3507 results about "Multi directional" patented technology

Articles are provided having no orientation or a multi-directional orientation. Such articles may be in the form of films, ribbons, sheets, and / or tapes and may be utilized as buttresses with a surgical stapling apparatus or as reinforcing means for suture lines.

A multi-directional air circulation device for use in a living space. The multi-directional air circulation device comprises a first housing having i) a first wall portion defining a first interior space, ii) a first air outlet, and iii) a first air directing grill adjacent to the first air outlet. At least a second housing rotatable with respect to the first housing. The second housing having i) a second a wall portion defining a second interior space, ii) a second air outlet and, and iii) a second air directing grill adjacent to the second air outlet. At least one air generator is placed in the housings and used to generate at least one air stream which is then discharged from said device as at least two independently directed air exhaust streams through the first and second air outlets into said living space.

Expandable surfaces made from sheet materials with slits distributed on the surface of sheet material where the surfaces expand by application of force along or / and across the surface of sheet material. The unexpanded surfaces are flat sheets, or closed surfaces like cylinders, spheres, tubes, or custom-designed organic shapes marked with pre-formed or post-formed slit designs. The expanded surfaces can be single units or modules which can be attached to one another through various means. The sheet materials range from hard surfaces like metals, to softer materials like papers and plastics, or pliable materials like fabrics, rubbers, synthetic surfaces or bio-surfaces. The slits are arranged in patterns ranging from periodic, non-periodic to irregular designs. The slits can be straight, bent, curved or irregularly shaped with even or uneven spacing. Slitting can be achieved by digital cutting or punching devices like laser-cutting, water-jet cutting, digital punching, automated dies, etc. or pre-formed when casting the sheet material. Force can be applied manually with tools or through the use of machines and special set-ups. Applications range from architectural surfaces, walls, ceilings, panel systems, structures and sculpture. On a smaller scale, applications include containers, packaging material, fabrics and human wear. On micro- to nano-scale, applications range from expandable surfaces for gauzes, band-aids, stent designs, skin grafts, semi-permeable membranes and micro-filters for various industries including purification of fluids and chemical substances.

Disclosed is a multi-directional activation button disposed on a protective case for activating a multi-directional control device on an electronic device. The multi-directional activation button has a flexible membrane with a top side divided into directional surfaces that are aligned with a plurality of directions of operation of said multi-directional activation button. A membrane supports an extension that engages the multi-directional control device. The membrane has a length from a pivot point that controls the direction and the amount of movement of an activation extension wherein movement from the pivot point simulates an extension of a user's finger depending upon which directional surface of the rubber membrane is depressed by the user's finger. The multi-directional activation button may be utilized for push button activation, toggle slide operations, dial wheel, or joy stick like operations.

Provided is a novel spinal fixation system that includes a novel multi-planar taper lock screw for connecting a connecting rod to bone as well as a novel locking device and a novel unlocking device, each being configured to selectively partially lock or fully the novel screw of the system. The screw is capable of multi-directional articulation while the connecting rod position can remain stable and aligned as needed. After the screw had been articulated and properly positioned, it can be locked such that the screw and the connecting rod will remain in relative position to the bone. The screw is configured for easy insertion and connection as well as easy removal and disconnection from the connecting rod. A method of fixing bones or bone fragments using the novel system is also provided.

Angular rate sensor for detecting rotation about first, second and third mutually perpendicular input axes having a plurality of generally planar proof masses coupled together for linear drive-mode oscillation along multi-directional drive axes in a plane formed by the first and second input axes. The masses are mounted on a generally planar sense frame for linear movements relative to the sense frame in drive-mode and for rotation together with the sense frame in sense modes. The sense frame is mounted for rotation with the masses in sense modes about the first, second, and third input axes independent of each other, in response to Coriolis forces produced by rotation of the masses about the first, second, and third input axes respectively. And capacitance sensors responsive to the rotational movements of the masses and the sense frame in sense modes are employed for monitoring rate of rotation.