Patents by Inventor Kate E. Fey
Kate E. Fey 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).
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Patent number: 7071546Abstract: An apparatus and packaging method for stacking a plurality of integrated circuit substrates, i.e., substrates having integrated circuits formed as integral portions of the substrates, which provides interconnection paths through the substrates to simplify electrical connections between the integrated circuits while facilitating minimization of the volume and customization of the three dimensional package size to conform to the available internal space within a housing, e.g., one used in an implantabie device where package volume is at a premium. Furthermore, an internal cavity can be created by the stacked formation that is suitable for mounting of a surface mount device, e.g., a crystal or the like.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2003Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific ResearchInventors: Kate E. Fey, Charles L. Byers, Lee J. Mandell
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Patent number: 6829508Abstract: An electrically sensing and stimulating outer sheath for ensuring accurate surgical placement of a microsensor or a microstimulator near a nerve in living tissue is disclosed. The electrically sensing outer sheath may also be used to verify the function of the microstimulator or microsensor during surgical placement but before the outer sheath is removed. In the event that the microstimulator is not optimally placed near the nerve, or if the microstimulator is malfunctioning, this can be determined prior to removal of the outer sheath, thus reducing the possibility of nerve or tissue damage that might be incurred during a separate operation to remove the microstimulator.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2002Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific ResearchInventors: Joseph H. Schulman, Ralph M. Weisner, David L. Canfield, Kate E. Fey, Charles L. Byers
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Patent number: 6792314Abstract: An implantable miniature eyelid electrode apparatus that causes a paralyzed eyelid to close or open by passing an electrical stimulating current to a nerve or muscle, is comprised of a longitudinally flexible, nonconductive body containing electrodes that pass an electrical signal to the nearby nerve or muscle, which closes or opens the eyelid. The apparatus is electrically actuated by a source that may be located remotely from the apparatus. The electrical signal passes along wires from the source to the apparatus. The apparatus is biocompatible with the environment in the living tissue and is electrically insulated from the surrounding tissue, except where the electrodes contact the living tissue. The apparatus is very small and is not obvious to visual inspection when implanted.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific ResearchInventors: Charles L. Byers, Kate E. Fey, Ralph M. Weisner, Gary D. Schnittgrund
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Patent number: 6738672Abstract: The invention discloses methods of making electrical connections in living tissue between an electrically conductive wire and an implantable miniature device. The device may either stimulate muscles or nerves in the body or detect signals and transmit these signals outside the body or transmit the signals for use at another location within the body. The device is comprised of an electrically insulating or electrically conductive case with at least one electrode for transmitting electrical signals. The electrodes and the wire-electrode connections are protected from the aggressive environment within the body to avoid corrosion of the electrode and to avoid damage to the living tissue surrounding the device.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2001Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: The Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific ResearchInventors: Joseph H. Schulman, Kate E. Fey, Charles L. Byers, Yitzhak Zilberman, Robert D. Dell
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Publication number: 20030192171Abstract: An apparatus and packaging method for stacking a plurality of integrated circuit substrates which provides interconnection paths through the substrates to simplify electrical connections between the integrated circuits while facilitating minimization of the volume and customization of the three dimensional package size to conform to the available internal space within a housing, e.g., one used in an implantable device where package volume is at a premium. Furthermore, an internal cavity can be created by the stacked formation that is suitable for mounting of a surface mount device, e.g., a crystal or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2003Publication date: October 16, 2003Inventors: Kate E. Fey, Charles L. Byers, Lee J. Mandell
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Publication number: 20030078643Abstract: The invention is directed to an electrically sensing and stimulating outer sheath for ensuring accurate surgical placement of a microsensor or a microstimulator near a nerve in living tissue. The electrically sensing outer sheath may also be used to verify the function of the microstimulator or microstimulator during surgical placement but before the outer sheath is removed. In the event that the microstimulator is not optimally placed near the nerve, or if the microstimulator is malfunctioning, this can be determined prior to removal of the outer sheath, thus reducing the possibility of nerve or tissue damage that might be incurred during a separate operation to remove the microstimulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2002Publication date: April 24, 2003Inventors: Joseph H. Schulman, Ralph M. Weisner, David L. Canfield, Kate E. Fey
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Publication number: 20030078618Abstract: The invention is a method of removing a miniature implantable electronic device by means of an integral eyelet or circumferential ring to facilitate removal of the implanted device without surgery. The string, if radio-opaque, provides a method of locating the miniature implantable device without surgery and attachment of one end of the string to a radio-opaque marker provides a method of locating the end of the string to facilitate non-surgical removal of the miniature implantable device from living tissue. Alternatively, the miniature implantable device may be placed in a silk tube prior to being implanted in the living tissue, to facilitate removal from the tissue. Additionally, the eyelet increases the life of the miniature implantable device, if it is made of a metal, such as platinum or iridium, which has a low metal-to-electrolyte voltage drop by virtue of improved electrical coupling to a saline solution.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2002Publication date: April 24, 2003Inventors: Kate E. Fey, Yitzhak Zilberman, Martin J. Vogel, Joseph H. Schulman
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Patent number: 6521350Abstract: The invention is a method of bonding a ceramic part to a metal part by heating a component assembly comprised of the metal part, the ceramic part, and a very thin essentially pure interlayer material of a compatible interlayer material placed between the two parts and heated at a temperature that is greater than the temperature of the eutectic formed between the metal part and the metal interlayer material, but that is less than the melting point of either the interlayer material, the ceramic part or the metal part. The component assembly is held in intimate contact at temperature in a non-reactive atmosphere for a sufficient time to develop a homogeneous and strong bond between the ceramic part and the metal part. The bonded component assembly is optionally treated with acid to remove any residual free nickel and nickel salts, to assure a biocompatible component assembly for implantation in living tissue.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2001Date of Patent: February 18, 2003Assignee: Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific ResearchInventors: Kate E. Fey, Guangqiang Jiang
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Publication number: 20030023297Abstract: An implantable miniature eyelid electrode apparatus that causes a paralyzed eyelid to close or open by passing an electrical stimulating current to a nerve or muscle, is comprised of a longitudinally flexible, nonconductive body containing electrodes that pass an electrical signal to the nearby nerve or muscle, which closes or opens the eyelid. The apparatus is electrically actuated by a source that may be located remotely from the apparatus. The electrical signal passes along wires from the source to the apparatus. The apparatus is biocompatible with the environment in the living tissue and is electrically insulated from the surrounding tissue, except where the electrodes contact the living tissue. The apparatus is very small and is not obvious to visual inspection when implanted.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Charles L. Byers, Kate E. Fey, Ralph M. Weisner, Gary D. Schnittgrund
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Publication number: 20020192481Abstract: The invention is a method of bonding a ceramic part to a metal part by heating a component assembly comprised of the metal part, the ceramic part, and a very thin essentially pure interlayer material of a compatible interlayer material placed between the two parts and heated at a temperature that is greater than the temperature of the eutectic formed between the metal part and the metal interlayer material, but that is less than the melting point of either the interlayer material, the ceramic part or the metal part. The component assembly is held in intimate contact at temperature in a non-reactive atmosphere for a sufficient time to develop a homogeneous and strong bond between the ceramic part and the metal part. The bonded component assembly is optionally treated with acid to remove any residual free nickel and nickel salts, to assure a biocompatible component assembly for implantation in living tissue.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2001Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventors: Kate E. Fey, Guangqiang Jiang
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Publication number: 20020193858Abstract: The invention discloses methods of making electrical connections in living tissue between an electrically conductive wire and an implantable miniature device. The device may either stimulate muscles or nerves in the body or detect signals and transmit these signals outside the body or transmit the signals for use at another location within the body. The device is comprised of an electrically insulating or electrically conductive case with at least one electrode for transmitting electrical signals. The electrodes and the wire-electrode connections are protected from the aggressive environment within the body to avoid corrosion of the electrode and to avoid damage to the living tissue surrounding the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2001Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventors: Joseph H. Schulman, Kate E. Fey, Charles L. Byers, Yitzhak Zilberman, Robert D. Dell