Patents by Inventor Michael Pierce

Michael Pierce 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: 11939168
    Abstract: Vibratory conveyors, vibratory conveyor systems, and related methods are disclosed. An exemplary vibratory conveyor includes a support frame; a pan configured to receive a conveyed material, the pan mounted for cyclic movement relative to the support frame, the pan having a pan axis generally aligned with a conveying direction; and at least two linear servomotors operatively coupled to move the pan relative to the support frame, the at least two linear servomotors comprising a first linear servomotor and a second linear servomotor. The first linear servomotor defines a first linear servomotor actuating axis, the second linear servomotor defines a second linear servomotor actuating axis, and the first linear servomotor actuating axis is oriented obliquely relative to the second linear servomotor actuating axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventors: Benjamin Decker Smith, Michael Pierce Woodall, James Cody Bach
  • Publication number: 20230264023
    Abstract: A motor-deficit-therapeutic method (for treatment of a patient who has hemiparesis) includes: providing, to the patient afflicted with a hemiparesis, a neurostimulator configured to stimulate a vagus nerve of the patient using electrical, magnetic, optical, acoustic or mechanical stimulation; and initiating stimulation of the vagus nerve by the neurostimulator so that at least a portion of the stimulation occurs at least during performance by the patient of a motor therapy session which is hemiparesis-therapeutic, thereby improving the patient's hemiparesis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Michael P. KILGARD, Navzer ENGINEER, David Michael PIERCE, Robert L. RENNAKER
  • Patent number: 11638824
    Abstract: A method of treating motor deficits in a stroke patient, comprising assessing a patient's motor deficits, determining therapeutic goals for the patient, based on the patient's motor deficits, selecting therapeutic tasks based on the therapeutic goals, performing each of the selected therapeutic tasks repetitively, observing the performance of the therapeutic tasks, initiating the stimulation of the vagus nerve manually at approximately a predetermined moment during the performance of the therapeutic tasks, stimulating the vagus nerve of the patient during the performance of the selected therapeutic tasks, and improving the patient's motor deficits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael P. Kilgard, Nazer Engineer, David Michael Pierce, Robert L. Rennaker
  • Publication number: 20230115607
    Abstract: Vibratory conveyors, vibratory conveyor systems, and related methods are disclosed. An exemplary vibratory conveyor includes a support frame; a pan configured to receive a conveyed material, the pan mounted for cyclic movement relative to the support frame, the pan having a pan axis generally aligned with a conveying direction; and at least two linear servomotors operatively coupled to move the pan relative to the support frame, the at least two linear servomotors comprising a first linear servomotor and a second linear servomotor. The first linear servomotor defines a first linear servomotor actuating axis, the second linear servomotor defines a second linear servomotor actuating axis, and the first linear servomotor actuating axis is oriented obliquely relative to the second linear servomotor actuating axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Benjamin Decker Smith, Michael Pierce Woodall, James Cody Bach
  • Patent number: 11623953
    Abstract: Provided herein are antibodies and related polypeptides that bind specifically to CEACAM6. The antibodies and/or polypeptides can be configured as bispecific T cell engagers. The antibodies and/or polypeptides can also be configured as chimeric antigen receptors. Also provided are methods of detection and treatment of cancer, for example, pancreatic cancer, using the antibodies and related polypeptides herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignees: Caerus Therapeutics, Inc., University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Michael Pierce, Cohava Gelber
  • Patent number: 11471330
    Abstract: A method of treating tinnitus comprising measuring a patient's hearing, determining the patient's hearing loss and the patient's tinnitus frequency using the measurements of the patient's hearing, programming a clinical controller with the measurements of the patient's hearing, selecting a plurality of therapeutic tones, where the therapeutic tones are selected to be at least a half-octave above or below of the patient's tinnitus frequency, setting an appropriate volume for each of the plurality of tones, repetitively playing each of the plurality of therapeutic tones, and pairing a vagus nerve stimulation pulse train with each playing of a therapeutic tone, thereby reducing the patient's perception of tinnitus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael P. Kilgard, Navzer Engineer, David Michael Pierce
  • Publication number: 20210371516
    Abstract: Provided herein are antibodies and related polypeptides that bind specifically to CEACAM6. The antibodies and/or polypeptides can be configured as bispecific T cell engagers. The antibodies and/or polypeptides can also be configured as chimeric antigen receptors. Also provided are methods of detection and treatment of cancer, for example, pancreatic cancer, using the antibodies and related polypeptides herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicants: CAERUS THERAPEUTICS, INC., UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: J. Michael PIERCE, Cohava GELBER
  • Patent number: 10314758
    Abstract: Systems and processes of controlling a function of a person support apparatus are provided. An example system includes a person support apparatus adapted to support a patient. The person support apparatus comprising a controller adapted to communicatively couple with at least one removable component of the person support apparatus. The controller is adapted to determine the absence or presence of the at least one removable component. In response to the determination, the controller is further adapted to disable at least one movement of the person support apparatus in response to a determination that the at least one removable component is not present or enable the at least one movement in response to a determination that the at least one removable component is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Allen Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip B. Dolliver, Alexander Rojas, Michael Pierce
  • Patent number: 9839709
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method of reducing a microbial infection of a heparinized surface wherein heparin precipitation is reduced as compared to a control. In some embodiments a composition comprising ethanol and isopropanol is applied to the surface. In other embodiments, two or more ethanol compositions are applied and removed sequentially from the surface prior to contacting the surface with a biological fluid, tissue or vessel, wherein the composition in each successive administration comprises an increased amount of ethanol. Also provided is a method of reducing a microbial infection of a surface comprising applying a mucilage extract from an Opuntia ficus indica species to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Mark Lawrence Kayton, Norma Alcantar, Daniel Restrepo, Nicholas S. Laconi, Audrey Lynn Buttice, Michael Pierce Ebaugh
  • Publication number: 20170209833
    Abstract: A water filtering system incorporates a plurality of membrane filters installed in succession along two parallel manifolds. Each manifold is separately controllable such that the manifolds are able to be separately backflushed. The two parallel manifolds share a source water inlet and a clean water outlet. In some embodiments, the membrane filters are able to clean contaminated water to 99.999% 5 log of Bacteria, Protozoa and Cysts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventor: Andrew Michael Pierce
  • Publication number: 20170143550
    Abstract: A method of treating tinnitus comprising measuring a patient's hearing, determining the patient's hearing loss and the patient's tinnitus frequency using the measurements of the patient's hearing, programming a clinical controller with the measurements of the patient's hearing, selecting a plurality of therapeutic tones, where the therapeutic tones are selected to be at least a half-octave above or below of the patient's tinnitus frequency, setting an appropriate volume for each of the plurality of tones, repetitively playing each of the plurality of therapeutic tones, and pairing a vagus nerve stimulation pulse train with each playing of a therapeutic tone, thereby reducing the patient's perception of tinnitus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Michael P. KILGARD, Navzer ENGINEER, David Michael PIERCE
  • Publication number: 20170100590
    Abstract: A method of treating motor deficits in a stroke patient, comprising assessing a patient's motor deficits, determining therapeutic goals for the patient, based on the patient's motor deficits, selecting therapeutic tasks based on the therapeutic goals, performing each of the selected therapeutic tasks repetitively, observing the performance of the therapeutic tasks, initiating the stimulation of the vagus nerve manually at approximately a predetermined moment during the performance of the therapeutic tasks, stimulating the vagus nerve of the patient during the performance of the selected therapeutic tasks, and improving the patient's motor deficits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Michael P. KILGARD, Nazer ENGINEER, David Michael PIERCE, Robert L. RENNAKER
  • Publication number: 20170051580
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon power system that includes a turbine generator, a downhole heat exchanger, and an expander pump assembly. Various arrangements of the expander pump assembly address considerations related to the design of the downhole expander pump. In such a system, the turbine generator receives a high pressure working fluid from the downhole system to drive a generator. The turbine generator can be in fluid communication with the downhole heat exchanger and with the turbine portion of a downhole turbine pump assembly. The pump portion of the downhole turbine pump assembly can be in fluid communication with the downhole heat exchanger and a source of hydrocarbon fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Pierce, Allen Swenson, Angel Sanchez, Blake Sellers
  • Publication number: 20170027797
    Abstract: Systems and processes of controlling a function of a person support apparatus are provided. An example system includes a person support apparatus adapted to support a patient. The person support apparatus comprising a controller adapted to communicatively couple with at least one removable component of the person support apparatus. The controller is adapted to determine the absence or presence of the at least one removable component. In response to the determination, the controller is further adapted to disable at least one movement of the person support apparatus in response to a determination that the at least one removable component is not present or enable the at least one movement in response to a determination that the at least one removable component is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: Allen Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip B. Dolliver, Alexander Rojas, Michael Pierce
  • Patent number: 9533152
    Abstract: A method of treating motor deficits in a stroke patient, comprising assessing a patient's motor deficits, determining therapeutic goals for the patient, based on the patient's motor deficits, selecting therapeutic tasks based on the therapeutic goals, performing each of the selected therapeutic tasks repetitively, observing the performance of the therapeutic tasks, initiating the stimulation of the vagus nerve manually at approximately a predetermined moment during the performance of the therapeutic tasks, stimulating the vagus nerve of the patient during the performance of the selected therapeutic tasks, and improving the patient's motor deficits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael P. Kilgard, Navzer Engineer, David Michael Pierce, Robert L. Rennaker
  • Patent number: 9522272
    Abstract: A method of treating motor deficits in a stroke patient, comprising assessing a patient's motor deficits, determining therapeutic goals for the patient, based on the patient's motor deficits, selecting therapeutic tasks based on the therapeutic goals, performing each of the selected therapeutic tasks repetitively, observing the performance of the therapeutic tasks, initiating the stimulation of the vagus nerve manually at approximately a predetermined moment during the performance of the therapeutic tasks, stimulating the vagus nerve of the patient during the performance of the selected therapeutic tasks, and improving the patient's motor deficits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael P. Kilgard, Nazer Engineer, David Michael Pierce, Robert L. Rennaker
  • Patent number: 9522273
    Abstract: A method of treating motor deficits in a stroke patient, comprising assessing a patient's motor deficits, determining therapeutic goals for the patient, based on the patient's motor deficits, selecting therapeutic tasks based on the therapeutic goals, performing each of the selected therapeutic tasks repetitively, observing the performance of the therapeutic tasks, initiating the stimulation of the vagus nerve manually at approximately a predetermined moment during the performance of the therapeutic tasks, stimulating the vagus nerve of the patient during the performance of the selected therapeutic tasks, and improving the patient's motor deficits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael P. Kilgard, Navzer Engineer, David Michael Pierce, Robert L. Rennaker
  • Patent number: 9522274
    Abstract: A method of treating motor deficits in a stroke patient, comprising assessing a patient's motor deficits, determining therapeutic goals for the patient, based on the patient's motor deficits, selecting therapeutic tasks based on the therapeutic goals, performing each of the selected therapeutic tasks repetitively, observing the performance of the therapeutic tasks, initiating the stimulation of the vagus nerve manually at approximately a predetermined moment during the performance of the therapeutic tasks, stimulating the vagus nerve of the patient during the performance of the selected therapeutic tasks, and improving the patient's motor deficits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael P. Kilgard, Navzer Engineer, David Michael Pierce, Robert L. Rennaker
  • Patent number: 9522085
    Abstract: A method of treating tinnitus comprising measuring a patient's hearing, determining the patient's hearing loss and the patient's tinnitus frequency using the measurements of the patient's hearing, programming a clinical controller with the measurements of the patient's hearing, selecting a plurality of therapeutic tones, where the therapeutic tones are selected to be at least a half-octave above or below of the patient's tinnitus frequency, setting an appropriate volume for each of the plurality of tones, repetitively playing each of the plurality of therapeutic tones, and pairing a vagus nerve stimulation pulse train with each playing of a therapeutic tone, thereby reducing the patient's perception of tinnitus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael P. Kilgard, Navzer Engineer, David Michael Pierce
  • Patent number: 9504831
    Abstract: A method of treating motor deficits in a stroke patient, comprising assessing a patient's motor deficits, determining therapeutic goals for the patient, based on the patient's motor deficits, selecting therapeutic tasks based on the therapeutic goals, performing each of the selected therapeutic tasks repetitively, observing the performance of the therapeutic tasks, initiating the stimulation of the vagus nerve manually at approximately a predetermined moment during the performance of the therapeutic tasks, stimulating the vagus nerve of the patient during the performance of the selected therapeutic tasks, and improving the patient's motor deficits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael P. Kilgard, Navzer Engineer, David Michael Pierce, Robert L. Rennaker