Patents Examined by William J Levicky
  • Patent number: 10998101
    Abstract: A method includes capturing continuously vital signs and motion data from one or more sensors adapted to be coupled to a user; capturing food consumption of the user; predicting a predetermined health condition of the user based on the vital signs; generating a plan for the predetermined health condition; and prompting the user to execute the plan with a closed-loop feedback based on sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventors: Bao Tran, Ha Tran
  • Patent number: 10987524
    Abstract: An interstitial ultrasound thermal ablation applicator for conformal treatment of an inhomogeneous tumor lesion includes: a body having a longitudinal axis; and a plurality of array transducers mounted on the body, arranged side by side and having azimuth directions parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, and having outer faces disposed in a polygonal arrangement; the plurality of array transducers having predetermined elevation dimensions defined for directing emitted ultrasonic energy to obtain a conformal volume treatment of the tumor lesions. An electronic driving method for driving an applicator having multiple independent transducer elements arranged in rows and columns includes: controlling focal parameters of each row and column of transducer elements; and controlling a contribution of each row and column of transducer elements in a manner to provide a conformal ablated volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventors: Alexandre Carpentier, An Nguyen-Dinh, Jean-Yves Chapelon, Rémi Dufait, Christophe Notard, Françoise Chavrier, Cyril Lafon, Michael Canney, William Apoutou N'Djin
  • Patent number: 10987166
    Abstract: A system for surgical treatment, in particular endovenous laser treatment, includes a laser device and an application module, wherein the laser device comprises a laser light source having at least one first laser diode element and the application module is optically connectable or connected to the laser light source. The application module is designed as a flexurally flexible catheter having an optical waveguide which comprises an RFID chip with a parameter and/or release coding, wherein the laser device comprises a controlling means with an RFID transmitter and receiver unit for reading from and writing to the RFID chip. The controlling means is configured such that an activation of the laser light source ensues in response to the RFID receiver unit detecting a predetermined parameter and/or release coding, and a timestamp is stored on the RFID chip for the invalidating of the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: IMS GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Schubert
  • Patent number: 10980477
    Abstract: A wearable device according to various embodiments may include a biometric sensor, an output device, and a processor operatively coupled with the biometric sensor and the output device, and configured to obtain food intake information of a user corresponding to the wearable device, to obtain biometric information of the user by using the biometric sensor, to identify a digestibility of the food of the user, based at least in part on a change of the biometric information corresponding to the food intake information, and to provide information of the digestibility, using the output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: So Hyun Chung, Gitae Mun, Jeong-Min Park, Seung-Eun Lee, Sun Ok Jung
  • Patent number: 10974050
    Abstract: Multi-modal stimulation therapy may be utilized in which two or more stimulation therapies having different stimulation parameters may be delivered to a single patient. This can preferentially stimulate different nerve fiber types and drive different functional responses in the target organs. The stimulation parameters that may vary between the different stimulation therapies include, for example, pulse frequency, pulse width, pulse amplitude, and duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignees: LivaNova USA, Inc., East Tennessee State University
    Inventors: Imad Libbus, Badri Amurthur, Bruce H. KenKnight, Jeffrey L. Ardell, Gregory A. Ordway
  • Patent number: 10946206
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and techniques for controlling charging power transmitted to an implantable medical device during a recharging process based on patient activity are disclosed. Various example techniques include a method comprising receiving, by processing circuitry, an activity signal generated by an implantable medical device and indicative of an activity level of a patient during charging of a rechargeable power source of the implantable medical device implanted in the patient, determining, by the processing circuitry and based on the activity signal, a patient status for the patient during charging of the rechargeable power source, and controlling, by the processing circuitry and based on the patient status, charging of the rechargeable power source of the implantable medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Venkat R. Gaddam, Reid K. Bornhoft, David P. Olson, Leroy L. Perz, Mandla Shongwe
  • Patent number: 10940325
    Abstract: An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) receives a cardiac electrical signal by a sensing circuit while operating in a sensing without pacing mode and detects asystole based on the cardiac electrical signal. The ICD determines, in response to detecting the asystole, if asystole backup pacing is enabled, and automatically switches to a temporary pacing mode in response to the asystole backup pacing being enabled. Other examples of detecting asystole and providing a response to detecting asystole by the ICD are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Yanina Grinberg, Robert T. Sawchuk, Amy E. Thompson-Nauman, Douglas A. Peterson, Paul R. Solheim, Joel R. Lauer
  • Patent number: 10940316
    Abstract: A neurostimulation system provides for capture verification and stimulation intensity adjustment to ensure effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation in modulating one or more target functions in a patient. In various embodiments, stimulation is applied to the vagus nerve, and evoked responses are detected to verify that the stimulation captures the vagus nerve and to adjust one or more stimulation parameters that control the stimulation intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan Gabriel Hincapie Ordonez, David J. Ternes, Jason J. Hamann, Stephen B. Ruble
  • Patent number: 10918302
    Abstract: There is provided a biological signal processing apparatus. The biological signal processing apparatus includes a biological signal extraction unit (2) configured to extract a biological signal from an electrocardiographic waveform measured by an electrocardiograph (1), an averaging processing unit (3) configured to calculate averaged data using time-series data of the biological signals extracted by the biological signal extraction unit (2), an abnormal value determination unit (4) configured to determine, for each data, whether the data of the biological signal extracted by the biological signal extraction unit (2) is appropriate, based on the averaged data calculated using the data of the biological signals that have occurred before the data, and an abnormal value processing unit (5) configured to perform one of deletion and interpolation of the data of the biological signal determined to be inappropriate by the abnormal value determination unit (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuaki Matsuura, Takayuki Ogasawara, Kei Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 10905890
    Abstract: An energy harvester converts into electrical energy the external stresses applied to the implant at the heartbeat rhythm. This harvester comprises an inertial unit and a transducer delivering an electrical signal that is rectified and regulated for powering the implant and charging an energy storage component. The charge level of the energy storage component is compared with a lower threshold to detect an insufficient charge, and a dynamic charging control circuit modifies, as and whenever necessary, and if the current patient's state allows it, a stimulation parameter in a direction liable to increase in return the mean level of the mechanical energy that is produced and harvested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: CAIRDAC
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Bonnet
  • Patent number: 10881303
    Abstract: Sympathetic vasomotor identification and quantification systems that provide ways to assess therapies, diseases, and conditions which affect sympathetic innervation and function are described. Because sympathetic vasomotion relies on intact, functional sympathetic nerves, some embodiments of the sympathetic vasomotor identification and quantification systems described herein include a signal processing functionality that establishes sympathetic vasomotor signatures through the collection of arterial blood pressure and blood flow signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
    Inventors: Irving H. Zucker, Alicia Marie Schiller, Peter Ricci Pellegrino
  • Patent number: 10864377
    Abstract: An intracardiac ventricular pacemaker is configured to operate in in a selected one of an atrial-tracking ventricular pacing mode and a non-atrial tracking ventricular pacing mode. A control circuit of the pacemaker determines at least one motion signal metric from the motion signal, compares the at least one motion signal metric to pacing mode switching criteria, and, responsive to the pacing mode switching criteria being satisfied, switches from the selected one of the non-atrial tracking pacing mode and the atrial tracking pacing mode to the other one of the non-atrial tracking pacing mode and the atrial tracking pacing mode for controlling ventricular pacing pulses delivered by the pacemaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd J. Sheldon, Yong K. Cho, Wade M. Demmer, Mark K. Erickson, Vincent E. Splett
  • Patent number: 10842392
    Abstract: The invention provides a body-worn patch sensor for simultaneously measuring a blood pressure (BP), pulse oximetry (SpO2), and other vital signs and hemodynamic parameters from a patient. The patch sensor features a sensing portion having a flexible housing that is worn entirely on the patient's chest and encloses a battery, wireless transmitter, and all the sensor's sensing and electronic components. It measures electrocardiogram (ECG), impedance plethysmogram (IPG), photoplethysmogram (PPG), and phonocardiogram (PCG) waveforms, and collectively processes these to determine the vital signs and hemodynamic parameters. The sensor that measures PPG waveforms also includes a heating element to increase perfusion of tissue on the chest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignees: BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC., BAXTER HEALTHCARE SA
    Inventors: Erik Tang, Matthew Banet, Marshal Dhillon, James McCanna, Mark Dhillon
  • Patent number: 10842559
    Abstract: System and method for locating and identifying nerves innervating the wall of arteries such as the renal artery are disclosed. The present invention identifies areas on vessel walls that are innervated with nerves; provides indication on whether energy is delivered accurately to a targeted nerve; and provides immediate post-procedural assessment of the effect of energy delivered to the nerve. The method includes at least the steps to evaluate a change in physiological parameters after energy is delivered to an arterial wall; and to determine the type of nerve that the energy was directed to (none, sympathetic or parasympathetic) based on the evaluated results. The system includes at least a device for delivering energy to the wall of blood vessel; sensors for detecting physiological signals from a subject; and indicators to display results obtained using this method. Also provided are catheters for performing the mapping and ablating functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: SYMAP MEDICAL (SUZHOU), LIMITED
    Inventor: Jie Wang
  • Patent number: 10827979
    Abstract: A wearable device includes a housing, at least one optical emitter supported by the housing, wherein the at least one optical emitter is configured to generate modulated light, at least one optical detector supported by the housing, and a tip removably secured to the housing. The tip includes first and second portions, wherein the first portion directs light along a first path from the at least one optical emitter to a body of a subject wearing the device, and wherein the second portion directs light from the body of the subject to the optical detector along a second path that is different from the first path. The device may also include an analog-to-digital converter, a motion sensor, and a processor. The processor executes a first filter that attenuates sunlight noise and a second filter that attenuates motion artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Valencell, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Francis LeBoeuf, Jesse Berkley Tucker, Michael Edward Aumer, Eric Douglas Romesburg, Joseph Norman Morris
  • Patent number: 10799708
    Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing invasive and noninvasive brain stimulation are described herein. In a particular embodiment, methods and systems for a combinatorial, iterative approach to modify behavior are presented wherein deep brain stimulation (DBS) and other brain stimulation therapies are implemented in combination with monitoring the brain activity of an individual to optimize the effectiveness of the combinatorial approach to modify behavior. Methods described herein are iterative and systems described herein are utilized in iterative fashion. In a particular embodiment, modifying behavior provides a therapy for an individual in need thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: NeuroSteer Ltd.
    Inventor: Nathan Intrator
  • Patent number: 10799704
    Abstract: A proximity-based security mechanism can control access to the programming interface of an implanted medical device. The security mechanism prevents unauthorized remote access to the programming interface by hackers or other hostile individuals, securing the safety of the subject. The system also allows the subject or other responsible person to activate the programming interface when changes to the operation of the implanted medical device are needed. In one example, a security interface is operable to detect, while implanted in the subject, an activation signal produced in close proximity to the subject, and activate the programming interface in response to the activation signal so that the implantable medical device can receive the programming instructions. A proximity-based security mechanism can be a dedicated device, or can be implemented in a programmable computing device such as a smartphone or other mobile computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheldon Meredith, Peter Hardie, William C. Cottrill
  • Patent number: 10786412
    Abstract: A multi-function, adjustable chiropractic table comprises a body section fixed to a table frame. A cervical section is movably attached to the table frame and securable at a desired angle. The cervical section comprises a padded head support, forehead strap, and neck bolsters. The head support is slidably mounted in a tray and translatable therein using a scissors mechanism, for linear axial traction. Pivotally mounting the tray to the cervical section permits lateral traction. A four-bar linkage, including a base frame, permits raising/lowering of the table using an actuator activated by a foot triggered wave switch comprising proximity sensors. The body section comprises a chest, lumbar, and leg sections. The chest section is replaceable with a treatment nodule comprising hot and cold compresses, or a laser enhanced spinal decompression therapy apparatus comprising a laser driven by two linear actuators to emit light according to one or more treatment protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Inventor: Mark Jagger
  • Patent number: 10765858
    Abstract: A lead body having a defibrillation electrode positioned along a distal portion of the lead body is described. The defibrillation electrode includes a plurality of electrode segments spaced a distance apart from each other. At least one of the plurality of defibrillation electrode segments includes at least one coated portion and at least one uncoated portion. The at least one coated portion is coated with an electrically insulating material configured to prevent transmission of a low voltage signal (e.g., a pacing pulse) while allowing transmission of a high voltage signal (e.g., a cardioversion defibrillation shock). The at least one uncoated portion is configured to transmit both low voltage and high voltage signals. The lead may also include one or more discrete electrodes proximal, distal or between the defibrillation electrode segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark T. Marshall, Amy E. Thompson-Nauman, Melissa G. T. Christie, Gonzalo Martinez, Kevin R. Seifert
  • Patent number: 10751524
    Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for suppressing electrical interference caused by a feedback path(s) between an output channel and an input channel of an implantable medical device. In particular, the output channel carries stimulation signals that can pass through the feedback path(s) and appear in the input channel, thereby causing interference with any input signals carried by the input channel. The implantable medical device is configured to determine characteristics of the feedback and subsequently use the feedback characteristics to generate feedback compensation signals for application to the input channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: COCHLEAR LIMITED
    Inventors: Oliver Ridler, Adam Hersbach