K-whit Tools, Inc.

Suros Surgical Systems, Inc.

Other

Polymer Technology Systems, Inc.

Promex Technologies, LLC

White Industries, LLC

Promex/u.s. Biosy LLC

John Phillip Hancock

Ralph A McClelland

Joseph L Mark

Michael E Miller

Charles Butcher

Daniel B White

James J Sutor

Gregory M Lawrence

Robert Huffstodt

Jack L Lawson

Kenneth R White

James D Miller

Kimberly Zinser Huffstodt

Jeffrey S James

Emmanuel Paul Crabtree

A dry test strip assembly includes: a carrier base having a test port and a well adapted for receiving a dry test strip element, and a cover having a sample opening. The cover can be snapped onto the base with the sample opening aligned over the test port and with a test strip element compressed between the base and cover. A maximum dry test strip compression stop controls the maximum compression on the dry test strip, and a minimum dry test strip compression stop controls the minimum compression on the dry test strip. A rib between two test ports prevents fluid flow in the dry test strip element from one side of the rib to another, thereby separating the test strip element into a plurality of separate fluid compartments. A manufacturing system efficiently assembles the dry test strip assembly without handling by humans.

Dry test strip with controlled flow and method of manufacturing same

A disposable tissue removal device comprising a cutting element mounted to a handpiece. The cutting element includes an outer cannula defining a tissue-receiving opening and an inner cannula concentrically disposed within the outer cannula. The outer cannula has a trocar tip at its distal end and a cutting board snugly disposed within the outer cannula. The inner cannula defines an inner lumen that extends the length of the inner cannula and terminates in an inwardly beveled, razor-sharp cutting edge. The inner cannula is driven by both a rotary motor and a reciprocating motor. At the end of its stroke, the inner cannula makes contact with the cutting board to completely sever the tissue. An aspiration vacuum is applied to the inner lumen to aspirate excised tissue through the inner cannula and into a collection trap that is removably mounted to the handpiece. The rotary and reciprocating motors are hydraulically powered through a hydraulic circuit. The hydraulic circuit includes a foot pedal that initiates aspiration vacuum, rotary motion and reciprocation of the inner cannula. The hydraulic circuit is configured so that the inner cannula closes the tissue-receiving opening before the foot pedal is depressed and automatically after the foot pedal is released.

Biopsy apparatus

A disposable tissue removal device comprises a 'tube within a tube' cutting element mounted to a handpiece. The inner cannula of the cutting element defines an inner lumen and terminates in an inwardly beveled, razor-sharp cutting edge. The inner cannula is driven by both a rotary motor and a reciprocating motor. At the end of its stroke, the inner cannula makes contact with the cutting board to completely sever the tissue. An aspiration vacuum is applied to the inner lumen to aspirate excised tissue through the inner cannula and into a collection trap that is removably mounted to the handpiece. The rotary and reciprocating motors are hydraulically powered through a foot pedal operated hydraulic circuit. The entire biopsy device is configured to be disposable. In one embodiment, the cutting element includes a cannula hub that can be connected to a fluid source, such as a valve-controlled saline bag.

A disposable tissue removal device comprises a 'tube within a tube' cutting element mounted to a handpiece. The inner cannula of the cuffing element defines an inner lumen and terminates in an inwardly beveled, razor-sharp cutting edge. The inner cannula is driven by both a rotary motor and a reciprocating motor. At the end of its stroke, the inner cannula makes contact with the cutting board to completely sever the tissue. An aspiration vacuum is applied to the inner lumen to aspirate excised tissue through the inner cannula and into a collection trap that is removably mounted to the handpiece. The rotary and reciprocating motors are hydraulically powered through a foot pedal operated hydraulic circuit. The entire biopsy device is configured to be disposable. In one embodiment, the cutting element includes a cannula hub that can be connected to a fluid source, such as a valve-controlled saline bag.

Selectively detachable outer cannula hub

An automatic tissue sampling apparatus for use with a biopsy needle set includes a housing defining a cavity and a forward end opening for passage of an inner needle and outer cannula. Two carriers are slidably disposed within the cavity and are configured to support one of the inner needle and the outer cannula. Springs operably engage each carrier and have a cocked position to store potential energy and a firing position to releases the potential energy and drive the corresponding carrier toward the forward end of the housing. A single-handed cocking mechanism, operable to sequentially move the each driving mechanism to its respective cocked position, includes a manually operated cocking lever positioned outside the housing. A force transmission mechanism operably coupled between the cocking lever and the carriers is configured so that the force required to manually depress the cocking lever does not increase as the springs are compressed.

Single-handed biopsy system

An automatic tissue sampling apparatus for use with a biopsy needle set having an inner needle and an outer cannula is provided. The apparatus includes a slidably disposed, spring-biased carrier for each of the inner needle and cannula A cocking mechanism is operable to sequentially move the first carrier to its cocked position and the second carrier to its cocked position. The cocking mechanism includes a manually operated cocking lever positioned outside the housing for single handed manipulation while holding the housing. A force transmission mechanism is operably coupled between the cocking lever and the carriers and configured so that the force required to manually depress the cocking lever to force the springs to the cocked positions does not increase as the springs are compressed.

A tissue cutting device is provided that includes an outer cannula defining an outer lumen and a tissue-receiving opening adjacent a distal end of the outer cannula in communication with the outer lumen. An inner cannula is slidably disposed within the outer lumen and defines an inner lumen from an open distal end to an open opposite proximal end. The inner cannula includes a cutting edge at the open distal end operable to sever tissue projecting through the tissue receiving opening. A first hydraulic rotary motor is operably coupled to the inner cannula to rotate the inner cannula within the outer cannula. A second hydraulic reciprocating motor is operably coupled to the inner cannula to translate the inner cannula within the outer cannula while the inner cannula rotates. A hydraulic system provides the first and second hydraulic motors in communication with a source of pressurized fluid.

A disposable tissue removal device comprises a &ldquo;tube within a tube&rdquo; cutting element mounted to a handpiece. The inner cannula of the cutting element defines an inner lumen and terminates in an inwardly beveled, razor-sharp cutting edge. The inner cannula is driven by both a rotary motor and a reciprocating motor. At the end of its stroke, the inner cannula makes contact with the cutting board to completely sever the tissue. An aspiration vacuum is applied to the inner lumen to aspirate excised tissue through the inner cannula and into a collection trap that is removably mounted to the handpiece. The rotary and reciprocating motors are hydraulically powered through a foot pedal operated hydraulic circuit. The entire biopsy device is configured to be disposable. In one embodiment, the cutting element includes a cannula hub that can be connected to a fluid source, such as a valve-controlled saline bag.

A method and apparatus for determining refrigerant density and mass flow rate, and for pressurizing a refrigerant recovery tank while the refrigeration system is being recharged. The mass of a flowing refrigerant is automatically continually determined by reliable static means in a controlled recharging process. Flow-dependent pressure, such as the pressure drop across the orifice, and temperature data are taken from the recharging system and are connected to a data processor which uses the pressure and temperature data to determine the refrigerant density and the mass of the flowing refrigerant that has been used. The pressure of a source of recharging refrigerant can be maintained by withdrawing and heating liquid refrigerant and returning the resulting superheated vapor directly to the source of recharging refrigerant, and recharging operations can proceed during such pressure maintenance.

Method and apparatus for servicing automotive refrigeration systems

A single pass refrigerant recovery device recovers refrigerant from a refrigeration system. The device includes at least one hose for withdrawing refrigerant from the refrigeration system and a first oil separator disposed downstream of the refrigerant hose. A filter is disposed downstream from the oil separator and a compressor is disposed downstream from the filter. A second oil separator is disposed downstream from the compressor, and the condenser is disposed downstream from the second oil separator. A moisture indicator is disposed downstream from the condenser, and a storage tank is disposed downstream from the moisture indicator. The refrigerant recovery device also contains an oil return line having a first end disposed downstream from the second oil separator, and a second end disposed upstream from the compressor. A solenoid valve in the oil return line controls the flow of material in the oil return line. A timer for controls the opening and closing of the valve means for permitting the controlled flow of materials in the oil return line between the oil separator and the compressor during operation of the device to ensure an adequate replenishment of a supply of oil in the compressor, and for biasing the valve in an open position when the device is not operating to permit refrigerant to flow therethrough to substantially balance the pressure upstream from the compressor with the pressure downstream from the compressor.

Refrigerant recovery device

An apparatus and method for controlling the charging of refrigerant into a refrigerant system is disclosed. The apparatus determines the mass amount of refrigerant charged by determining the volume of refrigerant charged, the density of the refrigerant based on its pressure as it is charged, and determines the mass amount charged from the determined density and pressure. The apparatus has a pressure compensated flow valve and determines the volume of refrigerant charged based on the amount of time refrigerant has flowed through the constant flow valve. The type of refrigerant being charged can be selected from a plurality of refrigerant types and the apparatus has a memory in which data related to density and flow characteristics of each refrigerant type is stored. The apparatus uses the data for the selected refrigerant to determine the mass amount of refrigerant charged. The apparatus further determines that the refrigerant supply tank is empty when its pressure decay exceeds a predetermined amount. The apparatus has a manifold in which the constant flow valve is mounted and the apparatus can be made as a portable, hand carried unit. The apparatus can also be used as a mass flowmeter.

Refrigerant charging system controlled by charging pressure change rate

Refrigerant charging system and control system therefor

A device is disclosed for recovering refrigerant from a refrigeration system. The refrigerant recovery device includes a refrigerant processing flow path. The refrigerant processing flow path includes components for withdrawing the refrigerant from the refrigeration system and for processing the refrigerant so removed to remove impurities from the refrigerant. A receiver tank is provided for receiving and storing the processed refrigerant. The receiver tank includes an inlet and an outlet. Components are also provided for transferring the refrigerant from the receiver tank to a transfer tank at an initially evacuated condition, and for preventing the transfer of refrigerant between the receiver tank and the transfer tank when the transfer tank is not in an initially substantially evacuated condition.

Refrigerant recovery device with vacuum operated check valve

A device is disclosed for recovering refrigerant from a mechanical refrigeration system having a high pressure port through which refrigerant can be withdrawn from the system, and a low pressure port through which refrigerant can be withdrawn from the system. The purging device includes a refrigerant storage tank having a first entry port and second entry port. A first refrigerant conduit extends between the high pressure port of the mechanical refrigeration system and the first entry port of the refrigerant storage tank. A second refrigerant conduit extends between the low pressure port of the mechanical refrigeration system and the second entry portion of the refrigerant storage tank. A selectively actuable first flow control arrangement is disposed in the second refrigerant conduit for controlling the flow of refrigerant, to permit the refrigerant to flow from the refrigerant storage tank into the mechanical refrigeration system when the device is in a liquid refrigerant recovery mode of operation, and to permit the refrigerant to flow from the mechanical refrigeration system into the refrigerant storage tank when the device is in a gaseous refrigerant recovery mode of operation.

A single pass refrigerant recovery device recovers refrigerant from a refrigeration system. The device includes at least one hose for withdrawing refrigerant from the refrigeration system and a first oil separator disposed downstream of the refrigerant hose. A filter is disposed downstream from the oil separator and a compressor is disposed downstream from the filter. A second oil separator is disposed downstream from the compressor, and the condensor is disposed downstream from the second oil separator. A moisture indicator is disposed downstream from the condensor, and a storage tank is disposed downstream from the moisture indicator. The refrigerant recovery device also contains an inventive oil separator/filter device that includes a canister having a first chamber portion for separating oil from the refrigerant and a second chamber portion for filtering refrigerant. An inlet is provided through which refrigerant can be introduced into the first chamber portion, and an oil outlet is provided for conducting oil from the first chamber portion. A filter cartridge is placeable in the second chamber portion. A refrigerant outlet is provided through which refrigerant can be withdrawn from the second chamber portion.

Growing community of inventors

Fishers, IN, United States of America

John Phillip Hancock