Patents Examined by Joseph Dietrich
  • Patent number: 9561371
    Abstract: A method for treating essential tremor or restless leg syndrome using spinal cord stimulation includes implanting a lead near a spinal cord of a patient. The lead includes a plurality of electrodes disposed on a distal end of the lead and electrically coupled to at least one contact terminal disposed on a proximal end of the lead. Electrical signals are provided from a control module coupled to the lead to stimulate a portion of the spinal cord of the patient using at least one of the electrodes. The electrical signals reduce, alleviate, or eliminate at least one adverse effect of essential tremor or restless leg syndrome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Inventor: Ahmed A. Elborno
  • Patent number: 9555173
    Abstract: An extravascular pulsation blood pump possesses a bidirectionally acting pumping system (P, M) having a pump (P) which is connected via a first conduit (L1) to the left ventricle (LV) and via a second conduit (L2) to the aorta (AO). By means of a control means (St), the pump (P) is operated alternately in one and the other direction according to a given cardiac rhythm, so that alternately blood is sucked through the first conduit (L1) and simultaneously blood ejected through the second conduit (L2) to the same extent, on the one hand, and blood is sucked through the second conduit (L2) and simultaneously blood ejected through the first conduit (L1), on the other hand. The pulsation blood pump combines the functions and advantages of an extravascular copulsation pump with those of an extravascular counterpulsation blood pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: ABIOMED EUROPE GMBH
    Inventor: Gerd Spanier
  • Patent number: 9554720
    Abstract: Detection of R-peak signal in an electrocardiogram signal is provided. An electrocardiogram signal representing heart activity of an individual is received. The electrocardiogram signal is sampled to obtain a plurality of sample points, and a bounded non-linear response value is computed for each sample point of the received signal by calculating a negative exponential of derivatives of the sample points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Gurkirt Singh
  • Patent number: 9555175
    Abstract: The invention is a next generation miniature heart assist device developed in order to maintain the blood circulation in patients with severe heart failure, and is applied endovascularly to the large arteries. This device is technically a kind of synchronous servo electric motor using “direct drive technology”. It provides longer battery life and high blood flow. Small volume and very low energy consumption provide a much longer battery life and a high blood flow. As the outer surface of the parts placed into the blood vessel will be completely covered with the endothelial cells and the intima layer of the arteries in time, there will be no foreign surface contacting directly with blood. As a result, no thromboembolic event or any negative effect on the cellular components of blood is expected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventors: Oran Bulent, Oran Omer Faruk, Avci Elif Oran
  • Patent number: 9538932
    Abstract: An electrocardiogram measuring apparatus includes: a population coefficient calculating unit which calculates: first population coefficients; and second population coefficients; a personal coefficient calculating unit which calculates: first personal coefficients; and second personal coefficients; and a lead deriving unit which: calculates first personal coefficients of a specific subject based on: a relationship between a magnitude of a ratio of the first population coefficients to the second population coefficients, and a magnitude of a ratio of the first personal coefficients to the second personal coefficients; and second personal coefficients of the specific subject which are calculated based on A leads of the specific subject, the A leads being acquired by electrocardiogram measurement; and synthesizes B leads of the specific subject by using the first personal coefficients of the specific subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
    Inventor: Jiro Suto
  • Patent number: 9526902
    Abstract: A system and method for generating an estimated volume of activation (VOA) corresponding to settings applied to a stimulation leadwire includes a processor performing the following: determining, for each of a plurality of neural elements, one or more respective parameters characterizing an electrical distribution along the neural element, looking up the one or more parameters for each of the neural elements in a look-up table (LUT), obtaining threshold values for each of the neural elements recorded in the LUT in association with the looked-up parameters, comparing, for each of the neural elements, a value of the leadwire settings to each of the respective threshold value, estimating based on the comparisons which of the neural elements would be activated by the settings, and generating a structure corresponding to a region including the neural elements estimated to be activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: David Arthur Blum, Michael A. Moffitt, G. Karl Steinke, Keith Carlton, Scott Kokones, Troy Sparks
  • Patent number: 9511223
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods, devices, and systems used for the treatment of mood, anxiety, cognitive, and behavioral disorders (collectively, neuropsychiatric disorders) via stimulation of the superficial elements of the trigeminal nerve (“TNS”). More specifically, minimally invasive systems, devices and methods of stimulation of the superficial branches of the trigeminal nerve located extracranially in the face, namely the supraorbital, supratrochlear, infraorbital, auriculotemporal, zygomaticotemporal, zygomaticoorbital, zygomaticofacial, nasal and mentalis nerves (also referred to collectively as the superficial trigeminal nerve) are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, NEUROSIGMA, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher M. DeGiorgio, Ian A. Cook, Leon Ekchian
  • Patent number: 9504830
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves a method of measuring a physiological feedback from a patient in response to electrical stimulation. A stimulation parameter of a sacral nerve stimulation therapy is ramped up. The sacral nerve stimulation therapy includes electrical pulses generated by a pulse generator based on programming instructions received from an electronic programmer. The electrical pulses are delivered to a patient via a stimulation lead that is implanted in the patient. Via an anal electrode device that is at least partially inserted inside an anal canal of the patient, a compound motor action potential (CMAP) is measured from an anal sphincter of the patient while the stimulation parameter of the sacral nerve stimulation therapy is being ramped up. A stimulation threshold is determined based on the measured CMAP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Nuvectra Corporation
    Inventors: Norbert Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu, Steven Siegel, Michele Spinelli
  • Patent number: 9504837
    Abstract: A medical device system performs a method for determining pacing threshold data. Signals are received from a cardiac capture sensor and a phrenic nerve stimulation sensor. A cardiac capture threshold is determined from the cardiac capture sensor signal and a phrenic nerve stimulation threshold is determined from the phrenic nerve stimulation sensor signal for multiple pacing electrode vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Wade M Demmer, Todd J Sheldon, Robert W Stadler, Xusheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 9498618
    Abstract: A medical cable connector of a medical cable receives a medical lead while an electrical receptacle within the medical cable connector is placed into a distal position relative to an outer body of the medical cable connector. The electrical receptacle is retracted to a proximal position once insertion of the medical lead into the medical cable connector is completed. The electrical receptacle may be mounted to an inner body which moves relative to the outer body. A biasing member may be present to bias the inner body to a particular position. A slider may be present to provide a clinician with a surface to touch when applying force to position the electrical receptacle in the distal position for insertion of the medical lead. Various other features may be present to facilitate insertion of the medical lead and/or to maintain the position of the electrical receptacle relative to the outer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Stetson, Carole A. Tronnes, David W. Lee
  • Patent number: 9492654
    Abstract: A cochlear lead includes a plurality of electrodes configured to stimulate an auditory nerve from within a cochlea and a flexible body supporting the plurality of electrodes along a length of the flexible body. A stiffening element is slidably encapsulated within the flexible body, the stiffening element extending past a most distal electrode at the tip of the cochlear lead, wherein a distal portion of the stiffening element plastically deforms upon insertion into a curved portion of the cochlea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics LLC.
    Inventors: Chuladatta Thenuwara, Mark Downing
  • Patent number: 9480851
    Abstract: A multi-modal electrotherapy apparatus including circuitry for administering defibrillation therapy and for administering medium voltage therapy (MVT). A combined-use capacitor bank of at least one capacitor stores energy to be administered as defibrillation therapy and MVT. Combined-use discharge circuitry electrically is coupled between the combined-use capacitor bank and patient terminals for selectively administering energy from the capacitor bank according to a plurality of controllable waveforms as either defibrillation therapy or MVT. A controller is configured to cause the discharge circuitry to apply the MVT from the capacitor bank while the capacitor bank undergoes charging in preparation for administration of the defibrillation therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Galvani, Ltd.
    Inventor: Mark W. Kroll
  • Patent number: 9482506
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an acoustic source for directing acoustic energy to ensonify a container, a first sensor to detect acoustic energy from the acoustic source affected by an object in the container without contacting the container, a second sensor to confirm presence of the object, and a processing module to process the detected acoustic energy from the first and second sensors to identify the object in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: James A. Wurzbach, Courtney Konopka, Manuel T. Silvia
  • Patent number: 9461421
    Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a catheter handle having a handle body defining a bore and having a proximal part and a distal end. A catheter sheath has a proximal part received in the bore of the handle body, the catheter sheath projecting from the distal end of the catheter handle and the proximal part of the catheter sheath carrying a series of spaced electrically conductive members. Each conductive member is electrically connected to a conductor extending in the catheter sheath from the proximal part towards a distal end of the catheter sheath. A carrier is arranged in the bore of the catheter handle, the carrier carrying a series of spaced electrical contacts with each contact being configured to make electrical contact with one of the electrically conductive members of the catheter sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: CathRX LTD
    Inventor: David Ogle
  • Patent number: 9457185
    Abstract: A muscle supporter includes a sheet member that is to be closely attached to skin covering a muscle, a muscle strength condition detector, a muscle contraction timing detector, and a muscle assist movement provider. The muscle strength condition detector disposed on the sheet member detects information related to muscle strength condition of the muscle. The muscle contraction timing detector disposed on the sheet member, in operation, detects a muscle contraction timing of the muscle. The muscle assist movement provider disposed on the sheet member, in operation, assists the muscle to contract in response to the detected information and the detected muscle contraction timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kaori Ajiki, Sachiko Takeshita
  • Patent number: 9446235
    Abstract: In some examples, relatively low frequency (e.g., less than about 50 Hertz) electrical stimulation therapy is delivered to a target tissue site proximate to one or more of the T9, T10, T11, T12, L1, L2, or L3 (“T9-L3”) spinal nerves of a patient to manage a pelvic floor disorder, such as urinary retention, fecal retention, or both. The relatively low frequency electrical stimulation therapy is configured to excite the one or more of the T9-L3 spinal nerves, which may generate an activating response from the patient related to voiding and help promote voiding by the patient. For example, the low frequency electrical stimulation may be configured to help improve the patient's pelvic sensations, which may help the patient better control urination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Su, Dwight E. Nelson, Timothy J. Ness
  • Patent number: 9439572
    Abstract: A modular external defibrillator system in embodiments of the teachings may include one or more of the following features: a base containing a defibrillator to deliver a defibrillation shock to a patient, (b) one or more pods each connectable to a patient via patient lead cables to collect at least one patient vital sign, the pods operable at a distance from the base, (c) a wireless communications link between the base and a selected one of the two or more pods to carry the at least one vital sign from the selected pod to the base, the selection being based on which pod is associated with the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: PHYSIO-CONTROL, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Pearce, Thomas J. McGrath, Randy L. Merry, John C. Daynes, Kenneth J. Petersen, Peter Wung, Michael D. McMahon, D. Craig Edwards, Eric T. Hoierman, Rockland W. Nordness, James S. Neumiller
  • Patent number: 9433795
    Abstract: An external control device for use with a medical component implanted within a patient. The device comprises a user interface configured for receiving user input, displaying a first graphical representation of the medical component in the context of a global graphical representation of an anatomical region of the patient, displaying a view finder defining a portion of the global graphical representation, and displaying a second graphical representation of the medical component in the context of a local graphical representation of the portion of the anatomical region portion. The external control device further comprises control circuitry configured for, in response to the input from the user, modifying the displayed view finder to spatially define a different portion of the global graphical representation, such that the second graphical representation of the medical component is displayed in the context of a local graphical representation of the different portion of the anatomical region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Mun Pook Lui, Sridhar Kothandaraman, Chester Kim
  • Patent number: 9433789
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus is presented for a wireless neural modulation feedback control system as it relates to an implantable medical device comprised of a radio frequency (RF) receiver circuit, one or more dipole or patch antenna(s), one or more electrode leads connected to at least one dipole or patch antenna(s), and at least one microelectronic neural modulation circuit, and an external or internally implanted RF device to neurally modulate brain tissue in order to treat medical conditions that can be mediated by neuronal activation or inhibition, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, epilepsy, other motor or mood based disorders, and/or pain. The implantable receiver captures energy radiated by the RF transmitter unit and converts this energy to an electrical waveform by the implanted neural modulation circuit to deliver energy that can be utilized by the attached electrode pads in order to activate targeted neurons in the brain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Devices LLC
    Inventors: Laura Tyler Perryman, Chad Andresen
  • Patent number: 9427155
    Abstract: The optical apparatus includes an optical measurement module, a central processing module, and an air-puff module. The air-puff module is used for generating an air pressure to a surface of the cornea according a blow pattern to cause a deformation of the cornea. The optical measurement module includes a first unit and a second unit. The first unit is used for measuring an intraocular pressure (IOP) of the eye according to the deformation of the cornea. The second unit is used for measuring properties of the cornea in an optical interference way. The central processing module is coupled to the first unit and the second unit and used for receiving and processing the intraocular pressure and the properties of the cornea to provide a result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Crystalvue medical corporation
    Inventors: William Wang, Chung-Ping Chuang, Meng-Shin Yen, Chung-Cheng Chou