Device And Method For Stabilizing Cardiac Tissue

Application

#6338738 Jan 15, 2002

Filed

Aug 31, 1999

Inventor

Marc Bellotti (Libertyville, IL) · Alan W. Marttila (Waukegan, IL) · Kenneth J. Steele (Richmond, IL) · Scott R. Ariagno (Mundelein, IL) · Atif M. Yardimci (Northbrok, IL) · Donald R. Heslington (Orem, UT) · Charles R. Weyrauch (Salt Lake City, UT) · Lise J. Herriott (Sandy, UT) · Donald A. Smith (Wadsworth, IL) · Cristina J. Stadler (Columbus, IN)

Appl. No.

09/386666

Assignee

Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (Irvine, CA)

International Classification

A67B 0100

U.S. Classification

606232, 600201, 600210, 600235

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a new and useful device and method for stabilizing cardiac tissue at a surgical site during heart surgery, and specifically useful during beating heart surgery. The device includes a foot for contacting a heart tissue and two arms movably connected together for selective movement to vary and adjust the position of the foot on the heart. The foot and the arm assembly are designed to optimize stability of the foot in contact with heart tissue, and therefore, to optimize stability of the heart during surgical procedure. The device is capable of being mounted on a chest spreader. The foot has a bottom surface which is angled for better stabilization and engagement with the heart.

Claim

What is claimed is: 1. A surgical device for stabilizing cardiac tissue during surgery, said device comprising: a support structure having a distal end and a proximal end; and a stabilizing foot attached to said support structure at a distal end, the foot comprising two laterally spaced apart fingers connected by a bridge at one end of the fingers, said fingers each having an inner edge with said edges being located generally in a first plane and defining a surgical site therebetween, said fingers having bottom surfaces, each said bottom surface having a beveled surface portion extending upwardly and away from the inner edge at an angle in the range of between about 10° and about 35° from the first plane. 2. The surgical device of claim 1 wherein said inner edges are generally parallel. 3. The surgical device of claim 1 wherein said bottom surfaces each include a second surface portion extending at an angle from the beveled surface to an outer edge of each finger. 4.

Toroidal Low-Field Reactive Gas Source

Application

#6388226 May 14, 2002

Filed

Feb 10, 2000

Inventor

Donald K. Smith (Belmont, MA) · Xing Chen (Lexington, MA) · William M. Holber (Winchester, MA) · Eric Georgelis (Canton, MA)

Appl. No.

09/502087

Assignee

Applied Science and Technology, Inc. (Wilmington, DE)

International Classification

B23K 1000

U.S. Classification

21912157, 21912154, 21912143, 21912159, 156345, 31511151

Abstract

An improved toroidal low-field plasma source allows plasma ignition within a wider range of gas conditions than permitted by prior art plasma sources. Power efficiency of the plasma source is improved by automatically adjusting the power delivered to the plasma based on the load to the power supply. The plasma source can be operated over a wider pressure range than allowed by prior art plasma sources. The plasma source can be operated so as to increase the output of atomic species from the source. The plasma source can be operated to increase the etch rate of organic materials. The plasma source can efficiently remove hazardous gas compounds from effluent gas streams by converting them into scrubbable products.

Claim

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for dissociating gases in a plasma comprising: a) a plasma chamber; b) a transformer having a primary winding and having a magnetic core surrounding a portion of the plasma chamber; c) a switching power supply in electrical communication with the primary winding; d) a resonance capacitor in electrical communication with the primary winding and the switching power supply, the resonance capacitor and the switching power supply forming a resonant circuit at switching frequency of the switching power supply, the resonant circuit outputting a resonance voltage on the primary winding; and e) an electronic control circuit in electrical communication with the primary winding and the switching power supply; wherein the control circuit maintains current in the primary winding at a first value while the resonance voltage is on the primary winding, adjusts current in the primary winding to a second value upon ignition of a plasma in the chamber, and raises current in the primary winding to a third value subsequent to switching off of the resonant circuit from the primary winding, thereby controlling ignition of the plasma. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the resonance voltage is between about one to about ten times higher than voltage supplied by the switching power supply. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first value is below a rating of the switching power supply. 4.

Estimating Data Delays From Poisson Probe Delays

Application

#6430160 Aug 6, 2002

Filed

Feb 29, 2000

Inventor

Donald E. Smith (Lexington, MA) · Man Li (Bedford, MA)

Appl. No.

09/515927

Assignee

Verizon Laboratories Inc. (Waltham, MA)

International Classification

H04L 1556

U.S. Classification

370252, 370231, 370236, 370410, 709224, 709233

Abstract

A method ( ) of estimating the delays that data packets experiences along a path in an IP network is presented. The method involves sending probe packets ( ), transmitted along the same path as the data whose delays are to be estimated, with a frequency dictated by statistics that include Poisson statistics. Information obtained about the delays in the probe packet transmissions may be used to estimate data delays.

Claim

We claim: 1. A method of estimating data delays in transmitting data packets from a first location to a second location on a computer network comprising identifying a bottleneck link in a path connecting the first location to the second location; determining a queuing delay of probes at the bottleneck link by injecting probe packets at the first location according to departure statistics governing a probability distribution such that arrival times of the probe packets at the second location are consistent with the probability distribution; and estimating a queuing delay of data from the queuing delay of probes at the bottleneck link. 2. A method of estimating data delays in transmitting data packets from a first location to a second location on a computer network as in claim 1, further comprising adding a sum of data service times and a propagation delay to the queuing delay to obtain an estimate of the data delays. 3. A method of estimating data delays in transmitting data packets from a first location to a second location on a computer network as in claim 2, wherein determining a queuing delay of probes at the bottleneck link by injecting probe packets at the first location includes subtracting a sum of probe service times and a propagation delay from first location to second location probe delays. 4. A method of estimating data delays in transmitting data packets from a first location to a second location on a computer network as in claim 2, wherein determining a queuing delay of probes at the bottleneck link by injecting probe packets at the first location includes injecting probe packets according to a Poisson distribution. 5.

Tube For Conveying A Liquid

Application

#6453950 Sep 24, 2002

Filed

Nov 28, 2000

Inventor

Donald Smith (91361 Westlake Village, CA)

Appl. No.

09/723361

Assignee

Donald Smith (91361 Westlake Village, CA)

International Classification

F16L 1100

U.S. Classification

138115, 138125, 138153, 138DIG 8, 138DIG 11

Abstract

A round circular hose has a tendency to kink when extended. Also, a round circular hose can be difficult to form into a coil. With this background I have developed a hose with rigid sides to prevent kinking and for ease for forming into a coil provided with thicker wall sections.

Claim

What I claim is: 1. A tube for conveying a liquid and comprising: a. said tube in an end view comprising a wall encircling a passageway and thereby defining said passageway; b. in a clockwise direction at approximately 0 degrees and 180 degrees said wall is thicker than the wall between 0 degrees and 180 degrees and between 180 degrees and 0 degrees to give rigidity to said tube and to lessen the possibility of a kink in said tube; c. said tube being of one piece unitary construction; and, d. said tube being an elastomer plastic having characteristics low high specific gravity 1. 28 1. 38 shore “D” hardness 74 86 1Z0 D impact foot pounds 21. 5 c 25. 5 c OC 17 OC 21 tensile strength psi 5700 6500 tensile modulus psi 320,000 370,000 flexural strength 10,800 13,200 flexural modulus 340,000 400,000 heat distortion 143 175. 2. A tube according to claim 1 and comprising: a. said tube in an end view being of a generally rectangular configuration having a bottom side and a spaced apart top side; b.

Frac Plug With Caged Ball

Application

#6491116 Dec 10, 2002

Filed

Mar 23, 2002

Inventor

Kevin T. Berscheidt (Duncan, OK) · Donald R. Smith (Wilson, OK) · Lee Wayne Stepp (Comanche, OK) · Don S. Folds (Duncan, OK) · Gregory W. Vargus (Duncan, OK)

Appl. No.

10/104547

Assignee

Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. (Duncan, OK)

International Classification

E21B 1104

U.S. Classification

175 57, 166376, 166243, 166 98

Abstract

A downhole tool for sealing a wellbore. The downhole tool includes a packer with a ball seat defined therein. A sealing ball is carried with the packer into the well. The movement of the sealing ball away from the ball seat is limited by a ball cage which is attached to the upper end of the packer. The ball cage has a plurality of ports therethrough for allowing flow into the ball cage and through the packer at certain flow rates. A spring is disposed in a longitudinal opening of the packer and engages the sealing ball to prevent the sealing ball from engaging the ball seat until a predetermined flow rate is reached. When the packer is set in the hole, flow through the frac plug below a predetermined flow rate is permitted. Once a predetermined flow rate in the well is reached, a spring force of the spring will be overcome and the sealing ball will engage the ball seat so that no flow through the frac plug is permitted.

Claim

What is claimed is: 1. A downhole tool for use in a wellbore comprising: a mandrel; at least one slip disposed on the mandrel for engaging the wellbore when the downhole tool is placed in a set position; and at least one gripping member disposed on the downhole tool; wherein the downhole tool is comprised of a drillable material and wherein the at least one gripping member prevents any portion of the downhole tool that falls downwardly in the wellbore, thereby engaging a downhole apparatus positioned in the wellbore below the downhole tool, from spinning relative thereto when the portion of the downhole tool is engaged by a drill to drill the downhole tool out of the wellbore. 2. The downhole tool of claim 1 wherein the at least one gripping member comprises at least one ceramic button. 3. The downhole tool of claim 2 wherein the at least one ceramic button comprises a plurality of ceramic buttons. 4. The downhole tool of claim 1 wherein the at least one gripping member cuts into an outer surface of the downhole apparatus to prevent the portion of the downhole tool that falls downwardly in the wellbore from spinning relative to the downhole apparatus when the portion of the downhole tool is engaged by the drill to drill the downhole tool out of the wellbore. 5.

Method And Apparatus For Moving Ink Drops Using An Electric Field And Transfuse Printing System Using The Same

Application

#6513909 Feb 4, 2003

Filed

Mar 30, 1999

Inventor

Scott A. Elrod (La Honda, CA) · Vittorio Castelli (Yorktown Heights, NY) · Meng H. Lean (Briarcliff Manor, NY) · Gregory J. Kovacs (Mississauga, CA) · John S. Berkes (Webster, NY) · Joy Roy (Freemont, CA) · Donald L. Smith (Palo Alto, CA) · Richard G. Stearns (Santa Cruz, CA)

Appl. No.

09/280717

Assignee

Xerox Corporation (Stamford, CT)

International Classification

B41J 206

U.S. Classification

347 55

Abstract

A method of forming and moving ink drops across a gap between a print head and a print medium, or intermediate print medium, in a marking device includes generating an electric field, forming the ink drops adjacent the print head and controlling the electric field. The electric field is generated to extend across the gap. The ink drops are formed in an area adjacent the print head. The electric field is controlled such that an electrical attraction force exerted on the formed ink drops by the electric field is the greatest force acting on the ink drops. The marking device may be incorporated into a transfuse printing system having an intermediate print medium made of one or more materials that allow for lateral dissipation of electrical charge from the incident ink drops.

Claim

What is claimed is: 1. A transfuse printing system, comprising: at least one print head that forms ink drops; a platen; and an intermediate print medium positioned between the at least one print head and the platen, wherein an electric field is generated between the at least one print head and the platen and the ink drops are charged and accelerated by the electric field in the direction of the platen, and wherein the intermediate print medium has an electrical conductivity that is capable of dissipating a charge of the ink drops laterally through the intermediate print medium. 2. The transfuse printing system of claim 1, wherein the electrical conductivity of the intermediate print medium reduces charge build-up on the intermediate print medium. 3. The transfuse printing system of claim 1, wherein the intermediate print medium comprises a conductive supporting substrate and an electrically conductive compliant layer. 4. The transfuse printing system of claim 3, wherein the intermediate print medium further comprises a non-conductive release layer. 5.