James C Culp

US Patent:

6730267, May 4, 2004

Filed:

Feb 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/780923

Inventors:

Steven K. Stringer - Santa Clara CA
Kevin L. Hultquist - Mountain View CA
Mehrdad Farhangnia - Sunnyvale CA
Fred I. Linker - Los Altos CA
James M. Culp - Los Gatos CA
Jean-Pierre Dueri - Sunnyvale CA
Thomas A. Afzal - Menlo Park CA

Assignee:

Cardiovention, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61M 114

US Classification:

422 45, 422 44, 604 401, 604 609, 604 611, 604 614, 210645, 96 10, 261DIG 28, 261 24

Abstract:

Apparatus and methods for pumping and oxygenating blood are provided that include a gas removal system. An integrated blood processing unit is provided in which a gas removal/blood filter, pump and blood oxygenation element are mounted within a common housing. The gas removal system includes a sensor mounted on the housing to sense the presence of gas, and a valve is operably coupled to the sensor to evacuate gas from the system when the sensor detects an accumulation of gas.

US Patent:

6960322, Nov 1, 2005

Filed:

Jul 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/616116

Inventors:

Steven K. Stringer - Santa Clara CA, US
Kevin L. Hultquist - Mountain View CA, US
Mehrdad Farhangnia - Sunnyvale CA, US
Fred I. Linker - Los Altos CA, US
James M. Culp - Los Gatos CA, US
Jean-Pierre Dueri - Sunnyvale CA, US
Thomas A. Afzal - Menlo Park CA, US

Assignee:

Cardiovention, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61M001/14
A61M037/00
C02F001/44
B01D053/22
B01D047/08

US Classification:

422 45, 422 44, 604 401, 604 609, 604 611, 604 614, 210645, 96 10, 261 24, 261DIG 28

Abstract:

Apparatus and methods for pumping and oxygenating blood are provided that include a gas removal system. An integrated blood processing unit is provided in which a gas removal/blood filter, pump and blood oxygenation element are mounted within a common housing. The gas removal system includes a sensor mounted on the housing to sense the presence of gas, and a valve is operably coupled to the sensor to evacuate gas from the system when the sensor detects an accumulation of gas.

US Patent:

6976627, Dec 20, 2005

Filed:

Nov 12, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/986626

Inventors:

James C. Culp - Pleasanton CA, US
Kwan Ho - Milpitas CA, US
Shiva Prasad Sambu - Mountain View CA, US
Srinivas Kaza - San Francisco CA, US
Craig E. Farren - Livermore CA, US
Samuel J. Kass - Santa Clara CA, US
Sergey Nikolsky - Moscow, RU

Assignee:

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G06K007/10

US Classification:

23546201

Abstract:

Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying a mass-customized part by encoding a part identification into a multi-dimensional bar code; and using a stereolithography apparatus (SLA) to make the part with multi-dimensional bar code embedded therein.

US Patent:

7306152, Dec 11, 2007

Filed:

Oct 18, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/253488

Inventors:

James C. Culp - Pleasanton CA, US
Kwan Ho - Milpitas CA, US
Shiva Prasad Sambu - Mountain View CA, US
Srinivas Kaza - San Francisco CA, US
Craig E. Farren - Livermore CA, US
Samuel J. Kass - Santa Clara CA, US
Sergey Nikolsky - Moscow, RU

Assignee:

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G06K 7/10

US Classification:

23546201

Abstract:

Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying a mass-customized part by encoding a part identification into a multi-dimensional bar code; and using a stereolithography apparatus (SLA) to make the part with multi-dimensional bar code embedded therein.

US Patent:

7541000, Jun 2, 2009

Filed:

Sep 26, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/236269

Inventors:

Steven K. Stringer - Los Gatos CA, US
Kevin L. Hultquist - Mountain View CA, US
Mehrdad Farhangnia - Sunnyvale CA, US
Fred I. Linker - Los Altos CA, US
James M. Culp - Los Gatos CA, US
Jean-Pierre Dueri - Sunnyvale CA, US
Thomas A. Afzal - Menlo Park CA, US

Assignee:

Cardiovention, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

A61M 1/14
A61M 37/00
C02F 1/44
B01D 53/22
B01D 47/08

US Classification:

422 45, 422 44, 604 401, 604 609, 604 614, 210645

Abstract:

Apparatus and methods for pumping and oxygenating blood are provided that include a gas removal system. An integrated blood processing unit is provided in which a gas removal/blood filter, pump and blood oxygenation element are mounted within a common housing. The gas removal system includes a sensor mounted on the housing to sense the presence of gas, and a valve is operably coupled to the sensor to evacuate gas from the system when the sensor detects an accumulation of gas.

US Patent:

7572121, Aug 11, 2009

Filed:

Aug 3, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/833806

Inventors:

Roman Wrosz - Poway CA, US
James C. Culp - Pleasanton CA, US
Craig E. Farren - Livermore CA, US

Assignee:

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

B29C 43/06

US Classification:

425110, 425128, 425347, 425384, 425809

Abstract:

Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus for manufacturing dental aligners. The system includes a workpiece introduction system having at least one workpiece preparation chamber. The system further has a mold manipulation system, having a mold introduction chamber, where a series of different molds may be introduced one after the other; a mold preparation chamber; a workpiece operation chamber; and a mold manipulator to move the mold between the mold introduction chamber, the mold preparation chamber, and the workpiece operation chamber; and a workpiece manipulator to move the workpiece between the workpiece preparation chamber and the workpiece operation chamber. In operation, the method includes steps of inserting a first workpiece into a workpiece preparation chamber; preparing the first workpiece for processing by subjecting the first workpiece to at least one preparation process; moving the first workpiece into a workpiece operation chamber; moving a first mold into a mold preparation chamber; preparing the first mold for processing by subjecting the first mold to at least one preparation process; moving the first mold into the workpiece operation chamber; moving the first mold and the first workpiece into cooperative engagement; subjecting the first workpiece to a vacuum on the side of the first workpiece facing the first mold; and repeating the above steps for a second workpiece and a second different mold.

US Patent:

7604181, Oct 20, 2009

Filed:

Dec 28, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/617193

Inventors:

James C. Culp - Pleasanton CA, US
Craig E. Farren - Livermore CA, US
Steven Shifman - San Ramon CA, US

Assignee:

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G06K 19/06

US Classification:

235494, 23546201, 235385, 4332031

Abstract:

In the processing of mass-produced items that include a three-dimensional code formed therein, a system is provided for automating certain post-manufacturing processing steps. The system includes a printing mechanism that applies ink to the three-dimensional code to form an optically-readable code; a code-reading mechanism that reads the optically readable code and transmits a signal indicative of the code to a database that may be employed for tracking the processed items; and a transport mechanism that moves the items from the printing mechanism to the code-reading mechanism. In one embodiment, the system also includes a liquid agent application mechanism that applies a liquid agent to the items after the optically-readable code is formed. The transport mechanism includes a plurality of pallets on which the items are placed for processing, and that is operable to move the pallets sequentially to the several processing mechanisms.

US Patent:

7611058, Nov 3, 2009

Filed:

Mar 16, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/687509

Inventors:

James C. Culp - Pleasanton CA, US
Kwan Ho - Milpitas CA, US
Shiva Prasad Sambu - Mountain View CA, US
Srinivas Kaza - San Francisco CA, US
Craig E. Farren - Livermore CA, US
Samuel J. Kass - Santa Clara CA, US
Sergey Nikolsky - Moscow, RU

Assignee:

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G06K 7/10

US Classification:

23546201, 235454

Abstract:

Mass-customized parts are identified by encoding part identification information into a multi-dimensional bar code, wherein mass-customization machinery, such as stereolithography apparatus, is used to make the parts with the multi-dimensional bar code embedded therein.