Bizarre Patents
Pet Toilet-Like Water Disk and Food Storage
One pet-friendly inventor patented "a device for watering pets, e.g., a dog or cat." The device, he helpfully noted, "has the general shape of a toilet."
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8096945 | Disposable speculums having single-sided support and operating mechanism The embodiments disclosed herein relate to disposable speculums, and more particularly to disposable vaginal speculums having single-sided support and operating mechanisms. In an embodiment, a speculum includes an upper member having an upper blade and a hinge assem... | 01/17/2012 |
| 7935052 | Forceps with spring loaded end effector assembly An endoscopic forceps for treating tissue includes a handle assembly having a elongated shaft extending therefrom that is movable relative to the handle assembly by an actuator. The forceps also includes an end effector assembly with first and second jaw members tha... | 05/03/2011 |
| 7867163 | Instrument and method for remotely manipulating a tissue structure A retractor and a surgical tool are positioned within a cannula, and a dissection cradle of the retractor is positioned at the distal end of the cannula. The retractor includes a dissection cradle that is resiliently supported along an axis skewed relative to the ax... | 01/11/2011 |
| 7476198 | Cannula-based surgical instrument A retractor and a surgical tool are positioned within a cannula, and a dissection cradle of the retractor is positioned at the distal end of the cannula. The retractor includes a dissection cradle that is resiliently supported along an axis skewed relative to the ax... | 01/13/2009 |
| 7427264 | Instruments and methods for selective tissue retraction through a retractor sleeve Methods and instruments for performing surgery in a patient are provided that minimize tissue dissection and retraction to access locations within the patient. One specific application concerns devices, instruments and techniques that provide for selective retractio... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7409267 | Predictive robot, control method for predictive robot, and predictive robotic system A predictive robot includes a prediction-related item storage to store terms related to prediction performance, a first communicator which transmits stored prediction-related terms and receives a search result of information search with regard to the prediction-rela... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7338434 | Method and system for organ positioning and stabilization This invention provides a heart positioning device, method and system for positioning, manipulating, holding, grasping, immobilizing and/or stabilizing a heart. The heart positioning device may include a suction head and a shaft with a means for remotely changing th... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7326177 | Tissue stabilizer having an articulating lift element Devices and methods are disclosed for stabilizing tissue within a patient's body during a surgical operation to provide a relatively motionless surgical field, such as during a coronary artery bypass graft procedure. The devices include tissue stabilizers which enga... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7322935 | Endoscopic retractor An endoscopic retractor includes a tube having a proximal end and a distal end with a push rod extending therethrough. The proximal ends of the push rod is provided with a threaded portion. A rotatable handle is coupled to the proximal end of the tube and threadably... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7311663 | Multi-positionable vaginal speculum with removable blades A speculum provides visual access to a body cavity, and such instrument is used by physicians for vaginal examination. The speculum comprises a handle having a frontal portion and a rear portion slidingly secured to the frontal portion. A blade angle positioner is p... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7311664 | Apparatus for temporarily engaging body tissue An improved tissue engagement device such as a suction stabilizer or retractor. The stabilizer or retractor is provided with one or more suction pods mounted to the distal end of a flexible arm. The flexible arm is coupled to a base assembly, which attaches the arm ... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7300448 | Balloon dissector with cannula There are disclosed various embodiments of a balloon dissector and balloon tip cannula assembly which are provided to facilitate forming an anatomical space within the body, such as, for example, an anatomical space in the abdominal cavity or extraperitoneal space f... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7300401 | Combined mouth expanding and saliva ejecting dental apparatus A combined mouth retracting and saliva ejecting device has a forward suction portion, a right cheek retractor portion, a left cheek retractor portion, and a rearward suction portion, the device being configured to be placed within the mouth of a dental patient. The ... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7245989 | Three-degree-of-freedom parallel robot arm A robot arm includes a drive assembly and an articulated arm assembly pivotally connected to the drive assembly. The articulated arm includes a pivoting base link system, a wrist link system, and a first elbow link system rotatably connected to the base link system ... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7201716 | Method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue The invention is a method and apparatus for performing beating heart surgery, in which a single articulating arm supports multiple suction pods. Once the suction pods are applied to the heart surface, tightening a cable fixes the arm in place. Then, the suction pods... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7179224 | Organ manipulator and positioner and methods of using the same Devices and methods are provided for manipulating and supporting an organ. The subject devices are characterized by having an inflatable annular member having a central opening and an organ contacting surface, a vacuum distribution element configured to create a dif... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7150714 | Minimally invasive surgical spinal exposure system A minimally invasive retractor system is shown which has a support frame having two opposing pairs of horizontally oriented sides. The sides of the frame can be adjusted to vary an interior space of the frame. Four retractor blades are mounted on the frame for engag... | 12/19/2006 |
| 7146225 | Methods and apparatus for accessing and stabilizing an area of the heart An epicardial lead installation tool having an elongated tool body extending between a tool body proximal and distal ends and encloses a tool body lumen. At least one suction pad supported by a suction pad strut extends distally to a distal end surface of the tool b... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7137949 | Surgical instrument A mounting assembly for mounting a surgical instrument to a base, which facilitates positioning a surgical instrument relative to the surgical site so that only the minimum portion of the instrument is positioned in the free space available around the surgical site.... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7112172 | Endoscopic organ retraction system and method of using the same The present disclosure relates to a retraction system for retracting body organs and/or body tissue in a body cavity. The retraction system includes an elongate shaft configured and dimensioned to be inserted into the body cavity, a retractor device operatively asso... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7086862 | Tooth bleaching process A system and method for tooth bleaching are disclosed wherein a patient's mouth is prepped for tooth bleaching treatment, a light activated tooth bleaching composition is applied on a tooth surface to be bleached, a lamp assembly is placed in position to activate th... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7070561 | Adjustable weighted vaginal speculum An adjustable weighted speculum for use during vaginal surgery to separate the vaginal walls. The speculum includes a telescopic blade including a primary blade having first and second ends and a recess extending therethrough, and a secondary blade having a first an... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7060029 | Speculum with attachable blades for lateral wall retraction A pair of lateral structures is removably attached to a vaginal speculum after the speculum is inserted and opened to retract anterior and posterior vaginal tissue. Each of the lateral structures includes a blade extending along a side of a space provided between th... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7060021 | Method and device for improving cardiac function In a method for improving cardiac function, a compressive device is inserted into an intrapericardial space about a lower end portion of a heart. Thereafter the compressive device is operated to compress and close off lower portions of both ventricles of the heart. | 06/13/2006 |
| 7018328 | Tissue stabilizer A tissue stabilizer is disclosed that comprises a malleable planer foot integrated into a flexible membrane and is useful for stabilizing tissue such as the heart while performing surgery thereon. The malleable planar foot has an open central region and a rigid arm ... | 03/28/2006 |
| 6976957 | Cannula-based surgical instrument and method A retractor and a surgical tool are positioned within a cannula, and a dissection cradle of the retractor is positioned at the distal end of the cannula. The retractor includes a dissection cradle that is resiliently supported along an axis skewed relative to the ax... | 12/20/2005 |
| 6974464 | Supportless atrioventricular heart valve and minimally invasive delivery systems thereof A supportless atrioventricular valve intended for attaching to a circumferential valve ring and papillary muscles of a patient comprising a singular flexible membrane of tissue or synthetic biomaterial, wherein a minimally invasive delivery system is provided throug... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6958038 | Multipositional ratchet device for surgical retractor The invention disclosed herein relates to a multipositional ratchet device for use in conjunction with a surgical retractor assembly. The ratchet device of the invention permits both independent and simultaneous adjustment of the longitudinal axial positioning of a ... | 10/25/2005 |
| 6951538 | Retractor and method for spinal pedicle screw placement To avoid traditional muscle dissection required in the placement of a screw for a pedicle screw fixation, a retractor is provided having a guide of an appropriate length to provide access from the skin surface to the dorsal aspect of the vertebra over the pedicle. T... | 10/04/2005 |
| 6949113 | Barrier device for ostium of left atrial appendage A membrane applied to the ostium of an atrial appendage for blocking blood from entering the atrial appendage which can form blood clots therein is disclosed. The membrane also prevents blood clots in the atrial appendage from escaping therefrom and entering the blo... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6945933 | Instruments and methods for minimally invasive tissue retraction and surgery Methods and devices retract tissue for minimally invasive surgery in a patient. A retractor includes a working channel formed by a first portion and a second portion. The first and second portions are movable relative to one another from a first configuration for in... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6939296 | Laparoscopic illumination apparatus and method An access device particularly adapted for use in laparoscopic surgery facilitates access with instruments, such as the hand of the surgeon, across a body wall and into a body cavity. The device can be formed of a gel material having properties for forming a zero sea... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6939297 | Apparatus and methods for cardiac surgery The invention provides a stabilizer having a foot to stabilize a patient's heart. The stabilizer has a first foot which is larger than a second foot. The first foot has lateral surfaces which are used to retract other parts of the heart while contact surfaces stabil... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6932764 | Multipurpose circular retractor A multipurpose retractor is disclosed for use in surgical operations. The retractor can also be used as a speculum. The retractor is made from metal plates, springs, strings, hinges, rods and a worm gear system. The retractor can expand from having a very small diam... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6929663 | Longitudinally expanding medical device A stent for maintaining an open passageway through a body lumen, such as the prostatic urethra of a male patient, includes an elongated segment including a flexible polymer material bridging a plurality of hoops. The elongated segment defines a lumen extending there... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6921226 | Adjustable support apparatus An adjustable support apparatus for, e.g., supporting an instrument. The adjustable support apparatus may include a supporting member, an adjustable member engaging with the supporting member, a fastening member engaged with the adjustable member and an elongated me... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6901928 | Superglottic and peri-laryngeal apparatus for supraglottic airway insertion A superglottic and peri-laryngeal apparatus for supraglottic airway device insertion that contemporaneously clears a patient's upper airway of the tongue and other pharyngeal tissues, and raises the epiglottis without use of the medical practitioner's fingers in the... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6893394 | Illuminated and vacuum assisted retractor A retractor including: an extension member having distal and proximal ends; a retractor member connected to the distal end of the extension member, the retractor member having a retractor surface. In a first implementation, at least a portion of the retractor surfac... | 05/17/2005 |
| 6875171 | Tissue grasping device A device having a tissue-engaging member including a generally concave vacuum compartment. The vacuum compartment defines a contacting peripheral edge for contacting a portion of body tissue. The vacuum compartment also defines two compartment grasping portions. The... | 04/05/2005 |
| 6767324 | Epicardial cooled stabilizer for beating heart surgery An epicardial cooled stabilizer system is useful for surgical or laparoscopic applications, especially beating heart surgery. The system comprises a stabilizer connected to a cooler/pump where coolant flows into tubing at the distal end of the stabilizer. The tubing... | 07/27/2004 |
