Patents Examined by William Thomson
  • Patent number: 9414784
    Abstract: A movement assessment apparatus configured to provide biofeedback to a user regarding one or more movements executed by the user is disclosed herein. The movement assessment apparatus generally includes a sensing device comprising one or more sensors, a data processing device operatively coupled to the sensing device, and a sensory output device operatively coupled to the data processing device. The data processing device is configured to determine executed motion data of a body portion of the user and/or executed motion data of an object manipulated by the user using one or more signals from the one or more sensors, to compare the executed motion data or a modified form of the executed motion data to baseline motion data of a reference motion, and to determine how closely the executed motion data or the modified form of the executed motion data conforms to the baseline motion data of the reference motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Bertec Limited
    Inventors: Necip Berme, Jan Jakub Ober
  • Patent number: 9414920
    Abstract: In a case of repairing an aortic valve by forming a valve cusp with a biomembrane, the shape and the size of a valve cusp can be determined easily. An instrument including a valve cusp sizer for measuring the size of the valve cusp and a template for scribing lines for the shape of a valve cusp conforming to the measured size of the valve cusp, in which the valve cusp sizer has a plurality of differently-sized sizer blocks attached to each of the top ends of grip members respectively and each sizer block has an arcuate surface formed by cutting each of differently-sized circular cylinders at an angle conforming to the central angle for the commissure portions and, the template is formed with a scribing portion including a substantially semi-circular valve cusp base forming portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Inventor: Shigeyuki Ozaki
  • Patent number: 9414776
    Abstract: A suite of components comprising an objective measurement medical data collection device and a cohort database may standardize, simplify, and objectify clinical outcomes tracking, culminating in population health measurements within the restorative neurosciences such as Parkinson disease individuals diagnosed with a disease. A data collection device may comprise one or more of a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a locator, a camera and a magnetometer for collecting, for example, data related to tremors experienced by the individuals diagnosed with disease and receive instruction data responsive to evaluation of the collected data in relation to the cohort database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Navigated Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Karl Arthur Sillay, John Douglas Birdwell
  • Patent number: 9411938
    Abstract: A computer-aided system include a data storage (18) with eye data (181), which defines a three-dimensional model of the eye, and a reference generator (113) for defining and storing a geometric reference in relation to the three-dimensional model of the eye. The system additionally includes a cut surface editor for defining and positioning cut surfaces in the three-dimensional model of the eye based on user instructions. Finally, the system includes a cut pattern generator (117) for, based on the positioned cut surfaces, generating and storing three-dimensional cut patterns for defining tissue cuts to be executed in a human eye by means of femtosecond laser pulses. The generation of a three-dimensional cut pattern permits the user to define tissue cuts made possible by femtosecond laser pulses in a targeted and efficient fashion in the three-dimensional model of the eye without having to undertake manipulations directly on the eye for this purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: SIE AG, SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ENGINEERING
    Inventor: Christian Rathjen
  • Patent number: 9408748
    Abstract: An ultrashort pulsed laser instrument is used to perform refractive surgery. The invention operates in ablative and incisional modalities. In the ablative mode, spiral ablation disks (10) consisting of individual laser pulses (40) are produced at high scanning speeds. Ablation profile (11) may be produced in cornea (22) by stacking and arranging multiple ablation disks (10) to produce a specified shape change. Placement of ablation disks (10) is assisted by an optical tracking and control system that compensates for eye motion. A preferred embodiment allows for ablative corrections to be performed on non-planar posterior surface (112) of a laser cut flap affixed to registration platen (120), thereby avoiding exposing the eye interior to high radiant power. Laser cut and contrast agent dyed fiduciary marks (30) may serve as reference features for the optical tracking system. Incisional procedures, such as corneal flaps for LASIK, may also be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Inventor: Gregory John Roy Spooner
  • Patent number: 9408628
    Abstract: Equipment of surgical instruments suitable for minimally invasive surgery, comprised by a multivalve device with adjustable separator to enter the patient's body and with at least one access simultaneous port for a number of components which includes an operative surgical device comprised by a control, a movement transmission element and an operative mounting clamp of a needle plier comprised by a control, a head connecting sheath, with a connecting needle lodged in its interior and the operative head; and a cauterization device comprised by a control, a movement transmitting element and the cautery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Wom Industrias SRL
    Inventor: José Daniel Altamirano
  • Patent number: 9411936
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods transmit data from a patient device to a location, for example a remote location, where the patient is monitored. The system may comprise a server system, for example a backend server system, a gateway and the patient worn device. The gateway can be configured to communicate with the patient worn device in response to a list transmitted from the server, for example an approved patient device list transmitted from the server to the gateway. The gateway may exclude communication with patient worn devices that are not on the list. This use of the list can control data throughput from the patient device to the gateway and also from the gateway to the server, such that the communication from the device on the list to the server is maintained and appropriate information can be reliably sent from the patient device to the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic Monitoring, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett A. Landrum, Paul A. Fabian, Michael D. Miller, Jerry S. Wang
  • Patent number: 9409037
    Abstract: Methods and devices to eliminate, reduce, destroy and/or inhibit undesired body fluid species, such as pathogen microbes and deteriorated or malignant cells in complex environments like blood, serum and other body fluids are provided. In preferred embodiments, an antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment is given that effectively inactivates, reduces and/or destroys both Gram (?) and Gram (+) bacteria in complex body fluids. Methods to enhance antimicrobial PDT activity include administering a photosensitizer to bacteria-contaminated fluid, after a dwell time guiding bacteria-contaminated fluid with photosensitizer through a channel, emitting radiation preferably in an intermittent manner, and restoring treated body fluids to corresponding body regions. Electromagnetic radiation is preferably delivered intermittently with pulse width based on treatment parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Biolitec Pharma Marketing LTD
    Inventors: Volker Albrecht, Gerhard Wieland, Burkhard Gitter, Wolfgang Neuberger
  • Patent number: 9408559
    Abstract: A method for preventing obesity related to infection by an adipogenic adenovirus includes obtaining a sample from a person, assaying the sample to determine whether the person has been previously infected with an adipogenic adenovirus, and if the person has not been previously infected, providing the person with at least one sensor positioned to detect when a person's hand approaches a predetermined distance from the person's face. By warning the person of undesired hand-to-face contacts, the person is able to reduce the incidence of obesity related infections. Other embodiments are directed to a kit for preventing obesity caused by infection with an adipogenic adenovirus, such kit including a container for assaying an agent indicating the presence of antibodies to Ad-36, and a sensor positioned on an item selected from the group consisting of one of a hat, a writing instrument, eye glasses, a belt, sunglasses, a bra, a shirt, and a tie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: NoHands, LLC
    Inventors: Katherine Rose Kovarik, Joseph E. Kovarik, Mourad Zarouri
  • Patent number: 9402689
    Abstract: A robotic control system is placed in clutch mode so that a slave manipulator holding a surgical instrument is temporarily disengaged from control by a master manipulator in order to allow manual positioning of the surgical instrument at a surgical site within a patient. Control systems implemented in a processor compensate for internally generated frictional and inertial resistance experienced during the positioning, thereby making movement more comfortable to the mover, and stabler from a control standpoint. Each control system drives a joint motor in the slave manipulator with a saturated torque command signal which has been generated to compensate for non-linear viscous forces, coulomb friction, cogging effects, and inertia forces subjected to the joint, using estimated joint angular velocities, accelerations and externally applied torques generated by an observer in the control system from sampled displacement measurements received from a sensor associated with the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Maria Prisco, David Q. Larkin, William C. Nowlin
  • Patent number: 9402581
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for improving psychophysiological function for performance of a subject under stress includes, after a plurality of sensors that monitor stress-indicating physiological parameters have been coupled to the subject, exposing the subject, using computer processes, to at least one training segment during which is determined a degree to which the subject has achieved a targeted level of least one stress-indicating physiological parameter as to be indicative of coherence in the subject. Additionally, the method includes providing, to the subject, feedback indicative of the degree to which the subject has achieved the targeted level of the at least one parameter as to be indicative of coherence in the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Biofeedback Systems Design, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel A. Kusik, Dejan Stankovic, Andrew M. Bourhis
  • Patent number: 9402366
    Abstract: Systems and methods to treat a region of a cornea of an eye having an epithelial layer disposed over a stromal layer. The system comprises a device to map a thickness of the epithelial layer over the region of the cornea to generate a map of epithelial thickness over the region, and a laser to generate a laser beam of an ablative radiation. A movable scan component is coupled to the laser to scan the laser beam over the region. A processor system is coupled to the laser and the movable scan component, and the processor system is configured to arrange pulses of laser beam to ablate the epithelial layer of the region in response to the map of epithelial thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: AMO Development, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Holliday, Mark E. Arnoldussen
  • Patent number: 9398880
    Abstract: A Wearable Orthopedic/Orthotic Device for diagnostics and therapy of an equine limb comprises a soft tissue compression material and a sheet of stretchable laminate material for soft tissue compression and bracing. The device includes a stretchable, porous and breathable polyurethane membrane to allow a certain degree of perspiration and heat to escape while retaining a therapeutic amount of heat. The device includes an intelligent textile layer, including fibertronics, organic electronics, other forms of e-textiles and sensors for monitoring parameters associated with tendon and ligament injuries in sub clinical time periods. The device may include an acoustic sensor for detecting the speed and frequency of sound traveling through underlying tissue onto which an acoustic signal is emitted. In a diagnostic monitoring method, parameters associated with the health tissue of the equine limb and body is wirelessly transmitted by the device to an external receiver for analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Inventor: Kelly Annette Vanscoy Barnett
  • Patent number: 9396308
    Abstract: A system and method that generates a physiological imagery of one or more parts of a patient's body are provided. The system and method combine one or more parameters relating to a particular part of the body and then generates the physiological imagery for the part of the body wherein the physiological imagery may have a characteristic that changes based on the state of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: HUMANA INC.
    Inventor: Ahmed Ghouri
  • Patent number: 9393073
    Abstract: A system and method are provided that are capable of selectively treating a vein using photothermolysis techniques, where an electromagnetic radiation is applied to tissue containing the vein. The radiation can be selected so that it may be more effectively absorbed by veins as compared to arteries. Thus, unwanted thermal damage to arteries in the vicinity of the vein being treated can be reduced or avoided. The radiation can have a frequency of approximately 654 nm, which can provide a ratio of absorption by veins to absorption by arteries of about 3.7. Other wavelengths near 654 nm may be provided, for example, which can have an absorption ratio greater than, e.g., about 3.3 to 3.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Richard R. Anderson, Iris Kedar Rubin, William A. Farinelli
  • Patent number: 9393036
    Abstract: A manipulator includes a proximal end, a distal end with a manipulation device, a shaft between the proximal end and the distal end, and a transmission element for transmitting at least either a force or a motion between the proximal end and the distal end. Provided in the shaft is a guide insert for guiding the transmission element, such that the transmission element can slide with respect to the guide insert in the longitudinal direction of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Hahn
  • Patent number: 9381115
    Abstract: A system and process for treating retinal diseases includes passing a laser light beam through an optical lens or mask to optically shape the light beam. The light beam is applied to at least a portion of the retina. Due to the selected parameters of the laser light beam pulse length, power and duty cycle, the laser light beam can be applied to substantially the entire retina, including the fovea, without damaging retinal or foveal tissue, while still attaining the benefits of retinal photocoagulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ojai Retinal Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey K. Luttrull, Benjamin Margolis
  • Patent number: 9380978
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus to objectively measure stress and fatigue using measurement tools, record stress and fatigue related data in a standardized database, create automated prompts and alerts based upon pre-defined stress and fatigue thresholds (which are derived based upon individual end-user and task performance), provide a number of interventions (which can be preferentially selected by the individual end-user), create data-driven best practice guidelines though meta-analysis of the database, and provide an objective tool for comparative technology assessment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Inventor: Bruce Reiner
  • Patent number: 9381032
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a hollow cylindrical member having a flexible region along at least a part of the hollow cylindrical member and a malleable tubing disposed over at least an outer surface of the flexible region of the hollow cylindrical member. The flexible region and the malleable tubing disposed over the flexible region can bend multiple times. The malleable tubing can maintain a bent orientation until the malleable tubing is re-bent by a user. The surgical instrument also includes connections that prevent the malleable tubing from moving longitudinally relative to the hollow cylindrical member. The malleable tubing may be made of various materials, one example of which is anodized, annealed aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: GYRUS ENT, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kevin C. Edwards, Michael J. Bennett
  • Patent number: 9375142
    Abstract: A patient monitoring and intervention system, comprises an interface for receiving data representing multiple different parameters from multiple different sensors, comprising sensors in a patient bed and attached to a patient including, a heart rate sensor, a respiration sensor and a pressure sensor indicating bed pressure points. A learning processor determines a normal range for a set of the different received patient parameters for the patient by recording the patient parameter values over a time period and analyzing the recorded parameter values to determine their range. A data processor determines if the set of different received patient parameters exceeds the determined normal range and in response to this determination and in response to the type of parameters in the set and medical record information of the patient, initiates adjustment of a patient bed and at least one of, (a) changes medication administered to a patient and (b) alerts a worker of the patient parameter change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian P Schultz, Justinian Rosca, Heiko Claussen, Carolyn Joiner, Steven A Russell, Nazif Tas