Explore the 5,958 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 42nd week of 2012, including 4,081 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.
Surgical generator for ultrasonic and electrosurgical devices
A control circuit of a surgical device is disclosed. The control circuit includes a first circuit portion coupled to at least one switch operable between an open state and a closed state. The first circuit portion communicates with a surgical generator over a conductor pair to receive a control signal to determine a state of the at least one switch.
Published: 2012-10-18 Assignee: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC..
Motor driven surgical cutting instrument
A motor-driven surgical cutting and fastening instrument that comprises an end effector, an electric motor, and a motor control circuit. The motor control circuit is for monitoring a parameter of the electric motor that is indicative of movement of a moveable member of the end effector, and for adjustably controlling the electric motor based on the monitored parameter to thereby adjustably control movement of the moveable member of the end effector during forward rotation of the electric motor.
Published: 2012-10-18 Assignee: TUEBINGEN SCIENTIFIC MEDICAL GMBH.
Surgical instrument with elastically movable instrument head
Disclosed is a surgical instrument comprising an instrument handle, an instrument shaft shaft having a distal end and a proximal end at which the instrument handle is linked, an instrument head, pivotally linked to the distal end of the instrument shaft via a hinge shaft or pins and comprising an effector rotatably supported in said instrument head around its longitudinal axis as well as a surgical tool held by said effector, and a mechanical transmission system at least partially arranged within said instrument shaft transmitting mechanical operation signals from said instrument handle to said instrument head at least for pivoting and/or rotating motions. A bending flexible as well as rotating rigid, hollow spindle is arranged bypassing said hinge shaft or pins and directly connecting said effector with the mechanical transmission system for transmitting at least rotating signals via said spindle to said effector.
Published: 2012-10-18 Assignee: APPLE INC..
Using context information to facilitate processing of commands in a virtual assistant
A virtual assistant uses context information to supplement natural language or gestural input from a user. Context helps to clarify the user's intent and to reduce the number of candidate interpretations of the user's input, and reduces the need for the user to provide excessive clarification input. Context can include any available information that is usable by the assistant to supplement explicit user input to constrain an information-processing problem and/or to personalize results. Context can be used to constrain solutions during various phases of processing, including, for example, speech recognition, natural language processing, task flow processing, and dialog generation.
Published: 2012-10-18 Assignee: ENDOPLUS, INC..
Laparoscopic instrument
The present device relates to a laparoscopic medical instrument, particularly those used for minimally invasive surgery. The instrument has a movable and a stationary handle portion and an extended shaft assembly with a removable actuating rod. An opening on the side of the stationary handle portion allows a user to visually confirm the removable actuating rod is locked into place within the movable handle portion. An opening in the back of the stationary handle portion allows for cleaning and visual inspection of the interior of the shaft assembly portion once the rod is removed. The actuating rod has a grasping mechanism for performing work during surgery. A flush port is located near the distal end of the stationary handle portion.
Published: 2012-10-18 Assignee: Globus Medical.
Expandable fusion device and method of installation thereof
The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.
Published: 2012-10-18 Assignee: CERCACOR LABORATORIES, INC..
Patient monitor for monitoring microcirculation
A patient monitor capable of measuring microcirculation at a tissue site includes a light source, a beam splitter, a photodetector and a patient monitor. Light emitted from the light source is split into a reference arm and a sample arm. The light in the sample arm is directed at a tissue site, such as an eyelid. The reflected light from the tissue site is interfered with the light from the reference arm. The photodetector measures the interference of the light from both the sample arm and the reference arm. The patient monitor uses the measurements from the photodetector to calculate the oxygen saturation at the tissue site and monitor the microcirculation at the tissue site.
Published: 2012-10-18
Biopsy and sutureless device
A dermal punch device for automatically extracting a sample of tissue of a predetermined size and shape from a body comprising a retractable cutter and a sutureless biopsy closure mechanism that includes a wound closure fastener member adapted to be disposed over a biopsy region after the performance of the biopsy, wherein wound closure fastener member is applied without the need of several instruments to seal the wound. The wound closure fastener member is dispensed by a sutureless biopsy closure dispenser located at the same distal end of the biopsy punch device surrounding the biopsy punch cutter assembly avoiding the need of separates instruments, reducing the wound closing steps and surgical procedure time.
Published: 2012-10-18 Assignee: HUIZHOU KIMREE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. SHENZHEN BRANCH.
Electronic cigarette, electronic cigarette smoke capsule and atomization device thereof
The present invention relates to an electronic cigarette, an electronic cigarette smoke capsule and an atomization device thereof, utilizing more than one heating element. The heating elements are further provided on the same or different smoke output channels and further are connected in parallel. This kind of disposable electronic cigarette, electronic cigarette smoke capsule and the atomization device thereof not only can improve the atomization ability and the product reliability by times, but also can make the atomized tar particles finer.
Published: 2012-10-18 Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED.
Antenna alignment and vehicle guidance for wireless charging of electric vehicles
Embodiments are directed to a wireless power antenna alignment systems and methods for electric vehicles. A system may include a sensor configured to detect the strength of an electromagnetic field in multiple dimensions and a processor configured to determine at least one of a direction and a position of a transmitted beacon signal based on an output of the sensor.