Patents by Inventor M. Bret Schneider
M. Bret Schneider 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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Publication number: 20240042237Abstract: Methods of treatment and treatment systems for performing radiomodulatory stereotactic radiosurgery to treat brain disorders in which target neural tissues associated with the brain disorder are sensitized to radiation by administration of a molecular substance and/or non-targeted critical structures are protected from radiation by a molecular substance, in order to treat disorders of brain circuitry. Specific embodiments disclose means for treating pain, obesity and drug addiction.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Applicant: Zap Surgical Systems, Inc.Inventors: John R. Adler, JR., M. Bret Schneider
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Patent number: 11745029Abstract: Methods of treatment and treatment systems for performing radiomodulatory stereotactic radiosurgery to treat brain disorders in which target neural tissues associated with the brain disorder are sensitized to radiation by administration of a molecular substance and/or non-targeted critical structures are protected from radiation by a molecular substance, in order to treat disorders of brain circuitry. Specific embodiments disclose means for treating pain, obesity and drug addiction.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2019Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Zap Surgical Systems, Inc.Inventors: John R. Adler, Jr., M. Bret Schneider
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Publication number: 20230270523Abstract: Removable marker implants having fiducial markers disposed on multiple elongate members extend and splay laterally outward when deployed thereby providing improved 3D localization and tracking of a portion of the patient's body for stereotactic radiosurgery. Such an approach is particularly useful for tracking of the uterus during radiosurgery treatment of uterine fibroids. Such implants can include an outer sheath that contains the multiple elongate members during delivery into the portion of the body. The elongate members can be slidably disposed within the shaft and advanced into an expanded deployed position by advancement of an applicator shaft or rod within the sheath. Marker implant can also be integrally formed implants with flexible arms having fiducial markers thereon that can be constrained in a sheath for delivery and resiliently splay laterally outward when released from the shaft. Methods of delivery and deployment are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2023Publication date: August 31, 2023Applicant: Zap Surgical Systems, Inc.Inventors: John R. Adler, JR., M. Bret Schneider
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Patent number: 11684446Abstract: Removable marker implants having fiducial markers disposed on multiple elongate members extend and splay laterally outward when deployed thereby providing improved 3D localization and tracking of a portion of the patient's body for stereotactic radiosurgery. Such an approach is particularly useful for tracking of the uterus during radiosurgery treatment of uterine fibroids. Such implants can include an outer sheath that contains the multiple elongate members during delivery into the portion of the body. The elongate members can be slidably disposed within the shaft and advanced into an expanded deployed position by advancement of an applicator shaft or rod within the sheath. Marker implant can also be integrally formed implants with flexible arms having fiducial markers thereon that can be constrained in a sheath for delivery and resiliently splay laterally outward when released from the shaft. Methods of delivery and deployment are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2020Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Zap Surgical Systems, Inc.Inventors: John R. Adler, Jr., M. Bret Schneider
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Publication number: 20200268475Abstract: Removable marker implants having fiducial markers disposed on multiple elongate members extend and splay laterally outward when deployed thereby providing improved 3D localization and tracking of a portion of the patient's body for stereotactic radiosurgery. Such an approach is particularly useful for tracking of the uterus during radiosurgery treatment of uterine fibroids. Such implants can include an outer sheath that contains the multiple elongate members during delivery into the portion of the body. The elongate members can be slidably disposed within the shaft and advanced into an expanded deployed position by advancement of an applicator shaft or rod within the sheath. Marker implant can also be integrally formed implants with flexible arms having fiducial markers thereon that can be constrained in a sheath for delivery and resiliently splay laterally outward when released from the shaft. Methods of delivery and deployment are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2020Publication date: August 27, 2020Applicant: Zap Surgical Systems, Inc.Inventors: John R. Adler, JR., M. Bret Schneider
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Patent number: 10711242Abstract: According to one aspect and example, a method for facilitating cellular interactions in biological tissue provides controllable activation of a selected type of stem cell among a plurality of cell types present in the tissue. The method includes various steps including the introduction of a microbial opsin into a region of the tissue that includes a selected type of stem cell, by expressing the microbial opsin in the stem cell. A light source is then introduced near the stem cell, and the light source is used to controllably activate the light source to direct pulses of illumination from the light source to the selected type of stem cell, for selectively controlling the growth and development of the stem cell in a manner that is independent of the growth and development of the other types of cells.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2009Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Karl Deisseroth, Albrecht Stroh, M. Bret Schneider, Raag D. Airan
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Patent number: 10682529Abstract: Radiosurgical techniques and systems treat behavioral disorders (such as depression, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (“OCD”), addiction, hyperphagia, and the like) by directing radiation from outside the patient toward a target tissue within the patient's brain, typically without imposing surgical trauma. The target will often be included in a neural circuit associated with the behavioral disorder. A cellularly sub-lethal dose of the radiation may be applied and the radiation can mitigate the behavioral disorder, obesity, or the like, by modulating the level of neural activity within the target and in associated tissues. Hypersensitive and/or hyperactive neuronal tissue may be targeted, with the radiation downwardly modulating hyperactive neuronal activity. By down-regulating the activity of a target that normally exerts negative feedback or a limiting effect on a relevant neural circuit, the activity of the circuit may be increased.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2018Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Zap Surgical Systems, Inc.Inventors: M. Bret Schneider, John R. Adler, Jr.
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Publication number: 20200139153Abstract: Various systems and methods are implemented for in vivo use in a living animal. One such method involves stimulating target cells having light-responsive proteins and includes providing an elongated light-delivery structure in a narrow passageway in the animal, the elongated light-delivery structure having separately-activatable light sources located along the length of the elongated light-delivery structure. The method also includes activating less than all the light sources to deliver light to light-responsive proteins adjacent to the activated light sources along the length of the elongated light-delivery structure, thereby stimulating target cells in vivo.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2019Publication date: May 7, 2020Inventors: Karl Deisseroth, M. Bret Schneider
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Patent number: 10589118Abstract: Methods of stimulating a target deep brain region using multiple Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) electromagnets positioned over a predetermined cortical regions each having a first-order connection to a target deep brain region and applying TMS so that the applied TMS induces spatial summation and thereby modulation of the target deep brain region.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2018Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignees: BRAINSWAY LTD., THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY, THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRSInventor: M. Bret Schneider
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Publication number: 20200072817Abstract: A variety of applications, systems, methods and constructs are implemented for use in connection with screening of ion-channel modulators. Consistent with one such system, drug candidates are screened to identify their effects on cell membrane ion channels and pumps. The system includes screening cells having light responsive membrane ion switches, voltage-gated ion switches and fluorescence producing voltage sensors. A chemical delivery device introduces the drug candidates to be screened. An optical delivery device activates the light responsive ion switches. An optical sensor monitors fluorescence produced by the voltage sensors. A processor processes data received from the optical sensor. A memory stores the data received from the optical sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2019Publication date: March 5, 2020Inventors: Karl Deisseroth, Feng Zhang, Viviana Gradinaru, M. Bret Schneider
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Patent number: 10569099Abstract: Stimulation of target cells using light, e.g., in vivo, is implemented using a variety of methods and devices. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, target cells are stimulated using an implantable arrangement. The arrangement includes an electrical light-generation means for generating light and a biological portion. The biological portion has a photosensitive bio-molecular arrangement that responds to the generated light by stimulating target cells in vivo.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2014Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Karl Deisseroth, M. Bret Schneider, David J. Mishelevich
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Publication number: 20190366123Abstract: Methods of treatment and treatment systems for performing radiomodulatory stereotactic radiosurgery to treat brain disorders in which target neural tissues associated with the brain disorder are sensitized to radiation by administration of a molecular substance and/or non-targeted critical structures are protected from radiation by a molecular substance, in order to treat disorders of brain circuitry. Specific embodiments disclose means for treating pain, obesity and drug addiction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2019Publication date: December 5, 2019Applicant: Zap Surgical Systems, Inc.Inventors: John R. Adler, Jr., M. Bret Schneider
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Patent number: 10451608Abstract: A variety of applications, systems, methods and constructs are implemented for use in connection with screening of ion-channel modulators. Consistent with one such system, drug candidates are screened to identify their effects on cell membrane ion channels and pumps. The system includes screening cells having light responsive membrane ion switches, voltage-gated ion switches and fluorescence producing voltage sensors. A chemical delivery device introduces the drug candidates to be screened. An optical delivery device activates the light responsive ion switches. An optical sensor monitors fluorescence produced by the voltage sensors. A processor processes data received from the optical sensor. A memory stores the data received from the optical sensor.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2016Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Karl Deisseroth, Feng Zhang, Viviana Gradinaru, M. Bret Schneider
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Patent number: 10434327Abstract: Various systems and methods are implemented for in vivo use in a living animal. One such method involves stimulating target cells having light-responsive proteins and includes providing an elongated light-delivery structure in a narrow passageway in the animal, the elongated light-delivery structure having separately-activatable light sources located along the length of the elongated light-delivery structure. The method also includes activating less than all the light sources to deliver light to light-responsive proteins adjacent to the activated light sources along the length of the elongated light-delivery structure, thereby stimulating target cells in vivo.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2008Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Karl Deisseroth, M. Bret Schneider
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Patent number: 10426970Abstract: Various systems and methods are implemented for in vivo use in a living animal. One such method involves stimulating target cells having light-responsive proteins and includes providing an elongated light-delivery structure in a narrow passageway in the animal, the elongated light-delivery structure having separately-activatable light sources located along the length of the elongated light-delivery structure. The method also includes activating less than all the light sources to deliver light to light-responsive proteins adjacent to the activated light sources along the length of the elongated light-delivery structure, thereby stimulating target cells in vivo.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2013Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Karl Deisseroth, M. Bret Schneider
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Publication number: 20190090888Abstract: A system for decorticating at least one bone surface includes an elongated soft tissue protector, an elongated drive shaft and a cutter. The elongated soft tissue protector has a bore extending therethrough. The bore has a non-circular lateral cross-section, a maximum lateral extent and a minimum lateral extent. The cutter may be located on or near a distal end of the drive shaft. The cutter has a non-circular lateral cross-section, a maximum lateral extent and a minimum lateral extent. The maximum lateral extent of the cutter is greater than the minimum lateral extent of the bore but is no greater than the maximum lateral extent of the bore. The bore of the soft tissue protector is configured to slidably receive the cutter therethrough. Other systems and methods for decorticating at least one bone surface are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Applicant: SI-Bone Inc.Inventors: Paul SAND, M. Bret SCHNEIDER, Patrick KAHN, Scott A. YERBY, Gerard LIBRODO, Khalid SETHI, Craig MEYER, Michael DIDINSKY, Thomas A. MCNALLY, Robert MCLAIN, Nikolas KERR, Eric SWICK, Yale VAN DYNE, Jen KASLER
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Publication number: 20190022425Abstract: One embodiment involves modifying neural transmission patterns between neural structures and/or neural regions in a noninvasive manner. In a related exemplary method, sound waves are directed toward a first targeted neural structure and characteristics of the sound waves are controlled at the first target neural structure with respect to characteristics of sound waves at the second target neural structure. In response, neural transmission patterns modified to produce the intended effect (e.g., long-term potentiation and long-term depression of the neural transmission patterns). In a related embodiment, a transducer produces the sound for stimulating the first neural structure and the second neural structure, and an electronically-based control circuit is used to control characteristics of the sound waves as described above to modify the neural transmission patterns between the first and second neural structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2018Publication date: January 24, 2019Inventors: Karl Deisseroth, M. Bret Schneider
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Publication number: 20180326221Abstract: Stimulation of target cells using light, e.g., in vivo, is implemented using a variety of methods and devices. In one example, embodiments involve methods for stimulating target cells using a photosensitive protein that allows the target cells to be stimulated in response to light. In another specific example embodiment, target cells are stimulated using an implantable arrangement. The arrangement includes an electrical light-generation means for generating light and a biological portion. The biological portion has a photosensitive bio-molecular arrangement that responds to the generated light by stimulating target cells in vivo. Other aspects and embodiments are directed to systems and methods for screening chemicals based screening chemicals to identify their effects on cell membrane ion channels and pumps, and to systems and methods for controlling an action potential of neuron (e.g., in vivo and in vitro environments).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2018Publication date: November 15, 2018Inventors: Karl Deisseroth, Feng Zhang, David J. Mishelevich, M. Bret Schneider
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Patent number: 10052497Abstract: Stimulation of target cells using light, e.g., in vivo, is implemented using a variety of methods and devices. In one example, embodiments involve methods for stimulating target cells using a photosensitive protein that allows the target cells to be stimulated in response to light. In another specific example embodiment, target cells are stimulated using an implantable arrangement. The arrangement includes an electrical light-generation means for generating light and a biological portion. The biological portion has a photosensitive bio-molecular arrangement that responds to the generated light by stimulating target cells in vivo. Other aspects and embodiments are directed to systems and methods for screening chemicals based screening chemicals to identify their effects on cell membrane ion channels and pumps, and to systems and methods for controlling an action potential of neuron (e.g., in in vivo and in vitro environments).Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2008Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Karl Deisseroth, Feng Zhang, David J. Mishelevich, M. Bret Schneider
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Patent number: 10046174Abstract: In one example, a system electrically stimulates target cells of a living animal using an elongated structure, a modulation circuit and a light pathway such as provided by an optical fiber arrangement. The elongated structure is for insertion into a narrow passageway in the animal such that an end of the elongated structure is sufficiently near the target cells to deliver stimulation thereto. The modulation circuit is for modulating the target cells while the elongated structure is in the narrow passageway, where the modulation circuit is adapted to deliver viral vectors through the elongated structure for expressing light responsive proteins in the target cells. The light pathway is used for stimulating the target cells by delivering light to the light-responsive proteins in the target cells.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2013Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Karl Deisseroth, Alexander Aravanis, Feng Zhang, M. Bret Schneider, Jaimie M. Henderson