Patent Applications published on Apr 19, 2012

Explore the 6,546 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 16th week of 2012, including 4,474 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.

Featured patent applications from Apr 19, 2012

Published: 2012-04-19 Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP, Tyco Healthcare Group LP.
US20120091184A1
Human necessities
Application 20120091184, fig. 01

Tool assembly for surgical stapling device

The present disclosure describes a surgical device with a body portion defining a longitudinal axis, a tool assembly including an anvil, a cartridge assembly housing a plurality of staples, a dynamic clamping member movable relative to the tool assembly to eject the staples, and an articulation and firing actuator extending at least partially through the body portion and the tool assembly. The tool assembly is pivotally attached to the body portion for movement from a position aligned with the longitudinal axis to a position oriented at an angle thereto. The articulation and firing actuator extends at least partially through the body portion and the tool assembly, is operably associated with the dynamic clamping member and the tool assembly, and is movable in relation thereto to selectively pivot the tool assembly relative to the body portion and move the dynamic clamping member relative to the tool assembly to eject the staples.

Published: 2012-04-19
US20120095458A1
Human necessities
Application 20120095458, fig. 01

Tissue Modification Devices and Methods of Using The Same

Tissue modification devices are provided. Aspects of the devices include an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the elongated member is dimensioned to pass through a minimally invasive body opening and includes a distal end integrated visualization sensor and tissue modifier. In some instances, the devices further include an integrated articulation mechanism that imparts steerability to at least one of the visualization sensor, the tissue modifier and the distal end of the elongated member. Also provided are methods of modifying internal target tissue of a subject using the tissue modification devices.

Published: 2012-04-19 Assignee: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC..
US20120095298A1
Human necessities
Application 20120095298, fig. 01

Laparoscopic device with distal handle

Methods and devices are provided for controlling movement of an end effector assembly, and in particular for causing mimicking motion between a handle and an end effector assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, a surgical device is provided having a handle or actuator, an elongate shaft, and an end effector assembly coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft. The handle or actuator is configured such that movement of the handle is mimicked, not mirrored, by the end effector assembly. The mimicking motion can be achieved using various techniques, but in an exemplary embodiment the handle is located distal to an input joint, and motion is transferred to the end effector assembly through an output joint at a distal end of the elongate shaft. The motion is preferably transferred using a mechanical transmission coupled between the input and output joints.

Published: 2012-04-19
US20120095352A1
Physics
Application 20120095352, fig. 01

Health monitoring appliance

A heart monitoring system for a person includes one or more wireless nodes forming a wireless network; a wearable sensor having a wireless transceiver adapted to communicate with the one or more wireless nodes; and a software module receiving data from the wireless nodes to detect changes in patient vital signs.

Published: 2012-04-19 Assignee: Entegris, Inc..
US20120090704A1
Physics
Application 20120090704, fig. 01

Liquid flow controller and precision dispense apparatus and system

A proportional fluid control valve with improved linearity and reduced hysteresis is disclosed. The valve allows for smooth, gentle flow of fluid in a substantially linear fashion, with minimal turns. Preferably the valve is pneumatically actuated. Where temperature is not an issue, the valve can be actuated by any suitable means, including stepper motors, linear motors, voice coils or other force actuators. A versatile molded valve body that requires fewer parts compared to a machined valve is disclosed. In one embodiment, the molded valve body is designed specifically for flow control and contains two sensor housings with carefully positioned flow paths to optimize the use of space. The sensor housing or housings can be separately formed as inserts, allowing installation in various orientations.

Published: 2012-04-19 Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC., HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC..
US20120092531A1
Electricity
Application 20120092531, fig. 01

Autofocusing optical imaging device

An optical imager includes: an image sensor for capturing images of targets and outputting image signals; a lens for focusing the target on the image sensor as a function of lens position; a memory for storing predetermined lens positions determined from predetermined target sizes; and a controller for determining current target size based on captured images and positioning the lens at a predetermined lens position by correlating current target size with predetermined target sizes.

Published: 2012-04-19 Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc..
US20120094468A1
Electricity
Application 20120094468, fig. 01

Two silicon-containing precursors for gapfill enhancing dielectric liner

Aspects of the disclosure pertain to methods of depositing silicon oxide layers on substrates. In embodiments, silicon oxide layers are deposited by flowing a silicon-containing precursor having a Si—O bond, an oxygen-containing precursor and a second silicon-containing precursor, having both a Si—C bond and a Si—N bond, into a semiconductor processing chamber to form a conformal liner layer. Upon completion of the liner layer, a gap fill layer is formed by flowing a silicon-containing precursor having a Si—O bond, an oxygen-containing precursor into the semiconductor processing chamber. The presence of the conformal liner layer improves the ability of the gap fill layer to grow more smoothly, fill trenches and produce a reduced quantity and/or size of voids within the silicon oxide filler material.

Published: 2012-04-19 Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc..
US20120090691A1
Chemistry; metallurgy
Application 20120090691, fig. 01

Quartz showerhead for nanocure UV chamber

Embodiments of the invention generally provide apparatuses and methods for controlling the gas flow profile within a processing chamber. In one embodiment, a processing tool includes an ultraviolet processing chamber defining a processing region, a substrate support, a window disposed between a UV radiation source and the substrate support, and a transparent showerhead disposed within the processing region between the window and the substrate support and having one or more transparent showerhead passages between upper and lower processing regions. The processing tool also includes a gas distribution ring having one or more gas distribution ring passages between a gas distribution ring inner channel and the upper processing region and a gas outlet ring positioned below the gas distribution ring, the gas outlet ring having one or more gas outlet passages between a gas outlet ring inner channel within the gas outlet ring and the lower processing region.

Published: 2012-04-19
US20120092157A1
Human necessities
Application 20120092157, fig. 01

Personal emergency response (PER) system

A system includes one or more sensors mounted on a mobile patient; a wireless transceiver to communicate with a remote station; and a processor coupled to the sensor and the wireless transceiver to request assistance if the processor detects a fall by the mobile patient.

Published: 2012-04-19
US20120091820A1
Performing operations; transporting
Application 20120091820, fig. 01

WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER WITHIN A CIRCUIT BREAKER

A wireless power service panel source includes power and control circuitry that receives power from a wired power connection at a position in a service panel, and generates an electronic drive signal at a frequency, f, and a source magnetic resonator configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field in response to the electronic drive signal, wherein the source magnetic resonator is configured to wirelessly transmit power to sensors in other positions within the service panel.