Patents Examined by Alex M Valvis
  • Patent number: 11564604
    Abstract: A shieldable needle device including a drive member is disclosed. The drive member is extendable between a biased position and an extended position for moving a tip guard from an first position to a second position in which the tip guard shields a distal end of the needle cannula. The shieldable needle device includes a pair of wings extending laterally from opposing sides of the hub that are movable between a laterally extending position and a dorsal position. With the wings in the dorsal position, the wings retain the drive member in the biased position thereby maintaining the tip guard in the first position. Movement of the wings from the dorsal position to the laterally extending position releases retainment of the drive member. A second drive member may be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Bradley M. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 11553904
    Abstract: Provided is a cell isolation instrument capable of smoothly performing a plurality of steps associated with isolation of cells, including gripping of a biological tissue, transferring of the biological tissue, and isolating of the biological tissue. A container has an opening. A sealing member seals the opening. A pair of pinching parts is connected to the sealing member, and the pair of pinching parts opens or closes by being pressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akane Suzuki, Takahiro Shioyama
  • Patent number: 11553848
    Abstract: An aspect of the disclosure pertains to a blood pressure measurement device and methods of controlling an inflation rate in a blood pressure measurement. An inflatable bladder of the blood pressure measurement device defines, at least in part, a pressurizable volume. The inflatable bladder may be inflated to pressurize a user's appendage and temporarily occlude blood flow in the user's appendage. A pressure sensor of the blood pressure measurement device is configured to obtain blood pressure measurements, and a pump of the blood pressure measurement device is configured to inflate the inflatable bladder and control an inflation rate by controlling at least one of a duty cycle, a voltage, or a drive frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: FITBIT, INC.
    Inventors: Dan Stefan Tudose, Xi Zhang, Keith Adam Wong, Andrew Larsen Axley, Peter W. Richards, Conor Joseph Heneghan, Radu Dobroiu, Alexandru-Mihai Ş olot
  • Patent number: 11547316
    Abstract: A patient treatment unit and method analyzes and treats pain in tissues by applying an electrical pulse train to the affected tissue. The impedance of the affected tissue is measured, and the measured impedance is correlated to a level of pain in the patient. The pulse train is further applied in response to the measured impedance to reduce the patient's pain. The patient treatment unit includes a probe stimulus generator that outputs the pulse train. The treatment unit also includes a pair of probes for contacting the patient's body and receiving the pulse train. The pulse has improved shaping based on isolation of high voltage from a low voltage control. The unit further includes a body impedance analysis circuit that senses voltage and current via the probes when the probes are contacting the patient and observe the impedance. A monitor is electrically coupled to the body impedance analysis circuit and provides an indication of the measured impedance indicative of the patient's level of pain in real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: TrueRelief, LLC
    Inventors: John Crosson, David Weinkle
  • Patent number: 11534146
    Abstract: A biopsy incision device (100) comprising a proximal side (101), to be arranged on a skin surface, and a distal side (102), said distal side (102) comprising a blade actuator (103) associated with at least one cutting blade (104), is provided. The blade actuator (103) and said at least one cutting blade (104) being suspended at a pivoting point (105) on said distal side (102), such that said blade actuator (103) and said at least one cutting blade (104) may pivot around a pivoting axis (A), such that said at least one cutting blade (104) may cut said skin surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Dermazip AB
    Inventors: Charles Randquist, Henrik Falk
  • Patent number: 11529106
    Abstract: A tool for predicting that a person is likely to be abnormally hydrated over a future time interval, and in some cases to alert the person or a medical professional to intervene. From a series of physiological measurements, a tissue electrical impedance spectrum curve, which comprises a phase spectrum curve in an embodiment, is determined and changes in the shape of the curve are ascertained. The measurements may be received using one or more sensors worn by the person. In some embodiments, current and historic spectrum curvature are applied to an evolutionary algorithm, such as particle-swarm optimization (PSO) or differential evolution (DE), to determine an inference regarding the persons future hydration status. In one embodiment, a statistical forecast for the next epoch immediately beyond the present one, is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas S. McNair
  • Patent number: 11517249
    Abstract: The multiple allergen testing system includes an applicator and a fluid tray. The fluid tray is cooperatively engageable with the applicator. The applicator has an allergen loading position and an allergen deposition position. In the allergen loading position, a different allergen is loaded onto each respective scratching barb from each respective reservoir of the loading tray. Each scratching barb is designed to retain a trace of allergen fluid. A pair of finger grips are positioned on opposing sides of the applicator frame. The applicator fits into one hand of a medical technician administering the allergen skin testing. The applicator is removed from the fluid tray and repositioned onto the skin of the patient. The applicator is made of compressible material. In the allergen deposition position, the applicator is compressed, and each allergen is deposited into each respective scratch generated by each respective scratching barb on the skin for further analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventor: Ty L. Prince
  • Patent number: 11517248
    Abstract: One embodiment of an exemplary ambulatory seizure monitoring method calculates a phase lock value synchrony level of a neurological signal of an individual; detects an onset of a seizure event for the individual by comparing the phase lock value synchrony level with a patient threshold for the individual; and transmits a notification to a remote communication device indicating the onset of the seizure event for the individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventors: Mark Hebron Myers, Karl Arthur Sillay, John Douglas Birdwell
  • Patent number: 11504008
    Abstract: Systems configured to acquire temperature signals from an Abreu Brain Thermal Tunnel (ABTT), to analyze the temperatures signals, and to determine a condition of a human body from the analysis, and a method for doing the same, are described. In addition, systems for application of thermal signals to the ABTT for treatment of conditions are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Brain Tunnelgenix Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Marcio Marc Abreu
  • Patent number: 11497441
    Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure relates to a sleep position training device for reducing gastroesophageal reflux during sleep. The training device can comprise an orientation sensor, a stimulus generator and a processing system. The orientation sensor can be configured to output a signal indicative of an orientation of the torso of the person. The stimulus generator can be configured to provide a stimulus to the torso of the person when the torso of the person is in a predetermined torso orientation range in a sleeping position. The stimulus generator can be removably affixable to the torso of the person. The processing system can be configured to receive a first signal from the orientation sensor, the first signal being indicative of an orientation of the torso of the person, and to determine that the orientation is within the predetermined torso orientation range in the sleeping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Side Sleep Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Michiel Jeroen Allessie, Idan Reuven Velleman
  • Patent number: 11497411
    Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit applied to a bio-information acquisition system, wherein the circuit includes a terminal, an output circuit, a feedback circuit and a calibration circuit. In the operations of the circuit, the terminal is arranged to receive an input signal, the output circuit is configured to generate an output signal according to the input signal, the feedback circuit is configured to receive the output signal to generate a current signal to the terminal, and the calibration circuit is configured to generate a control signal to control the feedback circuit to determine a level of the current signal according to the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Hsin Chen, Yu-Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 11497416
    Abstract: A postural awareness device designed to improve an individual's posture may include a vertical core designed to be positioned vertically along a user's back; a cervical cradle attached to an upper portion of the vertical core, the cervical cradle designed to be positioned in alignment with a user's cervical spine; a thoracic cradle attached to a central portion of the vertical core, the thoracic cradle designed to be positioned in alignment with a user's thoracic spine; and a lumbosacral cradle attached to a bottom portion of the vertical core, the lumbosacral cradle designed to be positioned in alignment with a user's lumbar spine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Inventor: Anne Katherine Lyons
  • Patent number: 11484297
    Abstract: A liquid stylet apparatus including a tube with a transparent portion and at least partially filled with a liquid, a powering device in fluid communication with the tube, a catheter located distally of the tube and in fluid communication with the tube, where the catheter is at least partially filled with the liquid, a collection device located distally of the catheter and in fluid communication with the catheter, where the collection device is configured to engage a target area of a patient, and an indicator contacting the liquid and located at least partially within the tube, where the position of the indicator within the tube is visible through the transparent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Rory O'Callaghan, Michael Clancy
  • Patent number: 11478161
    Abstract: A blood pressure measurement cuff is a blood pressure measurement cuff to be attached such that it wraps around a measurement site and includes: a curler that is flexible and curves so as to naturally conform to the measurement site; an air bladder containing the curler due to being wrapped around the inner side and outer side of the curler; an inner cloth attached to an outer surface on the measurement site side of the air bladder; and an outer cloth attached to an outer surface on the side opposite to the measurement site of the air bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: OMRON HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru Taniguchi, Tomonori Yuasa, Masaki Harada, Tameo Ashida, Chisato Uesaka, Wataru Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 11478176
    Abstract: In a microrunner structure, there are provided with components for a cleaning procedure required to conduct electrochemical sensing when a biosensor is activated for sensing; and a urine signal detection device that is a SoC (System on a Chip), which has a wireless transceiving circuit for receiving a urine measurement method and channel information transmitted from an intelligent device, and in turn, outputting a stimulus signal to trigger a biosensor or a non-biosensor in a multi-channel structure to conduct urine sense processing for a sensing area, as well as transmitting detection processing for a concentration of urine substances from the electrochemical sensing to the intelligent device through the wireless transceiving circuit to assess a risk index between a heart disease or diabetes and a kidney disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHENG KUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shuenn-Yuh Lee, Ju-Yi Chen, Meng-Dar Shieh, Chia-Yu Lin, Yu-Jin Lin, Ding-Siang Ciou
  • Patent number: 11471652
    Abstract: In various examples, an apparatus facilitates attachment of an extension wire to a guidewire. The apparatus includes a body portion including a lumen sized to accommodate a distal end of the extension wire therein. A cutout is defined within a portion of a sidewall of the body portion, the cutout allowing access to the lumen. A funnel portion is disposed within a distal end of the body portion and includes an opening in the distal end of the body portion. The funnel portion includes a tapered wall converging from the opening to the lumen, wherein, with the distal end of the extension wire disposed within the lumen, the funnel portion facilitates alignment and attachment of a proximal end of the guidewire with the distal end of the extension wire. In other examples, a system or a method facilitates attachment of an extension wire to a guidewire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Lake Region Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: John Matthew Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 11457901
    Abstract: A tissue collection device (1) for collection of one or more exposed tissue samples (2) from a biopsy needle or biopsy device, which tissue collection device comprises one or more pieces of a carrier medium (6) and is arranged to temporarily bring a piece of carrier medium into physical contact with the tissue sample, while the tissue sample is still positioned in the biopsy needle or biopsy device, so that the tissue sample (2) adheres to the carrier medium (6) and is removed from the biopsy needle (3) or biopsy device (4) with the carrier medium (6), when the carrier medium (6) is removed from the biopsy needle or biopsy device again. Furthermore, a biopsy device comprising such a tissue collection device is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: TeesuVac ApS
    Inventors: Tue Kjaergaard Toft, Lars Ulrik Nielsen, Keld Sloth Christensen, Søren Kjeld Kjellerup Hansen, Tomas Gundberg, Henrik Harboe, Ole Kjeldsen
  • Patent number: 11445938
    Abstract: Automation for a system and/or method detects and/or controls treatment of inspiratory flow limitation. The system may include a flow rate sensor configured to generate a signal representing a respiratory flow rate of a patient. It may include a recording device configured to record the generated respiratory flow rate signal during a diagnosis session. It may include a computing device (7040) configured to detect a degree of inspiratory flow limitation of the patient on the recorded respiratory flow rate signal. The method may include extracting an inspiratory portion of each breath during a detection and/or monitoring session from a respiratory flow rate signal of the patient, calculating a feature vector from each inspiratory flow portion, labelling each feature vector as flow limited or not flow limited, and/or computing a metric based on the labels, the metric indicating the degree of inspiratory flow limitation of the patient during the session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventor: Ce Zhan
  • Patent number: 11446060
    Abstract: A sensor insertion device includes a cylindrical main body case that has a lower end opening and an upper end opening; a needle insertion button that is disposed slidably in and out of the upper end opening of the cylindrical main body case; a carrier that is provided inside the cylindrical main body case and linked to the needle insertion button; a guide needle holder that is provided at a lower end portion of the carrier and configured to detachably hold a guide needle for guiding a sensor in an insertion direction; a cylindrical needle extraction sleeve that is provided slidably around an outer periphery of the cylindrical main body case; and a grip portion that is provided along a lengthwise direction of the cylindrical main body case on an outer periphery of the cylindrical needle extraction sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: PHC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Kouge
  • Patent number: 11439349
    Abstract: An ear probe assembly comprising a housing structure and a first transducer and a second transducer arranged in said housing structure is disclosed. The ear probe assembly further comprising a channel structure comprising at least a first transducer entrance and a second transducer entrance configured to receive first and second sound ports of the transducers, where further a tip portion is configured to engage with the channel structure in a detachable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Interacoustics A/S
    Inventors: Kren Rahbek Nørgaard, Pete Bray, Hicham Saoud