This Tyco Healthcare Group patent directed towards an end effector with a rounded tip has been rated one of the most influential design patents in the field of medical and laboratory equipment. Tyco Healthcare Group LP was awarded U.S. Patent D649643 entitled “End effector with a rounded tip” on November 29, 2011. The patent has been cited 186 times by other U.S. patents, which places it among the most cited design patents awarded since 2010 according to our law firm research.

Link: U.S. Patent D649643

Tyco Healthcare Group filed this patent on May 13, 2009 giving it a processing time of 930 days (compared to an average processing time of 482 in the field). They have a total number of 1168 patents. The first named inventor is James D. Allen, IV of Broomfield, CO. The patent was allowed by primary examiner Lisa Lichtenstein.

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