Hal D Williams

US Patent:

6412340, Jul 2, 2002

Filed:

Feb 7, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/500182

Inventors:

Nick Ngoc Nguyen - Costa Mesa CA
Doug Truong - Santa Ana CA
Hal Williams - San Clemente CA

Assignee:

Ethicon, Inc. - Somerville NJ

International Classification:

G01B 528

US Classification:

73104, 206569, 141 1, 414411, 41441603, 422 28, 422292

Abstract:

A cassette sensing mechanism and a method for detecting the unevenness of a surface by detecting the difference between two paths on the surface. The mechanism contains two pawls connected to a connector at one end. The second end of one pawl contacts a portion of one path on the surface, and the second end of the other pawl contacts a portion of the other path on the surface. One path is smooth, and the other path contains grooves. A sensor on one pawl senses the relative position of the other pawl. The unevenness of the surface can be detected by monitoring the relative positions of the two pawls as the two pawls travel along the two paths. The sensing mechanism may be used for monitoring the position on a cassette in a sterilization system.

US Patent:

7340943, Mar 11, 2008

Filed:

Sep 30, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/240060

Inventors:

Richard A. Jackson - Huntington Beach CA, US
Hal Williams - San Clemente CA, US

Assignee:

Ethicon, Inc. - Somerville NJ

International Classification:

G01M 3/04

US Classification:

73 492

Abstract:

A method detects proper connection of a test connection to an endoscope port which leads to an interior space beneath a flexible sheath on an endoscope. Both the interior space and an air buffer are pressurized and then isolated from each other. Pressure in the interior space is vented and the isolation is removed. After the pressure settles out the new pressure is compared with the first pressure. If it has not dropped substantially it is determined that the test connection is not properly attached and the interior space is in fact not being pressurized.