Patents by Inventor Nicholas Steven Witham

Nicholas Steven Witham 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: 11647902
    Abstract: An otoscope and method for visualizing compliance of the tympanic membrane in response to a pressure stimulus. The otoscope includes a handle, a housing, a laser assembly configured to selectively project a grid array of dots on a tympanic membrane of a patient, a camera configured to selectively capture activity of the tympanic membrane, a pressure transducer configured to selectively apply a stimulus to the tympanic membrane, a display pivotably coupled to the handle, and a controller. The display is configured to display the tympanic membrane in true color and a two-dimensional interpolated surface plot representing activity of the tympanic membrane in response to the stimulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Nicholas Steven Witham, Tarek Sami Marrouche, Allie Kachel, Bryan R. McRae
  • Publication number: 20220160524
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a wearable sensor system including a compressible material, a two-dimensional array of distance sensors, a support structure, and a controller. The compressible material is positionable relative to a tissue surface and the two-dimensional array of distance sensors is configured relative to the compressible material to detect compressive deformations of the compressible material. The support structure is configured to hold the compressible material in place relative to the tissue surface such that muscle movements at the tissue surface cause the compressive deformations of the compressible material and is also configured to restrict movement of the two-dimensional array during the muscle movements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Nicholas Steven WITHAM, Devan James ANDERSON, Farshad MOGHARRABI, Rami SHORTI
  • Publication number: 20220095907
    Abstract: An otoscope includes a handle, a housing coupled to the handle and having an inlet, a laser assembly at least partially enclosed within the handle and configured to selectively project, through the inlet, a grid array of dots on a tympanic membrane of a patient, a camera supported by one of the handle or the housing and configured to selectively capture activity of the tympanic membrane, a pressure transducer supported by one of the handle or the housing and configured to selectively apply a stimulus to the tympanic membrane, a display pivotably coupled to the handle, a controller in communication with laser assembly and the display, and a microprocessor in communication with the controller, the camera, and the display. The display is configured to display the tympanic membrane in true color and a two-dimensional interpolated surface plot representing activity of the tympanic membrane in response to the stimulus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Nicholas Steven Witham, Tarek Sami Marrouche, Allie Kachel, Bryan R. McRae