Patent Applications published on Nov 15, 2018

Explore the 7,751 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 46th week of 2018, including 5,947 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.

Featured patent applications from Nov 15, 2018

Published: 2018-11-15 Assignee: AO TECHNOLOGY AG, Synthes GmbH.
US20180325528A1
Human necessities
Application 20180325528, fig. 01

Surgical power drill including a measuring unit suitable for bone screw length determination

A device (25) for drilling holes in bone and configured to determine bone screw length, the device (25) including a surgical power drill (2) comprising: a) a housing (12) and; b) a measuring device (1) releasably attached or fixed to the housing (12), wherein the measuring device (1) is configured to measure the distance (x) covered by the housing (12) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (7) and relative to a surface of an implant (26) or a bone during a drilling process, wherein the measuring device (1) comprises a processing unit (14) to record the distance (x) covered with respect to time; the processing unit (14) comprises one or more differentiators to determine at least the first and second derivatives of the distance (x) covered with respect to time; and the processing unit (14) further comprises a peak detector to analyze one or more peaks occurring in the graph of the highest derivative with respect to time, and wherein the measuring device (1) comprises a laser device or an ultrasound position sensor for displacement assessment.

Published: 2018-11-15 Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc..
US20180325611A1
Human necessities
Application 20180325611, fig. 01

Reconfigurable end effector architecture

Systems and related methods control movement of an end effector. A method of controlling movement of an end effector includes receiving, by a controller, a command to close or open an end effector that includes a first jaw member, a second jaw member, a wrist, and an instrument shaft. In response to the command, the controller controls movement of the end effector to simultaneously move the first jaw member relative to the second jaw member and actuate the wrist to orient the end effector so that at least one of a position and an orientation of a reference aspect of the end effector is substantially maintained in space.

Published: 2018-11-15
US20180331117A1
Electricity
Application 20180331117, fig. 01

MULTILEVEL MEMORY STACK STRUCTURE WITH TAPERED INTER-TIER JOINT REGION AND METHODS OF MAKING THEREOF

A joint level dielectric material layer is formed over a first alternating stack of first insulating layers and first spacer material layers. A first memory opening is formed with a tapered sidewall of the joint level dielectric material layer. A second alternating stack of second insulating layers and second spacer material layers is formed over the joint level dielectric material layer. An inter-tier memory opening is formed, which includes a volume of an second memory opening that extends through the second alternating stack and a volume of the first memory opening. A memory film and a semiconductor channel are formed in the inter-tier memory opening with respective tapered portions overlying the tapered sidewall of the joint level dielectric material layer.

Published: 2018-11-15
US20180325414A1
Human necessities
Application 20180325414, fig. 01

ELECTRO-MAGNETO VOLUME TOMOGRAPHY SYSTEM AND METHODOLOGY FOR NON-INVASIVE VOLUME TOMOGRAPHY

A system and method capable of performing multiple types of non-invasive tomographic techniques. The system is capable, via electronic control, of detecting and imaging materials within a volume using electrical capacitance, displacement phase current, magnetic inductance, and magnetic pressure sensing. The system is also able to control the amplitude, phase, and frequency of individual electrode excitation to increase imaging resolution and phase detection. This allows many dimensions of non-invasive data to be captured without the need for multiple instruments or moving parts, at a high data capture rate.

Published: 2018-11-15 Assignee: Covidien LP.
US20180325517A1
Human necessities
Application 20180325517, fig. 01

Adaptive powered stapling algorithm with calibration factor

A surgical system includes: an adapter assembly; an end effector configured to couple to a distal portion of the adapter assembly; and a surgical device configured to couple to a proximal portion of the adapter assembly. The surgical device includes: a power source; a motor coupled to the power source, the motor configured to actuate at least one of the adapter assembly or the end effector; and a controller operatively coupled to the motor and configured to calibrate the motor while at least one of the adapter assembly or the end effector is actuated by the motor.

Published: 2018-11-15 Assignee: Auris Health, Inc..
US20180325499A1
Human necessities
Application 20180325499, fig. 01

Biopsy apparatus and system

Certain aspects relate to biopsy apparatuses, systems and techniques for biopsy using a biopsy pattern. Some aspects relate to moving a distal portion of a medical instrument to one or more sample locations of the biopsy pattern and guiding the instrument to obtain tissue samples from the sample locations within the biopsy pattern. Some aspects relate to obtaining the biopsy pattern and adjusting the sample locations within the biopsy pattern based on various factors such as anatomical features.

Published: 2018-11-15 Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc..
US20180327899A1
Chemistry; metallurgy
Application 20180327899, fig. 01

Metal oxy-flouride films based on oxidation of metal flourides

An article comprises a body having a coating. The coating comprises a Y-O-F coating or other yttrium-based oxy-fluoride coating generated either by performing a fluorination process on a yttrium-based oxide coating or an oxidation process on a yttrium-based fluorine coating.

Published: 2018-11-15 Assignee: Cilag GmbH International.
US20180325514A1
Human necessities
Application 20180325514, fig. 01

Surgical stapling end effector component with tip having varying bend angle

A surgical instrument, operable to compress, staple, and cut tissue, includes a body, a shaft, and an end effector with a pair of jaws. A placement tip that is bent, angled, or curved and extends distally from one of the jaws of the end effector. The placement tip is elastically deformable when the placement tip is subject to a clamping force, such as when the end effector is closed with the jaws in contact or when tissue is clamped between the jaws of the end effector. When the placement tip deflects, relative angles defined in part by the placement tip vary compared to an initial state without the clamping force. Furthermore, a distal end of the placement tip may change position based on the state of deflection of the placement tip in response to the clamping force.

Published: 2018-11-15
US20180327892A1
Chemistry; metallurgy
Application 20180327892, fig. 01

METAL OXY-FLOURIDE FILMS FOR CHAMBER COMPONENTS

An article comprises a body having a coating. The coating comprises a Y—O—F coating or other yttrium-based oxy-fluoride coating generated either by performing a fluorination process on a yttrium-based oxide coating or an oxidation process on a yttrium-based fluorine coating.

Published: 2018-11-15 Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc..
US20180327898A1
Chemistry; metallurgy
Application 20180327898, fig. 01

Flourination process to create sacrificial oxy-flouride layer

An article comprises a body having a coating. The coating comprises a Y—O—F coating or other yttrium-based oxy-fluoride coating generated either by performing a fluorination process on a yttrium-based oxide coating or an oxidation process on a yttrium-based fluorine coating.