Patents by Inventor Yong D. Zhao

Yong D. Zhao 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: 11583656
    Abstract: A system and method of coupling acoustic and electrical stimulation of noninvasive neuromodulation is a therapeutic system and method preferably designed for the diagnosis and/or treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and neurological disorders including, but not limited to, tinnitus, hyperacusis, sleep disorder, depression, anxiety, dizziness, migraine, or ear suffocation. The system includes acoustic signal devices for deep brain electrical stimulation and electrical pulse devices for shallow brain electrical stimulation. Further, the system includes a signal-coupling module that includes an algorithm for coupling acoustic signals to electrical pulses. Parameters of each the acoustic signals and the electrical pulses are adjusted in order for the acoustic signals to be coupled to the electrical pulses. These parameters can also be adjusted based on patient feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventors: Yong D. Zhao, Jennifer Jinping Zhao
  • Publication number: 20210060289
    Abstract: A system and method of coupling acoustic and electrical stimulation of noninvasive neuromodulation is a therapeutic system and method preferably designed for the diagnosis and/or treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and neurological disorders including, but not limited to, tinnitus, hyperacusis, sleep disorder, depression, anxiety, dizziness, migraine, or ear suffocation. The system includes acoustic signal devices for deep brain electrical stimulation and electrical pulse devices for shallow brain electrical stimulation. Further, the system includes a signal-coupling module that includes an algorithm for coupling acoustic signals to electrical pulses. Parameters of each the acoustic signals and the electrical pulses are adjusted in order for the acoustic signals to be coupled to the electrical pulses. These parameters can also be adjusted based on patient feedback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Yong D. Zhao, Jennifer Jinping Zhao
  • Patent number: 9642573
    Abstract: A practitioner device for facilitating at least one of testing and treatment of at least one auditory disorder is disclosed. The practitioner device includes a user interface configured for receiving an input from a practitioner. Further, the practitioner device includes a communication interface configured for communicating information between the practitioner device and at least one of a mobile device and another practitioner device over at least one of a wired communication channel and a wireless communication channel, wherein the information is based on the input, wherein the information corresponds to at least one of at least one auditory test and at least one auditory treatment procedure, wherein the mobile device facilitates at least one of testing of at least one auditory disorder and treatment of at least one auditory disorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Inventors: Yong D Zhao, Jennifer Jinping Zhao
  • Publication number: 20170071534
    Abstract: A practitioner device for facilitating at least one of testing and treatment of at least one auditory disorder is disclosed. The practitioner device includes a user interface configured for receiving an input from a practitioner. Further, the practitioner device includes a communication interface configured for communicating information between the practitioner device and at least one of a mobile device and another practitioner device over at least one of a wired communication channel and a wireless communication channel, wherein the information is based on the input, wherein the information corresponds to at least one of at least one auditory test and at least one auditory treatment procedure, wherein the mobile device facilitates at least one of testing of at least one auditory disorder and treatment of at least one auditory disorder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Yong D Zhao, Jennifer Jinping Zhao
  • Publication number: 20170019739
    Abstract: A hearing aid with adjustable ear mount is an apparatus which assists users in hearing sounds that they are otherwise unable to hear. The hearing aid with adjustable ear mount includes a hearing aid control unit which detects sound, and sends a digital representation of the sound to a speaker through at least one electrical wire. At least one pliable wire is also connected between the hearing aid control unit and the speaker and can be shaped to properly fit around ears of various shapes and sizes. A flexible tube covers the at least one electrical wire and the at least one pliable wire for protection and added comfort. An earpiece is connected to the speaker and helps to secure the speaker in a position that directs sound into the user's ear canal. The earpiece is designed to fit ears of various shapes and sizes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Yong D. Zhao, Jennifer Jinping Zhao
  • Patent number: 9467789
    Abstract: A mobile device for facilitating testing and treatment of one or more auditory disorders is disclosed. A sound synthesizer of the mobile device may be configured to generate one or more sound signals based on one or more parameters. Further, an audio port of the mobile device may be configured for interfacing with an acoustic transducer configured to generate acoustic waves based on the one or more sound signals. Furthermore, a controller of the mobile device may be configured to control one or more of, the sound synthesizer and the audio port, for facilitating at least one of testing and treatment of the one or more auditory disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventors: Yong D Zhao, Jennifer Jinping Zhao
  • Patent number: 9399129
    Abstract: An implantable medical lead is disclosed herein. The lead may include a body and an electrical pathway. The body may include a distal portion with an electrode and a proximal portion with a lead connector end. The electrical pathway may extend between the electrode and lead connector end and may include a coiled inductor including first and second electrically conductive filar cores. The first and second filar cores may be physically joined into a unified single piece proximal terminal on a proximal end of the coiled inductor. The first and second cores may be physically joined into a unified single piece distal terminal on a distal end of the coiled inductor. The first and second filar cores may be helically wound into a coiled portion between the proximal and distal terminals, the filar cores being electrically isolated from each other in the coiled portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: PACESETTER, INC.
    Inventors: Yong D. Zhao, Xiaoyi Min, Virote Indravudh
  • Patent number: 8774434
    Abstract: An in-ear hearing aid device that provides users with a customizable ear piece to fit the ear canal of any user. More specifically, the present invention can comprises of a hard case to hold all the electronics of the device with a hearing device jacket that envelops the device. An ear mold is connected to the jacket and allows the user to insert the device into the ear canal to enhance the user's hearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventors: Yong D. Zhao, Jennifer Jinping Zhao
  • Patent number: 8634931
    Abstract: An implantable medical lead is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the lead includes a body and an electrical pathway. The body may include a distal portion with an electrode and a proximal portion with a lead connector end. The electrical pathway may extend between the electrode and lead connector end and include a coiled inductor including a first portion and a second portion at least partially magnetically decoupled from the first portion. The first portion may include a first configuration having a first SRF. The second portion may include a second configuration different from the first configuration. The second configuration may have a second SRF different from the first SRF. For example, the first SRF may be near 64 MHz and the second SRF may be near 128 MHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoyi Min, J. Christopher Moulder, Yong D. Zhao, Virote Indravudh, Ingmar Viohl
  • Patent number: 8573062
    Abstract: The disclosure relates in some aspects to an implantable pressure sensor and a method of measuring pressure. In some embodiments pressure may be measured through the use of an implantable lead incorporating one or more pressure sensors. In some aspects a pressure sensor is implemented in a micro-electromechanical system (“MEMS”) that employs direct mechanical sensing. A biocompatible material is attached to one or more portions of the MEMS sensor to facilitate implant in a body of a patient. The MEMS sensor may thus be incorporated into an implantable lead for measuring blood pressure in, for example, one or more chambers of the patient's heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong D. Zhao, Apratim Dixit
  • Patent number: 8538553
    Abstract: An implantable lead is provided that includes a lead body configured to be implanted in a patient. The lead body has a distal end and a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal and proximal ends and includes a connector assembly provided at the proximal end of the lead body. The connector assembly is configured to connect to an implantable medical device and includes an electrode provided proximate to the distal end of the lead body with the electrode configured to at least one of deliver stimulating pulses and sense electrical activity. A multi-layer coil is located within the lumen and extends at least partially along a length of the lead body. The coil includes a first winding formed with multiple winding turns, the winding turns being segmented in an alternating pattern of insulated segments and non-insulated segments along the length of the lead body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong D. Zhao, Rolf Hill, Ingmar Viohl, Martin Cholette
  • Patent number: 8244375
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an implantable medical lead. In one embodiment, the lead includes a ring electrode, a tip electrode, first and second helically wound coaxial conductor coils, and a distal coil transition. The coils extend between the proximal and distal ends of the lead. The distal coil transition is proximal to the ring electrode and near the distal end and is where the first coil transitions from being outside the second coil proximal of the distal coil transition to being inside the second coil distal of the distal coil transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoyi Min, J. Christopher Moulder, Yong D. Zhao, Kevin L. Morgan, Martin Cholette, Phong D. Doan
  • Patent number: 8219212
    Abstract: A medical electrical lead includes a canted lead body distal portion extending from an approximately straight lead body proximal portion; the canted distal portion includes an approximately straight segment and a hump-like segment extending from a first end, in proximity to the approximately straight segment, to a second end. The lead further includes a first electrode coupled to the approximately straight segment of the distal portion and a second electrode coupled to the distal portion in proximity to a second end of the hump-like segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan T. Bauer, Yong D. Zhao
  • Publication number: 20120134520
    Abstract: An in-ear hearing aid device that provides users with a customizable ear piece to fit the ear canal of any user. More specifically, the present invention can comprises of a hard case to hold all the electronics of the device with a hearing device jacket that envelops the device. An ear mould is connected to the jacket and allows the user to insert the device into the ear canal to enhance the user's hearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Yong D. ZHAO, Jennifer Jinping ZHAO
  • Publication number: 20120130219
    Abstract: The disclosure relates in some aspects to an implantable pressure sensor and a method of measuring pressure. In some embodiments pressure may be measured through the use of an implantable lead incorporating one or more pressure sensors. In some aspects a pressure sensor is implemented in a micro-electromechanical system (“MEMS”) that employs direct mechanical sensing. A biocompatible material is attached to one or more portions of the MEMS sensor to facilitate implant in a body of a patient. The MEMS sensor may thus be incorporated into an implantable lead for measuring blood pressure in, for example, one or more chambers of the patient's heart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: PACESETTER, INC.
    Inventors: Yong D. Zhao, Apratim Dixit
  • Patent number: 8127618
    Abstract: The disclosure relates in some aspects to an implantable pressure sensor and a method of measuring pressure. In some embodiments pressure may be measured through the use of an implantable lead incorporating one or more pressure sensors. In some aspects a pressure sensor is implemented in a micro-electromechanical system (“MEMS”) that employs direct mechanical sensing. A biocompatible material is attached to one or more portions of the MEMS sensor to facilitate implant in a body of a patient. The MEMS sensor may thus be incorporated into an implantable lead for measuring blood pressure in, for example, one or more chambers of the patient's heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong D. Zhao, Apratim Dixit
  • Patent number: 8108053
    Abstract: Implantable medical leads have reduced diameter while providing for optimized mechanical and electrical properties, by reducing the diameters of the conducting cables used within the leads for sensing and delivery of therapeutic electrical stimulation. In an embodiment, conducting filaments within a cable have oval cross-sectional areas. Suitably orienting the oval filaments increases the contact surface between adjacent filaments, broadly distributing the pressure between filaments and reducing fretting fatigue, while the oval cross-sectional area also increases conductivity. In an embodiment, non-conducting coatings around filaments within a cable, or around groups of filaments organized into cable-layers, reduce fretting fatigue. In an embodiment, the cross-sectional area of filaments decreases as the filaments are positioned at increasing radial distances from the center of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventor: Yong D. Zhao
  • Patent number: 8099171
    Abstract: An implantable medical lead configured for improved MRI safety and heating reduction performance is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the lead includes a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end with a lead connector near the proximal end. In this embodiment the lead further includes a conductor extending longitudinally within the tubular body and having a proximal end that is electrically coupled to the connector and a distal end electrically coupled to a contact pin. The lead in this embodiment further includes a filter element electrically coupled to a distal end of the contact pin and a flange electrically coupled between a proximal end of the filter element and a proximal portion of an electrode. In this embodiment the flange and the proximal portion of the electrode form at least a first part of a hermetic chamber enclosing the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Virote Indravudh, Yong D. Zhao, Kevin L. Morgan, Dion F. Davis, Grace Jang
  • Publication number: 20110125240
    Abstract: A biocompatible inductor for an implantable medical lead is disclosed herein. In one embodiment the biocompatible inductor may include a biocompatible bobbin and a wire wound about a barrel of the biocompatible bobbin to form a coil. The wire may include an electrically conductive core, an electrically conductive biocompatible jacket extending over the core, and a coating of high dielectric strength insulation material extending over the jacket. Additionally, the biocompatible inductor may include medical adhesive located in gaps within the coil and a polyester shrink tube covering the coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: PACESETTER, INC.
    Inventors: Yong D. Zhao, Xiaoyi Min, Virote Indravudh, Ingmar Viohl, J. Christopher Moulder, Kevin L. Morgan, Phong D. Doan
  • Publication number: 20110079423
    Abstract: An implantable lead is provided that includes a lead body configured to be implanted in a patient. The lead body has a distal end and a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal and proximal ends and includes a connector assembly provided at the proximal end of the lead body. The connector assembly is configured to connect to an implantable medical device and includes an electrode provided proximate to the distal end of the lead body with the electrode configured to at least one of deliver stimulating pulses and sense electrical activity. A multi-layer coil is located within the lumen and extends at least partially along a length of the lead body. The coil includes a first winding formed with multiple winding turns, the winding turns being segmented in an alternating pattern of insulated segments and non-insulated segments along the length of the lead body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: PACESETTER, INC.
    Inventors: Yong D. Zhao, Rolf Hill, Ingmar Viohl, Martin Cholette