Patents Examined by Michael R Bloch
  • Patent number: 11957459
    Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein relates to monitoring and/or controlling blood glucose levels in patients. In particular, times for obtaining metered blood glucose samples of a patient may be altered based, at least in part, on a blood glucose level of said patient observed from a blood glucose sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Rebecca K. Gottlieb, Meena Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 11951278
    Abstract: An insulin monitoring system includes one or more processors, one or more computer-readable storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors. The program instructions include: first program instructions to track, in real time, the amount of insulin active in a patient; second program instructions to calculate the amount of insulin need of the patient by tracking the patient's metabolic states; third program instructions to compare the insulin active in the patient with the insulin need of the patient; and fourth program instructions to determine an insulin fault level based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PATENT FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Marc D. Breton, Stephen D. Patek, Boris P. Kovatchev
  • Patent number: 11950934
    Abstract: Described herein is a front-end for a neural recording system that boosts input impedance of the front-end circuit. The front-end includes an amplifier and two choppers. A first input terminal of the first chopper may be coupled to a first output terminal from one or more signal sensors. A first input terminal of the second chopper may be coupled to a second output terminal from the signal sensors. A second input terminal of the first chopper may be coupled to a first output terminal of a feedback subsystem. A second input terminal of the second chopper may be coupled to a second output terminal of the feedback subsystem. The output terminals of each chopper may each be coupled to a different capacitor such that after switching, the voltage of each capacitor remains substantially the same, improving the input impedance of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: VERILY LIFE SCIENCES LLC
    Inventors: Ahmed Elmallah, James Salvia
  • Patent number: 11950892
    Abstract: A handheld device measures all vital signs and some hemodynamic parameters from the human body and transmits measured information wirelessly to a web-based system, where the information can be analyzed by a clinician to help diagnose a patient. The system utilizes our discovery that bio-impedance signals used to determine vital signs and hemodynamic parameters can be measured over a conduction pathway extending from the patient's wrist to a location on their thoracic cavity, e.g. their chest or navel. The device's form factor can include re-usable electrode materials to reduce costs. Measurements made by the handheld device, which use the belly button as a ‘fiducial’ marker, facilitate consistent, daily measurements, thereby reducing positioning errors that reduce accuracy of standard impedance measurements. In this and other ways, the handheld device provides an effective tool for characterizing patients with chronic diseases, such as heart failure, renal disease, and hypertension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC., BAXTER HEALTHCARE SA
    Inventors: Matthew Banet, Marshal Singh Dhillon, Susan Meeks Pede, Lauren Nicole Miller Hayward, Arthur Deptala, Jonas Dean Cochran
  • Patent number: 11944279
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a swab device, system, and method are provided for measuring and assessing saliva flow in the mouth of a person. In one embodiment, a system includes a swab device and a measuring device. The swab device includes a handle portion and a swab portion, the handle portion being elongated to extend between a proximal end and a distal end. The swab portion is coupled to a distal portion of the handle portion and is sized and configured to collect saliva from the mouth. The measuring device is sized and configured to measure an amount of the saliva collected with the swab portion, the measuring device including a nesting portion integrated therewith. Such nesting portion of the measuring device is sized and configured to receive the proximal end of the handle portion of the swab device to measure the saliva collected therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: BOKA SCIENCES, INC.
    Inventors: Grant J. Donovan, Jeffrey A. Stern, Ryan C. Patterson, James A. Malmstrom, Kent F. Beck, Scott D. Miles
  • Patent number: 11937914
    Abstract: A device for measuring lung function parameters using quiet exhalation has a flow tube with a mouthpiece end and an outlet, a shutter covering the outlet of the flow tube, a controllable latch closing and releasing the shutter, a flow sensor for measuring flow in the flow tube following release of the shutter, a pressure sensor for measuring pressure in the flow tube prior to the release of the shutter, a latch controller connected to the pressure sensor and the controllable latch, and a check valve arranged in the flow tube or the shutter for allowing inhalation while the shutter is closed so that the device can be used throughout at least one inhalation and exhalation cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: THORASYS THORACIC MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Oleg Grudin, Ronald Jean Dandurand
  • Patent number: 11937971
    Abstract: Provided is a method for classifying diseases using artificial intelligence (AI) of an electronic apparatus. The method for classifying diseases may comprise obtaining auscultation sound data and auscultation position data, obtaining feature information based on the auscultation sound data and obtaining auscultation position information based on the auscultation position data, generating combined information by combining the feature information and the auscultation position information, and identifying at least one of disease information corresponding to the combined information, by using an AI model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SMARTSOUND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jung Ho Lee, Won Yang Cho, Eun Joo Lee
  • Patent number: 11903738
    Abstract: A microsensor and method of manufacture for a microsensor, comprising an array of filaments, wherein each filament of the array of filaments comprises a substrate and a conductive layer coupled to the substrate and configured to facilitate analyte detection. Each filament of the array of filaments can further comprise an insulating layer configured to isolate regions defined by the conductive layer for analyte detection, a sensing layer coupled to the conductive layer, configured to enable transduction, and a selective coating coupled to the sensing layer, configured to facilitate detection of specific target analytes/ions. The microsensor facilitates detection of at least one analyte present in a body fluid of a user interfacing with the microsensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: One Drop Biosensor Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ashwin Pushpala, Matthew Chapman, Alan Szmodis
  • Patent number: 11903696
    Abstract: Methods of and devices for detecting a measurable characteristic of the gas sample. The methods and devices are able to detect a value of or a change of measurable characteristic (e.g., such as chemical concentrations), a change of chemical compositions and/or biological responses of a living organism that are induced by a stressor. The biological responses are able to include cellular stress, damage, and immune responses. The stressor is able to include an exposure to ionizing radiation. The effects of the stressors are able to be monitored in terms of changes in the chemical concentrations and chemical compositions in an exhaled breath. The chemicals are able to function as bio-markers. The chemicals that are to be monitored are able to include nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ethane, and other molecules related to specific disease resulting from the stressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Peter Theophilos Banos
  • Patent number: 11896365
    Abstract: Disclosed is an implant and method of making an implant. The implant having a housing that defines a cavity. The housing includes a sensor comprising a base attached to a diaphragm wherein said base may be positioned within said cavity. The sensor may be a capacitive pressure sensor. The diaphragm may be connected to the housing to hermetically seal said housing. The sensor may include electrical contacts positioned on the diaphragm. The attachment between the base and the diaphragm may define a capacitive gap and at least one discontinuity configured to enhance at least one performance parameter of said implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: ENDOTRONIX, INC.
    Inventors: Mohammad Faisal Zaman, Jeffrey Fong, Julian Chee, Tyler Panian, Michael Nagy
  • Patent number: 11896388
    Abstract: A Cheyne-Stokes (CS) diagnosis system classifies periods of CS-like breathing by examining a signal indicative of a respiratory parameter. For example, nasal flow data is processed to classify it as unambiguously CS breathing or nearly so and to display the classification Processing may detect and display: apnoeas, hypopnoeas, flow-limitation and snore. The signal may be split into equal length epochs and event features are extracted. Statistics are applied to these primary feature(s) to produce secondary feature(s) representing the entire epoch. Each secondary feature is grouped with other feature(s) extracted from the entire epoch rather than from the epoch events. This final group of features is the epoch pattern. The epoch pattern is classified to produce a probability for possible event classes (e.g., Cheyne-Stokes breathing, OSA, etc.). The epoch is assigned to the class with the highest probability, which may both be reported as an indication of disease state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventor: Jeffrey Peter Armitstead
  • Patent number: 11896793
    Abstract: A microsensor and method of manufacture for a microsensor, comprising an array of filaments, wherein each filament of the array of filaments comprises a substrate and a conductive layer coupled to the substrate and configured to facilitate analyte detection. Each filament of the array of filaments can further comprise an insulating layer configured to isolate regions defined by the conductive layer for analyte detection, a sensing layer coupled to the conductive layer, configured to enable transduction of an ionic concentration to an electronic voltage, and a selective coating coupled to the sensing layer, configured to facilitate detection of specific target analytes/ions. The microsensor facilitates detection of at least one analyte present in a body fluid of a user interfacing with the microsensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: One Drop Biosensor Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ashwin Pushpala, Alan Szmodis, Matthew Chapman, Weldon Hall, Scott Miller, Hooman Hafezi
  • Patent number: 11896792
    Abstract: A microsensor and method of manufacture for a microsensor, comprising an array of filaments, wherein each filament of the array of filaments comprises a substrate and a conductive layer coupled to the substrate and configured to facilitate analyte detection. Each filament of the array of filaments can further comprise an insulating layer configured to isolate regions defined by the conductive layer for analyte detection, a sensing layer coupled to the conductive layer, configured to enable transduction of an ionic concentration to an electronic voltage, and a selective coating coupled to the sensing layer, configured to facilitate detection of specific target analytes/ions. The microsensor facilitates detection of at least one analyte present in a body fluid of a user interfacing with the microsensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: One Drop Biosensor Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ashwin Pushpala, Alan Szmodis, Matthew Chapman, Weldon Hall, Scott Miller, Hooman Hafezi
  • Patent number: 11883194
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus is disclosed, comprising a biomathetical model for optimizing cognitive performance in the face of sleep deprivation that integrates novel and nonobvious biomathematical models for quantifying performance impairment for both chronic sleep restriction and total sleep deprivation; the dose-dependent effects of caffeine on human vigilance; and the pheonotypical response of a particular user to caffeine dosing, chronic sleep restriction and total sleep deprivation in user-friendly software application which itself may be part of a networked system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: The Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Jaques Reifman, Jianbo Liu, Nancy Wesensten, Thomas Balkin, Sridhar Ramakrishnan, Maxim Y. Khitrov
  • Patent number: 11884505
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for clearing obstructions from a medical tube are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a spool drive system is disclosed for actuating a guide wire within a medical tube. The spool drive system can be a hand held, disposable device having a spool housing with a spool therein for alternately advancing and withdrawing a guide wire through an inlet of the spool housing. A track can be spaced from and extend about a perimeter of the spool to direct the guide wire onto or off of the spool as the spool is rotated. Other embodiments and devices for actuating the guide wire, and methods therefor, also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ClearFlow, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward M. Boyle, Jr., Paul Molloy, Wayne A. Noda, Kenneth J. Chesnin, Al Diaz, Daniel Hyman, Jon D. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 11877841
    Abstract: A method for counting coughs is provided. The method includes acquiring a plurality of onset signals from the sound signal, wherein the onset signal has a predetermined time length; acquiring a plurality of spectrograms corresponding to each of the plurality of onset signals; determining whether each of the acquired plurality of spectrograms represents a cough using a cough determination model; and calculating a number of coughs included in the sound signal based on a time point of a cough signal. The cough signal is an onset signal corresponding to one spectrogram determined to represent the cough. When a time interval between a first time point of a first cough signal and a second time point of a second cough is within a reference time interval, the first cough signal and the second cough signal are regarded as one cough signal at the first time point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: DAIN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Jee Young Song, Ji Young Jung, Sang Youn Kang, Kyeong Yeon Doo, On Sub Kim, Ah Ra Lee
  • Patent number: 11857330
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems, kits, and methods for monitoring brain activity. In some implementations, a system includes a plurality of wearable sensors having a housing with an extended, rounded shape are removably attached to the scalp of a patient and monitor electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. Approaches for instructing a user to position and active that wearable sensors are disclosed. Approaches for facilitating collection, synchronization, and processing of EEG signals are disclosed. Approaches for handing off control of the wearable sensors between portable computing devices are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Epitel, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell A. Frankel, Robert Lingstuyl, Michael K. Elwood, Mark J. Lehmkuhle
  • Patent number: 11849925
    Abstract: A method for taking a cervical or vaginal sample includes providing a sampling probe having a housing with a flange at one end and an internal step ring including a protrude follower tab near the distal end; and a shaft inside the housing with a brush and a handle, the shaft having a solid proximal section, a spirally grooved distal section, a retracting compression spring inside the housing on the spirally grooved distal section, and with the housing protruding follower tab engaging a spiral groove in the spiral groove section of the shaft; inserting the sampling probe into a vaginal canal; pushing on the handle causing the brush to protrude the distal end of the housing, with the housing follower tab engaging the shaft spiral groove, causing the shaft and the brush to rotate and take a sample; and releasing the shaft handle to retract the brush into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventor: Lida Aghdam
  • Patent number: 11850037
    Abstract: A chemical extraction apparatus has absorbent material for absorbing or adsorbing volatile chemicals from a breath of a user. The chemical extraction apparatus is positioned within such that breaths from the user flow over the absorbent material thereby causing volatile chemicals in the breaths to absorb or adsorb into the absorbent material. The absorbent material is then analyzed to determine the amount of chemicals absorbed or adsorbed into the absorbent material. Based on such analysis, various diseases or conditions can be detected or diagnosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Volatile Analysis Corporation
    Inventors: Russell Bazemore, Kathy Bazemore
  • Patent number: 11844621
    Abstract: Lightweight personal handheld home monitoring and managing device, which includes a sound sensor network/array of sound sensor networks combined with an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and a build in system and methods, making this device an intelligent and portable apparatus to address specific health issues. The combined apparatus is used for managing and/or guidance and/or diagnosing and/or controlling and managing purposes. This present version of the apparatus will address pulmonary disorders and diseases or similar ailments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: SpiroFriend Technology ApS
    Inventor: Dan Avrahamson