Patents by Inventor Jimmy Jian-min Mao

Jimmy Jian-min Mao 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: 12150781
    Abstract: Devices detect and assist in the avoidance of blood vessels during a surgical procedure—to avoid rupturing these blood vessels. Devices may be any penetration sensor device (such as a dilator sensor device, hollow needle sensor device, or trocar sensor device) that penetrates the skin and subcutaneous layers to reach a target location inside the body. The device includes a sensor probe which can make optical measurements to determine various parameters of the tissue at the tip of the sensor probe. These parameters may include an optical signal level returned from tissue contacting the tip of the sensor probe, an oxygen saturation level of the tissue, a total hemoglobin concentration, a blood flow, and a pulse. Based on these parameters, the presence or absence of a blood vessel at the tip of the device can be determined while the device travels towards the target location for surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Lash, Jimmy Jian-min Mao
  • Publication number: 20240382117
    Abstract: A surgical elevator medical instrument has an oximeter sensor at its tip. The oximeter sensor allows measuring of oxygen saturation of a tissue. The tip has a blade including a first side and a second side. Optical or electronic components of the oximeter sensor are mounted or attached to the first or second side, or both. In an implementation, openings can pass from the first side to the second side. The openings can be unconcealed on one side of the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Jimmy Jian-min Mao, Robert E. Lash
  • Publication number: 20240358287
    Abstract: A surgical elevator has an oximeter sensor at its tip, which allows measuring of oxygen saturation of a tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: Jimmy Jian-min Mao, Robert E. Lash
  • Patent number: 12097026
    Abstract: A retractor has an oximeter sensor at its tip, which allows measuring of oxygen saturation of a tissue being retracted by the retractor. The tip includes one or more openings for at least one source and detector. A specific implementation is a spinal nerve root retractor with an oximeter sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy Jian-min Mao, Robert E. Lash
  • Patent number: 12097008
    Abstract: Devices and systems have a sensor probe configured to measure tissue oxygen saturation in the intestine or mesentery. The devices and systems can determine the oxygenation state of the entire thickness of the intestine or mesentery. Embodiments of the invention also include methods for inducing a temporary ischemic period in an intestine or mesentery tissue and analyzing changes in oxygen saturation of the tissue during the temporary ischemic period or during a recovery phase. The devices, systems, and methods can be applied in diagnosing intestinal ischemia in a patient, as well as in monitoring tissue oxygen saturation of the intestine or mesentery during or after a surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry C. Heaton, II, Robert E. Lash, Jimmy Jian-min Mao
  • Patent number: 12076109
    Abstract: Devices and systems have a sensor probe configured to measure tissue oxygen saturation in the intestine or mesentery. The devices and systems can determine the oxygenation state of the entire thickness of the intestine or mesentery. Embodiments of the invention also include methods for inducing a temporary ischemic period in an intestine or mesentery tissue and analyzing changes in oxygen saturation of the tissue during the temporary ischemic period or during a recovery phase. The devices, systems, and methods can be applied in diagnosing intestinal ischemia in a patient, as well as in monitoring tissue oxygen saturation of the intestine or mesentery during or after a surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry C. Heaton, II, Robert E. Lash, Jimmy Jian-Min Mao
  • Patent number: 12076113
    Abstract: A bone oximeter probe includes an elongated member and a sensor head at an end of the elongated member to make measurements for a bone. The measurements can indicate the viability or nonviability of the bone. In an implementation, the probe is advanced through an incision in soft tissue, towards the underlying bone, and positioned so that the sensor head faces the bone to be measured. Optical signals are sent from the sensor head and into the bone. The bone reflects some of the optical signals which are then detected so that measurements for the bone can be made. Some of these measurements include an oxygen saturation level value, and a total hemoglobin concentration value of the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy Jian-min Mao, Robert E. Lash
  • Patent number: 12048532
    Abstract: A surgical elevator has an oximeter sensor at its tip, which allows measuring of oxygen saturation of a tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy Jian-Min Mao, Robert E. Lash
  • Patent number: 12029556
    Abstract: A surgical elevator has an oximeter sensor at its tip, which allows measuring of oxygen saturation of a tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy Jian-min Mao, Robert E. Lash
  • Patent number: 11944432
    Abstract: Methods and devices monitor oxygen saturation levels in tissue. According to one aspect of the invention, a device is a sensor panel comprising a flexible substrate and a plurality of oximeter sensor units coupled to the substrate. In another aspect of the invention, the device is a sensor panel comprising a flexible substrate and a plurality of oximeter sensor units and a plurality of pressure sensors coupled to the substrate. Embodiments of the invention can be used to simultaneously measure oxygen saturation levels in many locations of a large tissue. Embodiments of the invention can be applied in diagnosing a medical condition involving a large tissue area where the oxygen saturation level is unstable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Lash, Jimmy Jian-min Mao
  • Patent number: 11737741
    Abstract: A retractor system includes a retractor with an oximeter sensor at its tip and a force sensor coupled to the retractor. The retractor system also includes a system unit which can send signals to and receive signals from the oximeter sensor via optical fibers. The oximeter sensor measures oxygen saturation of a tissue being retracted by the retractor, and the force sensor measures an amount of force that is applied to the retracted tissue by the tip of the retractor. Another retractor system has a closed loop control arrangement with a positioning mechanism which moves the retractor based on measurements of the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry C. Heaton, II, Alex Keller, Robert E. Lash, Jimmy Jian-min Mao
  • Patent number: 11672519
    Abstract: A retractor system with a closed loop control includes a retractor having one or more sensors, which measure parameters associated with a retracted tissue. The system further includes a positioning mechanism connected to the retractor and a controller which receives feedback signals from the sensors. Based on the feedback signals from the sensors, the retractor is actuated by the positioning mechanism so that the tissue can be retracted while maintaining the parameters associated with the retracted tissue above a threshold level or within a desired range. Another retractor system includes a retractor with a force sensor and at least one additional sensor, which can be used without a closed loop control arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry C. Heaton, II, Alex Keller, Robert E. Lash, Jimmy Jian-min Mao
  • Publication number: 20230148918
    Abstract: A device includes source and detector sensors. In a specific implementation, the device has two near detectors, two far detectors, and two sources. The two near detectors are arranged closer to the two sources than the two far detectors. A light-diffusing layer covers the two near detectors. The device may be part of a medical device that is used to monitor or measure oxygen saturation levels in a tissue. In a specific implementation, light is transmitted into the tissue and received by the detectors. An attenuation coefficient is first calculated for a shallow layer of tissue. The attenuation coefficient is then used to calculate an attenuation coefficient for a deep layer of tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Jimmy Jian-min Mao, Robert E. Lash
  • Patent number: 11622715
    Abstract: Devices detect and assist in the avoidance of blood vessels during a surgical procedure—to avoid rupturing these blood vessels. Devices may be any penetration sensor device (such as a dilator sensor device, hollow needle sensor device, or trocar sensor device) that penetrates the skin and subcutaneous layers to reach a target location inside the body. The device includes a sensor probe which can make optical measurements to determine various parameters of the tissue at the tip of the sensor probe. These parameters may include an optical signal level returned from tissue contacting the tip of the sensor probe, an oxygen saturation level of the tissue, a total hemoglobin concentration, a blood flow, and a pulse. Based on these parameters, the presence or absence of a blood vessel at the tip of the device can be determined while the device travels towards the target location for surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Lash, Jimmy Jian-Min Mao
  • Patent number: 11564601
    Abstract: An oximeter measures oxygen saturation for two or more different tissue depths and shows these results on a screen. A probe of the oximeter has multiple different distances between source and detector sensors. One probe implementation has fixed sensor positions. Other implementations include sensors on a moveable platform or openings to accept sensors, which allow a user to vary a distance between sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry C. Heaton, II, Robert E. Lash, Jimmy Jian-min Mao
  • Publication number: 20230026469
    Abstract: A retractor has an oximeter sensor at its tip, which allows measuring of oxygen saturation of a tissue being retracted by the retractor. The tip includes one or more openings for at least one source and detector. A specific implementation is a spinal nerve root retractor with an oximeter sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Jimmy Jian-min Mao, Robert E. Lash
  • Patent number: 11540754
    Abstract: A device includes source and detector sensors. In a specific implementation, the device has two near detectors, two far detectors, and two sources. The two near detectors are arranged closer to the two sources than the two far detectors. A light-diffusing layer covers the two near detectors. The device may be part of a medical device that is used to monitor or measure oxygen saturation levels in a tissue. In a specific implementation, light is transmitted into the tissue and received by the detectors. An attenuation coefficient is first calculated for a shallow layer of tissue. The attenuation coefficient is then used to calculate an attenuation coefficient for a deep layer of tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy Jian-min Mao, Robert E. Lash
  • Patent number: 11484209
    Abstract: A bone oximeter probe includes an elongated member and a sensor head at an end of the elongated member to make measurements for a bone. The measurements can indicate the viability or nonviability of the bone. In an implementation, the probe is advanced through an incision in soft tissue, towards the underlying bone, and positioned so that the sensor head faces the bone to be measured. Optical signals are sent from the sensor head and into the bone. The bone reflects some of the optical signals which are then detected so that measurements for the bone can be made. Some of these measurements include an oxygen saturation level value, and a total hemoglobin concentration value of the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy Jian-Min Mao, Robert E. Lash
  • Patent number: 11457812
    Abstract: Devices and systems have a sensor probe configured to measure tissue oxygen saturation in the intestine or mesentery. The devices and systems can determine the oxygenation state of the entire thickness of the intestine or mesentery. Embodiments of the invention also include methods for inducing a temporary ischemic period in an intestine or mesentery tissue and analyzing changes in oxygen saturation of the tissue during the temporary ischemic period or during a recovery phase. The devices, systems, and methods can be applied in diagnosing intestinal ischemia in a patient, as well as in monitoring tissue oxygen saturation of the intestine or mesentery during or after a surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry C. Heaton, II, Robert E. Lash, Jimmy Jian-min Mao
  • Patent number: 11457844
    Abstract: Devices and systems have a sensor probe configured to measure tissue oxygen saturation in the intestine or mesentery. The devices and systems can determine the oxygenation state of the entire thickness of the intestine or mesentery. Embodiments of the invention also include methods for inducing a temporary ischemic period in an intestine or mesentery tissue and analyzing changes in oxygen saturation of the tissue during the temporary ischemic period or during a recovery phase. The devices, systems, and methods can be applied in diagnosing intestinal ischemia in a patient, as well as in monitoring tissue oxygen saturation of the intestine or mesentery during or after a surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry C. Heaton, II, Robert E. Lash, Jimmy Jian-min Mao