Patents by Inventor Richard A. Thompson

Richard A. Thompson 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: 20170252541
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a medical device comprising an actuator restraining assembly configured to assist in restraining a catheter shaft in a deflected configuration. The actuator restraining assembly may include a brake element, a release element, a connecting sheath, and a connecting rod disposed in a catheter handle, wherein the connecting sheath and connecting rod are attached to an actuator mechanism, and wherein the at brake element is attached to the connecting sheath and the release element is attached to the connecting rod. The brake element is sized and configured to contact an inner wall of the handle to thereby provide resistance to movement of actuator mechanism in a proximal direction with respect to the handle. In one embodiment, the actuator restraining assembly is configured to allow for temporary, i.e., reversible, restraining of the catheter shaft in the deflected configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Brett Hillukka, Evan Michael Leingang, Richard A. Thompson, II
  • Publication number: 20170245623
    Abstract: An antiperspirant composition and a dispenser therefor, the composition being a gel, cream or soft solid of viscosity from 3000 mPa·s to 5200 mPa·s at a shear rate of 16/s comprising a non-pore blocking inhibitor of perspiration and the dispenser comprising a dome-shaped applicator surface of radius of curvature decreasing from a maximum of from 25 to 60 mm at its top/centre to a value of from 75 to 95% of its maximum value at a distance of 1 cm from its top/centre.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: Conopco, Inc., d/b/a UNILEVER
    Inventors: Simon Lewis BILTON, Christopher John JONES, Rebecca Anne NELSON, Benjamin George OGLESBY, Guy Richard THOMPSON, Iain Andrew WEDDELL
  • Publication number: 20170247170
    Abstract: A dispenser (1) suitable for delivery of a cream, gel or soft solid composition comprising: (vi) a convex applicator surface (6) at an upper end; (vii) a replaceable cartridge (12) containing a composition to be dispensed; (viii) a passageway between the cartridge and the applicator surface; (ix) a drive mechanism for forcing the composition from the cartridge through the passageway and onto the applicator surface; and (x) an outer body (3) containing features (ii) to (iv); the drive mechanism comprising a dial unit (4) and a plunger (47), rotation of the dial unit (4) in a first direction advancing the plunger (47) axially upwards, the plunger (47) acting upon a piston seal (8) at the base of the replaceable cartridge (12), thereby forcing the contained composition upwards and outwards through the passageway and onto the applicator surface (6); rotation of the dial unit (4) in a second direction, counter to the first, rotationally re-setting the dial unit (4) relative to the plunger (47) in readiness for a f
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: Conopco, Inc., d/b/a UNILEVER
    Inventors: Simon Lewis BILTON, Christopher John JONES, Rebecca Anne NELSON, Benjamin George OGLESBY, Guy Richard THOMPSON, Iain Andrew WEDDELL
  • Publication number: 20170211265
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a spraying device for spraying an enclosure with a liquid cleanser. The device comprises a metering system communicating with a reservoir and a spray head containing a vibrating mesh spray actuator. The metering system comprises a metering chamber, a weir member and a conduit means. The device is rotatable between a first recharging orientation and a second dispensing orientation. The conduit means comprises an element selected from a check valve and a channel. In particular, the invention relates to a spraying device which is suited for automatically cleaning a toilet bowl. The invention also relates to a cartridge configured to be received by the spraying device. Furthermore the invention relates to a method for spraying an enclosure comprising a rotatable lid with a liquid cleanser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Federico Pasquini, Davide Pietrasanta, Guy Richard Thompson
  • Patent number: 9693863
    Abstract: A delivery device usable to deliver an inverting implant is provided that includes a positioning mechanism that automatically initiates the inversion process once a predetermined length of the implant has exited a delivery catheter. The positioning mechanism allows the implant to be safely and accurately deployed with reduced operator experience and in a greater variety of target locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: HLT, INC.
    Inventors: Dale K. Nelson, John P. Gainor, Alan L. Carlson, Evan M. Leingang, Richard A. Thompson, II
  • Patent number: 9662385
    Abstract: This invention relates to adjuvant formulations comprising various combinations of triterpenoids, sterols, immunomodulators, polymers, and Th2 stimulators; methods for making the adjuvant compositions; and the use of the adjuvant formulations in immunogenic and vaccine compositions with different antigens. This invention further relates to the use of the formulations in the treatment of animals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Zoetis Services LLC
    Inventors: Paul Joseph Dominowski, Ramasamy Mannar Mannan, Richard Lee Krebs, James Richard Thompson, Tedd Alan Childers, Mary Kathryn Olsen, Robert John Yancey, Jr., Risini Dhammika Weeratna, Shucheng Zhang, Cedo Martin Bagi
  • Publication number: 20170100147
    Abstract: The teachings herein provide an instrument comprising a forceps. The forceps comprise a hand piece; a tubular member connected to the hand piece; and a jaw assembly connected to the hand piece. The jaw assembly includes a first jaw element and a second jaw element. The first jaw element includes a gripping section and a flexing section. The flexing section includes an arcuate section. The second jaw element opposes the first jaw element and includes a gripping section. The tubular member is moveable onto the arcuate section of the first jaw clement so that the flexing section of the first jaw element is flexed and the jaw assembly is moved into a closed position. The first jaw element, the second jaw element, or both include a stiffening spine so that the jaw assembly is substantially rigid in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Nikhil M. Murdeshwar, John Mensch, Zane R. Ward, Kester J. Batchelor, Richard A. Thompson, II, Evan M. Leingang, Jeffrey J. Nelson
  • Patent number: 9561046
    Abstract: The teachings herein provide an instrument comprising a forceps. The forceps comprise a hand piece; a tubular member connected to the hand piece; and a jaw assembly connected to the hand piece. The jaw assembly includes a first jaw element and a second jaw element. The first jaw element includes a gripping section and a flexing section. The flexing section includes an arcuate section. The second jaw element opposes the first jaw element and includes a gripping section. The tubular member is moveable onto the arcuate section of the first jaw element so that the flexing section of the first jaw element is flexed and the jaw assembly is moved into a closed position. The first jaw element, the second jaw element, or both include a stiffening spine so that the jaw assembly is substantially rigid in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: GYRUS ACMI, INC.
    Inventors: Nikhil M. Murdeshwar, John R. Mensch, Zane R. Ward, Kester J. Batchelor, Richard A. Thompson, Evan M. Leingang, Jeffrey J. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20160366950
    Abstract: An athletic garment assembly for cushioning a user's heel includes a sock that may be worn by a user. A cushion is positioned on the sock such that the cushion may be aligned with the user's heel when the user wears the sock. The cushion is comprised of a resiliently compressible material. Thus, the cushion absorbs impact energy from the user's heel when the user wears the sock thereby enhancing physical comfort of the user's heel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Richard Thompson, Irma Thompson
  • Publication number: 20160161004
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a pinch valve assembly that can include a controller, an actuator assembly, the actuator assembly including a stepper motor, a leadscrew actuated by the stepper motor such that the leadscrew travels in a plurality of incremental linear steps, a piston coupled with the leadscrew such that relative movement of the leadscrew is transferred to the piston, a valve body, where the piston travels within a bore defined by the valve body, a slotted aperture formed in the valve body to retain at least a portion of tubing, and a pin where the piston and the pin are configured to pinch tubing therebetween such that flow within the tubing can be metered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventor: Bradley Richard Thompson
  • Publication number: 20160113668
    Abstract: The teachings herein provide an instrument comprising a forceps. The forceps comprise a hand piece; a tubular member connected to the hand piece; and a jaw assembly connected to the hand piece. The jaw assembly includes a first jaw element and a second jaw element. The first jaw element includes a gripping section and a flexing section. The flexing section includes an arcuate section. The second jaw element opposes the first jaw element and includes a gripping section. The tubular member is moveable onto the arcuate section of the first jaw element so that the flexing section of the first jaw element is flexed and the as assembly is moved into a closed position. The first jaw element, the second jaw element, or both include a stiffening spine so that the as assembly is substantially rigid in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Nikhil M. Murdeshwar, John R. Mensch, Zane R. Ward, Kester J. Batchelor, Richard A. Thompson, Evan M. Leingang, Jeffrey J. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20160088757
    Abstract: A media control console is described which comprises a lectern type housing, one or more media electronics modules mounted within the lectern type housing, and an umbilical cable carrying electrical power to the media electronics modules and/or control signals to and/or from the media electronics modules. The umbilical cable is durably attachable or permanently attached to the media control console and a fixed electrical installation external to the console.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Dan Aldridge, Adam Blaxill, Richard Thompson, Andrew Redman, Gary Hunt
  • Patent number: 9216030
    Abstract: A laparoscopic forceps comprising a handpiece including a distal end portion; a tubular member protruding from the distal end portion of the handpiece, the tubular member having a distal end with a distal opening, a pair of jaws having legs that are disposed within the tubular member and partially protruding from the distal opening, the jaws and the tubular member being movable relative to each other; wherein each of the jaws has an arcuate section; an operable mechanism for creating relative motion between the jaws and the tubular member along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, and one or more spacing members extending across the distal opening of the tubular member and between the jaws; wherein the jaws are closable by the relative movement of the tubular member and the jaws towards each other so that the tubular member advances over the arcuate section of the jaws, and the jaws are openable by the relative movement of the tubular member and the jaws away from each other so that the one or more
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: GYRUS ACMI, INC.
    Inventors: Tailin Fan, Kester Batchelor, John R. Mensch, Richard A. Thompson
  • Patent number: 9194978
    Abstract: A locator for determining the depth of a buried electromagnetic marker includes a transmission antenna and two reception antennas. The locator has a major axis and is configured. The transmission antenna is configured to generate an oscillatory magnetic field parallel to the major axis. The first reception antenna of the two reception antennas is configured to couple with an oscillatory magnetic field parallel to the major axis emitted by the electromagnetic marker and to generate a first detected signal. The second reception antenna is displaced along the major axis from the first antenna and configured to couple with an oscillatory magnetic field parallel to the major axis emitted by the electromagnetic marker and to generate a second detected signal. The locator includes analogue to digital converters and a processor which is configured to calculate the depth of the electromagnetic marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Radiodetection Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard David Pearson, Jeffrey Richard Thompson, Julian Poyner
  • Patent number: 9158034
    Abstract: A locator for determining the depth of a buried electromagnetic marker includes a transmission antenna and two reception antennas. The locator has a major axis and is configured. The transmission antenna is configured to generate an oscillatory magnetic field parallel to the major axis. The first reception antenna of the two reception antennas is configured to couple with an oscillatory magnetic field parallel to the major axis emitted by the electromagnetic marker and to generate a first detected signal. The second reception antenna is displaced along the major axis from the first antenna and configured to couple with an oscillatory magnetic field parallel to the major axis emitted by the electromagnetic marker and to generate a second detected signal. The locator includes analogue to digital converters and a processor which is configured to calculate the depth of the electromagnetic marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Radiodetection Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard David Pearson, Jeffrey Richard Thompson, Julian Poyner
  • Publication number: 20150231279
    Abstract: Labels and methods are provided for detecting deposits, including drusen, sub-retinal deposits, basal laminar and linear deposits, and the like. The labels can detect the presence, progression, or regression of hydroxyapatite, which can be indicative of the presence or the potential to develop such deposits. The labels can include a conjugate comprising a hydroxyapatite binding moiety and a label moiety, which can provide a detectable signal upon binding of the conjugate to hydroxyapatite. The labels and methods can be utilized to detect deposits in eye tissue, such as the retina, brain tissue, or the like. Methods are also provided for utilizing the present labels to predict or diagnose a neurodegenerative disease, including age-related macular degeneration. Accordingly, some methods can predict or diagnose age-related macular degeneration, including early signs or advanced forms thereof, based on the presence of hydroxyapatite in a tissue sample obtained from a subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Richard Thompson, Imre Lengyel
  • Publication number: 20150160320
    Abstract: A method for performing magnetic resonance imaging with variable flip angle (VFA) readouts includes preparing longitudinal magnetization of a spin system associated with a subject to a target state, yielding a prepared longitudinal magnetization. The prepared longitudinal magnetization is converted to an image using a VFA readout sequence, wherein the VFA readout sequence comprises a plurality of radio-frequency pulses with corresponding flip-angles varying according to a modulation function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Kelvin Chow, Richard Thompson, Bruce S. Spottiswoode
  • Publication number: 20150105821
    Abstract: A laparoscopic forceps comprising a handpiece including a distal end portion; a tubular member protruding from the distal end portion of the handpiece, the tubular member having a distal end, a pair of jaws having legs that are disposed within the tubular member and partially protruding from the distal end of the tubular member, the pair of jaws and the tubular member being movable relative to each other in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tubular member; wherein each of the pair of jaws has an arcuate section, and the pair of jaws are closable by advancing the tubular member over the arcuate section of the jaws; and an operable mechanism for creating relative motion between the pair of jaws and the tubular member along a direction parallel to the axis of the tubular member, wherein at the distal end portion of the tubular member there is a profile shape that is non-circular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Zane R. Ward, Tailin Fan, Jeffrey Nelson, John R. Mensch, Ryan Windgassen, Riyad Moe, Michael Baden, Erik Dalgaard, Paul Barratt, Richard A. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20150105820
    Abstract: A laparoscopic forceps comprising a handpiece including a distal end portion; a tubular member protruding from the distal end portion of the handpiece, the tubular member having a distal end with a distal opening, a pair of jaws having legs that are disposed within the tubular member and partially protruding from the distal opening, the jaws and the tubular member being movable relative to each other; wherein each of the jaws has an arcuate section; an operable mechanism for creating relative motion between the jaws and the tubular member along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, and one or more spacing members extending across the distal opening of the tubular member and between the jaws; wherein the jaws are closable by the relative movement of the tubular member and the jaws towards each other so that the tubular member advances over the arcuate section of the jaws, and the jaws are openable by the relative movement of the tubular member and the jaws away from each other so that the one or more
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Tailin Fan, Kester Batchelor, John R. Mensch, Richard A. Thompson
  • Patent number: D796879
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Stage Electronics Partnership Limited
    Inventors: Dan Aldridge, Adam Blaxill, Richard Thompson, Andrew Redman, Gary Hunt