Johnson & Johnson Professional, Inc.

Westerbeke Corporation

Engineered Plastics Solutions Group, Inc.

Erik S Larson

John H Westerbeke, Jr

Michael J Bettuchi

Jorge A Ochoa

Thomas S Thornhill

Richard D Scott

Richard C Techiera

William H Kennefick

Thomas Vincent Doherty

Richard L Nie

A method of controlling emissions from a fixed-speed internal combustion engine includes injecting a controlled flow of air into the exhaust between a first catalyst bed adapted to reduce HC and NOx emissions, and a second catalyst bed adapted to reduce CO emissions. The flow of air is controlled to optimize the level of CO emissions, preferably as a function of engine load or temperature. In a marine engine-generator set, the flow of air is controlled as a function of generator load or temperature of the exhaust mixture entering the second catalyst bed, and seawater is injected into the exhaust stream downstream of the catalysts.

Emissions control

Engine safety features include an intake silencer defining an internal volume sized to help attenuate air pressure fluctuations generated within the carburetor and engine and transmitted back through the entering combustion air, and also functions as a flame arrester. An internal drip well collects fuel droplets to be siphoned through a hose back to the engine intake system for combustion. The carburetor bowl operates to allow gas and relatively safe vapor out of the carburetor during venting, but disallows liquid fuel from flowing out of the carburetor through the vent. A ball check valve drain disposed in an air intake enables suction of liquid fuel from the silencer into the intake manifold but inhibits suction of air. These features are useful modifications of commercially available engines to improve their suitability for marine applications such as on board electrical power generation, for example.

Combustion engines

A key retaining device that secures the functional section of the key while leaving the non functional section exposed for easy identification. The device is able to lock individual keys on a large key chain without interference with the non locked keys. The key can only be removed with the use of a master key. The device's simple and inexpensive design includes only five components: namely a housing to enclose the key, two deformable substrates, a unique set screw, and a master key. There is a bore inside the housing that runs longitudinally within the housing. The bore has a threaded section that contains the screw and a non-threaded section that contains the two deformable substrates. There is a blind slot at the base of the housing which runs from one side of the housing to the non-threaded section of the bore. The functional section of the key is placed through the blind slot, into the non-threaded section of bore, and between the two deformable substrates. The master key then turns down the screw which clamps the deformable substrates around the functional section of the key. The unique design of the substrates will not damage the key upon clamping but will immobilize the key to prevent removal. The key is simply removed by turning back the screw using the master key and pulling key out of the blind slot.

Non damaging key lock

A bone allograft applicator device and system is effective to apply a bone graft slurry to an artificial joint without having to remove a previously implanted prosthetic component. In one embodiment, the device includes a hollow member coupled to an actuation mechanism for discharging the bone slurry from the device via a nozzle coupled to a distal end of the hollow member. The device can be used to discharge bone graft slurry from the nozzle and through a screw hole in an acetabular component implanted in the acetabulum of a patient. A bone allograft system can include various components for loading the device with the slurry and/or a plurality of nozzles each having a geometry suited for a particular application.

Morsellized bone allograft applicator device

A tool for measuring tissue tension during joint surgery has a tissue gripping end and a measurement assembly. The tool is preferably configured as a pair of tongs, with a mechanism that fixes the tongs to grip tissue with its tissue gripping end while the measurement assembly measures the tension in, or spreading force applied on the tissue gripped therein. In use, the joint is moved through a range of motion while the tool is attached, and the measurement assembly displays changes in tissue tension due to movement of the joint. A prototype tool implemented as a pair of tongs has tissue-gripping pincer points that are held closed by a ratchet bar assembly. The ratchet bar assembly is a telescoping cross bar which moves against the restraining force of an extension spring to register the spreading force exerted on the pincer arms by the tissue under tension. An annular stop member about each pincer point limits tissue penetration, and provides a defined surface against which the tissue acts allowing precise calibration of the device.

Knee incision tensile gauge

A guide and cutting system is provided that is effective to accurately and efficiently resect a bone, such as the femur, to accept joint prosthesis components. In particular, the guide and cutting system of the invention is useful to resect the distal end of the femur to form an intercondylar notch therein that will accept a posterior stabilized femoral component in the prosthesis. The system includes a guide component that with a square bushing is attachable to bone or to a separate guide assembly. A cutting device that includes a rotatable cutting device disposed inside a non-rotatable housing is insertable within the guide bushing to effect bone resection.

Growing community of inventors

Norwood, MA, United States of America

Erik S Larson