Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090013813 | OUT-OF-PLANE CONFIGURATION-ADJUSTING MECHANISM, SYSTEM, AND METHOD - Configuration-adjusting mechanisms include linkages interconnecting first and second layers of a sheet material. The linkages have hinges positioned and oriented to cause motion of at least a portion of the linkages out of a plane of the first and second layers when the mechanisms are actuated. An apparatus, system, and method include one or more of the mechanisms for changing a contour of a surface provided by a cover overlying the mechanisms. An array of mechanisms or mechanisms corresponding to an array of positions on the surface may be selectively actuated to change the contour or texture of the surface. The array of mechanisms for changing the contour can provide user interface buttons selectively actuated by the mechanisms, which cause the buttons to emerge from the surface. A reconfigurable contour may be provided by selectable sets of the buttons associated with respective functions of a control panel, for example. | 01-15-2009 |
20100211106 | Compliant Dynamic Spinal Implant And Associated Methods - A spinal implant comprises a plurality of contiguous segments, said plurality of contiguous segments configured to apply a torque to a degenerate spinal segment in any of three orthogonal axes. At least one mounting connection is configured to connect said spinal implant to a mounting mechanism, said mounting mechanism being configured to attach said spinal implant to said degenerate spinal segment. | 08-19-2010 |
20100217324 | Compliant Dynamic Spinal Implant And Associated Methods - A spinal implant comprises a plurality of contiguous segments, said contiguous segments being prestressed to apply torque that is a function of a negative slope of a moment difference between a degenerative torque-rotation signature and a healthy torque-rotation signature. At least one mounting connection is configured to connect said spinal implant to a mounting mechanism, said mounting mechanism being configured to attach said spinal implant to a degenerate spinal segment. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217326 | Method of Treating A Degenerate Spinal Segment - A method of treating a degenerate spinal segment comprises obtaining a first spinal implant configured to apply a first torque to a degenerate spinal segment having an abnormal curvature and a second spinal implant configured to apply a second torque to said degenerate spinal segment. Each of said spinal implants includes; a plurality of contiguous segments in which said contiguous segments form an angle at a location in which two adjacent contiguous segments of the plurality of contiguous segments intersect; and at least one mounting connection configured to connect said spinal implant to a mounting mechanism, said mounting mechanism being configured to attach said spinal implant to said degenerate spinal segment. Said first spinal implant and said second spinal implant are implanted to said degenerate spinal segment so that said first torque and said second torque act to reduce said abnormal curvature. | 08-26-2010 |
20100222821 | Compliant Dynamic Spinal Implant - A spinal implant comprises a plurality of contiguous segments in which said contiguous segments form an angle at a location in which two adjacent segments of the plurality of contiguous segments intersect. At least one of said contiguous segments is prestressed to form a selected radius of curvature prior to implantation. At least one mounting connection is configured to connect said spinal implant to a mounting mechanism, said mounting mechanism being configured to attach said spinal implant to a degenerate spinal segment. | 09-02-2010 |
20100222823 | Method Of Surgically Implanting A Spinal Implant - A method of surgically implanting a spinal implant comprises obtaining at least one spinal implant configured to apply a torque to a degenerate spinal segment. Said spinal implant includes: a plurality of contiguous segments in which said contiguous segments form an angle at a location in which two adjacent contiguous segments of the plurality of contiguous segments intersect, said contiguous segments configured to apply a torque to said degenerate spinal segment; and at least one mounting connection configured to connect said spinal implant to a mounting mechanism, said mounting mechanism being configured to attach said spinal implant to said degenerate spinal segment. A minimally invasive surgical technique is used to attach said spinal implant to said degenerate spinal segment. | 09-02-2010 |
20100241232 | SPINAL IMPLANT - A spinal implant comprises a first rolling-contact core operably coupled to a first vertebra, said first rolling-contact core having a first convex surface having a first axis, said first convex surface configured to provide a first rolling motion in a first direction to said first vertebra relative to a second vertebra. At least one flexure is connected to said first rolling-contact core, said flexure configured to constrain said first rolling motion. | 09-23-2010 |
20100248343 | Methods and Devices for Charged Molecule Manipulation - Devices and methods for constraining or holding a cell are provided. In one aspect, for example, a cellular constraint device is provided. Such a device can include a support surface and at least one constraining arm movably coupled to the support surface. The constraining arm has a first position in which the constraining arm is substantially parallel and substantially adjacent to the support surface. Additionally, at least a portion of the constraining arm is movable away from the support surface to a second position where the constraining arm is operable to constrain a single cell. | 09-30-2010 |
20100323419 | Methods and Devices for Charged Molecule Manipulation - Systems and methods for manipulating molecular material are provided. In one aspect, for example, a method for manipulating molecular material may include positioning an uncharged needle structure in electrical proximity with a charged molecular material at a first locus in a liquid environment, charging the needle structure such that at least a portion of the charged molecular material becomes associated with the needle structure, moving the needle structure and the first locus relative to one another, and discharging the needle structure to disassociate the charged molecular material at a second locus. | 12-23-2010 |
20120245557 | Laminar Injection Apparatus and Method - A laminar injection apparatus may include a slider layer, a needle flexibly coupled to the slider layer, a medication reservoir in fluid communication with the needle, and a needle guiding layer comprising an aperture for deflecting the needle from a substantially horizontal orientation to a substantially vertical orientation in response to moving the slider layer relative to the needle guiding layer. One or more spring layers may extend the laminar structure into an extended laminar structure. The needle may be thrust into a subject by compressing the extended laminar structure and causing the needle to protrude from the structure and penetrate a subject. In response to the compressive force on the laminar stack, medication may be forced from the medication reservoir through the needle and into the subject. | 09-27-2012 |
20120295345 | APPARATUSES AND RELATED METHODS FOR DELIVERING BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL INTO A CELL - Systems, devices, and methods for protecting a biological material during delivery into a biological structure are provided. In one aspect, for example, a device for protecting and delivering a preselected biological material into a biological structure can include a lance operable to maintain a charge capable of associating a biological material thereto and at least one protective region formed on or in the lance, where the protective region protects the biological material during delivery into a biological structure. | 11-22-2012 |
20120301960 | Lance Device and Associated Methods for Delivering a Biological Material Into a Cell - Systems, devices, and methods for delivering a biological material into a cell are provided. In one example, a lance device for introducing biological material into a cell and configured for use in a nanoinjection system including a microscope is provided. Such a device can include a lance having a tip region and a shaft region, wherein the lance is structurally configured to allow entry and movement of the tip region into the cell along an elongate axis of the tip region and along a focal plane of the microscope. In another example, the lance can be configured to allow substantially horizontal entry and movement of the tip region into the cell. | 11-29-2012 |
20130005040 | Delivery of Biological Materials Into Cellular Organelles - Systems, devices, and methods for delivering a biological material into an organelle of a cell are provided. In one aspect, for example, a method for introducing biological material into an organelle of a cell includes bringing into proximity a lance and a preselected biological material outside of a cell and charging the lance with a polarity and a charge sufficient to electrically associate the preselected biological material with a tip portion of the lance. The method also includes penetrating an outer portion of the cell with the lance and directing and inserting the lance into an organelle, discharging the lance to release at least a portion of the biological material into the organelle, and withdrawing the lance from the cell. | 01-03-2013 |
20130150891 | SERPENTINE SPINAL STABILITY DEVICE - A spinal implant comprising a plurality of contiguous segments that define a segment array, said plurality of contiguous segments extending from a first side of the segment array to a second side of the segment array in an overlapping configuration, said plurality of contiguous segments operable to apply a torque to a degenerate spinal segment in each of three orthogonal axes. At least one mounting connection is configured to connect said spinal implant to a mounting mechanism, said mounting mechanism being configured to attach said spinal implant to said degenerate spinal segment. | 06-13-2013 |
20130177977 | Systems and Devices for Restraining a Cell and Associated Methods - Systems, devices, and methods for restraining a biological structure are provided. In one example, a biological structure restraining device can include a barrier structure, an opening defined in the barrier structure, and at least two contact points positioned adjacent to the opening and oriented to contact the biological structure, wherein the barrier structure and the opening are structurally positioned to receive the cell at the contact points. In another aspect, the device can also include a biological structure manipulator having a structure operable to press the biological structure against the contact points. In yet another aspect, the device can further include a biological structure injector having a structure operable to be inserted through the opening and into the biological structure, wherein the biological structure manipulator is operable to maintain the biological structure against the contact points as the biological structure injector is inserted into the biological structure. | 07-11-2013 |
20130177988 | CYTOPLASM TO ORGANELLE DELIVERY SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - Systems, devices, and methods for delivering a biological material into an organelle of a cell are provided. In one aspect, for example, a method for introducing biological material into an organelle of a cell can include bringing into proximity outside of a cell a lance and a preselected biological material, charging the lance with a polarity and a charge sufficient to electrically associate the preselected biological material with a tip portion of the lance, and penetrating an outer portion of the cell with the lance and directing and inserting the lance into the cell but outside of the organelle. The method can further include discharging the lance to release at least a portion of the biological material, charging the lance with an opposite polarity and charge sufficient to electrophoretically drive at least a portion of the biological material into the organelle, and withdrawing the lance from the cell. | 07-11-2013 |
20140027465 | CONTACT LENS DISPENSING APPARATUS - A contact lens dispensing apparatus may include a container with a lid that removably seals the container, a cradle that cradles a contact lens, and a lifting mechanism connected to the cradle and the lid. The container and lid may collectively form a blister pack with the contact lens sealed therein. The lid may protect the contact lens from foreign matter including bacteria while the contact lens is stored in the container. The lifting mechanism may lift the cradle from a storage position within the container to a dispensing position above the container in response to opening the lid of the container. The cradle may cradle a contact lens placed thereon and enable a user to slide the contact lens off of the cradle. The lifting mechanism and the cradle may be a laminar emergent mechanism that is integrally formed from a planar sheet of material. | 01-30-2014 |
20140093964 | DELIVERY OF BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS INTO CELLULAR ORGANELLES - Systems, devices, and methods for delivering a biological material into an organelle of a cell are provided. In one aspect, for example, a method for introducing biological material into an organelle of a cell includes bringing into proximity a lance and a preselected biological material outside of a cell and charging the lance with a polarity and a charge sufficient to electrically associate the preselected biological material with a tip portion of the lance. The method also includes penetrating an outer portion of the cell with the lance and directing and inserting the lance into an organelle, discharging the lance to release at least a portion of the biological material into the organelle, and withdrawing the lance from the cell. | 04-03-2014 |
20140127813 | CYTOPLASMA TO ORGANELLE DELIVERY SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - Systems, devices, and methods for delivering a biological material into an organelle of a cell are provided. In one aspect, for example, a method for introducing biological material into an organelle of a cell can include bringing into proximity outside of a cell a lance and a preselected biological material, charging the lance with a polarity and a charge sufficient to electrically associate the preselected biological material with a tip portion of the lance, and penetrating an outer portion of the cell with the lance and directing and inserting the lance into the cell but outside of the organelle. The method can further include discharging the lance to release at least a portion of the biological material, charging the lance with an opposite polarity and charge sufficient to electrophoretically drive at least a portion of the biological material into the organelle, and withdrawing the lance from the cell. | 05-08-2014 |
20140199765 | LANCE DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS FOR DELIVERING A BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL INTO A CELL - Systems, devices, and methods for delivering a biological material into a cell are provided. In one example, a lance device for introducing biological material into a cell and configured for use in a nanoinjection system including a microscope is provided. Such a device can include a lance having a tip region and a shaft region, wherein the lance is structurally configured to allow entry and movement of the tip region into the cell along an elongate axis of the tip region and along a focal plane of the microscope. In another example, the lance can be configured to allow substantially horizontal entry and movement of the tip region into the cell. | 07-17-2014 |
20150075583 | FOLDABLE ARRAY OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL PANELS INCLUDING FUNCTIONAL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a foldable array of three-dimensional panels, which may include one or more functional electrical components. For instance, the three-dimensional multi-panel array may be reconfigured from a substantially planar configuration into a three-dimensional configuration. | 03-19-2015 |