Patents Examined by Michael D'Angelo
  • Patent number: 9014774
    Abstract: Novel membranes comprising various polymers containing heterocyclic nitrogen groups are described. These membranes are usefully employed in electrochemical sensors, such as amperometric biosensors. More particularly, these membranes effectively regulate a flux of analyte to a measurement electrode in an electrochemical sensor, thereby improving the functioning of the electrochemical sensor over a significant range of analyte concentrations. Electrochemical sensors equipped with such membranes are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventors: Fei Mao, Hyun Cho
  • Patent number: 9011344
    Abstract: A monitoring device for monitoring the vital signs of an infant is disclosed herein. The monitoring device is preferably comprises an article, an optical sensor, an accelerometer and processor. The optical sensor preferably comprises a photodetector and a plurality of light emitting diodes. A sensor signal from the optical sensor is processed with a filtered accelerometer output signal from the accelerometer to create a filtered vital sign signal used to generate a real-time vital sign for the infant which is preferably sent to a mobile communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Impact Sports Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Brady, Mark Hunt, Nikolai Rulkov
  • Patent number: 9011334
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for monitoring the flow of blood returning to a patient from an extracorporeal therapy machine, such as a hemodialysis machine or an apheresis machine. Blood returning from such a machine is pumped, typically by a peristaltic pump, which returns the blood in pulsed flow or pulses. This flow can be sensed by Doppler flow sensors or accelerometers as it returns to the patient. If the flow is interrupted by dislodgement of the venous access needle, or by leaking of blood from the needle, these sensors will detect significantly different flow or vibrations. A controller can then cease therapy, alert a caregiver, or sound an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventor: Chad E. Bouton
  • Patent number: 9011333
    Abstract: Wireless molecular sensor methods and systems integrate radio frequency (RF) technology to interrogate, power, operate and/or readout signals corresponding to levels of molecules of interest from microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) implanted within the body. Various alternative embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: VeriTeQ Acquisition Corporation
    Inventors: Randolph K. Geissler, Scott Nelson, Steve Lewis
  • Patent number: 9014796
    Abstract: A flexible multi-modal microelectrode is provided that combines multi-channel fluidic and electrical interfaces for biological and other systems. Methods of making and using same are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Daryl R. Kipke, David S. Pellinen
  • Patent number: 9005129
    Abstract: A biometric monitoring device is used to determine a user's heart rate by using a heartbeat waveform sensor and a motion detecting sensor. In some embodiments, the device collects collecting concurrent output data from the heartbeat waveform sensor and output data from the motion detecting sensor, detects a periodic component of the output data from the motion detecting sensor, and uses the periodic component of the output data from the motion detecting sensor to remove a corresponding periodic component from the output data from the heartbeat waveform sensor. From this result, the device may determine and present the user's heart rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: Subramaniam Venkatraman, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Patent number: 9008744
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide analyte sensors and sensor systems such as amperometric glucose sensors used in the management of diabetes as well as optimized methods for monitoring analytes using such sensors and sensor systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Jefferson Rose, Ashwin K. Rao, Ning Yang, Chia-Hung Chiu, Ying Luo, Rebecca K. Gottlieb
  • Patent number: 8998809
    Abstract: A calibration system is disclosed for calibrating a first physiological monitoring device using a second physiological monitoring device. The first physiological monitor measures a first indication of a physiological parameter. The second physiological monitor measures a second indication of the physiological parameter. The first and second indications are used to calibrate the first physiological monitoring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Cercacor Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Massi E. Kiani
  • Patent number: 8998815
    Abstract: A biometric monitoring device is used to determine a user's heart rate by using a heartbeat waveform sensor and a motion detecting sensor. In some embodiments, the device collects collecting concurrent output data from the heartbeat waveform sensor and output data from the motion detecting sensor, detects a periodic component of the output data from the motion detecting sensor, and uses the periodic component of the output data from the motion detecting sensor to remove a corresponding periodic component from the output data from the heartbeat waveform sensor. From this result, the device may determine and present the user's heart rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: Subramaniam Venkatraman, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Patent number: 8992432
    Abstract: The presence of a cardiac pulse in a patient is determined by evaluating physiological signals in the patient. In one embodiment, a medical device evaluates optical characteristics of light transmitted into a patient to ascertain physiological signals, such as pulsatile changes in general blood volume proximate a light detector module. Using these features, the medical device determines whether a cardiac pulse is present in the patient. The medical device may also be configured to report whether the patient is in a VF, VT, asystole, or PEA condition, in addition to being in a pulseless condition, and prompt different therapies, such as chest compressions, rescue breathing, defibrillation, and PEA-specific electrotherapy, depending on the analysis of the physiological signals. Auto-capture of a cardiac pulse using pacing stimuli is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Physio-Control, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Owen, Cynthia P. Jayne, William E. Crone
  • Patent number: 8992436
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide for detecting respiration disturbances and changes in respiration disturbances, preferably by detecting variability in one or more respiration parameters. Respiration rate variability is determined for a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, including disease/disorder detection, diagnosis, treatment, and therapy titration. Systems and methods provide for generating a footprint, such as a two- or three-dimensional histogram, representative of a patient's respiration parameter variability, and generating one or more indices representative of quantitative measurements of the footprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Yachuan Pu, Yi Zhang, Gerrard M. Carlson
  • Patent number: 8992430
    Abstract: There is provided herein a breath sampling device comprising a controller adapted to initiate a signal to trigger a valve functionally associated with a breath sampling tube upon said controller receiving a signal indicating a blockage in the breath sampling tube. The valve is adapted to facilitate an increase of pressure within the breath sampling tube between the blockage and a pump functionally associated with the breath sampling tube. There is further provided herein an airway adapter comprising a restrictor located in proximity to a connection point between the airway adapter and a breath sampling tube, wherein the restrictor may be adapted to reduce the flow rate of liquids entering the breath sampling tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Oridion Medical 1987 Ltd.
    Inventors: Joshua Lewis Colman, Gershon Levitsky
  • Patent number: 8992433
    Abstract: Clothing with an integrated heart rate monitoring device for monitoring the vital signs of a user is disclosed herein. The monitoring device preferably comprises an optical sensor, an accelerometer and processor. The optical sensor preferably comprises a photodetector and a plurality of light emitting diodes. A sensor signal from the optical sensor is processed to generate a real-time vital sign for a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Impact Sports Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Brady, Nikolai Rulkov, Sammy Elhag, Mark Hunt
  • Patent number: 8986209
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: DexCom, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Brauker, Apurv Ullas Kamath, Paul V. Goode, Mark Brister
  • Patent number: 8986208
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for receiving a first signal from a first working electrode of a glucose sensor positioned at a first predetermined position under the skin layer, receiving a second signal from a second working electrode of the glucose sensor positioned at a second predetermined position under the skin layer, the second signal received substantially contemporaneous to receiving the first signal, detecting a dropout in the signal level associated with one of the first or second signals, comparing the first signal and the second signal to determine a variation between the first and second signals, and confirming one of the first or second signals as a valid glucose sensor signal output when the determined variation between the first and the second signals is less than a predetermined threshold level are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Hayter, John C. Mazza, Kenneth J. Doniger
  • Patent number: 8983568
    Abstract: Generally, embodiments of the invention relate to analyte determining methods and devices (e.g., electrochemical analyte monitoring systems) that have improved uniformity of distribution of one or more components of the sensor by inclusion of a low surface tension polymer leveling agent, where the components are disposed proximate to a working electrode of in vivo and/or in vitro analyte sensors, e.g., continuous and/or automatic in vivo monitoring using analyte sensors and/or test strips. Also provided are systems and methods of using the, for example electrochemical, analyte sensors in analyte monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventors: Balasubrahmanya S. Bommakanti, Gary Sandhu, Udo Hoss
  • Patent number: 8974394
    Abstract: A device and method for determining intravascular pressure and irregular needle placement in a hemodialysis procedure include analyzing means for automatically deriving venous access pressure (VAP) at a location of venous needle insertion into the patient and determining a ratio of VAP to mean arterial pressure, where the analyzing means determines multiple VAP values over multiple time periods and determines multiple ratios, one for each VAP value. Detecting means compare each ratio to a predetermined standard ratio derived from a moving average of prior VAP ratios, where the detecting means detects irregular needle placement when elevation of the ratio above the standard ratio is indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Henry Ford Health System
    Inventors: Stanley Frinak, Gerard Zasuwa, Jerry Yee, Anatole Besarab, John B. Kennedy, Douglas S. Curry, Helen Kimball Hirschman
  • Patent number: 8968198
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: DexCom, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Brauker, Apurv Ullas Kamath
  • Patent number: 8965477
    Abstract: Method and system for determining real time analyte concentration including an analyte sensor having a portion in fluid contact with an interstitial fluid under a skin layer, an on-body electronics including a housing coupled to the analyte sensor and configured for positioning on the skin layer, the on-body electronics housing including a plurality of electrical contacts, on the housing; and a data analysis unit having a data analysis unit housing and a plurality of probes, on the housing. Each of the probes configured to electrically couple to a respective electrical contact when the data analysis unit is positioned in physical contact with the on-body electronics. The one or more signals on the probes correspond to one or more of a substantially real time monitored analyte concentration level (MACL), MACL over a predetermined time period, or a rate of change of the MACL, or combinations thereof, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventors: Udo Hoss, Benjamin J. Feldman, Zenghe Liu, Hyun Cho, Benjamin M. Rush
  • Patent number: 8965476
    Abstract: A body fluid testing device has at least one penetrating member and a penetrating member driver configured to be coupled to the at least one penetrating member. A plurality of analyte sensors are coupled to a spoked disk substrate. Each of a penetrating member can pass between spokes of the disk substrate to provide that a used penetrating member can be removed and a new penetrating inserted without removing the disk. A disposable houses the at least one penetrating member and the plurality of analyte sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Dominique M. Freeman, Thomas Shoup, Jeffrey Perry, Mark Castle, Rodney Kugizaki, Robert Englert, Don Alden