Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Hoffmann

Thomas M. Hoffmann 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: 11937778
    Abstract: Apparatuses and method for determining if an endoscope is contaminated may include a sheath device to cover both the inside and outside of the endoscope. The sheath device may include a flexible tubular external sheath that extends over the endoscope to form an external protective barrier, a tubular internal sheath that extends within a lumen of the endoscope that forms an internal protective barrier, and a cap sealed to both the external sheath and the internal sheath, and a proximal sealing collar that is configured to allow the space between the endoscope and the external and/or inner sheaths to be pressurized to detect leaks indicating contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Neptune Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Q. Tilson, Thomas Hsiu, Niklas J. Helmick, Stephan T. Hoffmann, Eugene Duval, Christopher J. Hasser, James M. Hayes, Elias Eleftheriades, Kai Pohlhammer
  • Patent number: 5497282
    Abstract: The disk drive system has rotatably mounted spaced apart magnetic disks, a disk motor for rotating the disks, an actuator hub, a motor for rotating the actuator hub, and a control circuit for controlling the disk motor and the actuator hub motor to permit selective positioning of read/write heads over the disks. The actuator hub has an actuator arm extending radially therefrom. The actuator arm has an open slot located on the perimeter of the actuator arm. A head gimbal assembly for mounting the read/write heads to the actuator arm has a boss located on a proximal end of the head gimbal assembly. The boss registers with the open slot and is sized such that when the boss is swaged while within the open slot an outer surface of the boss expands into an inner surface of the open slot so that the spud and the open slot keep the head gimbal assembly fixedly attached to the actuator arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Hoffmann, Victor W. C. Shum
  • Patent number: 4643316
    Abstract: A sort tray characterized by two sorting sections hinged together along a common wall. The sorting sections, which are substantially mirror images of each other, can be folded together to allow compact storage of the sort tray. Sliding gates are provided at the mouths of the sorting sections to permit the contents of one of the sorting sections to be poured out without pouring out the contents of the other section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Inventor: Thomas M. Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 4258948
    Abstract: A tool is disclosed for lifting and carrying a bundle of shakes or shingles by hooking onto the band of material that holds the bundle together. The tool includes a handle and at least two hooks attached to the handle for engaging the band of the bundle. The handle is designed to prevent the skinning of a roofer's knuckles or the pinching of his fingers by providing adequate separation between a grip portion of the handle and a portion of the handle that supports the hooks. The hooks include offsets which help align the tool with the center of gravity of the bundle and may be provided with gaffs to ease their insertion under the band. In certain embodiments of this invention the handle is modified to provide a sharp cutting edge for puncturing, chopping or slicing through the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1981
    Inventor: Thomas M. Hoffmann