Patents by Inventor Michael Bernard

Michael Bernard 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).

  • Publication number: 20230109444
    Abstract: A new and innovative high-pressure priming valve is provided for use in high-pressure fluid systems that require a high level of fluid purity. The priming valve includes at least three ports, some of which are angled. The priming valve also includes a needle that variably blocks and unblocks a pathway to one of the ports between normal operation and a priming operation, respectively. The priming valve includes a sealing insert positioned below a stack of washers that maintain the needle's alignment in response to high fluid pressures exerted on the needle. The sealing insert helps prevent fluid from contacting the stack of washers, which helps prevent biological growth within the valve. The angled ports help facilitate priming valve drainage to further help prevent biological growth. By helping prevent biological growth, the sealing insert helps prevent fluid contamination and enables the priming valve to be utilized for high-purity fluid applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: MICROFLUIDICS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rachel OTTE, Ahmad SHEHATA, Jocemar RAMINA, Marco CATALANI, David HARNEY, John Michael BERNARD, Michael RATIGAN, Harshit Kumar PATEL
  • Patent number: 11610512
    Abstract: An Expiratory breathing simulator device is provided and configured to simulate a real patient's End Tidal CO2 (ETCO2). The device is configured to be used with a vital signs simulator to simulate a patient's behaviour on a medical monitoring apparatus, for example for training medical professionals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Bernard Arthur Sheedy, Daniel Hartwell
  • Patent number: 11519512
    Abstract: A new and innovative high-pressure priming valve is provided for use in high-pressure fluid systems that require a high level of fluid purity. The priming valve includes at least three ports, some of which are angled. The priming valve also includes a needle that variably blocks and unblocks a pathway to one of the ports between normal operation and a priming operation, respectively. The priming valve includes a sealing insert positioned below a stack of washers that maintain the needle's alignment in response to high fluid pressures exerted on the needle. The sealing insert helps prevent fluid from contacting the stack of washers, which helps prevent biological growth within the valve. The angled ports help facilitate priming valve drainage to further help prevent biological growth. By helping prevent biological growth, the sealing insert helps prevent fluid contamination and enables the priming valve to be utilized for high-purity fluid applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: MICROFLUIDICS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rachel Otte, Ahmad Shehata, Jocemar Ramina, Marco Catalani, David Harney, John Michael Bernard, Michael Ratigan, Harshit Kumar Patel
  • Patent number: 11458311
    Abstract: A topical nerve activation patch includes a flexible substrate, a dermis conforming bottom surface of the substrate comprising adhesive and adapted to contact a dermis of a user, a flexible top outer surface of the substrate, a plurality of electrodes positioned on the patch proximal to the bottom surface and located beneath the top outer surface and coupled to the flexible substrate, a power source, and electronic circuitry that generates an output voltage applied to the electrodes. The electronic circuitry includes a controller, a voltage monitoring circuit coupled to the controller, a current monitoring circuit coupled to the controller, a switch coupled to the controller and a two stage boosted voltage circuit coupled to the switch and the power source that is configured to increase a switch voltage level to approximately a half value of a final output voltage before increasing to the final output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: NEUROSTIM TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Alan E. Loh, Anthony Wei, Michael Bernard Druke
  • Publication number: 20220233844
    Abstract: A topical nerve stimulation patch includes a substrate, a dermis conforming bottom surface of the substrate, a top outer surface of the substrate, a plurality of electrodes positioned on the patch proximal to the bottom surface and located beneath the top outer surface and coupled to the substrate, a power source and electronic circuitry embedded in the patch and located beneath the top outer surface and coupled to the substrate. The electronic circuitry is configured to generate an electrical stimuli via the electrodes that comprise a plurality of pulses of a target output voltage, and includes a controller configured to generate a first pulse at a first output voltage that is less than the target output voltage and generate a second pulse at a second output voltage that is less than the target output voltage and greater than the first output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Alan E. LOH, Michael Bernard DRUKE, Brian GAGNE, William Conrad ALTMANN
  • Patent number: 11318240
    Abstract: A system and method for performing tissue therapy may include applying a reduced pressure to a tissue site of a patient. A fluid parameter associated with applying a reduced pressure to the tissue site may be sensed. An audible fluid leak location sound may be generated in response to sensing the fluid parameter. The audible fluid leak location sound may be altered in response to sensing that the fluid parameter changes. By altering the audible fluid leak location sound in response to sensing a change of the fluid parameter, a clinician may detect location of a fluid leak at the drape by applying force to the drape. The force applied to the drape may be a clinician pressing a finger onto an edge of the drape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm G. Thomson, Timothy Mark Robinson, Richard Marvin Kazala, Jr., Christopher Brian Locke, Michael Bernard Beasley, Larry Tab Randolph
  • Patent number: 11253640
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, a vibration apparatus can augment and enhance negative-pressure therapy systems. The apparatus can be attached to an external surface of a dressing, fluid conductor, or other components. The apparatus can generate low-amplitude vibrations, which can be transmitted through the components. Kinetic energy of the oscillations can agitate fluid in the components, which can lower the viscosity of the fluid and reduce the frequency of blockages in fluid conductors. Vibrations may also agitate a tissue site, which can encourage blood flow and granulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Bernard Beasley, James Killingworth Seddon, Christopher Brian Locke
  • Publication number: 20220047795
    Abstract: A system and method for performing tissue therapy may include applying a reduced pressure to a tissue site of a patient. A fluid parameter associated with applying a reduced pressure to the tissue site may be sensed. An audible fluid leak location sound may be generated in response to sensing the fluid parameter. The audible fluid leak location sound may be altered in response to sensing that the fluid parameter changes. By altering the audible fluid leak location sound in response to sensing a change of the fluid parameter, a clinician may detect location of a fluid leak at the drape by applying force to the drape. The force applied to the drape may be a clinician pressing a finger onto an edge of the drape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Malcolm G. THOMSON, Timothy Mark ROBINSON, Richard Marvin KAZALA, JR., Christopher Brian LOCKE, Michael Bernard BEASLEY, Larry Tab RANDOLPH
  • Patent number: 11241338
    Abstract: A pressure switch for controlling application of negative pressure to dressing disposed adjacent a tissue site is disclosed. The pressure switch comprises a body having a base, sidewalls extending from the base to an open end, and an inlet coupled to the dressing and forming a passage through the body. The pressure switch further comprises a diaphragm closing the open end of the sidewalls and forming a vacuum chamber with the body, wherein the inlet fluidly couples the vacuum chamber and the dressing. The pressure switch further comprises a valve disposed in the passage and configured to restrict the flow of gas through the passage so that a switch pressure developed in the vacuum chamber as a result of the application of negative pressure to the dressing lags a wound pressure at the tissue site to delay, wherein the diaphragm is adapted to be operatively responsive to the switch pressure to move between a relaxed position and a compressed position as the negative pressure increases and decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Andrew Pratt, Michael Bernard Beasley, Christopher Brian Locke, James Killingworth Seddon
  • Patent number: 11229789
    Abstract: A neuro activation system includes a patch adapted to be applied externally on a dermis of a user, the patch comprising a flexible substrate and an adhesive on a first side adapted to adhere to the dermis of the user, an electronic package directly coupled to the substrate, the electronic package including a control unit and one or more stimulators, and electrodes directly coupled to the substrate and the electronic package, the patch adapted to generate an electrical stimuli via the electrodes. The neuro activation system further includes a controller in wireless communication with the patch, the controller including remote functionality to start and stop the electrical stimuli.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: NEUROSTIM OAB, INC.
    Inventors: Terry Spurling, Anthony Wei, Michael Bernard Druke, Hoo-min D. Toong
  • Publication number: 20210364096
    Abstract: A new and innovative high-pressure priming valve is provided for use in high-pressure fluid systems that require a high level of fluid purity. The priming valve includes at least three ports, some of which are angled. The priming valve also includes a needle that variably blocks and unblocks a pathway to one of the ports between normal operation and a priming operation, respectively. The priming valve includes a sealing insert positioned below a stack of washers that maintain the needle's alignment in response to high fluid pressures exerted on the needle. The sealing insert helps prevent fluid from contacting the stack of washers, which helps prevent biological growth within the valve. The angled ports help facilitate priming valve drainage to further help prevent biological growth. By helping prevent biological growth, the sealing insert helps prevent fluid contamination and enables the priming valve to be utilized for high-purity fluid applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Applicant: MICROFLUIDICS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rachel OTTE, Ahmad SHEHATA, Jocemar RAMINA, Marco CATALANI, David HARNEY, John Michael BERNARD, Michael RATIGAN, Harshit Kumar PATEL
  • Publication number: 20210190052
    Abstract: The present application provides new and innovative high-pressure fluid systems for preventing seal burning due to gas auto-ignition. The provided systems include an o-ring disposed within a seal cavity of a cup seal to decrease the dead volume in the seal cavity. By reducing the dead volume, the o-ring decreases the volume of gas that is able to accumulate and thus helps prevent the gas from auto-igniting as the gas is compressed. By preventing the gas from auto-igniting, the provided system helps prevent seal burning, which helps prevent premature cup seal failure and prevent fluid contamination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: MICROFLUIDICS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yang SU, John Michael Bernard, Marco Catalani, David Harney, Jocemar Ramina, Michael Ratigan
  • Publication number: 20210178157
    Abstract: A topical nerve activation patch includes electronic circuitry embedded in the patch and electronic circuitry configured to generate an output voltage applied to electrodes. The patch further includes a controller configured to generate a treatment comprising a plurality of activation pulses that form the output voltage, the controller comprising a first real time clock and an oscillator, the treatment comprising electrical stimuli applied to the user via the electrodes. The patch further includes a charge measurement circuit configured to measure an amount of charge applied to the user from the electrical stimuli and a communication link configured to communicate with a remote activation device, the remote activation device comprising a second real time clock. The controller is configured to generate the activation pulses by measuring time intervals using the oscillator and using the second real time clock and the measured time intervals to determine activation times for the activation pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Bernard DRUKE, Alan E. LOH, Brian GAGNE
  • Publication number: 20210178346
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods related to a high pressure processing device that is configured to simplify batch processing. In an embodiment, a high pressure processing device includes a processing module configured to reduce a particle size of a material or achieve a desired liquid processing result for the material, a pump configured to pump the material to an inlet of the processing module, a recirculation pathway configured to recirculate the material from an outlet of the processing module back to the pump, an input device configured to receive at least one user input variable, and a controller configured to (i) determine a number of pump strokes for the pump based on the user input variable, and (ii) control the pump according to the determined number of pump strokes so that the material makes a plurality of passes through the processing module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: MICROFLUIDICS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael P. Ratigan, David G. Harney, John Michael Bernard
  • Patent number: 10933428
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods related to a high pressure processing device that is configured to simplify batch processing. In an embodiment, a high pressure processing device includes a processing module configured to reduce a particle size of a material or achieve a desired liquid processing result for the material, a pump configured to pump the material to an inlet of the processing module, a recirculation pathway configured to recirculate the material from an outlet of the processing module back to the pump, an input device configured to receive at least one user input variable, and a controller configured to (i) determine a number of pump strokes for the pump based on the user input variable, and (ii) control the pump according to the determined number of pump strokes so that the material makes a plurality of passes through the processing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: MICROFLUIDICS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael P. Ratigan, David G. Harney, John Michael Bernard
  • Patent number: 10898869
    Abstract: A compact interaction chamber is used to cause high shear, impact forces, and cavitation to reduce particle size and mix fluids while reducing waste and holdup volume. A first housing made of stainless steel holds an inlet mixing chamber element and an outlet mixing chamber element in a female bore using thermal expansion. The inlet and outlet mixing chamber elements are manufactured so that the diameter of the cooled female bore is slightly smaller than the diameter of the mixing chamber elements. The first housing is heated, expanding the diameter of the female bore enough to allow the inlet and outlet mixing chamber elements to be inserted. After the mixing chamber elements are inserted and aligned within the female bore, the first housing is allowed to cool. Once cooled, the female bore contracts and applies sufficient hoop stress to securely hold the mixing chamber elements during high shear force mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: MICROFLUIDICS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Renqiang Xiong, John Michael Bernard
  • Publication number: 20210016088
    Abstract: One example provides a nerve stimulation treatment using electrodes coupled to a user. Examples determine a target charge level and output a series of pulses from the electrodes. For each pulse outputted, examples measure a charge value of the pulse and compare the charge value to the target charge level. If the charge value is greater than the target charge level, examples reduce a strength level of a subsequent outputted pulse. If the charge value is less than the target charge level, examples increase the strength level of a subsequent outputted pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Bernard DRUKE, Alan E. LOH, Robert W. SCOTT, Anthony WEI, Graham Harold CREASEY, Hoo-Min D. TOONG
  • Publication number: 20200406033
    Abstract: A topical nerve activation patch includes a flexible substrate, a dermis conforming bottom surface of the substrate comprising adhesive and adapted to contact a dermis of a user, a flexible top outer surface of the substrate, a plurality of electrodes positioned on the patch proximal to the bottom surface and located beneath the top outer surface and coupled to the flexible substrate, a power source, and electronic circuitry that generates an output voltage applied to the electrodes. The electronic circuitry includes a controller, a voltage monitoring circuit coupled to the controller, a current monitoring circuit coupled to the controller, a switch coupled to the controller and a two stage boosted voltage circuit coupled to the switch and the power source that is configured to increase a switch voltage level to approximately a half value of a final output voltage before increasing to the final output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Alan E. LOH, Anthony WEI, Michael Bernard DRUKE
  • Publication number: 20200384267
    Abstract: A topical nerve stimulator patch and system are provided including a dermal patch; an electrical signal generator associated with the patch; a signal receiver to activate the electrical signal generator; a power source for the electrical signal generator associated with the patch; an electrical signal activation device; and a nerve feedback sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Bernard DRUKE, Alan E. LOH, Robert W. SCOTT, Anthony WEI, Graham Harold CREASEY, Hoo-Min D. TOONG
  • Publication number: 20200338333
    Abstract: Example inventions reduce pain of a user associated with plantar fascia. Examples affix a patch externally on a dermis of the user adjacent to a tibial nerve of the user, the patch comprising a flexible substrate, an adhesive on a first side adapted to adhere to the dermis of the user, a processor directly coupled to the substrate, and electrodes directly coupled to the substrate. Examples then activate the patch, the activating comprising generating an electrical stimuli via the electrodes to activate the tibial nerve of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Hoo-min D. TOONG, William C. ALTMANN, Michael Bernard DRUKE