The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 29, 2001
Filed:
Aug. 03, 1998
Kevin L. Nickels, Bloomington, MN (US);
Matthew J. Dunfee, Jordan, MN (US);
David A. Lung, Lakeville, MN (US);
Roy A. Facklam, Henderson, MN (US);
William A. Funk, Eagan, MN (US);
Francis C. Peterson, Prescott, WI (US);
Kinesis Medical, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
An force generator includes an elongate force generator body that has a longitudinal dimension and has a fluid chamber defined therein. The force generator body exhibits a dimensional extension responsive to an increase in fluid in the fluid chamber and a dimensional retraction responsive to a decrease in fluid in the fluid chamber. A restraint apparatus channels the dimensional extension/retraction into the longitudinal dimension and restrains dimensional extension in a dimension transverse thereto.