Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100274080 | Remote Position Control For Surgical Apparatus - A system for performing a minimally invasive surgical procedure includes a cannula, a surgical instrument for use through the cannula, and a remote positioning system to adjust the relative position between the surgical instrument and the cannula. By allowing a physician to perform the minimally invasive surgical procedure at a distance from the patient, the remote positioning system minimizes the radiation exposure of the physician while still providing accurate control over the procedure. | 10-28-2010 |
20100274255 | Minimally Invasive Cement Delivery System Retainer - A system for performing a minimally invasive surgical procedure comprises a cannula, a bone filler material delivery nozzle for performing the procedure through the cannula, and a retainer for securing the delivery nozzle relative to the cannula. The retainer eliminates the need to manually stabilize and position the delivery nozzle during the procedure, thereby allowing the physician to perform the procedure outside of the fluoroscopic radiation field used to visualize the procedure location. The retainer can be attached to the cannula, and can provide either selective or constant clamping force onto the delivery nozzle. | 10-28-2010 |
20110024145 | SURGICAL APPARATUS WITH FORCE LIMITING CLUTCH - A force-limiting clutch for a surgical instrument includes a drive element and a transmission element. An actuator is coupled to the drive element, and a drive shaft is coupled to the transmission element for providing an output force. If the force input from the actuator to the clutch reaches a predetermined threshold, the force-limiting clutch “slips” and does not transfer the actuator force to the drive shaft to prevent excessive force/pressure output. Normally, drive features on the drive element engage with transmission features on the transmission element to transfer forces from the actuator to the drive shaft. When a threshold force is reached, the drive features slip past the transmission features. This clutch “breakpoint” determines the maximum loading that the surgical instrument can provide at its output. In various embodiments, multiple transmission features can be arranged in a serial manner, such that the force-limiting clutch provides multiple breakpoints. | 02-03-2011 |
20110028980 | HIGH PRESSURE SURGICAL SYSTEM - An instrument for performing a medical procedure includes a drive shafts a holding clutch, a drive clutch, and an actuator. The holding clutch only allows advancement of the drive shaft, while the drive clutch transfers an advancement force from the actuator to the drive shaft. The dual clutch system allows a lever to be used as the actuator so that a user can generate large actuation forces manually (and optionally remotely) without significant physical effort. This capability can beneficially improve the usability and effectiveness of percutaneous surgical systems, such as those for vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. | 02-03-2011 |
20110270181 | Multi-Port Delivery System - A device for delivering material to multiple surgical target locations includes a pressure reservoir selectably coupled to two or more outlets. Coupling the pressure reservoir to a given one of the outlets and pressurizing the pressure reservoir causes flowable material (e.g., bone filler material) to be dispensed from that outlet. A diverter for selectably coupling the pressure reservoir one of the outlets can be configured to trigger a pressure release valve for the pressure reservoir upon switching, thereby preventing unexpected or uncontrolled material delivery from the new outlet in response to sudden high pressure exposure. | 11-03-2011 |
20120029296 | EXPANDABLE CANNULA ASSEMBLIES FOR USE IN PERCUTANEOUS SURGICAL PROCEDURES - In one form, an expandable cannula assembly for use in percutaneous surgical procedures includes an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end. The elongate body includes a pair of elongate members that cooperate to define a working channel extending between a proximal end and a distal end and being expandable from a first, unexpanded configuration to a second, expanded configuration. The elongate members are displaceable away from one another along the longitudinal axis from the proximal end to the distal end of the working channel in order to expand the working channel from the first configuration to the second configuration. In one aspect, the elongate members engage with one another to lock the working channel in the second configuration and prevent movement of the elongate members toward one another. However, in other embodiments, different forms and applications are envisioned. | 02-02-2012 |
20120232601 | SURGICAL TOOL FOR ADJUSTING A SPINAL IMPLANT - A surgical instrument and/or method of using a surgical instrument during spinal surgery. The surgical instrument may find particular applicability to spinal implants for the intervertebral disc space that require relative rotation between parts in order to change the height of the implant. The instrument includes a knob that rotatable and selectively longitudinally moveable relative to a handle section. In a forward position, turning the knob turns a drive shaft that is coupled to the rotatable actuator of the implant, and causes the implant to expand or retract depending on the direction of rotation. In the rearward position, the drive shaft is retracted, and turning the knob turns a coupling shaft, distinct from the drive shaft, for decoupling the implant from the instrument. | 09-13-2012 |
20140192611 | BONE CEMENT MIXING AND DELIVERY SYSTEM WITH REDUCED FUME EXPOSURE - A system for bone cement includes a vial holder configured for receiving a vial and including a holding structure for maintaining the vial in the vial holder. The vial includes a monomer component for bone cement. A holder chamber is configured to receive and secure the vial holder. The vial holder is advanced toward a vial-breaking device for breaking the vial and releasing its contents into the holder chamber past the elastomeric seal. Once the vial holder is advanced further the elastomeric seal is deformed to form a seal and prevent fumes produced from escaping from the device. | 07-10-2014 |
20140269147 | BONE CEMENT MIXING AND DELIVERY SYSTEM WITH REDUCED FUME EXPOSURE - A device for mixing and containing fumes for a bone cement component including a base. The base includes an inner wall defines a chamber having a first sealable opening and a passageway. A handle extends between a proximal end and a distal end and includes a seal at the distal end. A plunger housing is configured for moveable disposal of the handle and includes a second sealable opening. The plunger housing is configured to contain a vial therein. The plunger housing is configured for engagement with the base. The plunger housing is configured to move within the passageway. A collapsible paddle attached to the handle between the proximal and distal end and configured to mix the bone cement. | 09-18-2014 |
20140309647 | Minimally Invasive Cement Delivery System Retainer - A system for performing a minimally invasive surgical procedure comprises a cannula, a bone filler material delivery nozzle for performing the procedure through the cannula, and a retainer for securing the delivery nozzle relative to the cannula. The retainer eliminates the need to manually stabilize and position the delivery nozzle during the procedure, thereby allowing the physician to perform the procedure outside of the fluoroscopic radiation field used to visualize the procedure location. The retainer can be attached to the cannula, and can provide either selective or constant clamping force onto the delivery nozzle. | 10-16-2014 |
20150018834 | MULTI-PORT DELIVERY SYSTEM - A device for delivering material to multiple surgical target locations includes a pressure reservoir selectably coupled to two or more outlets. Coupling the pressure reservoir to a given one of the outlets and pressurizing the pressure reservoir causes flowable material (e.g., bone filler material) to be dispensed from that outlet. A diverter for selectably coupling the pressure reservoir one of the outlets can be configured to trigger a pressure release valve for the pressure reservoir upon switching, thereby preventing unexpected or uncontrolled material delivery from the new outlet in response to sudden high pressure exposure. | 01-15-2015 |
20150182274 | HIGH PRESSURE SURGICAL SYSTEM - An instrument for performing a medical procedure includes a drive shaft, a holding clutch, a drive clutch, and an actuator. The holding clutch only allows advancement of the drive shaft, while the drive clutch transfers an advancement force from the actuator to the drive shaft. The dual clutch system allows a lever to be used as the actuator so that a user can generate large actuation forces manually (and optionally remotely) without significant physical effort. This capability can beneficially improve the usability and effectiveness of percutaneous surgical systems, such as those for vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. | 07-02-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130299378 | Strengthening Glass Containers - A glass container and related methods of manufacturing a glass container. A solution having a composition including a silane, a solvent, a catalyst, and water, is applied to an exterior glass surface of the glass container, at a temperature between 40 and 60 degrees Celsius, such that the solution at least partially fills the surface imperfections. The glass container is heated at a temperature greater than 500 degrees Celsius to produce Si—O—Si bonds with the exterior glass surface of the glass container to result in a coating having between 10% and 20% silicate-based material by weight. | 11-14-2013 |
20130341228 | Glass Container Having A Graphic Data Carrier - A method of making a glass container with an optically readable graphic data carrier. A glass container is exposed to electromagnetic radiation to produce discoloration within the glass of the container, and then focused beam energy is directed at the glass container in a pattern corresponding to a desired graphic data carrier to heat the glass and selectively remove the discoloration in the pattern corresponding to the desired graphic data carrier. | 12-26-2013 |
20140001181 | UV-Cured Strengthening Coating For Glass Containers | 01-02-2014 |
20140117240 | Inspectable Black Glass Containers - A soda-lime-silica glass container and related methods of manufacturing. A black-strikable glass composition having a base glass portion and a latent colorant portion is prepared. The base glass portion includes soda-lime-silica glass materials and one or more blue colorant materials, and the latent colorant portion includes cuprous oxide (Cu | 05-01-2014 |
20140120278 | Color-Strikable Glass Containers - Latent colorant material compositions, soda-lime-silica glass compositions, and related methods of manufacturing color-strikable glass containers. The latent colorant material compositions may be introduced into a plurality of base glass compositions having redox numbers in the range of −40 to +20 to produce color-strikable glass compositions and color-strikable glass containers. The latent colorant material compositions introduced into the base glass compositions include a mixture of cuprous oxide (Cu | 05-01-2014 |
20140154438 | SURFACE TREATMENT PROCESS FOR GLASS CONTAINERS - A glass container and a process for chemically modifying a surface portion of a glass container using an ion-exchange process. At least a portion of the glass container is immersed in or in contact with an aqueous electrolyte solution comprising salts of at least one group IA alkali metal and having a temperature of about 75 degrees Celsius such that exchangeable alkali metal ions in a surface portion of the glass container are exchanged or replaced by alkali metal ions in the electrolyte solution. The alkali metal ions that replace the exchangeable ions in the surface portion of the glass container have either a smaller or a larger atomic radius than the exchangeable ions. | 06-05-2014 |
20140182337 | Coatings for Enhancing Glass Strength - Methods of manufacturing and coating a glass container by applying an aminofunctional silane coating composition to an exterior surface of the glass container, and then curing the silane coating composition to form a crosslinked siloxane coating on the exterior surface of the glass container. | 07-03-2014 |
20150060444 | Polysilazane-Derived Coating for Glass Containers - A glass container and a process for forming an inorganic silica coating on an exterior surface of the glass container to improve one or more surface characteristics of the glass container. A sol-gel solution including a polysilazane and an organic solvent is applied to the exterior surface of the glass container to form a sol-gel coating thereon. The glass container and the sol-gel coating are then exposed to a water vapor-containing environment and heated at a temperature of between 150 degrees Celsius and 600 degrees Celsius to transform the sol-gel coating into an inorganic silica coating. The as-formed silica coating has a hardness of greater than 8.5 GPa and is bonded to the exterior surface of the glass container through a plurality of siloxane bonds. | 03-05-2015 |
20150110980 | Process for Cullet Beneficiation - A process for cullet beneficiation by precipitation. A mass of cullet is melted to form a body of molten glass having a heavy metal con ration of greater than 100 ppm. A precipitate agent is introduced into the body of molten glass to form a heavy metal-containing precipitate phase and a liquid beneficiated glass phase within the body of molten glass. The precipitate phase may have a density greater than that of the liquid beneficiated glass phase. Thereafter, the liquid beneficiated glass phase is physically separated from the precipitate phase. The separated liquid beneficiated glass phase has a reduced concentration of heavy metals, as compared to the concentration of heavy metals in the body of molten glass. | 04-23-2015 |
20150210591 | Surface Treatment Process for Glass Containers - A glass container and a process for chemically modifying a surface portion of a glass container using an ion-exchange process. At least a portion of the glass container is immersed in or in contact with an aqueous electrolyte solution comprising salts of at least one group IA alkali metal and having a temperature of about 75 degrees Celsius such that exchangeable alkali metal ions in a surface portion of the glass container are exchanged or replaced by alkali metal ions in the electrolyte solution. The alkali metal ions that replace the exchangeable ions in the surface portion of the glass container have either a smaller or a larger atomic radius than the exchangeable ions. | 07-30-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100072326 | INTEGRATED LOCKING CONTROL AND STATUS INDICATOR FOR MANUALLY OPERATED RAILWAY SWITCH STAND - The invention relates to a device to be integrated with to a manual switch stand, particularly for use in dark territory. The device secures the spindle of the switch stand against rotation, thereby preventing authorized throwing of the switches. The device also contains sensors that will clearly indicate to an external observer both the position of the switch points and the locked or unlocked status of the switch stand. A particular sequence of steps must be taken before an operator will be able to unlock the switch stand and throw the switch, and further steps are required before he can secure the switch stand and remove his key. The switch stand must therefore be left in a locked state, and it continuously indicates the status of the switch stand to a remote monitor. | 03-25-2010 |
20140339373 | DUAL INDEPENDENT CONTROL HYDRAULIC SWITCH MACHINE - A hydraulically powered switch machine having power and manual operating modes, and a dual disconnect mechanism. In power operation mode, the machine may be operated remotely, or using controls located on or near the machine. In the event of power failure, the machine may be operated manually. The dual disconnect mechanism physically disconnects the powered throw mechanism when the machine is operating in manual mode and physically disconnects the manual throw mechanism when the machine is operating in power mode, in both cases preventing unexpected movement of the manual throw mechanism. | 11-20-2014 |
20150159332 | SPRING WING CONTROLLER - A controller for a spring wing on a frog that utilizes a floating piston rod carrying a fixed piston valve and a free-moving piston head is provided. When the piston rod is actuated by the opening movement of the spring wing, the piston valve separates from the piston head briefly, allowing oil to flow through the piston head in a relatively unrestricted manner. The piston head is spring biased towards the piston valve; upon contact between the piston head and the piston valve, the oil flow through the piston head stops, helping to hold the spring wing in the open position. When the spring wing begins to close, the adjustable oil flow through the controller allows the piston rod to move at a controlled rate, thereby controlling the closure rate of the spring wing. | 06-11-2015 |