Patents by Inventor Colin G. Hodge

Colin G. Hodge 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: 8267922
    Abstract: A phototherapy light device for directing light onto an infant. The phototherapy light device has a base containing an illumination source and a gooseneck type of elongated neck that extends outwardly from the base and has a distal end adapted to be positioned to direct the light onto the infant. An optical fiber transmits the light from the illumination source to the distal end through the optical fiber where the light is passed through a light emanating device located at the distal end of the elongated neck. The elongated neck has two flexible sections, one of which has two coaxial springs to provide flexibility in positioning as well as to impart sufficient strength and rigidity to the elongated neck. The dual spring concept provides a system having reduced stresses while creating a double fault structural system without compromising the flexibility of the elongated neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Colin G. Hodge, Michael H. Mackin
  • Patent number: 6036633
    Abstract: An infant incubator having a heating system that provides a flow of heated air into the infant compartment and which exhausts air from the infant compartment. A temperature sensor is located in the air inlet of the warm air into the infant compartment and another temperature sensor is located in the air outlet of the air from the infant compartment. The system thus monitors the temperature of the air to the infant compartment and the air from the infant compartment. By analyzing the temperatures from the inlet and the outlet the overall incubator heating system can be controlled and yet a further advantage is provided by using the temperature information to recognize a fault or deficiency in the incubator system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Datex-Ohmeda, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin G. Hodge
  • Patent number: 5876323
    Abstract: An infant incubator having an infant compartment that contains the infant and which is set to a desired temperature above ambient by the user. The incubator has at least one access door that opens to allow the caregiver to perform an intervention on the infant and which is actively heated when in the open position. Thus, when the access door is again closed, the door is at an elevated temperature with respect to the ambient and less heating energy is needed to return the infant compartment back to the desired temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Ohmeda, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin G. Hodge, Christopher A. Dykes
  • Patent number: 5531663
    Abstract: An infant incubator tilt mechanism is disclosed that allows infinite adjustment of the tilt angle of the infant mattress within certain limits. The mechanism includes a bent rod positioned within the infant incubator itself and underlying the infant bed and which has an offset portion that engages a bed lifter. As the bent rod is rotated about an axis, the bent rod moves the bed lifter to raise and/or lower the infant bed. One end of the bent rod extends outwardly to the exterior of the infant compartment and is rotatable by an exterior mechanism having a lead screw that is rotated by the operator to cause lateral movement of a link mechanism along an axis at about ninety degrees to the axis of rotation of the bent rod. The lateral movement of the link is again translated into rotational movement and connects to the bent rod to translate that rotational movement to the bent rod. The entire tilt mechanism is readily removable so as to be easily cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Ohmeda Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Gloyd, Colin G. Hodge, Thomas C. Jones, Vladimir Kremenchugsky, Robert M. Siminauer
  • Patent number: 4915132
    Abstract: A selector valve for use with a hospital vacuum on position in pressure module to supply vacuum or pressure to a utilization means. The selector valve has two or more positions and includes a positive stop at each of its positions through the use of molded plastic parts that interact together to eliminate springs or other components that are tedious to assemble. The entire selector valve is comprised of a minimum of parts and costly lapped surfaces are eliminated by molding a gasket material to one of the components of the valve. The overall multiposition selector valve is thus inexpensive to manufacture by utilizing a minimal number of plastic molded parts and that are easy to assemble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin G. Hodge, Douglas D. Carden
  • Patent number: 4830047
    Abstract: An intermittent suction regulator is disclosed operating from a vacuum system and is used to provide a plurality of pneumatic output signals to a positive pulse device for returning fluids removed from a patient during drainage thereof to clear the removal passageways. The suction regulator or control unit provides two (2) timed output signals, from one (1) intermittent vacuum to atmospheric pressure input. One output signal continually switches from a regulated vacuum signal to an atmospheric pressure signal while the other output signal switches from providing an unregulated vacuum signal to an atmospheric pressure signal. The signals are timed such that both are initially set to provide vacuum signals simultaneously, however there is a predetermined time delay between the time the regulated vacuum output signal switches from vacuum to atmospheric and when the unregulated vacuum output signal switches from vacuum to atmospheric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin G. Hodge
  • Patent number: 4782849
    Abstract: An intermittent suction regulator is disclosed operating from a vacuum system and is used to provide a plurality of pneumatic output signals to a positive pulse device for returning fluids removed from a patient during drainage thereof to clear the removal passageways. The suction regulator or control unit provides two (2) timed output signals, from one (1) intermittent vacuum to atmospheric pressure input. One output signal continually switches from a regulated vacuum signal to an atmospheric pressure signal while the other output signal switches from providing an unregulated vacuum signal to an atmospheric pressure signal. The signals are timed such that both are initially set to provide vacuum signals simultaneously, however there is a predetermined time delay between the time the regulated vacuum output signal switches from vacuum to atmospheric and when the unregulated vacuum output signal switches from vacuum to atmospheric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin G. Hodge
  • Patent number: 4767403
    Abstract: A catheter pulse device is disclosed which is activated by vacuum signals and which is used adjacent to or directly attached to a catheter for withdrawing fluids from a patient's body cavity, such as the stomach. The device operates immediately following the normal cessation of suction in an intermittent suction system and returns a minute quantity of the withdraw fluid back into the catheter itself to clear the withdrawal passageways. The pulse device provides protection against an excess of vacuum from reaching the patients cavity by utilizing a specially designed valve that opens and closes the path between a source of regulated vacuum and the patient. That valve is balanced such that it initially opens at or approximately at the point the vacuum on the patient side of the valve reaches the regulated vacuum set by the doctor or other knowledgeable personnel, and thus the vacuum to the patient does not exceed a set amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin G. Hodge