Michael Perkins

US Patent:

6693514, Feb 17, 2004

Filed:

Mar 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/102219

Inventors:

Steven J. Grabowski - Chicago IL
Michael C. Perkins - Rolling Meadows IL

Assignee:

Rauland-Borg Corporation - Skokie IL

International Classification:

H05B 4100

US Classification:

340332, 3406914, 34028607, 362215, 362225, 362236

Abstract:

A signaling device for annunciating in a hallway of a building a status of a monitored person or object is provided. The signaling device includes at least two vertically stacked sections for announcing a status of the monitored person or object with each section announcing a status of a different condition. Each section includes a solid-state, light-emitting device (LED) that is supported such that when the device is mounted to the wall of the hallway a beam of light from the LED is substantially aimed at a wall opposing the wall to which the device is mounted. A pair of opposing planar surfaces extends along diverging planes and is supported over each LED to receive the LEDs beam of light. Each of the planar surfaces extends at an angle approximately equal to a characteristic optical beam angle of the beam of light. This arrangement causes light from the light beam to substantially uniformly illuminate an entirety of each of the planar surfaces when viewed from an angle approximately perpendicular to a direction in which the beam of light is aimed.

US Patent:

20080119837, May 22, 2008

Filed:

Nov 15, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/940665

Inventors:

Douglas A. Devens - Highland Park IL, US
David W. Vancelette - San Dieto CA, US
Michael W.V. Perkins - Minnetonka MN, US

International Classification:

A61B 18/02

US Classification:

606 22

Abstract:

The present disclosure is directed to a cryoprobe capable of improving the cooling power of a cryosurgical system. A representative cryoprobe can comprise an inner cooling chamber and a radial chamber, positioned between the inner cooling chamber and an exterior wall of the cryoprobe. Preferably, the radial chamber is formed to have a low thermal conductivity so as to significantly reduce the transfer of heat between the body and the refrigerant in the inner chamber during a cryosurgical procedure. The radial chamber can be fabricated such that a vacuum can be applied to the radial chamber to further reduce heat transfer between the body and the inner cooling chamber. The radial chamber extends partially along the length of the cryoprobe such that inner cooling chamber is in direct thermal contact with the exterior wall at a cryoprobe tip.