Patents Assigned to GEARBOX, LLC
  • Patent number: 9474712
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system including a remotely controlled reaction device and associated controller are described. Methods of use and control of the device are also disclosed. According to various embodiments, a reaction device is placed in an environment in order to perform a chemical reaction in an environment. Exemplary environments include a body of an organism, a body of water, or an enclosed volume of a fluid. In selected embodiments, a magnetic field, an electric field, or electromagnetic control signal may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Gearbox, LLC
    Inventors: Leroy E. Hood, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Robert Langer, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9462971
    Abstract: A method may include collecting at least one analyte from within a body, ejecting the collected at least one analyte from the body through at least one dermal layer of the body, and receiving the ejected at least one analyte outside the body. A system may include a means for collecting at least one analyte from within a body, a means for ejecting the collected at least one analyte from the body through at least one dermal layer of the body, and a means for receiving the ejected at least one analyte outside the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Gearbox, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis J. Rivet, Roderick A. Hyde
  • Patent number: 9459470
    Abstract: Various embodiments of methods and systems for improving and enhancing vision are disclosed. Adjustable lenses or optical systems may be used to provide adaptive vision modification. In some embodiments, vision modification may be responsive to the current state of the user's visual system. Certain embodiments provide correction of the subject's near and far vision. Other embodiments provide enhancement of vision beyond the physiological ranges of focal length or magnification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Gearbox, LLC
    Inventors: W. Daniel Hillis, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9446308
    Abstract: A method of gaming is generally described which includes detecting motions associated with the user by a feedback sensor device and providing motion information from the feedback sensor device to the game device. The method also includes providing a vestibular stimulation signal to a user, by a vestibular stimulation device in communication with a game device in response to the motion information and the game content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Gearbox, LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9433775
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein for treatment of a disease, disorder, or condition in a vertebrate subject. A device is provided that includes one or more cooling elements configured to be applied to one or more tissues of a vertebrate subject to modulate at least one activity of brown adipose tissue of the vertebrate subject, wherein at least a portion of the one or more cooling elements is configured to be implantable, and a programmable controller configured to provide instructions to the one or more cooling elements in response to information regarding one or more physiological conditions of the vertebrate subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Gearbox, LLC
    Inventors: Edward S. Boyden, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Eric C. Leuthardt, Stephen L. Malaska, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9408530
    Abstract: Methods of controlling the operation of a device traveling in a body tube tree, including sensing parameters from possible directions of travel and selecting the direction of travel based on the sensed parameters, implemented with a control system located partially or fully on the lumen traveling device. Various actions can be performed by the device for, e.g., medical or therapeutic purposes. Machine-readable media including instructions for performing the methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Gearbox, LLC
    Inventors: Bran Ferren, W. Daniel Hillis, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Eric C. Leuthardt, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Thomas J. Nugent, Jr., Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9358374
    Abstract: Methods and related systems for modulating neural activity by cyclical blocking of conduction in peripheral neural structures are disclosed. Neural activity may blocked cyclically by blocking stimuli delivered via various types of blocking stimulus sources. In an aspect, a conduction block is produced in a sensory nerve. Neural modulation may be used, for example, to modulate an undesired sensation, such as pain, or an immune or inflammatory response or process. Delivery of blocking stimuli may be controlled in part in response to an input from a user input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Gearbox, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph G. Dacey, Jr., Gregory J. Della Rocca, Colin P. Derdeyn, Joshua L. Dowling, Eleanor V. Goodall, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Eric C. Leuthardt, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Michael A. Smith, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood, Gregory J. Zipfel
  • Patent number: 9333343
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems configured to power at least one device disposed in a living subject, apparatuses configured to be disposed in a living subject and export power stored in an energy-storage device, and related methods of powering at least one device disposed in the living subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GEARBOX, LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Dennis J. Rivet, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9337659
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes an internal optical power transmitter configured to be disposed within a living subject. The internal optical power transmitter includes a power source configured to provide electrical energy and an electrical-optical converter operably coupled to the power source. The electrical-optical converter may be configured to convert at least a portion of the electrical energy into one or more optical power signals transdermally transmittable out of the living subject. The system further includes an external optical-electrical converter configured to convert the one or more optical power signals into one or more electrical power signals and at least one external device configured to be operably coupled to the external optical-electrical converter and powered by the one or more electrical power signals. Embodiments of methods, biocompatible electrical-optical converters, and internal optical power transmitters are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GEARBOX, LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Dennis J. Rivet, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9331491
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes an internal optical power transmitter configured to be disposed within a living subject. The internal optical power transmitter includes a power source configured to provide electrical energy and an electrical-optical converter operably coupled to the power source. The electrical-optical converter may be configured to convert at least a portion of the electrical energy into one or more optical power signals transdermally transmittable out of the living subject. The system further includes an external optical-electrical converter configured to convert the one or more optical power signals into one or more electrical power signals and at least one external device configured to be operably coupled to the external optical-electrical converter and powered by the one or more electrical power signals. Embodiments of methods, biocompatible electrical-optical converters, and internal optical power transmitters are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: GEARBOX, LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Dennis J. Rivet, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood