Did You Know...
...that the inventor of the electric motor was a blacksmith named Thomas Davenport? Described as "a brilliantly unsuccessful inventor", Davenport invented the first rotary electric motor. In 1836 he headed out -- on foot -- from his Vermont home to file a patent application at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By the time he got there, he had squandered away his money and couldn't afford the $30 filing fee so he turned around and went home. When he later mailed in his application with money he'd raised, the Patent office was destroyed in a fire. He did finally get credit for his invention on Feb. 5, 1837.
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8088162 | Membrane pump for synthetic muscle actuation A synthetic muscle comprises an outer layer having an interior filled with a proton containing electrolyte. A first electrode extends into the interior, and a second electrode extends through the interior. The second electrode is attached to the outer layer at two l... | 01/03/2012 |
| 7955389 | Artificial sphincter system An artificial sphincter system having: (1) a hollow object, which has the ability of contraction and expansion; (2) a shape memory alloy (SMA), which is connected with the hollow object, changes its shape to imitate the motion of human muscle by applying different e... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7883541 | Muscle-based grafts/implants The present invention is directed to a composition comprising a matrix suitable for implantation in humans, comprising defatted, shredded, allogeneic human muscle tissue that has been combined with an aqueous carrier and dried in a predetermined shape. Also disclose... | 02/08/2011 |
| 7618452 | Artificially produced, three-dimensional muscle tissue The invention relates to a device for producing a three-dimensional circular muscle body from a carrier substance and from cell cultures incorporated therein comprising a cell culture dish (1) and at least one element (2) placed inside said cell cultur... | 11/17/2009 |
| 7371223 | Electroactive polymer actuated heart-lung bypass pumps A pump apparatus, which comprises: (a) a tubular portion comprising an electroactive polymer actuator that expands and contracts an inner volume of the tubular portion based upon received control signals; and (b) a control unit electrically coupled to the electroact... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7367938 | Mechanical impotence treatment apparatus A male sexual impotence treatment apparatus comprises an adjustable non-inflatable restriction device (434) implanted in a male impotent patient. The restriction device directly engages a portion of the normal penile tissue of the patient, such as both of the... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7364540 | Implantable device and method for adjustably restricting a body lumen An implantable device and method for adjustably restricting a selected body lumen such as the urethra of a patient to treat urinary incontinence. The device includes an expandable element or membrane such as a balloon attached pressure-tightly to a flexible conduit ... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7354627 | Method for organizing the assembly of collagen fibers and compositions formed therefrom The present invention provides a protein polymer material and a method for preparing the protein polymer material involving applying an energy such as electrical energy or gravitational energy to a protein to cause the protein to assemble in a controlled arrangement... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7338517 | Tissue scaffold having aligned fibrils and artificial tissue comprising the same A tubular tissue scaffold is described which comprises a tube having a wall, wherein the wall includes biopolymer fibrils that are aligned in a helical pattern around the longitudinal axis of the tube where the pitch of the helical pattern changes with the radial po... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7306627 | Acellular matrix grafts of collagen and elastic fiber Acellular matrix grafts are provided with are isolated from natural sources and consist essentially of a collagen and elastin matrix which is devoid of cellular components. The grafts are useful scaffolds which promote the regeneration of muscle tissue and aid in re... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7297132 | Shape memory shutter device A shape memory shutter device for controlling the rectum of a disabled person, comprises a section of conduit to be connected to the rectum of the disabled person, and a shutter which controls the passage through the conduit section and actuated by a shape memory ac... | 11/20/2007 |
| 7258661 | Stoma plug An ostomy plug is described comprising first and second chambers having adjacent ends coupled to, and in fluid communication with, each other. The first chamber may be for insertion into a stoma. The second chamber may contain fluid for inflating the first chamber w... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7163506 | Device for the treatment of urinary incontinence Constitution of a suburethral sling connected to two balloons located on each side of the urethra. The device preferably consists of two subassemblies (12a and 12b) each comprising an inflatable balloon (13) and a strip (16)... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7160333 | Reinforced small intestinal submucosa Bioprosthetic devices for soft tissue attachment, reinforcement, or construction are provided. The devices comprise a sheet of naturally occurring extracellular matrix and a sheet of synthetic mesh coupled to the naturally occurring extracellular matrix portion.... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7131994 | Muscle-based grafts/implants The present invention is directed to a composition comprising a matrix suitable for implantation in humans, comprising defatted, shredded, allogeneic human muscle tissue that has been combined with an aqueous carrier and dried in a predetermined shape. Also disclose... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7105124 | Method, apparatus and product for manufacturing nanofiber media A unified arrangement for providing a unique nanofibrous porous media formed as a chemical compound from a water-soluble polymer combined with a cross-linking agent with a balance of water, which chemical compound prevents the polymer from dissolving in water, inclu... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7101398 | Prosthetic facet joint ligament This invention relates to a spinal facet joint ligament. ... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7094261 | Double layer surgical mesh A mesh (1) made of monofilament polypropylene (PPL) with surgical quality (CQ) and controlled flat memory (CM), having upper (1′) and lower (1″) layers joined by welding along almost the entire length of their edges (p). The layers have equa... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7060094 | Accommodating zonular mini-bridge implants Surgical correction of presbyopia and hyperopia by a circularly distributed assembly of mini-bridges implanted between the interior surfaces of the ciliary muscle and the exterior surface of the lens capsule, for augmenting the transmission of the contraction force ... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7044932 | Implantable drug pump access template An implantable drug pump and an access template for locating the implanted pump refill septum, also known as a refill port, or cathether access port are disclosed. The access template comprises a denial surface, an access port, and template labeling. The denial surf... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7014606 | Apparatus and method for inserting an adjustable implantable genitourinary device An implantable medical device and method for adjustably restricting a selected body lumen such as a urethra or ureter of a patient to treat urinary incontinence or ureteral reflux. The device includes an adjustable element and a tubular elongate body, where the adju... | 03/21/2006 |
| 7001430 | Matrix composition for human grafts/implants The present invention is directed to an intermediate composition for producing a muscle tissue matrix suitable for implantation in humans, comprising shredded, allogeneic human muscle tissue that has been combined with an aqueous carrier, preferably a biocompatible ... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6997952 | Artificial sphincter With an object of providing an artificial sphincter for which repeated shape changes are possible, and for which the quantity of shape change is sufficient so as to be used as a substitute for a large natural sphincter, an artificial sphincter 11 that opens a... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6830588 | Artificial sphincter With an object of providing an artificial sphincter for which repeated shape changes are possible, and for which the quantity of shape change is sufficient so as to be used as a substitute for a large natural sphincter, an artificial sphincter 11 that opens a... | 12/14/2004 |
| 6752754 | Artificial rectum and related method An implantable device for selectively controlling defecation has an outer body defining on one end a flange that is surgically attachable to the patient's anus and/or tissue adjacent to the anus. A connector is mounted on the other end of the outer body and is secur... | 06/22/2004 |
| 6610006 | Implantable prosthesis An implantable prosthesis for repairing an anatomical defect, such as a soft tissue and muscle wall defect. The prosthesis is configured to reduce the likelihood that an applied force at the repair site, such as due to intraabdominal pressure or tissue sh... | 08/26/2003 |
| 6592623 | Engineered muscle A muscle implant includes an extracellular matrix, tendon and muscle cells. The extracellular matrix is made of a matrix of electrospun polymer fibers. The tendon is made of extruded collagen fibers and the muscle cells are disposed on the extracellular m... | 07/15/2003 |
| 6475639 | Ionic polymer sensors and actuators Ion exchange membrane-based sensors, actuators and sensor/actuators and methods of making same for applications requiring sensing, actuating and controlling displacement. Sensors, actuators, and sensor/actuators are useful in biological as well as other a... | 11/05/2002 |
| 6443964 | Three-dimensional open-worked prosthetic fabric An integral fabric made of at least one thread and having a thickness making apparent two opposite porous surfaces, the fabric having a honeycomb-like structure comprising transverse channels along the thickness of the fabric which are close and parallel ... | 09/03/2002 |
| 6432038 | Artificial urinary sphincter An artificial urinary sphincter operable as a single, uncomplicated component, not prone to failure, and easily repaired. Being preassembled, installation is easy through a single incision in one site. It incorporates an outer cuff having an inner cuff of... | 08/13/2002 |
| 6419701 | Adjustable implantable genitourinary device An implantable medical device and method for adjustably restricting a selected body lumen such as a urethra or ureter of a patient to treat urinary incontinence or ureteral reflux. The device includes an adjustable, self-sealing element having a continuou... | 07/16/2002 |
| 6258124 | Prosthetic repair fabric A prosthetic repair fabric and method for repairing an inguinal hernia in the inguinal canal. The prosthesis including a layer of mesh fabric that is susceptible to the formations of adhesions with sensitive tissue and organs, and a barrier layer that inh... | 07/10/2001 |
| 6162962 | Areal implant An areal implant, in particular for abdominal wall closure, has a flexible basic structure made from a knitted fabric comprising non-resorbable or slowly resorbable material or a combination of such materials. The knitted fabric of the basic structure is ... | 12/19/2000 |
| 6120539 | Prosthetic repair fabric A prosthetic repair fabric including a sheet of tissue infiltratable fabric and a second sheet, also preferably including tissue infiltratable fabric, which is united with the first sheet. The second sheet is fused to an adhesion resistant barrier, formin... | 09/19/2000 |
| 6117296 | Electrically controlled contractile polymer composite An electrically controlled polymer composite which, when acted upon by an electric current, contracts or relaxes. It can also serve as a smart drug delivery device. The polymer composite is a series of hydrogel layers, each of which serve a particular pur... | 09/12/2000 |
| 6096347 | Myocardial graft constructs The use of submucosal tissue of a warm blooded vertebrate to manufacture a tissue graft composition that induces the formation of endogenous cardiac tissues in vivo upon contact of the cardiac tissues with the manufactured composition.... | 08/01/2000 |
| 5593443 | Prosthetic anal sphincter A prosthetic anal sphincter is described which is implantable around the upper anal canal to reproduce the action of the sphincter muscles which maintain continence. This is achieved by inflating a tube with liquid from a reservoir and creating an angle o... | 01/14/1997 |
| 5518504 | Implantable sphincter system utilizing lifting means An implantable artificial sphincter system for reversibly occluding a body passageway, preferably the urethra, enables the body passageway to be opened and closed in sequence due to the action of a lifting and lowering device which is adapted to be in int... | 05/21/1996 |
| 5197984 | Shut-off device particularly as an artificial sphincter A shut-off device particularly useful as an artifical sphincter for shutting-off the flow from a passage in a subject's body includes a conduit assembly attachable to the body with its inner end in alignment with the passage, a ring rotatably mounted in t... | 03/30/1993 |
| 4904256 | Magnetic artificial anus having sphincter function A magnetic artificial anus assembly comprising a combination of an annular bag structure formed of a bio-affinitive flexible material and filled with a magnetic fluid and a plug structure having a magnet member. It has a sphinter function similar to the n... | 02/27/1990 |
