Patents Examined by Tammie K. Heller
  • Patent number: 10220217
    Abstract: A particular implantable device may include one or more antennas configured to receive a first far field radiative signal and a second far field radiative signal. The one or more antennas may be configured to receive the first far field radiative signal in a first frequency band and to receive the second far field radiative signal in a second frequency band. The implantable device may include a voltage rectifier configured to rectify the received first far field radiative signal and the received second far field radiative signal to provide a rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may further include a charge storage element operative to receive the rectified voltage signal and to store charge responsive to the rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may also include a therapy delivery unit powered by the charge storage element. The therapy delivery unit may be operative to deliver a therapy to a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: LivaNova USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Y. Chow, Jonathan D. Rowell
  • Patent number: 10064696
    Abstract: Systems for partitioning a ventricle of a heart include a partitioning device or implant, and an applicator for inserting, repositioning and/or removing the partitioning device. The implant may support the ventricle wall and may reduce the volume of the ventricle. The delivery system for delivering and deploying a partitioning device into a ventricle may include a catheter having a distal coupling element for coupling to a partitioning device in a collapsed configuration; the catheter may also have an expansion member for applying force to the partitioning device to fully expand it into a deployed configuration and to secure or seal it against the ventricle wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Inventors: Michael P. Boutillette, James R. Kermode, Miles D. Alexander, Alexander Khairkhahan, Serjan D. Nikolic
  • Patent number: 10029092
    Abstract: Various configurations of systems that employ leadless electrodes to provide pacing therapy are provided. In one example, a system that provides multiple sites for pacing of myocardium of a heart includes wireless pacing electrode assemblies that are implantable at sites proximate the myocardium using a percutaneous, transluminal, catheter delivery system. Also disclosed are various configurations of such systems, wireless electrode assemblies, and delivery catheters for delivering and implanting the electrode assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger N. Hastings, Anupama Sadasiva, Michael J. Pikus, Graig L. Kveen
  • Patent number: 9999487
    Abstract: A method for generating a virtual jaw image includes performing a movement recording method to obtain a movement record which comprises producing at least one position data record over a defined time. A position data record describes a spatial position of a lower jaw to an upper jaw at a specific time. Surface sections of the upper and lower jaw are scanned at the defined time during the movement recording method to obtain a spatial relation of the surface sections during the defined time. Digital upper and lower jaw images are recorded. A position data record of a virtual position of the digital lower jaw image is assigned to the digital upper jaw image. A position data record is selected to obtain a selected position data record. The digital lower and upper jaw images are virtually aligned based on the selected position data record to produce the virtual jaw image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: SICAT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jochen Kusch, Nils Hanssen
  • Patent number: 9999776
    Abstract: A method includes a method implemented in a medical apparatus implanted in an animal and configured to at least one of transmit or receive a communication externally of the animal. The method includes receiving a communication. The method also includes detecting an indication of a malware in the received communication. The method further includes implementing in the implanted medical device a countermeasure responsive to the detected indication of malware in the received communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Gearbox, LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Eric C. Leuthardt, Michael A. Smith, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9986792
    Abstract: A snap button includes a male retaining member and a female retaining member. The male retaining member includes a base, a hollow cylinder, and at least one protrusion portion. The hollow cylinder is disposed on the base, the at least one protrusion portion is disposed on the base and at a periphery of the hollow cylinder. The female retaining member includes a main body which has a hollow tube body. The hollow cylinder is housed through the hollow tube body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: ZENTAN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tong-Pie Chen
  • Patent number: 9980388
    Abstract: A biocompatible, micro-fabricated ribbon cable is described in which at least one set of conductors diverges laterally into a bypass wing that forms an aperture through the ribbon cable. The bypass wing is folded in a line through the aperture and over a central portion of the ribbon cable, resulting in a ribbon cable with a narrow, stacked region. The narrow region can fit through small incisions in membranes, such as through an incision in a sclera of an eyeball. The ribbon cable can have an integrally-formed electrode array for attaching to a retina of an eyeball and other electronics for sending signals to the electrode array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Yu-Chong Tai, Han-Chieh Chang
  • Patent number: 9968270
    Abstract: Example embodiments assess cardiovascular health by receiving, from at least one monitoring device, pulse rate data from a subject. The pulse rate data includes pulse rate measurements and corresponding measurement timestamps. The embodiments select, with at least one processor, a plurality of recovery periods in the pulse rate data. Each recovery period corresponds to a respective decrease in pulse rate from a respective upper pulse rate to a respective lower pulse rate. The respective upper pulse rate is less than a peak pulse rate of the subject or the respective lower pulse rate is greater than a resting pulse rate of the subject. The embodiments determine, with the at least one processor, an exponential decay from the plurality of selected recovery periods. The exponential decay characterizes a pulse rate recovery for the subject. The embodiments provide, via a user interface, the pulse rate recovery based on the exponential decay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Mark Murphy, Philip John Stephens
  • Patent number: 9955877
    Abstract: A wearable, wireless, non-invasive device applicable to the hand or foot, a wireless system, and a method for reducing the risk of different critical situations of hypoxia and/or bradycardia possibly occurring in victims of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), Pierre Robin Sequence patients, preterm babies, and adults, and for the prevention of the sleep apnea, is based on use of a sensor and a computing algorithm sufficient to reduce false alarms and save lives. The device is worn on the hand or foot of a user. Part of the device may be placed on the proximal phalange of a finger or a foot, or even in the palm. The electronics of the device may be placed inside gloves or booties of different sizes to accommodate the hands or feet of different wearers. The device measures blood oxygen saturation and heart rate through a sensor that is preferably a pulse oximeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Inventor: Diego Alejandro Delia
  • Patent number: 9950180
    Abstract: A implantable active medical device includes a chassis plate having a first major surface and an opposing second major surface, an elongate lead connector fixed to the first major surface and extending orthogonally away from the first major surface and a circuit board fixed to the first major surface and extending orthogonally away from the first major surface. A hermetic housing defines a sealed housing cavity. The hermetic housing is fixed to the first major surface. The elongate lead connector and the circuit board are disposed within the sealed housing cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Darren A. Janzig, Gerald Lindner, Chris J. Paidosh, Andrew J. Thom, Brad C. Tischendorf
  • Patent number: 9943630
    Abstract: A rotor for an axial-flow blood pump has blades projecting outwardly from a hub and channels between the blades. The blades incorporate hydrodynamic bearing surfaces capable of suspending the rotor during operation. The rotor has a configuration which provides superior pumping action and reduced shear of blood passing through the pump. The forwardly facing pressure surfaces of the blades may include outflow corner surface at their downstream ends. The outflow corner surfaces desirably slope rearwardly and intersect the rearwardly-facing suction surfaces of the blades at outflow ends of the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: HeartWare, Inc.
    Inventor: Mustafa Ertan Taskin
  • Patent number: 9931503
    Abstract: A method of modifying cardiac tissue behavior, comprising applying a therapeutically effective electric field having an effect of modifying protein activation levels of at least one protein, and repeatedly applying the field at time intervals timed to increase the activation levels of the at least one protein beyond an activation level achieved by natural and/or paced excitation of the muscle without the application, to an extent about at least as high as a decay of the activation between applications of the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Impulse Dynamics NV
    Inventors: Benny Rousso, Yuval Mika, Hani N. Sabbah, Shlomo Ben-Haim
  • Patent number: 9925386
    Abstract: Various configurations of systems that employ leadless electrodes to provide pacing therapy are provided. In one example, a system that provides multiple sites for pacing of myocardium of a heart includes wireless pacing electrodes that are implantable at sites proximate the myocardium using a percutaneous, transluminal, catheter delivery system. Each of the electrodes contains a source of electrical energy for pacing the myocardium and is adapted to receive electromagnetic energy from a source outside the myocardium. The system also includes a source adapted for placement outside the myocardium and that uses locally measured electrocardiograms to synchronize pacing of the heart by sending electromagnetic commands to the electrodes to pace the myocardium surrounding the electrodes. Also disclosed is various configurations of such systems, wireless electrode assemblies, and delivery catheters for delivering and implanting the electrode assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Hastings, William J. Drasler, Daniel M. Lafontaine, Anupama Sadasiva, Scott R. Smith
  • Patent number: 9919152
    Abstract: Systems and methods for gastrointestinal electrical stimulation to treat abnormalities in gastrointestinal motility are provided. In some embodiments, a system for relieving ileus includes an intraluminal catheter comprising: a catheter body having a proximal tip and a distal tip and a duodenal portion proximal to the distal tip of the catheter; and at least one electrode pair disposed along the duodenal portion of the intraluminal catheter, the at least one electrode pair being configured to detect a sensing information indicative of myoelectric activity of a patient and to provide stimulation energy; a sensing system in communication with the at least one electrode pair to receive the sensing information; and an energy delivery system in communication with the at least one electrode pair and the sensing system, the electrical energy delivery system being configured to delivery energy to the patient through the at least one second electrode pair based on the sensing information from the sensing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Enterastim, Inc.
    Inventors: Andy H. Levine, Michael Partsch, Jay Pasricha, Jiande Chen
  • Patent number: 9878154
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and devices useful for inhibiting or treating urological conditions, such as overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms including bladder overactivity, urinary frequency, urinary urgency, urinary incontinence, interstitial cystitis (IC), urinary retention, and pelvic pain; gastrointestinal conditions, such as fecal incontinence, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and constipation; and sexual conditions, such as premature ejaculation, erectile disorder, and female sexual arousal disorder by non-invasive transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventor: Changfeng Tai
  • Patent number: 9854984
    Abstract: An optical detection unit includes a light emitting portion 150 that emits light toward a target object, a light receiving portion 140 that receives light from the target object, and a light blocking member 70 that blocks light from being incident to at least the light receiving portion 140. The light blocking member 70 includes a light blocking wall 100 that is formed by performing sheet metal processing on a metal, and is provided between the light emitting portion 150 and the light receiving portion 140 so as to block light from the light emitting portion 150 from being incident to the light receiving portion 140. The light blocking wall 100 is formed of a first metal surface 71 of the light blocking member 70.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 9855425
    Abstract: Information can be stored in a cochlear stimulation system by determining an item of patient specific information, transferring the item of patient specific information to an implantable portion of the cochlear stimulation system, and permanently storing the item of patient specific information in the implantable portion of the cochlear stimulation system. The item of patient specific information can comprise a parameter for use in generating a stimulation current. The implantable portion of the cochlear stimulation system also can be configured to permanently store one or more items of patient specific information in an alterable fashion. Further, an item of patient specific information can be retrieved from the implantable portion of the cochlear stimulation system. Additionally, an item of non-patient specific information for use in processing a received acoustic signal can be determined and permanently stored in an external portion of the cochlear stimulation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG
    Inventors: Michael A. Faltys, Timothy J. Starkweather, Anthony K. Arnold
  • Patent number: 9820830
    Abstract: An orthopedic appliance for a temporomandibular joint, includes: an upper teeth supporter and a lower teeth supporter, each of which includes a front arch portion corresponding to front teeth, and a pair of rear legs extended from the front arch portion, facing with each other and corresponding to a molar region; at least one set of upper and lower pivots which are respectively coupled to the upper teeth supporter and the lower teeth supporter and rotatable in at least one direction among forward, backward, leftward and rightward directions; and a connection member which connects the upper pivot and the lower pivot and adjusts a space between the upper pivot and the lower pivot. Thus, it is easy to adjust relative movement in a horizontal direction and height between the upper and lower teeth supporters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: HI-FEEL WORLD CO., LTD
    Inventor: Sung-wan Lee
  • Patent number: 9814890
    Abstract: In accordance with various aspects of the invention, copolymers comprising styrene and isobutylene monomers are used in the construction of implantable and insertable medical devices for electrical stimulation, including, for example, electronic signal generating components and electrical leads for such devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Shrojalkumar Desai, Daniel J. Cooke, G. Shantanu Reddy, Mohan Krishnan, Michael C. Smith
  • Patent number: 9814896
    Abstract: An intra cardiac device is disclosed. The device comprises means for transforming kinetic energy from heart tissue movement into electrical energy in use, from which electrical energy information in respect of heart function is obtainable. Furthermore, a system is disclosed, comprising one such intra cardiac device and at least one receiver, wherein the intra cardiac device comprises means of communication, through which said at least one device communicates with the receiver(s) wirelessly. In this way energy from heart movement provides self contained intra cardiac devices for conveniently monitoring or stimulating a patient's heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Inventor: Tor Peters