Patents by Inventor Kevin B. Tucek

Kevin B. Tucek 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: 20110218599
    Abstract: A stand-alone laser device that provides low level laser therapy using one or more laser sources. The laser sources are attached to one or more arms which can be positioned to cause the laser light to impinge on a desired area of a patient's body. A scanning apparatus is attached to the arms which comprise structures that cooperate to cause an optical element to be able to simultaneously rotate about a central axis and move in a linear motion along that axis to achieve any desired scan pattern. Laser light of different pulse widths, different beam shapes and different scan patterns can be applied externally to a patient's body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: ERCHONIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven C. Shanks, Kevin B. Tucek
  • Publication number: 20110213446
    Abstract: A portable, small-footprint laser device contains one or more housings in which a laser energy source and an optical arrangement are disposed. The housing produces a laser beam spot that may be rotated and scanned to apply laser energy to a target area. The laser device receives treatment parameters and uses them to program a treatment regimen in which activation and movement of the housings is automated. The laser device may be used to apply a treatment regimen to a patient's hands or feet that are infected by Onychomycosis. In the treatment regimen, certain wavelengths of laser energy are applied at a predetermined duration. The treatment may be repeated, and a topical anti-fungal medication may be applied to aid in the efficacy of the treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: ERCHONIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin B. Tucek, Steven C. Shanks
  • Publication number: 20110193767
    Abstract: A varying angle antenna design can be used with an electromagnetic radiation dissipation device to reduce exposure to electromagnetic radiation. The antenna captures radiation from an active emission source, such as a cellular telephone as it transmits. The device converts the captured radiation into an electric current and dissipates the collected current by spending it to operate a thermal, mechanical, or electrical device. The varying angle antenna is a printed circuit board trace antenna comprising a microstrip having several serially connected meandering segments. One or more meandering segments include 90-degree bends in the microstrip, and one or more meandering segments include bends of more and less than 90 degrees. Portions of the microstrip that are horizontally oriented are all parallel, while portions of the microstrip that are vertically oriented can be parallel or angled, depending on the bend angle. Near the center of the antenna, the microstrip segments are narrower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: ERCHONIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin B. Tucek, Steven C. Shanks
  • Patent number: 7973736
    Abstract: The present invention is a varying angle antenna design to be used with an electromagnetic radiation dissipation device that reduces exposure to undesirable electromagnetic radiation. The dissipation device uses a varying angle antenna to capture radiation from an active emission source, such as a cellular telephone when it is transmitting. The device converts the captured radiation into an electric current and dissipates the collected current by spending it to operate a thermal, mechanical, or electrical device. The varying angle antenna is a printed circuit board trace antenna comprising a microstrip having several serially connected meandering segments. One or more meandering segments include 90-degree bends in the microstrip, and one or more meandering segments include bends of more and less than 90 degrees. Portions of the microstrip that are horizontally oriented are all parallel, while portions of the microstrip that are vertically oriented can be parallel or angled, depending on the bend angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Erchonia Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin B. Tucek, Steven C. Shanks
  • Publication number: 20110087312
    Abstract: Low-level laser therapy is applied externally through the skin of the patient to targeted areas of a of a patient's body to treat diabetes or prediabetes. A patient is first diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes, preferably by blood draws that measure insulin, A1C, or glucose levels. A therapeutic amount of laser energy to apply is determined from a patient's biological factors such as body mass index. The therapeutic amount of laser energy is applied one or more times over a two week time period. The patient is then retested for diabetes or prediabetes. If necessary, a new therapeutic amount of laser energy is determined according to any changes in the patient's diabetes or prediabetes diagnosis and any changes in the patient's biological factors. Adjusted treatments with low-level laser energy continue until the diabetes or prediabetes diagnosis is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: ERCHONIA CORPORATIN
    Inventors: Charles SHANKS, Ryan MALONEY, Steven C. SHANKS, Kevin B. TUCEK, Rodrigo NEIRA
  • Patent number: 7922751
    Abstract: A stand-alone laser device that provides low level laser therapy using one or more laser sources. The laser sources are attached to one or more arms which can be positioned to cause the laser light to impinge on a desired area of a patient's body. A scanning apparatus is attached to the arms which comprise structures that cooperate to cause an optical element to be able to simultaneously rotate about a central axis and move in a linear motion along that axis to achieve any desired scan pattern. Laser light of different pulse widths, different beam shapes and different scan patterns can be applied externally to a patient's body. In the preferred embodiment, red light having a wavelength of about 635 nm is used to stimulate hair growth on a patient's scalp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Erchonia Corporation
    Inventors: Steven C Shanks, Kevin B. Tucek
  • Patent number: 7883533
    Abstract: A device and method for increasing the number and type of ions in a hydrotherapy treatment to assist in removing unwanted chemicals from the body. A battery-powered array is submerged into a liquid foot bath to generate ions through electrolysis. The array has at least two electrodes, one containing copper and/or zinc, the other steel. The device can be run in two modes, thereby creating different types of ions and enabling the removal of different types of chemicals. The device uses a current and voltage regulator to deliver a regulated amount of current into the array regardless of the conductivity of the liquid, and electrical circuitry is used to control the duration and mode of the treatment. Excessive heat is dissipated with a heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Erchonia Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin B Tucek
  • Patent number: 7885708
    Abstract: A device for iontophoresis. A first battery-powered array is submerged into a liquid contained in a first reservoir and a second battery-powered array is submerged into a liquid contained in a second reservoir. Each array has one or more degradable electrodes that releases ions into the liquid in the reservoir. The electrodes can be copper, zinc, steel, nickel, or a combination thereof. At the first array one of the electrodes can be positively charged while at the second array one of the electrodes can be negatively charged. Alternatively, an electrode at the second array can be positively charged while an electrode at the first array is negatively charged. The solution in the reservoir may also contain positively or negatively charged ions. Powering the arrays causes the charged molecules contained in the liquid to transport through a patient's skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Erchonia Corporation
    Inventors: Steven C Shanks, Kevin B Tucek
  • Publication number: 20100315295
    Abstract: The present invention is a varying angle antenna design to be used with an electromagnetic radiation dissipation device that reduces exposure to undesirable electromagnetic radiation. The dissipation device uses a varying angle antenna to capture radiation from an active emission source, such as a cellular telephone when it is transmitting. The device converts the captured radiation into an electric current and dissipates the collected current by spending it to operate a thermal, mechanical, or electrical device. The varying angle antenna is a printed circuit board trace antenna comprising a microstrip having several serially connected meandering segments. One or more meandering segments include 90-degree bends in the microstrip, and one or more meandering segments include bends of more and less than 90 degrees. Portions of the microstrip that are horizontally oriented are all parallel, while portions of the microstrip that are vertically oriented can be parallel or angled, depending on the bend angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: ERCHONIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin B. Tucek, Steven C. Shanks
  • Patent number: 7800554
    Abstract: The present invention is a varying angle antenna design to be used with an electromagnetic radiation dissipation device that reduces exposure to undesirable electromagnetic radiation. The dissipation device uses a varying angle antenna to capture radiation from an active emission source, such as a cellular telephone when it is transmitting. The device converts the captured radiation into an electric current and dissipates the collected current by spending it to operate a thermal, mechanical, or electrical device. The varying angle antenna is a printed circuit board trace antenna comprising a microstrip having several serially connected meandering segments. One or more meandering segments include 90-degree bends in the microstrip, and one or more meandering segments include bends of more and less than 90 degrees. Portions of the microstrip that are horizontally oriented are all parallel, while portions of the microstrip that are vertically oriented can be parallel or angled, depending on the bend angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Erchonia Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin B. Tucek, Steven C. Shanks
  • Publication number: 20090322622
    Abstract: The present invention is a varying angle antenna design to be used with an electromagnetic radiation dissipation device that reduces exposure to undesirable electromagnetic radiation. The dissipation device uses a varying angle antenna to capture radiation from an active emission source, such as a cellular telephone when it is transmitting. The device converts the captured radiation into an electric current and dissipates the collected current by spending it to operate a thermal, mechanical, or electrical device. The varying angle antenna is a printed circuit board trace antenna comprising a microstrip having several serially connected meandering segments. One or more meandering segments include 90-degree bends in the microstrip, and one or more meandering segments include bends of more and less than 90 degrees. Portions of the microstrip that are horizontally oriented are all parallel, while portions of the microstrip that are vertically oriented can be parallel or angled, depending on the bend angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Kevin B. Tucek, Steven C. Shanks
  • Publication number: 20090253397
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and device for reducing exposure to undesirable electromagnetic radiation. The dissipation device uses a varying angle antenna design to capture radiation from an active emission source, such as a cellular telephone when it is transmitting. The device converts the captured radiation into an electric current and dissipates the collected current by spending it to operate a thermal, mechanical, or electrical device. The varying angle antenna is a printed circuit board trace antenna comprising a microstrip having several serially connected meandering segments. One or more meandering segments include 90-degree bends in the microstrip, and one or more meandering segments include bends of more and less than 90 degrees. Portions of the microstrip that are horizontally oriented are all parallel, while portions of the microstrip that are vertically oriented can be parallel or angled, depending on the bend angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: Therapy Products, Inc. dba Erchonia Medical
    Inventors: Steven C. Shanks, Kevin B. Tucek, George Leger
  • Publication number: 20080161869
    Abstract: A device and method for increasing the number and type of ions in a hydrotherapy treatment to assist in removing unwanted chemicals from the body. A battery-powered array is submerged into a liquid foot bath to generate ions through electrolysis. The array has at least two electrodes, one containing copper and/or zinc, the other steel. The device can be run in two modes, thereby creating different types of ions and enabling the removal of different types of chemicals. The device uses a current and voltage regulator to deliver a regulated amount of current into the array regardless of the conductivity of the liquid, and electrical circuitry is used to control the duration and mode of the treatment. Excessive heat is dissipated with a heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Kevin B. Tucek
  • Publication number: 20080014872
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and device for reducing exposure to undesirable electromagnetic radiation. The device uses a target antenna to capture certain radiation from an active emission source, such as a cell phone when it is transmitting or a microwave oven when it is cooking. The target antenna is tuned to the frequencies of the undesirable radiation emitted from the emission source. The device converts the captured radiation into an electric current, and dissipates the collected current by spending it to operate a thermal, mechanical, or electrical device. In the preferred embodiment, the current is directed to an LED display that lights up when supplied with the current, serving a secondary purpose of showing the user that the device is working.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Kevin B. Tucek, George Leger, Steven C. Shanks
  • Patent number: 7169169
    Abstract: A force-transmitting head for a chiropractic adjustor apparatus includes a hub which is rotatable in a cavity formed in the head and non-rotatably attached to a reciprocating shaft of the apparatus. A rotation pin extends through the body into the cavity and engages a track formed in the hub. Reciprocating movement of the shaft and hub causes a rotational movement of the body with passage of the rotation pin along the track. Also, a chiropractic adjustor apparatus incorporating the force-transmitting head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Inventors: Kevin B Tucek, Steven C. Shanks
  • Patent number: 6875186
    Abstract: A hand-held percussive device for facilitating the redistribution of fat remaining after liposuction. A piston is driven pneumatically in a reciprocating motion externally against a patient's skin and is self-actuated. A floating valve works in cooperation with the piston such that when the device is pressed against a patient's skin, the reciprocating motion begins. When the device is retracted, the reciprocating motion stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Inventors: Kevin B. Tucek, Steven C. Shanks
  • Patent number: 6746473
    Abstract: An improved hand-held laser device that can simultaneously provide multiple types of low level laser therapy treatments. The device enables laser light of different pulse widths, different beam shapes and spot sizes to be applied externally to a patient's body. The device includes multiple laser sources. In the preferred embodiment, two semiconductor diode laser sources simultaneously provide two separate laser beams, one laser beam producing a line of continuous red laser light and the other producing a spot of pulsed laser light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Erchonia Patent Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Steven C. Shanks, Kevin B. Tucek
  • Publication number: 20040049137
    Abstract: A hand-held percussive device for facilitating the redistribution of fat remaining after liposuction. A piston is driven pneumatically in a reciprocating motion externally against a patient's skin and is self-actuated. A floating valve works in cooperation with the piston such that when the device is pressed against a patient's skin, the reciprocating motion begins. When the device is retracted, the reciprocating motion stops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Kevin B. Tucek, Steven C. Shanks
  • Publication number: 20040006378
    Abstract: A hand-held laser device that can simultaneously provide multiple types of low level laser therapy treatments to multiple areas of a patient's body simultaneously. The device enables laser light of different pulse widths, different beam shapes and spot sizes to be applied to a patient's body. The device includes multiple laser sources. In the preferred embodiment, two semiconductor diode laser sources simultaneously provide two separate laser beams from separate probes, one laser beam producing laser light at a first pulse width and the other producing laser light at a second pulse width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Inventors: Steven C. Shanks, Kevin B. Tucek
  • Patent number: 6605079
    Abstract: A lipoplasty method which includes applying laser energy to the adipose tissue externally through the skin at the same time suction is applied to the targeted tissue. The preferred method includes introducing a solution through an opening in the body to cause the solution to come into contact with adipocytes in the adipose tissue before or simultaneous with applying the laser energy. Optionally, the method can further include reducing inflammation by applying laser energy externally through the skin. Also optionally, the method can include reducing pain by applying laser energy externally through the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Erchonia Patent Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Shanks, Kevin B. Tucek, Rodrigo Neira