Humphrey Products Company

Stryker Corporation

Mark William Friedman

Adam Darwin Downey

Robert Brian Knepple

Craig Charles Mulder

Darryl D Daniel

Robert Mitchell Baldwin, Ii

Dennis A Reed

Benjamin Fineout

Michael Teasdale Smith

Keith Waters

Steve Nichols

Matthew Welker

Jon Bodnar

Anthony William Gatica

Brett Robert Merkel

Jonathan Bodnar

Brett Merkel

Anthony Gatica

Robert A Kracker

Brett R Merkel

Darryl D Ii Daniel

Anthony W Gatica

An expandable seal for adjoiningly sealing components together includes an elongate body having opposed open ends defining a passage through the body and a flexible outer cover, with the seal being configured for insertion into cavities of adjoined components to seal there between. The body comprises a rigid support configured as a separate component from the flexible cover with the support including an aperture between the open ends, and wherein the open ends comprise a pair of distally opposed support ends with the aperture disposed between the support ends. The cover has a pair of distally opposed cover ends that are engaged with an external portion of respective support ends, with the cover including a central section disposed between the cover ends and over the aperture of the support.

Expandable sealing sleeve with rigid support

An aspiration system to control vacuum pressure in an ultrasonic surgical handpiece to result in improved control responsiveness during aspiration. The system comprises a console including a vacuum pump. The system includes a cassette comprising a joint that divides a vacuum path into at least two flow paths. A first joint port couples to a first flow path. A second flow path is coupled to a second joint port, a third flow path is coupled to a third joint port, and a fourth flow path is coupled to a port on a surgical waste receiver. A first sensor senses pressure in the fourth flow path and provides a waste receiver pressure signal. A second sensor senses pressure in the third flow path and provides a tip pressure signal. The controller controls a position of a first vent valve and a second vent valve based on the waste receiver pressure signal and the tip pressure signal, respectively.

Systems and methods for improving control responsiveness during aspiration

A modular valve assembly is formed from multiple modular valves having a valve base and a valve actuator. Each base includes at least a first channel and a second channel and an internal passage forming an opening in the first channel so as to be in selective fluid communication with an exterior port of the valve base, and with the second channel being a through passage that is not in fluid communication with the internal passage. Adjacent valve bases are interconnectable in one of two orientations either with the first and second channels of one valve base being aligned with the first and second channels, respectively, of an adjacent valve base, or with the first and second channels of one valve base being aligned with the second and first channels, respectively, of an adjacent valve base. The valve bases may be provided with third and fourth channels for three-way operability.

Modular valve assembly

A valve assembly for selectively enabling discharge of fluid includes a plurality of valves that are selectively moveable between a closed position and an open position and a cam that selectively actuates the valves. The cam is moveable between a first position in which fluid is sealed from discharge by the valves and a second position in which the valves are in the open position. An electrical actuator and a manual actuator are connected to the cam, with both the electrical actuator and the manual actuator being separately operable to move the cam into the second position upon actuation. The valve assembly may further include a housing within which the valves are disposed for movement.

Cam actuated valve assembly with manual and electric activation

An actuator for selectively moving a part relative to another part includes a shape memory wire, which contracts when heated. One portion of the shape memory wire is fixed to a first body, and another portion of the shape memory wire is coupled to a second body, which is movable relative to the first body. When heated the shape memory wire contracts and moves the second body in a direction of travel from a first position relative to the first body toward a second position. The actuator further includes a magnetic field for generating a magnetic force on the second body. The magnetic force acts on and moves the second body in the direction of travel to the second position after the shape memory wire initially contracts, and further decouples the second body from the shape memory wire when applying the magnetic force to the second body to thereby unload the load on the shape memory wire when the second body is moved to the second position.

Actuator and valve assembly

An actuator for selectively moving a part relative to another part includes a shape memory wire, which contracts upon heating, and a magnetic field. One end of the shape memory wire is fixed to a first body. The other end of the shape memory wire is coupled to a second body, which is movable relative to the first body. When heated, the shape memory wire contracts and moves the second body in a direction of travel from a first position relative to the first body toward a second position. A magnetic field generates a magnetic force on the second body, which acts on and moves the second body in the direction of travel to the second position after the shape memory wire initially contracts to thereby reduce the load on the shape memory wire when the second body is moved to the second position. The actuator may be used, for example, to move the valve stem in a valve.

A powered wheeled carriage includes a patient support and a wheeled base. An auxiliary wheel mechanism includes an auxiliary wheel spring support for biasing an auxiliary wheel into contact with a floor. Operating a control apparatus moves the auxiliary wheel away from the floor. A drive handle pivots about a single axis to control a drive motor that powers the auxiliary wheel. The drive handle controls driving of the wheeled carriage in forward and rearward directions. A decision/drive circuit ramps the speed of the wheeled carriage for a few second after start-up to prevent a jerking motion. A display/control panel displays the condition of the carriage brake and the condition of the auxiliary wheel to assist an operator.

Method for driving a wheeled carriage

A power assisted wheeled carriage includes a patient support having a length, a wheeled base supporting the patient support, and an auxiliary wheel mechanism including an auxiliary wheel spring support for biasing an auxiliary wheel into contact with a floor. The carriage further includes a control apparatus for moving the auxiliary wheel away from the floor. The auxiliary wheel spring support can be a spring steel member having an opening and biased to move the auxiliary wheel into contact with the floor. The control apparatus can include a foot pedal for turning a rotatable shaft that enables a cam apparatus to apply an upward force to the auxiliary wheel. The wheeled carriage also includes a drive handle pivotable about a single axis to control a drive motor for the auxiliary wheel. The drive handle controls driving of the wheeled carriage in forward and rearward directions.

Growing community of inventors

Portage, MI, United States of America

Mark William Friedman