Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8146600 | Apparatus and methods for treating sleep apnea Apparatus and methods are provided for treating sleep apnea, snoring, and the like using an implant within an oropharyngeal region adjacent an anterior longitudinal ligament. The implant includes an endless loop defining a curved central region between first and sec... | 04/03/2012 |
| 8128654 | Apparatus and methods for sealing a vascular puncture An apparatus for sealing a puncture communicating with a blood vessel includes an inner member slidable within an outer member, and a balloon coupled to distal ends of the inner and outer members. A proximal end of the outer member includes a port for delivering flu... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8112419 | Unified geographic database and method of creating, maintaining and using the same A Universal Geographic Database (“UGD”) is provided that includes a real-time, automated registry/clearinghouse for the publication and retrieval of real-world locations and location-related information for businesses and other entities. By this registry, entiti... | 02/07/2012 |
| 8104478 | Apparatus and methods for treating sleep apnea An apparatus and method for treating sleep apnea and/or snoring is provided. The apparatus includes an appliance sized and structured to be placed in the pharyngeal region of a human or animal and being effective in treating sleep apnea and/or snoring, for example i... | 01/31/2012 |
| 8098793 | Device for cushioning of compression surfaces According to the present invention, improved methods and apparatus are provided for providing cushioning and other ergonomic surfaces on devices requiring the patient or tissue to be compressed, such as radiography machines, fluoroscopy units, mammography units and ... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8070898 | Catheters with lubricious linings and methods for making and using them Apparatus and methods are provided for creating tubular devices, e.g., as components for catheters, sheaths, and or other devices sized for introduction into a patient. In one embodiment, a method is provided for making a tubular device using a sheet of material inc... | 12/06/2011 |
| 8068206 | Customized electronic displays and methods of customizing the physical size and/or shape thereof Electronic displays are physically reshaped and/or resized to meet custom specifications for special applications such as avionics, where Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) are not typically used. Customization includes cutting the physic... | 11/29/2011 |
| 8043313 | Apparatus and methods for treating obstructions within body lumens An apparatus is provided that is operable in different modes to perform various functions for treating a body lumen. The apparatus includes a shaft including a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen extending therebetween, and a balloon on the distal end having an inte... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8029533 | Apparatus and methods for sealing a vascular puncture An apparatus for sealing a puncture includes a positioning member including a proximal end, a distal end sized for insertion into a puncture, an expandable element on the distal end, and a tension indicator on the proximal end. The tension indicator includes a dista... | 10/04/2011 |
| 8016748 | Apparatus and methods for coronary sinus access Apparatus and methods for locating morphological features within a body cavity using a catheter including proximal and distal ends, a transparent balloon carried on the distal end, and an optical imaging assembly carried on the distal end for imaging through the bal... | 09/13/2011 |
| 8002742 | Apparatus and methods for sealing a puncture in tissue An occlusion device for sealing a puncture through tissue includes a tubular wire member having a proximal end, a distal end sized for insertion into the puncture, a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, a port adjacent the proximal end communicating... | 08/23/2011 |
| 7993367 | Apparatus and methods for sealing a vascular puncture Apparatus and methods for sealing a puncture through tissue includes an introducer sheath sized for introduction into a puncture, cartridge sized for insertion into the introducer carrying a sealant, and a locking element for coupling the introducer sheath to the ca... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7992566 | Apparatus and methods for treating sleep apnea An apparatus and methods for treating sleep apnea and/or snoring are provided. The apparatus includes an appliance sized and structured to be placed in the pharyngeal region of a human or animal. The appliance, when so placed is effective in treating sleep apnea and... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7985240 | Occlusion member and tensioner apparatus and methods of their use for sealing a vascular puncture Apparatus for sealing a puncture includes an elongate occlusion member having a balloon attached to distal ends of telescoping inner and outer members. A housing on the proximal end of the outer member includes a piston coupled to the inner member and slidable withi... | 07/26/2011 |
| RE42471 | System and method for monitoring eye movement Apparatus for monitoring movement of a person's eye, e.g., to monitor drowsiness. The system includes a frame that is worn on a person's head, an array of emitters on the frame for directing light towards the person's eye, and an array of sensors on the frame for de... | 06/21/2011 |
| 7938051 | Apparatus and methods for cutting electronic displays during resizing Apparatus and methods for resizing electronic displays are provided. The display includes a front plate, a back plate, a perimeter seal spacing the front and back plates apart, image-generating medium contained in an area between the plates, and polarizing layers an... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7887476 | Helical brachytherapy apparatus and methods of using same Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for delivering brachytherapy into a target tissue region, e.g., a breast. In some embodiments, a flexible brachytherapy device is implanted that includes a therapy delivery portion having one or more radioactive sources s... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7862601 | Apparatus and methods for delivering a stent into an ostium Apparatus and methods are provided for delivering a stent into an ostium. The apparatus includes a catheter including a proximal end, a distal end, and proximal and distal balloons disposed adjacent one another on the distal end. The balloons are expandable independ... | 01/04/2011 |
| 7862498 | Expandable brachytherapy apparatus and methods for using them Apparatus for delivering brachytherapy to a target tissue region includes an elongate body including a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into a tissue tract and carrying a plurality of elongate members including pathways for receiving a source of rad... | 01/04/2011 |
| 7862496 | Brachytherapy apparatus and methods for using them Apparatus for delivering brachytherapy to a target tissue region includes an elongate body including a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into a tissue tract and carrying a plurality of elongate members including pathways for receiving a source of rad... | 01/04/2011 |
| 7806856 | Apparatus and method for temporary hemostasis An apparatus for providing hemostasis within a puncture through tissue includes an elongate member having a lumen extending between proximal and distal ends thereof, an expandable member carried on the distal end and a housing on the proximal end, the housing includ... | 10/05/2010 |
| 7803172 | Apparatus and methods for sealing a vascular puncture Apparatus for sealing a puncture communicating with a blood vessel includes a porous carrier formed from lyophilized hydrogel or other material. The plug may include at least first and second hydrogel precursors and a pH adjusting agent carried by the porous carrier... | 09/28/2010 |
| 7791418 | Systems and methods for compensating for variations of the output of a real-time clock Method and systems are provided for adjusting real-time clocks to compensate for frequency offset, temperature effects, and/or aging effects. ... | 09/07/2010 |
| 7790192 | Apparatus and methods for sealing a vascular puncture Apparatus for sealing a puncture communicating with a blood vessel includes a porous carrier formed from lyophilized hydrogel or other material. The plug may include at least first and second hydrogel precursors and a pH adjusting agent carried by the porous carrier... | 09/07/2010 |
| 7785434 | Catheters with lubricious linings and methods for making and using them Apparatus and methods are provided for substantially continuously forming thin-walled sleeves that may be incorporated into tubular devices sized for introduction into a patient. In one embodiment, a pair of sheets including coated surfaces oriented towards one anot... | 08/31/2010 |
| 7780492 | Apparatus and methods for resizing electronic displays Apparatus and methods for resizing COTS AMLCDs or other electronic displays, as well as resized displays made using these apparatus and methods, are provided. The electronic display includes a front plate, a back plate, a perimeter seal spacing the front and back pl... | 08/24/2010 |
| 7762995 | Expandable guide sheath and apparatus and methods using such sheaths Apparatus and methods are provided for accessing body lumens and/or for delivering instruments into body lumens, e.g., vessels within a patient's vasculature. A flexible sheath is provided that is expandable from a contracted condition to an enlarged condition where... | 07/27/2010 |
| 7736292 | Brachytherapy apparatus and methods of using same Apparatus, systems and methods for delivering brachytherapy to a target tissue region of a human or other mammalian body. In some embodiments, a flexible brachytherapy device is implanted that includes a therapy delivery portion having one or more radioactive source... | 06/15/2010 |
| RE41376 | System and method for monitoring eye movement Apparatus for monitoring movement of a person's eye, e.g., to monitor drowsiness. The system includes a frame that is worn on a person's head, an array of emitters on the frame for directing light towards the person's eye, and an array of sensors on the frame for de... | 06/15/2010 |
| 7708233 | Apparatus and methods for mounting flat panel displays Apparatus and methods are provided for mounting a flat panel display to an outer surface of a control panel over a panel opening therein, e.g., for retrofitting an existing display. A display is secured to a frame, and the frame is mounted to the control panel such ... | 05/04/2010 |
| 7654496 | Quick release bracket A backrest for a motorcycle includes a base plate including an upper portion, and a lower portion including first and second opposing ends. A frame and/or pad are attached to the support portion. The lower portion includes a first vertical recess in the first end, a... | 02/02/2010 |
| 7647931 | Stent for maintaining patency of a body region An apparatus and method for maintaining patency of a vessel or other body region is provided. The apparatus includes an appliance having a non-circumferential form and being effective in maintaining patency or openness, or causing to become patent or open, a body re... | 01/19/2010 |
| 7622276 | Methods for processing biological tissue A method for processing biological tissue used in biological prostheses includes providing a tissue procurement solution formed from a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution and a chelating agent. The tissue is transferred from the tissue procurement solution and ... | 11/24/2009 |
| 7616732 | Device for cushioning of compression surfaces A compression device for a mammography unit includes a compression plate positionable in an x-ray field of the mammography unit, and a radiolucent foam pad removably attached to the compression plate that includes an impermeable exposed surface for contacting tissue... | 11/10/2009 |
| 7601113 | Brachytherapy apparatus and methods of using same Apparatus, systems and methods for delivering brachytherapy to a target tissue region of a human or other mammalian body. In some embodiments, a flexible brachytherapy device is implanted that includes a therapy delivery portion having one or more radioactive source... | 10/13/2009 |
| 7597711 | Heart valve assembly with slidable coupling connections A heart valve assembly includes a base including a multi-lobular annular shape within a plane, a valve member or other annular body including a multi-lobular shape complementary to the shape of the base, and cooperating connectors on the base and the annular body fo... | 10/06/2009 |
| 7582111 | Steep-taper flared stents and apparatus and methods for delivering them A stent includes a first portion including first and second bands of cells that flare outwardly when the stent is expanded from a contracted to a flared condition, and a second portion connected to the first portion by flexible connectors. During use, the stent is i... | 09/01/2009 |
| 7572484 | Methods for making abrasive articles having decorative patterns Methods are disclosed for making abrasive articles including decorative patterns. In one embodiment, the method includes printing inks or dyes onto an upper surface of a foam sheet to create a decorative pattern thereon, and bonding abrasive material over the decora... | 08/11/2009 |
| 7556710 | Catheters with lubricious linings and methods for making and using them Coated devices for introduction into bodies and methods for making and using them are provided, such as delivery sheaths, guidewire lumen cores, and elongate leads. In one embodiment, a tubular device includes a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into... | 07/07/2009 |
| 7556647 | Attachment device and methods of using the same Devices for attaching a first mass and a second mass and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. The devices can be made from an resilient, elastic or deformable materials. The devices can be used to attach a heart valve ring to a biological annulus. The... | 07/07/2009 |
