Patents by Inventor Changfeng Tai

Changfeng Tai has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11925802
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for treating underactive bladder, urinary retention, detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia after spinal cord injury, constipation, and/or infrequent bowel movements including the step of applying electrical stimulation to one or more peripheral nerves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai
  • Publication number: 20240042211
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method of blocking a nerve or neuron by applying an electrical stimulation to the nerve or neuron, wherein the electrical stimulation is of an intensity below the excitation threshold of the nerve or neuron for a length of time sufficient to produce a block of nerve conduction or neuron excitation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai
  • Patent number: 11865346
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method of blocking a nerve or neuron by applying an electrical stimulation to the nerve or neuron, wherein the electrical stimulation is of an intensity below the excitation threshold of the nerve or neuron for a length of time sufficient to produce a block of nerve conduction or neuron excitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai
  • Patent number: 11826572
    Abstract: A method of blocking a nerve or neuron by applying an electrical stimulation to the nerve or neuron, wherein the electrical stimulation is of an intensity below the excitation threshold of the nerve or neuron for a length of time sufficient to produce a block of nerve conduction or neuron excitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai
  • Patent number: 11794009
    Abstract: Provided herein are devices, systems, and methods for treating urological and gastrointestinal disorders, including bedwetting, through stimulation of the dorsal or plantar surface of the foot, including the superficial peroneal nerve and branches thereof, such as the dorsal intermediate and medial cutaneous nerves, or the medial and/or and lateral plantar nerves. The device facilitates placement of electrodes on the foot. Also provided herein is a system including the device, a pulse generator, and a controller, and methods of manufacturing and using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai
  • Publication number: 20220395686
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method of blocking a nerve or neuron including applying an electrical stimulation to the nerve or neuron, wherein the electrical stimulation is of an intensity that is greater than an excitation threshold of the nerve or neuron for a length of time sufficient to produce a block of nerve conduction or neuron excitation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai
  • Publication number: 20220152385
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for treating underactive bladder, urinary retention, detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia after spinal cord injury, constipation, and/or infrequent bowel movements including the step of applying electrical stimulation to one or more peripheral nerves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai
  • Patent number: 11285318
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for treating underactive bladder, urinary retention, detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia after spinal cord injury, constipation, and/or infrequent bowel movements including the step of applying electrical stimulation to one or more peripheral nerves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai
  • Patent number: 11191958
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and devices useful for inhibiting or treating urological conditions, such as overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms including bladder overactivity, urinary frequency, urinary urgency, urinary incontinence, interstitial cystitis (IC), urinary retention, and pelvic pain; gastrointestinal conditions, such as fecal incontinence, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and constipation; and sexual conditions, such as premature ejaculation, erectile disorder, and female sexual arousal disorder by non-invasive transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai
  • Publication number: 20210370059
    Abstract: Provided herein are devices, systems, and methods for treating urological and gastrointestinal disorders, including bedwetting, through stimulation of the dorsal or plantar surface of the foot, including the superficial peroneal nerve and branches thereof, such as the dorsal intermediate and medial cutaneous nerves, or the medial and/or and lateral plantar nerves. The device facilitates placement of electrodes on the foot. Also provided herein is a system including the device, a pulse generator, and a controller, and methods of manufacturing and using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai
  • Publication number: 20210290429
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of nerve blockage, for example for treatment of obesity, heart failure, cardiovascular disease, muscle spasms, chronic pain, or urinary retention in a patient. The method comprises first heating a nerve above physiological temperature (e.g., 37° C. in a human), such as from 43° C. to 54° C. for a duration that leads to reversible nerve blockage as opposed to nerve damage. Second, reversible nerve blockage is produced by cooling the nerve below physiological temperature to a temperature in which reversible nerve blockage is achieved, for example from 15° C. to 30° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai
  • Publication number: 20210283401
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method of blocking a nerve or neuron by applying an electrical stimulation to the nerve or neuron, wherein the electrical stimulation is of an intensity below the excitation threshold of the nerve or neuron for a length of time sufficient to produce a block of nerve conduction or neuron excitation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai
  • Publication number: 20210236328
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed include systems, methods, and apparatuses, directed to administering thermal neural modulation to mammalian tissue to control nerve conduction. Embodiments disclosed include an apparatus comprising a thermal energy source, a first heat exchanger coupled to the thermal energy source and configured to receive thermal energy therefrom, a thermal applicator configured to be disposed and secured to the anatomy of a subject having a nerve therein, in contact with the skin on the anatomy and overlying a treatment portion of the nerve, the thermal applicator configured to transfer thermal energy to the skin to raise the temperature of the treatment portion of the nerve above a physiologic temperature, a second heat exchanger is coupled to the thermal applicator and configured to transfer thermal energy thereto, and a fluid conduit having a first portion coupled to the first heat exchanger and a second portion coupled to the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicants: Thermaquil, Inc., University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Stephen R. POPIELARSKI, Changfeng TAI, Grant M. CHAPMAN
  • Patent number: 11051975
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of nerve blockage, for example for treatment of obesity, heart failure, cardiovascular disease, muscle spasms, chronic pain, or urinary retention in a patient. The method comprises first heating a nerve above physiological temperature (e.g. 37° C. in a human), such as from 43° C. to 54° C. for a duration that leads to reversible nerve blockage as opposed to nerve damage. Second, reversible nerve blockage is produced by cooling the nerve below physiological temperature to a temperature in which reversible nerve blockage is achieved, for example from 15° C. to 30° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai
  • Publication number: 20210106831
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method of blocking a nerve or neuron by applying an electrical stimulation to the nerve or neuron, wherein the electrical stimulation is of an intensity below the excitation threshold of the nerve or neuron for a length of time sufficient to produce a block of nerve conduction or neuron excitation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai
  • Publication number: 20200114149
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and devices useful for inhibiting or treating urological conditions, such as overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms including bladder overactivity, urinary frequency, urinary urgency, urinary incontinence, interstitial cystitis (IC), urinary retention, and pelvic pain; gastrointestinal conditions, such as fecal incontinence, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and constipation; and sexual conditions, such as premature ejaculation, erectile disorder, and female sexual arousal disorder by non-invasive transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai
  • Publication number: 20200069940
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for treating underactive bladder, urinary retention, detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia after spinal cord injury, constipation, and/or infrequent bowel movements including the step of applying electrical stimulation to one or more peripheral nerves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai
  • Patent number: 10315029
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and devices useful for inhibiting or treating urological conditions, such as overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms including bladder overactivity, urinary frequency, urinary urgency, urinary incontinence, interstitial cystitis (IC), urinary retention, and pelvic pain; gastrointestinal conditions, such as fecal incontinence, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and constipation; and sexual conditions, such as premature ejaculation, erectile disorder, and female sexual arousal disorder by non-invasive transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai
  • Publication number: 20180344518
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of nerve blockage, for example for treatment of obesity, heart failure, cardiovascular disease, muscle spasms, chronic pain, or urinary retention in a patient. The method comprises first heating a nerve above physiological temperature (e.g. 37° C. in a human), such as from 43° C. to 54° C. for a duration that leads to reversible nerve blockage as opposed to nerve damage. Second, reversible nerve blockage is produced by cooling the nerve below physiological temperature to a temperature in which reversible nerve blockage is achieved, for example from 15° C. to 30° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai
  • Publication number: 20180133472
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and devices useful for inhibiting or treating urological conditions, such as overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms including bladder overactivity, urinary frequency, urinary urgency, urinary incontinence, interstitial cystitis (IC), urinary retention, and pelvic pain; gastrointestinal conditions, such as fecal incontinence, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and constipation; and sexual conditions, such as premature ejaculation, erectile disorder, and female sexual arousal disorder by non-invasive transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai