Caterpillar Inc.

Eclipse Surgical Technologies, Inc.

Resect Medical, Inc.

Angiodynamics, Inc.

S.d.m.h. Pty. Ltd.

Other

Metcal, Inc.

Rita Medical Systems, Inc.

Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Gynecare, Inc.

Steven A Daniel

Norval P Thomson

Daniel Peter Sergison

David Lawson Morris

Daniel J Balbierz

Stuart D Harman

John V Mount

Rick Emerson

Richard L Mueller

Robert M Pearson

Timothy C Reynolds

Michael G Cronin

Alan R Coutant

Douglas R Murphy-Chutorian

Kee S Lee

Kenneth G Olson

Christopher Erik Bright

Mark J Cowell

W Christopher Swick

Avert Glen Vannette

Robert D Russell

Andres Tamayo

Takehito Jimbo

Karen Frischmeyer

Amr Salahieh

Michael J Rosinko

Zia Yassinzadeh

Richard Dean Phipps

U Hiram Chee

Michael D Anderson

Robert LaDuca

Corwin Eugene Storer

Douglas James Carlton

Claudio I Zanelli

Robert E Stone

Theodore C Johnson

Robert D Warner

Daniel S Brown

Gail Stevens

Todd A Thompson

Lauren K Lundquist

C Erik Bright

Alan J Griffiths

Zachary E Owyang

Todd M Weier

Bradley J McManus

Laylock Rick A

J Swapna Basana

Liam W Keane

Gregg W Stone

Kee Sein Lee

David L Morris

A tissue ablation system including numerous components and methods is described herein for encircling target tissue and generating tissue ablation volumes in various biological tissues. The biological tissue includes tissue of a variety of organs of the human body including the liver, spleen, kidney, lung, breast and other organs, but is not so limited. The tissue ablation device comprises an energy source and at least one trocar coupled to the energy source, the trocar having a body, a proximal end, and a distal end. The trocar carries an electrode array that comprises a plurality of electrodes, each electrode of the plurality of electrodes is configured to extend from the trocar when moved from a retracted state to a deployed state, and to have at least one radius of curvature in the deployed state so that the electrode array forms a series of shaped electrodes in the deployed state.

Devices and methods for thermal ablation of biological tissue using geometric ablation patterns

Energy delivery systems and methods are provided for use in biological tissue. The energy delivery system includes an energy source and an electrode array. The electrode array includes bipolar electrodes positioned so a first spacing between a pair of adjacent electrodes is different relative to a second spacing between at least one other pair of adjacent electrodes. The electrode array and the energy source are coupled and configured to generate uniform energy density in target tissue according to impedance of the target tissue.

Thermal hemostasis and/or coagulation of tissue

A tissue ablation device and method for tissue ablation are described. The tissue ablation device comprises an energy source and an introducer coupled to the energy source, the introducer having a body, a proximal end, and a distal end. The introducer carries an electrode array that comprises a plurality of electrodes, each electrode of the plurality of electrodes is configured to extend from the body of the introducer when moved from a retracted state to a deployed state. The electrode array is designed to encircle a portion of a target tissue when the electrodes are extended into the deployed state and to form a relatively spherical shaped ablation pattern in a tissue volume surrounding the target tissue when energized by the energy source.

Device and method for thermal ablation of biological tissue using spherical ablation patterns

A motor grader with an adjustable wheelbase. The motor grader may include front and rear wheels supporting a chassis and a main frame. A working blade may downwardly depend from the main frame between the front wheels and rear wheels to perform work on the ground below. The motor grader may also provide an adjustable wheel base to allow the center of gravity of the motor grader to better match the work load being addressed. The adjustable wheel base may also provide more swing clearance for the blade relative to the rear wheels, allow for an adjustable articulation angle, and minimize structural loads on the motor grader, particularly during ripping operation. The wheel base may be adjustable by providing structure through which the relative positions of the rear wheels can be altered automatically, manually, and dynamically.

Variable wheelbase motor grader

A steering system for steering a machine having opposing first and second sides with first and second pairs of rotatably mounted rear wheels disposed along the respective sides and at least one rotatably mounted, spaced front wheel. The system includes at least one first drive unit and at least one second drive unit for rotating the rear wheels of the respective pairs, and a steering input device that provides a signal to a controller that produces drive unit request signals to control the drive units to rotate the associated rear wheels along one side at rotational speeds greater than those along the other side to facilitate turning.

Steering system and method of steering a machine

A method of braking a hydrostatic drive machine includes steps of reducing a displacement of a pump of a hydrostatic drive system to a non-zero displacement, and increasing a displacement of a motor of the hydrostatic drive system to a displacement that is less than a maximum displacement. The method also includes a step of accelerating an engine of the hydrostatic drive system toward a desired engine speed range.

Control system and method for braking a hydrostatic drive machine

A machine () includes a frame () portion and a tandem wheel arrangement, which includes a main linkage () and a stabilizing linkage () that are pivotally connected to the frame () portion. A first mount () and a second mount () are pivotally connected to the main linkage () and to the stabilizing linkage (), such that the main linkage (), the stabilizing linkage (), the first mount (), and the second mount () define a four-bar-linkage arrangement () that operates to transfer unbalanced torque loads from the first mount () and the second mount () to the frame () portion.

Tandem wheel arrangement

A wheel end assembly comprises a wheel hub support housing and a wheel hub drive assembly rotatably connected to the wheel hub support housing. The wheel end assembly also includes a hydraulic motor operatively coupled to the wheel hub drive assembly, the hydraulic motor being disposed to deliver a torque to the wheel hub drive assembly. The wheel end assembly further includes a pump, fluidly coupled to the wheel hub drive assembly and the hydraulic motor, the pump being disposed to provide a flow of hydraulic fluid to the wheel hub drive assembly.

Wheel end with integrated motor assembly

The machine may have a power system that includes a prime mover, a multiple-ratio transmission, a propulsion device, and power-system controls. The method may include propelling the machine by transmitting power from the prime mover to the propulsion device through the multiple-ratio transmission, while controlling operation of the prime mover and the multiple-ratio transmission with the power-system controls. This may include determining with the power-system controls at least one energy-efficiency estimate based at least on energy-efficiency characteristics of the prime mover and energy-efficiency characteristics of the multiple-ratio transmission. Controlling the prime mover and the multiple-ratio transmission may further include controlling a prime-mover operating speed of the prime mover and a transmission drive ratio of the multiple-ratio transmission based at least in-part on the at least one energy-efficiency estimate.

Machine having a multiple-ratio transmission

A wheel tractor scraper having a rear wheel drive assist, the wheel tractor scraper includes a tractor portion pivotally coupled to a rear scraper portion, the rear scraper portion having a bowl for hauling material and a fluid powered work tool configured to assist in loading the bowl, the work tool powered by a fluid pump connected to a fluid operated work tool motor. The rear wheel drive assist includes a fluid operated drive motor coupled to the rear wheels of the machine, a diverter valve having a first position at which fluid flow is delivered from the pump to the work tool motor and a second position at which fluid flow is delivered from the pump to the drive motor, and a controller being configured to control the diverter valve to engage the rear wheel drive assist. The machine may be operated by engaging the pump and work tool motor, and then actuating the diverter valve to the second position to divert flow from the work tool motor to the drive motor.

Wheel tractor scraper rear wheel drive assist and method of operation

A rear wheel drive assist for a wheel tractor scraper, the wheel tractor scraper having a tractor portion with a power source operatively connected to the front driven wheels, and a rear, scraper portion having a bowl, work tool, and first and second rear wheels, the rear wheel drive assist includes a work tool pump fluidly connected to a work tool motor to drive the work tool, fluid operated drive motors operatively connected to the rear wheels, and a diverter valve selectively movable between a first position that delivers fluid flow from the pump to the work tool motor, and a second position that delivers fluid flow from the work tool pump to the rear wheel drive motors.

Rear wheel drive assist for a wheel tractor scraper

A tandem drive arrangement includes one or more independently driven wheels () that are arranged in a tandem configuration along a beam (). The beam () is rotatably connected to a frame () of a machine (). The tandem drive arrangement further includes an actuator () operating to selectively impart a rotating moment to the beam (). The rotating moment tends to rotate the beam () in one direction and counteracts a torque imbalance resulting from operation of motors () rotating one or more independently driven wheels () connected to the beam ().

System and method for load balancing in a tandem wheel arrangement

A radiator of a cooling system is disposed within an engine compartment, between a rear mounted engine and a cab on a wheeled machine. The remaining components within the engine compartment are arranged such that they are lower in height than the radiator, the engine compartment enclosure generally angling down from the cab rearward. The enclosure includes an air intake that opens into a gap between the enclosure and cab. A fan disposed rearward the radiator may pull cooling air through the air intake and past the radiator.

Cooling system packaging arrangement for a machine

Growing community of inventors

Fremont, CA, United States of America

Steven A Daniel