Patents by Inventor Darrell Christensen

Darrell Christensen 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: 10500086
    Abstract: An orthotic obstructive sleep apnea treatment device is provided that includes a hyoid bone attachment element disposed to attach a ferric element to a hyoid bone, where the ferric element is disposed to face along a treatment vector from the hyoid bone, and the treatment vector is oriented relative to a sagittal plane of a human. The orthotic obstructive sleep apnea treatment device further includes an external orthotic neck device having a contoured housing with a shape disposed to conform about a neck of the human subject, where the housing includes a force delivery element disposed at an exterior-front neck region of the human subject and is disposed to provide an attractive force to the ferric element along the treatment vector. A force sensor is disposed to measure a force exerted on the hyoid bone, a skin contact pressure, tissue compression between the ferric element and the force delivery element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Michael R. Harrison, Kathryn H. Rosenbluth, Dillon A. Kwiat, Eric J. Kezirian, Richard J. Fechter, Darrell Christensen
  • Patent number: 9655767
    Abstract: An orthotic obstructive sleep apnea treatment device is provided that includes a hyoid bone attachment element disposed to attach a ferric element to a hyoid bone, where the ferric element is disposed to face along a treatment vector from the hyoid bone, and the treatment vector is oriented relative to a sagittal plane of a human. The orthotic obstructive sleep apnea treatment device further includes an external orthotic neck device having a contoured housing with a shape disposed to conform about a neck of the human subject, where the housing includes a force delivery element disposed at an exterior-front neck region of the human subject and is disposed to provide an attractive force to the ferric element along the treatment vector. A force sensor is disposed to measure a force exerted on the hyoid bone, a skin contact pressure, tissue compression between the ferric element and the force delivery element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Michael R. Harrison, Kathryn H. Rosenbluth, Dillon A. Kwiat, Eric J. Kezirian, Richard J. Fechter, Darrell Christensen
  • Patent number: 9526652
    Abstract: An orthotic obstructive sleep apnea treatment device is provided that includes a hyoid bone attachment element disposed to attach a ferric element to a hyoid bone, where the ferric element is disposed to face along a treatment vector from the hyoid bone, and the treatment vector is oriented relative to a sagittal plane of a human. The orthotic obstructive sleep apnea treatment device further includes an external orthotic neck device having a contoured housing with a shape disposed to conform about a neck of the human subject, where the housing includes a force delivery element disposed at an exterior-front neck region of the human subject and is disposed to provide an attractive force to the ferric element along the treatment vector. An accelerometer is disposed to measure kinematic variables or movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Michael R. Harrison, Kathryn H. Rosenbluth, Dillon A. Kwiat, Eric J. Kezirian, Richard J. Fechter, Darrell Christensen
  • Publication number: 20150144142
    Abstract: An orthotic obstructive sleep apnea treatment device is provided that includes a hyoid bone attachment element disposed to attach a ferric element to a hyoid bone, where the ferric element is disposed to face along a treatment vector from the hyoid bone, and the treatment vector is oriented relative to a sagittal plane of a human. The orthotic obstructive sleep apnea treatment device further includes an external orthotic neck device having a contoured housing with a shape disposed to conform about a neck of the human subject, where the housing includes a force delivery element disposed at an exterior-front neck region of the human subject and is disposed to provide an attractive force to the ferric element along the treatment vector. An accelerometer is disposed to measure kinematic variables or movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Michael R. Harrison, Kathryn H. Rosenbluth, Dillon A. Kwiat, Eric J. Kezirian, Richard J. Fechter, Darrell Christensen
  • Patent number: 8808158
    Abstract: An orthotic obstructive sleep apnea treatment device is provided that includes a hyoid bone attachment element disposed to attach a ferric element to a hyoid bone, where the ferric element is disposed to face along a treatment vector from the hyoid bone, and the treatment vector is oriented relative to a sagittal plane of a human. The orthotic obstructive sleep apnea treatment device further includes an external orthotic neck device having a contoured housing with a shape disposed to conform about a neck of the human subject, where the housing includes a force delivery element disposed at an exterior-front neck region of the human subject and is disposed to provide an attractive force to the ferric element along the treatment vector. A force sensor is disposed to measure a force exerted on the hyoid bone, a skin contact pressure, tissue compression between the ferric element and the force delivery element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Michael R. Harrison, Kathryn H. Rosenbluth, Dillon A. Kwiat, Eric J. Kezirian, Richard J. Fechter, Darrell Christensen
  • Patent number: 8439915
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for manipulating an anatomical feature within the body of the patient. An implant such as an internal jackscrew is implanted at the anatomical and has first and second attachment points that secure to spaced-apart locations on the anatomical feature, an internal rotor coupled to the jackscrew, and is configured to drive motion of the jackscrew to manipulate the anatomical feature. The system further includes an external rotor that is magnetically coupled to the internal rotor such that rotation of the external rotor at an exterior location to the patient's body affects a corresponding internal rotation of the internal rotor to manipulate the anatomical feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Michael R. Harrison, Richard J. Fechter, Arthur Moran, Darrell Christensen
  • Publication number: 20120184799
    Abstract: An orthotic obstructive sleep apnea treatment device is provided that includes a hyoid bone attachment element disposed to attach a ferric element to a hyoid bone, where the ferric element is disposed to face along a treatment vector from the hyoid bone, and the treatment vector is oriented relative to a sagittal plane of a human. The orthotic obstructive sleep apnea treatment device further includes an external orthotic neck device having a contoured housing with a shape disposed to conform about a neck of the human subject, where the housing includes a force delivery element disposed at an exterior-front neck region of the human subject and is disposed to provide an attractive force to the ferric element along the treatment vector. A force sensor is disposed to measure a force exerted on the hyoid bone, a skin contact pressure, tissue compression between the ferric element and the force delivery element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Michael R. Harrison, Kathryn H. Rosenbluth, Dillon A. Kwiat, Eric J. Kezirian, Richard J. Fechter, Darrell Christensen
  • Patent number: 8142454
    Abstract: A system for auto-anastomosing a region of the body using magnetic members that may be individually delivered to different locations in the body. The magnetic members have a polar alignment that generates an attractive force to compress tissue in the region between them. The tissue in the region necroses as a result of the compressive force such that tissue surrounding the necrosed tissue heals together to form an anastomosis. A cutting member may be coupled to either the first or second magnetic member to create a temporary opening in the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco
    Inventors: Michael R. Harrison, Richard J. Fechter, Arthur Moran, Darrell Christensen
  • Publication number: 20100114103
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for manipulating an anatomical feature within the body of the patient. An implant such as an internal jackscrew is implanted at the anatomical and has first and second attachment points that secure to spaced-apart locations on the anatomical feature. An internal motor is coupled to the jackscrew, and is configured to drive motion of the jackscrew to manipulate the anatomical feature. The system further includes an external driver that is inductively coupled to the internal motor to manipulate the anatomical feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Michael R. Harrison, Richard J. Fechter, Arthur Moran, Darrell Christensen
  • Publication number: 20090048618
    Abstract: A system for auto-anastomosing a region of the body using magnetic members that may be individually delivered to different locations in the body. The magnetic members have a polar alignment that generates an attractive force to compress tissue in the region between them. The tissue in the region necroses as a result of the compressive force such that tissue surrounding the necrosed tissue heals together to form an anastomosis. A cutting member may be coupled to either the first or second magnetic member to create a temporary opening in the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Michael R. Harrison, Richard J. Fechter, Arthur Moran, Darrell Christensen
  • Publication number: 20070276378
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for manipulating an anatomical feature within the body of the patient. An implant such as an internal jackscrew is implanted at the anatomical and has first and second attachment points that secure to spaced-apart locations on the anatomical feature, an internal rotor coupled to the jackscrew, and is configured to drive motion of the jackscrew to manipulate the anatomical feature. The system further includes an external rotor that is magnetically coupled to the internal rotor such that rotation of the external rotor at an exterior location to the patient's body affects a corresponding internal rotation of the internal rotor to manipulate the anatomical feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Michael Harrison, Richard Fechter, Arthur Moran, Darrell Christensen
  • Patent number: 6085030
    Abstract: A component server architecture is provided that enables consumer nodes of a computer network to interact with heterogeneous software components and services distributed throughout the network, as well as network devices and data. Distributed interaction between a consumer and heterogeneous software is achieved, in part, by registering and locating the components and services (hereafter referred to collectively as components). An object-neutral global component registry with access controls of the architecture interoperates with a component management service (CMS) to transparently ensure proper administration, authentication and run-time binding access to components offered in response to requests from applications executing on the consumer nodes. The architecture is implemented on a component server node of the network that is configured to communicate with the consumer, i.e., client, nodes in client-server computing arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Novell, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Robert Whitehead, John Darrell Christensen