| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09850115B2 |
Adaptor for a lift jack
In an example, an adaptor for a lift jack may include a first section having an opening to receive a ring attached to a vehicle and a second section connected to the first section, in which the second section includes a space to receive a runner support of a lift jack runner. The adaptor may also include a locking hook rotatably connected to the second section, in which the locking hook is to latch onto the ring when the runner support is inserted into the space in the second section. |
| US09850106B2 |
Mechanical assembly for lifting a balloon
A lift assembly for use during inflation of a balloon envelope is provided. The lift assembly includes a plate structure that has a set of cavities. Each cavity includes one or more openings passing through the plate. One or more pistons are coupled to the plate through at least one of the openings of each cavity in the set of cavities. Each piston has a hollow tube portion projecting lengthwise from the at least one opening, a flange attached to the hollow tube portion and a grabber portion in communication with the flange. The grabber portion includes a plurality of bearings for grabbing a stud attached to an apex of the balloon envelope. A handle portion is coupled to the plate. The handle is arranged to lift the balloon envelope when the bearings have grabbed a given stud. |
| US09850104B2 |
Gripper for gripping, moving and depositing a pallet
The present invention concerns a gripper for gripping, moving, orienting, and depositing a pallet. The gripper includes a gripping means for gripping the pallet at the longitudinal side members of a pallet. The gripper is suitable for being hinged to an automated manipulator moving along a support structure, thus making it possible to move, orient, and deposit a pallet in a loading position on the support structure or in an unloading position, for example, on the ground. |
| US09850103B2 |
Hoist cable overload detection systems and methods
A hoist hook assembly having a cable overload detection system may include a plate, a hook mechanically coupled to the plate, and a switch mechanically coupled to the plate. The switch may be configured to translate into a triggered position in response to a load on the hook indicative of an overload condition. |
| US09850101B2 |
Safe operation-stop method for escalator
The present invention relates to a safe operation-stop method for an escalator for safely operating and stopping an escalator that senses an abnormal speed of the escalator so as to prevent passengers from falling. A safe operation-stop method for an escalator is provided, the method including sensing an abnormal speed of the escalator and stopping the escalator before it is reversely rotated, and being capable of reliable braking when an abnormal speed of the escalator occurs, thereby preventing passengers from falling by adjusting the inertial stopping distance when braking. |
| US09850097B2 |
Monitoring device for a passenger transport system
A monitoring device for passenger transport systems, which systems are designed as elevators, escalators or moving walkways, includes at least one detecting device used to detect an external actuation of an equipment of the passenger transport system, a control device and at least one energy store for storing electrical energy. The energy store is kept in a charged state. The energy store is put into a discharged state when the detecting device detects the external activation of the equipment. |
| US09850088B2 |
Sheet conveying device, image forming apparatus with sheet conveying device, and method of correcting skew of sheet by using sheet conveying device
A sheet conveying device includes a sheet skew corrector to correct a skew of a leading end of a sheet inclining from a sheet conveyance direction and a pair of registration rollers disposed upstream of the sheet skew corrector in the sheet conveyance direction. The pair of registration rollers freely contacts and separates from each other. The pair of registration rollers conveys the sheet downstream of the sheet skew corrector in the sheet conveyance direction when driven at a prescribed time. A pair of conveyance rollers is placed upstream of the pair of registration rollers in the sheet conveyance direction. The pair of conveyance rollers continuously sandwiches the sheet from when the sheet with the skew corrected is sandwiched by the pair of registration rollers to when a trailing end of the sheet passes between the pair of conveyance rollers. |
| US09850081B1 |
Automatic tire loader/unloader for stacking/unstacking tires in a trailer
An automatic tire loader/unloader for stacking/unstacking tires in a trailer is disclosed. In one embodiment, a mobile base structure provides a support framework for a drive subassembly, conveyance subassembly, an industrial robot, a distance measurement subassembly, and a control subassembly. Under the operation of the control subassembly, tires advance through a powered transportation path to an industrial robot which places the tires within the trailer in a vertical stacking pattern or a rick-stacking pattern, for example. The control subassembly coordinates the selective articulated movement of the industrial robot and the activation of the drive subassembly based upon the distance measurement subassembly detecting objects, including tires, within a detection space, dimensions of the trailer provided to the control subassembly, and dimensions of the tires provided to the control subassembly. |
| US09850079B2 |
Storage and retrieval system transport vehicle
An autonomous transport vehicle includes a frame forming a payload section configured to hold one or more pickfaces, a transfer arm movably mounted to the frame, a drive section connected to the frame, and a controller connected to the drive section, the controller being configured to effect an on-the-fly sortation of pickfaces carried by the autonomous transport vehicle according to a predetermined case out order sequence where the controller commands the drive section so that two or more pickfaces are picked from one or more first case unit holding locations and placed at one or more different second case unit holding locations according to the predetermined case out order sequence. |
| US09850075B2 |
Method for processing containers and container processing machine
A method for processing containers in a container-processing machine includes identifying a first container behind an adjacent second container in a container flow, the first container being positioned within the container flow such that the first container will, absent intervention, occupy a first processing position that has been designated as not to be occupied by any container, holding the first container back, thereby causing the first container to move with a second velocity, that is less than the first velocity, forming a gap between the first and second containers, and releasing the first container. As a result of having been held back, will now occupy a second processing position instead of the first processing position. |
| US09850072B2 |
Cleaning-in-place system for flat belts
A cleaning-in-place system for use with an easily cleanable flexible belt. A sprocket is provided with a body having a first opening formed between adjacent pairs of teeth. The opening extends toward the center of the sprocket to provide access to the underside of the belt, when the belt engages with the sprocket, for application of cleaning medium. |
| US09850071B2 |
Roller-guided conveying element and a conveying facility comprising such conveying elements
A roller-guided conveying element for a conveying facility, including a basis body, several rollers that are rotatably mounted on the basis body on two sides which are opposed to one another, as well as a holding member that is arranged on the basis body and is for holding an object to be conveyed. In each case, two rollers are arranged oppositely and equally offset in a crosswise manner at the two sides on the basis body. The conveying element with the rollers is designed such that a section of the conveying element, in each case with at least one roller of the two sides of the basis body, is rollingly movable in the guide channel of a longitudinal guidance body. |
| US09850063B2 |
Freight floor, freight container, use of a multilayer panel to produce a freight floor, and method for producing a freight floor
A freight floor having a multilayer construction and that is formed as a composite material, comprising a core layer of carbon-fiber-reinforced and/or glass-fiber-reinforced plastic and a seating layer of a metal alloy, in particular an aluminum alloy. |
| US09850056B2 |
Ovenable package with multiple layer film lid and resealable adhesive between the layers
An ovenable package comprises an ovenable receptacle configured to hold a food product. The receptacle has an open face surrounded by a rim. An ovenable laminated film lid is attached to the rim of the receptacle by a welded seal between a lower face of the laminated film lid and the rim of the receptacle. The laminated film lid comprises a first layer, a second layer above the first layer and a resealable adhesive between the first and second layers. An unopened package is openable by separating the second layer from the first layer in a peripheral region. The opened package can be reclosed to a ventable state by reattaching the second layer to the peripheral region of the first layer by the resealable adhesive. The ventable state permits venting of gas from an interior of the receptacle between the second layer and the peripheral region of the first layer. |
| US09850055B2 |
Packaging structure for packing substrate storing container
The first cushioning portion includes: a cushioning support portion that directly abuts the substrate storing container to support the substrate storing container; and a cushioning-portion connecting portion that is connected to the cushioning support portion, and extends downwards from the cushioning support portion. The second cushioning portion includes: a cushioning plate-like portion in which a through-hole is formed; and cushioning leg portions which are configured by a cushioning material which is softer than the cushioning-portion connecting portion of the first cushioning portion, and extend downwards from the cushioning plate-like portion. The cushioning plate-like portion supports the first cushioning portion in a state in which the cushioning-portion connecting portion penetrates through the through-hole of the cushioning plate-like portion. |
| US09850044B2 |
Plastic closure having an integrity guarantee element
In order to prevent or minimize littering, the invention proposes a plastic closure (1) having a tamper-proof element. The plastic closure has a tamper-proof element that is as small as possible, and the plastic closure is largely secured against loss. The tamper-proof element consists of a plate (50), which is formed as part of the jacket wall (30) of the cover (3) by means of designed breaking point bridges (51, 52) and lies behind a first apron (25) in the closed state before the first opening and engages in a window (26) of the first apron by means of a locking hook. After the first opening, the plate (50) is separated from the cover and is held captive between the first apron (25) and a second, inner apron (27). |
| US09850043B2 |
Lid featuring ease of use and improved release from a tray or container
A lid and tray assembly includes at least two lift tabs and/or indentations at separated but not directly opposing locations about the lid periphery that can be actuated simultaneously or sequentially to provide two distinct locations from which initial disengagements can extend and merge to enable easy removal of the entire lid. Embodiments further include locations that can be pressed while corresponding tabs are lifted. Some embodiments include a peripheral skirt that is short enough to allow a user's fingers to pass beneath and support the tray sidewalls when lifting the tray-lid assembly from a horizontal surface, avoiding any need for the lid engagement to bear the weight of the tray and its contents. Lid-tray engagement can be by means of inserting a lid peripheral rim into a tray lip groove, or by engaging a lid rim undercut with a tray lip undercut. |
| US09850040B2 |
Container and container engaging member suitable for vacuum assisted filtration
A container and a container engaging member. The container engaging member may include a sample holder or reservoir, a filtration element and collar. In the assembled condition, the sample holder or reservoir is upstream of the filtration element, the container is downstream of the filtration element, and the sample holder or reservoir is attached to the container. The container engagement member is engageable and disengageable from the bottle or container in a quick attach, quick release manner, such as with only a 90 degree, ¼ turn. A tactile and/or audible indication that the engagement is complete is provided. |
| US09850035B2 |
Package with a multi-piece handle
A package has a rigid package body and a handle for carrying the package. The rigid package body has at least six faces and a reclosable opening on a face of the rigid package body. The handle is positioned over the reclosable opening and has a first strap, a second strap, and a connection portion. The first strap includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the first strap is attached to one face of the package body. The second strap includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the second strap is attached to another face of the package body that is opposite to the face that is attached to the first strap. The connection portion is located on the second end of the second strap and is detachably engaged to the second end of the first strap. |
| US09850029B2 |
Cantilever box
Provided is a cantilever box including at least two trays, including a lowermost tray and an uppermost tray, interconnected therebetween by cantilever links pivotally secured to the trays, the trays are convertible at least between a stacked position, and an extended position; a first gripping portion, disposed at the uppermost tray, configured for being gripped by a user for converting the trays between their extended position and their stacked position; and a securing mechanism switchable between a locked state in which when the trays are at their extended position, the securing mechanism is configured for arresting a locking member, thereby locking the trays at their extended position; and an unlocked state in which the securing mechanism is disengaged from said locking member, thereby facilitating displacement of the trays from their extended position into their stacked position. |
| US09850026B2 |
Easy-open can end opened by rotated bar
An easy-open can end for making an opening therethrough suitable for pouring comprises an end plate, a score line in the end plate defining most of the periphery of a tear panel while leaving a hinge, and a protrusion formed on the tear panel. To open the easy-open can end, the protrusion is pressed down by a rotating bar horizontally rotated over the protrusion or by a body vertically hitting the protrusion to cause relative vertical movement between the tear panel and the remainder of the end plate, rupture of the score line, and swinging of the tear panel down about the hinge to an open position. |
| US09850025B2 |
Can lid and beverage can
A first score line (430) is provided with a modified groove width portion (435) in which the groove width differs from the groove width of other portions. This modified groove width portion (435) is formed by imparting curvature to a point of a first side surface (430B) and this portion of a second side surface (430C) are respectively distended in an outward direction. To describe further, the modified groove width portion (435) is formed by forming respective recessed portions in the first side surface (430B) and the second side surface (430C). In so doing, rupture of a panel can take place in satisfactory fashion along a score line having a branched portion. |
| US09850024B2 |
Can lid and beverage can
A tab main body section (520) is provided with first to third main body section slits (731-733) which penetrate through the tab main body section (520). The first to third main body section slits (731-733) are formed in a circular arc shape so as to extend along the outer peripheral edge of an insertion hole (540) formed in a circular shape. The first main body section slit (731) is provided between the insertion opening (540) and a first edge section (501) of a tab (500). The second main body section slit (732) and the third main body section slit (733) each have one end section (751) and the other end section (752). The one end section (751) is located closer to a second edge section (502) of the tab (500) than the insertion hole (540). |
| US09850023B2 |
Carton with dispensing feature
A carton for holding a plurality of containers. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises at least one top panel, at least one side panel foldably connected to the at least one top panel, and a bottom panel foldably connected to the at least one side panel. The carton further comprises a support foldably connected to the top panel for supporting at least one article of the plurality of articles and a dispenser for allowing removal of the plurality of articles from the carton. The dispenser comprises a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line in the at least one side panel and the at least one top panel. The dispenser panel is for being at least partially removed for at least further opening a dispenser opening. |
| US09850022B2 |
Blank and methods of constructing a container from the blank
A blank of foldable sheet material is provided. The blank includes a bottom panel, a first bottom side panel and a second opposing bottom side panel extending from opposing side edges of the bottom panel, and a front panel extending from a front edge of the bottom panel. The front panel includes opposing side edges. The blank also includes a first and a second diagonal panel extending from a front edge of the first and second bottom side panels, respectively, and a third and a fourth diagonal panel extending from each side edge of the front panel. The third and fourth diagonal panels have a length greater than a length of the first and second diagonal panels. The blank includes a first and a second corner panel, wherein the first corner panel is hingedly connected to the first and third diagonal panels and the second corner panel is hingedly connected to the second and fourth diagonal panels. |
| US09850016B2 |
Round cotton module opener
A round module opener for use with a round module of cotton disposed within a wrap, including a frame, an unload conveyor assembly that is supported by the frame and moves the round module of cotton in a first direction that is parallel to a longitudinal center axis of the round module opener, a slitter assembly that is secured to the frame and slices through the wrap along its entire length as the round module of cotton moves in the first direction, and a picker assembly including a plurality of projections, the picker assembly being rotatable so that the plurality of projections first pierce a first portion of the wrap and are subsequently withdrawn from the first portion of the wrap, thereby separating the first portion of the wrap from the round cotton module. |
| US09850008B2 |
Integrated vehicle fluids
A system and methods are provided for combining systems of an upper stage space launch vehicle for enhancing the operation of the space vehicle. Hydrogen and oxygen already on board as propellant for the upper stage rockets is also used for other upper stage functions to include propellant tank pressurization, attitude control, vehicle settling, and electrical requirements. Specifically, gases from the propellant tanks, instead of being dumped overboard, are used as fuel and oxidizer to power an internal combustion engine that produces mechanical power for driving other elements including a starter/generator for generation of electrical current, mechanical power for fluid pumps, and other uses. The exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine is also used directly in one or more vehicle settling thrusters. Accumulators which store the waste ullage gases are pressurized and provide pressurization control for the propellant tanks. The system is constructed in a modular configuration in which two redundant integrated fluid modules may be mounted to the vehicle, each of the modules capable of supporting the upper stage functions. |
| US09850007B2 |
Consumable bushing for use with aircraft wing repair systems and methods
A wing skin, which was secured to a wing structure by a plurality of fasteners extending through the wing skin, is removed from the wing and aligned with a template. Template holes are drilled through the template corresponding to each of the fastener holes of the wing skin. The template is then aligned with a new wing skin, and pilot holes are drilled through the new wing skin corresponding to each of the template holes. The new wing skin is then aligned with the wing structure such that the pilot holes permit access to corresponding fastener holes of the wing structure. A mill bit is then positioned through each pilot hole and aligned with the center of the corresponding consumable bushing in the fastener hole of the wing sub-structure, and the skin pilot holes are milled to form fastener holes in the new wing skin aligned with existing sub-structure. |
| US09850006B2 |
Aircraft wing repair methods
A wing skin, which was secured to a wing structure by a plurality of fasteners extending through the wing skin, is removed from the wing and aligned with a template. Template holes are drilled through the template corresponding to each of the fastener holes of the wing skin. The template is then aligned with a new wing skin, and pilot holes are drilled through the new wing skin corresponding to each of the template holes. The new wing skin is then aligned with the wing structure such that the pilot holes permit access to corresponding fastener holes of the wing structure. A mill bit is then positioned through each pilot hole and aligned with the center of the corresponding consumable bushing in the fastener hole of the wing sub-structure, and the skin pilot holes are milled to form fastener holes in the new wing skin aligned with existing sub-structure. |
| US09850005B2 |
Method and device for counting the number of landings performed by an aircraft tyre
A number of landings of an aircraft tire is counted according to a method that includes: measuring a physical quantity of air contained inside the tire, the measuring taking place in a discontinuous mode; determining at least one indicator relating to the physical quantity; comparing the at least one indicator with a predetermined threshold associated with the tire; and, if the at least one indicator is greater than the predetermined threshold associated with the tire, incrementing the number of landings of the tire. |
| US09850003B2 |
Exterior aircraft navigation light and method of controlling an exterior aircraft navigation light
An exterior aircraft navigation light for an aircraft having a nominal forward flight direction and being able to fly into the nominal forward flight direction as well as into a plurality of further flight directions, such as sideways or backwards, has at least one light emission unit and control circuitry coupled to the at least one light emission unit, wherein the exterior aircraft navigation light is configured such that each of the at least one light emission unit has a unit-specific light emission direction that has a predefined horizontal angle with respect to the nominal forward flight direction, and wherein each of the at least one light emission unit includes a multi-color light source configured to emit red light, white light and green light, and an optical system for conditioning the red light, the white light and the green light emitted by the multi-color light source. |
| US09850000B2 |
Systems and methods for containing ignition within equipment dry bays
An equipment dry bay is provided. The equipment dry bay includes at least one partition that subdivides the equipment dry bay into a plurality of compartments, wherein the at least one partition includes a plate, and at least one flame arrestor positioned within the plate and providing vapor and fluid communication between a first compartment and a second compartment of the plurality of compartments, the at least one flame arrestor configured to vent combustion gases in the first compartment into the second compartment. |
| US09849991B2 |
Deicer zones with shedding-enhanced borders
An ice protection system comprises deicing zones each including an envelope defining an ice-protection area. Adjacent envelopes have spanwise edge regions flanking shared interzone borders. The edge regions are provided with nonlinear contours having features which project-and-recess in a direction generally parallel to the airstream direction. |
| US09849985B2 |
Foldable divider device for an aircraft cabin
A divider device for an aircraft cabin including elongate bar elements, each planar and flexible to assume a linear state extending rectilinearly along a longitudinal axis parallel to a plane, each bar element curved in a first stable state, to deform into its first stable state when bent towards the stable state to a predetermined extent, the bar elements arranged side-by-side and adjacent bar elements are pivotably inter-connected with each other. |
| US09849984B2 |
Lighting apparatus with optical member having asymmetric light incident surface
A lighting apparatus includes a plurality of LEDs arranged in a row on an elongated wiring board; and a lens covering all the LEDs and controlling distribution of light emitted from each LED. An optical axis of the light emitted from each LED is orthogonal to the wiring board. The lens has a light emitting surface that controls distribution of the light emitted from each LED. When the light emitting surface is divided into at least three regions, the lens performs light distribution such that light radiated from a region is distributed in a direction tilted with respect to the optical axis of the light emitted from the LED. Thus, asymmetric distribution of light is achieved when the optical axis of the light from the LED is the axis of symmetry, and further, the luminous flux in the direction tilted with respect to the optical axis is increased most. |
| US09849983B2 |
Aerodynamically shaped, active towed body
An aerodynamically shaped, active towed body includes a fuselage curved along its vertical and horizontal longitudinal plane. The fuselage has a unit chamber and a load chamber. A transverse plane of the fuselage is triangular, two upper corners being located on an upper face of the fuselage and a lower corner being located on a lower face of the fuselage. Each of two wings is subdivided into a small and a large segment. The small segment points downwards and is attached to the fuselage in a region of the lower corner and the large segment points upwards and is attached to the small segment. Each of the small segments comprise an additional load chamber. The towed body further includes a tail fin, rudders that are each adjustable by the control device and a coupling for the towing cable. |
| US09849980B2 |
Personal propulsion devices with improved balance
A personal propulsion device, including a platform configured to support a passenger's body; and at least one fluid discharge nozzle coupled to the platform and angled with respect to the platform, where the angle defined between the nozzle and the platform is between approximately 95° and 120°; where the personal propulsion device is configured to receive pressurized fluid from a remote pressurized fluid source, and where the personal propulsion device is configured to achieve flight. |
| US09849978B1 |
Detecting of navigation data spoofing based on sensor data
Techniques for determining whether data associated with an autonomous operation of an unmanned vehicle may be trusted. For example, a first set of data may be provided from a source external to the unmanned vehicle. A second set of data may be accessed. This second set may be provided from a source internal to the unmanned vehicle and may be associated with the same autonomous operation. The two sets may be compared to determine whether the first set of data may be trusted or not. If untrusted, the autonomous navigation may be directed based on the second set of data and independently of the first set. |
| US09849976B2 |
Noise reducing profile for helicopter rotor blade tracking wedges
A tracking wedge, a rotor and a method for modifying a movement of air over a tracking wedge. According to aspects of the disclosure, a tracking wedge used to correct the tracking of a helicopter rotor blade may include one or more acoustic management mechanisms. The acoustic management mechanisms may change the manner in which air moves over the surface of the tracking wedge. In some examples, changing the manner in which air moves over the surface of the tracking wedge may reduce noise generated by the use of the tracking wedge. |
| US09849974B2 |
Impact absorber device, particularly for aircraft
An impact absorber device (10) of a fixed landing skid of an aircraft (1) is described. The device comprises a female element (20), a male element (30) and a core (40) arranged between said female element and said male element, wherein said female element comprises a cavity and said male element comprises a support and pressure surface for supporting said core, wherein said core comprises a body with controlled plastic deformation of a metallic material. In embodiments of the invention, the core comprises an extruded body having a honeycomb structure or a body comprising a spirally wound metallic substrate. |
| US09849972B2 |
Aircraft autonomous pushback
The invention provides methods and systems for controlling speed of an aircraft during an autonomous pushback maneuver, i.e. under the aircraft's own power without a pushback tractor. The method includes applying a torque to at least one landing gear wheel of the aircraft, the torque being in a direction opposite to the backwards rolling direction of rotation of the landing gear wheel. The torque applied does not exceed a limit for ensuring aircraft longitudinal stability. For longitudinal stability the torque applied should not cause the aircraft to risk a tip-over event. |
| US09849971B2 |
Brake axle sleeve
An aircraft brake system may include an axle and a brake axle sleeve. The brake axle sleeve may have a plurality of recesses asymmetrically disposed about an inner circumference of the brake axle sleeve. The plurality of recesses may attenuate vibrations in the aircraft brake system. |
| US09849962B2 |
Apparatus to lift and fill a balloon
Aspects of the disclosure relate to filling and lifting high altitude balloons. For instance, one example system for lifting and filling a balloon having a balloon envelope includes an apparatus for use with the balloon envelope. The apparatus includes a load line, a fill tube having a hollow portion nested within the load line and a termination member attached to the fill tube and load line. The load line is configured to lift the balloon envelope during inflation. The fill tube extends through the load line and is configured to allow lift gas to pass through the hollow portion. The termination member is configured to mate with an opening in the balloon envelope so that lift gas can pass through the hollow portion of the fill tube and into the opening in the balloon envelope. |
| US09849959B1 |
Marine pod drive system
A drive train in a marine vessel includes a marine pod drive unit and an inboard engine operatively connected by a driveshaft. To protectively enclose the driveshaft, a guard sleeve having a tubular configuration is disposed around the driveshaft and extends between the marine pod drive unit and the inboard engine. The first sleeve end of the guard sleeve is coupled to a first coupling collar on the marine pod drive unit using a first annular packing and the second sleeve end is coupled to a second coupling collar on the inboard engine using a second annular packing. The first and second annular packings enable relative angular displacement between the guard sleeve and the marine pod drive unit or the inboard engine. |
| US09849954B1 |
Glass sphere type pressure housing including titanium band and a multi-joint underwater robot system for deep sea exploration using the same
A deep-sea exploration multi-joint underwater robot system and a spherical glass pressure housing including a titanium band are provided. The system includes a multi-joint underwater robot having a multiple of first and second pressure housings withstanding deep-sea pressure and shielding built-in equipment from seawater and performing close precision seabed exploration obtaining marine research data to transmit underwater status data, a mothership receiving and storing marine research and underwater status data and monitoring and controlling moving directions of multi-joint underwater robot, and a depressor having third pressure housing, linked with mothership by primary cable and multi-joint underwater robot by secondary cable, and preventing transmission of primary cable water resistance to multi-joint underwater robot, wherein first spherical pressure housings are mounted on robot body frame, second cylindrical pressure housings are mounted between left and right legs, and the third cylindrical pressure housing is mounted inside the depressor platform. |
| US09849951B2 |
Diving buoyancy compensator jacket
A buoyancy compensator jacket for scuba diving includes an inflatable and deflatable bladder; a backplate part, to which the bladder and elements fastening at least one breathing gas cylinder are attached; and at least one pair of shoulder straps for securing it to the torso of a user and at least one ventral securing strap or ventral closure of the jacket. The jacket further includes a sternal securing element composed of at least one sternal or chest strap, which has at least one costal connection element distinct from the pair of shoulder straps and connecting the sternal strap to the backplate part. |
| US09849946B1 |
Wake tower apparatus and methods of making same
A wake tower assembly for use with a watercraft, including an arch portion extending across a width of the watercraft, first and second pivoting structures coupled to first and second ends of the arch portion, the first and second pivoting structures configured to attach to port and starboard portions of the watercraft to facilitate rotational movement of the arch portion between a lowered position and an upright position, and a first locking mechanism provided to the first pivoting structure including a biased pin member configured to engage an opening of the first end such that when the arch portion is rotated from the lowered position to the upright position, a biasing force of the biased pin member causes the biased pin member to engage the opening to mechanically lock the arch portion in the upright position. |
| US09849936B2 |
Catamaran boat
Provided is a nautical sector, in particular a catamaran boat including a first catamaran craft functioning independently, having a prevailing direction of longitudinal development along the median axis (x) and including a bow, a stern, motor means and directional means; a second catamaran craft functioning independently, having a prevailing direction of longitudinal development along the median axis (x) and including a bow, a stern, motor means and directional means, where said first catamaran craft and said second catamaran craft each include joining means for their mutual stable coupling, obtained matching the relative sterns, on a transverse junction plane (Π), to carry out said catamaran boat able to function as a single unit. |
| US09849930B2 |
Battery storage part structure
A battery storage part structure 41 configured to store a battery 21 is provided inside a front cowl of a saddle-riding type vehicle. The battery storage part structure 41 includes: a first loading part configured to load the battery 21 at a holding position P in a first posture with a terminal arrangement surface 22 directed in a direction of an upper wall part 44; and a second loading part configured to load the battery 21 at the holding position P in a second posture with the terminal arrangement surface 22 directed in a direction of an opening 48. The first loading part is configured by a surface 43A of a bottom plate part 43, etc. of a battery storage part 42, and the second loading part is configured by a groove 51 formed on the bottom plate part 43 and a protruding part 53 formed on the upper wall part 44. By setting the battery 21 in the second posture, it is possible to secure a tool line to the battery 21 via the opening 48. |
| US09849928B2 |
Method of mounting a roof panel assembly
A method of mounting a roof panel assembly to a vehicle having a roof opening in its fixed roof includes: mounting a frame of the roof panel assembly to the fixed roof from below with an operating mechanism and a ring frame in a position corresponding to a closed position of the movable panel, providing an amount of paste-like adhering material onto the ring frame distributed around the circumference thereof, positioning the movable panel onto the ring frame from above with the adhering material interpositioned and compressing the adhering material until a correct position with respect to the vehicle roof is reached, and keeping the movable panel in this position until the adhering material is sufficiently hardened to maintain the panel in its position. |
| US09849924B2 |
Vehicle including an aerodynamic system configured to selectively vary an aerodynamic force acting on the vehicle
A vehicle includes a body, an aerodynamic element, a movement mechanism, a plurality of sensors, and a controller. The body is located along a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis. The aerodynamic element intersects ambient airflow, which generates an aerodynamic force. The movement mechanism moves the aerodynamic element, relative to the body, along the longitudinal and lateral axes. The sensors collectively generate input signals corresponding to an operating condition of the vehicle. The controller determines a current position of the movement mechanism, corresponding to a current location of the aerodynamic element on the axes and determines a desired position of the movement mechanism, corresponding to a desired location of the aerodynamic element on the axes. The controller transmits a movement signal to the movement mechanism to change position from the current position to the desired position, such that the aerodynamic element moves from the current location to the desired location. |
| US09849921B2 |
Trailer sidewall construction
A trailer for transporting bulk material has a container mounted on a chassis and wheeled suspension. The container has opposing sidewalls, a floor, a front wall, and a rear opening. The trailer further has an unloading system comprising a plow and a plow motor system. The plow is disposed in the container and shaped and sized to span substantially a transverse cross-section of the container. The plow motor system is operable to move the plow longitudinally in the container to urge or push the bulk material in the container toward and out of the rear opening of the container. At least one of the sidewalls comprises a removable panel installed longitudinally along a bottom of the sidewall, wherein an inward-facing surface of the removable panel and an inward-facing surface of the sidewall are substantially co-planar. |
| US09849914B2 |
Front body structure of a vehicle for enhanced crash protection
A front body structure of a vehicle for enhanced crash protection includes: a front bumper beam extending transversely across a body of the vehicle; a pair of longitudinal sidemembers extending longitudinally along the vehicle body; a front bumper tip enclosure attached to the front bumper beam and substantially enclosing an end portion of the front bumper beam; and a sidemember angle tie extending at an angle with respect to the longitudinal sidemembers, a front end of the sidemember angle tie attached to the front bumper tip enclosure, and a rear end of the sidemember angle tie attached to one of the longitudinal sidemembers. The sidemember angle tie changes a direction of an impact load on the vehicle body to a longitudinal direction by transferring the impact load along an angular path to the one of the longitudinal sidemembers to which the sidemember angle tie is attached. |
| US09849912B2 |
Vehicle body anti-collision structure
A vehicle body anti-collision structure, which is mounted within a vehicle body covering and used for buffering an impact force applied to a vehicle body, the structure having two buffering frames capable of buffering the applied impact force and a connecting frame, wherein the connecting frame is disposed at the bottom end of the vehicle body and fixed to a chassis of the vehicle body, and the two buffering frames are respectively disposed at the front end and rear end of the vehicle body and are fixed to both ends of the connecting frame. The above-mentioned vehicle body anti-collision structure is of an overall structure, such that when the buffering frames at the front and rear of the vehicle body are impacted, the impact force will be dispersed to the whole vehicle body anti-collision structure and the chassis, instead of being completely withstood by themselves, so that a greater impact force can be withstood, improving the safety of the vehicle body. |
| US09849911B2 |
Enhanced vehicle lateral control (lane following/lane keeping/lane changing control) for trailering vehicles
A method for providing a warning that a trailer being towed by a vehicle will cross out of a travel lane when in a curve for the current vehicle path prior to the vehicle entering the curve. The method determines that the vehicle is approaching the curve, determines a radius of curvature of the curve, determines a lane width of the travel lane, and identifying a length of the trailer. The method also determines a predicted steering angle of the vehicle necessary to follow the radius of curvature of the curve, a turn radius of the vehicle for traveling through the curve using the predicted steering angle, and a turn radius of the trailer using the turn radius of the vehicle. The method then determines whether the trailer will cross out of the travel lane based on the curvature of the curve and the turn radius of the trailer. |
| US09849906B2 |
Steering column device
A steering column device includes a coupling mechanism that couples an auxiliary restricting member with an inner column when a lock mechanism is in a locked position. In operation, when a load exceeding a set value is applied to the inner column in its cylinder-axis direction, the auxiliary restricting member moves together with the inner column and leaves its engagement with a restricting member, so that the restricting member departs from a restricting position where it can be engaged with the inner column. |
| US09849905B2 |
Adjustable steering column assembly
An adjustable steering column assembly includes a support bracket, a jacket assembly, and a locking assembly. The support bracket is configured to connect to a vehicle. The jacket assembly is connected to the support bracket. The locking assembly is connected to and disposed between the support bracket and an adjustment lever. The locking assembly includes an inner cam connected to the support bracket and an outer cam rotatably connected to the inner cam and connected to the adjustment lever. The adjustment lever and the outer cam are movable between an unlock position and a lock position. |
| US09849903B1 |
Assembling structure of double stroller
An assembling structure of double stroller comprises a first assembling part, a second assembling part and a third assembling part. The first assembling part comprises a first seat, two first frames, a handle, and a first accommodation region allowed for the first seat to be disposed. The second assembling part comprises a second seat, two second frames, and a plurality of wheels, as well as a second accommodation region allowed for the second seat to be disposed. The third assembling part comprises first connecting parts, each being connected to each of the first frames at one end far away from the handle, and second connecting parts, each being connected to each of the second frames at one end far away from the second seat. Moreover, each of the first frames is inclined with respect to each of the second frames to form an L-shaped installation. |
| US09849902B1 |
Baby strollers
Provided herein is a baby stroller, which has expanded mode or folded mode, including a lower frame, a slide block, a pull rod set, a rear wheel link rod, a rear wheel frame, an upper arm set, a link rod set, a connection rod set, the first handle rod set, the second handle rod set, and a front wheel frame. Through the slide block and the interaction between each component to concurrently actuate the upper arm set, the first handle rod set, and the second handle rod set, the baby stroller can be easily folded to minimize it occupying space for easier stowing and transporting. |
| US09849899B1 |
Utility cart
The utility cart of the present application comprises a frame, at least two wheels and a storage panel. In one embodiment, the storage panel is removable and capable of being replaced with an alternate storage panel. |
| US09849898B2 |
Method for managing a railway vehicle and railway vehicle operating in accordance with such method
A method for managing a railway vehicle which comprises a motor (6) connected to a chassis (2), a first (3) and a second axle (4) functionally connected to the motor (6); a first transmission member (7) of hydrostatic type and a second transmission member (8) of hydrodynamic type (generally defined “gear”, which can be of hydrodynamic or mechanical type) for connecting the motor to the first and second axle; the method comprising the steps of selecting a configuration for managing the vehicle (1) and switching said vehicle between a first operative condition, in which the first transmission member (7) or the second transmission member (8) is active, and a second operative condition, in which both the first transmission member (7) and the second transmission member (8) are simultaneously active, at least as a function of the vehicle (1) management configuration. |
| US09849897B2 |
Signaling system and control method of moving vehicle
A signaling system includes an on-board device provided for a moving vehicle traveling on a track, and a station interface device provided for a station, and a branch provided on the track. A second moving vehicle transmits different moving vehicle related data of itself to a first on-board device of a first moving vehicle. The first station interface device transmits station related data of the branch to the first on-board device. The first on-board device outputs a command which instructs to switch the branch, to the first station interface based on the different moving vehicle related data and the station related data, to secure the traveling route. The first station interface device switches the branch and secures the traveling route. The first on-board device determines the traveling of the first moving vehicle of the secured traveling route based on the different moving vehicle related data. |
| US09849887B2 |
Contextual driver behavior monitoring
A database of high risk locations is formed and high risk causal factors for the high risk locations determined. Driver behavior is monitored at the sites in the database using data collection devices such as electronic logging devices or mobile phones to see if the drivers exhibit the same specific behaviors that are considered contributing factors to specific accident types at risk of occurrence at those sites. Warnings are provided to drivers approaching the specific sites to prompt behavioral changes which may further be monitored by the data collection devices. |
| US09849886B2 |
Method for combined determining of a momentary roll angle of a motor vehicle and a momentary roadway cross slope of a curved roadway section traveled by the motor vehicle
A method and device for the combined determining of a momentary vehicle roll angle of a motor vehicle and a momentary roadway cross slope of a curved roadway section traveled by the motor vehicle is disclosed. The momentary vehicle roll angle and momentary roadway cross slope are determined from chassis data and transverse dynamics data of the motor vehicle. |
| US09849880B2 |
Method and system for vehicle cruise control
Methods and systems are presented for improving performance of a vehicle operating in a cruise control mode where a controller adjusts torque output from a vehicle to maintain vehicle speed within a desired range. The methods and systems include adapting a vehicle dynamics model and a vehicle fuel consumption model that provide input to nonlinear model predictive controller. |
| US09849879B2 |
Vehicle speed control
A vehicle speed control system that carries out a method of: automatically causing application of positive and negative torque to one or more wheels of a vehicle to cause a vehicle to travel in accordance with a target speed value v_target; controlling a rate of change of speed of the vehicle by application of positive and negative torque to one or more wheels; and receiving information relating to a terrain response mode in which the vehicle is configured or an amount of drag imposed on a vehicle. The system is configured to control the rate of change of speed in dependence at least in part on the terrain response mode, the amount of drag imposed on the vehicle, or both. |
| US09849878B2 |
System and method for providing a corrected lane following path through a curve for trailering vehicles
A method for providing vehicle steering control through a curve in an autonomously driven or semi-autonomously driven vehicle that is towing a trailer. The method determines that the trailer will cross out of the travel lane based on the curvature of the curve and the turn radius of the trailer. The method calculates a start turn radius of the vehicle for a start location of the curve, an end turn radius of the vehicle for an end location of the curve, and a turn end point proximate the end location or a turn start point proximate the start location. The method provides initial and boundary conditions for determining a desired path of the vehicle through the curve that prevents the trailer from crossing out of the lane and determines the desired path based on the initial and boundary conditions by solving a polynomial equation. |
| US09849876B2 |
Collision avoidance assistance device for a vehicle
A collision avoidance assistance device for a vehicle is provided. The collision avoidance assistance device includes a camera configured to acquire an image of an area around the vehicle and a controller. The controller is configured to: detect an image of an animal in the image of the area around the vehicle; determine a type of the animal detected in the image; retrieve behavior characteristics index values representing behavior characteristics of the determined type of the animal; calculate a future presence area of the animal based on the behavior characteristics index values; determine a probability of a collision between the animal and the vehicle based on the calculated future presence area of the animal; and perform a collision avoidance assistance function based on the determined probability of the collision between the animal and the vehicle. |
| US09849874B2 |
Control system for hybrid vehicle
A control system of a hybrid vehicle, in which a driving power source for travel includes an engine that is started by cranking, a motor that can control a torque, and a clutch that is coupled with the motor and in which a transmission torque capacity continuously changes depending on a change of a control amount is configured to estimate a torque of the clutch based on the torque that the motor outputs, and change rates of the rotational speed of the motor and the clutch caused by changing the control amount, when the torque that the motor outputs is transmitted by the clutch that is in a slip state by changing the control amount. |
| US09849871B2 |
Electric vehicle opportunistic charging systems and methods
A vehicle includes an engine arranged to output torque and an electric machine arranged to apply a reaction torque against engine output torque to generate power for charging a traction battery. The vehicle also includes a controller programmed to issue a command to adjust the engine output torque and an output speed corresponding to a predetermined optimal brake specific fuel consumption while providing power to charge the fraction battery, satisfy an accessory power demand, and propel the vehicle. |
| US09849870B2 |
Hybrid vehicle having switch control function of travel mode based on map information
This hybrid vehicle (10) has an HV mode and an EV mode, creates a predetermined traveling plan in a manner so as to switch between HV mode and EV mode on the basis of map information, and performs mode switching control on the basis of the traveling plan. The hybrid vehicle (10) limits the execution of mode switching control that is on the basis of the traveling plan in the case of a predetermined state such that the power that can be output by a battery (28) that is the storage battery connected to a second MG (24) that is a rotary electric machine driven during execution of the EV mode is limited. |
| US09849867B2 |
Electronic parking brake EPB system and method of controlling the same
An electronic parking brake system and method for controlling an EPB system are disclosed. An EPB system including EPB actuator operated by a motor includes a motor driver which drives the motor of the EPB actuator; a current detector which detects a current flowing in the motor; and an electronic control unit (ECU) which drives the motor using the motor driver according to an operation mode, calculates an amount of current energy consumed by the motor using the current detected by the current detector while the motor is driving and a detecting time taken to detect the current, compares the calculated amount of current energy and a preset value, and controls an operation of the motor according to a result of the comparison. |
| US09849866B2 |
Piston pump assembly of electronic controlled brake device for vehicle
A piston pump assembly of an electronic controlled brake device for a vehicle includes: an inlet housing configured to accommodate a reciprocating piston and elastically support the piston; an outlet housing configured to accommodate the inlet housing and form a working chamber that allows a working fluid to be introduced from the inlet housing; an outlet ball valve accommodated in the working chamber to open and close a flow passage of the working fluid that is introduced from the inlet housing to the outlet housing; an outlet spring accommodated in the working chamber to elastically support the outlet ball valve toward the inlet housing; and a damper accommodated in the working chamber and mounted within the outlet spring to allow shape deformation while contacting the outlet ball valve. When the outlet ball valve is pushed and pressed toward an end of the working chamber, the damper generates viscous damping while discharging the accommodated working fluid into the working chamber. Accordingly, it is possible to actively reduce noise or vibration upon initial operation of the electronic controlled brake device or in a low frequency section, thereby improving ride comfort. |
| US09849864B2 |
Vehicle parking assist system
A parking assist system for a vehicle is provided that includes a brake system having at least one wheel count encoder configured to output a wheel count signal and a controller configured to limit a velocity of the vehicle in a first mode. The controller is also configured to stop the vehicle at a target location in a second mode, and prevent overshoot of the target location by the vehicle in a third mode. |
| US09849860B2 |
Keyless entry device
A vehicle-side device includes a vehicle-side control unit that controls transmission of a request signal and performs predetermined control when authentication is successful on the basis of an answer signal, a portable device includes a portable-device control unit that detects reception intensity information of the request signal transmitted from the vehicle-side device and transmits an answer signal based on the reception intensity, the vehicle-side control unit controls a vehicle-side transmission unit so that the vehicle-side transmission unit transmits the request signal including the determination signal having an intensity level different for each section, and the vehicle-side control unit or the portable-device control unit determines whether or not the request signal is a true signal on the basis of a fluctuation in the reception intensity in each section of the determination signal received by the portable device. |
| US09849859B2 |
Buckle device
In a buckle device, cord portions that are pulled out from a distal end portion in a longitudinal direction of a helical portion of a curl cord are electrically and mechanically connected to a terminal of a buckle switch of a buckle. The distal end portion in the longitudinal direction of the helical portion of the curl cord is held by a holding bracket that is provided at a first cover component of a buckle cover. Consequently, even when the buckle cover is moved, excellent connections can still be maintained between the cord portions of the curl cord and the terminal of the buckle switch of the buckle. |
| US09849858B2 |
Airbag device
There is provided an airbag device with a reduced risk of injury to an occupant in the initial inflation and deployment of an airbag. The airbag has a roll folded portion in the rear side of a vehicle thereof, and a flip folded portion in the front side of the vehicle thereof, and is surrounded by a holding member. The holding member permits inflation and deployment of the airbag only from an opening. The flap has a first restricting portion, a second restricting portion and a third restricting portion joined together in a Y shape, and restricts the inflation and deployment of the airbag. The first restricting portion covers a portion of the roll folded portion of the opening side, and is disposed between the roll folded portion and the holding member. A tip of the second restricting portion is secured to the flip folded portion. The third restricting portion is folded into the flip folded portion. |
| US09849857B2 |
Side airbag device for vehicle
In the side airbag device, in an inflation and deployment state of the side airbag, a tension cloth extendingly disposed across between a front-rear partition and a rear end of the rear bag section is stretched, thereby restricting inflation in the vehicle front-rear direction of the rear bag section. An inflating width in a vehicle width direction of the rear bag section can be increased without significantly changing a position in the vehicle front-rear direction of the front-rear partition. In a flat developed state of the side airbag, the tension cloth is extendingly disposed across between the front-rear partition so folded into two as to protrude toward the rear bag section, and the rear end of the rear bag section. Accordingly, dimensions of each component can be so defined as to cause no redundancy in the rear bag section in the flat developed state, thus compactly folding the side airbag. |
| US09849855B1 |
Seatbelt airbag assembly
A seatbelt assembly includes a webbing guide defining a slot, webbing extending through the slot, an airbag, and a clamp. The airbag includes a fixed end fixed relative to the webbing guide and an inflatable end portion inflatable away from the fixed end along the webbing. The clamp is attached to the inflatable end portion and is movable from an unlocked position disengaged with the webbing to a locked position engaging the webbing. |
| US09849844B2 |
Custom badges for vehicles
The present invention, Simple Custom Auto Badge (SCAB), relates to decorating or rebranding a car. SCAB covers the existing manufacture emblem by fitting over and attaching securely to the automobile body or grill, to provide a platform where the user (automobile owner) can display an emblem or logo of choice. The face may consist of art, pictures, words, phrases, and numbers or may just be colored or shaped differently than the manufacture emblem that it covers. It will come in various shapes. The SCAB will be manufactured to fit securely, cover, and attach around the existing manufacturer's emblem. |
| US09849842B1 |
Resettable tranceiver bracket
A resettable bracket is herein presented. The bracket is configured to mount a transceiver to a vehicle. The bracket includes a first piece and a second piece configured to be pivotably connected to each other. A docking station is mounted to the first piece. The docking station includes a bluff, an over-travel stop, and a plurality of arms configured to restrict pivotable movement of the second piece in relation to the first piece. A fitting element is mounted to the second piece. The fitting element is configured to dock into the docking station to substantially create the pivotable connection between the first and the second piece. A spring is installed at the pivotable connection between the first and second pieces. The spring is configured to allow the second piece to automatically return to a default position after being pivoted in relation to the first piece. |
| US09849838B1 |
Material transport cage and methods of using the same
A stackable transportable apparatus and method for storing or transporting at least one cylinder, having first and second lateral sides, a front side, a rear side, a bottom side and an opening in the top. The opening in the top and the bottom side are in a plane that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. Adjacent sides of each container are operably coupled to form a wall of the container. The wall includes front and rear proximal edges, and front and rear distal, edges. The front and rear proximal edges are closer to the center of a vehicle, by which the container is transported, than the front and rear distal edges. A top portion of the front side of the wall of the container, and the front proximal and distal edges have a plurality of open slot grooves. |
| US09849836B2 |
Roof mounted imager module
A roof mounted module for a vehicle includes an imager housing in secure engagement with a roof of the vehicle. The imager housing defines a lateral aperture and a vertical aperture. An imager is disposed in the imager housing and is in communication with the lateral aperture. An antenna housing is removably coupled to the imager housing and is in communication with the vehicle via a data connection that extends through the vertical aperture. |
| US09849833B2 |
Driving assistance system
When finding the driver distracted from driving (such as looking aside), this system first alerts him or her to the fact to prompt him or her to focus on driving. However, if the driver is still distracted from driving even when alerted, driving assistance are provided for him or her to enhance his or her motivation to drive by encouraging him or her to drive actively and thereby increase his or her internal focus on driving. Examples of specific driving assistance include giving exemplary driving instructions to the driver, providing him or her with navigation to a road with features that would entertain him or her through driving, and improving sensitivity to any change in the vehicle's state responsive to driving operations. |
| US09849826B2 |
Automotive lamp control
Apparatuses, methods, and computer-readable media for automotive lamp illumination control are provided. One example apparatus includes a first communication port, a controller device, and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the controller device, cause the controller device to detect a user input command entered by way of one or more user input devices, determine whether the user input command corresponds to an action among a plurality of predetermined actions including at least one of commencing an illumination pattern, terminating the illumination pattern, or switching the illumination pattern, and, in a case where it is determined that the user input command corresponds to the action among the plurality of predetermined actions, cause the action to be executed. |
| US09849823B2 |
Indicator unit for a system for indirect vision of a vehicle and system for indirect vision comprising an indicator unit
An indicator unit for a system for indirect vision of a vehicle. A unit has a functional unit housing having at least one electronic carrier accommodated therein. The at least one electronic carrier has at least one first electric or electronic functional component for providing the function of a direction indicator, and a second electric or electronic functional component. |
| US09849822B1 |
Adjustable cargo net and quick release system
A cargo containment system is disclosed comprising a series of length adjustable anchor straps carried by a truck, a series of rings slidably carried by the anchor straps, and a series of length adjustable lateral straps coupled between adjacent anchor straps about the rings to define an adjustable flexible lattice of cargo containment function. |
| US09849814B2 |
Vehicle seat
A vehicle seat includes a side support structure supporting a body of a seated occupant in a lateral direction of the vehicle seat. The vehicle seat includes a seat pad; a support member that supports the seat pad from a rear face side; and a rear face material provided in an integrally impregnated and hardened state along a rear face shape of the seat pad. The seat pad includes a rear face-side support region. The rear face-side support region is provided with a recessed portion formed such that a region between two points in a circumferential direction of a transverse section is recessed toward a surface, the two points being supported by the support member via the rear face material. The side support structure is formed by a protruding rear face-side support structure in which a rear face of the recessed portion is hardened by the rear face material. |
| US09849811B2 |
Seat reclining device for vehicle
A vehicle seat reclining device is disclosed. An operation mechanism allows a second memory member to engage with and disengage from a first memory member, and locks and unlocks a lock member in conjunction with the engagement and disengagement. When the first memory member is in a predetermined rotational position relative to the second rotating member, the second memory member is inserted into an engagement slot provided in the first memory member, thereby restricting rotation of the first memory member relative to the second rotating member. The operation mechanism includes a link member that is linked to the second memory member inserted into a guide hole provided in a plate-shaped member. In the thickness direction of the plate-shaped member, the link member is arranged on the same side of the plate-shaped member as the first memory member. |
| US09849807B2 |
System and method for determining operational group assignments of vehicles in a vehicle system
A vehicle control system includes one or more processors configured to assign plural vehicles to different groups in one or more vehicle systems for travel along one or more routes. The one or more processors also are configured to determine trip plans for the different groups. The trip plans designate different operational settings of the vehicles in the different groups at different locations along one or more routes during movement of the one or more vehicle systems along the one or more routes. The one or more processors also are configured to modify one or more of the groups to which the vehicles are assigned or the operational settings for the vehicles in one or more of the vehicle systems based on a movement parameter of one or more of the vehicle systems. The trip plans for the different groups of the vehicles are interdependent upon each other. |
| US09849806B1 |
Current based six step control
A vehicle powertrain includes a DC-DC converter and a controller. The DC-DC converter is coupled between a traction battery and an inverter for an electric machine. The controller is configured to, in response to a rotational speed of the electric machine dropping below a back EMF threshold speed, transition to a current control based six step inverter mode and operate the DC-DC converter to output a voltage less than an open circuit voltage of the traction battery. |
| US09849803B2 |
Energy system
An energy system includes an electric device that consumes electric power, a plurality of storage batteries that supplies stored electric power to the electric device, each of the storage batteries being chargeable and dischargeable under the control of an external device, and an information processor that divides the plurality of storage batteries into families which includes the storage batteries having similar charging and discharging characteristics, and that controls the timings to charge and discharge the storage batteries in the family. |
| US09849801B2 |
Battery control device for standardization of battery
Provided is a battery control device for the standardization of a battery, and more particularly, to a battery control device for the standardization of a battery, which allows one or more application modules performing functions of a battery management system (BMS) to independently operate with respect to a time, prevents data shared by one or more respective application modules from being subordinate to each other, and further, allows one or more application modules to perform functions thereof regardless of a change of the mode. |
| US09849800B1 |
Transferring energy between a mobile unit and another discrete unit
Methods, systems and devices are provided for transferring energy between a mobile unit and another discrete unit. One such method involves a mobile unit configured as a vehicle. During this method, energy is stored with an energy storage configured with the vehicle. At least some of the stored energy is transferred from the energy storage to an energy receiver using an energy transmitter, where the vehicle is discrete from the energy receiver. |
| US09849793B2 |
Electrical storage system for vehicle
An electrical storage system includes a main battery, an auxiliary battery, a bidirectional DC-DC converter and a controller. The bidirectional DC-DC converter is provided between the auxiliary battery and a power supply path from the main battery to a driving motor. The bidirectional DC-DC converter steps down an output voltage from the power supply path to the auxiliary battery, and steps up an output voltage from the auxiliary battery to the power supply path. The controller controls charging and discharging of the auxiliary battery. The controller, when an allowable output power of the main battery decreases and an electric power becomes insufficient for a required vehicle output, supplies an electric power to the power supply path by discharging the auxiliary battery by using the bidirectional DC-DC converter. The controller, when an allowable input power of the main battery decreases and a regenerated electric power generated by the driving motor is not entirely charged into the main battery, charges part of the regenerated electric power into the auxiliary battery by using the bidirectional DC-DC converter. |
| US09849786B2 |
Vehicle system and method for adjusting deceleration rate
A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling an electrified vehicle by adjusting a deceleration rate based on a closing rate of the electrified vehicle to an oncoming object. |
| US09849784B1 |
Occupant facing vehicle display
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a vehicle for maneuvering an occupant of the vehicle to a destination autonomously as well as providing information about the vehicle and the vehicle's environment for display to the occupant. |
| US09849782B2 |
Hydraulic motor having controlled output based on machine slippage model
A method of managing operation of a machine is described herein. The machine includes drive components that supply a propulsive force exerted by the machine on a traveled surface. The machine includes a programmed controller that controls power output by a motor to the drive components of the machine, in accordance with a slippage model, to actively manage excessive slippage at a physical interface between the machine and the traveled surface. The programmed controller determines a track force indicative of the propulsive force exerted by the machine on the traveled surface. The programmed controller further determines a modeled slippage based, at least in part, upon the track force and the slippage model. The machine conditionally causes a reduction of the power output by the motor based upon a comparison, by the programmed controller, between the modeled slippage and a slippage limit. |
| US09849781B2 |
Utility vehicle
A utility vehicle includes a diesel engine, a two-four wheel drive switcher provided on a driving power transmission path from the diesel engine and configured to switch transmission of driving power to driving wheels between a two-wheel drive mode and a four-wheel drive mode, and a vehicle control unit configured to control the two-four wheel drive switcher. The utility vehicle further includes a rollover sensor configured to detect rollover of the utility vehicle, and a fuel cutoff valve configured to cut off fuel supply to the diesel engine. The vehicle control unit determines whether or not the utility vehicle is being rolled over in accordance with detection by the rollover sensor and controls the fuel cutoff valve to cut off the fuel supply when the vehicle control unit determines that the utility vehicle is being rolled over. |
| US09849780B2 |
Safety apparatus of accelerator pedal for vehicle
A safety apparatus of an accelerator pedal for a vehicle may include a lever actuating hole formed through a pad of the accelerator pedal that is configured to be operated by a driver's foot, and a rotary lever passing through the lever actuating hole, and rotatably provided on the pad such that a first end of the rotary lever protrudes upwards from the pad and a second end of the rotary lever comes into contact with a pedal housing under the pad, the rotary lever preventing the pad from being rotated towards the pedal housing when the second end of the rotary lever comes into contact with the pedal housing. |
| US09849778B2 |
Multi-speed transfer case
A transfer case of a motor vehicle drivetrain includes a planetary gear set including a ring gear to receive input torque, and a pinion assembly having pinion gears in mesh with the ring gear and a carrier to carry the pinion gears and transmit output torque. A sun gear is in mesh with the pinion gears, is selectively connectable to the carrier and rotatable therewith in a two-wheel drive mode and in a four-wheel-drive high range mode, and is selectively fixable against rotational motion in a four-wheel drive low range mode. |
| US09849773B2 |
Generation control apparatus
A hybrid vehicle includes a battery, a generating unit having an internal combustion engine and a generator which generates electric power by operating the internal combustion engine to supply the generated electric power to a motor or the battery, and the motor which is driven by the electric power supplied from at least one of the battery and the generating unit. A generation control apparatus for the hybrid vehicle evaluates the driving condition of the vehicle from viewpoints of the energy consumption at the motor, the NV performance of the vehicle and the generation efficiency of the generating unit and determines whether or not the operation of the generating unit is necessary based on an evaluation parameter of any one or more viewpoints. |
| US09849771B2 |
Transmission unit, power transmission system and vehicle comprising the same
A transmission unit includes: input shafts; output shafts configured to transmit with a corresponding input shaft via gears; a reverse output gear fitted over one output shaft; a reverse synchronizer; a reverse shaft configured to rotate together with a input shaft and a reverse output gear; a motor power shaft; a first and a second motor gears fitted over the motor power shaft; the second motor gear configured to rotate together with a shift driven gear; and a motor synchronizer. A power transmission system including the transmission unit and a vehicle including the power transmission system are also provided. |
| US09849769B2 |
Structure for mounting battery and spare tire
A structure for mounting a battery and a spare tire may include a battery bracket fixing the battery to an accommodating compartment recessed in a rear floor of a vehicle, and a tire mounting bracket fastened to the spare tire, disposed at an upper side of the battery, through a tire bolt, and fixing the spare tire to the rear floor, in which the battery bracket and the tire mounting bracket are separated so that a load applied to the spare tire is not transmitted to the battery. |
| US09849768B2 |
Vehicle body structure
A vehicle body structure 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first cross member 1, a second cross member 2, and a third cross member 3 forming part of a framework of a vehicle and extending in a vehicle width direction. Further, the vehicle body structure 100 accommodates at least part of a battery portion 10a of a power storage device 10 in a space SP1R between a floor in a passenger compartment and a floor panel 4 and between the first cross member 1 and the second cross member 2. Further, the vehicle body structure 100 accommodates at least part of a controlling portion 10c of the power storage device 10 in a space SP2R between the first cross member 1 and the third cross member 3. |
| US09849767B2 |
Seal for a door, door and vehicle fitted with same
The invention relates to a seal including a body having a built-in chamber in which a switching element is arranged, and a lever for actuating the switching element. The lever can tilt relative to the body in two different directions. The range of movement and shape of the lever and/or the arrangement thereof relative to a wall of the chamber are such that the tilting of the lever, in a first of the different directions, does not deform the chamber, or does not deform same enough for the switching element to switch, and such that the tilting of the lever in the second direction deforms the chamber so that the switching element switches. |
| US09849761B2 |
Sunroof panel for vehicle
A sunroof panel for a vehicle includes a panel, a reinforcement member including a pair of side frames, a front frame, and a rear frame, and a joint portion joining first distal ends of the side frames to distal ends of the front frame, respectively, the joint portion joining second distal ends of the side frames to distal ends of the rear frame, respectively. At least one of the pair of the side frames, the front frame and the rear frame is made from a material that includes a specific gravity less than a specific gravity of the others of the pair of the side frames, the front frame and the rear frame. |
| US09849759B2 |
Independently operating motor vehicle doors with an articulating door interface
A door system is provided for a motor vehicle. That door system includes (a) a first independently operable first, door, (b) an independently operable second door, (c) an articulating door interface carried on the first door and (d) a guide on the motor vehicle body. The guide displaces the articulating door interface between a door sealing position when the first door is closed and a door opening position when the first door is opened. A related method is also provided. |
| US09849757B2 |
Extruded member corner connection
A connecting device for coupling first and second members includes a body having a first leg and a second leg integrally connected to the first leg. The first leg and the second leg are oriented at an angle with respect to each other. A rigid material core extends through both the first leg and the second leg, the core including a first core member integrally connected to a second core member. The first core member is angularly oriented with respect to the second core member such that the core defines a geometric shape. A resilient material sleeve commonly covers the core of both the first leg and the second leg. The first leg is frictionally received in a first member and the second leg is frictionally received in a second member to couple the first member to the second member. |
| US09849754B2 |
Air extractor grill for vehicle
An air extractor grill for a vehicle may include a housing fixedly mounted at a portion on the vehicle separating inside and outside spaces of the vehicle and provided with through holes having a plurality of grills, an outer cover coupled with one surface of an outside of the housing and having an opened inner space provided with a plurality of outer barrier ribs, and a plurality of valves including upper portions fitted between the housing and the outer cover to be closely disposed to the housing to seal the through holes when the outer cover is connected with the housing, the plurality of valves being operated to open the through holes while lower portions of the plurality of valves rotate toward the outer cover based on the fixed upper portions when air inside the vehicle needs to be discharged to the outside of the vehicle. |
| US09849753B2 |
Heating system for an automotive vehicle
A heating system for a vehicle having a power plant with a power plant coolant loop, and a method of operation, is disclosed. The heating system may include a HVAC module and a heater core coolant loop. The HVAC module includes a heater core. The heater core coolant loop includes a three-way valve having an inlet engaging the heater core for receiving a coolant, a first outlet that directs the coolant back into the heater core coolant loop, and a second outlet that directs the coolant into the power plant; a coolant pump for pumping the coolant through the heater core coolant loop; and a coolant heater located upstream of the heater core that selectively heats coolant flowing therethrough. Also, a coolant line receives the coolant from a heater core outlet of the power plant and directs the coolant into the heater core coolant loop. |
| US09849750B2 |
Mounting structure of resin components
A mounting structure of two resin components includes a primary component including an insertion piece extendedly provided from a base portion, and an engagement recessed portion formed in the insertion piece; and a secondary component formed capable of being mounted to the primary component and including an insertion portion configured to guide the insertion piece formed at the base portion, an engagement protruding portion formed in the insertion portion and configured to fit into the engagement recessed portion of the insertion piece, and a restriction wall configured to cover a root side of the insertion piece inserted into the insertion portion, and in a top plan view, a width of the restriction wall being gradually decreased toward a direction separating from a side where the primary component is mounted. |
| US09849748B2 |
Sprung vibration suppression device for vehicle
A sprung vibration suppression device for a vehicle includes a motor for generating torque to generate driving/braking force at the vehicle wheels and shock absorbers. The device calculates a target driving/braking force including a base requested driving/braking force requested for driving the vehicle and a damping driving/braking force necessary for sprung damping control and controls the driving/braking force output from the motor in accordance with the target driving/braking force. The device sets the damping driving/braking force to zero and increases the damping force generated by the shock absorbers when the base requested driving/braking force is within a rattling noise generation range set for determining whether there is a possibility that rattling noise is generated in the gear device. |
| US09849747B2 |
Method for reducing the risk of rollover of an automotive vehicle provided with a controllable suspension system
A method for reducing the rollover risk of an automotive vehicle includes: a first step of calculating, on the basis of a plurality of signals delivered by sensors (28, 29) of the controllable suspension system, a measured quantity (TCm) as an active value (TC) of a load transfer; a second step of calculating an estimated quantity (TCe), on the basis of signals delivered by kinematic sensors (50-58) placed onboard the vehicle and a dynamic model of the vehicle, the estimated quantity being taken as an active value of the load transfer when the measured quantity is not available; a step of evaluating the rollover risk on the basis of the active value (TC) of the load transfer; and, in the event of increased rollover risk; and a step of the emission of a safety signal (S). |
| US09849741B2 |
Trailer coupling
In the case of a trailer coupling for motor vehicles, including a cross member, which is connectable to a motor vehicle body, and a bearing unit, which carries a ball neck that at a first end is connected to the bearing unit and at a second end carries a coupling ball, and a holding base, which carries the bearing unit and is connected to the cross member, it is proposed according to the invention that the holding base should have a flange unit, for receiving the bearing unit, and two holding elements that project from the flange unit and in so doing run at a spacing from one another and act on the cross member. |
| US09849740B2 |
Towing assembly
The invention relates to a towing assembly that is used in towing operations to avoid damage or injury to persons when a soft tow apparatus, such as a tow strap, tow rope, or cable, fails during vehicle recovery operations. The assembly comprises: (a) a recovery strap that can be connected to a towing vehicle and a vehicle to be towed; (b) a diffuser strap that can be connected to a towing vehicle and a vehicle to be towed and (c) two or more sleeves disposed on the diffuser strap. The diffuser strap captures and dissipates the kinetic and potential energy that is released when the recovery strap breaks. |
| US09849738B2 |
Fifth wheel conversion hitch mounting system
An underbed hitch mounting system is described. The mounting system may be utilized for towing vehicles wherein the mounting system may selectively accommodate either a fifth wheel hitch or a gooseneck hitch. The mounting system may include at least one rail capable of being connected to a vehicle frame, wherein the rail includes at least one socket. The socket may be engaged with a receiving member, wherein the receiving member may be engaged with a leg of a fifth wheel hitch. A mid rail may be connected to the rails and may include a hitch ball socket that is capable of engagement with a hitch. |
| US09849736B2 |
Tire position determination system
A tire position determination system is provided with: a plurality of tire air pressure transmitters each capable of transmitting a first radio signal including air pressure data and a tire ID; a plurality of axle rotation detection units each generating axle rotation information; and a receiver mounted to a vehicle body and capable of receiving the first radio signal. Each of the plurality of tire air pressure transmitters includes a specific position detection unit capable of detecting the arrival of the tire air pressure transmitter at a specific position on a trajectory of rotation of the tire, and a transmission control unit that, based on a result of detection, generates a second radio signal including data indicating the arrival of the tire air pressure transmitter at the specific position on the trajectory of rotation of the tire and the ID. The receiver includes a position determination unit that determines a tire position of the plurality of tires based on the second radio signal. |
| US09849734B2 |
Pneumatic tire with a three dimensional component
A pneumatic tire includes an axis of rotation, a carcass having at least one reinforced ply and a reinforcing structure providing a buffer for absorbing shear strain, a tread disposed radially outward of the carcass, and a belt structure disposed radially between the carcass and the tread. The reinforcing structure includes at least one layer of a three dimensional fabric including a frame structure of fabric and open cells defined by the frame structure. |
| US09849724B2 |
Anti-aquaplaning device for a vehicle
Device to avoid the aquaplaning problem on a vehicle (10), the device being applicable at least on the drive wheels (28) of the vehicle and including a tank (12) of fluid under pressure that is connected to a plurality of fluid ejectors (26) associated with the respective wheels and suitable to shoot jets of pressurized fluid onto the road surface, and sensors (18) suitable to detect the conditions of the road surface to actuate the fluid ejectors. The fluid ejectors (26) are injector nozzles controlled by a central processing unit (CPU), which receives the signals from the sensors (18), and are operated in a manner coordinated with the physical position of the respective wheel so as to be continually oriented in the direction of travel of the same wheel. |
| US09849721B2 |
Structurally supported tire
A structurally supported tire includes a ground contacting annular tread portion, an annular hoop structure for supporting a load on the tire, a means for attachment to a vehicle rim, and a ply structure secured to a first axial limit and extending radially outward and between the hoop structure and the tread portion and further extending radially inward from between the hoop structure and tread portion to a second axial limit. The ply structure is secured to both the first axial limit and the second axial limit. The tread portion is secured to a radially outer surface of the ply structure. The hoop structure is secured to a radially inner surface of the ply structure. |
| US09849720B1 |
System and method for displaying artwork
A design mount includes a design cutout having a design printed or adhered to the design surface and an adhesive tape on the back of the design cutout to mount the design cutout to any design surface. A plurality of design cutouts may be printed on a single sheet of material, and the design cutouts then cut out of the sheet. The design mount may also provide an artwork holder, having a shape that matches the shape of the design cutout. The inner perimeter of the holder may be about 1 mm smaller than the outer perimeter of the design cutout. The artwork holder may be heated, and the design cutout secured within the holder while the holder is heated. The holder then cools, providing a tight fit of the design cutout within the artwork holder. |
| US09849719B1 |
Container liquid catch rings
Container liquid catch rings which can be placed on a liquid container to catch and collect residual liquid from the container may include a ring body configured for placement on the liquid container in surrounding and substantially liquid-sealing relationship thereto. A ring opening may be formed by the ring body. The ring opening may be substantially sized and configured to accommodate the liquid container. A catch channel may be provided in the ring body in exterior concentric relationship to the ring opening. Liquid container and container liquid catch ring combinations are also disclosed. |
| US09849717B2 |
Laser printable dry-erase substrates and methods of their manufacture and use
Laser printable, dry-erase substrates, along with their methods of formation and use, are provided. The laser printable, dry-erase substrate can include a base sheet defining a surface and a dry-erase coating on the surface of the base sheet. The dry-erase coating comprises a film-forming polymeric material (e.g., a polyacryl, a polymethacryl, a polyurethane-polyacryl mixture, a polyurethane-polymethacryl mixture, an urethane-acryl copolymer, or a mixture thereof) and a wetting agent (e.g., a nonionic surfactant that has a polyethylene oxide chain and an aromatic hydrocarbon lipophilic or hydrophobic group). The film-forming polymeric material melts and flows at a laser printing temperature so as to bond to toner ink. |
| US09849716B2 |
Hook-and-loop fastening structure for clipboard
A hook-and-loop fastening structure for a clipboard contains: a cover and an accommodation box rotatably connecting with the cover. The accommodation box includes an accommodating chamber, a fixing slot defined on one of two inner peripheral sides of the accommodating chamber, and two opposite insertion portions, wherein each insertion portion is arranged on each of two inner ends of the accommodating chamber. Each insertion portion has a recess and a through hole defined between and communicating with a bottom of the recess and the accommodating chamber. The fixing slot of the accommodating chamber is configured to house a clamper for clamping papers/documents, and a hook-and-loop fastener is connected with the two opposite insertion portions so as to fix an object (such as a mobile device or a tablet PC) in the clipboard, after inserting the hook-and-loop fastener into the recess and the through hole. |
| US09849713B2 |
Optical effect layers showing a viewing angle dependent optical effect, processes and devices for their production, items carrying an optical effect layer, and uses thereof
The invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the invention relates to optical effect layers (OEL) showing a viewing-angle dependent optical effect, devices and processes for producing said OEL and items carrying said OEL, as well as uses of said optical effect layers as an anti-counterfeit means on documents. The OEL comprises a plurality of non-spherical magnetic or magnetizable particles, which are dispersed in a coating composition comprising a binder material, the OEL comprising two or more loop-shaped areas, being nested around a common central area that is surrounded by the innermost loop-shaped area, wherein, in each of the loop-shaped areas, at least a part of the plurality of non-spherical magnetic or magnetizable particles are oriented such that, in a cross-section perpendicular to the OEL layer and extending from the center of the central area to the outer boundary of the outermost loop-shaped area, the longest axis of the particles in each of the cross-sectional areas of the looped-shaped areas follow a tangent of either a negatively curved or a positively curved part of hypothetical ellipses or circles. |
| US09849712B2 |
Hinged greeting cards and gift card holders
Interactive greeting card and gift card holders with a hinged mechanism which provide fun user interaction and triggers audio playback. Each greeting card and gift card holder includes portion thereof which hinges or pivots about an axis. When the greeting card or gift card holder is hinged, or pivoted about the hinge, one or more special effects are triggered. Special effects may include audio, emergence or ejection of a gift card holder (w/gift card) or gift card, the appearance of a thought or word bubble, or any other special effect. |
| US09849711B2 |
Printing machine with laser perforating
There is described a printing machine for printing sheets, in particular sheets for the production of securities, banknotes, passports, ID cards and other valuable documents, comprising at least a sheet feeder, a printing unit, a delivery unit with delivery piles for the printed sheets and a sheet transport system for transporting the printed sheets along a transporting path from the printing unit to the delivery piles. The printing machine further comprises a laser perforating unit with at least one laser head disposed along the transporting path of the sheet transport system for perforating the printed sheets, and a first aspiration unit to maintain the printed sheets against an aspiration surface during perforation by said laser perforating unit. |
| US09849703B2 |
Arbitrary surface printing device for untethered multi-pass printing
An untethered, arbitrary-surface printing device includes a housing, a print head, positioning means, locomotive means, and sensors configured to perform multi-pass high-precision printing (i.e. at least 300 dots per inch) on nearly any surface texture. |
| US09849698B2 |
Label printer
A separation unit (10) of a label printer includes a metal nip roller shaft (11), a resin nip roller (12) disposed at a center part of the nip roller shaft and is supported so as to be rotatable around the nip roller shaft, and resin supporters (13) that support both ends of the nip roller shaft. The separation unit (10) is attached to the body case (2) to be relatively movable between the normal ejection position and the separation ejection position. Each of the pair of supporters has a part protruding toward the nip roller, and this part is a roller holder (13d) to insert an end of the nip roller shaft. The roller holder and the supporter are integrally formed for enhanced strength of the supporter. |
| US09849697B2 |
Printer and a method of printing
According to one example of the present invention there is provided a method of printing, with a printer, an image on a substrate, the printer comprising a substrate support. The method comprises obtaining an image to be printed, determining an offset position of a substrate positioned on the substrate support relative to a predetermined reference printing position, and controlling the printer to print the image to be printed at the determined offset position. |
| US09849692B2 |
Method and apparatus for transferring a printing substance onto a substrate by means of laser radiation
A method for transferring a printing substance provided as a coating on a carrier onto a substrate by laser radiation from a laser beam source that comprises an amplifier and that has an output power includes initiating a transfer process at the start of an active phase during a first time period by a temporary increase in the output power above an upper power threshold of the laser radiation, and adjusting the output power during a second time period of the active phase following the first time period, wherein the output power is adjusted during the second time period constantly in the range between the upper power threshold and a lower power threshold. The laser radiation and the carrier are moved relative to one another and the output power of the laser beam source is time modulated. |
| US09849689B1 |
Water-vapor assist for filling aqueous print heads
A method of filling a print head includes drawing a vapor into an empty print head to displace any air in the print head and filling the print head with ink. A method of filling a print head includes connecting a print head to a vacuum pump using a first valve, to a liquid supply using a second valve, and to an ink supply using a third valve, opening the first and second valves, applying vacuum to the print head and liquid supply using the vacuum pump, causing the liquid to generate a vapor that moves into the print head, closing the first valve and the second valve, and opening the third valve to move ink into the print head. |
| US09849686B2 |
Charging method and charging system
The invention relates to a method of charging for ink in an ink container consumed by a printing unit during printing. The method of charging includes obtaining information on an amount of the ink consumed; and implementing charging on the basis of the information. Before the amount of the ink in the ink container consumed reaches a predetermined value, first charging is implemented according to a charging basis in which usage-based charging is implemented on the basis of the amount of the ink consumed. After the amount of the ink consumed reaches the predetermined value, second charging is implemented according to a charging basis different from the charging basis applied to the first charging. |
| US09849685B2 |
Liquid supply device
A liquid supply device configured to supply a liquid to a liquid consuming apparatus comprises a liquid container configured to include a liquid supply portion and to contain the liquid therein; and a liquid supply connection structure supported on an outer wall of the liquid consuming apparatus and connected with the liquid supply portion. |
| US09849684B2 |
Ink cartridge for inkjet printer
The present invention relates to an ink cartridge for an inkjet printer, the ink cartridge comprising a head chip of a print head to be surface-mounted on an FPCB by means of BGA so as to have each contact terminal, which is formed on the FPCB and the head chip, to be formed over a relatively wide area and therefore not require a high level of integration technology. Therefore, the ink cartridge enables easy manufacturing of the FPCB and the head chip and lowering of manufacturing cost. Also, since relatively low precision needs to be maintained during the mounting of the head chip on the FPCB such that each contact terminal comes into contact, the ink cartridge enables more convenient and faster manufacturing of the print head. |
| US09849679B2 |
Liquid jetting apparatus, power transmission apparatus, and recording apparatus
A liquid jetting apparatus includes: a head unit; a cap; a cap lifter moving the cap between a capping position in which the cap makes contact with the head unit and an uncapping position in which the cap is separated from the head unit; a motor; a driven device; a first transmission gear transmitting power of the motor to the cap movement device; a second transmission gear transmitting the power of the motor to the driven device; and a movement gear moving between a position at which the movement gear engages with the first transmission gear and a position at which the movement gear engages with the second transmission gear depending on a rotation direction of the motor. At least one of the first transmission gear and the movement gear is made of a synthetic resin material containing glass fiber. |
| US09849676B2 |
Printer including a spit zone
A printer includes a printhead assembly, a spit zone, and a controller. The printhead assembly includes nozzles to eject ink drops. The spit zone is to store maintenance ink. The controller is to move the printhead assembly over the spit zone while ink is ejected from the nozzles during spits. |
| US09849675B2 |
Protection device for ink-jet printhead
The present invention relates to a protection device for ink-jet printheads, comprising: a tank confining a cavity adapted to contain a humidifying liquid and having a mouth designed to be associated with at least one nozzle of an ink-jet printhead; a seal disposed around the mouth and suitable to be put sealingly in engagement against the printhead and around the nozzle; a mechanism integrated into the tank, for opening or closing the mouth for selectively bringing the mouth into fluid communication with the cavity. |
| US09849673B2 |
Generate non-uniform electric field to maintain pigments in ink vehicle of printing fluid in nozzle region of printhead
A printhead includes a plurality of firing chambers, a plurality of fluid ejectors, and at least one field generating member. Each one of the firing chambers includes a nozzle region to receive printing fluid. The printing fluid includes an ink vehicle having pigments disposed therein. At least one field generating member generates a non-uniform electric field to apply forces to maintain respective pigments in the ink vehicle of the printing fluid in the nozzle region. |
| US09849669B2 |
Recording method and recording apparatus
A recording method for performing recording on a medium by forming dots by ejecting a liquid from nozzles during scanning. The recording method includes detecting an abnormal nozzle; disposing a normal nozzle in a row where dot missing occurs due to the abnormal nozzle by moving a medium by a first moving amount; performing first complementary recording in which at least a part of a dot missing region is complemented by a first dot which is recorded by the normal nozzle during the scanning; moving the medium by a second moving amount; and performing second complementary recording in which a second dot of which a size is greater than a size of a dot determined based on printing data is recorded on a row adjacent to a row of the abnormal nozzle by the normal nozzle that is positioned adjacent to the abnormal nozzle during the scanning. |
| US09849668B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and ink jet recording apparatus
Provided are an image processing device, an image processing method, and an ink jet recording apparatus that can prevent the occurrence of density unevenness, such as banding, regardless of a duty, without causing deterioration of image quality. A jetting rate indicating an ink jetting rate of each of a plurality of nozzles which jet ink in a recording head including the nozzles is determined. A nozzle pattern indicating which of the plurality of nozzles of the recording head is used to record each pixel of an image on a recording medium is determined. The jetting rate of the nozzle which records each pixel is reflected in a gradation value of each pixel of the image on the basis of the determination result of the jetting rate and the determination result of the nozzle pattern to convert the gradation value of each pixel. |
| US09849667B2 |
Endless flexible belt for a printing system
A flexible belt is disclosed for use in a printing system. The belt comprises an endless strip which, in use, travels along a continuous path. Formations are provided along the sides of the strip which are capable of engaging with lateral tracks to place the belt under lateral tension, the lateral tracks further serving to constrain the belt to follow the continuous path. |
| US09849660B2 |
Separation apparatus
A yield in a separation process is improved. A separation apparatus which enables easy separation in a large-area substrate is provided. The separation apparatus has a function of dividing a process member into a first member and a second member and includes a support body supply unit, a support body hold unit, a transfer mechanism, a direction changing mechanism, and a structure body. The structure body bonds a support body to a surface of the first member. When at least part of the process member is located between the direction changing mechanism and the structure body or the pressure applying mechanism, the shortest distance between the direction changing mechanism and a first plane including the surface of the first member is longer than the shortest distance between the first plane and the structure body or the pressure applying mechanism. |
| US09849657B2 |
Liquid crystal devices having reduced electrode-gap visibility
Liquid crystal devices may include electrode segments that are spaced apart and have a gap therebetween. A bridge layer may be disposed in the gap and configured to have a resistance that is operable provide a substantially equipotential region proximate to the gap portion while still allowing the electrode segments to be substantially isolated electrically. The disclosed liquid crystal devices may have reduced visual artifacts and may be configured to be a liquid crystal display, a polarization control panel, or a switch having liquid crystal cells. |
| US09849656B2 |
Method of repairing a core stiffened structure
A method of repairing a core stiffened structure, including removing a damaged portion of the core stiffened structure; bonding a shelf onto a first core member; bonding a second core member to a shelf; and securing a skin patch over the second core member. |
| US09849655B2 |
Adhesive for insulative articles
An adhesive composition that improves structural integrity and insulative properties when applied to a cellulosic substrate is provided. The adhesive composition includes a plurality of microspheres and an emulsion-based polymer that has (i) an elastic modulus greater than 0.5 MPa in the range temperature range of 70° C. to 110° C.; (ii) an absolute log(E)/T slope of less than 0.05 in the range temperature range of 70° C. to 110° C.; and (iii) a tan d value less than 0.6 at 90° C. |
| US09849641B2 |
Method and apparatus for helical cutting of a tubular film
A method of forming a film (1) of molten polymer material, by extruding said material in a direction (2) out of a narrow exit slot (3), which is an integral part of a wider die chamber (4) of which the major dimension of extension is parallel with the major dimension of the exit slot (3), characterized in that the molten polymer material is formed into one or more flows generally parallel with said major dimension of the exit slot (3), each said flow being pumped in a re-circulating arrangement from the chamber inlet (7) to the outlet (8) through conduits connecting the inlet to the outlet, while fresh molten polymer material is administered from a reservoir into each re-circulating flow. |
| US09849639B2 |
Annealing method, annealing jig and annealing apparatus
An annealing method according to the present invention is an annealing method of annealing a molded body (1) which is molded from a molding material in a molding step, and the method includes the steps of: (I) releasing stress from the molded body (1) by heating the molded body (1); and (II) correcting a warp of the molded body (1), by simultaneously heating the molded body (1) and applying a load to the molded body (1). This achieves an annealing method which makes it possible to obtain a molded body that is free from residual stress and distortion. |
| US09849636B2 |
Reinforced structural element made of plastic, in particular in the vehicle interior design field
A vehicle structural element made of plastic has at least one carbon filler reinforced region and at least one fiberglass reinforced region. In a method for producing the vehicle structural element, a pre-heated carbon fiber reinforced region and a pre-heated fiberglass reinforced region are placed in a press and shaped. |
| US09849635B2 |
Compaction method and device for automated fiber placement
A compaction device for use with an automated fiber placement machine includes multiple compaction rollers mounted for independent displacement on a supporting frame. The attitude of the compaction rollers change relative to each other when fiber tows are laid up at an angle over an edge of a tool in order to maintain compaction pressure on the tows and thereby reduce non-compacted areas of the tows. |
| US09849633B2 |
Removing sharp cusps from 3D shapes for additive manufacturing
A method for processing a three-dimensional (3D) mesh model includes receiving a 3D mesh model. One or more regions including a potential sharp cusp are automatically detected. The automatically detected one or more regions are displayed to a user and an active region of the 3D mesh model is defined by the user. Sphere fitting and Laplacian smoothing are applied to the designated active region to remove a sharp cusp therefrom and to obtain a modified 3D mesh model. |
| US09849631B1 |
Three dimensional (3D) printing by selective rotation of a build platform
Embodiments include an apparatus for fabricating a three-dimensional (3D) object from a digital representation of the 3D object stored in a computer readable media. The apparatus includes a build platform on which the 3D object is to be fabricated and a nozzle configured to deposit printing material on the build platform to fabricate the 3D object. The apparatus further includes a first drive mechanism configured to drive the nozzle over the build platform and a second drive mechanism configured to rotate the build platform. |
| US09849627B2 |
Ultrasonic press using servo motor with delayed motion
An ultrasonic welding system includes an ultrasonic welding stack that is movable to initiated a welding operation. A plurality of sensors measure respective control variables and output control signals corresponding, respectively, to the control variables. A motion control system is coupled to and causes controlled movement of the welding stack, including initiating the welding operation. The motion control system determines, based on the control signals, control inputs such that any motion of the welding stack, subsequent to the initiating, is initially delayed until the control signals satisfy a predetermined condition. In response to the predetermined condition being satisfied, the motion control system causes the welding stack to move in accordance with a weld profile. |
| US09849623B2 |
Hollow part manufacturing machine
Hollow part manufacturing machine includes at least one mold in which hollow parts can be manufactured by application of a pressurized medium, a valve unit, having at least two valves, wherein an inlet of a second valve is connected to a second pressure accumulator, which is pressurized under a second pressure, and an outlet of the second valve is connected to a blow nozzle via a channel. The inlet of a first valve is connected to a first pressure accumulator that is under a first pressure and the outlet of the first valve is also connected to the blow nozzle via a channel. During at least a part of the molding process, the blow nozzle seals the material to be molded, and/or the mold, relative to the environment. |
| US09849620B2 |
Container preform
Described herein, amongst other things, is a container preform that is blow moldable into a container. The container preform includes a tubular body having a neck finish and a base at an open end and a closed end thereof respectively. The base is defined between inside and outside curved surfaces at least one of which is composed of multiple tangential curves, wherein an elongate portion is defined between adjacent inside and outside concentric curves that define a thinnest bottom wall thickness of the base having a constant minimum thickness that is smaller than or equal to a wall thickness of the body. |
| US09849619B2 |
Apparatus for correcting the bending of a molten resin and method of correcting the bending of the molten resin
An apparatus (31) for correcting the bending of the molten resin includes a temperature-adjusting device (32) arranged surrounding an extrusion passage (12) for extruding the molten resin (8) of an extrusion die head (7) along the direction of extruding the molten resin (8), a measuring means (33) for measuring the horizontal position of the molten resin (8) extruded from an extrusion opening (20) of the extrusion passage (12), and a control means (34) for controlling the temperature-adjusting device (32) based on the results measured by the measuring means (33). |
| US09849618B1 |
Valve gate assembly actuator
An improved actuator for a valve gate assembly is provided. The actuator includes a planetary assembly for converting rotation of an electrical motor into linear movement of a valve gate pin while also providing mechanical advantage to the motor against injection pressures from 15,000 psi to at least 25,000 psi. An internal cooling volume surrounds the motor for continuously cooling the motor with water, and an internal encoder converts an angular rotation within the actuator into an analog or digital signal for output to a controller. |
| US09849617B2 |
Insertable aperture molding
Top and bottom ferrous carrier plates have a plurality of pairs of mating insert receptacles in full carrier plates and interlocked partial carrier plates. Pairs of mating nonferrous pre-molded inserts with mating mold cavities insert with a three axis floating fit into mating insert receptacles. Insert contact faces each comprising a flat surface portion having a plurality of mating alignment elements adapted for automatic precision alignment of the mating pair of pre-molded inserts. An injector structure comprising a plunger and pot bushing structure communicates with a pot on each top pre-molded insert. The bushing structure has a solidifying cavity and stripping structure so that retraction of the plunger separates the solidified material from the plunger face for automatic removal of surplus injected material after each molding cycle. |
| US09849614B2 |
Production method of producing fiber-reinforced resin molding
A production method of producing a fiber-reinforced resin molding includes: kneading, in a kneader, molten thermoplastic resin with opened reinforcing fibers obtained by opening a bundle of reinforcing fibers, to produce a kneaded mixture; and placing or charging the kneaded mixture into a molding device to produce a fiber-reinforced resin molding. |
| US09849611B2 |
Method for producing collagen-containing sheet material
A method for producing a collagen-containing sheet material, wherein a collagen-containing suspension is dried in such a manner that the collagen settles during drying and forms a transparent skin. |
| US09849607B2 |
Methods and systems for the formation and use of reduced weight building blocks forms
In some embodiments, a method may include preparing building forms including at least some cementitious materials. The method for preparing forms may include mixing substantially dry cementitious material particles with closed cell foam particles to form a substantially dry composition. In some embodiment, at least some of the cementitious material particles may adhere to at least some surface deformations on the surface of the closed cell foam particles. In some embodiments, the method may include mixing a second portion of water with the substantially dry composition for a second period of time to form a partially wet composition. In some embodiments, a method may include forming a building form including at least some cementitious materials from the partially wet composition. In some embodiments, the closed cell foam particles may include expanded polystyrene. In some embodiments, a ratio of the water to cementitious material particles may range from 0.20 to 0.40. |
| US09849605B2 |
Power miter saw having a fence with elevated platforms
A power miter saw includes a base assembly including a frame, cavities on a bottom of the frame, two supports at two sides of the frame respectively, and two parallel sliding rods passing through one support; a table assembly including a rotatable table mounted on the frame, a miter arm secured to the rotatable table, and a fence at an edge of the rotatable table and secured to the supports; and a saw blade and motor assembly. The fence includes a central curved top, two platforms at two ends of the central curved top respectively, two shoulders each at a joining portion of the curved top and the adjacent platform, and two aligned grooved members each extending outward from a position proximate the platform. The platforms are at an elevation greater than that of the miter arm. |
| US09849604B2 |
Arrangement for achieving a reciprocal motion in particular for a chain saw
An arrangement that can be turned by an assigned hydraulic pressure and flow, related to a chain saw supported by a harvesting unit for crosscutting timber, wherein a bearing arrangement is arranged for the chain saw and oriented between a guide bar housing and the chain saw's drive motor unit, wherewith an oscillatory motion can be activated by a hydraulic control valve, through which hydraulic flow is alternatively controlled via feed or connection lines to the bearing arrangement, for a first or second operating mode. The arrangement is activated via hydrostatic pressure and coordinated with the guide bar housing, and with the drive motor unit, via surrounding perforated discs oriented in parallel and aligned around an axis of rotation for a drive shaft. The hydrostatic affects the arrangement's oscillatory motion for a reciprocal motion pattern, while spent hydraulic oil serves as a lubricating film between the opposing bearing surfaces. |
| US09849595B2 |
Contact force limiting with haptic feedback for a tele-operated robot
One exemplary embodiment is a system comprising an operator input device structured to move in response to operator-applied force and to selectably output feedback force to the operator. A first computing system is structured to receive input from the operator input device and provide an output. A second computing system is structured to receive the output and provide a robot control command subject to a force constraint. An industrial robot system is in operative communication with the second computing system and comprises a robotic arm structured to move in response to the command. The second computing system is structured process the output to impose a force constraint using a dual threshold hysteresis control. The first computing system is structured to apply a feedback force to the operator input device correlated to force associated with the industrial robot system. |
| US09849593B2 |
Medical tele-robotic system with a master remote station with an arbitrator
A robotic system that includes a mobile robot linked to a plurality of remote stations. One of the remote stations includes an arbitrator that controls access to the robot. Each remote station may be assigned a priority that is used by the arbitrator to determine which station has access to the robot. The arbitrator may include notification and call back mechanisms for sending messages relating to an access request and a granting of access for a remote station. |
| US09849592B2 |
Robot apparatus, robot control method, program, and recording medium
A force detector provided between a robot arm and a robot hand detects forces Fx, Fy, and Fz. A robot controller performs a filtering process for the forces Fx and Fy by a first low-pass filter of a cutoff frequency Fc1, moves the robot hand so that the forces Fx and Fy become smaller, corrects a trajectory of the robot arm, performs a filtering process for the force Fz by a second low-pass filter of a cutoff frequency Fc2 having a frequency higher than the cutoff frequency Fc1, performs a threshold value determination for the force Fz, and stops the movement of the robot hand when the force Fz exceeds a threshold value during a fitting operation. |
| US09849590B2 |
Apparatus for transporting a rotor
Provided is an apparatus capable of transporting a rotor from a first location to a second location, including: a holding device for engaging with a portion of the rotor at the first location so as to hold the rotor relative to the apparatus; a position determination device for determining the position of at least one component part of the rotor relative to another component part of the rotor or another body; a positioning device for positioning or repositioning said at least one component part of the rotor relative to another component part of the rotor or another body; and a movement device for moving the rotor from the first location to the second location. Also described is a method of loading a rotor into a balancing machine. |
| US09849588B2 |
Apparatus and methods for remotely controlling robotic devices
Computerized appliances may be operated by users remotely. A learning controller apparatus may be operated to determine association between a user indication and an action by the appliance. The user indications, e.g., gestures, posture changes, audio signals may trigger an event associated with the controller. The event may be linked to a plurality of instructions configured to communicate a command to the appliance. The learning apparatus may receive sensory input conveying information about robot's state and environment (context). The sensory input may be used to determine the user indications. During operation, upon determine the indication using sensory input, the controller may cause execution of the respective instructions in order to trigger action by the appliance. Device animation methodology may enable users to operate computerized appliances using gestures, voice commands, posture changes, and/or other customized control elements. |
| US09849584B1 |
Tool cabinet
A tool cabinet includes a cabinet body having two guide rails and a routing space that is proximate to one of the guide rails, a working platform unit having a protective tube, two lifting units, a driving unit, and a power supply unit having a transmission wire. The working platform unit includes two extension members respectively slidable relative to the guide rails. Each lifting units includes a threaded rod extending through a respective extension member. The driving unit is disposed for driving rotation of the threaded rod of a respective one of the lifting units. The transmission wire has an end connected to the driving unit, and an opposite end extending through the protective tube into the routing space. |
| US09849581B2 |
Accessible temporary magnet control for magnetic drill press
A drill press includes a main housing, a base coupled to the main housing and having an electromagnet, a drill unit supported by the main housing for relative movement therewith, a first switch selectively electrically connecting the electromagnet to a power source to energize the electromagnet, and a second switch for selectively interrupting power to the electromagnet. |
| US09849577B2 |
Rotary hammer
A rotary power tool includes a housing, a spindle defining a working axis, and a motor supported by the housing. The motor is operable to drive the spindle. The rotary power tool also includes a handle movably coupled to the housing and a vibration isolating assembly disposed between the housing and the handle. The vibration isolating assembly attenuates vibration transmitted from the housing to the handle. A battery pack is removably coupled directly to the handle and configured to provide power to the motor. |
| US09849576B2 |
Tool attachment for a handheld machine tool
In a tool attachment having an attachment housing on which a fastening interface is situated for fastening to an handheld machine tool, the fastening interface having an angular position setting unit for setting a specified angular position of the tool attachment on the handheld machine tool, and being equipped with a locking unit which, in a locked state, locks the tool attachment for operation on the handheld machine tool in the specified angular position, and, in the unlocked state, makes possible drawing the tool attachment away from the handheld machine tool, the angular position setting unit is operable in the locked state of the locking unit, to enable a change in the specified angular position. |
| US09849572B1 |
Method and apparatus for making up a plurality of joints of pipe
A method and apparatus for pulling multiple joints of pie which comprises a pulling section and a pulled section, the method and apparatus working while the joints of pipe are below grade and capable of pulling multiple joints of pipe without relocating the pulling section. |
| US09849570B2 |
Tool bit
A tool bit includes a hexagonal drive portion, a working end, and a shank interconnecting the drive portion and the working end. The shank includes an outer peripheral surface having a curvature in a plane including a central axis of the tool bit. The outer peripheral surface having the curvature includes a length in the direction of the central axis. A ratio of the length of the outer peripheral surface having the curvature to the length of the tool bit is between about 0.2:1 and about 0.7:1. |
| US09849569B2 |
Clench wrench
A clench wrench includes a structure defining a first body defining a handle and a second body integrated with the first body and defining an engaging head respectively. The second body has two opposite sides with one side defining a front side and the other side defining a back side respectively and includes an engaging space. The engaging space extends through the front and back sides, and an opening is defined on both the front and back sides. One of the front and back sides includes a clenching member of a clenching device connected thereto. The clenching member is selectively movable between a first position blocking the opening of the engaging space adjacent to one of the front and back sides and a second position in which the opening of the engaging space adjacent to one of the front and back sides is not blocked. |
| US09849568B2 |
Clamping device
A clamping device has an actuator that moves linearly and is actuated by a drive. A pivoting clamping element is operatively connected, via a toggle lever mechanism, with the actuator. The toggle lever mechanism includes a drive-side adapter and a hand lever-side adapter. The drive side adapter and hand lever side adapter can be adjusted relative to one another to define an opening angle of the clamping element. One of the adapters has a profiled bar extending in a direction of actuation. The other adapter has an insertion region to accommodate the bar. A fixing element is provided in one of the adaptors to define the location of the adapters relative to one another. The fixing element can be clamped against the profiled bar and also against an insertion region. |
| US09849565B2 |
Floating jaw assembly for use with machinist vises
An improved floating jaw assembly to a machinist vise assembly capable of holding a plurality of individual workpieces, the vise assembly generally including a base with a way or ways, a fixed jaw mounted on the ways, at least one movable jaw slidably mounted on the ways to move toward and away from the fixed jaw on a longitudinal axis in such a manner that at least one workpiece can be securely held between the fixed jaw and the at least one movable jaw, and a mechanism for moving the movable jaw toward and away from the fixed jaw to clamp and unclamp workpieces. The floating jaw assembly includes at least one floating jaw plate attached to the vise assembly by means of mounting pins and openings in the floating jaw plates for adjustable movement of the floating jaw plates along the longitudinal axis of the vise assembly and for articulated movement of the floating jaw plates in a plane substantially parallel to the base of the vise assembly and about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vise assembly so that the floating jaw plates can, in cooperation with adjoining jaws or plates, adjust to and securely hold workpieces. In addition, the floating jaw assembly includes a means of forcing the at least one floating jaw plate downward and securely against the ways of the vise assembly as the at least one movable jaw moves toward the fixed jaw, along with the intermediary at least one floating jaw plate, when clamping a workpiece. The floating jaw plates can be bisected longitudinally so that each bisected jaw plate can move independently of the bisected jaw plate and allow for even greater adjustable and articulated movement of each bisected floating jaw plate. The floating jaw assembly can be added as an accessory to a conventional vise assembly. |
| US09849563B2 |
Abrasive article and method of making the same
An abrasive article comprises abrasive particles adhered to a substrate by a binder material comprising an at least partially cured resole phenolic resin and an aliphatic tack modifier. The amount of resole phenolic resin comprises from 60 to 98 weight percent of the combined weight of the resole phenolic resin and the aliphatic tack modifier. A method of making the abrasive article is also disclosed. |
| US09849559B2 |
Sand blaster with reduced vibration and wear
A sand blaster is provided that includes an engine carried by an engine mounting plate. A frame is included and an engine support isolator engages the frame and carries the engine mounting plate. The engine support isolator has a stud that extends through a first coil and a stud guide that has a tapered inner surface. The stud extends through the stud guide. In other arrangements an air regulator that is adjustable is provided, and a nozzle that features reduced wear is provided. |
| US09849558B2 |
Polishing pad dresser, polishing apparatus and polishing pad dressing method
In one embodiment, a polishing pad dresser includes a first base portion, and first convex portions provided in a first region of the first base portion. Furthermore, a width of the first convex portions is 1 to 10 μm, a height of the first convex portions is 0.5 to 10 μm, and a density of the first convex portions in the first region is 0.1 to 50%. |
| US09849556B2 |
Cutting tool sharpener
Method and apparatus for sharpening a cutting tool. In some embodiments, an abrasive endless belt is rotated in tension along a neutral plane between spaced apart first and second rollers. A guide assembly has spaced apart first and second guide surfaces which collectively converge to an intervening base surface to form a guide channel. Upon insertion of a blade of a cutting tool into the guide channel, a selected side of the blade contactingly slides against at least a selected one of the first or second guide surfaces and a first portion of a cutting edge of the blade contactingly engages the base surface to serve as a plunge depth limit stop for the blade. The endless belt is contactingly deflected by a second portion of the cutting edge away from the neutral plane to sharpen the second portion while the first portion remains in contact with the base surface. |
| US09849555B2 |
Machine tool
A machine tool includes a stationary machine frame, a tool head, which is able to be positioned relative to the machine frame along three mutually orthogonal translation axes, and a motor-driven tool. The machine tool includes a swivel unit, which can be pivoted about a horizontal swivel axis relative to the machine frame and includes a workpiece positioning device, via which a workpiece can be rotated about an axis of rotation oriented perpendicularly to the swivel axis. The swivel unit is assigned a measuring frame, which is able to be rotated with the swivel unit and is arranged to be thermally and/or mechanically decoupled from the swivel unit and includes components of a first and second position measuring system. Additional components of the first position measuring system are disposed on the tool head, and further components of the second position measuring system are situated on the workpiece positioning device. The spatial position of the tool head in relation to the measuring frame is ascertained via the first position measuring system, and the spatial position of the workpiece positioning device in relation to the measuring frame takes place via the second position measuring system. |
| US09849553B2 |
Drilling safety system
The present disclosure describes and teaches a drill safety system including a magnetic unit, a vacuum unit, and an improved hole saw drill set. The various parts of the drill safety system may be used individually or in combination with one another. The user may use the magnetic unit to surround the drilling site so that metal drill shavings on the drill surface may be collected by the magnetic unit. In addition, the magnetic unit includes a flippable top mechanism, allowing convenient disposal of the debris. The vacuum unit is fitted to the inner surface of the drilling site, collecting debris that fall through. The improved hole saw prevents over-penetrating by the drill, reducing the likelihood of damaging equipments underneath the drill site. This makes the drill particularly suitable for drilling holes during electrical work. |
| US09849541B2 |
Butt welding method and friction stir welding tool
Provided is a method and tool for butt welding a first material piece of metal to a second material piece of metal at opposed longitudinal edges. The second material piece has a greater material thickness than the first material piece. The first material piece has a higher tensile strength and/or a higher inching temperature and/or a higher yield strength and/or a higher modulus of elasticity than the second material piece. A thickened longitudinal edge is provided at the first material piece. The thickening of the longitudinal edge is at least partly produced by at least simple folding, beading or winding of the first material piece or at least partly by folding the first material piece at its edge. The two material pieces are friction-stir welded at their front along the opposed longitudinal edges. |
| US09849537B2 |
Methods for weld purging
A method for purging air from a structure to be joined by welding by feeding a liquid cryogen to the structure. The liquid cryogen will enter the structure, warm up and enter the gaseous phase very rapidly. The gaseous cryogen will displace the air that is present in the structure out of the structure and reduce the content of oxygen in the structure to about 10 parts per million when welding can begin. |
| US09849536B2 |
Silent entry torching and oxygen delivery system and configuration
A system for performing exothermic operations or oxygen delivery uses a rod and handle configuration to create a flowpath of oxygen. The rod includes cables having stainless steel fibers that burn using the oxygen within a hollow center area. While burning, the rod cuts through material. A sheath covers the covers to contain the gases and prevent unraveling of the cables. The handle attaches to the rod and provides control of the flow of oxygen to the rod. A manifold fixing in place bottles of oxygen connects to the handle and can be fixed to provide different mixtures from different bottles. The rod is disconnected when needed to fix a mask thereto for delivering breathable oxygen to a patient. |
| US09849532B2 |
Composite wear pad and methods of making the same
A composite wear pad includes a substrate that is selected from the group of iron based alloys, steel, nickel based alloys, and cobalt based alloys. A hard particle-matrix alloy layer is bonded at a surface to the substrate. The hard particle-matrix alloy layer has a plurality of hard particles dispersed in a matrix alloy. The hard particle-matrix alloy layer has a thickness ranging between greater than about 13 millimeters and about 20 millimeters. |
| US09849528B2 |
Electrical discharge machining system having independent electrodes
An electrical discharge machining (EDM) system according to embodiments includes: a guide structure; a plurality of electrode devices positioned at least partially within the guide structure, the plurality of electrode devices aligned to provide a plurality of electrical discharges to a workpiece, each of the plurality of electrode devices including: an electrode for positioning proximate the workpiece; an electrode holder coupled to the electrode for holding the electrode proximate the workpiece; and a driver coupled to the electrode holder, the driver adapted to modify a position of the electrode holder and the electrode; and a control system operably connected with the driver, the control system configured to provide instructions to the driver of at least one of the plurality of electrode devices to modify a position of the at least one of the plurality of electrodes independently of at least one other one of the plurality of electrodes. |
| US09849526B2 |
Broach
A plurality of cutting edges that are arranged on an outer circumference of a shaft-shaped broach body are provided with a spline teeth group, which contains a plurality of spline teeth 8 that groove a prepared hole of a work material, and a round teeth group, which is disposed in a different position from the spline teeth group along an axis direction and contains a plurality of round teeth that machine an inner circumference of the prepared hole. At least one gullet is formed to extend along the outer circumference of the broach body in a circumferential direction around the axis between the round teeth that are adjacent to one another in the axis direction in the round teeth group. The gullet extends toward the axis direction, gradually twisting toward the circumferential direction. The spline teeth group and the round teeth group are formed integrally on the outer circumference of the broach body. |
| US09849519B2 |
Ultrasonic oscillation system and sonotrode
In an ultrasound-assisted method, in each of at least two sonotrode arms (8, 9) of a sonotrode (7) that is fixed in a protruding manner, said sonotrode arms being connected to each other by means of a respective joint (10) in each case, a respective ultrasonic wave that is transverse to the protrusion direction and that oscillates in a resonance mode is produced, wherein ultrasonic waves superposed in the at least one joint (10) and oscillating in the sonotrode arms (8, 9) of the joint (10) oscillate at a phase offset from each other, and the oscillation planes of the superposed ultrasonic waves are parallel to each other. An ultrasonic system suitable for carrying out the method comprises an ultrasound source (1), a sonotrode (7) protruding from a sonotrode retainer (6), wherein the sonotrode (7) has at least two sonotrode arms (8, 9), which are connected to each other by means of a respective joint (10) in each case and of which at least two produce different resonance modes under ultrasonic excitation, and ultrasonic waves superposed in the at least one joint (10) and oscillating in the sonotrode arms (8, 9) of the joint (10) oscillate at a phase offset from each other. The invention further relates to a corresponding sonotrode (7). |
| US09849515B2 |
Method of manufacturing a cutting tool and a cutting tool
The disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a cutting tool including the steps of: providing a cutting tool blank including a cutting edge, defined by a cross-sectional wedge angle (β). The wedge angle has a variation along the cutting edge, and material is removed from the cutting edge with a constant material removal rate per length unit of the edge, such as to form a corresponding variation of edge rounding along the cutting edge. The disclosure further relates to a cutting tool including the cutting edge defined by the cross-sectional wedge angle having a variation along the cutting edge and wherein the cutting edge has a corresponding variation of edge rounding along the cutting edge. |
| US09849512B2 |
Method and apparatus for production of uniformly sized nanoparticles
An apparatus and process for creating uniformly sized, spherical nanoparticles from a solid target. The solid target surface is ablated to create an ejecta event containing nanoparticles moving away from the surface. Ablation may be caused by laser or electrostatic discharge. At least one electromagnetic field is placed in front of the solid target surface being ablated. The electromagnetic field manipulates at least a portion of the nanoparticles as they move away from the target surface through the electromagnetic field to increase size and spherical shape uniformity of the nanoparticles. The manipulated nanoparticles are collected. |
| US09849507B2 |
Process and apparatus for minimizing the potential for explosions in the direct chill casting of aluminum lithium alloys
Steam exhaust ports are located around a perimeter of a direct chill casting pit, at various locations from below the top of the pit to the pit bottom to rapidly remove steam from the casting pit with addition of dry excess air. Gas introduction ports are also located around a perimeter of the casting pit and configured to introduce an inert gas into the casting pit interior. |
| US09849506B2 |
Induction infiltration and cooling of matrix drill bits
Zonal heating and cooling during the production of matrix drill bits may be achieved with a system that includes a cavity defined within a mold assembly having a central axis; reinforcing particles and a binder material disposed within the cavity; and a plurality of induction coils about a periphery of the mold assembly, each induction coil being spaced from each other along the height of the mold assembly, wherein a first induction coil of the plurality of induction coils is arranged proximal to a portion of mold assembly containing a portion of the reinforcing particles and a second induction coil of the plurality of induction coils is arranged proximal to a portion of the mold assembly containing a portion of the binder material. |
| US09849501B2 |
Multiple blow molded metallic container sidewalls
A system and method of forming a metal container with a featured sidewall may include providing a blow molded metal container. The metal container may be positioned into a mold inclusive of at least one sidewall feature. The metal container may be blow molded again to cause the at least one sidewall feature to be created in the sidewall of the container as defined by the mold. In one embodiment, a sidewall of the metal container may be at least partially annealed. The sidewall feature may include a portion of a profile of a sporting good, such as a baseball, embossed feature (e.g., word), logo, or otherwise. The metal container may be a shaped metal container. |
| US09849499B2 |
Device and method for transferring workpieces into and out of a tool
A rotary slide moves blanks cyclically from stage to stage of a cutting and processing tool. Work pieces are transferred in and out of the tool, without moving the slide in and out of the tool. The slide has a plurality of transfer openings and a discharge opening. Individual processing stages, including a discharge stage, are designed as separate components that support one another. The stages are arranged about a rotating axis of the slide. The transfer openings and the discharge opening lie in a circular path that coincides with circular paths of active elements of the cutting stage, the processing stages and the discharge stage. The openings have a distance from one another that is identical to the distance of the active elements in the circular paths. |
| US09849496B2 |
Press-formed product, hot press-forming method and hot press-forming apparatus
A hot press-forming method includes a forming step that clamps a steel sheet heated to a temperature not less than an austenite transformation temperature and press-forms the steel sheet into a desired shape by causing a forming concave of a die and a convex of a punch to be close to each other. A formed portion has side and top portions that merge. The side portion rises up from an inner circumferential edge of a flange portion having been clamped by the die and the blank holder. A cooling step cools a region of the steel sheet after the heating step has been completed and before the forming step is completed. The particular region is along an inter-edge area formed between an opening circumferential edge of the forming concave and a top circumferential edge of the forming convex before the forming step is completed. |
| US09849492B2 |
Skiving tool
A combined skiver and a smooth rolling tool with a skiver head and behind this a smooth rolling head, wherein between the skiver head and the rolling head an exclusive torque transmitting coupling is located which restricts the allowable axis shaft offset and/or the angular position of the axes of the rolling head and skiver head, to which the rolling head is connected, characterized in that the skiver head (2) is guided through a workpiece bore via a hydrostatic guideway. |
| US09849490B2 |
Device and cleaning unit for cleaning a glue roller of a labeling station
An apparatus for cleaning a surface of a glue roller of a labeling station that applies labels to containers includes a modular cleaning unit that one can insert into the apparatus to displace at least one segment of a multi-segment vacuum drum. |
| US09849489B2 |
Passive sampling devices
A method includes receiving a wearable monitoring device worn by a user and information indicative of an amount of time the wearable monitoring device was exposed to an environment; extracting one or more compounds from the wearable monitoring device; analyzing the extracted compounds; and, based on the analysis of the extracted compounds and the information indicative of the amount of time, determining information indicative of the user's exposure to the compounds in the environment. |
| US09849488B2 |
Unit control panel, substrate transfer test method, and substrate processing apparatus
It is an object of the embodiment of the invention to enhance the work efficiency of a substrate transfer test between a plurality of units. A test control section (CPU) which is provided in a loading/unloading unit 2 performs a substrate transfer test for the loading/unloading unit 2 alone by receiving a wafer mounted on a substrate table 2300 or 2400 which is installed outside the loading/unloading unit 2 and transporting the wafer into the loading/unloading unit 2 by a transport mechanism or transporting a wafer placed in the loading/unloading unit 2 to a substrate table 2200 and mounting the wafer on the substrate table 2200 by the transport mechanism while the loading/unloading unit 2 is not assembled together with the cleaning unit and the polishing unit. |
| US09849487B2 |
System and method of sorting and sequencing items
Embodiments of a system and method for sorting and sequencing articles in a processing facility are disclosed. Delivery endpoints are divided and grouped into stop groups. A first sorter sorts items according to stop group and outputs the items to trays. The output trays from the first sorter are loaded to a second sorter in stop group order. The second sorter sorts items for each stop group into separate lanes. Each lane can then be sorted into output bins in delivery sequence order. |
| US09849486B2 |
Vibratory apparatus with multiple screening decks
A vibratory apparatus includes a deck assembly with a longitudinal axis, an inlet end, and an outlet end. The deck assembly includes a plurality of deck sections each having a plurality of openings. Each deck section has upstream and downstream edges, the downstream edge of each successive deck section disposed closer longitudinally to the outlet end than the downstream edge of each preceding deck section. The upstream edge of each successive deck section is disposed closer longitudinally to the upstream edge of each preceding deck section than the downstream edge of the preceding deck section is disposed to the upstream edge of the preceding deck section, thereby defining an overlapping portion of the preceding deck section and a non-overlapping portion of the preceding deck section. The overlapping portion has larger openings than the non-overlapping portion for each preceding deck section. |
| US09849484B2 |
Device for sorting
The invention relates to a device for sorting particulate materials of different grain size that can be part of a construction machine or digger's scoop. The device for sorting has a plurality of helical rollers, each exhibiting at least one helix, wherein each helical roller rotates about a rotary axis of its own, at least two adjacent helical rollers exhibit the same direction of rotation, and the rotary axes of at least three helical rollers are not arranged in a common plane. At least some of the helical rollers are held and rotatably mounted exclusively at one end. |
| US09849480B2 |
Laminated nozzle with thick plate
A laminated nozzle assembly includes a first end plate having first and second fluid inlets, a second end plate, and a plurality of nozzle plates positioned between the first and second end plates. A first fluid conduit is fluidically connected to the first fluid inlet. The first fluid conduit has a reservoir and one or more first openings. A second fluid conduit is fluidically connected to the second fluid inlet. The second fluid conduit has an inlet channel, a connecting channel and one or more second openings. An orifice assembly includes a first orifice fluidically connected to the first opening and a second orifice fluidically connected to the second opening. The first and second orifices are disposed in the same plate of the plurality of nozzle plates and are coplanar. |
| US09849478B2 |
Maintaining a fixed distance during coating of drug coated balloon
A system and method for coating an expandable member of a medical device comprising a support structure to support the expandable member and a dispenser positioned with at least one outlet proximate a surface of an expandable member. A drive assembly establishes relative movement between the at least one outlet and the surface of the expandable member to apply fluid on the surface of the expandable member along a coating path. A guide maintains a substantially fixed distance between the at least one outlet and the surface of the expandable member during relative movement therebetween by displacing the expandable member relative to the at least one outlet. |
| US09849475B2 |
Dual heater system for spray dispenser
A mobile spray dispenser comprises a fluid circulation system and a heating unit. The fluid circulation system has a motorized pump capable of circulating fluid from a fluid reservoir in a high-pressure spray mode and a low-pressure recirculation mode, and of providing the fluid to a sprayer. The motorized pump draws lower power in the low-pressure recirculation mode than in the high-pressure spray mode. The heating unit is disposed within the fluid circulation system to heat the fluid to a target temperature, and comprises a primary heater and a boost heater. The primary heater is configured to be active during both the high-pressure spray mode and the low-pressure recirculation mode. The boost heater is in fluid series with the primary heater, and is configured to be active only during the low-pressure recirculation mode. |
| US09849473B2 |
Vehicle wash systems and methods
The invention is directed at systems and methods which provide for effective cleaning and drying of vehicles of different shapes and sizes. The invention in one example includes a vehicle washing apparatus comprising a conveyor system to move a vehicle along a path, and a bridge assembly supported above a vehicle and moveable along the length thereof. At least one trolley assembly is operatively supported by the bridge assembly and is moveable in a direction generally transverse to the movement of the bridge assembly. At least one cleaning arm assembly for delivering cleaning fluid to or for brushing the surface of a vehicle is operatively supported by the at least one trolley assembly or bridge. The cleaning arm assembly is moveable with the bridge assembly along the length of the vehicle, and transversely with the at least one trolley assembly to adjust the location of the cleaning arm relative to the vehicle, wherein the bridge assembly moves in association with movement of the vehicle to position the cleaning arm assembly adjacent at least a portion of the front, sides and rear of the vehicle as it moves along the path. A variable impact or patterning spray arm or drying system is also provided. |
| US09849472B2 |
Dual control spray nozzle with detachable head
A handheld sprayer nozzle is provided that has dual levers connected to an internal rotary valve for easily and comfortably controlling and turning on and off the flow of water or other liquid or fluid emitted through the sprayer nozzle and out of its head from either side of the sprayer regardless of the orientation of the sprayer head relative to a user holding the sprayer nozzle. The handheld sprayer nozzle is connectable to an end of a pressurized hose. The sprayer nozzle's dual control levers are located on opposite sides of the sprayer nozzle so as to be generally located in positions opposite to one another and may be easily operated from either side of the sprayer nozzle by a user's thumb. The sprayer nozzle's head is also detachable so that sprayer heads of different lengths and spray patterns can be attached to the sprayer nozzle for different uses. |
| US09849464B2 |
Devices and methods for spatially and temporally reconfigurable assembly of colloidal crystals
The disclosure provides devices and methods for controlled assembly of colloidal particles. A medium with colloidal particles having a charged surface is placed in physical contact with an electrically conductive material (e.g., an ITO coating). An external light source directs light towards the electrically conductive material, thus driving the colloidal particles from a first non-assembled state to a second assembled state, which may thus create organized colloidal crystals or alternatively predetermined void regions. Assembly of the colloids can be achieved with no external electric fields or external magnetic fields. Moreover, the colloidal assembly is three-dimensional, occurs rapidly, and is entirely reversible and reconfigurable based on controlling the light applied to the electrically conductive material. |
| US09849463B2 |
Electric field enhanced small particle filter
A device and method include ionizing particles to be captured, creating electric fields to polarize mats of filter material, and trapping the ionized particles in the polarized mats. |
| US09849457B2 |
Dual barcode labeling facilitating automated decapping
A specimen collection assembly and method for detecting the same are disclosed. The specimen collection assembly includes a specimen collection container having an open top end, a closed bottom end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining an interior adapted to receive a biological specimen. The specimen collection container also includes first indicia containing information. The assembly further includes a cap having thereon second indicia, the cap being removably engagable with the open top end of the container. The second indicia contains the same information as the first indicia. |
| US09849453B2 |
Method for processing a fluid and fluid processing device
The present invention relates to improved methods for processing fluids and to a fluid processing device (1) for use in a centrifuge comprising: (a) a first holder (14) form-fit to the shape of a first tube (18) for holding said first tube (18) whereby said first tube (18) has a first cross section (A1); and (b) a second holder (22) form-fit to the shape of a second tube (26) for holding said second tube (26) whereby said second tube (26) has a second cross section (A2) that is different from said first cross section (A1). With the fluid processing devices and the methods according to the invention, it is possible to simplify the centrifugal processing steps for a given fluid processing sequence and to automate them. |
| US09849452B2 |
Materials transport device for diagnostic and tissue engineering applications
Devices that can transport biological materials are described. The devices incorporate capillary channeled fibers that can effectively transport living cells as well as other biological materials such as nutrients, growth factors, waste materials, etc. The devices can include a sorptive material at one end of the fibers that can improve transport of materials through the devices. The devices can differentially transport different cell types, particularly when the fibers are held in a vertical orientation. Diagnostic devices that incorporate the capillary channeled fibers are described that can be utilized to separate cell types from one another. Tissue engineering scaffolds that incorporate the capillary channeled fibers are described that can more efficiently transport materials into and out of the scaffolds. |
| US09849450B2 |
Ion-conducting membranes
An anion-conducting polymeric membrane comprises a terpolymer of styrene, vinylbenzyl-Rs and vinylbenzyl-Rx. Rs is a positively charged cyclic amine group. Rx is at least one constituent selected from the group consisting Cl, OH and a reaction product between an OH or Cl and a species other than a simple amine or a cyclic amine. The total weight of the vinylbenzyl-Rx groups is greater than 0.3% of the total weight of the membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the membrane is a Helper Membrane that increases the faradaic efficiency of an electrochemical cell into which the membrane is incorporated, and also allows product formation at lower voltages than in cells without the Helper Membrane. |
| US09849449B2 |
Amorphous inorganic anion exchanger, resin composition for electronic component sealing, and process for producing amorphous bismuth compound
The amorphous inorganic anion exchanger of the present invention is represented by Formula (1) and has an average primary particle size observed with an electron microscope of at least 1 nm but no greater than 500 nm and an NO3 content of no greater than 1 wt % of the whole: BiO(OH) Formula (1). |
| US09849448B2 |
Polymer-supported metal nanoparticles, process for production thereof and polymeric nanoreactors produced therefrom
A process for producing polymer-supported metal nanoparticles involves confinement of metal nanoparticles in polymeric nanotubes or nanosheets in an aqueous environment using hydrophobic reactants. Metal nanoparticles supported in the polymeric nanotubes or nanosheets are substantially monodisperse and have an average particle size of 4 nm or less. The polymer-supported metal nanoparticles are useful in fuel cells, sensors, bioanalysis, biological labeling or semi-conductors, especially as catalysts. |
| US09849446B2 |
Slurry hydroconversion catalysts
Systems and methods are provided for slurry hydroconversion of a heavy oil feedstock, such as an atmospheric or vacuum resid, in the presence of an enhanced or promoted slurry hydroconversion catalyst system. The slurry hydroconversion catalyst system can be formed from a) a Group VIII non-noble metal catalyst precursor/concentrate (such as an iron-based catalyst precursor/concentrate) and b) a Group VI metal catalyst precursor/concentrate (such as a molybdenum-based catalyst precursor/concentrate) and/or a Group VI metal sulfided catalyst. |
| US09849441B2 |
Exhaust gas purifying catalyst
The exhaust gas-purifying catalyst of the invention contains oxide particles having interdispersed therein A crystallites that are loaded with a noble metal and B crystallites that are not loaded with a noble metal. The A crystallites loaded with a noble metal are composed of an oxide containing at least one of zirconium (Zr) and cerium (Ce). The B crystallites not loaded with a noble metal are composed of a cerium (Ce)-containing oxide which has a higher Ce content (mol %) than the oxide making up the A crystallites. The oxide particles have a specific surface area after 5 hours of heat treatment at 1,150° C. in open air of 30 m2/g or more. |
| US09849440B2 |
Process for conversion of acyclic C5 compounds to cyclic C5 compounds and catalyst composition for use therein
Disclosed is a process for the conversion of acyclic C5 feedstock to a product comprising cyclic C5 compounds, such as for example, cyclopentadiene, and catalyst compositions for use in such process. The process comprising the steps of contacting said feedstock and, optionally, hydrogen under acyclic C5 conversion conditions in the presence of a catalyst composition to form said product. The catalyst composition comprises a Group 10 metal, and, optionally, a Group 11 metal, on a catalyst support with a Group 1 alkali metal silicate and/or a Group 2 alkaline earth metal silicate. |
| US09849439B2 |
Superabsorbent polymer and preparation method thereof
The present invention relates to a superabsorbent polymer showing a low degree of decrease in absorption capacity, and a preparation method thereof. Specifically, the present invention provides a superabsorbent polymer having an excellent rewetting prevention ability such that moisture hardly leaks out under pressure even after a certain time, and a preparation method thereof, by preparing an acrylic resin with a high molecular weight main chain that is evenly cross-linked for maintaining high gel strength by minimizing an amount of an initiator with respect to a monomer. |
| US09849435B2 |
Maleic anhydride polymer-stabilized microcapsules
The present invention relates to microcapsules with a core-shell or matrix morphology stabilized by cross-linked nanoparticles. A process for the preparation of said microcapsules comprising selecting internal crosslinking of a Pickering emulsion is also an object of the invention. Perfumed consumer products, in particular fine fragrance, home and personal care products are also part of the invention. |
| US09849432B2 |
Method for preparation of pharmaceutical products
A method for the preparation of pharmaceutical products is provided that utilizes a machine having a containing liner, a dosing chamber for preparing at least one pharmaceutical product accommodated within the containing liner, and a pneumatic ventilation device for feeding two air flows through the dosing chamber and through the containing liner, respectively. Operation of the pneumatic ventilation device is selectively controlled so that the containing liner has inside a pressure lower than a pressure existing within the dosing chamber and than a pressure existing in the environment outside the containing liner itself. |
| US09849430B2 |
Mixing device
Apparatus and methods for a mixing device are presented. The mixing device comprises a shaft and a plurality of blades attached to the shaft. The blades include a variable pitch angle configured to create axial fluid flow and radial fluid flow within a container. The apparatus includes a hub and a cage located at ends of the apparatus. The cage includes an open end configured to mate with a structure attached to the container. In further examples of the apparatus, the upper blade is configured to create axial flow in a substantially downward direction. The lower blade is configured to create axial flow in a substantially upward direction. The lower blade can create an axial flow that encounters the upper blade. A method includes locating a mixing apparatus within the container, inserting fluid within the container, rotating the mixing apparatus, and mixing the fluid. |
| US09849428B2 |
Hydrophilically modified fluorinated membrane (VI)
Disclosed are copolymers suitable for hydrophilically modifying the surface of porous fluoropolymer supports, for example, a copolymer of the formula (I) or (II): wherein Rf, Rh, Ra, Y, m, and n are as described herein. Also disclosed are a method of preparing the copolymers, a method of hydrophilically modifying porous fluoropolymer supports, hydrophilic fluoropolymer porous membranes prepared from the polymers, and a method of filtering fluids through the porous membranes. |
| US09849426B2 |
Electrolyte chemistry control in electrodialysis processing
Methods for controlling electrolyte chemistry in electrodialysis units having an anode and a cathode each in an electrolyte of a selected concentration and a membrane stack disposed therebetween. The membrane stack includes pairs of cationic selective and anionic membranes to segregate increasingly dilute salts streams from concentrated salts stream. Electrolyte chemistry control is via use of at least one of following techniques: a single calcium exclusionary cationic selective membrane at a cathode cell boundary, an exclusionary membrane configured as a hydraulically isolated scavenger cell, a multivalent scavenger co-electrolyte and combinations thereof. |
| US09849425B2 |
Method for substituting tritium in tritium-containing water, and tritium elimination method
A tritium substitution method having a process of adding an organic substance including at least one of an organic acid, an organic acid alkali salt, a water-soluble amino acid, an organic acid to which a water-soluble amino acid alkali salt is added, an organic acid alkali salt, a water-soluble amino acid, and a water-soluble amino acid alkali salt, to radioactive substance-contaminated water containing tritium, a tritium substitution process of circulating fine bubbles in the contaminated water in which the organic substance has been added to cause a reaction of substituting hydrogen in the α position of a carboxylic acid group by tritium through an interface of the fine bubbles to produce a tritium-substituted product. |
| US09849419B2 |
Process and plant for the production of liquid acid
A process for the production of liquid acid, comprising the steps of: feeding liquid acid with a first concentration into a gas purification; passing a gas through the gas purification such that a second concentration of the liquid acid is reached; withdrawing the liquid acid from the sump of the gas purification, where in the gas purification sump is divided by a partition wall into a first and a second section. The concentration of the liquid acid collected in the first section is adjusted to the first concentration. The liquid acid with the first concentration from the first section is at least partially fed back into step and the liquid acid with the second concentration collected in the second section is at least partially withdrawn as product. |
| US09849417B2 |
Dust collector having vertical filters and a filter carriage
A dust collector including a housing including an upper wall, at least one housing wall defining an inlet, and the upper wall or the housing wall defining an outlet opposite the inlet, the inlet and the outlet at a same height; a separating plate diagonally connected to the housing above the inlet and below the outlet and extending downward from the inlet, the separating plate defines at least two substantially parallel rows of staggered apertures, an entrance duct section fluidly connected to the housing and including a duct top surface oriented diagonally upward from the housing and away from the at least one housing wall; and a plurality of vertically extending filters connected to and extending below the separating plate, a center line of the inlet extending above a top portion of the filters, each of the filters fluidly communicating with a corresponding one of the first and second apertures. |
| US09849412B2 |
Detecting the clogging of a fluid filter
A method of detecting clogging of a fluid filter is disclosed. The method includes measuring, at successive sampling instants, the pressure difference ΔP from upstream to downstream across the filter, calculating the first time derivative {ΔP}′ of the pressure difference ΔP at different instants, and then sending a clogging signal SC representative of the filter being clogged when the first derivative {ΔP}′ is equal to zero. |
| US09849410B1 |
Skimming apparatus
A skimming apparatus with a pivot arm and a drive follower on the pivot arm that guides a belting to facilitate precise placement of the belting for efficient skimming. |
| US09849404B2 |
Apparatus for vapourising a medium and separating droplets as well as for condensing the medium
An apparatus for vaporizing a medium and separating droplets as well as for condensing, in which apparatus an evaporator (A) and a condenser (B) are arranged inside a single outer casing in such a manner that they are separated from each other by a partition wall. |
| US09849403B2 |
Fractionation tray having a manway unit
A fractionation tray includes a manway unit positioned to cover a manway opening in the fractionation tray. The manway opening is framed by one or more fractionation tray panels having apertures therethrough adjacent to the manway opening. The manway unit includes a first manway panel having: perforations for the passage of fluid; first and second opposing side edges and two opposing end edges; and finger elements extending from the second side edge. The finger elements of the second side edge are received within the apertures adjacent to a first side of the manway opening. The manway unit is configured to open and close by rotation of the finger elements within the apertures. |
| US09849400B2 |
Method for concentrating aqueous lye and apparatus suitable therefor
Method of concentrating aqueous alkali and apparatus suitable for this purpose. A very energy-saving method of concentrating aqueous alkali originating, for example, from a chloralkali electrolysis plant and an apparatus suitable for this purpose are described. The method/the apparatus utilizes heat of reaction from the formation of 1,2-dichloroethane and includes multistage concentration of the aqueous alkali, where at least part of the heat required for concentrating the aqueous alkali originates from the plant for preparing 1,2-dichloroethane and at least a further part of the heat required for concentrating the aqueous alkali originates from at least one of the higher stages of the plant for concentrating the aqueous alkali and is used for partial heating of the first stage. The apparatus can be used for retrofitting existing integrated plants made up of a DCE plant and chloralkali electrolysis or in the erection of new plants. |
| US09849399B2 |
Background imagery for enhanced pepper's ghost illusion
Systems and methods herein are directed to providing a visual effect background that may be added behind a transparent holographic projection screen (e.g., of a Pepper's Ghost Illusion system) that provides for greater scenic depth behind the holographic projection, regardless of the amount of actual physical space behind the transparent screen. The background, which may be used for projection-based holographic projections or video panel display projections, generally establishes an optical illusion of depth behind the holographic images (producing a depth perception or “perspective” that gives a greater appearance of depth or distance behind a holographic projection). |
| US09849396B2 |
Shoulder joint structure of doll body
A shoulder joint structure of a doll body includes a first joint member housed inside a trunk of the doll body and connected to the trunk, a second joint member housed inside the trunk and connected to the first joint member, and a third joint member connected to the second joint member and an arm of the doll body through an opening formed in a shoulder of the trunk. The first joint member is rotatable about a first connecting portion between the trunk and the first joint member, so as to move the third joint member away from a trunk axis of the trunk in a shoulder width direction. The second joint member is rotatable about a second connecting portion between the first joint member and the second joint member, so as to move the third joint member away from the trunk axis in the shoulder width direction. |
| US09849395B1 |
Toy top
A toy top includes the following. A shaft unit has a shaft center with an axis that matches a rotational center. A shaft tip unit is provided at a lower end section of the shaft unit. The shaft tip unit includes a ring member provided in a movable manner centering around the axis and a member that comes in contact with a ground which is disposed at a center of the ring member and which protrudes downward than the ring member. The shaft unit includes a lower case which supports the shaft tip unit from below in a moveable manner and from which a lower end section of the shaft tip unit is exposed and an abutting member which abuts an upper side of the shaft tip unit. |
| US09849394B1 |
Toy top set and launcher
A toy top includes a pinion gear and a locking portion. A launcher includes a rack belt and a holder. The rack belt includes an elastically deformable belt portion on which rack teeth capable of intermeshing with the pinion gear are formed. The toy top is set to the holder by intermeshing the rack teeth with the pinion gear. A rotational force is then applied to the toy top by pulling the rack belt to rotate the pinion gear. A space is formed in the holder, which is disposed in a vicinity of an intermeshing portion of the rack teeth and the pinion gear. The space allows deformation of the belt portion so that the belt portion previously attached to the holder does not interrupt setting the toy top to the holder. |
| US09849393B2 |
Toy top
A toy top includes a body and a shaft unit. The shaft unit includes a spinning shaft which includes projections that extend downward at a lower end of the spinning shaft. |
| US09849392B1 |
Velocity sport boot systems
A velocity sport boot system/velocity sport board for performing all-weather snowboarding activity. The velocity sport boot/board system includes a velocity sport boot assembly that provides a method of practicing snowboarding on a treadmill. The velocity sport boot assembly includes a boot liner, a boot body, and a plurality of ball bearing assemblies. The plurality of ball bearing assemblies further includes shock absorbing springs for user comfort on varying surfaces. An alternative embodiment of the velocity sport boot/board system uses a common snowboarding type boot affixed to a sport board assembly that includes a sport board base, coupling straps, and a plurality of ball bearing assemblies. |
| US09849391B2 |
Game control method and server for social game for developing a social network
A game controlling method in a social game in which a one-on-one match-up is conducted among registered users using one or more items selected from possession items. According to the game controlling method, a plurality of general items and a plurality of special items are stored in a database in advance, the general items being items which the registered users may possess, and the special items being items which a registered user belonging to a group may possess and a registered user not belonging to a group may not possess. |
| US09849390B2 |
Resource management for distributed games
Technologies are generally described for server resource allocation for distributed games. In one example, a method includes allocating a first set of resources for a first player instance on a first server, a second set of resources for a second player instance on the first server, and a third set of resources for a third player instance on a second server. The method also includes comparing a first relationship strength defined between the first player instance and the second player instance with a second relationship strength defined between the first player instance and the third player instance. Further, the method includes distributing at least one of the first set of resources, the second set of resources, or the third set of resources between the first server and the second server based on a result of the comparing. |
| US09849389B2 |
Method of synchronizing online game, and server device
The present disclosure provides a method of synchronizing an online game, and a server device, that do not require centralized information management, reduce the processing burden on each device during online communication, and allow for continuation of processing in an offline environment. A method, according to the present disclosure, of synchronizing an online game that allows for transmission and reception of information related to game processing between a first client terminal and a second client terminal via a server includes: receiving, from the first client terminal connected online, first information related to game processing on the first client terminal; determining whether the first information is information that determines a game status; and storing the first information on the server and transmitting the first information to the second client terminal when the first information is determined to be information that determines the game status. |
| US09849388B2 |
Method and system for learning and cognitive training in a virtual environment
A system and method implemented as computer-based, computer-executable instructions employing a computation engine with digital storage provide a virtual environment with personalized user profiles specifically adapted to cognitive abilities of the user to train the user for specified tasks, herein called microtasks. The set of microtasks include achievement criteria. The virtual environment is controlled through an engine that automatically adapts the set of user-profile-specific microtasks to achieve a set of learning goals. The engine may calculate and/or measure a set of qualities associated with one or more sub-profiles associated with a given user based on game-type performance by that user either in isolation or among a group of users. Sub-profiles may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: a personality profile, a neural link profile, and/or a motivation profile. |
| US09849385B2 |
Systems and methods for programmatically generating anamorphic images for presentation and 3D viewing in a physical gaming and entertainment suite
Systems and methods for programmatically generating anamorphic images for presentation in a physical gaming suite (e.g., anamorphic images that are viewable without requiring any external wearable device) are disclosed herein. An example method includes: monitoring, using data received from one or more sensors, viewing characteristics associated with one or more game participants in the physical gaming suite. The method also includes: determining a viewpoint that is based on at least some of the monitored viewing characteristics. The method further includes: based on the viewpoint, generating a anamorphic image for presentation within the physical gaming suite. The method additional includes: providing, to the one or more display devices, data to present the anamorphic image within the physical gaming suite (e.g., near at least one physical object that is included within the physical gaming suite). |
| US09849383B2 |
Storage medium storing game program and game apparatus
A computer generating a three-dimensional space and the images to be shown on a display: sets a first angle of view of the virtual camera; displays the image in accordance with the first angle of view; detects a position on the displayed image pointed to by the input device; calculates a straight line passing through the detected position and the virtual camera in the three-dimensional space; identifies an object intersecting the straight line; automatically sets a second angle of view of the virtual camera to zoom in and display the identified object, and displays the identified object using the display device from the perspective of the second angle of view. |
| US09849380B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing stimulus signals generated by accessory devices
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, determining first and second stimulus signals from first and second input functions of first and second gaming equipment devices used by first and second users to control a video game. A first contest between the first and second users is based on first and second game action results determined based on the first and second stimulus signals. A relative performance between the first and second users is determined from a comparison of first and second measures of the first and second stimulus signals. A second contest between the first user and the second user is based on the relative performance. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09849378B2 |
Methods, apparatuses, and systems for remote play
Methods, apparatuses, systems, and storage media for emulating physical gaming experiences are provided. In embodiments, a computing device or a remote play module may detect a first object in a field of view (FOV), obtain object data representative of a second object detected by another apparatus and a position of the second object, determine a position of the first object using the sensor data, generate an image of the second object based on the object data, generate an overlay image based on the first object or the second object, display the generated image at a position within the FOV based on the position of the second object, and display the overlay image within the FOV. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US09849377B2 |
Plug and play tangible user interface system
Systems and methods are provided for a dynamic user interface for interacting with computer applications by a user physically manipulating interactive floor tiles. The interactive floor tiles may be networked, and may use a communication bus 204 within the network for communicating the connection status of tiles in the network and/or any user input received by one or more tiles in the network. The tile network module may communicate data to a computer via a data collection module. The data collection module may be internal or external to the computer, and may be used to translate data from one communication format to another, for example, from RS485 framework to RS232 framework. The interactive floor tiles may be configured into various shapes at any time by a user, and the changes to the tiles may be mapped to the computer application screen in real-time. |
| US09849376B2 |
Wireless controller
A wireless controller includes a handle portion to be held in one or both hands. The wireless controller also includes a gyroscope to output rotation information indicative of rotation of the handle about a steering axis, an accelerometer to output acceleration information, and a magnetometer to output magnetic bearing information. The wireless controller also includes a communication subsystem to wirelessly transmit sensor data to a computing device. The sensor data represents one or more of the rotation information, the acceleration information, and the magnetic bearing information such that the acceleration information is useable to attenuate gyroscopic drift when the handle has a first orientation and the magnetic bearing information is useable to attenuate gyroscopic drift when the handle has a second orientation. |
| US09849375B2 |
Game program and game device
A game program causes a computer to implement a player character movement control function of controlling a player character to move from its home position toward a target movement position which has been set and, when a predetermined condition is met after the player character has moved to the set target movement position, controlling the player character to move from the current position to a second area including the home position. |
| US09849369B2 |
Board game with dynamic characteristic tracking
A board game comprises one or more game objects such as a game board and game pieces, at least one memory device and at least one controller. Each of the game objects comprise a globally unique identifier and dynamic characteristic values associated with the unique identifier, stored in the memory device, that define the characteristics/attributes of the corresponding game object when used in the game. A user is able to play the game by utilizing the game objects according to their characteristic values. During the course of game play, the events of the game are able to dynamically change the characteristic values of each game object affected by the event. Similarly, outside of game play, external events are also able to dynamically change the characteristic values of a game object. These characteristic values are able to be kept and updated during and in between games. |
| US09849368B2 |
Batch card shuffling apparatuses including multi card storage compartments
Automatic card shufflers include a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting shuffled cards from the card shuffler. The card storage device may include a movable rack configured to move vertically within the card shuffler. The movable rack may have a plurality of card storage compartments therein, each of which may be sized and configured to hold two cards therein. The card output mechanism includes a movable ejector configured to simultaneously eject cards out from two or more card storage compartments of the movable rack. Related methods include methods of fabricating such card shufflers, and methods of using such card shufflers. |
| US09849366B1 |
Collapsible carrying case cover for a snowboard or similar device
A collapsible carrying case cover for use with board sports equipment having an expanded configuration and a fully collapsed configuration is described. The collapsible carrying case cover includes a cover that is configured to completely cover a bottom surface and edges of the board sports equipment and partially cover a top surface of the board. A peripheral edge continuously extends around the periphery of the cover and forms a channel that houses an elastic cord. The elastic cord is configured to draw the peripheral edge inwardly when in assembled relation to the board sports equipment. The cover may be held in place by a hook and loop type strap. The collapsible carrying case cover also includes a plurality of carrying handles and straps to facilitate multiple carrying modes. The collapsible carrying case cover is collapsible into a fully collapsed configuration when in unassembled relation to the board sports equipment. |
| US09849364B2 |
Smart device
An Internet of Thing (IoT) device includes a camera coupled to a processor; and a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor. Blockchain smart contracts can be used with the device to facilitate secure operation. |
| US09849362B2 |
Motorized machine that simulates martial arts sparring
The present invention concerns a machine for martial arts training that simulates sparring with a live partner and provides a safe tool for body hardening. More specifically, the machine is a vertical alignment of three independently rotatable Alpha Bodies having detachable arms, a weighted base, and bearing interfaces, where each Alpha Body may rotate to initiate strikes via programmable servo motors. The present invention facilitates martial arts offensive strikes and defensive moves, which safely promotes the formation of calcium deposits and scar tissue about key nerve areas to give the body a hardened feel. |
| US09849359B2 |
Golf club head with adjustable center of gravity
A golf club head comprising a channel and a sliding weight that can be reversibly fixed at any point within the channel is disclosed herein. The channel preferably is disposed on the sole and extends from a heel side of the golf club head, around a rear side, and ends at a toe side of the golf club head. This channel is not constrained to a planar arc, but instead twists as it extends around the golf club head so that it follows the contours, and preserves the aesthetics, of the golf club head. The slidable weight comprises a base portion and a first cap, and a second cap that has the same dimensions as, and is interchangeable with, the first cap is disposed in a pocket in the sole proximate the face of the golf club head. |
| US09849357B2 |
Iron type golf club head
Iron-type golf club heads are disclosed having a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a top-line portion, a front portion, a rear portion, and a striking face. The iron-type golf club heads include a flexible boundary structure (“FBS”) that is provided at one or more locations on the club head. The flexible boundary structure may comprise, in several embodiments, a slot, a channel, a gap, a thinned or weakened region, or other structure that enhances the capability of an adjacent or related portion of the golf club head to flex or deflect and to thereby provide a desired improvement in the performance of the golf club head. |
| US09849355B2 |
Trusses for golf club heads
A golf club head includes a main body having a topline and an opposing sole. The main body includes a striking face extending between the topline and sole, and a rear face in opposed relation to the striking face. A sole body is proximate the rear face and extends at least partially along the sole. A peripheral flange extends at least partially about the rear face and is of a flange height, HF, relative to the rear face. A truss protrudes from the rear face and includes a at least a first truss arm which is of a first truss arm height, HT1, relative to the rear face, wherein the difference between HF and HT1 is less than about 0.25 mm. |
| US09849354B2 |
Club head sets with varying characteristics and related methods
Embodiments of golf clubs head sets with varying characteristics are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also generally described herein. |
| US09849353B2 |
Golf club head
Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a golf club head having improved mass distribution characteristics. The golf club head includes a body and a face positioned at a forward portion of the body. The golf club head also includes one or more mass elements positioned at predetermined locations about the head. The mass elements assist in achieving a desired relationship between the moment of inertia about a center of gravity x-axis and the moment of inertia about a center of gravity z-axis. |
| US09849347B2 |
Golf club head with polymeric hosel
A golf club head includes a face, a club head body, and a hosel. The hosel has a tubular hosel body extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a bore. The bore is configured to receive a golf club shaft or a shaft adapter. The tubular hosel body is molded from a polymeric material that includes a resin and a plurality of fibers, each fiber has a length of from about 0.01 mm to about 12 mm. |
| US09849339B1 |
Body fin for swimming
The invention relates a body fin for aiding in maneuvering a swimmer through water. The body fin comprises an upper body member adapted to be attached around sections of a human forearm, upper arm, shoulder, back and waist. The body fin also includes a lower body member that can be attached around a human waist, thigh, and ankle. The lower body fin includes a flexible fin having a first area contoured with a front side of the waist, thigh, and ankle and a second area extending away from the first section and the surface of the thighs and ankle. The upper body member also includes a first flexible fin extending from the surface of the forearm and a second flexible fin extending from the surface of the upper arm, shoulder, and waist, the ends of the first flexible fin terminating substantially at the surface of the sections. |
| US09849336B2 |
Team sport monitoring system
A training device includes a communication circuitry configured to communicate according to Bluetooth specification, at least one processor, and at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the device to perform operations. The operations include obtaining physical activity-related measurement data of a user participating in a team sport activity, processing the physical activity-related measurement data into a physical activity-related information characterizing the physical activity of the user during the team sport activity, and broadcasting, according to the Bluetooth specification, the physical activity-related information using the communication circuitry. |
| US09849322B2 |
Infrastructure monitoring devices, systems, and methods
An infrastructure monitoring assembly includes a housing mountable on a fire hydrant of an infrastructure system; and a sensor coupled to the housing, the sensor configured to sense at least one condition of a fluid within the infrastructure system. An infrastructure monitoring system includes a fire hydrant of an infrastructure system; a housing mountable on the fire hydrant of the infrastructure system; and a sensor coupled to the housing, the sensor configured to sense at least one condition of a fluid within the infrastructure system. |
| US09849321B2 |
Concealed sprinkler activation
A fire suppression sprinkler assembly coupled to a mounting surface includes a sprinkler having a heat responsive element arranged adjacent a first end. A cover plate is positioned adjacent the heat responsive element and includes a thermally conductive cover layer. A reflective shield has a reflective interior surface. The reflective shield is positioned substantially opposite the cover plate adjacent the first end of the sprinkler such that heat reflects from the top plate towards the heat responsive element. |
| US09849318B2 |
Fire suppression system with variable dual use of gas source
An exemplary fire suppression system includes a sprinkler nozzle. At least one conduit is connected to the nozzle for delivering a fire suppression fluid to the nozzle. The conduit and the nozzle establish a discharge path. A pneumatically driven pump is connected with the conduit for pumping fluid into the conduit. A gas source provides pressurized gas to the pump for driving the pump. The gas source also provides gas to the discharge path for achieving a desired discharge of the fluid from the nozzle. A controller selectively controls at least one of (i) the gas provided to the pump, which controls the fluid pressure in the conduit, or (ii) the gas provided to the nozzle or the conduit, which controls the gas pressure delivered to the nozzle. |
| US09849317B2 |
Duct systems including shield and flange support
Apparatus are provided for a shield and flange support for a duct. The shield and flange support includes a first side and a second side coupled to the first side to extend toward the duct. The first side and the second side cooperate to define a cavity, and the cavity includes at least one of a first insulating fluid and a first insulating solid. |
| US09849311B2 |
Multi-functional car power receptacle having lifesaving tool
A multi-functional car power receptacle having a lifesaving tool includes a handle for providing a receptacle and a function head connected to a front end of the handle. The function head comprises a glass smasher and a power plug. The function head and the front end of the handle are connected through a rotation shaft, enabling the function head to pivot about the rotation shaft for changing an end of the function head to be used. The power plug is electrically connected with the handle through electric wires of the rotation shaft. The function head of the present invention combines the glass smasher with the power plug. The present invention is provided with a seat belt cutter for the driver to cut the seat belt in an emergency. The handle is provided with a magnet and a warning light. |
| US09849300B2 |
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) methods and apparatus
Method and devices are provided for treating subjects with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). According to some approaches, the methods and devices are configured for the treatment of ongoing seizures. Other approaches relate to the use of TMS as an antiepileptogenic or for use in determining preferential placement of intracranial probes. |
| US09849298B2 |
Closed loop charger for an implantable medical device system employing reflected impedance modulation
The disclosed system for providing closed loop charging between an external charger and an implantable medical device such as an IPG involves the use of reflected impedance modulation, i.e., by measuring at the external charger reflections arising from modulating the impedance of the charging coil in the IPG. During charging, the charging coil in the IPG is periodically pulsed to modulate its impedance. The magnitude of the change in the coil voltage produced at the external charger ΔV as a result of these pulses is assessed and is used by the controller circuitry in the external charger as indicative of the coupling between the external charger and the IPG. The external charger adjusts its output power (e.g., Icharge) in accordance with the magnitude of ΔV, thus achieving closed loop charging without the need of telemetering coupling parameters from the IPG. |
| US09849297B2 |
Biocompatible bonding method and electronics package suitable for implantation
The invention is directed to a method of bonding a hermetically sealed electronics package to an electrode or a flexible circuit and the resulting electronics package, that is suitable for implantation in living tissue, such as for a retinal or cortical electrode array to enable restoration of sight to certain non-sighted individuals. The hermetically sealed electronics package is directly bonded to the flex circuit or electrode by electroplating a biocompatible material, such as platinum or gold, effectively forming a studbump connection, which bonds the flex circuit to the electronics package. The resulting electronic device is biocompatible and is suitable for long-term implantation in living tissue. |
| US09849292B2 |
MRI compatible implantable medical devices and methods
An implantable medical device configured to be compatible with the environment inside an MRI machine. The implantable medical device includes a housing constructed of an electrically conductive material and pulse generation circuitry within the housing for generating electrical voltage pulses. The implantable medical device further includes a first conductor that is configured to transmit the electrical voltage pulses from the pulse generation circuitry to a patient's cardiac tissue and a second conductor that is configured to provide an electrically conductive path from the patient's cardiac tissue back to the pulse generation circuitry. The implantable medical device further includes a selectively interruptible electrically conductive path connecting the pulse generation circuitry with the housing. |
| US09849282B2 |
Prophylactic bactericidal medical device
A medical implant system is described for inhibiting infection associated with a joint prosthesis implant. An inventive system includes an implant body made of a biocompatible material which has a metal component disposed on an external surface of the implant body. A current is allowed to flow to the metal component, stimulating release of metal ions toxic to microbes, such as bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses. One detailed system is completely surgically implantable in the patient such that no part of the system is external to the patient while the system is in use. In addition, externally controlled devices are provided which allow for modulation of implanted components. |
| US09849281B2 |
System and method for controlling the iontophoretic delivery of therapeutic agents based on user inhalation
Embodiments of the invention provide methods for transdermal delivery of therapeutic agents for treatment of addictive cravings e.g., from nicotine. Embodiment of a method for such delivery comprises positioning at least one electrode assembly in electrical communication with a patient's skin. The assembly includes a solution comprising a therapeutic agent which passively diffuses into skin. A dose of agent is delivered from the assembly into skin during a first period using a first current having a characteristic e.g., polarity and magnitude, to repel agent out of the assembly. During a second period, a second current having a characteristic to attract agent is used to retain agent in the assembly such that delivery of agent into skin is minimized. In particular embodiments, a dose of agent may be delivered on-demand using an input from the patient using an inhalation sensing device which mimics an inhaled form of tobacco. |
| US09849279B2 |
Lead delivery device and method
A medical apparatus includes an electrically conductive lead for a medical device, the lead having an internal bore terminating at a distal lead opening, and a lead delivery device for delivering the distal end of the lead to a blood vessel during implantation of the lead. The lead delivery device includes a removably anchorable guidewire, and a fixator attached to a distal portion of the guidewire for anchoring the guidewire. The fixator is movable between a compact configuration and an expanded configuration. The fixator is capable of passing through the distal lead opening of the lead in the compact configuration. The fixator is capable of exerting a holding force in the range of about 0.89 to 4.45 N in the lumen of the blood vessel in the expanded configuration. |
| US09849278B2 |
Implantable medical lead with collapsible fixation member
An implantable stimulation lead has electrode contacts that are configured to deliver an electrical stimulation therapy for a patient. A sheath extends along a longitudinal axis. The sheath defines a lumen into which the stimulation lead can be inserted. A distal end of the sheath includes a plurality of base segments that are separated from one another. A plurality of fixation structures are located on the base segments, respectively. In a first configuration, the fixation structures are each disposed proximate to the sheath. In a second configuration, the fixation structures each extend radially outward from the sheath. In a third configuration, the base segments deflect radially inward toward the longitudinal axis. |
| US09849276B2 |
Method of delivering antimicrobial to a catheter
A system, method, and article for delivering an antimicrobial agent into the lumen of a trans-dermal catheter are disclosed. In an embodiment, the system comprises an elongate member configured for insertion into a lumen of a catheter, and the elongate member containing an antimicrobial. In the alternative an antimicrobial agent can be placed on an interior surface of a retaining ring. |
| US09849274B2 |
Medical valve with improved back-pressure sealing
A medical valve transitions between an open mode that permits fluid flow, and a closed mode that prevents fluid flow. To that end, the medical valve has a housing with an inlet and an outlet, a rigid member movably mounted within the housing, and a resilient member with a sealing portion. The housing also has at least one relief zone that is in fluid communication with the outlet when the valve is in the closed mode. The rigid member may have a proximal end, a distal end, and a flow channel. The relief zone may be radially outward from the sealing portion. The sealing portion may seal the valve and prevent fluid from passing through the valve when in the closed mode. |
| US09849269B2 |
System for anchoring medical devices
Some embodiments of a medical device anchor system include an anchor device that receives a catheter (or other medical instrument) and secures the catheter in place relative to a skin penetration point. In some embodiments, the anchor device can secure the catheter in an operative position relative to the skin without the use of sutures or skin tapes. In particular embodiments, the anchor device can be adjusted to a folded condition so that subcutaneous anchors are partially rotated prior to removal from the skin penetration point. |
| US09849268B2 |
Catheter having flat beam deflection tip with fiber puller members
A catheter has a metal deflection beam with rectangular cross-section and one or two fiber puller members for predictable on-plane bi-directional deflection. Each fiber puller member is anchored at its distal end to a respective surface of the beam by a metal ferrule that is crimped onto the distal end. The ferrule is shaped to provide a flat outer underside that can lie flat against a beam surface and a thin planar distal section that is welded to the beam. With a distal end of the beam sandwiched between the thin planar distal section of two ferrules, the ferrules and the beam can be welded together by a single laser pulse. |
| US09849260B2 |
Adhesive devices and methods for improving breathing and/or sleep using such devices
Devices and methods are provided for inhibiting mouth breathing and/or improving nasal breathing, e.g., for PAP users or users with other sleeping problems. In an exemplary embodiment, an adhesive device is provided that includes an elongate membrane comprising first and second ends and side edges extending between the first and second ends, a first surface comprising an adhesive layer. The adhesive layer may be a low tack adhesive that is adherent to skin, yet is also easily removable without leaving significant residue. Optionally, the device may include one or more valves to provide one-way flow across the membrane, one or more weakened regions in the membrane, and/or one or more tabs to facilitate removal of the membrane from over a user's mouth. |
| US09849258B2 |
Respiratory breathing apparatus
A respiratory apparatus comprising a base and removable chamber, wherein the chamber is configured to hold a supply of water and include a blower arrangement adapted to provide a supply of pressurized air or gas to the supply of water. In certain embodiments the respiratory apparatus includes a split motor, wherein the stationary components are located within a base and the rotating portions are located within a chamber. |
| US09849257B2 |
Oscillating positive respiratory pressure device
A respiratory treatment device includes a housing enclosing a chamber, a chamber inlet configured to receive a flow of air into the chamber, a first chamber outlet configured to permit the flow of air to exit the chamber, and a second chamber outlet configured to permit the flow of air to exit the chamber. A vane mounted within the chamber is configured to rotate between a first position where the flow of air is directed to exit the chamber through the first chamber outlet, and a second position where the flow of air is directed to exit the chamber through the second chamber outlet. A blocking member disposed on the vane is moveable relative to the chamber inlet between a closed position where the flow of air through the chamber inlet is restricted, and an open position where the flow of air through the chamber inlet is less restricted. |
| US09849255B2 |
Inhalation device
The present invention relates to an inhalation device used for inhalation of the medicament in dry powder form from capsules. |
| US09849251B2 |
Safety syringe having a manually activated retractable needle
A retractable needle assembly includes a housing having a sidewall defining a hollow bore, and an elongate plunger, the distal end of the plunger forming a reservoir within the hollow bore for containing a fluid therein. The plunger is adapted for slideable movement within the hollow bore. The assembly includes a hub disposed within the hollow bore and at least partially supporting a cannula therewith, and a needle retraction member engaged with the hub for manually selectable advancement with respect to a portion of the housing. The needle retraction member may be advanced from an initial position in which at least a portion of the needle is disposed outside the housing, to a retracted position in which the needle is fully surrounded by the housing. The elongate plunger may be advanced about the hub for extracting the fluid into the reservoir or expelling the fluid from the reservoir. |
| US09849248B2 |
Dispenser assembly for liquids comprising flexible barrel and rigid plunger
A dispenser assembly is provided that has a rigid plunger with a ring-shaped protrusion. The protrusion contacts the inner wall of a flexible barrel to form a liquid-tight seal. Advantageously, the dispenser assembly does not require additional components, such as o-rings, and can be fabricated by injection molding techniques. |
| US09849247B2 |
Low dose prefilled drug delivery device and method
A drug delivery device (100) for administering a low dose of a medicament includes a housing (111) and a drug reservoir (101) disposed in the housing (111). A needle (135) is connected to the drug reservoir (101). A pressure applying member (113) is movably connected to the housing (111) and is movable between first and second positions. The pressure applying member (113) does not apply pressure to the drug reservoir (101) in the first position and applies pressure to the drug reservoir (101) in the second position to dispense medicament stored in the drug reservoir (101). A method of administering a low dose of insulin to simulate a first-phase insulin response of a pancreas is also disclosed. |
| US09849245B2 |
Pen-type injector
The present invention is directed to a pen-type injector equipped with a cartridge holder for a drug delivery device. The cartridge holder has a longitudinal axis and comprises a body for receiving a cartridge, wherein the body comprises at a proximal end engagement means for releasably coupling the cartridge holder to the drug delivery device, a latch member for releasably engaging a cap of the drug delivery device and an alignment element which is visual from the outer side of the body. The alignment element may be an aperture provided in the body and/or a lug which forms the latch member. |
| US09849244B2 |
Dose setting mechanism for priming a drug delivery device
A drug delivery device is provided comprising a dose setting mechanism having a spindle and a cartridge holder coupled to the dose setting mechanism. The cartridge holder comprising a cartridge having a movable bung at one end of the cartridge. The cartridge holder must be rotated before a dose may set with the dose setting mechanism. |
| US09849242B2 |
Autoinjector
Described is an autoinjector comprising a front case having a first rib and a second rib, and a rear case telescopically coupled to the front case and having latch arms adapted to engage the first rib and the second rib. When the front case is in a first position relative to rear case, the latch arms are engaged to the first rib. When the latch arms disengage the first rib, the front case translates to a second position relative to the rear case, an axial distance between the front case and the rear case increases relative to the first position, the latch arms engage the second rib. |
| US09849241B2 |
Method of operating a control device for controlling an infusion device
Method of operating a control device for controlling an infusion device A method of operating a control device (2) for controlling an infusion device (33) for administering a drug to a patient (P) comprises the steps of: providing a model (p) to predict a time-dependent drug concentration (Cplasma, Clung, Cbrain) in multiple compartments (A1-A5) of a patient (P); setting a target concentration value (CTbrain) to be achieved in at least one of the compartments (A1-A5) of the patient (P); determining a drug dosage (D1) to be administered to a first compartment (A1) of the multiple compartments (A1-A5) of the patient (P) using the model (p) such that the difference between the target concentration value (CTbrain) and a predicted steady-state drug concentration (Cplasma, Clung, Cbrain) in the at least one of the compartments (A1-A5) is smaller than a pre-defined threshold value (Ub-rain); providing a control signal (S1) indicative of the drug dosage (D1) to an infusion device (33) for administering the drug dosage (D1) to the patient (P); obtaining a measurement value (M1, M2) indicating a measured drug concentration in a second compartment (A2, A3) of the multiple compartments (A1-A5) at a measurement time (t1, t2); adjusting the model (p) such that the model (p) predicts a drug concentration (Clung, Cbrain) in the second compartment (A2, A3) at the measurement time (t1, t2) which at least approximately matches the measured drug concentration in the second compartment (A2, A3); and determining a new drug dosage (D2, D3) to be administered into the first compartment (A1) of the patient (P) using the model (p) such that the difference between the target concentration value (CT-brain) and a predicted steady-state drug concentration (Cplasma, Clung, Cbrain) in the at least one of the compartments (A1, A2, A3) is smaller than the predefined threshold value (Ubrain). In this way a method is provided which allows for an improved (personalized and predictive) control of a drug administration procedure, in particular when administering an anaesthetic drug such as Propofol and/or an analgesic drug such as Remifentanil within a procedure. |
| US09849240B2 |
Data modification for predictive operations and devices incorporating same
Infusion systems, infusion devices, and related operating methods are provided. An exemplary method of operating an infusion device capable of delivering fluid to a user involves obtaining a sequence of measurements indicative of a condition of the user that is influenced by the fluid and modifying one or more unusable measurements in the sequence using one or more other usable measurements in the sequence to obtain a modified sequence of measurements. The method continues by determining a predicted value for the condition of the user at a time in the future based at least in part on the modified sequence of measurements and operating the infusion device in a manner that is influenced by the predicted value. |
| US09849236B2 |
Methods and systems for filling IV bags with therapeutic fluid
A portable electronic fluid dispensing system can provide pre-filled, pre-primed IV bag assemblies comprising therapeutic fluids. The same fluid line and connector in the IV bag assembly can be used to fill the IV bag as is used to withdraw fluid from the IV bag and infuse such fluid into the patient. The connection points along the IV assembly, such as the connection between the IV bag and a drip chamber, or between an IV bag and tubing, or between a drip chamber and tubing, or between tubing and a closeable, resealable connector, can each be resistant to disconnection by a user. The healthcare practitioner at the patient care site is not required to attach any of these components to each other, and the healthcare practitioner at the patient care site is not required to introduce a spike into a spike port on the IV bag. |
| US09849235B2 |
Occlusion detection system and method
A method, computer program product, and infusion pump assembly for determining a first rate-of-change force reading that corresponds to the delivery of a first dose of an infusible fluid via an infusion pump assembly. At least a second rate-of-change force reading is determined that corresponds to the delivery of at least a second dose of the infusible fluid via the infusion pump assembly. An average rate-of-change force reading is determined based, at least in part upon the first rate-of-change force reading and the at least a second rate-of-change force reading. |
| US09849234B2 |
Physiological monitoring-based implantable drug infusion system
A system and method for physiological monitoring and regulation of a drug infusion device. The system includes an internal compact unit that is implantable in a patient having a pulmonary disorder, the internal unit encasing a power supply, a fluid reservoir, a motor pump, a digital control unit, and a radio frequency transmitter. An infusion catheter is connected to the fluid reservoir and motor pump for automatically infusing a drug into a right ventricle of the patient during a diastole phase of a cardiac cycle. The system includes an external unit for monitoring and storing a plurality of physiological parameters of the patient and for making adjustments to a drug infusion rate. |
| US09849233B1 |
Disposable infusion pump system for ambulatory patients
An infusion pump comprises an elastomeric hemispheric deformable rolling diaphragm, an external rigid housing with internal area no greater than that of the rolling diaphragm exterior, and a rigid cap structure which sealingly fastens the rim of the rolling diaphragm to the rim of the external housing. Thickness of the flexing wall of the diaphragm is tapered from rim to a region on the central axis to provide approximately constant pressure as the pump empties its contents. The rigid housing has an port in its center opposite its rim to allow insertion of fluid to roll the diaphragm inward, and to allow outflow of the stored pressurized fluid as desired. The housing and/or cap structure may have an external belt mounting fixture to facilitate donning the infusion pump for ambulatory users. The simplified design enables low manufacturing cost and hence single-use disposability. |
| US09849231B2 |
Fluid pump assembly and loading of same into a fluid delivery system
A fluid delivery system includes a control interface and multiple unique loading guides. The control interface of the fluid delivery system receives a fluid pump assembly. The multiple loading guides are retractable from the fluid delivery system to retain and control movement of a facing of the fluid pump assembly to contact the control interface on the facing of the fluid delivery system. In one configuration, the control interface is disposed in a cavity of the fluid delivery system; the multiple loading guides are disposed at locations in proximity to the cavity. The multiple loading guides slidably retract in unison to support substantially orthogonal insertion of the fluid pump assembly into the cavity of the fluid delivery system. |
| US09849229B2 |
Split-tip catheter
A catheter includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal end portions defining a longitudinal axis, and first and second tip segments. The elongate shaft and the first and second tip segments define respective first and second lumens. Each tip segment includes a proximal portion fixed relative to the distal end of the elongate shaft, and a distal portion. Each tip segment defines a side opening in fluid communication with a respective one of the first and second lumens. Each tip segment is movable between a straight configuration in which each respective tip segment is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a curved configuration in which each tip segment has a concave portion with respect to the longitudinal axis. The side openings face each other along the concave portions. |
| US09849227B2 |
Organizer for releasably accommodating components of blood tube sets, and methods for manufacturing and preparing it
The present invention relates to an organizer for releasably accommodating components of blood tube sets for different extracorporeal blood treatment options, in particular for dialysis methods, by means of a blood treatment apparatus, as well as methods for manufacturing and preparing an organizer of the invention. |
| US09849222B2 |
Multi-unit blood processor with volume prediction
Method and Apparatus for predicting the volume of a component separated from a composite fluid by predicting the volume of the composite fluid from sensed pressure and predicting the volume of other separated components from sensed movement of the other components to collection bags. |
| US09849220B2 |
Implantable medical device
An implantable medical device, which comprises a device substrate, a coating on the substrate which includes a drug which is highly soluble in water, and a protective layer which overlies the coating. The protective layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid and a lactic acid/glycolic acid copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of not more than 40,000. |
| US09849217B2 |
Antimicrobial wraps for medical implants
Biodegradable antimicrobial films are provided that are solid at room temperature and substantially liquefy in situ after implantation into a mammal, such as a human patient. Methods of using the films to cover a medical device, such as a breast implant, prior to insertion into a subject are also provided. |
| US09849215B2 |
Implantable compositions and methods for preparing the same
Methods for forming implantable compositions are provided. In some embodiments, the methods include (i) providing a gel base, (ii) adding water and a hydrating agent to the gel base to form a mixture, (iii) reducing the water content of the mixture; and (iv) adding a delivered material before, during, and/or after step (ii) or (iii). The water content is reduced to about 5% or less by weight of the implantable composition. |
| US09849213B2 |
Methods and products for tissue repair
Methods and devices for the repair of articular tissue using collagen material are provided. Compositions of collagen material and related kits are also provided. |
| US09849212B2 |
Implants for inducing soft and hard tissue integration
The present invention provides a biocompatible implant comprising one or more metal(s), metal alloy(s), metal oxide(s) or a combination thereof, wherein an antioxidant compound selected from the group of flavonoids or methoxytryptophols, an ester thereof, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof or a combination thereof, is/are coated to at least a part of a metal, metal alloy or metal oxide surface of said biocompatible implant. This implant is useful for replace bone tissue in vertebrate animals, and furthermore restore the normal function of said tissue, mainly due to its ability of induce osseointegration and soft tissue attachment. |
| US09849209B2 |
Absorbent structures and cores with efficient immobilization of absorbent material
An absorbent structure comprising a planar substrate, an auxiliary glue applied on the substrate, an absorbent material comprising from 80% to 100% by weight of superabsorbent particles deposited on the substrate on an absorbent material deposition area comprising a pattern of absorbent material land areas separated by absorbent material-free junction areas, wherein the deposition area can be notionally divided in eight deposition zones of equal length along the longitudinal direction. A fibrous thermoplastic adhesive layer immobilizes at least some of the absorbent material. The absorbent material is profiled along the longitudinal direction so that at least one of the eight deposition zones is a zone of lower absorbent material amount and the auxiliary glue is absent, or present at a level of at least 50% by weight lower than the average amount of auxiliary glue in at least one of these zones of lower absorbent material amount. |
| US09849201B2 |
Homing agents
The present disclosure provides peptide constructs for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic applications, using pegylated peptides which exhibit specific binding for a target molecule of interest, such as a biomarker of a disease or disorder. |
| US09849200B2 |
Strontium phosphate microparticle for radiological imaging and therapy
This invention relates to strontium-phosphate microparticles that incorporate radioisotopes for radiation therapy and imaging. |
| US09849196B2 |
Methods and compositions for altering photophysical properties of fluorophores via proximal quenching
The invention is directed to fluorophore-containing compositions and configurations wherein proximity between the fluorophore and one or more protective agents (PAs) modifies the lifetime of fluorescent and/or dark states, their frequency of occurrence, and the total lifetime of fluorescence in order to appropriately modify the photophysical characteristics of the fluorophore. The invention is also directed to methods that utilize these compositions and configurations. |
| US09849195B2 |
Methods and compositions for treating brain diseases
The present disclosure provides methods of treating a disease in a non-rodent mammal comprising administering to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the non-rodent mammal an rAAV2 particle containing a vector comprising a nucleic acid encoding a therapeutic protein inserted between a pair of AAV inverted terminal repeats in a manner effective to infect an ependymal cell in the non-rodent mammal, wherein the ependymal cell secretes the therapeutic protein so as to treat the disease. |
| US09849193B2 |
Nanoparticles for drug delivery
The invention provides nanoparticles, methods for making nanoparticles, and methods for using nanoparticles. An important attribute of a drug delivery system is its ability to allow for spatial and temporal regulated drug release, thereby minimizing side effects and improving therapeutic efficacy of conventional pharmaceuticals. Iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs), specifically Fe304 nanoparticles, possess many appropriate qualities that make them a viable choice for drug delivery. |
| US09849187B2 |
Conjugates of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors to functionalized polymers
This document relates to conjugates of TNF inhibitors or derivatives thereof and functionalized (e.g., mono- or bi-functional) polymers (e.g., polyethylene glycol and related polymers) as well as methods and materials for making and using such conjugates. |
| US09849186B2 |
Triblock copolymer and use therefor
Provided is a triblock copolymer represented by General Formula (I): CNR-PEG-CNR (1) or a polycation thereof, wherein each CNR is independently a polymer segment having a repeating unit containing as part of a pendant group a cyclic nitroxide radical that binds to the polymer main chain via a linking group having at least one imino group or ether bond, and PEG is a segment containing poly(ethylene glycol). |
| US09849185B2 |
Benzoic acid, benzoic acid derivatives and heteroaryl carboxylic acid conjugates of hydromorphone, prodrugs, methods of making and use thereof
The presently described technology provides compositions comprising aryl carboxylic acids chemically conjugated to hydromorphone (4,5-α-epoxy-3-hydroxy-17-methyl morphinan-6-one) to form novel prodrugs/compositions of hydromorphone. The hydromorphone prodrugs of the present technology have decreased side effects and decreased potential for abuse compared to unconjugated hydromorphone. The present technology also provides methods of treating patients, pharmaceutical kits and methods of synthesizing conjugates of the present technology. |
| US09849184B2 |
Wafer and capsule formulations with enhanced dissolution rates for fenofibrate
The invention relates to developing a novel water and capsule formulation using fenofibrate which is difficult to dissolve and control its release rate in vitro. For example, the invention relates to the creation of capsules and wafers comprising: fenofibrate, a surfactant, a carrier wax, a film former, a plasticizer, and optionally a super disintegrant or other ingredients. The invention further relates to the process of forming such capsules and wafers. |
| US09849175B2 |
Composition and method for preventing/decreasing respiratory illness
A microbial adherence inhibitor in the form of fowl egg antibodies is disclosed, along with the method of making it and methods of using it. The inhibitor functions by substantially preventing the attachment of adherence of colony-forming immunogens in the respiratory tracts of host animals and humans. The inhibitor is made by inoculating female birds with the immunogen, harvesting the eggs which contain antibodies to the immunogen, and separating the yolk and albumin from the shells of the eggs. The yolk and albumin contents are administered to animals or human by distributing the contents directly or introducing the contents entrained in air. The adherence inhibiting material can be formulated for use in a variety of ways such as an oral spray or a nasal spray. These formulations can be effective to prevent or reduce respiratory illnesses in animals and humans. |
| US09849172B2 |
Influenza virus vaccines and uses thereof
Provided herein are influenza hemagglutinin stem domain polypeptides, compositions comprising the same, vaccines comprising the same and methods of their use. |
| US09849167B2 |
Compositions and methods for combination therapy with dengue virus and dendritic cells
Described herein are compositions and methods for treating cancer through the combination of tumor antigen-pulsed dendritic cells and Dengue Virus. The combination of the two forms of therapeutic intervention provides enhanced tumor cell reduction compared to either alone. The cancer targeted by compositions and methods described herein may be a solid cancer or blood cancer. |
| US09849166B2 |
TOPK peptides and vaccines including the same
The present invention provides isolated epitope peptides derived from TOPK and immunogenic fragments thereof have an ability to induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and thus are suitable for use in cancer immunotherapy, more particularly as cancer vaccines. The peptides of the present invention encompass both of peptides including a TOPK-derived amino acid sequence and modified versions thereof, in which one, two, or several amino acids are substituted, deleted, inserted and/or added, provided such modified versions have CTL inducibility. Further provided are polynucleotides encoding any of the aforementioned peptides as well as pharmaceutical compositions that include any of the aforementioned peptides or polynucleotides. The peptides, polynucleotides, and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention find particular utility in either or both of the treatment and prevention of a number of cancers. |
| US09849165B2 |
Oligomer-specific amyloid beta epitope and antibodies
A novel constrained peptide epitope derived from Aβ, related antibody compositions and methods of use. An isolated antibody that specifically binds to a cyclic peptide comprising the conformational epitope corresponding to a solvent-exposed, antibody accessible knuckle region of oligomeric Aβ is described. An antigenic peptide comprising an epitope having a constrained cyclic configuration, corresponding to a solvent-exposed, antibody accessible knuckle region of oligomeric Aβ is also described. Methods of treating, preventing, and diagnosing Alzheimer's disease are also described. |
| US09849163B2 |
Modified non-cytotoxic proteases
The present invention relates to a modified polypeptide comprising a non-cytotoxic protease, a translocation domain, a destructive protease cleavage site and a Targeting Moiety that binds to a Binding Site on a nerve cell, wherein after cleavage of the destructive cleavage site the polypeptide has reduced potency. The destructive cleavage site is recognized and cleaved by a protease present at or in an off-site target cell, and, in one embodiment, the polypeptide is a modified clostridial neurotoxin. The present invention also relates to the use of said polypeptides for treating a range of conditions, and to nucleic acids encoding said polypeptides. |
| US09849161B2 |
Ultrapure hypoallergenic solutions of sacrosidase
One aspect provides an ultrapure, hypoallergenic sacrosidase. Another aspect provides a solution of sacrosidase in about 1:1 glycerol/water having an enzymatic activity of at least about 7500 IU/mL and a residual papain concentration that does not include an allergic reaction in a human patient when given a dose of about 2.0 mL/day. |
| US09849157B2 |
Cardiovascular therapy compositions
A composition for use in cardiovascular therapy includes transfer factor. The transfer factor may be nonmammalian transfer factor, such as that derived from eggs, or mammalian transfer factor, such as that derived from colostrum. The composition may also include one or more of the following: an LDL receptor-binding element; a blood flow-enhancing element; a cholesterol reducing element; a fat oxidation prevention element, and an antioxidant. Treatment methods include enlisting the immune system of a subject receiving therapy to attack pathogens that cause inflammation of blood vessels or to otherwise reduce inflammation of blood vessels. |
| US09849155B1 |
Methods and compositions for modulating transport of a drug
Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for inhibiting or decreasing transport of a drug by a transporter of multidrug resistance-associated protein comprising a compound of Formula (VI) wherein R1 and R2 are small peptides or modified peptides, are provided. The methods and compositions are useful in enhancing efficacy of drugs such as anti-inflammatory agents, neurological agents, thyroid agents, ocular agents, cancer chemotherapeutics, antibiotics, antimicrobials, antivirals and protease inhibitors to treat human immunodeficiency virus. |
| US09849154B2 |
Synergistic combination of alanine-glutamine, hyaluronic acid and oat extract and the use thereof in a composition intended for healing wounds and repairing skin lesions
The present invention concerns a combination comprising the dipeptide L-alanyl-L-glutamine, hyaluronic acid or one of the salts of same and an oat extract, advantageously intended for healing wounds and repairing skin lesions. |
| US09849153B2 |
Compositions and methods for preventing and treating diseases and environmentally induced health disorders
Nutraceutical or pharmaceutical compositions, functional foods, extracts, dietary supplements and food/feed additives enriched in phytochemicals having antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory activity may be derived from the skin, pith, or cortex from stem tubers of select potato cultivars, such as Onaway, Russet Burbank, Purple Valley or Bora Valley cultivars. These cultivars and combinations thereof provide a useful antioxidant source enriched in ferulic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acids, ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, and rutin, isomers or derivatives thereof having antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory activity. |
| US09849152B2 |
Formulation of a mixture of Free-B-ring flavonoids and flavans as a therapeutic agent
The present invention provides a novel composition of matter comprised of a mixture of two specific classes of compounds—Free-B-ring flavonoids and flavans—for use in the prevention and treatment of diseases and conditions mediated by the COX-2 and 5-LO pathways. The present invention further provides a novel method for simultaneously inhibiting the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) enzymes, and reducing cox-2 mRNA production. Finally, the present invention includes a method for weight loss and blood glucose control. The methods of this invention are comprised of administering to a host in need thereof an effective amount of the composition of this invention together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. This invention relates generally to the prevention and treatment of diseases and conditions mediated by the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathways, including but not limited to the relief joint discomfort and pain associated with conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other injuries that result from overuse. |
| US09849149B2 |
Methods of using regenerative cells in the treatment of erectile dysfunction
Cells present in adipose tissue are used to treat patients, including patients with PVD and related diseases or disorders. Methods of treating patients include processing adipose tissue to deliver a concentrated amount of stem cells obtained from the adipose tissue to a patient. The methods may be practiced in a closed system so that the stem cells are not exposed to an external environment prior to being administered to a patient. Accordingly, in a preferred method, cells present in adipose tissue are placed directly into a recipient along with such additives necessary to promote, engender or support a therapeutic benefit. |
| US09849146B2 |
Inhibition of nonsense mediated mRNA decay by drugs that prevent hypusination of eukaryotic initiation factor 5A
Provided are methods for treating a NAD comprising administering to a patient suffering from a NAD an inhibitor of NMD and a nonsense suppressor, whereby degradation of NMD susceptible mRNA is decreased and translation termination at a misplaced nonsense codon is blocked. |
| US09849144B2 |
Glutamine and trehalose compositions
Pharmaceutical compositions comprising glutamine and trehalose for treating side effects to oncology treatments are disclosed. |
| US09849133B2 |
Pharmaceutical formulations of xanthine or xanthine derivatives, and their use
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical formulations comprising xanthine or xanthine derivatives, kits thereof, and methods for treating fibrotic diseases by local administration. |
| US09849131B2 |
Imidazolidinedione derivatives
The invention provides a compound of formula (Ia), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The invention also provides use of the compounds or salts as modulators of Kv3.1 and/or Kv3.2, and in the treatment of diseases or disorders where a modulator of Kv3.1 and/or Kv3.2 is required, such as depression and mood disorders, hearing disorders, schizopherenea, substance abuse disorders, sleep disorders or epilepsy. |
| US09849128B2 |
Unit dose of a cis-imidazoline for treating an osteoarthritic joint by removing senescent cells
Methods are provided herein for selectively killing senescent cells and for treating senescence-associated diseases and disorders by administering a senolytic agent. Senescence-associated diseases and disorders treatable by the methods using the senolytic agents described herein include cardiovascular diseases and disorders associated with or caused by arteriosclerosis, such as atherosclerosis; idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; osteoarthritis; senescence-associated ophthalmic diseases and disorders; and senescence-associated dermatological diseases and disorders. |
| US09849127B2 |
Means and methods for treating cancer
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula (I) and methods of treating or preventing cell proliferation disorders comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically active amount or a preventive amount of such a compound. |
| US09849124B2 |
Systems and methods for treating an opioid-induced adverse pharmacodynamic response
Disclosed in certain embodiments is a method of treating or preventing an opioid induced adverse pharmacodynamic response comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of buprenorphine. |
| US09849123B2 |
Composition and method for treating skin conditions
Compositions and methods for treatment of conditions affecting skin and/or mucosal surfaces of a subject that make use of an imidazoquinoline compound and a retinoid agent are described. |
| US09849120B2 |
Thiazolecarboxamides and pyridinecarboxamide compounds useful as Pim kinase inhibitors
The present disclosure describes thiazole and pyridine carboxamide derivatives, their compositions and methods of use. The compounds inhibit the activity of the Pim kinases and are useful in the treatment of diseases related to the activity of Pim kinases including, e.g., cancer and other diseases. |
| US09849114B2 |
Oxymetazoline for the treatment of ano-rectal disorders
Methods for treating fecal incontinence by administering to a subject in need thereof compositions including oxymetazoline as an active ingredient. Kits including compositions of oxymetazoline suitable for topical application, for the treatment of fecal incontinence. |
| US09849109B2 |
Autotaxin inhibitors and uses thereof
Described herein are compounds that are inhibitors of autotaxin. Also described are pharmaceutical compositions and medicaments that include the compounds described herein, as well as methods of using such inhibitors, alone and in combination with other compounds, for treating autotaxin-dependent or autotaxin-mediated conditions or diseases. |
| US09849107B2 |
Compositions and methods for inhibiting cytochrome P450
Methods of inhibiting cytochrome P450 enzymes are provided that can be used for improving the treatment of diseases by preventing degradation of drugs or other molecules by cytochrome P450. Pharmaceutical compositions are provided that can act as boosters to improve the pharmacokinetics, enhance the bioavailability, and enhance the therapeutic effect of drugs that undergo in vivo degradation by cytochrome P450 enzymes. |
| US09849104B2 |
Treatment of NASH with gemcabene
Methods and formulations to reduce elevated levels of lipids and apolipoprotein B in subjects having type IIb hyperlipidemia. Methods for preventing, delaying or regressing complications of lipid disorders, including; type IIb hyperlipidemia, NAFLD, and NASH. Methods for preventing or delaying primary and secondary cardiovascular events. Kits useful for such methods. Methods for reducing hepatic fibrosis. Methods for reducing plasma fibrinogen levels. |
| US09849103B2 |
Compositions and methods for the treatment of cancer
The present invention discloses anti-cancer compositions, and associated methods, including an anti-cancer composition comprising: a cellular energy inhibitor having the structure according to formula I wherein X is selected from the group consisting of: a nitro, an imidazole, a halide, sulfonate, a carboxylate, an alkoxide, and amine oxide; and R is selected from the group consisting of: OR′, N(R″)2, C(O)R′″, C1-C6 alkyl, C6-C12 aryl, C1-C6 heteroalkyl, a C6-C12 heteroaryl, H, and an alkali metal; where R′ represents H, alkali metal, C1-C6 alkyl, C6-C12 aryl or C(O)R′″, R″ represents H, C1-C6 alkyl, or C6-C12 aryl, and R′″ represents H, C1-C20 alkyl or C6-C12 aryl. The anti-cancer composition can additionally comprise at least one sugar, which stabilizes the cellular energy inhibitor by substantially preventing the inhibitor from hydrolyzing. Also, the anti-cancer composition can comprise a hexokinase inhibitor. Further, the anti-cancer composition can comprise a biological buffer that is present in an amount sufficient to at least partially deacidify the cellular energy inhibitor and neutralize metabolic by-products of the cellular energy inhibitor. |
| US09849102B2 |
Treatment for reducing inflammation
A method of treating endometriosis in a person by reducing a cytokine MCP-1 related activity level of an endometriosis implant in said person by 50% or more while not affecting a corresponding TNF-α related activity level by more than 30% comprises providing a pharmaceutical composition comprising a local anaesthetic, in particular lidocaine hydrochloride, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, administering the composition intraperitoneally to said person, thereby substantially reducing the recruitment of macrophages by MCP-1 released from the endometriosis implant. Also disclosed is a corresponding pharmaceutical composition. |
| US09849101B2 |
Method for enhancing amidohydrolase activity of fatty acid amide hydrolase
A method for enhancing amidohydrolase activity of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) is disclosed. The method comprising administering a phenoxyacyl-ethanolamide that causes the enhanced activity. The enhanced activity can have numerous effects on biological organisms including, for example, enhancing the growth of certain seedlings. |
| US09849098B2 |
Compositions and methods for treating respiratory injury or disease
A method for treating a respiratory injury or disease comprising: administering to a patient in need of treatment a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of general Formula I: or salt, ester, solvate, hydrate, or prodrug thereof; wherein: x is an integer from 1 to 10; A and B are each, independently, C3-7 cycloalkyl, C3-7 cycloalkyl-C1-6alkyl, C3-7 heterocycloalkyl, C3-7 heterocycloalkyl-C1-6 alkyl, C6-10aryl, C6-10aryl-C1-6alkyl, C3-9 heteroaryl, or C3-9heteroaryl-C1-6alkyl; and n and p are each, independently, integers from 1 to 10; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, or diluent. |
| US09849096B2 |
Neuroprotective effect of carotenoids in brain
The present invention provides use of composition containing molecular dispersions of carotenoids for the prevention of neurodegenerative disorders which are safe for human consumption and are particularly useful as dietary supplements for nutrition and health promoting benefits. The present invention particularly relates to the use of highly water soluble composition with enhanced bioavailability containing at least 80% by weight of total xanthophylls, out of which the trans-lutein content is 80-95% w/w; (R,R)-zeaxanthin is 14-20% w/w; (R,S)-zeaxanthin is 0.01-1% w/w and traces of other carotenoids derived from the plant extracts/oleoresin containing xanthophylls/xanthophylls esters. The present invention also provides use of the said composition in treatment of neurodegenerative disorders when co-administered along with reduced dose of Levodopa and Carbidopa. |
| US09849094B2 |
Eluting matrix and uses thereof
CXCL12 polypeptide eluting matrices encapsulating at least one cell are described for use in the treatment of autoimmune disorders. |
| US09849093B2 |
Compositions and methods for administration to subjects with dysphagia
Provided are novel methods and compositions for administration of pharmaceuticals to subjects with dysphagia. Pharmaceuticals are associated with beads and administered with food, beverage or cosmetic to provide ease of administration to subjects with dysphagia. Environmental indicators are associated with beads for Quality Assurance. |
| US09849091B1 |
Solid oral formulations having an iron sugar overcoat
This invention provides a solid oral formulation including a tablet core surrounded by an iron sugar overcoat so that the iron sugar overcoat makes at least some elemental iron content available for gastrointestinal absorption relative to the tablet core while counteracting at least some of the constipation associated with oral iron consumption, and further includes methods of administering the solid oral formulation. |
| US09849085B2 |
Sustained release drug delivery devices, methods of use, and methods of manufacturing thereof
A method and device for treating a mammalian organism to obtain a desired local or systemic physiological or pharmacological effect is provided. The method includes administering a sustained release drug delivery system to a mammalian organism in need of such treatment at an area wherein release of an effective agent is desired and allowing the effective agent to pass through the device in a controlled manner. The device includes an inner core or reservoir including the effective agent, an impermeable tube which encloses portions of the reservoir, and a permeable member at an end of the tube. |
| US09849082B2 |
Nasolacrimal drainage system implants for drug therapy
An implant for insertion through a punctum and into a canalicular lumen of a patient. The implant includes a matrix of material, a therapeutic agent dispersed in the matrix of material, a sheath disposed over a portion of the matrix of material and configured to inhibit the therapeutic agent from being released from the matrix of material into the canalicular lumen and to allow the therapeutic agent to be released from a surface of the matrix of material to a tear film, and a retention structure configured to retain the implant within the canalicular lumen. |
| US09849078B2 |
Plant extract for hair tonic for treating baldness and preventing hair loss and hair bulb regenerator
The present invention relates to an extract from Pteridium Arachnoideum or Pteridium Aquilinum and the preparation process thereof, useful for re-growing hair in subjects who have experienced hair loss due to any cause on head and eyebrow. |
| US09849077B2 |
Skin lightening compositions
Disclosed are compositions and methods for their use that include a combination of Leontopodium alpinum extract, Halidrys siliquosa extract, vegetable amino acids, niacinamide, hexylresorcinol, Pinus pinaster extract, Betula alba extract, Albizia julibrissin bark extract, hydrolyzed Candida saitoana extract, Lentinus edodes mycelium extract, and/or Opuntia tuna fruit extract. |
| US09849076B2 |
Shine-producing hair treatment agent
Agents for cosmetically treating keratin-containing fibers, in particular human hair, contain in a cosmetically acceptable carrier (i) at least one ester of formula (I), where R1 stands for a linear or branched (C2-C30) alkyl group, a linear or branched (C8-C30) alkenyl group, a (C2-C30) alkylpoly(oxyethylene) group, an optionally substituted aryl group, an optionally substituted aryl(C1-C4)alkyl group or a (C2-C6) hydroxyalkyl group, and R2 stands for an optionally substituted aryl group, a linear or branched (C8-C30) alkyl group, a linear or branched (C8-C30) alkenyl group, an optionally substituted aryl (C1-C4) alkyl group, an optionally substituted aryl (C2-C4) alkenyl group or a (C2-6) hydroxyalkyl group, and (ii) at least one oil selected from at least one compound of the group comprising silicones and paraffin oil, which are particularly suited in the form of a spray mist for giving shine to keratin-containing fibers, in particular human hair. |
| US09849074B2 |
Sunscreen composition
A composition contains at least one sunscreen and a protein-PVP copolymer. The sunscreen may be organic and/or inorganic, particularly titanium dioxide. The protein-PVP copolymer improves the effectiveness of the sunscreen, resulting in increased SPF values of the composition. |
| US09849070B2 |
Postpyloric feeding device and methods for using thereof
A feeding tube device for postpyloric feeding that comprises a bendable feeding tube having a proximal end, a central portion and, and a distal end and a delivery lumen therealong for conducting a digestible substance therethrough, an imaging unit having an image sensor mounted on a tip of the distal end to image an imaging space thereinfront, and a tilting mechanism for tilting the distal end in relation to the central portion. The distal end has at least one lateral tilt and feeding opening therealong for delivering the digestible substance therethrough, the at least one lateral tilt and feeding opening are laid out so that when the tilting mechanism tilts the distal end the at least one lateral tilt and feeding opening narrows. |
| US09849069B1 |
Push operated single pill dispenser
A push operated single pill, tablet, capsule, or other object dispenser that dispenses a single object at the push of a button. |
| US09849062B2 |
Vibration device
A device is provided for vibrational stimulation of body tissue in body cavities which are difficult to access, particularly in the nasal cavity. The device includes an expandable stimulation member, which can be introduced via a body opening into a body cavity. In an expanded state of the device, the stimulation means abuts against the body tissue within the body cavity. To accomplish vibrational stimulation, the stimulation member is brought to vibrate at a frequency of 48-70 Hz within the body cavity. A method is also provided for vibrational stimulation of body tissue in a body cavity, particularly in the nasal cavity of a patient. |
| US09849059B2 |
Headache mitigating apparatus
The headache mitigating apparatus includes at least a transverse strap configured to wrap around a user's head in the manner of a hat band and at least one strap configured to extend under the user's occipital bone and rest along the user's upper neck as well as extending over the head strap at a forward end thereof. The apparatus can include bladders in the transverse and occipital straps, respectively. The bladders can be filled simultaneously or separately with a pneumatic hand pump such as those found on sphygmomanometers or may include an inflation apparatus which is operable via a push button, in a manner similar to that in which self-inflating items inflate. At least one strap may also accommodate a gel pack for heating or cooling. One or both straps may include buckles or hook and loop closures configured to be adjusted to secure the apparatus to the user's head. |
| US09849057B1 |
Stroller rollator
A rollator is disclosed, including first and second upright members, each including handle portions, wheels, hinges disposed between the wheels and the handle portions, channels disposed along the upright members between the hinges and the wheels, and lateral hinges orthogonal to the hinges. First and second foldable support members having wheels are attached to the hinges. At least one lateral support member is disposed between and attached to the lateral hinges, and includes an intermediate hinge. Brake systems include brake lines communicating between brake controls and brakes. In a reversible storage configuration, the foldable support members are rotated to be at least partially disposed in the channels, and the lateral hinges and intermediate hinge rotate to collapse the lateral support member, bringing the upright members with the folded foldable support members adjacent to one another. |
| US09849056B2 |
Seated inversion table
The seated inversion table is provided having a support frame assembly, and a seat back assembly, and a seat cushion assembly tiltably mounted on the support frame assembly. The seat back assembly connects to the seat cushion assembly and connects to a rotating frame assembly through a lower connecting tube assembly. The rotating frame assembly is tiltably mounted on the seat cushion assembly and is adjustably mounted on a foot-clamping frame. With a front swinging rod of the seat cushion assembly tiltably mounted on the support frame assembly, a range of an inversion angle is restricted and thereby the seated inversion table may not over tilt. |
| US09849051B2 |
User interface for hospital bed
A user module for a patient support apparatus is provided. The user module has a user interface operably coupled thereto. The user interface includes an input device and an output device. The output device includes a visual display including textual and non-textual elements. The non-textual elements include enhanced, graphical, and animated portions relating to one or more operational features of the patient support or to a person positionable on the patient support. The input device includes one or more touch sensors corresponding to defined regions of the visual display. |
| US09849050B2 |
Wheelchair lift assembly
A wheelchair lift assembly includes a wheelchair. The wheelchair has a pair of seats and a frame. Each of the seats is hingedly coupled to the frame. Each of the seats is positionable in a stored position having each of the seats being horizontally oriented on the frame. Each of the seats is positionable in a lifted position having the each of the seats hinging upwardly from the upper front member. A lifting unit is coupled to the wheelchair. The lifting unit selectively urges each of the seats between the stored position and the lifted position. Thus, the lifting unit may lift a user thereby facilitating the user to exit the wheelchair. |
| US09849049B2 |
Driving apparatus and driving method
A driving apparatus according to an embodiment includes a support unit configured to support a portion of an upper limb of a user, a driving unit configured to move the support unit along a track having at least a component in a direction perpendicular to a floor surface, a first measurement unit configured to obtain a first measurement value by measuring a force applied to the support unit, and a control unit configured to drive the driving unit when the first measurement value is more than a predetermined threshold value, so that the driving apparatus can assist a person's standing up action. |
| US09849043B2 |
Absorbent article having a protected fastening system
An absorbent article includes an absorbent assembly including longitudinally opposite ends, transversely opposite sides, a front waist region, a back waist region. The absorbent article also includes a pair of ears extending transversely outward from the opposite sides of the absorbent assembly in the back waist region, each of the ears comprising a loop fastening component. The absorbent article also includes a nonwoven shield coupled to the garment-facing surface of the outer cover and a hook material patch, wherein the hook material patch is disposed between the outer cover and the shield such that at least a portion of the plurality of hooks is accessible through an aperture, and such that at least a portion of the base layer edges is covered by the shield. |
| US09849040B2 |
Method and apparatus for making disposable absorbent article with absorbent particulate polymer material and article made therewith
A method for making a disposable absorbent core comprises depositing absorbent particulate polymer material from a plurality of reservoirs in a printing roll onto a substrate disposed on a grid of a support which includes a plurality of cross bars extending substantially parallel to and spaced from one another so as to form channels extending between the plurality of cross bars. The plurality of reservoirs in the first peripheral surface are arranged in an array comprising rows extending substantially parallel to and spaced from one another. A disposable absorbent article and apparatus for making an absorbent article are also disclosed. |
| US09849037B2 |
Patient interface for ophthalmological, optical therapy and diagnosis device
A patient interface for coupling an ophthalmological application head to an eye of a patient includes a patient-sided interface structure to be coupled to the eye of a patient, and a source-sided interface structure for rigidly coupling the patient interface to the application head or an intermediate element. The source-sided interface structure comprises a first source-sided patient interface coupler and a second source-sided patient interface coupler. The first source-sided patient interface coupler is designed to restrict the mobility of the patient interface relative to the application head or the intermediate element by providing a coupling with a first patient interface coupler counterpiece of the application head or the intermediate element. The second source-sided patient interface coupler is designed to rigidly couple the patient interface to the application head or the intermediate element while the first source-sided patient interface coupler is coupled with the first patient interface coupler counterpiece. |
| US09849033B2 |
Laser eye surgery system
A method for laser eye surgery that accommodates patient movement includes: generating a first and a second electromagnetic radiation beam, the second beam configured to modify eye tissue; propagating the first beam to a scanner along a an optical path length that changes in response to eye movement; focusing the first beam to a first focal point within the eye; scanning the first focal point at different locations within the eye; propagating a portion of the first beam reflected from the first focal point location back along the variable optical path to a sensor; generating an intensity signal indicative of the intensity of the portion of the reflected first beam; propagating the second beam to the scanner along the variable optical path; focusing the second beam to a second focal point and scanning the second focal point to create an incision in the cornea of the eye. |
| US09849032B2 |
Laser eye surgery system
An imaging system includes an eye interface device, a scanning assembly, a beam source, a free-floating mechanism, and a detection assembly. The eye interface device interfaces with an eye. The scanning assembly supports the eye interface device and scans a focal point of an electromagnetic radiation beam within the eye. The beam source generates the electromagnetic radiation beam. The free-floating mechanism supports the scanning assembly and accommodates movement of the eye and provides a variable optical path for the electronic radiation beam and a portion of the electronic radiation beam reflected from the focal point location. The variable optical path is disposed between the beam source and the scanner and has an optical path length that varies to accommodate movement of the eye. The detection assembly generates a signal indicative of intensity of a portion of the electromagnetic radiation beam reflected from the focal point location. |
| US09849030B2 |
Pressure control in phacoemulsification system
A surgical system comprises a pressurized irrigation fluid source; an irrigation line fluidly coupled to the pressurized irrigation fluid source; a hand piece fluidly coupled to the irrigation line; an irrigation pressure sensor located at or along the pressurized irrigation fluid source or irrigation line; and a controller for controlling the pressurized irrigation fluid source. The controller controls the pressurized irrigation fluid source based on a reading from the irrigation pressure sensor and an estimated flow value modified by a compensation factor. |
| US09849028B2 |
Contact lens applicator
A contact lens applicator for use in the application and removal of contact lenses, is disclosed. The contact lens applicator comprises a hollow cylindrical tube defining a curved portion at one end having a straight portion attached to a suction bulb at the distal end. The end tip surface of the curved portion defines a generally solid concave-shaped cup surface having a center hole surrounded by an outer edge circular ring of smaller diameter holes for allowing air to pass in and out of the cylindrical tube through the cup surface. The diameter of the cylindrical tube and cup surface are slightly greater than the diameter of a contact lens. In use, the contact lens applicator temporarily grasps using air pressure a soft contact lens for applying the soft contact lens to a user's eye and for removing a soft contact lens therefrom without discomfort to the user or damage to the lens. |
| US09849025B2 |
Brain cooling system
A clinical grid electrode system for seizure control through local cooling, mapping brain function and me provision of reversible functional ablation. The system includes a modular, scalable, cooling and sensing array composed of a plurality of cooling sensing elements. The system also includes a control system to which die cooling and sensing array is coupled for providing for control and monitoring of die cooling sensing elements making up the cooling and sensing array. |
| US09849016B2 |
Method of manufacturing a deployment handle of a medical device deployment system
An introducer assembly having a handle, at least one fiber operatively coupling at least one handle with one or more functions of the handle; and having a fiber routing system that allows a predetermined amount of slack to be created during assembly in at least one fiber so as to delay by a desired amount of time actuation of the one or more functions of the handle associated with the at least one fiber during operation of the handle. |
| US09849012B2 |
Port retention mechanism for deployment handle of a medical device deployment system
A catheter assembly includes a tubular first and second catheters in fluid communication with each other, wherein the second catheter includes a port fitting and can be elastically longitudinally strained to cinch the first and second catheters together. |
| US09849008B2 |
Bioabsorbable implants
A bioabsorbable implant including an elongated metallic element having more than 50% by weight a metal and being substantially free of rare earth elements, the elongated metallic element defining at least a portion of the bioabsorbable implant and including a wire formed into a discrete bioabsorbable expandable metal ring; at least two biostable ring elements, each biostable ring element having a biostable and radio-opaque metallic alloy, the bioabsorbable expandable metal ring being disposed adjacent to at least one of the biostable ring elements; at least one flexible longitudinal connector including a bioabsorbable polymer, the connector being disposed between at least two adjacent rings; and a coating having at least one pharmaceutically active agent disposed over at least a portion of one ring. |
| US09849006B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for treating vessels
Methods and apparatuses relate to treating vessels that have developed an aneurysm or vessels that are expected to develop an aneurysm (e.g., aortic aneurysm). The device may include a conduit having one or more coupling members that serve to couple the conduit and the vessel together. The conduit and coupling member(s) may cooperate to apply an inward radial force (e.g., physical pulling of the vessel wall inward) on the vessel wall, substantially preventing vessel enlargement. In some embodiments, coupling members are disposed at a midpoint region between opposite ends of the conduit, such as regularly along the length of the conduit. When deployed, the device reduces the risk of excessive vessel enlargement which may otherwise lead to undesirable rupture or dissection of the vessel. |
| US09849004B2 |
Wearable robot and method of controlling the same
Provided is a method of controlling a wearable robot, the method including: measuring a ground reaction force (GRF) exerted on a wearer's soles; calculating a time variation rate of the measured GRF; measuring the wearer's knee joint angle; and detecting a time point at which the calculated time variation rate of the GRF and the measured knee joint angle cross each other. |
| US09849001B2 |
Bio-mechanical finger brace assembly
The disclosure provides apparatus and methods of use pertaining to a biomechanical finger brace assembly. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a coupling tip, a proximal ring configured to concentrically receive a user's finger, a distal ring configured to concentrically receive the finger, and a rocker formed in an H-shape. The distal ring and the rocker are pivotally suspended between a proximal coordinated pivot point anchored on the proximal ring and a distal coordinated pivot point anchored on the coupling tip, such that movements of the finger within the proximal ring articulate the distal ring together with the rocker to articulate the coupling tip. The coupling tip may include an open end or an enclosed recess to accept a minimally-amputated or non-amputated finger. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US09848996B2 |
Variable lordotic interbody spacer
A variable lordotic interbody spacer including a face plate, superior and inferior endplates coupled to the face plate via a hinge, an actuation frame between the endplates, and an actuation screw. The face plate includes actuation and stabilizer channels. Each of the endplates has endplate arms coupled by an endplate base, and includes actuation ramp recesses. The actuation frame includes frame arms coupled by a frame base in a generally U-shaped configuration, each actuation frame arm having a stabilizer feature passing through a corresponding stabilizer channel and having actuation ramp pins fitted to a corresponding ramp recesses. The actuation screw passes through the actuation channel, with a head retained at the front surface and a threaded end coupled to the actuation frame. When operated, the actuation screw moves the actuation frame between the superior endplate and the inferior endplate to adjust an angle therebetween. |
| US09848995B2 |
Process for fabricating bioactive vertebral endplate bone-contacting surfaces on a spinal implant
An interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, and opposing anterior and posterior portions. At least a portion of the top surface, the bottom surface, or both surfaces has a roughened surface topography including both micro features and nano features, without sharp teeth that risk damage to bone structures, adapted to grip bone through friction generated when the implant is placed between two vertebrae and to inhibit migration of the implant. The roughened surface topography typically further includes macro features and the macro features, micro features, and nano features overlap. Also disclosed are methods of using such implants and processes of fabricating a roughened surface topography on a surface of an implant. The process includes separate and sequential macro processing, micro processing, and nano processing steps. |
| US09848994B2 |
Low profile plate
The present application generally relates to orthopedic systems, and in particular, to systems including independent plates and spacers. A plating system can include a spacer and a plate that is independent from the spacer. A number of locking mechanisms can be provided to secure the plate to the spacer. In some cases, the spacer includes a pair of notches that extend on an outer surface of the spacer. The plate can include a pair of lateral extensions that can engage the notches to secure the plate to the spacer. In other cases, the spacer includes an opening including a pair of inlets. The plate can include an enclosed posterior extension that can be received in the pair of inlets to secure the plate to the spacer. |
| US09848992B2 |
Intervertebral implants, systems, and methods of use
An intervertebral implant frame that is configured to be attached to a spacer body can include a pair of arms that extend longitudinally from a support member such that the arms extend substantially around the spacer body. The arms may be configured to expand, crimp, or otherwise engage the spacer body to thereby hold the spacer body to the frame. The spacer body may be made from bone graft. |
| US09848983B2 |
Valve replacement using rotational anchors
Features for a heart valve device are described. The device may include a frame with anchors configured to secure the device to tissue. The frame may include a flared end or skirt for additional securement of the implanted device. The device may include a seal such as a barrier and/or cuff for preventing leakage. The device may contract for endovascular delivery of the device to the heart and expand for securement within the heart, such as the within the native mitral valve annulus. The device may include a replacement valve. The valve may have leaflets configured to re-direct blood flow along a primary flow axis. |
| US09848981B2 |
Expandable valve prosthesis with sealing mechanism
A prosthetic heart valve includes at least one sealing member. The sealing member is adapted to conform to any surface irregularities found on the inner surface of the valve annulus, including any calcium deposits formed on the valve leaflets. The sealing member can be self-expanding or non-expanding. When deployed, the sealing member is adapted to create a blood tight seal between the prosthetic heart valve and the inner surface of the valve annulus thereby minimizing and/or eliminating perivalvular leakage at the implantation site. |
| US09848980B2 |
Refocusable lens system with mutually-applanating internal surfaces
An accommodating (re-focusable) lens system a body of which includes, upon being assembled, first and second individual lenslets having first and second optical portions sequentially disposed along an optical axis. Change in optical-power accommodation of the system is achieved by changing an applanated area of contact between the lenslets in response to force applied to the lenslets and transformed into an axial force. In specific case, the first and second lenslets form an intraocular lens (IOL) and have respective haptic portions, interlocked as a result of rotating of one lenslet with respect to another such as to bring first and second lenslets in contact at an axial point. The applanated area of contact is changed, then, in response to a radially-directed force caused by a change of distance between the interlocked ends of the haptics and transferred to the optical portions through the interlocked haptics. When installed in a natural lens capsule after the cataract extraction, the optical power of such IOL is gradually modifiable due to a change of curvature of the capsule caused by operation of a ciliary muscle. |
| US09848979B2 |
Ocular mask having selective spectral transmission
A mask is provided that is configured to increase the depth of focus of a patient. The mask can include an aperture configured to transmit along an optical axis substantially all visible incident light. The mask can further include a portion surrounding at least a portion of the aperture. The portion may be configured to be substantially opaque to visible electromagnetic radiation and be substantially transparent to electromagnetic radiation transmitted from an ocular examination device (e.g., substantially transparent to at least some non-visible electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength between about 750 nm and about 1500 nm). |
| US09848973B2 |
Porous devices and processes for producing same
A method for making a polymer with a porous layer from a solid piece of polymer is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes heating a surface of a solid piece of polymer to a processing temperature and holding the processing temperature while displacing a porogen layer through the surface of the polymer to create a matrix layer of the solid polymer body comprising the polymer and the porogen layer. In at least one embodiment, the method also includes removing at least a portion of the layer of porogen from the matrix layer to create a porous layer of the solid piece of polymer. |
| US09848971B2 |
Removable deployment device, system, and method for implantable prostheses
A medical device including a mesh prosthesis having a first layer having an opening a second layer secured to the first layer and forming a pocket therebetween. A deployment device is positioned in the pocket and arranged to resiliently exert a deployment force on the mesh prosthesis to urge the mesh prosthesis into a deployment shape. The deployment device has a first shape when deployed that has at least one dimension larger than that of the opening to frustrate removal of the deployment device therethrough. Upon application of a suitable pulling force the deployment device is reconfigurable into a second shape that permits the deployment device to be removed from the pocket through the opening upon application of the suitable pulling force. A method of using a medical device is also included. |
| US09848967B2 |
Flossing toys and methods of making and using the same
Flossing toys or devices are disclosed. Methods of making and using flossing toys or devices are also disclosed. |
| US09848966B2 |
Hybrid dental device
A hybrid dental tool is disclosed herein. The hybrid dental tool includes a flossing head and a handle portion. The flossing head can include a filament stretching between the leading arm and a trailing arm. The flossing head can be connected to the handle portion. The handle portion can include features that can receive and retain a pick. The pick can be a soft pick or a hard pick. The handle portion can further include an integrated pick that can be located at a free end of the handle portion. |
| US09848960B2 |
Orthodontic appliance
An orthodontic appliance has a post attached to a first upper tooth, and a button with a recess attached to a second upper tooth. An elongated arm has an eye at one end through which the post is inserted to allow the elongated arm to rotate about the post, and a tip at the other end for removable insertion into the recess of the button. The length of the elongated arm is selectable to maintain a desired spacing between the first and second upper teeth (e.g., by cutting the tip of the elongated arm). An elastic extends from either the post or button to an attachment point on the patient's lower dental arch to exert a force between the patient's maxilla and mandible. |
| US09848958B2 |
Generating a dynamic three-dimensional occlusogram
Methods and systems for generating a three-dimensional occlusogram are disclosed. One method includes determining a virtual three dimensional (3D) mesh model object of at least one tooth of a patient and displaying the determined virtual 3D mesh model object of at least one tooth of a patient wherein the 3D mesh model object includes a plurality of data sets associated with a set of occlusal information for the at least one tooth of the patient. |
| US09848957B2 |
Protective window for medical device faceplates
Devices are provided that include a protective window integrated with a faceplate for a medical device. In embodiments, a machine-readable identifier adapted to be affixed to an interior portion of a medical device is viewable via a window of a faceplate. Accordingly, the machine-readable identifier is protected from damage during use of the medical device. And, in embodiments, the machine-readable identifier encodes medical-device identifying information to enable tracking the medical device to which it is affixed. As such, should the faceplate require repair or be changed, the machine-readable identifier remains intact and affixed to the medical device. Further embodiments include a device including a faceplate that has a visual signifier of an interiorly placed radio-frequency identifier. |
| US09848956B2 |
Self-contained, self-piercing, side-expelling marking apparatus
A marking apparatus includes a rigid cannula having a peripheral wall forming a lumen that carries an imaging marker. A lateral opening in the peripheral wall is open to the lumen. The lateral opening has a proximal extent and a distal extent. A closed-off distal portion is distal to the lateral opening. A resilient end wall extends downwardly from the peripheral wall at the distal extent of the lateral opening. A stylet has a distal end having a ramp. The stylet is slidably received within the lumen of the rigid cannula for movement in the lumen. The resilient end wall of the rigid cannula is configured to engage the ramp of the distal end of the stylet when the stylet is advanced through the lumen of the rigid cannula to an extended position to substantially close off the lateral opening of the rigid cannula. |
| US09848955B2 |
Resorbable pouches for implantable medical devices
Biodegradable and resorbable polymer pouches are described for use with cardiac rhythm management devices (CRMs) and other implantable medical devices (IMDs), i.e., a pouch, covering, or other receptacle capable of encasing, surrounding and/or holding the CRM or other IMD for the purpose of securing it in position, inhibiting or reducing bacterial growth, providing pain relief and/or inhibiting scarring or fibrosis on or around the CRM or other IMD. Optionally, the biodegradable and resorbable pouches of the invention include one or more drugs in the polymer matrix to provide prophylactic effects and alleviate side effects or complications associated with the surgery or implantation of the CRM or other IMD. |
| US09848954B2 |
Surgical system and related methods
A surgical system can include a surgical probe having a deflectable tip, and a plurality of guide arms that are movable so as to cause the tip to deflect. Thus, the surgical probe can be steered toward a target anatomical location. The surgical system can further include a control system that includes a free floating user interface, and a motion sensor that detects motion of the user interface. The control system is configured to cause the probe tip to deflect in response to the detected motion of the user interface. |
| US09848953B2 |
Dynamic 3D lung map view for tool navigation inside the lung
A method for implementing a dynamic three-dimensional lung map view for navigating a probe inside a patient's lungs includes loading a navigation plan into a navigation system, the navigation plan including a planned pathway shown in a 3D model generated from a plurality of CT images, inserting the probe into a patient's airways, registering a sensed location of the probe with the planned pathway, selecting a target in the navigation plan, presenting a view of the 3D model showing the planned pathway and indicating the sensed location of the probe, navigating the probe through the airways of the patient's lungs toward the target, iteratively adjusting the presented view of the 3D model showing the planned pathway based on the sensed location of the probe, and updating the presented view by removing at least a part of an object forming part of the 3D model. |
| US09848952B2 |
Liquid light guide catheter having biocompatible liquid light guide medium
A catheter system to ablate target matter within a mammalian body using light energy is described. The system may include an open-ended catheter tip through which a liquid light guide medium flows to the target matter, where at least a portion of the liquid light guide medium exiting the catheter tip creates a fluid optical channel to transmit the light energy from the catheter tip to the target matter. The system may also include a catheter lumen whose distal end includes the open-ended catheter tip, a light source to generate the light energy, and a liquid light guide medium source fluidly coupled to the catheter lumen. The liquid light guide medium source may include a reservoir of the liquid light guide medium that includes a magnesium chloride solution or a lactated Ringer's solution. |
| US09848949B2 |
Renal denervation system
A system for use in a renal denervation procedure includes a catheter having proximal and distal end portions, a sensor configured to sense a condition of one or more nerves, the sensor operatively associated with the distal end portion of the catheter, and at least one electrode disposed on the distal end portion of the catheter for delivering energy to renal tissue. A catheter includes a catheter body defining a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, and a sensor for sensing a renal sympathetic nerve, the sensor disposed on the distal end portion of the catheter body, wherein the sensor is configured to sense an electromagnetic signal from the renal sympathetic nerve. |
| US09848947B2 |
Devices and methods for prostate tissue ablation and/or resection
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a medical device may include a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly may include a sheath having a first lumen. The shaft assembly may also include a rotatable shaft extending through the first lumen. The rotatable shaft may be rotatable relative to the sheath, and may have a second lumen and a side opening. The shaft assembly may also include an electrode extending through the second lumen and the side opening, and radially outwardly from the rotatable shaft. The electrode may be movable relative to the rotatable shaft. |
| US09848939B2 |
Surgical instrument comprising electrode support
A branch of an instrument comprising a metal part, which is embodied in one piece seamlessly, which comprises the electrode support as well as the electrode plate and connection webs. Preferably, this metal part is produced in an additive production method, for example selective laser melting (SLM). The branches are suitable for instruments for open surgery as well as for laparoscopic and flexible endoscopic instruments. |
| US09848935B2 |
Surgical instruments including components and features facilitating the assembly and manufacturing thereof
A surgical instrument includes a shell having a housing and a shaft. The shell including first and second shell components configured to engage one another to form the shell, each of which is monolithically formed to include a housing portion and a shaft portion. Upon engagement of the first and second shell components with one another, the housing portions cooperate to form the housing of the shell while the shaft portions cooperate to form the shaft of the shell. An end effector assembly is operably coupled to the shaft at a distal end of the shaft. A handle assembly is operably coupled to the housing. A drive assembly disposed within the shell is operably coupled between the handle assembly and the end effector assembly such that actuation of the handle assembly manipulates the end effector assembly. |
| US09848934B2 |
Thermochemical ablation of bodily tissue
Thermochemical ablation techniques may provide ablation of bodily tissue using chemical reaction energy. |
| US09848933B2 |
Liner for cryogenic treatment systems
Methods and apparatus for the treatment of a body cavity or lumen are described where a heated fluid and/or gas may be introduced through a catheter and into treatment area within the body contained between one or more inflatable/expandable members. The catheter may also have optional pressure and temperature sensing elements which may allow for control of the pressure and temperature within the treatment zone and also prevent the pressure from exceeding a pressure of the inflatable/expandable members to thereby contain the treatment area between these inflatable/expandable members. Optionally, a chilled, room temperature, or warmed fluid such as water may then be used to rapidly terminate the treatment session. |
| US09848925B2 |
Plate/screw locking mechanism devices, systems and methods
The present disclosure relates, in some embodiments, to locking mechanisms for a fastener (e.g., a bone screw) and associated devices, systems, and methods. According to some embodiments, a lockable bone plate assembly may comprise, for example, a bone plate and a bone screw assembly. A bone plate may comprise, in some embodiments, at least one through hole, the at least one through hole having at least one bone plate hole circumferential recess. According to some embodiments, a bone screw assembly may comprise (a) a bone screw, (b) at least one deployable protrusion, and/or (c) a protrusion driver. The present disclosure further relates, in some embodiments, to methods for bone (e.g., vertebral) fixation. For example, a method may comprise contacting at least a portion of a spine (e.g., cervical spine) of a subject with a lockable bone plate assembly. |
| US09848924B2 |
Bone plate
A bone plate includes a first surface which, when the bone plate is positioned over a bone, faces the bone, and a second surface opposing the first surface, the bone plate comprising an elongate shaft portion extending along a longitudinal axis of the bone plate and including a plurality of through holes extending therethrough from the first surface to the second surface to receive a bone anchor therethrough and a head portion extending from an end of the elongate shaft portion along a length smaller than a length of the elongate shaft portion, a width of the head between lateral walls connecting edges of the first and second surface being greater than a width of the shaft distance between the lateral walls, wherein the second surface includes a cavity extending between a first one of the plurality of through holes situated closest to the head portion and the head portion. |
| US09848923B2 |
Locking system for orthopedic implants
A locking tack for attaching a bone fixation device to a bone includes (a) an elongated body including a distal portion formed of a weldable material and sized to be received within a bore through a portion of a target bone and a proximal portion which, when the distal portion is in a desired position within a target bone, extends out of the bone; (b) a channel extending longitudinally through the elongated body from a proximal end thereof to a channel distal end within the distal portion of the elongated body; and (c) an engaging feature at a distal end of the channel configured to engage an extraction mechanism so that forces applied to the extraction mechanism are transmitted to the distal end of the elongated body. |
| US09848919B2 |
Spinal construct and methods of use
A spinal construct comprising a first portion. A second portion defines a longitudinal axis and is configured to penetrate tissue. A tether is fastened with the first portion such that a spinal implant connected with the tether is movable to a plurality of orientations relative to the longitudinal axis. Systems and methods are disclosed. |
| US09848917B2 |
Medical device and method to correct deformity
A system for correcting a spinal deformity includes an implant fixed to one side of a vertebra and a rod extending along an axis of the spine on a second side of the vertebra. An adjustment member, which may include a reel, is coupled to the rod. A force directing member, such as a cable, extends between the rod and the adjustment member. The force directing member is retractable toward and extendible from the adjustment member. A method of correcting spinal deformity includes providing an implant, a rod, an adjustment member coupled to the rod, and a force directing member extending between the rod and the adjustment member. The adjustment member can be retractable toward and extendible from the adjustment member. |
| US09848916B2 |
Coupling assembly and polyaxial bone anchoring device comprising the same
A coupling assembly for coupling a rod to a bone anchoring element is provided, wherein the coupling assembly includes a receiving part having a first end, a second end, a central axis extending through the first end and second end, an accommodation space for accommodating a head of an anchoring element, a bore extending from the accommodation space to the first end, and a recess for receiving a rod. The accommodation space has an opening at the second end sized to permit insertion of a head of the bone anchoring element. The coupling assembly further includes a retainer element configured to be positioned at least partially in the accommodation space and being radially expandable and/or compressible to allow retaining a head inserted through the opening. The retainer element is held in position adjacent the opening by an engagement structure provided at or in the accommodation space. The coupling assembly further includes a locking element configured to be arranged at least partially in the accommodation space. The locking element is movable from a first position, in which the retainer element is allowed to expand and release an inserted head, to a second position, in which radial expansion of the retainer element is hindered to prevent release of an inserted head. When the locking element is in the second position, a head of an anchoring element can be locked by exertion of a pressure force directly onto the head to press the head against the retainer element. |
| US09848913B2 |
Methods for connecting a longitudinal member to a bone portion
An apparatus (10) includes a fastener (16) engageable with a bone portion to connect a longitudinal member (12) to the bone portion. A housing (40) has a first passage (42) configured to receive the longitudinal member (12) and a second passage (44) extending transverse to the first passage. The fastener (16) extends through an opening (50) in the housing (40) into the second passage (44). A longitudinal axis (18) of the fastener (16) is positionable in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to a longitudinal axis (46) of the second passage (44). A spacer (60) received in the second passage (44) of the housing (40) is engageable with the fastener (16) and the longitudinal member (12). A member (70) applies a force to prevent relative movement between the fastener (16) and the housing (40) and permit manual movement of the fastener (16) relative to the housing (40) against the force when the longitudinal member (12) is disengaged from the spacer (60). A clamping mechanism (90) clamps the longitudinal member (12), the spacer (60), and the housing (40) to the fastener (16) to prevent movement of the fastener relative to the housing. |
| US09848912B1 |
Adjustment assembly for external fixator assembly
An assembly for use in an external fixator, structured to adjustably interconnect at least one or a plurality of bone fixation rods to a pin clamp comprising a base structurally adapted for movable, adjustable interconnection between the pin clamp and the one or more rod clamps. An elongate support shaft is movable with the base and movably connected thereto and at least one or alternatively a plurality of rod clamps are mounted on the support shaft. Each of the plurality of one or more rod clamps is structurally adapted to secure a different fixation rod to the support shaft. The one or more rod clamps are movably connected and adjustably positioned on the support shaft in adjacent relation to one another. The base, the support shaft and one or more rod clamps are movably interconnected relative to one another to define a substantially universal disposition of said plurality of rod clamps relative to the pin clamp. |
| US09848910B2 |
Medical device for tissue ablation and related methods of use
A medical device for ablating tissue within a body cavity includes a sheath having a lumen extending therethrough from a proximal end to a distal end and a first channel extending within the lumen, an end-effector extending from a proximal end to a distal end and including an expandable member having a plurality of arms extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The arms are configured to transition between a collapsed state and an expanded state and a mechanism for transporting a fluid through one of the channels to the body cavity to ablate the tissue. |
| US09848908B2 |
Devices for generating skin grafts
The invention generally relates to methods for manufacturing components for use in a device for generating substantially planar micrografts. The methods of the invention provide for the manufacture of substantially uniform components for a cutter contained within the device, the cutter configured to cut a blister in order to produce a substantially planar graft. |
| US09848904B2 |
Tissue resection and treatment with shedding pulses
A fluid stream is directed toward tissue to generate a plurality of shedding clouds. The fluid stream can be scanned such that the plurality of shedding clouds arrive a different overlapping locations. Each of the plurality of shedding clouds can remove a portion of the tissue. In many embodiments, an apparatus to ablate tissue comprises a source of pressurized fluid, and a nozzle coupled to the source of pressurized fluid to release a fluid stream, in which the fluid stream generates a plurality of shedding clouds. |
| US09848901B2 |
Dual purpose surgical instrument for cutting and coagulating tissue
In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to an ultrasonic surgical instrument that has a cutting blade coupled to a motor and an ultrasonic blade coupled to an ultrasonic transducer. In some embodiments, the cutting blade includes a longitudinally extending lumen and the ultrasonic blade is disposed within the longitudinally extending lumen of the cutting blade. In other embodiments, the ultrasonic blade includes a longitudinally extending lumen and the cutting blade is disposed within the longitudinally extending lumen of the ultrasonic blade. In yet other embodiments, the ultrasonic blade is substantially parallel to the cutting blade. |
| US09848898B2 |
Navigation and tissue capture systems and methods
Navigation and tissue capture systems and methods for navigation to and/or capture of selected tissue using the innate electrical activity of the selected tissue and/or other tissue are described. In the context of left atrial appendage closure, the systems and methods can be used to navigate to the left atrial appendage and capture/control the appendage while a closure instrument (suture, clip, ring) is placed over the appendage and tightened down or a closure method (ablation, cryogenic procedures, stapling, etc.) is performed to close the left atrial appendage. The use of innate electrical activity for navigating devices may be used in connection with other tissues and/or areas of the body. |
| US09848895B1 |
3-D femur orthopedic drill guide
A three-dimensional (3-D) orthopedic drill guide device for accommodating a bone drill during an orthopedic surgery is disclosed. By establishing two specific angles in relation to the bone fascia, the device acts as a guide for bone drilling locations. In one specific instance, it is an optimal 3-D drill guide for the direction and Gamma angle (resulting from the devices Alpha and Beta angles of the device) of a drill hole in a femoral bone when used to replace an injured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). |
| US09848894B2 |
Flexible drill bit and angled drill guide for use with the same
Apparatus for drilling a hole in material, the apparatus comprising: an angled drill guide comprising a curved distal section, a less-curved proximal section, and a lumen extending therebetween, wherein the less-curved proximal section comprises a flat extending therealong for reducing the effective diameter of the less-curved proximal section so as to minimize interference between the angled drill guide and the side wall of an access cannula. |
| US09848893B2 |
Bone implants and cutting apparatuses and methods
Implant devices and cutting clamp apparatuses and methods for creating the implants for insertion into a patient's joint to restore anatomic length and assist in final positioning of the bones following removal of cartilage and/or bone in preparation for fusion. A first implant is a biplanar implant having a shape to mimic the normal anatomical shape of the bones the implant is configured to mate with. The first implant may be cut using a cutting clamp and jig having the anatomical shape of the bones the implant will be inserted within or between. A second implant is a cylindrical piece of bone having a convex end and a concave end for mating with bones reamed to have the opposite mating surfaces. The second implant is created using cup and cone reamers having dimensions corresponding to the size of the patient's bones. Surgical methods for inserting the implants within a patient. |
| US09848892B2 |
Bone anchoring element
An anchoring element includes a screw having a shank with a bone thread portion and a head. The anchoring element also includes a receiving part for connecting the screw to a rod-shaped element, the screw and the receiving part being connected to one another in a polyaxial or monoaxial manner, and the shank of the screw being of tubular design and its wall having a plurality of recesses. The bone anchoring element provides for the bone screw to fuse with the surrounding bone substance, and at the same time bone portions or vertebrae can be positioned relative to one another and fixed. Moreover, a substance to be introduced into the bone can be introduced precisely at the desired site. |
| US09848890B2 |
Devices and methods for the preparation of intervertebral discs
A power tool for removing an intervertebral disc and preparing vertebral endplates is described. The power tool may include a cutting element, and the height of the cutting element may be adjustable. The cutting element may be a braided cable and may include one or more beads to enhance the effectiveness of the cable. The cutting element may have a minimum height requirement, which may not be satisfied in patients with a collapsed disc due to degenerative disc disorder. For these patients, also described are bone tamps for increasing the intervertebral distance and providing access to tissues distal to the tamp. One type of bone tamp features an inflatable balloon with an inner lumen. Another type of bone tamp includes an expanding distal end and an inner cannula. Also described is a manual expander scraper tool that is compatible with both types of bone tamp. |
| US09848887B2 |
Integrated cutting guide and surgical saw blade assembly, the cutting guide including a moveable head that constrains the movement of the blade assembly
A surgical sagittal saw blade assembly and cutting guide for use with the blade assembly. The blade assembly includes a static bar from which a moving blade head protrudes. The blade head is reciprocated by a drive link internal to the bar. The cutting guide has a body that is positioned adjacent where the blade is to be used to cut tissue. The cutting guide has an outer surface over which the blade assembly is positioned. The cutting guide has a constraining feature. The constraining feature holds the blade bar to the body of the guide so the blade assembly can move over the body while being constrained from movement above the outer surface of the body. The constraining feature is mounted to the body of the cutting guide so as to be able to move while constraining guide retains the blade bar. |
| US09848886B2 |
Surgical clip applier
A surgical clip applier is provided and includes a ratchet mechanism having a rack member connected to a drive channel such that axial translation of the drive channel results in axial translation of the rack member, the rack member defining a first set of teeth along a first side thereof and a second set of teeth along a second side thereof. The ratchet mechanism including a first pawl and a second pawl each tiltably supported in the housing and disposed on respective opposed sides of the rack member; and a buckling spring interposed between the first pawl and the second pawl and constrained in a slot formed in the rack member, wherein the buckling spring is dimensioned so as to bow in one of a proximal direction and a distal direction. |
| US09848885B2 |
Clip systems for treating body tissues
A device for compressing body tissue includes a clip having a connection portion with first and second clip arms extending therefrom, the clip includes a recess formed on an inner surface of the connection portion, the recess being shaped and sized to slidably receive a mounting bar coupled to an outer surface of an endoscope on which the mounting bar is mounted with inner surfaces of the first and second clip arms maintained in an open position by contact between an endoscope on which the mounting bar is mounted and the inner surfaces of the first and second clip arms. The clip is slidable over the outer surface of an endoscope on which the mounting bar is mounted until the clip moves distally beyond the distal end of the endoscope so that the first and second clip arms spring closed to grip tissue therebetween. |
| US09848877B2 |
Methods and devices for adjusting a tissue gap of an end effector of a surgical device
Devices and methods are provided for adjusting a tissue gap of an end effector of a surgical device. In general, a surgical device can be configured to have an adjustable gap of space between a cartridge jaw and an anvil of the device's end effector when the end effector is in a closed position. The end effector can be configured to removably seat a cartridge therein. The cartridge can be configured to define the gap of space between the cartridge jaw and the anvil when the end effector is in the closed position. |
| US09848871B2 |
Woven and fibrous materials for reinforcing a staple line
Adjunct materials and methods of using adjunct material to reinforce a staple line are provided. In general, an adjunct material can be used to maintain a seal in tissue and can prevent stapled tissue from tearing. In some embodiments, a surgical stapler can include a jaw having an adjunct material associated with the jaw. The adjunct material can be attached to tissue via staples deployed by the stapler. In some embodiments, an adjunct material can be a woven material having a single layer or multiple layers, and each layer can have different mechanical properties. In other embodiments, an adjunct material can have a single layer or multiple layers of nonwoven material, such as suture compressed into a three dimensional structure. |
| US09848869B2 |
Prosthesis systems and methods
Systems and methods for deploying a prosthesis in a tissue region in a hollow body organ or blood vessel provide a first prosthesis and a second prosthesis, each having a prosthetic material and a scaffold that supports the prosthetic material. The first prosthesis has a proximal neck region, and the second prosthesis has an end region. The end region is sized and configured to telescopically fit with the proximal neck region to form a composite prosthesis. The systems and methods manipulate a fastener attachment assembly to implant at least one fastener to secure the composite prosthesis in the tissue region. |
| US09848866B2 |
System for implanting an implantable penile prosthetic
A system for implanting an implantable penile prosthetic includes a tube with a bore formed in the tube, a first suture attached to a proximal portion of a needle, with the needle inserted in the bore, and with system characterized by an absence of a plunger inserted into the bore. |
| US09848865B2 |
Suture thread
A suture thread is used to perform suturing without tying part of or the whole of knots that are supposed to be tied during suturing. A suture thread support body prevents an end of the suture thread from being pulled into a suturing site. A needle accommodation body has a shape of a tube having a through-hole through both ends. The suture thread has the suture thread support body and the needle accommodation body. |
| US09848861B2 |
Surgical access system and related methods
A system for accessing a surgical target site and related methods, involving an initial distraction system for creating an initial distraction corridor, and an assembly capable of distracting from the initial distraction corridor to a secondary distraction corridor and thereafter sequentially receiving a plurality of retractor blades for retracting from the secondary distraction corridor to thereby create an operative corridor to the surgical target site, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site. |
| US09848857B2 |
Wireless foot controller
The invention includes systems and methods for controlling devices including surgical instruments using a wireless footswitch. The systems of the invention include a wireless footswitch, a footswitch adapter, and an electric console for powering and controlling surgical instruments. The systems of the invention further include a wireless footswitch for controlling battery powered surgical instruments. The methods of the invention include syncing a wireless footswitch with a controlled device or a wireless footswitch adapter using a lower power wireless mode, then signaling the controlled device or wireless footswitch adapter using a higher power wireless mode. The systems and methods of the invention include using a wireless device or wireless footswitch adapter to monitor transmissions from other wireless devices to prevent syncing with the wireless footswitch adapter using the same channel or network identification as other wireless devices or wireless footswitch adapters. |
| US09848854B2 |
Device for taking at least one sample of tissue
This invention relates to a device (10) for taking at least one sample of soft tissue from an organ, said device comprising a body (11) and a needle (12) formed by a stylet (13) and a cannula (14) coaxial with said stylet, said device comprising a mechanism for arming the needle, designed for sequentially moving the cannula (14) and then the stylet (13) from a rest position wherein the stylet and the cannula are extended towards the outside of the body, to a shooting position wherein the stylet and the cannula are retracted towards the rear of the body, and a triggering mechanism designed to release the stylet then the cannula and to allow their displacement from the shooting position to the rest position, the cannula being coupled kinematically to a cannula slider (24) comprising at least one retaining element (26) for maintaining the cannula slider in a shooting position, the stylet being coupled kinematically to a stylet slider (30) comprising at least one retaining element (32) for maintaining the stylet slider in a shooting position and means for unlocking (34) the cannula slider. At least one of said retaining elements of the cannula slider (26) or stylet slider (32) comprises at least a hook (50) arranged to rest against a corresponding retaining element (27, 33) in a locking position and to release the retaining element (27, 33) in a shooting position. The retaining element is unhooked from said retaining means by a striker (51), this striker comprising elastic blades (52) which number is at least equal to the number of hooks of said retaining element, these elastic blades (52) being arranged to be in contact with said hooks. The striker (51) cooperates with a stressing ring (53) arranged around the elastic blades (52) of the striker (51), this stressing ring (53) being arranged to be movable in a first stressing position, in which said ring acts on the elastic blades (52) of the striker and forces them in order to allow a sufficient force to be applied to the hooks (50) of the retaining element, and a second free position, in which said stressing ring (53) does not apply a sufficient stress to the hooks (50) for unhooking the hooks from the retaining means. |
| US09848853B2 |
System, method and devices for tissue-based diagnosis
Disclosed are kits for at least partly liquefying tissue. The kit may include a liquefaction promoting medium (LPM). The LPM may include a non-ionic surfactant; a zwitterionic surfactant; and an abrasive material. The kit may include instructions. The instructions may direct a user to treat a tissue of a living subject by: applying the LPM together with the abrasive material to the tissue of the living subject; and transmitting energy to the tissue of the living subject through the abrasive material in the presence of the LPM effective to cause at least partial dissolution of one or more components of the tissue of the living subject. |
| US09848852B2 |
System and method for focusing ultrasound image data
Sold-state intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging devices, systems, and methods are provided. Some embodiments of the present disclosure are particularly directed to flexible and efficient systems for focusing IVUS echo data received from transducers including polymer piezoelectric micro-machined ultrasound transducers (PMUTs). In one embodiment, an ultrasound processing system includes first and second aperture engines coupled to an engine controller, which provides aperture assignments to the first and second aperture engines. The aperture engines receive the assignment and a portion of A-line data, perform one or more focusing process on the received A-line data, and produce focused data in accordance with the aperture assignment. In some embodiments, once an aperture engine has produced focused data, the engine controller clears the aperture engine and assigns another aperture. |
| US09848849B2 |
System and method for touch screen control of an ultrasound system
An ultrasound system includes a display device and a processor module. The display device is configured to display an ultrasound image. At least a portion of the display device includes a touch sensitive portion that is responsive to a touch in each of a plurality of user selectable elements presented on the display device. The processor module is configured to adjust at least one of the ultrasound image and an imaging setting based on the touch in at least one of the user selectable elements of the display device. The ultrasound image and the user selectable elements are concurrently displayed on the display device. |
| US09848847B2 |
Using detectability index to determine X-ray tube current
A computed tomography (CT) image apparatus includes an X-ray source to emit X-rays; and processing circuitry configured to receive a desired detectability index set by a user, the desired detectability index determining for a desired image quality of a CT scan of an object; determine an X-ray tube current that will result in the desired detectability index set by the user; and cause the X-ray source to perform a scan of the object using the determined tube current. |
| US09848845B2 |
Radiation image detecting device
A sensor panel of an electronic cassette includes detection pixels each for outputting a dose signal corresponding to a dose of X-rays, an irradiation start judging section for judging whether or not X-ray irradiation has been started based on the dose signal, and an AEC section for judging whether or not an accumulated dose of X-rays has reached a target dose based on the dose signal. A gain setting section sets a gain of an integration amplifier in the case of using the irradiation start judging section lower than that in the case of using the AEC section. |
| US09848842B2 |
Latching mechanism for X-ray tube assembly and X-ray imaging system
The present invention provides a latching mechanism for an x-ray tube assembly comprising a rotary plate, a first spring-loaded latch and a second spring-loaded latch which are disposed diametrically. The rotary plate comprises a first receiving portion and a second receiving portion spaced from each other by 90°. The first spring-loaded latch configured to be pressed removably into the first receiving portion to lock the x-ray tube assembly in a first position and the second spring-loaded latch is configured to be pressed removably into the second receiving portion to lock the x-ray tube assembly in a second position. According to the present invention, it is possible tomake manufacturing tolerance control and assembly of the x-ray imaging system much simpler and easier. |
| US09848839B2 |
Radiographic device
An diagnostic X-ray radiography device and system whereby a subject (M) can be placed on and taken off of an imaging bed safely, easily, and comfortably. In the device and system a placement-accommodating-state memory (21) stores a plurality of placement-accommodating states each consisting of an imaging bed (1) position and orientation and an X-ray tube (4) position that accommodate a given placement state of the subject (M). A placement-accommodating-state control unit (22) is provided that, if a desired placement-accommodating state is specified from among the plurality of placement-accommodating states by means of a control panel (11), makes the position of the imaging bed (1) and the position of the X-ray tube (4) conform to the specified placement-accommodating state. A placement-accommodating state is thus set automatically, so that the subject (M) can be placed and removed from the imaging bed (1) easily without a collimator (4a) attached to the X-ray tube (4) getting in the way. |
| US09848835B2 |
Variable-speed computed tomography scanning
In one embodiment of the invention, a method for obtaining a tomogram of an anatomical structure is disclosed. In one step, an anatomical structure is scanned using a scanning source and a scanning detector. Both the scanning source and detector are connected to a gantry. In another step, the speed of the gantry is altered during the scanning process. Additionally or optionally the frame rate of the scan can be modified in such step. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the speed of the gantry is altered in synchronicity with the respiratory signal of a patient. Using such a method, a tomogram of an anatomical structure is obtained. |
| US09848833B2 |
Detection and display of irregular periodic wave forms
A method for display, consisting of acquiring an electrical signal from a heart of a subject over multiple heart cycles. The electrical signal is partitioned into a succession of synchronized segments having respective start times at a selected annotation point in the heart cycles. The method includes overlaying respective graphical representations of the synchronized segments in the succession on a display screen, such that each segment is first presented on the display screen with an initial display intensity at a respective display time corresponding to a respective start time of the segment. The method further includes gradually decreasing a display intensity of each segment overlaid on the display screen as a decaying function of a time elapsed since the respective display time. |
| US09848828B2 |
System and method for identifying fatigue sources
A system for identifying fatigue sources includes a processor and at least one computer program residing on the processor. The computer program is stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable code embodied thereon. The computer executable code is configured to detect a fatigue level. The computer executable code is further configured to receive fatigue contribution data. In addition, the computer executable code is configured to identify a fatigue source based on the fatigue level and the fatigue contribution data. |
| US09848823B2 |
Context-aware heart rate estimation
A device can estimate the heart rate of an active user by using a physiological model to refine a “direct” measurement of the user's heart rate obtained using a pulse sensor. The physiological model can be based on heart rate response to activity and can be informed by context information, such as the user's current activity and/or intensity level as well as user-specific parameters such as age, gender, general fitness level, previous heart rate measurements, etc. The physiological model can be used to predict a heart rate, and the prediction can be used to assess or improve the direct measurement. |
| US09848819B2 |
Airflow and airway factors
A method for characterizing sleep disordered breathing may include identification of at least one of a plurality of predefined airway structural sources associated with a sleep disordered breathing event based on airflow data. In one example, an identification of at least one of a plurality of predefined airway structural sources associated with a sleep disordered breathing event is made based on data indicative of a ratio of a difference between a peak inspiratory airflow rate and a mid-inspiratory airflow rate to the peak inspiratory airflow rate captured during occurrence of the sleep disordered breathing event. |
| US09848816B1 |
System and method for cortical entrainment
Cortical entrainment device (CED) and associated methods are provided. The CED device includes an electroencephalographic (EEG) analysis module configured to receive and process an EEG waveform for analyzing brain activity of a patient with epilepsy or a seizure disorder; an interictal epileptiform discharge (IED) analysis module configured to receive and process an IED waveform for analyzing the brain activity of the patient; and a diagnostic module that is configured to interface with the EEG analysis module and the IED analysis module, to evaluate spectral and temporal waveform characteristics, and to provide instructions to a therapy module for providing a stimulus for the patient based on the analysis by the EEG analysis module and the IED analysis module. |
| US09848815B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring biologic parameters
Support structures for positioning sensors on a physiologic tunnel for measuring physical, chemical and biological parameters of the body and to produce an action according to the measured value of the parameters. The support structure includes a sensor fitted on the support structures using a special geometry for acquiring continuous and undisturbed data on the physiology of the body. Signals are transmitted to a remote station by wireless transmission such as by electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared, sound and the like or by being reported locally by audio or visual transmission. The physical and chemical parameters include brain function, metabolic function, hydrodynamic function, hydration status, levels of chemical compounds in the blood, and the like. The support structure includes patches, clips, eyeglasses, head mounted gear and the like, containing passive or active sensors positioned at the end of the tunnel with sensing systems positioned on and accessing a physiologic tunnel. |
| US09848814B2 |
Vehicle seat with integrated sensors
An occupant support system includes a vehicle seat and an electronics system for the vehicle seat. The electronics system includes a sensor system configured to obtain sensor data and a computer coupled to the sensor system to process the sensor data and perform a predetermined action using the sensor data. |
| US09848812B1 |
Detection of mental state and reduction of artifacts using functional near infrared spectroscopy (FNIRS)
fNIRS may be used in real time or near-real time to detect the mental state of individuals. Phase measurement can be applied to drive an adaptive filter for the removal of motion artifacts in real time or near-real time. In this manner, the application of fNIRS may be extended to practical non-laboratory environments. For example, the mental state of an operator of a vehicle may be monitored, and alerts may be issued and/or an autopilot may be engaged when the mental state of the operator indicates that the operator is inattentive. |
| US09848810B2 |
Blood collection safety devices and methods of use and manufacture
An automatically locking safety device, e.g., for use in a blood collection procedure, can include a housing, first and second needle covers that are at least partly received in the housing, and a needle that is at least partly received in at least one of the first and second needle covers. The needle can include a proximal tip configured for placement into a patient and a distal tip configured for placement into a blood collection vial. In some embodiments, the first and second needle covers are biased by a biasing member. In some cases, one or both of the first and second needle covers can be locked to prevent axial movement thereof after the blood collection procedure. In certain embodiments, a distal end of the device is configured to connect with a medical connector, such as a needleless IV access device. |
| US09848805B2 |
Biostable glucose permeable polymer
A new biostable glucose permeable polymer has been developed which is useful, for example, in implantable glucose sensors. This biostable glucose permeable polymer has a number of advantageous characteristics and, for example, does not undergo hydrolytic cleavage and degradation, thereby providing a composition that facilitates long term sensor stability in vivo. The versatile characteristics of this polymer allow it to be used in a variety of contexts, for example to form the body of an implantable glucose sensor. The invention includes the polymer composition, sensor systems formed from this polymer composition, and methods for making and using such sensor systems. |
| US09848804B2 |
Sensor insertion device and sensor insertion method
A sensor insertion device for inserting a detection element of a sensor configured to measure biological information of a subject into the body of the subject includes a device body; a data process unit attached to the device body, a movement mechanism detachably attached to the device body, the movement mechanism being configured to move the detection element together with an insertion needle configured to be stuck into the body of the subject to insert the detection element and the insertion needle into the body of the subject; and a displacement preventing member. |
| US09848800B1 |
Respiratory pause detector
Respiratory rate can be calculated from an acoustic input signal using time domain and frequency domain techniques. Confidence in the calculated respiratory rate can also be calculated using time domain and frequency domain techniques. Overall respiratory rate and confidence values can be obtained from the time and frequency domain calculations. The overall respiratory rate and confidence values can be output for presentation to a clinician. |
| US09848798B2 |
Positioning apparatus
A positioning apparatus configured to actively assist the support, positioning, or support and positioning of a patient on a patient support apparatus is provided. The positioning apparatus includes a sliding bearing unit to allow the positioning apparatus to be supported in a movable manner on the patient support apparatus, and a bearing unit with at least two bearing regions. At least a first of the at least two bearing regions is configured to support and/or provide support on the patient support apparatus, and at least a second of the at least two bearing regions is configured to assist the positioning of the patient. |
| US09848795B2 |
Electrode assembly
An expandable electrode assembly for use in a cardiac mapping procedure includes multiple bipolar electrode pairs including a first electrode located on an outer surface and a second electrode located on an inner surface of the individual splines forming the expandable electrode assembly. Such an electrode arrangement may produce improved electrical activation signals which may be used to produce a more accurate map of the electrical activity of a patient's heart. |
| US09848788B2 |
Floormat physiological sensor
A stand-on physiological sensor (e.g. floormat) measures vital signs and various hemodynamic parameters, including blood pressure and ECG waveforms. The sensor is similar in configuration to a common bathroom scale and includes electrodes that take electrical measurements from a patient's feet to generate bioimpedance waveforms, which are analyzed digitally to extract various other parameters, as well as a cuff-type blood pressure system that takes physical blood pressure measurements at one of the patient's feet. Blood pressure can also be calculated/derived from the bioimpedance waveforms. Measured parameters are transmitted wirelessly to facilitate remote monitoring of the patient for heart failure, chronic heart failure, end-stage renal disease, cardiac arrhythmias, and other degenerative diseases. |
| US09848787B2 |
Perfusion assessment using transmission laser speckle imaging
Methods and apparatus for measuring perfusion using transmission laser speckle imaging are provided. The apparatus comprises a coherent light source and a detector configured to measure transmitted light associated with an unfocused image at one or more locations. The coherent light source and detector are positioned in a transmission geometry. The apparatus further comprises means for securing the coherent light source and the detector to the tissue sample in a fixed transmission geometry relative to the tissue sample. The apparatus may further comprise at least one processor to receive information from the detector and process detected variations in transmitted light intensity to determine a single metric of perfusion. The method may comprise the steps transilluminating a tissue sample with coherent light, recording spatial and/or temporal variations in the transmitted light signal, determining speckle contrast value(s), and computing a metric of perfusion. |
| US09848780B1 |
Assessing cardiovascular function using an optical sensor
This document describes assessing cardiovascular function using an optical sensor, such as through sensing relevant hemodynamics understood by pulse transit times, blood pressures, pulse-wave velocities, and, in more breadth, ballistocardiograms and pressure-volume loops. The techniques disclosed in this document use various optical sensors to sense hemodynamics, such as skin color and skin and other organ displacement. These optical sensors require little if any risk to the patient and are simple and easy for the patient to use. |
| US09848778B2 |
Method and device to monitor patients with kidney disease
A medical monitoring device for monitoring electrical signals from the body of a subject is described. The medical monitoring device monitors electrical signals originating from a cardiac cycle of the subject and associates each cardiac cycle with a time index. The medical monitoring device applies a forward computational procedure to generate a risk score indicative of hyperkalemia, hypokalemia or arrhythmia of the subject. The medical monitoring device can adjust the forward computational procedure based upon clinical data obtained from the subject. |
| US09848777B2 |
Devices, systems, and methods for epicardial cardiac monitoring
Devices, systems, and methods for remotely monitoring physiologic cardiovascular data are disclosed. At least some of the embodiments disclosed herein provide access to the external surface of the heart through the pericardial space for the delivery of the sensor to the epicardial surface of the heart. In addition, various disclosed embodiments provide for a memory device capable of receiving the physiologic cardiovascular data collected by the sensors and transmitting such data wirelessly to a remote location. |
| US09848773B2 |
Disposable cap for an eye imaging apparatus and related methods
Disclosed herein is a disposable cap for an eye imaging apparatus with an optical window and related methods. The disposable cap can comprise an optically transparent window cover, a ridge, a side wall and a locking element. The window cover can comprise a convex back surface to match a concave shape of the optical window. The ridge of the disposable cap can extend distally and radially outward from the window cover and the side wall can extend proximally and radially outwardly from the ridge. The locking element can comprise one or more radially inward projections and one or more radially outward releasing tabs. A disposable packaging shell of the disposable cap also disclosed. Disclosed herein is also a plug-in disposable system comprising the disposable cap and the disposable packaging shell, configured to enable the disposable cap to be attached to and detached from the eye imaging apparatus. |
| US09848770B2 |
Microscope-integrated OCT system with an electrically tunable focus
A surgical imaging system is provided. The surgical imaging system includes a surgical microscope and a telecentric optical coherence tomography scanning unit configured to scan a sample through at least one optical component associated with the surgical microscope. |
| US09848769B2 |
Ophthalmic diagnosis support apparatus and ophthalmic diagnosis support method
Provided is an ophthalmic diagnosis support apparatus which enables an operator to easily acquire a tomographic image suitable for detailed observation of a candidate lesion without spending time and effort to search for the candidate lesion. The ophthalmic diagnosis support apparatus includes an acquiring unit for acquiring a wide-range image of a fundus, a candidate lesion detection unit for detecting the candidate lesion on the fundus by analyzing the wide-range image, a calculating unit for determining a degree of abnormality of the candidate lesion based on a result of the detection of the candidate lesion, and an acquiring position setting unit for setting an acquiring position of the tomographic image of the fundus based on the degree of abnormality of the candidate lesion. |
| US09848763B2 |
Access systems and methods of intra-abdominal surgery
An access system includes a proximal handle, an overtube coupled to the handle, and an endoscope port extending through handle and overtube sized for receiving an endoscope therethrough. The overtube includes anatomic wall securing system that secures a distal portion of the overtube within a hole in the anatomic wall. The overtube is provided with a shaped distal portion or a controllably shapeable distal portion that aids in directing an endoscope inserted through the port to a particular location within the peritoneal cavity. The access system includes a system for insufflating/deflating the peritoneal space separately from the body cavity accessible via a natural orifice. The access system includes a closure system to cinch closed the hole made in the anatomical wall after the access system has been removed from the hole. Methods are provided for inserting the access system through the anatomical wall to perform intra-abdominal surgery. |
| US09848762B2 |
Heater for surgical viewing instruments
A system and associated method is used for warming an endoscope, laparoscope, or other such instrument to minimize fogging. A flexible pad has a length, a width and a periphery for wrapping around the instrument and a plurality of separate chambers defined through partitions. Each of the separate chambers includes an activation disc and a mixture of water and sodium acetate to generate heat through an exothermic reaction initiated through manual manipulation of the disc for that chamber. The pad is preferably made from two plastic sheets of substantially equal size, with the chambers being formed by heat-sealing or otherwise bonding the periphery of the sheets and the partitions. At least some of the partitions establish lengthwise and/or widthwise fold lines in the pad. At least one of the partitions may include a gap to facilitate fluid transfer of the mixture. The disc is preferably made of perforated stainless steel. A housing may be provided to contain the pad in sleeve form, and an optional heat-conductive tube may be used to receive the instrument around which the pad is wrapped. |
| US09848761B2 |
Method and apparatus for fiberscope employing single fiber bundle for co-propagation of image and illumination
An exemplary embodiment providing one or more improvements includes an endoscope which utilizes a single coherent fiber bundle for simultaneously carrying imaging and illumination light. |
| US09848760B2 |
Devices for continual monitoring and introduction of gastrointestinal microbes
Systems and methods described herein include those for the continual modification of intestinal microbes. Described herein are systems including sampling devices, analysis devices, computational devices and user interface devices as well as methods for the use of such devices in combination. |
| US09848758B2 |
Stereoscopic endoscope system
A stereoscopic endoscope system includes a stereoscopic endoscope and an identification information combining section. The stereoscopic endoscope is provided with an R image pickup section and an R output section which are provided on a right side of an endoscope body, an L image pickup section and an L output section which are provided on a left side of the endoscope body, and an R memory and an L memory which store correction information for either right or left and identification information. The right and left image pickup sections and the right and left memories are correctly or incorrectly combined and are connected to the right and left output sections. The identification information combining section performs image combination of an image and identification information inputted from the R output section or an image and identification information inputted from the L output section and outputs a combined image. |
| US09848752B2 |
Basin for use with commercial dish and glassware racks
A basin which stackably interlocks with 20-inch square racks that hold dish and glassware washed in commercial dishwashers. The basin has substantially the exterior configuration of a commercial dishwasher rack and receives a plurality of dishwasher racks stacked above. The basin solid on its base and sides for prohibiting substances which drip down into it from racks stacked above from dripping onto the floor. The basin has circular indentations in the top surface of the base, trapping water and preventing it from sloshing from side to side of the basin when it is carried or moved. The basin may be loaded into a dolly used to transport commercial dishwasher racks, as the dollies typically have an open bottom. Thus, the basin can provide the water-catching function for racks loaded onto a dolly. Grooves in the basin's bottom surface permit stacking on top of a rack or other basins for storage. |
| US09848750B1 |
Manually-operated floor sweeper
The manually operated floor sweeper is a manually powered cleaning unit that replaces the standard push broom. Designed for indoor and outdoor use, the manually operated floor sweeper provides a plurality of brushes that move dirt and trash to a hopper, which transports the dirt and trash to a receptacle. The manually operated floor sweeper comprises a plurality of brushes, a hopper system, a drive system, a gearing system and a body. |
| US09848749B1 |
Cleaning device and lamp
A cleaning device is provided with at least removable lamp console. When the lamp console is attached, the device can be used as a floor or desk lamp to illuminate a room and/or a table-top. The lamp console is removable to enable the device and/or lamp console to be used as a cleaner to clean a floor or other cleaning surface. Each lamp console is provided with a coupling mechanism that enables selective and electro-mechanical communication with a coupling mechanism of a cleaning device. This coupling enables interchangeability of various lamp consoles. Embodiments provide for a lamp console that acts as a handle-extension. Further embodiments provide for a second illumination display disposed on a portion of the cleaning device. |
| US09848740B2 |
Shower storage systems
A storage system for a shower enclosure includes a first wall member, a second wall member, and a storage accessory. The first wall member includes a corner defining a recessed portion. The first wall member further includes a corner notch disposed along the corner within the recessed portion, and a first side notch disposed along an inner side surface of the first wall member adjacent the recessed portion. The second wall member is coupled to the first wall member at an end of the corner adjacent the recessed portion and is oriented perpendicular to the first wall member. The second wall member includes a second side notch disposed along an inner side surface of the second wall member. The storage accessory is removably coupled between the first wall member and the second wall member at the corner notch, the first side notch, and the second side notch. |
| US09848735B2 |
High efficiency commercial fryer
A fryer unit combination includes a frying fluid vat and an associated heat exchange system whereby increased or greater efficiencies and/or heat transfers can be obtained and realized. The heat exchange system includes a first heat exchanger arrangement at least in part disposed within the frying fluid vat and a second heat exchanger arrangement disposed externally to the frying fluid vat. In the first heat exchanger arrangement, a heat exchange tube is in heat flow communication with a combustion chamber wherein an associated gaseous fuel burner is at least in part housed. The second heat exchanger arrangement includes at least a first side heat exchanger disposed externally adjacent the first side of the frying fluid vat. The side heat exchanger(s) may permit intake of an oxygen-containing gas such to preheat the oxygen-containing gas prior to entrance into the combustion chamber. |
| US09848734B2 |
Eco-friendly cooking lid
Disclosed is an eco-friendly cooking including a lid main body including a hollow body formed of heat-resistant transparent glass, openings formed on the side surface of the body, and hinge coupling units provided adjacent to the openings, inlets, each including a cover provided with one end coupled with the hinge coupling unit by a hinge to open and close the opening and including at least one air vent, and a grasping terminal formed on the upper surface of the cover, a sealing weight provided on the lower surface of the cover, a handle provided at the upper end of the lid main body and including a grasping part and a through hole formed at the grasping part, and an exhaust pipe including an exhaust pipe main body provided with a lower end inserted into the through hole and a tubular connection member combined with the exhaust pipe main body. |
| US09848728B2 |
Machine for preparing hot beverages
A machine for preparing hot beverages includes: a casing housing a water pump, heating means of the water, and an electronic control card able to command actuation of the pump and the water heating means; a body, connected to the casing, able to house a capsule containing a preparation for the beverage; in which the control card is connected to at least an inclination sensor able to measure an inclination of the casing of the machine with respect to a vertical, and is able to: receive from the inclination sensor a signal representing a measured inclination value of the casing; comparing the measured value with a predetermined value; actuating the pump when the measured value is greater than the predetermined value; stopping the pump when the measured value is smaller than or equal to the predetermined value. |
| US09848726B2 |
Vegetable peeler
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for peeling and cutting vegetables and other foods is provided. A plurality of blades form an aperture within a frame. This aperture expands as the vegetable passes through it. This method of food surface removal expedites the process by removing all sides of the vegetable surface at the same time, providing heightened safety features for users, allowing users to easily clean the apparatus, and allowing users to easily remove and replace broken blades or change blade types for a variety of culinary purposes. |
| US09848724B1 |
Unique and functional mailbox support
A mailbox with silhouette support is disclosed. The silhouette has a flat front and back side which is staked into the ground at two-spaced apart places. The spaced apart places are, in some embodiments, further split by a portal there-between forming a “leg” on either side of the silhouette. The legs connect at a body region, in some embodiments, with a head region there-above. The head region supports and is directly connected to a mailbox which is situated above the silhouette, at least in part. |
| US09848720B2 |
Beverage sip regulating apparatus and related methods
The subject matter of the present application discloses a beverage sip regulating apparatus connectable to a beverage container, the beverage sip regulating apparatus, comprising: an entrance port through which beverage enters the beverage sip regulating apparatus; a beverage compartment for receiving a sip amount of beverage from the beverage container; a spout through which the beverage flows out of the beverage sip regulating apparatus; and, a regulation system for regulating one or more predetermined characteristics of the beverage stored in the beverage compartment. |
| US09848719B2 |
Disposable fluted paperboard plates and method of making same
A paperboard plate such as a paper plate includes a generally planar bottom portion, an upwardly and outwardly extending fluted sidewall, wherein the sidewall comprises a plurality of sidewall flutes substantially around the outer perimeter of the plate to define a fluted perimeter. The flutes are suitably present at fewer than 3.5 flutes per inch; the plate has a radial profile with a single transition; and the diameter/flute length ratio is greater than 6. The plates are formed in a punch-through die cutting and forming tool from a plurality of paperboard web layers at increased productivities as compared with conventional heated press-forming. |
| US09848714B2 |
Play yard with removable enclosure
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a play yard configured for providing an enclosed space for a child. According to various embodiments, the play yard comprises a rigid support frame and removable, washable liner. The frame includes one or more channels configured to receive engagement members positioned on the liner in order to form a bounded play yard space. By permitting the liner to be secured to the frame via the retention members, a user is able to easily secure the liner to the frame for use and remove the liner from the frame for washing. |
| US09848713B2 |
Convertible infant carrier
An infant carrier having a main panel support member, dual padded shoulder strap members, a waist belt, a removable infant insert and a padded head support convertible between a front, hip and back infant carrier. |
| US09848711B2 |
Mattress assembly
A mattress assembly includes a first layer of viscoelastic foam defining an upper surface, and a second layer of non-viscoelasiic foam supporting the first layer. The mattress assembly also includes a plurality of static spring elements positioned beneath the upper surface for enhancing a firmness of the combined first and second layers. |
| US09848709B2 |
Multi layered modular support system for lounge and other applications
A lounge having a matrix mat and a plurality of modules capable of being inserted into the matrix mat. The lounge may include a frame configured as a rigid frame, a modular frame, and combinations thereof. The modular frame may further include a tri-cable suspension. The tri-cable suspension may be attached to a dilator retractor mechanism. The modules may be a mushroom cap module, a spider spring module, a web module, a lighting module, an electronics module, and combinations thereof. |
| US09848704B1 |
Lift chair and recliner
A lift and recliner chair which is positionable in multiple reclining positions including both a Trendelenburg and zero-gravity position, in which using an actuator mechanism the position of the back frame can be adjusted in any lift and/or reclining position the chair is capable of achieving without requiring any movement or adjustment to the position of the seat frame or footrest. The actuator mechanism is secured between the back frame and the seat frame or another component of the lift/recline assembly that follows or moves with the seat frame as the chair is moved between a lift and reclining position, while in one embodiment the angle of the footrest is independently adjustable using a separate actuator mechanism. |
| US09848701B1 |
Inner rail release device for a slide
An inner rail release device for a slide includes a holder, a pulling rod, a first shifting block, a second shifting block, a first elastic member, a second elastic member and a driving member. The holder, the pulling rod, the first shifting block, the second shifting block, the first elastic member and the second elastic member are installed on a surface of an inner rail, and the driving member is installed on a middle rail, and the driving member is disposed opposite to the first shifting block and the second shifting block. The invention improves the convenience of operation significantly. |
| US09848700B2 |
Slidable kitchen organizer apparatus and method of use
A slidable kitchen organizer apparatus comprised of a combination of “V” shaped wire baskets and “L” shaped wire baskets. Each basket includes an extruded aluminum slatwall and is individually mounted on sliding assemblies within separate portions of a cabinet carcass. Each slide assembly is capable of independently sliding from a stored position within the cabinet to a deployed position outside of the cabinet. Removable, adjustable, and interchangeable hooks and shelves can be attached to the slatwalls. |
| US09848699B2 |
Table
A table may be sized and configured to nest with one or more adjacent tables to reduce a height of the table in a nested configuration. The table may include a table top constructed from molded plastic and the table top may include a receiving portion sized and configured to receive an engaging portion of a frame of an adjacent table in the nested configuration. The table may also include a metal frame connected to the table top and the frame may include an engaging portion sized and configured to be disposed in a receiving portion of an adjacent table in the nested configuration. If desired, an outer surface of the engaging portion may be visible and exposed in the recess in the lip. |
| US09848697B2 |
Modular aviation equipment rack
One modular aviation equipment rack has vertical and horizontal tubing members fixed together via a plurality of identical corner pieces to form a rectangular frame. Two opposing faces of each vertical tubing member have holes drilled therein in a repeating pattern, and two opposing faces of each horizontal tubing member have holes drilled therein in a repeating pattern. Each corner piece has a vertical flange received by a vertical tubing member, and a lateral flange received by a horizontal tubing member. Each vertical flange has apertures corresponding to the vertical tubing member holes, and each lateral flange has apertures corresponding to the horizontal tubing member holes. Two of the vertical tubing members are coplanar, and a backer strip is secured to a back face of one of the coplanar members. The backer strip is configured to provide electrical ground for the rack. |
| US09848696B2 |
Electric table stand, coupling thereof, and electric table with electric table stand
An electric table stand, a coupling thereof, and an electric table with the electric table stand; the electric table stand includes a holder, two support legs, and a transmission apparatus. The two support legs are detachably connected to two ends of the holder and parallel to each other. Each of the support legs includes a screw rod and a first transmission shaft driving the screw rod to rotate. The transmission apparatus is assembled in the holder, and includes a motor, a second transmission shaft driven by the motor and at least one coupling. The coupling includes a first joint connected to the first transmission shaft, a second joint connected to the second transmission shaft, and a flexible body flexibly pushing the second joint to be correspondingly connected to the first joint. |
| US09848691B1 |
Container holder
A container holder may include a receptacle portion with at least one receptacle defining a space for receiving a lower portion of a container, and a mounting portion extending from the receptacle portion and configured to mount on a structural member positioned in at least two orientations. The at least two orientations may include a first orientation in which a relatively narrow edge of the board is oriented upwardly and a second orientation in which a relatively broad edge of the board is oriented upwardly. |
| US09848681B1 |
Travel luggage with push and pull functions
A travel luggage includes a luggage body including a bottom panel and a back panel connected at right angles and first handle grooves and second handle grooves respectively located on the bottom panel and the back panel and respectively connected in lines, and a direction-changeable retractable handle assembly including a retractable handle and two pivots pivotally connecting the retractable handle to the luggage body so that the retractable handle can be selectively set in a first operation mode position where the retractable handle is positioned in the first handle grooves, or a second operation mode position where the retractable handle is positioned in the second handle grooves. |
| US09848676B2 |
Buckle connector
A buckle connector for releasably connecting a first object to a second object is provided. The buckle connector may include a first clip member and a connector for connecting it to a first object, and a second clip member and a connector for connecting it to a second object. Legs defining opposed grooves are provided on the first clip member and the second clip member is receivable in the grooves. A stop surface is provided on the second clip member and is engageable with a stop surface on the first clip member to prevent relative movement between the first and second clip members, in a first direction. A strap may be connected to the second clip member so that the strap may be positioned in the grooves in the first and second legs on the first clip member before the second clip member is positioned in the grooves. |
| US09848671B2 |
Item of footwear
In an item of footwear having a sole and an upper, the sole includes at least one upper layer, which is directed towards the upper, and at least one lower layer, which is directed away from the upper. The upper layer and the lower layer are made of materials having different levels of elasticity, density or hardness. The side of the sole which is directed towards the upper forms a bearing surface for the foot, with a heel zone and a ball-of-the-foot zone. The lower layer passes through the upper layer at least in part such that a bearing surface is formed by regions of the lower layer and of the upper layer. This construction makes it possible to combine the different materials' properties in the region of the bearing surface. |
| US09848666B1 |
Retrofit sensor module for a protective head top
The present disclosure includes a retrofit sensor module for use with a protective head top with a helmet and a visor. The sensor module includes a sensor housing and an attachment mechanism. The sensor housing encloses a head presence sensor to sense when the protective head top is being worn. The sensor housing also encloses a position sensor to sense the position of the visor relative to the helmet. The retrofit sensor module further comprises an attachment mechanism secured to the housing. The attachment mechanism mates with a first hinge component of a hinge assembly in the protective head top to removably install the sensor module into the protective head top, wherein the hinge assembly allows the visor to move relative to the helmet. |
| US09848665B2 |
Ballistic and impact protective system for military helmet assembly
A helmet attachment system is usable to attach a mandible or face or mouth guard. The helmet attachment system also comprises a pair of attachment bases, each arranged on a side of the helmet near to an ear covering of the helmet. The attachment bases each include a metal base plate covered by an attached body block. Each attachment base provides provisions for attaching opposite ends of a mandible to the bases. The metal base plate includes hooks for engaging an edge of the helmet. A pair of strap assemblies is provided, each strap assembly connected to one attachment base. The strap assemblies extend rearward and are connected to the back rail by a buckle member on the end of each strap assembly. The back rail includes a pair of buckle member-receiving slots. The straps assemblies and the hooks provided on the attachment bases secure the attachment bases to the helmet. |
| US09848662B2 |
System for attaching artificial eyelashes on a tape strip
Described is a system and method for attaching the artificial eyelashes to a tape strip. The system includes an elongated tape strip having at least one surface with an adhesive and having opposing edges that run along a length of the elongated tape strip. A plurality of artificial eyelashes having lash ends are attached with the at least one surface along the length of the elongated tape strip. Further, each of the plurality of artificial eyelashes have physical characteristics such that at least two of the plurality of artificial eyelashes have physical characteristics that are different than one another. |
| US09848659B2 |
Load-bearing jacket
A load-bearing jacket. More specifically, a jacket comprising an outer layer made of heavy-duty cloth material, removable jacket sleeves, a vest shell, a removable vest liner, an integrated connector system, and an integrated tool belt system. The integrated tool belt system, in some embodiments, includes at least one belt strap permanently affixed to the jacket on one end and having a locking system on the other end. |
| US09848654B2 |
Electronic cigarette with oval shaped cross section and manufacturing process thereof
The invention discloses an oval-shaped electronic cigarette and manufacturing process thereof. Inner housing of vaporization assembly is arranged inside outer housing of vaporization assembly and sleeved on vaporization assembly which comprises e-cigarette liquid cup and vaporizer having an outer wall in close fit with inner wall of the inner housing of vaporization assembly. A space is formed between outer wall of the e-cigarette liquid cup and inner wall of the inner housing of vaporization assembly to serve as a vapor flow channel. The inner housing of vaporization assembly is arranged at one end with vapor flow outlet, the outer edge of which is hermetically connected with and pressed against bell-mouth structure formed on the mouthpiece. |