Patents by Inventor Reginald H. Fowler

Reginald H. Fowler 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: 6899697
    Abstract: The automatically controlled pump supplies pressurized irrigation fluid to a surgical site. The pump system includes a motor in a housing and a pump in a housing defining input and output ports. The pump has a rotatable impeller. The motor is powered by batteries. The system operates in conjunction with a downstream manual suction/irrigation control valve. In one system, an ON/OFF motor switch is controlled by fluid flow above a nominal flow by a sensor typically mounted downstream of the pump. In another, flow is detected by a negative buoyancy poppet having a “leaky” valve seat. When the poppet moves, its position is sensed and the switched motor is ON. In a remote control system, the motor is remotely controlled by a switch integrated into the manual control valve. One method automatically controls a pump by monitoring fluid flow above a system minimal flow and turning ON/OFF the motor based upon flow above the minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Conmed Corp.
    Inventors: Reginald H. Fowler, Garrett L. Barker, C. Kenneth French
  • Patent number: 6635031
    Abstract: The automatically controlled pump includes a battery-powered motor with a housing, a pump in a housing with input and output ports. A switch turns ON and OFF the motor due to fluid pressure at the output. Sometimes, the pump housing is below the motor housing and below the battery housing. The input port is beneath the impeller and the output port. A version also includes a manual ON and OFF switch actuated by an operator and a check valve limiting upstream flow of the pressurized fluid. The fluid pressure sensitive switch is mounted downstream of the check valve. An irrigation surgical kit includes the automatically controlled pump, a spike for a fluid source bag, fluid lines and an operator controlled valve unit disposed at or near the surgical site. The method monitors fluid pressure at or near the pump's output and turns ON and OFF the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Reginald H. Fowler, Garrett L. Barker, C. Kenneth French, Daniel A. Palmer
  • Publication number: 20030109826
    Abstract: The automatically controlled pump supplies pressurized irrigation fluid to a surgical site. The pump system includes a motor in a housing and a pump in a housing defining input and output ports. The pump has a rotatable impeller. The motor is powered by batteries. The system operates in conjunction with a downstream manual suction/irrigation control valve. In one system, an ON/OFF motor switch is controlled by fluid flow above a nominal flow by a sensor typically mounted downstream of the pump. In another, flow is detected by a negative buoyancy poppet having a “leaky” valve seat. When the poppet moves, its position is sensed and the switched motor is ON. In a remote control system, the motor is remotely controlled by a switch integrated into the manual control valve. One method automatically controls a pump by monitoring fluid flow above a system minimal flow and turning ON/OFF the motor based upon flow above the minimum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: ConMed Corp.
    Inventors: Reginald H. Fowler, Garrett L. Barker, C. Kenneth French
  • Publication number: 20030069540
    Abstract: The automatically controlled pump includes a battery-powered motor with a housing, a pump in a housing with input and output ports. A switch turns ON and OFF the motor due to fluid pressure at the output. Sometimes, the pump housing is below the motor housing and below the battery housing. The input port is beneath the impeller and the output port. A version also includes a manual ON and OFF switch actuated by an operator and a check valve limiting upstream flow of the pressurized fluid. The fluid pressure sensitive switch is mounted downstream of the check valve. An irrigation surgical kit includes the automatically controlled pump, a spike for a fluid source bag, fluid lines and an operator controlled valve unit disposed at or near the surgical site. The method monitors fluid pressure at or near the pump's output and turns ON and OFF the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventors: Reginald H. Fowler, Garrett L. Baker, C. Kenneth French, Daniel A. Palmer
  • Patent number: 6527743
    Abstract: The automatically controlled pump includes a battery-powered motor with a housing, a pump in a housing with input and output ports. A switch turns ON and OFF the motor due to fluid pressure at the output, Sometimes, the pump housing is below the motor housing and below the battery housing. The input port is beneath the impeller and the output port. A version also includes a manual ON aid OFF switch actuated by an operator and a check valve limiting upstream flow of the pressurized fluid. The fluid pressure sensitive switch is mounted downstream of the check valve. An irrigation surgical kit includes the automatically controlled pump, a spike for a fluid source bag, fluid lines and an operator controlled valve unit disposed at or near the surgical site. The method monitors fluid pressure at or near the pump's output and turns ON and OFF the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Reginald H. Fowler, Garrett L. Barker, C. Kenneth French, Daniel A. Palmer
  • Patent number: 6494876
    Abstract: A disposable liposuction device and method. A piston is caused to reciprocate by operating a single valve. The electrical energy for operating the valve is provided by an electric timing circuit that is powered by a battery. The energy provided by the battery is predetermined so that the energy is depleted after about the time required for one liposuction procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Byron Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Reginald H. Fowler, Garrett L. Barker
  • Patent number: 6461323
    Abstract: The automatically controlled pump supplies pressurized irrigation fluid to a surgical site. The pump system includes a motor in a housing and a pump in a housing defining input and output ports. The pump has a rotatable impeller. The motor is powered by one or more batteries. An ON/OFF motor switch is controlled by fluid flow above a nominal flow by a sensor typically mounted downstream of the pump. The system operates in conjunction with a downstream manual control valve. Flow above a system minimal flow is detected by a negative buoyancy poppet having a “leaky” valve seat. When the poppet moves into a flow chamber, the switched motor is ON. Various position sensors may be used, i.e., an optical sensor. The method automatically controls a pump by monitoring fluid flow above a system minimal flow and turning ON/OFF the motor based upon flow above the minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Inventors: Reginald H. Fowler, Garrett L. Barker, C. Kenneth French
  • Publication number: 20010039398
    Abstract: The automatically controlled pump supplies pressurized irrigation fluid via an output line to a surgical site. The pump is coupled to a fluid source via an input line. The pump system includes a motor, a motor housing, a pump disposed within a pump housing and fluid input and fluid output ports defined by the pump housing. The pump has a rotatably disposed impeller coupled to the motor. The input and output lines are respectively coupled to the fluid input and output ports. The motor is powered by at least one battery and preferably a plurality of batteries. A switch turns ON and OFF the motor and is controlled by fluid flow above a system minimal flow. The system operates in conjunction with a manual flow control valve (a fluid control valving system) actuated by an operator downstream of the battery powered pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: Scion Valley
    Inventors: Reginald H. Fowler, Garrett L. Barker, C. Kenneth French
  • Patent number: 6171072
    Abstract: A combination electric motor driven vacuum pump and air compressor unit, particularly adapted to use in medical procedures, is mounted in an insulated cabinet arranged to provide for drawing cooling air into the cabinet through an inlet duct, cause cooling air to flow over an aftercooler part of a compressed air discharge conduit to aftercool compressed air, and cause cooling air to flow through the pump/compressor unit and be discharged from the cabinet. A pressure air receiver tank is mounted in the cabinet and is operably connected to a condensate receiver and a control valve for discharging condensate to an evaporator container connected to the aftercooler conduit part to evaporate condensate. A control circuit includes solenoid actuated valves for controlling vacuum produced by the pump/compressor unit and actuation of a flexible tube clamp mechanism for cutting off vacuum from a vacuum device, such as a cannula, during certain phases of a liposuction medical procedure, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Scion Valley, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe E. West, Reginald H. Fowler
  • Patent number: 5463878
    Abstract: An apparatus for refrigerating and dispensing soft serve food products from one or more containers of product maintained at temperatures, respectively, appropriate for the products. The containers comprise flexible and impermeable bags having heat sink structures contained therein and the apparatus includes respective container receptacles and a refrigeration system having cooling sections located adjacent the respective receptacles wherein the cooling sections are aligned with the heat sink structures of the containers when the containers are seated within the receptacles. Adjustable refrigerant controls are provided for controlling the flow of refrigerant to the respective cooling sections and a monitoring system, including pneumatic and electric control circuits, provides signals corresponding to the volume of space in a container receptacle external of the flexible bag to detect the existence of an empty or nearly empty container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Froezert USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Shafi Parekh, Bernard M. Geiger, Alexander Tsimberg, Zaya H. Malik, Reginald H. Fowler
  • Patent number: 4121773
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shower head dispenser for bath oil and the like which includes a body member with an axial bore adapted for insertion between a shower line and a shower head. The body member has two longitudinally spaced apertures in its side wall which communicate between the bore and a detachable oil container. A plug is rotatably mounted in the bore of the body. It has an axial venturi bore therethrough, and a pair of transverse bores, one of which intercepts the axial bore at the venturi throat, and the other of which intercepts the axial bore upstream of the throat. The transverse bores of the plug are registrable with the apertures of the body upon rotation of the plug. When water passes through the venturi bore of the plug with the transverse bores aligned with the apertures, the greater pressure at the upstream bore and aperture forces oil out of the container through the downstream bore and aperture into the venturi throat, where it mixes with water enroute to the shower head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1978
    Inventors: James J. Headen, Reginald H. Fowler
  • Patent number: 3946850
    Abstract: A dual speed electrostatic printer having a displaceable printing stylus adapted on one position to provide maximum visibility of the characters being printed and in a second position to provide maximum printing speed and minimum interference with the developing apparatus, together with drive means to index the toner bearing donor roll to present fresh donor roll surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1976
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Stuart E. Hotchkiss, Reginald H. Fowler