Explore the 4,878 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 14th week of 2017, including 3,661 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.
Multi-use loading unit
A cartridge assembly is disclosed. The cartridge assembly includes a channel and a removable assembly in releasable engagement with the channel. The removable assembly includes a cartridge body and a support plate. The cartridge body includes an engagement structure disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof. The support plate is configured to mechanically engage the cartridge body and includes an engagement structure disposed adjacent a proximal end thereof. The engagement structure of the cartridge body is configured for longitudinal alignment with the engagement structure of the support plate. The engagement structures of the cartridge body and the engagement structure of the support plate are configured to mechanically engage the engagement structure of the channel when the removable assembly is engaged with the channel.
Published: 2017-04-06 Assignee: Ethicon LLC.
System and method of converting user input into motion of a surgical instrument via a robotic surgical system
A wireless handheld user input device may be moved within six degrees of freedom in order to generate position data that describes the position and angular orientation of the user input device within three-dimensional space. Position data is received by a position management device and is interpreted to reduce the input data from six degrees of freedom down to a number of degrees of freedom that is supported by a surgical instrument adapted to be manipulated by a robotic surgical system. Position data is interpreted by taking raw overlap data showing the change from a baseline position to a current position and correcting it to zero out inputs for unsupported degrees of freedom that do not exceed a device or device portion specific threshold. The converted overlap data may then be used to generate new joint target positions, which may be communicated to the robotic surgical system.
Published: 2017-04-06 Assignee: Elucent Medical, Inc..
Signal tag detection components, devices, and systems
Provided herein are systems, devices, assemblies, and methods for localization of a tag in a tissue of a patient. For example, provided herein are systems, devices, and methods employing an implantable tag that emits sidebands at defined frequencies upon activation by a magnetic field generated by a remote activating device, and a plurality of witness stations configured to detect such sidebands. Also provided herein are herein are systems, devices, and methods employing a detection component that is attached to or integrated with a surgical device.
Published: 2017-04-06 Assignee: Covidien LP.
Micro surgical instrument and loading unit for use therewith
A loading unit for engagement with a surgical instrument. The loading unit includes a proximal body portion, an end effector, an actuation sled, and pushers. The actuation sled is longitudinally translatable within a cartridge assembly. The pushers are disposed within the cartridge assembly. Each pusher includes a camming surface configured for engagement with the actuation sled. The camming surface of each pusher in a first row is longitudinally aligned with the camming surface of each pusher in a second row. The first row of pushers is laterally offset from the second row of pushers.
Published: 2017-04-06 Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP.
Communication system, guided wave switch and methods for use therewith
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a guided wave switch that selectively aligns an end of the first dielectric core of a first conductorless guided wave cable with an end of a selected one of a plurality of second dielectric cores of at least one second conductorless guided wave cable to facilitate coupling of the first guided waves from the first dielectric core to a selected one of the plurality of second dielectric cores. Other embodiments are disclosed.
Published: 2017-04-06 Assignee: FlexDex, Inc..
Medical devices having smoothly articulating multi-cluster joints
An articulating joint comprising a multi-cluster joint where every consecutive pair of links is interfaced by a gimbal, which offers rotation about two orthogonal axes within the same plane. Thus, the articulating joint comprises an alternating sequence of links and gimbals. Furthermore, there may be multiple cables attached to one or more of the links. As these cables are selectively pulled and released, one can achieve any desired articulation of the articulating joint. There may be a transmission member extending through the links and gimbals, parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the joint in its nominal non-articulated condition. This transmission member may be either a tension member that is pulled on (e.g. a cable or flexible pull rod) and that loads the articulating joint in compression, or the transmission member may be a flexible push rod that loads the articulating joint in tension.
Published: 2017-04-06 Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC..
Performance-based public cloud selection for a hybrid cloud environment
A hybrid cloud solution for securely extending a private cloud or network to a public cloud can be enhanced with tools for evaluating the resources offered by multiple public cloud providers. In an example embodiment, a public cloud evaluation system can be used to create a virtual machine (VM) in a public cloud to serve the function of a public cloud evaluation agent. The public cloud evaluation agent can instantiate one or more VMs and other resources in the public cloud, and configure the VMs and resources to execute performance evaluation software. The results of the performance evaluation software can be transmitted to a private enterprise network, and analyzed to determine whether the public cloud is an optimal public cloud for hosting an enterprise application.
Published: 2017-04-06 Assignee: ENTEGRIS, INC..
Electrostatic chuck
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an electrostatic chuck comprising an electrode, and a surface layer activated by a voltage in the electrode to form an electric charge to electrostatically clamp a substrate to the electrostatic chuck. The surface layer includes a plurality of protrusions extending to a height above portions of the surface layer surrounding the protrusions to support the substrate upon the protrusions during electrostatic clamping of the substrate. The protrusions are substantially equally spaced across the surface layer as measured by a center to center distance between pairs of neighboring protrusions.
Published: 2017-04-06 Assignee: SAP SE.
Consent handling during data harvesting
The described technologies can be used for consent handling during data harvesting. In one example, a method can include receiving social media data associated with a user identifier and a first country code. A stored consent configuration rule can specify whether to store the social media data anonymously or non-anonymously. The consent configuration rule can be associated with a second country code. It can be determined whether the second country code associated with the consent configuration rule matches the first country code associated with the social media data. When the second country code associated with the consent configuration rule does not match the first country code associated with the social media data, the social media data can be stored in a quarantine.
Published: 2017-04-06 Assignee: Penumbra, Inc..
Embolic coil implant system and implantation method
Embolic coil implant systems and methods whereby coils are mechanically detachable are disclosed. The coils include a retention element that may be releasably retained within the distal end of an implant tool. The implant tool may include a fulcrum configured to engage a first filament and prevent the release of the coil when the first filament is engaged. Alternatively, an urging means and aperture may be disposed within the sidewall of the implant tool, and a first filament may, in conjunction with the aperture and sidewall, releasably retain the coil until the first filament is withdrawn. The implant tool may also include an alignment member for aligning the first filament.