Patents Examined by Michael Kahelin
  • Patent number: 9642683
    Abstract: Provided is prophylaxis cup for dentistry, comprising a first section storing a first medium, a second section storing a second medium, and one or more channels between the first section and the second section, wherein the first section, the second section and the one or more channels are adapted to allow the first medium and the second medium to be mixed, in response to a rotational movement of the prophylaxis cup. Provided also is a method for using prophylaxis cup in which the prophylaxis cup is positioned on a patient's tooth. A control is triggered to rotate the prophylaxis cup to cause a first medium stored in a first section of the prophylaxis cup to be mixed with a second medium stored in a second section of the prophylaxis cup. Provided further is a prophylaxis angle for dentistry, comprising a hand-piece, with the prophylaxis cup coupled to the hand-piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Kerr Corporation
    Inventor: Dhawal Y. Shah
  • Patent number: 9642547
    Abstract: A method of automatically determining which type of treatment is most appropriate for a cardiac arrest victim, the method comprising transforming one or more time domain electrocardiogram (ECG) signals into a frequency domain representation comprising a plurality of discrete frequency bands, combining the discrete frequency bands into a plurality of analysis bands, wherein there are fewer analysis bands than discrete frequency bands, determining the content of the analysis bands, and determining the type of treatment based on the content of the analysis bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: ZOLL Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Qing Tan, Gary A. Freeman, Frederick J. Geheb, James E. Brewer
  • Patent number: 9642543
    Abstract: System and method for non-contact acquisition of current physiological data representing a subject. A first electromagnetic wave representing current physiological status of a first subject is modified by a second electromagnetic wave representing current physiological status of a second subject in proximity to the first subject. A parameter of the first electromagnetic wave representing a first physiological status of a first subject is measured with electronic circuitry to extract a parameter of the second electromagnetic wave. Historical physiological data associated with the second subject is acquired. The current physiological data representing current physiological status of the second subject is then derived based on historical physiological data of the second subject and a comparison between the first and second parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS
    Inventors: Ayan Banerjee, Sandeep K. S. Gupta
  • Patent number: 9642540
    Abstract: A blood pressure measurement device includes a measurement air bladder for being wrapped around a body part to be measured, a compression member that compresses the measurement air bladder from the outside of the measurement air bladder against the body part to be measured; an inflation member for inflating the measurement air bladder, a deflation member for deflating the measurement air bladder, a blood pressure determination unit that determines a blood pressure during the inflation by the inflation member or during the deflation by the deflation member, and a control unit that causes the compression member to apply a pressure that is higher than or equal to an atmospheric pressure to the measurement air bladder when an internal pressure of the measurement air bladder reaches or falls below a certain pressure due to the deflation by the deflation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: OMRON HEALTHCARE Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kinoshita, Chisato Uesaka, Yukiya Sawanoi
  • Patent number: 9636024
    Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating hemodynamic parameters from physiological curve images. A mobile device captures pictures of a physiological monitor display, which are used to extract the relevant physiological curve and upload it to an analysis server for processing and estimation of hemodynamic parameters. In some examples, the mobile device runs a dedicated application and is Internet-connected, which in turn connects to an Internet-connected analysis server. In some further examples, the system can be implemented using any computer that is capable of taking an image, extracting a physiological curve, and uploading it to a network service for analysis. In still further examples, analysis can be performed by the mobile device instead of via a remote server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventors: Oscar Alvarez Guerras, Borja Barrachina Larraza, Pedro Berraondo Lopez
  • Patent number: 9636023
    Abstract: A portable, cuffless instrument and system for providing rapid measurements of vital signs of a patient undergoing trauma from illness or injury comprising a portable instrument connectable via contact sensors to the patient to produce a vital sign data set including blood pressure, pulse, blood oxygen saturation, and body temperature. The instrument preferably includes wireless communication capability in a network and system including a remote server, database, and processing capability to provide access to electronic medical records, to analyze the vital signs data, report preliminary diagnoses to a care giver, including listing chronologically vital sign data for trends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventors: John M. Geesbreght, Darrell D. Dial
  • Patent number: 9636049
    Abstract: The analyte concentration, such as glucose, in a human or animal body is measured with an implantable sensor that generates measurement signals. The measurement signals are compressed through statistical techniques to produced compressed measurement data that can is easier to process and communicate. A base station carries the implantable sensor along with a signal processor, memory, and a transmitter. A display device is also disclosed that can receive the compressed measurement data from the base station for further processing and display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ROCHE DIAGNOSTICS OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Bernd Roesicke, Karin Obermaier, Stefan Lindegger, Andreas Menke, Joerg Scherer, Karin Schwind, Otto Gaa, Gregor Bainczyk, Michael Marquant, Sandro Niederhauser, Michael Schoemaker, Martin Mueri
  • Patent number: 9636029
    Abstract: A method and system for filtering a detected ECG signal are disclosed. In a first aspect, the method comprises filtering the detected ECG signal using a plurality of digital filters. The method includes adaptively selecting one of the plurality of digital filters to maintain a minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In a second aspect, the system comprises a wireless sensor device coupled to a user via at least one electrode, wherein the wireless sensor device includes a processor and a memory device coupled to the processor, wherein the memory device stores an application which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to carry out the steps of the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: VITAL CONNECT, INC.
    Inventors: Ravi Narasimhan, Nersi Nazari, Nima Ferdosi
  • Patent number: 9636043
    Abstract: A system for sampling exhaled breath and for supply of a gas, the system comprising: a gas delivery cannula comprising at least one nasal prong for insertion into a nostril, the nasal prong comprising a distal end; an exhaled breath sampling cannula for insertion into the nostril, the exhaled breath sampling cannula comprising a distal end; and a connector for coupling the gas delivery cannula to the exhaled breath sampling cannula, such that the distal end of the exhaled breath sampling cannula is disposed deeper in the nostril than the distal end of the nasal prong, to reduce dilution of sampled exhaled breath by delivered gas. The connected is configured to facilitate adjustability of an insertion depth of the exhaled breath sampling cannula into said nostril.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Oridion Medical 1987 Ltd.
    Inventors: Gershon Levitsky, David Lain, Joshua Lewis Colman
  • Patent number: 9636060
    Abstract: Provided are dermal sensors and dermal sensor applicator sets to insert at least a portion of a dermal sensor into a dermal layer of a subject, as well as methods of making and using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ABBOTT DIABETES CARE INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Jay Feldman, Hyun Cho, John Charles Mazza
  • Patent number: 9623255
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present subject matter provide an implantable medical device. In various embodiments, the device comprises a pulse generator, a first monitor and a controller. The pulse generator is adapted to generate a neural stimulation signal for a neural stimulation therapy. The neural stimulation signal has at least one adjustable parameter. The first monitor is adapted to detect an undesired effect. In some embodiments, the undesired effect is myocardial infarction. The controller is adapted to respond to the first monitor and automatically adjust the at least one adjustable parameter of the neural stimulation signal to avoid the undesired effect of the neural stimulation therapy. Other aspects are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Imad Libbus
  • Patent number: 9615757
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine the presence of and track functional chronotropic incompetence (hereinafter “CI”) in an in-home setting under conditions of daily living. The functional CI of the patient may be determined with one or more of a profile of measured patient heart rates, a measured maximum patient heart rate, or a peak of the heart rate profile. The functional CI of the patient may be determined with the measured heart rate profile, in which the measured heart rate profile may correspond to heart rates substantially less than the maximum heart rate of the patient, such that the heart rate can be safely measured when the patient is remote from a health care provider. The functional CI of the patient may be determined based a peak of the remotely measured heart rate profile, for example a peak corresponding to the mode of the heart rate distribution profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic Monitoring, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodolphe Katra, Niranjan Chakravarthy, Imad Libbus
  • Patent number: 9610447
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for use with an implantable cardiac stimulation device equipped with a multi-pole left ventricular (LV) lead and a right ventricular (RV) lead for identifying suitable pacing vectors. In one example, RV-LV delay times are measured while using different electrodes of the LV lead as cathodes for sensing. The LV electrode having the longest RV-LV delay time is identified and LV capture thresholds and diaphragmatic stimulation thresholds are measured for pacing vectors that employ that LV electrode as a cathode. Assuming at least one vector employing the selected LV electrode is found to have acceptable thresholds, the vector is selected for use in delivering pacing therapy with the selected LV electrode. If none of the pacing vectors employing the selected LV electrode has acceptable thresholds, another LV electrode is selected and the procedure is repeated. Examples with a multi-pole RV lead are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Cecilia Qin Xi, Diana Gavales, Andrew Miller, Andrew W. McGarvey, Zachary Briggs, David Bishop, Sharon Standage, Anil Keni, Richard Block, Heidi Hellman, Taryn Smith
  • Patent number: 9612140
    Abstract: A support device for sensors and/or actuators, of a node element or End Device (10) of a wireless network of sensors/actuators which support device comprises a base body or base module (1) with a plurality of faces (2), to which a sensor and/or actuator module or block (3) is mounted, and an electrical supply block/module (4). The main feature of the base body (1) is the possibility of adding to the node element (10) further sensors and/or actuators (3) as well as adapter elements, bridge interface elements (60) or expansion modules (50). The base body (1) can have a plurality of connection faces (2) with positive engagement means (54), which allow to assemble the above described modules. The positive engagement means (54) ensures an electromechanical connection between the many modules and, furthermore, assists an easy and intuitive accessibility for a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: WINMEDICAL S.R.L.
    Inventors: Antonio Mazzeo, Alessio Misuri, Virginia Pensabene, Sergio Scapellato, Pietro Valdastri, Monica Vatteroni
  • Patent number: 9603532
    Abstract: A diagnostic ECG system analyzes lead traces for evidence of ST elevation in the lead signals. The pattern of ST elevation in leads having predetermined vantage points to the electrical activity of the heart and, in some instances, the presence of ST depression in certain other leads, identifies a specific coronary artery or branch as the culprit coronary artery for an acute ischemic event. ECG measurements which are associated with the identity of specific arterial occlusion locations are calculated and used to form a classifier of the probability of occlusion at different locations. The location identified as having the highest probability is indicated to a user as the most likely occlusion location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Richard Gregg, Sophia Huai Zhou, Cheng-Hao Chien
  • Patent number: 9604062
    Abstract: A stimulator and a method for the treatment of intractable pain syndromes by electrical stimulation of the spinal cord is disclosed in which implantable electrodes positioned around a targeted area of the spinal cord transmit an interferential current that has a base medium frequency alternating current between 500 Hz-20 KHz. A digital signal processor generates a sine-wave-like waveform from a pulse generator which after further processing is used to generate at least two circuits for use in producing the beat frequency signal. An effective area of stimulation is controlled by the quantity of electrodes, positioning of the electrodes and electrode cross pattern orientation. Amplitude modulation of electrical circuits created at the electrode placements also augments the effective area of stimulation. The stimulator and method reduce accommodation of the body to the electrical stimulation and provide deeper penetration of the resultant signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Meagan Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Carroll
  • Patent number: 9604064
    Abstract: Generally, the disclosure is directed one or more methods or systems of cardiac pacing employing a plurality of left ventricular electrodes. Pacing using a first one of the left ventricular electrodes and measuring activation times at other ones of the left and right ventricular electrodes. Pacing using a second one of the ventricular electrodes and measuring activation times at other ones of the left ventricular electrodes. Employing weighted sums of the measured activation times to measure a fusion index and select one of the left ventricular electrodes for delivery of subsequent pacing pulses based on comparing fusion indices during pacing from different LV electrodes. One or more embodiments use the same fusion index to select an optimal A-V delay by comparing fusion indices during pacing with different A-V delays at resting atrial rates as well as rates above the resting rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Subham Ghosh, Robert W Stadler
  • Patent number: 9604066
    Abstract: An implantable lead assembly for an electrical stimulation system includes a first lead configured for insertion into a patient. A current-limiting arrangement is coupleable with the first lead. The current-limiting arrangement is configured for limiting the amount of RF-induced current propagating along a body of the first lead during an MRI procedure. The current-liming arrangement includes a safety device configured to couple to the lead body when the lead body is implanted in the patient. The safety device defines a first port extending along a length of the safety device. The first port is configured for receiving a proximal end portion of the lead body and covering each of multiple terminals disposed along the lead body to prevent the terminals from contacting patient tissue. The safety device provides an impedance of at least 50 ohms at one or more MRI RF frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Rafael Carbunaru, Matthew Lee McDonald
  • Patent number: 9603559
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring capillary refill time has a measurement module containing at least two radiation sources and at least one detector configured to detect radiation from each source that interacts with and is received from a measurement region of a patient or subject. One radiation source may be characterized by a wavelength that is absorbed substantially equally by oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin. The other radiation source may be substantially unaffected by the presence or absence of blood in the measurement region. The measurement module may be applied against a measurement region of a patient for a first time period, and the released from the measurement region for a second time period, and detected signals processed to quantitatively evaluate capillary refill time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Children's Medical Center Corporation
    Inventors: Vassilios Bezzerides, Mark Ian Neuman
  • Patent number: 9597509
    Abstract: This disclosure describes, among other embodiments, systems and related methods for selecting electrode combinations to be used during nerve pacing procedures. A first set of electrode combinations of a nerve pacing system, such as a phrenic nerve pacing system for diaphragm activation, may be mapped (or tested) to determine the location of the electrode combinations relative to a target nerve. Once the general location of the target nerve is known, a more localized second set of electrode combinations may be tested to determine the most suitable electrode combinations for nerve stimulation. At various stages of the mapping process, electrode combinations that are non-optimal may be discarded as candidates for use in a nerve pacing procedure. The systems and methods described herein may allow for the selection of electrode combinations that are most suitable for stimulation of the left and right phrenic nerves during diaphragm pacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Simon Fraser University
    Inventors: Joaquin Andres Hoffer, Gautam Sadarangani, Marc-Andre Nolette, Viral Thakkar, Bao Dung Tran