Patents Issued in February 25, 2020
  • Patent number: 10568457
    Abstract: The container for cooking food comprises a body (2) comprising a bottom wall (3) and at least one side wall (4) extending from the said bottom wall (3), at least one first non-stick coating (30) on at least part of the inside surface of the bottom wall (3), and at least one second non-stick coating (40) on at least part of the inside surface of the side wall (4); the first non-stick coating (30) differs from the second non-stick coating (40) and has greater resistance to scratching than the second non-stick coating (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: BALLARINI PAOLO & FIGLI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Ferron, Jacopo Ferron
  • Patent number: 10568458
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heating device (10) for heating food (12) in a container (14), in particular milk in a baby bottle, comprising a chamber (16) configured to contain a fluid (18) and to receive the container (14), a heating unit (20) for heating the fluid (18) in the chamber (16), a temperature measuring element (22) for measuring a temperature of the fluid (18) over a time range, a calculation unit (24) for determining, for each time point of the time range being a first time point, a temperature difference of the fluid (18) between the first time point and a corresponding second time point of the time range different from the first time point, the calculation unit (24) being configured to compare the determined temperature difference to a predefined amount of temperature, and an estimation unit (26) for estimating an arrival time point, at which a pre-set temperature for the food (12) contained in the container (14) is reached, based on the comparison result of the calculation unit (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Arjan Teodor Van Wieringen, Jingqi Hou
  • Patent number: 10568459
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus 20 comprises a body 22 having a base wall 24, side walls 26, a rear wall 28, a top wall 30 and a shelf 34. The shelf 34, top panel 35, and sections of the side walls 26 and rear wall 28 therebetween define a cooking space 40 having an open front 42. The cooking apparatus 20 further comprises a heating means 46 which extends along an internal surface of the rear wall 28 facing the cooking space 40. In the embodiment, the heating means 46 comprises gas ceramic burners 46 for directing and distributing heat towards the cooking space 40 in a substantially uniform manner. A moisture infusion assembly 50 is arranged above the shelf 34 and thus at a lower portion of the cooking space 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Inventor: Shaker Azzam
  • Patent number: 10568460
    Abstract: A portable electric grill and method of use are described. The grill includes a double walled dome lid, a basin having a cavity, a grill that interfaces with the basin, a first heating element, a second heating element, a temperature controlling component, and a support that interfaces with a surface. The double walled dome lid includes a dome lid inner wall and a dome lid outer wall. The dome lid inner wall and the dome lid outer wall are joined at a base of the double walled dome lid. The basin interfaces with the base of the double walled dome lid, and the basin includes a hinge coupling the basin and the double walled dome lid. The first heating element is radially disposed about an exterior surface of the dome lid inner wall and within the dome lid outer wall. The second heating element is disposed within the basin cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: LAM & SONS, LLC
    Inventors: George T. C. Li, Eric Li
  • Patent number: 10568461
    Abstract: Grill rack systems include at least three grill racks and a mounting assembly for supporting the grill racks. The mounting assembly includes a plurality of grill rack mounting elements that are connectable to an inner surface of a grilling device. A grilling device with grill rack system includes an oven section having an outer wall that partially bounds an internal grilling compartment with an access opening and a lid that selectively covers the access opening. The grilling device also includes a grill rack system having at least three grill racks supported by a mounting assembly inside the internal grilling compartment. Oval-shaped grilling devices have the grill racks mounted therein in a vertically spaced configuration, with the front edge of each grill rack progressively recessed relative to an adjacent lower grill rack. At least one grill rack can have a removable grill rack insert and/or be slidable into the grill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Traeger Pellet Grills, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Colston, Daniel Altenritter, Matthew Czach
  • Patent number: 10568462
    Abstract: A container system for separately storing and mixing two or more substances. The container system comprises a mixing container having a main container that stores one or more first substances. The main container has a first upper opening. The container system also includes a storage repository coupled to main container, and which stores one or more second substances. The storage repository includes a lip defining a second upper opening, which has an outside diameter smaller than the diameter of the first upper opening. Additionally, the container system includes a mixing blade having an outside diameter smaller than the diameter of the first upper opening. The mixing blade also has a plurality of openings. The container system includes a releasable liner placed over the storage repository's lip, and the storage repository's lip forms a seal with a lower surface of the releasable liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: DryBev International, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore Casey
  • Patent number: 10568463
    Abstract: A food separation utensil. The food separation utensil includes an elongated member having a working end and a handle end. The working end has a base. The base includes two distinct groups of blades attached to a lower surface thereof. Both groups of blades are designed to separate and otherwise manipulate food products, such as ground meats and vegetables, in order to promote even cooking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Inventors: Anthony R. Stella, Anthony W. Stella
  • Patent number: 10568464
    Abstract: The invention relates to a strainer for a food container that comprises apertures suitable for allowing liquids to drain therethrough, which is provided with at least two holes through which two fingers of a user can be inserted to a level below the strainer's plane, said strainer being bendable by the action of forces applied by said fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: DRYCAN SOLUTIONS 2015 LTD.
    Inventors: Matan Koch, Gal Argaman
  • Patent number: 10568465
    Abstract: An improved bath seat for a young child or infant is provided. The bath seat has a plurality of rigid, extendable and retractable, stabilizing arms that include pivotable, spring-loaded suction cups at or near their ends that are engageable by means of suction with a wall of the bathtub to prevent the bath seat from tipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Summer Infant (USA) Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Fusco, Christopher C. Briden, Anthony Carbone, Zachary R. Stebenne, Mark J. Sousa, Spencer P. Brown
  • Patent number: 10568466
    Abstract: A showerhead assembly is provided having a diverter, a primary showerhead and a wall mounted supplemental showerhead. The showerhead assembly's diverter includes a female threaded inlet for affixing to a male threaded pipe, a first outlet, a second outlet, and a valve assembly which selectively permits or obstructs the flow of water through the first and second outlets. The primary showerhead is connected to the diverter's first outlet by a ball and socket joint connector, and the supplemental showerhead is connected to the diverter's second outlet by a hollow flexible hose. The supplemental showerhead is affixed to a shower stall wall by a fastener, such as a male threaded fastener, hook and pile, adhesive, magnets or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: ETL, LLC
    Inventor: Travis Hawkins
  • Patent number: 10568467
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser has a bay surrounded by a shaped frame that is sized to receive a shaped refill inserted at an acute angle of 75 degrees or less in relation to the dispenser's lateral central axis. This unique arrangement is designed to maintain consistent quality of liquids dispensed by preventing the substitution of product refills having different shapes whose contents are of uncertain quality. Refills may be readily manufactured and at low cost. Mechanical and motorized dispensers with optional proximity detection of a user's hand may be used with the inventive dispenser and refill arrangement. Liquid or foam may be dispensed depending on the design of the dispenser pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Agnete Enga, Ivan Exposito Sanchez, Jamie Mark Nicholson, Kevin Richard Lozeau, Srinivasan Krishnan
  • Patent number: 10568468
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for pumping first and second selected sterilizing or cleaning fluids (F1, F) by a user comprising: a first fluid container (12), a second fluid container (12k), a first pump assembly (18), a second pump assembly (18k), the first and second pump assemblies (18, 18k) being interconnected in an arrangement adapted to simultaneously pump the first fluid (F1) through upstream end fluid delivery apertures (22a) and the second fluid (F) through a laterally extending spout (24k) on manual driving of the external device in the downstream direction (D), the first fluid (F1) being delivered to the complementary surface (17s) of an external device (15) separately from the second fluid (F).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Inventor: Richard Ma
  • Patent number: 10568469
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes an upper section having a top surface with one or more valves; a lower section; a connection to secure the upper section to the lower section; a cavity formed between the upper section and the lower section; and fabric pieces secured to and extending from the top surface; the cavity is to hold a fluid to dispense through the one or more valves; and the upper section and the lower section are composed of a pliable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Inventor: Kyndal Kidd
  • Patent number: 10568470
    Abstract: A battery compartment for an electronically driven dispensing unit includes an electronic unit having a fixed first structure and a battery holding unit having a fixed second structure adapted to receive and contain at least two cylindrical batteries side by side. The first structure includes a first electrical connection and a second electrical connection positioned opposite each other. The second structure is rotatably connected to the first structure via a joint allowing rotation between a first open position in which the batteries are loaded or unloaded in the battery holding unit and a closed position in which loaded batteries are connected to the first and second electrical connections via spring action and movement of the batteries in the loading direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventors: Robert Kling, Björn Henriksson, Håkan Timdahl
  • Patent number: 10568471
    Abstract: A separation unit for separating a web material along preformed lines of weakness. The separation unit has a width direction and includes a first roller having a rotational axis extending in the width direction and a web width extending in the width direction, and a second roller having a rotational axis extending parallel with the rotational axis of the first roller and a web width extending in the width direction. The second roller is positioned at a distance from the first roller. Each of the first and the second rollers is provided with a plurality of protrusion elements being spaced along the rotational axes and protruding perpendicular from the axes. Each of the protrusion elements has a maximum width in the width direction, a maximum radial extension from the rotational axes, an inner portion adjacent to the rotational axes, and an outer portion remote from the rotational axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: ESSITY HYGIENE AND HEALTH AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventors: Bjorn Larsson, Per Moller, Lars Thoren, Jari Haukirauma, Stig Pommer, Joonas Jokitalo
  • Patent number: 10568472
    Abstract: The present invention is a portable toilet for children. The portable toilet is in the shape of a backpack for carrying purposes, and which can be popped up as a collapsible tent during use. The portable toilet includes a toilet seat which could be folded to be attached with a body of the portable toilet and later may be removed, and disposed in installed state to be placed inside the portable toilet. The toilet seat is adjustable when in installed state to cater to children with varying heights. The portable toilet further includes a solar panel which is installed on a backside of the body to receive sunlight, when the portable toilet is being carried in transport configuration. The portable toilet also includes a fan and a light bulb which are powered by the solar panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Inventor: Lee Y. Ashur
  • Patent number: 10568473
    Abstract: A portable urinal includes a receptacle with a wide opening and an internal cavity which converges towards a tube neck and wherein a tube is attached to the tube neck. The tube is attached via a disconnect coupler to a container which can be sealed and separated from the tube. The receptacle is shaped to accommodate one or more of the male genitalia and the female genitalia. The portable urinal is designed to allow a user to urinate in restroom inaccessible locations without discomfort, without creating an odor, without chance of spilling bodily fluids, and without inappropriately exposing their body so that they can urinate in locations where other people may be present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Inventor: Khoa T Le
  • Patent number: 10568474
    Abstract: A cleaner includes: a suction unit; a suction motor that generates suction force for sucking air through the suction unit and includes an impeller; a dust separation unit that includes one or more cyclone units generating cyclonic flow to separate dust from air flowing inside through the suction unit; a dust container that stores dust separated by the dust separation unit and is disposed under the suction motor; a battery disposed behind the dust container to supply power to the suction motor; and a handle disposed behind the suction motor, wherein a rotational axis of the impeller and an axis of the cyclonic flow vertically extend and an extension line from the rotational axis of the impeller passes through the one or more cyclone units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Bohyun Nam, Namhee Kim, Jinju Kim, Hyeonjeong An, Jungbae Hwang
  • Patent number: 10568475
    Abstract: A cleaner includes: a suction unit; a suction motor that generates suction force for sucking air through the suction unit and includes an impeller; a dust separation unit that includes one or more cyclone units generating cyclonic flow to separate dust from air flowing inside through the suction unit; a dust container that stores dust separated by the dust separation unit and is disposed under the suction motor; a battery disposed behind the dust container to supply power to the suction motor; and a handle disposed behind the suction motor, wherein a rotational axis of the impeller and an axis of the cyclonic flow vertically extend and an extension line from the rotational axis of the impeller passes through the one or more cyclone units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Bohyun Nam, Namhee Kim, Jinju Kim, Hyeonjeong An, Jungbae Hwang
  • Patent number: 10568476
    Abstract: A cleaner includes: a suction unit; a suction motor that generates suction force for sucking air through the suction unit and includes an impeller; a dust separation unit that includes one or more cyclone units generating cyclonic flow to separate dust from air flowing inside through the suction unit; a dust container that stores dust separated by the dust separation unit and is disposed under the suction motor; a battery disposed behind the dust container to supply power to the suction motor; and a handle disposed behind the suction motor, wherein a rotational axis of the impeller and an axis of the cyclonic flow vertically extend and an extension line from the rotational axis of the impeller passes through the one or more cyclone units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Bohyun Nam, Namhee Kim, Jinju Kim, Hyeonjeong An, Jungbae Hwang
  • Patent number: 10568477
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus has a dirty air inlet and an air treatment member. The air treatment member includes a dirt collection region having an openable door. When an accessory is connected to the dirty air inlet, the openable door is inhibited from opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 10568478
    Abstract: A system for the collection and containment of vacuumed dust and debris, and more particularly to waste disposal bags for placement over a portion of a bagless vacuum cleaner, and into which the waste contents of the vacuum cleaner are emptied. The system includes a mouth with a projecting lip, a non-projecting lip and a light tack adhesive strip on the projecting or non-projecting lip. When the mouth is constricted about a portion of the bagless vacuum cleaner, the light tack adhesive strip adheres the bag for temporary affixment to the vacuum cleaner. The projecting lip serves as a flap that is folded over the mouth to seal the bag after the filled bag is separated from the vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Inventor: Christy Z Hutchins
  • Patent number: 10568479
    Abstract: A handheld dust collector, a spiral two-stage tornado dust-air separation structure and a primary dust barrel are disposed in the body of the handheld dust collector. The spiral two-stage tornado dust-air separation structure includes a first-stage cyclone barrel, a second-stage cyclone barrel, a cyclone cover, and a spiral dust-air separation apparatus disposed at the upper end of the second-stage cyclone barrel. The first-stage cyclone barrel and the cyclone cover perform first-stage dust-air separation on primary dust-air entering the spiral two-stage tornado dust-air separation structure, and second-stage dust-air after previous separation enters the second-stage cyclone barrel for second-stage dust-air separation. The dust collector is small in the number of components, simple in assembling procedure, and high in comprehensive performance of a complete machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: KINGCLEAN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zugen Ni
  • Patent number: 10568480
    Abstract: A robot cleaner comprises: a cleaner body including a controller, and driving wheels having their driving controlled by the controller; a bumper mounted to a bumper mounting portion formed on a front surface of the cleaner body, and configured to be inward moveable by an external force; and a cliff sensor mounted in an opening downward open at a bottom part of the cleaner body, and configured to sense a lower side terrain, wherein the bumper is provided to cover the cliff sensor in a state that the bumper has been inward moved by an external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Byungdoo Yim, Inbo Shim
  • Patent number: 10568481
    Abstract: A cordless, battery-powered system of cleaning products. The system of cleaning products includes devices such as upright vacuums (e.g., a stick vacuum, a lightweight upright vacuum, etc.), a hand-held vacuum, a carpet-cleaner, a canister vacuum, and the like. Each of the devices is powered by a battery pack which is interchangeable among the devices. The battery pack includes a combination of hardware and software for connecting to, identifying, and communicating with the cleaning products to ensure that each of the products receives the power necessary to ensure optimal performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Techtronic Floor Care Technology Limited
    Inventors: Brett Reed, Markus Allemann, Doug Rukavina, Mark Reindle, Norm Siegel, Jack W. Gee, Jamie Horvath, Mark Butts
  • Patent number: 10568482
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cleaner having a structure that a supporting member and a cleaning module are coupled to or separated from a cleaner body. The cleaner includes a cleaner body having a module mounting portion; a supporting member inserted and mounted to the module mounting portion, and separated and withdrawn from the module mounting portion, through a bottom part of the cleaner body; and a cleaning module coupled to the supporting member so as to be inserted or withdrawn together with the supporting member when the supporting member is inserted or withdrawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Changhwa Sun, Sangjo Kim
  • Patent number: 10568483
    Abstract: An autonomous cleaning robot comprises a chassis, at least one motorized drive wheel mounted to the chassis and arranged to propel the robot across a surface, and a pair of cleaning rollers mounted to the chassis and having outer surfaces exposed on an underside of the chassis and to each other. The cleaning rollers are drivable to counter-rotate while the robot is propelled, thereby cooperating to direct raised debris upward into the robot between the rollers. A side brush is further mounted to the chassis to rotate beneath the chassis adjacent a lateral side of the chassis about an upwardly extending side brush axis, and the outer surface of a first of the cleaning rollers of the pair extends laterally beyond the outer surface of a second of the cleaning rollers of the pair and laterally beyond the side brush axis, such that the first cleaning roller defines a cleaning width spanning the side brush axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventor: Oliver Lewis
  • Patent number: 10568484
    Abstract: A method for continuously producing a cleaning member obtained from a multilayer web that includes at least a fiber bundle with hollow fibers, and non-woven fabric strips includes at least: a step for preparing a guide member provided with a pair of width-adjusting member, and having a predetermined interval; a step for conveying a fiber bundle strip, such as the fiber bundle with hollow fibers, between the pair of width-adjusting members of the guide member, and adjusting the width of the fiber bundle strip so as to match the aforementioned interval; a step for forming the multilayer web by overlaying the strip-like fiber bundle, the width of which has been adjusted, on the non-woven fabric strips; and a step for joining the components of the multilayer web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigetomo Takahashi, Hiroaki Goto, Takayuki Matsumoto, Yuji Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10568485
    Abstract: A surface disinfecting assembly for sterilizing a sole of a shoe includes a box that is positionable on a floor and is positioned adjacent to a selected area such that the box can be stepped in. A pad is positionable in the box and the pad is infused with a fluid antiseptic. In this way the pad sanitize a sole of the shoe thereby inhibiting the shoe from transferring bacteria into the selected area. A cushion is positionable adjacent to the box and the cushion can be stepped upon. The cushion is comprised of a fluid absorbent material for absorbing the fluid antiseptic from the sole of the shoe after the pad is stepped upon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Inventor: Marilou Johnson
  • Patent number: 10568486
    Abstract: To provide a more logical construction technique relating to a production method and a production apparatus for a cleaning implement. Provided are a production method and a production apparatus for a cleaning implement having a cleaning sheet and a holder, the method including: a step of supplying a plurality of strip elements; a step of superimposing the plurality of strip elements; a step of supplying the superimposed strip elements to a bonding apparatus having a drum roll and a bonding process section; and a step of forming bonded zones in predetermined zones of the superimposed strip elements by the bonding apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihide Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 10568487
    Abstract: Disclosed is a heating circulation type drying module of a dishwasher using a fan module and PTC heaters. The dishwasher includes a cabinet defining the external appearance, a tub provided in the cabinet, a door for opening or closing the tub, a flow-path unit for circulating air inside the tub through a suction port and an exhaust port, which communicate with the tub, a suction duct for communicating with the suction port, an exhaust duct for communicating with the suction duct and the exhaust port, at least two heaters provided inside the exhaust duct for heating the air, and a fan for supplying the air to the heaters. The dishwasher may achieve improved drying performance via adjustment in the temperature of air to be discharged, and may reduce power consumption via omission of a rinsing water heating course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Woo Hong, Sangwoo Woo, Seonhwa Yu
  • Patent number: 10568488
    Abstract: A spray arm for a dishwasher includes an outlet nozzle which is provided on a bottom side of the spray arm for emptying washing liquor from the spray arm. The outlet nozzle is selectively closed and opened by a valve which is movable from an open position into a closed position in response to a pressure of the washing liquor. The valve is pretensioned in a direction to seek the open position so that the valve automatically opens when the pressure of the washing liquor drops below a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Heisele, Anton Oblinger
  • Patent number: 10568489
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dish washing machine. The dish washing machine includes a washing tub in which dishes are stored, a nozzle provided at one side of the washing tub to spray washing water, a vane configured to move in the washing tub and deflect the washing water sprayed from the nozzle toward the dishes, a vane holder movably combined with a rail configured to guide a movement of the vane and configured to support the vane, a driving source configured to generate power for driving the vane to reciprocate, a belt driven to transfer the power generated by the driving source to the vane, and a direction changing member with one end configured to rotate with respect to the vane holder and another end configured to rotatably move with the belt when a movement direction of the vane is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jin Doo Kim
  • Patent number: 10568490
    Abstract: Provided is a surgical apparatus for an endoscope with which an operator can change, as desired, the size of an image of a site to be observed that appears in an endoscopic image obtained by an endoscope or the size of the range of the site to be observed. An image processing unit (zooming means) of a processor device changes a zoom magnification factor of an endoscopic image from an endoscope through electronic zooming on the basis of the operation of a foot switch. In the non-sensing region of the slider, the activation and deactivation of the zooming operation by the foot switch are switched according to a relative position of a distal end of the endoscope with respect to a distal end of the treatment tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Takumi Dejima
  • Patent number: 10568491
    Abstract: An endoscope includes an insertion portion in which a rigid distal end portion, a bending portion, and a flexible portion are provided in a connected row arrangement, and an optical fiber that is inserted through the insertion portion. The endoscope has, in the rigid distal end portion, an optical transmission module in which an image pickup device, an optical device in which a light-emitting portion is formed, and a holding member that has a through hole. A length in the bending portion of the optical fiber whose distal end portion is inserted into and fixed in the through hole of the holding member is longer than a length L0 of the bending portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10568492
    Abstract: [Object] To control the focal position of an optical system with a more favorable aspect, in accordance with the band targeted for observation. [Solution] A medical observation device includes: a computation section that applies, to an imaging signal corresponding to each of a plurality of different spectral components based on a light receiving result regarding observation target light from a subject in vivo from an image sensor, weights of the plurality of spectral components corresponding to a band targeted for observation from among bands in the observation target light, and computes an evaluation value indicating a degree of being in-focus on a basis of the imaging signal to which the weights are applied; and a control section that controls, on a basis of the evaluation value, a position of at least one optical member in an optical system that forms an image of the observation target light from the subject onto the image sensor, and thereby controls a focal position of the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Sakae Okazaki, Toshio Katayama, Hirotaka Hirano, Takahiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10568493
    Abstract: A medical instrument for guiding a tool into an operating space including a shaft having first and second shaft segments connected to each other in an articulated manner, and an adjustment element arranged on one of the first and second shaft segments so as to be longitudinally movable along an adjustment direction, and adjustable in order to pivot the first and second shaft segments relative to each other. Furthermore, a connection element is provided as being connected in an articulated manner to the adjustment element via a first hinge connection and connected in an articulated manner to the other of the first and second shaft segments via a second hinge connection, such that, by adjusting the adjustment element along the adjustment direction, the first and second shaft segments are pivotable relative to each other. Accordingly, a medical instrument is disclosed that is easy to handle and permits advantageous force support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Karl Storz SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bastian Blase, Felix Erber
  • Patent number: 10568494
    Abstract: A terahertz endoscope suitable for intestinal tract lesion inspection and an inspection method are provided. The terahertz endoscope includes a combined tube body inserted into an intestinal tract, a terahertz signal enhancement module, a terahertz inspection module, and a real-time imaging module. The combined tube body mainly includes a sleeve tube (6), a sleeve head (7) and a hemispherical glass cover (8). The terahertz signal enhancement module mainly includes a tunable laser (2) and an optical fiber (9) installed in the sleeve tube (6). The terahertz inspection module mainly includes a terahertz wave detector (4), a terahertz wave transmitter (5), as well as a first stainless steel metal wire (12) and a second stainless steel metal wire (13) installed in the combined tube body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Lijuan Xie, Chen Wang, Yibin Ying, Aichen Wang, Yuxin Huang
  • Patent number: 10568495
    Abstract: Provided is a scanning endoscope system including: an illumination-light emitting portion that is inserted into a body of a patient and that emits illumination light emitted from a light-source portion toward an imaging subject in the body in a spot-like manner; a light scanner that scans the illumination light on the imaging subject; and a light detector that is disposed at a body surface of the patient, and that detects reflected light coming from the scanning position in the imaging subject, at which the illumination light is scanned by the light scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Yamada, Atsuyoshi Shimamoto, Mitsuru Namiki, Keiichiro Nakajima, Takamitsu Sakamoto, Mikihiko Terashima, Yoko Okabe, Yu Kondo
  • Patent number: 10568496
    Abstract: The present disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for producing an image in light deficient environments and associated structures, methods and features is disclosed and described. The features of the system may include controlling a light source through duration, intensity or both; pulsing a component controlled light source during the blanking time; maximizing the blanking time to allow optimum light; and maintaining color balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurent Blanquart, Joshua D. Talbert, Donald M. Wichern, John Richardson, Jeremiah D. Henley
  • Patent number: 10568497
    Abstract: A first signal processing apparatus includes: an image processing unit configured to at least execute a composition process of generating composed image information in which first image information or second image information and textual information are superimposed; and a control unit configured to control the process of the image processing unit in accordance with communication with a second signal processing apparatus. The control unit selects either one of the first image information and the second image information, and when the second image information is selected, the control unit outputs a first command for instructing the second signal processing apparatus not to superimpose the second image information and the textual information related to the second image information, and causes the image processing unit to generate composite image information in which the second image information and the textual information related to the second image information are superimposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironori Nakagawa, Tatsuhiko Suzuki, Tomoki Iwasaki, Susumu Hashimoto, Toshihiro Hamada, Yuji Kutsuma
  • Patent number: 10568498
    Abstract: An imaging unit includes: an optical system configured to collect light; a semiconductor package including an image sensor and a sensor electrode; a plurality of electronic components; and a circuit board including: a first connection electrode provided on a front surface side of the circuit board; and an electronic component mounting area and an inspection electrode disposing area that are provided on a back surface side of the circuit board. A wall portion having a height higher than a height of the plurality of electronic components is formed at least on two facing sides around the electronic component mounting area, and a maximum thickness of the circuit board at the inspection electrode disposing area is thinner than a thickness of the circuit board including the wall portion, at the electronic component mounting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenichi Imai
  • Patent number: 10568499
    Abstract: A medical apparatus is described for providing visualization of a surgical site. The medical apparatus includes an electronic display disposed within a display housing, the electronic display configured to produce a two-dimensional image. The medical apparatus includes a display optical system disposed within the display housing, the display optical system comprising a plurality of lens elements disposed along an optical path. The display optical system is configured to receive the two-dimensional image from the electronic display, produce a beam with a cross-section that remains substantially constant along the optical path, and produce a collimated beam exiting the opening in the display housing. The medical apparatus can also include an auxiliary video camera configured to provide an oblique view of a patient on the electronic display without requiring a surgeon to adjust their viewing angle through oculars viewing the electronic display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: CAMPLEX, INC.
    Inventor: John Tesar
  • Patent number: 10568500
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems of evaluating test-retest precision using fractional rank precision or mean-average precision, comprising: a) collecting a test and a retest result of each subject, wherein the results are described in feature space(s) and collected from a vision test machine; b) selecting, a first test result of a first subject; c) calculating distances from the first test result to the retest result of each subject; d) assessing, a similarity between the first test result and the retest result of each subject by ranking the distances in a non-descending order; e) assessing a rank precision for the first subject based on a rank of a distance from the first test result to the retest result of the first subject; f) repeating b), c), d), and e) for each subject; and evaluating, the test-retest precision based on the rank precision for each of the plurality of subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Adaptive Sensory Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Dorr, Luis A. Lesmes
  • Patent number: 10568501
    Abstract: An apparatus for motion compensated modelling of a parameter of an eye, comprising: a first measuring means for measuring a plurality of position parameters of the eye with respect to an optical reference coordinate system of the apparatus; a second measuring means for measuring an interference signal at a plurality of optical reference coordinates, wherein the measurement of the plurality of position parameters and measurement of the interference signal are time synchronised; means for correcting the interference signal to account for a displacements of a parameter of the plurality of position parameters; and means for modelling the eye parameter based at least in part on the corrected interference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Daniel Boss, Michael Mrochen, Andrew Nolan, Pav Zakharov
  • Patent number: 10568502
    Abstract: Techniques for a visual disability detection system that employs virtual reality to assess visual performance of a patient based on activities of daily living are described. The virtual reality platform can integrate the testing of different components of visual function based on activities of daily living to provide a direct and clinically relevant measure of the impact of any visual disability on a patient's daily life. By simulating daily tasks for evaluation of visual disability, clinicians can better understand from a patient's perspective how visual impairment affects their daily tasks and quality of life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Kai Shun Christopher Leung, Ka Ngai Alexander Lam, Yuen Ying Elaine To
  • Patent number: 10568503
    Abstract: An optical coherence tomograph includes a wavelength tunable illuminating device, an illumination and measurement beam path with a dividing element and a scanner and a front optical unit and a reference beam path, a detection beam path and a flat panel detector. A beam splitter conducts the separated measurement radiation to the detection beam path and an optical element acts only on the illumination radiation. The optical element sets the numerical aperture of the illumination of the illumination field in the eye. An optical element acts only on the measurement radiation and sets the numerical aperture with which measurement radiation is collected in the eye. An aperture is arranged in front of the flat panel detector in an intermediate image plane and defines the size of an object field. The flat panel detector has a spatial resolution of 4 to 100 pixels in a direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Daniel Bublitz, Christoph Nieten, Lars Omlor, Kai Wicker
  • Patent number: 10568504
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus according to some embodiments comprise an objective lens, a data acquisition system, and an anterior segment photographing system. The data acquisition system is configured to acquire data of a subject's eye optically via the objective lens. The anterior segment photographing system includes a pair of optical systems for photographing an anterior segment of the subject's eye from different directions via the objective lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: TOPCON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ikuo Ishinabe
  • Patent number: 10568505
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for detecting eye movement with a wearable device attachable to an eyelid. The wearable device may include an arrangement of sensors, including any combination of piezoelectric sensors, accelerometers, and/or any other type of sensor. An external device may be provided for processing sensor data. The wearable device and/or external device may analyze the sensor data to generate eyeball movement data, and to differentiate first directional data and second directional data. The first directional data may be considered as movement occurring substantially horizontally and the second directional data may be considered as movement occurring substantially vertically. The wearable device and/or external device may therefore provide data regarding sleep cycles of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Swetha Muniraju
  • Patent number: 10568506
    Abstract: A spectroreflectometric system for performing a spectral analysis on the fundus of a patient's eye is provided. The system projects probing light towards the fundus of the eye and collects return light representative of an image of the fundus. An interface module positioned at a sensing interface at an image plane of the fundus is provided and includes an optical fiber light collector having a collector input extending along the sensing interface for collecting the return light, and a collector output connectable to an imaging device. The interface module further includes at least one extraction optical fiber having a fiber input extending at the sensing interface and a fiber output connectable to a spectral analyser. The fiber input is integrated into the collector input so as to collect a portion of the return light corresponding to an analysis area within the image of the fundus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: ZILIA INC.
    Inventors: Simon Thibault, Denis Brousseau, Dominic Sauvageau