Explore the 6,213 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 42nd week of 2011, including 4,145 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.
Hand-held surgical devices
A surgical system is provided and includes an intelligent surgical device having a drive motor supported in the housing and being in electrical communication with the power source; and control circuitry. The control circuitry includes a feedback system for monitoring a condition of the surgical device during a use thereof and for changing an operative parameter of the surgical device when a change in the monitored condition occurs. The surgical system includes a non-intelligent loading unit for selective connection to the housing of the surgical device and which is actuatable by the drive motor, the loading unit having a first and a second condition. During operation, the drive motor actuates the loading unit from the first condition to the second condition; and when the loading unit achieves the second condition, a change in the at least one monitored condition occurs and an operative parameter of the surgical device is changed.
Published: 2011-10-20 Assignee: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC..
Surgical stapler with apparatus for adjusting staple height
A surgical stapling instrument including a staple sled which can be advanced and/or retracted relative to first and second jaw members, wherein the staple sled can be configured to deploy staples from a staple cartridge in one of the first and second jaw members. In at least one embodiment, the other of the first and second jaw members can include an anvil having at least one forming surface which can be configured to deform the staples as they are deployed from the staple cartridge. In at least one form of the invention, the anvil can be movably adjustable relative to the staple cartridge in order to adjust the distance in which the staples are deformed. In various embodiments, the anvil can be adjusted by a slidable adjusting plate and/or a rotatable cam.
Published: 2011-10-20
Integrated Advertising System
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for selecting advertisements to be delivered to mobile communication facilities using a monetization platform that may act as an advertising hub. The monetization platform may interact with an ad exchange to collect relevant advertisements for delivery to the mobile communication facilities. The monetization platform may also facilitate the selection of advertisements through the ad exchange by associating advertisement requests with user, user profile or other mobile communication type information. Methods and systems of the present invention are described for aggregating mobile communication facility user profile data, including user profile data obtained from a mobile communication facility, the user's Internet usage, offline user data, and settop entertainment facility data relating to the user.
Published: 2011-10-20 Assignee: Covidien AG.
Battery assembly for battery-powered surgical instruments
A battery assembly is used in battery-powered surgical instruments with handles having a battery chamber and different handle types. The battery assembly includes a housing having an exterior shape formed to removably connect with the battery chamber of the handles and a voltage-control circuit. The housing has at least one energy storage cell operable to power a signal generation assembly of the surgical instruments and a battery/handle interface having a plurality of connectors shaped to mate with a plurality of corresponding connectors within the battery chamber of the handles. The voltage-control circuit is operable to communicatively couple with and provide power to the signal generation assembly, detect which one of the handle types is connected to the housing, provide a first output in response to a detection of a first handle type, and provide at least a second output in response to a detection of a second handle type.
Published: 2011-10-20 Assignee: WORDNETWORKS, INC..
System for using keyword phrases on a page to provide contextually relevant content to users
A process is described for assessing the suitability of particular keyword phrases for use in serving contextually relevant content for display on pages of network-accessible sites. In one embodiment, the process involves scoring the key phrases based in part on collected user behavioral data, such as view counts of associated social media content items. A process is also disclosed in which selected keyword phrases on a page are transformed into links that can be selected by a user to view bundled content that is related to such keyword phrases.
Published: 2011-10-20 Assignee: SNU R&DB FOUNDATION.
Method for manufacturing a porous ceramic scaffold having an organic/inorganic hybrid coating layer containing a bioactive factor
A method for manufacturing a porous ceramic scaffold having an organic/inorganic hybrid coating layer containing a bioactive factor includes (a) forming a porous ceramic scaffold; (b) mixing a silica xerogel and a physiologically active organic substance in a volumetric ratio ranging from 30:70 to 90:10 and treating by a sol gel method to prepare an organic/inorganic hybrid composite solution; (c) adding a bioactive factor to the organic/inorganic hybrid composite solution and agitating until gelation occurs; and (d) coating the porous ceramic scaffold with the organic/inorganic composite containing the bioactive factor added thereto. In accordance with the method, the porous ceramic scaffold may be uniformly coated with the organic/inorganic hybrid composite while maintaining an open pore structure, and stably discharge the bioactive factor over a long period of time.
Published: 2011-10-20 Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc..
Plasma activated conformal film deposition
Methods of depositing a film on a substrate surface include surface mediated reactions in which a film is grown over one or more cycles of reactant adsorption and reaction. In one aspect, the method is characterized by the following operations: (a) exposing the substrate surface to a first reactant in vapor phase under conditions allowing the first reactant to adsorb onto the substrate surface; (b) exposing the substrate surface to a second reactant in vapor phase while the first reactant is adsorbed on the substrate surface; and (c) exposing the substrate surface to plasma to drive a reaction between the first and second reactants adsorbed on the substrate surface to form the film.
Published: 2011-10-20
SILICON NITRIDE FILMS AND METHODS
Described are methods of making SiN materials on substrates, particularly SiN thin films on semiconductor substrates. Improved SiN films made by the methods are also included.
Published: 2011-10-20COMPOSITION FOR MAKING A DAIRY PRODUCT
The present invention relates to improved bulk starter cultures and their use in the manufacture of fermented products. The present invention also relates to methods for making the improved bulk starter cultures.
Published: 2011-10-20 Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED, WITRICITY CORPORATION.
Wireless power antenna alignment adjustment system for vehicles
Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless charging and wireless power alignment of wireless power antennas associated with a vehicle. A wireless power charging apparatus includes an antenna including first and second orthogonal magnetic elements for detecting a horizontal component of a magnetic field generated from a second charging base antenna. A processor determines a directional vector between the antennas.