Patents Issued in April 24, 2001
  • Patent number: 6221086
    Abstract: A covered self-expanding vascular occlusion device and a method of making and using the device. The device comprises a braided wire member with at least two axially spaced securing members affixed to the braided wire member and a thin film covering at least half of the device. The braided member can be moved between a larger diameter ball-like shape or conical shape in its relaxed position, and a smaller diameter cylindrical shape in its stretched position. The film covering is applied to the device by first stretching a portion of film to form a shape similar to a portion of a device to be covered by the film, then inserting the device into the shape formed in the film so that the film covers at least half of the device, and trimming the film to separate the covered device from the remaining film. The device is used by installing it on the end of a tubular introducer where it is held in its relaxed position until needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: B. Braun Medical SAS
    Inventor: Simon J. Forber
  • Patent number: 6221087
    Abstract: An ablation assembly has an advancer mechanism coupled to a proximal end of a driveshaft, and an ablation device, such as a rotatable burr, coupled to a distal end of the driveshaft. The advancer mechanism is moveable from a first position forward along a path of motion, the ablation device being advanced as the advancer mechanism is moved forward. A stop extends into the path of motion of the advancer mechanism by a sufficient amount to stop the forward motion of the advancer mechanism when it contacts the stop. The stop is secured at a location spaced forward from the starting position of the advancer mechanism by a distance equal to the length of a lesion to be ablated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Anderson, Robert L. Barry
  • Patent number: 6221088
    Abstract: A powered handpiece for driving a surgical blade to cut anatomical tissue includes a reusable handpiece body having a distal end for being coupled with a surgical blade, a drive shaft in the handpiece body for rotatably driving the surgical blade, a motor assembly for being installed in the handpiece body to rotatably drive the drive shaft and a suction channel in the handpiece body including a portion extending through the drive shaft parallel to a longitudinal axis of the motor assembly for evacuating anatomical tissue cut by the blade from the handpiece body for external collection. The surgical blade is for use with the powered handpiece and carries a sealing arrangement facilitating irrigation and suction. The handpiece body is capable of being sterilized to medical standards prior to each use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Xomed Surgical Products, Inc.
    Inventor: F. Barry Bays
  • Patent number: 6221089
    Abstract: A device for making an incision in skin, having a housing with a slotted opening, and a triggering mechanism disposed within the housing for propelling a blade coupled thereto, through the slotted opening of the housing to make an incision in the skin. The triggering mechanism includes a finger engageable trigger located external to the housing for actuating the triggering mechanism and a spring anchoring assembly for automated machine arming the device after the triggering mechanism has been assembled into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: International Technidyne Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Mawhirt
  • Patent number: 6221090
    Abstract: A torquing member is provided in a stent delivery catheter assembly for delivering and implanting a stent at or near a bifurcated vessel. The torquing member, in cooperation with a tracking guide wire and a positioning guide wire, facilitates torquing and rotation of the catheter, and hence the stent mounted thereon, to accurately position and implant the stent at or near the bifurcation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: W. Stan Wilson
  • Patent number: 6221091
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided comprising a coiled sheet having a plurality of flaps mounted on its interior surface that project radially inward into a lumen formed by the interior surface of the apparatus when it is deployed. The flaps lie parallel to the interior surface of the sheet during transluminal delivery, but project radially inward once the apparatus is deployed. The flaps may comprise a fine mesh for use as a filter, or alternatively may be covered with a biocompatible material that is substantially impermeable, so as to partially or completely occlude the lumen. In a further alternative embodiment, the flaps may comprise a resilient biocompatible plastic or polymer, so that the flaps move in response to the flow and function as a pressure-based or directional valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Incept LLC
    Inventor: Farhad Khosravi
  • Patent number: 6221092
    Abstract: A closure device for transcatheter operations comprises an easily foldable closure member with a shape-restoring force, an easily inflective fixing member of an elastic material, and an easily inflective elastic member having either ends respectively fixed to the fixing member or closure member and holding the closure member and the fixing member in close proximity to one another. The closure device is used in combination with a catheter assembly comprising an elongated sheath opened at both ends and adapted to accommodate the folded closure device therein, and an operating member having at a distal end thereof a holding element for releasably holding the closure device and for guiding and protruding the folded closure device inserted in the sheath from a distal end of the sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Nissho Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Koike, Toshiki Kobayashi, Yoshikazu Kishigami, Katsuya Miyagawa
  • Patent number: 6221093
    Abstract: An infant pacifier and pillow for removably attaching a pacifier to a pillow. The infant pacifier and pillow includes a cushion for removably attaching a pacifier to. The cushion comprises a pillow and a covering. The pillow is compressible and the covering encases the pillow. A pacifier for pacifying an infant comprises a nipple and a base. The base has a first side and a second side. At least one clip for receiving a strap is affixed to and extends away from the second side of the base of the pacifier. A bore for receiving a nipple is in the base. The nipple is elongate having a distal portion and a proximal portion. The distal portion of the nipple is fixedly coupled in the bore of the base. A strap for securing the pacifier to the cushion is secured by the clip to the base. The strap has two ends. Each of the ends has a fastener means thereon such that the first and second ends of the strap are fastenable together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Cynthia L. Prince
  • Patent number: 6221094
    Abstract: A generator of a complex energy wave, having audio, radio and light components, including an audio frequency oscillator, a radio frequency transmitter, a radio frequency amplifier, an antenna tuner, an antenna, tuned coaxial cables and an optional reverberation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: James E. Bare
  • Patent number: 6221095
    Abstract: A photon therapy unit implement has a flexible head for conforming to a body part to be treated. The head has a thermally conductive backing to remove heat form the treatment area. The operation of the head is monitored by a photon detector to provide a feedback to the diode drive circuit to maintain the output at the required level. Operation of the head is monitored by a microprocessor which performs a diagnostic function and reports on defects. The treatment protocol is generated by a main control unit that formulates a treatment waveform from a set of treatment protocols. The selection of protocols is performed through a graphical user interface (GUI) which allows selection of treatment areas and customization of treatment as well as maintaining patient history and annotations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Meditech International Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Van Zuylen, Fred Kahn, Iain Campbell, Christopher L. M. Stoute
  • Patent number: 6221096
    Abstract: An intravascular stent 11 has an elastic self-expandable cylindrical stent proper 12. The stent proper 12 is connected to metal support wires 18 that are long enough to reach outside of the body of a patient through a catheter 31. Manipulation of the support wires 18 pushes the stent proper 12 into a blood vessel from within the catheter, thereby allowing it to expand there, and then contracts and retracts the stent proper 12 into the catheter 31, repeatedly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Kanto Special Steel Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Aiba, Shin Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 6221097
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stent delivery system in which a catheter carries on its distal end portion a stent which is held in place around the catheter prior to and during percutaneous delivery by means of one, and preferably two, end sleeves. The sleeves are positioned around the catheter with one end portion of each sleeve associated thereto. The other end of each sleeve overlaps an end portion of the stent to hold it in place on the catheter in a contracted condition. The present invention provides an improvement with respect to lubrication of the sleeve prior to its assembly with the catheter. A preferred way of lubricating the sleeve is by incorporating a lubricant additive within the sleeve composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: SciMed Life System, Inc.
    Inventors: Lixiao Wang, Dachuan Yang, Jianhua Chen, The Thomas Trinh Tran
  • Patent number: 6221098
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for stenting bifurcated vessels. A proximal angled stent is configured for implanting in a side-branch vessel wherein the proximal angled stent has an angulated portion that corresponds to the angle formed by the intersection of the side-branch vessel and the main vessel so that all portions of the side-branch vessel at the bifurcation are covered by the proximal angled stent. A main-vessel stent is provided for implanting in the main vessel, wherein the main-vessel stent has an aperture or stent cell that aligns with the opening to the side-branch vessel to permit unobstructed blood flow between the main vessel and the side-branch vessel. Side-branch and main-vessel catheter assemblies are advanced over a pair of guide wires for delivering, appropriately orienting, and implanting the proximal angled stent and the apertured stent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Stan Wilson, Kevin M. Mauch
  • Patent number: 6221099
    Abstract: A tubular prosthesis including a tubular wall portion of loosely interlocked pattern, e.g. of knitted loops, constructed to function within a body lumen. The loops are preferably formed of co-knitted strand materials. A first strand material is a metal strand that structurally defines the tubular shape of the prosthesis and maintains the shape when positioned in the lumen. A second strand material is a predetermined substance selected to provide desired characteristics to the wall of the prosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation
    Inventors: Erik Andersen, Ernst Peter Strecker
  • Patent number: 6221100
    Abstract: An endoprosthesis is percutaneously implantable in the body of a patient by means of a catheter, this endoprosthesis being changeable from a small lumen during insertion to a larger lumen conforming to the functional position. This implant has a hose-like netting produced from at least one elastic filament, such netting having the structure of a wire mesh fence with meshes forming polygons, wherein the filaments each grip around each other in the corner points of the meshes following each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the prosthesis. According to an alternative embodiment, the endoprosthesis is a hose-like netting produced from elastic filament, such netting having the structure of a wire mesh fence with meshes forming polygons, wherein the meshes have connection zones with two filaments twisted around each other, such connection zones in each case extending in the longitudinal direction of the prosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Ernst Peter Strecker
  • Patent number: 6221101
    Abstract: A vascular prosthesis comprising a tube of material other than autologous vascular tissue but considered/approved as safe and supple enough for use instead of such tissue, the tube having an end formation for surgical connection directly to an opening formed in an artery, the end formation serving to promote, at that end and/or within the direct connection and in response to normally pulsed blood flow, localized movement of blood having a non-laminar nature with a shear stress inducing relation to receiving arterial wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: IMPRA, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Lyon Harris, Thien Voon How
  • Patent number: 6221102
    Abstract: An intraluminal grafting system having a delivery catheter comprising a flexible elongate tubular member having proximal and distal extremities and a capsule mounted on the distal extremity of the tubular member and including a graft disposed within the capsule. The graft is comprised of a tubular body configured to be secured to a blood vessel by a self expanding attachment system. The attachment system comprises a generally sinusoidal wire frame having apices which extend longitudinally outward from the end of the tubular body apices which are secured within the tubular body. Both the protruding apices and the base apices are formed with helices which bias the attachment system radially outward. The attachment system further includes a plurality of lumen piercing members that are oriented in a responsive relationship to the radially outward bias of the attachment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Endovascular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven G. Baker, Dinah B. Quiachon, Alec A. Piplani, Wesley D. Sterman, Ronald G. Williams
  • Patent number: 6221103
    Abstract: A geometric reconfiguration assembly for the natural heart having a collar configured for surrounding the natural heart. The collar can include a plurality of bands, such as thin bands of about 0.2 mm in thickness, in a spaced relationship to each other, and a connector bar intersecting the plurality of bands and configured for maintaining the spaced relationship of the bands to each other. The collar may include a plurality of bands, such as from about 2 to about 10 bands, that are positioned parallel to each other. The bands can each be made of a biomedical material, such as polyacetal or a metal, such as titanium or steel. The connector bar of the present invention can be positioned tangential to the plurality of bands, and may have a plurality of grooves configured to receive the thickness of each of the plurality of bands. The grooves also may be beveled to allow for the bands to flex as the heart beats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: The University of Cincinnati
    Inventor: David B. Melvin
  • Patent number: 6221104
    Abstract: The symptoms of congenital heart failure are addressed in this surgical procedure for mounting a patch in the ventricle of the heart to reduce ventricular volume. Placement of the patch is facilitated by palpating a beating heart to identify akinetic, although normal appearing, tissue. An apical patch having an oval configuration facilitates return of the heart to a normal apical shape which enhances muscle fiber efficiency and a normal writhing pumping action. An inferior patch having a triangular configuration can also be used. The patches include a semi-rigid ring, and a circumferential rim to address bleeding. Patch placement is further enhanced by creating a Fontan-type neck and use of pledged sutures. Intraoperative vascularization and valve replacement is easily accommodated. Increased injection fraction, reduced muscle stress, improved myocardial protection, and ease of accurate patch placement are all achieved with this procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Cor Restore, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald D. Buckberg, Constantine L. Athanasuleas
  • Patent number: 6221105
    Abstract: A multifocal ophthalmic lens, having outer annular zones with vision correction powers less than a far vision correction power of the patient, is disclosed. These additional annular zones come into play, when the pupil size increases under dim lighting conditions, to thereby compensate for the near-vision powered annular zones. The net effect of the additional near vision annular zones and the additional annular zones having power less than the far vision correction power is to shift the best quality image from in front of the retina to an area on the retina of the eye, to thereby reduce halo effects and improve image contrast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Allergan
    Inventor: Valdemar Portney
  • Patent number: 6221106
    Abstract: The diaphragm (10, 12) for creating an artificial pupil aperture is functionally decoupled from a capsule bracing ring. Together with an artificial lens, it can be implanted substantially without stress in the lens capsule sac of an eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Heino Hermeking
  • Patent number: 6221107
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for attaching a ligament graft to the inside of a bone passage from a proximal location, the device including (1) a non-expansible ring having an interior passage through which the ligament graft may extend, the ring sized to fit within the bone passage; (2) a radially expansible gripping member sized to enter the ring and to press the ligament outwardly against the interior surface of the ring; and (3) an expander coupled to the expansible gripping member, constructed to expand the expansible gripping member to grip the ligament against the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventors: Mark E. Steiner, Dennis W. Burke, John Prudden, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6221108
    Abstract: A process for improving the start up and steady rate friction of soft/compliant polyurethane bearings uses a pre-treatment with Ringers solution. The process includes treating the polyurethane in a heated bath of the solution for 96 hours at a temperature of between 30° C. and 37° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Howmedica International Inc.
    Inventor: Nigel Smith
  • Patent number: 6221109
    Abstract: A method of protecting a spinal area of a patient includes the step of positioning a sheet of collagen membrane material so as to surround at least a portion of a patient's spinal chord. The sheet of collagen membrane preferably includes at least one barrier layer with a smooth face to inhibit cell adhesion and act as a barrier to prevent passage of cells therethrough. When surgery involves placement of s vertebrae replacement material between vertebrae, the collagen membrane material can be positioned so as to surround at least a portion of the vertebrae replacement material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Ed. Geistlich Söhne AG fur Chemische Industrie
    Inventors: Peter Geistlich, Philip J. Boyne, Lothar Schlösser
  • Patent number: 6221110
    Abstract: A set of prostheses of different sizes comprises in each case a pair of prostheses (10, 10*), which apart from the clear external contour of their anchoring sections (20, 20*) have the same geometry. The anchoring section (20) of a first prosthesis (10) of the pair is constructed as an anchoring section with a cage structure which can be implanted in a cement-free manner, whilst the anchoring section (20*) of the second prosthesis of the pair is constructed as an anchoring section with smooth boundary surfaces which is to be cemented in place. The clear external surface of the anchoring section (20) of the prosthesis (10) which is to be implanted in a cement-free manner lies at a substantially constant distance beyond the clear external surface of the anchoring section (20*) of the prosthesis (10*) which is to be cemented in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Franz Copf
  • Patent number: 6221111
    Abstract: A bioactive surface layer with 0.01 &mgr;m to 5 mm thickness is suitable for a metallic bone implant. The surface layer has the following composition: (A) calcium compounds (CaX) consisting of crystalline calcium phosphate (CaP), calcium apatites (CaAp) and/or calcium carbonate (CaCO3), in a proportion expressed by the following equation: 100% (CaX)=&Sgr;[x % (CaP)+y % (CaCO3)], in which x+y+z=100, 0≦x≦100; 0≦y≦100; 0≦z≦100, and in the form of particles 20 nm to 4 mm; and (B) amorphous or crystalline metal oxide (MeO). The ratio between CAX and MeO in the surface layer can be preferably varied as a result of the specific coating process. The thickness of the surface layer lies between 0.01 &mgr;m and 5 mm and the CaX particles are 20 nm to 4 mm large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Dr. H. C. Robert Mathys Stiftung
    Inventors: Laurent Dominique Piveteau, Beat Gasser, Louis Schlapbach
  • Patent number: 6221112
    Abstract: A polyester film can be dyed by coating the film with a layer of a dye mixture which is a suspension of at least one disperse dyestuff in a solution of a thickener in water and which has a viscosity of no more than 500 centipoise, preferably 5-50 centipoise, at ambient temperature, followed by heating to cause the dyestuff to migrate from the layer into the film. The coating process is preferably reverse gravure printing. The process can be used to prepare films which contain one or more dyestuffs in one surface region of the film and one or more different dyestuffs, for example an ultraviolet absorber, in the other surface region of the film. The dyed films show good resistance to fading when exposed to light and are useful for example as automobile window films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: CP Films, Inc.
    Inventor: William Douglas Snider
  • Patent number: 6221113
    Abstract: A liquid dyestuff composition comprising from 4 to 50 wt % of a basic or cationic water soluble dyestuff, an organic or inorganic acid and 0.1 to 15.0 wt % of a phenolic derivative, the dyestuff having a solubility in water in the presence or absence of a phenolic derivative of at least 1 g/liter at a temperature of 25° C. and the composition being made up to 100 wt % by water and optionally a water-miscible solvent and/or a dissolving auxiliary; a process of dyeing a substrate like paper with such composition; a powder or granulate form of such composition and the use of such a composition or powder or granulate thereof in a dyeing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Clariant Finance (BVI) Limited
    Inventor: Jürgen Geiwiz
  • Patent number: 6221114
    Abstract: Dye salts which are free from fiber-reactive radicals and have the formula where Chr is an (m+n)-valent radical of a chromophore from the series of the metal-free or metal-containing phthalocyanines, of the quinacridones, of the mono-, dis- or polyazo dyes, of the anthraquinones or copper formazans, Ar is phenyl or naphthyl each of which is unsubstituted or substituted, x⊕ is a metal cation or ammonium ion, y⊕ is a proton, metal cation or ammonium ion, m is 1 to 6 and n is 1 to 6, the sum of m and n being not more than 7, are used in methods of dyeing or printing polymeric material and in dye preparations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Würthner, Rüdiger Sens, Günther Seybold, Karl-Heinz Etzbach
  • Patent number: 6221115
    Abstract: Candle wax containing a combination of a UV absorber, preferably a benzotriazole, in combination with a hindered amine which is substituted on the N-atom by an alkoxy, a cycloalkoxy or an hydroxy-substituted alkoxy moiety is surprising better stabilized than candle wax which contains a combination of a UV absorber and a conventional hindered amine where the N-atom is substituted by hydrogen or alkyl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation
    Inventors: James Lee Hyun, Walid Al-Akhdar, Kevin Trainor, Ramanathan Ravichandran, Mervin Wood, Andrea Smith
  • Patent number: 6221116
    Abstract: Aminocarbamates of polyalkylphenoxyalkanols having the formula: wherein R is a polyalkyl group having an average molecular weight in the range of about 600 to 5,000; R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen or lower alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and A is a polyamine moiety having at least one basic nitrogen atom, wherein the polyamine is connected to the carbonyl group through one of its nitrogen atoms to form a carbamate linkage. The compounds of formula I are useful as fuel additives for the prevention and control of engine deposits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Chevron Chemical Company
    Inventor: Richard E. Cherpeck
  • Patent number: 6221117
    Abstract: A fuel processing system is disclosed. The system includes a steam reformer adapted to produce hydrogen from a feedstock consisting of water and at least one of an alcohol and a hydrocarbon feedstock. The hydrogen is produced by reacting the feedstock in the present of a reforming catalyst. The product stream is passed through a hydrogen-selective membrane module, at which the permeate stream is polished to remove trade carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, and the byproduct stream is combusted to heat the reformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: IdaTech, LLC
    Inventors: David J. Edlund, William A. Pledger
  • Patent number: 6221118
    Abstract: This invention provides a cerium oxide abrasive with which the surfaces of substrates such as SiO2 insulating films can be polished at a high rate without causing scratches. The abrasive of the present invention comprises a slurry comprising cerium oxide particles whose primary particles have a diameter of from 10 nm to 600 nm and a median diameter of from 30 nm to 250 nm and slurry particles have a median diameter of from 150 nm to 600 nm and a maximum diameter of 3,000 nm or smaller, the cerium oxide particles being dispersed in a medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Yoshida, Toranosuke Ashizawa, Hiroki Terazaki, Yasushi Kurata, Jun Matsuzawa, Kiyohito Tanno, Yuuto Ootuki
  • Patent number: 6221119
    Abstract: A slurry in accordance with the invention comprises CeO2 polishing particles and sodium polyacrylate in an aqueous solution. This slurry is used to polish a glass or glass ceramic substrate. I have discovered that adding sodium polyacrylate to a CeO2 slurry improves the polishing rate without causing a major negative impact on the slurry stability or redispersibility. In addition, the addition of the sodium polyacrylate does not cause a great deal of foaming. This polishing process can be used to prepare substrates for the manufacture of magnetic disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Komag, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew M. Homola
  • Patent number: 6221120
    Abstract: A screen guard is utilized to protect fin coils of a fin-coil heat exchanger of an apparatus such as a heat pump or air conditioner. The screen guard prevents cottonwood seeds and other debris capable of forming a filter from obstructing the air flow over the fin coils. The screen guard comprises a wide mesh screen member and an adhesive attachment strip. The attachment strip may be magnetic so that it attaches directly to a ferrous housing of the apparatus. Alternatively, a VELCRO® fastener strip is fixed to the apparatus and the attachment strip is a complimentary VELCRO® strip which removably attaches to the fastener strip. The screen guard can be repeatedly removed and reattached for cleaning debris from the screen guard. A method of protecting the apparatus includes removing the screen guard for cleaning and thereafter reattaching the screen guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventors: Gary C. Bennington, Wilse E. Crain, Dwight A. Hamilton, Gary Mark Smith
  • Patent number: 6221121
    Abstract: A filter chamber (8) for the vacuum system of a textile machine (1) comprises connection conduits (14, 15) between a vacuum source (7) and a suction conduit (9) running the length of the machine. A filter 10 is arranged inside the filter chamber (8) at an interval from the wall (13) of the filter chamber to divide the filter chamber (8) into a dirty-air area (18) and a clean-air area (17). The filter element (10) comprises at least two filter elements, a relief element (11) and a collector element (12). The relief element (11) is disposed in the filter chamber (8) at a spacing from the wall (13) of the filter chamber such that a primary component of the flow (16) of suction air from the conduit (14) to the conduit (15) for the vacuum source (7) moves parallel to or at an acute angle (I) to the relief element (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventors: Detlef Schelter, Michael Spitzer
  • Patent number: 6221122
    Abstract: A filter element includes a frame construction and a region of media held by the frame construction. The region of media is oriented within the frame construction to remove at least some particulates from a gas stream passing therethrough. The region of media includes a skirted portion, wherein the skirted portion occupies a volume between the frame construction and a sealing surface of a duct, when the filter element is mounted within a duct. In preferred systems, the filter element may be used as a secondary element in the duct of an engine air intake or in a duct of an air cleaner housing. Methods of using and servicing filter elements are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Scott Gieseke, Wayne R. W. Bishop
  • Patent number: 6221123
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for melting solid metals, including iron, are provided. The apparatus includes a vertical shaft furnace through which the metal is fed. The shaft furnace is mounted on a horizontal induction furnace containing a molten pool of metal. Metal solids are charged at the top of the vertical shaft furnace down onto a refractory pedestal in the molten metal pool or suspended magnetically in the vertical shaft above gas burners. The metal is melted by contact with the molten metal pool. The combination of oxygen fuel burner preheating and induction melting creates an extremely efficient melting unit that can process metal at a much lower cost than conventional systems while preventing the oxidation problems incurred by apparatuses which melt metal using combustion only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Donsco Incorporated
    Inventor: Arthur K. Mann, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6221124
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method of treating electric arc furnace (EAF) dust. In the method the dust is preheated and decontaminated under conditions which oxidize the magnetite content of the dust to hematite. Thereafter the preheated and decontaminated dust is introduced into a fluidized bed reactor in which hematite is reduced, by means of a hot reducing gas generated by reforming natural gas in a non-catalytic plasma-arc heating process, to yield an iron-rich material suitable for recycling to the EAF, and a high grade zinc oxide product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: L & C Steinmuller (Africa) (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventor: Peter William Ennis Blom
  • Patent number: 6221125
    Abstract: A water-atomized metal powder having a spherical particle shape, an average particle size of 25 &mgr;m or less and a tap density ratio of 50-60%. The spherical powder is produced by forming non-spherical metal particles, which have been produced from molten metal by water-atomization, into spherical particles using a high speed gas current which causes high speed collisions to occur between said particles and between said particles and a collision body. The thus obtained spherical metal powder is particularly suitable for injection molding since and, by using the powder, the blending proportion of organic binder used in injection molding can be reduced and high strength debound bodies can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Steel Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Soda, Yukio Tokuyama, Hiroshi Usui
  • Patent number: 6221126
    Abstract: Arrangement for the reduction of metal-oxide-bearing material, particularly of, iron ore, with a reduction vessel in which the metal-oxide-bearing material is reduced in counterflow with reduction gas and which is provided with an inlet for metal-oxide-bearing material, an inlet for reduction gas, an outlet for off-gas and an outlet for reduced material, a vessel for metal-oxide-bearing material, which is connected with the reduction vessel by means of a line and a first supply line for a sealing gas which serves to seal the reduction vessel against the vessel, which first supply line is provided at the connecting line between the vessel and the reduction vessel, characterized in that at least one additional supply line for a sealing gas is provided at the connecting line, which additional supply line is located between the first supply line and the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Gerald Rosenfellner
  • Patent number: 6221127
    Abstract: A method of pyroprocessing mineral ores, such as iron ore. The method includes receiving a preheated product stream of iron-containing pellets at an infeed end of a rotary kiln and introducing an oxidizing gas into the tumbling bed toward the infeed end of the rotary kiln. Additionally, a combustible fuel is introduced through ports above the tumbling bed such that combustion of the introduced fuel increases the temperature of the product stream toward the infeed end. The increase in the temperature of the product stream allows the intensity of the flame from the centerline burner to be decreased, resulting in a reduction in the production of NOx. The apparatus for introducing both the oxidizing gas and fuel into the rotary kiln are common with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Svedala Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Rierson
  • Patent number: 6221128
    Abstract: Mercury salt-containing discharge effluents such as from B-5 fixatives and PVA fixatives are treated to remove mercury therefrom. The present method contemplates plates the addition of aluminum to the effluent to cause the precipitation of elemental mercury therefrom. The remaining effluent, after precipitation, can be decanted and post treated while recovering precipitated elemental mercury. The decanted effluent, once subjected to post treatment, by first rendering the effluent highly basic, is the neutralized. Neutralization causes the precipitation of sodium chloride. A water conditioner is then added thereto. Subsequently, the so-treated decanted effluent is then filtered through a filtering medium such as filter paper or the like. A second filtration step may then be carried out by passing the so-filtered effluent through a mixed bed or through a filter paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Brij P. Giri
  • Patent number: 6221129
    Abstract: A flux which contains irreversibly dehydrated K2AlF5, for soldering light metal materials, in particular aluminum. The flux has the advantages of forming a very uniform flux coating on the workpiece or workpieces to be soldered and exhibiting outstanding flow of the solder. An appropriate soldering process, an aqueous flux suspension and preparation processes for the flux are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Solvay Fluor und Derivate GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz-Joachim Belt, Alfred Borinski, Ruediger Sander, Werner Rudolph
  • Patent number: 6221130
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing and drying a gas, typically air, are provided in which a multistage compressor is employed to produce interstage and final stage compressed gas. Regenerative adsorbent is employed to dry the final stage compressed gas. Interstage gas is used to regenerate the saturated adsorbent. Preferably, two beds of regenerable adsorbent are provided, each operable in a drying mode and a regeneration mode. In the drying mode, final stage compressed gas is passed through the bed of adsorbent in order to be dried, until the adsorbent is saturated. In the regeneration mode, moisture is removed from the saturated adsorbent by a stream of interstage compressed gas. The two beds are preferably alternately operated in the drying mode and the regeneration mode, in order to provide a continuous process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Cooper Turbocompressor, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Kolodziej, Edward S. Czechowski
  • Patent number: 6221131
    Abstract: A process for separating and/or recovering gases from gas and/or gas vapor mixtures includes a membrane separating device to which a gas and/or gas vapor mixture is supplied, the latter being separated in the membrane separating device into a permeate, which is enriched with gas, and a retentate, which is depleted of gas. A first membrane separating device and a downstream second membrane separating device are provided, to which is supplied (at its inlet end) the retentate from the first membrane separating device, the first membrane separating device having a membrane which is selective for higher hydrocarbons in the gas and/or gas vapor mixture to be separated and in that the second membrane separating device has a membrane which is selected for gases of small molecular diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignees: Petroleo Brasiletro S.A.-Petrobras, GKSS Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf-Dieter Behling, Klaus-Viktor Peinemann, Klaus Ohlrogge, Jan Wind, Lidia Barreto da Silva
  • Patent number: 6221132
    Abstract: An adsorbent and method for making it and its use in removing water from gaseous hydrogen halide. Magnesium halide supported on an activated carbon prepared under vacuum will remove water at 1 to 500 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Chun Christine Dong, Alexander Schwarz, Dean V. Roth, Delbert D. Christman
  • Patent number: 6221133
    Abstract: The invention provides a cellular packing including a vapor/liquid separation device that can be stacked vertically with minimum wasted space. The packing uses static vanes in each cell to direct the liquid component of a vapor/liquid mixture to exit slots in a first cell and a recirculation path for the liquid to be contacted with vapor again in a second cell located below the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Norton Chemical Process Products Corporation
    Inventor: Frank D. Moore
  • Patent number: 6221134
    Abstract: A particle separation member is provided for use with a cyclone separator. The particle separation member divides the separator into a cyclone chamber and a particle receiving chamber. The cyclone chamber and the particle receiving chamber communicating via a plurality of apertures in the particle separation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: G.B.D. Corp.
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Dave Petersen
  • Patent number: 6221135
    Abstract: To adapt a dust collector for use with a trash can, a clamp-on skirt or adapter is provided to interconnect the lower opening of the dust collector housing to the rim or upper portion of a conventional trash can. In a preferred embodiment, the clamp-on skirt adapter is formed from the same material as conventional dust collection bags and can be clamped to the dust collector housing and trash can using, for example, conventional dust collection bag clamping straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Woodworker's Supply
    Inventors: John Wirth, Jr., Jay L. Sanger, Paul Brutsman