Other

Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation

Advanced Bionics Corporation

David H Payne

Paul Milton Meadows

Carla Mann Woods

Joey Y Chen

David K Peterson

Nicola Gail Wallis

Matthew Isaac Haller

Stephanie Van Horn

Jianzhong Huang

Douglas Mark Edson

Xinhe Jiang

James A McAllister

A pivot pin assembly for a tree shaker pivotally attaches the clamping arm to the stationary arm. Each end of the cylindrical pivot pin extends outside of a cylindrical bore of the clamping arm. A longitudinal load member extends through an aperture in the stationary arm and into an aperture in the cylindrical pivot pin. An axial load may be applied to the longitudinal load member which compresses a plate of the stationary arm against the cylindrical pivot pin, but without compressing the stationary arm against the clamping arm. This configuration allows substantial torque to be applied to the longitudinal load member, which reduces play between the stationary arm and the clamping arm without inhibiting the free rotation of the clamping arm. Application of this torque eliminates radial and vibratory movement in the shaker head, which otherwise cause damage to the components of the shaker head.

Pivot pin assembly for shaker head

In a shaker head for a tree shaker, a hydraulically actuated ram is mounted between the clamping arm and frame of the shaker head with a pin assembly which extends into a spherical bearing disposed within an aperture of the shaker head. The spherical bearing allows a certain amount of misalignment and provides a through-hardened and lubricated wear point which prevents or reduces structural failure in the shaker head components.

Attachment assembly for hydraulically actuated rams of a shaker head

An improved structure for an implantable medical device, such as an implantable pulse generator, is disclosed. The improved device includes a charging coil for wirelessly receiving energy via induction from an external charger. The charging coil in the device is located substantially equidistantly from the two planar sides of the device case. Because the coil is substantially equidistant within the thickness of the case of the device, the device's orientation within the patient is irrelevant, at least from the standpoint of the efficiency of charging the device using the external charger. Accordingly, charging is not adversely affected if the device is implanted in the patient with the wrong orientation, or if the device flips within the patient after implantation. Moreover, because the central portion of the device naturally corresponds to the largest lateral extent within the case due to the case's curved edges, the charging coil can be made larger in area, which improves its gain vis-&#xe0;-vis the external charger.

Orientation-independent implantable pulse generator

Implantable pulse generators and spinal cord stimulation (SCS) systems are provided. The implantable pulse generator comprises telemetry circuitry configured for wirelessly receiving programming signals from an external programmer, and a plurality of bi-directional current sources configured for being respectively coupled to a plurality of electrodes. The implantable pulse generator further comprises control circuitry configured for directing the bi-directional current sources to output current pulses of a selected amplitude and polarity to the electrodes in accordance with the programming signals. The SCS system may comprise a plurality of electrodes, an external programmer configured for transmitting programming signals, and the afore-described implantable pulse generator as described above. In one embodiment, the SCS system further comprises one or more stimulation leads carrying the electrodes, in which case, the implantable pulse generator may further include a connector removably mated to the stimulation lead(s).

Rechargeable spinal cord stimulator system

A spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system includes multiple electrodes, multiple, independently programmable, stimulation channels within an implantable pulse generator (IPG) which channels can provide concurrent, but unique stimulation fields, permitting virtual electrodes to be realized. The SCS system includes a replenishable power source (e.g., rechargeable battery), that may be recharged using transcutaneous power transmissions between antenna coil pairs. An external charger unit, having its own rechargeable battery can be used to charge the IPG replenishable power source. A real-time clock can provide an auto-run schedule for daily stimulation. An included bi-directional telemetry link in the system informs the patient or clinician the status of the system, including the state of charge of the IPG battery. Other processing circuitry in the IPG allows electrode impedance measurements to be made. Further circuitry in the external battery charger can provide alignment detection for the coil pairs.

Rechargeable spinal cord stimulation system

Non-polar tantalum capacitors and non-polar tantalum capacitor arrays with compact designs are provided. The reduced volume and footprint of the capacitors and arrays in turn reduces the amount of space required in any device in which they are used. In addition, the cost of materials is reduced, and the manufacturing is simplified. Some embodiments of the present invention provide an electromechanical connector between the anode rods of each pair of polar tantalum capacitors, and insulation between the remainder of the capacitor bodies, thus providing a non-polar tantalum capacitor. These non-polar capacitors are mechanically connected to make a non-polar tantalum capacitor array. Other embodiments of the present invention provide for physically connecting the anode rods of the polar capacitors. An insulating encapsulant around the connected rods and between the polar capacitor bodies also holds the capacitors and capacitor arrays together. Additional embodiments of the invention provide an insulating shell in which the polar capacitors are placed, combined with electrical connection and encapsulation of the anode rods.

Non-polarized tantalum capacitor and capacitor array

The invention provides MurA polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding MurA polypeptides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing MurA polypeptides to screen for antibacterial compounds.

Growing community of inventors

Llano, CA, United States of America

David H Payne