Patents by Inventor James E. Thompson
James E. Thompson 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).
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Patent number: 11648026Abstract: A surgical system includes a surgical instrument and a cooling module. The cooling module includes a fluid reservoir retaining a conductive cooling fluid, a pump configured to pump the conductive cooling fluid along a flowpath, first and second electrodes disposed at first and second positions along the flowpath and configured to sense an electrical property of the conductive cooling fluid at the first and second positions, and a controller configured to determine an impedance of the conductive cooling fluid between the first and second positions based upon the sensed electrical properties of the first and second electrodes. A method for cooling a surgical instrument includes detecting an electrical property of a conductive cooling fluid at first and second positions along a flowpath and determining an impedance of the conductive cooling fluid between the first and second positions based upon the detected electrical properties at the first and second positions.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: James E. Thompson, Robert B. Smith, Daniel A. Friedrichs
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Publication number: 20230139668Abstract: A connector system for connecting an electrosurgical instrument to an electrosurgical generator includes a connector plug coupled to the electrosurgical instrument and a plug receptacle defined in the electrosurgical generator. The connector plug includes a connector housing and a connector pin extending from the connector housing, and the connector pin includes an elongated body and a protrusion extending laterally outwardly from the elongated body. The plug receptacle includes an electrical connector disposed therein, and the electrical connector includes a substrate having a notch defined therein and an electrical contact region disposed thereon. The connector plug is removably insertable into the plug receptacle such that the protrusion of the connector pin is positioned within the notch of the electrical connector and the elongated body of the connector pin contacts the electrical contact region of the electrical connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2022Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventor: James E. Thompson
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Patent number: 11478267Abstract: A surgical instrument end effector assembly includes a first jaw member defining an insulative tissue-contacting surface and first and second electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces, and a second jaw member positioned including an ultrasonic blade body and defining at least one electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surface. The first jaw member is movable relative to the second jaw member between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position to grasp tissue therebetween. The second jaw member is movable relative to the first jaw member between a first configuration, to facilitate transmission of ultrasonic energy to tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members, and a second configuration, to facilitate conduction of electrosurgical energy through tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2019Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Thomas W. Meiser, Anthony B. Ross, Robert B. Stoddard, Robert M. Sharp, James E. Thompson
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Patent number: 11264730Abstract: An Antenna Radiating Element provides 4 simultaneous isolated radiation ports that can be used to increase the orders of MIMO communication for wireless applications. An antenna array that contains a plurality of the Quad-Port Radiating Elements (QPRE). An antenna that contains multiple arrays of the QPRE in single-band or Multi-Band configurations that produces 2× the available polarization states without the need to increase the antenna aperture or reduce the size of the antenna array.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2019Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: Amphenol Antenna Solutions, Inc.Inventors: James E. Thompson, Jr., Mark W. Kishler, Jodie M. Bell, Joshua W. Shehan, Kostyantyn Semonov, Ryan M. Nagel, James C. Carson
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Patent number: 10750605Abstract: A plasma system is disclosed. The plasma system includes a plasma instrument having an elongated body defining a lumen therethrough and a first electrode and a second electrode; an ionizable media source in fluid communication with the lumen and configured to supply ionizable media thereto; and a variable frequency energy source adapted to be coupled to the first and second electrodes and configured to supply energy to the first and second electrodes sufficient to ignite ionizable media supplied by the ionizable media source to generate a plasma influent, wherein a frequency of the energy is adjustable to modify at least one property of the plasma effluent.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2019Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: James E. Thompson, Daniel A. Friedrichs
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Publication number: 20200229843Abstract: A surgical system includes a surgical instrument and a cooling module. The cooling module includes a fluid reservoir retaining a conductive cooling fluid, a pump configured to pump the conductive cooling fluid along a flowpath, first and second electrodes disposed at first and second positions along the flowpath and configured to sense an electrical property of the conductive cooling fluid at the first and second positions, and a controller configured to determine an impedance of the conductive cooling fluid between the first and second positions based upon the sensed electrical properties of the first and second electrodes. A method for cooling a surgical instrument includes detecting an electrical property of a conductive cooling fluid at first and second positions along a flowpath and determining an impedance of the conductive cooling fluid between the first and second positions based upon the detected electrical properties at the first and second positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2020Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventors: James E. Thompson, Robert B. Smith, Daniel A. Friedrichs
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Patent number: 10646246Abstract: A surgical system includes a surgical instrument and a cooling module. The cooling module includes a fluid reservoir retaining a conductive cooling fluid, a pump configured to pump the conductive cooling fluid along a flowpath, first and second electrodes disposed at first and second positions along the flowpath and configured to sense an electrical property of the conductive cooling fluid at the first and second positions, and a controller configured to determine an impedance of the conductive cooling fluid between the first and second positions based upon the sensed electrical properties of the first and second electrodes. A method for cooling a surgical instrument includes detecting an electrical property of a conductive cooling fluid at first and second positions along a flowpath and determining an impedance of the conductive cooling fluid between the first and second positions based upon the detected electrical properties at the first and second positions.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2016Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: James E. Thompson, Robert B. Smith, Daniel A. Friedrichs
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Publication number: 20200006862Abstract: An Antenna Radiating Element provides 4 simultaneous isolated radiation ports that can be used to increase the orders of MIMO communication for wireless applications. An antenna array that contains a plurality of the Quad-Port Radiating Elements (QPRE). An antenna that contains multiple arrays of the QPRE in single-band or Multi-Band configurations that produces 2× the available polarization states without the need to increase the antenna aperture or reduce the size of the antenna array.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2019Publication date: January 2, 2020Inventors: James E. THOMPSON, JR., Mark W. KISHLER, Jodie M. BELL, Joshua W. SHEHAN, Kostyantyn SEMONOV, Ryan M. NAGEL, James C. CARSON
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Publication number: 20190216491Abstract: A surgical instrument end effector assembly includes a first jaw member defining an insulative tissue-contacting surface and first and second electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surfaces, and a second jaw member positioned including an ultrasonic blade body and defining at least one electrically-conductive tissue-contacting surface. The first jaw member is movable relative to the second jaw member between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position to grasp tissue therebetween. The second jaw member is movable relative to the first jaw member between a first configuration, to facilitate transmission of ultrasonic energy to tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members, and a second configuration, to facilitate conduction of electrosurgical energy through tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: THOMAS W. MEISER, ANTHONY B. ROSS, ROBERT B. STODDARD, ROBERT M. SHARP, JAMES E. THOMPSON
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Publication number: 20190208614Abstract: A plasma system is disclosed. The plasma system includes a plasma instrument having an elongated body defining a lumen therethrough and a first electrode and a second electrode; an ionizable media source in fluid communication with the lumen and configured to supply ionizable media thereto; and a variable frequency energy source adapted to be coupled to the first and second electrodes and configured to supply energy to the first and second electrodes sufficient to ignite ionizable media supplied by the ionizable media source to generate a plasma influent, wherein a frequency of the energy is adjustable to modify at least one property of the plasma effluent.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2019Publication date: July 4, 2019Inventors: JAMES E. THOMPSON, DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS
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Patent number: 10237962Abstract: A plasma system is disclosed. The plasma system includes a plasma instrument having an elongated body defining a lumen therethrough and a first electrode and a second electrode; an ionizable media source in fluid communication with the lumen and configured to supply ionizable media thereto; and a variable frequency energy source adapted to be coupled to the first and second electrodes and configured to supply energy to the first and second electrodes sufficient to ignite ionizable media supplied by the ionizable media source to generate a plasma influent, wherein a frequency of the energy is adjustable to modify at least one property of the plasma effluent.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2014Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: James E. Thompson, Daniel A. Friedrichs
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Publication number: 20170325837Abstract: A surgical system includes a surgical instrument and a cooling module. The cooling module includes a fluid reservoir retaining a conductive cooling fluid, a pump configured to pump the conductive cooling fluid along a flowpath, first and second electrodes disposed at first and second positions along the flowpath and configured to sense an electrical property of the conductive cooling fluid at the first and second positions, and a controller configured to determine an impedance of the conductive cooling fluid between the first and second positions based upon the sensed electrical properties of the first and second electrodes. A method for cooling a surgical instrument includes detecting an electrical property of a conductive cooling fluid at first and second positions along a flowpath and determining an impedance of the conductive cooling fluid between the first and second positions based upon the detected electrical properties at the first and second positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2016Publication date: November 16, 2017Inventors: JAMES E. THOMPSON, ROBERT B. SMITH, DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS
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Publication number: 20150351170Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for minimizing power losses in light emitting diode drivers are disclosed. In one aspect a system comprises a constant current LED driver comprising a regulation detector configured to detect if the driver is regulating current and send feedback to a controller configured to adjust the output voltage of an adjustable power supply to be substantially equal to the minimum voltage required for the driver to be in regulation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2014Publication date: December 3, 2015Applicant: Screen Labs America, Inc.Inventors: James E. Thompson, Grant Elliott
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Publication number: 20150238248Abstract: A plasma system is disclosed. The plasma system includes a plasma instrument having an elongated body defining a lumen therethrough and a first electrode and a second electrode; an ionizable media source in fluid communication with the lumen and configured to supply ionizable media thereto; and a variable frequency energy source adapted to be coupled to the first and second electrodes and configured to supply energy to the first and second electrodes sufficient to ignite ionizable media supplied by the ionizable media source to generate a plasma influent, wherein a frequency of the energy is adjustable to modify at least one property of the plasma effluent.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2014Publication date: August 27, 2015Inventors: JAMES E. THOMPSON, DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS
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Patent number: 8899385Abstract: Systems for retarding the speed of a railcar comprise: a brake; a hydraulic actuator moving the brake between a closed position in which the brake applies braking pressure on a wheel of the railcar and an open position in which the brake does not apply braking pressure on the wheel of the rail car; a hydraulic circuit comprising a first manifold and a second manifold; a pump configured to pump hydraulic fluid into at least one of the first manifold and the second manifold; and a logic element controlling pressure of the fluid in the first manifold such that when the wheel enters the brake and forces the brake towards the open position. The logic element reacts to maintain a selected pressure in the first manifold, thus causing a selected braking pressure to be applied by the brake on the wheel of the railcar.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2011Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Precision Rail and Mfg., Inc.Inventors: Andrew J. Frailing, James E. Thompson
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Patent number: 8195257Abstract: The invention relates to a case assembly for antenna amplifying system, an antenna amplifying system and a mast antenna incorporating such a system. According to the invention, the case assembly for antenna amplifying system having a general shape elongated along a longitudinal axis (34) comprises a control module (16) and two amplifying modules (9a, 9b) aligned therewith along the longitudinal axis (34), the control module (16) and both amplifying modules (9a, 9b) each comprising two longitudinal lateral walls (11a, 11b, 11c, 12a, 12b, 12c), an upper surface (36a, 36b, 36c) and a lower surface (37a, 37b, 37c) and having a small thickness.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2008Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Jaybeam Wireless SASInventors: Anthony Pallone, Thierry Gartner, Gregory Girard, Eric Proteau, John Howard, Andrew Bennett, Keith Smith, James E. Thompson
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Patent number: 8182223Abstract: A turbine blade with a generally hollow airfoil having an outer wall that defines at least one radially extending chamber for receiving the flow of a coolant, the airfoil including a leading edge that resides in an upstream or forward direction, a trailing edge that resides in a downstream or aft direction, a convex suction side, and a concave pressure side, the turbine blade comprising: a plurality of inserts disposed within the chamber that are configured to initially receive at least a portion of the coolant entering the chamber and direct a substantial portion of the coolant through a plurality of insert apertures toward the inner surface of the outer wall; wherein the inserts are configured to form at least one inward bleed channel and a central collector passage into which the inward bleed channel flows.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dipankar Pal, James E. Thompson
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Publication number: 20110315491Abstract: Systems for retarding the speed of a railcar comprise: a brake; a hydraulic actuator moving the brake between a closed position in which the brake applies braking pressure on a wheel of the railcar and an open position in which the brake does not apply braking pressure on the wheel of the rail car; a hydraulic circuit comprising a first manifold and a second manifold; a pump configured to pump hydraulic fluid into at least one of the first manifold and the second manifold; and a logic element controlling pressure of the fluid in the first manifold such that when the wheel enters the brake and forces the brake towards the open position. The logic element reacts to maintain a selected pressure in the first manifold, thus causing a selected braking pressure to be applied by the brake on the wheel of the railcar.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: AAA SALES & ENGINEERING, INC.Inventors: Andrew J. Frailing, James E. Thompson
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Publication number: 20100221123Abstract: A turbine blade with a generally hollow airfoil having an outer wall that defines at least one radially extending chamber for receiving the flow of a coolant, the airfoil including a leading edge that resides in an upstream or forward direction, a trailing edge that resides in a downstream or aft direction, a convex suction side, and a concave pressure side, the turbine blade comprising: a plurality of inserts disposed within the chamber that are configured to initially receive at least a portion of the coolant entering the chamber and direct a substantial portion of the coolant through a plurality of insert apertures toward the inner surface of the outer wall; wherein the inserts are configured to form at least one inward bleed channel and a central collector passage into which the inward bleed channel flows.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2009Publication date: September 2, 2010Inventors: Dipankar Pal, James E. Thompson
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Publication number: 20100176650Abstract: A decorative overlay comprised of thin plastic or metal may be securely fastened to a wheel using one or more preformed, solid, dimensionally stable, heat-activatable adhesive bodies. The use of such adhesive bodies offers significant processing and performance advantages over conventional methods for cladding wheels.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2009Publication date: July 15, 2010Applicant: Henkel AG & Co. KGaAInventors: Timothy J. Zens, Rajat K. Agarwal, James E. Thompson, Gregory A. Ferguson, Scott J. Beleck, David Inkpen