Patents Issued in December 21, 2017
  • Publication number: 20170360240
    Abstract: An extraction apparatus and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. The apparatus includes a cylindrical container with lid and pour spout, a container insert, and a plunger including a piston, a rod, a handle, and a filter or filtration chamber. The container insert is designed to catch infusible material which may be easily removed from the container when the container is empty or when the extract fluid remains in the container. The plunger may temporarily couple with the insert to allow the insert to be pulled up through the container with the grounds of other infusible material captured between the insert and the plunger allowing for quick and easy cleanup. The extraction apparatus is adapted for a use in a variety of sizes and may be adapted for manufactured at low cost. A variety of embodiments and alternatives are also included in the disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: Made Simpli, LLC
    Inventor: Jennifer Morse
  • Publication number: 20170360241
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a multiple dosing device and magazine for releasing one or more doses of additive. The multiple dosing device comprises a magazine having a number of through openings, each receiving a tube, containing a dose of additive. The through openings and tubes (2) extended axially between two opposite ends of the magazine. The tubes are arranged moveable in an axial direction inside respective through opening. Each tube has a pointed lower end. An upper foil and a lower foil are placed adhered to the opposite ends of the magazine. The ends of the tubes are placed abutting or adjacent the upper and lower foils, respectively. The multiple dosing device further comprises an activation part with push buttons, which push buttons are placed for controlling the axial position of one tube each.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: Jonas Gudmundsson
  • Publication number: 20170360242
    Abstract: A coffee preparation machine can include at least one sealed pod containing unroasted green coffee beans, a roasting system that accepts the at least one sealed pod, a grinding system, and a brewing system, where the brewing system, the roasting system, and the grinding system can be housed within a single self-contained unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: Deepak Boggavarapu
  • Publication number: 20170360243
    Abstract: A system for dispensing a beverage includes a storage vessel configured to store the beverage, a flow meter fluidly coupled to the storage vessel and configured obtain flow measurements of the beverage from the storage vessel, a first fluid path comprising a valve fluidly coupled to the flow meter and to a faucet, and a second fluid path comprising a heater fluidly coupled to the flow meter and to a flow restrictor. The heater is operable between a first state and a second state. The heater is configured to increase a temperature of the beverage passing through the heater to a target temperature when the heater is in the first state and configured to not to increase the temperature of the beverage passing through the heater when the heater is in the second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: Jesse W. CROWNE
  • Publication number: 20170360244
    Abstract: An interface system for a food or beverage preparation machine, comprising a control panel (5), the control panel (5) comprising an actuator (5x) for setting at least one food or beverage preparation parameter of the food or beverage preparation machine (1) to a predetermined value and a controlling unit, comprises a pressure sensor (6x) electronically connected to said controlling unit for controlling the functioning of the food or beverage preparation machine, and associated with said actuator, said actuator (5x) being pressure-sensitive and comprising a first end (50) with a first deformable surface (51) which is configured to receive a press action (F) from a user, a second end (52) with a second deformable surface (53) which is in physical contact with said pressure sensor (6x), and an elongate portion (54) connecting said first end (50) and said second end (52), said elongate portion (54) being configured to transfer to said second end (52) a pressure that has been generated at said first end (50), such
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: Alexandre Pugliese
  • Publication number: 20170360245
    Abstract: A food or beverage preparation machine, comprising a control panel (5), the control panel (5) comprising an actuator (5x) for setting at least one food or beverage preparation parameter of the food or beverage preparation machine (1) to a predetermined value and a controlling unit, comprises a pressure sensor (6x) electronically connected to said controlling unit for controlling the functioning of the food or beverage preparation machine, and associated with said actuator, said actuator (5x) being pressure-sensitive and comprising a first end (50) with a first deformable surface (51) which is configured to receive a press action (F) from a user, a second end (52) with a second deformable surface (53) which is in physical contact with said pressure sensor (6x), and an elongate portion (54) connecting said first end (50) and said second end (52), said elongate portion (54) being configured to transfer to said second end (52) a pressure that has been generated at said first end (50), such that when a press actio
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: Alexandre Pugliese
  • Publication number: 20170360246
    Abstract: A beverage preparation machine (1) comprises: a beverage preparation module (20, 30) having a front face (21) with an outlet (31) for dispensing a prepared beverage; and a cup support (10) located under the outlet (31) for placing a cup (2) under the outlet (31). The cup support (10) comprises a liquid collection receptacle (14) supporting a removable cup placement platform (16) that has a peripheral part (18). The collection receptacle (14) is delimited by at least one upright peripheral sidewall (15) forming a seat (15?) for placing the platform (16). The peripheral part (18) extends over and above the peripheral sidewall (15) when the platform (16) is placed in the seat (15?) so that the platform (16) is seizable at the peripheral part (18) adjacent the peripheral sidewall (15) by a user-hand for removing the platform (16) from the receptacle (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Eric Granger, Pietro Mazza, Antoine Cahen
  • Publication number: 20170360247
    Abstract: A machine (1) for dispensing a dispensable liquid (5) has: a liquid delivery module (10) for delivering the dispensable liquid (5) from a source (50) and a service area (7) for collecting collectable liquid (5?) from the liquid delivery module (10). The machine further includes a directing device (20) that has a dispensing position for directing said dispensable liquid (5) from the delivery module (10) to a dispensing area (6) and a collecting position for directing collectable liquid (5?) from the delivery module (10) to the service area (7). The directing device (20) has only one evacuation portion (21) from which: —the dispensable liquid (5) is evacuated from the directing device (20) to the dispensing area (6) when the directing device (20) is in the dispensing position; and —the collectable liquid (5?) is evacuated to the service area (7) when the directing device (20) is in the collecting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Da Mi Byun, Bertrand Guyon, Marco Magatti
  • Publication number: 20170360248
    Abstract: A machine (1) for dispensing a dispensable liquid (5) has: —a liquid delivery module (10) for delivering the dispensable liquid (5) from a source (50); —a service area (7) for collecting collectable liquid (5?) from the liquid delivery module (10); —a directing device (20) which has a dispensing position for directing the dispensable liquid (5) from the delivery module (10) to a dispensing area (6) configured to receive a user-receptacle (60) and a collecting position for directing collectable liquid (5?) from the delivery module (10) to the service area (7); and—a user-interface member (30) which is configured to be contacted and moved by a user to displace the member (30) from a first member position to a second member position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Marco Magatti, Da Mi Byun, Bertrand Guyon
  • Publication number: 20170360249
    Abstract: Autonomous hydraulic unit comprising a liquid inlet (1); a flow meter (2) which is jointly attached to an inlet (3) of a compression chamber (4) of a pump (5) where a piston (6) injects the compressed liquid through a nozzle (7) into a heating chamber (8). A plastic body (9) integrates in one piece the compression chamber (4), a self-priming valve (10) and a safety valve (11). A heating element (12) contained within a body (9) determines with a disk (14) the heating chamber (8) where the temperature of the liquid injected by the piston (6) is raised in its passage towards the outlet (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: Teylor Intelligent Processes SL
    Inventor: ADRIAN ALBERTO TEYLOR
  • Publication number: 20170360250
    Abstract: A beverage-brewing machine may receive, from an external network via a network-interface device system, a user-request to at least adjust a beverage-brewing parameter. The beverage-brewing machine may adjust the beverage-brewing parameter in accordance with the user-request and instruct a beverage-brewing device system of the beverage-brewing machine to perform a beverage-brew-process in a manner consistent with at least the beverage-brewing parameter adjusted in accordance with the user-request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: Scott SPENCER
  • Publication number: 20170360251
    Abstract: A pour-over beverage system is disclosed. The pour-over beverage system includes a double walled vacuum sealed cup feature or pour-over reservoir for holding a steeped beverage and a flow control mechanism or flow control insert attached to a bottom portion of the double walled vacuum sealed cup feature or pour-over reservoir for dispensed the steeped beverage. The system also preferably includes a double walled vacuum sealed capturing vessel or capturing reservoir for capturing the steeped beverage dispensed through the control mechanism or flow control insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: FELLOW INDUSTRIES INC.
    Inventor: Jake Miller
  • Publication number: 20170360252
    Abstract: A cooking vessel includes a molded pan made of aluminum casting alloy. The aluminum casting alloy used includes at least 94.5 mass % of aluminum and a cumulated content of between 4 and 5 mass % for the following elements: silicon, manganese, magnesium, nickel. The pan is at least partially anodized. The thickness of the anodized layer of the pan is higher than, or equal to, 25 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Laurent AUBIN, Stéphane TUFFE
  • Publication number: 20170360253
    Abstract: An actively heated or cooled portable container has a body with a chamber that receives and holds a liquid, and one or more heating or cooling elements in thermal communication with at least a portion of the chamber. An outer surface of the body has one or more electrical contacts. A module is removably coupled to a portion of the body. The module has one or more electrical contacts on an outer surface of the module that contact the one or more electrical contacts on the outer surface of the body, control circuitry, and one or more power storage elements that provide power to the control circuitry and/or the one or more heating or cooling elements. The control circuitry wirelessly communicates with a mobile electronic device to wirelessly transmit information to the mobile electronic device associated with the operation of the module and/or wirelessly receive instructions from a user via the mobile electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: Clayton Alexander
  • Publication number: 20170360254
    Abstract: Food cooking appliance comprising: a centrifugal turbine arranged to create an air flow inside a cooking space, a steam extraction window arranged so as to extract, toward the exterior of the appliance, steam present inside the cooking space, wherein the extraction window has, at every point on its passageway surface, a normal direction with at least one non-zero component along a tangential direction to a circle centered on the centrifugal turbine and passing to the center of the extraction window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Nicolas Muhr, Jérémy Quinard
  • Publication number: 20170360255
    Abstract: An apparatus for temperature control of a barbecue oven, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. A vent from a firebox feeds heated air with smoke to a cook box. A variable speed motor connected to a blower wheel draws air out of the cook box into a plenum, and also pressurizes the plenum to force air back onto the cook box through one or more vents between the plenum and the cook box, as well as out of the stack. A variable frequency drive is coupled to the variable speed motor and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller, which is coupled to a temperature sensor. When the temperature falls below a set point, the PID controller causes the variable frequency drive to actuate the variable speed motor and draw heated air into the cook box from the firebox. The blower wheel and vents circulate the heated air in the cook box, and the air exhaust through the stack allows heated air to be drawn into the cook box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: William H. Karau
  • Publication number: 20170360256
    Abstract: A decorative decal for altering the aesthetics of a barbeque grill, with the decal comprising a flexible and heat resistant substrate having a visually discernible aesthetic element on its first surface and an adhesive on its second surface, with the adhesive suitable for attaching the substrate to the outer surface of the barbeque grill; and a method of use of the decal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: James T. Sheridan
  • Publication number: 20170360257
    Abstract: A hamburger mold is provided, which refers to a mold that aims to greatly facilitate the preparation of handmade hamburgers, besides allowing the achievement of hamburgers of several formats, in relation to its thicknesses or containing or no containing fillings. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments present a singular and unique constructiveness, by the fact that the cradle in which the raw material of the hamburger is accommodated, is mobile and stands out from the main body. This feature even reduces or simplifies the cleaning and handling of the present mold for the preparation of hamburgers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: NELY CRISTINA BRAIDOTTI
  • Publication number: 20170360258
    Abstract: A basket for a vegetable spinner comprises a generally circular base (40), integral with the outer edge of which is an upstanding side wall (42). The base affords a rotary mount (46) in its centre defining an axis about which the basket rotates in the direction of rotation. The side wall (42) comprises a plurality of first webs (48) integral with and upstanding from the outer edge of the base (40) and spaced apart in a circumferential direction and a plurality of second webs (50) integral with the first webs (48) and spaced apart in the axial direction, whereby the first and second webs define a plurality of apertures. The side wall (42) includes a plurality of inwardly projecting portions (56) which extend over at least a major proportion of the height of the side wall and are spaced apart in the circumferential direction by spacer portions (54) of substantially part-circular shape in cross-section perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Sam HAGGER, Nicholas HUNT, Grant RACE
  • Publication number: 20170360259
    Abstract: An automated food storage, preparation and dispensing device is disclosed. The device includes a housing, a plurality of food compartment units, a plurality of utensil compartment units, a dispensing unit for dispensing food, a refrigeration unit, a cooking united for cooking food material, a packaging unit for packaging the cooked food material, a food collection unit, a memory unit for information storage, a processor coupled to the memory unit, a touch screen display. The device is configured to receive information and commends over a communication network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: Joseph Paul Elaty
  • Publication number: 20170360260
    Abstract: The invention describes a system for fastening a handle to a kitchen container that comprises a plate-like fastening element, configured for being irremovably constrained both to a wall of the kitchen container, and to the handle. The plate-like fastening element is configured to be housed and restrained in a corresponding blind hole obtained at an end of the handle. The plate-like fastening element comprises at least one inclined hooking wing, integral with the plate and projecting below one of its surfaces. Each inclined hooking wing is configured for inserting, through elastic deformation while switching from the disassembled configuration to the assembled configuration of the fastening system, into at least one corresponding concave portion obtained on an inner surface of the blind hole towards which each inclined hooking wing projects in the assembled configuration of the fastening system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: Marco Munari
  • Publication number: 20170360261
    Abstract: A clip is provided, separately or integrated into a shower caddy, for removably suspending the shower caddy from a cylindrical arm to which a showerhead is attached. The clip includes a flexible body having first and second legs mirrored about a central axis thereof. The first and second legs define individual base ends and a bottom opening of the clip therebetween. The legs further define a generally central semi-cylindrical channel therebetween. The channel has an intermediate opening, between the channel and the bottom opening and contiguous with the bottom opening, for slidably receiving the cylindrical arm therethrough. The respective base ends of the first and second legs elastically flex around the diameter of the cylindrical arm to receive the cylindrical arm in the channel, and, thereafter, return toward an original configuration thereof, thereby gripping and removably securing the cylindrical arm within the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Frank CORATOLO, Joseph VACCARO
  • Publication number: 20170360262
    Abstract: The present invention provides a shower door adjusting device comprising a first side frame and a second side frame; a first fixing base assembly including a first fixing base and a second fixing base, wherein the first fixing base is fixed on the first side frame, the second fixing base is detachably fixed on the first fixing base, an installation groove is formed in the first and second fixing bases, and the first fixing base assembly is provided with a first through groove therein; a locking sheet whose end is provided with a boss, wherein the end of the locking sheet is installed in the installation groove, the locking sheet is provided with a first locking hole which faces the first through groove; a first connecting bar fixed to the second side frame and provided with a first rack passing through the first locking hole and the first through groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: Ideal Sanitary Ware Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wuxiang Wei
  • Publication number: 20170360263
    Abstract: The present disclosure is intended to provide a buttock wiping device configured so that pressure on the buttocks in wiping can be adjusted and a buttock wiping arm used for the buttock wiping device. The present disclosure relates to a wiping arm whose operation is controlled by a buttock wiping device for wiping the buttocks with a wiping material. The wiping arm includes an arm portion, a head portion configured to press the wiping material against the buttocks, and a force sensor configured to detect force when the wiping material is pressed against the buttocks. The force sensor is a strain gauge, a load cell, or a semiconductor pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: Shoji OKADA
  • Publication number: 20170360264
    Abstract: A towel for a user is disclosed herein. The towel for a user includes a first drying layer made of a first water absorbent material shaped as a continuous loop, and a second drying layer made of a second water absorbent material shaped as a continuous loop. The towel for a user is useful for assisting a user in drying themselves without assistance from another individual.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Marvin Silverstein, Charles E. Brunner, III
  • Publication number: 20170360265
    Abstract: A toilet paper dispenser is disclosed in which the dispenser does not need to be mounted to the wall or placed on the floor. The dispenser is typically made of a one-piece construction that installs easily to any existing toilet by way of the mounting bolt for the toilet seat. The toilet paper dispenser adjustably rotates between an extended position alongside the toilet seat and a storage position behind the toilet seat and under the toilet tank. The inventive toilet paper dispenser can receive any size roll of toilet paper, and loads by sliding the roll over the open end of the dispenser. A modified bolt hole can allow the dispenser to be installed and secured in place on the mounting bolt without the need of a retaining nut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: HANDY TISSUE, LLC
    Inventors: DAVID C. YOCOM, CANDICE B. YOCOM
  • Publication number: 20170360266
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a main casing, driving wheels, a control unit, a cleaning unit, cameras, and a depth calculation part. The driving wheels enable the main casing to travel. The control unit controls drive of the driving wheels to make the main casing autonomously travel. The cleaning unit cleans a floor surface. The cameras are disposed apart from each other in the main casing to pick up images on a traveling-direction side of the main casing with their fields of view overlapping with each other. The depth calculation part calculates a depth of an object distanced from the cameras based on images picked up by the cameras. The vacuum cleaner has improved obstacle detection precision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: TOSHIBA LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS & SERVICES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokazu IZAWA, Yuuki MARUTANI, Kota WATANABE, Kazuhiro FURUTA
  • Publication number: 20170360267
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner including an airflow passage that extends from a suction inlet to an air outlet, a dirt separator, a suction source operable to generate a suction airflow that travels through the suction inlet, through the dirt separator, and through the air outlet. The vacuum further includes a battery that supplies power to the suction source to generate the suction airflow and a portion of the airflow passage is defined by the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: Steven Jenson
  • Publication number: 20170360268
    Abstract: A nozzle comprising a first light and a second light, wherein one of the lights is used to detect certain materials, such as bodily fluids, pet messes and stains and the like, while the other light is used for illuminating an area to be cleaned. The lights may be integrally incorporate into a nozzle or removably detachable therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: Michael DeGeorge
  • Publication number: 20170360269
    Abstract: An automatic cleaning machines comprises a high-speed reciprocating cleaning means making a cleaning cloth reciprocatingly wipe a floor at high speed and a vacuum device sucking the dust in front of the cleaning cloth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: CHI-MOU CHAO
  • Publication number: 20170360270
    Abstract: A surface maintenance machine comprising two front wheels, at least one rear wheel, a motive source for providing motive force to at least one front wheel to drive the machine on a surface. Embodiments also include an operator platform allowing an operator to stand thereon extending at least partly around the rear wheel, for supporting an operator in a standing position with the operator's feet on either side of the rear wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Martin L. Dickrell, Ronald W. Lehman, Kyle D. Sedam, Jacob L. Stock
  • Publication number: 20170360271
    Abstract: A cleaning article. The cleaning article has a laminate construction. The cleaning article comprises a sheet and a hydrophilic gather strip element joined together at plural bonds. The gather strip element has plural layers superimposed upon one another, providing strips extending outwardly from the bonds. Different layers are differentially bonded, to provide a construction which allows the strips to advantageously present a dynamically changing area to the target surface during cleaning, under normal usage conditions. By changing the surface area, more liquids, and associated debris, can be cleaned from the target surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: Nicola John POLICICCHIO
  • Publication number: 20170360272
    Abstract: A steam mop includes a housing comprising a foot assembly movable along a surface to be cleaned and a handle assembly coupled to the foot assembly, a supply tank for storing a supply of fluid, a steam generator fluidly coupled with the supply tank for producing steam from the fluid, and a light source selectively illuminating the supply tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph P. Perry, Adam Luedke, Kan Yuk Yiu, Jian Yun Pi
  • Publication number: 20170360273
    Abstract: A liquid filtering system for a dishwasher, having a housing defining a filter chamber and configured to be fluidly coupled to a recirculation flow path of the dishwasher, a filter located within the filter chamber and having a first end axially spaced from a second end and defining a filter there between that has a first surface and a second surface, the filter being positioned within the recirculation flow path to filter soils from liquid flowing through the recirculation flow path as the liquid passes through the filter and a flow diverter to aid in cleaning the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Barry E. Tuller, Rodney M. Welch, Anthony B. WELSH
  • Publication number: 20170360274
    Abstract: This invention relates to a floor mat having reduced tuft profile on the backside of the textile component of the floor mat. The floor mat is comprised of a textile component and a base component. The textile component includes face yarn tufted through a primary backing layer. The reduced tuft profile is present on the backside of the textile component. Advantages of a floor mat with reduced tuft profile include improved uniformity of the secondary backing layer applied to the textile component and improved durability of the textile component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Franklin S. Love, Padmakumar Puthillath, Dale S. Kitchen, Michael D. Bishop
  • Publication number: 20170360275
    Abstract: An image processing method includes: sequentially generating fluorescent image data in accordance with light intensity of a wavelength component emitted from a fluorescent agent having been administered to a subject irradiated with excitation light, based on image data of the subject each time the image data is generated; sequentially calculating a change amount of the light intensity based on two sets of temporally successive fluorescent image data each time the fluorescent image data is generated; determining whether the change amount is not less than a first threshold indicating fluorescence expression; determining whether the change amount is less than a second threshold indicating a steady state of fluorescence after the change amount is determined to be not less than the first threshold; and outputting a message that fluorescence of the fluorescent agent is in the steady state if the change amount is determined to be less than the second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazunori YOSHIZAKI
  • Publication number: 20170360276
    Abstract: A drive device includes a filter section that includes an optical filter, a transmission section that rotates around a rotation shaft, a first groove portion that is formed to the transmission section, a protruding portion that is formed to the filter section, in contact with the first groove portion, and that moves the filter section from a first position to a second position by moving along the first groove portion in coordination with rotation of the transmission section, and a second groove portion that is formed continuously with the first groove portion, and that is provided along a tangent line direction passing through the protruding portion that is on a circle having the rotation shaft of the transmission section at a center and a radius that is a distance between the rotation shaft and the protruding portion, when the optical filter section is moved to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaka SHIROTA, Masaaki WATANABE, Takahiro HAYAMA, Ayuko KUMADA
  • Publication number: 20170360277
    Abstract: A medical power supply includes a medical instrument and a guide tube. The power receiving member is arranged radially outside the insertion portion, and when the insertion portion is inserted into the guide tube to a predetermined length such that the power transmitting member and the power receiving member are close to each other, a power transmitting side proximal end surface of the power transmitting member and a power receiving side distal end surface of the power receiving member face each other in an axial direction of the insertion portion and are in a positional relationship such that wireless power supply is possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kaoru MATSUKI, Akira MATSUI, Shoei TSURUTA
  • Publication number: 20170360278
    Abstract: A conduit switching piston is provided that includes a shaft member, a plurality of seal portions, a pair of flat portions, and a connecting portion that is configured to connect two seal portions among the plurality of seal portions which are adjacent along the extending direction of the shaft member, and that is formed on the pair of flat portions integrally with the seal portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mizuki SUZUKI, Nobuyuki MATSUURA, Haruhiko UENO, Masaharu URUSHIDO
  • Publication number: 20170360279
    Abstract: A light-intensity-based forced sensor comprises a Sarrus linkage, a biasing mechanism, a light emitter, and a light detector includes a first plate, a second plate, and at least one collapsible linkage pivotably coupled to both the first and the second plates. The biasing mechanism biases the collapsible linkage toward an extended configuration. The light emitter is coupled with and displaceable with the first plate; and the light detector is coupled with and displaceable with the second plate and configured to receive light emitted from the light emitter and generate an electrical signal in response to light received from the light emitter, wherein the generated electrical signal provides an indication of the distance between the first plate and the second plate. The sensor can be distally mounted on, e.g., an endoscope to provide haptic feedback at the distal end of the endoscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Joshua Gafford, Conor J. Walsh, Robert J. Wood
  • Publication number: 20170360280
    Abstract: Endoscopes having a tip section with viewing elements coupled to a CMOS image sensor and/or a CCD image sensor for transforming light captured by the viewing element into digital and/or analog signals are described. A main connector is coupled with the tip section for transmitting the signals to a main control unit of the endoscope. The main connector includes a pad for transmitting digital signals provided by the CMOS image sensor to a push pin probe in a receptacle of the main control unit. The main connector also include another interface for transmitting analog signals to the main control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Idan Levy, Roei Atias, Golan Salman
  • Publication number: 20170360281
    Abstract: An accessory device introduction system works in conjunction with an endoscope and enables more than one accessory device to be used at the same time. The system has a plurality of channels which only expand to accommodate said accessory device(s) when introduced. The system further includes an attachment assembly which connects securely to the endoscope by means of a compression friction fit between the endoscope and itself. The attachment assembly also provides at least one accessory port to be presented to an end user to enable the end user to pass an accessory device within said accessory port and channel. The system further includes a multi-channeled endoscope shaft sheath which is connected to the attachment assembly at one end and the distal end of the endoscope shaft at the other end, thereby covering an entire outer shaft diameter length. The shaft sheath has a plurality of channels which correspond to those of the attachment assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventor: Lee Ponsky
  • Publication number: 20170360282
    Abstract: A catheter having a tube having at least one lumen, at least one elongate element, the at least one elongate element having a bendable portion at a predetermined bendable portion location therealong forward of a distal end of the tube, and at least one selectably inflatable balloon communicating with at least one of the at least one lumen, the at least one selectably inflatable balloon having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end of the balloon being located rearwardly of the predetermined bendable portion location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: GAD TERLIUC, GILAD LURIA, OHAD SHAFRAN
  • Publication number: 20170360283
    Abstract: A capsule endoscope according to one embodiment includes: a camera; a transceiver; a tubular receiving coil for receiving power supplied from an external power transmitting antenna via magnetic flux; a tubular capsule accommodating these components; and an X-ray marker to be used in location and orientation detection. In the capsule endoscope, a magnetic body is arranged along the inner periphery of the receiving coil, and a self-propelling drive device including an electromagnet and a permanent magnet is arranged in series with the receiving coil along the tubular axial direction of the capsule so that the permanent magnet does not enter the inside of the receiving coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Toshihiro KIMURA, Takahiro ITO
  • Publication number: 20170360284
    Abstract: An endoscope device includes: an imaging unit including a semiconductor chip including an image sensor formed thereon, and a protective glass adhered on the image sensor with an adhesive layer; and a holder configured to hold the imaging unit by fitting the protective glass therein. The semiconductor chip includes: a light-receiving section; a peripheral circuit section; a guard ring surrounding the light-receiving section and the peripheral circuit section; and a plurality of metal dots formed on an outer circumference of the guard ring. The protective glass is adhered to the semiconductor chip by the adhesive layer so as to cover the light-receiving section, the peripheral circuit section, the guard ring, and the metal dots, and the metal dots are formed at a same interval from the outer circumference of the guard ring to a connection end portion of a connecting surface between the semiconductor chip and the protective glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicants: OLYMPUS CORPORATION, PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomokazu YAMASHITA, Takatoshi IGARASHI, Noriyuki FUJIMORI, Motonari KATSUNO
  • Publication number: 20170360285
    Abstract: A parameter value regarding an endoscope operation at an arbitrary position on a course is calculated from a three-dimensional image indicating a luminal structure. Specifically, one of a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction around an axis is set to positive, the other is set to negative, and a rotation angle of the endoscope due to a rotation operation at a position of a target is calculated so that a sum of a cumulative total of rotation angles of the endoscope due to a rotation operation performed until the distal end portion of the endoscope arrives at the position of the target after the distal end portion of the endoscope is inserted into a luminal structure, and the rotation angle of the endoscope due to the rotation operation at the position of the target falls within a predetermined angle range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kenta YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20170360286
    Abstract: There are provided an endoscopic diagnosis apparatus, lesion portion size detection method, and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium that enable easy detection of the size of a lesion portion using an endoscope. This object is achieved by capturing an endoscopic image by emitting light having a regular repetitive pattern onto a subject, detecting, from the endoscopic image, a region in which a repetitive pattern is different from the repetitive pattern of the emitted light, and detecting at least one of a length and area of a lesion portion by using a number of repetitive patterns in the region in which the repetitive pattern is different and a size of a unit of repetition in the repetitive pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiko KAKU
  • Publication number: 20170360287
    Abstract: There are provided a light source device, which is more compact and inexpensive than a known light source device, and an endoscope system having a compact and inexpensive light source device. In a light source device, a light source unit includes a first light source that emits blue light, a second light source that emits broadband green light including not only a green component but also a red component, and an optical filter that adjusts the amount of broadband green light for each wavelength. The optical filter has a characteristic in which the reflectance of the green component is smaller than the reflectance of the red component in the case of reflecting the broadband green light or a characteristic in which the transmittance of the green component is smaller than the transmittance of the red component in the case of transmitting the broadband green light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori MORIMOTO, Satoshi OZAWA
  • Publication number: 20170360288
    Abstract: A temporary tube placement system includes a tube having a proximal end and a distal end, a camera supported by the tube at the distal end, a plurality of fiber optic filaments through which light from a light source travels from the proximal end to the distal end, a screen for displaying images from the camera, and a power source electrically attached to the camera and the light source. The enteral tube includes a tube having a distal end portion for placement within a patient and a proximal end portion and a lumen increasing in cross section from the proximal end portion toward the distal end portion along at least a portion of the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: David S. Kirn, Richard D. Hisel, William Whitman
  • Publication number: 20170360289
    Abstract: An imaging tube 210 includes an imaging lens and an illumination unit. A cap part 230 including a penetration part in which the imaging tube 210 penetrates is included at a leading end part of amain body part 220. A protective tube 212 that protects the entire circumference of the imaging tube 210 is attached to the imaging tube 210. A holding part 235 that holds an end part of the protective tube 212 with the imaging tube 210 is formed in the penetration part of the cap part 230. When being rotated in a first direction, the cap part 230 is moved in a direction opposite to a protruding direction of the imaging tube 210. When being rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the cap part 230 is moved in the protruding direction of the imaging tube 210.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Koda, Kojiro KODA