Did You Know...
...that power steering was invented by independent inventor Francis W. Davis? As chief engineer in the 1920s of the truck division of the Pierce Arrow Motor Car Company, he saw how hard it was to steer heavy vehicles. So that he would be able to keep the profits from his future invention, Davis left his job, rented a small engineering shop in Waltham, Mass., and developed a hydraulic power steering system that led to power steering.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7427283 | Surgical fixation device A bone anchoring device, the device including a body having a first end affixable with a bone; and an engagement device engageable with a settable compound brought into contact with the engagement device prior to setting of the settable compound. ... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7359601 | Device and method for delivery of long wavelength laser energy to a tissue site A laser energy delivery device is provided that is suitable for irradiating a body tissue with relatively long wavelength laser energy in the presence of an aqueous liquid without significant absorption of the laser energy by the liquid. The device includes an elong... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7326226 | Percutaneous catheter and guidewire for filtering during ablation of myocardial or vascular tissue An ablation catheter system for capturing and removing necrotic tissue and thrombi generated during an ablative procedure is disclosed. The catheter typically includes an elongate member, a filtration assembly disposed within the distal region, and an ablation instr... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7316147 | Apparatuses for crimping and loading of intraluminal medical devices Crimping apparatuses for reducing the diameter of an intraluminal medical device from a first diameter to a second diameter prior to loading the medical device into a catheter delivery system and loading apparatuses for introducing the medical device into a catheter... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7264621 | Multi-axial bone attachment assembly A posterior fixation system includes a saddle member and an anchoring member. The anchoring member anchors the saddle member to bone. The saddle member includes a pair of upright portions that define a channel. The saddle member further has a hole therethrough bound... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7240677 | System and method for force, displacement, and rate control of shaped memory material implants Controlling the transformation of the microstructure of shape memory material implants. A surgeon can use the inventive energy delivery device to control the rate of implant shape change, the extent of implant shape change, as well as the force exerted on the surrou... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7229464 | Filter delivery and retrieval device Methods and devices for providing temporary placement of a filter in a blood vessel are disclosed. A filter delivery system in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a catheter having an elongate shaft and a tubular member dispose... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7207111 | Method of manufacturing an endodontic instrument Method for manufacturing endodontic instruments having either helical or non-helical flutes with hard surfaces and resilient cutting edges by either an EDM or ECM process, wherein material is removed from the instrument blank in the desired flute pattern. The EDM or... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7201751 | Supplemental spine fixation device A supplemental spine fixation device and method is used in association with a primary spine fixation device. The supplemental spine fixation device includes a guide and spacer for distracting apart adjacent spinous processes and the device has hook members which hoo... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7169139 | Reinforced retention structures A medical device includes an elongated member and a reinforced retention structure. The device can be used for draining substances from organs or abscessed areas within a body of a patient. The elongated member is made of a flexible material. The reinforced retentio... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7169175 | Self-expanding stent The stent of this invention is a self-expanding stent created by a scaffolding lattice. The stent may be made from a nickel-titanium alloy. The lattice is formed from two different types of helices that proceed circumferentially in opposite directions along the long... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7134438 | Methods and apparatus for bypassing arterial obstructions and/or performing other transvascular procedures Methods, devices, and systems for a) revascularization and/or b) performing other medical procedures at vascular or non-vascular intracorporeal locations within a mammalian body. The methods generally comprise the formation of at least one extravascular passageway f... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7115129 | Bone compression devices and systems and methods of contouring and using same The invention relates to bone compression devices and bone compression systems, and in particular, to bone compression devices and systems for use in connection with vertebrae. The bone compression devices and bone compression systems are disposed, or installed, alo... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7114501 | Transverse cavity device and method The invention teaches the use of a surgical instrument for creating and preparing a cavity in a bony intervertebral body. Asymmetrical cutting structures selectively open a cavity which has a relatively large surface area in the vertical direction. ... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7108709 | Surgical staple A generally U-shaped surgical staple comprises a base 10 and a pair of generally “L”-shaped legs 12 extending substantially perpendicularly from opposite ends of the base respectively. The legs 12 in use of the staple are bent through approx... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7094249 | Distal protection device and method A device adapted for deployment in a body vessel for collecting floating debris and emboli in a filter. The device includes a collapsible proximally tapered frame for operably supporting the filter between a collapsed insertion profile and an expanded deployment pro... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7094255 | Expandable stent and method for delivery of same An expandable stent having a proximal end and a distal end in communication with one another, and a tubular wall disposed between the proximal end and the distal end. The tubular wall has a longitudinal axis and a porous surface defined by a plurality of intersectin... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7090674 | Bone fixation system with low profile fastener A low profile orthopedic device is used to fix and stabilize bones to correct anomalies in skeletal structure occurring naturally or by trauma. Bone screws are screwed into bones by application of torque. Clamps are movably attached to the screws. Each clamp include... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7087056 | Vertebral stabilization assembly and method A vertebral stabilization assembly for stabilizing vertebrae is provided. The vertebral stabilization assembly includes a first and a second pedicle screw, a first and second connecting screw, and a connecting member. The first and second pedicle screws each have a ... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7082868 | Lightweight armor with repeat hit and high energy absorption capabilities A lightweight armor with repeat hit capability includes at least one layer of material that absorbs energy upon being impacted by an object through a reversible phase change and/or an elastic strain deformation of at least 5%. Once the energy of the object has been ... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7077849 | Atraumatic medical retrieval device Baskets with atraumatic distal tips allow the capture of material from difficult-to-reach areas of the body, while reducing the risk of tissue damage. ... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7073504 | Contraceptive system and method of use A device and method of using the device for contraception or sterilization and particularly for reversible contraception by occluding a reproductive lumen to prevent the passage of reproductive cells through the lumen for a desired period of time until the patient w... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7066937 | Apparatus for connecting a longitudinal member to a bone portion An apparatus (10) includes a fastener (16) engageable with a bone portion to connect a longitudinal member (12) to the bone portion. A housing (40) has a first passage (42) configured to receive the longitudinal member (12) ... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7063722 | Method of implanting a self-molding annuloplasty ring A method of implanting a resilient self-molding annuloplasty ring including stretching it to an expanded diameter and attaching it to a heart valve annulus, then permitting the ring to contract to reduce the diameter of the annulus. The ring may be positioned on an ... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7059330 | Methods and apparatus for bypassing arterial obstructions and/or performing other transvascular procedures Methods, devices, and systems for a) revascularization and/or b) performing other medical procedures at vascular or non-vascular intracorporeal locations within a mammalian body. The methods generally comprise the formation of at least one extravascular passageway f... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7052502 | Medical instrument and method for creating a cavity for endoscopic intervention The invention relates to a medical instrument for creating a cavity for an endoscopic intervention in a human or animal body, comprising a hollow cylindrical encasing trocar tube which can be inserted into an artificial body opening and an expander which can be extr... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7048014 | Methods for creating woven devices Self expandable, woven intravascular devices for use as stents (both straight and tapered), filters (both temporary and permanent) and occluders for insertion and implantation into a variety of anatomical structures. The devices may be formed from shape memory metal... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7040323 | Thin film intrauterine device Contraceptive intrauterine devices made of thin film shape memory alloy materials. The devices are formed in three-dimensional shapes which contact uterus tissue of a human or other mammal to prevent conception. In certain embodiments, structural features such as ta... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7018401 | Woven intravascular devices and methods for making the same and apparatus for delivery of the same Self-expandable, woven intravascular devices for use as stents (both straight and tapered), filters (both temporary and permanent) and occluders for insertion and implantation into a variety of anatomical structures. The devices may be formed from shape memory metal... | 03/28/2006 |
| 7007698 | Body lumen closure Method and apparatus implementing and using techniques for body lumen closure, including use of an implantable medical closure device. The device includes a flexible strand defining an arcuate form. The strand is deformable upon implantation from a large cross-secti... | 03/07/2006 |
| 7004943 | Devices, systems, and methods for placing and positioning fixation elements in external fixation systems Methods, systems, and devices according to this invention provide drill guides for optimal placement of fixation elements, such as half pins, into a patient's bone. According to one embodiment, a collar frame with a collar adapted to receive a bar of an orthopedic e... | 02/28/2006 |
| 7004958 | Transvenous staples, assembly and method for mitral valve repair A mitral valve staple device treats mitral regurgitation of a heart. The device includes first and second leg portions, each leg portion terminating in a tissue piercing end, and a connection portion extending between the first and second leg portions. The connectio... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6984230 | Directional laser probe A microsurgical laser probe is provided with a distal end portion of an optic fiber that projects from a tubular sleeve of the probe and can be caused to bend relative to the probe sleeve by manual manipulation of a mechanism on a handle of the probe. ... | 01/10/2006 |
| 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 |
| 6966911 | Bone staple and methods for correcting bone deficiencies by controllably suppressing and/or inducing the growth of the epiphyseal plate A bone staple for repairing bones and/or correcting bone deficiencies by controlling the growth of the epiphyseal plate, the staple comprising a body comprising a cross bar and at least two legs extending from the cross bar, the legs being designed for introducing i... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6964666 | Polyaxial bone screw locking mechanism A bone screw having a head and a shank. The shank having a ball thereon and the head having a socket for receiving the ball. The ball being externally threaded and the chamber communicating with the exterior of the head through a threaded bore. The ball being thread... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6953458 | Device and method for delivery of long wavelength laser energy to a tissue site A laser energy delivery device and method are provided for irradiating a body tissue with relatively long wavelength laser energy in the presence of an aqueous liquid without significant absorption of the laser energy by the liquid. The device includes an elongate h... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6951557 | Percutaneous myocardial revascularization device and method Devices and methods for creating a series of percutaneous myocardial revascularization (PMR) channels in the heart. One method includes forming a pattern of channels in the myocardium leading from healthy tissue to hibernating tissue. Suitable channel patterns inclu... | 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 |
| 6942620 | Connector for securing ultrasound catheter to transducer An ultrasound system has an ultrasound transducer having a transducer housing and a horn provided at the distal end of the transducer housing, an ultrasound transmission member, a sonic connector that is connected to the horn and the proximal end of the ultrasound t... | 09/13/2005 |
