Patents Examined by Teresa Woods
  • Patent number: 8930205
    Abstract: A method and system for personalized healthcare related expense investment planning includes a process for personalized healthcare related expense investment planning whereby, in one embodiment, a timeframe is defined during which the investor/user wishes to provide funds to cover healthcare expenses. In one embodiment, the user's healthcare services utilization for the defined timeframe is then projected/predicted using a personalized healthcare service utilization model. In one embodiment, the cost of the user's projected healthcare service utilization for the defined timeframe is then calculated/predicted based on the user taking part in one or more defined healthcare programs. In one embodiment, the calculated cost of the user's projected healthcare service utilization for the defined timeframe is then used to select an investment plan and/or strategy to provide healthcare expense funds for the defined timeframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. Klieman
  • Patent number: 8930204
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining lifestyle recommendations includes receiving lifestyle information and healthcare information corresponding to an individual from a personal information aggregator. Lifestyle recommendations are determined based on the lifestyle information and the healthcare information and are provided to the individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Resource Consortium Limited
    Inventors: Patrick T. Igoe, Charles A. Eldering
  • Patent number: 8924232
    Abstract: A method (10) for clinical decision support by comparison of multiple molecular signatures of biological data is provided. The method comprises comparing at least two of said molecular signatures are different kinds of molecular signatures. Furthermore, a device (70), a system (100), and a computer program product (200) and a use for clinical decision support, performing the steps according to the method (10) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Yasser H. Alsafadi, Nilanjana Banerjee, Vinay Varadan, Angel J. Janevski
  • Patent number: 8874289
    Abstract: An apparatus, applied to a vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as power sources, comprises a changeover mechanism which is able to change a connection state of an electric motor output shaft to any one of “an IN-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between a transmission input shaft and the electric motor output shaft, “an OUT-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between the transmission output shaft and the electric motor output shaft, and “a neutral state” in which no transmission path therebetween is provided. When a changeover condition is satisfied, a period is provided in which a sum Ts of an internal-combustion-engine-side-output-torque Te and an electric-motor-side-output-torque Tm coincides with a required driving torque Tr, and an electric motor torque continues to be zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin AI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Tanba, Kan Sasaki, Takeshige Miyazaki, Yousuke Hayashi, Hiroki Hatori
  • Patent number: 8855909
    Abstract: A system for determining an optimum route to a destination by a navigation system of a vehicle is provided. The system includes a navigation system, a remote information system, and a data communication network linking the navigation system and the remote information system. A method is also disclosed that includes the steps of establishing a communication connection between the navigation system and the remote information system, and determining the optimum route to the destination where the optimum route is determined based on requested information received from the remote information system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Lee Bauer
  • Patent number: 8838462
    Abstract: A computer system for analyzing a specimen processing workflow in a pathology laboratory including a display and a processor configured to provide a first interface, a second interface, and a third interface to the display, receive, via the first interface, a first set of parameters associated with an existing specimen processing workflow in a pathology laboratory, the first set of parameters including a workflow process and a workflow scale, and determine, based on the first set of parameters, current performance data of the existing specimen processing workflow having an associated current cost information and current time utilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Dako Denmark A/S
    Inventors: Flemming Juncker, Mats Grahn, Nihad Hasagic
  • Patent number: 8838370
    Abstract: Examples of maintaining or querying a traffic database to generate a traffic flow model to provide traffic flow information and determine a per-lane route for a vehicle to travel are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Andrew Wolfe
  • Patent number: 8805700
    Abstract: A medical image system comprises a medical imaging apparatus, an injector, and a hospital management server having database. The injector has (a) communicating means for allowing communication with the hospital management server; and (b) a patient identifying portion which includes a detecting means for detecting patient-specific information and a means for transmitting the recognized information, further comprising (c) checking means being provided for at least one of the hospital management server and the injector or being provided as a separate apparatus, the means receives information transmitted from the patient identifying portion, and checks the received information to identify the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Nemoto Kyorindo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Nemoto, Nobuhisa Tano
  • Patent number: 8805703
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system and method for automatedly aggregating medically related data and disseminating different sets of the aggregated data to two or more different members of a medical care provider. Some embodiments automatedly and intelligently disseminate the aggregated data such that the data that is written once to the data storage solution is usable for a multitude of purposes within the functions of the medical care provider. Some embodiments intelligently disseminate the aggregated data by disseminating only relevant sub-components of the data to different members of the medical care provider based on the needs of the members such that different members receive different subsets of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
  • Patent number: 8799024
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for providing reduced insurance premiums to an insured entity and a reduced risk of loss to an insuring entity. A program containing certain program requirements for the insured entity is created, and procedures are designed for the insured entity to meet these predetermined program requirements. The proximity in meeting these program requirements are monitored and then communicated to an interested third party, such as the insurer. Thus, the present invention by monitoring the insured entity, and communicating information relating to the insured entity to the insuring entity, allows the insuring entity to reduce the insurance costs to the insured entity if such monitoring results in favorable information for the insurer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Inventor: Timothy Gayle Goux
  • Patent number: 8781194
    Abstract: An approach to automatically detecting, classifying and/or highlighting abnormal structures such as brain aneurysms is based on three-dimensional studies of the brain vessels. The approach is applicable to effectively all currently available modalities of acquisition of the cerebral vessels, including magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), computed tomography angiography (CTA), and conventional catheter-based three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Tufts Medical Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Adel M. Malek, Eric Miller, Alexandra Lauric
  • Patent number: 8775207
    Abstract: A system maps components of prescribed treatments to multiple appointments of a patient, tracks patient progress through a course of treatment by recording results of treatment in a clinical information system and replaces multiple manual processes to improve concurrent monitoring of a treatment plan versus actual results. A system schedules multiple appointments for a course of patient treatment. The system uses an input processor for receiving data identifying, a treatment type, a frequency of application of the treatment, a start date of the treatment and a number of applications of the treatment. An appointment processor determines validity of the received data and uses the validated received data to generate data representing a schedule of multiple appointments for receiving the treatment. An interface processor provides data representing the schedule of multiple appointments to a destination system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Michele Abraham, Jean Anderson, Zhanghui Fang, Loretta A. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 8725525
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an endoscope system including: a real time clock; an interface for receiving medical information output from a peripheral device; and a control unit that adjusts clock information added to the received medical information into clock information of the real time clock when the peripheral device adds the clock information to the medical information, and adds clock information of the real time clock at a time of receiving to the received medical information when the peripheral device does not add the clock information to the medical information. According to the invention, even the medical information obtained from the different devices can be reproduced with data from the respective devices synchronized by associating the clock information based on the identical real time clock therewith. Consequently, even after the surgical operation, the contents of treatment performed during the surgical operation can be accurately reproduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Masahide Yamaki
  • Patent number: 8719049
    Abstract: An automated method and computer program product are provided for reporting payments made to patients for their participation in a clinical study in a blinded manner to the sponsor of the clinical study. The clinical study has a plurality of investigative sites which perform activities in accordance with the protocol of the clinical study. Each patient has patient ID information and is assigned a subject ID that de-identifies the patient. Payment requests are received at a software application from the investigative sites associated with patient activity. The software application includes for each patient that is participating in the clinical study, the patient ID information, and the de-identified subject ID. The payment requests are associated with the patient ID information. The payment requests are processed at the software application, and payments that conform to predefined compensation guidelines for the clinical study are approved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Greenphire LLC
    Inventors: John P. Samar, Samuel J. Whitaker
  • Patent number: 8655676
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program for programming a medical device to administer a medication to a patient includes the medical device, a scanner that may be associated with a point of care (POC) system, and a medication management unit (MMU). A computer in the POC system can directly program the medical device with the permission of the MMU after a full “five rights” check or the “right patient” check can be delayed until after the pump program is downloaded. Other workflows are disclosed for programming the medical device in manual, semi-automatic and automatic modes, with safety checks incorporated at various points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hospira, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven R. Wehba, Jeffrey Eugene Rinda, Barbara Mary Trohimovich, Jeff Pelletier
  • Patent number: 8639579
    Abstract: A call center for handling requests for medical transportation utilizes a system that assists a call center agent by automatically determining, or prompting the agent to ask for, all information needed to assess the level of service required and the effects of any applicable contractual provisions. The system captures information relating to the patient and the requested transportation, and applies service level rules representing the applicable regulatory requirements for medical transportation at the location of the patient to determine the required level of service based on the patient's condition and needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: American Medical Response
    Inventors: Mark Kalevik, Tom Coogan, Denis Jackson, Glenn Leland, Steve Murphy, Kathy Wiljanen, Mark Rector
  • Patent number: 8612254
    Abstract: A system and method to manage a quality of delivery of healthcare to a patient. The method includes tracking completion of a portion of a protocol associated with one of a series of candidate hypotheses to deliver healthcare to the patient; tracking a change in a quality of care metric directed to the patient with completion of a portion the protocol, the quality of metric including at least one of a time to rate of reduction in a health risk to the patient and a time to or rate of reduction in symptom or abnormal biometric data of the patient; and outputting an alert in response to the quality of care metric exceeding a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Adrian Warner, Crispian Sievenpiper, Jeffrey Solliday-McRoy
  • Patent number: 8595034
    Abstract: Means are provided for recording, storing, calculating, communicating and reviewing one or more operational aspects of a machine. Insurance costs are based, in part, on activities of the machine operator. A discount may be provided in exchange for recording the operational aspects and providing the recorded information to the insurer. The party may review information and decide whether to provide it to the insurer. The means for reviewing may present comparative information. Information that causes insurance costs to vary may be highlighted. Provided data may be used to verify insurance application information, generate actuarial information or determine insurance rates. Operating data may be reviewed on a display medium so a party can observe how his operating behavior compares to that of other operators of similar machines and may be manipulated so a party can understand how changes in operating behavior can affect his insurance rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Progressive Casualty Insurance Company
    Inventors: Alan Rex Bauer, Kurtis Tavis Burns, Michael Vincent Esposito, Patrick Lawrence O'Malley, Byron John Olexa, Robert John McMillan
  • Patent number: 8589174
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods, devices, and systems to monitor activity. One method to monitor activity includes monitoring a sensor activated by an individual. The method also includes recording activation of the sensor, determining a behavior routine of the individual based on recorded activations of the sensor, and analyzing the recorded sensor activations to determine a behavior routine. The method also includes identifying a change in the behavior routine based on the analysis of the recorded sensor activations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Adventium Enterprises
    Inventors: Kyle S. Nelson, Brian J. Bischoff
  • Patent number: 8503751
    Abstract: In a magnetic resonance (MR) method and apparatus for implementing fat-water separation, MR data acquired representing one in-phase image and two out-of-phase images, phase differences between the two out-of-phase images are calculated, and the phases caused by the inhomogeneity of a magnetic field in the two out-of-phase images are calculated by using the phase differences; correcting linear phase differences in the in-phase image caused by eddy currents, by using the two corrected out-of-phase images. Calculations are then made on the basis of the three corrected images to obtain water and fat images. This method and apparatus effectively eliminate the adverse effects caused by the eddy currents in the currently available implementing process of the three points Dixon method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Zhen Kui Wang, Dong Mei Wu