Patents by Inventor Donald D. Exline

Donald D. Exline 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: 8007472
    Abstract: A universal seal is shown with orbital movement of a center opening for use in endoscopic surgery. A two part seal housing encloses the universal seal in an annulus surrounding an insertion port. The outer periphery of the universal seal is clamped between the two parts at the outer edge of the annulus. An inner ring of the universal seal is free to move from side-to-side inside the annulus while maintaining rubbing contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the annuluses for vertical support. The seal housing and universal seal are mounted on a proximal end of a cannula which allows access therethrough for the endoscopic surgery. The center opening of the universal seal is in general alignment with the insertion port of the seal housing, but the center opening and inner ring may move from side to side when medical instruments are inserted through the insertion port, the center opening, and the cannula and moved from side to side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Donald D. Exline, William A. Pierce
  • Patent number: 7954746
    Abstract: By the present invention method and apparatus is disclosed whereby a triaxial braided composite reinforcing fabric having axial yarns of varying length may be wrapped about a cylindrical shipping spool without deformation of the braided fabric. A tensioning device is interposed between the braiding tool and shipping or storage spool whereby the individual variable length axial yarns are subjected to constant tensioning. As the braided fabric is wound upon a cylindrical shipping spool, a conformable foam layer is interposed between each layer of braided fabric thereby permitting each axial yarn to seek out its own diameter by compressing the layer of conformable foam upon which it is wrapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: A&P Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew A. Head, Donald D. Exline, Christopher M. Olenick, Thomas C. Story
  • Publication number: 20080269696
    Abstract: A universal seal is shown with orbital movement of a center opening for use in endoscopic surgery. A two part seal housing encloses the universal seal in an annulus surrounding an insertion port. The outer periphery of the universal seal is clamped between the two parts at the outer edge of the annulus. An inner ring of the universal seal is free to move from side-to-side inside the annulus while maintaining rubbing contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the annuluses for vertical support. The seal housing and universal seal are mounted on a proximal end of a cannula which allows access therethrough for the endoscopic surgery. The center opening of the universal seal is in general alignment with the insertion port of the seal housing, but the center opening and inner ring may move from side to side when medical instruments are inserted through the insertion port, the center opening, and the cannula and moved from side to side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Donald D. Exline, William A. Pierce
  • Patent number: 7169130
    Abstract: A universal seal is shown with orbital movement of a center opening for use in endoscopic surgery A two part seal housing encloses the universal seal in an annulus surrounding an insertion port. The outer periphery of the universal seal is clamped between the two parts at the outer edge of the annulus. An inner ring of the universal seal is free to move from side-to-side inside the annulus while maintaining rubbing contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the annuluses for vertical support. The seal housing and universal seal are mounted on a proximal end of a cannula which allows access therethrough for the endoscopic surgery. The center opening of the universal seal is in general alignment with the insertion port of the seal housing, but the center opening and inner ring may move from side to side when medical instruments are inserted through the insertion port, the center opening, and the cannula and moved from side to side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Donald D. Exline, William A. Pierce
  • Publication number: 20030195541
    Abstract: A universal seal is shown with orbital movement of a center opening for use in endoscopic surgery A two part seal housing encloses the universal seal in an annulus surrounding an insertion port. The outer periphery of the universal seal is clamped between the two parts at the outer edge of the annulus. An inner ring of the universal seal is free to move from side-to-side inside the annulus while maintaining rubbing contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the annuluses for vertical support. The seal housing and universal seal are mounted on a proximal end of a cannula which allows access therethrough for the endoscopic surgery. The center opening of the universal seal is in general alignment with the insertion port of the seal housing, but the center opening and inner ring may move from side to side when medical instruments are inserted through the insertion port, the center opening, and the cannula and moved from side to side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Donald D. Exline, William A. Pierce
  • Patent number: 6551282
    Abstract: A universal seal is shown with orbital movement of a center opening for use in endoscopic surgery. A two part seal housing encloses the universal seal in an annulus surrounding an insertion port. The outer periphery of the universal seal is clamped between the two parts at the outer edge of the annulus. An inner ring of the universal seal is free to move from side-to-side inside the annulus while maintaining rubbing contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the annuluses for vertical support. The seal housing and universal seal are mounted on a proximal end of a cannula which allows access therethrough for the endoscopic surgery. The center opening of the universal seal is in general alignment with the insertion port of the seal housing, but the center opening and inner ring may move from side to side when medical instruments are inserted through the insertion port, the center opening, and the cannula and moved from side to side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Donald D. Exline, William A. Pierce
  • Patent number: 5989224
    Abstract: A universal seal is shown with orbital movement of a center opening for use in endoscopic surgery. A two part seal housing encloses the universal seal in an annulus surrounding an insertion port. The outer periphery of the universal seal is clamped between the two parts at the outer edge of the annulus. An inner ring of the universal seal is free to move from side-to-side inside the annulus while maintaining rubbing contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the annuluses for vertical support. The seal housing and universal seal are mounted on a proximal end of a cannula which allows access therethrough for the endoscopic surgery. The center opening of the universal seal is in general alignment with the insertion port of the seal housing, but the center opening and inner ring may move from side to side when medical instruments are inserted through the insertion port, the center opening, and the cannula and moved from side to side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Dexide Corporation
    Inventors: Donald D. Exline, William A. Pierce
  • Patent number: 5925013
    Abstract: A cannula comprises a housing secured to a generally tubular sleeve member. The housing is provided with irrigation and evacuation fluid ports for connection to irrigation and evacuation conduits. An instrument port is formed in the housing and aligned with the sleeve member, wherein a surgical instrument can be inserted through the instrument port, housing, and sleeve member and into the bodily cavity. The instrument port includes seal members to seal against fluid leakage from the cannula with or without a surgical instrument passing through the housing and sleeve member. A valve member is rotatably carried by the housing to selectively obstruct one or more of the irrigation and evacuation ports. The valve is arranged such that the surgical instrument may remain in the housing and sleeve member during manipulation of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Inventors: Donald D. Exline, William A. Pierce
  • Patent number: 5843040
    Abstract: A surgical sleeve that includes a housing has an opening through which surgical instruments are introduced into the surgical sleeve. A sleeve portion extends from the housing and has an inner diameter coaxial with the opening in the housing. A reducer assembly is removably secured to the housing and includes a rigid seal disc for rotation in a plane transverse to the sleeve portion. A resilient, laminar seal layer is generally coextensive with the seal disc and is disposed between the disc and the housing to sealingly engage a portion of the housing. A plurality of apertures are formed in the seal disc and seal layer and have varying diameters to define seals that are selectively movable, by rotation of the seal disc, over the opening in the housing to seal against exteriors of instruments disposed in the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Dexide, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Exline