Patents by Inventor Kenneth F. Cowan

Kenneth F. Cowan 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).

  • Publication number: 20240139531
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for generating pulse pacing in a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (“WCD”). In one aspect the WCD circuitry includes a power source such as a battery coupled to a charger that provides charge energy to an energy storage module. Control circuitry is operatively coupled to the charger and the output circuitry, and configured to cause the WCD circuitry to generate pacing pulses delivered to therapy electrodes (attached to an ambulatory patient) without a current source. The WCD circuitry includes one or more processing elements that are used to execute instructions provided by one or more software modules that are configured to support various functionality, including controlling generation of pacing pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: West Affum Holdings DAC
    Inventors: David P. Finch, Leo J. Gilbert, Joseph L. Sullivan, Jaeho Kim, John Wei-Hao Huang, Brian J. Bennett, Kenneth F. Cowan
  • Publication number: 20240050739
    Abstract: A Wearable Cardiac Defibrillator (WCD) system is configured to be worn by a patient who carries a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device has a user interface that is configured to enable the patient to enter wireless inputs. The WCD system includes a communication module that is configured to establish a local comlink with the mobile communication device. The WCD system also includes a tethered action unit that has a user interface configured to enable the patient to enter action inputs. The WCD system can perform some of its functions in response to the action inputs or to the wireless inputs. Since the wireless inputs can be provided from the mobile communication device instead of the action unit, the patient is less likely to attract attention when entering them, and thus exhibit better compliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: West Affum Holdings DAC
    Inventors: David Peter Finch, Phillip Dewey Foshee, JR., Erick Michael Roane, Laura Marie Gustavson, Kenneth F. Cowan, Robert Reuben Buchanan, Daniel James Finney, Jason W. Fouts, Gregory T. Kavounas
  • Patent number: 11844953
    Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) comprises a plurality of electrocardiography (ECG) electrodes, a right-leg drive (RLD) electrode, and a plurality of defibrillator electrodes to contact the patient's skin when the WCD is delivering therapy to the patient, a preamplifier coupled to the ECG electrodes and the RLD electrode to obtain ECG data from the patient as one or more ECG vectors, a processor to receive ECG data from the preamplifier and an abort signal from a user interface, an isolation barrier to isolate the preamplifier from the processor, and a high voltage subsystem to provide a defibrillation voltage to the patient through the defibrillator electrodes in response to a shock signal received from the processor. A shock is provided when an abort signal is not received within a predetermined time period of a shock criterion being met. Less than one false alarm occurs every ten patient-days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: West Affum Holdings DAC
    Inventors: Joseph L Sullivan, David P. Finch, Douglas K. Medema, Robert R. Buchanan, Garrett M. Kotlarchik, Jaeho Kim, Kenneth F. Cowan
  • Publication number: 20230390565
    Abstract: A wearable medical systems (“WMS”) implements a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (“WCD”) by including therapy electrodes coupled to a unit with electronic components, all of which are carried or worn by a patient. A charger is also provided, along with at least two rechargeable batteries; one of the batteries can be powering the unit while the other is being recharged by the charger. The unit may output a prompt to the patient to swap the batteries when the battery in the unit reaches a low-charge condition, or when other conditions are met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Stacy Taylor, Cameron G. Pollock, Traci S. Umberger, Kenneth F. Cowan, Gregory T. Kavounas
  • Patent number: 11819703
    Abstract: Technologies and implementations for a wearable medical device (WMD). The WMD includes electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes and/or therapy electrodes having resistor components formed utilizing resistive ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: WEST AFFUM HOLDINGS DAC
    Inventors: Daniel R. Piha, Kenneth F. Cowan
  • Patent number: 11794005
    Abstract: A Wearable Cardiac Defibrillator (WCD) system is configured to be worn by a patient who carries a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device has a user interface that is configured to enable the patient to enter wireless inputs. The WCD system includes a communication module that is configured to establish a local comlink with the mobile communication device. The WCD system also includes a tethered action unit that has a user interface configured to enable the patient to enter action inputs. The WCD system can perform some of its functions in response to the action inputs or to the wireless inputs. Since the wireless inputs can be provided from the mobile communication device instead of the action unit, the patient is less likely to attract attention when entering them, and thus exhibit better compliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: West Affum Holdings DAC
    Inventors: David Peter Finch, Phillip Dewey Foshee, Jr., Erick Michael Roane, Laura Marie Gustavson, Kenneth F. Cowan, Robert Reuben Buchanan, Daniel James Finney, Jason W. Fouts, Gregory T. Kavounas
  • Publication number: 20230277860
    Abstract: A Wearable Medical System (WMS) that implements a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD), includes a microphone and related improvements. The microphone can be on the same dongle as the cancel switch of the WCD. A user trigger module may permit the patient to perform a deliberate act and, in response, the system may start recording audio from the ambient sounds, including their own voice, and/or start recording the ECG. The deliberate act may even be a voice command by the patient that is parsed by a voice recognition module. The WMS may continuously record audio and then continuously discard it, and further stop the discarding if it detects a recording trigger. The WMS may create an exportable computer file that has audio-related data, which can have playable sound data or transcribed voice data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: West Affum Holdings DAC
    Inventors: Cameron G. Pollock, Stacy Taylor, Kenneth F. Cowan, Traci S. Umberger, Gregory T. Kavounas
  • Publication number: 20230201571
    Abstract: A supportive clothing article for a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD), including a belt, the belt including a first end with a first portion of a fastener and a second end with a second portion of the fastener, wherein the belt is structured to fasten around the torso of patient below the chest area of the patient, the belt including a first conductive mesh portion adjacent the first end of the belt or the second end of the belt, two straps, a back portion extending from the belt at an intermediary position on the belt to each of the two straps, the back portion including a conductive mesh, a first support receptacle attached to and extending from the belt and attachable to one of the two straps, and a second support receptacle attached to and extending from the belt and attachable to the other of the two straps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: WEST AFFUM HOLDINGS DAC
    Inventors: Laura Marie Gustavson, Kerstin Dorst, Angela M. Stewart, Pamela F. Breske, Amanda K. Hall, Garrett McCann Kotlarchik, Dallas Eugene Meeker, Daniel James Finney, Eduard Johann Deml, Robert Reuben Buchanan, David Peter Finch, Phillip Dewey Foshee, JR., Douglas Keith Medema, Kenneth F. Cowan
  • Patent number: 11617880
    Abstract: A supportive clothing article for a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD), including a belt, the belt including a first end with a first portion of a fastener and a second end with a second portion of the fastener, wherein the belt is structured to fasten around the torso of patient below the chest area of the patient, the belt including a first conductive mesh portion adjacent the first end of the belt or the second end of the belt, two straps, a back portion extending from the belt at an intermediary position on the belt to each of the two straps, the back portion including a conductive mesh, a first support receptacle attached to and extending from the belt and attachable to one of the two straps, and a second support receptacle attached to and extending from the belt and attachable to the other of the two straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: West Affum Holdings DAC
    Inventors: Laura Marie Gustavson, Kerstin Dorst, Angela M. Stewart, Pamela Breske, Jr., Amanda K. Hall, Garrett McCann Kotlarchik, Dallas Eugene Meeker, Daniel James Finney, Eduard Johann Deml, Robert Reuben Buchanan, David Peter Finch, Phillip Dewey Foshee, Jr., Douglas Keith Medema, Kenneth F. Cowan
  • Publication number: 20230089192
    Abstract: A wearable medical device comprising monitoring circuitry to monitor one or more patient parameters of a patient and defibrillation circuitry to provide one or more defibrillation shocks to the patient responsive to a control signal from the monitoring circuitry. The defibrillation circuitry comprises a defibrillation capacitor to provide energy for the one or more defibrillation shocks. The wearable medical device also comprises a power source to provide power to the monitoring circuitry and the defibrillation circuitry. The power source comprises a low current power source (LCPS) to provide power to the monitoring circuitry, and a high current power source (HCPS) to provide power to the defibrillation circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: West Affum Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Brian J. Bennett, Kenneth F. Cowan, Phillip D. Foshee, JR., David P. Finch, Joseph L. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20220313989
    Abstract: A Wearable Cardiac Defibrillator (WCD) system is configured to be worn by a patient who carries a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device has a user interface that is configured to enable the patient to enter wireless inputs. The WCD system includes a communication module that is configured to establish a local comlink with the mobile communication device. The WCD system also includes a tethered action unit that has a user interface configured to enable the patient to enter action inputs. The WCD system can perform some of its functions in response to the action inputs or to the wireless inputs. Since the wireless inputs can be provided from the mobile communication device instead of the action unit, the patient is less likely to attract attention when entering them, and thus exhibit better compliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: West Affum Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: David Peter Finch, Phillip Dewey Foshee, JR., Erick Michael Roane, Laura Marie Gustavson, Kenneth F. Cowan, Robert Reuben Buchanan, Daniel James Finney, Jason W. Fouts, Gregory T. Kavounas
  • Publication number: 20220296909
    Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) comprises a plurality of electrocardiography (ECG) electrodes and a plurality of defibrillator electrodes to contact the patient's skin when the WCD is delivering therapy to the patient, a preamplifier coupled to the ECG electrodes to obtain ECG data from the patient. a processor to receive the ECG data from the preamplifier, and a high voltage subsystem to provide a defibrillation voltage to the patient through the plurality of defibrillator electrodes in response to a shock signal received from the processor. In a first power mode of a range of power modes the preamplifier is configured to perform low-fidelity ECG acquisition and the processor is configured to perform simple arrythmia detection analysis, and in a second mode of the range of power modes the preamplifier is configured to perform high-fidelity ECG acquisition and the processor is configured to perform complex arrythmia detection analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: West Affum Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: David P. Finch, Erick M. Roane, Kenneth F. Cowan, Derek J. Valleroy, Gregory T. Kavounas
  • Publication number: 20220241601
    Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) system comprises a plurality of patient parameter electrodes and a plurality of defibrillator electrodes to contact a patient's skin when the WCD is delivering therapy to the patient, a processor to receive one or more patient parameters from the one or more patient parameter electrodes, an energy storage device to store a charge to provide electrical therapy to the patient via the plurality of defibrillator electrodes, and a non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitor to obtain a blood pressure measurement of the patient and to provide the blood pressure measurement to the processor. The processor is to determine whether to provide electrical therapy to the patient based on the one or more patient parameters during an episode, and to obtain the blood pressure measurement from the NIBP monitor during the episode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: West Affum Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Cowan, Steven E. Sjoquist, Zoie R. Engman, Erick M. Roane, Laura M. Gustavson, Douglas K. Medema, Garrett M. Kotlarchik, Pamela Breske, Jonathan P. Niegowski, Joseph L. Sullivan, Robert R. Buchanan
  • Patent number: 11376425
    Abstract: A Wearable Cardiac Defibrillator (WCD) system is configured to be worn by a patient who carries a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device has a user interface that is configured to enable the patient to enter wireless inputs. The WCD system includes a communication module that is configured to establish a local comlink with the mobile communication device. The WCD system also includes a tethered action unit that has a user interface configured to enable the patient to enter action inputs. The WCD system can perform some of its functions in response to the action inputs or to the wireless inputs. Since the wireless inputs can be provided from the mobile communication device instead of the action unit, the patient is less likely to attract attention when entering them, and thus exhibit better compliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: West Affum Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: David Peter Finch, Phillip Dewey Foshee, Jr., Erick Michael Roane, Laura Marie Gustavson, Kenneth F. Cowan, Robert Reuben Buchanan, Daniel James Finney, Jason W. Fouts, Gregory T Kavounas
  • Patent number: 11331508
    Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) system comprises a plurality of patient parameter electrodes and a plurality of defibrillator electrodes to contact a patient's skin when the WCD is delivering therapy to the patient, a processor to receive one or more patient parameters from the one or more patient parameter electrodes, an energy storage device to store a charge to provide electrical therapy to the patient via the plurality of defibrillator electrodes, and a non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitor to obtain a blood pressure measurement of the patient and to provide the blood pressure measurement to the processor. The processor is to determine whether to provide electrical therapy to the patient based on the one or more patient parameters during an episode, and to obtain the blood pressure measurement from the NIBP monitor during the episode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: West Affum Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Cowan, Steven E. Sjoquist, Zoie R. Engman, Erick M. Roane, Laura M. Gustavson, Douglas K. Medema, Garrett M. Kotlarchik, Pamela Breske, Jonathan P. Niegowski, Joseph L. Sullivan, Robert R. Buchanan
  • Publication number: 20220143389
    Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) comprises a plurality of electrocardiography (ECG) electrodes. An episode is opened responsive to a string of consecutive segments meeting one or more shock criteria, and a shockable rhythm is confirmed for the episode responsive to a subsequent string of consecutive segments meeting one or more confirmation criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: West Affum Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Sullivan, David P. Finch, Douglas K. Medema, Robert R. Buchanan, Garrett M. Kotlarchik, Jaeho Kim, Kenneth F. Cowan
  • Publication number: 20220118244
    Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) comprises a plurality of electrocardiography (ECG) electrodes, a right-leg drive (RLD) electrode, and a plurality of defibrillator electrodes to contact the patient's skin when the WCD is delivering therapy to the patient, a preamplifier coupled to the ECG electrodes and the RLD electrode to obtain ECG data from the patient as one or more ECG vectors, a high voltage subsystem to provide a defibrillation voltage to the patient through the plurality of defibrillator electrodes, and an impedance measurement circuit to measure an impedance across a first pair of ECG electrodes, wherein the impedance measurement circuit is to apply a balancing impedance across a second pair of ECG electrodes when an impedance of the second pair of ECG electrodes is not being measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: West Affum Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Zhong Qun Lu, Douglas K. Medema, Kenneth F. Cowan
  • Publication number: 20220088400
    Abstract: Embodiments of a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) system are configured to monitor a patient's ECG for shockable arrhythmias and deliver a shock to the patient in response to such a detection. To monitor the patient's ECG with reduced signal noise to improve the system's performance, the system includes a cable assembly having: a signal line; an inner shield and an outer shield; an ECG electrode electrically connected to the signal line of the cable assembly; and an amplifier having first and second input nodes respectively connected to the signal line and the outer shield of the cable assembly. The amplifier's output node is electrically connected to the inner shield of the cable assembly to reduce the reactive load seen by the patient's heart in driving the ECG sensing circuitry, which reduces the noise on the ECG signal outputted by the amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Zhong Qun Lu, Douglas K. Medema, Kenneth F. Cowan
  • Publication number: 20220080213
    Abstract: Technologies and implementations for a wearable medical device (WMD). The WMD includes electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes and/or therapy electrodes having resistor components formed utilizing resistive ink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel R. Piha, Kenneth F. Cowan
  • Patent number: 11260238
    Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) comprises a plurality of electrocardiography (ECG) electrodes and a plurality of defibrillator electrodes to contact the patient's skin when the WCD is delivering therapy to the patient, a preamplifier coupled to the ECG electrodes to obtain ECG data from the patient. a processor to receive the ECG data from the preamplifier, and a high voltage subsystem to provide a defibrillation voltage to the patient through the plurality of defibrillator electrodes in response to a shock signal received from the processor. In a first power mode of a range of power modes the preamplifier is configured to perform low-fidelity ECG acquisition and the processor is configured to perform simple arrythmia detection analysis, and in a second mode of the range of power modes the preamplifier is configured to perform high-fidelity ECG acquisition and the processor is configured to perform complex arrythmia detection analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: West Affum Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: David P. Finch, Erick M. Roane, Kenneth F. Cowan, Derek J. Valleroy, Gregory T. Kavounas