Patents by Inventor Paul B. Yoo

Paul B. Yoo 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: 20160339239
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing therapy related to urological disorders which relate to stimulation of the saphenous nerve (SAFN) either alone or in combination with the posterior tibial nerve (PTN), medial plantar nerve (MPN) or lateral planar nerve. In embodiments nerves are stimulated by percutaneous, transcutaneous, and/or implanted stimulators. In embodiments the SAFN is stimulated below the level of the knee or near the medial malleolus. Embodiments also disclose improving nerve stimulation, including SAFN stimulation, using systems and methods termed enhanced transcutaneous electrical stimulation (eTENS) since these enhance the excitation of neural tissue. In an embodiment, systems and methods are provided to increase the chance of providing the selective modulation of specific (targeted) neural substrate, while decreasing the risk of activation of adjacent (non-targeted) nervous tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: PAUL B. YOO, MICHAEL SASHA JOHN
  • Publication number: 20160263376
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing therapy related to urological disorders. Particular embodiments of this technology relate to stimulation of lumbar spinal targets either alone or in combination with a sacral target. In embodiments spinal roots are stimulated by partially or fully implanted stimulators to treat symptoms by producing bladder excitation or inhibition relative to that which occurs prior to stimulation. Embodiments also disclose improving nerve stimulation, including lumbar nerve root stimulation, using systems and methods termed enhanced transcutaneous electrical stimulation (eTENS) since these enhance the excitation of neural tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: PAUL B. YOO, MICHAEL SASHA JOHN
  • Publication number: 20150251007
    Abstract: One or more temporal stimulation parameters of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) are selected to substantially modulate one or more target physiological functions without substantially modulating one or more non-target physiological functions. In one embodiment, a stimulation duty cycle is selected such that VNS is delivered to the cervical vagus nerve trunk to modulate a cardiovascular function without causing laryngeal muscle contractions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Paul B. Yoo, Warren M. Grill, Juan Gabriel Hincapie Ordonez
  • Publication number: 20150148878
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving nerve stimulation are disclosed and are termed enhanced transcutaneous electrical stimulation (eTENS). One embodiment can be used for enhancing the excitation properties of neural tissue. In one embodiment, systems and methods are provided to enable the selective modulation of specific (targeted) neural substrate, while minimizing the activation of adjacent (non-targeted) nervous tissue, or differentially providing different modulation signals to tissue targeted by different implants. In one embodiment, the system consists of an implant that is used to modify the extracellular potential (i.e. activating function) generated by an independent electrical stimulus generator. Certain aspects of this technology can be applied to any part of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Particular embodiments of this technology provide for therapy related to urological disorders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: PAUL B. YOO, MICHAEL SASHA JOHN
  • Patent number: 9042981
    Abstract: One or more temporal stimulation parameters of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) are selected to substantially modulate one or more target physiological functions without substantially modulating one or more non-target physiological functions. In one embodiment, a stimulation duty cycle is selected such that VNS is delivered to the cervical vagus nerve trunk to modulate a cardiovascular function without causing laryngeal muscle contractions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignees: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc., Duke University
    Inventors: Paul B. Yoo, Warren M. Grill, Juan Gabriel Hincapie Ordonez
  • Patent number: 8942824
    Abstract: By targeting on selected branches or fascicles of a vagus nerve using electrode placement and/or selection, one or more target branches of the vagus nerve are substantially activated by electrical stimulation pulses delivered to a branch without substantially activating one or more non-target branches. In one embodiment, vagus nerve stimulation is delivered through an electrode placed on a thoracic vagus nerve that is separated from a recurrent laryngeal nerve, such that the vagus nerve is stimulated without causing laryngeal muscle contractions. In another embodiment, vagus nerve stimulation is delivered through a multi-contact electrode with one or more contacts selected for delivering the electrical stimulation pulses to stimulate the vagus nerve without causing laryngeal muscle contractions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignees: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc., Duke University
    Inventors: Paul B. Yoo, Warren M. Grill, Juan Gabriel Hincapie Ordonez
  • Publication number: 20130310893
    Abstract: By targeting on selected branches or fascicles of a vagus nerve using electrode placement and/or selection, one or more target branches of the vagus nerve are substantially activated by electrical stimulation pulses delivered to a branch without substantially activating one or more non-target branches. In one embodiment, vagus nerve stimulation is delivered through an electrode placed on a thoracic vagus nerve that is separated from a recurrent laryngeal nerve, such that the vagus nerve is stimulated without causing laryngeal muscle contractions. In another embodiment, vagus nerve stimulation is delivered through a multi-contact electrode with one or more contacts selected for delivering the electrical stimulation pulses to stimulate the vagus nerve without causing laryngeal muscle contractions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicants: Duke University, Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul B. Yoo, Warren M. Grill, Juan Gabriel Hincapie Ordonez
  • Patent number: 8509919
    Abstract: By targeting on selected branches or fascicles of a vagus nerve using electrode placement and/or selection, one or more target branches of the vagus nerve are substantially activated by electrical stimulation pulses delivered to a branch without substantially activating one or more non-target branches. In one embodiment, vagus nerve stimulation is delivered through an electrode placed on a thoracic vagus nerve that is separated from a recurrent laryngeal nerve, such that the vagus nerve is stimulated without causing laryngeal muscle contractions. In another embodiment, vagus nerve stimulation is delivered through a multi-contact electrode with one or more contacts selected for delivering the electrical stimulation pulses to stimulate the vagus nerve without causing laryngeal muscle contractions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignees: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc., Duke University
    Inventors: Paul B. Yoo, Warren M. Grill, Juan Gabriel Hincapie Ordonez
  • Publication number: 20110301659
    Abstract: One or more temporal stimulation parameters of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) are selected to substantially modulate one or more target physiological functions without substantially modulating one or more non-target physiological functions. In one embodiment, a stimulation duty cycle is selected such that VNS is delivered to the cervical vagus nerve trunk to modulate a cardiovascular function without causing laryngeal muscle contractions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Paul B. Yoo, Warren M. Grill, Juan Gabriel Hincapie Ordonez
  • Publication number: 20110301658
    Abstract: By targeting on selected branches or fascicles of a vagus nerve using electrode placement and/or selection, one or more target branches of the vagus nerve are substantially activated by electrical stimulation pulses delivered to a branch without substantially activating one or more non-target branches. In one embodiment, vagus nerve stimulation is delivered through an electrode placed on a thoracic vagus nerve that is separated from a recurrent laryngeal nerve, such that the vagus nerve is stimulated without causing laryngeal muscle contractions. In another embodiment, vagus nerve stimulation is delivered through a multi-contact electrode with one or more contacts selected for delivering the electrical stimulation pulses to stimulate the vagus nerve without causing laryngeal muscle contractions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Paul B. Yoo, Warren M. Grill, Juan Gabriel Hincapie Ordonez