Patents Examined by Aren Patel
  • Patent number: 11648106
    Abstract: This disclosure features artificial tympanic membrane graft devices and two-component bilayer graft devices that include a scaffold having a plurality of ribs made of a first material and a plurality of spaces between the ribs filled or made with the first material, a different, second material, a combination of the first and a second materials, or a combination of a second material and one or more other different materials. The bilayer graft devices have two components or layers. One component, e.g., the underlay graft device, can include a projection, and the second component, e.g., the overlay graft device, can include an opening that corresponds to the projection (or vice versa) so that the opening and the projection can secure the two layers together in a “lock and key” manner. This disclosure also features methods of making, using, and implanting the three-dimensional artificial tympanic membrane and bilayer graft devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignees: Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, President and Fellows of Harvard College
    Inventors: Aaron K. Remenschneider, Elliott Kozin, Nicole Leah Black, Michael J. McKenna, Daniel J. Lee, Jennifer A. Lewis, John Rosowski, David B. Kolesky, Mark A. Skylar-Scott, Alexander D. Valentine
  • Patent number: 11642779
    Abstract: A method for controlling an ambulatory exoskeleton (1) linked to a user (100), comprising the following steps: —measuring only the vertical component (ZNg, ZNd) of the pressure (Rd, Rg) under each foot (123, 133) of the user (1); —controlling actuators (40, 41, 42, 43) such that the vertical component (ZEd, ZEg) of the resultant of the balancing forces (REg, REd) applied to the exoskeleton (1) and exerted by each foot (23, 33) of the exoskeleton (1) on the ground is a function of the vertical component (ZNg, ZNd) of the pressure (Rd, Rg) measured under the corresponding foot (123, 133) of the user (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIOITE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Philippe Garrec, Franck Geffard
  • Patent number: 11638673
    Abstract: The disclosure belongs to the technical field of lower limb exoskeleton, and specifically discloses a hip-knee passive exoskeleton device based on clutch time-sharing control, comprising a waist support subassembly, connection subassemblies, thigh subassemblies, clutch subassemblies, shank subassemblies and elastic member subassemblies, the waist support subassembly is configured to be connected to the waist, the connection subassemblies are configured to include two connection subassemblies which are arranged in bilateral symmetry on two sides of the support subassembly, the thigh subassemblies are configured to include two thigh subassemblies which are respectively connected to the two connection subassemblies, the clutch subassemblies are configured to include two clutch subassemblies which are respectively mounted on the two thigh subassemblies, the shank subassemblies are configured to include two shank subassemblies which are arranged in bilateral symmetry below the two thigh subassemblies, the elastic
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Wenbin Chen, Tongtong Wei, Tiancheng Zhou, Shuang Wu, Caihua Xiong
  • Patent number: 11633275
    Abstract: An IOL injector plunger having IOL compression arms is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Rudolph F. Zacher
  • Patent number: 11622905
    Abstract: Lower-limb exoskeletons used to improve free-living mobility for individuals with neuromuscular impairment must be controlled to prescribe assistance that adapts to the diverse locomotor conditions encountered during daily life, including walking at different speeds and across varied terrain. This system employs an ankle exoskeleton control strategy that instantly and appropriately adjusts assistance to the changing biomechanical demand during variable walking. Specifically, this system utilizes a proportional joint-moment control strategy that prescribes assistance as a function of the instantaneous estimate of the ankle joint moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Zachary F. Lerner
  • Patent number: 11622849
    Abstract: A lens including a posterior surface, an anterior surface, and at least one identification marking on the lens. The at least one identification marking exhibits a first degree of visibility in an ambient lighting condition and a second degree of visibility greater than the first degree of visibility in a lighting condition different than the ambient lighting condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: AMO Groningen B.V.
    Inventors: Régis Y. N. R Gengler, Theophilus T. Bogaert, Tjeerd Zuidema, Hendrik H. Bekkering
  • Patent number: 11617701
    Abstract: An assist device includes a body mounting fixture, an actuator, an operation state detector, and a controller. The controller is configured to control drive of the actuator. The controller is configured to acquire an estimated posture of the wearer, which is estimated based on operation detection information detected by the operation state detector, when the actuator generates the assist torque. The controller is configured to determine whether or not the estimated posture is an unreasonable posture in which an excessive force is applied to a lower back portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoki Arai, Yoshiyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 11612536
    Abstract: A wearable apparatus and a method assist and control muscular strength. The wearable apparatus includes a support unit located on the rear surface of a wearer. An actuator is fixed to the support unit and a sliding unit is slidably connected to the actuator and is slidable with respect to the support unit due to driving of the actuator. First and second rotating units are connected to the support unit to be located at both sides of the wearer such that one end of each of the first and second rotating units is coupled to the support unit so as to be rotatable forwards and backwards with respect to the support unit. A power transmission unit is provided with respective ends coupled to the first and second rotating units via the sliding unit and configured to generate rotary force of the first and second rotating units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hyun Seop Lim, Sang In Park, Dong Jin Hyun
  • Patent number: 11596531
    Abstract: A prosthetic socket system comprising a prosthetic socket and a liner, said prosthetic socket having a distal end region, at least one socket wall extending therefrom in proximal direction, and connection means for securing a prosthetic component. The socket wall, when in the applied state, at least partially enclose a stump that is received in the prosthetic socket The liner includes a proximal entry opening and a lateral wall which extends in the distal direction, at least partially surrounds a stump when in the applied state and is arranged between the stump and the prosthetic socket when in the applied state. A coupling device is arranged between the liner and the prosthetic socket in the distal end region, and, on the outer side of the lateral wall of the liner and on the inner side of the socket wall, resistance regions are arranged or formed which interact with one another and which counteract a movement extracting said liner out of the prosthetic socket, in the proximal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS GMBH
    Inventors: Roland Pawlik, Johan Nieuwendijk, Dries Glorieux, Luder Mosler
  • Patent number: 11590049
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a movement-dependent stabilisation support system (100) for stabilising a moving body (200), which comprises a plurality of sensors (110), a plurality of actuators (120) and a control unit (130). The plurality of sensors (110) continuously detects movement parameters of the body (200), on which basis the control unit (130) determines whether there is an instability of the body (200). If it is determined that there is an instability, the control unit (130) selects a stabilisation strategy, according to which the actuators (120) are controlled. When controlled, the actuators (120) attached to the body (200) stiffen and limit the freedom of movement of the body (200), such that a movement in the direction of the imminent unstable state is prevented or suppressed. In this way, the body (200) is supported in its stabilisation and an imminent fall is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventors: Elvira Kuhn, Feodor Kusmartsev
  • Patent number: 11583465
    Abstract: The knee joint weight-bearing apparatus includes a buttock attaching part, a lower-leg attaching part, and two thigh connection units. Each thigh connection unit includes a front thigh link and a rear thigh link. The buttock attaching part, the lower-leg attaching part, the front thigh link, and the rear thigh link constitute a four-bar linkage. The buttock attaching part is configured so that when a user applies his/her weight to the buttock attaching part, a tensile force is generated in the front thigh link and a compressive force acts on the rear thigh link. The rear thigh link includes a gas spring that is configured to be stretchable in a longitudinal direction thereof and generates a resistive force against the compressive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadashi Odashima, Eisuke Aoki, Tomio Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11565399
    Abstract: The inventive concept relates to a wearable hand robot mounted on a finger to bend the finger by an external force transmitted through a wire. The wearable hand robot is capable of preventing an injury to a user's hand by the wire, achieving simplification of the structure of a finger cap and an improvement in a wearing sensation, and stably moving the finger while having a tactile sensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: REPUBLIC OF KOREA (NATIONAL REHABILITATION CENTER)
    Inventors: Sung Jun Roh, Byeong Geol Park, Hyo Seok Yi, Kyu Jin Cho, Brian Byunghyun Kang, Hyung Min Choi, Sun Cheol Kwon
  • Patent number: 11547553
    Abstract: An accommodative intraocular lens capable of effectively exerting a focus adjustment function includes an optical portion and a plurality of support portions arranged around the optical portion. The support portion includes an anterior support portion and a posterior support portion, and the anterior support portion presses an anterior capsule and the posterior support portion presses a posterior capsule by the elastic force of the support portion. When the lens capsule is in a distance vision state or in a near vision state, as the pressing force of the anterior capsule against the anterior support portion increases or decreases, the anterior support portion deflects backward or returns forward while maintaining the radial position of the base end portion, so that the tip end portion of the anterior support portion moves backward or forward greatly while maintaining the radial position, and the optical portion moves backward or forward accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: MIRAI EYE INC.
    Inventor: Junsuke Akura
  • Patent number: 11547554
    Abstract: A virtual aperture integrated into an intraocular lens is disclosed. Optical rays which intersect the virtual aperture are widely scattered across the retina causing the light to be virtually prevented from reaching detectable levels on the retina. The use of the virtual aperture helps remove monochromatic and chromatic aberrations yielding high-definition retinal images. For a given definition of acceptable vision, the depth of field is increased over a larger diameter optical zone. In addition, thinner intraocular lenses can be produced since the optical zone can have a smaller diameter. This in turn allows smaller corneal incisions and easier implantation surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Z Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Sarver, James J. Simms
  • Patent number: 11547582
    Abstract: A lower limb prosthesis comprises a knee chassis (10), a shin carrier (20) pivotally connected to the knee chassis (10) and a piston and cylinder assembly (30, 40) pivotally connected to the knee chassis (10) and the shin carrier (20). The piston and cylinder assembly (30, 40) comprises a piston assembly (40) comprising a piston (40) mounted on a piston rod (42), a cylinder body (32B) having a cavity (46) defining a cylinder within which the piston (44) is arranged to reciprocate along the piston and cylinder assembly axis, and a foot component attachment means (36) for attaching a foot component to the piston and cylinder assembly (30, 40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Blatchford Products Limited
    Inventors: Juan Jose Ochoa Velez, Mir Saeed Zahedi, Robert Michael Andrew Painter
  • Patent number: 11529230
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving vision of a subject implanted with an intraocular lens (IOL) that has a non-zero residual spherical error that requires an estimated diffractive power addition in the IOL. In some embodiments, a plurality of laser pulses are applied to the IOL, the laser pulses being configured to produce, by refractive index writing on the IOL, the estimated diffractive power addition to correct for the residual spherical error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: AMO Groningen B.V.
    Inventors: Robert Rosen, Franck Emmanuel Gounou, Carmen Canovas Vidal, Aixa Alarcon Heredia
  • Patent number: 11529280
    Abstract: There is disclosed a mobility aid for use by a user having a lower body amputation site. The mobility aid includes a lower body exoskeleton (LBE). The LBE has a pelvic support structure and a first leg and a second leg. Each of the first and second legs are movably coupled to the pelvic support structure, wherein at least the first and second legs are selectively actuable to move the lower body exoskeleton relative to a surface on which the mobility aid is positioned. The LBE also includes a carrier selectively positionable with respect to the lower body exoskeleton and, which in use, supports the user at or about an amputation site; and a harness system configured to, when in use, secure the user to the lower body exoskeleton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Rex Bionics Limited
    Inventors: Richard Little, Jehangir Dinyar Shishbaradaran
  • Patent number: 11446200
    Abstract: Assisted walking devices for use by a person with at least one side paralysis or weakness and for paraplegics are provided with features for user friendly attachment and release of the devices. The assisted walking devices include features for controlled limitation of lateral gait movement that occurs in natural lateral walking gait motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventor: Eli Razon
  • Patent number: 11419730
    Abstract: An artificial knee that has first and second knee components connected together for rotation between a first, upright position and a second position where one knee component is positioned at an angle to the other, an alignment mechanism associated with the first and second knee components to assure rotation in a vertical plane from the first position to the second position, and a biasing member. One knee component includes an extension member located in a central location, while the other includes a centrally located slot that receives the extension member and allows rotation only in a vertical plane. The biasing member normally holds the knee components in the first position, such that rotation of the first knee component away from the second knee component stretches or elongates the biasing member to provide a force that urges the knee components to move back to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventor: Phillip W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11395749
    Abstract: A medical device including a valve member with an elongate tubular portion with at least one aperture disposed in a sidewall at a location between the proximal and distal ends, and a plurality of leaflets; a first endovascular graft coupled to the valve member; and a second endovascular graft coupled to the first endovascular graft; and an expandable anchor member coupled to the second endovascular graft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Inventor: Gilbert H. L. Tang