Patents Examined by John Lacyk
  • Patent number: 9974924
    Abstract: A dream stimulator may include a substrate and a plurality of electrodes positioned along a first side of the substrate. The stimulator also may include a stimulator coupled to the substrate. At least one lead may couple the plurality of electrodes to the stimulator. Additionally, a band may be positioned along a second side of the substrate and about each of the plurality of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Aladdin Dreamer, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Shambroom, Craig Russel Weiss
  • Patent number: 9968512
    Abstract: Disclosed is a stimulation device comprising a first arm (2) having a first proximal end portion (2a) and a distal end portion (2b) adapted to be inserted into a vagina and a second arm (4) having a proximal end portion (4a) and a distal end portion (4b) adapted to get into contact with a body portion outside the vagina, wherein the first arm (2) and the second arm (4) are provided for being connected with each other at their respective proximal end portion (2a; 4) so as to form an essentially U- or V-shaped arrangement. According to the present invention, the stimulation device comprises coupling means (6, 10) adapted to provide a releasable connection of the first and second arms (2, 4) at their respective proximal end portion (2a; 4a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: OVO JOINT VENTURE, LLC
    Inventors: Meike Hahr, Till Muhl
  • Patent number: 9968430
    Abstract: A surgical device that is implantable to treat female urinary incontinence includes a support, a first suspending member connected to the support, a second suspending member connected to the support, a first anchor connected to the first suspending member, and a second anchor connected to the second suspending member. A distance measured along the second suspending member between the second anchor and the support is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Coloplast A/S
    Inventor: James Browning
  • Patent number: 9962281
    Abstract: A penis enhancement apparatus and method having a first ring and a second ring, wherein each ring is circular in shape having an opening for receiving a penis therethough. The method provides the steps of adjusting the rings to an appropriate size via securing a knot in each ring. The first ring is applied to the tip of the penis adjacent to the glans thereof. The second ring is placed onto the shaft of the penis near the scrotum, wherein the rings cause small tears in the tissue of the penis via putting pressure onto the tissue of the penis once applied thereto. Pressure is then manually applied to the scrotum in order to direct blood flow into the tissue of the penis, wherein the blood causes the small tears. As the small tears are repaired, the penis is enlarged due to the promotion of cell growth and cell division.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Inventor: Philip Vanderwolk
  • Patent number: 9955907
    Abstract: Example apparatus and methods reduce epileptic seizures in a human patient by non-invasively providing low frequency (e.g., 1-10 Hz) audio stimuli coordinated with low frequency (e.g., 1-10 Hz) visual stimuli to the patient. The signals are provided non-invasively through the eyes and ears. The audio stimuli and visual stimuli may be selected or coordinated based on a state (e.g., hyperexcitability, imminent epileptic seizure, epileptic seizure in progress, REM sleep) determined from an EEG signal acquired from the patient. Apparatus for delivering the audio stimuli and visual stimuli may be incorporated into a single wearable apparatus (e.g., glasses with earphones, hat, headband). The single wearable apparatus may also provide noise cancellation and visual stimulus diminution. The audio stimuli may be incorporated into music or random background noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
    Inventor: Dominique Durand
  • Patent number: 9956109
    Abstract: Disclosed is a penile constriction device comprising a body including an aperture (4) for surrounding a penis wherein the aperture (4) defines an inner edge (6,7). According to the present invention an elastic strap (8) is arranged within the aperture (4) or at least in alignment with the aperture (4) wherein the ends of the strap (8) are connected to connection points (10) at the inner edge (6,7) of the aperture (4) or at portions of the body (2) adjacent to the aperture (4), and where in the connection points (10) are positioned opposite to each other relative to the aperture (4) and the length of the strap (8) between its both ends is greater than the distance between the connection points (10) so that the strap (8) is able to be optionally brought into a first position (FIG. 4a) so as to limit the aperture (4) for defining a first aperture cross-section area (4.1) or a second (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: OVO JOINT VENTURE, LLC
    Inventors: Meike Hahr, Till Muhl
  • Patent number: 9950192
    Abstract: A method for fiducial-less real-time motion tracking of abdominal tumors based on the correlation between the patient's breathing pattern and the diaphragm/lung border during treatment delivery. This invention utilizes an edge detection technique to delineate the diaphragm/lung border on radiographic images in order to calculate or determine tumor locations in the abdomen. The position of the diaphragm/lung border is synchronized with the breathing pattern obtained from continuous optical monitoring of a patient's respiratory cycle. The real-time optical breathing pattern obtained from monitoring is used to determine or calculate the position of the diaphragm/lung border during treatment delivery. The position of the diaphragm/lung border is then used to determine the tumor location in real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventors: Xiaodong Wu, George F Hatoum
  • Patent number: 9943703
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for irradiation therapy using voxel based function measurements of organs-at-risk (OAR). The method includes determining size and location of each voxel of a plurality of voxels in a reference frame of a radiation device. The method further includes obtaining measurements that relate to utility of tissue type at each voxel. The method further includes determining a subset of the voxels that enclose an organ-at-risk (OAR) volume. The method further includes determining a value of a utility measure ƒj at each voxel of the subset based on a corresponding value of the measurements. The method further includes determining a series of beam shapes and intensities which minimize a value of an objective function that is based on a computed dose delivered to an OAR voxel multiplied by the utility measure ƒj for that voxel summed over all voxels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE
    Inventors: Hao H. Zhang, Warren D. D'Souza, Nilesh N. Mistry, Hamid R. Ghaffari
  • Patent number: 9943702
    Abstract: A therapy planning system (18) and method generate an optimal treatment plan. A plurality of objectives are automatically formulated (154) based on a plurality of clinical goals including dose profiles and priorities. The dose profiles and the priorities correspond to a plurality of structures including a plurality of target and/or critical structures identified within a planning image. Further, a plurality of treatment plan parameters are optimized (156) based on the plurality of objectives to generate a treatment plan. The plurality of objectives are reformulated (162) and the plurality of treatment plan parameters are reoptimized (156) based on the reformulated plurality of objectives to generate a reoptimized treatment plan. The optimizing (156) is repeated based on the reformulated plurality of objectives to generate a reformulated treatment plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignees: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Prashant Kumar, Karl Antonin Bzdusek, Vaitheeswaran Ranganathan, Matthew Palmer, Michael Kantor
  • Patent number: 9937097
    Abstract: A stimulation device is provided in accordance with one embodiment. The stimulation device includes a chamber which has a flexible wall portion. A drive unit of the stimulation device is in physical communication with the flexible wall portion so as to cause deflections of the flexible wall portion in opposing directions, thereby resulting in a changing volume of the chamber. The changing volume of the chamber results in modulated positive and negative pressures with respect to a reference pressure. An opening of the stimulation device is for applying the modulated positive and negative pressures to a body part. An appendage of the stimulation device may be used as a handle to allow a user to position the stimulation device over the body part. The stimulation device includes a control device for controlling the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: NOVOLUTO GMBH
    Inventor: Michael Lenke
  • Patent number: 9937045
    Abstract: An implantable penile prosthesis inflation apparatus includes a manual pump, and a pressure amplifier. The pressure amplifier includes a first sub-amplifier having a first chamber and a piston assembly contained in the first chamber. The first chamber includes an input port that is fluidically coupled to the manual pump, and an output port. The piston assembly is configured to move along a central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric F. Little
  • Patent number: 9931208
    Abstract: A male impotence treatment apparatus comprises an adjustable prosthesis device (2) implanted in an impotent patient. The prosthesis device engages the corpus cavernosum or penile tissue of the patient to provide flaccid or erect state of the penis. An implanted adjustment device is adapted to adjust the prosthesis such that the penis can be temporarily erected. The prosthesis is preferably controlled with a remote control and an implanted powered operation device (246), which may include servo means, operates the adjustment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Inventor: Peter Forsell
  • Patent number: 9925085
    Abstract: A penis lengthening device comprises a traction chamber with tapered sidewalls configured to secure the penis within the chamber by forming a partial vacuum therein. A flexible air seal covers the upper portion of the traction chamber and extends over the penis. As the chamber is evacuated, the air seal tightens around the penis, creating an air seal to retain the vacuum within the chamber. Tensile force is transmitted through the chamber to the penis of the user. Alternative “light traction” embodiments utilize a condom-like device configured to attach to an elastic band, or to suspend weights therefrom. Larger tensile forces are applied for shorter periods of a few minutes up to an hour using the traction chamber embodiment, and smaller forces of 1-2 pounds are applied for longer periods of several hours using a light-traction embodiment. Alternate between the two methods throughout the day enhances its effectiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: USA Life Nutrition, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick John Leddy
  • Patent number: 9918817
    Abstract: A method of post-operatively adjusting a urethral support in treating urinary incontinence of a woman is disclosed. The method includes passing a support through an incision and locating the support under a urethra. The support is a porous mesh adapted to allow tissue in-growth. The method include adjusting the support by applying tension to one of a first member that is secured to a first end of the support or a second member that is secured to a second end of the support. The first member and the second member each has an end that exits the skin. The first and second members are adapted to prevent tissue in-growth into the first member and the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Coloplast A/S
    Inventor: James Browning
  • Patent number: 9918816
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for treating urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and other pelvic defects or dysfunctions, in both males and females, using one or more lateral implants to reinforce the supportive tissue of the urethra. The implants are configured to engage and pull (e.g., pull up) pelvic tissue to cause the lateral sub-urethral tissue, such as the endopelvic fascia, to tighten and provide slack reduction for improved support. As such, certain embodiments of the implants can be utilized to eliminate the need for mesh or other supportive structures under the urethra that is common with other incontinence slings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Jessica L. Roll, Mona N. Dahdah, John F. Otte
  • Patent number: 9911199
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining data referred to as target change data which can be used for performing radiotherapy treatment, the target change data describing information on the change of position of a target included in a body of a patient, the method being performed by a computer and comprising the following steps: acquiring determination rule data describing a rule for mapping an indicator change set to the target change data, the indicator change set being a set which comprises more than one element, the elements of the indicator change set respectively representing information on respective changes of positions of indicators, at least two of the indicators respectively indicating a change of position of different body structures referred to as indicator structures, acquiring set data describing an acquired indicator change set; and determining the target change data based on the determination rule data and the set data by applying the rule for mapping to the acquired indic
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Brainlab AG
    Inventor: Stefan Vilsmeier
  • Patent number: 9907653
    Abstract: A penile prosthetic includes an inflatable member that is implantable into a penis of a user, a reservoir that is implantable in an abdomen, and a pump. The pump is configured to be attached between the inflatable member and the reservoir and is implantable in a scrotum. The pump includes a pump bulb formed by first and second end sections, a mid-section and concave portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Coloplast A/S
    Inventor: Jeffrey Brian Taylor
  • Patent number: 9901509
    Abstract: An erotic stimulator device comprising a mat including an inner surface and an outer surface, a hook and loop fastening system wherein a hook portion of the system is secured to one mat surface and a loop portion of the system is secured to the opposite mat surface and a sleeve having an open end and a closed end wherein the sleeve is placed on the inner surface of the mat with the open end of the sleeve extending outside the perimeter of the sleeve, the mat is rolled up into a cylindrical shape with the sleeve inside and the hook and loop fastening system is engaged to maintain the shape of the mat and the open end of the sleeve is extended from the inner surface to the outer surface of the mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Inventor: David Abramovitz
  • Patent number: 9901449
    Abstract: Penile implant and system comprising such an implant. The penile implant comprises a number of features which improves the function of the penile implant, e.g. a certain surface structure and portions with specific functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Inventor: Peter Forsell
  • Patent number: 9895286
    Abstract: A dildo with adjustable girth is provided through a construction including a base, dilating mechanisms, and an elastic membrane which is fit over the dilating mechanisms. The dilating mechanisms are formed from a shaft, lateral bracing supports, and a drive mechanism. The lateral bracing supports are connected along the shaft, forming an inner structure for the elastic membrane. The drive mechanism, when activated, causes the shaft to rotate, which in turn causes the lateral bracing supports to press against and expand the elastic membrane. Preferably, two dilating mechanisms are provided in order to evenly expand the dildo to each side. The drive mechanisms can be either electrically operated (for example a corded input or an internal battery powering a motor) or manually operated (for example a user manually turning a handle to rotate the shaft). An articulated shaft can also be added to allow for bending of the dildo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Inventor: Allison Alayne Rydel