Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090029759 | Reverse Gaming Systems and Methods - Generally, the systems and methods presented herein (the “utility”) provide for reverse gaming. This utility allows players to vote for the next number to be chosen, in essence, shifting the odds of winning to the card that the players are holding. To illustrate, each player in a game may be given a card with a random selection of numbers. Instead of the House drawing certain numbers or balls, the players of the game vote on numbers to be selected. The number with the most votes, for example, may be selected and the players with that number may accordingly mark their cards. Players may also conspire together to hopefully increase the chances of their winning. For example, two players may compare cards to ascertain any common numbers between the two cards such that the two players may vote as one for a particular number. | 01-29-2009 |
20090061977 | ADVISORY SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR USE IN GAMING - Generally, the systems and methods presented herein provide for enhanced gaming during a game of chance. For example, the utility may provide the player with the opportunity to make a more educated decision when wagering sums of money in the game of chance. In this regard, the utility may observe a player's game elements (e.g., playing cards) and determine a “best strategy” for the player to employ on subsequent cards. In other words, the utility may show the player the best achievable hand that could be attained based on the player's present hand and any other visible cards that have been dealt. Accordingly, the utility may enable the player to play perfectly (e.g., to obtain the highest expected value payout). | 03-05-2009 |
20140078038 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ACCESSORY DISPLAYS FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES - Systems and methods herein provide for an accessorizeable display of features for a processing device, such as a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or other processing devices. The display may be configured as a case on the “backside” or cover of the processing device that interfaces through a communication port of the processing device. In one embodiment, a system includes a display data module operable on the processing device to provide a graphical user interface via a first display device to a user of the processing device, and to interface with a second display device coupled to the processing device to display an image on the second display device. The system also includes a remote data center operable to retrieve the image and to communicate with the display data module through a network to provide the image to the second display device via the display data module. | 03-20-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090118219 | FLEA GABA RECEPTOR SUBUNIT NUCLEIC ACID MOLECULES - The present invention relates to flea GABA receptor subunit nucleic acid molecules; to flea GABA receptor subunit proteins encoded by such nucleic acid molecules; to antibodies raised against such proteins; and to compounds that inhibit the activity of such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitory compounds. The present invention also includes therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies and inhibitory compounds, particularly those that specifically inhibit flea GABA receptor subunit activity, as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to treat animals. | 05-07-2009 |
20090123957 | CANINE COX-2 PROTEINS AND USES THEREOF - The present invention relates to canine COX-1 and COX-2 proteins; to canine COX-1 and COX-2 nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such COX-1 and COX-2 proteins, respectively; to antibodies raised against such proteins; and to compounds that inhibit the activity of such proteins. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitory compounds. The present invention also includes therapeutic compositions comprising such inhibitory compounds, particularly those that specifically inhibit COX-2 activity, as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to treat animals. | 05-14-2009 |
20090170146 | Novel Carboxylesterase Nucleic Acid Molecules, Proteins and Uses Thereof - The present invention relates to arthropod esterase proteins; to arthropod esterase nucleic acid molecules, including those that encode such esterase proteins; to antibodies raised against such esterase proteins; and to other compounds that inhibit arthropod esterase activity. The present invention also includes methods to obtain such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies, and inhibitory compounds. Also included in the present invention are therapeutic compositions comprising such proteins, nucleic acid molecules, antibodies and/or inhibitory compounds as well as the use of such therapeutic compositions to protect animals from hematophagous arthropod infestation. | 07-02-2009 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110251611 | Sealing Plate Temperature Control - An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The end effector assembly has a pair of opposing jaw members. At least one of the jaw members has a support base and a sealing plate coupled to the electrical jaw lead. The sealing plate has a stainless steel layer and a copper layer formed on the underside of the stainless steel layer. | 10-13-2011 |
20110270245 | Sealing Plate Having Depressions with Ceramic Insulation - An end effector assembly includes a pair of opposing jaw members. One or more of the jaw members includes a support base, an electrical jaw lead, a sealing plate, and a ceramic layer. The sealing plate is coupled to the electrical jaw lead and mounted to the support base. The sealing plate includes a tissue engaging surface, an opposing surface, and a series of depressions formed within the opposing surface and projecting from the tissue engaging surface. The ceramic layer is deposited atop each of the series of depressions. The combination of the depressions that project from the tissue engaging surface and their ceramic layers form a corresponding series of nonconductive stop members for controlling the separation distance between opposing jaw members when closed about tissue. | 11-03-2011 |
20110270251 | Insulated Sealing Plate - An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The end effector assembly has a pair of opposing jaw members. Each of the jaw members has a support base, an electrical jaw lead, and a sealing plate coupled to the electrical jaw lead. The sealing plate has a stainless steel layer and an electrically insulative layer. | 11-03-2011 |
20110270252 | Pressure Sensing Sealing Plate - An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The end effector assembly has a pair of opposing jaw members. One or more of the jaw members includes a support base, an electrical jaw lead, and a sealing plate coupled to the electrical jaw lead. The sealing plate has a stainless steel layer and one or more piezoelectric sensors. The jaw member also includes an insulative plate disposed between the support base and the sealing plate. | 11-03-2011 |
20120118507 | System for Manufacturing Electrosurgical Seal Plates - A system for the manufacture of an end effector assembly which is configured for use with an electrosurgical instrument configured for performing an electrosurgical procedure is provided. The system includes a photolithography module that is configured to etch one or more pockets on a seal surface of the seal plate. A vacuum module is configured to raise, transfer and lower a spacer from a location remote from the pocket(s) on the seal plate to the pocket on the seal plate(s). An adhesive dispensing module is configured to dispense an adhesive into the pocket on the seal plate. An optical module is configured to monitor a volume of the adhesive dispensed within the pocket and monitor placement of the spacer within the pocket. | 05-17-2012 |
20120239034 | Method of Manufacturing Tissue Seal Plates - An end effector assembly includes a pair of opposing jaw members, each jaw member having a jaw housing and a seal plate. The seal plate is associated with the jaw housing and includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. A portion of the exterior surface defines a tissue contacting surface and at least a portion of the interior surface includes a conductive element that is disposed thereon. The conductive element facilitates soldering a wire lead thereto for electrical communication with the seal plate. | 09-20-2012 |
20130072927 | Electrosurgical Instrument - An electrosurgical forceps is provided with a shaft that extends from a housing of the electrosurgical forceps. An end effector assembly includes a pair of first and second jaw members pivotably coupled to one another via a pivot pin. One or both of the first and second jaw members may be movable from an open position for positioning tissue therebetween to a clamping position for grasping tissue. A detent is operably disposed proximal the pivot pin and extends radially outward from a proximal flange of one of the jaw members. The detent is configured to releasably engage a corresponding slot disposed on a proximal flange of the other jaw member. The detent and slot are configured to control a gap distance between the first and second jaw members when the first and second jaw members are in the clamping position. | 03-21-2013 |
20130079760 | Surgical Tissue Occluding Device - A surgical instrument includes an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members moveable relative to one another between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. In the approximated position, the jaw members cooperate to define a cavity that is configured to house tissue grasped between the jaw members. An injectable material configured for injection into the cavity defined by the jaw members is also provided. The injectable material is configured to substantially surround tissue housed within the cavity. The injectable material is transitionable from a first state, facilitating injection of the injectable material into the cavity, to a second state, wherein the injectable material forms about tissue housed within the cavity to occlude tissue. | 03-28-2013 |
20130082035 | Surgical Instrument Shafts and Methods of Manufacturing Shafts for Surgical Instruments - A method of manufacturing a shaft of a surgical instrument including forming a proximal segment of the shaft to include one or more features for operably engaging the shaft to a first component of the surgical instrument, forming a distal segment of the shaft to include one or more features for operably engaging the shaft to a second component of the surgical instrument and forming an intermediate segment of the shaft. The proximal segment is welded to a proximal end of the intermediate segment; and the distal segment is welded to a distal end of the intermediate segment. The proximal and distal segments are welded to the intermediate segment such that the one or more features thereof are aligned in a pre-determined orientation relative to one another. | 04-04-2013 |
20130103035 | Multi-Circuit Seal Plates - An end effector assembly adapted to couple to an electrosurgical instrument, the end effector assembly including a pair of opposing jaw members pivotably attached about a pivot member and moveable from a first spaced position to a second grasping position. Each jaw member includes a jaw housing and a seal plate formed on an inner surface of the jaw member including at least two seal plate segments extending along a substantial portion of the length of the jaw members. An insulating member is positioned between adjacent seal plate segments and configured to provide electrical isolation between adjacent seal plate segments. Each sealing plate segment is adapted to selectively connect to an electrosurgical energy source and form part of an electrosurgical energy delivery circuit. | 04-25-2013 |
20130190753 | Surgical Instrument With Resilient Driving Member and Related Methods of Use - A forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from a clamping position to an open position. A resilient member operably couples to at least one of the first and second jaw members. The resilient member is configured to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position and provide a closure force on tissue disposed therebetween. | 07-25-2013 |
20130226177 | Vessel Sealing Instrument with Reduced Thermal Spread and Method of Manufacture Therefor - An electrosurgical vessel sealing instrument having a first and a second opposing jaw member at a distal end thereof, wherein each jaw member includes a jaw housing, a seal plate having a tissue contacting surface and a side wall, and an insulating region disposed on the side wall of the seal plate. The instrument includes the ability to move the jaw members relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue. The insulating region enables precision overmolding of the jaw housing to the seal plate, while advantageously reducing thermal spread and edge cutting during vessel sealing procedures. | 08-29-2013 |
20130226178 | Vessel Sealing Instrument with Reduced Thermal Spread and Method of Manufacture Therefor - An electrosurgical vessel sealing instrument having a first and a second opposing jaw member at a distal end thereof, wherein each jaw member includes a jaw housing, an inner tissue engaging surface, and an insulating layer disposed therebetween. The instrument includes the ability to move the jaw members relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue. The jaws include a tissue-contacting seal plate having obverse and reverse surfaces. A series of ribs extend from the reverse surface of the seal plate into an insulating layer, which, in turn, is affixed to a jaw housing. The ribbed structure of the seal plate reduces thermal spread and edge cutting during vessel sealing procedures, leading to improved surgical outcomes. | 08-29-2013 |
20130232753 | Surgical Tissue Sealer - A method for manufacturing an end effector assembly is provided. The method includes grasping a gap-setting gauge between first and second jaw members moveable relative to one another about a pivot between a first, spaced-apart position and a second position proximate tissue and setting the first and second jaw members such that in the approximated position the jaw members cooperate to define a gap distance between the jaw members equivalent to the thickness of the gap-setting gauge such that when positioning tissue between the jaw members full approximation of the jaws is limited to the gap distance. | 09-12-2013 |
20130296923 | Surgical Forceps - A forceps includes an end effector assembly having first and second jaw members. Each of the jaw members includes a proximal flange extending therefrom. Each of the proximal flanges defines a bifurcated configuration having first and second spaced-apart flange components. The first flange component of the first jaw member is configured to pivotably engage the second flange component of the second jaw member via a first protrusion-aperture coupling. The first flange component of the second jaw member is configured to pivotably engage the second flange component of the first jaw member via a second protrusion-aperture coupling different from the first protrusion-aperture coupling. One or both of the jaw members is pivotable relative to the other about the first and second protrusion-aperture couplings between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. | 11-07-2013 |
20140230243 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY CONFIGURED FOR USE WITH AN ELECTROSURIGCAL INSTRUMENT - A method for manufacturing an electrode configuration configured for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. A pre-assembled jaw configuration including jaw members including respective first and second electrodes is provided. One or more stop members are positioned on the first electrode. The first and second electrodes are approximated toward one another for contact therebetween so as to form an at least one indentation on the second electrode. | 08-21-2014 |
20140284313 | SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SHAFTS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING SHAFTS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS - A method of manufacturing a shaft of a surgical instrument including forming a proximal segment of the shaft to include one or more features for operably engaging the shaft to a first component of the surgical instrument, forming a distal segment of the shaft to include one or more features for operably engaging the shaft to a second component of the surgical instrument and forming an intermediate segment of the shaft. The proximal segment is welded to a proximal end of the intermediate segment; and the distal segment is welded to a distal end of the intermediate segment. The proximal and distal segments are welded to the intermediate segment such that the one or more features thereof are aligned in a pre-determined orientation relative to one another. | 09-25-2014 |
20140284841 | SURGICAL TISSUE SEALER - A method for manufacturing an end effector assembly includes providing first and second jaw members moveable relative to one another about a pivot between a first, spaced-apart position and a second, approximated position. One of the first and second jaw members includes a cavity defined therein and the other of the first and second jaw members includes a stop member configured to be inserted into the cavity. A gap-setting gauge is grasped between the first and second jaw members to define a gap-distance between the jaw members equivalent to a thickness of the gap-setting gauge. The first and second jaw members are set such that the jaw members are prevented from approximation beyond the gap-distance. | 09-25-2014 |
20150073411 | VESSEL SEALING INSTRUMENT WITH REDUCED THERMAL SPREAD AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREFOR - An electrosurgical vessel sealing instrument having a first and a second opposing jaw member at a distal end thereof, wherein each jaw member includes a jaw housing, a seal plate having a tissue contacting surface and a side wall, and an insulating region disposed on the side wall of the seal plate. The instrument includes the ability to move the jaw members relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue. The insulating region enables precision overmolding of the jaw housing to the seal plate, while advantageously reducing thermal spread and edge cutting during vessel sealing procedures. | 03-12-2015 |
20150083688 | SYSTEM FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTROSURGICAL SEAL PLATES - A system for the manufacture of an end effector assembly which is configured for use with an electrosurgical instrument configured for performing an electrosurgical procedure is provided. The system includes a photolithography module that is configured to etch one or more pockets on a seal surface of the seal plate. A vacuum module is configured to raise, transfer and lower a spacer from a location remote from the pocket(s) on the seal plate to the pocket on the seal plate(s). An adhesive dispensing module is configured to dispense an adhesive into the pocket on the seal plate. An optical module is configured to monitor a volume of the adhesive dispensed within the pocket and monitor placement of the spacer within the pocket. | 03-26-2015 |