Patents by Inventor James Etzkorn

James Etzkorn 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: 11424171
    Abstract: Miniaturized sealed electronic devices and methods of making and using them are disclosed herein. The miniaturized sealed electronic device disclosed herein includes an electronic device, an electrically insulating substrate, a barrier layer (e.g., a barrier material thin film, and/or a barrier material cap), cured adhesive and a sealant. The miniaturized sealed electronic device is made using methods described herein to create a small footprint, with minimal encapsulation, as compared to sealed electronic devices made by traditional methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: VERILY LIFE SCIENCES LLC
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Can Cai
  • Patent number: 11199727
    Abstract: An eye-mountable device (EMD) includes a lens enclosure, liquid crystal material, first and second electrodes, a substrate, and a controller. The lens enclosure includes a first encapsulation layer and a second encapsulation layer sealed to the first encapsulation layer. The liquid crystal material is disposed across a central region of the lens enclosure. The first electrode is disposed within the lens enclosure between the first encapsulation layer and the liquid crystal material. The second electrode is disposed within the lens enclosure between the second encapsulation layer and the liquid crystal material. The substrate is disposed within the EMD. The controller is disposed on the substrate and electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes to apply a voltage across the liquid crystal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Jeffrey George Linhardt, Brian Otis
  • Publication number: 20210113779
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a stopper adapted for use in a drug delivery device. In one implementation, the stopper includes a rigid casing having a shape adapted to fit within a barrel of the drug delivery device; electronics disposed and sealed within the rigid casing; and an elastomeric seal disposed around at least a dispensing end of the rigid casing and a side of the rigid casing. The electronics include a power source and at least one of a transducer or a sensor coupled to the power source. The elastomeric seal comprises a single continuous material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Brett Schleicher, Chuangang Lin, James Etzkorn
  • Patent number: 10869967
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a rigid sensor stopper adapted for use in a drug delivery device. In one implementation, a rigid sensor stopper may include a transducer, a power source, a rigid molding or casing, and at least one elastomeric seal. The molding may be formed from overmolding or insert molding, and the casing may be formed from injection molding, machining, or forged casing. The at least one elastomeric seal may include at least two o-rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Brett Schleicher, Chuangang Lin, James Etzkorn
  • Patent number: 10873102
    Abstract: An example device includes a lithium-based battery having conductive battery contacts protruding from a surface of the battery, where a non-conductive portion of the surface of the battery separates the conductive battery contacts. The battery is a type that undergoes an expansion during charging in which the expansion of the lithium-based battery includes an outward bulging of the non-conductive portion of the battery surface. The device includes a substrate having conductive substrate contacts. The conductive battery contacts are electrically connected to the respective conductive substrate contact via a flexible electrically-conductive adhesive that physically separates the conductive battery contacts from the respective conductive substrate contacts and allows for relative movement therebetween caused by the expansion of the lithium-based battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Brian Marc Pepin, Hojr Sedaghat Pisheh, Dat Phung, James Etzkorn
  • Patent number: 10840483
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for packaging a solid-state battery. Consistent with some embodiments, a package for a solid-state battery includes a substrate, a cap disposed over the substrate and forming an enclosure with the substrate, and a solid-state battery disposed inside the enclosure. The solid-state battery includes a first electrode that is disposed over the substrate, an electrolyte that is disposed over the first electrode, and a second electrode that is disposed over the electrolyte. The package further includes a compressible component disposed inside the enclosure and between the cap and the second electrode of the solid-state battery. The compressible component applies a pressure to at least one of the electrodes of the solid-state battery in a direction substantially perpendicular to the electrode(s) of the solid-state battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Kedar Shah
  • Patent number: 10811330
    Abstract: Miniaturized sealed electronic devices and methods of making and using them are disclosed herein. The miniaturized sealed electronic device disclosed herein includes an electronic device, an electrically insulating substrate, a barrier layer (e.g., a barrier material thin film, and/or a barrier material cap), cured adhesive and a sealant. The miniaturized sealed electronic device is made using methods described herein to create a small footprint, with minimal encapsulation, as compared to sealed electronic devices made by traditional methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Can Cai
  • Patent number: 10769245
    Abstract: A medication packet bundle includes one or more beacons. Each beacon may transmit a signal representing an event related to patient compliance with a medication regimen, such as removal of a packet of medication from a bundle or opening of a packet. The transmitted beacon signals can be monitored and processed to track patient compliance and adherence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Todd Whitehurst, Brian Marc Pepin, Robert Francis Wiser
  • Patent number: 10631785
    Abstract: Body-mountable devices comprising a dyed polymer layer that covers a portion of an electronic structure embedded in a transparent polymer are described. An example method for fabricating a body-mountable device includes providing a dyed polymer material on an electronic structure. The electronic structure comprises at least one antenna, a sensor, and an electronic device. The example method also includes molding the dyed polymer material to provide a dyed polymer layer that covers a portion of the electronic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventor: James Etzkorn
  • Patent number: 10488677
    Abstract: An eye-mountable contact lens is provided that includes electronics encapsulated within a rigid, gas-permeable polymeric material. The rigid, gas-permeable polymeric material can be mountable to a corneal surface of an eye or can be disposed on or within a flexible polymeric material that is mountable to the corneal surface of the eye. The rigid, gas-permeable polymeric material can provide structural rigidity and protection to the electronics and/or can allow for long-term dry storage of a chemical sensor of the electronics. The rigid, gas-permeable polymeric materials of the provided eye-mountable devices can be formed by curing a precursor material on or around the electronics and subsequently removing portions of the polymeric material formed by the curing, e.g., to form a rigid, gas-permeable contact lens that at least partially encapsulates the electronics and that has a curved shape that is able to be mounted to a corneal surface of an eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: VERILY LIFE SCIENCES LLC
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Joshua N. Haddock
  • Publication number: 20190235281
    Abstract: An eye-mountable device (EMD) includes a lens enclosure, liquid crystal material, first and second electrodes, a substrate, and a controller. The lens enclosure includes a first encapsulation layer and a second encapsulation layer sealed to the first encapsulation layer. The liquid crystal material is disposed across a central region of the lens enclosure. The first electrode is disposed within the lens enclosure between the first encapsulation layer and the liquid crystal material. The second electrode is disposed within the lens enclosure between the second encapsulation layer and the liquid crystal material. The substrate is disposed within the EMD. The controller is disposed on the substrate and electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes to apply a voltage across the liquid crystal material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Jeffrey George Linhardt, Brian Otis
  • Patent number: 10278644
    Abstract: Body-mountable devices comprising a dyed polymer layer that covers a portion of an electronic structure embedded in a transparent polymer are described. An example method for fabricating a body-mountable device includes providing a dyed polymer material on an electronic structure. The electronic structure comprises at least one antenna, a sensor, and an electronic device. The example method also includes molding the dyed polymer material to provide a dyed polymer layer that covers a portion of the electronic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventor: James Etzkorn
  • Patent number: 10268051
    Abstract: An eye-mountable device (EMD) includes a lens enclosure, liquid crystal material, first and second electrodes, a substrate, and a controller. The lens enclosure includes a first encapsulation layer and a second encapsulation layer sealed to the first encapsulation layer. The liquid crystal material is disposed across a central region of the lens enclosure. The first electrode is disposed within the lens enclosure between the first encapsulation layer and the liquid crystal material. The second electrode is disposed within the lens enclosure between the second encapsulation layer and the liquid crystal material. The substrate is disposed within the lens enclosure between the first and second encapsulation layers. The controller is disposed on the substrate and electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes to apply a voltage across the liquid crystal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Jeffrey G. Linhardt, Brian Otis
  • Patent number: 10232531
    Abstract: A method may involve positioning a structure on a plurality of protrusions that extend from a surface of a molding piece, wherein the structure comprises a sensor or an electronic component; forming, using the molding piece, a body-mountable device by forming a polymer layer around the structure positioned on the plurality of protrusions, such that the structure is at least partially enclosed by the polymer layer, wherein the polymer layer defines a first side of the body-mountable device and a second side of the body-mountable device opposite the first side, and wherein the surface of the molding piece supports the polymer layer as the polymer layer is being formed; and removing the body-mountable device from the molding piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Daniel Patrick Barrows
  • Patent number: 10135041
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for packaging a solid-state battery. Consistent with some embodiments, a package for a solid-state battery includes a substrate, a cap disposed over the substrate and forming an enclosure with the substrate, and a solid-state battery disposed inside the enclosure. The solid-state battery includes a first electrode that is disposed over the substrate, an electrolyte that is disposed over the first electrode, and a second electrode that is disposed over the electrolyte. The package further includes a compressible component disposed inside the enclosure and between the cap and the second electrode of the solid-state battery. The compressible component applies a pressure to at least one of the electrodes of the solid-state battery in a direction substantially perpendicular to the electrode(s) of the solid-state battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Kedar Shah
  • Publication number: 20180254507
    Abstract: An example device includes a lithium-based battery having conductive battery contacts protruding from a surface of the battery, where a non-conductive potion of the surface of the battery separates the conductive battery contacts. The battery is a type that undergoes an expansion during charging in which the expansion of the lithium-based battery includes an outward bulging of the non-conductive portion of the battery surface. The device includes a substrate having conductive substrate contacts. The conductive battery contacts are electrically connected to the respective conductive substrate contact via a flexible electrically-conductive adhesive that physically separates the conductive battery contacts from the respective conductive substrate contacts and allows for relative movement therebetween caused by the expansion of the lithium-based battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Brian Marc Pepin, Hojr Sedaghat Pisheh, Dat Phung, James Etzkorn
  • Patent number: 10052492
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the wireless transfer of power between two hermetically sealed devices are described herein. An example system may include a battery package and a hermetically sealed body-implantable electronic device having an electronics package. The battery package may include one or more alignment structures, configured to removably align the battery package with the electronic device, a battery, and a wireless power transceiver. At least the battery and the wireless power transceiver of the battery package may be contained within a hermetic material separate from the electronic device. Power may be wirelessly transferred between the devices by any means, including inductive coupling or capacitive coupling. In some examples, the hermetically-sealed devices may be implanted in a living body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: VERILY LIFE SCIENCES LLC
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Brian Otis
  • Patent number: 10057983
    Abstract: A method may involve: forming a first bio-compatible layer; forming an etch stop over a portion of the first bio-compatible layer; forming a conductive pattern over the etch stop and the first bio-compatible layer, wherein the conductive pattern defines an antenna, sensor electrodes, electrical contacts, and one or more electrical interconnects; mounting an electronic component to the electrical contacts; forming a second bio-compatible layer over the electronic component, the antenna, the sensor electrodes, the electrical contacts, the one or more electrical interconnects, and the etch stop; and etching, using an etchant, a portion of the second bio-compatible layer to form an opening in the second bio-compatible layer and thereby expose the sensor electrodes, wherein the etch stop inhibits etching of the portion of the first bio-compatible layer by the etchant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: James Etzkorn, Harvey Ho
  • Patent number: 10039447
    Abstract: Molded electronic structures configured for use in body-mountable devices and methods for embedding molded electronic structures in a body-mountable device are described. An example method may include molding an electronic structure to have first curvature corresponding to a first radius of curvature. The electronic structure may include an antenna, a sensor, and an electronic device. The example method may also include adhering the molded electronic structure to a first polymer layer. The example method may additionally include forming a second polymer layer over the molded electronic structure adhered to the first polymer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Patrick Barrows, Zenghe Liu, Jeffrey George Linherdt, James Etzkorn
  • Publication number: 20180193567
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a rigid sensor stopper adapted for use in a drug delivery device. In one implementation, a rigid sensor stopper may include a transducer, a power source, a rigid molding or casing, and at least one elastomeric seal. The molding may be formed from overmolding or insert molding, and the casing may be formed from injection molding, machining, or forged casing. The at least one elastomeric seal may include at least two o-rings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Brett Schleicher, Chuangang Lin, James Etzkorn