Patents Examined by Michael R Bloch
  • Patent number: 9271669
    Abstract: A region of skin, other than the fingertips, is stimulated. After stimulation, an opening is created in the skin (e.g., by lancing the skin) to cause a flow of body fluid from the region. At least a portion of this body fluid is transported to a testing device where the concentration of analyte (e.g., glucose) in the body fluid is then determined. It is found that the stimulation of the skin provides results that are generally closer to the results of measurements from the fingertips, the traditional site for obtaining body fluid for analyte testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventors: John Bernard Buse, Alan Charles Moses
  • Patent number: 9259160
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining when to update a blood pressure measurement. The value of a physiological metric may be monitored and compared to a reference value. A patient monitoring system may compute a difference between a monitored metric and a reference value, and compare the difference to a threshold value to determine whether to update a blood pressure measurement. The threshold value may be constant or variable, and may depend on the monitored metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Ireland
    Inventors: James N. Watson, Paul Stanley Addison, Rakesh Sethi, Keith Manning
  • Patent number: 9198583
    Abstract: A method of correcting an error in a measured blood pressure includes measuring a blood pressure at a first site of a first body, calculating, using a processor, the error in the blood pressure measured at the first site of the first body based on a correlation between a shape of a sphygmogram measured at a first body part and a difference between a blood pressure measured at the first body part and a blood pressure measured at a second body part, where the correlation is predetermined using a statistical method based on a plurality of data from the blood pressure measured at the first body part and the blood pressure measured at the second body part, and correcting, using the processor, the blood pressure measured at the first site of the first body using the error calculated based on the correlation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Youn-ho Kim, Seok-chan Kim, Kun-soo Shin
  • Patent number: 9198584
    Abstract: A control amplitude and a control frequency of a voltage applied to a piezoelectric pump are determined, control is carried out so that a voltage at the determined control amplitude and control frequency is applied to the piezoelectric pump, and a blood pressure value is calculated based on a cuff pressure detected by a pressure detection unit during inflation when the cuff pressure is increased by the piezoelectric pump. The amplitude of the voltage is controlled in predetermined steps, and a voltage having an amplitude that is a value above the control amplitude by at least one step and a voltage having an amplitude that is a value below the control amplitude by at least one step are applied, in a predetermined order, so that the control is essentially the same as when a voltage at the determined control amplitude is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Yamashita, Tatsuya Kobayashi, Toshihiko Ogura, Yoshihiko Sano, Yukiya Sawanoi
  • Patent number: 9179861
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring changes in inspiratory load of a patient's respiratory system during mechanical ventilation. The method and system calculate a first relation between a measured inspiratory airway pressure and a measured electrical activity of respiratory muscle, and a second relation between a measured inspiratory volume and the measured electrical activity. A load index is calculated from the first and second relations. Changes in inspiratory load are determined based on the load index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: St. Michael's Hospital
    Inventors: Christer Sinderby, Jennifer Beck
  • Patent number: 9164168
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for wirelessly detecting movement of a target. The system comprises a reference oscillator, a transmitter, a receiver, a demodulator, and a processor, wherein: the reference oscillator generates references frequencies for the transmitter, the receiver, and the demodulator; the transmitter generates a continuous-wave signal at a frequency based on the transmitter reference frequency and wirelessly transmits it to the target; the receiver wirelessly receives a reflected signal from the target having a phase angle corresponding to movement of the target and converts the reflected signal into an intermediate frequency signal based on the receiver reference frequency; the demodulator demodulates the intermediate frequency signal into an in-phase component and a quadrature component; and the processor converts the in-phase component and the quadrature component into a movement signal corresponding to movement of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Wright State University
    Inventor: Douglas T. Petkie
  • Patent number: 9138168
    Abstract: A videorhinohygrometric measuring apparatus (1) for evaluating parameters associated to the expiratory flow outlet from the nostrils, comprising a camera (4) for acquiring the dynamic image of the condensation that the flow generates on a suitable collecting surface (21) and a processor (5) for the acquired image, operatively connected to the camera (4) and apt to output at least one of the above-mentioned entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: UNIVERSITA CAMPUS BIO-MEDICO DI ROMA
    Inventors: Manuele Casale, Fabrizio Salvinelli, Roberto Setola, Paolo Soda, Valerio Cusimano
  • Patent number: 9119537
    Abstract: A blood pressure measuring apparatus which measures a blood pressure in a step of gradually changing a cuff pressure adapted to press an artery, includes: a pulse wave detecting unit; a pulse wave interval measuring unit; a waveform information storing unit; a change trend calculating unit; a waveform information comparing unit; and a determining unit which, when first two of the pulse waves, which are successively detected at different cuff pressures, satisfy a predetermined condition: that a magnitude relationship between the amplitudes of the first two of the pulse waves is consistent with the change trend of the first two of the pulse waves; that the pulse wave interval between the first two of the pulse waves is within a predetermined range; and that the waveform information of the first two of the pulse waves approximately coincide with each other, determines that the amplitude of latter one of the first two of the pulse waves is to be used for calculating the blood pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideaki Hirahara
  • Patent number: 9066696
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sensor insertion and removing device which is user-friendly and which does not cause infection. The sensor insertion and removing device has a sensor; a puncture blade member; a housing which houses the sensor and the puncture blade member; a guide part which is provided within the housing and which glidably supports the puncture blade member; a puncture blade operating part which inserts the sensor under the skin by causing the puncture blade member to glide along the guide part integrally with the sensor, upon delivering the puncture blade member outside the housing to puncture the skin, and which causes the puncture blade member to glide along the guide part in a state of being separated from the sensor, upon removing the puncture blade member from under the skin into the housing, and a sensor operating part which pulls out the sensor from under the skin and removes it from under the skin into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Shoshihara, Yosuke Murase, Akihiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9033891
    Abstract: A multichamber sphygmomanometer is provided with a set of inflatable chambers (2) that may be selectively used and connected to the air pressure pump (20) by means of a chamber selector device (4). In an embodiment, the selector device (4) operates through assigned manual connections (5) and selective connections (6). In another embodiment, the selector device (4) has a selection controller (4c) which valve shutter (4b) operates between an inlet path (7) corresponding to the air pressure pump (20) and the outlet paths (6) corresponding to the inflatable chambers (2), including the possibility to use a positional identification system (10) which allows selecting (8) the most appropriate chamber (2) for each case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventor: Ricardo Rodriguez Aranciva
  • Patent number: 9028419
    Abstract: A blood pressure cuff includes a first bladder having a width, and a length transverse to the width. The blood pressure cuff also includes a second bladder connected to the first bladder and a port fluidly connected to at least one of the first and second bladders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Quinn, John A. Lane, Raymond A. Lia, Sean R. Karla, Robert L. Vivenzio
  • Patent number: 9017259
    Abstract: A region of skin, other than the fingertips, is stimulated. After stimulation, an opening is created in the skin (e.g., by lancing the skin) to cause a flow of body fluid from the region. At least a portion of this body fluid is transported to a testing device where the concentration of analyte (e.g., glucose) in the body fluid is then determined. It is found that the stimulation of the skin provides results that are generally closer to the results of measurements from the fingertips, the traditional site for obtaining body fluid for analyte testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventors: John Bernard Buse, Alan Charles Moses
  • Patent number: 9008745
    Abstract: A microsensor and method of manufacture for a microsensor, comprising an array of filaments, wherein each filament of the array of filaments comprises a substrate and a conductive layer coupled to the substrate and configured to facilitate analyte detection. Each filament of the array of filaments can further comprise an insulating layer configured to isolate regions defined by the conductive layer for analyte detection, a sensing layer coupled to the conductive layer, configured to enable transduction of an ionic concentration to an electronic voltage, and a selective coating coupled to the sensing layer, configured to facilitate detection of specific target analytes/ions. The microsensor facilitates detection of at least one analyte present in a body fluid of a user interfacing with the microsensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Sano Intelligence, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashwin Pushpala, Alan Szmodis, Matthew Chapman, Weldon Hall, Scott Miller, Hooman Hafezi
  • Patent number: 8915861
    Abstract: An adaptor is adapted to be attached on a face of the subject to collect expiration gas of the subject. An airway case is formed with a chamber, and adapted to be coupled with a carbon dioxide sensor so that carbon dioxide in the expiration gas flowing through the chamber is detected by the carbon dioxide sensor. Nasal tubes are adapted to be inserted into nostrils of the subject when the adaptor is attached on the face of the subject. The nasal tubes are adapted to lead nasal expiration gas of the subject to the chamber. A mouth guide is adapted to lead oral expiration gas of the subject to the chamber when the adaptor is attached on the face of the subject. A branch tube is communicating with the nasal tubes and adapted to lead pressure generated by the nasal expiration gas to an external pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Yamamori, Noriaki Tadokoro
  • Patent number: 8864677
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are related to devices and methods for myocardial ischemia detection, amongst other things. In an embodiment, the invention includes an implantable medical device including control circuitry, an electrical field sensor in communication with the control circuitry, the electrical field sensor configured to generate a signal corresponding to cardiac electrical fields. The implantable medical device can also include a chemical sensor in communication with the control circuitry, the chemical sensor configured to generate a signal corresponding to the concentration of a physiological analyte that affects cardiac electrical field waveform morphology. The control circuitry can be configured to monitor for the presence of myocardial ischemia by evaluating both the signal generated by the electrical field sensor and the signal generated by the chemical sensor. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Li, Haresh G. Sachanandani, Michael John Kane, Yi Zhang
  • Patent number: 8864678
    Abstract: A blood pressure measuring method, according to which a pulse oscillogram of a patient is defined, the blood pressure is then determined from the pulse oscillogram and displayed. Reliable blood pressure values are obtained without additional cost to the user, by obtaining an evaluation criterion for the presence of haemodynamic stability from the individual pulse oscillogram, the determination of the blood pressure value or the determined blood pressure value being related to the criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Beurer GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Klaus Forstner
  • Patent number: 8834366
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing data processing and control for use in verifying the stability of sensor sensitivity of an analyte sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Hayter, Geoffrey V. McGarraugh, Andrew H. Naegeli, John C. Mazza, Benjamin J. Feldman, Scott Harper
  • Patent number: 8795176
    Abstract: A region of skin, other than the fingertips, is stimulated. After stimulation, an opening is created in the skin (e.g., by lancing the skin) to cause a flow of body fluid from the region. At least a portion of this body fluid is transported to a testing device where the concentration of analyte (e.g., glucose) in the body fluid is then determined. It is found that the stimulation of the skin provides results that are generally closer to the results of measurements from the fingertips, the traditional site for obtaining body fluid for analyte testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventors: John Bernard Buse, Alan Charles Moses
  • Patent number: 8777866
    Abstract: A pulse rate counting device includes: a short-term average value calculation unit for calculating an average interval of predetermined previous pulses; a fluctuation amount calculation device for calculating the amount of fluctuation on the basis of the difference between the average interval and an actual pulse wave interval; a search range determination unit for calculating the width of the search range, calculating an amount of displacement on the basis of a time change of the average interval, and determining as a search range a range including an appearance prediction value of the next detection point calculated from the average interval and indicated by the width of the search range from a starting point determined on the basis of the amount of displacement; and a pulse wave interval detection unit for detecting the detection point in the determined search range, and outputting a pulse wave interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Chikako Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8753276
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an implantable medical device includes a controller circuit, a posture sensing circuit, and a physiological sensing circuit. The controller circuit senses a change in a physiological signal as a result of a change in posture, and generates a response as a function of that change. In another embodiment, the controller circuit identifies a heart failure condition as a function of the change in the physiological signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hatlestad, Imad Libbus, Aaron Lewicke