Patents by Inventor Sophia L. Wong
Sophia L. Wong 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: 9272376Abstract: Superelastic and/or shape memory nickel-titanium alloys having an increased fatigue life that is superior to known nickel-titanium alloys are disclosed. The nickel-titanium alloys have a minimum fatigue life that may be at least about 10 million strain cycles at a strain greater than about 0.75%. The minimum fatigue life may be due, at least in part, to the nickel-titanium alloy having at least one of an oxygen concentration of less than about 200 ppm, a carbon concentration of less than about 200 ppm, the absence of oxide-based and/or carbide-based inclusions having a size greater than about 5 microns (?m), the presence of an R-phase, or combinations of the foregoing. Articles manufactured from such fatigue-resistant nickel-titanium alloys can be more durable because they are more resistant to repetitive strain and crack propagation.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: ABBOTT LABORATORIESInventors: Sophia L. Wong, Zhicheng Lin, Alan G. Tahran, Jr.
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Patent number: 9145619Abstract: Systems and methods for electropolishing devices are disclosed. The electropolishing system includes electropolishing fixtures configured to reposition the devices during the electropolishing process.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: ABBOTT CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Anthony S. Andreacchi, Randolph von Oepen, Sophia L. Wong, William E. Webler, Christoph Diederichs, Kevin J. Ehrenreich, Denis Tauz
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Publication number: 20140360887Abstract: A method for electropolishing a medical device includes moving a plunger mechanism towards a side of the medical device to establish electrical contact between the medical device and an anode, the plunger mechanism moving transversely to a longitudinal axis of the medical device. Electropolishing the medical device following positioning the plunger mechanism and medical device and then removing the medical device and the anode from the electrolytic bath and unloading the medical device from the anode following electropolishing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2014Publication date: December 11, 2014Inventors: Anthony S. Andreacchi, Sophia L. Wong
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Patent number: 8815061Abstract: An electropolishing fixture with a plunger mechanism. The plunger mechanism can establish contact between a device and an anode mandrel during an electropolishing process while the device is immersed in an electrolytic bath.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.Inventors: Anthony S. Andreacchi, Sophia L. Wong
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Publication number: 20140076719Abstract: Systems and methods for electropolishing devices are disclosed. The electropolishing system includes electropolishing fixtures configured to reposition the devices during the electropolishing process.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2012Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: ABBOTT CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Anthony S. Andreacchi, Randolph von Oepen, Sophia L. Wong, William E. Webler, Christoph Diederichs, Kevin J. Ehrenreich, Denis Tauz
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Publication number: 20140076737Abstract: An electropolishing fixture with a plunger mechanism. The plunger mechanism can establish contact between a device and an anode mandrel during an electropolishing process while the device is immersed in an electrolytic bath.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2012Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: ABBOTT CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Anthony S. Andreacchi, Sophia L. Wong
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Patent number: 8617379Abstract: A substantially anhydrous electropolishing electrolyte solution that includes at least one sulfate salt. The substantially anhydrous electropolishing electrolyte solutions described herein do not use water as a solvent; instead, such electropolishing electrolyte solutions use anhydrous alcohols and/or glycols as a solvent. For example, an electropolishing electrolyte solution, as described herein, may include an alcohol, at least one mineral acid, and at least one sulfate salt. The at least one sulfate salt can act as a source of sulfate ions to replenish sulfate ions consumed in the electropolishing process. Anhydrous sulfate salts can also act as water scavengers by reacting with water to form sulfate salt hydrates. Methods of electropolishing metal articles using such electropolishing electrolyte solutions are disclosed herein as well.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2011Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.Inventors: Sophia L. Wong, William E. Webler
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Patent number: 8617380Abstract: Substantially anhydrous electropolishing electrolyte solutions. The substantially anhydrous electropolishing electrolyte solutions described herein do not use water as a solvent; instead, such electropolishing electrolyte solutions use anhydrous alcohols and/or glycols as a solvent. For example, an electropolishing electrolyte solution, as described herein, may include an alcohol, at least one mineral acid, and at least one water sequestering agent. Suitable examples of water sequestering agent include, but are not limited to, polyfunctional alcohols. Methods of electropolishing metal articles using such electropolishing electrolyte solutions are disclosed herein as well.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2011Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.Inventors: Sophia L. Wong, Nicholas R Haluck, Patrick C Vien
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Patent number: 8613849Abstract: Substantially anhydrous electropolishing electrolyte solutions. The substantially anhydrous electropolishing electrolyte solutions described herein do not use water as a solvent; instead, such electropolishing electrolyte solutions use anhydrous alcohols and/or glycols as a solvent. For example, an electropolishing electrolyte solution, as described herein, may include an alcohol, at least one mineral acid, and phosphorous pentoxide (“P2O5”). Methods of electropolishing metal articles using such electropolishing electrolyte solutions are disclosed herein as well.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2011Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.Inventors: Sophia L. Wong, William E. Webler, Jr., Dariush Davalian
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Publication number: 20130092554Abstract: Substantially anhydrous electropolishing electrolyte solutions. The substantially anhydrous electropolishing electrolyte solutions described herein do not use water as a solvent; instead, such electropolishing electrolyte solutions use anhydrous alcohols and/or glycols as a solvent. For example, an electropolishing electrolyte solution, as described herein, may include an alcohol, at least one mineral acid, and phosphorous pentoxide (“P2O5”). Methods of electropolishing metal articles using such electropolishing electrolyte solutions are disclosed herein as well.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2011Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: ABBOTT CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Sophia L. Wong, William E. Webler, JR., Dariush Davalian
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Publication number: 20130092557Abstract: Substantially anhydrous electropolishing electrolyte solutions. The substantially anhydrous electropolishing electrolyte solutions described herein do not use water as a solvent; instead, such electropolishing electrolyte solutions use anhydrous alcohols and/or glycols as a solvent. For example, an electropolishing electrolyte solution, as described herein, may include an alcohol, at least one mineral acid, and at least one water sequestering agent. Suitable examples of water sequestering agent include, but are not limited to, polyfunctional alcohols. Methods of electropolishing metal articles using such electropolishing electrolyte solutions are disclosed herein as well.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2011Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: ABBOTT CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Sophia L. Wong, Nicholas R. Haluck, Patrick C. Vien
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Publication number: 20130092556Abstract: A substantially anhydrous electropolishing electrolyte solution that includes at least one sulfate salt. The substantially anhydrous electropolishing electrolyte solutions described herein do not use water as a solvent; instead, such electropolishing electrolyte solutions use anhydrous alcohols and/or glycols as a solvent. For example, an electropolishing electrolyte solution, as described herein, may include an alcohol, at least one mineral acid, and at least one sulfate salt. The at least one sulfate salt can act as a source of sulfate ions to replenish sulfate ions consumed in the electropolishing process. Anhydrous sulfate salts can also act as water scavengers by reacting with water to form sulfate salt hydrates. Methods of electropolishing metal articles using such electropolishing electrolyte solutions are disclosed herein as well.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2011Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: ABBOTT CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Sophia L. Wong, William E. Webler
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Patent number: 8398789Abstract: Superelastic and/or shape memory nickel-titanium alloys having an increased fatigue life that is superior to known nickel-titanium alloys are disclosed. The nickel-titanium alloys have a minimum fatigue life that may be at least about 10 million strain cycles at a strain of at least about 0.75. The minimum fatigue life may be due, at least in part, to the nickel-titanium alloy having at least one of an oxygen concentration of less than about 200 ppm, a carbon concentration of less than about 200 ppm, the absence of oxide-based and/or carbide-based inclusions having a size greater than about 5 microns (?m), the presence of an R-phase, or combinations of the foregoing. Articles manufactured from such fatigue-resistant nickel-titanium alloys can be more durable because they are more resistant to repetitive strain and crack propagation.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2008Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Abbott LaboratoriesInventors: Sophia L. Wong, Zhicheng Lin, Alan G. Tahran, Jr.
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Publication number: 20090165898Abstract: Superelastic and/or shape memory nickel-titanium alloys having an increased fatigue life that is superior to known nickel-titanium alloys are disclosed. The nickel-titanium alloys have a minimum fatigue life that may be at least about 10 million strain cycles at a strain of at least about 0.75. The minimum fatigue life may be due, at least in part, to the nickel-titanium alloy having at least one of an oxygen concentration of less than about 200 ppm, a carbon concentration of less than about 200 ppm, the absence of oxide-based and/or carbide-based inclusions having a size greater than about 5 microns (?m), the presence of an R-phase, or combinations of the foregoing. Articles manufactured from such fatigue-resistant nickel-titanium alloys can be more durable because they are more resistant to repetitive strain and crack propagation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2008Publication date: July 2, 2009Applicant: ABBOTT LABORATORIESInventors: SOPHIA L. WONG, ZHICHENG LIN, ALAN G. TAHRAN, JR.