Other

Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc.

Froezert USA Inc.

Conmed Corporation

Medsafe Inc.

Byron Medical, Inc.

Reginald H Fowler

Garrett Barker

C Kenneth French

Shafi Parekh

Daniel A Palmer

Bernard M Geiger

Joseph J Cerola

James J Headen

Donald W Hunter

Allan Coplin

Alexander Tsimberg

Zaya H Malik

Devices and methods of use of such devices for pumping fluid and for use in surgical procedures preferably include vacuum-driven pumps for providing irrigation and suction functions to the surgical field. Such pumps may be freestanding, external to or integrated into handpieces of the surgical instruments.

Methods and devices for pumping fluid and performing surgical procedures

The automatically controlled pump supplies pressurized irrigation fluid to a surgical site. The pump system includes a motor in a housing and a pump in a housing defining input and output ports. The pump has a rotatable impeller. The motor is powered by batteries. The system operates in conjunction with a downstream manual suction/irrigation control valve. In one system, an ON/OFF motor switch is controlled by fluid flow above a nominal flow by a sensor typically mounted downstream of the pump. In another, flow is detected by a negative buoyancy poppet having a 'leaky' valve seat. When the poppet moves, its position is sensed and the switched motor is ON. In a remote control system, the motor is remotely controlled by a switch integrated into the manual control valve. One method automatically controls a pump by monitoring fluid flow above a system minimal flow and turning ON/OFF the motor based upon flow above the minimum.

Surgical system pump and method therefor

The automatically controlled pump includes a battery-powered motor with a housing, a pump in a housing with input and output ports. A switch turns ON and OFF the motor due to fluid pressure at the output. Sometimes, the pump housing is below the motor housing and below the battery housing. The input port is beneath the impeller and the output port. A version also includes a manual ON and OFF switch actuated by an operator and a check valve limiting upstream flow of the pressurized fluid. The fluid pressure sensitive switch is mounted downstream of the check valve. An irrigation surgical kit includes the automatically controlled pump, a spike for a fluid source bag, fluid lines and an operator controlled valve unit disposed at or near the surgical site. The method monitors fluid pressure at or near the pump's output and turns ON and OFF the motor.

The automatically controlled pump includes a battery-powered motor with a housing, a pump in a housing with input and output ports. A switch turns ON and OFF the motor due to fluid pressure at the output, Sometimes, the pump housing is below the motor housing and below the battery housing. The input port is beneath the impeller and the output port. A version also includes a manual ON aid OFF switch actuated by an operator and a check valve limiting upstream flow of the pressurized fluid. The fluid pressure sensitive switch is mounted downstream of the check valve. An irrigation surgical kit includes the automatically controlled pump, a spike for a fluid source bag, fluid lines and an operator controlled valve unit disposed at or near the surgical site. The method monitors fluid pressure at or near the pump's output and turns ON and OFF the motor.

A disposable liposuction device and method. A piston is caused to reciprocate by operating a single valve. The electrical energy for operating the valve is provided by an electric timing circuit that is powered by a battery. The energy provided by the battery is predetermined so that the energy is depleted after about the time required for one liposuction procedure.

Disposable liposuction device and method

The automatically controlled pump supplies pressurized irrigation fluid to a surgical site. The pump system includes a motor in a housing and a pump in a housing defining input and output ports. The pump has a rotatable impeller. The motor is powered by one or more batteries. An ON/OFF motor switch is controlled by fluid flow above a nominal flow by a sensor typically mounted downstream of the pump. The system operates in conjunction with a downstream manual control valve. Flow above a system minimal flow is detected by a negative buoyancy poppet having a &ldquo;leaky&rdquo; valve seat. When the poppet moves into a flow chamber, the switched motor is ON. Various position sensors may be used, i.e., an optical sensor. The method automatically controls a pump by monitoring fluid flow above a system minimal flow and turning ON/OFF the motor based upon flow above the minimum.

Surgical system pump with flow sensor and method therefor

An apparatus for refrigerating and dispensing soft serve food products from one or more containers of product maintained at temperatures, respectively, appropriate for the products. The containers comprise flexible and impermeable bags having heat sink structures contained therein and the apparatus includes respective container receptacles and a refrigeration system having cooling sections located adjacent the respective receptacles wherein the cooling sections are aligned with the heat sink structures of the containers when the containers are seated within the receptacles. Adjustable refrigerant controls are provided for controlling the flow of refrigerant to the respective cooling sections and a monitoring system, including pneumatic and electric control circuits, provides signals corresponding to the volume of space in a container receptacle external of the flexible bag to detect the existence of an empty or nearly empty container. The monitoring system includes a comparison and logic circuit as well as signal generators for indicating that a product container is empty. The refrigerant system is also operable in a defrosting mode for raising the temperatures of the products in the respective containers and for deicing the containers and receptacles.

Chilled product dispensing apparatus

A method and apparatus for maintaining and dispensing chilled or frozen products including a plurality of dispensing apparati each within a chilled chamber and each having a valve outlet through which the chilled or frozen product is dispensed. In another aspect the chilled or soft frozen product dispensing apparatus utilizes gas pressure extrusion of the chilled or soft frozen products wherein the chilled or soft frozen product passes along a heat extrusion head projection as it is extruded which results in a dispensing of uniformly chilled flowable food products.

Chilled product dispensing system

Disclosed is a shower head dispenser for bath oil and the like which includes a body member with an axial bore adapted for insertion between a shower line and a shower head. The body member has two longitudinally spaced apertures in its side wall which communicate between the bore and a detachable oil container. A plug is rotatably mounted in the bore of the body. It has an axial venturi bore therethrough, and a pair of transverse bores, one of which intercepts the axial bore at the venturi throat, and the other of which intercepts the axial bore upstream of the throat. The transverse bores of the plug are registrable with the apertures of the body upon rotation of the plug. When water passes through the venturi bore of the plug with the transverse bores aligned with the apertures, the greater pressure at the upstream bore and aperture forces oil out of the container through the downstream bore and aperture into the venturi throat, where it mixes with water enroute to the shower head.

Growing community of inventors

Garland, TX, United States of America

Reginald H Fowler