Patents by Inventor Thomas A. K. Smith

Thomas A. K. Smith 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: 12251097
    Abstract: A multiple-firing clip device includes a hollow shaft defining a lateral opening communicating with an environment and a distal shaft portion between the lateral opening and a distal end opening. A shuttle longitudinally moves on the shaft and comprises a shuttle body defining a lumen surrounding the shaft, a snare, and a snare-extender slide defining a snare track to form a snare travel path in which the snare is disposed from the body and through the track and a portion of the body. The slide moves along a given extent defining a slide distance and a distal end and movement of the slide to the distal end shortens the snare travel path to extend the snare portion through the lateral opening, through the distal shaft portion, and distally out from a distal side of the body longer than the given extent to secure a suture with the snare.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences AG
    Inventors: Derek Dee Deville, Kevin W. Smith, Michael Walter Kirk, Carlos Rivera, George Nunez, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Korey Kline, Matthew A. Palmer, M. Sean McBrayer, Richard George Cartledge, Max Pierre Mendez, Kevin K. Dang, Bryan A. Janish, Manouchehr A. Miraki
  • Patent number: 12214210
    Abstract: A leadless neurostimulation device having a header unit including at least one primary electrode having a contact surface that defines an external surface of the leadless neurostimulation device, a housing including a secondary electrode positioned on the same side of the leadless neurostimulation device as the at least one primary electrode, and a anchor device including at least one suture point for securing the leadless neurostimulation device to patient tissue or at least one protrusion nub configured to create mechanical resistance that impedes relative movement between wherein the leadless neurostimulation device and the patient tissue when implanted, where the at least one primary electrode and the secondary electrode are configured to transmit an electrical stimulation signal therebetween to provide electrical stimulation therapy to a target nerve of a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven T. Deininger, Jerel K. Mueller, Todd V. Smith, Jeffrey Clayton, Thomas M. Hillebrand, Phillip C. Falkner, Jenna N. George, Sarah J. Offutt
  • Patent number: 12201185
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole body having a proximal surface and a distal surface. Proprioceptive elements may extend in holes in the midsole body. The midsole body has an interior portion having a first density and an outer skin covering the interior portion. The outer skin has a second density that is greater than the first density, extends along each of the holes from the proximal surface to the distal surface, and forms a cylinder around each of the perforated holes. The midsole body has a greater compressive stiffness under loading along each central axis than under loading transverse or oblique to each central axis. A first set of proprioceptive elements have a third density different from a fourth density of a second set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuchung K. Chen, Oliver McLachlan, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Timothy J. Smith
  • Patent number: 5292743
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: DowElanco
    Inventors: John W. Liebeschuetz, Michel J. Jung, Thomas A. K. Smith
  • Patent number: 5240654
    Abstract: A calcined microsphere of ultrafine bauxite particles having a mean particle size in the range 0.01 to 0.3 micrometers, said microsphere having a particle size less than 30 micrometers and being characterized by a substantially solid form having a pycnometric density substantially falling in the range 3.2-3.0 g/cm.sup.3, a BET surface area substantially falling in the range 0.05 to 0.5 m.sup.2 /g and a crystal grain size less than 4 micrometers, the surface chemistry of the microsphere being modified to enhance the wettability of the microsphere and to improve its ability to bond strongly with matrix materials in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Comalco Aluminium Limited
    Inventors: Thomas K. Smith, Raymond W. Shaw, Christopher J. Heathcock, Leslie C. Edwards, Malcolm J. Couper, Kenong Xia
  • Patent number: 5175133
    Abstract: A calcined microsphere of ultrafine bauxite particles having a mean particle size in the range 0.01 to 0.3 micrometers, said microsphere having a particle size less than 30 micrometers and being characterized by a substantially solid form having a pycnometric density substantially falling in the range 3.2-3.9 g/cm.sup.3, a BET surface area substantially falling in the range 0.05 to 0.5 m.sup.2 /g and a crystal grain size less than 4 micrometers, the surface chemistry of the microsphere being modified to enhance the wettability of the microsphere and to improve its ability to bond strongly with matrix materials in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Comalco Aluminium Limited
    Inventors: Thomas K. Smith, Raymond W. Shaw, Christopher J. Heathcock, Leslie C. Edwards, Malcolm J. Couper, Kenong Xia