Bizarre Patents
Process For Propelling Foodstuffs or the Like into a Crowd
A method of launching foodstuffs into a crowd for promotional and entertainment purposes.
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 |
| 7658709 | Shape memory alloy actuators A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator includes a groove formed in a surface of a shape memory alloy (SMA) substrate establishing a trace pattern for a layer of conductive material formed over an electrically insulative layer. The trace pattern includes a first end, a ... | 02/09/2010 |
| 7367939 | Rotational, translational and torqueing control members for an endoscopic instrument A flexible endoscopic dip applier includes a flexible coil with a manual actuator coupled to one end and a jaw assembly coupled to the other end. A store of clips is arranged adjacent to the jaw assembly and a clip pusher is arranged adjacent to the store of clips. ... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7115092 | Tubular compliant mechanisms for ultrasonic imaging systems and intravascular interventional devices A micromanipulator comprising a tubular structure and a structural compliance mechanism that are formed from a tube made of an elastic and/or superelastic material. Fabricated with laser machining and has no mechanical joints, the micromanipulator can be manipulated... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7097615 | Robotic endoscope with wireless interface An endoscope apparatus and method of operating the same. The endoscope apparatus comprises an endoscope portion and a control and display unit. The endoscope portion preferably comprises: (i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of the endoscope portion and providing e... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7090637 | Articulating mechanism for remote manipulation of a surgical or diagnostic tool The invention provides an articulating mechanism useful, for example, for remote manipulation of various surgical instruments and diagnostic tools within, or to, regions of the body. Movement of segments at the proximal end of the mechanism results in a correspondin... | 08/15/2006 |
| 6997870 | Universal, programmable guide catheter A guide catheter apparatus that comprises the following: (a) a guide catheter portion that includes a plurality of electroactive polymer actuators disposed along its axial length and (b) a control unit coupled to the actuators and sending control signals to the actu... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6966906 | Deflection mechanism for a surgical instrument, such as a laser delivery device and/or endoscope, and method of use A mechanism and method for steering a surgical instrument inserted into an endoscope such as a ureteroscope, nephroscope, or cystoscope, and/or for steering the endoscope, utilizes a shape memory structure secured to the surgical instrument or to the endoscope, the ... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6918909 | Resectoscope apparatus A resectoscope apparatus includes a high-frequency generating device which generates high-frequency current, a hollow sheath which can be inserted in the celom, a scope which is arranged in the sheath and which can observe the celom, an active electrode which transm... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6899672 | Endoscopic imaging system including removable deflection device A steerable endoscopic sheath has a proximal end, a distal end and a working channel lumen disposed therein. A plurality of solid state light emitting devices such as light emitting diodes are positioned near the distal end of the sheath and are selectively energize... | 05/31/2005 |
| 6899674 | Endoscope shaft comprising a movable end portion The present invention relates to an endoscope shaft comprising a movable distal end portion which is bendable by means of an operating device, the distal end portion having at least one decentralized hose member extending along the distal end portion, said hose memb... | 05/31/2005 |
| 6780151 | Flexible ureteropyeloscope A flexible ureteropyeloscope having a control section and a shaft extending from the control section. The shaft has a front end with a first active deflection section connected in series with a second active deflection section. The control section is adapted to inde... | 08/24/2004 |
| 6761685 | Controllable endoscopic sheath apparatus and related method of use A controllable sheath for optimizing the control of surgical instruments at the operation site includes a flexible sheath surrounding an endoscope and including a lumen extending along the walls of the sheath and adjacent to the endoscope. The lumen permits the pass... | 07/13/2004 |
| 6752758 | Endoscope apparatus An operational remote controller integrates a joystick for bending a bending portion of an inserted portion in an endoscope. A bending lever stands on the joystick. For every automatically returning of the bending lever to a neutral position, a CPU of the operationa... | 06/22/2004 |
| 6749560 | Endoscope shaft with slotted tube An endoscope comprising a control section and a shaft extending from the control section. The shaft has a frame with a one-piece tube along a majority of a length of the shaft. The tube comprises a superelastic alloy and slots into the tube along at least one-sectio... | 06/15/2004 |
| 6629924 | Enhanced endotracheal tube An enhanced endotracheal tube utilizing a fiber optic bundle positioned in its wall section to transmit light and a reflectively coated bore to transmit images is disclosed. Additional passages formed in the wall of the endotracheal tube are adapted to re... | 10/07/2003 |
| 6569086 | Controllable bending endoscope An operational remote controller integrates a joystick for bending a bending portion of an inserted portion in an endoscope. A bending lever stands on the joystick. For every automatically returning of the bending lever to a neutral position, a CPU of the... | 05/27/2003 |
| 6527705 | Fully-swallowable endoscopic system A fully-swallowable endoscopic system includes a rod-shaped endoscope body which can be swallowed entirely by a patient to be examined so as to be placed in a body cavity, the rod-shaped endoscope body including two bendable portions respectively provided... | 03/04/2003 |
| 6485411 | Endoscope shaft with superelastic alloy spiral frame and braid An endoscope having a control section and a shaft extending from the control section. The shaft comprises an outer cover; a tubular braid member located, at least partially, inside the outer cover; and a support frame located, at least partially, inside t... | 11/26/2002 |
| 6450950 | Endoscope having stereo-lateral-view optics An endoscope having an endoscope shaft at the distal end of which a solid state image-recording system is disposed which is designed in the manner of lateral-view optics. The image-recording system has at least two image recorders, built in a distal regio... | 09/17/2002 |
| 6443944 | Surgical devices comprising articulated members and methods for using the same Surgical devices and methods for their use in manipulating internal body objects are provided. The subject devices have proximal and distal ends separated by an elongate member. Located at the distal end is at least one articulated member, and usually two... | 09/03/2002 |
| 6432042 | Intubation system The fiberscope (referred to as an "endoscopic stylet" by the inventor) has a largely semi-rigid insertion cord which permits a user to pre-form the endoscopic stylet to follow the anticipated contours of the airway leading to the trachea and to insure tha... | 08/13/2002 |
| 6322498 | Imaging scope The subject invention pertains to a system for imaging the human airway having highly advantageous optical, mechanical, ergonomical and physical characteristics. In a specific embodiment, the human airway can be imaged during the intubation procedure. The... | 11/27/2001 |
| 6200306 | Bend clip for flexible rotator A pusher-rotator for installing a heart valve prosthesis including a handle and a flexible shaft extending from the handle. A valve holder is attached to a terminal end of the shaft. A bendable member is formed of a material which is bendable to hold a fi... | 03/13/2001 |
| 6179776 | Controllable endoscopic sheath apparatus and related method of use A controllable sheath for optimizing the control of surgical instruments at the operation site includes a flexible sheath surrounding an endoscope and including a lumen extending along the walls of the sheath and adjacent to the endoscope. The lumen permi... | 01/30/2001 |
| 6171249 | Ultrasound guided therapeutic and diagnostic device A medical instrument having a shaft with a bending neck, an ultrasound device at a distal end of the bending neck, a working channel extending through the shaft with a tubular working channel made from superelastic material extending to an opening proxima... | 01/09/2001 |
| 6165123 | Controllable multi-directional positioning system A surgical positioning device that includes a body having a first un-stressed configuration and at least one fluid channel to receive a fluid. The at least one fluid channel is constructed and arranged to transform the body of the surgical positioning dev... | 12/26/2000 |
| 6068624 | Endoscopic instrument with overload protection A stemmed endoscopic instrument has a distal operational tool, a proximal drive unit and a stem containing a force transmitting element extending through and displaceably received in the stem. A distal end of the force transmitting element acts on the ope... | 05/30/2000 |
| 5941818 | Endoscopic video camera with malleable support An endoscope is provided that comprises a micro-size video camera, a flexible cable attached to the camera comprising fiber optical means for transmitting light to illuminate the site viewed by the camera and electrical conductors for transmitting electro... | 08/24/1999 |
| 5938588 | Superelastic control wire sheath for flexible endoscope An endoscope comprising a handle and a flexible shaft connected to the handle. The flexible shaft has an active deflection section and a passive deflection section with a control wire support member therein. The endoscope also has a control wire connected... | 08/17/1999 |
| 5897488 | Bending insertion instrument to be inserted into a body cavity through an endoscope An endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope having a distal end, a port at the distal end, and a channel extending through the endoscope to the distal end and communicating with the port; and a bending insertion instrument extensible through the channel ... | 04/27/1999 |
| 5885258 | Medical instrument with slotted memory metal tube A series of medical instruments can be made with the use of shape memory tube with a transformation temperature that is above or below the ambient temperature. In the first case, the material behaves with the shape memory effect and in the second case the... | 03/23/1999 |
| 5873866 | Flexible sheathing tube construction, and method for fabrication thereof A flexible sheathing tube suitable for encasing an elongated flexible body like a flexible insertion rod of an endoscope or other insertion type examination istrument, and a method for fabrication of such sheathing tubes. The flexible sheathing tube being... | 02/23/1999 |
| 5873817 | Endoscope with resilient deflectable section I An endoscope having a deflection control and a shaft connected to the deflection control. The shaft has a deflectable section operably connected to the deflection control by drive cables. The deflectable section comprises rigid rings and flexible connec... | 02/23/1999 |
| 5860914 | Bendable portion of endoscope A bendable portion for an endoscope includes a bending mechanism which minimizes the bendable portion diameter and allows a large degree of bending. A bending mechanism embodiment uses a shape memory alloy coil encircling the elastic body of the bendable ... | 01/19/1999 |
| 5810717 | Bending mechanism and stereoscope using same A bending mechanism for use with a stereoscope, comprises a tubular body or linear body having a bending part, a movable part which can move in the lengthwise direction of the tubular body or linear body, two actuators formed to act in opposition to each ... | 09/22/1998 |
| 5803898 | Intubation system The invention is of an intubation system which is based on a specially designed fiberscopic instrument of a new design to address the unique requirements for intubation. The fiberscope (referred to as an "endoscopic stylet" by the inventor) has a largely ... | 09/08/1998 |
| 5776114 | Flexible housing for intracorporeal use An elongated flexible housing for an atherectomy or other intracorporeal catheter which is formed of a shape memory alloy such ass an alloy formed predominantly of NiTi intermetallic compound. The housing preferably has an inner chamber with a tissue cutt... | 07/07/1998 |
| 5733242 | Intubation system having an axially moveable memory cylinder An intubator includes a housing and a memory cylinder connected for axial movement relative to the housing. A flexible scope tube attached to the housing extends within and through the memory cylinder such that the scope tube can be retracted within or ca... | 03/31/1998 |
| 5683348 | Endoscope An endoscope is disclosed which is flexible at least section-wise and comprises at least one picture guide with an objective arranged at the distal side, and an eyepiece as well as a light guide arranged at the proximal side and a shank surrounding these ... | 11/04/1997 |
| 5665050 | Apparatus for medical endoscopy with a superelastic element and method of making the same A medical endoscope has a superelastic-alloy force-transmitting element having at least one recess in its surface at a coupling site and being positively connected to a load-receiving component, the recess being formed by sublimation removal of material.... | 09/09/1997 |
