Patents by Inventor Michael A. Acciai
Michael A. Acciai 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: 6585865Abstract: A transport system for the implementation of electrolytic deposition, coating or etching; and more particularly, an apparatus for selective electrolytic metallization and deposition utilizing a fluid head arrangement. A method is provided for making and maintaining an electrical contact with a product being processed in a transport system employed for selective electrolytic metallization and deposition, coating or etching. The method of making and maintaining an electrical contact with a product being processed may be utilizing a fluid head arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2001Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael Acciai, Steven L. Tisdale
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Patent number: 6514063Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and tooling for forming a stent and the stent so formed. The stent includes filaments of a first material and joints of a second material. The present invention also discloses the above described stent in combination with an angioplasty balloon. The tooling in accordance with the present invention provides a fixture having grooves that receive the filaments of the stent to hold the filaments in place for joining. The joining of all of the filaments can be performed simultaneously by laser welding or injection molding a joint material. The tooling in accordance with the present invention also provides the capability to mold the stent as one piece. The method in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of providing a fixture with internal grooves, placing filaments into the grooves and joining the filaments together.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2001Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael A. Acciai, Richard R. Hall, John T. Legg
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Publication number: 20010012960Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and tooling for forming a stent and the stent so formed. The stent includes filaments of a first material and joints of a second material. The present invention also discloses the above described stent in combination with an angioplasty balloon. The tooling in accordance with the present invention provides a fixture having grooves that receive the filaments of the stent to hold the filaments in place for joining. The joining of all of the filaments can be performed simultaneously by laser welding or injection molding a joint material. The tooling in accordance with the present invention also provides the capability to mold the stent as one piece. The method in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of providing a fixture with internal grooves, placing filaments into the grooves and joining the filaments together.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2001Publication date: August 9, 2001Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael A. Acciai, Richard R. Hall, John T. Legg
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Publication number: 20010001192Abstract: A transport system for the implementation of electrolytic deposition, coating or etching; and more particularly, an apparatus for selective electrolytic metallization and deposition utilizing a fluid head arrangement. A method is provided for making and maintaining an electrical contact with a product being processed in a transport system employed for selective electrolytic metallization and deposition, coating or etching. The method of making and maintaining an electrical contact with a product being processed may be utilizing a fluid head arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2001Publication date: May 17, 2001Inventors: Michael Acciai, Steven L. Tisdale
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Patent number: 6203685Abstract: A transport system for the implementation of electrolytic deposition, coating or etching; and more particularly, an apparatus for selective electrolytic metallization and deposition utilizing a fluid head arrangement. A method is provided for making and maintaining an electrical contact with a product being processed in a transport system employed for selective electrolytic metallization and deposition, coating or etching. The method of making and maintaining an electrical contact with a product being processed may be utilizing a fluid head arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 1999Date of Patent: March 20, 2001Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael Acciai, Steven L. Tisdale
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Patent number: 6193829Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and tooling for forming a stent and the stent so formed. The stent includes filaments of a first material and joints of a second material. The present invention also discloses the above described stent in combination with an angioplasty balloon. The tooling in accordance with the present invention provides a fixture having grooves that receive the filaments of the stent to hold the filaments in place for joining. The joining of all of the filaments can be performed simultaneously by laser welding or injection molding a joint material. The tooling in accordance with the present invention also provides the capability to mold the stent as one piece. The method in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of providing a fixture with internal grooves, placing filaments into the grooves and joining the filaments together.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 1999Date of Patent: February 27, 2001Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael A. Acciai, Richard R. Hall, John T. Legg
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Patent number: 6181977Abstract: The control technique of the present invention includes a computer readable medium with several programs. A first program for controlling the steps that run a sequence of steps for setting certain devices in a start condition. A second program includes instructions for setting a start condition. A third program includes instructions for controlling a timer to set time intervals involved in the sequence of steps. A fourth program includes instructions for monitoring predetermined processes.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 1998Date of Patent: January 30, 2001Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael Acciai, David Martin Dewey-Wright, Daniel Paul White
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Patent number: 6056187Abstract: A radially expandable device particularly adaptable for use as an endoprothesis is described along with a method of fabrication. The method begins by obtaining a number of individual, separate generally circular hoops by a number of ways, such as cutting a length of wire, forming it into a generally circular loop, and attaching the ends together. In another aspect of this method of fabrication, the individual, separate generally circular hoops are obtained by cutting the needed number from a tubing. Thereafter, a wave-like pattern is formed in each hoop, with a die, in a direction transverse the axis of the wire, creating a predetermined number of rings and attaching them at the crest point to form a stent that can be compressed for inserting into a lumen where it can be expanded to provided a needed support.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael Acciai, Richard Ronald Hall, John Thomas Legg
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Patent number: 5987742Abstract: The technique involves attaching a stiffener to a flexible substrate that has solder balls on the substrate. The steps include locating the flexible substrate on the stiffener with the solder balls on the side away from the stiffener, and drawing a vacuum to hold the flexible substrate in place. Locating the stiffener on a support with a pressure sensitive adhesive on a surface facing away from the support, and drawing a vacuum to hold the stiffener in place. Then, applying a pressure around the solder balls against the flexible substrate in the order of 2000 pounds per square inch to force the flexible substrate against the stiffener.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1998Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael Acciai, Richard Ronald Hall, Robert Nicholas Ives
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Patent number: 5873162Abstract: The technique involves attaching a stiffener to a flexible substrate that has solder balls on the substrate. The steps include locating the flexible substrate on the stiffener with the solder balls on the side away from the stiffener, and drawing a vacuum to hold the flexible substrate in place. Locating the stiffener on a support with a pressure sensitive adhesive on a surface facing away from the support, and drawing a vacuum to hold the stiffener in place. Then, applying a pressure around the solder balls against the flexible substrate in the order of 2000 pounds per square inch to force the flexible substrate against the stiffener.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 1997Date of Patent: February 23, 1999Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael Acciai, Richard Ronald Hall, Robert Nicholas Ives
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Patent number: 5855802Abstract: A method for forming a tubular article having a perforated annular wall, such as a surgical stent, includes coating the exterior and interior cylindrical surfaces of a tubular member with a photoresist, exposing selected portions of the photoresist coated surfaces to light, developing the coating, and then etching the coating to remove unexposed portions of the coating and immediate underlying portions of the annular wall, thereby forming a tubular article having a wall structure defined by a skeletal framework. An apparatus for exposing a light-sensitive coating to a tubular article includes means for rotating and translating the article with respect to a light source, along a longitudinal axis and simultaneously exposing aligned portions of the interior and exterior cylindrical surfaces of the tubular member. The method and apparatus embodying the present invention are particularly suitable for forming stents that support the walls of weak human arteries.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 1996Date of Patent: January 5, 1999Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael Acciai, Richard Ronald Hall
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Patent number: 5855596Abstract: A radially expandable device particularly adaptable for use as an endoprothesis is described along with a method of fabrication. The method begins by obtaining a number of individual, separate generally circular hoops by a number of ways, such as cutting a length of wire, forming it into a generally circular loop, and attaching the ends together. In another aspect of this method of fabrication, the individual, separate generally circular hoops are obtained by cutting the needed number from a tubing. Thereafter, a wave-like pattern is formed in each hoop, with a die, in a direction transverse the axis of the wire, creating a predetermined number of rings and attaching them at the crest point to form a stent that can be compressed for inserting into a lumen where it can be expanded to provided a needed support.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1996Date of Patent: January 5, 1999Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael Acciai, Richard Ronald Hall, John Thomas Legg
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Patent number: 4502063Abstract: A print head for use in an electrolytic matrix printer is described. In this print head, predetermined ones of a plurality of electrodes are permanently grounded and are thereby forced to always function as cathodes. The remaining electrodes serve as print electrodes and, depending on the information needed during a given print cycle, either print or are not energized. These print electrodes, therefore, are constrained to always function as anodes. Fixing the function of the electrodes in the print cycle prevents reverse current flow in an electrode from print cycle to print cycle and placing the permanently grounded electrodes intersticially between and about the print electrodes to isolate them, in particular, further enhances this effect. This is particularly beneficial when using platinum print electrodes that form a protective passivation layer which is destroyed by the reverse current flow resulting from alternating electrode functions.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 1983Date of Patent: February 26, 1985Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael Acciai, Charles R. Pigos, Charles G. Speicher