Detecting Foreign Object Or Calculus By Probing Patents (Class 600/550)
  • Patent number: 11369406
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a medical device. The medical device includes an outer tubular member, an inner tubular member, and a lock pin. The outer tubular member has a proximal end, a distal end, and an open window disposed at the distal end. The inner tubular member has a proximal end, a distal end, and an open window disposed at the distal end. The inner tubular member is configured to be received within the outer tubular member and capable of rotating and/or translating relative to the outer tubular member. The lock pin is configured to set the open window of the outer tubular member at a pre-determined orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Gyrus Acmi, Inc.
    Inventor: Ming Cheng
  • Patent number: 10335173
    Abstract: A stylet for re-entry into a vessel includes an elongate body including a proximal portion, a middle curved portion, a pointed distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending through the proximal portion, the middle curved portion, and the pointed distal end. The proximal portion and the middle curved portion have substantially circular cross-sections. The middle curved portion has a pre-shaped curve along the longitudinal axis configured to match a curve of an occlusion-crossing device. The pointed distal end has an s-curve along the longitudinal axis and a flattened portion along the longitudinal axis, the flattened portion having a substantially oblong cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Avinger, Inc.
    Inventors: John B. Simpson, Myra L. Fabro, Eduardo Sucgang, Priyanshu Gupta, Theodore W. Ketai
  • Patent number: 9108191
    Abstract: A device is provided for the complete uptake of liquids from vessels using removal units having removal tips. The removal tips or the vessel bottoms are configured or arranged relative to one another such that the area of the surface of a vessel bottom on which the respective removal tip would touch down, when that removal tip is inserted into the vessel, and the end surface of the removal tip are tilted relative to each another, at least on a portion of the two surfaces. That is to say, the surfaces are not parallel there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: PerkinElmer chemagen Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar À Brassard, Uwe Jäntges
  • Patent number: 8838214
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein that generally involve measuring a prostate or other object. In some embodiments, a membrane can be sealed over a digit extension to form a closed volume. The closed volume can be inflated via an inflation tube, and a reference pattern can be disposed within the closed volume along with a measurement assembly. In use, a user can put on the glove, position the membrane in proximity to a rectal wall overlying a prostate, and inflate the membrane. As the user slides their finger across the rectal wall, optical fibers in the measurement assembly can move relative to a reference pattern, and a controller can sense light reflected through the fibers from the reference pattern. The controller can calculate or estimate various attributes of the prostate based on the reflected light, such as the palpable surface width or volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: MedicaMetrix, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher LaFarge
  • Publication number: 20130184608
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting and removing a metallic object from a subject are disclosed. A sheath may be inserted into a channel of the subject. The sheath may include a probe that is removably or movably positioned within the sheath. The probe may include a sensor positioned at or near a distal end of the probe. A location of the metallic object may be detected in the subject using the sensor. The metallic object may be caused to become affixed to one or more of the sheath and the probe. The affixed metallic object may be removed from the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Anthony Pezzi
  • Patent number: 8394031
    Abstract: A system and method for use in detecting an endotracheal tube location within a body electronically detects indigenous breath sounds emanating from a region of the body and processes the detected indigenous breath sounds to generate a parameter representative of an acoustic characteristic of the body associated with the endotracheal tube location within the body. The system and method generates an output indicative of the endotracheal tube location within the body based on the parameter representative of the acoustic characteristic of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Biomedical Acoustic Research, Corp.
    Inventors: Hansen A. Mansy, Richard H. Sandler
  • Patent number: 8391949
    Abstract: A system and method to map a biological tissue of alternating electrical polarity having a boundary between a depolarized portion and a polarized portion is provided. The system includes a computer, a transducer probe, and a receiver. The transducer probe is in communication with the computer and configured to transmit acoustic waves at a frequency through the biological tissue of alternating electrical polarity. The receiver is in communication with the computer and operable to detect a variation in an electrical activity at approximately the frequency of the acoustic waves. The computer creates a display of at least a portion of the variation in the electrical activity at approximately the frequency of the acoustic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Paul S. Schluter
  • Patent number: 7878989
    Abstract: A total knee prosthesis comprises a femoral component and a patellar component. The femoral component has a patellar flange into which is built a twist or roller coaster configuration. The patellar component has an off-set dome with respective lateral and medial facets. The configuration of the patellar flange resists forces from a medial to a lateral direction, whilst the lateral and medial facets of the patellar component are respectively shaped to allow area contact and line contact respectively with the femoral component. Also disclosed is a device for intra-operative checking of patellar tracking to allow correct insertion of the femoral and patellar components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventor: Derek James Wallace McMinn
  • Patent number: 7848787
    Abstract: A method for calibrating impedance includes coupling at least first, second, and third electrodes at respective locations to a surface of a body of a subject. A first current passing through the body between the first and second body-surface electrodes is measured, and a second current passing through the body between the first and third body-surface electrodes is measured. From the first and second currents, a contact factor is derived that is indicative of the impedance between at least one of the body-surface electrodes and the surface of the body. Also described are methods for sensing the position of a probe and for detecting tissue contact based on a relation between currents from the probe to body-surface electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Biosense Webster, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Osadchy
  • Patent number: 7708751
    Abstract: A localization mechanism, or fixture, is used in conjunction with a breast coil for breast compression and for guiding a core biopsy instrument during prone biopsy procedures in both open and closed Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines. The localization fixture includes a three-dimensional Cartesian positionable guide for supporting and orienting an MRI-compatible biopsy instrument, and in particular a sleeve, to a biopsy site of suspicious tissues or lesions. A depth stop enhances accurate insertion, prevents over-insertion or inadvertent retraction of the sleeve. The sleeve receives a probe of the MRI-compatible biopsy instrument and may contain various features to enhance its imagability, to enhance vacuum and pressure assist therethrough, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Hughes, Timothy G. Dietz, Michael J. Andreyko, William E. Clem, Martin B. Albini
  • Publication number: 20090012418
    Abstract: A magnetic detector locates magnetically tagged items, such as surgical sponges or instruments, introduced to and remaining in the body cavity of a surgical patient. The magnetic detector is a wand or probe that is manually handleable, and spatially manipulable and moveable, by an operator, such as a medical professional. The detector is moved about at a spatial location of an ambient magnetic field at the patient and operating table. A characteristic of the ambient magnetic field at the spatial location is saved by the detector. The detector is subsequently moved about at the same spatial location. If any magnetically tagged item is present in the vicinity of the detector during this subsequent movement at the spatial location, an anomalous magnetic effect is detected by comparison of the prior detection reading absent the tagged item to the detection reading in presence of the tagged item in the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventor: Frank Gerlach
  • Patent number: 7309319
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring the dimensions of the palpable surface of the prostate in the physician's office and calculating prostate volume, rate of growth and changes in rate of growth. A membrane with a grid pattern is located proximate the prostate. A physician moves a measurement system, formed at the end of the index finger and located in a glove, between opposite margins of the prostate. The measurement system counts the grid elements between the margins that translate into a quantitative measurement of size of the palpable surface of the prostate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Sensors for Medicine, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Peter Kellett, John R. Erickson, Robert Schlesinger
  • Patent number: 6541966
    Abstract: Apparatus for detecting a metal object comprises a transmitter for generating a pulsed or an alternating magnetic field in the vicinity of the metal object to be detected and a detector for detecting the secondary magnetic field induced in the metal object by the transmitted magnetic field. The detector measures at least three magnetic field gradient components of at least first order of the secondary magnetic field. The apparatus also comprises a processor for determining at least one of the position or the electro-magnetic cross-section or an estimate of the shape of the metal object from the measured magnetic field spatial gradient components. The processor fits the measured components to dipole, multiple dipole, multipole, or extended source models. In a preferred embodiment, the invention may comprise three or more pairs of gradiometric coils, or other sensing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Qinetiq Limited
    Inventor: Mark N Keene
  • Publication number: 20020169389
    Abstract: A mitt is made from three sheets of thin fabric arranged with first and second sheets stitched together along their edges so that facing surfaces of the two sheets slide readily over each other. A third sheet is fastened to at least one of the first two sheets, providing an opening whereby the third sheet and the second sheet form a hand-receiver pocket. Means are provided around the opening to assist in keeping the mitt on the hand after the hand is received in the pocket. The second (middle) sheet is movable relative to the first sheet, with the facing surfaces of these two sheets readily slidable relative to each other. The other surfaces of the sheets have surfaces of a nature more inclined to stay in place on the skin of the body portion being examined and on the fingers of the examiner while moving the second sheet relative to the first sheet and looking for lumps or irregularities below the surface of the skin of the body portion being examined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventor: Judith A. Morrison
  • Patent number: 5973595
    Abstract: A metal detection system for detecting metal within a body cavity of an individual. The metal detection system includes a first metal detector for detecting metal within an anal/vagina body cavity of an individual, and a second metal detector for detecting metal within an oral/facial body cavity of the individual. A chair supports a first detector sensor and a second detector sensor that connects to the first metal detector and the second metal detector, respectively. The system further includes a processor that interconnects with the first and second detectors. The processor connects to a control panel having indicators responsive to a first output signal and second output signal generated upon detection of metal by the first metal detector and the second metal detector, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Ranger Security Detectors, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas V. Scrivner, Robert F. Turner