Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090118727 | ABLATION DEVICES AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME - Devices and methods for ablating a selected tissue volume, such as for ablating tumor, are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the ablation devices include a low-conductivity, tissue-piercing tip, an adjustment mechanism for selectively adjusting the length of an exposed portion of the electrode, for producing ablation volumes of desired geometry. In other embodiment, the methods allow the adjustment of the length of the exposed electrode portion be carried out by moving an insulative sleeve along the electrode. | 05-07-2009 |
20110224699 | ARTICULATING SUTURING DEVICE AND METHOD - Devices, systems, and methods for suturing of body lumens allow the suturing of vascular puncture sites located at the distal end of a percutaneous tissue tract. An elongated articulated foot near a distal end of a shaft is inserted through the penetration and actuated so that the foot extends along the lumenal axis. The foot carries suturing attachment cuffs, and needles are advanced from the shaft through the vessel wall outside of the penetration and into engagement with the needle cuffs after the foot has been drawn proximally up against the endothelial surface of the blood vessel. The cross-section of the shaft within the tissue tract can be minimized by laterally deflecting the needles as they leave the shaft, while tapered depressions within the foot can guide the advancing needles into engagement with the cuffs. The cuffs lockingly engage the needles and can be withdrawn proximally along the needle paths and through the tissue tract so as to form a loop of suture across the puncture. The articulating foot may be realigned with the shaft and withdrawn proximally through the tissue tract without dilating the tissue tract. | 09-15-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090084608 | CUTTING STRUCTURES FOR CASING COMPONENT DRILLOUT AND EARTH BORING DRILL BITS INCLUDING SAME - A drill bit includes a bit body having a face on which two different types of cutters are disposed, the first type being cutting elements suitable for drilling at least one subterranean formation and the second type being at least one of an abrasive cutting structure and an abrasive cutting element suitable for drilling through a casing shoe, reamer shoe, casing bit, casing or liner string and cementing equipment or other components as well as cement Methods of forming earth-boring tools are also disclosed. | 04-02-2009 |
20090120693 | EARTH-BORING TOOLS ATTACHABLE TO A CASING STRING AND METHODS FOR THEIR MANUFACTURE - Casing bits include a crown having a substantially hollow interior. The bit crown has blades over a face portion thereof, the blades including a plurality of cutting elements attached thereto. The bit crown further includes a composite inlay positioned at least within the substantially hollow interior. Casing bits also include case hardened outer surfaces radially outside the drill-out region. Casing bits further include short-substrate cutting elements. Methods of forming a casing bit are also disclosed. | 05-14-2009 |
20090217597 | ABRASIVE-IMPREGNATED CUTTING STRUCTURE HAVING ANISOTROPIC WEAR RESISTANCE AND DRAG BIT INCLUDING SAME - An abrasive-impregnated cutting structure for use in drilling a subterranean formation is disclosed. The abrasive-impregnated cutting structure may comprise a plurality of abrasive particles dispersed within a substantially continuous matrix, wherein the abrasive-impregnated cutting structure exhibits an anisotropic wear resistance. One or more of the amount, average size, composition, properties, shape, quality, strength, and concentration of the abrasive particles may vary within the abrasive-impregnated cutting structure. Anisotropic wear resistance may relate to a selected direction, such as, for example, one or more of an expected direction of engagement of the abrasive-impregnated cutting structure with the subterranean formation and an anticipated wear direction. Anisotropic wear resistance of an abrasive-impregnated cutting structure may be configured for forming or retaining a formation-engaging leading edge thereof. A rotary drag bit including at least one abrasive-impregnated cutting structure is disclosed. | 09-03-2009 |
20090272582 | MODULAR HYBRID DRILL BIT - An earth-boring bit comprising a bit body is cofigured at its upper end for connection into a drillstring. A fixed blade depends axially downwardly from the bit body. An axially extending slot is formed in the bit body adjacent the fixed blade. A bit leg is received and retained in the slot by engagement between the slot and correspondingly shaped bit leg, wherein the bit leg cannot be removed from the slot except by axial movement relative to the bit body. A rolling cutter is secured to the bit leg at its lower extent. A fastener secures the bit leg against movement relative to the bit body and extends through oblong apertures in the bit leg and into the bit body, wherein the bit leg can be moved axially relative to the bit body to adjust the projection of the rolling cutter relative to the fixed blade. The slot defines a pair of generally opposed sides connected by a third side, the generally opposed sides being inclined toward one another to define a dovetail that corresponds with the shape of the bit leg. The bit body further comprises a shank that is configured for connection into the drillstring at its upper extent and has a generally cylindrical receptacle formed in its lower extent; and a bit body portion having a generally cylindrical upper extent, the receptacle being and dimensioned to receive the upper extent of the bit body, wherein the shank and bit body portions are secured together by welding. | 11-05-2009 |
20110031029 | CUTTING ELEMENT PLACEMENT ON A FIXED CUTTER DRILL BIT TO REDUCE DIAMOND TABLE FRACTURE - A rotary drag bit includes a primary cutter row comprising at least one primary cutter mounted on a blade, at least some cutters in the primary cutter row having a portion of a cutting surface thereof covered by a portion of the blade. A backup cutter row comprising at least one cutter may also be included, and at least a portion of a cutting surface of at least some cutters in the backup cutter row is covered by a portion of the blade. Enhanced support for cutters is provided against impact loading. | 02-10-2011 |
20110120269 | MODULAR HYBRID DRILL BIT - An earth-boring bit comprising a bit body is configured at its upper end for connection into a drillstring. A fixed blade depends axially downwardly from the bit body. An axially extending slot is formed in the bit body adjacent the fixed blade. A bit leg is received and retained in the slot by engagement between the slot and correspondingly shaped bit leg, wherein the bit leg cannot be removed from the slot except by axial movement relative to the bit body. A rolling cutter is secured to the bit leg at its lower extent. A fastener secures the bit leg against movement relative to the bit body and extends through oblong apertures in the bit leg and into the bit body, wherein the bit leg can be moved axially relative to the bit body to adjust the projection of the rolling cutter relative to the fixed blade. The slot defines a pair of generally opposed sides connected by a third side, the generally opposed sides being inclined toward one another to define a dovetail that corresponds with the shape of the bit leg. The bit body further comprises a shank that is configured for connection into the drillstring at its upper extent and has a generally cylindrical receptacle formed in its lower extent; and a bit body portion having a generally cylindrical upper extent, the receptacle being and dimensioned to receive the upper extent of the bit body, wherein the shank and bit body portions are secured together by welding. | 05-26-2011 |
20110198128 | EARTH-BORING TOOLS INCLUDING ABRASIVE CUTTING STRUCTURES AND RELATED METHODS - A drill bit includes a bit body having a face on which two different types of cutters are disposed, the first type being cutting elements suitable for drilling at least one subterranean formation and the second type being at least one of an abrasive cutting structure and an abrasive cutting element suitable for drilling through a casing shoe, reamer shoe, casing bit, casing or liner string and cementing equipment or other components, as well as cement. Methods of forming earth-boring tools include disposing at least one abrasive cutting structure or element on the earth-boring tool. Methods of drilling with earth-boring tools including drilling with at least one abrasive cutting structure or element. | 08-18-2011 |
20120234608 | CUTTING ELEMENT PLACEMENT ON A FIXED CUTTER DRILL BIT TO REDUCE DIAMOND TABLE FRACTURE - A rotary drag bit includes a primary cutter row comprising at least one primary cutter mounted on a blade, at least some cutters in the primary cutter row having a portion of a cutting surface thereof covered by a portion of the blade. A backup cutter row comprising at least one cutter may also be included, and at least a portion of a cutting surface of at least some cutters in the backup cutter row is covered by a portion of the blade. Enhanced support for cutters is provided against impact loading. | 09-20-2012 |
20130105230 | ABRASIVE-IMPREGNATED CUTTING STRUCTURE HAVING ANISOTROPIC WEAR RESISTANCE AND DRAG BIT INCLUDING SAME | 05-02-2013 |
20140151132 | ROTARY DRAG BITS INCLUDING ABRASIVE-IMPREGNATED CUTTING STRUCTURES - Rotary drag bits comprise a body comprising a face at a leading end of the body. An abrasive-impregnated cutting structure is located at the face of the body. The abrasive-impregnated cutting structure comprises abrasive particles dispersed within a matrix material. The abrasive-impregnated cutting structure exhibits an anisotropic wear resistance. The wear resistance varies at least substantially continuously within the abrasive-impregnated cutting structure. | 06-05-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130226641 | MONITORING PROJECT PLANS INTEGRATED WITH USER DATA STORES AND PROVIDING REWARDS - Embodiments enable the monitoring of project plans and the selection and application of rewards to motivate users. Project plans having one or more project content items are created according to a pre-defined schema. The project plans are integrated with user data stores, such as calendar appointments, tasks, and shopping lists. Progress indicators reflecting a completion status of the project plans are calculated for the project plans. Rewards are selected based on the progress indicators and on user preferences (e.g., collected user activity data). The rewards correspond to milestones associated with the project plans, and are integrated into the user data stores when the user reaches the corresponding milestones. | 08-29-2013 |
20130226647 | INTEGRATING PROJECT PLANS INTO USER DATA STORES - Embodiments enable the selection and application of project plans to user data stores. A project plan having one or more project content items is created according to a pre-defined schema. The project plan is analyzed to identify the project content items that correspond to user data stores available on a computing device. The user data stores include, for example, calendar appointments, tasks, and shopping lists. The project content items are integrated with the user data stores, such as by creating calendar entries, adding tasks, and adding items to the shopping lists. A manifest is defined to describe and record the integrated project content items and the corresponding user data stores. The manifest may also be used to remove or suspend the project plan. | 08-29-2013 |
20130226816 | CREATING CUSTOMIZED PROJECT PLANS INTEGRATED WITH USER DATA STORES - Embodiments modify project plans to create customized project plans for a user. A project plan having one or more project content items is created according to a pre-defined schema. The user customizes the project plan by adding, removing, and/or substituting project content items or properties (e.g., adjust the timing for accomplishing tasks). The customized project plan is analyzed to identify the project content items that correspond to user data stores available on a computing device. The user data stores include, for example, calendar appointments, tasks, and shopping lists. The project content items are integrated with the user data stores, such as by creating calendar entries, adding tasks, and adding items to the shopping lists. A manifest is defined to describe and record the integrated project content items and the corresponding user data stores. | 08-29-2013 |