Patents Examined by Danton DeMille
  • Patent number: 7856980
    Abstract: A forehead pad for use in a respiratory mask with a forehead support, which includes a base portion to contact a user's forehead, a support post connected to the base portion, and a head adapted to connect the support post to a forehead support. A pair of forehead pads may be joined with a connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignees: ResMed Limited, MAP Medizin-Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Christoph Lang, Timothy Tsun-Fai Fu, Perry David Lithgow, Memduh Guney, Joanne Elizabeth Drew, Martin Bechtel, Achim Biener, Michael Kassipillai Gunaratnam, Aaron Samuel Davidson, Milind Chandrakant Raje
  • Patent number: 7857774
    Abstract: A motion assistance device has a biological signal detection means for detecting a biological signal from the wearer of the device; a motion assistance device installation member having a drive source for applying torque acting to the wearer by use of each joint of the wearer as a rotating shaft; a control means for controlling the drive source to generate torque corresponding to the biological signal detected by the biological signal detection mean; a drive torque estimation means for estimating the drive torque generated by the drive source; a joint angle detection means for detecting angular displacement of a joint; and a parameter identification means for substituting the drive torque estimated by the drive torque estimation means and the angular displacement detected by the joint angle detection means into an equation of motion to specify the wearer-specific dynamics parameter, the equation relating to the entire system and including wearer-specific dynamics parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: University of Tsukuba
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Sankai
  • Patent number: 7854709
    Abstract: A muscle stimulation and massage apparatus is provided that includes (a) a foot plate which is provided with rollers or skids, (b) a column arranged perpendicularly on the foot plate, and (c) a vibration unit that is arranged on a lift, wherein the lift may travel on guide rails of the column and is fastened in a lockable manner at different heights, with the vibration unit being located on a side outside the region of the column. In one embodiment, the lift may continuously travel up and down over a predetermined height range for a period of time in a programmed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Inventor: Josef Neff
  • Patent number: 7846112
    Abstract: A compression belt cartridge for use with chest compression devices. The compression belt cartridge has a double-oar shaped belt and a cover plate through which the belt is threaded. The cover plate is provided with hooks and snap latches that fit into a belt drive platform. The cover plate is sized and dimensioned to fit within only selected platforms. The belt attaches to the means for tightening the belt via a spline attached to the belt. The means for tightening a belt then repetitively tightens the belt, thereby accomplishing chest compressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Zoll Circulation, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Q. Escudero, Gregory W. Hall
  • Patent number: 7841337
    Abstract: A breath-actuated nasal delivery device, comprising: a mouthpiece through which a user in use exhales to actuate the delivery device; a nosepiece for fitting to a nostril of the user through which a substance is in use delivered; a substance supply unit actuatable to deliver a dose of a substance through the nosepiece; a loading unit operable to load the substance supply unit with an actuation force; and a release mechanism for enabling actuation of the substance supply unit in response to exhalation by the user through the mouthpiece; wherein the release mechanism comprises a locking unit which is movable: between a locking configuration in which the substance supply unit is locked in a non-actuated position when loaded by the loading unit and a release configuration in which the substance supply unit is actuatable by the loading unit, and a trigger member for releasing the locking unit from the locking configuration to the release configuration in response to exhalation by the user through the mouthpiece an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Optinose AS
    Inventor: Per Gisle Djupesland
  • Patent number: 7836884
    Abstract: A double-body therapeutics face and tracheostomy mask which functions as both a mask for the nose and mouth of a patient and a mask for the tracheostomy tube area of a patient is disclosed. The mask of the present invention serves as a means for delivering a gaseous medicament or a liquid, such as liquid medication, in the form of a fine spray or mist to the nose, mouth, and trachea of the patient simultaneously. The upper body (1) of the mask fits over the nose and mouth area of the patient and the lower body (5) of the mask fits a patient's tracheostomy tube area. The upper and lower mask bodies may be connected to one another and to a nebulizing apparatus (4) and adjustable-length delivery conduit (17). Therefore, the double-body therapeutics face and tracheostomy mask of the present invention may be adjusted to comfortably fit the face and trachea area of any sized patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventor: Vivian A. Wright
  • Patent number: 7833178
    Abstract: A body elongator includes a container in which a heel elongator and a calf stretcher are fixed. The heel elongator has a leg support slide selectively movable for a predetermined distance by a driving mechanism for elongating a user's heels secured to the leg support slide. The calf stretcher has a toe bar supported between and by two carrier posts. The carrier posts, along with the toe bar, can be rotated from a horizontal position to a vertical position with respect to the frame body. When the user's toes are leaned tightly against the toe bar, with heels secured to the leg support slide, making the feet plantar flexion along the movement direction of the leg support slide, the Achilles tendon and the calf muscles groups can be stretched when the leg support slide is driven to move into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventors: Jay Lee, Helen Chen
  • Patent number: 7832398
    Abstract: Arrangement in connection with an anaesthesia/ventilation system for a patient comprising means for flowing inspiratory gas to the patient and means for flowing expiratory gas from the patient to a gas separation means and further through the gas separation means back to the inspiratory flow. The gas separation means comprises a chamber unit having a high pressure side and a low pressure side, the high pressure side and the low pressure side being separated by a membrane where carriers are fixed on polymer backbone. The expiratory gas from the patient containing retentates such as anaesthetic agents, N2O, O2, air, and permeates such as CO2, flows to the high pressure side of the chamber unit to have contact with the membrane surface whereby the membrane reacts with the permeates so that the permeates flow through the membrane to the low pressure side of the chamber unit and the retentates flow through the high pressure side of the chamber unit without permeating the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: General Elecrtic Company
    Inventor: Santtu Laurila
  • Patent number: 7824349
    Abstract: The present invention reveals a massage chair having concealable leg massage unit, including a massage chair and a leg massage unit positioned in a front portion of the massage chair. The two sides of the massage chair are provided with guiding tracks respectively and a moving means which moves along the guiding tracks. The rear portions of the guiding tracks are horizontal, and the front portions arc upward. The moving means is fixed with forward extended push-pull rods with a front end of each push-pull rod pivotally connected to a rear end of a tow board. A front end of the tow board is provided with a rolling wheel, and the leg massage unit is pivotally connected between two tow boards. The present invention not only reduces the volume of a massage chair but also makes itself more convenient and comfortable to users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Daito-Osim Healthcare Appliance (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shu Lv
  • Patent number: 7824351
    Abstract: A portable hydro massage device for submersion in a body of water containing a female user, i.e. a bathtub, provides a local massage to the labium region and a focused stimulant to the female user's clitoris thereby resulting in a superior sensation to the entire body promoting an overall euphoric state and calming effect. The apparatus employs a saddle shaped housing, where the buttocks are placed, and a saddle horn for controlling the stimulus. Disposed within the midsection of the saddle horn is a hydro jet with a driven flow from a circulating water pump that draws suction from the main body of water. The hydro jet is adjustable in pressure and a method is provided for aeration of the water discharged to allow for a rhythmic pulsation effect. The saddle horn may be held and the lower body positioned as needed to focus the discharged stream from the hydro jet to the desired point of the pelvic region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Inventor: David Heilman
  • Patent number: 7819906
    Abstract: A surgical rivet device for the repair of torn menisci and other intra-articular bodily tissues is disclosed in which the device comprises a shaft, projecting fins and a penetration head at one end and a wide rear portion. The device is inserted by a driving mechanism through both sides of the torn meniscus, compressing the tear in the meniscus between the fins near the head and the wide rear portion, holding the tear together. After insertion, the driving mechanism is separated from the rivet, leaving the rivet device in the patient. The rivet device is entirely biodegradable and absorabable by the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventor: Gary Karlin Michelson
  • Patent number: 7815582
    Abstract: A massager (12) includes an inductively chargeable battery (48), avoiding the need to deal with batteries and cords while providing a pleasant exothermic warmth. Different embodiments of sealing and skinning (13) make the massager (12) hygienically safe and fluid- and water-resistant. Sophisticated controls (50) provide the massager with the ability to respond to direct-mounted user controls (20, 22), wireless communication controls such as remote controls (30) and a plethora of other protocol-compatible devices, systems and media. A mating base (14) supports the massager (12) for inductive charging in a stable, aesthetically pleasant and safe relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Jimmyjane, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Frederic Imboden, Roland Jeffrey Wyatt, R. Benjamin Knapp, Ken Paul Koller, John Richard Rees
  • Patent number: 7811241
    Abstract: A therapeutic pillow includes a flexible body with mated inner and outer layers. Such an inner layer has an outer perimeter that terminates inwardly of an outer perimeter of the outer layer. The apparatus further includes a plurality of spherical objects removably situated within the body and directly abutting an inner surface of the inner layer. Each of the spherical objects has a unique diameter. The body has right and left ends selectively folded along a centrally registered latitudinal axis registered orthogonal to a longitudinal length of the body wherein the right and left ends are directly engaged in such a manner that the spherical objects are prohibited from escaping beyond the respective outer perimeters of the inner and outer layers during operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventor: Mary Baker
  • Patent number: 7811269
    Abstract: A system for stimulating the healing of tissue comprises a porous pad positioned within a wound cavity, and an airtight dressing secured over the pad, so as to provide an airtight seal to the wound cavity. A proximal end of a conduit is connectable to the dressing. A distal end of the conduit is connectable to a negative pressure source, which may be an electric pump housed within a portable housing, or wall suction. A canister is positioned along the conduit to retain exudates suctioned from the wound site during the application of negative pressure. A first hydrophobic filter is positioned at an opening of the canister to detect a canister full condition. A second hydrophobic filter is positioned between the first filter and the negative pressure source to prevent contamination of the non-disposable portion of the system by exudates being drawn from the wound. An odor filter is positioned between the between the first and second hydrophobic filters to aid in the reduction of malodorous vapors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Boynton, Teryl Blane Sanders, Keith Patrick Heaton, Kenneth William Hunt, Mark Stephen James Beard, David M. Tumey, Lawrence Tab Randolph
  • Patent number: 7806840
    Abstract: Provided is a motor driven massage device comprising a rubbing mechanism comprising two eccentric rubbing sleeves at both ends of a motor shaft, two housings each for enclosing the rubbing sleeve, and two pairs of upper and lower arms each arm having an extended roller; a beating mechanism comprising two beating sleeves at both ends of a motor shaft, and two links each interconnected the beating sleeve and the housing; an angle adjustment mechanism comprising a rotating rod and a gear based linking assembly interconnected the rotating rod and the rubbing mechanism for adjusting an angle of each roller; and two kneading mechanisms at both sides each disposed proximate the housing and the lower arm and comprising two spaced plates and a drive source between the plates for activating the lower arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventor: Ko-Po Chen
  • Patent number: 7785279
    Abstract: A wearable action-assist device which assists or executes an action of a wearer by substituting for the wearer is provided with an action-assist tool 2 having an actuator 201 which gives power to the wearer 1, a biosignal sensor 221 which detects a wearer's biosignal, a biosignal processing unit 3 which acquires from a biosignal “a” detected by the biosignal sensor a nerve transfer signal “b” for operating a wearer's muscular line skeletal system, and a myoelectricity signal “c” accompanied with a wearer's muscular line activity, an optional control unit 4 which generates a command signal “d” for causing the actuator 201 to generate power according to the wearer's intention using the nerve transfer signal “b” and the myoelectricity signal “c” acquired by the biosignal processing unit 3, and a driving current generating unit 5 which generates a current according to the nerve transfer signal b and a current according to the myoelectricity signal “c”, respectively, based on the command signal “d” generated by th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: University of Tsukuba
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Sankai
  • Patent number: 7779840
    Abstract: A breath condensate sampler for use with a mechanical ventilator, the breath condensate sampler includes an airflow valve, a condensate formation tube, a condensate trap, and a condensate collection receptacle. The airflow valve directs air from the expiratory limb into the condensate formation tube wherein the condensate portion of exhaled gases are separated from the gaseous portion of the exhaled gases. A method of collecting a breath condensate sample is also herein disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jaron M. Acker, Kristopher J. Bilek
  • Patent number: 7771375
    Abstract: A cushion comprises a resin body with a spring structure having permeability comprising a three-dimensional structure including voids at a predetermined bulk density, the three-dimensional structure being obtained by contacting, entwining, and gathering adjacent ones of random loops or curls of continuous filaments made from a thermoplastic resin in such a manner as to allow the resulting structure to have a layered structure in which layers composed of filaments having a high bulk density as superficial layers are formed on a front and a rear of the resin body in a lengthwise direction, and a layer composed of the filaments having a low bulk density as a core layer is interposed between the superficial layers; and a speaker incorporated in the resin body or disposed on one of the superficial layers of the resin body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: EIN Co. Ltd. Technical Center
    Inventors: Sadao Nishibori, Iwao Kouno, Yuichiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7770578
    Abstract: Improved methodology and apparatus for the clinical study and treatment of sleep apnea which incorporates one or more of the following features: (1) application of mono-level, alternating high and low level, or variable positive airway pressure generally within the airway of the patient with the mono-level, high and low level, or variable airway pressure generally being coordinated with and/or responsive to the spontaneous respiration of the patient, (2) usage of adjustably programmable pressure ramp circuitry capable of producing multiple pressure ramp cycles of predetermined duration and pattern whereby the ramp cycles may be customized to accommodate the specific needs of an individual sleep apnea patient so as to ease the patient's transition from wakefulness to sleep, (3) remote control or patient-sensed operation of the apparatus, (4) employment of safety circuitry, reset circuitry and minimum system leak assurance circuitry, controls and methods, and (5) utilization of clinical control circuitry whereb
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: RIC Investments, LLC
    Inventors: Mark C. Estes, Janice M Cattano
  • Patent number: 7771376
    Abstract: A massage device for massaging a body part of a person in an unsupervised and unattended setting is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the massage device comprises an inflatable garment (200) having a plurality of inflation bladders (250), to apply pressure to the body part, and an inflation assembly (300) includes a manifold (324) into which the pressurized fluid flows, a plurality of inflation valves (326) which control the flow of fluid from the manifold to the bladders, and a manifold valve for controlling the maximum pressure level within the bladders. The inflation assembly may have a predeterminated inflation capacity which defines a maximum bladder size as well as an array in which the bladders are arranged. The massage device may further comprise a connector for connecting tubes from the bladders to the inflation assembly, wherein the connector includes a garment-identifying component for identifying the type of garment connected to the inflation assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Midtown Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Rochelle B. Roth, Brian Smith, William Brazis, Roger H. Ramsey