Patents Examined by J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8777924
    Abstract: An infusion system, which may be a closed loop, or “semi-closed-loop”, infusion system, uses state variable feedback to control the rate at which fluid is infused into a user's body. The closed loop system includes a sensor system, a controller, and a delivery system. The “semi-closed-loop” system further includes prompts that provide indications to the user prior to fluid delivery. The sensor system includes a sensor for monitoring a condition of the user and produces a sensor signal which is representative of the user's condition. The delivery system infuses a fluid into the user at a rate dictated by the commands from the controller. The system may use three state variables, e.g., subcutaneous insulin concentration, plasma insulin concentration, and insulin effect, and corresponding gains, to calculate an additional amount of fluid to be infused with a bolus and to be removed from the basal delivery of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Minimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Sami S. Kanderian, Jr., Garry M. Steil
  • Patent number: 8773531
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) pointing sensing apparatus may be provided. The 3D pointing sensing apparatus may include an image generation unit that may photograph a first light source and a second light source in a light emitting unit, and generate an image including an image of the first light source and an image of a second light source. Also, the 3D pointing sensing apparatus may include an orientation calculation unit that may calculate an orientation of the light emitting unit, using a size difference between the image of the first light source and the image of the second light source in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: SangHyun Kim, Hyong Euk Lee, Won-Chul Bang
  • Patent number: 8773518
    Abstract: An image display method can make the total time of light emission longer per display line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kato, Hiroshi Mitani, Takahiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8767053
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for enabling the viewing of positionally and orientationally modified stereoscopic video material using one or more participants with near-to-eye displays with video content appearance altered to accommodate changes in orientation and position of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Greg Neal
  • Patent number: 8764713
    Abstract: A method of repositioning an injection port comprises positioning the injection port at a first location in a patient's body and extending fasteners of the injection port to substantially secure the injection port at the first location. The fasteners are then retracted to substantially unsecure the injection port from the first location in the patient's body. The injection port is then moved to a second location in the patient's body. The fasteners are then re-extended to substantially secure the injection port at the second location in the patient's body. The injection port includes a port body. The fasteners are integral with the port body. The fasteners may be selectively extended and retracted relative to the port body. For instance, the fasteners may be pivoted relative to the port body to transition between extended and retracted positions. The extension and retraction of fasteners may be provided through a port applier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Uth, Randal T. Byrum, Sean P. Conlon
  • Patent number: 8767047
    Abstract: An image processing system includes at least two, complementary, angle sensitive pixel (ASP) structures, having a spatial frequency domain ASP output including a background output and a plurality of ASP response outputs, in response to an optical input; an ASP response output subtractor component, which functions to suppress the background output and perform a subtraction of at least two of the ASP response outputs; and a processing component that can process the subtracted spatial frequency domain ASP response outputs. An optical domain image processing method includes the steps of providing at least two, complementary, angle sensitive pixel (ASP) structures; obtaining a spatial frequency domain ASP output including a plurality of complementary ASP response outputs, in response to an optical input; performing a wavelet-like transform of the ASP response outputs in the optical domain prior to performing any operation in a digital domain; and obtaining a desired output of the optical input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventors: Alyosha Molnar, Albert Wang, Patrick Gill
  • Patent number: 8758303
    Abstract: An injection port system comprises an injection port and an applier. The port comprises a body and a plurality of fasteners. The fasteners are integral with the body and are movable from a non-deployed position to a deployed position. The applier comprises a port engagement portion and an actuator. The port engagement portion is configured to selectively engage the port body to selectively retain the port relative to the applier. The actuator is operable to move the fasteners to the deployed position. The applier is also configured to disengage the port engagement portion from the port body to release the port from the applier when the actuator moves the fasteners to the deployed position. The actuator may release the port from the applier by moving a resilient member away from the port body as the actuator also moves the fasteners from the non-deployed position to the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Uth, Randal T. Byrum, Sean P. Conlon
  • Patent number: 8743198
    Abstract: A method for detecting occupancy status of a plurality of conference rooms in real time is provided. The method enables, firstly, monitoring a first output signal of a first sensor. Secondly, the method enables monitoring a second output signal of a second sensor. The method further enables comparing the first and second output signals with one or more predetermined thresholds within a predetermined time. Furthermore, the method enables correlating the comparison results to identify any uncertainty in detecting the occupancy. Furthermore, the method enables processing output from one or more image and/or video sensors based on the correlation to obtain occupancy status information when there is uncertainty in detecting occupancy. Finally, the method enables displaying the occupancy status information on one or more user devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Infosys Limited
    Inventors: Kumar Padmanabh, Sanjoy Paul
  • Patent number: 8730314
    Abstract: A method of monitoring radiation treatment employs a video camera directed to at least a portion of a patient and/or patient support and at least a portion of a radiation machine. The direction of movement of the radiation machine and/or clearance between at least a portion of the radiation machine and the patient are determined by a control system. Graphics indicating the direction of movement of the machine and/or the clearance between the machine and the patient are overlaid on the video images. The video images overlaid with graphics displayed on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross B. Hannibal, Julie Clift
  • Patent number: 8723918
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a driving unit for displacing one of a lens unit and an imaging device with respect to an optical axis, and a controller for causing the driving unit to displace one of the lens unit and the imaging device, in response to the motion of the image capturing apparatus. When, with a shooting direction being moved, captured images are generated so that a panoramic image is generated from the captured images, the controller displaces the position of the lens unit or the imaging device at the start of exposure of each image to be captured in a direction based on a direction in which the shooting direction is moved. In addition, a displacement amount at the start of the exposure is set in response to the length of an exposure time period so that the displacement during the exposure time period becomes small and the quality of an image is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Junji Shimada
  • Patent number: 8723947
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for aligning containers, in particular bottles, in a labeler, the apparatus having rotatable holders for containers to be aligned, and a camera unit for imaging the containers as well as a proximity switch for triggering an imaging function of the camera unit. This allows a precise alignment in combination with a reduced expenditure of time and reduced space requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Anton Niedermeier, Karl Aichinger
  • Patent number: 8717430
    Abstract: A system for performing a medical procedure on a patient is provided. The system can include an imaging head defining a field of view relative to the patient. The imaging head can include at least one transmitter that emits at least one signal in the field of view, and at least one receiver that receives at least one reflected signal from the field of view. The at least one reflected signal received can be based on at least one electrical property of at least one material in the field of view. The system can further include a workstation, which can determine, based on the at least one reflected signal received by the at least one receiver, a location of at least one boundary of the material within the field of view. The system can include a display that displays an image of the location of the at least one boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Simon, Andrew Bzostek, Steven L. Hartmann, Brandon Merkl
  • Patent number: 8715230
    Abstract: Devices and methods for balloon delivery of rapamycin and other hydrophobic compounds to the wall of blood vessels. Balloon catheters, such as those used for balloon angioplasty, are modified with the addition of a reservoir of dry micelles, disposed at a suitable location within the balloon or catheter. The reservoir may be installed within the angioplasty balloon, within a lumen in communication with the angioplasty balloon, either as a loose or packed powder or as a film coating. The micelle preparation is reconstituted and the micelles are mobilized when the aqueous solution used to inflate the balloons is injected into the catheter. The micelles are infused into tissue surrounding the balloon when pressurized fluid within the balloon leaks through the wall of the balloon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Caliber Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Baumbach, Darren R. Sherman, Robert S. Burgermeister
  • Patent number: 8718145
    Abstract: A relative quality score is provided that takes into account properties of an encoded version of a source video. For example, one such quality score calculates a difference of higher and lower quality transcoded versions of the source video, and computes quality metrics for each to evaluate how similar the transcoded versions are to the source video. A relative quality score quantifying the quality improvement of the high-quality version over the low-quality version is computed. The relative quality score is adjusted based on a measurement of the quality of the source video. If the relative quality score for the video indicates a sufficient quality improvement of the high-quality version over the low-quality version, various actions are taken, such as retaining the high-quality version, and making the high-quality version available to users, e.g. via a video viewing user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Huiseng Wang, Xiaoquan Yi
  • Patent number: 8715243
    Abstract: An injection port applier is configured to engage an injection port that has integral fasteners that are movable from a non-deployed position to a deployed position. The applier comprises a shaft, a port engagement portion, and a handle. The port engagement portion is includes a fastener deployment member that is operable to move the fasteners to the deployed position. The handle comprises a first handle portion and a second handle portion. The second handle portion is movable distally relative to the first handle portion in order to actuate the fastener deployment member, to thereby move the fasteners to the deployed position. An elongate actuating member couples the second handle portion with the fastener deployment member. One part of the elongate actuating member translates longitudinally in response to the second handle being moved distally; while another part of the elongate actuating member rotates in response to the first portion translating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua R. Uth, Randal T. Byrum, Sean P. Conlon
  • Patent number: 8708966
    Abstract: Microneedle devices are provided for transport of molecules across tissue barriers and for use as microflameholders. In a preferred embodiment for transport across tissue, the microneedles are formed of a biodegradable polymer. Methods of making these devices, which can include hollow and/or porous microneedles, are also provided. A preferred method for making a microneedle includes forming a micromold having sidewalls which define the outer surface of the microneedle, electroplating the sidewalls to form the hollow microneedle, and then removing the micromold from the microneedle. In a preferred method of use, the microneedle device is used to deliver material into or across a biological barrier from chambers in connection with at least one of the microneedles. The device preferably further includes a means for controlling the flow of material through the microneedles. Representative examples of these means include the use of permeable membranes, fracturable impermeable membranes, valves, and pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Mark G. Allen, Mark R. Prausnitz, Devin V. McAllister, Florent Paul Marcel Cros
  • Patent number: 8708948
    Abstract: Engraftment of therapeutic cells and agents to a target site in an organism is enhanced by mechanical, chemical and biological methods and systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Consigny, Gabriel Asongwe, Mary Beth Michaels, Gene Michal, Evgenia Mandrusov, Jeong Lee, Florian N. Ludwig, John Eric Henckel, Joseph J. Sciacca, Ken Bueche, Richard Todd Thornton, Fidel Albert Urrabazo, Daniel Wiegand
  • Patent number: 8711204
    Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for stereoscopically editing video content. In one embodiment, image pairs of a sequence may be stereoscopically modified by altering at least one image of the image pair. The at least one image may be altered using at least one mapping function. The at least one image may also be altered based on a saliency of the image pair. The at least one image may also be altered based on disparities between the image pair. Advantageously, stereoscopic properties of video content may be edited more conveniently and efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Aljosa Aleksej Andrej Smolic, Oliver Wang, Manuel Lang, Alexander Hornung, Markus Gross, Wojciech Matusik
  • Patent number: 8708993
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed toward an infusion catheter epidural system comprising a portable infusion pump configured to administer a combination of anesthetics and corticosteroid at a predetermined rate over a predetermined time. A catheter is fluidly coupled to the portable infusion pump. The catheter is configured to be maneuvered into a site of inflammation of a patient to deliver the combination of anesthetics and corticosteroid. The portable pump and the catheter are configured for attachment to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Physician Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Evan Shapiro
  • Patent number: 8708894
    Abstract: A method for variably flexing and steering an insertion device that receives an instrument, which comprises providing a hollow body having tendons disposed therewithin and a distal end, changing a condition of the hollow body by selectively applying suction to create a vacuum in the hollow body to place the hollow body in a relatively stiff condition and relieving the vacuum to place the hollow body in a relatively flexible condition, maintaining the hollow body in the relatively flexible and relatively stiff conditions with the tendons, the vacuum created by the applied suction frictionally locking the tendons in place in the relatively stiff condition, and individually adjusting at least one of the tendons in length to steer the distal end of the hollow body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Syntheon, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Derek Dee Deville, Korey Kline, Matthew A. Palmer