Patents Examined by Christopher Miller
  • Patent number: 9949891
    Abstract: An automated chest compression device has a housing for supporting a patient and a motor within the housing. A conical drive spool is operatively connected to the motor and a cable, is operatively connected to the conical drive spool. The cable is adapted to extend at least partially around the chest of the patient. A controller is operable to control the motor to compress the chest to variable thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Zoll Circulation, Inc.
    Inventors: James O. Jensen, Vladimir Rappoport, Robert Mastromattei
  • Patent number: 9931270
    Abstract: An electromagnetic valve system for carrying out a compressed air supply to and evacuation from a plurality of air chambers of massage instruments of a pneumatic massage device includes a plurality of first electromagnetic valves each to be connected to a corresponding one of the air chambers; a second electromagnetic valve including a first aperture which communicates with external air; and a plurality of first check valves each within a header in an intermediate location between the second electromagnetic valve and a corresponding one of the air chambers with a connection tube therebetween, the first check valves allowing air to pass from the air chambers toward the second electromagnetic valve only when air pressure on a second electromagnetic valve side is lower than air pressure on an air chamber side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: NITTO KOHKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Kawashima, Haruki Nakao
  • Patent number: 9913776
    Abstract: A chest compressor includes a piston (14) that moves in downward and upward strokes within a cylinder (12), with the piston undergoing a smooth reversal at the bottom of the downward stroke. A compression spring, such as a wave spring (60), is positioned to engage the piston only near the end of its downward stroke, to smoothly reverse the piston motion, limit downward force on the patient at the end of the stroke, and avoid a downward pulse due to the momentum of the downwardly-moving piston. A stop (90, 92) is latchable in an inward position to allow reduction in the piston stroke by engaging an outward flange (52) on the piston before the piston has moved fully downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SUNLIFE SCIENCE INC.
    Inventors: Wanchun Tang, Max Harry Weil, Joe Bisera, Carlos Castillo
  • Patent number: 9855184
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention include devices and methods for correcting a torso deformity of a patient. The devices include a suction chamber for placement around the torso deformity and to provide negative pressure to the torso deformity; and a measurement component coupled to the suction chamber. The measurement component is adapted to indicate a relative distance between the torso deformity and a distal surface of the suction chamber. The methods include positioning a torso deformity correcting device around a torso deformity on a torso of a patient. The methods further include withdrawing air from the suction chamber to apply negative pressure within the suction chamber to displace the torso deformity, and setting a negative pressure level by measuring the relative distance of the torso deformity and the distal surface of the suction chamber that is indicated by the measurement component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland
    Inventors: Olajire Idowu, Sunghoon Kim
  • Patent number: 9849004
    Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling a wearable robot, the method including: measuring a ground reaction force (GRF) exerted on a wearer's soles; calculating a time variation rate of the measured GRF; measuring the wearer's knee joint angle; and detecting a time point at which the calculated time variation rate of the GRF and the measured knee joint angle cross each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Do Choi, Young Do Kwon, Gyung Rock Kim, Ji Min Kim, Young Bo Shim, Tae Sin Ha
  • Patent number: 9839574
    Abstract: A sturdy portable massage roller that collapses flat. The roller includes an outer contact skin formed of a plurality of longitudinal stiffeners connected by longitudinally-extending hinge points, the contact skin defining an inner cavity. A collapsible support structure within the contact skin inner cavity is sized to contact and radially support the longitudinal stiffeners in the expanded shape of the contact skin, and is adapted to collapse so that the massage roller converts between a generally cylindrical expanded shape and a collapsed, flattened shape. The support structure may include a series of rigid discs that either pivot or are folded in half to convert the massage roller between its expanded and flat configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Inventor: Nathan Earl Lawrie
  • Patent number: 9795532
    Abstract: Improved automatic chest compression systems which use constricting belts, repeatedly inflating bladders, or reciprocating pistons to compress the chest. A bladder is placed between the chest and the particular mechanism used to compress the chest during CPR. The bladder maximizes the effectiveness of chest compressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Zoll Circulation, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory W. Hall, James O. Jensen, Paul Escudero, Darren R. Sherman, Bob Katz
  • Patent number: 9788985
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an impedance modulation device for an orthotic application. The device includes a high-stiffness loading spring, a low-stiffness return spring, a shaft having an output connector, and an engagement mechanism. When the engagement mechanism engages the shaft, the device exhibits a high stiffness at the output connector, and wherein when the engagement mechanism disengages the shaft, the device exhibits a low stiffness at the output connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: YALE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Aaron Dollar, Kamran Shamaei Ghahfarokhi
  • Patent number: 9782892
    Abstract: An exoskeleton configured to be coupled to a user includes a plurality of interconnected support elements constituted by rigid compression members interconnected through a tensegrity joint. The joint includes a tensile member having a first end and a second end coupled to first and second ones of the support elements respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Ekso Bionics, Inc.
    Inventors: Russdon Angold, Adam Preuss, Nicholas Fleming, Matthew D Sweeney
  • Patent number: 9744096
    Abstract: Disclosed is a massage device for human face for driving vibration modules of a mask individually even without an external power supply to massage local or overall area of the human face and for driving vibrators of the vibration modules in various vibration pattern of pulse width modulation (PWM) to provide various massage functions such as appeasing, rubbing, picking, pressing, and knocking similar to massage carried out by human hands. The facial massage device includes a mask having an accommodation space therein and at least one vibration module accommodate in the accommodation space of the mask and having own power supply for allowing an independent operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: AMOREPACIFIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Changman Park, Changkeun Lee, Taehong Shin, Seunghwan Yi, Cheonghwan Hwang, Wooram Park, Taekjin Oh, Byungyoung Kang
  • Patent number: 9724230
    Abstract: Dry eye treatment apparatus and methods are described herein which generally includes a patch or strip affixed to the skin of the upper and/or lower eyelids to deliver heat or other forms of energy, pressure, drugs, moisture, etc. (alone or in combination) to the one or more meibomian glands contained within the underlying skin. The treatment strip or strips include one or more strips configured to adhere to an underlying region of skin in proximity to one or both eyes of a subject such that the one or more strips allow for the subject to blink naturally without restriction from the one or more strips. Moreover, the one or more strips may be configured to emit energy to the underlying region of skin and where the one or more strips are shaped to follow a location of one or more meibomiam glands contained within the underlying region of skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Sight Sciences, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Badawi
  • Patent number: 9713567
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for the conditioning of muscular fibrils by means of the application to a muscle in isometric contraction, a succession of mechanical pulses, where the apparatus comprises means for the production of pressure pulses, means for the application of said pressure pulses on the epidermis adjacent the muscle and means for the transmission of said pulses from said means for the production of pressure pulses to said application means, wherein said application means and said means for the transmission of said pulses from said production means to said application means comprise when said application means are applied to the epidermis a closed circuit inside which a compressed fluid or a substantially uncompressible fluid is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: VISSMAN S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Guantera, Claudio Polidori
  • Patent number: 9687415
    Abstract: Systems and methods for assisting respiration extrathoracically, particularly useful for augmenting respiration in neonatal patients, including providing a positive pressure to a torso area of a patient. The positive pressure may be delivered to the torso area of the patient while the torso area is exposed to an ambient pressure, such as by providing positive pressure with high frequency gas jets that are positioned in proximity to the torso area. The positive pressure may be delivered to different parts of the torso area of the patient at different times, such as by controlling gas jets independently. The positive pressure may also be controlled in coordination with a gas flow and concentration to the patient's airway, such as by increasing the positive pressure as a gas flow pressure delivered to the patient's airway is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: THE NEMOURS FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Tariq Rahman, Thomas H. Shaffer, Marla R. Wolfson
  • Patent number: 9649250
    Abstract: A personal massager configured to be worn on a user's finger. The massager includes a housing, and a motor operable to vibrate the housing. The housing defines an opening configured to receive the finger. The housing extends partway around the circumference of the user's finger when the user's finger is received inside the opening. Optionally, the massager includes a control circuit configured to determine a pattern of vibration supplied to the housing by the motor. Optionally, the massager includes a rechargeable battery that provides power to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: GS DESIGN HK, LIMITED
    Inventor: Kenny Chih-Yao Tai
  • Patent number: 9649246
    Abstract: A massage device mounting system may include two mounting elements, each with a slot for receiving a removable massage bar with a cylindrical shaft and two opposing bar ends mounted within the slots. A massage device is pivotally coupled to the cylindrical shaft and includes a bore through the central axis of the massage device. A massage device mounting system may also include an adjustable support for mounting the massage device within a doorway or for supporting the massage device adjacent to a surface, such as a wall or a floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Inventor: Ronald B. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9642769
    Abstract: A head massager including a housing, a power source, at least one driving wheel, at least one massage head assembly and at least one push component. The power source is fixed in an inner side of the housing, the at least one driving wheel is driven to rotate around a first rotation axis by the power source, and the at least one massage head assembly is located below the at least one driving wheel. The massage head assembly is driven to rotate around the center of the spherical hinge by the at least one push component arranged aslant, which simulates human hands' grasping and kneading operation and improves the massaging comfort degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: SHENZHEN BREO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xuejun Ma, Rui Li
  • Patent number: 9592145
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shoulder mechanism for an orthosis comprising in succession: a first element (1) that is stationary relative to the user; a second element (2) that is hinged to the first element about a first hinge axis (A1); a third element (3) that is hinged to the second element about a second hinge axis (A2); and an upper arm (4) that is hinged to the third element about a third hinge axis (A3). According to the invention, the hinge axes (A1, A2, A3) extend in directions that define a frame of reference that is non-orthogonal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventor: Philippe Garrec
  • Patent number: 9572745
    Abstract: A massage roller device includes a body having a tube and an outer layer. The tube is rigid and includes a receiving portion having two openings. A first coupling portion is provided in each opening. The outer layer is made of a soft material and is mounted around the tube. The massage roller device further includes two covers made of a rigid material are provided. Each cover covers one of the openings of the body. Each cover includes a lid having an inner side and an outer side opposite to the inner side. A second coupling portion is provided on the inner side of each lid. Two engagement pegs are formed on the outer side of each lid. Two engagement grooves are defined in the outer side of each lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventor: Yung-Chih Lin
  • Patent number: 9554966
    Abstract: An upper limb training apparatus includes a training apparatus main body that includes a base frame, and an operation rod to be operated by a trainee by hand. A chair is positioned in a right or in a left arm training position relative to the training apparatus main body. A monitor stand extends upward from the base frame. A monitor arm is provided in the monitor stand, and supports the monitor such that the position of the monitor can be adjusted in both right and left directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yuji Kuro
  • Patent number: 9539459
    Abstract: In an upper limb training apparatus, a movable frame is supported by a fixed frame placed on a floor surface such that the movable frame can tilt in all directions. An operation rod including an operation rod main body and an attachment fixed portion is attached to the movable frame and can extend and contract. The attachment fixed portion, to which an attachment is fixed, is attached to the tip of the operation rod main body and includes an elastic member that absorbs forces in any directions other than the axial direction relative to the operation rod main body. The axial displacement detecting section can thereby grasp just the axial force applied to the operation rod by detecting the displacement of attachment fixed portion in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yoichi Nakamura