Frank L Gregor

US Patent:

5571014, Nov 5, 1996

Filed:

Sep 2, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/300468

Inventors:

Frank Gregor - Racine WI
James W. Nelson - Morristown NJ

Assignee:

Snap-on Technologies, Inc. - Crystal Lake IL

International Classification:

A61C 300

US Classification:

433141

Abstract:

A disposable, limited-use torque limiting wrench is provided having a predetermined maximum number of torque-applying cycles of use for applying a fixed torque to an adaptably connected driven member. This torque limiting wrench includes a rotatable casing including a slotted hub portion and a curved bias spring dimensioned to fit around the slotted hub portion. A dowel pin is also included having a center portion which is dimensioned to fit within and be gripped by a slot formed in the slotted hub portion and to be rotated thereby in response to a torque imparted on the rotatable casing. A torque ring is cooperatively engaged with the above by a predetermined number of pairs of radially extending and substantially equiangularly spaced slots. The respective ends of the dowel pin are uniquely dimensioned to fit within respective ones of the slots which become positioned colinearly therewith as the dowel pin is caused to be circumferentially rotated about the torque ring. The dowel pin ends move from an initial one of the pairs of slots to an adjacent pair of slots during each torque-applying cycle.

US Patent:

6187017, Feb 13, 2001

Filed:

Feb 17, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/025099

Inventors:

Frank Gregor - Racine WI

Assignee:

Circon Corporation - Santa Barbara CA

International Classification:

A61B 1722

US Classification:

606127

Abstract:

A retrieval basket is provided for use with a surgical device adapted to capture calculi. The retrieval basket includes wires extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the basket wherein the wires converge at the proximal and distal ends. The wires in a proximal portion of the retrieval basket incline radially at an angle away from the basket's axis along relatively straight paths. The wires in a distal portion of the retrieval basket converge radially toward the axis along relatively curvilinear paths.