Patents by Inventor Joel A. Ernster

Joel A. Ernster 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: 8898846
    Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a coagulator has a housing defining an interior chamber with a prong extending along a central axis to receive a coagulator bore. An insertion guide with an opening along the central axis guides insertion of the tip of the coagulator onto the prong. Pliable wipers extend inward from the sidewalls of the chamber toward the prong, so that the wipers deform by contact to wipe against the coagulator in operation. The wipers can be formed as part of a pliable tubular member that is inserted into the chamber in the housing and held in place by an end cap that incorporates the insertion guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventor: Joel A. Ernster
  • Publication number: 20110154591
    Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a coagulator has a housing defining an interior chamber with a prong extending along a central axis to receive a coagulator bore. An insertion guide with an opening along the central axis guides insertion of the tip of the coagulator onto the prong. Pliable wipers extend inward from the sidewalls of the chamber toward the prong, so that the wipers deform by contact to wipe against the coagulator in operation. The wipers can be formed as part of a pliable tubular member that is inserted into the chamber in the housing and held in place by an end cap that incorporates the insertion guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventor: Joel A. Ernster
  • Publication number: 20100069791
    Abstract: A tissue sampler for oral use has a wand that is sufficiently flexible to be inserted into the mouth of a patient without causing injury. A core is attached to the wand; the core is soft to avoid a likelihood of inducing a gag reflex in a patient when it is placed adjacent to an oropharynx of a patient. Bristles attached to the core so that when it is placed adjacent to the oropharynx of a patient, the bristles will acquire deep-seated cells in the crypts and grooves of the oropharynx. In operation, the patient preferably swallows which, especially because of the softness of the core, will force tissue onto the bristles. The bristles may be adapted to increase their tissue collecting capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventor: Joel A. Ernster
  • Publication number: 20070067931
    Abstract: A cleaning device for cleaning a tubular device such as a coagulator has a generally cylindrical sidewall and a prong emerging from a base. To use the cleaning device, the coagulator tube is inserted onto the prong and rotated. The device has wipers that will wipe and clean the device as it is rotated. Preferably the device has wipers of different sizes to provide different wiping effects, such as cleaning two different sections of the coagulator tube having different diameters. The differently sized wipers may also be useful to clean tubes having different diameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2006
    Publication date: March 29, 2007
    Inventor: Joel Ernster
  • Patent number: 6250315
    Abstract: A device for cleaning a nasal coagulator or similar instrument. The nasal coagulator is of the type that has a generally cylindrical sidewall defining a bore, in which char or the like accumulates. The device has a generally cylindrical sidewall which defines a chamber, and a flared trumpet-like ending. A prong is located within the chamber, and two slit apertures are foxed in the sidewall to communicate the chamber and the exterior of the device. In use, the coagulator is inserted into the cleaning device so that that the prong loosens any char, and the coagulator is rotated so that the char exits the slit apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Inventor: Joel A. Ernster
  • Patent number: 5968042
    Abstract: An electrosurgical coagulator (10) has a hollow elongate tube (20), insulation material (30) covering a major portion of the tube (20), a handle (40) of molding material covering a proximal section of the tube (20) and insulation material (30), a power cord (50) electrically connected to the tube (20), and a contact pin (52) terminating the power cord (50) for attachment to an external power supply (60). The tube (20), insulation (30), and handle (40) are coaxial; the handle (40) extends furthest proximally and terminates in a fitting (42) that is engageable with an external suction source (70). The tube (20) has a distal portion (22) for contacting to bleeding tissue and coagulating the same, the distal portion being beveled and having a notch (25) for superior resolution and ease of positioning, clog prevention, and ease of cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Inventor: Joel A. Ernster
  • Patent number: D683950
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: NSI-ENT, LLC
    Inventors: Joel A. Ernster, Michael F. Lush, Donald R. Landis, Sr.