Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090151823 | RAPID THERMAL TREATMENT FOR COLORING SURGICAL NEEDLES - An apparatus for thermally treating and coloring a plurality of curved suture needles. The apparatus includes a conveyer for transferring the plurality of curved suture needles from a source of curved suture needles to a receiver, a housing positioned adjacent the conveyer, the housing having a first end, a second end, and an opening running from the first end to the second end, the opening aligned with the conveyer to enable the plurality of curved suture needles to pass therethrough, a heat source located within the housing for heating the plurality of curved suture needles as the plurality of curved suture needles are transferred by the conveyer from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing and a system for providing a gas mixture containing a fractional concentration of oxygen to oxidize and colorize the surfaces of the plurality of curved suture needles as the plurality of suture needles pass through the housing. A process for thermally treating and coloring a plurality of curved suture needles to colorize and enhance the stiffness and yield moment of the curved suture needles is also provided. | 06-18-2009 |
20090157116 | RAPID THERMAL TREATMENT FOR ENHANCING BENDING STIFFNESS AND YIELD MOMENT OF CURVED NEEDLES - An apparatus for thermally treating a plurality of curved suture needles. The apparatus includes a conveyer for transferring the plurality of curved suture needles from a source of curved suture needles to a receiver, a housing positioned adjacent the conveyer, the housing having a first end, a second end, and an opening running from the first end to the second end, the opening aligned with the conveyer to enable the plurality of curved suture needles to pass therethrough, and a heat source located within the housing for heating the plurality of curved suture needles as the plurality of curved suture needles are transferred by the conveyer from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing. Also provided is a process for thermally treating a plurality of curved suture needles to enhance the stiffness and yield moment of the curved suture needles. The curved suture needles so treated have a desirable combination of stiffness, strength and ductility. | 06-18-2009 |
20110108165 | RAPID THERMAL TREATMENT FOR COLORING SURGICAL NEEDLES - An apparatus for thermally treating and coloring a plurality of curved suture needles. The apparatus includes a conveyer for transferring the plurality of curved suture needles from a source of curved suture needles to a receiver, a housing positioned adjacent the conveyer, the housing having a first end, a second end, and an opening running from the first end to the second end, the opening aligned with the conveyer to enable the plurality of curved suture needles to pass therethrough, a heat source located within the housing for heating the plurality of curved suture needles as the plurality of curved suture needles are transferred by the conveyer from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing and a system for providing a gas mixture containing a fractional concentration of oxygen to oxidize and colorize the surfaces of the plurality of curved suture needles as the plurality of suture needles pass through the housing. A process for thermally treating and coloring a plurality of curved suture needles to colorize and enhance the stiffness and yield moment of the curved suture needles is also provided. | 05-12-2011 |
20110290385 | RAPID THERMAL TREATMENT FOR ENHANCING BENDING STIFFNESS AND YIELD MOMENT OF CURVED NEEDLES - An apparatus for thermally treating a plurality of curved suture needles. The apparatus includes a conveyer for transferring the plurality of curved suture needles from a source of curved suture needles to a receiver, a housing positioned adjacent the conveyer, the housing having a first end, a second end, and an opening running from the first end to the second end, the opening aligned with the conveyer to enable the plurality of curved suture needles to pass therethrough, and a heat source located within the housing for heating the plurality of curved suture needles as the plurality of curved suture needles are transferred by the conveyer from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing. Also provided is a process for thermally treating a plurality of curved suture needles to enhance the stiffness and yield moment of the curved suture needles. The curved suture needles so treated have a desirable combination of stiffness, strength and ductility. | 12-01-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120004924 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING IMPROVED OUTCOMES OF COMMUNICATIONS INTENDED TO IMPROVE BEHAVIORS OF THE RECIPIENT - A method for providing targeted messaging for improved outcomes of communications intended to improve behaviors may include determining a profile category of an entity based at least on a correlation of personal information of the entity to characteristics of at least one of a plurality of profile categories, selecting a communication plan defining communication attributes to be employed in communicating with the entity regarding a patient care protocol based at least on the profile category determined, and directing communication of at least one message to the entity in accordance with the communication plan. A corresponding computer program product and apparatus are also provided. | 01-05-2012 |
20120203565 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING IMPROVED PATIENT MEDICATION ADHERENCE - A method for providing improved patient medication adherence may include utilizing claims data indicative of past prescription claims to identify a candidate for an enhanced interview with a care professional in connection with prescription medication therapy, and initiating communication with the care professional to direct the care professional to conduct the enhanced interview with the candidate in connection with delivery of the prescription medication therapy to the candidate. A corresponding computer program product and apparatus are also provided. | 08-09-2012 |
20120232983 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING DYNAMICALLY OPTIMIZED INCENTIVES - A method for providing improved patient medication adherence may include receiving an indication of a current prescription based on claims data associated with a location at which the current prescription is fillable, generating an incentive for a patient associated with the current prescription, and providing the incentive to the patient via an electronically generated message. The incentive may be associated with a product available at the location. A corresponding apparatus is also provided. | 09-13-2012 |
20130006663 | LOCATION-BASED SERVICES FOR PATIENTS - Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for providing at least one message to a patient. In one embodiment, healthcare data may indicate (and/or be used to identify) a patient that has had a prescription filled by a care provider. Messaging to the patient's mobile device can then be provided based on the mobile device's location with regard to the care provider's location. | 01-03-2013 |