Patents Examined by William Thomson
  • Patent number: 9326872
    Abstract: A handle assembly for use in the deployment of a medical device via a plurality of deployment lines that extend through a catheter. The handle assembly includes a plurality of removable members for deployment or actuation of the medical device. The handle assembly also includes an actuating mechanism for displacing a wire extending through the catheter for actuating the medical device independently of the plurality of removable members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventor: Justin W. Sokel
  • Patent number: 9326705
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for monitoring characteristics of a subject. A system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a sensor subsystem including at least one respiratory sensor disposed proximate to the subject and configured to detect a respiratory characteristic of the subject, wherein the sensor subsystem is configured to generate and transmit at least one respiratory signal representing the respiratory characteristic, and at least one physiological sensor disposed proximate to the subject and configured to detect a physiological characteristic of the subject, wherein the sensor subsystem is configured to generate and transmit at least one physiological signal representing the physiological characteristic, and a processor subsystem in communication with the sensor subsystem, the processor subsystem being configured to receive at least one of the at least one respiratory signal and the at least one physiological signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: ADIDAS AG
    Inventor: P. Alexander Derchak
  • Patent number: 9326694
    Abstract: A mobile terminal for measuring a biological signal is disclosed. The mobile terminal for measuring a biological signal includes an electrocardiogram electrode unit having a first electrode provided in a front surface of a body of the mobile terminal and a second electrode provided in a first side surface of the mobile terminal body for measuring an electrocardiogram signal through the first electrode and the second electrode, a sensor unit provided in a second side surface of the mobile terminal body for measuring a pulse wave signal, a controller provided within the mobile terminal for analyzing the electrocardiogram signal received from the electrocardiogram electrode unit and the pulse wave signal received from the sensor unit and a radio frequency unit for transmitting an analyzed result by the control of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Geol Cho, Sang Hun Lee, Chul Ho Cho, Sun Tae Jung
  • Patent number: 9320416
    Abstract: Two or more telemanipulated surgical instruments are inserted through a guide tube. Each instrument has a transmission mechanism that transmits actuating forces from actuators to components of the instrument. The transmission mechanisms are arranged around an extended centerline of the guide tube and are wedge-shaped so that they can be positioned more closely to the extended centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Cooper, Anthony K. McGrogan
  • Patent number: 9320443
    Abstract: A system for detecting impending acute cardiac decompensation of a patient includes impedance circuitry, an activity sensor, and a processor system. The impedance circuitry measures a hydration signal of the patient, wherein the hydration signal corresponds to a tissue hydration of the patient. The activity sensor to measure an activity level of the patient, and the processor system includes a computer readable memory in communication with the impedance circuitry and the activity sensor, wherein the computer readable memory of the processor system embodies instructions to combine the hydration signal and the activity level of the patient to detect the impending acute cardiac decompensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic Monitoring, Inc.
    Inventors: Imad Libbus, Mark J. Bly, Kristofer J. James, Scott T. Mazar, Jerry S. Wang
  • Patent number: 9320646
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may allow each of the surgical steps of a surgical procedure to be defined and associated with a function of the surgical console using a GUI. The defined surgical procedure can then be saved and later invoked by a user of the surgical console to conduct the surgical procedure. When the saved surgical procedure is invoked representations of the defined surgical steps are displayed to the user using a GUI so the user can conduct the surgical procedure by navigating through the representations of the surgical steps such that when a representation of a surgical step is selected the surgical console is configured according to the functionality associated with that surgical step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Kirk W. Todd, Paul J. Essex, Johan Ekvall, Torsten A. Gelland, Roger D. Thomas
  • Patent number: 9320455
    Abstract: Ingestible event markers having high reliability are provided. Aspects of the ingestible event markers include a support, a control circuit, a first electrochemical material, a second electrochemical material and a membrane. In addition, the ingestible event markers may include one or more components that impart high reliability to the ingestible event marker. Further, the ingestible event markers may include an active agent. In some aspects, the active agent, such as a pharmaceutically active agent or a diagnostic agent may be associated with the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Hooman Hafezi, Kityee Au-Yeung, Robert Duck, Maria Casillas Holen, Timothy Robertson, Benedict James Costello
  • Patent number: 9308392
    Abstract: A variety of methods, devices, systems and arrangements are implemented for stimulation of the peripheral nervous system. Consistent with one embodiment of the present invention, method is implemented in which light-responsive channels or pumps are engineered in a set of motor units that includes motor units of differing physical volumes. Optical stimuli are also provided to the light-responsive channels or pumps at an optical intensity that is a function of the size of motor units to be recruited. In certain implementations, the intensity of the optical stimuli is increased so as to recruit increasingly larger motor units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Karl Deisseroth, Scott L. Delp, Michael E. Llewellyn, Christine A. McLeavey Payne
  • Patent number: 9308129
    Abstract: An ophthalmic laser treatment apparatus for treating an eye including: an irradiation unit including a laser source, and a scanner for scanning an irradiation spot from the laser source onto a tissue of the eye in two dimensions; a memory for storing a plurality of predetermined irradiation patterns in each of which a plurality of the irradiation spots are arranged in a predetermined arrangement; an irradiation pattern selecting unit including a switch for inputting a signal to select a pattern from the patterns stored in the memory; an pattern changing unit including a switch for inputting a signal to change part of the arrangement of the irradiation pattern in which irradiation spots are arranged on the basis of the selected irradiation pattern; and a control unit for controlling driving of the irradiation unit to sequentially irradiate the beam based on the irradiation pattern changed by the pattern changing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Abe
  • Patent number: 9308393
    Abstract: A device and method for preventing and treating bedsores on a lying patient. The device uses both a fan and a UV light source. The fan dries the skin while the UV light source aids in drying the patient as well as killing harmful pathogens. The device is adjustable so the air and UV light can be directed at various angles and from different heights, to a patient in different positions, prone, supine, and laying on side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: DRI-EM, Inc.
    Inventor: Guadalupe Olvera
  • Patent number: 9302118
    Abstract: A phototherapy device includes an outlet end to be placed in contact with a person's skin, a heat exchanger, an optical structure arranged between the heat exchanger and the outlet end, and a light source arranged between the heat exchanger and the outlet end, and configured to emit light for delivery to the skin through or adjacent the optical structure. The heat exchanger may include a first heat transfer portion thermally coupled to the light source for dissipating heat from the light source, and a second heat transfer portion thermally coupled to the optical structure for dissipating heat from the optical structure. The first and second heat transfer portions of the heat exchanger may be substantially thermally isolated from each other, e.g., partially or completely physically separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: TRIA BEAUTY, INC.
    Inventors: Mark V. Weckwerth, C. Andrew Schuetz, Harvey Liu, Patrick Reichert, Tobin C. Island, Robert E. Grove
  • Patent number: 9301876
    Abstract: A system for surgical treatment of an eye includes a laser arrangement that is adapted to emit light with a wavelength and repetition-rate suitable for surgical treatment of the eye. The system further includes a temperature-registration device that is adapted to register the temperature of an object that is to be subjected to the light of the laser arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Wavelight GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Wellhöfer, Christof Donitzky
  • Patent number: 9302069
    Abstract: A device and method for providing stimulation signals that reset the phase of the neuronal activity of neurons in a patient's brain. The device includes a control unit; and a stimulation unit that has a plurality of stimulation elements, and each stimulation element generates visual stimulation signals that reset the phase of the neuronal activity of the neurons when the signals are taken up via an eye of a patient and transmitted to neurons that are exhibiting a pathologically synchronous and oscillatory neuronal activity. The control unit is further capable of actuating the stimulation unit such that the stimulation elements generate the visual stimulation signals with a time offset in respect to one another and/or with differing phase and/or with differing polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignees: Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Universitaet zu Koeln
    Inventors: Peter A. Tass, Birgit Utako Barnikol, Christian Hauptmann, Karim Haroud, Jean-Christophe Roulet, Urban Schnell
  • Patent number: 9301878
    Abstract: A patient interface for an ophthalmic system can include an attachment module, attachable to the ophthalmic system, and a contact module, configured to accommodate a viscoelastic substance between the patient interface and a procedure eye. The viscoelastic substance can include a fluid, a liquid, a gel, a cream, an artificial tear, a film, an elastic material, or a viscous material. The refractive index of the viscoelastic substance can be within a range of approximately 1.24-1.52 at an operating wavelength of the ophthalmic system. The patient interface can further include input ports, output ports, and a suction system. It can be an integrated design or a multi-piece patient interface. The viscoelastic substance can be provided by injection, on the cornea, at the contact module, or in a space bounded by soft elastic films or membranes, such as in a bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Alcon LenSx, Inc.
    Inventors: Ferenc Raksi, Tibor Juhasz
  • Patent number: 9295584
    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: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: AMO Development, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Holliday, Mark E. Arnoldussen
  • Patent number: 9295378
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate employing a universal handle that provides various functionality and communicates with various network(s), device(s), and the like. The universal handle can be a handheld device that is auto-configured to implement rich functionality. Further, the universal handle can support remote diagnostic, prognostic, and control capabilities. Moreover, the universal handle can mate with disparate device(s), network(s), instrument(s), node(s), universal handle(s), and so forth to communicate data there between. Applications of the universal handle can be medically related, industry related, military related, etc. The universal handle can collect data directly and/or by controlling managed external device(s); the collected data can thereafter be analyzed, aggregated, stored, transmitted, outputted, and so forth by the universal handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF CLEVELAND, AMIN, TUROCY & WATSON, LLP
    Inventors: Howard S. Nearman, Donald M. Voltz, Alon S. Aharon
  • Patent number: 9289173
    Abstract: A laser catheter with a pressure sensor is provided according to embodiments of the invention. The pressure sensor may be coupled with the distal end of the laser catheter and may comprise any of various piezoelectric materials, for example Polyvinylidene Difluoride (PVDF). In various embodiments of the invention the pressure sensor is configured to detect pressure longitudinally and coaxially. The pressure sensor may provide an electric potential that is proportional to the vessel pressure and may be used to monitor and/or adjust laser parameters. In other embodiments the results from the pressure sensor may be used to determine the vessel size and/or the type of material being ablated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: The Spectranetics Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Splinter
  • Patent number: 9291793
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus is provided including a linkage and a balancing mechanism coupled to the linkage around a pivotal joint. The linkage couples to a support structure at a first end and support a weight applied to a second end. The balancing mechanism counter balances the weight applied to the second end of the linkage. As the linkage is deformed to vertically adjust the height of the weight with a different moment arm length, the balancing mechanism varies a cable path length to modify the compression of a spring and a tension in a cable to adjust the amount of counter balance force applied to the linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas G. Cooper
  • Patent number: 9283049
    Abstract: A medical robotic system having non-ideal actuator-to-joint linkage characteristics, includes a control system including a proximal control loop with actuator sensor feedback to control dynamic response of an actuator coupled to a distal joint which in turn, is coupled to an end effector to provide a degree of freedom movement of the end effector, a distal control loop with distal joint sensor feedback and feedforward to the actuator to ensure steady-state convergence of the distal joint position, and an end effector control loop with end-point sensor feedback to control the end effector position to reach a commanded end effector position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Nicola Diolaiti, David Q. Larkin, Thomas G. Cooper, Bruce M. Schena
  • Patent number: 9282892
    Abstract: A method of displaying bio-information on a screen includes outputting basic bio-information of a plurality of bio-parameters indicating a condition of a patient on one display screen, determining an occurrence of an event related to the plurality of bio-parameters, converting the basic bio-information into detailed bio-information about one of the plurality of bio-parameters based on a result of the determining an occurrence of an event, and outputting the converted detailed bio-information on the one display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun-il Sohn, Yoon-seo Koo, Hong-sig Kim, Kyoung-ho Kang