Patent Applications published on Apr 26, 2007

Explore the 5,545 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 17th week of 2007, including 3,293 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.

Featured patent applications from Apr 26, 2007

Published: 2007-04-26 Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA.
US20070090365A1
Electricity
Application 20070090365, fig. 01

Field-effect transistor including transparent oxide and light-shielding member, and display utilizing the transistor

A field-effect transistor includes a substrate, a source electrode, a drain electrode, a gate electrode, a gate-insulating film, and an active layer. The active layer contains an oxide having a transmittance of 70% or more in the wavelength range of 400 to 800 nm. A light-shielding member is provided as a light-shielding structure for the active layer, for example, on the bottom face of the substrate.

Published: 2007-04-26 Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc..
US20070093869A1
Human necessities
Application 20070093869, fig. 01

Device, system, and method for contracting tissue in a mammalian body

A device, a system and a method for contracting tissue in a mammalian body. The contracting device comprises a body and a plurality of legs radially splayed there from. Each leg includes a snap-acting spring tip. When a force is applied to the device, the tips operate to transform the device from a deployment state into a treatment state. Each leg may also be bent at one or more deformation elements in response to the application of force. The system comprises a contracting device slidably received within a delivery catheter. The method of contracting tissue in a mammalian body comprises delivering a contracting device in a lumen of a catheter proximate a treatment area, releasing the contracting device from the catheter, positioning legs of the contracting device on tissue to be contracted, exerting a force on the contracting device, transforming the device into a treatment state, and reducing a compass of the tissue in response to the attainment of the treatment state.

Published: 2007-04-26 Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP.
US20070093856A1
Human necessities
Application 20070093856, fig. 01

Endoscopic surgical clip applier

An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue includes an actuator at least partially disposed within a body and longitudinally movable in response to actuation of a handle portion. The apparatus includes a jaw closure member positioned adjacent the first and second jaw portions to move the jaw portions to the approximated position and a rack having ratchet teeth connected to the actuator. The apparatus includes a pawl engaging a series of ratchet teeth and capable of preventing an inadvertent return of the actuator before full actuation of the apparatus. A clip pusher incrementally moves distally each time a clip is released from the apparatus. When the clip pusher reaches a predetermined distal point in a clip carrying channel, a feed bar is deflected to a second position to prevent retraction but not advancement of the actuator and thereby manipulates the pawl to engage the ratchet teeth.

Published: 2007-04-26
US20070090788A1
Electricity
Application 20070090788, fig. 01

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECHARGING A BATTERY EXPOSED TO A HARSH ENVIRONMENT

A rechargable battery with an internal microcontroller. The microcontroller contains a memory in which data regarding the environment to which the battery is exposed are stored. These data are read by a processor integral with the charger used to charge the battery. If these data indicates the battery may have been subjected to a harsh environment for an excessive period of time, the charger performs a complete state of health evaluation of the battery.

Published: 2007-04-26 Assignee: Earl Downey.
US20070093790A1
Human necessities
Application 20070093790, fig. 01

Laparoscopic surgical instrument

A laparoscopic surgical instrument configured to be ergonomic and anthropometrically correct, the laparoscopic surgical instrument comprising: (a) an ergonomic handle configured to orient a hand of a surgeon in a functional position, the handle comprising a handle grip; (b) an actuating mechanism actuatable by a finger and supported by the handle, the actuating mechanism comprising an actuator shaft and a gearing assembly operable to displace the actuator shaft with a mechanical advantage upon actuation of a trigger by the surgeon; (c) a locking mechanism configured to lock the actuating mechanism in one of a plurality of positions, the locking mechanism comprising a release located in an anthropometrically correct position; and (d) a working shaft having a proximal end coupled to and operable with the actuator shaft, the working shaft having an elongate configuration and a distal working end configured to couple a surgical tool to be manipulated by the surgeon via the handle and the actuating mechanism to perform a surgical function.

Published: 2007-04-26 Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc..
US20070089557A1
Mechanical engineering
Application 20070089557, fig. 01

Multi-ply strap drive trains for surgical robotic arms

In one embodiment of the invention, a robotic arm is provided including a linkage assembly and a strap drive train. The linkage assembly includes first, second, third, and fourth links pivotally coupled in series together at first, second, and third joints to define a parallelogram with an insertion axis. The strap drive train includes first and second sets of straps coupled to the linkage assembly. As the linkage assembly is moved about a pitch axis, the first set of straps ensures the third link maintains the same angle relative to the first link, and the first and second set of straps ensures the fourth link maintains the same angle relative to the second link.

Published: 2007-04-26 Assignee: DexCom, Inc..
US20070093704A1
Human necessities
Application 20070093704, fig. 01

Dual electrode system for a continuous analyte sensor

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for a continuous analyte sensor, such as a continuous glucose sensor. One such system utilizes first and second working electrodes to measure additional analyte or non-analyte related signal. Such measurements may provide a background and/or sensitivity measurement(s) for use in processing sensor data and may be used to trigger events such as digital filtering of data or suspending display of data.

Published: 2007-04-26 Assignee: CARDIOSOLUTIONS, INC..
US20070093890A1
Human necessities
Application 20070093890, fig. 01

Heart valve implant

A method according to one embodiment may include providing a heart valve implant including an anchor capable of engaging coronary tissue, a shaft coupled to said anchor, and a valve body coupled to said shaft. The method may further include at least partially collapsing the heart valve implant and percutaneously inserting the heart valve implant into a heart. The percutaneously inserted implant may be secured within the heart and may then be expanded. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Published: 2007-04-26
US20070094042A1
Physics
Application 20070094042, fig. 01

Contextual mobile content placement on a mobile communication facility

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for displaying mobile content in association with a website on a mobile communication facility based at least in part on receiving a website request from a mobile carrier gateway, receiving contextual information relating to the requested website, associating the received contextual information with a mobile content, and, finally, displaying the mobile content with the website on a mobile communication facility.

Published: 2007-04-26 Assignee: Genentech, Inc., Genetech, Inc..
US20070092940A1
Human necessities
Application 20070092940, fig. 02

Cysteine engineered antibodies and conjugates

Antibodies are engineered by replacing one or more amino acids of a parent antibody with non cross-linked, highly reactive cysteine amino acids. Antibody fragments may also be engineered with one or more cysteine amino acids to form cysteine engineered antibody fragments (ThioFab). Methods of design, preparation, screening, and selection of the cysteine engineered antibodies are provided. Cysteine engineered antibodies (Ab), optionally with an albumin-binding peptide (ABP) sequence, are conjugated with one or more drug moieties (D) through a linker (L) to form cysteine engineered antibody-drug conjugates having Formula I: Ab-(L-D)p  I where p is 1 to 4. Diagnostic and therapeutic uses for cysteine engineered antibody drug compounds and compositions are disclosed.