11047 results about "Coil spring" patented technology

A medical instrument has a set of opposing jaws that can be articulated, both left and right, from centerline. The instrument has a proper bend radius and support for the jaw actuation member and cutter driving member. The bendable support for the drive members comprises tightly wound coil springs. Another embodiment of the invention controls the degree of articulation at the handle of the laparoscopic instrument. A further embodiment of the invention incorporates a locking mechanism to prevent motion of the wrist while the user performs other operations on the device. The locking mechanism also includes an indexing feature with which the user can index and choose the necessary amount of angle between preset angles.

An elastic or flexible element for use in a stabilization device for bones or vertebrae is provided. The elastic or flexible element is provided in the form of an essentially cylindrical body with a first end and a second end opposite thereto, wherein at least one of the opposite ends of the cylindrical body comprises a coaxial bore hole with an internal thread for connecting to a shaft and / or a head of a bone screw or for connecting to a rod section. The present invention further provides a bone anchoring element, e.g. a bone screw, with a shaft for the anchoring in a bone, whereby the shaft comprises an elastic or flexible section which is formed integrally with the shaft or as a separate elastic or flexible element. It is preferable for the elastic section to be implemented in the form of a helical spring. Moreover, the present invention provides a stabilization device for bones, for instance for vertebrae, said device comprising at least one bone anchoring element according to the invention, a second bone anchoring element and a rod or plate connecting the bone anchoring elements.

A security system for recording information outside a vehicle and delivering such information to a remote location includes a plurality of cameras mounted within a housing with radial lines of sight for providing a panoramic view of the surroundings. The present invention further includes a communication mechanism for transmitting an image to a remote location. A user interface includes one of a hand-operable video phone, personal computer and cellcorder. The present invention further includes an image stabilizing mechanism for maintaining the lines of sight along a linear path. The image stabilizing mechanism is secured to the housing and cameras. Such an image stabilizing mechanism includes a housing that has a motor, a gyro, and a helical spring member, which provide support as the vehicle is in motion.

A pusher apparatus comprises a track, a pusher mounted on the track for movement along the track; a spring mounted on the pusher for urging the pusher along the track; an axle rotatably mounted on the pusher; and at least one wheel fixed to the axle for positively engaging the track. In one aspect of the invention, two of the said wheels are fixed to the axle to avoid canting of the pusher as it moves along the track. In another aspect of the invention, the spring is a coil spring contained within the pusher unit for driving rotation of the axle. Preferably, a rotary damper regulates the operation of the coil spring.

The present invention provides a delivery mechanism for percutaneously routing a stent or graft through the vascular system and procedures for addressing an aneurysm or an otherwise damaged vessel. The delivery system includes an outer tubular guide catheter 20, an inner tubular delivery (pusher) catheter 14 coaxially disposed and slidable relative to the outer guide catheter and an elongated flexible wire or cable 26 that is coaxially insertable through the lumen of the inner tubular catheter and that has a frusto-conical bead affixed at the distal end thereof which is sized to at least partially fit within the lumen of the inner pusher catheter when a proximally directed tension force is applied between the elongated flexible wire or cable 26 with respect to the pusher catheter 14. By inserting a compressed coil spring between a proximal end portion of the pusher catheter 14 and the proximal end portion of the cable 26, the requisite clamping force is maintained to secure the stent or graft to the distal end of the pusher catheter until the compression spring force is removed. With the stent or graft clamped to the distal end of the inner pusher catheter, it can be drawn within the lumen of the outer guide catheter for delivery therewith to the target site.

An anastomotic ring device for forming a hollow rivet (ring) attachment between tissue lumens facilitates laparoscopic or endoscopic implantation by including features that facilitate actuation from a stressed, generally cylindrical shape. Economical manufacturer is achieved by weaving open ended strands into a generally cylindrical stent shape that is imparted with a Shape Memory Effect (SME) to actuate to a hollow rivet (ring) shape. Alternatively or in addition to SME inherent in the woven strands, an actuating force may be received from a helical spring element incorporated into the ring. Self-actuating ring devices are enhanced by forming woven strands into petals that diverge from opposing petals such that the strands encounter less friction when actuating. Each of these features alone or in combination enhance clinical use of anastomotic ring devices, such as a bariatric gastric bypass procedure.

The invention specifically relates to a mass tuned vibration reducer used for controlling the vibration of an aerobridge in the airport, a large-span pedestrian bridge, a port trestle, high-rise buildings and the related structures. The mass tuned vibration reducer comprises a mass block, a spring, a damper and a base; wherein, the spring can be a spiral spring, a disc spring or a plate spring, and the end part of the spring is provided with a rigidity regulating device. The mass tuned vibration reducer can successfully realize the regulation on the natural frequency of a TMD system under the condition of needing not to assemble and disassemble the TMD since the end part of the spring is provided with the rigidity regulating device, so as to simplify the difficulty of regulation work, avoid the waste of manpower and materials and greatly reduce the construction cost. Meanwhile, the natural frequency and the damping of the system can be regulated in an optimized way under the condition of needing not to assemble and disassemble the TMD, thereby better exerting the vibration absorption performance of the mass tuned vibration reducer, ensuring safety and stableness of the pedestrians and vehicles on the large-span bridge and the thin and high building, contributing to prolonging the service lives of the thin and high building and the bridge, and having remarkable economic and social benefits.

A coil spring includes a plurality of primary wire coils and a plurality of secondary wire coils, the primary and secondary coils being contiguous and differentiated from one another by a dimensional size in order to provide variable force and variable deflection.

Spinal stabilization devices, systems and methods are provided that include a spring junction wherein a structural member is mountable to a spine attachment fastener and a resilient element is affixed to the structural member along an attachment region of the resilient element. The attachment region is disposed physically separately with respect to an active region of the resilient element. The attachment region can include a weld region produced via an E-beam welding process involving temperatures of 1000° F. or greater, wherein a heat-affected zone adjacent the weld region is disposed physically separately with respect to the active region. The resilient element may be a coil spring including bend regions adjacent its outermost (i.e., last) coils wherein the material of the coil spring initially bends away from the last coil, then bends back toward the last coil before terminating near the last coil.

A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes using a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along a surface on which product is placed. The pusher mechanism of the invention also includes a pusher paddle and a floor that extends forward of the pusher paddle. A flat coiled spring or other biasing element may be operatively connected behind the pusher paddle and extend across the floor of the pusher mechanism and to the front of the shelf. In use, the product to be merchandised may be placed on the coiled spring and on the floor of the pusher mechanism. With this configuration, the pusher paddle is prevented from tipping or bending backwards during operation. The invention may be used with the merchandising of product on horizontal or non-inclined shelves or surfaces, as well as with gravity-fed systems, or systems that use gravity as a mechanism to urge product toward the front of the shelf.

The present invention relates to a radiofrequency electrode for selective ablation of a body tissue, comprising a first electrode 110 and a second electrode 120 to be inserted, through a catheter 60, into the body tissue, wherein the first electrode tip 112 formed at the end of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode tip 122 formed at the end of the second electrode 120 are bonded at a predetermined interval. Specifically, a coil spring is bonded to the ends of the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120, and the coil spring is configured to have its end part bent in the free state and be transformed by pulling either or both of the first electrode and the second electrode. By using the electrode, ablation of a desired tissue region in a body with radiofrequency by easily controlling the direction and the position of the electrode tip can be easily performed.

A housing and a bottom cover are secured together and have pairs of aligned through-apertures, and probe pins are accommodated in respective pairs of through-apertures to provide an IC socket. Each probe pin comprises a tube having a stop flange formed around its outer periphery, a movable plunger accommodated in the tube such that an extension portion of the movable plunger in urged to project out of a narrowed first end portion of the tube by a first coil spring, and a fixed plunger fitted to a second end portion of the tube. Each probe pin is urged by a second coil spring such that the stop flange on the tube is urged into abutment with a shoulder portion of a through-aperture of the bottom cover, whereby a tip end of the fixed plunger is projected beyond the outer surface of the bottom cover and a tip end of the movable plunger is projected beyond the outer surface of the housing.

A surgical severing and stapling instrument clamps tissue in a staple applying assembly comprising a lower jaw of an elongate channel holding a staple cartridge and a pivotally opposed upper jaw (anvil). A firing handle drives a rack in a handle connected to a firing rod and bar that pass through an elongate shaft and into the staple applying assembly to sever and staple tissue. Upon release of the firing handle, a retraction spring assists in withdrawing the rack and other firing components. To advantageously assist in firing, a spring biased plunger is cocked prior to firing to impart assistance upon depression of the firing trigger. Alternatively, a torsion coil spring ratchet mechanism is preloaded to act through a gear into the rack to assist. As a further alternative, a retraction spring is preloaded and disengaged until the rack is fully fired.

An optical connector with a shutter which minimizes the accommodating space for the shutter of inward opening type. The shutter opening inward in accordance with the insertion of the plug is provided near the inlet of the plug inserting hole of the case. A shutter biasing spring holding the shutter in the closed position is a torsion coil spring including a pair of arms projecting in two directions from the coil part. The shutter biasing spring is arranged so that the coil part faces towards the hole back side between the back surface of the shutter and the inner wall surface of the case. When the shutter opens and lies along the inner wall surface, both arms are sandwiched between the shutter and the inner wall surface of the case, and the coil part is positioned outside between the shutter and the inner wall surface of the case.

In a manipulator, an actuator block contains motors and rotary shafts extending from the motors. A working unit of the manipulator contains a connecting portion, attachable to and detachable from the actuator block. The connecting portion has pulleys connectable to ends of the rotary shafts, and has a locking plate movable by alignment pins. The locking plate has slits, which are engaged with plate-shaped portions formed on the upper ends of the pulleys. A coil spring is placed between the locking plate and a top plate.

A spring-driven pusher assembly of a merchandise dispenser in which the spring is carried entirely on the pusher assembly behind the articles being dispensed to thereby eliminate any interference problems with RF signals or the like used for purposes of determining inventories and the like. Preferably, the spring is a spiral spring that rotates a drive wheel when the spring uncoils. The drive wheel cooperatively engages a guide track on the base of the dispenser, and the rotation of the drive wheel causes the pusher assembly to advance along the guide track toward the dispensing end of the dispenser.

An adjustable coil spring system placed within a leg of a vehicle such as a mountain bicycle fork. The spring system comprises an adjustable first soft spring seated on top of a second firm spring having greater length than the first soft spring. A coupler assembly is positioned between two springs comprised of a threaded bolt threadedly received within a coupler. A spring adjustment means may comprise a knob connected to the threaded bolt through a non-round shaped shaft, wherein the threaded bolt is disposed within the first soft spring. As the knob rotates, the coupler is moved up along the threaded bolt, decreasing the length of the first soft spring, thereby increasing firm spring characteristics of the spring system. As the knob rotates in an opposite direction, the coupler moves down, increasing the length of the first soft spring, thereby increasing soft spring characteristics of the spring system.

The present invention provides a catheter for the delivery of fluid medication across an anatomical region. In accordance with one embodiment, the catheter comprises an elongated tube with a plurality of exit holes along an infusion section of the catheter, and an elongated flexible porous member residing within the tube and forming an annular space between the tube and the member. In accordance with other embodiments, the catheter includes a tube having a plurality of exit holes in a side wall of the tube. The exit holes may combine to form a flow-restricting orifice of the catheter. Advantageously, fluid within the catheter flows through all of the exit holes, resulting in uniform distribution of fluid within an anatomical region. In one particular embodiment, the catheter comprises a tube having elongated exit slots therein. In accordance with other embodiments, the catheter includes an elongated tubular member made of a porous membrane. The porous membrane is configured so that a fluid introduced into an open end of the tubular member will flow through side walls of the tubular member at a substantially uniform rate along a length of the tubular member. In accordance with other embodiments, the catheter includes an elongated “weeping” tubular coil spring attached to an end of, or enclosed within, a tube. Fluid within the spring and greater than or equal to a threshold pressure advantageously flows radially outward between the spring coils. Advantageously, the fluid is dispensed substantially uniformly throughout a length of the spring.

An athletic shoe is provided with a selectively adjustable shock-absorbing element. In one preferred aspect, a plate is provided with a plurality of independently moveable portions in contact with the shock-absorbing element. In another aspect, a plate is provided at an angle relative to a coil spring. A method is provided for adjusting a shock-absorbing spring.

An assembly and method thereof comprising a screw head comprising an expandable bulbous end; a fixator component configured for receiving the bulbous end of the screw head; a load sharing mechanism positioned in between the bulbous end of the screw head and the bone fixator component, wherein the load sharing mechanism provides tensile resistance to the screw head; a pin mounted in the screw head; and a blocker adapted to engage the screw head. The screw head comprises a slot configured for receiving a longitudinal member. The load sharing mechanism may comprise any of a wave washer, a collapsible hollow washer, a coiled spring, and a flexible washer. Furthermore, the load sharing mechanism may comprise a washer having an outer surface with a plurality of cutout portions configured therein.