Patents by Inventor Eric F. Little

Eric F. Little 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).

  • Publication number: 20160100945
    Abstract: An implantable inflatable penile prosthesis cylinder has a longitudinal axis and includes an inflatable portion. The inflatable portion includes a chamber that defines an inflatable chamber. The chamber wall includes at least one thin wall section and at least one thick wall section. The at least one thin wall section stretches a greater amount than the at least one thick wall section in a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis when the inflatable chamber is transitioned from a deflated state to an inflated state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: Eric F. Little
  • Publication number: 20160081801
    Abstract: An implantable inflatable penile prosthesis cylinder includes an outer tube member having a longitudinal axis, an inner tube member contained within the outer tube member, and one or more tensile support members within the inner tube member. The inner tube member includes at least one inflatable chamber section, at least a portion of which is defined by a wall of the inner tube member. The one or more tensile support members extend between interior surfaces of the wall, and are placed in tension when the at least one chamber section is in an inflated state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventor: Eric F. Little
  • Publication number: 20160081802
    Abstract: An implantable penile prosthesis inflation apparatus includes a manual pump, and a pressure amplifier. The pressure amplifier includes a first sub-amplifier having a first chamber and a piston assembly contained in the first chamber. The first chamber includes an input port that is fluidically coupled to the manual pump, and an output port. The piston assembly is configured to move along a central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventor: Eric F. Little
  • Publication number: 20150320559
    Abstract: An implantable penile prosthesis having an inflatable cylinder with at least one piezoelectric pump for transferring fluid between an integrated reservoir and pressure chamber within the inflatable cylinder. The piezoelectric pump includes an actuator powered by an inductor coil integrated into the inflatable cylinder allowing for wireless control of the inflation and deflation of the inflatable cylinder. An external control system having a corresponding inductive coil can be used to supply a magnetic field for creating a current in the inductor coil integrated into the inflatable cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventor: Eric F. Little
  • Patent number: 9084678
    Abstract: An implantable penile prosthesis having an inflatable cylinder with at least one piezoelectric pump for transferring fluid between an integrated reservoir and pressure chamber within the inflatable cylinder. The piezoelectric pump includes an actuator powered by an inductor coil integrated into the inflatable cylinder allowing for wireless control of the inflation and deflation of the inflatable cylinder. An external control system having a corresponding inductive coil can be used to supply a magnetic field for creating a current in the inductor coil integrated into the inflatable cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: AMS Research Corporation
    Inventor: Eric F. Little
  • Publication number: 20130165964
    Abstract: A system includes a sensor, a controller and an actuator. The sensor is configured to provide a signal corresponding to pressure in a vascular system. The controller is configured to receive the signal and generate an output. The actuator is coupled to the controller and configured to modulate an element of the vascular system based on the pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Karl Vollmers, Christopher Scorzelli, Eric F. Little, John Scandurra
  • Publication number: 20130079871
    Abstract: A device includes a balloon and an interface. The balloon has an outer surface and a central lumen aligned on a longitudinal axis. The balloon is configured to receive a compressible fluid. The interface is coupled to the outer surface and has an external surface configured to bond with a tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
    Inventors: John Scandurra, Karl Vollmers, Christopher Scorzelli, Eric F. Little