Patents by Inventor Michael A. Heaven

Michael A. Heaven 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).

  • Publication number: 20240090890
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and devices for securing soft tissue to a rigid material such as bone. A tissue capture anchor is described that includes an anchor body and a spreader such that tissue may be captured or compressed between outside surfaces on the anchor and spreader and inside surfaces of a bone hole to secure the tissue within the hole. A bone anchor is described that includes an anchor body with expandable tines and a spreader that expands the tines into bone. The spreader captures tissue via a suture loop at the distal end of the bone anchor. Also described is an inserter that can be used to insert the anchor into bone and move the spreader within the anchor to expand the anchor and capture the tissue between the anchor and the bone. Methods are described that allow the use of bone anchors to secure tissue to bone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: ConMed Corporation
    Inventors: John P. Greelis, Malcolm Heaven, Michael Ko, Mikxay Sirivong
  • Patent number: 10132551
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, an ice making compartment remote from the freezer compartment, and a fresh food compartment duct riser extending upwardly along a back of the fresh food compartment. The refrigerator further includes a shroud associated with a freezer compartment evaporator, an ice compartment supply duct leading from the shroud to the ice making compartment, and an ice compartment return duct leading from the ice making compartment towards the freezer compartment evaporator. The ice compartment supply duct has a split pathway and is positioned behind the fresh food compartment duct riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Zardo, Matthew P. Dieg, Michael Heaven
  • Publication number: 20170115048
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, an ice making compartment remote from the freezer compartment, and a fresh food compartment duct riser extending upwardly along a back of the fresh food compartment. The refrigerator further includes a shroud associated with a freezer compartment evaporator, an ice compartment supply duct leading from the shroud to the ice making compartment, and an ice compartment return duct leading from the ice making compartment towards the freezer compartment evaporator. The ice compartment supply duct has a split pathway and is positioned behind the fresh food compartment duct riser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: DANIEL ZARDO, MATTHEW P. DIEG, MICHAEL HEAVEN
  • Patent number: 9557091
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a freezer compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, an ice making compartment remote from the freezer compartment, and a fresh food compartment duct riser extending upwardly along a back of the fresh food compartment. The refrigerator further includes a shroud associated with a freezer compartment evaporator, an ice compartment supply duct leading from the shroud to the ice making compartment, and an ice compartment return duct leading from the ice making compartment towards the freezer compartment evaporator. The ice compartment supply duct has a split pathway and is positioned behind the fresh food compartment duct riser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Zardo, Matthew P. Dieg, Michael Heaven
  • Patent number: 8829442
    Abstract: A system and method of non-contact measurement of the dopant content of semiconductor material by reflecting infrared (IR) radiation off of the material and splitting the radiation into two beams, passing each beam through pass band filters of differing wavelength ranges, comparing the level of energy passed through each filter and calculating the dopant content by referencing a correlation curve made up of known wafer dopant content for that system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Aurora Control Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: E. Michael Heaven, Gordon Matthew Deans, Kenneth Cadien, Stephen Warren Blaine
  • Publication number: 20130043393
    Abstract: A system and method of non-contact measurement of the dopant content of semiconductor material by reflecting infrared (IR) radiation off of the material and splitting the radiation into two beams, passing each beam through pass band filters of differing wavelength ranges, comparing the level of energy passed through each filter and calculating the dopant content by referencing a correlation curve made up of known wafer dopant content for that system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventors: E. Michael Heaven, Gordon Matthew Deans, Kenneth Cadien, Stephen Warren Blaine
  • Publication number: 20120136470
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for manufacturing photovoltaic products include an assessment of each product in a production line for suitability, and assigning a grade based either on assessment of the product at that step, comparison to statistical analysis of assessment results of previous products at that step or comparison of previous assessment results of past steps compared to statistical analysis of cumulative assessment results of past products at those steps. Products can be associated into groups for processing as a group based on the grades and downstream equipment can be adjusted based on the grade of the group to bring the group within determined tolerances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Gordon Deans, E. Michael Heaven
  • Publication number: 20110302950
    Abstract: A refrigerator has an air duct that brings a supply of chilled air to an air flow pathway that leads to an ice maker. A low profile impeller within the pathway forces the chilled air toward the ice maker. A curved vane guides the flow of air towards the ice maker. An impinger with a plurality of nozzles focuses the air flow from the impeller onto the ice maker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: TREVOR L. HAWKINS, MICHAEL A. HEAVEN, DEREK T. LEHMAN, JOSEPH M. NURRE, MICHAEL A. STAGG
  • Patent number: 8033133
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator housing, a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator housing, a door for providing access to the fresh food compartment, and an ice bin at the door, the ice bin having a window for viewing an ice level within the ice bin. An ice storage bin includes an ice storage bin body having an insulated front, a back, a bottom, opposite sides, and an open top, and a first window pane and a second window pane positioned at the front of the ice storage bin to allow for viewing the ice level within the ice storage bin. There may be an air gap between the first window pane and the second window pane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Laura E. Flores, Michael A. Heaven, Bruce A. Kopf, Joseph M. Nurre
  • Publication number: 20100126202
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerator housing, a fresh food compartment disposed within the refrigerator housing, a door for providing access to the fresh food compartment, and an ice bin at the door, the ice bin having a window for viewing an ice level within the ice bin. An ice storage bin includes an ice storage bin body having an insulated front, a back, a bottom, opposite sides, and an open top, and a first window pane and a second window pane positioned at the front of the ice storage bin to allow for viewing the ice level within the ice storage bin. There may be an air gap between the first window pane and the second window pane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: LAURA E. FLORES, MICHAEL A. HEAVEN, BRUCE A. KOPF, JOSEPH M. NURRE
  • Publication number: 20060143671
    Abstract: Many continuous processes, such as paper manufacturing, use analog camera systems to capture break events and use the video information to diagnose runnability problems. These systems trigger off a break signal on the machine and synchronize all videos to the same point on the process using the machine speed. The present invention provides a new approach to use real-time information from digital cameras to perform image analysis in real time and execute specific control functions normally performed by operators. A reference image is defined as the control objective function and each frame from the cameras is compared to the reference image. Deviations from the reference image that exceed a defined deadband (the threshold) are output to the control system to take corrective action. The applications of the disclosed approach include dynamic draw control, trim control, tension control, release angle control, creping blade control with control signals determined from a two-dimensional camera image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventors: John Ens, Edwin Michael Heaven, Kari Hilden, Ian Hinde, Tibor Kallo, Patrick Koropatnick
  • Patent number: 6466839
    Abstract: A system of providing fast machine direction (MD) and cross direction (CD) basis weight adjustments using a simultaneous multi-point water weight sensor which provides independent MD and CD measurements is described. The water weight sensor is placed under the wire of the sheetmaking machine and provides fast wet end water weight measurements which are converted into predicted dry end basis weight information and used to control operating variables of machine elements in the sheetmaking machine to compensate for high frequency process variations. MD wet end measurements are used to control operating variables of machine elements that influence the MD dry end basis weight and CD wet end measurements are used to control operating variables of machine elements that influence CD dry end basis weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Honeywell-Measurex Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Heaven, Claud Hagart-Alexander, Lee Chase, John D. Goss, David Watson
  • Patent number: 6080278
    Abstract: A system and method of providing fast machine direction (MD) and cross direction (CD) basis weight adjustments using a simultaneous multi-point water weight sensor which provides independent MD and CD measurements is described. The water weight sensor is placed under the wire of the sheetmaking machine and provides fast wet end water weight measurements which are converted into predicted dry end basis weight information and used to control operating variables of machine elements in the sheetmaking machine to compensate for high frequency process variations. MD wet end measurements are used to control operating variables of machine elements that influence the MD dry end basis weight and CD wet end measurements are used to control operating variables of machine elements that influence CD dry end basis weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Honeywell-Measurex Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Heaven, Claud Hagart-Alexander, Lee Chase, John D. Goss, David Watson
  • Patent number: 5944955
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for controlling the basis weight of paper produced in a papermaking machine are provided. In the papermaking process, a major portion of the paper stock flows through a first line that is controlled by a thick stock valve and a minor portion of the stock flow from the stuff box to the headbox is diverted through a second line that is regulated by a second valve (e.g., vernier valve). The thick stock valve is controlled by the dry end basis weight and the second valve responsive to measurements of the basis weight of the wet stock at the wire. The second line and control valve along with the wet end basis weight measurements form a fine control loop with fast response time whereas the first line and control valve that is responsive to dry end basis weight measurements form a course control loop. The dual control loops enable fast and actual basis weight control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Honeywell-Measurex Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Bossen, E. Michael Heaven, John D. Goss
  • Patent number: 4034224
    Abstract: A positioning and supporting arrangement for a patient to be irradiated with penetrating radiation is disclosed. The patient is supported on a curved platter, the curvature of which conforms to the curvature of an arcuate groove formed longitudinally in a table or couch. In order that the platter may be slidably moved along the groove, a suitable drive means therefor is described. Preferably a shroud covers the underside of the platter, the shroud being formed of, or including, material which provides a well defined, consistent coefficient of friction between the platter and the table or couch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1977
    Assignee: EMI Limited
    Inventors: Michael Heavens, Richard Charles James, Dennis Stanley Slinn