Patents by Inventor Howard W. Francis
Howard W. Francis 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: 11418900Abstract: A tinnitus treatment device may include a sound generation unit configured to generate an electrical stimulus, and an open earphone operably coupled to the sound generation unit to produce acoustic vibrations based on the electrical stimulus. The open earphone may include an auditory passage and the open earphone may be insertable into an ear canal of a person such that the auditory passage enables sound to pass substantially unobstructed by the device into the ear canal of the person. The sound generation unit may be configured to be adjustable to tune the electrical stimulus based on a characteristic of tinnitus symptoms experienced by the person.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2019Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: The Johns Hopkins UniversityInventors: Dawnielle Farrar-Gaines, Bradford J. May, Howard W. Francis
-
Patent number: 10805745Abstract: A middle ear implant may include a first interface portion configured to interface with a first structure of a middle ear of a patient, a second interface portion configured to interface with a second structure of the middle ear of the patient, a shaft configured to connect the first interface portion and the second interface portion, and a sensor disposed at one end of the shaft, between the shaft and one of the first interface portion or the second interface portion. The sensor may be configured to provide a DC signal output indicative of static pressure on the sensor based on placement of the sensor between the first and second structures. The sensor may also be configured to provide an AC signal output indicative of a frequency response of the implant in response to the sensor being coupled to an output device.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2019Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: The Johns Hopkins UniversityInventors: Dawnielle Farrar-Gaines, George L. Coles, Jr., David A. Kitchin, Howard W. Francis, Ioan Lina
-
Patent number: 10721569Abstract: A middle ear implant includes a first interface portion configured to interface with a first structure of a middle ear of a patient, a second interface portion configured to interface with a second structure of the middle ear of the patient, a shaft that connects the first and second interface portions, a carrier plate removably mounted in one of the first or second interface portions, and a removable sensor disposed at one end of the shaft, between the shaft and one of the first interface portion or the second interface portion. The removable sensor is configured to provide a DC signal output indicative of static pressure on the sensor based on placement of the sensor between the first and second structures, and provide an AC signal output indicative of a frequency response of the implant. The removable sensor is disposed at a portion of the carrier plate.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2018Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: The Johns Hopkins UniversityInventors: Dawnielle Farrar-Gaines, George L. Coles, Jr., Howard W. Francis
-
Publication number: 20200021929Abstract: A tinnitus treatment device may include a sound generation unit configured to generate an electrical stimulus, and an open earphone operably coupled to the sound generation unit to produce acoustic vibrations based on the electrical stimulus. The open earphone may include an auditory passage and the open earphone may be insertable into an ear canal of a person such that the auditory passage enables sound to pass substantially unobstructed by the device into the ear canal of the person. The sound generation unit may be configured to be adjustable to tune the electrical stimulus based on a characteristic of tinnitus symptoms experienced by the person.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2019Publication date: January 16, 2020Inventors: Dawnielle Farrar-Gaines, Bradford J. May, Howard W. Francis
-
Publication number: 20190215626Abstract: A middle ear implant may include a first interface portion configured to interface with a first structure of a middle ear of a patient, a second interface portion configured to interface with a second structure of the middle ear of the patient, a shaft configured to connect the first interface portion and the second interface portion, and a sensor disposed at one end of the shaft, between the shaft and one of the first interface portion or the second interface portion. The sensor may be configured to provide a DC signal output indicative of static pressure on the sensor based on placement of the sensor between the first and second structures. The sensor may also be configured to provide an AC signal output indicative of a frequency response of the implant in response to the sensor being coupled to an output device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2019Publication date: July 11, 2019Inventors: Dawnielle Farrar-Gaines, George L. Coles, JR., David A. Kitchin, Howard W. Francis, Ioan Lina
-
Patent number: 10277994Abstract: A middle ear implant may include a first interface portion configured to interface with a first structure of a middle ear of a patient, a second interface portion configured to interface with a second structure of the middle ear of the patient, a shaft configured to connect the first interface portion and the second interface portion, and a sensor disposed at one end of the shaft, between the shaft and one of the first interface portion or the second interface portion. The sensor may be configured to provide a DC signal output indicative of static pressure on the sensor based on placement of the sensor between the first and second structures. The sensor may also be configured to provide an AC signal output indicative of a frequency response of the implant in response to the sensor being coupled to an output device.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2017Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: The Johns Hopkins UniversityInventors: Dawnielle Farrar-Gaines, George L. Coles, Jr., David A. Kitchin, Howard W. Francis, Ioan Lina
-
Publication number: 20180367920Abstract: A middle ear implant includes a first interface portion configured to interface with a first structure of a middle ear of a patient, a second interface portion configured to interface with a second structure of the middle ear of the patient, a shaft that connects the first and second interface portions, a carrier plate removably mounted in one of the first or second interface portions, and a removable sensor disposed at one end of the shaft, between the shaft and one of the first interface portion or the second interface portion. The removable sensor is configured to provide a DC signal output indicative of static pressure on the sensor based on placement of the sensor between the first and second structures, and provide an AC signal output indicative of a frequency response of the implant. The removable sensor is disposed at a portion of the carrier plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2018Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: Dawnielle Farrar-Gaines, George L. Coles, JR., Howard W. Francis
-
Patent number: 10091588Abstract: A middle ear implant includes a first interface portion configured to interface with a first structure of a middle ear of a patient, a second interface portion configured to interface with a second structure of the middle ear of the patient, a shaft that connects the first and second interface portions, a carrier plate removably mounted in one of the first or second interface portions, and a removable sensor disposed at one end of the shaft, between the shaft and one of the first interface portion or the second interface portion. The removable sensor is configured to provide a DC signal output indicative of static pressure on the sensor based on placement of the sensor between the first and second structures, and provide an AC signal output indicative of a frequency response of the implant. The removable sensor is disposed at a portion of the carrier plate.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2017Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: The Johns Hopkins UniversityInventors: Dawnielle Farrar-Gaines, George L. Coles, Jr., Howard W. Francis
-
Publication number: 20170311101Abstract: A middle ear implant may include a first interface portion configured to interface with a first structure of a middle ear of a patient, a second interface portion configured to interface with a second structure of the middle ear of the patient, a shaft configured to connect the first interface portion and the second interface portion, and a sensor disposed at one end of the shaft, between the shaft and one of the first interface portion or the second interface portion. The sensor may be configured to provide a DC signal output indicative of static pressure on the sensor based on placement of the sensor between the first and second structures. The sensor may also be configured to provide an AC signal output indicative of a frequency response of the implant in response to the sensor being coupled to an output device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2017Publication date: October 26, 2017Inventors: Dawnielle Farrar-Gaines, George L. Coles, Jr., David A. Kitchin, Howard W. Francis, Ioan Lina
-
Patent number: 9743200Abstract: A middle ear implant may include a first interface portion configured to interface with a first structure of a middle ear of a patient, a second interface portion configured to interface with a second structure of the middle ear of the patient, a shaft configured to connect the first interface portion and the second interface portion, and a sensor disposed at one end of the shaft, between the shaft and one of the first interface portion or the second interface portion. The sensor may be configured to provide a DC signal output indicative of static pressure on the sensor based on placement of the sensor between the first and second structures. The sensor may also be configured to provide an AC signal output indicative of a frequency response of the implant in response to the sensor being coupled to an output device.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2014Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: The Johns Hopkins UniversityInventors: Dawnielle Farrar, George L. Coles, Jr., David A. Kitchin, Howard W. Francis, Ioan Lina
-
Publication number: 20170215009Abstract: A middle ear implant includes a first interface portion configured to interface with a first structure of a middle ear of a patient, a second interface portion configured to interface with a second structure of the middle ear of the patient, a shaft that connects the first and second interface portions, a carrier plate removably mounted in one of the first or second interface portions, and a removable sensor disposed at one end of the shaft, between the shaft and one of the first interface portion or the second interface portion. The removable sensor is configured to provide a DC signal output indicative of static pressure on the sensor based on placement of the sensor between the first and second structures, and provide an AC signal output indicative of a frequency response of the implant. The removable sensor is disposed at a portion of the carrier plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2017Publication date: July 27, 2017Inventors: Dawnielle Farrar-Gaines, George L. Coles, JR., Howard W. Francis
-
Patent number: 9649065Abstract: A middle ear implant includes a first interface portion configured to interface with a first structure of a middle ear of a patient, a second interface portion configured to interface with a second structure of the middle ear of the patient, a shaft that connects the first and second interface portions, a carrier plate removably mounted in one of the first or second interface portions, and a removable sensor disposed at one end of the shaft, between the shaft and one of the first interface portion or the second interface portion. The removable sensor is configured to provide a DC signal output indicative of static pressure on the sensor based on placement of the sensor between the first and second structures, and provide an AC signal output indicative of a frequency response of the implant. The removable sensor is disposed at a portion of the carrier plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2015Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: The Johns Hopkins UniversityInventors: Dawnielle Farrar-Gaines, George L. Coles, Jr., Howard W. Francis
-
Publication number: 20160081796Abstract: A middle ear implant includes a first interface portion configured to interface with a first structure of a middle ear of a patient, a second interface portion configured to interface with a second structure of the middle ear of the patient, a shaft that connects the first and second interface portions, a carrier plate removably mounted in one of the first or second interface portions, and a removable sensor disposed at one end of the shaft, between the shaft and one of the first interface portion or the second interface portion. The removable sensor is configured to provide a DC signal output indicative of static pressure on the sensor based on placement of the sensor between the first and second structures, and provide an AC signal output indicative of a frequency response of the implant. The removable sensor is disposed at a portion of the carrier plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: Dawnielle Farrar-Gaines, George L. Coles, JR., Howard W. Francis
-
Publication number: 20140323798Abstract: A middle ear implant may include a first interface portion configured to interface with a first structure of a middle ear of a patient, a second interface portion configured to interface with a second structure of the middle ear of the patient, a shaft configured to connect the first interface portion and the second interface portion, and a sensor disposed at one end of the shaft, between the shaft and one of the first interface portion or the second interface portion. The sensor may be configured to provide a DC signal output indicative of static pressure on the sensor based on placement of the sensor between the first and second structures. The sensor may also be configured to provide an AC signal output indicative of a frequency response of the implant in response to the sensor being coupled to an output device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITYInventors: Dawnielle Farrar, George L. Coles, JR., David A. Kitchin, Howard W. Francis, Ioan Lina