David L. Friedman, Antonio Pizzuti, Raymond G. Fenwick
  • Patent number: 5550259
    Abstract: Dicitrate cyclic diester (dicitrate) is a novel compound which is found in patients who do not exhibit symptoms or predisposition to idiopathic renal calculous disease. Dicitrate can be isolated and detected by novel chromatographic methods. Further, treating patients prophylactically and therapeutically with dicitrate cyclic diester can prevent or reduce the effects of calcification-related disease, including some types of kidney stones, or other disease or condition associated with the presence of metal ions. The metal ion complexing properties exhibited by dicitrate are also applicable to the use of the subject compounds as chelating agents and methods of binding, and thereby reducing, the amounts of metal ions in a substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: The University of Florida
    Inventors: William C. Thomas, Jr., Christopher D. Batich, Daniel L. Purich
  • Patent number: 5545216
    Abstract: A bileaflet heart valve is shown which incorporates a pivot arrangement that minimizes resistance to downstream blood flow in the open position yet has prompt response and therefore minimal regurgitation upon flow reversal. The valve employs a pair of identical flat leaflets that can assume a precisely parallel orientation in the fully open position at or near peak downstream blood flow or can alternatively assume other low energy positions. As the downstream flow of blood slows near the end of a pumping stroke, downstream displacement of the leaflets results in their prerotation toward the closed position orientation, all being controlled by the interengagement of flat ears, which extend laterally from opposite surfaces of the leaflets, and receiving cavities of unique design. The cavities include upstream and downstream lobes separated by an intermediate throat portion defined by inward and outward fulcrums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Medical Carbon Research Institute, LLC
    Inventors: Jack C. Bokros, John L. Ely, Michael R. Emken, Axel D. Haubold, T. Scott Peters, Jonathan C. Stupka, C. Thomas Waits
  • Patent number: 5523253
    Abstract: The present disclosure sets forth an improved integrated circuit in which circuit elements, adjacent to a fuse, are protected by barriers positioned adjacent the fuse. In the improved integrated circuit the barriers are non-frangible, high melting point structures buried in the passivating layer, covering a wiring layer containing a fuse, and are between the fuse and adjacent circuit elements in the wiring layer structures.Also taught is a method of protecting circuit elements adjacent a fuse comprising the steps of depositing an insulating layer on the surface of a semiconductor device having active regions therein, forming a plurality of fuses and circuit elements in said layer, coating said fuses and elements with a second insulating layer, patterning said second insulating layer to form grooves between each of said fuses and any adjacent fuse or circuit element, and depositing a high melting point and non-frangible material in said grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Richard A. Gilmour, Thomas J. Hartswick, David C. Thomas, Ronald R. Uttecht, Erick G. Walton
  • Patent number: 5491791
    Abstract: An automated system and method for remote workstation inventorying and monitoring within a distributed computing environment are presented. The computing environment includes a plurality of workstations interconnected by a network. Each workstation has basic peer-to-peer communication ability providing remote file transfer and remote command execution. A designated non-server workstation operates as a monitor for generating an execute command to be sent to each remote workstation to undergo monitoring. At the remote workstation a diagnostic routine is executed for monitoring at least one configuration characteristic of the remote workstation and for providing based thereon a report file. The report file is then returned to the monitor workstation for analysis, including compiling of an appropriate report and possible issuance of an alert message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Glowny, John C. Kistenmacher, Caryl M. Rahn, Jerry C. Thomas
  • Patent number: D376007
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Inventor: Allen C. Thomas