Patents by Inventor Marwood Neal Ediger

Marwood Neal Ediger 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: 20140235972
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus suitable for determining properties of in vivo tissue from spectral information collected from the tissue. An illumination system provides light at a plurality of broadband ranges, which are communicated to an optical probe. The optical probe receives light from the illumination system and transmits it to in vivo tissue, and receives light diffusely reflected in response to the broadband light, emitted from the in vivo tissue by fluorescence thereof in response to the broadband light, or a combination thereof. The optical probe communicates the light to a spectrograph which produces a signal representative of the spectral properties of the light. An analysis system determines a property of the in vivo tissue from the spectral properties. A calibration device mounts such that it is periodically in optical communication with the optical probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Robert D. Johnson, Marwood Neal Ediger, John D. Maynard
  • Patent number: 8676283
    Abstract: A method of determining a measure of a tissue state (e.g., glycation end-product or disease state) in an individual is disclosed. A portion of the skin of the individual is illuminated with excitation light, then light emitted by the tissue due to fluorescence of a chemical with the tissue responsive to the excitation light is detected. The detected light can be combined with a model relating fluorescence with a measure of tissue state to determine a tissue state. The invention can illuminate the skin and detect responsive light over a time that spans a plurality of cardiac cycles of the individual, which can, as an example, help mitigate the effects of time-varying signals such as those due to hemoglobin. The invention can also determine the amount of light to be directed to the skin, for example by controlling the time that a light source is energized. The amount of illumination light can be determined from a skin reflectance characteristic such as pigmentation or melanin in the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: VeraLight, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel Matter, Marwood Neal Ediger, John D Maynard
  • Publication number: 20120283531
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for determining a measure of a tissue state in an individual. Light emitted by tissue of the individual due to fluorescence of a chemical with the tissue detected. The invention can comprise measuring the fluorescence lifetime in either time-domain or frequency domain modes. The invention can also comprise a variety of models relating fluorescence to a measure of tissue state, for example, multivariate models can be developed that relate lifetime trends of one or more constituents to increasing propensity to diabetes and pre-diabetes. Other biologic information can be used in combination with the fluorescence properties to aid in the determination of a measure of tissue state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: John D. Maynard, Marwood Neal Ediger
  • Patent number: 8238993
    Abstract: A method of determining a measure of a tissue state (e.g., glycation end-product or disease state) in an individual. A portion of the tissue of the individual is illuminated with excitation light, then light emitted by the tissue due to fluorescence of a chemical with the tissue responsive to the excitation light is detected. The detected light can be combined with a model relating fluorescence with a measure of tissue state to determine a tissue state. The invention can comprise measuring the fluorescence lifetime in either time-domain or frequency domain modes. The invention can also comprise a variety of models relating fluorescence to a measure of tissue state, including a variety of methods for generating such models. For example, multivariate models can be developed that relate lifetime trends of one or more constituents to increasing propensity to diabetes and pre-diabetes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: VeraLight, Inc.
    Inventors: John D Maynard, Marwood Neal Ediger
  • Publication number: 20120179010
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus suitable for determining properties of in vivo tissue. An illumination system communicates light at a plurality of broadband ranges to an optical probe, which can comprise a flexible probe. Light homogenizers and mode scramblers can be employed in some embodiments. The optical probe can physically contact the tissue, or can be maintained separate from the tissue. The optical probe receives light from the illumination system and transmits it to tissue, and receives light diffusely reflected in response to the broadband light, emitted from the in vivo tissue by fluorescence thereof in response to the broadband light, or a combination thereof. The optical probe can communicate the light to a spectrograph which produces a signal representative of the spectral properties of the light. An analysis system determines a property of the in vivo tissue from the spectral properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: John D. Maynard, Marwood Neal Ediger, Robert D. Johnson, M. Ries Robinson
  • Patent number: 8140147
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus with a flexible probe suitable for determining properties of in vivo tissue from spectral information collected from various tissue sites. An illumination system provides light at a plurality of broadband ranges, which are communicated to a flexible optical probe. Light homogenizers and mode scramblers can be employed to improve the performance in some embodiments. The optical probe in some embodiments physically contacts the tissue, and in some embodiments does not physically contact the tissue. The optical probe receives light from the illumination system and transmits it to tissue, and receives light diffusely reflected in response to the broadband light, emitted from the in vivo tissue by fluorescence thereof in response to the broadband light, or a combination thereof. The optical probe can communicate the light to a spectrograph which produces a signal representative of the spectral properties of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: VeraLight, Inc.
    Inventors: John D Maynard, Marwood Neal Ediger, Robert D Johnson, Mark Ries Robinson
  • Publication number: 20120065484
    Abstract: A method of determining a measure of a tissue state (e.g., glycation end-product or disease state) in an individual. A portion of the tissue of the individual is illuminated with excitation light, then light emitted by the tissue due to fluorescence of a chemical with the tissue responsive to the excitation light is detected. The detected light can be combined with a model relating fluorescence with a measure of tissue state to determine a tissue state. The invention can comprise various light excitation and detection configurations. The invention also can comprise correction techniques that reduce determination errors due to detection of light other than that from fluorescence of a chemical in the tissue. Other biologic information can be used in combination with the fluorescence properties to aid in the determination of a measure of tissue state. The invention also comprises apparatuses suitable for carrying out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Edward L. Hull, Marwood Neal Ediger, Christopher D. Brown, John D. Maynard, Robert D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8131332
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus suitable for determining properties of in vivo tissue from spectral information collected from various tissue sites. An illumination system provides light at a plurality of broadband ranges, which are communicated to an optical probe. The optical probe can be a flexible probe in some embodiments, allowing ease of application. Light homogenizers and mode scramblers can be employed to improve the performance in some embodiments. The optical probe in some embodiments physically contacts the tissue, and in some embodiments does not physically contact the tissue. The optical probe receives light from the illumination system and transmits it to tissue, and receives light diffusely reflected in response to the broadband light, emitted from the in vivo tissue by fluorescence thereof in response to the broadband light, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: VeraLight, Inc.
    Inventors: John D Maynard, Marwood Neal Ediger, Robert D Johnson, Mark Ries Robinson
  • Patent number: 8121671
    Abstract: A method of determining a measure of a tissue state (e.g., glycation end-product or disease state) in an individual. A portion of the tissue of the individual is illuminated with excitation light, then light emitted by the tissue due to fluorescence of a chemical with the tissue responsive to the excitation light is detected. The detected light can be combined with a model relating fluorescence with a measure of tissue state to determine a tissue state. The invention can comprise single wavelength excitation light, scanning of excitation light (illuminating the tissue at a plurality of wavelengths), detection at a single wavelength, scanning of detection wavelengths (detecting emitted light at a plurality of wavelengths), and combinations thereof. The invention also can comprise correction techniques that reduce determination errors due to detection of light other than that from fluorescence of a chemical in the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: VeraLight, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward L. Hull, Marwood Neal Ediger, Christopher D. Brown, John D. Maynard, Robert D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8078243
    Abstract: A method of determining a measure of a tissue state (e.g., glycation end-product or disease state) in an individual. A portion of the tissue of the individual is illuminated with excitation light, then light emitted by the tissue due to fluorescence of a chemical with the tissue responsive to the excitation light is detected. The detected light can be combined with a model relating fluorescence with a measure of tissue state to determine a tissue state. The invention can comprise single wavelength excitation light, scanning of excitation light (illuminating the tissue at a plurality of wavelengths), detection at a single wavelength, scanning of detection wavelengths (detecting emitted light at a plurality of wavelengths), and combinations thereof. The invention also can comprise correction techniques that reduce determination errors due to detection of light other than that from fluorescence of a chemical in the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: VeraLight, Inc.
    Inventors: Marwood Neal Ediger, John D Maynard, Robert D Johnson, Edward L Hull, Christopher D Brown
  • Patent number: 7725144
    Abstract: A method of determining disease state in an individual. A portion of the tissue of the individual is illuminated with excitation light, then light emitted by the tissue due to Raman scattering of a chemical with the tissue responsive to the excitation light is detected. The detected light can be combined with a model relating Raman emission with disease state to determine a disease state of the individual. The invention can comprise single wavelength excitation light, scanning of excitation light (illuminating the tissue at a plurality of wavelengths), detection at a single wavelength, scanning of detection wavelengths (detecting emitted light at a plurality of wavelengths), and combinations thereof. The invention also can comprise correction techniques that reduce determination errors due to detection of light other than that from Raman emission of a chemical in the tissue. For example, the reflectance of the tissue can lead to errors if appropriate correction is not employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: VeraLight, Inc.
    Inventors: Marwood Neal Ediger, Craig M. Gardner, Edward L. Hull
  • Patent number: 7139598
    Abstract: A method of determining a measure of a tissue state (e.g., glycation end-product or disease state) in an individual. A portion of the tissue of the individual is illuminated with excitation light, then light emitted by the tissue due to fluorescence of a chemical with the tissue responsive to the excitation light is detected. The detected light can be combined with a model relating fluorescence with a measure of tissue state to determine a tissue state. The invention can comprise single wavelength excitation light, scanning of excitation light (illuminating the tissue at a plurality of wavelengths), detection at a single wavelength, scanning of detection wavelengths (detecting emitted light at a plurality of wavelengths), and combinations thereof. The invention also can comprise correction techniques that reduce determination errors due to detection of light other than that from fluorescence of a chemical in the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Veralight, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward L. Hull, Marwood Neal Ediger, Christopher D. Brown, John D. Maynard, Robert D. Johnson