Patents Issued in March 26, 2019
  • Patent number: 10238243
    Abstract: A wiping solution dispenser utilizes a motorized dispenser mechanism that moves a nozzle back and forth along a stroke to dispense a wide band of wiping solution onto toilet tissue. A motor may be coupled with a nozzle that moves back and forth or rotates about a pivot point to dispense a band of wiping solution. Wiping solution may be within a solution container that is configured for insertion into the dispenser housing and may be automatically ruptured by a puncture feature. A pump may force the wiping solution from the nozzle, or the solution may be gravity fed. A motion detector may be incorporated to control the actuation and dispensing of the solution. A near field communication transceiver may be used to receive payment before solution is dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Inventors: Sue A Coulston, David A Coulston
  • Patent number: 10238244
    Abstract: The present invention provides personal cleaning articles useful for cleaning and/or exfoliating the skin. These articles provide multiple distinct patterns of relatively smooth and coarse elements to provide a user the ability to readily achieve the desired degree of cleansing and/or exfoliation. Further, the article provides a relatively smooth apertured outer layer and a relatively coarse underlying layer whereby a user can, with the application of varied amounts of pressure, more readily achieve and control a wider range of mechanical cleaning and/or exfoliating action against the skin. In certain aspects, the article may also be impregnated with one or more topical skin cleaning and/or exfoliating compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Alice Susan Gordon, Jonathan Adam Dien, Nadeem Haidary, Cynthia Watts Henderson, Jennifer L Schiffman, Kimberly J Tempas
  • Patent number: 10238245
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns an interface for communicating with and for controlling the operation of an automatic hygienic sheet material dispenser. The interface includes a user sensor to detect the presence of a user within a sensing zone, at least one indicator for indicating the setting of an operational parameter, a main microcontroller, at least one additional sensor for adjusting a dispenser operational parameter or activating a dispenser function, and a protective cover including a graphical symbol or text. The at least one additional sensor, the at least one indicator, and the main microcontroller are located on a main printed circuit board located behind the protective cover and arranged such that the at least one graphical symbol or text overlaps with the at least one additional sensor or the at least one indicator. The main microcontroller is arranged to selectively operate the dispenser in a user setting or a maintenance setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventors: Johan Rubenson, Håkan Timdahl, Björn Henriksson, Robert Kling
  • Patent number: 10238246
    Abstract: A sheet product dispenser for dispensing a roll of sheet product mounted thereto includes a housing portion and a load inducement portion. The housing portion defines a space operative to receive the roll of sheet product for rotation about an axis to dispense the sheet product. The load inducement portion is operative to induce a frictional force between the roll of sheet product and the load inducement portion during rotation of the roll of sheet product. The load inducement portion includes a guide member, and a load member slidably engaged with the guide member and operative to contact and apply a load to an outer surface of the roll of sheet product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Antonio M. Cittadino, Steven B. Mattheeussen, Tom Muday
  • Patent number: 10238248
    Abstract: A footstool for bathroom toilet includes a platform, a first leg assembly, and a second leg assembly. The first leg assembly and the second leg assembly each include a base leg, an outer tubular leg, an inner telescopic leg, a height adjustable mechanism, and an angle adjustable mechanism. The base leg is hingedly connected to the outer tubular leg at each end. The inner telescopic leg is slidably engaged with the outer tubular leg through the height adjustable mechanism that enables the footstool to attain different height levels. The platform that allows the user to place and rest their feet is terminally positioned and connected to the inner telescopic leg of the first leg assembly and the second leg assembly, opposite of the outer tubular leg of the first leg assembly and the second leg assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Inventor: Duc Van Pham
  • Patent number: 10238249
    Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner wherein the suction motor axis of rotation is generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis and when the hand vacuum cleaner is oriented with the upper end above the lower end, the suction motor axis of rotation is positioned above the central longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventors: Andre D. Brown, Wayne Conrad, Nina Conrad, Lee M. Cottrell, Dave Petersen, Jason B. Thorne, Adam Udy
  • Patent number: 10238250
    Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner having a main body and cyclone unit provided at a front end of the main body. The cyclone unit has a front openable door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 10238251
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a suction nozzle defining a nozzle inlet, a manual nozzle height adjustment assembly for adjusting the height of the nozzle inlet relative to a surface to be cleaned, and a bleed valve fluidly connected to a working air path of the vacuum cleaner to selectively open to reduce suction at the nozzle inlet. The bleed valve is incorporated with the nozzle height adjustment assembly such that movement of the nozzle height adjustment assembly between different height settings will automatically open or close the bleed valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Richard VanTongeren
  • Patent number: 10238252
    Abstract: A drill removal device is provided for use with a scratch generating tool having a stationary member and a scrap generating workpiece engaging member that is moveable with respect to the stationary member. The debris removal device includes a bracket having a stationary member receiving portion for coupling the bracket to the power tool stationary member. A vacuum receiving portion of the bracket is provided for coupling the bracket to a vacuum source, and a passageway portion is provided for placing the stationary portion in fluid communication with the vacuum source. A variable tube bellows is configured for placement adjacent to the workpiece engaging member. The bellows includes a plurality of bi-stable pleats that are moveable between and stationarily positionable in each of an expanded position and a compressed position for permitting the user to vary the length of the bellows between, and fixedly positioned the length of the bellows at a plurality of different lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Inventor: Christopher Joseph Buczek
  • Patent number: 10238253
    Abstract: A solid fragrance carrier comprising a fragrance-containing polymeric matrix adhesively bonded to a filter or filter bag for filtering an air stream in a vacuum cleaner for providing a fragranced scent to air exhausted from the vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Nickolas James Morrow, Michael R. Foote
  • Patent number: 10238254
    Abstract: A base plate for a suction head for vacuum cleaners or a similar electric household appliance is described, said base plate comprising a lower face configured as to be directed towards the surface to be vacuumed, an opposite upper surface and a base plate channel open towards the surface to be vacuumed, wherein the base plate channel comprises a front edge and a rear edge, wherein at least the surface of the lower face which extends along the front edge of the base plate channel and at least the surface of the lower face which extends along the rear edge of the base plate channel lie in a same plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: NEW ERMES EUROPE S.R.L.
    Inventor: Riccardo Roschi
  • Patent number: 10238255
    Abstract: A vacuum accessory tool that includes a nozzle body having a first end and a second, spaced apart end and at least one light emitting element that emits light that will illuminate a surface to be cleaned by the accessory tool is described. The light emitting element is protected by a protective housing that protects the element when the tool is inserted into areas during cleaning, yet still allows the light to illuminate surfaces during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Douglas C. Schultz, Mark Tomasiak, Jason Hill
  • Patent number: 10238256
    Abstract: A tool for a vacuum cleaner that comprises a nozzle and a bristle assembly. The nozzle comprises an elongate suction opening. The bristle assembly, which is mounted within the nozzle and protrudes through the suction opening, comprises a carrier to which a strip of bristles is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventors: Samuel Steven Cole, Brian McVeigh, Peter David Gammack, James Dyson
  • Patent number: 10238257
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a vacuum attachment comprising a body including an adaptor configured to connect to a vacuum assembly, a vacuum airflow path configured to be in fluid communication with the vacuum assembly, and a dispensing airflow path configured to be in fluid communication with a pressurized gas source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Inventor: Brad Jareczek
  • Patent number: 10238258
    Abstract: Disclosed is a robot cleaner including a main body forming an appearance, at least one driving wheel installed on a lower portion of the main body, a driving unit configured to drive the driving wheel according to an operation of a driving motor, a first obstacle sensor positioned on the lower portion of the main body and configured to sense an obstacle on the floor, and a control unit configured to, when the sensed obstacle on the floor has a preset pattern, limit driving of the at least one driving wheel such that the at least one driving wheel is not hindered by the preset pattern when the main body rotates on the preset pattern according to driving of the at least one driving wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Donghoon Kwak
  • Patent number: 10238259
    Abstract: A method for operating a system of at least one stationary domestic appliance and a mobile domestic appliance includes connecting the mobile domestic appliance using wireless communication to the at least one stationary domestic appliance and exchanging data between the mobile domestic appliance and the at least one stationary domestic appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: MIELE & CIE. KG
    Inventors: Nils Langhammer, Friedrich Laube, Andre Kersting, Florian Benner, Lars Merkel
  • Patent number: 10238260
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus has a base configured to be moved across a surface to be cleaned, a fluid delivery system, and a fluid recovery system with a suction nozzle assembly defining a fluid flow path. A squeegee is provided in the suction nozzle assembly and is mounted within the fluid flow path to slide forwardly and rearwardly within the suction nozzle assembly as the base is moved rearwardly and forwardly, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Lenkiewicz, Alan J. Krebs
  • Patent number: 10238261
    Abstract: A self-contained device capable of steam cleaning and removal of residue such as chewing gum and the like from surfaces is portable and well balanced so that one person can remove residue of chewing gum or the like in just a couple of seconds. The device includes an elongated housing having wheels on a lower end portion and a handle on an upper portion and the cleaning solution to be turned into steam is heated quickly by a gas burner after being preheated at several stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: GUMWAND, INC.
    Inventors: Scott Genoa, Shihui Xu
  • Patent number: 10238262
    Abstract: To provide a cleaning tool exhibiting excellent cleaning effectiveness. The present invention relates to a cleaning tool comprising a cleaning sheet, and a holding tool for holding said cleaning sheet. The cleaning sheet is provided with: a brush part capable of cleaning an object to be cleaned; a base part; and insertion parts for the holding tool. The brush part is provided with a first contact region and a second contact region. The second contact region is provided with a lower region formed so as to be lower than the first contact region in the thickness direction. The lower region is used as a guide region capable of guiding dust on the object to be cleaned towards the adjacent first contact region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomokazu Suda
  • Patent number: 10238263
    Abstract: A cleaning tool set includes a rod; a mop head attached to the rod; a wiper attached to the mop head; and a bucket for receiving the mop; the rod includes an inner rod, an outer rod sleeved at least partially over the inner rod, and a driving mechanism for converting a telescopic motion between the inner rod and an outer rod into a rotating motion of the rod; the bucket includes at least one container, a rotatable dewatering frame with a central shaft. While the mop head is rotating with the rod to be dewatered, the mop head is put in the dewatering frame, and the water pumping device is driven by the drive mechanism to drain water out of the container which has the dewatering frame disposed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Inventor: Zhiyong Huang
  • Patent number: 10238264
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention provides a torsion wringer including: a contraction device for receiving a mop head of a mop, the contraction device having an upper part and a lower base which are interconnected by contraction lamellae, the contraction lamellae being hinged to the upper part and to the lower base such that the upper part can rotate relative to the lower base, the contraction device being movable relative to a carrier device over a distance of travel, as a result of which the upper part rotates through an angle of rotation relative to the carrier device and relative to the lower base. A reduction unit is provided so as to reduce a force which counteracts the rotation of the upper part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: CARL FREUDENBERG KG
    Inventors: Markus Rueckheim, Christian Mast, Norbert Weis, Uwe Dingert, Reiner Wallbaum, Johannes Hohenhaus
  • Patent number: 10238265
    Abstract: This disclosure proposes a cleaning device for cleaning items to be cleaned. The cleaning device has at least one fluid device for applying at least one cleaning fluid to the items to be cleaned. The cleaning device has at least one electrical load. The cleaning device further has at least one electrical connection for supplying electrical energy to the cleaning device. The cleaning device further has at least one energy store. The cleaning device is designed to receive electrical energy via the electrical connection and to temporarily store said electrical energy in the energy store. The cleaning device is further designed to supply electrical energy from the energy store to the at least one electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: MEIKO MASCHINENBAU GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Bruno Gaus, Wendelin Hils, Thomas Peukert, Stefan Scheringer
  • Patent number: 10238266
    Abstract: A dishwasher having a tub defining a wash chamber, dish racks located within the wash chamber, and pump assembly for recirculating wash liquid is further provided with a rotating spray arm located configured to direct a spray of liquid into the wash chamber to define a first wash zone and at least one nozzle configured to direct a spray of liquid into the wash chamber to define a second wash zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Carlson, Vincent P. Gurubatham, Jay C. Landsiedel, Edward L. Thies, Chad T. Vanderroest
  • Patent number: 10238267
    Abstract: A dispensing device (1) for a door of a dishwasher, includes a support body (2) having first and second, longitudinally adjacent, dispensers (5-7; 9, 10), for a washing agent and a rinse agent, respectively; and an electrically controlled actuator device (13), having a stationary structure (15) and a mobile member (18), coupled to the first dispenser (5-7) such that when the door is closed a first energization of the actuator device (13) causes the dispensing of the washing agent, and coupled to the second dispenser (9, 10) through a transmission mechanism including an interconnecting member (30) which makes the mechanism operative after a first energization of the actuator device (13) after the door is closed, to allow dispensing of the rinse agent by a subsequent energization of the actuator device (13). The interconnecting member (30) has an inactive position in which the mechanism is inoperative when the door is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: BITRON POLAND SP. ZO.O
    Inventors: Giuseppe Marone, Adrian Ficek
  • Patent number: 10238268
    Abstract: A shoe dryer includes a working surface for drying shoes, with holes in communication with air venting means, and is characterized in that the dryer further comprises a hollow plastic case with hemispherical recesses provided for placing shoes while stepping onto the working surface, which is a latticed platform. Hot or warm air is vented from the bottom of the device onto the soles of the shoes through the lattice, and horizontal slits are provided over the entire bottom part of the hemispherical recesses for venting warm air onto the outer surface of the shoes. A tray for collecting meltwater under the platform. The meltwater is discharged either into the sewer system or outside, and the dryer further comprising means of heating the air vented from the outside, means of pumping the heated air into the case, and motion sensors which are able to detect shoes stepping onto the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Inventor: Kairat Nurlybekov
  • Patent number: 10238270
    Abstract: The flexible tube includes a plurality of spiral tubes fitted with each other, and each spiral tube is formed by winding a band-like element and includes a densely wound portion and a loosely wound portion. The loosely wound portion of a first spiral tube is covered with the densely wound portion of a second spiral tube, so that the flexible tube has uniform hardness and resiliency. The flexible tube is suitably applied to an insertion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kohei Araki
  • Patent number: 10238271
    Abstract: The traction balance adjustment mechanism 1 includes a movable part 2 that goes into operation through at least one degree of freedom, wires 7 connected to the movable part 2, and a traction part 6 that pulls one of the wires 7 and pushes out the other, wherein the length of the one wire 7 pulled by the traction part 6 is longer than the length of the other wire 7 pushed out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 10238272
    Abstract: An endoscope can include an elongate, manipulable shaft with a distal-end visualization element and a handle body comprising at least one control surface for manipulating a distal region of the shaft, where the handle body includes a passage through which a length of the shaft is passable, and where the handle body includes a novel connection structure configured for firmly, securely, and removably mounting the handle to a channel of another endoscope in a manner axially aligning the passage with the channel to provide a path of communication for the shaft. A dual medical endoscope system can be constructed including a first and a second medical endoscope, where the first endoscope comprises an accessory channel with a proximal mounting port providing access thereto, and where the second endoscope comprises a handle body that is securely and removably attached to the proximal mounting port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Victor Anthony Simmons
  • Patent number: 10238273
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an endoscopic fluid control valve. By having just one fluid outlet, the structure of the endoscopic fluid control valve is made simpler with interior space saving. There is no need for a one-way check valve at an operational portion of the endoscope to prevent fluid backflow, and this makes it easy to clean. An embodiment includes valve housing, valve stem, valve core, elastic component, button, first seal, second seal, third seal, fourth seal, gas inlet, fluid inlet and fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: SONOSCAPE MEDICAL CORP.
    Inventors: Keduan Xu, Gong'an Wu
  • Patent number: 10238274
    Abstract: There is provided a medical camera head including: a first casing configured to accommodate an imaging element; a heat-generating section accommodated in the first casing; a connection section provided in the first casing, an external signal transmission section being connected to one end of the connection section; and a heat transfer member interposed between the heat-generating section and the other end of the connection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Olympus Medical Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kohtaro Amano
  • Patent number: 10238275
    Abstract: A light source driving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a reception unit, an output unit, a sample unit, and a timing output unit. The reception unit receives a pulse modulation signal for pulse-driving a light source. The output unit outputs a delay modulation signal obtained by delaying the received pulse modulation signal to the light source. The sample unit samples, at a predetermined timing, a light amount of the light source driven on the basis of the delay modulation signal. The timing output unit outputs, to the sample unit, a pulse fall timing of the received pulse modulation signal as the predetermined timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Zenya Nagashima
  • Patent number: 10238276
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a distal tip of an endoscope includes a driver configured to be mounted over a shaft of the endoscope, the driver adapted for generating transverse waves along a length of the shaft. The apparatus may be provided as a retrofit to existing equipment, or as a feature of new equipment. Methods of operation are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher A. Cook
  • Patent number: 10238277
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments integrate a camera into an intraoral mirror. Integrating a camera into an intraoral mirror provides an efficient way to record and display what is visible to the healthcare provider in the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Dental SmartMirror, Inc.
    Inventors: Gidon Oded Elazar, Dan Zidkiahu Harkabi, Joshua Israel Wachspress
  • Patent number: 10238278
    Abstract: An ophthalmic information system for long-term management of pathological conditions, in which, upon receipt of patient identification information and examination data from an ophthalmic examination apparatus, a server of the system specifies a medical institution terminal corresponding to the patient identification information, and sends the patient identification information and the examination data received to the medical institution terminal specified. Further, upon receipt of the patient identification information and a report based on the examination data from the medical institution terminal, the server stores at least part of the report in a patient information storage area associated with the patient identification information, and sends at least part of the report to a patient terminal corresponding to the patient identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOPCON
    Inventors: Yusuke Ono, Taiki Aimi, Masayuki Ito
  • Patent number: 10238279
    Abstract: Stereoscopic display systems and methods for displaying surgical data and information in a surgical microscope are disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a system includes first and second eyepieces. The system includes a display having first and second display portions, configured to display first images in the first display portion, and configured to display second images in the second display portion. The first image and the second image are projected along a first pathway and a second pathway. The system includes a first optical element positioned to relay the first images into the first eyepiece. The system includes a second optical element positioned to relay the second images into the second eyepiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Joseph A. Izatt, Liangbo Shen, Oscar M. Carrasco-Zevallos, Cynthia Toth
  • Patent number: 10238280
    Abstract: A portable visual acuity examination device comprises a mounting unit that can be mounted in front of eyes either using or not using eyeglasses, a visual target displaying unit that uses an organic EL display panel, a display controlling unit that changes the visual target displayed on the displaying unit, an inputting unit for visual target viewing results, and a transmitting unit for measurement results. The portable visual acuity examination device comprises an optical system that can change the distance at which the visual target virtual image is visible. The portable visual acuity examination device detects whether eyeglasses are used and matches an uncorrected vision acuity examination and a corrected vision acuity examination. The portable visual acuity examination device switches between a C-type visual target and an E-type visual target. With data display, both the right and left display units are enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihisa Maeda, Masahide Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10238281
    Abstract: An optical coherence tomography device includes an OCT optical system that irradiates a tissue of the subject's eye with measurement light from a light source, and detects interference between reference light and the measurement light reflected from the tissue by using a detector, and a processor, in which the processor performs a generation process of acquiring A-scan data based on a signal output from the detector in a cycle of 300 kilohertz or more and generating three-dimensional OCT data at any time based on the acquired A-scan data, and performs an analysis process on each piece of the three-dimensional OCT data generated at any time through the generation process, so as to output a real-time analysis result of the three-dimensional OCT data which is generated at any time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Isogai, Hideki Aono, Yukihiro Higuchi, Yuji Murase, Norimasa Satake, Keiji Murata
  • Patent number: 10238282
    Abstract: This invention provides for a method and an EMDU used to dispense precise quantities of liquids with an image sensor being capable of providing feedback to the user as to both, when an eye is properly aligned with the EMDU, and to detect and track the quantity of the dose administered on to the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie A. Voss, Catie A. Morley, Gary S. Hall
  • Patent number: 10238283
    Abstract: A novel surgical lens system including a lens and a reflective element. The lens is placed on, or above, a cornea of an eye of a subject for enabling inspection of the eye. The reflective element is incorporated into the lens. The reflective element reflects a light beam toward the eye of the subject. The reflective element increases the divergence of the light beam, such that the divergence of the reflected light beam is larger than the divergence of the light beam. The light beam is emitted by a non-invasive light source positioned externally to the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Abraham Zeitouny, Ron Schneider
  • Patent number: 10238284
    Abstract: Methods for improved acquisition and processing of optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography data are presented. One embodiment involves improving the acquisition of the data by evaluating the quality of different portions of the data to identify sections having non-uniform acquisition parameters or non-uniformities due to opacities in the eye such as floaters. The identified sections can then be brought to the attention of the user or automatically reacquired. In another embodiment, segmentation of layers in the retina includes both structural and flow information derived from motion contrast processing. In a further embodiment, the health of the eye is evaluating by comparing a metric reflecting the density of vessels at a particular location in the eye determined by OCT angiography to a database of values calculated on normal eyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.
    Inventors: Lin An, Mary K. Durbin, Sophie Kubach, Utkarsh Sharma
  • Patent number: 10238285
    Abstract: A contact lens is placed on a patient's eye during ophthalmic surgery, such as vitreoretinal surgery. The contact lens rests on a cornea of an eye of a patient during the surgery and is supported by a contact lens mounting speculum having multiple degrees of freedom to accommodate small movements of the eye while enabling alignment to an optical axis of the surgical microscope. The contact lens mounting speculum may be used with different patients, speculum blades, contact lenses (direct and indirect), and lens mounting positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Mark Farley, Steve Charles
  • Patent number: 10238286
    Abstract: A method and device for radiating light used to capture an iris are provided. The device for radiating light to capture an iris of a user includes a lens unit including a lens array of arranged lenses, a light source configured to radiate light beams into the iris of the user via the arranged lenses by emitting the light beams toward the arranged lenses, and a controller configured to change positions of the arranged lenses based on a distance between the device and the iris, in which the lens array is positioned between the light source and the iris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-kwang Jung, Jun-ho Koh, Byeong-hoon Kwak, Sung-chan Kim, Yang-wook Kim, Chang-han Kim, Hyun-jung Kim, In-hak Na, Kang-jin Yoon, Yong-chan Lee, Jae-ho Jung
  • Patent number: 10238287
    Abstract: The invention relates to a negative-pressure device (1) for affixing a patient interface (2) with a negative-pressure cavity (20) onto a patient eye. The negative-pressure device (1) comprises a negative-pressure generator (10) and a pressure sensor (11) with a device-side pressure sensor interface (14) for coupling the pressure sensor (11) to the negative-pressure cavity in a manner fluidically separate from the negative-pressure interface (13). The negative-pressure device furthermore relates to a control unit (12) operatively coupled to the negative-pressure generator (10) and the pressure sensor (11), wherein the control unit (12) is designed to detect a faulty fluidic coupling of the negative-pressure cavity (20) by evaluating a pressure established by the pressure sensor (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG
    Inventors: Thomas Studer, Christian Rathjen
  • Patent number: 10238288
    Abstract: A wearable radio frequency receiver device is provided, which includes a receiver antenna configured to receive an interrogation signal from a transmitter. The receiver device further includes a sensor coupled to the receiver antenna and configured to receive a physiological input from a user wearing the device and generate a sensor signal based on the physiological input, and a modulator configured to perform direct modulation on the received interrogation signal based on the sensor signal to encode the physiological input in the directly modulated interrogation signal. The receiver antenna may be configured to reflect at least a portion of the directly modulated interrogation signal as backscatter radiation. A transceiver including a transceiver antenna may be provided to receive the directly modulated interrogation signal, and the modulation receiver may be configured to process the directly modulated interrogation signal and output a decoded physiological input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Sidhant Gupta, Jonathan Lester, Vaishnavi Nattar Ranganathan
  • Patent number: 10238289
    Abstract: A body fluid component measuring system which is capable of continuous measurement and reduces downtime includes a sensor unit which is positionable indwelling in the skin of a subject and which measures a predetermined body fluid component included in the body fluid of the subject; and a transmission unit which is detachably attached to the sensor unit and which calculates blood glucose level based on measurement data measured by the sensor unit, and transmits the calculated blood glucose level to a display unit. Identification information for establishing communication between the transmission unit and the display unit is stored in the sensor unit, and the transmission unit, upon activation, uses the identification information read out by the sensor unit to establish communication with the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kouji Hagi
  • Patent number: 10238290
    Abstract: With a probe 2 in which an end of the organic photoelectric-conversion layer 23 on a projection optical path 10 side is covered by an upper electrode 24 having a light-blocking effect, light passing through the projection optical path 10 from a light source can be prevented from directly entering the organic photoelectric-conversion layer 23.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Takahiko Yamanaka, Shigeo Hara, Toru Hirohata, Takashi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10238291
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a quantitative ex vivo method for the complementary diagnosis of the degree of dental demineralization through the use of Raman spectroscopy, which comprises quantifying the intensities and areas of a plurality of Stoke bands of the spectrum, and defining and calculating indices that result from dividing the areas of certain bands of interest. The diagnosis is determined by the proximity of the values of these indices to the values previously obtained for the normal pattern of dental mineralization established by analyzing healthy dental parts. This method provides a complementary biomedical technique for quantitative ex vivo analysis of the degree of dental demineralization on dental tissue remains extracted by medical prescription, and the information obtained will facilitate the prescription of suitable treatment to reduce or prevent said demineralization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSIDADE DE VIGO
    Inventors: Pio Manuel González Fernández, Stefano Chiussi, Benigno Coello Delgado, Maria Rodríguez Domínguez, Miriam López Álvarez, Julia Serra Rodríguez
  • Patent number: 10238292
    Abstract: A patient support system includes a patient support apparatus, a camera, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive image data from the camera and to determine at least one of pulmonary and circulatory characteristics of a patient supported on the patient support apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Irvin J. Vanderpohl, III
  • Patent number: 10238293
    Abstract: A viewing navigation grid and imaging display especially useful for viewing recorded skin images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: DermSpectra LLC
    Inventors: Karleen Seybold, Karim Alami, Brian Lau, Clara Curiel
  • Patent number: 10238294
    Abstract: The present invention is a Miniature Vein Enhancer that includes a Miniature Projection Head. The Miniature Projection Head may be operated in one of three modes, AFM, DBM, and RTM. The Miniature Projection Head of the present invention projects an image of the veins of a patient, which aids the practitioner in pinpointing a vein for an intravenous drip, blood test, and the like. The Miniature projection head may have a cavity for a power source or it may have a power source located in a body portion of the Miniature Vein Enhancer. The Miniature Vein Enhancer may be attached to one of several improved needle protectors, or the Miniature Vein Enhancer may be attached to a body similar to a flashlight for hand held use. The Miniature Vein Enhancer of the present invention may also be attached to a magnifying glass, a flat panel display, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: AccuVein, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Wood, Ron Goldman, Stephen P Conlon, Vincent Luciano