Patents by Inventor William L. Aldridge

William L. Aldridge 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: 11925378
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical device is disclosed including a surgical tool including a proximal transducer mounting portion defining a surface, a distal end effector end, and a waveguide disposed therebetween, the waveguide extending along a longitudinal axis. The ultrasonic surgical device further includes a transducer is in mechanical communication with the surface of the transducer mounting portion. The transducer is configured to operate in a D31 mode with respect to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide. Upon activation by an electrical signal having a predetermined frequency component, the transducer is configured to induce a standing wave in the surgical tool to cause the end effector to vibrate, the standing wave having a wavelength proportional to the predetermined frequency component of the electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, Brian D. Black, William A. Olson, Foster B. Stulen, Frederick Estera, William E. Clem, Jerome R. Morgan, Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Stephen M. Leuck, Kevin L. Houser
  • Patent number: 11918302
    Abstract: An interactive control unit is disclosed. The interactive control unit includes an interactive touchscreen display, an interface configured to couple the control unit to a surgical hub, a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to receive input commands from the interactive touchscreen display located inside a sterile field and transmit the input commands to the surgical hub to control devices coupled to the surgical hub located outside the sterile field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Messerly, Peter K. Shires, Monica L. Z. Rivard, Cory G. Kimball, David C. Yates, Jeffrey L. Aldridge, Daniel W. Price, William B. Weisenburgh, II, Jason L. Harris, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jerome R. Morgan
  • Patent number: 6499931
    Abstract: The vehicle for collecting, sorting and reducing the volume of recyclable wastes and regular household and commercial garbage includes a large container with plural compartments mounted to the exterior of the vehicle includes a lifting mechanism for lifting the container to the top of the vehicle so that its contents can be dropped through chutes into plural bins. The lifting mechanism assures that the integrity of the sort of recyclables into each compartment of the container is maintained as the waste drops from the compartments through the chutes into individual bins. Between the chutes and the bins are crushers and shredders for reducing of volume of wastes deposited in the bins. Other wastes are placed in balers for baling. The bales of wastes are stored in a rack under the vehicle's housing. Crushing, shredding and baling not only reduces volume but allows the vehicle to collect wastes from more homes than without these on-board capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventors: Billy J. Garrett, Jr., William L. Aldridge
  • Patent number: 5511687
    Abstract: A system for separating waste by type and collecting the separated wastes, preserving the integrity of the separation during the collection and consolidation, comprising a multi-compartment inside container for the initial separation, an outside container that interfaces with the inside container so that the separated contents of the latter can be dumped into the former, a mobile collection unit that transfers the separated wastes from the outside container to a plurality of bins, again preserving the separation, and transports the waste to a distribution facility. The volume of the separated waste is reduced by the collection vehicle as it is dumped through hatches on the top of the vehicle into chutes that lead to the appropriate bin for that type of waste. The collection vehicle grips, lifts and inverts the outside container, made up of three subcontainers, and then separates them so that each can be positioned over and aligned with a different hatch on the top of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Inventors: Billy J. Garrett, Jr., William L. Aldridge, Harry R. Elliott
  • Patent number: 5275522
    Abstract: A system for separating waste by type and collecting the separated wastes, preserving the integrity of the separation during the collection and consolidation, including a multi-compartment inside container for the initial separation, an outside container that interfaces with the inside container so that the separated contents of the latter can be dumped into the former, a mobile collection unit that transfers the separated wastes from the outside container to a plurality of bins, again preserving the separation, and transports the waste to a distribution facility. The volume of the separated waste is reduced by the collection vehicle as it is dumped through hatches on the top of the vehicle into chutes that lead to the appropriate bin for that type of waste. The collection vehicle grips, lifts and inverts the outside container, made up of three subcontainers, and then separates them so that each can be positioned over and aligned with a different hatch on the top of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Inventors: Billy J. Garrett, Jr., William L. Aldridge, Alvin D. Cathcart, David D. Cosgrove, Harry R. Elliott