Patents Examined by Ophelia A Hawthorne
  • Lumbar therapy belt
    Patent number: 11464663
    Abstract: The lumbar therapy belt is a therapeutic device. The lumbar therapy belt is configured for use with a patient. The patient is further defined with a torso, a spine, a pelvis, an abdomen, and a lumbar region. The lumbar therapy belt includes a belt, a fastener, and a plurality of pads. The fastener and the plurality of pads attach to the belt. The belt is a strap. The fastener attaches the belt to the patient such that the plurality of pads are positioned over the lumbar region. The plurality of pads press against the lumbar region such that the normal movement of the patient causes the plurality of pads to stretch the muscles of the lumbar region, including spinal muscles, laterally so as to relieve downward pressure on the spinal discs and nerves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventor: David Anson
  • Anatomical brace for dynamically stabilizing the patella during knee articulation so as to address patella tracking error
    Patent number: 11458032
    Abstract: An anatomical brace for dynamically stabilizing the patella during knee articulation so as to address patella tracking error, the anatomical brace being configured such that, when the anatomical brace is mounted to the knee of a patient, and when the knee thereafter moves to full extension, the anatomical brace applies a proximal/medial force to the patella of the patient, and when the knee thereafter moves to full flexion, the proximal/medial force is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Sports Medicine Sciences, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew M. Blecher
  • Method for automating body part sizing
    Patent number: 11458034
    Abstract: An automated method for generating digital specifications for the manufacture of a custom joint orthosis from a 3D model or scan. A 3D model or scan of a body or body part can be captured using a scanning device that generates a 3D point-cloud data set. A reference point is selected as an origin that measures the distance between it and critical points, either by the user or automatically through machine learning applications of feature identification. Additional biometric data, medical information, or user preference information may be incorporated to generate digital specifications for the manufacture of a supportive brace or an orthotic device. A use of the invention for medical diagnostic applications is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Icarus Medical, LLC
    Inventors: David T. Johnson, Evan Eckersley, Phil Miller, Tommy Mello, Donald Edward Jones, Mason Moore
  • Signal connector for sterile barrier between surgical instrument and teleoperated actuator
    Patent number: 11446105
    Abstract: An instrument sterile drape includes a plastic sheet and an instrument sterile adapter (ISA) coupled to the plastic sheet. The ISA includes bottom and top plates located on opposite sides of the plastic sheet plate and joined together. A passage in the bottom plate allows an instrument carriage flux connection to pass through the plastic sheet and the bottom plate to be adjacent to the top plate. The top plate includes a signal transmission area that will be adjacent to an upper surface of the flux connection of the instrument carriage. A flux connector may close an opening in the signal transmission area of the top plate and provide a path for an electrical or optical signal. The signal transmission area of the top plate may be thinned to allow an RFID sensor to be closer to an RFID device in a surgical instrument attached to the instrument sterile adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory W. Dachs, II, Tyler J. Morrissette, Bruce Michael Schena
  • Adhesive earplugs useful for sealing the ear canal
    Patent number: 11446182
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for sealing an ear canal for retaining a solution in the ear canal. Adhesive earplugs are provided through which the solution can be delivered, and which, following delivery, retain the fluid in the ear canal. The systems and methods may also be useful for delivering an anesthetizing solution to the ear canal of a human patient and for maintaining the solution therein for use with an iontophoresis system for anesthetizing the tympanic membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: TUSKER MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Rohit Girotra, Bernard H. Andreas, Alfredo Cantu, Nikhil Bhat, Mansour Saleki, Shrirang V. Ranade, Miranda Ray
  • Muscle or joint support article
    Patent number: 11446185
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to support articles and methods of making and using them. Some embodiments of the support articles of the present disclosure provide compression and/or stabilization to sore joints, tendons, or muscles. In some embodiments, the compression and/or enhanced stabilization is provided, at least in part, by one or more reinforcing portions. In some embodiments, the support articles can easily be applied by a non-trained user and can be worn in many conditions (including, for example, in the shower or during exercise) for up to three days. In some embodiments, the support articles or support articles also have a relatively slim profile and are thus discreet such that they can be worn under clothing without being noticeable. In some embodiments, the support articles eliminate or reduce joint or muscle pain or soreness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Diane L. Emslander, Dominic J. Julian, Jeffrey O. Emslander, Jacob D. Young
  • Silicone gel-coated wound dressing
    Patent number: 11432968
    Abstract: A wound dressing product that includes a substrate layer having an upper surface and a lower surface; a tacky silicone coating composition present on the upper surface and on the lower surface; and upper and lower release sheets covering the substrate and the tacky silicone coating composition on the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, and adhered to the surfaces by the tacky silicone coating composition, wherein the upper surface is less tacky than the lower surface whereby the upper release sheet can be removed from the upper surface more readily than the lower release sheet can be removed from the lower surface. Also provided are methods for making such dressings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Systagenix Wound Management, Limited
    Inventors: Deborah Addison, Sally Stephens, Rachel Hadley
  • Oral appliance
    Patent number: 11426304
    Abstract: An oral appliance includes an upper arch, a lower arch, and an electronic device. The upper arch is configured to be positioned within a user's mouth proximate the user's maxillary dentition when the upper arch is positioned in the user's mouth. The lower arch is configured to be positioned proximate the user's mandibular dentition when the lower arch is positioned in the user's mouth. The electronic device is coupled to one or more of the upper arch and the lower arch, the electronic device configured to monitor a feature of the environment proximate one or more of the upper arch and the lower arch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: AirWay Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: W. Keith Thornton, Alastair McAuley
  • Joint support unit and walking support apparatus
    Patent number: 11426299
    Abstract: To provide a joint support unit, etc. capable of being worn on both left and right joints. A joint support unit includes a first link worn on one end side of a joint portion, a second link worn on the other end side of the joint portion, and rotatably coupled to the first link, a driving unit configured to perform rotation driving of the second link, and a rotation regulating unit configured to regulate a rotation direction and a rotation range of the second link. The rotation regulating unit includes an engagement body provided in one of the links, and an engagement part provided in the other one of the links, and engaging with the engagement body, the engagement part includes two guiding paths and that guide the engagement body moving according to the rotation direction of the second link in different directions, and a communication path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: SUNCALL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Rei Takahashi
  • Motorized tightening mechanism for the Scoliosis Boston Brace
    Patent number: 11426300
    Abstract: An improved Scoliosis Boston Brace having a motorized tightening mechanism is disclosed, which tightens the brace around the patient's body with a motorized mechanism. The motorized tightening mechanism makes it easier for the patient to tighten the brace around their body, and also eases the task of putting on/off, the brace. The components of the present invention include a Boston brace, a worm drive, worm drive rack, a hexagonal peg, nylon strap, rivet, two parts epoxy glue, buttons and motor screwdriver. The worm drive and the worm drive rack are connected to the nylon strap, which is attached through rivet to the Boston brace. The hexagonal peg helps in manipulating the worm drive, which determines the tightens of the brace and the button attached to worm drive rack, helps to unclasp the mechanism when taking off the brace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Inventors: Sabina Vaysburd Yampolsky, Amaan Irfan Furniturewala
  • Animal hearing protection and communication device and method of operation
    Patent number: 11419766
    Abstract: A sound-limiting device is provided, that includes an earplug body of a resilient elastomeric material, and that has a first portion whose shape corresponds generally to the shape of the vertical canal of a dog's ear canal, and a second portion sized and configured to flex through the elbow region of the dog's ear canal and into the horizontal canal. A spring element can be encapsulated in the first portion of the earplug body, and configured to apply a spring bias radially outward from an axis extending a length of the earplug body. The spring element is of a shape memory alloy having a transition temperature that is below a normal body temperature of a dog. The device can also include a sound conditioning element configured to produce a signal that is audible to an animal wearing the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: CrittEar, LLC
    Inventor: Susan M. Hansen
  • Oral device having wedges and method of manufacture
    Patent number: 11420105
    Abstract: An oral device may include a body. The body may have a main portion having an arch-shaped central portion, a first side portion extending from a first end of the central portion, and a second side portion extending from a second end of the central portion. The body may further include a first wedge portion provided on a bottom surface of the first side portion, and a second wedge portion provided on a bottom surface of the second side portion. Each of the first wedge portion and the second wedge portion may have a varying thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: CUSTOM CLUB, INC.
    Inventors: Blair Feldman, Craig Weiss
  • Double soft cervical collar and method of use thereof
    Patent number: 11413183
    Abstract: A method of using a double soft cervical collar including placing a first soft cervical collar around a neck of a wearer; securing the first soft cervical collar around the neck of a wearer with a sticky portion that extends from a first end of the first soft cervical collar and attaches to a second end of the first soft cervical collar; placing a second soft cervical collar surrounding the first soft cervical collar; and securing the second soft cervical collar surrounding the first soft cervical collar with a sticky portion that extends from a first end of the second soft cervical collar and attaches to a second end of the second soft cervical collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Inventor: Kumara Venkatanarayana Nibhanipudi
  • Enliner inflatable intubation pillow
    Patent number: 11406552
    Abstract: An inflatable pillow is invented to provide an effective and efficient method to improve the oral intubation procedure in the pre-hospital setting, both in the ground and air ambulances along with emergency rooms in hospitals to eliminate intubation failures. The inflatable pillow comprises a bladder body and an air valve. The air valve is distally positioned on the body so that the air valve is not in the way when a user is positioning a patient's head on the pillow. Thus, the inflatable pillow can be positioned or moved more towards the patient's neck and shoulder area for a better head position or view of the vocal cords. Additionally, the inflatable pillow can be used to adjust the height of the patient's head by inflating and/or deflating the pillow through the air valve prior to and/or during the first pass intubation procedure, thus, making the intubation procedure more reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Inventor: Gerhard Viljoen
  • Orthosis
    Patent number: 11406523
    Abstract: An orthosis for treating a spine, the orthosis comprising a body having a base to support the orthosis on a surface and an upwardly facing surface having an undulating profile to align the spine of a user and support thoracic spinous processes of the spine, the upwardly facing surface including a longitudinal channel for receiving thoracic spinous processes of the user and a plurality of transverse channels that are arranged transversely to the longitudinal channel, wherein the undulating profile includes crests that are located on either side of the longitudinal channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Inventors: Theo Roubos, Harry Petridis
  • Anatomically targeted compression clothing
    Patent number: 11399585
    Abstract: An item of clothing is adapted to be worn against the skin, and having at least one panel adapted to provide targeted compression of at least 20% of the total length of a specific surface vein in the body, or adapted to provide targeted compression of at least 20% of a specific plexus of veins, a specific lymphatic plexus, drainage plexus or a collection of lymphatic vessels. The clothing is useful in a method of reducing recovery time in a human or other mammal, after a period of activity and in a method of enhancing performance, in particular sports performance, in a human or other mammal. It may also improve the conditioning of the skin and aid lymphatic drainage, and can be used in the treatment of certain medical conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: ANATOMIC FOCUS LIMITED
    Inventor: Stephen George Edward Barker
  • Therapy glove and fixing splint for a therapy glove
    Patent number: 11399972
    Abstract: A therapy glove and a fixing splint for fixing at least one finger with a glove, having at least one fingerstall going outwards from the central region, in which the finger to be fixed can be accommodated, having at least one fixing splint, which has a main splint section and at least one finger splint section arranged on it, having at least one fixing pocket arranged on the fingerstall, into which the finger splint section can be inserted, having a detachable fastener on every fingerstall which has a fixing pocket, to adjust a contact position of the finger in the fingerstall to the finger splint section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Inventor: Petra Meyer-Clasen
  • Medical dressing for a convex body part
    Patent number: 11395766
    Abstract: Disclosed is a medical dressing having a pad and a border portion. The pad can have a rim and the border portion extends along said rim. The medical dressing can be arranged in a first substantially planar configuration and be folded along a first line, and a second portion of said medical dressing is formed and a second substantially cup-shaped configuration. The first portion can be facing and contacting said second portion. Said first substantially planar configuration the first and second portions can be connected by means of a fixed connection along a second line, which defines a second line segment having a first and a second end-point. The first and second line segments are connected at their respective first end-points such that an angle between 90 and 175 degrees is formed between the first and second line segments when the medical dressing is in the first substantially planar configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Mölnlycke Health Care AB
    Inventors: Timo Leppänen, Karin Östan, Patrick Rodzewicz, Malin Mårtensson
  • Phase change material for thermal therapy and delivery of active ingredients
    Patent number: 11389326
    Abstract: A soft thermoformable elastomer with a phase change material exhibiting high latent heat of fusion. The compound provides elasticity, softness, formability, and heat over an extended duration and to facilitate prolonged skin contact at elevated temperatures. Used in combination with active ingredients the increased temperature and formability provides enhanced transdermal delivery through the skin. Thermoplastic elastomers may be manufactured by mixing together plasticizing oil, a triblock copolymer, a paraffinic substance and one or more additives, e.g., an antioxidant, an antimicrobial agent, and/or other additives to form a mixture which melted then cooled into the thermoplastic elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventor: Aldo Laghi
  • Back brace
    Patent number: 11389317
    Abstract: A back brace for providing lumbar stabilisation. The back brace includes a lumbar support having a left support portion and a right support portion. The left and right portions are operable to move from a first position wherein the left and right portions are spaced apart, to a second position wherein the left and right portions are closer together. Each of the left and right lumbar support portions comprise a bar that at least partially delineates at least two apertures in each of the left and right support portions. The brace further comprises a line extending through apertures of the lumbar supports such that actuation of the line moves the left and right portions from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: NEO G LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Starkey, Okan Ozturkatalay