Patent Applications published on Nov 1, 2018

Explore the 6,910 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 44th week of 2018, including 5,343 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.

Featured patent applications from Nov 1, 2018

Published: 2018-11-01 Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc..
US20180310935A1
Human necessities
Application 20180310935, fig. 01

Stapler with composite cardan and screw drive

A surgical instrument is provided that includes a first jaw having a first jaw axis and that includes a proximal portion pivotally mounted to the base to be pivotable about a pivot axis between an open and a closed positions and including a distal portion; a second jaw having a second jaw axis and including a proximal portion secured to the base and including a distal portion; a first side edge secured to the first jaw a second side edge secured to the second jaw; a third side edge secured to the first jaw; a drive member including a cross-beam, which is sized to slideably engage the first, second and third side edges, a first transverse beam portion, and a second transverse beam portion; and a lead screw configured to advance the drive member in a distal direction parallel to the second jaw axis while engaging one or the other of the first and second side edges and the second side edge.

Published: 2018-11-01 Assignee: Ethicon LLC.
US20180311002A1
Human necessities
Application 20180311002, fig. 01

Surgical instrument for use with a robotic system

A surgical instrument for use with a robotic system comprising a first rotatable driver and a second rotatable driver is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises an end effector, a shaft assembly, and a control system. The an end effector comprises a staple cartridge. The shaft assembly comprises a longitudinal axis and a cutting instrument movable along the longitudinal axis between a starting position and an ending position. The control system comprises a cutting drive configured to displace the cutting instrument toward the ending position in response to the first rotatable driver of the robotic system, and a shaft rotation arrangement configured to rotate the shaft assembly about the longitudinal axis in response to the second rotatable driver on the robotic system. The rotation of the shaft assembly does not displace the cutting instrument within the shaft assembly. The cutting drive and the shaft rotation arrangement are separate and distinct.

Published: 2018-11-01 Assignee: Ethicon LLC.
US20180310931A1
Human necessities
Application 20180310931, fig. 01

Surgical stapling apparatus with interlockable firing system

A surgical stapling apparatus. Various embodiments include a handle assembly that has a movable handle that is movable through actuation strokes relative to a stationary handle housing. An actuation is shaft supported at least in part within the stationary handle housing and is movable in response to manipulation of the movable handle. Various embodiments further include a firing lock out assembly that is configured to selectively prevent longitudinal movement of the actuation shaft in a distal direction. A firing release trigger is supported on the movable handle for travel therewith and is configured to interface with the firing lockout assembly to selectively release the firing lockout assembly to permit the actuation shaft to move longitudinally in the distal direction upon manipulation of the movable handle.

Published: 2018-11-01 Assignee: AtriCure, Inc..
US20180310936A1
Human necessities
Application 20180310936, fig. 01

Left atrial appendage devices and methods

Devices and methods for clamping tissue and/or moving two tissue structures together by moving two plates or arm together. The pressure or force applied to the tissue may be used to bring the tissue together, to seal an opening or to cut through and remove a portion of the tissue. In one procedure disclosed, a clip applier may be used to apply one or more clips to the left atrial appendage of the heart to prevent clots from the left atrial appendage from embolizing and causing harm to the patient, such as a stroke.

Published: 2018-11-01 Assignee: MASIMO CORPORATION.
US20180310822A1
Human necessities
Application 20180310822, fig. 01

Spot check measurement system

A portable spot-check system configured to assess the validity of a measured physiological parameter. The spot-check device can take into consideration a variety of factors to determine whether a valid measurement exists. For instance, the considerations can include signal stability, interference, signal IQ, patient movement, sensor position, timing of that measurement, comparison to previous or acceptable measurements, cancellation of measurement by the patient, confidence of the measurement, etc. The spot-check device can track a number of valid measurements. In some instances, the spot-check device is configured to provide a specified number of available measurements. If a valid measurement is recorded, the spot-check device can decrement the remaining number of available measurements.

Published: 2018-11-01 Assignee: MASIMO CORPORATION.
US20180310823A1
Human necessities
Application 20180310823, fig. 01

Medical monitoring device having multiple configurations

A patient monitoring device can be configured to provide fast and reliable physiological measurements in a variety of care settings including at a patient's home. The device can include a compact, standalone monitor with telehealth capabilities as well as an intuitive interface for use at home. The device can include a blood pressure, capnography, or pulse oximetry module. A device can include a sleek and continuous outer surface that is easy to clean and generally free of crevices, holes, or surfaces that collect external contaminants. For example, portions of the housing can connect together using a limited number of screws, thereby limiting a number of holes. The device can include a vent cover that can be rotated to reconfigure the function of the vent cover. For example, the vent cover can function as a stabilization feature and/or a cover for a ventilation hole, while permitting exhaust through the ventilation hole.

Published: 2018-11-01 Assignee: Snap Inc..
US20180315076A1
Physics
Application 20180315076, fig. 01

Methods and systems for server generation of interactive advertising with content collections

Systems, devices, media, instructions, and methods are provided for presentation of media collections with automated interactive advertising. In one embodiment, a server system merges advertising data with interaction elements to create an advertising element, and communicates the advertising element to a client device with other pieces of content. In another embodiment, advertising data is received at a client device and merged at the client device with interaction elements to generate an advertising element. The advertising element is then displayed between content elements that are part of one or more content collections. In various embodiments, interaction data recorded at the device is used to manage the presentation of future advertising elements.

Published: 2018-11-01
US20180315134A1
Physics
Application 20180315134, fig. 01

LIVE LOCATION SHARING USING VIRTUAL AVATARS

Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure improve the functionality of electronic messaging and imaging software and systems by generating customized media content items based on location sensor information from users' computing devices. The media content can be generated for a variety of topics and shared with other users. For example, media content (e.g., images or video) can be generated and displayed on a user's computing device, as well as transmitted to other users via electronic communications, such as short message service (SMS) or multimedia service (MMS) texts and emails.

Published: 2018-11-01 Assignee: Snap Inc..
US20180315133A1
Physics
Application 20180315133, fig. 01

Location-based virtual avatars

Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure improve the functionality of electronic messaging and imaging software and systems by determining the current activities of users based on location sensor information from the users' computing devices and generating customized media content items based on their activities. The media content can be generated for a variety of topics and shared with other users. For example, media content (e.g., images or video) can be generated and displayed on a user's computing device, as well as transmitted to other users via electronic communications, such as short message service (SMS) or multimedia service (MMS) texts and emails.

Published: 2018-11-01 Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION.
US20180315838A1
Electricity
Application 20180315838, fig. 01

Stacked transistors

A first interconnect layer is bonded to a first substrate. The first interconnect layer is deposited on a first device layer on a second device layer on a second substrate. The second device layer is revealed from the second substrate side. A first insulating layer is deposited on the revealed second device layer. A first opening is formed in the first insulating layer to expose a first portion of the second device layer. A contact region is formed on the exposed first portion of the second device layer.