Patents Examined by Catherine Voorhees
  • Patent number: 10413728
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for performing automated Electrocochleography (ECoG) testing using ambient sound signals received by a hearing prosthesis during normal operation (i.e., outside of a clinical setting). In particular, the hearing prosthesis analyzes ambient sound signals to identify portions of the sound signals that are conducive/suitable to the performance of an ECoG measurement (i.e., an ECoG measurement structure). When an ECoG measurement structure is identified, the hearing prosthesis itself performs an ECoG measurement using one or more implanted electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Paul Michael Carter, Robert Alistair Southwood
  • Patent number: 10258730
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary blood pump with a double pivot contact bearing system with an operating range between about 50 mL/min and about 1500 mL/min, wherein the force on the upper bearing is less than 3 N during operating speeds up to 6000 rpm. The rotary blood pump is part of a blood pump system that includes blood conduit(s), a control system with optional sensors, and a power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Inventors: F. Nicholas Franano, Howard M. Loree, II, Geoff Tansley, Steve Woodard, Barrett Hutto
  • Patent number: 10245360
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a connector ring assembly to attach a VAD to a heart. The assembly includes a clamp which can rotate completely about the annular wall in a first state and is fixed relative to the annular wall in a second state. The clamp transitions from the first state to the second state via an actuator. The actuator can be configured with an axis of rotation generally parallel to the opening of the annular wall, thereby allowing manipulation of the actuator through the same surgical accessway as that used to implant the connector ring assembly. At least one embodiment provides a connector flange separately from an annular wall to provide greater access to the connector flange during implantation. The annular wall and clamp are attached to the connector flange after the flange is fixed to the heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: HeartWare, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance Lynn Andrus, Andre Castillo
  • Patent number: 10213593
    Abstract: System, device and method for providing neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to muscles of foot. The device includes an electrical signal generator for producing a wave pattern of variable frequency, duration, intensity, ramp time and on-off cycle. The device further includes surface electrodes for being positioned over the foot muscles or around ankles and attached to the signal generator. The device includes a wearable device for positioning a first electrode adjacent a heel of the wearer's foot and a second electrode adjacent an arch of the foot. The signal generator is programmed to stimulate the foot muscles and nerves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: StimMed LLC
    Inventors: Robert E. Kaplan, James J. Czyrny, Scott E. Friedman
  • Patent number: 10213121
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for operating a physiological monitoring system that comprises a distributed algorithm. The physiological monitoring system ma comprise a sensor and a physiological monitor that may be communicatively coupled with the sensor. The sensor may store a first executable code segment and the physiological monitor may store a second executable code segment. The physiological monitor may be configured to receive the first executable code segment and execute the first and second executable code segments to determine at least one physiological parameter of a subject based on physiological signal provided by the sensor. The physiological monitor may be configured to delete or deactivate the first executable code segment. The physiological monitor may also store a configurable algorithm stage that may be configured based on algorithm configuration data received from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: Daniel Lisogurski
  • Patent number: 10219084
    Abstract: A BTE prosthetic device for use in a medical system or prosthesis comprises a connector configured to mechanically attach an auxiliary device of the system to the BTE prosthetic device. The connector is electrically connected to an transceiver of the BTE prosthetic device. The connector operates as an electromagnetic antenna for transmitting and/or receiving signals between the BTE prosthetic and other components of the medical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: GN HEARING A/S
    Inventors: Werner Meskens, Tadeusz Jurkiewicz, Steve Winnall, Limin Zhong
  • Patent number: 10213120
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for monitoring the wellbeing of a fetus by the non-invasive detection and analysis of fetal cardiac activity data, utilizing a plurality of acoustic sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Nuvo Group Ltd.
    Inventors: Oren Oz, Amit Kam, Nathan Intrator
  • Patent number: 10213145
    Abstract: Optimizing psychiatric and physiologic monitoring of a patient having PTSD or anxiety-related mental health condition. According to an embodiment, one or more physiological variables are longitudinally measured; resting heart rate is measured from which a timeseries is constructed; outlier anomalous values are removed from the timeseries, it is de-trended and/or de-meaned; and a serial normal sinus rhythm beats (SDNN) and/or other parameters are determined. Fractal properties of the serial SDNN values are calculated, such as the Hurst exponent alpha via detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) or spectral regression; and other measures of chaos and nonlinearity are calculated, such as the Shannon entropy of the SDNN or related timeseries. Where such measures indicate a statistically-significant transgression of a context-indexed reference range, a notification is provided to a case management clinician or caregiver so that appropriate additional evaluation and diagnosis and treatment may be undertaken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas S. McNair
  • Patent number: 10207038
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a pump for implantation into a vessel or a heart, with the pump being introduced in a first state into the vessel or heart in order then be functionally changed over to a second state in the vessel or in the heart, having a drive part and a delivery part, where the drive part is not functional in the first state and becomes functional as a result of the changeover to the second state, wherein the drive part has an electric motor, where the electric motor is embodied as a wet rotor, and where, in the first state, the rotor of the electric motor and the stator of the electric motor are arranged so as to be separate from one another, and where the rotor of the electric motor is moved into the stator of the electric motor in the second state, where the rotor can drive the delivery part in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITAT DUISBURG-ESSEN
    Inventor: Till Neumann
  • Patent number: 10201696
    Abstract: A defibrillation electrode pad includes an electrode section and a CPR administration section. The electrode section and the CPR administration section are positioned in the defibrillation electrode pad relative to each other such that the CPR administration section is located above a sternum of an adult subject and the electrode section is located in a position appropriate for the administration of a defibrillation shock to the adult subject when the defibrillation electrode pad is oriented in a first orientation and such that the CPR administration section is located above a sternum of a pediatric subject and the electrode section is located in a position appropriate for the administration of a defibrillation shock to the pediatric subject when the defibrillation electrode pad is oriented in a second orientation different from the first orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: ZOLL Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Gary A. Freeman, Ward Hamilton, Deborah T. Jones, David N. Craige, III, Melissa M. Dascoli, E. Jane Wilson, Ian B. Durant
  • Patent number: 10194814
    Abstract: Presented herein are substantially automated techniques that enable an electro-acoustic or other hearing prosthesis implanted in a recipient to use objective measurements to determine when the recipient is likely experiencing sound perception changes. Once one or more perception changes are detected, the hearing prosthesis may initiate one or more remedial actions to, for example, address the perception changes. As described further below, the one or more remedial actions may include adjustments to the recipient's operational map to reverse the one or more perception changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Fung, Alex von Brasch, Kieran Reed
  • Patent number: 10195439
    Abstract: An example of a system for programming a neurostimulator may include a storage device and a pattern generator. The storage device may store a pattern library and one or more neuronal network models. The pattern library may include fields and waveforms of neuromodulation. The one or more neuronal network models may each be configured to allow for evaluating effects of one or more fields in combination with one or more waveforms in treating one or more indications for neuromodulation. The pattern generator may be configured to construct and approximately optimize a spatio-temporal pattern of neurostimulation and/or its building blocks using at least one neuronal network model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: G. Karl Steinke, Michael A. Moffitt, Hemant Bokil
  • Patent number: 10195420
    Abstract: A method and system for the diagnosis of anomalies in a lead attached to an implantable medical device, such as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), including an insulation breach resulting in a short circuit of the high-voltage shock pulse. Determination that the defibrillation pathway is shorted may be made by initial analysis of a Reference EGM and Diagnostic EGM and subsequent analysis of Differential Diagnostic EGMs. Upon determining if a specific defibrillation pathway is shorted, the nonessential defibrillation electrode of that pathway may be excluded from the defibrillation circuit, delivering defibrillation current only between functioning defibrillation electrodes. Alternatively, the ICD system can confirm the presence of a lead anomaly with one or more alternative diagnostic approaches. Patient and remote-monitoring alerts may be initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Lambda Nu Technology LLC
    Inventor: Charles D. Swerdlow
  • Patent number: 10183170
    Abstract: An implantable medical device for implantation into a patient may include a housing, a pulse generation circuit disposed at least partially within the housing, a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the pulse generation circuit, the plurality of electrodes being exposed external to the housing, and a controller operatively coupled to the pulse generation circuit. The controller may be configured to command the pulse generation circuit to deliver a phasic conducted communication pulse via at least two of the plurality of electrodes. Additionally, the phasic conducted communication pulse may comprise a first phase having a first polarity followed by a second phase having an opposite second polarity, wherein the second phase may have a duration of less than 60 microseconds, and wherein the first phase having may have a duration of between five percent and eighty percent of the duration of the second phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: CARDIAC PACEMAKERS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Kane, Brian L. Schmidt, Brendan Early Koop
  • Patent number: 10183167
    Abstract: An example of a system for programming a neurostimulator may include a storage device and a pattern generator. The storage device may store a pattern library and one or more neuronal network models. The pattern library may include fields and waveforms of neuromodulation. The one or more neuronal network models may each be configured to allow for evaluating effects of one or more fields in combination with one or more waveforms in treating one or more indications for neuromodulation. The pattern generator may be configured to construct and approximately optimize a spatio-temporal pattern of neurostimulation and/or its building blocks using at least one neuronal network model. The spatio-temporal pattern of neurostimulation may include a series of sub-patterns for treating an indication of the one or more indications for neuromodulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: G. Karl Steinke, Michael A. Moffitt, Hemant Bokil
  • Patent number: 10166383
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for providing a metallized film electrode having a metallized film and an electrical connector. The metallized film has a base layer and a metal coating disposed on a bottom surface of the base layer. The metallized film has at least one metal-coated area and may be formed into various shapes for application of therapeutic electrical stimulation to a patient's tissue. The connector provides electrical communication to the first metal-coated area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: EMPI, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Jerome Bachinski
  • Patent number: 10159420
    Abstract: A nerve impulse signal stimulation device and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The nerve impulse signal stimulation device includes: a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a first metal layer formed on the first surface of the substrate; a second metal layer formed on the first metal layer; a plurality of openings exposing a portion of the first surface of the substrate, a portion of the first metal layer and a portion of the second metal layer; and a ferromagnetic material attached to the second surface of the substrate. The openings cause the nerve impulse signal stimulation device to obtain a parallel circuit structure, thereby increasing the current load and the magnetic field intensity, reducing the size of the device, and ensuring the safety of operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Yu-Ting Cheng, Chung-Yu Wu, Jui-Sheng Sun, Yu-Min Fu, Che-Yu Chen, Xin-Hong Qian
  • Patent number: 10159836
    Abstract: Example apparatus and methods plan and control neuro-modulation of a distributed multi-region network in a brain. A location for a deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrode that participates in activating a combination of white matter pathways associated with the network is selected. The location is selected based on a pre-implantation image of the brain and a probabilistic activation model of the network. An initial stimulation parameter for DBS to be applied through the DBS electrode is selected based on a post-implantation image of the brain and the probabilistic activation model of the network. A modified stimulation parameter for DBS being applied through the DBS electrode is selected based on the initial stimulation parameter, a local field potential measured in the distributed multi-region network in response to DBS applied using the initial stimulation parameter, the probabilistic activation model of the distributed multi-region network, and the post-implantation image of the brain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
    Inventors: Cameron McIntyre, Patricio Riva-Posse, Ki Sueng Choi, Ashutosh Chaturvedi, Helen Mayberg, Michele Tagliati, Tyler Cheung
  • Patent number: 10149622
    Abstract: In a system and method of reconstructing cardiac activation information, pairs of cardiac signals obtained from a patient are accessed. The pairs have a first cardiac signal that is common among the pairs and second cardiac signals that are different among the pairs. The first cardiac signal and the second cardiac signals are processed to identify points of change in the first cardiac signal at which a derivative of the first cardiac signal diverges with respect to derivatives of the second cardiac signals. An activation onset time is assigned at a point in the first cardiac signal based on correspondence of the points of change to define a cardiac activation indicating a beat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Topera, Inc., The United States of America as Represented by the Department of Veteran's Affairs
    Inventors: Sanjiv Narayan, Carey Robert Briggs
  • Patent number: 10148809
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for dynamically adjusting a user interface provided by an external unit of a hearing device. In an example method, the external unit determines whether a state of the external unit is one of (i) a coupled state when the external unit and the stimulation unit are coupled or (ii) a decoupled state when the external and the stimulation unit are decoupled. The external unit then provides one of (i) a first user interface when the determined state is the coupled state or (ii) a second user interface when the determined state is the decoupled state. The second user interface provides access to a greater number of functions of the hearing device than first user interface provides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: COCHLEAR LIMITED
    Inventors: Jan Patrick Frieding, Ivana Popovac