Patents Examined by Sunita Reddy
  • Bodily implants and methods of treating fecal incontinence using bodily implants
    Patent number: 9333062
    Abstract: A bodily implant is provided that includes a support member and an arm member. The support member is configured to be placed within a body of a patient such that the support member surrounds a rectum of the patient. The arm member extends from the support member and is configured to be coupled to a portion of the body of the patient to help retain the support member in place within the body of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Jianmin Li
  • Method and apparatus for endoscopically treating rectal prolapse
    Patent number: 9320587
    Abstract: A method for treating rectal prolapse, the method comprising: inserting a rectum-gripping and advancement apparatus into a prolapsed rectum via the anus; maneuvering the rectum-gripping and advancement apparatus so that the rectum-gripping and advancement apparatus securely engages the rectum; advancing the rectum-gripping and advancement apparatus distally so as to return the prolapsed rectum to its normal, non-prolapsed state; and securing the rectum to supporting tissue whereby to retain the rectum in its normal, non-prolapsed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventors: Jeffrey Milsom, Howard Riina, J. Frederick Cornhill
  • Surgical implant for treating pelvic organ prolapse conditions
    Patent number: 9320586
    Abstract: An implant including a vaginal portion having a length, width, first and second ends with a central region positioned therebetween, and a sacral portion having a length, width, first end and second end. The first end of the sacral portion is coupled to the central region of the vaginal portion so that the width of the first end extends substantially perpendicularly to the length of the vaginal portion. The implant is made of the same substantially flat, planar mesh having an anisotropic knitted or woven structure that has a greater stiffness in a first direction than a second direction. The mesh is aligned such that the first direction is aligned in a longitudinal direction of the sacral portion and the mesh of the vaginal portion is aligned such that the stiffness in a longitudinal direction of the vaginal portion is less than that of the sacral portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Chanaka Amarasinghe, Marc E. Feinberg
  • System and method for inducing sleep
    Patent number: 9314583
    Abstract: A system for sleep induction, detecting and tracking includes a monitor for analyzing single- and multiple-respiration patterns of a user and a stimulus generator for providing to the user multiple stimuli each bearing selectable relationships with selected temporal characteristics of the monitored respiration patterns. At least stimulus is operative to change one or more temporal characteristics of the respiration patterns by synchronization of respiration movements with specific aspects of the stimulus. A sync detector determines at least one measure of synchronization between at least one selected temporal characteristic of selected stimuli and a corresponding temporal characteristic of the respiration patterns for selected relationships between the stimuli and the temporal characteristics of the respiration patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Yazmonit Ltd.
    Inventor: Benjamin Gavish
  • Radiation systems with minimal or no shielding requirement on building
    Patent number: 9308395
    Abstract: A radiation system includes a support, a capsule rotatably coupled to the support, a radiation source movably coupled to the capsule, wherein the radiation source is configured to provide a treatment radiation beam, and is capable of being turned on or off in response to a control signal, and a collimator located next to the radiation source, wherein the capsule defines a space for accommodating a portion of a patient, and includes a shielding material for attenuating radiation resulted from an operation of the radiation source, and wherein the shielding material is configured to limit a radiation exposure level to 5 mR/hr or less within 3 meters from an isocenter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: John R. Adler, Jr., David H. Whittum, Steven W. Prince, James E. Clayton
  • Automatic treatment planning method
    Patent number: 9298880
    Abstract: A data processing method of determining a treatment plan including a corresponding program and a computer running the program. The treatment plan describes a medical treatment to be carried out on a patient and executed by a computer, including acquiring current patient data comprising current patient information about a current patient's body, and determining, based on the current patient data, reference treatment plan data comprising reference treatment plan information about a reference treatment plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Brainlab AG
    Inventor: Stefan Vilsmeier
  • Devices and methods for manipulating bodily tissues
    Patent number: 9282956
    Abstract: A medical device and a method for manipulating bodily tissues are described. The medical device includes an elongated portion having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The elongated portion has a defined width referred to as first width. The medical device further includes a head portion extending from the distal end portion of the elongated portion. The head portion includes a first flat surface on a first side and a second flat surface on a second side opposite the first side. The head portion has a defined width referred to as second width. The second width is greater than the first width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Ty Fairneny, Dennis Miller, Michael F. Weiser
  • Apparatus and method for providing a double balloon breast brachytherapy device
    Patent number: 9283402
    Abstract: According to one general aspect, there is an double-balloon breast brachytherapy catheter comprising, an outer-balloon that is filled with a liquid substance or air via an out-balloon-filler; an inner-balloon that is filled with a liquid substance or air via an inner-balloon-filler, wherein the inner-balloon is inserted inside the outer-balloon; a plurality of radiation-tubes connected to an outside boarder of the inner balloon; a vacuum-tube that is wrapped around an exterior of the outer-balloon, wherein the vacuum tube is used to remove human fluids and air to create a void; and a flexible-shaft is connected to an upper-head, a proximal-tail and a distal-tip, wherein the upper-head is covered by the outer-balloon, the inner-balloon, the plurality of radiation-tubes and the vacuum-tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Best Medical International, Inc.
    Inventor: Lloyd Michael Cutrer
  • Dynamic multi-layer therapeutic magnetic device
    Patent number: 9265966
    Abstract: A multi-layer magnetic device comprising two or more layers containing magnets or ferromagnetic material to be applied to areas of the body of a mammal in which the first layer has one or more protrusions and the second layer has one or more receiving zones that are positioned to align with the protrusions of the first layer. At least a portion of the first layer has a first magnetic pattern, and at least a portion of the second layer has a second magnetic pattern such that, when the protrusions are aligned with the receiving zones, at least one region of the first magnetic pattern faces at least one region of the second magnetic pattern of like polarity thereby repulsing one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: NIKKEN INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: David Balzer, Sungwook Moon
  • Method and system for assessing severity and stage of peripheral arterial disease and lower extremity wounds using angiosome mapping
    Patent number: 9254220
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for assessing the severity and stage of PAD including at least one sensor that measures skin perfusion pressure; a knowledge base that provides data on lower extremity angiosomes; and a processing device in operable communication with the sensor and the knowledge base, the processing device that outputs a visual representation of at least one of the lower extremity angiosomes that guides the sensor in the mapping of a testing site relative to a target vessel where the skin perfusion pressure measurement will be taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: VASAMED, INC.
    Inventors: Paulita M. LaPlante, Daniel J. Bartnik, Rose A. Griffith
  • Advanced radiotherapy treatment planning optimization
    Patent number: 9254396
    Abstract: A method of radiotherapy treatment planning is described. A planned target volume is identified for radiotherapy treatment and at least one volume of interest is identified. The mass, density, and total deposited energy contained in the planned target volume and the volumes of interest are identified and dose objectives are determined. At least one of the objectives is a function of the identified mass, density, or deposited energy. A composite objective function is determined using the dose objectives for the planned target volume and the volumes of interest. A near optimal solution to the composite objective function is determined to produce a radiotherapy treatment plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Rhode Island Hospital
    Inventor: Ivaylo B. Mihaylov
  • Circular coils for deep transcranial magnetic stimulation
    Patent number: 9248308
    Abstract: A transcranial magnetic stimulation coil which is location-specific for frontal lobe regions, occipital lobe regions, parietal lobe regions, right temporal regions and left temporal regions is designed with multiple spaced apart stimulating elements having current flow in a substantially circular direction, and multiple return elements having current flow in substantially the same circular direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: BRAINSWAY, LTD.
    Inventors: Abraham Zangen, Yiftach Roth
  • Activity delivery progress monitor
    Patent number: 9242119
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring progress of a radiopharmaceutical injection procedure includes: measuring and monitoring radiopharmaceutical activity of a radiopharmaceutical remaining in at least a portion of a disposable administration set used with a radiopharmaceutical fluid delivery system; and displaying the radiopharmaceutical activity remaining in at least the portion of the disposable administration set to an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Bayer HealthCare LLC
    Inventors: James A. Agamaite, Scott R. Griffith, Douglas DeScalzi, Charles Marsh
  • Speech therapy device
    Patent number: 9226866
    Abstract: A speech therapy device configured to be placed in a mouth of a speaker. The speech therapy device includes a first bite plate and a second bite plate disposed opposite the first bite plate. The speech therapy device further includes at least one connecting member disposed between the first bite plate and the second bite plate. A method for using the speech therapy device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Inventor: Susan Ann Haseley
  • Applicable device for healing injuries with magnetic fields
    Patent number: 9227080
    Abstract: A medical device includes a substrate, a magnetic field emitter disposed on a side of the substrate, and an adhesive on the side of the substrate opposite the emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Inventor: Richard A. Rogachefsky
  • Radiotherapy apparatus controller and radiotherapy apparatus control method
    Patent number: 9220919
    Abstract: A radiotherapy apparatus control method includes: collecting a planning-stage position where a patient is arranged during a planning stage; collecting a position-adjusting-stage position where the patient is arranged during a position-adjusting stage; calculating a treatment-stage position, a gantry-angle offset value and a ring-angle offset value such that an orientation in which an irradiation head is arranged with respect to the treatment-stage position, when a ring is arranged while deviating from a ring angle by the ring-angle offset value and a gantry is arranged while deviating from a gantry angle by the gantry-angle offset value, coincides with an orientation in which the irradiation head is arranged with respect to the planning-stage position, when the ring is arranged at the ring angle and the gantry is arranged at the gantry angle. After that, the patient is arranged at a patient position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Masumoto, Hiroyuki Shibata, Shuji Kaneko
  • Hearing aid and method of implanting a hearing aid
    Patent number: 9215537
    Abstract: A hearing aid including a permanent magnet to be fixed at a patient's incus (26), an audio signal source (14), an audio signal processing unit (16) for processing audio signals from the audio signal source, a driver unit (18) including a coil (22) for generating a magnetic field (25) that vibrates the permanent magnet according to the processed audio signals in order to stimulate the patient's hearing, and a measurement arrangement (56, 58, 60) for measuring the magnetic coupling between the coil and the permanent magnet in order to adjust the position of the coil or the input signals to the coil provided by the driver unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventor: Stefan Menzl
  • Brain state support apparatus and program
    Patent number: 9204831
    Abstract: The brain state support apparatus 1 comprises a stimulus applying device 2, a light detecting device 3, a calculating section 13 for calculating the changed amount of total hemoglobin and the changed amount of oxygen saturation based on the light information, a determination section 14 for determining whether the brain state of the human body is in at least one of a relaxation mode, a concentration mode and an intermediate mode, based on the changed amount of total hemoglobin and the changed amount of oxygen saturation by applying a stimulus of an electrical signal having a predetermined frequency to the acupoint of the human body through the stimulus applying device 2; and a stimulus adjusting section 15 for adjusting a quantity of stimulus to be applied to an acupoint of the human body by the stimulus applying device 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Inventors: Mitsunori Minami, Toshinori Kato
  • Transponder strings
    Patent number: 9198654
    Abstract: A transponder string comprising multiple transponders is configured for injection into human tissue. In one embodiment, the transponders are sized to move through a needle for injection into the human tissue. Positions of the transponders with reference to one another may be maintained by coupling the transponders via a filament, adhesive backed substrate, shrink tubing, and/or any other suitable substrate. The transponders are configured to transmit data to a mobile computing device, e.g., a wand, smart phone or wireless tablet positioned outside the human tissue such that positions of the transponders are determinable, e.g., during an excision surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Health Beacons, Inc.
    Inventors: Murray A. Reicher, Robert Petcavich
  • Auxiliary controls for infant care apparatus
    Patent number: 9198816
    Abstract: An infant care station includes a horizontal surface configured to support an infant patient wherein at least one wall extends generally vertically from the horizontal surface. The horizontal surface and at least one wall define a microenvironment. A processor operates a display mounted to the care station at a location external to the microenvironment to present a graphical user interface. An auxiliary input device is located within the microenvironment, is communicatively connected to the processor, and is configured for operation by a clinician to interact with the graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: James Patrick Cipriano