Patents Issued in October 25, 2016
  • Patent number: 9474414
    Abstract: An interactive heating and cooking apparatus (1) including a support structure (2) defining an upper support region (4) with a fire receptacle (9) extending upwardly from the upper support region. The fire receptacle is bound at least partially by a peripheral shield element (10) adapted to allow at least a portion of the light from a fire in the fire receptacle to pass there through. The apparatus further includes at least one cooking facility (11) attached to the upper support region, the cooking facility including a cooking surface adjacent the peripheral shield element, which surface is positioned to receive light from the fire, and at least one support surface adjacent the cooking surface. An expandable disposable cooking apparatus including a drip tray element formed from a longitudinally extendible concertina type generally channel shaped structure is also disclosed for use with, or independent of, the interactive heating and cooking apparatus (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventor: Heong Meng Yuen
  • Patent number: 9474415
    Abstract: A fire pit table with a rotatable tray assembly is described herein. The fire pit table includes a base portion including a burner assembly and a storage compartment configured to hold a gas supply cylinder; a tabletop portion supported on the base portion, the tabletop portion having a central aperture disposed therethrough that is circumscribed by an annular ledge portion of the tabletop portion; and a rotatable tray assembly configured to cover the central aperture of the tabletop portion. The rotatable tray assembly includes a base portion configured to be disposed on the annular ledge portion of the tabletop portion, a tray support structure, the tray support structure coupled to the base portion of the rotatable tray assembly; and a tray top member supported by the tray support structure, the tray top member is configured to rotate relative to the tabletop portion of the fire pit table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Sunjoy Industries Group Ltd.
    Inventors: Sean Michael Banal, Lianzhang Pan
  • Patent number: 9474416
    Abstract: A grill oiling apparatus for applying oil to a barbecue grill grate. The apparatus includes a handle with an oil reservoir disposed therein. An arm extends from the handle to an attachment flange to which an applicator pad is removeably coupled. A passageway extends between the reservoir and the attachment flange to provide oil from the reservoir onto the applicator pad to at least partially saturate the pad. The pad is placed into contact with a cooking surface such as a grill grate to apply the oil therein onto the grill grate and/or to scrub residue or debris from the grill grate. A heat shield may be provided between the handle and the cooking surface to protect a user's had from exposure to heat from the cooking surface. The applicator pad is removable for replacement or washing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventor: Mansour Zarinkia
  • Patent number: 9474417
    Abstract: An automated mix in-cup apparatus includes a frame having a cup-holder to secure a tapered cup selectively placed therein, and a first motor operatively connected to the cup-holder to rotate the cup-holder. A reciprocating carriage is axially supported by the frame and supports a second motor and a rotatable mixing blade to mix a consumable material. The mixing blade is secured to a shaft axially extending from the second motor, the shaft defining a longitudinal axis and the second motor configured to rotate the shaft and the mixing blade. Reciprocal movement of the carriage axially translates the mixing blade into and out of the tapered cup in the cup-holder. The cup-holder and the first motor are oriented at an incline, defining a tilt angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, whereby the shaft and the rotatable blade are positioned off-center relative to the tapered cup in the cup-holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest B Pryor, Jr., Benjamin H Branson, III, Brian P Williams, James Robert Gaynor
  • Patent number: 9474418
    Abstract: A disclosure discloses a barbecue clamp. The barbecue clamp includes two connected clamping handles, each of the two clamping handles being provided with a clamping portion and a handle portion, wherein the two clamping handles are intersected; an accommodation space is formed at the intersection of the two clamping handles, a pivoting shaft is arranged on each of two opposite sides of the accommodation space, and the two clamping handles are arranged in a manner of rotating around the pivoting shafts; an illumination portion is arranged in the accommodation space, and an illuminating direction of the illumination portion faces a clamping area between the clamping portions of the two clamping handles. According to the technical solution of the invention, force can be conveniently applied to clamp an object, the handles are farer away from a fire source, and meanwhile, the barbecue clamp is convenient to operate with one hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: NEXTORCH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Guanpeng Liu, Bing Liang, Andrew Mark Ager
  • Patent number: 9474419
    Abstract: A blender tool for manipulating material in a blender container is disclosed. The blender tool has a substantially flat end for tamping down blended material in a blender container. The blender tool further includes a collar for limiting the insertion depth of the tool. Additionally, the blender tool may include a cavity for collecting and/or measuring material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventor: Nate Schneider
  • Patent number: 9474420
    Abstract: A container that is a cup portion having a maximum gauge of less than 35 mils provided with a bottom panel, a sidewall and a sealing brim which defines an annular cup sealing surface; and a lid having a maximum gauge of less than 35 mils with a sealing rim defining an annular lid sealing surface; wherein the cup portion and lid portion are thermoformed such that the annular cup sealing surface and the annular lid sealing surface cooperate to form a seal extending around the assembled container and wherein the container does not leak when tested using the Leak Test Method 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: DIXIE CONSUMER PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventors: Shawn A. Oakes, Dean P. Swoboda
  • Patent number: 9474421
    Abstract: Bath curtain rod assemblies are disclosed comprising axially movable tubes that may be locked into position in relation with each other. A contact end is extended from one of the tubes to engage and press against a bath support structure to firmly secure the assembly in place. The contact end includes at least one hole for receiving a mechanical fastener such as a screw, which allows the installer to choose whether or not to use mechanical fasteners when installing the rod assembly. The bath curtain rod assemblies may be installed quickly and easily in bath and shower stalls without the necessity of mechanical fasteners or adhesives, while allowing the installer to use mechanical fasteners if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Maytex Mills, Inc.
    Inventor: David Baines
  • Patent number: 9474422
    Abstract: A towel dispenser includes a housing mounted to a wall and defining an interior space for receiving toweling comprising a roll of towels, the interior space comprising a curved surface configured to receive the roll of towels in floating engagement therewith such that the roll of towels rolls and slides on the curved surface during unwinding of the roll of towels. The towel dispenser further includes a loading door configured to rotate relative to the main body, when the main body is mounted to a wall, between a closed position in which the loading door extends over a top of and closes off the interior space of the main body in which toweling is received, and an open position, in which the housing is configured to receive toweling therein without obstruction by the loading door, with the loading door extending upwardly above and over a top of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: INNOVIA INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, LLC
    Inventors: William Bryant Troutman, William Bryant Troutman, II
  • Patent number: 9474423
    Abstract: A seat having built-in waste compartment for urinating, vomiting, or defecating therein. The seat having built-in waste compartment includes a container disposed in a seat, such as vehicle seat, gaming chair, stool, recliner, or the like. The seat includes an opening in the upper surface having a recessed area therein. The recessed area includes a container supported thereon. The container includes a base, one or more sidewalls, an aperture disposed in a sidewall, and an open upper end that can receive waste therein. The edge of the upper end of the container includes a flange that extends outward and rests on the upper surface of the seat, wherein the flange can be sat upon when the device is in use. The seat having built-in waste compartment further includes a tube that is connected to the aperture of the container and is able to receive urine therethough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventor: Tiffany Terry
  • Patent number: 9474424
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a floor surface comprises a fluid delivery system having a supply tank for storing cleaning fluid and a fluid distributor for delivering the cleaning fluid to a surface to be cleaned. An air pathway is provided in the cleaning apparatus for removing heated air from the motor. In operation, heat from the heated air is transferred to the cleaning fluid in the supply tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: George Moyher, Jr., Michael Graham
  • Patent number: 9474425
    Abstract: A dust collector for a cleaner and a cleaner are provided. The dust collector includes a dust-collection container (10) defining an inner chamber therein and having a dust-laden air inlet (101) and an air outlet (102); a filter (30) disposed in the dust-collection container (10) and having a filtering cup (32) and a flange (31), the flange (31) being connected with an inner wall of the dust-collection container (10) to divide the inner chamber into a first chamber (103) and a second chamber (104); and a cyclone barrel (20) disposed in the second chamber (104) and having an air inlet (201), an open upper end (202) and a closed lower end (203), a lower end of the filtering cup (32) being extended into the cyclone barrel (20) through the open upper end (202), the open upper end (202) being spaced apart from a lower surface (311) of the flange (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Jiangsu Midea Cleaning Appliances Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kang Gui, Qi Zhang
  • Patent number: 9474426
    Abstract: To provide a cleaning device coupling instrument that can easily attach or detach a main body to or from a cleaning part in a cleaning device, and the cleaning device including the cleaning device coupling instrument. A cleaning device coupling instrument 1 which can couple a main body in a cleaning device to a cleaning part to be fixed to the main body has: a first coupling member 10 including a bulging part 100 having a slant part the side peripheral part of which is tapered toward a tip thereof; and a second coupling member 20 including a fitted part 200 in which the bulging part 100 can be loosely fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignees: AKUSESU CORPORATION, TSUBAKIMOTO KOGYO CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuzo Kamada
  • Patent number: 9474427
    Abstract: A robot cleaner is provided. The robot cleaner includes a main body forming an exterior; a floor detection sensor for detecting a distance from the main body to a floor surface; a tilt sensor for detecting inclination of the main body; and a controller for determining whether there is a protruding part that protrudes from a floor surface in a running path of the main body, based on a first sensor value output by the floor detection sensor and a second sensor value output by the tilt sensor. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a robot cleaner may properly move around and perform vacuuming by taking into account conditions of a floor surface. It may also smoothly climb over a doorsill and dynamically change its running pattern based on the presence/absence and position of an obstacle in climbing the doorsill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong Gap Lee, Jeong Gon Song
  • Patent number: 9474428
    Abstract: An Upright Sweep Set is disclosed where an upright dustpan with a handle and retention claw arrangement serves to retain a broom or another cleaning device. The upright dustpan can be used without bending over, and folds up for storage or to retain debris that have been collected. The broom has a retention collar to allow the retention claw of the upright dustpan to grip the broom with the dustpan in either the open or the closed position. Both the upright dustpan and the broom have removable handles that are retained with a live hinge tab and receiver to allow the broom to also be used as a whisk broom and to allow the upright dustpan to be used either with or without a handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Casabella Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Andre Sampaio
  • Patent number: 9474429
    Abstract: A filter bucket and a mop bucket movable between an upstanding use position and a drain position where, when the mop bucket is in the drain position, water in the mop bucket drains into the filter bucket. A fluid flow path connecting the filter bucket to the mop bucket such that water in the filter bucket will flow through the fluid flow path from the filter bucket to the mop bucket. A filter located in the fluid flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Commercial Products, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Scott Kepner, Frank Wang, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Kim Chow
  • Patent number: 9474430
    Abstract: A fixed full coverage wash system that includes a base portion having a generally square or rectangular shaped outer portion that extends into one or more corners of a tub of a dishwasher. The base portion is operably connected to the plurality of arms for the delivery of a pressurized liquid. The base portion may include a plurality of tube segments that are not in fluid communication with at least a portion of the other tube segments. Such an arrangement may be used in connection with a rotor that controls the release, or timing, of pressurized liquid through sprayers in the tube segments. According to certain embodiments, the movement and/or position of the rotor may be controllable, such as, for example, through the use of a controller and motor that allows for the control of the location and/or concentration of where the pressurized liquid is sprayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SEARS BRANDS, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Anthony Daniel Shoemaker, Thomas DeSalvo, Christopher Salatino
  • Patent number: 9474431
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance is provided having one or more sound abatement features for blocking sound transmission emanating from the appliance during operation. Spaces or gaps present between the dishwashing appliance and the cabinetry in which it is installed can be blocked by features having one or more chambers that attenuate the transmission of sound therefrom. Such sound abatement features can be readily incorporated into the design of a dishwashing appliance and provide a relatively inexpensive alternative to conventional designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Avinash R. Patil, Brandon K G Schaefer, James Murray Klump
  • Patent number: 9474432
    Abstract: A method of opening a door of a household appliance having a cabinet with an open face providing access to a treating chamber where an article is received for treatment according to a useful cycle of operation is provided. The method includes: sensing a presence of at least a portion of a person within a predetermined range of the door and out of contact with the door; and automatically opening the door in response to the sensed presence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Benjamin E. Alexander
  • Patent number: 9474433
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) wherein the door (3) is opened automatically by means of the door opening mechanism (13) at the end of the washing and drying processes and a fast drying is performed by discharging the vapor accumulated in the body (2) at the end of the washing and drying processes to the outside and wherein by means of the adjustment means (8), the door opening mechanism (13) applies pressure on the door (3) after being actuated and the opening/closing force of the bolt (5) of the locking mechanism (4) is decreased at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: ARCELIK ANONIM SIRKETI
    Inventors: Uygar Unverdi, Serkan Tarcin, Tuna Balkan, Erhan Ilhan Konukseven
  • Patent number: 9474434
    Abstract: A dishwasher having a tub defining a wash chamber, and upper and lower dish racks located within the wash chamber. The dishwasher also has upper and lower rotating sprayers beneath the upper and lower dish racks, and a manifold with at least one nozzle having at least one aperture located in the wash chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Carlson, Vincent P. Gurubatham, Jay C. Landsiedel, Edward L. Thies, Chad T. Vanderroest
  • Patent number: 9474435
    Abstract: A detergent dispenser for dispensing detergent in a domestic appliance, the detergent dispenser comprising a housing, a container defined in said housing and adapted to store detergent, a movable cover adapted to close and seal the container, and at least one extension depending from the cover, said at least one extension adapted to clear detergent from a perimeter of the container as the cover moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: BSH Home Appliances Corporation
    Inventors: Janusz Sendor, Scott Tarcy
  • Patent number: 9474436
    Abstract: A dishwasher cutlery tray comprises a frame which is withdrawably mounted in a wash-tub and a plurality of inserts arranged in a movable manner on the frame and on which tableware items to be washed can be arranged. At least one first insert and one second insert are arranged on the frame in a horizontally displaceable manner. The cutlery tray further comprises first coupling means for coupling in a releasable manner the first insert to the second insert in such a way that, in a condition of coupling of the first coupling means, the first insert is horizontally displaceable on the frame together with the second insert and in a condition of release of the coupling means the first insert and the second insert are horizontally displaceable on the frame independently to each another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Antonio Seu
  • Patent number: 9474437
    Abstract: An endoscope including: a shaft tube; a fibre tube disposed within the shaft tube; an image guide having a distal objective, the image guide being disposed within the shaft tube; and an optical fibre bundle disposed in a free cross-section between the fibre tube and the shaft tube. Wherein the fibre tube has an elongate cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Wieters, Philipp Abel
  • Patent number: 9474438
    Abstract: Endoscopes having a hollow outer sheath configured for insertion into a patient's body are disclosed. A hollow inner sheath is receivable within the outer sheath, and is configured to slideably receive a first internal instrument. A working element can be configured to rotatably support at least the first internal instrument and a second internal instrument such that at least the first internal instrument and the second internal instrument are rotatable about a common axis of rotation being substantially coextensive with a longitudinal axis of the outer sheath. The working element can have at least one guide rail extending longitudinally of the axis of rotation and an actuator block can be slideably mountable to the at least one guiderail and so securable to at least one of the instruments as to be able to urge the at least one of the internal instruments longitudinally of the outer sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: GYRUS ACMI, Inc.
    Inventor: Tailin Fan
  • Patent number: 9474439
    Abstract: An instrument includes a hollow body with an internal diameter and an optoelectronic image recording system, which is arranged in an end region of the body and has a lens system on an image entrance side. The lens system has a cylindrical section and an image sensor. An external diameter of the cylindrical section is less than the internal diameter of the body, such that an interspace remains between an inner side of the body and an outer side of the lens system, providing access in the body for components. With a viewing direction of 0° to 90° from the optical axis of the lens system, a deflection prism is arranged on the image entrance side at the lens system, and has a section extending laterally beyond the external diameter of the cylindrical section. An image entrance plane of the image sensor runs approximately parallel to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Harald Baumann, Joachim Reinacher
  • Patent number: 9474440
    Abstract: The present specification discloses an endoscope having a tip section equipped with multiple viewing elements. Each of the viewing elements' field of view is illuminated by a discrete illuminator, such as a LED, being operated in a flash mode. The flash mode of operation of the LEDs enable doctors to obtain a position of the endoscope tip within a patient's body from outside by viewing the light emitted by the LEDs. Since the light is emitted for short pre-defined periods of time, the heat generated by the LEDs during their periods of operation is within a safe threshold value, and does not cause any burn injury inside the patient's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: EndoChoice, Inc.
    Inventors: Yaniv Kirma, Yuri Gershov, Avi Levy, Golan Salman
  • Patent number: 9474441
    Abstract: An otoscope includes an instrument head, a tip element and an optical system. The instrument head has a distal insertion portion for insertion into an ear of a human or veterinary subject. The distal insertion portion has a distal opening. The tip element is releasably attached to the distal insertion portion. The tip element has a distal opening. The optical system is contained within the instrument head. The optical system includes a plurality of optical components. The optical system further comprises a viewing component for viewing of an image of a target of interest aligned along an optical axis disposed within said distal opening. The optical system is configured to provide a field of having a diameter equaling at least 7 mm at a distance of at least 15 mm from a distal opening of said attached tip element. The optical system is further configured to simultaneously provide a distance range of optimal focus having a range of at least 8 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric M. Andreassen, David M. Fallat, Ervin Goldfain, John R. Strom, John T. Delaney, Howard Haines, Corinn C. Fahrenkrug, Cynthia A. Kuiper
  • Patent number: 9474442
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for inspecting the fundus of the eye, comprising: —lighting means configured to project a light beam for illuminating the retina of one eye; and —an optical path comprising one or more lenses configured to optically conjugate the retina with a receiving surface of acquisition means configured to acquire one or more images of the retina; and —a beam splitter device configured to divert a part of the light, which is reflected by the retina and directed towards said acquisition means, towards first photosensitive elements; and —a control unit operatively associated with said first photosensitive elements, said acquisition means and said lighting means, said control unit deactivating said lighting means when the light energy received from said first photosensitive elements overcomes a predefined threshold value; and —first LED devices configured to project light targets onto the retina, which the patient must stare to keep the eye still during the examination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: CENTERVUE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Federico Manzan, Andrei Plaian, Marco D'Aguanno, Paola Griggio
  • Patent number: 9474443
    Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus includes: an imaging optical system including an imaging diaphragm placed between an objective lens and an imaging device to restrict light from a fundus, the light having passed through a position conjugate with an examinee's pupil, to image a fundus image by the imaging device through the objective lens and the imaging diaphragm; a first light projecting optical system to project light having a first wavelength emitted from a first light source and restricted in range for passage through the pupil, as autofluorescence-inducing excitation light to the eye through the objective lens; and a first optical-path combining member to allow the imaging optical system and the first light projecting optical system to share at least part of an optical path. The first optical-path combining member is provided between the objective lens and a conjugate position with the pupil through the objective lens in the imaging optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki Yoshino
  • Patent number: 9474444
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for self-examination of the interior space of an individual's eye is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventor: Michael Wharton
  • Patent number: 9474445
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for remote medical monitoring. In one implementation, a method includes monitoring a first medical condition of an individual, the monitoring being initiated remotely by a monitoring service, receiving a query relating to a second medical condition of the individual, transmitting a response to the query to the monitoring service, receiving a prompt from the monitoring service, and transmitting a response to the prompt to the monitoring service. The query is received from the monitoring service. The prompt is designed to provoke a particular action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Braemar Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Doug C. Eveland
  • Patent number: 9474446
    Abstract: A system includes a first computing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory. The processor and the memory are configured to receive at least one of (i) information indicative of treatment of a victim by a first caregiver using the first computing device and (ii) information indicative of a health status of the victim; determine that treatment of the victim by the first caregiver using the first computing device is completed; and transmit the received information to a second computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: ZOLL Medical Corporation
    Inventors: John Amann, Gary A. Freeman
  • Patent number: 9474447
    Abstract: A surgical probe can include an outer cannula; an inner cannula, rotatably disposed inside the outer cannula; a rotational scanner, disposed at an end of the inner cannula and configured to receive a light beam from a delivery fiber and to scan the light beam along a loop; and an anamorphic optical element, disposed at an end of the outer cannula and configured to receive the light beam scanned along the loop and to output the light beam along an anisotropically compressed loop. A corresponding method can include providing a light beam by a light source; coupling the light beam to a rotational scanner at an end of an inner cannula; scanning the light beam by the rotational scanner along a loop; and receiving the light beam scanned along the loop by an anamorphic optical element and outputting the light beam along an anisotropically compressed loop to a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: NOVARTIS AG
    Inventors: Edouard G. Schmidtlin, Tammo Heeren
  • Patent number: 9474448
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices are implemented for microscope imaging solutions. One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed toward an epifluorescence microscope. The microscope includes an image capture circuit including an array of optical sensor. An optical arrangement is configured to direct excitation light of less than about 1 mW to a target object in a field of view of that is at least 0.5 mm2 and to direct epi-fluorescence emission caused by the excitation light to the array of optical sensors. The optical arrangement and array of optical sensors are each sufficiently close to the target object to provide at least 2.5 ?m resolution for an image of the field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Kunal Ghosh, Laurie Burns, Abbas El Gamal, Mark J. Schnitzer, Eric Cocker, Tatt Wei Ho
  • Patent number: 9474449
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a signal indicative of a single user selected imaging protocol for scanning a patient. The imaging protocol includes parameters for two or more of a bone mineral density, a fat composition, or an aortic calcium imaging procedures. The method further includes performing a single scan of the patient using the single user selected protocol. The method further includes generating a single set of image data for the two or more of a bone mineral density, a fat composition, or an aortic calcium imaging procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Sunny Virmani, Thomas John Naypauer, Douglas B. McKnight
  • Patent number: 9474450
    Abstract: A method of determining a temperature of a patient includes measuring a first temperature of the patient with a temperature device, and measuring a second temperature of the patient. The method also includes determining a temperature value indicative of a core temperature of the patient based on at least one of the first and second temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: WELCH ALLYN, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Mullin, John A. Lane, David E. Quinn, Michael J. Anson
  • Patent number: 9474451
    Abstract: A method may include controlling a bypass pump to introduce blood flow variations to a patient. The method may also include analyzing blood volume in the brain of the patient with respect to the blood flow variations and determining, based on the analyzing, whether an autoregulatory mechanism associated with the brain is operating properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Raba Equity Partners II, LLC
    Inventors: Ken M. Brady, Robert A. Baruch
  • Patent number: 9474452
    Abstract: A method and a system for quantifying anaesthesia and/or a state of vigilance (e.g. monitoring sedation or sleep) from a plurality of parameters acquired from a subject allows to determine an indicator that reliably quantifies the hypnotic component of anaesthesia and/or the state of vigilance and/or the analgesic component of anaesthesia, even if the number of parameters varies while monitoring the subject. Preferably, a first sub-indicator based on a first subset of parameters adapted to characterize a boundary region between consciousness and unconsciousness is determined, and a second sub-indicator based on a second subset of parameters adapted to characterize a level of hypnosis of said subject is determined, and said first sub-indicator and said second sub-indicator are then combined to compute a global indicator value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Technische Universitaet Muenchen
    Inventors: Eberhard F. Kochs, Gerhard Schneider, Denis Jordan, Adem Omerovic, Matthias Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 9474453
    Abstract: Non-invasively measuring a physiological parameter by applying to a subject's body part a venous occlusion plethysmographic device including a first section having a first fluid chamber and at least a second region having a second fluid chamber to engage a first region of the body part and a second region of the body part, proximal of the first region; pressurizing the first chamber to a pressure sufficient to compensate for hydrostatic pressure added to the inherent venous pressure at the maximal vertical lowering level of the body part relative to the subject's heart level; intermittently raising and lowering the pressure in the second fluid chamber to a pressure above or equal to the pressure in the first chamber, but below the arterial blood pressure; measuring changes in volume of the first region of the body part; and utilizing the measured volume changes to provide a measure of the physiological parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Itamar Medical Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert P. Schnall
  • Patent number: 9474454
    Abstract: An MRI scanner and an MRI method that effectively reduce the inherent difference in timing of TE in the SIR images by using alternating polarity of the slice selective gradient pulse Gs and corresponding alternate polarity in RF phase offset in the excitation pulse. By using alternating polarity selective gradients, the refocusing gradient pulse on the Gs axis can be eliminated between the excitation pulses so that the time spacing between the multiple SIR excitation pulses is reduced, and therefore the time delay between onset of slice signal decay is reduced. This results in an earlier possible TE of the first excited slice, hence less signal decay and higher SNR, and overall the TE of different slices can be more nearly the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: ADVANCED MRI TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: David Feinberg
  • Patent number: 9474455
    Abstract: According to one of the aspects of an MRI apparatus of the present invention, the MRI apparatus includes an imaging data acquiring unit and a blood flow information generating unit. The imaging data acquiring unit acquires imaging data from an imaging region including myocardium, without using a contrast medium, by applying a spatial selective excitation pulse to a region including at least a part of an ascending aorta for distinguishably displaying inflowing blood flowing into the imaging region. The blood flow information generating unit generates blood flow image data based on the imaging data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsue Miyazaki, Shigehide Kuhara
  • Patent number: 9474456
    Abstract: An active implantable medical device (e.g., implantable pacemaker or defibrillator), for detection of QRS complexes in noisy signals. Functional units (12-16) collect, amplify, prefilter and convert from analog-to-digital an endocardial signal, and digital functional units (18) provide signal processing and analysis of the digitized signal, for delivery of an indicator corresponding to a signal peak detection representative of the presence of a QRS complex in the endocardial signal. A double threshold comparator (30) is employed, receiving as input (28) the digitized signal and outputting (40) the indicator of peak detection when, cumulatively: the amplitude (A) of the input signal exceeds a peak amplitude threshold (SA), and the peak amplitude threshold is exceeded for a period (W) greater than a peak width threshold (SW). The peak amplitude threshold (SA) is a variable adaptive threshold, according to a noise level calculated from the energy (RMS) of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SORIN CRM SAS
    Inventors: José Bonan, Christophe Harmel
  • Patent number: 9474457
    Abstract: A method and system of cardiac pacing is disclosed. A baseline rhythm is determined using a plurality of body-surface electrodes. A set of baseline functional electrical metrics is determined in response to determining the baseline rhythm. Resynchronization pacing is delivered using a right ventricular electrode and a pacing left ventricular electrode or only with a left ventricular electrode. A set of functional electrical metrics relating to cardiac depolarization and repolarization is determined in response to resynchronization pacing. A determination is made as to whether relative reduction of at least one functional electrical metric from the set of functional electrical metrics exceeds X % of its corresponding value from the set of baseline functional electrical metrics. A determination is made as to whether an absolute value of at least one electrical metric from the set of the functional electrical metrics is less than Y ms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Subham Ghosh, Jeffrey M Gillberg
  • Patent number: 9474458
    Abstract: A catheter includes a tip electrode with a shell and a support member to provide a plenum chamber. The support member is formed with a U-shaped passage for a safety line to wrap around and secure the support member (with the shell affixed thereto) to the catheter. Additional passages are formed in the support member to accommodate components such as irrigation tubing, lead wires and a thermocouple wire pair. A method of manufacture provides distal installation and/or anchoring of the safety line, lead wire and thermocouple wire pair in the support member prior to sealing the support member and mounting the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Biosense Webser (Israel) Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Clark, Maria Duarte, Erica Lovejoy
  • Patent number: 9474459
    Abstract: A system and method for ECG electrode and leadwire connection integrity detection are provided herein. The system includes a plurality of electrodes wherein a uniform spectral energy signal is to be injected into a subset of electrodes of the plurality of electrodes. The system also includes a computing device. The computing device includes a display, and the computing device is communicably coupled to the plurality of electrodes. The computing device is configured to acquire input signals from an electrode and determine a frequency response from the electrode based on the input signal from the electrode. The computing device is also configured to determine impairments in the electrode and leadwire connection using the frequency response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: James R. Peterson
  • Patent number: 9474460
    Abstract: A method for predicting risk of sudden cardiac death through analysis of surface electrocardiographic data includes processing a continuous EKG signal received for a subject over a predetermined time period to identify and extract a plurality of cardiac repolarization phase curves from the EKG signal, assigning each of the cardiac repolarization phase curves into one of a plurality of groups based on a length of the cardiac repolarization phase curve, generating a respective graphical representation for each of the groups in which the cardiac repolarization phase curves assigned to the group are superimposed with one another in the respective graphical representation for the group, and evaluating the graphical representations to assess a risk of sudden cardiac death for the subject based on a classification of cardiac repolarization instability indicated by the graphical representations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventor: Jami Shakibi Gilani
  • Patent number: 9474461
    Abstract: Provided herein are embodiments of a miniature wireless biomedical telemetry device along with systems and methods for its use. A miniature amplifier and transmitter allow recording of physiological signals from small animals, such as rats, mice and birds, as well as humans. The device is positioned externally and is easily replaceable, as is its battery, so surgical complications and other problem problems are minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: John H. Fisher, F. Edward Dudek, Mark J. Lehmkuhle
  • Patent number: 9474462
    Abstract: A method for organizing and displaying EEG data obtained from C EEG channels on a computer system in a user-friendly manner includes placing the C EEG channels into a schematic placement diagram dividing the C EEG channels, using a processor, into G channel groups for each of the G channel groups, combining any of the C EEG channels in such G channel group, using a processor, into a single trace, and for each of the G channel groups, displaying the single trace. A system for organizing and displaying EEG data is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventors: Ronald G Emerson, Catherine A. Schevon
  • Patent number: 9474463
    Abstract: Methods to obtain three-dimensional models and images for diagnosis of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Vanguard Specialty Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott A. Werden