Patents by Inventor Stephen Sams

Stephen Sams 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: 12187522
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages and methods of use and manufacture/assembly. A contact lens package may include a cavity that houses a contact lens, packaging solution, and an absorbent member. In one aspect, the absorbent member may be configured for transitioning between an expanded state and a compressed state, and the absorbent member may be in the compressed state when the package is in an unopened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, Ismail Akram
  • Publication number: 20240425263
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages and methods of use and manufacture/assembly. A contact lens package may include a cavity that houses a contact lens, packaging solution, and an absorbent member. In one aspect, the absorbent member may be configured for transitioning between an expanded state and a compressed state, and the absorbent member may be in the compressed state when the package is in an unopened state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, Ismail Akram
  • Publication number: 20240365939
    Abstract: A contact lens package includes a base having a proximal end and a distal end, a solution well between the proximal end and the distal end, a contact lens support in the solution well, a top opening between the proximal end and the distal end and over the contact lens support, and a via through a wall of the base adjacent the well, the via providing a fluid exit for solution within well. A removable lid overlying the top opening may be removably affixed over the top opening such that a user may remove the lid to access the contact lens. Using this package, fluid can be drained away from the contact lens in the package before removal from the package by a user, thus providing good adhesion between a user's finger or applicator and the lens over prior packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, Ismail Akram
  • Patent number: 12064018
    Abstract: A contact lens package includes a base having a proximal end and a distal end, a solution well between the proximal end and the distal end, a contact lens support in the solution well, a top opening between the proximal end and the distal end and over the contact lens support, and a via through a wall of the base adjacent the well, the via providing a fluid exit for solution within well. A removable lid overlying the top opening may be removably affixed over the top opening such that a user may remove the lid to access the contact lens. Using this package, fluid can be drained away from the contact lens in the package before removal from the package by a user, thus providing good adhesion between a user's finger or applicator and the lens over prior packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, Ismail Akram
  • Publication number: 20240239586
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages and methods of use and manufacture/assembly. A contact lens package may include a cavity that houses a contact lens, packaging solution, and an absorbent member. In one aspect, the absorbent member may be configured for transitioning between an expanded state and a compressed state, and the absorbent member may be in the compressed state when the package is in an unopened state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, Ismail Akram
  • Publication number: 20240122321
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages and methods of use and manufacture/assembly. A contact lens package may include a first cavity that houses a contact lens and packaging solution, and a second cavity that houses an absorbent member. In one aspect, the first cavity and the second cavity may be in fluid isolation from one another when the package is in an unopened state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: SAM JONATHAN POPWELL, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, Ismail Akram
  • Publication number: 20240099434
    Abstract: A contact lens package includes a base having a proximal end and a distal end, a solution well between the proximal end and the distal end, a contact lens support in the solution well, a top opening between the proximal end and the distal end and over the contact lens support, and a via through a wall of the base adjacent the well, the via providing a fluid exit for solution within well. A removable lid overlying the top opening may be removably affixed over the top opening such that a user may remove the lid to access the contact lens. Using this package, fluid can be drained away from the contact lens in the package before removal from the package by a user, thus providing good adhesion between a user's finger or applicator and the lens over prior packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, Ismail Akram
  • Publication number: 20240099435
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages and methods of use. An example flat contact lens package is described herein. The package includes a base component including a hinge and a lid component sealedly coupled to the base component. The base component and the lid component define a cavity configured to accommodate a contact lens and a packaging solution. Additionally, in an unopened state, the base component is biased toward the lid component, while in an opened state, a portion of the base component is configured to pivot about the hinge and drain the packaging solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, Ismail Akram
  • Publication number: 20230354974
    Abstract: The present invention relates to contact lens cases which allow the lens to be removed from the lens case with a single touch. The lenses cases comprise a lens support which holds the lens in a convex position. When package is drained there is less contact area between the support and wetted contact lens, than between the user’s finger and the contact lens, providing the desired one touch transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Scott F. Ansell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sam, William Stephen Honey, Ismail Akram
  • Publication number: 20230339672
    Abstract: The present invention relates to contact lens packages which allow the lens to be removed from the lens package with a single touch. The lenses packages comprise a lens support which holds the lens in a convex position. When the package is drained there is less contact area between the support and wetted contact lens than between the user's finger and the contact lens, providing the desired one touch transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Scott F. Ansell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, William Stephen Honey, Ismail Akram
  • Publication number: 20230276917
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages. The package may be configured such that upon opening the package by a wearer the packaging solution drains away from the contact lens and is substantially recaptured in the lid. Lens packages also may include a lens support that facilitates single touch transfer or a colored region that visually indicates to a wearer where to hold the package for opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Scott F. Ansell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, William Stephen Honey, Ismail Akram
  • Patent number: 11708209
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages and methods of use, manufacture, and assembly. A contact lens package houses a contact lens and packaging solution in which the contact lens may be held by surface tension to an intermediate plug, by which the user may insert the contact lens into the wearer's eye. The plug may have an adhesive that temporarily holds the plug to the user's fingertip while the contact lens is inserted into the wearer's eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, William Stephen Honey
  • Publication number: 20230143203
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages and methods of use, manufacture, and assembly. A contact lens package houses a contact lens and packaging solution in which the contact lens may be held by surface tension to an intermediate plug, by which the user may insert the contact lens into the wearer's eye. The plug may have an adhesive that temporarily holds the plug to the user's fingertip while the contact lens is inserted into the wearer's eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, William Stephen Honey
  • Publication number: 20230083028
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved contact lens packages and methods of use and manufacture/assembly. A contact lens package houses a contact lens and packaging solution and is configured to lift the contact lens out of the packaging solution when force is applied to a lever of the package and/or when the package is squeezed by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Scott F. Ansell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, Brett Shore, Ismail Akram
  • Patent number: 11191545
    Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument comprising an end effector, an RFID tag, and a control circuit is disclosed. The end effector comprises an anvil, a staple cartridge, and a contact assembly configured to contact tissue. The staple cartridge comprises staples removably stored therein. The anvil and the staple cartridge are configurable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The RFID tag is configured to store information about the staple cartridge. The control circuit is operably coupled to the contact assembly. The control circuit is configured to interrogate the RFID tag to determine the information about the staple cartridge, transmit an electrical signal to tissue contacting the contact assembly, determine a characteristic of the tissue contacting the contact assembly based on the electrical signal, and change an operational parameter of the surgical stapling instrument based on the characteristic of the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Michael J. Vendely, Charles J. Scheib, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Robert S. Moir, Sofia Maria Consonni, Stephen Sams, Ismail Akram, Howell T. Goldrein
  • Publication number: 20200138437
    Abstract: A medical instrument has an elongated channel configured to support a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples. The medical instrument also has an anvil mechanically coupled to the elongated channel, wherein the anvil comprises an exterior surface extending between a proximal end and a distal end. In addition, the medical instrument has at least one electrical circuit at least partially positioned on the exterior surface of the anvil, an indicator system comprising at least one indicator, and a logic circuit electrically in electrical communication with the at least one electrical circuit and the indicator system, wherein the logic circuit is configured to activate the at least one indicator when an electrical continuity of the at least one electrical circuit is interrupted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Michael J. Vendely, Charles J. Scheib, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Robert S. Moir, Sofia Maria Consonni, Stephen Sams, Ismail Akram, Howell T. Goldrein
  • Patent number: 10549043
    Abstract: A syringe assembly may include a syringe having a distal end, a proximal end, and a sidewall extending between the distal end and the proximal end, and a syringe drip guard extending around at least a circumferential portion of the sidewall between the distal end and the proximal end of the syringe. The syringe drip guard may have an outer wall protruding radially outward relative to the sidewall. A channel may be defined between the outer wall of the syringe drip guard and the sidewall of the syringe. The channel may have a closed proximal end and an open distal end. The syringe drip guard may be configured to at least one of: collect, absorb, or adsorb fluid within the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: BAYER HEALTHCARE LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Sams, Gerald W. Callan
  • Patent number: 10456137
    Abstract: A medical instrument has an elongated channel configured to support a staple cartridge, the staple cartridge comprising a plurality of staples. The medical instrument also has an anvil mechanically coupled to the elongated channel, wherein the anvil comprises an exterior surface extending between a proximal end and a distal end. In addition, the medical instrument has at least one electrical circuit at least partially positioned on the exterior surface of the anvil, an indicator system comprising at least one indicator, and a logic circuit electrically in electrical communication with the at least one electrical circuit and the indicator system, wherein the logic circuit is configured to activate the at least one indicator when an electrical continuity of the at least one electrical circuit is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Vendely, Charles J. Scheib, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Robert S. Moir, Sofia Maria Consonni, Stephen Sams, Ismail Akram, Howell T. Goldrein
  • Patent number: D1061023
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Scott F. Ansell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, Brett Shore, Ismail Akram
  • Patent number: D1062223
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Jonathan Popwell, Scott F. Ansell, Daniel Graham Ward, Stephen Sams, Brett Shore, Ismail Akram