Patents by Inventor Amir Abolfathi

Amir Abolfathi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8333203
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or actuator assembly through a custom-fitted dental appliance are disclosed herein. The customized fitting is done by the user. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded intra-orally on a tooth or oral tissue. The electronic and actuator assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating actuator element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: John Spiridigliozzi, Amir Abolfathi, Emir Deljkich
  • Publication number: 20120296154
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a dental implant are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon the implant to form a hearing assembly. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: SONITUS MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventor: Amir ABOLFATHI
  • Patent number: 8291912
    Abstract: Systems for manufacturing oral-based hearing aid appliances utilizing various manufacturing methods and apparatus are described herein. The oral appliance may have an electronic and/or transducer assembly for receiving incoming sounds and transmitting processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or teeth. The oral appliance may be formed or fabricated via three-dimensional digital scanning systems or via impression molding to create a housing for the electronics and/or transducer assembly as well as to securely conform the appliance to the user's dentition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir Abolfathi, Loc X. Phan
  • Publication number: 20120243714
    Abstract: Microphone placement for oral applications are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device which can enhance and/or optimize received audio signals for vibrational conduction to the user. Received audio signals may be processed to cancel acoustic echo such that undesired sounds received by one or more intra-buccal and/or extra-buccal microphones are eliminated or mitigated. Multiple microphones may be positioned throughout the user's mouth to enhance reception of audio signals from outside sources as well as from the user's own voice. For instance, one or more microphones may be placed in contact with the inner surface of the user's cheeks to detect outside audio signals as well as in direct contact with the user's tooth or teeth to receive the user's voice through vibrational detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: SONITUS MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Amir ABOLFATHI, Reza KASSAYAN
  • Publication number: 20120235632
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for charging an intra-oral apparatus includes an intra-oral appliance having an appliance charger coil defining a first portion of an electromagnetic loop; and a charger base having a base charger coil defining a second portion of the electromagnetic loop, wherein the appliance charger coil and the base charger coil in combination transfer energy for inductive charging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: SONITUS MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Reza KASSAYAN, John SPIRIDIGLIOZZI, Amir ABOLFATHI
  • Patent number: 8270637
    Abstract: A wireless headset is adapted to communicate with a sound source such as a music player or a cell phone or a suitable audio or sound communicated through a one-way or two-way communication device. The headset includes a mouth wearable communicator; and a linking unit coupled to the mouth wearable communicator, the linking unit adapted to communicate with the sound source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Amir Abolfathi
  • Patent number: 8254611
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a tooth or teeth are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir Abolfathi, Vahid Saadat, Loc X. Phan
  • Publication number: 20120195446
    Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a bone conduction communication apparatus with a housing having a shape which is conformable to at least a portion of at least one tooth of a user; a transceiver mounted in the housing; and a transducer disposed within or upon the housing and in vibratory communication with a surface of the at least one tooth to transmit sound through the at least one tooth. A positioning system is provided to transmit positional information to the transceiver to be delivered to the transducer; and a communication device links the transceiver with a second person. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir ABOLFATHI, Reza KASSAYAN
  • Publication number: 20120195448
    Abstract: Tinnitus masking systems for treating tinnitus are described where a device is coupled to a surface of a bone or to a tooth or several teeth. Such a device may comprise an oral appliance having an electronic and/or transducer assembly for generating sounds via a vibrating transducer element. Generally, the transducer may generate one or more frequencies of sound via the actuatable transducer to transmit a modified audio signal via vibratory conductance to an inner ear of the patient to mask tinnitus during a peak of the audio signal and to allow the user to perceive the tinnitus during a trough of the audio signal. The audio signal is also modified to account for any hearing loss of the patient as well as a bone conductance profile measured from the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Amir Abolfathi
  • Patent number: 8233654
    Abstract: Various methods and apparatus for processing audio signals are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device which can enhance and/or optimize received audio signals for vibrational conduction to the user. Received audio signals may be processed to cancel acoustic echo such that undesired sounds received by one or more intra-buccal and/or extra-buccal microphones are eliminated or mitigated. Additionally, a multiband actuation system may be used where two or more transducers each deliver sounds within certain frequencies. Also, the assembly may also utilize the sensation of directionality via the conducted vibrations to emulate directional perception of audio signals received by the user. Another feature may include the ability to vibrationally conduct ancillary audio signals to the user along with primary audio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Amir Abolfathi
  • Patent number: 8177705
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a dental implant are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon the implant to form a hearing assembly. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Amir Abolfathi
  • Publication number: 20120116779
    Abstract: Stuttering treatment methods and apparatus which utilize removable oral-based appliances having actuators which are attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a dental or oral appliance are described. Such oral appliances may receive the user's voice and process the voice to introduce a time delay and/or a frequency shift. The altered audio feedback signal is then transmitted back to the user through a tooth, teeth, or other bone via a vibrating actuator element. The actuator element may utilize electromagnetic or piezoelectric actuator mechanisms and may be positioned directly along the dentition or along an oral appliance housing in various configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: SONITUS MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: John SPIRIDIGLIOZZI, Amir ABOLFATHI
  • Patent number: 8170242
    Abstract: Actuator systems for oral-based appliances utilizing transducers which are attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a dental or oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such oral appliances may be a custom-made device which receives incoming sounds and transmits the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element. The transducer element may utilize electromagnetic or piezoelectric transducer mechanisms and may be positioned directly along the dentition or along an oral appliance housing in various configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Menzel, Amir Abolfathi
  • Patent number: 8160279
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a dental patch are disclosed herein. The patch assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded intra-orally on a tooth or oral tissue. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Amir Abolfathi
  • Publication number: 20120082950
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for intra-oral delivery of drugs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunhua Li, Wenda C. Carlyle, Philippe De Smedt, Amir Abolfathi, Eric E. Kuo, Robert E. Tricca, Jennifer C. Chen, Benjamin M. Wu
  • Patent number: 8150075
    Abstract: An intra-oral hearing appliance includes an actuator to provide bone conduction sound transmission; a transceiver coupled to the actuator to cause the actuator to generate sound; and a first chamber containing the actuator and the transceiver, said first chamber adapted to be coupled to one or more teeth without contacting the occlusal surfaces of the one or more teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sonitus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir Abolfathi, John Spiridigliozzi
  • Publication number: 20120004577
    Abstract: Tissue visualization device and method variations are described herein where an imaging hood is temporarily sealed against a region of tissue to be treated while under direct visualization. Such a system may include a deployment catheter and an attached imaging hood deployable into an expanded configuration. The imaging hood is placed against or adjacent to the tissue to be imaged in a body lumen that is normally filled with an opaque bodily fluid such as blood. A translucent or transparent fluid is pumped into the hood until the fluid displaces any blood leaving a clear region of tissue to be imaged via an imaging element. Temporary sealing against the tissue can be achieved in a number of ways such as circumferential balloons inflatable within the hood or other sealing techniques. A field of view of the imaging element can be expanded by inflating the balloon beyond the imaging hood.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: VOYAGE MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Vahid SAADAT, Ruey-Feng PEH, Edmund A. TAM, Amir ABOLFATHI, Chris A. ROTHE
  • Patent number: 8075309
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for intra-oral delivery of drugs. One method embodiment includes providing a dental device with one or more reservoirs, supplying at least one of the reservoirs with the one or more substances, and fluidly releasing the one or more substances from at least one reservoir into an oral structure at different preselected doses at different predetermined time periods and in a predetermined sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunhua Li, Wenda C. Carlyle, Philippe De Smedt, Amir Abolfathi, Eric E. Kuo, Robert E. Tricca, Jennifer C. Chen, Benjamin M. Wu
  • Publication number: 20110281229
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a patient at a treatment provider's office include digitally scanning the patient at the treatment provider's office and generating at the treatment provider's office one or more appliances to treat the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Amir ABOLFATHI
  • Publication number: 20110245584
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a dental implant are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon the implant to form a hearing assembly. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: SONITUS MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventor: Amir ABOLFATHI