Patents Examined by Mark W Bockelman
  • Patent number: 11974804
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for treating hypertension, e.g., via a pulsed electric field, via a stimulation electric field, via localized drug delivery, via high frequency ultrasound, via thermal techniques, etc. Such neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential attenuation or blockade, changes in cytokine up-regulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, neuromodulation is applied to neural fibers that contribute to renal function. In some embodiments, such neuromodulation is performed in a bilateral fashion. Bilateral renal neuromodulation may provide enhanced therapeutic effect in some patients as compared to renal neuromodulation performed unilaterally, i.e., as compared to renal neuromodulation performed on neural tissue innervating a single kidney.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic Ireland Manufacturing Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Denise Zarins, Hanson Gifford, III, Mark E. Deem, Douglas Sutton, Howard R. Levin, Mark Gelfand
  • Patent number: 11975211
    Abstract: An electric field cancer treatment apparatus using a rotating alternating current (AC) electric field according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of electrode pairs configured to transmit AC electric fields to a target area in a body, a plurality of AC electric field generators respectively connected to the plurality of electrode pairs and configured to generate AC electric fields to be applied to the plurality of electrode pairs, and a controller configured to control generation of AC electric fields by the plurality of AC electric field generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignees: FIELDCURE CO., LTD., KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jong Hyun Kim, Geon Oh, Hee Hun Sung, Myong Geun Yoon
  • Patent number: 11969594
    Abstract: A method to provide skin care treatment is provided. The method includes receiving, by an electrical stimulator apparatus, programmable instructions from an external device for a skin care treatment. The electrical stimulator apparatus delivers an electric current to an area of skin through a plurality of electrodes. The electric current is controlled based on the skin care treatment. The external device presents guidance corresponding with the skin care treatment. The guidance is configured to aid a user in operating the electrical stimulator apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ziip, Inc.
    Inventors: David Mason, Melanie Simon, Ron Lisiecki
  • Patent number: 11969602
    Abstract: Systems and methods which provide radial exterior weld terminal configurations for medical device leads are described. A radial exterior weld terminal may comprise an annular conductive structure having a radial exterior weld interface feature, wherein a medical device lead may comprise one or more radial exterior weld terminals. A radial exterior weld interface feature may be disposed at an end of the annular conductive structure and may configure the annular conductive structure to accept a non-axially directed portion of a conductive wire for interfacing a conductor with a weld location on an outer surface of the radial exterior weld terminal. The radial exterior weld interface feature may comprise a truncated aperture configured for the non-axially directed portion of conductive wire to traverse from the inner space to the outer surface. The truncated aperture may comprise a dimple member depressed into the interior space of the annular conductive structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron Raines
  • Patent number: 11963714
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for renal neuromodulation using a pulsed electric field to effectuate electroporation or electrofusion. It is expected that renal neuromodulation (e.g., denervation) may, among other things, reduce expansion of an acute myocardial infarction, reduce or prevent the onset of morphological changes that are affiliated with congestive heart failure, and/or be efficacious in the treatment of end stage renal disease. Embodiments of the present invention are configured for percutaneous intravascular delivery of pulsed electric fields to achieve such neuromodulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic Ireland Manufacturing Unlimited Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Deem, Hanson S. Gifford, III, Denise Zarins, Douglas Sutton, Erik Thai, Mark Gelfand, Howard R. Levin
  • Patent number: 11957915
    Abstract: A method of treating a patient and an external programmer for use with a neurostimulator. Electrical stimulation energy is conveyed into tissue of the patient via a specified combination of a plurality of electrodes, thereby creating one or more clinical effects. An influence of the specified electrode combination on the clinical effect(s) is determined. An anatomical region of interest is displayed in registration with a graphical representation of the plurality of electrodes. The displayed anatomical region of interest is modified based on the determined influence of the specified electrode combination on the clinical effect(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Moffitt, John J. Reinhold
  • Patent number: 11957908
    Abstract: A device for enhancing mandibular bone growth can include left and right head modules, a headband linking the left and right head modules and supporting the head modules, at least one transmitter circuit fixed to respective left and right head modules, left and right electrodes configured for receiving the transmitted electromagnetic field, and left and right transmitter antenna rods fixed to the left and right electrodes for receiving signals from the transmitter. The transmitter circuit can include a power supply, a driver, and at least one transmitter capable of transmitting an electromagnetic field for transmission to the patient's mandible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: KING SAUD UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Afnan Mohammad Alassiri, Ali Mohamed Eltamaly, Ali Awad Alrahlah
  • Patent number: 11944814
    Abstract: A wireless implant and associated system for motor function recovery after spinal cord injury, and more particularly a multi-channel wireless implant with small package size. The wireless implant can further be used in various medical applications, such as retinal prostheses, gastrointestinal implant, vagus nerve stimulation, and cortical neuromodulation. The system also includes a method and its implementation to acquire the impedance model of the electrode-tissue interface of the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Yi-Kai Lo, Wentai Liu, Victor R. Edgerton, Chih-Wei Chang
  • Patent number: 11938335
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for treating an area with radio frequency radiation with a resonant frequency and modulation function calibrated to destroy harmful pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses or other germs. According to the present invention, transmitters are used to neutralize harmful pathogens within a space, and may be used with corresponding receivers are used to verify the functional performance of the transmitters, and to create a data stream so that human occupants of the spaces so being treated can be assured that the areas they occupy have been so treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventor: Alexander Socransky
  • Patent number: 11925795
    Abstract: A catheter pump system is disclosed. The catheter pump system can include a shaft assembly and an impeller coupled with a distal portion of the shaft assembly. A motor assembly can impart rotation on the impeller through the shaft assembly, the motor assembly comprising a motor which rotates the shaft assembly. The catheter pump system can include a fluid pathway which conveys fluid proximally during operation of the catheter pump system. A seal can be disposed between the motor assembly and the impeller. The seal can be configured to impede or prevent the fluid from the fluid pathway from entering the motor assembly at least about an outer periphery of the shaft assembly. The seal can comprise an opening through which a portion of the shaft assembly extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Paul F. Muller, Keif M. Fitzgerald, Michael R. Butler, Todd Jenkins
  • Patent number: 11911626
    Abstract: The present application relates to stacked piezoelectric composites comprising piezoelectric structures. Suitably, the composites are useful as tissue-stimulating implants, including spinal fusion implants. The present application also relates to methods of making stacked piezoelectric composites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
    Inventors: Elizabeth Annamaria Friis, John Patrick Domann, Paul M. Arnold
  • Patent number: 11904160
    Abstract: An electrode assembly includes a substrate, a plurality of electrodes, and a wiring assembly. The substrate includes an elongate body extending from a first end to a second end in a first direction and a plurality of electrode connection structures connected with the elongate body. Each electrode connection structure defines a first coupling end, a second coupling end, and a first opening positioned between the first coupling end and the second coupling end. The electrodes are positioned within the plurality of electrode connection structures. A portion of each electrode extends through the first opening of the respective electrode connection structure. The wiring assembly extends along the substrate and forms an electrical connection with each of the plurality of the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: CIRTEC MEDICAL CORP.
    Inventors: Todd Hanson, Michael Miller, Daniel Oster, Anthony Boyle, Gary Braegelmann, Johnny Khith, Sengtavan Thammavongsa, Jacob Zimmermann, Andy Guan
  • Patent number: 11896824
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for a neuromodulation treatment of a low urinary tract dysfunction. The neuromodulation method comprises attaching at least one active electrode to at least one leg of the patient in the back of the knee area in an expected location of a peroneal nerve of the at least one leg. Attaching a grounding electrode to the patient's body. Generating electrical pulses by a pulse generator connected to the at least one active electrode and the grounding electrode. Controlling via a control unit a flow of the generated electrical pulses to the at least one active electrode and stimulating by the at least one active electrode the peroneal nerve of the at least one leg of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: STIMVIA s.r.o.
    Inventor: Lukas Doskocil
  • Patent number: 11896299
    Abstract: A method of treating tissue of a patient uses a device including a mother case, a belt, at least one treatment unit and at least two applicators. The treatment method may include attaching first and second applicators to the belt at a working distance to the patient's surface, and providing different treatment energy to the first applicator and the second applicator. A treatment pattern is created by the applicators providing the different treatment energies. The hardware pattern or positions of the applicators on the belt may be changed before and/or during the treatment. The hardware pattern may be based on selected treatment effect and body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: BTL HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGIES A.S.
    Inventor: Tomás Schwarz
  • Patent number: 11890485
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a power adapter having a housing and a circuit at least partially disposed in the housing. The housing is configured to be coupled to an implantable device for disposition in a body. The circuit is configured to be electrically connected to a power circuit of the implantable device when the housing is coupled to the implantable electrical conductor. When the housing is coupled to the implantable electrical conductor and implanted in a body, the circuit is configured to (1) receive, transcutaneously from a power supply, a first energy, (2) convert the first energy to a second energy, and (3) transfer, to the implantable device, the second energy such that the second energy powers the implantable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Bioness Inc.
    Inventors: Keith McBride, Arkady Glukhovsky
  • Patent number: 11878179
    Abstract: A leadless neurostimulation device including a header unit having at least one primary electrode having a contact surface that defines an external surface on a side of the device, an outer housing that forms a side of the header unit opposite of the contact surface of the primary electrode, and a dielectric mount that receives at least a portion of the primary electrode and at least partially surrounds the primary electrode, the dielectric mount being configured to electrically insulate the primary electrode from the outer housing, the dielectric mount being received and fixed within a recessed portion of the outer housing, and a housing having a secondary electrode positioned on the same side of the leadless neurostimulation device as the primary electrode, the primary electrode and the secondary electrode being configured to transmit an electrical stimulation signal therebetween to provide electrical stimulation therapy to a tibial nerve of a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Deininger, Alan Shi, Thomas M. Hillebrand
  • Patent number: 11857780
    Abstract: Electrical probe assemblies, such as nerve probe assemblies, are disclosed herein. In one example implementation, a nerve probe assembly may include an electrical probe including an electrode disposed on or about an end thereof for electrically stimulating tissue or recording stimulated tissue activity, an axial length of the electrical probe including a shapeable part; a rigid sheathing adapted to cover and thereby inhibit a portion of the shapeable part of the axial length of the electrical probe from being shaped, the portion of the shapeable part covered by the rigid sheathing being adjustable; and a handle and an adjustment structure affixed to respective ones of the electrical probe and the rigid sheathing, the handle and the adjustment structure adapted to cooperate to enable adjustment of the portion of the shapeable part of the axial length of the electrical probe covered by the rigid sheathing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ROCWORKS, LLC
    Inventor: Brett Netherton
  • Patent number: 11857779
    Abstract: An implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) system includes an ICD implanted subcutaneously in a patient, a defibrillation lead having a proximal portion coupled to the ICD and a distal portion having a defibrillation electrode configured to deliver a defibrillation or cardioversion shock to a heart of the patient, and a pacing lead that includes a distal portion having one or more electrodes and a proximal portion coupled to the ICD. The distal portion of the pacing lead is implanted at least partially along a posterior side of a sternum of the patient within the anterior mediastinum. The ICD is configured to provide pacing pulses to the heart of the patient via the pacing lead and provide defibrillation shocks to the patient via the defibrillation lead. As such, the implantable cardiac system provides pacing from the substernal space for an extravascular ICD system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Amy E. Thompson-Nauman, Melissa G. T. Christie, Paul J. DeGroot, Rick D. McVenes, Becky L Dolan
  • Patent number: 11857796
    Abstract: Some implementations provide an implantable wirelessly powered device for implantation in a patient's body, the device including: electrode arrays configured to apply at least one electrical pulse to an excitable tissue, each electrode array including at least one electrode; two or more connector contacts, each integrally wired to a particular electrode array, each configured to drive the at least one electrode of the particular electrode array integrally wired thereto with the at least one electrical pulse and to set a polarity for each of the at least one electrode of the particular electrode array integrally wired thereto; a first antenna configured to: receive, from a second antenna and through electrical radiative coupling, an input signal containing electrical energy as well as polarity assignment information, the second antenna located outside the patient's body; and one or more circuits electrically connected to the first antenna and the connector contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Curonix LLC
    Inventors: Laura Tyler Perryman, Chad David Andresen
  • Patent number: 11850427
    Abstract: Methods of improving addiction in a patient in need thereof are provided. Methods include exposing the patient to drug related cues and measuring the patient's craving levels or physiological levels during or after cue exposure to determine the patient's status or condition. Such a determination can indicate whether the patient is at risk of engaging in the addictive activity and can guide therapeutic intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY BOARD OF GOVERNORS ON BEHALF OF WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ali Rezai, Victor Finomore, James Mahoney