Patents by Inventor Ellen L. Lee

Ellen L. Lee 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: 9044159
    Abstract: Changes in the volume of residual limbs on which prosthetic sockets are worn can be measured based on bioimpedance measurements along one or more segments of the limb. A current at an appropriate frequency (e.g., in the range from 1 kHz to 1 MHz) is injected at two current electrodes that contact the skin of the residual limb. The voltage at the voltage electrodes disposed between the current electrodes is measured and using an appropriate model, the change in the segmented volume of the limb can be determined during periods of different activity and at different times during the day. This information can be used for assessing the fit of the socket and can also provide a feedback signal for automatically controlling volume management devices, to ensure a more comfortable fit when the volume of the limb is changing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Joan E. Sanders, Timothy R. Myers, Daniel S. Harrison, Katheryn J. Allyn, Ellen L. Lee, Daniel C. Abrahamson, Kirk Beach, Santosh Zachariah
  • Patent number: 8423167
    Abstract: For use in connection with evaluating prosthetic sockets (and other objects) designed and fabricated with computer aided design and manufacturing software, the shape of a socket is accurately scanned and digitized. The scanned data are then compared to either an electronic shape data file, or to the shape of another socket, a positive model of a residual limb (or socket), or a residual limb. Differences detected during the comparison can then be applied to revise the design or fabrication of the socket, to more accurately achieve a desired shape that properly fits the residual limb of a patient and can be used to solve the inverse problem by correcting for observed errors of a specific fabricator before a socket is produced. The digitizing process is implemented using a stylus ball that contacts a surface of the socket to produce data indicating the three-dimensional shape of the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Joan E. Sanders, Michael R. Severance, Timothy R. Myers, George Turkiyyah, Elizabeth A. Sorenson, Ellen L. Lee
  • Publication number: 20120143077
    Abstract: Changes in the volume of residual limbs on which prosthetic sockets are worn can be measured based on bioimpedance measurements along one or more segments of the limb. A current at an appropriate frequency (e.g., in the range from 1 kHz to 1 MHz) is injected at two current electrodes that contact the skin of the residual limb. The voltage at the voltage electrodes disposed between the current electrodes is measured and using an appropriate model, the change in the segmented volume of the limb can be determined during periods of different activity and at different times during the day. This information can be used for assessing the fit of the socket and can also provide a feedback signal for automatically controlling volume management devices, to ensure a more comfortable fit when the volume of the limb is changing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
    Inventors: Joan E. Sanders, Timothy R. Myers, Daniel S. Harrison, Katheryn J. Allyn, Ellen L. Lee, Daniel C. Abrahamson, Kirk Beach, Santosh Zachariah
  • Patent number: 8142369
    Abstract: Changes in the volume of residual limbs on which prosthetic sockets are worn can be measured based on bioimpedance measurements along one or more segments of the limb. A current at an appropriate frequency (e.g., in the range from 1 kHz to 1 MHz) is injected at two current electrodes that contact the skin of the residual limb. The voltage at the voltage electrodes disposed between the current electrodes is measured and using an appropriate model, the change in the segmented volume of the limb can be determined during periods of different activity and at different times during the day. This information can be used for assessing the fit of the socket and can also provide a feedback signal for automatically controlling volume management devices, to ensure a more comfortable fit when the volume of the limb is changing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Joan E. Sanders, Timothy R. Myers, Daniel S. Harrison, Katheryn J. Allyn, Ellen L. Lee, Daniel C. Abrahamson, Kirk Beach, Santosh Zachariah
  • Publication number: 20100036455
    Abstract: Changes in the volume of residual limbs on which prosthetic sockets are worn can be measured based on bioimpedance measurements along one or more segments of the limb. A current at an appropriate frequency (e.g., in the range from 1 kHz to 1 MHz) is injected at two current electrodes that contact the skin of the residual limb. The voltage at the voltage electrodes disposed between the current electrodes is measured and using an appropriate model, the change in the segmented volume of the limb can be determined during periods of different activity and at different times during the day. This information can be used for assessing the fit of the socket and can also provide a feedback signal for automatically controlling volume management devices, to ensure a more comfortable fit when the volume of the limb is changing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: University of Washington
    Inventors: Joan E. Sanders, Timothy R. Myers, Daniel S. Harrison, Katheryn J. Allyn, Ellen L. Lee, Daniel C. Abrahamson, Kirk Beach, Santosh Zachariah
  • Publication number: 20100023149
    Abstract: For use in connection with evaluating prosthetic sockets (and other objects) designed and fabricated with computer aided design and manufacturing software, the shape of a socket is accurately scanned and digitized. The scanned data are then compared to either an electronic shape data file, or to the shape of another socket, a positive model of a residual limb (or socket), or a residual limb. Differences detected during the comparison can then be applied to revise the design or fabrication of the socket, to more accurately achieve a desired shape that properly fits the residual limb of a patient and can be used to solve the inverse problem by correcting for observed errors of a specific fabricator before a socket is produced. The digitizing process is implemented using a stylus ball that contacts a surface of the socket to produce data indicating the three-dimensional shape of the socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: University of Washington
    Inventors: Joan E. Sanders, Michael R. Severance, Timothy R. Myers, George Turkiyyah, Elizabeth A. Sorenson, Ellen L. Lee