This invention relates generally to expandable devices, and particularly to devices formed from one or more expandable cells that facilitate transition of the device from a contracted state to an expanded state.
In a variety of applications and environments, it would be beneficial to have a device able to transition from a contracted state to an expanded state. Such devices can comprise planar members, tubular members, rectangular members and a variety of other configurations. Exemplary applications include medical applications in which expandable devices, such as stents, are deployed at a desired location and then expanded. Another exemplary application comprises the use of expandables in the retrieval of various fluids, e.g. oil, from subterranean locations.
For example, fluids such as oil, natural gas and water are obtained from subterranean geologic formations (a “reservoir”) by drilling a well that penetrates the fluid-bearing formation. Once a wellbore has been drilled to a certain depth, the borehole wall typically is supported to prevent collapse. During the drilling and use of a wellbore, various tubular members, such as liners, casings, sandscreens, etc. are deployed within the wellbore.
Various methods have been developed for radially expanding tubulars by, for instance, pulling an expansion mandrel through the tubular to plastically deform the tubular in a radially outward direction. Such an approach, however, requires a large amount of force to achieve the desired expansion.
The medical industry, oil industry and a variety of other industries utilize certain types of expandables or would benefit from the use of expandables in numerous applications. However, there are very few existing devices that are readily expandable at a desired location. Of the devices that do exist, substantial forces are required to create the expansion. Also, substantial plastic deformation often occurs which can limit the selection of available materials for a given expandable device. The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing, the effects of one or more of the problems set forth above.
The present invention relates generally to expandable devices that may be used, for example, in subterranean environments. In one embodiment of the invention, the expandable device comprises one or more expandable cells that facilitate expansion of the device. By way of example, a tubular may be formed with a plurality of expandable cells that facilitate radial expansion of the device from a collapsed or contracted state to an expanded state. A variety of cell types and cell designs may be utilized depending on the application and desired parameters of the expandable device.
The invention will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and:
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
The following describes a variety of expandable devices that utilize expandable cells to facilitate expansion of the device from a contracted state to an expanded state. Various expansion techniques, expandable cell designs, and locking mechanisms are described, and typically the description is related to one or more exemplary applications. For example, the cells are described for use in tubular components, such as tubulars used in the oil production industry. However, this application is only an exemplary application to demonstrate the applicability of the various cells and locking mechanisms described herein. The description should not be construed as limiting the application of such expandable devices to the particular environments or applications described herein. Rather the techniques for formulating expandable devices can have a wide range of applications in other environments and industries.
As described below, exemplary expandable devices may or may not comprise bistable cells. Whether bistable or not, the expandable cells facilitate expansion of a given device between a contracted state and an expanded state for a variety of operations or procedures. The selection of a particular type of expandable cell depends on a variety of factors including environment, degree of expansion, materials available, etc.
Bistable devices used in the present invention can take advantage of a principle illustrated in
Bistable systems are characterized by a force deflection curve such as those shown in
The force deflection curve for this example is symmetrical and is illustrated in
Bistable structures, sometimes referred to as toggle devices, have been used in industry for such devices as flexible discs, over center clamps, hold-down devices and quick release systems for tension cables (such as in sailboat rigging backstays).
Instead of using the rigid supports as shown in
An expandable bore bistable tubular, such as casing, a tube, a patch, or pipe, can be constructed with a series of circumferential bistable connected cells 23 as shown in
The geometry of the bistable cells is such that the tubular cross-section can be expanded in the radial direction to increase the overall diameter of the tubular. As the tubular expands radially, the bistable cells deform elastically until a specific geometry is reached. At this point the bistable cells move, e.g. snap, to a final expanded geometry. With some materials and/or bistable cell designs, enough energy can be released in the elastic deformation of the cell (as each bistable cell snaps past the specific geometry) that the expanding cells are able to initiate the expansion of adjoining bistable cells past the critical bistable cell geometry. Depending on the deflection curves, a portion or even an entire length of bistable expandable tubular can be expanded from a single point.
In like manner if radial compressive forces are exerted on an expanded bistable tubular, it contracts radially and the bistable cells deform elastically until a critical geometry is reached. At this point the bistable cells snap to a final collapsed structure. In this way the expansion of the bistable tubular is reversible and repeatable. Therefore the bistable tubular can be a reusable tool that is selectively changed between the expanded state as shown in
In the collapsed state, as in
In the expanded state, as in
One example of designing for certain desired results is an expandable bistable tubular string with more than one diameter throughout the length of the string. This can be useful in boreholes with varying diameters, whether designed that way or as a result of unplanned occurrences such as formation washouts or keyseats within the borehole. This also can be beneficial when it is desired to have a portion of the bistable expandable device located inside a cased section of the well while another portion is located in an uncased section of the well.
Bistable collars or connectors 24 A (see
Alternatively, the bistable connector can have a diameter smaller than the two expandable tubular sections joined. Then, the connector is inserted inside of the ends of the tubulars and mechanically fastened as discussed above. Another embodiment would involve the machining of the ends of the tubular sections on either their inner or outer surfaces to form an annular recess in which the connector is located. A connector designed to fit into the recess is placed in the recess. The connector would then be mechanically attached to the ends as described above. In this way the connector forms a relatively flush-type connection with the tubular sections.
A conveyance device 31 transports the bistable expandable tubular lengths and bistable connectors into the wellbore and to the correct position. (See
A deployment device 33 can be incorporated into the overall assembly to expand the bistable expandable tubular and connectors. (See
An inflatable packer element is shown in
A mechanical packer element is shown in
An expandable swage is shown in
A piston type apparatus is shown in
A plug type actuator is illustrated in
A ball type actuator is shown in
Radial roller type actuators also can be used to expand the bistable tubular sections.
The final pivot position is adjusted to a point where the bistable tubular can be expanded to the final diameter. The tool is then longitudinally moved through the collapsed bistable tubular, while the motor continues to rotate the pivot arms and rollers. The rollers follow a shallow helical path 66 inside the bistable tubular, expanding the bistable cells in their path. Once the bistable tubular is deployed, the tool rotation is stopped and the roller retracted. The tool is then withdrawn from the bistable tubular by a conveyance device 68 that also can be used to insert the tool.
Power to operate the deployment device can be drawn from one or a combination of sources such as: electrical power supplied either from the surface or stored in a battery arrangement along with the deployment device, hydraulic power provided by surface or downhole pumps, turbines or a fluid accumulator, and mechanical power supplied through an appropriate linkage actuated by movement applied at the surface or stored downhole such as in a spring mechanism.
The bistable expandable tubular system is designed so the internal diameter of the deployed tubular is expanded to maintain a maximum cross-sectional area along the expandable tubular. This feature enables mono-bore wells to be constructed and facilitates elimination of problems associated with traditional wellbore casing systems where the casing outside diameter must be stepped down many times, restricting access, in long wellbores.
The bistable expandable tubular system can be applied in numerous applications such as an expandable open hole liner where the bistable expandable tubular 24 is used to support an open hole formation by exerting an external radial force on the wellbore surface. As bistable tubular 24 is radially expanded, the tubular moves into contact with the surface forming wellbore 29. These radial forces help stabilize the formations and allow the drilling of wells with fewer conventional casing strings. The open hole liner also can comprise a material, e.g. a wrapping, that reduces the rate of fluid loss from the wellbore into the formations. The wrapping can be made from a variety of materials including expandable metallic and/or elastomeric materials. By reducing fluid loss into the formations, the expense of drilling fluids can be reduced and the risk of losing circulation and/or borehole collapse can be minimized.
Liners also can be used within wellbore tubulars for purposes such as corrosion protection. One example of a corrosive environment is the environment that results when carbon dioxide is used to enhance oil recovery from a producing formation. Carbon dioxide (CO2) readily reacts with any water (H2O) that is present to form carbonic acid (H2CO3). Other acids can also be generated, especially if sulfur compounds are present. Tubulars used to inject the carbon dioxide as well as those used in producing wells are subject to greatly elevated corrosion rates. The present invention can be used to place protective liners, e.g. a bistable tubular 24, within an existing tubular to minimize the corrosive effects and to extend the useful life of the wellbore tubulars.
Another exemplary application involves use of the bistable tubular 24 as an expandable perforated liner. The open bistable cells in the bistable expandable tubular allow unrestricted flow from the formation while providing a structure to stabilize the borehole.
Still another application of the bistable tubular 24 is as an expandable sand screen where the bistable cells are sized to act as a sand control screen. Also, a filter material can be combined with the bistable tubular as explained below. For example, an expandable screen element can be affixed to the bistable expandable tubular. The expandable screen element can be formed as a wrapping around bistable tubular 24. It has been found that the imposition of hoop stress forces onto the wall of a borehole will in itself help stabilize the formation and reduce or eliminate the influx of sand from the producing zones, even if no additional screen element is used.
The above described bistable expandable tubulars can be made in a variety of manners such as: cutting appropriately shaped paths through the wall of a tubular pipe thereby creating an expandable bistable device in its collapsed state; cutting patterns into a tubular pipe thereby creating an expandable bistable device in its expanded state and then compressing the device into its collapsed state; cutting appropriate paths through a sheet of material, rolling the material into a tubular shape and joining the ends to form an expandable bistable device in its collapsed state; or cutting patterns into a sheet of material, rolling the material into a tubular shape, joining the adjoining ends to form an expandable bistable device in its expanded state and then compressing the device into its collapsed state.
The materials of construction for the bistable expandable tubulars can include those typically used within the oil and gas industry such as carbon steel. They can also be made of specialty alloys (such as a monel, inconel, hastelloy or tungsten-based alloys) if the application requires.
The configurations shown for the bistable tubular 24 are illustrative of the operation of a basic bistable cell. Other configurations may be suitable, but the concept presented is also valid for these other geometries.
In
Also, a resin or catalyst 85 may be used to allow the seal 84 to harden after setting. In one alternative embodiment a resin or other flowable material is placed between the layers of seals 84 (as in
In
In alternative embodiments, the well conduit has a plurality of bistable cell packers 80 formed thereon. In yet another alternative embodiment, a portion or portions 91 of the well conduit in addition to the packer portions 80 are formed of bistable cells so that these other portions also undergo expansion (see
Referring to
A seal 84 may be attached to the slats 92 to provide the seal for the packer. Although shown in the figures as folded, the seal 84, may have other characteristics that facilitate its ability to expand with the slats 92 and tubular 82. Also, the seal 84 may have other characteristics previously mentioned (e.g., resin, internal seal, etc.).
It should be noted that although described as a packer, the present invention may be used to provide isolation over a long length as opposed to a traditional packer or downhole tool which generally seals only a relatively short longitudinal distance. Thus, the present invention may be used in a manner similar to a casing to provide isolation for an extended length.
In
In
In one example, illustrated schematically in
Referring generally to
A locking mechanism 128 may be used to maintain the expanded position of the expandable tubular 120. As shown in
Although shown as a ratchet, as an alternative the locking mechanism may have fewer discrete positions, such as one, in which the detent locks in the fully expanded position only. In another embodiment the detent may comprise a resilient finger biased toward an extended position that snaps into a groove in an adjacent longitudinal strut 124. Likewise, the adjacent struts 124 may each have resilient detents that cooperate to lock the device in the expanded position only upon the tubular 120 achieving the expanded position. These are only a few examples of the many possible alternatives for the locking mechanism 128.
Also, various other tubular expansion mechanisms and expandable cells may be utilized, such as expandable tubulars and other devices. For example, details of one type of expandable cell are illustrated in
During movement from the compressed state to the expanded state and depending upon the environmental conditions as well as the materials used, material thickness and other design parameters of the cell and devices formed from the cell, some areas of the cell and struts may experience plastic deformation. In
Another factor in determining the positioning of the thinned portions 140 is the number, placement, and design of the linkages. Although shown in the figures as having a uniform thickness, the linkages 142 may also have a variation in thickness to further tailor the expansion, contraction, and other characteristics of the cell as desired. Therefore, in one broad aspect of the inventions, at least one of the struts 21, 22 has a thickness that varies. Also, other factors may be considered in placement of the thinned portions 140 and the thickness variations of the struts 21, 22. Also, the thinned portions may occur at the intersection of the struts 21, 22.
In
Referring generally to
As the plurality of expandable cells 150 is moved from the contracted state illustrated in
In another embodiment illustrated in
As the plurality of cells are moved from the contracted state illustrated in
Another expandable cell embodiment is illustrated in
With reference to
Of course, with any of these types of bistable cells, the degree of expansion may be limited by an external barrier. For example, if the bistable cells are used to form a tubular, the tubular may be expanded against a wellbore wall that prevents the cells from moving to their fully expanded condition. Typically, the size of the tubular is selected to permit expansion of the cells at least past the point of maximum deformation. Thus, depending on the material used, the cells may actually cooperate to apply an outwardly directed radial force against the wellbore wall.
Referring generally to
In
As cells 220 are expanded from a contracted state, illustrated in
A double horn cell design is illustrated in
In the example illustrated, each double horn cell 234 has two outer horn spring members 240, coupled to one thick strut 236, and two inner horn spring members 240, coupled to the next adjacent thick strut 236. One thin strut 238 is coupled to each cooperating pair of inner and outer horn spring members via appropriate hinge regions 242. Thus, as the double horn cells 234 are moved from the contracted state illustrated in
Other forms of spring elements also may be utilized in facilitating expansion of a variety of cell types. For example, in
Another type of spring system is illustrated in
To secure the overall device, e.g. tubular, in the expanded position, a locking mechanism may be utilized to prevent the individual cells from contracting. Exemplary locking mechanisms may be associated with individual cells, or they may be located at one or more positions along the expandable device. In
As the device, e.g. tubular, is expanded, ratchet finger 264 is flexed away from an adjacent support surface 270, as illustrated best in
Another exemplary locking mechanism 272 is illustrated in
During expansion of the tubular or other device, divergent portions 282 are drawn through constricted region 284 (see
Another exemplary locking mechanism 284 is illustrated in
Referring generally to
Ratchet surface 312 may incorporate ratchet teeth to engage the end of the corresponding ratchet finger 310. As the expandable cell 302 is transitioned from its contracted state, as illustrated in
Another embodiment of the system is illustrated in
The locking mechanisms also may be used in cooperation with expandable cells that are not necessarily bistable cells. For example, in
In this embodiment, locking mechanism 336 comprises a post 338 having external teeth 340. Post 338 is slidably received within an opening 342 defined by one or more flexible fingers 344 having engagement tips 346 that engage teeth 340. Fingers 344 flex outwardly to allow teeth 340 to slide past engagement tips 346 as the cell is expanded, but engagement tips 346 prevent post 338 from moving in a direction towards the contracted state. Thus, once expandable cell 330 is expanded, locking mechanism 336 prevents contraction of the cell.
A similar design is illustrated in
It also should be noted that expandable devices, such as expandable tubulars, can be formed with a variety of cells and locking mechanisms having differing configurations, such as changes in size or type, as illustrated schematically in
It will be understood that the foregoing description is of exemplary embodiments of this invention, and that the invention is not limited to the specific forms shown. For example, the expandable cells can be combined into a variety of tubulars and other expandable structures; the size and shape of the expandable cells and locking mechanisms can be adjusted; the types of material utilized can be changed depending on the specific application; and a variety of mechanisms may be used to expand the cells. Also, the various cells can be formed by a variety of techniques including laser cutting, jet cutting, water jet cutting and other formation techniques. These and other modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the elements without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.
This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 11/150,836, filed Jun. 10, 2005, now abandoned which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/050,468, filed Jan. 16, 2002, now abandoned which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/261,749, filed Jan. 16, 2001, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/296,875, filed Jun. 8, 2001, which applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
261252 | Olmsted | Jul 1882 | A |
380419 | Bignall | Apr 1888 | A |
997191 | Hogarth | Jul 1911 | A |
1135809 | Jones | Apr 1915 | A |
1229437 | Foster | Jun 1917 | A |
1233888 | Leonard | Jul 1917 | A |
1276213 | Hare | Aug 1918 | A |
1301285 | Leonard | Apr 1919 | A |
1314600 | McCakey | Sep 1919 | A |
1647907 | Doty | Nov 1927 | A |
1945079 | Riemenschneider | Jan 1934 | A |
1981525 | Price | Nov 1934 | A |
2016683 | Moore | Oct 1935 | A |
2050128 | Schlumberger | Aug 1936 | A |
2171840 | Armentrout | Sep 1939 | A |
2217708 | Scaramucci | Oct 1940 | A |
2220205 | Buckley | Nov 1940 | A |
2371385 | Eckel | Mar 1945 | A |
2530966 | Huber | Nov 1950 | A |
2677466 | Lowe | May 1954 | A |
2696169 | Lassiter | Dec 1954 | A |
2760581 | Johnston | Aug 1956 | A |
2769655 | Holmes | Nov 1956 | A |
2812025 | Teague | Nov 1957 | A |
2835328 | Thompson | May 1958 | A |
2990017 | Powers | Jun 1961 | A |
3069125 | Hewitt | Dec 1962 | A |
3179168 | Vincent | Apr 1965 | A |
3203451 | Vinvent | Aug 1965 | A |
3253842 | Rabe | May 1966 | A |
3297092 | Jennings | Jan 1967 | A |
3353599 | Swift | Nov 1967 | A |
3358492 | Richter | Dec 1967 | A |
3389752 | Lebourg | Jun 1968 | A |
3414055 | Vogt | Dec 1968 | A |
3415321 | Venghiattis | Dec 1968 | A |
3419080 | Lebourg | Dec 1968 | A |
3463247 | Klein | Aug 1969 | A |
3482629 | Suman | Dec 1969 | A |
3489220 | Kinley | Jan 1970 | A |
3507340 | Voetter | Apr 1970 | A |
3508587 | Mauch | Apr 1970 | A |
3556219 | Meldau | Jan 1971 | A |
3561529 | Owen | Feb 1971 | A |
3604732 | Malone | Sep 1971 | A |
3657744 | Ersek | Apr 1972 | A |
3672705 | Rush | Jun 1972 | A |
3692114 | Murphey, Jr. et al. | Sep 1972 | A |
3785193 | Kinley | Jan 1974 | A |
3816894 | Howard | Jun 1974 | A |
3864970 | Bell | Feb 1975 | A |
3898717 | Schwartz | Aug 1975 | A |
3913676 | Barbee, Jr. et al. | Oct 1975 | A |
3926409 | Abney | Dec 1975 | A |
3963076 | Winslow | Jun 1976 | A |
4064938 | Fast | Dec 1977 | A |
4065953 | Frentzen | Jan 1978 | A |
4185856 | McCaskill | Jan 1980 | A |
4253522 | Setterberg, Jr. | Mar 1981 | A |
4295527 | Russe | Oct 1981 | A |
4309891 | Pogonowski | Jan 1982 | A |
4337969 | Escaron | Jul 1982 | A |
4375164 | Dodge | Mar 1983 | A |
4401158 | Spencer | Aug 1983 | A |
4495997 | Scott | Jan 1985 | A |
4541486 | Wetzel | Sep 1985 | A |
4553595 | Huang | Nov 1985 | A |
4558219 | LeBlanc | Dec 1985 | A |
4558742 | Huang | Dec 1985 | A |
4566538 | Peterson | Jan 1986 | A |
4578608 | Mech | Mar 1986 | A |
4580568 | Gianturco | Apr 1986 | A |
4600037 | Hatten | Jul 1986 | A |
4606408 | Zunkel | Aug 1986 | A |
4626129 | Kothmann | Dec 1986 | A |
4655771 | Wallsten | Apr 1987 | A |
4657079 | Nagaoka | Apr 1987 | A |
4665906 | Jervis | May 1987 | A |
4665918 | Garza | May 1987 | A |
4706659 | Matthews | Nov 1987 | A |
4733665 | Palmaz | Mar 1988 | A |
4739762 | Palmaz | Apr 1988 | A |
4740207 | Kreamer | Apr 1988 | A |
4783995 | Michel | Nov 1988 | A |
4809792 | Lynch | Mar 1989 | A |
4832121 | Anderson | May 1989 | A |
4866062 | Toth | Sep 1989 | A |
4874327 | Ip | Oct 1989 | A |
4886062 | Wiktor | Dec 1989 | A |
4945991 | Jones | Aug 1990 | A |
4950258 | Kawai | Aug 1990 | A |
4969890 | Sugita | Nov 1990 | A |
4976142 | Perales | Dec 1990 | A |
4990155 | Wilkoff | Feb 1991 | A |
4994071 | MacGregor | Feb 1991 | A |
5102417 | Palmaz | Apr 1992 | A |
5104404 | Wolff | Apr 1992 | A |
5107927 | Whiteley | Apr 1992 | A |
5119373 | Fredricsson | Jun 1992 | A |
5141360 | Zeman | Aug 1992 | A |
5147370 | McNamara | Sep 1992 | A |
5156220 | Forehand | Oct 1992 | A |
5163321 | Perales | Nov 1992 | A |
5174379 | Whiteley | Dec 1992 | A |
5186255 | Corey | Feb 1993 | A |
5192307 | Wall | Mar 1993 | A |
5195984 | Schatz | Mar 1993 | A |
5197978 | Hess | Mar 1993 | A |
5211241 | Mashaw, Jr. et al. | May 1993 | A |
5226913 | Pinchuk | Jul 1993 | A |
5234448 | Wholey | Aug 1993 | A |
5243190 | Bandy | Sep 1993 | A |
5282823 | Schwartz | Feb 1994 | A |
5318121 | Brockman | Jun 1994 | A |
5329998 | King | Jul 1994 | A |
5337823 | Nobileau | Aug 1994 | A |
5348095 | Worrall | Sep 1994 | A |
5354308 | Simon | Oct 1994 | A |
5355948 | Sparlin | Oct 1994 | A |
5355949 | Sparlin | Oct 1994 | A |
5355953 | Shy | Oct 1994 | A |
5366012 | Lohbeck | Nov 1994 | A |
5377104 | Sorrells | Dec 1994 | A |
5377823 | Steen | Jan 1995 | A |
5383892 | Cardon | Jan 1995 | A |
5383926 | Lock | Jan 1995 | A |
5396957 | Surjaatmadja | Mar 1995 | A |
5397355 | Marin | Mar 1995 | A |
5403341 | Solar | Apr 1995 | A |
5411507 | Heckele | May 1995 | A |
5419760 | Narciso, Jr. | May 1995 | A |
5449373 | Pinchasik | Sep 1995 | A |
5449382 | Dayton | Sep 1995 | A |
5450898 | Sparlin | Sep 1995 | A |
5456319 | Schmidt | Oct 1995 | A |
5492175 | El-Rabaa et al. | Feb 1996 | A |
5496365 | Sgro | Mar 1996 | A |
5500013 | Buscemi | Mar 1996 | A |
5515915 | Jones | May 1996 | A |
5545208 | Wolff | Aug 1996 | A |
5545210 | Hess | Aug 1996 | A |
5554183 | Nazari | Sep 1996 | A |
5556413 | Lam | Sep 1996 | A |
5562690 | Green | Oct 1996 | A |
5562697 | Christiansen | Oct 1996 | A |
5576485 | Serata | Nov 1996 | A |
5601593 | Freitag | Feb 1997 | A |
5618299 | Khosravi | Apr 1997 | A |
5628787 | Mayer | May 1997 | A |
5641023 | Ross | Jun 1997 | A |
5643314 | Carpenter | Jul 1997 | A |
5663805 | Asai | Sep 1997 | A |
5667011 | Gill | Sep 1997 | A |
5670161 | Healy | Sep 1997 | A |
5695516 | Fischell | Dec 1997 | A |
5697971 | Fischell | Dec 1997 | A |
5702419 | Berry | Dec 1997 | A |
5723781 | Pruett | Mar 1998 | A |
5725570 | Heath | Mar 1998 | A |
5725572 | Lam | Mar 1998 | A |
5733303 | Israel | Mar 1998 | A |
5755774 | Pinchuk | May 1998 | A |
5755776 | Al-Saadon | May 1998 | A |
5776181 | Lee | Jul 1998 | A |
5776183 | Kanesaka | Jul 1998 | A |
5785120 | Smalley | Jul 1998 | A |
5806589 | Lang | Sep 1998 | A |
5807404 | Richter | Sep 1998 | A |
5824040 | Cox | Oct 1998 | A |
5833001 | Song | Nov 1998 | A |
5842516 | Jones | Dec 1998 | A |
5861025 | Boudghene | Jan 1999 | A |
5865073 | Wilson | Feb 1999 | A |
5871538 | Dereume | Feb 1999 | A |
5872901 | Konno | Feb 1999 | A |
5876449 | Starck | Mar 1999 | A |
5891191 | Stinson | Apr 1999 | A |
5895406 | Gray | Apr 1999 | A |
5896928 | Coon | Apr 1999 | A |
5899882 | Waksman | May 1999 | A |
5901789 | Donnelly | May 1999 | A |
5913897 | Corso, Jr. et al. | Jun 1999 | A |
5918672 | McConnell | Jul 1999 | A |
5922020 | Klein | Jul 1999 | A |
5924745 | Campbell | Jul 1999 | A |
5928280 | Hansen | Jul 1999 | A |
5934376 | Nguyen | Aug 1999 | A |
5957195 | Bailey | Sep 1999 | A |
5964296 | Ross | Oct 1999 | A |
5972018 | Israel | Oct 1999 | A |
5984568 | Lohbeck | Nov 1999 | A |
5997580 | Mastrorio | Dec 1999 | A |
6004348 | Banas | Dec 1999 | A |
6012522 | Donnelly | Jan 2000 | A |
6012523 | Campbell | Jan 2000 | A |
6013854 | Moriuchi | Jan 2000 | A |
6017362 | Lau | Jan 2000 | A |
6019789 | Dinh | Feb 2000 | A |
6020981 | Ogiyama | Feb 2000 | A |
6021850 | Wood | Feb 2000 | A |
6022371 | Killion | Feb 2000 | A |
6027526 | Limon | Feb 2000 | A |
6027527 | Asano | Feb 2000 | A |
6029748 | Forsyth | Feb 2000 | A |
6031637 | Shibata | Feb 2000 | A |
6042606 | Frantzen | Mar 2000 | A |
6049597 | Satake | Apr 2000 | A |
6063113 | Kavteladze | May 2000 | A |
6064491 | Matsumoto | May 2000 | A |
6065500 | Metcalfe | May 2000 | A |
6070671 | Cumming | Jun 2000 | A |
6083258 | Yadav | Jul 2000 | A |
6095242 | Lequang | Aug 2000 | A |
6096070 | Ragheb | Aug 2000 | A |
6106548 | Roubin | Aug 2000 | A |
6112818 | Campbell | Sep 2000 | A |
6131662 | Ross | Oct 2000 | A |
6135208 | Gano | Oct 2000 | A |
6138776 | Hart | Oct 2000 | A |
6142230 | Smalley | Nov 2000 | A |
6147774 | Hamadani | Nov 2000 | A |
6152599 | Salter, Jr. | Nov 2000 | A |
6190406 | Duerig | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6193744 | Ehr | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6203569 | Wijay | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6206911 | Milo | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6213686 | Baugh | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6220345 | Jones | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6220361 | Brisco | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6227303 | Jones | May 2001 | B1 |
6244360 | Steinsland | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6250385 | Montaron | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6253844 | Walker | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6253850 | Nazzai | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6261319 | Kveen | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6263966 | Haut | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6263972 | Richard | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6264685 | Ahari | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6273634 | Lohbeck | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6281489 | Tubel | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6315040 | Donnelly | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6321503 | Warren | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6322109 | Campbell | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6325148 | Trahan | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6327938 | Pietras | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6328113 | Cook | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6330911 | Allen | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6330918 | Hosie | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6343651 | Bixenman | Feb 2002 | B1 |
6360633 | Pietras | Mar 2002 | B2 |
6368355 | Uflacker | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6371203 | Frank | Apr 2002 | B2 |
6374565 | Warren | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6378614 | Adams | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6382318 | Whitlock | May 2002 | B1 |
6415509 | Echols | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6425444 | Metcalfe | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6431271 | Thomeer | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6446729 | Bixenman | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6451052 | Burmeister | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6454493 | Lohbeck | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6457518 | Castano-Mears et al. | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6457532 | Simpson | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6464720 | Boatman | Oct 2002 | B2 |
6478091 | Gano | Nov 2002 | B1 |
6478092 | Voll | Nov 2002 | B2 |
6485524 | Strecker | Nov 2002 | B2 |
6488702 | Besselink | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6510896 | Bode | Jan 2003 | B2 |
6512599 | Hattori | Jan 2003 | B1 |
6513599 | Bixenman | Feb 2003 | B1 |
6520254 | Hurst | Feb 2003 | B2 |
6527047 | Pietras | Mar 2003 | B1 |
6536291 | Gysling | Mar 2003 | B1 |
6540777 | Stenzel | Apr 2003 | B2 |
6554064 | Restarick | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6571871 | Lauritzen | Jun 2003 | B2 |
6575245 | Hurst | Jun 2003 | B2 |
6578630 | Simpson | Jun 2003 | B2 |
6582461 | Burmeister | Jun 2003 | B1 |
6598678 | Simpson | Jul 2003 | B1 |
6622797 | Sivley, IV | Sep 2003 | B2 |
6634431 | Cook | Oct 2003 | B2 |
6648071 | Hackworth | Nov 2003 | B2 |
6669718 | Besselink | Dec 2003 | B2 |
6675891 | Hailey, Jr. et al. | Jan 2004 | B2 |
6681854 | Danos | Jan 2004 | B2 |
6684951 | Restarick | Feb 2004 | B2 |
6688395 | Maguire | Feb 2004 | B2 |
6688397 | McClurkin | Feb 2004 | B2 |
6695054 | Johnson | Feb 2004 | B2 |
6695067 | Johnson | Feb 2004 | B2 |
6719064 | Price-Smith et al. | Apr 2004 | B2 |
6722427 | Gano | Apr 2004 | B2 |
6722441 | Lauritzen | Apr 2004 | B2 |
6725918 | Gano | Apr 2004 | B2 |
6725934 | Coronado | Apr 2004 | B2 |
6745845 | Cook | Jun 2004 | B2 |
6755856 | Fierens et al. | Jun 2004 | B2 |
6772836 | Schetky | Aug 2004 | B2 |
6789621 | Wetzel | Sep 2004 | B2 |
6799637 | Schetky et al. | Oct 2004 | B2 |
6805196 | Lawrence | Oct 2004 | B2 |
6817410 | Wetzel | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6823943 | Baugh | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6848510 | Bixenman | Feb 2005 | B2 |
6877553 | Cameron | Apr 2005 | B2 |
6896052 | Simpson | May 2005 | B2 |
6904974 | Slack | Jun 2005 | B2 |
6907930 | Cavender | Jun 2005 | B2 |
6924640 | Fickert | Aug 2005 | B2 |
6932161 | Cameron | Aug 2005 | B2 |
6962203 | Funchess | Nov 2005 | B2 |
6983796 | Bayne | Jan 2006 | B2 |
6994167 | Ramos | Feb 2006 | B2 |
7036600 | Johnson | May 2006 | B2 |
7048052 | Hackworth | May 2006 | B2 |
7055609 | Hayes | Jun 2006 | B2 |
7086476 | Johnson | Aug 2006 | B2 |
7100690 | Mullen | Sep 2006 | B2 |
7104324 | Wetzel | Sep 2006 | B2 |
7108062 | Castano-Mears et al. | Sep 2006 | B2 |
7131494 | Bixenman | Nov 2006 | B2 |
7134501 | Johnson | Nov 2006 | B2 |
7140446 | Metcalfe | Nov 2006 | B2 |
7156180 | Schetky | Jan 2007 | B2 |
7168485 | Johnson | Jan 2007 | B2 |
7168486 | Hackworth | Jan 2007 | B2 |
7182134 | Wetzel | Feb 2007 | B2 |
7185709 | Schetky | Mar 2007 | B2 |
7191842 | Hackworth | Mar 2007 | B2 |
7222676 | Patel | May 2007 | B2 |
7235097 | Calisse | Jun 2007 | B2 |
7291166 | Cheng | Nov 2007 | B2 |
7300458 | Henkes | Nov 2007 | B2 |
7398831 | Schetky | Jul 2008 | B2 |
7476245 | Abbate | Jan 2009 | B2 |
7681640 | Bixenman | Mar 2010 | B2 |
7758628 | Besselink | Jul 2010 | B2 |
20010027339 | Boatman | Oct 2001 | A1 |
20010044652 | Moore | Nov 2001 | A1 |
20020035394 | Fierens | Mar 2002 | A1 |
20020092649 | Bixenman | Jul 2002 | A1 |
20020107562 | Hart | Aug 2002 | A1 |
20020125009 | Wetzel | Sep 2002 | A1 |
20030074052 | Besselink | Apr 2003 | A1 |
20030079885 | Schetky | May 2003 | A1 |
20030079886 | Schetky | May 2003 | A1 |
20030199969 | Steinke | Oct 2003 | A1 |
20040034402 | Bales | Feb 2004 | A1 |
20040065445 | Abercrombie Simpson et al. | Apr 2004 | A1 |
20040088043 | Klein | May 2004 | A1 |
20040089454 | Hackworth | May 2004 | A1 |
20040133270 | Grandt | Jul 2004 | A1 |
20040182581 | Schetky | Sep 2004 | A1 |
20040193247 | Besselink | Sep 2004 | A1 |
20050039927 | Wetzel | Feb 2005 | A1 |
20050055080 | Istephanous | Mar 2005 | A1 |
20050163821 | Sung | Jul 2005 | A1 |
20050182479 | Bonsignore | Aug 2005 | A1 |
20060037745 | Hart | Feb 2006 | A1 |
20060217795 | Besselink | Sep 2006 | A1 |
20060241739 | Besselink | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20070084608 | Bixenman | Apr 2007 | A1 |
20070102153 | Bixenman | May 2007 | A1 |
20080097571 | Denison | Apr 2008 | A1 |
20090187243 | Johnson | Jul 2009 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
784777 | Aug 2002 | AU |
2006202182 | Jun 2006 | AU |
2006202182 | Jun 2006 | AU |
1014914AS | Jun 2004 | BE |
2602435 | Jul 1998 | CA |
2359450 | Oct 2001 | CA |
2359450 | Apr 2002 | CA |
2513263 | Apr 2002 | CA |
2513263 | Apr 2002 | CA |
2367810 | Jul 2002 | CA |
2367810 | Jul 2002 | CA |
2544701 | Jul 2002 | CA |
2544701 | Jul 2002 | CA |
8812719 | Nov 1989 | DE |
19728337 | Jan 1999 | DE |
10201631 | Nov 2002 | DE |
10201631 | Nov 2002 | DE |
0274846 | Jul 1988 | EP |
0326426 | Aug 1989 | EP |
326426 | Aug 1989 | EP |
0326426 | Aug 1989 | EP |
0335341 | Oct 1989 | EP |
0364787 | Apr 1990 | EP |
0421729 | Apr 1991 | EP |
0540290 | May 1993 | EP |
587197 | Mar 1994 | EP |
0587197 | Mar 1994 | EP |
0636345 | Feb 1995 | EP |
0664107 | Jul 1995 | EP |
0674095 | Sep 1995 | EP |
0679372 | Nov 1995 | EP |
0688545 | Dec 1995 | EP |
0734698 | Oct 1996 | EP |
744164 | Nov 1996 | EP |
0744164 | Nov 1996 | EP |
0779409 | Jun 1997 | EP |
0897698 | Feb 1999 | EP |
1031329 | Aug 2000 | EP |
1042997 | Oct 2000 | EP |
1152120 | Nov 2001 | EP |
1223305 | Jul 2002 | EP |
1223305 | Nov 2002 | EP |
1255022 | Nov 2002 | EP |
2617721 | Jan 1989 | FR |
2642812 | Aug 1990 | FR |
2081173 | Feb 1982 | GB |
2169515 | Jul 1986 | GB |
2175824 | Dec 1986 | GB |
2287093 | Sep 1995 | GB |
2317630 | Apr 1998 | GB |
2347448 | Sep 2000 | GB |
2355740 | May 2001 | GB |
2362462 | Nov 2001 | GB |
2366817 | Mar 2002 | GB |
2368082 | Apr 2002 | GB |
2369382 | Apr 2002 | GB |
2369382 | May 2002 | GB |
2370301 | Jun 2002 | GB |
2370574 | Jul 2002 | GB |
2371063 | Jul 2002 | GB |
2371064 | Jul 2002 | GB |
2371066 | Jul 2002 | GB |
2371574 | Jul 2002 | GB |
2379690 | Mar 2003 | GB |
2379691 | Mar 2003 | GB |
2379692 | Mar 2003 | GB |
2379693 | Mar 2003 | GB |
2379694 | Mar 2003 | GB |
2379694 | Mar 2003 | GB |
2382831 | Jun 2003 | GB |
2382831 | Jun 2003 | GB |
2386625 | Sep 2003 | GB |
2386625 | Sep 2003 | GB |
2392461 | Mar 2004 | GB |
2392461 | Mar 2004 | GB |
2395214 | May 2004 | GB |
2395214 | May 2004 | GB |
2403491 | Jan 2005 | GB |
2404683 | Feb 2005 | GB |
2404683 | Feb 2005 | GB |
2408531 | Jun 2005 | GB |
2408531 | Jun 2005 | GB |
2409694 | Jul 2005 | GB |
2409694 | Jul 2005 | GB |
2410273 | Jul 2005 | GB |
2410273 | Jul 2005 | GB |
A9312743 | Dec 1997 | JP |
2002121654 | Apr 2002 | JP |
2002332791 | Nov 2002 | JP |
3958602 | Aug 2007 | JP |
1019192 | Apr 2002 | NL |
1019753 | Jul 2002 | NL |
1021076 | Jul 2002 | NL |
1022037 | Feb 2003 | NL |
20020223 | Jul 2002 | NO |
20034598 | Apr 2004 | NO |
2225497 | Jul 2003 | RU |
2225497 | Jul 2003 | RU |
2263198 | May 2005 | RU |
104956 | Jul 2004 | SG |
1105620 | Jul 1984 | SU |
8602124 | Apr 1986 | WO |
9206734 | Apr 1992 | WO |
9219310 | Nov 1992 | WO |
9322986 | Nov 1993 | WO |
9403127 | Feb 1994 | WO |
9509584 | Apr 1995 | WO |
9531945 | Nov 1995 | WO |
9532757 | Dec 1995 | WO |
9603942 | Feb 1996 | WO |
9609013 | Mar 1996 | WO |
9618359 | Jun 1996 | WO |
9629028 | Sep 1996 | WO |
9637680 | Nov 1996 | WO |
9641589 | Dec 1996 | WO |
9704721 | Feb 1997 | WO |
WO 9717527 | May 1997 | WO |
9800626 | Jan 1998 | WO |
9820810 | May 1998 | WO |
9820810 | May 1998 | WO |
9822690 | May 1998 | WO |
9826152 | Jun 1998 | WO |
9832412 | Jul 1998 | WO |
9849423 | Nov 1998 | WO |
9849423 | Nov 1998 | WO |
9850673 | Nov 1998 | WO |
9850680 | Nov 1998 | WO |
9857030 | Dec 1998 | WO |
9902818 | Jan 1999 | WO |
9915108 | Apr 1999 | WO |
9923354 | May 1999 | WO |
9945235 | Sep 1999 | WO |
0036386 | Jun 2000 | WO |
0061908 | Oct 2000 | WO |
0129368 | Apr 2001 | WO |
0129368 | Apr 2001 | WO |
0142620 | Jun 2001 | WO |
0142620 | Jun 2001 | WO |
0146551 | Jun 2001 | WO |
0165063 | Sep 2001 | WO |
0165067 | Sep 2001 | WO |
0173264 | Oct 2001 | WO |
0188332 | Nov 2001 | WO |
0192680 | Dec 2001 | WO |
0206593 | Jan 2002 | WO |
0206625 | Jan 2002 | WO |
0225057 | Mar 2002 | WO |
2004014255 | Feb 2004 | WO |
WO 2004014255 | Feb 2004 | WO |
2007076051 | Jul 2007 | WO |
2007076051 | Jul 2007 | WO |
2007126729 | Nov 2007 | WO |
2007126729 | Nov 2007 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20110214855 A1 | Sep 2011 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
60261749 | Jan 2001 | US | |
60296875 | Jun 2001 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 11150836 | Jun 2005 | US |
Child | 12856241 | US | |
Parent | 10050468 | Jan 2002 | US |
Child | 11150836 | US |