Patents Examined by Samuel Gilbert
  • Patent number: 9554937
    Abstract: A pump includes a pump bulb connected to a pump body. An exhaust valve assembly is disposed in the pump body within an exit flow path communicating between the pump bulb and the cylinder. An inlet valve is rotatably disposed in the pump body within an inlet flow path communicating between the reservoir and the pump bulb. The inlet valve includes a spherical part retained in a seat formed by the pump body, an inlet flange connected to and extending radially away from the spherical part, and a lockout flange connected to and extending radially away from the spherical part. A channel is formed through a portion of the spherical part of the inlet valve. The channel includes an outlet hole that is blocked from the inlet flow path by the seat formed in the pump body and opened to the inlet flow path by rotation of the inlet valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Coloplast A/S
    Inventor: Geoffrey A. Daniel
  • Patent number: 9549798
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating urinary incontinence with a support section adapted for providing urethral support; an anchoring section for resisting movement of the apparatus; an insert, a portion of which is adapted to be positioned where the support section attaches to the node; and, wherein the insert urges the support section radially outwards from a central axis of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Nir Sinai, Elan Ziv, Idan Buder, Jacob Gilan, Meital Vaknin, Eliahu Eliachar, Yohanan Maggeni
  • Patent number: 9549729
    Abstract: A system includes a tool and a suture connected to a needle. The tool includes a bore formed in a tube, and a suture slide communicating with the bore. The suture slide has a curved surface formed between an exterior surface of the tube and the bore of the tube. The needle is disposed in the bore. A segment of the suture is disposed within the bore and alongside the needle. The suture is in contact with the suture slide, and a proximal portion of the suture extends out of the bore at the suture slide. The suture slide is located forward of the back end the needle. Tension applied to the suture ejects a pointed distal end of the needle out of the distal end of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Coloplast A/S
    Inventor: Geoffrey A. Daniel
  • Patent number: 9549803
    Abstract: A sling in accordance with the invention includes a synthetic material and a non-synthetic material positioned adjacent thereto. The non-synthetic material may be wrapped around or may be attached to the synthetic material. Additionally, the non-synthetic material may include slits. Methods for making such slings are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry N. Gellman, Art Madenjian, Doreen Rao
  • Patent number: 9549838
    Abstract: An erection-facilitating sleeve for counteracting the effects of erectile dysfunction. The erection-facilitating sleeve includes two open ends at each distal end spaced apart by a plurality of inflatable, semi-rigid passages that extend in a braided, or crisscross, configuration from the base to the top of the sleeve. The sleeve is inserted onto the penis and is made of a resilient material that wraps tightly around the sex organ of a user. The semi-rigid passages are of a predetermined material and thickness so that a user's sex organ maintains at least partially erect even while suffering from erectile dysfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Jose David Suarez
  • Patent number: 9549804
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for minimally invasive mastopexy, or other soft tissue suspension, which may be accomplished with our without augmentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Refine, LLC
    Inventor: Lee R. Guterman
  • Patent number: 9525949
    Abstract: Methods and devices for measuring vibration of an implanted driven vibrating elongate body coupled to a bone of the middle ear, for example using an accelerometer coupled to the vibrating body. The measured vibration can be taken during implantation and long again after implantation to check for possible decoupling, disease, or additionally impeded vibratory driving of the middle ear bone. An accelerometer signal can be converted to a displacement value and used to check for an under impeded or over impeded vibratory body. An implanted device can be used to periodically check the vibration of the vibratory body. Methods and devices can be used in conjunction with implanted devices which receive vibratory signals from a middle ear bone and use the signals to drive a disarticulated middle ear bone closer to the ear drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Envoy Medical Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel E. Glumac
  • Patent number: 9516434
    Abstract: Embodiments presented herein are generally directed to a coupling arrangement for securing an external component to a recipient of an implantable medical device. The coupling arrangement is configured to magnetically couple the external component to a recipient so as to minimize damage to tissue of the recipient adjacent to the coupling arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Göran Björn, Henrik Fyrlund, Stefan Magnander
  • Patent number: 9511241
    Abstract: A method for producing an irradiation plan for a target volume includes preparing a modulation curve that characterizes modulation of particle numbers at target points in the target volume that lie one behind another in a direction of the beam. The method also includes determining a current position of the target volume and defining a plurality of target points that fully cover the target volume in the current position. Particle numbers are assigned to the plurality of current target points using the modulation curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wenjing Chen, Alexander Gemmel, Eike Rietzel
  • Patent number: 9498333
    Abstract: An implantable penile prosthetic insert for placement in a corpora cavernosum of a penis and capable of transitioning the penis between a flaccid and an erect state. A body of the insert is made from a bio-compatible material and extends between a proximal end and a distal end. The body includes an exterior surface defining a channel extending longitudinally along the body. The body is configured to transition between a first state corresponding to the flaccid state of the penis and a second state corresponding to the erect state of the penis. The channel is present in both the first and the second state. A method for implanting a penile prosthetic insert and a kit of parts are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Coloplast A/S
    Inventor: Jeffrey Brian Taylor
  • Patent number: 9498195
    Abstract: An implant for use in a human or animal body can include a flexible housing with an outer wall and having a chamber therein. The implant can have at least one high vapor pressure medium within the chamber. The at least one high vapor pressure medium can have a combined vapor pressure equal to or greater than about the average value of the hydrostatic pressure of the implantation site plus the skin tension of the housing minus the gas tension of the dissolved gasses present at the implantation site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: AttenueX Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest G. Schutt, Kevin G. Connors, John Gillespie, Jr., Peter Dayton
  • Patent number: 9492345
    Abstract: A sexual novelty is configured to pleasure a user by simulating sexual intercourse. The sexual novelty includes a bladder which can be partially filled with air to create a pressure within the bladder. A plurality of cavities are on the bladder and sufficiently sized to accommodate a user's penis. A pump is attached to the bladder which can provide slight increases in the pressure within the bladder in order to create different levels of pressure. The penis can move in and out of a cavity to simulate sexual intercourse while the pump can be used to change the pressure during simulated sexual intercourse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Inventor: Sam B Kandelousy
  • Patent number: 9497556
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sound transducer for producing sound vibrations, which can be inserted in an ear and can be used in particular for an implantable hearing aid. The sound transducer has at least one carrier layer and at least one piezoelectric layer, as a result of which a deflection via a bimorph principle is achieved, or a deflection can be detected by picking up a voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Dominik Kaltenbacher, Armin Schäfer, Jonathan Schächtele, Hans Zenner, Erich Goll, Ernst Dalhoff, Paul Muralt, Janine Conde
  • Patent number: 9486388
    Abstract: A stimulator apparatus for stimulating an organ, such as a penis. The apparatus includes a spherical housing configured to receive an organ through at least one aperture and allow for a 180° range of motion while manipulating the organ and/or the stimulator apparatus. The stimulator apparatus provides intensified sexual stimulation through frictional engagement between the organ and at least one channel in the housing. The at least one aperture includes a cover, and is sized and dimensioned to resemble a female sexual organ. The at least one channel includes numerous textures, orientations, diameters, and mechanical features to help enhance sexual stimuli for the organ. At least one grip portion positions on the housing to allow for sufficient grip for a user to manipulate the stimulator apparatus to a desired intensity and duration. The at least one grip comprises multiple indentations that match each finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Inventor: Eric Vincent Wright, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9474909
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of systems and methods for wireless magnetic tracking are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, a wireless magnetic tracking system may include a plurality of transmitting coils each configured to generate a magnetic field when energized, an active transponder configured to simultaneously (i) obtain measurements of the magnetic field when one of the plurality of transmitting coils is energized and (ii) transmit a wireless signal containing data concerning the measurements, and a computing device configured to (i) cause each of the plurality of transmitting coils to be sequentially energized, (ii) receive the data concerning the measurements, and (iii) determine a position and an orientation of the active transponder relative to the plurality of transmitting coils in response to the data concerning the measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Byunghoo Jung, Babak Ziaie, Wing Fai Loke
  • Patent number: 9474681
    Abstract: A remote-controllable wearable massager for couples including a first arm, a second arm, and a connecting member coupling the first arm to the second arm provides massaging motion for a user and can be used by the user during sexual intercourse with a partner. During operation, the first arm of the massager is inserted into the user's vagina and the second arm rests on the region near the user's clitoris. The connecting member is configurable such that the user can flexibly adjust the distance between the first arm and the second arm of the massager to allow for insertion of the first arm into a vagina, and rigid enough to forcibly compress the first arm towards the second arm, allowing the massager to be worn as a clip. During operation, the distal end of the first arm rotates about the intersection between the first arm and the connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: LELO, Inc.
    Inventor: Filip Sedic
  • Patent number: 9474643
    Abstract: A pump (102) comprising a chamber (108) adapted to receive a penis, a non-return valve (152), and pumping means (110) operable to pump fluid from the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Ultramax Products Limited
    Inventor: John Oakes
  • Patent number: 9474610
    Abstract: An implantable penile prosthesis having an adjustable length rear tip extender. The extender is connectable with at least one inflatable cylinder. The adjustable length rear tip extender can be telescoping, or include one or more segments capable of being cut away or otherwise removed, to adjust the effective length for the at least one inflatable cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Harshad M. Borgaonkar, Randall H. Zauner, Christopher A. Wilhoit
  • Patent number: 9439744
    Abstract: A anal incontinence disease treatment apparatus and method include and use an operable restriction device implanted in a patient and engaging the colon or engaging the rectum to form a restricted fecal passageway in the colon or the rectum. A source of energy external to the patient's body and a control device for releasing wireless energy from the source of energy from outside the patient's body are provided. The released wireless energy is used in connection with the operation of the restriction device, to enlarge or contract the restricted fecal passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Inventor: Peter Forsell
  • Patent number: 9433485
    Abstract: An implant or sling device is provided with a tension adjustment system. The adjustment system can include one or more fluid reservoirs to facilitate tension adjustment. Various conduits, balloons, introduction tools, ports and fluid adjustment components and mechanisms can be included to provide selective adjustment of the tension of the implant relative to the supported tissue or organ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Alexander