Patents by Inventor Derek G. Kane
Derek G. Kane 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).
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Publication number: 20130231608Abstract: A method of dispensing fluid includes three processes. A first one of these processes includes pumping fluid into a resilient variable-volume dispensing chamber. The dispensing chamber is in series with a normally present finite fluid impedance and an output. The impedance is sufficient so as to cause expansion of the dispensing chamber as it receives pumped fluid even while some fluid flows through the output. Another one of these processes includes repeatedly measuring a parameter related to volume of the dispensing chamber over time. A third one of these processes includes controlling the pumping of fluid based on repeated measurements of the parameter to produce a desired fluid flow through the output. A corresponding system for dispensing fluid implements these processes.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2013Publication date: September 5, 2013Applicant: DEKA Products Limited PartnershipInventors: Dean Kamen, Russell H. Beavis, Derek G. Kane, John M. Kerwin, Larry B. Gray
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Patent number: 8511299Abstract: An apparatus for metering the delivery of an aerosol. The apparatus has a variable acoustic source and a microphone, both acoustically coupled to a volume having a fluid region and an air region. The apparatus may also include a processor to determine a volume of the air region based on signals received from the microphone and the variable acoustic source. A fluid valve is coupled to the processor, and is configured to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region associated with the volume of the air region. An atomizer, coupled to the fluid region, is configured to aerosolize at least a portion of the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2010Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: DEKA Products Limited PartnershipInventors: David E. Altobelli, Russell Beavis, Larry B. Gray, Derek G. Kane
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Patent number: 8414522Abstract: A method of dispensing fluid includes three processes. A first one of these processes includes pumping fluid into a resilient variable-volume dispensing chamber. The dispensing chamber is in series with a normally present finite fluid impedance and an output. The impedance is sufficient so as to cause expansion of the dispensing chamber as it receives pumped fluid even while some fluid flows through the output. Another one of these processes includes repeatedly measuring a parameter related to volume of the dispensing chamber over time. A third one of these processes includes controlling the pumping of fluid based on repeated measurements of the parameter to produce a desired fluid flow through the output. A corresponding system for dispensing fluid implements these processes.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2007Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: DEKA Products Limited PartnershipInventors: Dean Kamen, Russell H. Beavis, Derek G. Kane, John M. Kerwin, Larry B. Gray
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Patent number: 8361801Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for identifying the presence or absence of a pulmonary embolism using a combination of tests and brightline thresholds. The first test is a blood based test measuring D-Dimer concentration and the second test is a respiratory analysis that determines a carboximetry ratio. If the measured D-Dimer value is at or above a threshold indicative of concern and the carboximetry value is equal to or less than a carboximetry ratio threshold, pulmonary embolism is present. If the measured D-Dimer value is at or above a threshold indicative of concern and the respiratory analysis yields a carboximetry ratio greater than the carboximetry ratio threshold, test results are inconclusive and additional testing is required to determine whether a pulmonary embolism is present.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2009Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: DEKA Products Limited PartnershipInventors: Gregory R. Lanier, Jr., Derek G. Kane
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Patent number: 8348853Abstract: A system and method for aiding in the diagnosis of a respiratory dysfunction is described. More particularly, a system and method for aiding in the diagnosis of one or more pulmonary embolisms is described. The system and method described herein include a plurality of sensors, a thermal control system, and a controller means coupled to the plurality of sensors and the thermal control system for aiding in the diagnosis of a respiratory dysfunction.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2006Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: DEKA Products Limited PartnershipInventors: David E. Altobelli, Benjamin W. Jones, Jr., Derek G. Kane, Gregory R. Lanier, Jr., Paul R. Marquis, Eric M. Soederberg
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Patent number: 8275147Abstract: Angular discrimination between signals is described. Multiple signals are sampled with multiple signal sensors spatially separated from each other. Respective transform signals are determined that are representative of each sampled signal. If a difference between the transform signals in a given transform kernel bin is greater than a difference threshold, a first transform signal is modified by altering that kernel bin. Then the resulting modified transform signal is inverse transformed.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2005Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: DEKA Products Limited PartnershipInventors: Russell H. Beavis, Derek G. Kane
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Publication number: 20110079220Abstract: An apparatus comprises a detector, a pressure sensor and a processor. The detector is operable to detect light that is scattered by an aerosol that is associated with a pressure. The pressure sensor is operable to measure the pressure. The processor is coupled to the detector and to the pressure sensor, and is configured to receive at least a signal from the detector and the pressure sensor. The processor is further configured to use the received signals to calculate a volume of the first aerosol, and to output an output signal associated with the calculated volume. The various measurements can be repeated and compared, and the output signal can be a feedback signal for metering subsequent amounts of the aerosol, based on the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2010Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicant: DEKA Products Limited PartnershipInventors: David E. Altobelli, Larry B. Gray, Derek G. Kane
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Publication number: 20110029260Abstract: An apparatus for metering the delivery of an aerosol. The apparatus has a variable acoustic source and a microphone, both acoustically coupled to a volume having a fluid region and an air region. The apparatus may also include a processor to determine a volume of the air region based on signals received from the microphone and the variable acoustic source. A fluid valve is coupled to the processor, and is configured to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region associated with the volume of the air region. An atomizer, coupled to the fluid region, is configured to aerosolize at least a portion of the fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2010Publication date: February 3, 2011Applicant: DEKA Products Limited PartnershipInventors: David E. Altobelli, Russell H. Beavis, Larry B. Gray, Derek G. Kane
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Patent number: 7806116Abstract: An apparatus for metering the delivery of an aerosol. The apparatus has a variable acoustic source and a microphone, both acoustically coupled to a volume having a fluid region and an air region. The apparatus may also include a processor to determine a volume of the air region based on signals received from the microphone and the variable acoustic source. A fluid valve is coupled to the processor, and is configured to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region associated with the volume of the air region. An atomizer, coupled to the fluid region, is configured to aerosolize at least a portion of the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2007Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: DEKA Products Limited PartnershipInventors: David E. Altobelli, Russell Beavis, Larry B. Gray, Derek G. Kane
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Publication number: 20090213373Abstract: An apparatus comprises a detector, a pressure sensor and a processor. The detector is operable to detect light that is scattered by an aerosol that is associated with a pressure. The pressure sensor is operable to measure the pressure. The processor is coupled to the detector and to the pressure sensor, and is configured to receive at least a signal from the detector and the pressure sensor. The processor is further configured to use the received signals to calculate a volume of the first aerosol, and to output an output signal associated with the calculated volume. The various measurements can be repeated and compared, and the output signal can be a feedback signal for metering subsequent amounts of the aerosol, based on the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2009Publication date: August 27, 2009Applicant: DEKA Products Limited PartnershipInventors: David E. Altobelli, Larry B. Gray, Derek G. Kane
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Patent number: 7548314Abstract: An apparatus comprises a detector, a pressure sensor and a processor. The detector is operable to detect light that is scattered by an aerosol that is associated with a pressure. The pressure sensor is operable to measure the pressure. The processor is coupled to the detector and to the pressure sensor, and is configured to receive at least a signal from the detector and the pressure sensor. The processor is further configured to use the received signals to calculate a volume of the first aerosol, and to output an output signal associated with the calculated volume. The various measurements can be repeated and compared, and the output signal can be a feedback signal for metering subsequent amounts of the aerosol, based on the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2008Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: DEKA Products Limited PartnershipInventors: David E. Altobelli, Larry B. Gray, Derek G. Kane
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Publication number: 20080295826Abstract: An apparatus for metering the delivery of an aerosol. The apparatus has a variable acoustic source and a microphone, both acoustically coupled to a volume having a fluid region and an air region. The apparatus may also include a processor to determine a volume of the air region based on signals received from the microphone and the variable acoustic source. A fluid valve is coupled to the processor, and is configured to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region associated with the volume of the air region. An atomizer, coupled to the fluid region, is configured to aerosolize at least a portion of the fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2007Publication date: December 4, 2008Applicant: DEKA Products Limited PartnershipInventors: David E. Altobelli, Russell Beavis, Larry B. Gray, Derek G. Kane
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Publication number: 20080212094Abstract: An apparatus comprises a detector, a pressure sensor and a processor. The detector is operable to detect light that is scattered by an aerosol that is associated with a pressure. The pressure sensor is operable to measure the pressure. The processor is coupled to the detector and to the pressure sensor, and is configured to receive at least a signal from the detector and the pressure sensor. The processor is further configured to use the received signals to calculate a volume of the first aerosol, and to output an output signal associated with the calculated volume. The various measurements can be repeated and compared, and the output signal can be a feedback signal for metering subsequent amounts of the aerosol, based on the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2008Publication date: September 4, 2008Applicant: DEKA Products Limited PartnershipInventors: David E. Altobelli, Larry B. Gray, Derek G. Kane
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Patent number: 7342660Abstract: An apparatus comprises a detector, a pressure sensor and a processor. The detector is operable to detect light that is scattered by an aerosol that is associated with a pressure. The pressure sensor is operable to measure the pressure. The processor is coupled to the detector and to the pressure sensor, and is configured to receive at least a signal from the detector and the pressure sensor. The processor is further configured to use the received signals to calculate a volume of the first aerosol, and to output an output signal associated with the calculated volume. The various measurements can be repeated and compared, and the output signal can be a feedback signal for metering subsequent amounts of the aerosol, based on the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2003Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: DEKA Products Limited PartnershipInventors: David E. Altobelli, Larry B. Gray, Derek G. Kane
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Patent number: 7305984Abstract: An apparatus comprises a variable acoustic source and a microphone, both acoustically coupled to a volume having a fluid region and an air region. The apparatus also can include a processor to determine a volume of the air region based on signals received from the microphone and the variable acoustic source. A fluid valve is coupled to the processor, and is configured to allow an amount of fluid to exit the fluid region associated with the volume of the air region. An atomizer, coupled to the fluid region, is configured to aerosolize at least a portion of the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2003Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: DEKA Products Limited PartnershipInventors: David E. Altobelli, Russell Beavis, Larry B. Gray, Derek G. Kane