Patents by Inventor Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal

Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal 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: 11413210
    Abstract: Improved customizable orthotic/prosthetic braces and a lightweight modular exoskeleton may aid individuals with lower limb motor impairment, including children. These customizable orthotic/prosthetic braces improve the strength and rigidity of such braces without a weight penalty. A structural frame is embedded between an inner shell and outer shell, which comprise materials that are easily moldable to conform to a user's limb. The lightweight modular exoskeleton system provides six (6) joint actuators, which are designed to be modular, that act as the active joints (e.g. hips, knees, and ankles) of the exoskeleton. Additionally, the exoskeleton may also provide four (4) passive joints for inversion/eversion of the legs and feet. Foot, crutch, and hip assemblies may also be provided for the exoskeleton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal, Jeffrey Joseph Gorges, Atilla Kilicarslan
  • Publication number: 20220079527
    Abstract: A method removing artifacts from neural signals comprises receiving electroencephalography (EEG) data from an EEG system and providing the EEG data to a unified artifact removal framework for cleaning artifacts. The EEG data is provided to a first cleaning framework utilizing the first reference to clean first artifacts from the EEG data, and the outputting the EEG data from the first cleaning framework to a second cleaning framework. The second cleaning framework may operate in a similar manner utilizing second reference to clean second artifacts from the EEG data. This general process may be repeated as desired to clean various artifacts from EEG data, when a suitable reference for the artifacts to be removed is utilized. The frameworks utilize H? method or filtering involving a H? adapting rule to properly weigh the reference, and combining the subsequent output with incoming EEG data results in the desired removal of artifacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: University of Houston System
    Inventors: Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal, Atilla Kilicarslan
  • Patent number: 11052249
    Abstract: Neuromuscular stimulation is widely used for rehabilitation and movement assist devices, due to its safety, efficacy, and ease of operation. For repeatable and accurate muscular contractions, a voltage controlled current sources (VCCS) with high compliance is required. Conventional VCCS design requires high-voltage rated operational amplifiers, which are expensive and consume large power. Moreover, conventional stimulators are not viable for simultaneous stimulation of muscle synergies, as they require multiple VCCS operating at the same time. This invention presents a neuromuscular stimulator with a multistage driver circuit wherein, a VCCS connected to an output driving stage comprising of folded-cascode transistor buffers and a bidirectional current mirror circuit. The multistage driver circuit uses inexpensive low-voltage rated operational amplifiers that consume 95% less power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Inventors: Nikunj Arunkumar Bhagat, Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal
  • Publication number: 20200155841
    Abstract: Neuromuscular stimulation is widely used for rehabilitation and movement assist devices, due to its safety, efficacy, and ease of operation. For repeatable and accurate muscular contractions, a voltage controlled current sources (VCCS) with high compliance is required. Conventional VCCS design requires high-voltage rated operational amplifiers, which are expensive and consume large power. Moreover, conventional stimulators are not viable for simultaneous stimulation of muscle synergies, as they require multiple VCCS operating at the same time. This invention presents a neuromuscular stimulator with a multistage driver circuit wherein, a VCCS connected to an output driving stage comprising of folded-cascode transistor buffers and a bidirectional current mirror circuit. The multistage driver circuit uses inexpensive low-voltage rated operational amplifiers that consume 95% less power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Nikunj Arunkumar Bhagat, Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal
  • Publication number: 20190328604
    Abstract: Improved customizable orthotic/prosthetic braces and a lightweight modular exoskeleton may aid individuals with lower limb motor impairment, including children. These customizable orthotic/prosthetic braces improve the strength and rigidity of such braces without a weight penalty. A structural frame is embedded between an inner shell and outer shell, which comprise materials that are easily moldable to conform to a user's limb. The lightweight modular exoskeleton system provides six (6) joint actuators, which are designed to be modular, that act as the active joints (e.g. hips, knees, and ankles) of the exoskeleton. Additionally, the exoskeleton may also provide four (4) passive joints for inversion/eversion of the legs and feet. Foot, crutch, and hip assemblies may also be provided IN for the exoskeleton.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal, Jeffrey Joseph Gorges, Atilla Kilicarslan
  • Patent number: D783820
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: José Luis Contreras-Vidal, Andrew Paek