Patents by Inventor Richard C. Kimoto

Richard C. Kimoto 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: 11918324
    Abstract: A pulse transit time is measured non-invasively and used to calculate a blood pressure value. A method of determining one or more blood pressure values includes propagating an alternating drive current through a thorax of a subject via electrodes located on a wrist-worn device. Resulting voltage levels of the subject are sensed by the wrist-worn device. The voltage levels are processed to detect when a volume of blood is ejected from the left ventricle. Output from a pulse arrival sensor coupled to the wrist-worn device is processed to detect when a blood pressure pulse generated by ejection of the volume of blood from the left ventricle arrives at the wrist. A pulse transit time (PTT) for transit of the blood pressure pulse from the left ventricle to the wrist is calculated. One or more blood pressure values for the subject are determined based on the PTT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Sullivan, Wren Nancy Dougherty, Richard C. Kimoto, Erno Klaassen, Ravi K. Narasimhan, Stephen J. Waydo, Todd K. Whitehurst, Derek Park-Shing Young, Santiago Quijano, Zijing Zeng
  • Patent number: 11633114
    Abstract: A low-profile blood pressure measurement system and methods of use are disclosed. The system includes an expandable member or structure that has a multi-compartment structure and/or is mounted on a rigid surface or structure. The system is incorporated into a portable multi-function device, or is configured to communicate with a portable multi-function device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Inventors: Tobias J. Harrison-Noonan, Richard H. Koch, Habib S. Karaki, Richard C. Kimoto, R. Keith Montgomery, Thomas J. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10881307
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relate s to blood pressure monitoring. In some embodiments, methods and devices for measuring a mean arterial pressure and/or for monitoring blood pressure changes of a user are provided. Blood pressure measured by one or more pressure sensors may be adjusted using one or more correction factors. The use of the one or more correction factors disclosed herein may allow for more compact, convenient, and/or accurate wearable blood pressure measurement devices and methods. In particular, wrist-worn devices may be provided which are less bulky than current devices and may facilitate more frequent and accurate blood pressure monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Sullivan, Ravi K. Narasimhan, Rui Qiao, Derek Park-Shing Young, Robert K. Montgomery, II, Mohsen Mollazadeh, Zijing Zeng, Vasco D. Polyzoev, Richard C. Kimoto
  • Patent number: 10849555
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relate s to blood pressure monitoring. In some embodiments, methods and devices for measuring a mean arterial pressure and/or for monitoring blood pressure changes of a user are provided. Blood pressure measured by one or more pressure sensors may be adjusted using one or more correction factors. The use of the one or more correction factors disclosed herein may allow for more compact, convenient, and/or accurate wearable blood pressure measurement devices and methods. In particular, wrist-worn devices may be provided which are less bulky than current devices and may facilitate more frequent and accurate blood pressure monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Sullivan, Ravi K. Narasimhan, Rui Qiao, Derek Park-Shing Young, Robert K. Montgomery, II, Mohsen Mollazadeh, Zijing Zeng, Vasco D. Polyzoev, Richard C. Kimoto
  • Publication number: 20200367760
    Abstract: Methods and devices for obtaining a blood pressure measurement of a subject measure a transit time of a blood pulse of the subject. A method includes sensing, with a pulse ejection sensor of a wrist-worn device, ejection of blood from the left ventricle. Arrival of a resulting blood pressure pulse at the wrist is sensed via a pulse arrival sensor of the wrist-worn device. A transit time of the blood pressure pulse from the left ventricle to the wrist is determined. A relative blood pressure value of the subject is determined based on the transit time. A reference absolute blood pressure value associated with the relative blood pressure value is received. An absolute blood pressure value for the relative blood pressure value is determined based on the reference absolute blood pressure value and the relative blood pressure value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Erno H. Klaassen, Wren Nancy Dougherty, Richard C. Kimoto, Ravi K. Narasimhan, Thomas J. Sullivan, Stephen J. Waydo, Todd K. Whitehurst, Santiago Quijano, Derek Park-Shing Young, Zijing Zeng
  • Publication number: 20200367767
    Abstract: A pulse transit time is measured non-invasively and used to calculate a blood pressure value. A method of determining one or more blood pressure values includes propagating an alternating drive current through a thorax of a subject via electrodes located on a wrist-worn device. Resulting voltage levels of the subject are sensed by the wrist-worn device. The voltage levels are processed to detect when a volume of blood is ejected from the left ventricle. Output from a pulse arrival sensor coupled to the wrist-worn device is processed to detect when a blood pressure pulse generated by ejection of the volume of blood from the left ventricle arrives at the wrist. A pulse transit time (PTT) for transit of the blood pressure pulse from the left ventricle to the wrist is calculated. One or more blood pressure values for the subject are determined based on the PTT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas J. Sullivan, Wren Nancy Dougherty, Richard C. Kimoto, Erno Klaassen, Ravi K. Narasimhan, Stephen J. Waydo, Todd K. Whitehurst, Derek Park-Shing Young, Santiago Quijano, Zijing Zeng
  • Patent number: 10779738
    Abstract: Wrist-worn devices and related methods measure a pulse transit time non-invasively and calculate a blood pressure value using the pulse transit time. A wrist-worn device include a wrist-worn elongate band, at least four EKG or ICG electrodes coupled to the wrist-worn device for detecting a ventricular ejection of a heart, a photo-plethysmogram (PPG) sensor coupled to the wrist-worn device for detecting arrival of a blood pressure pulse at the user's wrist, and a controller configured to calculate a pulse transit time (PTT) for the blood pressure pulse. The controller calculates one or more blood pressure values for the user based on the PTT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas J. Sullivan, Wren Nancy Dougherty, Richard C. Kimoto, Erno Klaassen, Ravi Narasimhan, Stephen J. Waydo, Todd K. Whitehurst, Derek Park-Shing Young, Santiago Quijano, Zijing Zeng
  • Patent number: 10772512
    Abstract: The present invention provides non-invasive devices, methods, and systems for determining a pressure of blood within a cardiovascular system of a user, the cardiovascular system including a heart and the user having a wrist covered by skin. More particularly, the present invention discloses a variety of wrist-worn devices having a variety of sensors configured to non-invasively engage the skin on the wrist of the user for sensing a variety of user signals from the cardiovascular system of the user. Generally, approaches disclosed herein may passively track blood pressure values without any interaction required on the part of the user or may allow for on demand or point measurements of blood pressure values by having a user actively interact with the sensors of the wrist-worn device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Inventors: Erno H. Klaassen, Wren Nancy Dougherty, Richard C. Kimoto, Ravi Narasimhan, Thomas J. Sullivan, Stephen J. Waydo, Todd K. Whitehurst, Santiago Quijano, Derek Park-Shing Young, Zijing Zeng
  • Patent number: 10702171
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to blood pressure monitoring. In some embodiments, methods and devices of measuring a mean arterial pressure are provided and/or monitoring blood pressure changes. A wrist-worn device may include a plurality of sensors backed by a plurality of actuators. Subsets of the plurality of sensors may be selectively actuateable against a wrist of a user using one or more of the plurality of actuators. A preferred sensor and location may be identified based on pressure signals received from each of the sensors. In some embodiments, devices may use a fluid bladder coupled with piezoelectric film sensors. A fluid bladder pressure sensor may be used to calibrate the piezoelectric film signal to provide a static and dynamic pressure reading. In yet another embodiment, a mean arterial pressure may be calculated by processing a swept pressure signal obtained as a sensor is swept through different heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Inventors: Ravi Narasimhan, Zijing Zeng, Richard C. Kimoto, Erno Klaassen, Thomas J. Sullivan, Derek Park-Shing Young, Todd K. Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 10555686
    Abstract: Methods and devices for removing parasitic effects from body impedance measurements. Such parasitic effects can include parasitic coupling(s)/impedance(s) and/or parasitic coupling between the impedance measurement device and the body tissue being measured. In one approach, a drive current is controlled so as to control the voltage of a sense electrode to reduce a parasitic current. In another approach, different known capacitances are added to enable calculation of unknown electrode impedances. In another approach, a positive feedback loop is used to reduce error associated with a parasitic current of a voltage sensor used to measure resulting subject voltage. In another approach, sequential application of drive voltage to each electrode is used and resulting currents through all electrodes are measured and used to calculate body impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Inventors: Richard C. Kimoto, Thomas J. Sullivan, Paras Samsukha
  • Patent number: 10517489
    Abstract: Wrist-worn devices and related methods measure a pulse transit time non-invasively and calculate a blood pressure value using the pulse transit time. A wrist-worn device includes an accelerometer, a photo-lethysmogram (PPG) or a pulse pressure sensor, and a controller. The PPG or the pulse pressure sensor coupled to the wrist-worn device for detecting an arrival of a blood pressure pulse at the user's wrist. The controller is configured to process output signals from the accelerometer to detect when the blood pressure pulse is propagated from the left ventricle of the user's heart, process a signal from the PPG or the pulse pressure sensor to detect when the blood pressure pulse arrives at the wrist, calculate a pulse transit time (PTT) for propagation of the blood pressure pulse from the left ventricle to the wrist, and generate one or more blood pressure values for the user based on the PTT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Inventors: Ravi Narasimhan, Richard C. Kimoto, Thomas J. Sullivan, Todd K. Whitehurst, Derek Park-shing Young, Zijing Zeng, Erno Klaassen
  • Publication number: 20180153418
    Abstract: A low-profile blood pressure measurement system and methods of use are disclosed. The system includes an expandable member or structure that has a multi-compartment structure and/or is mounted on a rigid surface or structure. The system is incorporated into a portable multi-function device, or is configured to communicate with a portable multi-function device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas J. SULLIVAN, Habib S. KARAKI, Richard C. KIMOTO, Richard H. KOCH, Tobias J. HARRISON-NOONAN, R. Keith MONTGOMERY
  • Publication number: 20170360306
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to blood pressure monitoring. In some embodiments, methods and devices of measuring a mean arterial pressure are provided and/or monitoring blood pressure changes. A wrist-worn device may include a plurality of sensors backed by a plurality of actuators. Subsets of the plurality of sensors may be selectively actuateable against a wrist of a user using one or more of the plurality of actuators. A preferred sensor and location may be identified based on pressure signals received from each of the sensors. In some embodiments, devices may use a fluid bladder coupled with piezoelectric film sensors. A fluid bladder pressure sensor may be used to calibrate the piezoelectric film signal to provide a static and dynamic pressure reading. In yet another embodiment, a mean arterial pressure may be calculated by processing a swept pressure signal obtained as a sensor is swept through different heights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ravi Narasimhan, Zijing Zeng, Richard C. Kimoto, Erno Klaassen, Thomas J. Sullivan, Derek Park-Shing Young, Todd K. Whitehurst
  • Publication number: 20170340219
    Abstract: Wrist-worn devices and related methods measure a pulse transit time non-invasively and calculate a blood pressure value using the pulse transit time. A wrist-worn device include a wrist-worn elongate band, at least four EKG or ICG electrodes coupled to the wrist-worn device for detecting a ventricular ejection of a heart, a photo-plethysmogram (PPG) sensor coupled to the wrist-worn device for detecting arrival of a blood pressure pulse at the user's wrist, and a controller configured to calculate a pulse transit time (PTT) for the blood pressure pulse. The controller calculates one or more blood pressure values for the user based on the PTT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas J. Sullivan, Wren Nancy Dougherty, Richard C. Kimoto, Erno Klaassen, Ravi Narasimhan, Stephen J. Waydo, Todd K. Whitehurst, Derek Park-Shing Young, Santiago Quijano, Zijing Zeng
  • Publication number: 20170340209
    Abstract: The present invention provides non-invasive devices, methods, and systems for determining a pressure of blood within a cardiovascular system of a user, the cardiovascular system including a heart and the user having a wrist covered by skin. More particularly, the present invention discloses a variety of wrist-worn devices having a variety of sensors configured to non-invasively engage the skin on the wrist of the user for sensing a variety of user signals from the cardiovascular system of the user. Generally, approaches disclosed herein may passively track blood pressure values without any interaction required on the part of the user or may allow for on demand or point measurements of blood pressure values by having a user actively interact with the sensors of the wrist-worn device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Erno H. Klaassen, Wren Nancy Dougherty, Richard C. Kimoto, Ravi Narasimhan, Thomas J. Sullivan, Stephen J. Waydo, Todd K. Whitehurst, Santiago Quijano, Derek Park-Shing Young, Zijing Zeng
  • Publication number: 20170281024
    Abstract: Wrist-worn devices and related methods measure a pulse transit time non-invasively and calculate a blood pressure value using the pulse transit time. A wrist-worn device includes an accelerometer, a photo-plethysmogram (PPG) or a pulse pressure sensor, and a controller. The PPG or the pulse pressure sensor coupled to the wrist-worn device for detecting an arrival of a blood pressure pulse at the user's wrist. The controller is configured to process output signals from the accelerometer to detect when the blood pressure pulse is propagated from the left ventricle of the user's heart, process a signal from the PPG or the pulse pressure sensor to detect when the blood pressure pulse arrives at the wrist, calculate a pulse transit time (PTT) for propagation of the blood pressure pulse from the left ventricle to the wrist, and generate one or more blood pressure values for the user based on the PTT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Ravi Narasimhan, Richard C. Kimoto, Thomas J. Sullivan, Todd K. Whitehurst, Derek Park-shing Young, Zijing Zeng, Erno Klaassen
  • Patent number: 9124259
    Abstract: A level shifter shifts the level of an input signal from a second voltage domain to a first voltage domain. To accommodate different input signal levels (e.g., including sub-threshold input signal levels) that may arise due to changes in the supply voltage for the second voltage domain, current for a latch circuit of the level shifter is limited based on the supply voltage for the second voltage domain. In this way, a drive circuit of the level shifter that controls the latch circuit based on the input signal is able to initiate a change of state of the latch circuit over a wide range of input signal levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard C. Kimoto
  • Publication number: 20150077168
    Abstract: A level shifter shifts the level of an input signal from a second voltage domain to a first voltage domain. To accommodate different input signal levels (e.g., including sub-threshold input signal levels) that may arise due to changes in the supply voltage for the second voltage domain, current for a latch circuit of the level shifter is limited based on the supply voltage for the second voltage domain. In this way, a drive circuit of the level shifter that controls the latch circuit based on the input signal is able to initiate a change of state of the latch circuit over a wide range of input signal levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard C. Kimoto
  • Patent number: 8564357
    Abstract: A level shifter shifts the level of an input signal from a second voltage domain to a first voltage domain. To accommodate different input signal levels (e.g., including sub-threshold input signal levels) that may arise due to changes in the supply voltage for the second voltage domain, current for a latch circuit of the level shifter is limited based on the supply voltage for the second voltage domain. In this way, a drive circuit of the level shifter that controls the latch circuit based on the input signal is able to initiate a change of state of the latch circuit over a wide range of input signal levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard C. Kimoto
  • Publication number: 20120268187
    Abstract: A level shifter shifts the level of an input signal from a second voltage domain to a first voltage domain. To accommodate different input signal levels (e.g., including sub-threshold input signal levels) that may arise due to changes in the supply voltage for the second voltage domain, current for a latch circuit of the level shifter is limited based on the supply voltage for the second voltage domain. In this way, a drive circuit of the level shifter that controls the latch circuit based on the input signal is able to initiate a change of state of the latch circuit over a wide range of input signal levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventor: Richard C. Kimoto