Patents by Inventor Eric Y. Chow

Eric Y. Chow 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: 8401664
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for charging a power cell in an implantable medical device (“IMD”) are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes providing an electrical pulse to an inductor external to the IMD. A frequency of an oscillation signal induced in the inductor by the current pulse is measured. The inductor is driven with an oscillating signal having a frequency based on the measured frequency of the oscillation signal. The power cell is charged using current induced in the IMD by the driving of the inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Cyberonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Y. Chow, Anthony W. Cowley, David L. Thompson, Jianxiang Shen, James L. Flesher, Saadat Hussain
  • Publication number: 20130018439
    Abstract: A particular implantable device may include an antenna configured to receive a far field radiative signal. The implantable device may also include a voltage rectifier configured to rectify the far field radiative signal received by the antenna to provide a rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may further include a charge storage element operative to receive the rectified voltage signal and to store charge responsive to the rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may also include a stimulation module powered by the charge storage element. The stimulation module may be operative to generate an electrical stimulation signal to stimulate a target nerve of a patient. The implantable medical device may further include a nerve wrap configured to house the voltage rectifier, the charge storage element, and the stimulation module. The nerve wrap may include one or more electrodes operative to deliver the electrical stimulation signal to the target nerve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: CYBERONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Y. CHOW, Milton M. MORRIS, David L. THOMPSON
  • Publication number: 20130018438
    Abstract: A particular implantable device may include an antenna configured to receive a far field radiative signal. The implantable device may also include a voltage rectifier configured to rectify the far field radiative signal received by the antenna to provide a rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may further include a charge storage element operative to receive the rectified voltage signal and to store charge responsive to the rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may also include a therapy delivery unit powered by the charge storage element. The therapy delivery unit is operative to deliver a therapy to a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: CYBERONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Y. CHOW
  • Publication number: 20130018440
    Abstract: A particular implantable device may include one or more antennas configured to receive a first far field radiative signal and a second far field radiative signal. The one or more antennas may be configured to receive the first far field radiative signal in a first frequency band and to receive the second far field radiative signal in a second frequency band. The implantable device may include a voltage rectifier configured to rectify the received first far field radiative signal and the received second far field radiative signal to provide a rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may further include a charge storage element operative to receive the rectified voltage signal and to store charge responsive to the rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may also include a therapy delivery unit powered by the charge storage element. The therapy delivery unit may be operative to deliver a therapy to a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: CYBERONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Y. CHOW, Jonathan D. ROWELL
  • Publication number: 20120274271
    Abstract: A case for an implantable medical device includes a metal case portion, having an inside and an outside, configured to attach to at least one other case portion to define a biocompatible case for the implantable medical device. The metal case portion has a plurality of grooves disposed on at least one of the inside and the outside, the grooves being oriented substantially perpendicular to an expected direction of eddy currents produced by an inductive recharging coil in proximity thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: CYBERONICS INC.
    Inventors: David L. Thompson, Jianxiang Shen, Anthony W. Cowley, Saadat Hussain, Eric Y. Chow, Jared B. Floyd, James L. Flesher
  • Publication number: 20120276854
    Abstract: An implantable medical device may include a case which houses components of the implantable medical device. The implantable medical device may include an inductive coil coupled to a rechargeable battery. The inductive coil may be operative to inductively couple to an external coil and to transfer energy from the external coil to the rechargeable battery to recharge the rechargeable battery. The implantable medical device may include a cutout formed in the case of the implantable medical device and filled with a dielectric material. The cutout may be operative to reduce eddy currents in the case during recharge of the rechargeable battery. The implantable medical device may include a slot antenna disposed within the case. The slot antenna may be operative to communicate with an external device through the cutout in the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Cyberonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Himanshu Joshi, David L. Thompson, Jared Brandon Floyd, Eric Y. Chow, Jonathan D. Rowell
  • Publication number: 20120276856
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a case having a conductive housing defining an opening. A dielectric material is coupled to the conductive housing to hermetically seal the opening. An antenna is within the case under the dielectric material. A header block is coupled to the case over the dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: CYBERONICS, INC.
    Inventors: HIMANSHU JOSHI, Eric Y. Chow, Clint Warren
  • Publication number: 20120277829
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for charging a power cell in an implantable medical device (“IMD”) are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes providing an electrical pulse to an inductor external to the IMD. A frequency of an oscillation signal induced in the inductor by the current pulse is measured. The inductor is driven with an oscillating signal having a frequency based on the measured frequency of the oscillation signal. The power cell is charged using current induced in the IMD by the driving of the inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: CYBERONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Y. CHOW, Anthony W. COWLEY, David L. THOMPSON, Jianxiang SHEN, James L. FLESHER, Saadat HUSSAIN
  • Publication number: 20100179449
    Abstract: A system is provided for the transmission of in vivo arterial pressure, the system comprising: an a pressure sensor whereby in vivo arterial pressure data is collected; a wireless transmitter, whereby the in vivo arterial pressure data is transmitted to be received disposed externally to a patient in which the system is disposed; a stent body, the stent body having an integral antenna, and a power source, whereby power is supplied to the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Eric Y. Chow, Brooke Beier, William J. Chappell, Pedro P. Irazoqui
  • Publication number: 20090069648
    Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring intraocular pressure, the system comprising: a sensor package configured to be disposed in the suprachoroidal space of a patient's eye; a pressure sensor; a wireless transceiver disposed within the sensor package and coupled to the pressure sensor; an external transceiver, the external receiver being wirelessly coupled to the wireless transceiver when the transceiver is disposed proximate to the patient's eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Pedro P. Irazoqui, Eric Y. Chow, William J. Chappell, Chin-Lung Yang, Babak Ziaie