Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Ethicon, Gmbh

Other

Hill-rom Services, Inc.

St. Joseph Solutions LLC

Jack E Smith

James J Bedi

Thomas J Sierocuk

Thomas H Graves, Jr

Mark S Ortiz

John A Hibner

Sean P Conlon

Gregory D Bishop

Mark A Burdorff

Joseph F Paraschac

Narinderjit S Sambi

J David Hughett

Eugene David Allen

Warren P Williamson, Iv

Richard Murray Kleber

Darrell L Metz

Michael Ralph Foster

Stanley E Smith

John F Hoying

Matthew C Visca

E David Allen

Mark Fogelberg

Richard A Muzechuk

Albert Victor Fratini, Jr

David E Roberts

John I Jalbing

Michael A Ferguson

Roger L Hildwein

John F Eilerman

Eric D Carlson

William S Smith, Jr

Steven Burnett

Allen F Knecht

Kenneth Merkel

Mark G Pfeiffer

John R Cremons

Jennifer S Giroux

Eugene M Klco

Paul J Mura

Troy M Hill

A medical device support assembly is provided including a base pole, an adjustment pole, and a coupling configured to couple the adjustment pole to the base pole.

Medical device support assembly

A protective-sleeve-cartridge/stethoscope assembly includes a stethoscope and a cartridge mounted to the stethoscope, with the cartridge including a sleeve. In a cartridge-and-sleeve assembly, the assembly includes a cartridge having a first elongated circumferential sidewall, with the first elongated circumferential sidewall defining an interior space. The assembly further includes a sleeve, at least a part of which is stored in the interior space. In this assembly, the cartridge and sleeve are constructed and arranged whereby the cartridge may be mounted to a stethoscope, and at least a part of the sleeve may be dispensed from the cartridge interior space and over a head of the stethoscope. A cartridge for mounting to a stethoscope includes a first elongated circumferential sidewall and a second elongated circumferential sidewall inwardly spaced from the first sidewall. The first and second sidewalls define, between them, a first interior space, with the first interior space constructed and arranged to contain at least a part of a sleeve. The cartridge further includes a first end, and a selectively-moveable cover at the first end, with the cover being moveable between an open position and a closed position, whereby a user may adjust access to the first interior space.

Protective-sleeve cartridge and stethoscope incorporating same

A surgical stapler is provided which is insertable through an endoscopic tube to enable a surgeon to staple a hernia patch to tissue inside a body cavity. The endoscopic surgical stapler includes a staple cartridge pivotally mounted on the distal end of a support tube extending from a handle provided with an actuator mechanism for actuating a staple forming mechanism inside the staple cartridge to fasten staples to the tissue. The staple cartridge is adjustable to different angular orientations relative to the support tube. The staple actuator mechanism is operable to actuate the staple cartridge in any of the angular orientations. The support shaft is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the handle to adjust the rotational orientation of the support shaft and the staple cartridge. The staple cartridge is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the support shaft to adjust the rotational position of the staple cartridge relative to the support shaft. Separate actuator mechanisms are provided on the handle to control the pivotal movement of the staple cartridge, the rotation of the support shaft, and the rotation of the staple cartridge relative to the support shaft.

Endoscopic surgical stapling instrument with pivotable and rotatable

A surgical instrument is provided which is insertable through an endoscopic tube to enable a surgeon to perform a surgical technique inside a body cavity. The surgical instrument includes a shaft with a pivotally mounted tip attached thereto, the shaft extending from a handle for gripping the instrument for insertion to the body cavity. The tip of the shaft is adjustable to different angular orientations relative to the support shaft and is rotatable at any angular orientation of the tip. The support shaft may be rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the handle, or it may be fixed with respect to the handle, in which case the handle may be rotated to rotate the shaft inside the body cavity. In one embodiment, the surgical instrument comprises an endoscopic stapling device and the tip of the instrument comprises a staple cartridge which is rotatable 360.degree. about its axes after the cartridge has been articulated with respect to the support shaft. An improved device for articulating the shaft tip is also provided in which a control knob is mounted to the support shaft for providing sweeping articulation of the shaft tip. Separate actuator mechanisms are provided on the handle to control the pivotal movement of the shaft tip, as well as the rotation of the shaft tip and the rotation of the support shaft.

Endoscopic surgical instrument with pivotable and rotatable staple

An articulable assembly is provided for an endoscopic instrument along with a surgical fastener track therefor. The assembly includes a distal end portion for supporting an end effector to effect tissue manipulation while carrying out a surgical procedure within a body cavity. The assembly includes an articulable joint connecting an elongate support housing with the distal end portion. The joint includes a hollow socket and a convex member that is received in the socket. The convex member defines a passageway for accommodating an actuator extending from the housing through the joint to actuate the end effector. An operator is provided on the housing and extends to the socket or convex member for moving the distal end portion into and out of alignment with the housing. A flexible track is provided for guiding fasteners through the joint.

Articulable socket joint assembly for an endoscopic instrument for

An assembly and a method for quickly mounting a damper to a support structure in a vehicle includes an upper mount assembly mounted on a piston rod of a damper prior to assembly of the damper to a mounting tower. As the piston rod is guided through an opening in the mounting tower, a resilient ring is compressed until it passes through the opening. When the ring clears the opening, it expands radially outwardly to a diameter greater than the diameter of the opening, thereby quickly mounting the piston rod and damper to the vehicle.

Snap-in upper mount assembly and method of use

A crankshaft eccentrically mounted to the engine block bearings of an internal combustion engine for providing improved volumetric efficiency. A modified crankshaft journal and engine block bearing structure is provided at each crankshaft support location so that the connecting rod bearings rotate about an eccentric centerline (EC.sub.L). Eccentricity is achieved by off-setting the crankshaft journals a predetermined distance above the original true centerline (TC.sub.L) of the crankshaft, preferably on the order of about one-quarter to one-half inch. The top dead center (TDC) of each piston remains the same relative to its cylinder, but the bottom dead center (BDC) of each piston relative to its cylinder is lowered by the amount of the off-set because the engine block bearings are lowered with respect to the true centerline of the crankshaft by the amount of the off-set on the crankshaft journals. The crankshaft is forged with the eccentric off-set, then is machined to provide the precise tolerance needed for fitting into the engine block bearings and is harmonically balanced as needed. The engine block bearings are enlarged over the original specification, and are lowered the same predetermined eccentric off-set distance. The crankshaft is then installed in the engine block.

Modified aspirated internal combustion engine

A tube received about a twisted rope torsion bar prevents buckling of the latter and also acts to increase the spring rate.

Multi-rate anti-buckling twisted rope torsion bar

A deflatable sealing member forms a weatherstrip to seal a closure opening. The sealing member includes an operative tubular section designed to provide tight interference engagement between the closure and vehicle body when vented to atmosphere and expanded by built-in resilient memory. A bellows pump is connected to the sealing member through a flow control circuit. The bellows pump serves to deflate the sealing member during closing of the closure. The bellows pump is adapted for convenient mounting in a cavity in the closure or vehicle body spaced from the closure hinge area. A flexible cable connects the bellows pump to the closure or vehicle body to provide the necessary actuation for operation of the bellows pump in response to the swinging movement of the closure. As the closure closes, a bleed port of fixed or variable size located at the pump vents the sealing member to ambient pressure, and the sealing member expands by resilient memory to its full cross section so as to provide a tight seal.

Programmed air leak for deflatable weatherstrip system

A sealing apparatus for a vehicle closure, such as a door, includes a vacuum system for deflating the vehicle weatherstrips or sealing members. A plurality of deflatable sealing members may be connected to a single vacuum source. The system includes a sensor/actuator for detecting motion of the individual vehicle closures and a flow control circuit including valve arrangements for selectively connecting a particular sealing member to the vacuum source. In response to detected closing motion of a particular closure, the sealing member associated with that closure is deflated to allow the closure to close and latch with relatively low effort. Once closed, the sealing member is vented to atmosphere and reexpands by resilient memory to full cross-section thereby providing a relatively tight interference seal. The closure motion sensor/actuator includes a flexible strip having a series of aligned, closely spaced apertures and a cooperating pawl and actuator lever for operating the valves.

Vacuum system for deflating weatherstrips

The invention provides a vehicle seat construction and method of utilization of the same. The inventive vehicle seat construction alternately supports the vehicle seat occupant upon different portions of the vehicle occupant's body. The above massaging effect relieves the vehicle seat occupant of possible discomfort realized after extended driving periods. Additionally, the inventive seat structure provides the alternating support feature while allowing the vehicle seat to function normally in the absence of the power to the pneumatic system which energizes the alternating suport feature.

Alternating pressure pad car seat

An end attachment assembly for a twisted rope torsion bar includes an anchor nut and a plurality of strap wrenches. A plurality of tie rods and a washer secure the assembly and transmit the torque. The torison bar is preferably fabricated of a lightweight glass fiber/epoxy composite material formed in a rope. In operation, the application of torque to the anchor nut results in a rotating/pivoting action by the strap wrenches. The strap associated with each strap wrench loops around the torsion bar and overlaps itself in the area of engagement with a cross bar that forms a cam. As the cross bar rotates/pivots and presses against the engaging portion of the strap, the strap firmly grips the torsion rod. The strap resists by frictional engagement any sliding motion over the torsion bar and against itself in the overlapping region. This compressive action adjusts for the diametral change of the torsion bar upon the application of torque and results in a tighter and tighter grip to the torsion bar. The cooperative interaction between the components of the end attachment assembly and the twisted rope torsion bar prevents concentration of stresses.

Strap wrench end attachment assembly for a twisted rope torsion bar

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Dayton, OH, United States of America

Jack E Smith