Patents by Inventor Erik K. Witt
Erik K. Witt 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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Patent number: 8794235Abstract: A therapy system adapted to treat a patient's ventilatory instability using a ventilatory therapy, a gas modulation therapy, or both. The algorithm implemented by the therapy system monitors the ventilatory instability, such as Cheyne Stokes Respiration (CSR), mixed apneas, CPAP emergent apneas, and complex sleep disordered breathing (CSDB) and treats the ventilatory instability. The algorithm also determine a reference point with respect to the ventilatory instability. The therapy delivery system initiate the treatment based on the reference point.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2008Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: RIC Investments, LLCInventors: Smita Garde, Stephen D. Pittman, Leonardo A. Baloa, Stefanida Blake, Charles Thomas, Manuel Laura, Erik K. Witt
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Patent number: 8523758Abstract: A system configured to provide breathing cues to a patient to alleviate insomnia or sleeplessness. In one embodiment, the system comprises a pressure support apparatus, a patient monitor, and a processor. The pressure support apparatus is configured to provide a pressurized flow of gas for delivery to an airway of the patient. The patient monitor configured to generate one or more signals that convey information related to one or more physiological functions of the patient. The processor in operative communication with each of the pressure support apparatus and the patient monitor.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2008Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: RIC Investments, LLCInventors: Todd Kirby, Erik K. Witt, Smita Garde
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Patent number: 8024044Abstract: A method of treating sleep disordered breathing in a patient includes the steps of monitoring the patient for a pre-inspiratory drive signal indicative of the breathing cycle by sensing electroneurogram activity of a hypoglossal nerve of the patient; and electrically stimulating the hypoglossal nerve of the patient following each detection of the pre-inspiratory drive signal. An implantable apparatus for stimulating a hypoglossal nerve of a patient for the treatment of sleep disordered breathing includes an electrode positioned at least partially around the hypoglossal nerve with a monitoring contact and a stimulation contact and a controller operatively coupled to the monitoring contact and the stimulation contact. The monitoring contact monitors the electroneurogram activity of the hypoglossal nerve for a pre-inspiratory drive signal indicative of the onset of inspiration and sends a signal to the controller which in turn causes the stimulating electrode to electrically stimulate the hypoglossal nerve.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2009Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Todd Kirby, Erik K. Witt
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Publication number: 20110114096Abstract: A patient interface device that includes a body portion comprising a pair of arms and a chin support. A first end portion of each arm in the pair of arms is coupled to an opposite end of the chin support. The chin support is adapted to be disposed under the mandible responsive to the patient interface device being donned by a user. At least one headgear attachment element is provided on each arm in the pair of arms. A circuit portion is provided at a second end portion of each arm in the pair of arm. A patient interface portion is coupled to the circuit portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2011Publication date: May 19, 2011Applicant: RIC INVESTMENTS, LLCInventors: JEROME MATULA, JR., DERRICK ANDREWS, EUGENE N. SCARBERRY, CHARLES THOMAS, ERIK K. WITT, PETER CHI FAI HO
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Patent number: 7810497Abstract: A system is provided for delivering a flow of breathing gas to an airway of a patient. The system includes a pressurizing flow module that generates a pressurized flow of breathing gas and a patient circuit coupled to the pressurizing flow module configured to communicate the flow of breathing gas to an airway of a patient. The system includes a sensor for monitoring a characteristic of a breathing pattern of the patient a controller that communicates with the sensor configured to increase a fraction of inspired carbon dioxide if the characteristic exceeds an upper threshold value and to provide servo-ventilation if the characteristic is less than a lower threshold value. The upper threshold value and the lower threshold value are changed based on the monitored characteristic of the breathing pattern of the patient.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2007Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: RIC Investments, LLCInventors: Stephen D. Pittman, Erik K. Witt, Stefanida K. Blake
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Patent number: 7798146Abstract: An oral appliance is provided for installation within the oral cavity of a user. The oral appliance is configured to be connected to a negative pressure supply to create a negative pressure environment within the oral cavity of a user. The device includes apertures adjacent the user's teeth.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2005Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: RIC Investments, LLCInventors: Erik K. Witt, Charles Thomas
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Publication number: 20100100150Abstract: A method of treating sleep disordered breathing in a patient includes the steps of monitoring the patient for a pre-inspiratory drive signal indicative of the breathing cycle by sensing electroneurogram activity of a hypoglossal nerve of the patient; and electrically stimulating the hypoglossal nerve of the patient following each detection of the pre-inspiratory drive signal. An implantable apparatus for stimulating a hypoglossal nerve of a patient for the treatment of sleep disordered breathing includes an electrode positioned at least partially around the hypoglossal nerve with a monitoring contact and a stimulation contact and a controller operatively coupled to the monitoring contact and the stimulation contact. The monitoring contact monitors the electroneurogram activity of the hypoglossal nerve for a pre-inspiratory drive signal indicative of the onset of inspiration and sends a signal to the controller which in turn causes the stimulating electrode to electrically stimulate the hypoglossal nerve.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: April 22, 2010Applicant: RIC INVESTMENTS, LLCInventors: Todd KIRBY, Erik K. WITT
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Patent number: 7660632Abstract: A method of treating sleep disordered breathing in a patient includes the steps of monitoring the patient for a pre-inspiratory drive signal indicative of the breathing cycle by sensing electroneurogram activity of a hypoglossal nerve of the patient; and electrically stimulating the hypoglossal nerve of the patient following each detection of the pre-inspiratory drive signal. An implantable apparatus for stimulating a hypoglossal nerve of a patient for the treatment of sleep disordered breathing includes an electrode positioned at least partially around the hypoglossal nerve with a monitoring contact and a stimulation contact and a controller operatively coupled to the monitoring contact and the stimulation contact. The monitoring contact monitors the electroneurogram activity of the hypoglossal nerve for a pre-inspiratory drive signal indicative of the onset of inspiration and sends a signal to the controller which in turn causes the stimulating electrode to electrically stimulate the hypoglossal nerve.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2007Date of Patent: February 9, 2010Assignee: RIC Investments, LLCInventors: Todd Kirby, Erik K. Witt
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Patent number: 7556038Abstract: A method and corresponding system for providing breathing cues includes monitoring respiration of a user and determining a user breathing frequency including an inspiration portion and an expiration portion of the breathing, supplying a high positive air pressure to the user during the inspiration portion and a low positive air pressure during the expiration portion in substantial synchronicity with the user's respiration, comparing the user breathing frequency with a target breathing frequency, and when the user breathing frequency is greater than the target breathing frequency, increasing, in a predetermined manner, a time over which the high positive air pressure is supplied to the user, and adjusting a time over which the low positive pressure air pressure is supplied to the user.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2007Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: RIC Investments, LLCInventors: Todd Kirby, Leonardo A. Baloa, Erik K. Witt
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Publication number: 20090120443Abstract: A patient interface device that includes a body portion comprising a pair of arms and a chin support. A first end portion of each arm in the pair of arms is coupled to an opposite end of the chin support. The chin support is adapted to be disposed under the mandible responsive to the patient interface device being donned by a user. At least one headgear attachment element is provided on each arm in the pair of arms. A circuit portion is provided at a second end portion of each arm in the pair of arm. A patient interface portion is coupled to the circuit portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2009Publication date: May 14, 2009Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.Inventors: JEROME MATULA, JR., Derrick Andrews, Eugene N. Scarberry, Charles Thomas, Erik K. Witt, Peter Chi Fai Ho
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Publication number: 20090082639Abstract: A system that determines one or more sleep phenotyping parameters of a subject. In one embodiment, the system comprises a sleep sensor, a stimulus generator, and a processor. The sleep sensor generates signals that convey information related to the physiological functions that indicate the sleep stage of the subject. The stimulus generator provides a stimulus to the subject that enables information related to the sleep phenotyping parameters to be determined. The processor receives the signals generated by the sleep sensor and is in operative communication with the stimulus generator. The processor (i) determines, based on the signals received from the sleep sensor, whether a trigger condition related to the current sleep stage of the subject is satisfied, (ii) controls the stimulus generator to provide the stimulus to the subject if the trigger condition is satisfied, and (iii) quantifies the response of the subject to the stimulus.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2008Publication date: March 26, 2009Inventors: Stephen D. Pittman, Stefanida K. Blake, Jacobo D. Reif, David P. White, Erik K. Witt
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Patent number: 7500480Abstract: A patient interface device that includes a body portion comprising a pair of arms and a chin support. A first end portion of each arm in the pair of arms is coupled to an opposite end of the chin support. The chin support is adapted to be disposed under the mandible responsive to the patient interface device being donned by a user. At least one headgear attachment element is provided on each arm in the pair of arms. A circuit portion is provided at a second end portion of each arm in the pair of arm. A patient interface portion is coupled to the circuit portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2007Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.Inventors: Jerome Matula, Jr., Derrick Andrews, Eugene N. Scarberry, Charles Thomas, Erik K. Witt, Peter Chi Fai Ho
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Publication number: 20080302364Abstract: A therapy system adapted to treat a patient's ventilatory instability using a ventilatory therapy, a gas modulation therapy, or both. The algorithm implemented by the therapy system monitors the ventilatory instability, such as Cheyne Stokes Respiration (CSR), mixed apneas, CPAP emergent apneas, and complex sleep disordered breathing (CSDB) and treats the ventilatory instability. The algorithm also determine a reference point with respect to the ventilatory instability. The therapy delivery system initiate the treatment based on the reference point.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2008Publication date: December 11, 2008Inventors: Smita Garde, Stephen D. Pittman, Leonardo A. Baloa, Stefanida Blake, Charles Thomas, Manuel Laura, Erik K. Witt
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Publication number: 20080161877Abstract: A method of treating sleep disordered breathing in a patient includes the steps of monitoring the patient for a pre-inspiratory drive signal indicative of the breathing cycle by sensing electroneurogram activity of a hypoglossal nerve of the patient; and electrically stimulating the hypoglossal nerve of the patient following each detection of the pre-inspiratory drive signal. An implantable apparatus for stimulating a hypoglossal nerve of a patient for the treatment of sleep disordered breathing includes an electrode positioned at least partially around the hypoglossal nerve with a monitoring contact and a stimulation contact and a controller operatively coupled to the monitoring contact and the stimulation contact. The monitoring contact monitors the electroneurogram activity of the hypoglossal nerve for a pre-inspiratory drive signal indicative of the onset of inspiration and sends a signal to the controller which in turn causes the stimulating electrode to electrically stimulate the hypoglossal nerve.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2007Publication date: July 3, 2008Inventors: Todd Kirby, Erik K. Witt
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Publication number: 20080149105Abstract: A patient interface device that includes a body portion comprising a pair of arms and a chin support. A first end portion of each arm in the pair of arms is coupled to an opposite end of the chin support. The chin support is adapted to be disposed under the mandible responsive to the patient interface device being donned by a user. At least one headgear attachment element is provided on each arm in the pair of arms. A circuit portion is provided at a second end portion of each arm in the pair of arm. A patient interface portion is coupled to the circuit portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2007Publication date: June 26, 2008Inventors: Jerome Matula, Derrick Andrews, Eugene N. Scarberry, Charles Thomas, Erik K. Witt, Peter Chi Fai Ho
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Publication number: 20080035147Abstract: A method and corresponding system for providing breathing cues includes monitoring respiration of a user and determining a user breathing frequency including an inspiration portion and an expiration portion of the breathing, supplying a high positive air pressure to the user during the inspiration portion and a low positive air pressure during the expiration portion in substantial synchronicity with the user's respiration, comparing the user breathing frequency with a target breathing frequency, and when the user breathing frequency is greater than the target breathing frequency, increasing, in a predetermined manner, a time over which the high positive air pressure is supplied to the user, and adjusting a time over which the low positive pressure air pressure is supplied to the user.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2007Publication date: February 14, 2008Inventors: Todd Kirby, Leonardo A. Baloa, Erik K. Witt
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Patent number: 5434118Abstract: A catalytically active gel product is described consisting of a silica matrix which is amorphous to x-rays with uniform porosity, monomodal pore distribution and high surface area, within which one or more metal oxides possessing catalytic activity are dispersed. A process for preparing this catalytic gel is also described.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 1993Date of Patent: July 18, 1995Assignees: Eniricerche S.p.A., Snamprogetti SpAInventors: Angela Carati, Enrico Davini, Mario G. Clerici, Giuseppe Bellussi