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Jeffrey D. Smith

Jeffrey D. Smith, Clayton, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090306671Facet joint implants and delivery tools - A spinal joint distraction system is disclosed and may include a driver assembly with a tubular shaft, a pair of implant holder arms, an implant distractor, an internal actuator, and a distractor knob, the system also including a delivery device with a tubular shaft, a receiving assembly, and a pair of forks, where the delivery device is adapted for slidable insertion of the driver assembly, the system also including an implant, a chisel, and an injector. Several embodiments of an implant are disclosed as well a method of placing an implant.12-10-2009
20090312763Facet joint implants and delivery tools - A spinal joint distraction system is disclosed and may include a delivery device, a driver assembly, and an internal actuator, where the driver assembly is adapted to be hold an implant and be sleevably inserted into the delivery device and the internal actuator is adapted to advance an implant distractor to distract the implant, the system also including an implant, a chisel, an injector, a gripping tool, and a dilator set. Several embodiments of an implant are disclosed as well a method of placing an implant.12-17-2009
20100069912CERVICAL DISTRACTION/IMPLANT DELIVERY DEVICE - Systems for distracting a facet joint and positioning a permanent implant in the joint are disclosed. The implants serve to retain a distracted position of the facet joint which is achieved with positioning of the leading end of a distraction tool in the facet joint and then distracting or enlarging the joint a desired amount. The permanent implant could be part of the distraction mechanism which can be separated from the delivery tool once the joint has been distracted or an auxiliary implant may be positioned before the distraction mechanism is removed from the distracted joint. The permanent implants can be solid, mechanical devices that may have fixation means thereon to hold them in place or injected fluids such as hydrogels or fluids confined within balloons.03-18-2010
20100191241Vertebral joint implants and delivery tools - A spinal joint distraction system for treating a facet joint including articular surfaces having a contour is disclosed and may include a delivery device including a generally tubular structure adapted to engage a facet joint, an implant adapted to be delivered through the delivery device and into the facet joint, the implant comprising two members arranged in opposed position, and an implant distractor comprising a generally elongate member adapted to advance between the two members of the implant causing separation of the members and distraction of the facet joint, wherein the implant is adapted to conform to the shape of the implant distractor and/or the articular surfaces of the facet upon being delivered to the facet joint. Several embodiments of a system, several embodiments of an implant, and several methods are disclosed including a method for interbody fusion.07-29-2010
20110087255SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATMENT OF COMPRESSED NERVES - Disclosed herein is a system for releasing a ligament. In one embodiment, the system includes a proximal handle, a tubular body, and a flexible body. The tubular body includes a proximal end and a distal end. The handle is coupled to the proximal end. The flexible body extends through the tubular body and includes a tissue cutting portion. The flexible body is longitudinally displaceable relative to the tubular body to move the tissue cutting portion between a non-deployed state and a deployed state.04-14-2011
20110306996SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATMENT OF COMPRESSED NERVES - Disclosed herein is a system for releasing a ligament. In one embodiment, the system includes a proximal handle, a tubular body, and a flexible body. The tubular body includes a proximal end and a distal end. The handle is coupled to the proximal end. The flexible body extends through the tubular body and includes a tissue cutting portion. The flexible body or tubular body is longitudinally displaceable to move the tissue cutting portion between a non-deployed state and a deployed state.12-15-2011

Patent applications by Jeffrey D. Smith, Clayton, CA US

Jeffrey D. Smith, Marine On St. Croix, MN US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080293156DEVICES AND METHODS FOR DISPENSING REAGENTS INTO SAMPLES - Devices and methods of dispensing and mixing reagents with samples in an enclosed container in which the amounts of the reagents dispensed into the sample are predetermined. The devices include dispensing covers attached to a funnel that feeds into a sample chamber. The dispensing covers may contain off-axis dispensing chambers that are sealed and that can be opened and any reagent(s) located therein dispensed into the at selected times. The off-axis dispensing chambers are preferably offset from a main axis of the device, such that the reagents dispensed from the dispensing chambers fall, under the force of gravity, onto the funnel wall and are then directed into the sample chamber.11-27-2008
20080299600Apparatus Assembly and Method for Detecting an Analyte - An apparatus assembly for detecting an analyte in a sample of material includes a generally self-contained housing and an indicator cap. The housing is moveable between a sample preparation orientation and a testing orientation and is configured to interchangeably receive a sample collection device and the indicator cap having a testing device for detecting the analyte.12-04-2008
20080302193Apparatus and Method For Detecting an Analyte - An apparatus assembly for detecting an analyte in a sample of material includes a valve, a frame, and a plurality of housing segments. The valve may be actuated to adjust a flow path and flow rate through the housing segments.12-11-2008
20080317637ROTATING REAGENT DISPENSER AND METHODS - Devices and methods of dispensing and mixing reagents with samples in an enclosed container in which the amounts of the reagents dispensed into the sample are predetermined. The devices include a rotating dispenser element attached to a base, wherein an ampoule is located within a cavity in the base. The dispenser elements contain two or more dispensing chambers that are sealed and that can be opened and any reagent(s) located therein dispensed into the ampoule at selected times.12-25-2008
20090019953Apparatus And Method For Detecting An Analyte - An apparatus for detecting an analyte in a sample of material includes a chamber for receiving an eluted sample of material from a sample acquisition device and a testing device adapted to detect the analyte. At least a part of the apparatus assembly is moveable between a sample preparation orientation and a testing orientation.01-22-2009
20090030342APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RELEASING A SAMPLE OF MATERIAL - A first aspect of the present invention provides for devices to facilitate the release of sample materials from sample acquisition devices. The device comprises an abrasion element comprising at least one constriction or projection. A second aspect of the present invention provides for methods in which to use the devices to facilitate the release of sample materials from a sample acquisition device. Optionally, the device may contain at least one reagent to facilitate the release and/or detection of a microorganism, or component thereof, in a sample. Preferably, the devices and methods may be used in conjunction with a liquid medium in which the sample may be further processed.01-29-2009
20100099115SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREPARING AND ANALYZING SAMPLES - The invention relates to systems and methods for preparing and analyzing samples (e.g., mucosal samples) for a microorganism of interest. In particular, the systems and methods are useful for detecting one or more analytes characteristic of a microorganism (i.e., microbe) of interest, such as components of cell walls that are characteristic of a microbe, particularly 04-22-2010
20110182770BIOLOGICAL STERILIZATION INDICATOR, SYSTEM, AND METHODS OF USING SAME - A biological sterilization indicator, system, and methods of determining the effectiveness of a sterilization process. The biological sterilization indicator can include a locus of spores, a reservoir containing a liquid, and a sterilant path positioned to provide fluid communication between ambience and the locus of spores. The reservoir can have a closed state in which the reservoir is not in fluid communication with the locus of spores and an open state in which the reservoir is in fluid communication with the locus of spores. The biological sterilization indicator system can include the biological sterilization indicator and a detection device adapted to be coupled to the biological sterilization indicator. In some embodiments, the method can include assaying the spores for a detectable change in a characteristic, and detecting substantially all of the detectable change.07-28-2011

Patent applications by Jeffrey D. Smith, Marine On St. Croix, MN US

Jeffrey D. Smith, Manhattan, KS US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20100018909VIBRATING SCREEN - A vibrating screen includes a frame, a screen supported by the frame, a vibration device coupled to the frame to vibrate the screen, a pressurized fluid spray assembly operable to discharge a pressurized fluid against the screen, a canopy coupled to the frame and movable between a closed position, in which at least a top side of the screen is covered by the canopy, and an open position, in which at least a portion of the top side of the screen is uncovered, an actuator coupled between the frame and the canopy to move the canopy between the closed and open positions, and a controller operably coupled to the actuator and the pressurized fluid spray assembly. The controller is operable to close the canopy and initiate operation of the pressurized fluid spray assembly in an automated sequence.01-28-2010

Jeffrey D. Smith, Sunrise, FL US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090325597METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTIMIZING MOBILITY OF A MOBILE DEVICE - The application discloses a method and apparatus for optimizing mobility of a mobile device in the wireless communication system. The method includes receiving (12-31-2009

Jeffrey D. Smith, Montreal CA

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090184969Rigless retargeting for character animation - Motion may be transferred between portions of two characters if those portions have a minimum topological similarity. The portions or structures of the source and target character topologies may be represented as one or more descriptive files comprised of a hierarchy of data objects including portion identifiers and functionality descriptors associated with portions of the respective source or target topology. To transfer motion between the source and target characters, the motion associated with the portions or structures of the source character identified by a subset of source portion identifiers having corresponding target portion identifiers is determined. This motion is retargeted to and attached to the corresponding portions or structures of the target character identifiers. As a result, the animation of the portions of the target character effectively animates the target character with motion that is similar to that of the source character.07-23-2009

Jeffrey D. Smith, Croix, MN US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090030341SAMPLE RELEASE SYSTEM - Devices to process a sample are configured to releasably attach a sample acquisition device to a drive mechanism that provides rotational and/or vibrational motion to the sample acquisition device. The devices can be used in sample processing methods to dislodge sample materials from the sample acquisition device. Sample processing methods using rotational or vibrational motion may further include the use of a liquid medium into which the sample is released. Sample processing methods may further include the detection of an analyte in the sample.01-29-2009

Jeffrey D. Smith, Sammamish, WA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20110310891MERCHANT POWERED CLICK-TO-CALL METHOD - A method is disclosed for enhancing the predictability, scalability and cost effectiveness of online advertising with voice over IP connectivity and event tracking technologies. A service provider maintains a list of merchants who have offered to pay for customer VoIP calls to their establishment. The service provider maintains a real time connection with this merchant list and renders an advertisement in a distinguishing way in real time. A potential customer who views this advertisement on a web page may establish a VoIP call session with a merchant by selecting a free click-to-call link on the web page. When the customer places the call, the service provider pays for the call. Merchants in turn pay the service provider for displaying the ads that generated the calls on a price per call, price per impression or fixed fee basis.12-22-2011