Patents Examined by Danton D. DeMille
  • Patent number: 6648840
    Abstract: A massaging system includes a pad comprising with multiple zones sand vibratory transducers in the pad for vibrating the zones. Each transducer includes a motor and a mass element eccentrically coupled to the motor. The massaging system also includes a microcontroller having an input interface and an output interface, a program memory coupled to the microcontroller, and input elements coupled to the input interface for signaling the microcontroller in response to operator input. A motor driver coupled to the output interface and the vibratory transducers drives the vibratory transducers in response to the operator input, while firmware stored in the memory and executed by the microcontroller selectively operates the vibratory transducers in a tapping mode and a wave mode in response to the operator input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Salton, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley Cutler, Gayle B. Gerth, Alton B. Otis, Jr., Taylor Chau
  • Patent number: 6645165
    Abstract: A method of body manipulation in furtherance of treating lymphedema is provided. A wrap, adapted to fit about a body extremity and having a trunk region, and limb regions, and a plurality of compartments distributed throughout the regions, is provided and applied to the body extremity. Each of the compartments of the plurality of compartments are capable of selective pressurization and depressurization. The body extremity is prepared for receipt of lymph fluid via a first pressurization and depressurization sequence of select compartments within select regions of the regions of the wrap, and lymph fluid is drained from the body extremity via a second pressurization and depressurization sequence of select compartments within select regions of the regions of the wrap, whereby the lymphatic system is stimulated so as to promote readsorption of pooled lymph fluid within surrounding tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Tactile Systems Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Irene A. Waldridge, Eric L. McKee
  • Patent number: 6641547
    Abstract: Presented are novel instruments intended for use in the diagnosis and treatment of fibrotic soft tissue through soft tissue mobilization therapies performed on, particularly, a human patient. Three such instruments are provided by the invention including a variety of curvilinear and linear tissue-engaging edges and converging surfaces accommodating their use on the irregular contours of numerous soft tissue areas of the human body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Performance Dynamics
    Inventors: Thomas L. Sevier, Robert H. Helfst, Jr., Sue A. Stover, Eric W. Tisdale
  • Patent number: 6641549
    Abstract: A knee pad assembly for relieving the symptoms of patellar tendinitis, including a pad adapted for being positioned against and molded onto a lower leg in the region of the knee for lying in closely-conforming relation against and applying radially-directed pressure to the attachment site of the patellar tendon to the patella, to the knee joint, and to at least one epicondyle of the tibia. The pad is hardened into a rigid structure for therapeutic use and includes an initially flexible inner substrate impregnated or coated with a reactive system. The system remains stable when maintained in substantially moisture-free conditions and hardens upon exposure to moisture to form a rigid, self-supporting structure having a shape conforming to the lower leg to which the pad is molded during curing. A flexible cover encloses the substrate, and cooperates with the pad for maintaining the pad in its closely-conforming position against the lower leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: BSN Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas D. Darcey
  • Patent number: 6638299
    Abstract: A chiropractic treatment table and method for treating a patient's spine for providing true longitudinal distraction alone or in combination with vertical flexion and extension, lateral flexion, and/or rotation. The treatment table includes a longitudinally moveable head support portion slidingly mounted on an anti-friction structure whereby the head support portion is freely moveable with practically no frictional or drag. In view of the anti-friction structure, the net longitudinal distraction force is primarily only that which is applied by the chiropractor thereby not requiring adjustment or compensation for drag or other forces, and thereby providing the chiropractor substantially improved control of the actual applied distraction force for administering the desired distraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventor: James M. Cox
  • Patent number: 6632185
    Abstract: A massager has a rotation shaft with arcuate grooves defined in a periphery of the rotation shaft and a guide received in the arcuate grooves so that when the rotation shaft rotates, the guide is able to control the rotation shaft to rotate and extend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Inventor: Chin-Chen Chen
  • Patent number: 6629939
    Abstract: A massage unit of a massage device moves upward and downward along a backrest of a chair. A pair of therapeutic arms are pivotably supported on a pair of pivot arms projecting forward when viewed from the backrest. Therapeutic fingers on the therapeutic arms have massage balls disposed on them. The pivot arms are driven to move the therapeutic arms in three dimensions, i.e., up and down, left and right, forward and back, so that a patient is massaged by the massage balls. An angle detector detects the angle of the therapeutic arms relative to the pivot arms. The magnitude and change in the output of the detector is used to determine the portion of the patient's body that is being contacted by the massage balls at any time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Jikiba, Hideki Sakata, Masao Kume
  • Patent number: 6629941
    Abstract: A compact air massage system is provided which enables the user to receive a comfortable feeling of massage on each part of the limbs. The system includes massage bodies having a plurality of air-tight chambers, a compressed air supply source supplying compressed air to the massage body, and a compressed air distribution apparatus arranged between the compressed air supply source and the massage body and having a plurality of switching valves each allowing the respective air-tight chambers to communicate with one of the compressed air supply source and an outer atmosphere. The system further includes a controller controlling the respective switching valves to allow the respective chambers to be expanded or contracted and check valves each arranged between the compressed air supply source and the switching valve and openable from the compressed air supply source toward the direction of the switching valve, by which it is possible to individually adjust pressure in the respective chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Nitto Kohki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigemitsu Ishibashi, Haruki Nakao
  • Patent number: 6629938
    Abstract: An apparatus for treatment of Ménière's disease by intermittently increasing air (gas) pressure, in an air (gas) pressure chamber in communication with an outwardly sealed external ear volume bordering the tympanic membrane, comprises a peripherally fixed flexible circular diaphragm forming a wall of the chamber and being displaceable in a perpendicular direction essentially without being tensioned. Displacement of the diaphragm away from the chamber is effected by air pressure built up in the chamber, not by a separate displacement device. The apparatus further comprises a linear electromagnetic device for displacing the diaphragm. The apparatus may include systems for gas pressure sensing; chamber pressure equalizing; and microprocessor control, for controlling the displacement of the diaphragm and the pressure equalizing device by a signal input from the pressure sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Engvall, Anders Nilsson
  • Patent number: 6623438
    Abstract: A device is used to massage the back of a person seated on a chair. The device includes a base, a motor, a transmission member, and a slide seat. The device is used such that the base is rested against the backrest of the chair. The motor, the transmission member, and the slide seat are mounted on one side of the base such that the slide seat is driven by the transmission member to move back and forth on the base. The slide seat is provided with a front swing rod, a rear swing rod, a front roller set pivoted with the front swing rod, and a rear roller set pivoted with the rear swing rod. The roller sets are carried by the slide seat in motion to move over the back of the person with pressure and friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Inventor: Dong-Her Wu
  • Patent number: 6620116
    Abstract: This invention is an improved medical device for non-invasive counterpulsation treatment of heart disease and circulatory disorder through external cardiac assistance. The device is comprised of cuffs which are affixed on a patient's lower body and extremities, and which constrict by electromechanical activation, thereby augmenting blood pressure for treatment purposes. Cuffs contain preferably fixed volume fluids such as gel, air, or water. Cuffs wrap around and are affixed to the patient's lower body and limbs. Computer or electronic means automatically correlate constriction of electromechanical actuators in the cuffs variably with the patient's measured physiological indicators, including diastolic and systolic heart functions, thereby augmenting blood pressure and optimizing benefit of counterpulsation treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Michael P. Lewis
  • Patent number: 6616620
    Abstract: A resuscitation device for automatic compression of a victim's chest using a compression belt which exerts force evenly over the entire thoracic cavity. The belt is constricted and relaxed through a motorized spool assembly that repeatedly tightens the belt and relaxes the belt to provide repeated and rapid chest compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Revivant Corporation
    Inventors: Darren R. Sherman, Kenneth H. Mollenauer
  • Patent number: 6616621
    Abstract: A massaging device includes a motor integrated with a housing, a shaft for transmitting the motor motion, a treatment head attachable to the shaft. The rotational speed of the motor can be measured as part of a control circuit. The rotational speed provides an actual value to the control circuit. A setpoint of the rotation speed of the motor can be manually adjusted. The control circuit is designed so that the current supplied to the motor is controlled depending on the difference between the instantaneous actual value and the selected setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Dr. Kohr GmbH & Co. Medizintechnik
    Inventor: Oliver Kohr
  • Patent number: 6615086
    Abstract: A massager has a pair of non-adhesive massaging pads and a pair of metal buttons. Each metal button extends between one of the massaging pads and the massaging pulse generator so that the signal from the massaging pulse generator is able to be transmitted to the non-adhesive conductive silicon and thus accomplishes the purpose of massaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: Sam Tsai
  • Patent number: 6610021
    Abstract: A pair of compression sleeves and a manifold tubing set is provided as an integral unit. The tubing set comprises a first set of conduits integrally connected to the first sleeve and a second set of conduits integrally connected to the second sleeve. The first and second conduit sets are connected at a controller connection device comprising a manifold, having a plurality of fluidly isolated, branched fluid passages, and a connector for plugging directly into a controller for a source of compressed air. The only connection that must be made prior to operation of the device is the connection at the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventor: Malcom G. Bock
  • Patent number: 6605050
    Abstract: A jacket for a human body has an air core coupled to a pulsator operable to subject the jacket to air pressure pulses which applies and releases pressure to the human body. The jacket has a cover having a pocket accommodating the air core. The pulsator has diaphragms connected to a d.c. electric motor with a rotary to reciprocating motion transmitting mechanism operable to generate air pressure pulses which are transmitted to the air core which applies repetitive pressure pulses to the human body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Electromed, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig N. Hansen
  • Patent number: 6599258
    Abstract: A resuscitation device for automatic compression of victim's chest using a compression belt which exerts force evenly over the entire thoracic cavity. The belt is constricted and relaxed through a motorized spool assembly which repeatedly tightens the belt and relaxes the belt to provide repeated and rapid chest compression. An assembly includes various resuscitation devices including chest compression devices, defibrillation devices, and airway management devices, along with communications devices and senses with initiate communications with emergency medical personnel automatically upon use of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Revivant Corporation
    Inventors: Steven R. Bystrom, Darren R. Sherman, Kenneth H. Mollenauer
  • Patent number: 6599257
    Abstract: A cervical therapy device for providing continuous passive motion to the head or neck of a patient includes a patient's support such as a chair and an upwardly extending frame which extends upwardly above the chair. The frame supports a two piece neck bracket for fitting around a patient's neck. The neck bracket also includes a chin support and occipital cuff for positioning the patient's head within the bracket. The device also includes an actuator and controller for providing continuous passive motion to the head and neck of the patient. The device also includes a pair of double pivotal joint assemblies which allow a movement about two perpendicular axes with linear movement along one of the axes so that the head and neck are moved through a series of prescribed movements to relieve neck pain and/or disfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Inventors: Saud M. Al-Obaidi, Omar Al-Bannai, Fawzi Ahmad Osta
  • Patent number: 6593508
    Abstract: Disclosed is a strip of bandaging material having Velcro® strips at either end on opposite sides of the material. An absorbent pad is fixed near one end and on the side opposite the Velcro® strip. On the side opposite the absorbent pad, an S hook is provided with one end fastened to the material and the other end free. The absorbent pad is located over the wound and the longer end of material is wound around the extremity and fixed in place with the Velcro® stripe at the near end of the material. The remaining material is passed through the hook and pulled back in order to apply pressure to the wound and reduce blood loss. The remainder of the material is wrapped around the extremity and secured in place with the Velcro® strip on the far end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Inventor: Robert H. Harder
  • Patent number: 6585667
    Abstract: A massaging apparatus (1) comprises a housing (5) having an upper wall (4) and side walls (5, 6, 7, 8) and a bottom wall (9), and massaging means (10) in the area of the bottom wall (9), which massaging means (10) are movable over a body area of a person, which massaging apparatus (1) comprises handling means (29) for holding and guiding the apparatus when the massaging means (10) are moved over a body area, which handling means comprise at least a part of the upper wall (4) of the housing (3) and, in addition, at least one strip-like handle member (30), such that a hand can be inserted at least partly between the handle member (30) and the upper wall (4) of the housing (3), the handle member (30) being preferably constructed so as to be elastic, soft, extensible in its longitudinal direction and continuously adjustable, and consists of a core (51) of a soft material and of a sleeve (52) of a material which is mild to the skin and which surrounds the core (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Ingo Müller