Patents by Inventor James H. Layer
James H. Layer 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: 7674270Abstract: The present device provides an apparatus for securely positioning a medical instrument relative to a patient. The apparatus comprises a drive assembly for moving the medical instrument along a first axis that is substantially parallel to the length of the instrument; an adapter comprising an elongated member and a pair of cooperating hubs for connecting the drive assembly to a positioning system. The cooperating hubs serving to allow separation of sterile from non sterile components. The positioning system comprises two motors each for moving the instrument about a different axis than the drive assembly. The apparatus moving the instrument about a point which is external to the patient. The device further comprises a sterile bag which encloses the positioning system, the bag having at least one opening for receiving an axel from a sterile adapter assembly, thereby rendering the entire apparatus sterile.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2005Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Laparocision, IncInventor: James H. Layer
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Publication number: 20080215066Abstract: The present device provides an apparatus for securely positioning a medical instrument through an incision within a patient. The apparatus comprises a trocar for extending through the incision in the patient and receiving the medical instrument. The apparatus also comprises a drive assembly for moving the medical instrument within the trocar in a direction that extends substantially parallel to the length of the trocar. The drive assembly can have a housing that is spaced from the trocar or that forms a portion of the trocar. The apparatus also includes a positioning system for rotating the medical instrument about a plurality of spaced points located outside the body and a plurality of perpendicularly extending axes. The positioning system includes an adapter for securing the trocar to the positioning system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2008Publication date: September 4, 2008Applicant: GMP Surgical Solutions, Inc.Inventor: James H. Layer
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Patent number: 7347862Abstract: An apparatus for receiving and positioning a medical instrument relative to the body of a patient when the instrument is positioned partially within the body or completely outside the body. The apparatus comprises a housing and a motor assembly positioned within the housing. The motor assembly includes a motor and a first medical instrument engaging member operatively connected to the motor and moveable relative to the housing in response to the operation of the motor. A second medical instrument engaging member cooperates with the first medical instrument engaging member to drive the medical instrument within the housing when the medical instrument is positioned within the housing between the first and second medical instrument engaging members. The apparatus can form a portion of a trocar, a structure secured to a trocar or a structure that is free of a connection to a trocar or other medical instrument support.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2003Date of Patent: March 25, 2008Inventor: James H. Layer
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Patent number: 7290915Abstract: A light coupling assembly that couples a light source to a light conducting system attached to a medical instrument so that light from the light source is transmitted to a surgical site. The light coupling assembly according to the present invention includes a member formed of a heat conducting material that receives and transfers heat from the light source to a light source housing. The light coupling assembly also includes an insulating member that receives a portion of the heat conducting member and prevents an attendant from being injured by the heat generated by the light source and carried by the heat conducting member.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2003Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Inventors: Kenneth S. Solovay, James H. Layer, Thomas P. Jacobs, Gregory Madden
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Publication number: 20040172008Abstract: A hemostasis valve and a method of using the hemostasis valve to form a seal around a medical instrument that has been inserted through at least a portion of the valve. The hemostasis valve comprises a valve body having a proximal end for connecting to a first medical device and a distal end for connecting to a second medical device. The hemostasis valve also includes a first elongated chamber positioned within the valve body. A collapsible member positioned within the valve body defines this first elongated chamber. The first chamber has a first internal volume and is capable of receiving a medical instrument. The hemostasis valve additionally comprises a second elongated chamber extending about the first elongated chamber within the valve body. The second elongated chamber has an internal volume that is greater than the first internal volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2003Publication date: September 2, 2004Applicant: GMP/Cardiac Care, Inc.Inventor: James H. Layer
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Patent number: 6755321Abstract: A dispenser that is mountable on a vertical or horizontal surface for dispensing adhesive-backed articles from a bulk stock using a single hand. The dispenser includes a housing having a bucket portion for receiving and containing the adhesive-backed articles to be dispensed and a cover connected to the bucket portion. The cover includes a window through which the adhesive-backed articles can be removed from the backing sheet and applied to a person or other animal using a single hand. The dispenser also includes a support member secured within the housing such that at least one of the cover and the support member is biased toward the other for preventing movement of the backing sheet as one of the adhesive-backed articles is removed from the backing sheet through the window.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2002Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: ASO CorporationInventors: Kenneth S. Solovay, James H. Layer, Gregory Madden, Elizabeth Peacock
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Publication number: 20040065314Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for the warming of materials. In an embodiment, the heat for warming the materials is provided by an activatable heating substance, such as a supercooled salt solution. In an embodiment, an apparatus maintains fluid at a preselected temperature for prolonged durations. In an embodiment, an apparatus may be sterilized for deployment in a sterile surgical field. In an embodiment, an apparatus may be reused. In an embodiment, an apparatus is adapted for easy pouring of contents.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2003Publication date: April 8, 2004Inventors: James H. Layer, Kenneth Solovay, Thomas P. Jacobs
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Publication number: 20040032751Abstract: A light coupling assembly that couples a light source to a light conducting system attached to a medical instrument so that light from the light source is transmitted to a surgical site. The light coupling assembly according to the present invention includes a member formed of a heat conducting material that receives and transfers heat from the light source to a light source housing. The light coupling assembly also includes an insulating member that receives a portion of the heat conducting member and prevents an attendant from being injured by the heat generated by the light source and carried by the heat conducting member.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2003Publication date: February 19, 2004Inventors: Kenneth S. Solovay, James H. Layer, Thomas P. Jacobs, Gregory Madden
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Patent number: 6648902Abstract: A lighting accessory stem using fiberoptic illumination is provided. In certain embodiments, the lighting accessory system is combinable with a hand tool, for example a forceps, to illuminate the grasping tips of the tool. The lighting accessory system provides an illuminable tool whereby an object may be illuminated and grasped while being illuminated without obstruction by the illumination means. In certain embodiments, the lighting accessory system may be used for medical or surgical tools.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2001Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: GMP Surgical Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Diane L. Colgan, James H. Layer, Kenneth Solovay, Tom Jacobs
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Publication number: 20030208207Abstract: An apparatus for receiving and positioning a medical instrument relative to the body of a patient when the instrument is positioned partially within the body or completely outside the body. The apparatus comprises a housing and a motor assembly positioned within the housing. The motor assembly includes a motor and a first medical instrument engaging member operatively connected to the motor and moveable relative to the housing in response to the operation of the motor. A second medical instrument engaging member cooperates with the first medical instrument engaging member to drive the medical instrument within the housing when the medical instrument is positioned within the housing between the first and second medical instrument engaging members. The apparatus can form a portion of a trocar, a structure secured to a trocar or a structure that is free of a connection to a trocar or other medical instrument support.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2003Publication date: November 6, 2003Applicant: GMP Surgical Solutions, Inc.Inventor: James H. Layer
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Publication number: 20030208187Abstract: The present device provides an apparatus for securely positioning a medical instrument through an incision within a patient. The apparatus comprises a trocar for extending through the incision in the patient and receiving the medical instrument. The apparatus also comprises a drive assembly for moving the medical instrument within the trocar in a direction that extends substantially parallel to the length of the trocar. The drive assembly can have a housing that is spaced from the trocar or that forms a portion of the trocar. The apparatus also includes a positioning system for rotating the medical instrument about a plurality of spaced points located outside the body and a plurality of perpendicularly extending axes. The positioning system includes an adapter for securing the trocar to the positioning system.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2003Publication date: November 6, 2003Applicant: GMP Surgical Solutions, Inc.Inventor: James H. Layer
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Publication number: 20030195559Abstract: A lighting accessory system using fiberoptic illumination is provided. In certain embodiments, the lighting accessory system is combinable with a hand tool, for example a forceps, to illuminate the grasping tips of the tool. The lighting accessory system provides an illuminable tool whereby an object may be illuminated and grasped while being illuminated without obstruction by the illumination means. In certain embodiments, the lighting accessory system may be used for medical or surgical tools.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2003Publication date: October 16, 2003Inventors: Diane L. Colgan, James H. Layer, Kenneth Solovay, Tom Jacobs
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Publication number: 20020170918Abstract: A dispenser that is mountable on a vertical or horizontal surface for dispensing adhesive-backed articles from a bulk stock using a single hand. The dispenser includes a housing having a bucket portion for receiving and containing the adhesive-backed articles to be dispensed and a cover connected to the bucket portion. The cover includes a window through which the adhesive-backed articles can be removed from the backing sheet and applied to a person on other animal using a single hand. The dispenser also includes a support member secured within the housing such that at least one of the cover and the support member is biased toward the other for preventing movement of the backing sheet as one of the adhesive-backed articles is removed from the backing sheet through the window.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2002Publication date: November 21, 2002Inventors: Kenneth S. Solovay, James H. Layer, Gregory Madden, Elizabeth Peacock
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Publication number: 20020043260Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for the warming of materials. In an embodiment, the heat for warming the materials is provided by an activatable heating substance, such as a supercooled salt solution. In an embodiment, an apparatus maintains fluid at a preselected temperature for prolonged durations. In an embodiment, an apparatus may be sterilized for deployment in a sterile surgical field. In an embodiment, an apparatus may be reused. In an embodiment, an apparatus is adapted for easy pouring of contents.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2001Publication date: April 18, 2002Inventors: James H. Layer, Kenneth Solovay, Thomas Jacobs, Michael Fine, Gregory M. Smith
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Publication number: 20020035312Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting accessory system using fiberoptic illumination. In certain embodiments, the lighting accessory system of the present invention is combinable with a hand tool, for example a forceps, to illuminate the grasping tips of the tool. The lighting accessory system provides an illuminable tool whereby an object may be illuminated and grasped while being illuminated without obstruction by the illumination means. In certain embodiments, the lighting accessory system may be used for medical or surgical tools.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2001Publication date: March 21, 2002Inventors: Diane L. Colgan, James H. Layer, Kenneth Solovay, Tom Jacobs