Patent Applications published on Nov 22, 2018

Explore the 5,646 U.S. Patent Applications published on the 47th week of 2018, including 4,410 applications that subsequently received a Patent Grant.

Featured patent applications from Nov 22, 2018

Published: 2018-11-22 Assignee: Cilag GmbH International.
US20180333155A1
Human necessities
Application 20180333155, fig. 01

Surgical instrument soft stop

A surgical system comprising an elongate shaft and an end effector is disclosed herein. The end effector comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, and a staple cartridge comprising staples removably stored therein, wherein the first jaw is movable relative to the second jaw. The surgical system further comprises a first rotatable drive system configured to close the first jaw and a second rotatable drive system. The second rotatable drive system comprises a drive screw, a drive member movable between a proximal position and a distal position during a staple firing stroke, and a sled configured to eject the staples from the staple cartridge during the staple firing stroke. The sled is not pulled proximally by the drive member when the drive member is retracted. The end effector, the drive screw, and the sled comprise a replaceable assembly.

Published: 2018-11-22
US20180333169A1
Human necessities
Application 20180333169, fig. 01

FEEDBACK ALGORITHMS FOR MANUAL BAILOUT SYSTEMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS

The present disclosure provides a surgical instrument including an end effector, a drive member movable to effectuate a motion in said end effector, a motor operable to move the drive member to effectuate the motion in the end effector and a bailout assembly operable to perform a mechanical bailout of the surgical instrument in response to a bailout error. The bailout assembly includes a bailout door, a bailout handle accessible through the bailout door. The bailout handle is operable to move the drive member to effectuate a bailout motion in the end effector. A controller includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to detect the bailout error. The processor is programmed to stop the motor in response to the detection of the bailout error.

Published: 2018-11-22 Assignee: Covidien LP.
US20180338383A1
Electricity
Application 20180338383, fig. 01

Hermetically sealed printed circuit boards

A method of assembling a hermetically sealed printed circuit board includes: securing a first end portion of a wall of a cap to a substrate around an electrical contact region of the substrate, the wall including a second end portion disposed in an open configuration; mounting an electronic component to the electrical contact region of the substrate; and sealing the second end portion of the wall closed to form a hermetically sealed chamber between the substrate and the cap to encase the electronic component therein.

Published: 2018-11-22 Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc..
US20180337087A1
Electricity
Application 20180337087, fig. 01

Semiconductor constructions comprising dielectric material

Some embodiments include a semiconductor construction which has one or more openings extending into a substrate. The openings are at least partially filled with dielectric material comprising silicon, oxygen and carbon. The carbon is present to a concentration within a range of from about 3 atomic percent to about 20 atomic percent. Some embodiments include a method of providing dielectric fill across a semiconductor construction having an opening extending therein. The semiconductor construction has an upper surface proximate the opening. The method includes forming photopatternable dielectric material within the opening and across the upper surface, and exposing the photopatternable dielectric material to patterned actinic radiation. Subsequently, the photopatternable dielectric material is developed to pattern the photopatternable dielectric material into a first dielectric structure which at least partially fills the opening, and to remove the photopatternable dielectric material from over the upper surface.

Published: 2018-11-22 Assignee: APPLE INC..
US20180335903A1
Physics
Application 20180335903, fig. 01

Methods and interfaces for home media control

The present disclosure generally relates to interfaces and techniques for media playback on one or more devices. In accordance with some embodiments, an electronic device includes a display, one or more processors, and memory. The electronic device receives user input and, in response to receiving the user input, displays, on the display, a multi-device interface that includes: one or more indicators associated with a plurality of available playback devices that are connected to the device and available to initiate playback of media from the device, and a media playback status of the plurality of available playback devices.

Published: 2018-11-22 Assignee: STRYKER CORPORATION.
US20180333207A1
Human necessities
Application 20180333207, fig. 01

Surgical systems and methods for facilitating ad-hoc intraoperative planning of surgical procedures

A surgical system and method for facilitating ad-hoc intraoperative planning of a surgical step to be performed at a target site, the system comprising a digitization device, a navigation system, and a computing device. The digitization device intraoperatively facilitates establishment of one or more local virtual references relative to the target site. The navigation system tracks states of the digitization device. The computing device is coupled to the navigation system and comprises one or more processors and a non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon a computer-aided design (CAD) program. When executed by the one or more processors, the CAD program is configured to generate a virtual reference frame, register the one or more local virtual references within the virtual reference frame, and enable arrangement of different geometrical design objects within the virtual reference frame relative to one or more registered local virtual references to intraoperatively plan the surgical step.

Published: 2018-11-22 Assignee: Auris Health, Inc..
US20180333044A1
Human necessities
Application 20180333044, fig. 01

Exchangeable working channel

The systems, methods, and apparatus disclosed herein are directed to an exchangeable working channel for a surgical instrument comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an instrument channel configured to receive the exchangeable working channel. The exchangeable working channel may comprise a shaft comprising a proximal region and a distal region; an inner surface defining a lumen extending through the shaft; and an outer surface configured to interface with the instrument channel of the surgical instrument. The exchangeable working channel may further comprise one or more locking members configured to releasably couple to the proximal portion or the distal portion of the surgical instrument. The exchangeable working channel may increase a service life of the surgical instrument as a worn working channel can be exchanged with a new one.

Published: 2018-11-22
US20180336892A1
Physics
Application 20180336892, fig. 01

DETECTING A TRIGGER OF A DIGITAL ASSISTANT

Systems and processes for operating an intelligent automated assistant are provided. In accordance with one example, a method includes, at an electronic device with one or more processors, memory, and a plurality of microphones, sampling, at each of the plurality of microphones of the electronic device, an audio signal to obtain a plurality of audio signals; processing the plurality of audio signals to obtain a plurality of audio streams; and determining, based on the plurality of audio streams, whether any of the plurality of audio signals corresponds to a spoken trigger. The method further includes, in accordance with a determination that the plurality of audio signals corresponds to the spoken trigger, initiating a session of the digital assistant; and in accordance with a determination that the plurality of audio signals does not correspond to the spoken trigger, foregoing initiating a session of the digital assistant.

Published: 2018-11-22 Assignee: MASIMO CORPORATION.
US20180333055A1
Human necessities
Application 20180333055, fig. 01

Patient monitoring system

A patient monitoring system includes an inflatable cuff, a gas reservoir containing a compressed gas, and a sensor. When the inflatable cuff is coupled to a wearer, the gas reservoir supplies gas to the inflatable cuff to inflate the inflatable cuff via gas pathways. As the inflatable cuff inflates, a patient monitor can receive blood pressure data from the sensor and use the blood pressure data to determine the blood pressure of the wearer. The patient monitor can also receive blood pressure data during deflation of the inflatable cuff to determine the blood pressure of the wearer.

Published: 2018-11-22 Assignee: MASIMO CORPORATION.
US20180333087A1
Human necessities
Application 20180333087, fig. 01

Patient monitor capable of monitoring the quality of attached probes and accessories

A system and method to help maintain quality control and reduce cannibalization of accessories and attached probes in a highly sensitive patient monitor, such as a pulse oximetry system. One or more attached components may have information elements designed to designate what quality control mechanisms a patient monitor should look to find on that or another component or designate other components with which the one component may properly work. In a further embodiment, such information elements may also include data indicating the appropriate life of the component.