Patents Examined by Patricia Mallari
  • Patent number: 9888882
    Abstract: A method of brain wave analysis is to be implemented using a brain wave measuring instrument and a medical device. The method includes transmitting a nerve stimulation signal to cerebrum of a patient, measuring the nerve stimulation signal through the body of the patient so as to obtain discharge time information, measuring a brain wave signal from a head portion of the patient, obtaining energy distribution information according to the brain wave signal, and calculating behavior information according to the discharge time information and the energy distribution information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Advanced Sterilization Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peng-Chieh Wu, Wen-Hsuan Liao, Wei-Hsuan Liao, Yung-Ting Kuo
  • Patent number: 9888867
    Abstract: A medical mouthpiece may include a generally U-shaped member forming a lateral interocclusal passageway extending from an anterior aperture to a posterior aperture configured to provide a conduit for respiratory gas exchange. A medical mouthpiece may include a sampling port for fluid communication with an analyzing apparatus configured to analyze exhaled respiratory gases. A medical mouthpiece may include a supplemental gas conduit for fluid communication between a source of supplemental gas and a supply orifice. A method for delivering a gas to a patient may include delivering a gas to the patient through a mouthpiece having a lateral interocclusal passageway such that the gas is delivered through a posterior aperture to a space adjacent the patient's posterior oropharynx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: AIRWAY CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Hestness, Robert Moore
  • Patent number: 9888857
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for automatically configuring a mobile device for collecting and inferring heart rate data of a user. The method may include capturing heart rate data for a user with a heart rate sensor that is coupled with a mobile device. The method may also include monitoring a activity state of the user from activity data captured by the mobile device, and detecting a constant activity state of the user. The method may also include inferring heart rate data for the user from the captured heart rate data during a period in which the user remains in the constant activity state. The method may also include providing the inferred heart rate data, as captured heart rate data, to a heart rate calculator during the period in which the user remains in the constant activity state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ramin Samadani, Radu Pitigoi-Aron, Justin Patrick McGloin
  • Patent number: 9885684
    Abstract: A sensor system includes a sensor and a sensor electronics device. The sensor includes a plurality of electrodes. The sensor electronics device includes a connection detection device, a power source, and a delay circuit. The connection detection device determines if the sensor electronics device is connected to the sensor and transmits a connection signal. The delay circuit receives the connection signal, waits a preset hydration time, and couples the regulated voltage from the power source to an electrode in the sensor after the preset hydration time has elapsed. Alternatively, the sensor electronics device may include an electrical detection circuit and a microcontroller. The electrical detection circuit determines if the plurality of electrodes are hydrated and generates an interrupt if the electrodes are hydrated. A microcontroller receives the interrupt and transmits a signal representative of a voltage to an electrode of the plurality of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Rajiv Shah, Wayne A. Morgan, David Y. Choy, James L. Henke, Bahar Reghabi, Gopikrishnan Soundararajan, Peter Schultz, Udo Hoss
  • Patent number: 9872639
    Abstract: A system and method for remotely monitoring an individual, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. More particularly, one or more physiological functions and/or physical activities of the individual may be monitored. In order to monitor the individual, a range to, and/or a range rate (i.e., velocity) of, one or more points on one or more surfaces of the individual (e.g., skin, clothing, lips, etc.) may be determined over time. Based on the determinations of the range and/or range rate of the points on the surfaces of the individual, the one or more physiological functions and/or physical activities of the individual may be monitored. This may enable the physiological functions and/or physical activities to be monitored remotely from the individual without access or proximity to the individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Digital Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L Sebastian, Kendall L. Belsley
  • Patent number: 9833154
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for monitoring a patient that includes a cuff configured to inflate to at least partially occlude an artery of the patient and a cuff controller configured to inflate the cuff during a dynamic phase and generally maintain inflation of the cuff at about a target pressure during a static phase. The system also includes a sensor configured to receive a signal associated with the at least partially occluded artery and generate an output signal based on the received signal, and a cuff control module configured to determine the target pressure during the dynamic phase and based on the output signal, and control the cuff controller during the dynamic phase and the static phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Lane, David E. Quinn, Matthew J. Kinsley, Tyson B. Whitaker
  • Patent number: 9835580
    Abstract: A sensor system includes a sensor and a sensor electronics device. The sensor includes a plurality of electrodes. The sensor electronics device includes a connection detection device, a power source, and a delay circuit. The connection detection device determines if the sensor electronics device is connected to the sensor and transmits a connection signal. The delay circuit receives the connection signal, waits a preset hydration time, and couples the regulated voltage from the power source to an electrode in the sensor after the preset hydration time has elapsed. Alternatively, the sensor electronics device may include an electrical detection circuit and a microcontroller. The electrical detection circuit determines if the plurality of electrodes are hydrated and generates an interrupt if the electrodes are hydrated. A microcontroller receives the interrupt and transmits a signal representative of a voltage to an electrode of the plurality of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Rajiv Shah, Wayne A. Morgan, David Y. Choy, James L. Henke, Bahar Reghabi, Gopikrishnan Soundararajan, Peter Schultz, Udo Hoss
  • Patent number: 9814414
    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: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: DexCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Brister, Paul V. Neale, Sean Saint, James R. Petisce, James Patrick Thrower, Apurv Ullas Kamath, Daniel S. Kline, John A. Guerre, Daniel Shawn Codd, Thomas F. McGee, David Michael Petersen
  • Patent number: 9814429
    Abstract: Disordered breathing events may be classified as central, obstructive or a combination of central an obstructive in origin based on patient motion associated with respiratory effort. Central disordered breathing is associated with disrupted respiration with reduced respiratory effort. Obstructive disordered breathing is associated with disrupted respiration accompanied by respiratory effort. A disordered breathing classification system includes a disordered breathing detector and a respiratory effort motion sensor. Components of the disordered breathing classification system may be fully or partially implantable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Lee, John D. Hatlestad, Qingsheng Zhu, Jeffrey E. Stahmann, Jesse W. Hartley, Quan Ni
  • Patent number: 9808590
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for carrying out a signal-processing viewing of a measurement signal that is correlated with the respiratory activity of an individual, for example, of a measurement signal that is correlated with the respiratory gas. The aim of the invention is to provide solutions with which an improved electronic analysis of the signals that are representative with regard to respiratory activity can be achieved. To this end, the invention provides that viewing results are obtained within the scope of a signal-processing viewing of said measurement signal and make a differentiation between obstructive and central respiratory disorders possible. The viewing results are determined, in particular, while taking into account changes of selected breathing characteristics such as, for example, the change in the ratio of inhalation time to exhalation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: RESMED R&D GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Rolf Madaus, Jorg Meier, Dieter Heidmann, Hartmut Schneider
  • Patent number: 9801581
    Abstract: The present system is directed in various embodiments to devices, systems and methods for detection, evaluation and/or monitoring olfactory dysfunction by measuring and determining the patient's olfactory detection threshold for the left and the right nostril. More specifically, the present invention relates to devices, systems and methods for detecting an asymmetric differential in a patient's olfactory detection threshold (left vs right nostril) which, when present, may be used as a device to detect, diagnose and/or monitor olfactory deterioration resulting from certain neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Inspired Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory B. Mills
  • Patent number: 9788738
    Abstract: A system and method prevents and diagnoses deep vein thrombosis in a body limb by providing a pressure sleeve having a plurality of individually fillable cells, the pressure sleeve being configurable to be placed around a body limb. A source fills each fillable cell individually, and a pressure sensor measures a pressure in a fillable cell. A controller establishes a fill sequence of each individually fillable cell and a fill time for each individually fillable cell. The controller causes a first individually fillable cell of the pressure sleeve to be filled to a predetermined pressure and causes the pressure of first individually fillable cell of the pressure sleeve to be measured while a second individually fillable cell of the pressure sleeve is filled. The controller determines a presence of deep vein thrombosis in a body limb having the pressure sleeve therearound based upon a measured pressure change in the first individually fillable cell of the pressure sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: MEDICAL COMPRESSION SYSTEMS (DBN) LTD.
    Inventors: Jacob Barak, Adi Dagan, Vitaly Rondel
  • Patent number: 9788757
    Abstract: A breathing biofeedback device, having a microphone configured to acquire sounds of a user's breathing; a controller communicatively connected with the microphone, the controller processing the signals acquired by the microphone to produce an output signal, the controller processing the signal whereby the microphone signal is first pre-amplified to a voltage level that can be processed by an audio envelope detector circuit, the envelope detector signal is then fed into the analog-to-digital converter input of the controller allowing it to constantly sample the input volume level, the controller then controlling the output volume level fed to the headphones utilizing a digitally controlled variable-gain amplifier, wherein the output signal is not modified in any manner from the original input, except in volume; and a pair of earphones connected with the controller and configured to convey the output signal to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: BREATH RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventor: Nirinjan Bikko
  • Patent number: 9782086
    Abstract: Provided is a blood pressure measuring apparatus including: a pressurizing unit applying pressure to a blood vessel according to a first condition or a second condition; a pressure sensor sensing a sphygmus wave and a pressure of the blood vessel from the blood vessel under the first condition or the second condition; a standard blood pressure calculating unit for calculating a systolic standard blood pressure and a diastolic standard blood pressure; a continuous blood pressure calculating unit for calculating continuous blood pressure; and a repressurizing determining unit for determining whether pressure is applied to the blood vessel under the second condition during measuring of continuous blood pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Youn-ho Kim, Kun-soo Shin, Sang-kon Bae, Seok-chan Kim
  • Patent number: 9779751
    Abstract: Respiratory-based biofeedback devices, systems, and methods are provided. A respiratory biofeedback method includes producing a respiratory signal in response to a user's respiratory activity, generating an audio output signal that includes a modified version of the respiratory signal, and converting the audio output signal into sound waves output to the user to provide biofeedback. The sound waves can be output to the user in real time response to the user's respiratory activity. A microphone can be used to generate the respiratory signal. The generated audio output signal can includes the respiratory signal modified to increase a volume level of a portion of the respiratory signal where the volume level exceeds a specified volume level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: BREATH RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventor: Nirinjan Bikko
  • Patent number: 9770192
    Abstract: A method of avoiding a contaminant which would skew an analyte result in a breath analysis method and of calibrating subject of the breath analysis includes, immediately before the breath analysis method or the collection of breath for the breath analysis method, administering to the subject a predetermined gas composition. A system for analyzing an analyte in breath of a subject while avoiding a local contaminant which would skew an analyte result and calibrating the subject of so that the result of the analyte analysis will be the same regardless of where the test is performed geographically, includes a source of a predetermined gas composition immediately before the breath analysis method or the collection of gas for the breath analysis method, administering to the subject a predetermined gas mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Inventors: Richard C. Fuisz, Joseph M. Fuisz
  • Patent number: 9763608
    Abstract: Analyte sensors and methods of manufacturing same are provided, including analyte sensors comprising multi-axis flexibility. For example, a multi-electrode sensor system 800 comprising two working electrodes and at least one reference/counter electrode is provided. The sensor system 800 comprises first and second elongated bodies E1, E2, each formed of a conductive core or of a core with a conductive layer deposited thereon, insulating layer 810 that separates the conductive layer 820 from the elongated body, a membrane layer deposited on top of the elongated bodies E1, E2, and working electrodes 802?, 802? formed by removing portions of the conductive layer 820 and the insulating layer 810, thereby exposing electroactive surface of the elongated bodies E1, E2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: DexCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter C. Simpson, Robert Boock, Paul V. Neale, Sebastian Böhm, Matthew Wightlin, Jack Pryor, Jason Mitchell, Jeff Jackson, Kaushik Patel, Antonio C. Llevares
  • Patent number: 9763671
    Abstract: There is provided a throwaway cuff cover capable of being used for all types of cuffs and performing triage at the same time. The cuff cover has a long main cover 20 which is wound around the upper arm of the human body and a sub-cover 30 shorter than the main cover 20, the sub-cover 30 being provided connectingly along one side of the main cover 20 and capable of being folded onto the main cover 20 side, and the cuff housing portions 21 and 31 are allotted to the main cover 20 and the sub-cover 30, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignees: TAKETORA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Iino, Yudai Takeshita
  • Patent number: 9757041
    Abstract: Tools and techniques for estimating a probability that a patient is bleeding or has sustained intravascular volume loss (e.g., due to hemodialysis or dehydration) and/or to estimate a patient's current hemodynamic reserve index, track the patient's hemodynamic reserve index over time, and/or predict a patient's hemodynamic reserve index in the future. Tools and techniques for estimating and/or predicting a patient's dehydration state. Tools and techniques for controlling a hemodialysis machine based on the patient's estimated and/or predicted hemodynamic reserve index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignees: Flashback Technologies, Inc., The Regents of The University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventors: Gregory Zlatko Grudic, Steven Lee Moulton, Isobel Jane Mulligan
  • Patent number: 9759678
    Abstract: A sensor system includes a sensor and a sensor electronics device. The sensor includes a plurality of electrodes. The sensor electronics device includes a connection detection device, a power source, and a delay circuit. The connection detection device determines if the sensor electronics device is connected to the sensor and transmits a connection signal. The delay circuit receives the connection signal, waits a preset hydration time, and couples the regulated voltage from the power source to an electrode in the sensor after the preset hydration time has elapsed. Alternatively, the sensor electronics device may include an electrical detection circuit and a microcontroller. The electrical detection circuit determines if the plurality of electrodes are hydrated and generates an interrupt if the electrodes are hydrated. A microcontroller receives the interrupt and transmits a signal representative of a voltage to an electrode of the plurality of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Rajiv Shah, Wayne A. Morgan, David Y. Choy, James L. Henke, Bahar Reghabi, Gopikrishnan Soundararajan, Peter Schultz