Patents by Inventor Michael Thorne

Michael Thorne 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: 20140087869
    Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronizing audio in a bank of gaming machines, such as video slot and video poker machines. Audio tracks of a game may be provided to a plurality of gaming machines and synchronized. An audio track provided to one of the gaming machines may be changed to a second audio track, in response to receiving an indication of a status change for the game. The second audio track may be synchronized with the audio tracks provided to the other gaming machines in the plurality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Thorne
  • Patent number: 7438703
    Abstract: A safety shield apparatus is disclosed which includes a needle having a distal portion defining a longitudinal axis which is angularly displaced relative to a longitudinal axis defined by a proximal portion of the needle. A shield is mounted with the needle and extensible, via a tubular needle guide movable along the needle, between a retracted position and an extended position. The apparatus may include a needle hub configured to support the proximal portion of the needle. The needle hub can include an appendage which may have at least one opening to facilitate manipulation thereof. A distal end of the shield can be attached to a planar contact surface. The shield may also include a latch engageable with the needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Roy L. Barrus, David L. Thorne, Charles V. Owen, Donald D. Solomon, F. Mark Ferguson, Michael Thorne, Stephen Brown, Gale H. Thorne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7198618
    Abstract: Medical needle shield apparatus for covering a needle after use. In embodiments of this invention a shield with two or more segments hingedly connected to each other is movable from a retracted position where the needle is exposed, to an extended position where the shield extends beyond the end of the needle. The needle is affixed in a hub of a medical needle device, and the shield is articulated to the hub. At least one of the two or more segments has an open orifice through which the needle passes to form an axis of intersection about the needle. The shield includes a channel for covering the needle when the shield is linearly extended. One or more locks associated with one or more of the segments secures one or more of the segments relative to the shield in the extended position. A latch is also disposed on the distal segment for securing the distal segment relative to the shield when in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: F. Mark Ferguson, Richard L. Fiser, James R. Curtis, Charles V. Owen, David L. Thorne, Mark A. Nelson, Roy L. Barrus, Gale H. Thorne, Jr., Eugene E. Weilbacher, Michael Thorne, Steven Brown, Donald Solomon
  • Patent number: 6949086
    Abstract: Medical needle shield apparatus for covering a needle after use. In embodiments of this invention a shield with two or more segments hingedly connected to each other is movable from a retracted position where the needle is exposed, to an extended position where the shield extends beyond the end of the needle. The needle is affixed in a hub of a medical needle device, and the shield is articulated to the hub. At least one of the two or more segments has an open orifice through which the needle passes to form an axis of intersection about the needle. The shield includes a channel for covering the needle when the shield is linearly extended. One or more locks associated with one or more of the segments secures one or more of the segments relative to the shield in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: F. Mark Ferguson, Richard L. Fiser, James R. Curtis, Charles V. Owen, David L. Thorne, Mark A. Nelson, Roy L. Barrus, Gale H. Thorne, Jr., Eugene E. Weilbacher, Michael Thorne, Steven Brown, Donald Solomon
  • Publication number: 20050063780
    Abstract: The flexible panel is made of juxtaposed rectangular bars each having holes extending transversely therein and elastic cords threaded through these holes for keeping the bars closely positioned side-by-side. Adjacent bars have a shiplap joint there between comprising a first notch in the top surface and the first side surface of a first bar, and a second notch in the bottom surface and the second side surface of the second bar, wherein these notches have overlapping horizontal surfaces. In another aspect of the present invention, each hole along the shiplap joint is made of two separable cylindrical grooves facing each other and forming a closed cylindrical wall when the shiplap joint is integral and a separable segment when the shiplap joint is pulled apart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventor: Michael Thorne
  • Publication number: 20040193120
    Abstract: Medical needle shield apparatus including a shield with two or more segments hingedly connected to each other and movable from a retracted position where the needle is exposed, to an extended position where the shield extends beyond the end of the needle. The needle is affixed in a hub of a medical needle device, and the shield is articulated to the hub. At least one of the two or more segments has an open orifice through which the needle passes to form an axis of intersection about the needle. The shield includes a channel for covering the needle when the shield is linearly extended. One or more locks associated with one or more of the segments secures one or more of the segments relative to the shield in the extended position. A latch is also disposed on the distal segment for securing the distal segment relative to the shield when in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: F. Mark Ferguson, Richard L. Fiser, James R. Curtis, Charles V. Owen, David L. Thorne, Mark A. Nelson, Roy L. Barrus, Gale H. Thorne, Eugene E. Weilbacher, Michael Thorne, Steven Brown, Donald Solomon
  • Publication number: 20040049159
    Abstract: A safety shield apparatus is disclosed which includes a needle having a distal portion defining a longitudinal axis which is angularly displaced relative to a longitudinal axis defined by a proximal portion of the needle. A shield is mounted with the needle and extensible, via a tubular needle guide movable along the needle, between a retracted position and an extended position. The apparatus may include a needle hub configured to support the proximal portion of the needle. The needle hub can include an appendage which may have at least one opening to facilitate manipulation thereof. A distal end of the shield can be attached to a planar contact surface. The shield may also include a latch engageable with the needle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Roy L. Barrus, David L. Thorne, Charles V. Owen, Donald D. Solomon, F. Mark Ferguson, Michael Thorne, Stephen Brown, Gale H. Thorne
  • Publication number: 20030229317
    Abstract: Medical needle shield apparatus for covering a needle after use. In embodiments of this invention a shield with two or more segments hingedly connected to each other is movable from a retracted position where the needle is exposed, to an extended position where the shield extends beyond the end of the needle. The needle is affixed in a hub of a medical needle device, and the shield is articulated to the hub. At least one of the two or more segments has an open orifice through which the needle passes to form an axis of intersection about the needle. The shield includes a channel for covering the needle when the shield is linearly extended. One or more locks associated with one or more of the segments secures one or more of the segments relative to the shield in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Inventors: F. Mark Ferguson, Richard L. Fiser, James R. Curtis, Charles V. Owen, David L. Thorne, Mark A. Nelson, Roy L. Barrus, Gale H. Thorne, Eugene E. Weilbacher, Michael Thorne, Steven Brown, Donald Solomon
  • Publication number: 20020072716
    Abstract: A safety shield apparatus is disclosed which includes a needle having a distal portion defining a longitudinal axis which is angularly displaced relative to a longitudinal axis defined by a proximal portion of the needle. A shield is mounted with the needle and extensible, via a tubular needle guide movable along the needle, between a retracted position and an extended position. The apparatus may include a needle hub configured to support the proximal portion of the needle. The needle hub can include an appendage which may have at least one opening to facilitate manipulation thereof. A distal end of the shield can be attached to a planar contact surface. The shield may also include a latch engageable with the needle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: Safety Syringe Corporation
    Inventors: Roy L. Barrus, David L. Thorne, Charles V. Owen, Donald D. Solomon, F. Mark Ferguson, Michael Thorne, Stephen Brown, Gale H. Thorne
  • Publication number: 20010039401
    Abstract: Medical needle shield apparatus for covering a needle after use. In embodiments of this invention a shield with two or more segments hingedly connected to each other is movable from a retracted position where the needle is exposed, to an extended position where the shield extends beyond the end of the needle. The needle is affixed in a hub of a medical needle device, and the shield is articulated to the hub. At least one of the two or more segments has an open orifice through which the needle passes to form an axis of intersection about the needle. The shield includes a channel for covering the needle when the shield is linearly extended. One or more locks associated with one or more of the segments secures one or more of the segments relative to the shield in the extended position. A latch is also disposed on the distal segment for securing the distal segment relative to the shield when in the extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: Safety Syringe Corporation
    Inventors: F. Mark Ferguson, Richard L. Fiser, James R. Curtis, Charles V. Owen, David L. Thorne, Mark A. Nelson, Roy L. Barrus, Gale H. Thorne, Eugene E. Weilbacher, Michael Thorne, Steven Brown, Donald Solomon