Patents Examined by Jeffrey G. Hoekstra
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Patent number: 10149651Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for obtaining rheological properties of viscoelastic medium, and in particular, in-vivo evaluation of body fluid such as the vitreous. The system includes a needle-like probe having a distal and a proximal end, a rotational actuator, and a sensor coupled to the rotational actuator. The proximal end of the probe is configured for attachment to the rotational actuator. The distal proximal end of the probe has a roughened outer circumferential surface extending axially along at least a portion of the distal end, wherein the roughed distal end of the probe is configured to be disposed within the viscoelastic medium, and wherein the sensor is configured to obtain measurements corresponding rotation of the probe within the viscoelastic medium.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2014Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIAInventors: Hossein Pirouz Kavehpour, Pooria Sharif-Kashani, Jean-Pierre Hubschman
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Patent number: 10143415Abstract: Patients afflicted by a seizure may be monitored for the presence of post-ictal motor manifestations that may indicate that the patient is at heightened risk of adverse effects of a seizure, including, for example, risk of sudden explained death in epilepsy. If the patient is deemed to be at risk of experiencing adverse effects of a seizure, one or more system responses may be initiated as appropriate for the at-risk patient.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2015Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: BRAIN SENTINEL, INC.Inventors: Michael R. Girouard, Jose E. Cavazos, Luke E. Whitmire
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Patent number: 10143411Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for transporting fluid between a body and an external source. More particularly, the methods and devices provided can be used to transport blood from a body. In one exemplary embodiment, a system is provided for transporting fluid between a body and an external source. The system can include a collection catheter that is sized to fit inside a catheter that is placed in the body and configured to have its distal end extend beyond a distal end of the catheter that is placed in the body. Various methods for transporting fluid from the body to an external source are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2014Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: The General Hospital CorporationInventor: Michael S. Cabot
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Patent number: 10143416Abstract: A method for characterization of a patient's esophagus may include receiving data measured by an impedance and high resolution manometry catheter in an esophagus in which the data may be representative of a pressure and/or an impedance associated with a swallowing event. The method may also include determining a cross-sectional area of the esophagus based on the received data and a pre-determined amount of a bolus consumed during the swallowing event. Systems and apparatus for characterizing a patient's esophagus may also include measuring data with a high resolution manometry catheter to determine the cross-sectional area, work, and compliance of the esophagus as a function of time during a swallowing event. Averaged data may establish a database of normal values for work done and compliance and allow for comparison of a patient to normal pathology.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2014Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventor: Valmik Bhargava
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Patent number: 10105078Abstract: A method for causing a computer to execute a process for managing health condition, the process includes: detecting a grounding timing of a leg of a quadruped and a timing of weight-shift to a rear side of the quadruped; and determining whether or not the leg of the quadruped has a disease or injury, based on the detected grounding timing of the leg of the quadruped and the detected timing of a weight-shift to the rear side of the quadruped.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2015Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITEDInventors: Kiyoko Yamamoto, Koji Tatsumi, Yosuke Senta, Shigeo Takenaka, Atsuko Kawai
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Patent number: 10092277Abstract: An aspiration apparatus includes a barrel having a needle receiving end and a piston receiving end. The barrel has an inner diameter and an outer diameter. The piston receiving end of the barrel has substantially the same inner diameter as the inner diameter of the barrel. The barrel has an opening therein through a sidewall of the barrel. The opening is between the needle receiving end and the piston receiving end. The opening is distant from the needle receiving end. The aspiration apparatus also includes a needle sealingly attached to the needle receiving end of the barrel, and a piston having an end which substantially seals to the inner diameter of the barrel. The piston is capable of a number of positions including a first position near the needle receiving end, a third position past the opening in the barrel.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2016Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: GREER MEDICAL, INC.Inventors: Zine-Eddine Boutaghou, Peter Crane
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Patent number: 10080582Abstract: A skin insertion mechanism includes a needle fixedly positioned in a needle holder with a connector (or connective means) to an injection or analysis system having a skin attachment plate coated with an adhesive layer and a spacer mechanism kept in the ready-to-use position, the skin attachment plate is spaced away from a needle support covering the needle. Subcutaneous insertion of the needle is effected by attachment of the adhesive layer to the skin and releasing the spacer mechanism by applying a pre-set trigger point pressure against the skin.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2013Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: PharmaSens AGInventors: Paul Hadvary, Hansjorg Tschirky
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Patent number: 10045760Abstract: The present invention provides a device that can move inside a biological conduit such as an intestinal tract for sampling the content therein, and a process thereof. While moving along the intestinal tract, the device can continuously collect the content in the intestinal tract. One or more convoy belts having an adsorbent layer are configured to continuously absorb and preserve the collected intestinal content. The belt loaded with the sample may be used to establish a chemical, biochemical and microbiological spectrum along the length of the intestinal tract.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2017Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Inventors: Xibo Wei, Sara Shi Wei
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Patent number: 10028704Abstract: A guidewire (10) includes a flexible elongated core (20) having a proximal end (22) and a distal end (24). An anchor wire (10) has a distal end (34) connected to the distal end (24) of the core (20) and a distally located helical portion (50) that encircles the core. The guidewire (10) has an anchoring condition in which the helical portion (50) is expanded radially away from the core (20). The guidewire (10) has an advancing condition in which the helical portion (50) is stretched longitudinally and contracted radially in response to tension on the anchor wire (30).Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2014Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: The Cleveland Clinic FoundationInventors: Ferdinand Hui, Shengqiang Gao
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Patent number: 9999407Abstract: Provided herein are a device and methods to obtain multiple serial samples from biologic tissues located in a tubular or cavitary space of a body. The device has a proximal and distal end, with a linear shaft connecting both ends. The distal end of the device comprises a tissue cutting assembly, a sample transport assembly and a sample storage assembly. The sample transport assembly comprises a slidable sample transport unit, a semi-cylindrical tubular sample chamber with a pair of axially linear rails located on both sides of said chamber and a system of differential pull wires. The sample transport unit slides on the rails of the sample chamber, providing longitudinally axial movement of the cup connected to said sample transport unit. The sample storage assembly comprises said sample chamber, a reversibly detachable sample catcher inserted in said sample chamber, a tubular sample housing and an expandable tubular sample housing.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2012Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Inventor: Choon Kee Lee
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Patent number: 9993229Abstract: A suture loop assembly is provided for securing a specimen collection bag in a closed condition. The suture loop assembly generally includes a length of suture material forming a distal loop and a one-way ferrule for securing the distal loop in a closed condition about an upper end of the specimen collection bag. A specimen retrieval device is also provided for use with the suture loop assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2012Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventor: Kenneth H. Whitfield
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Patent number: 9987469Abstract: A guidewire introducable into a bodily lumen having an obstruction therein is provided. An introducer needle is advanced through tissue and into the bodily lumen. A guidewire is advanced through the introducer and into the lumen. The guidewire is advanced further through the lumen until an atraumatic distal tip of the guidewire encounters an obstruction the distal tip cannot pass in a straight forward manner. The distal tip is pressed against the obstruction such that a flexible segment proximal of the distal tip forms a loop distal of the distal tip. The guidewire is advanced further through the lumen such that the loop of the flexible segment is pushed past the obstruction and the distal tip is pulled distally past the obstruction. A greater diameter guidewire extension can be coupled to the back end of the guidewire, providing function as a larger diameter guidewire.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2016Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Inventor: Thomas A. Sos
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Patent number: 9848821Abstract: Methods and systems for determining the concentration of one or more analytes from a sample such as blood or plasma are described. The systems described herein can be configured to withdraw a certain volume of sample from a source of bodily fluid, direct a first portion of the withdrawn sample to an analyte monitoring system and return a second portion of the sample to the patient. The analyte monitoring system can include an automated blood withdrawal system that is configured to withdraw blood from the patient's vasculature at low pressure and/or withdrawal rates so as to reduce or prevent contamination of the withdrawn fluid from the infusion fluids.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2011Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: OptiScan Biomedical CorporationInventors: Peter Rule, James R. Braig, Richard Keenan, David N. Callicoat
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Patent number: 9839373Abstract: A system and method for collecting operation data associated with a medical apparatus including an internal device implanted in a subject and an external device that is magnetically-coupled to and drives the internal device. The medical apparatus may be monitored to obtain raw data associated with the operation of the medical apparatus and one or more calculations may be performed on the raw data, wherein the raw data and/or calculated values may be associated with voiding frequency and voiding volume of the subject. A report may be generated from the raw data and/or calculated values. In addition, one or more signals may be sent to the external device and/or a docking station, or communicated by other means, to indicate to the subject that the operation of the medical apparatus should be altered.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2015Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: VesifloInventors: Kevin M. Connolly, Terence M. Moore, Jean-Marc Gery
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Patent number: 9820910Abstract: A biological measurement apparatus of this invention includes (i) a micro piezoelectric element for vibrating a nerve cell of a subject without coming in contact with the nerve cell, (ii) an electromagnetic wave antenna for receiving an electromagnetic wave generated by the nerve cell vibrated by the micro piezoelectric element, and (iii) a computer for measuring an electric charge of the nerve cell based on the electromagnetic wave received by the electromagnetic wave antenna. Further, this biological measurement apparatus includes an electromagnetic wave antenna for emitting an electromagnetic wave to a nerve cell. This configuration provides an apparatus capable of measuring an electrical activity of a nerve cell in a living organism in real time and three-dimensionally at a spatial resolution of a nerve cell size. Moreover, this configuration provides an apparatus capable of individually giving electrical stimulations to any desired cells in the subject.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2015Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: OKAYAMA PREFECTUREInventor: Yukinori Nagatani
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Patent number: 9820682Abstract: Blood sample optimization systems and methods are described that reduce or eliminate contaminates in collected blood samples, which in turn reduces or eliminates false positive readings in blood cultures or other testing of collected blood samples. A blood sample optimization system can include a blood sequestration device located between a patient needle and a sample needle. The blood sequestration device can include a sequestration chamber for sequestering an initial, potentially contaminated aliquot of blood, and may further include a sampling channel that bypasses the sequestration chamber to convey likely uncontaminated blood between the patient needle and the sample needle after the initial aliquot of blood is sequestered in the sequestration chamber.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2016Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Kurin, Inc.Inventors: Bobby E. Rogers, Gino Kang, John Detloff
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Patent number: 9808356Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are provided for facilitating knee balancing during a knee replacement surgery. A system can include a force sensor, a main body, a moveable sensor platform, and an adjustment mechanism. The force sensor can sense one or more forces applied within a knee joint, including forces applied on a medial side and a lateral side. The movable sensor platform can be coupled between the force sensor and the main body. The adjustment mechanism can adjust the moveable sensor platform, relative to the main body, thereby adjusting a collective height of the system. A method can include inserting portions of a knee balancing system into a gap formed between a cut distal end of a femur and a cut proximal end of a tibia, adjusting an adjustable mechanism of the system to increase or decrease a collective system height, and sensing and displaying the medial and lateral forces.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2012Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Synvasive Technology, Inc.Inventors: Michael Haight, Kenneth D Johannaber
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Patent number: 9802007Abstract: A lancet driver is provided wherein the driver exerts a driving force on a lancet during a lancing cycle and is used on a tissue site. The driver comprises of a drive force generator for advancing the lancet along a path into the tissue site, and a manual switch for a user interface input.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2013Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbHInventors: Mark Castle, Rodney Kugizaki, Robert Englert, Thomas Shoup, Dominique M. Freeman
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Patent number: 9795365Abstract: An apparatus for use with a minimally invasive medical procedure into human breast tissue includes a cannula and an obturator. The cannula includes an open distal end, a lateral opening proximate to the open distal end, and a longitudinal lumen communicating with the lateral opening and the open distal end. The lumen has a non-circular cross-section. The obturator is sized for insertion into the cannula. The obturator has a distal end extending from the open distal end of the cannula when the obturator is inserted fully into the cannula. The obturator has a recess proximate of the distal end of the obturator. The recess is positioned along a portion of the length of the obturator to align with the lateral opening of the cannula when the obturator is inserted fully into the cannula.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2013Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Devicor Medical Products, Inc.Inventors: Mark Tsonton, Timothy G. Dietz, John A. Hibner, Jessica Pyzoha Leimbach, Michael J. Andreyko, Keshava Datta, Michael A. Murray
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Patent number: 9795747Abstract: A lancet driver is provided wherein the driver exerts a driving force on a lancet during a lancing cycle and is used on a tissue site. The driver comprises of a drive force generator for advancing the lancet along a path into the tissue site, and a manual switch for a user interface input.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2011Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: SANOFI-AVENTIS DEUTSCHLAND GMBHInventors: Mark Castle, Rodney Kugizaki, Robert Englert, Thomas Shoup, Jeff Perry