Patents Examined by Boniface N Nganga
  • Patent number: 9642542
    Abstract: A blood pressure measurement device measures blood pressure and a blood pressure change affecting factor of a patient. The device includes a memory, a tolerance determination section, and a display unit. The tolerance determination section includes a rest/unrest condition determination section and a blood pressure tolerance determination section. The tolerance determination section determines whether the blood pressure of the patient is tolerant to the blood pressure change affecting factor. The display unit of the device displays the measured blood pressure, the measured blood pressure change affecting factor, and a tolerance determination of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: OMRON HEALTHCARE Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukiya Sawanoi, Mika Ezoe, Ayako Sakano
  • Patent number: 9636522
    Abstract: A method of biostimulating phototherapy is provided. The method comprises illuminating a subject's body portion (1) with light having a first wavelength in the range of 600-900 nm (17) and reducing and preventing hyperthermia of the body portion by illuminating the body portion with light having a second wavelength which is at least one of in the range of 400-600 nm and in the range of 900-2500 nm (19). Further, a phototherapy device (21) is provided which comprises a first light source (25) and a second light source (26). The first light source is configured to emit light (17) having a first wavelength which is in the range of 600-900 nm. The second light source is configured to emit light (19) having a second wavelength which is at least one of in the range of 400-600 nm and in the range of 900-2500 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Gerrit Oversluizen, Frank Anton Van Abeelen, Liesbeth Van Pieterson, Guofu Zhou, Tim Dekker
  • Patent number: 9629750
    Abstract: A comprehensive multi-mode system for performing ophthalmic laser surgery on selected tissue inside an eye includes a laser unit for generating and focusing a laser beam to perform Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) at a focal point in selected tissue. Also included is a selector for defining an operational mode according to characteristics of the tissue to be altered by LIOB. In combination, the operational mode specifies value ranges for configuration parameters for a pulsed femtosecond laser beam, establishes a base reference datum in the eye, and identifies a scanning procedure for the focal point of the laser beam to customize the system for a particular surgical procedure. A computer that is connected to the laser unit is responsive to the selector for implementing the operational mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: TECHNOLAS PERFECT VISION GMBH
    Inventors: Florian Dambacher, Markus Hailmann, Frieder Loesel, Gwillem Mosedale
  • Patent number: 9610124
    Abstract: A medical laser using solely an electronic shutter circuit for controlling the laser output, without any mechanical shutter mechanism, is provided for use in clinical applications. The medical laser has several advantages compared to medical lasers with mechanical shutters. These advantages can be defined in terms of the speed of the electronic shutter, increased reliability, increased safety, smaller and less expense. The medical laser according to the invention will shut the laser down in less than 100 microseconds making it far superior to what would be possible with a typical mechanical shutter which would take at least 10 ms to disable the laser. Safety and reliability is a result of an electronic shutter circuit with at least two current sensors, at least two photodetectors and a set of one, two or three fast electronic safety switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Precision Medical Optics, LLC
    Inventors: David H Mordaunt, Charles M East
  • Patent number: 9610129
    Abstract: A medical manipulator having: a longitudinal member; an arm body portion; a first bending portion; a second bending portion; an angle wire; a connecting rod; an operating wire; an arm operating portion including a guide member; wherein the arm operating portion has: a link portion; turning member; and an operating lever; wherein the turning member has: a rotating shaft which is slidably supported by the guide member so as to rotate around a coupling portion; and a guided member which is slidably engaged by the guide member so as to rotate around the rotating shaft in accordance with an operation of the operating lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takumi Dejima
  • Patent number: 9603519
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for analyzing the ophthalmic anatomy of a patient posterior to the cornea. The method may include scanning a focus of a femtosecond laser beam along a path within the patient's eye. A portion of the path may be disposed posterior to the patient's cornea. The method may also include acquiring a first reflectance image and a second reflectance image associated with the focus disposed respectively at a first location of the path and a second location of the path. The method may further include determining the presence or absence of an ophthalmic anatomical feature of the eye based on a comparison between the first reflectance image and the second reflectance image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: AMO DEVELOPMENT, LLC
    Inventor: John Tamkin
  • Patent number: 9586327
    Abstract: A robotic medical system that includes a quick-connect/disconnect feature to facilitate the connecting and disconnecting of a robotic medical arm to and from a set-up arm is disclosed. The robotic medical system includes a robotic medical arm including an interface having a downward-oriented hook located at an upper portion thereof, and an electrical connector located at a lower portion thereof. The system further includes a set-up arm including an interface having an upward-oriented hook located at an upper portion thereof, and an electrical connector located at a lower portion thereof. To connect the robotic medical arm to the set-up arm, a user links the downward-oriented hook to the upward-oriented hook, and pivots the robotic medical arm until the respective electrical connectors mate with each other. To disconnect the robotic medical arm from the set-up arm, a user pivots the robotic medical arm to disconnect the electrical connectors, and then de-links the hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce M. Schena
  • Patent number: 9585601
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for diagnosing sleep apnea are provided herein. In one example, a device for detecting airway obstructions may be provided where the device may include a wearable hollow nasal tube to be positioned in an upper airway above a constriction point and an end imaging sensor coupled to the nasal tube to collect airway image data. The device further may include a controller and communication interface to communicatively link and relay airway image data to a select remote device to determine airway obstructions. In some examples, a method may be provided including receiving airway image data from a remote end imaging sensor coupled to a nasal tube disposed within an upper airway above a constriction point, and analyzing the airway image data and displaying in a sleep study report the airway image data to identify airway closures related to obstructive sleep apnea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Inventor: Chunyuan Qiu
  • Patent number: 9579429
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a surgical cassette with compliant clamping zones to provide more uniform loading. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a surgical cassette includes a clamping portion that is configured to deform to conform to non-uniform load profile applied to the cassette. The clamping portion can include ribs that are sized and made of a suitable material such that the ribs will deflect predictably in the elastic region and flow plastically when the material yield point is exceeded. The use of ribs creates discrete small load areas that will deflect and distort predictably and non-catastrophically at high loads. This allows for the absorption of accumulated tolerances between the clamping mechanism and cassette (e.g., the non-parallelism between the clamping mechanism and cassette) while still providing a distributed load on the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: David Williams, David Domash, Jeffrey Jikang Chun, Mark A. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 9572507
    Abstract: A multi sensor module especially designed for use in sleep-study applications includes a PVDF film piezoelectric transducer enclosed between an upper layer of a single-sided adhesive tape strip and a lower layer of a double-sided adhesive tape strip. Also adhesively affixed to the upper single-sided adhesive tape strip, but not overlaid by the lower double-sided adhesive tape strip are first and second conductive electrodes. The combination sensor module is adapted to be adhesively affixed to the chest area of a person and further included in an extension of the PVDF strip that is adapted to overlay the suprasternal notch of a person for producing signals responsive to respiratory activity of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: DYMEDIX CORPORATION
    Inventors: James P. Moore, Todd M. Eiken
  • Patent number: 9526567
    Abstract: An end effector assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument is provided. The end effector assembly includes a pair of opposing jaw members configured to grasp tissue therebetween. The assembly also includes a thread-like member having a first end coupled to at least one jaw member and a drive member coupled to a second end of the thread-like member. The drive member is configured to position the thread-like member between a first position and a second position, wherein the thread-like member cuts tissue when positioned in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Boris Chernov, Igoris Misuchenko, Georgy Martsinovskiy, Mikhail Verbitsky
  • Patent number: 9510847
    Abstract: An illuminated surgical instrument has a working area located near an end of the instrument. An array of optical fibers terminates near the end of the instrument. The array of optical fibers is located adjacent to the instrument such that the array of optical fibers provides targeted illumination to the working area only on one side of the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Jack Robert Auld, Ronald T. Smith
  • Patent number: 9510848
    Abstract: An illuminated surgical instrument has a working area located near an end of the instrument. An array of optical fibers terminates near the end of the instrument. The array of optical fibers is located adjacent to the instrument such that the array of optical fibers provides targeted illumination to the working area only on one side of the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Jack Robert Auld, Ronald T. Smith
  • Patent number: 9504608
    Abstract: An eye-surgical laser system includes a laser source, to generate a laser beam, an XY scanner, to scan a focal spot of a received laser beam in an XY direction essentially transverse to an optical axis of the laser system, and a lens group, disposed in the optical path between the laser source and the XY scanner, to receive the laser beam generated by the laser source, to precompensate an aberration of the laser beam, and to forward the precompensated laser beam to the XY scanner, the lens group having a movable lens, movable in a Z direction along an optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: ALCON LENSX, INC.
    Inventors: Ferenc Raksi, Jesse Buck
  • Patent number: 9504406
    Abstract: A method for determining biological indicators, the method including, in a processing system causing at least one radiation attenuation measurement to be performed and determining at least one first biological indicator using determined radiation attenuation. In addition to this, method includes causing at least one impedance measurement to be performed and determining at least one second biological indicator using a determined impedance measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Impedimed Limited
    Inventors: Scott Chetham, Christopher Newton Daly, Ian John Bruinsma
  • Patent number: 9498292
    Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate to various medical device components, including components that can be incorporated into robotic and/or in vivo medical devices. Certain embodiments include various medical devices for in vivo medical procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
    Inventors: Jack Mondry, Shane Farritor, Eric Markvicka, Thomas Frederick, Joseph Bartels
  • Patent number: 9486284
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a Laser therapy system and a method for skin treatment, comprising: a unit for dispensing a Photosensitizer containing agent; a first light source which generates at least one first light with a first wavelength; a second light source as a Laser light source which generates at least a second light with a second wavelength; an optical system which is connected to the first and to the second light source, comprising an electromechanical displacement device with an optical deflection and focusing system such that the first and second light gets focused and a respective focus point can be controllably positioned in the skin; and a control unit for controlling the electromechanical displacement device and the first and the second light source such that the respective light spot with a controlled energy and position in the skin is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: TELESTO GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Depfenhart, Jörg Müller
  • Patent number: 9456877
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various instruments, systems, and methods of use. The instruments can have various control members and/or handles for controlling various degrees of freedom. In addition, the control members can include various control mechanisms for transferring user inputs from a handle to a distal portion of the instrument. In one aspect, an instrument can comprise a control member and a catheter. The catheter can be adjustably and/or detachably connected to the control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Weitzner, Paul J. Smith, John B. Golden, Brian J. Intoccia, Naroun Suon, Michael Barenboym
  • Patent number: 9451976
    Abstract: A medical handle comprises a drive unit and a control device or circuit for driving a medical tool. The control device or circuit comprises a control and/or regulating circuit for controlling and/or regulating the drive unit, the drive unit comprises at least one magnetic element and a sensor system for determining the alignment of the at least one magnetic element. To achieve simpler assembly and a greater resistance to the ambient conditions that prevail during sterilization in comparison with known handles, the sensor system and the control and/or regulating circuit are combined in a joint control module, and the at least one magnetic element is arranged in the medical handle in such a way that at least a part of the control module can be positioned in the immediate vicinity of the at least one magnetic element and that the sensor system is arranged in the control module in such a way that it can be positioned in the immediate vicinity of the at least one magnetic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventors: Rainer Schneider, Rainer Schroeck, Walter Pletscher, Josef Ott
  • Patent number: 9445751
    Abstract: Methods and devices for monitoring the position of a subject are disclosed. One such method includes sensing pressure waves generated by the subject moving on a divided bladder comprising interleaved portions, generating signals indicative of the pressure waves for each of the interleaved portions, and sending the signals to a processor. The method further includes determining the position of the subject based on the difference between the signals from each of the interleaved portions and generating a pattern for the subject. The pattern includes the presence and/or position of the subject over time. The method further includes predicting an action such as an exit of the subject from the divided bladder based on comparing a current pattern for the subject to previous patterns for the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SleepIQ Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Young, Carl Hewitt, Al Luckow