Endoevolution, LLC

Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.

Core Distribution, Inc.

Advance Tool, Inc.

Advanced Tool, Inc.

Wayne A Shakal

John C Meade

James Bleck

Gerald I Brecher

Thomas Eagan

John Aho

Jonathan Towle

John F Carlson

Ashley Perkins

James W Murray

Roger Baske

Michael J Helander

Mitchell I Kieffer

Craig S Aizman

Bruce A Hillukka

Micheal J Kelly

Michael J Kelly

Thomas J Walsh

James H Bleck

Devices and methods for minimally invasive suturing are disclosed. One suturing device for minimally invasive suturing includes a proximal section a distal end, and an intermediate region therebetween. The device includes a suture head assembly having a suturing needle with a pointed end and a second end. The suturing needle is capable of rotating about an axis approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the device, wherein the pointed end of the suturing needle is positioned within the suture head assembly prior to deployment of guides that are adapted and configured to guide the needle around a circular path when advanced by a drive mechanism having a needle driver for engaging and rotating the suturing needle.

Devices and methods for minimally invasive suturing

An extendable/retractable ladder assembly includes a first column and a second column, the first column nesting in the second column, and a first rung coupled to, and extending from the second column. A ladder assembly bracket includes a collar portion, which extends about the second column, and a rung portion, which extends from the collar portion into the first rung. The collar portion may be gripped by a hand of an operator in order to position a thumb of the hand in engagement with a button to retract a locking pin of a latch assembly mounted within the rung portion of the bracket.

Ergonomic extendable/retractable ladder

Telescoping ladder rung

Methods and assemblies related to a rotary automatic transfer rail for injection molding are disclosed. In one aspect, the invention includes a mold assembly. The mold assembly may include first, second, and third mold plates. The mold plates may be positioned generally parallel to one another. The mold assembly may include an automatic transfer rail assembly. The automatic transfer rail assembly may include a rail. The automatic transfer rail assembly may include a carrier. The carrier may have first and second members. The carrier may be translatable along the rail between a first closed position and an open position. The carrier may be rotatable about the rail. In some embodiments, molded articles need not be transferred from mold components to a robot and then back to different mold components.

Rotary automatic transfer rail for injection molding

This is an apparatus and method of reducing the cycle time needed to produce molded parts. The cycle time is reduced by moving the molded part while still encapsulated within the mold cavity and core away from the injection position to one or more cooling positions and an ejection position. This enables the cooling and ejection portion of the molding cycle to be performed concurrently with the injection portion of the cycle for proceeding parts.

Concurrent cooling mold

A molding machine and method for reducing the length of a mold cycle by enabling access to a previously molded part while the mold is closed. The machine includes a fixed platen and a platen movable toward and away from the fixed platen. A turret having a plurality of faces is positioned between the fixed and movable platens such that rotatation thereof brings different faces of the turret into alignment with the fixed platen. The fixed platen and at least two opposed turret faces have complementary mold halves that, when closed, define between them the desired shape of a part to be molded. The turret includes an actuator for moving the turret in the direction of movement of the movable platen between a molding position in which the mold halves of one turret face and the complementary mold halves of the fixed platen are closed on each other and an open position in which the turret may rotate about its axis of rotation, the actuator being capable of so moving the turret or of not moving the turret independently of the movement of the movable platen. Movement of the platen away from the turret without opening the mold enables time-saving access to a previously molded part at the opposite face of the turret.

Injection molding apparatus and method

Growing community of inventors

Taylor Falls, MN, United States of America

Wayne A Shakal