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).

  • Publication number: 20170182316
    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: March 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Cowan
  • Patent number: 9616235
    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 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Cowan
  • Publication number: 20160367823
    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: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken, Debra S. Echt
  • Patent number: 9452286
    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: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken, Debra S. Echt
  • Publication number: 20160235976
    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: April 26, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Debra S. Echt, Richard E. Riley, Mark W. Cowan, Axel F. Brisken
  • Publication number: 20160158560
    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: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: David F. Moore, Mark W. Cowan, N. Parker Willis
  • Patent number: 9333364
    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: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra S. Echt, Richard E. Riley, Mark W. Cowan, Axel F. Brisken
  • Publication number: 20160114176
    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: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Nathanial P. Willis, Richard E. Riley, Mark W. Cowan
  • Patent number: 9283392
    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: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Moore, Mark W. Cowan, N. Parker Willis
  • Publication number: 20150196755
    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: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventor: Mark W. Cowan
  • Patent number: 9008776
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Debra S. Echt, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken
  • Publication number: 20140207210
    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: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: N. Parker Willis, Axel F. Brisken, Mark W. Cowan, Mike Pare, Robert Fowler, James Brennan
  • Patent number: 8718773
    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: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: N. Parker Willis, Axel F. Brisken, Mark W. Cowan, Michael Pare, Robert Fowler, James Brennan
  • Patent number: 8634908
    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: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Cowan
  • Publication number: 20130282073
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Debra S. Echt, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken
  • Publication number: 20130282070
    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: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken, Debra S. Echt
  • Patent number: 8498715
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken, Debra S. Echt
  • Patent number: 8494643
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken, Debra S. Echt
  • Patent number: 8494642
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken, Debra S. Echt
  • Patent number: 8494639
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: EBR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Cowan, Richard E. Riley, Axel F. Brisken, Debra S. Echt