Explore the 6,347 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 33rd week of 2010, including 4,232 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.
End effector identification by mechanical features
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical instrument is disclosed. The instrument includes a handle portion, a body portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a first longitudinal axis and a loading unit. The loading unit includes a tool assembly, the loading adapted to be coupled to the body portion. The instrument also includes a sensor tube movably positioned within the body portion, the sensor tube adapted to engage the loading unit and a load switch coupled to a microcontroller. The load switch is adapted to be actuated by the sensor tube when the sensor tube is engaged by the loading unit being inserted into the body portion.
Published: 2010-08-19 Assignee: Covidien LP.
Adhesive formulations
The disclosure relates to biocompatible components useful for forming compositions for use as medical/surgical synthetic adhesives and sealants. Biocompatible components of the present disclosure may include a polymeric polyol core, which may be treated with a nitroaryl compound to form a nitro ester. The resulting nitro ester groups may be reduced to form amino groups which, in turn, may be treated to form isocyanate groups. The resulting isocyanate may then be reacted with a second component to form adhesive and/or sealant compositions.
Published: 2010-08-19 Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba.
Non-volatile semiconductor storage device and method of manufacturing the same
A non-volatile semiconductor storage device has a plurality of memory strings to each of which a plurality of electrically rewritable memory cells are connected in series. Each of the memory strings includes first semiconductor layers each having a pair of columnar portions extending in a vertical direction with respect to a substrate and a coupling portion formed to couple the lower ends of the pair of columnar portions; a charge storage layer formed to surround the side surfaces of the columnar portions; and first conductive layers formed to surround the side surfaces of the columnar portions and the charge storage layer. The first conductive layers function as gate electrodes of the memory cells.
Published: 2010-08-19 Assignee: APPLE INC..
Dynamic audio ducking
Various dynamic audio ducking techniques are provided that may be applied where multiple audio streams, such as a primary audio stream and a secondary audio stream, are being played back simultaneously. For example, a secondary audio stream may include a voice announcement of one or more pieces of information pertaining to the primary audio stream, such as the name of the track or the name of the artist. In one embodiment, the primary audio data and the voice feedback data are initially analyzed to determine a loudness value. Based on their respective loudness values, the primary audio stream may be ducked during the period of simultaneous playback such that a relative loudness difference is generally maintained with respect to the loudness of the primary and secondary audio streams. Accordingly, the amount of ducking applied may be customized for each piece of audio data depending on its loudness characteristics.
Published: 2010-08-19 Assignee: Medtronic Navigation, Inc., Medtronic Navigaton, Inc..
Method and apparatus for surgical navigation
Disclosed is a surgical navigation system for tracking an instrument relative to a patient. The system can track a portion of the patient, an instrument, and/or both relative to image data, a coordinate system, an atlas, a morphed atlas, or combinations thereof. The system can include a tracking device on the instrument to provide six degree of freedom information regarding the location of the instrument.
Published: 2010-08-19 Assignee: STOUT MEDICAL GROUP, L.P..
FIXATION DEVICE AND METHOD
An implantable orthopedic stability device is disclosed. The device can have a contracted and an expanded configuration. A method of using the device between adjacent vertebral body surfaces surfaces for support and/or fixation of either or both of the adjacent vertebrae is also disclosed.
Published: 2010-08-19 Assignee: LOOKOUT, INC., FLEXILIS, INC..
System and method for remotely securing or recovering a mobile device
The present invention provides a system and method for remotely securing, accessing, and managing a mobile device or group of mobile devices. The invention enables a remote access web page to be generated by a server and displayed on a client computer. The server receives requested actions from the client computer and interacts with the mobile device to perform the actions. In the case of a lost or stolen device, the invention enables a user to take actions leading to the recovery or destruction of the device and data stored on it. The invention enables multiple types of remote access, including: locking the device, backing up data from the device, restoring data to the device, locating the device, playing a sound on the device, and wiping data from the device. The invention may be used to provide both self-help and administrator-assisted security for a device or group of devices.
Published: 2010-08-19 Assignee: SANDISK IL LTD..
User-application interface
A user interface apparatus includes a display device, display application, and processor. The display device includes a display area, and the display area includes an active area. The processor and display application are configured to display application stacks, each of which may be moved into and out of the active area in response to user input, and each of which contains one or more stack cards. Each application stack is associated with a computer application, and each stack card represents a content entity capable of being operated on by the computer application corresponding to its application stack. When an application stack is in the active area the application stack is activated such that its stack cards are displayed in sequence and at least one of them may be selected. Selecting a stack card causes the corresponding computer application to be executed and to operate on the corresponding content entity.
Published: 2010-08-19 Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED.
Receive antenna arrangement for wireless power
Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless charging. An electronic device may comprise at least one receive antenna integrated within an electronic device and configured to receive wireless power from a wireless transmit antenna. Further, the at least one receive antenna may be spaced from each conductive component within the electronic device having a clearance therebetween adapted to enable formation of a magnetic field around the loop conductor.
Published: 2010-08-19 Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD..
Facial expression representation apparatus
An avatar facial expression representation technology is provided. The avatar facial expression representation technology estimates changes in emotion and emphasis in a user's voice from vocal information, and changes in mouth shape of the user from pronunciation information of the voice. The avatar facial expression technology tracks a user's facial movements and changes in facial expression from image information and may represent avatar facial expressions based on the result of the these operations. Accordingly, the avatar facial expressions can be obtained which are similar to actual facial expressions of the user.