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).
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Publication number: 20170182316Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2017Publication date: June 29, 2017Applicant: EBR Systems, Inc.Inventor: Mark W. Cowan
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Patent number: 9616235Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 25, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.Inventor: Mark W. Cowan
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Publication number: 20160367823Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2016Publication date: December 22, 2016Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken, Debra S. Echt
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Patent number: 9452286Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 20, 2013Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken, Debra S. Echt
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Publication number: 20160235976Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2016Publication date: August 18, 2016Inventors: Debra S. Echt, Richard E. Riley, Mark W. Cowan, Axel F. Brisken
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Publication number: 20160158560Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2016Publication date: June 9, 2016Inventors: David F. Moore, Mark W. Cowan, N. Parker Willis
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Patent number: 9333364Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 1, 2010Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Debra S. Echt, Richard E. Riley, Mark W. Cowan, Axel F. Brisken
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Publication number: 20160114176Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2015Publication date: April 28, 2016Inventors: Nathanial P. Willis, Richard E. Riley, Mark W. Cowan
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Patent number: 9283392Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 24, 2010Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.Inventors: David F. Moore, Mark W. Cowan, N. Parker Willis
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Publication number: 20150196755Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2015Publication date: July 16, 2015Inventor: Mark W. Cowan
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Patent number: 9008776Abstract: Systems including an implantable receiver-stimulator and an implantable controller-transmitter are used for leadless electrical stimulation of body tissues. Cardiac pacing and arrhythmia control is accomplished with one or more implantable receiver-stimulators and an external or implantable controller-transmitter. Systems are implanted by testing external or implantable devices at different tissue sites, observing physiologic and device responses, and selecting sites with preferred performance for implanting the systems. In these systems, a controller-transmitter is activated at a remote tissue location to transmit/deliver acoustic energy through the body to a receiver-stimulator at a target tissue location. The receiver-stimulator converts the acoustic energy to electrical energy for electrical stimulation of the body tissue. The tissue locations(s) can be optimized by moving either or both of the controller-transmitter and the receiver-stimulator to determine the best patient and device responses.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Debra S. Echt, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken
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Publication number: 20140207210Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: EBR Systems, Inc.Inventors: N. Parker Willis, Axel F. Brisken, Mark W. Cowan, Mike Pare, Robert Fowler, James Brennan
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Patent number: 8718773Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 23, 2007Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.Inventors: N. Parker Willis, Axel F. Brisken, Mark W. Cowan, Michael Pare, Robert Fowler, James Brennan
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Patent number: 8634908Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 28, 2006Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.Inventor: Mark W. Cowan
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Publication number: 20130282073Abstract: Systems including an implantable receiver-stimulator and an implantable controller-transmitter are used for leadless electrical stimulation of body tissues. Cardiac pacing and arrhythmia control is accomplished with one or more implantable receiver-stimulators and an external or implantable controller-transmitter. Systems are implanted by testing external or implantable devices at different tissue sites, observing physiologic and device responses, and selecting sites with preferred performance for implanting the systems. In these systems, a controller-transmitter is activated at a remote tissue location to transmit/deliver acoustic energy through the body to a receiver-stimulator at a target tissue location. The receiver-stimulator converts the acoustic energy to electrical energy for electrical stimulation of the body tissue. The tissue locations(s) can be optimized by moving either or both of the controller-transmitter and the receiver-stimulator to determine the best patient and device responses.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2012Publication date: October 24, 2013Applicant: EBR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Debra S. Echt, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken
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Publication number: 20130282070Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2013Publication date: October 24, 2013Applicant: EBR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken, Debra S. Echt
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Patent number: 8498715Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to enable hearing in the deaf by stimulating sites in the cochlea. The invention uses electrical stimulation in the cochlea, where vibrational 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 cochlear nerve. The vibrational energy is generated by a controller-transmitter, which could be located either externally or implanted. The vibrational energy is received by a receiver-stimulator, which contains multiple electrodes to stimulate along selected sites in the cochlea.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2011Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken, Debra S. Echt
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Patent number: 8494643Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to stimulate nerves to treat medical conditions such as pain, and other conditions, such as, CHF, obesity, incontinence, etc., that could be controlled by the stimulation of the vagal nerves. The invention uses electrical stimulation of the nerve, where vibrational 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 nerve site. The vibrational energy is generated by a controller-transmitter, which could be implanted or located externally. The vibrational energy is received by a receiver-stimulator, which could be located in the various regions on or around the nerve that needs to be stimulated. The implantable receiver-stimulator stimulates different nerves and regions of a nerve to provide therapeutic benefit.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken, Debra S. Echt
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Patent number: 8494642Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to stimulate spine tissue to treat medical conditions such as pain and spinal injury. The invention uses electrical stimulation of the spine, where vibrational 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 brain site. The vibrational energy is generated by a controller-transmitter, which could be located either externally or implanted. The vibrational energy is received by a receiver-stimulator, which could be located in the various regions on around the spine. The implantable receiver-stimulator stimulates different locations in the spine region to provide therapeutic benefit.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken, Debra S. Echt
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Patent number: 8494639Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to stimulate brain tissue to treat medical conditions such as movement disorders, pain and epilepsy. The disclosed invention uses electrical stimulation of the brain tissue, where vibrational 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 brain site. 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 under the skull, within the brain, on the dura, or in the cranial space close to the brain. As a therapeutic treatment, the implantable receiver-stimulator stimulates the brain sites that are effective in altering brain activity.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken, Debra S. Echt