Patents by Inventor Mark W. Cowan

Mark W. 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).

  • Patent number: 11752352
    Abstract: Delivery of an implantable wireless receiver-stimulator (R-S) into the heart using delivery catheter is described. R-S comprises a cathode and an anode and wirelessly receives and converts energy, such as acoustic ultrasound energy, to electrical energy to stimulate the heart. Conductive wires routed through the delivery system temporarily connect R-S electrodes to external monitor and pacing controller. R-S comprises a first temporary electrical connection from the catheter to the cathode, and a second temporary electrical connection from the catheter to the anode. Temporary electrical connections allow external monitoring of heart's electrical activity as sensed by R-S electrodes to determine tissue viability for excitation as well as to assess energy conversion efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Moore, Mark W. Cowan, Nathaniel Parker Willis
  • Publication number: 20220331588
    Abstract: The present invention relies on a controller-transmitter device to deliver ultrasound energy into cardiac tissue in order to directly improve cardiac function and/or to energize one or more implanted receiver-stimulator devices that transduce the ultrasound energy to electrical energy to perform excitatory and/or non-excitatory treatments for heart failure. The acoustic energy can be applied as a single burst or as multiple bursts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Debra S. Echt, Richard E. Riley, Mark W. Cowan, Axel F. Brisken
  • Patent number: 11452879
    Abstract: Method and systems for optimizing acoustic energy transmission in implantable devices are disclosed. Transducer elements transmit acoustic locator signals towards a receiver assembly, and the receiver responds with a location signal. The location signal can reveal information related to the location of the receiver and the efficiency of the transmitted acoustic beam received by the receiver. This information enables the transmitter to target the receiver and optimize the acoustic energy transfer between the transmitter and the receiver. The energy can be used for therapeutic purposes, for example, stimulating tissue or for diagnostic purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: N. Parker Willis, Axel F. Brisken, Mark W. Cowan, Michael Pare, Robert Fowler, James Brennan
  • Patent number: 11376439
    Abstract: The present invention relies on a controller-transmitter device to deliver ultrasound energy into cardiac tissue in order to directly improve cardiac function and/or to energize one or more implanted receiver-stimulator devices that transduce the ultrasound energy to electrical energy to perform excitatory and/or non-excitatory treatments for heart failure. The acoustic energy can be applied as a single burst or as multiple bursts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra S. Echt, Richard E. Riley, Mark W. Cowan, Axel F. Brisken
  • Publication number: 20200276447
    Abstract: Delivery of an implantable wireless receiver-stimulator (R-S) into the heart using delivery catheter is described. R-S comprises a cathode and an anode and wirelessly receives and converts energy, such as acoustic ultrasound energy, to electrical energy to stimulate the heart. Conductive wires routed through the delivery system temporarily connect R-S electrodes to external monitor and pacing controller. R-S comprises a first temporary electrical connection from the catheter to the cathode, and a second temporary electrical connection from the catheter to the anode. Temporary electrical connections allow external monitoring of heart's electrical activity as sensed by R-S electrodes to determine tissue viability for excitation as well as to assess energy conversion efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: David F. Moore, Mark W. Cowan, N. Parker Willis
  • Publication number: 20200230426
    Abstract: Method and systems for optimizing acoustic energy transmission in implantable devices are disclosed. Transducer elements transmit acoustic locator signals towards a receiver assembly, and the receiver responds with a location signal. The location signal can reveal information related to the location of the receiver and the efficiency of the transmitted acoustic beam received by the receiver. This information enables the transmitter to target the receiver and optimize the acoustic energy transfer between the transmitter and the receiver. The energy can be used for therapeutic purposes, for example, stimulating tissue or for diagnostic purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: N. Parker Willis, Axel F. Brisken, Mark W. Cowan, Michael Pare, Robert Fowler, James Brennan
  • Patent number: 10688307
    Abstract: Delivery of an implantable wireless receiver-stimulator (R-S) into the heart using delivery catheter is described. R-S comprises a cathode and an anode and wirelessly receives and converts energy, such as acoustic ultrasound energy, to electrical energy to stimulate the heart. Conductive wires routed through the delivery system temporarily connect R-S electrodes to external monitor and pacing controller. R-S comprises a first temporary electrical connection from the catheter to the cathode, and a second temporary electrical connection from the catheter to the anode. Temporary electrical connections allow external monitoring of heart's electrical activity as sensed by R-S electrodes to determine tissue viability for excitation as well as to assess energy conversion efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Moore, Mark W. Cowan, N. Parker Willis
  • Patent number: 10576287
    Abstract: A system for delivering an electrical stimulation pulse to tissue comprises a controller-transmitter and a receiver-stimulator. The controller-transmitter includes circuitry having an energy storage capacitor. The capacitance of the energy storage capacitor is adjusted to improve the efficiency of energy delivered from the receiver-stimulator to tissue by modifying the geometry of an acoustic drive burst from the controller-transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Cowan
  • Publication number: 20190351226
    Abstract: The present invention relies on a controller-transmitter device to deliver ultrasound energy into cardiac tissue in order to directly improve cardiac function and/or to energize one or more implanted receiver-stimulator devices that transduce the ultrasound energy to electrical energy to perform excitatory and/or non-excitatory treatments for heart failure. The acoustic energy can be applied as a single burst or as multiple bursts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Debra S. Echt, Richard E. Riley, Mark W. Cowan, Axel F. Brisken
  • Publication number: 20190336776
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to stimulate tissue to treat medical conditions involving tissues such as the bone, spine, stomach, nerves, brain and the cochlea. The disclosed invention uses electrical stimulation of the tissue, where vibrational (or acoustic) energy from a source is received by an implanted device and converted to electrical energy and the converted electrical energy is used by implanted electrodes to stimulate the pre-determined tissue sites. The vibrational energy is generated by a controller-transmitter, which could be either implanted or located externally. The vibrational energy is received by a receiver-stimulator, which could be located at or close to the stimulation site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken, Debra S. Echt
  • Patent number: 10456588
    Abstract: Method and systems for optimizing acoustic energy transmission in implantable devices are disclosed. Transducer elements transmit acoustic locator signals towards a receiver assembly, and the receiver responds with a location signal. The location signal can reveal information related to the location of the receiver and the efficiency of the transmitted acoustic beam received by the receiver. This information enables the transmitter to target the receiver and optimize the acoustic energy transfer between the transmitter and the receiver. The energy can be used for therapeutic purposes, for example, stimulating tissue or for diagnostic purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: N. Parker Willis, Axel F. Brisken, Mark W. Cowan, Michael Pare, Robert Fowler, James Brennan
  • Patent number: 10207115
    Abstract: The present invention relies on a controller-transmitter device to deliver ultrasound energy into cardiac tissue in order to directly improve cardiac function and/or to energize one or more implanted receiver-stimulator devices that transduce the ultrasound energy to electrical energy to perform excitatory and/or non-excitatory treatments for heart failure. The acoustic energy can be applied as a single burst or as multiple bursts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra S. Echt, Richard E. Riley, Mark W. Cowan, Axel F. Brisken
  • Publication number: 20180353763
    Abstract: Method and systems for optimizing acoustic energy transmission in implantable devices are disclosed. Transducer elements transmit acoustic locator signals towards a receiver assembly, and the receiver responds with a location signal. The location signal can reveal information related to the location of the receiver and the efficiency of the transmitted acoustic beam received by the receiver. This information enables the transmitter to target the receiver and optimize the acoustic energy transfer between the transmitter and the receiver. The energy can be used for therapeutic purposes, for example, stimulating tissue or for diagnostic purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: N. Parker Willis, Axel F. Brisken, Mark W. Cowan, Michael Pare, Robert Fowler, James Brennan
  • Patent number: 10143850
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to stimulate tissue to treat medical conditions involving tissues such as the bone, spine, stomach, nerves, brain and the cochlea. The disclosed invention uses electrical stimulation of the tissue, where vibrational (or acoustic) energy from a source is received by an implanted device and converted to electrical energy and the converted electrical energy is used by implanted electrodes to stimulate the pre-determined tissue sites. The vibrational energy is generated by a controller-transmitter, which could be either implanted or located externally. The vibrational energy is received by a receiver-stimulator, which could be located at or close to the stimulation site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken, Debra S. Echt
  • Publication number: 20180280704
    Abstract: Delivery of an implantable wireless receiver-stimulator (R-S) into the heart using delivery catheter is described. R-S comprises a cathode and an anode and wirelessly receives and converts energy, such as acoustic ultrasound energy, to electrical energy to stimulate the heart. Conductive wires routed through the delivery system temporarily connect R-S electrodes to external monitor and pacing controller. R-S comprises a first temporary electrical connection from the catheter to the cathode, and a second temporary electrical connection from the catheter to the anode. Temporary electrical connections allow external monitoring of heart's electrical activity as sensed by R-S electrodes to determine tissue viability for excitation as well as to assess energy conversion efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Moore, Mark W. Cowan, N. Parker Willis
  • Patent number: 10080903
    Abstract: Method and systems for optimizing acoustic energy transmission in implantable devices are disclosed. Transducer elements transmit acoustic locator signals towards a receiver assembly, and the receiver responds with a location signal. The location signal can reveal information related to the location of the receiver and the efficiency of the transmitted acoustic beam received by the receiver. This information enables the transmitter to target the receiver and optimize the acoustic energy transfer between the transmitter and the receiver. The energy can be used for therapeutic purposes, for example, stimulating tissue or for diagnostic purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: EBR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: N. Parker Willis, Axel F. Brisken, Mark W. Cowan, Michael Pare, Robert Fowler, James Brennan
  • Publication number: 20180099145
    Abstract: A system for delivering an electrical stimulation pulse to tissue comprises a controller-transmitter and a receiver-stimulator. The controller-transmitter includes circuitry having an energy storage capacitor. The capacitance of the energy storage capacitor is adjusted to improve the efficiency of energy delivered from the receiver-stimulator to tissue by modifying the geometry of an acoustic drive burst from the controller-transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Applicant: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Cowan
  • Patent number: 9907968
    Abstract: Delivery of an implantable wireless receiver-stimulator (R-S) into the heart using delivery catheter is described. R-S comprises a cathode and an anode and wirelessly receives and converts energy, such as acoustic ultrasound energy, to electrical energy to stimulate the heart. Conductive wires routed through the delivery system temporarily connect R-S electrodes to external monitor and pacing controller. R-S comprises a first temporary electrical connection from the catheter to the cathode, and a second temporary electrical connection from the catheter to the anode. Temporary electrical connections allow external monitoring of heart's electrical activity as sensed by R-S electrodes to determine tissue viability for excitation as well as to assess energy conversion efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Moore, Mark W. Cowan, N. Parker Willis
  • Patent number: 9855429
    Abstract: A system for delivering an electrical stimulation pulse to tissue comprises a controller-transmitter and a receiver-stimulator. The controller-transmitter includes circuitry having an energy storage capacitor. The capacitance of the energy storage capacitor is adjusted to improve the efficiency of energy delivered from the receiver-stimulator to tissue by modifying the geometry of an acoustic drive burst from the controller-transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Cowan
  • Patent number: 9731139
    Abstract: A wireless cardiac stimulation device is disclosed comprising a controller-transmitter, a receiver, and a stimulating electrode, wherein the stimulating electrode and the receiver are separately implantable at cardiac tissue locations of the heart and are connected by a local lead. Having separately implantable receiver and stimulating electrodes improves the efficiency of ultrasound mediated wireless stimulation by allowing the receiver to be placed optimally for reception efficiency, thereby resulting in longer battery life, and by allowing the stimulating electrode to be placed optimally for stimulus delivery. Another advantage is a reduced risk of embolization, since the receiver and stimulating electrode ensemble is attached at two locations of the heart wall, with the connecting local leads serving as a safety tether should either the receiver or the stimulating electrode become dislodged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathanial P. Willis, Richard E. Riley, Mark W. Cowan