Patents by Inventor Richard S. Abrams

Richard S. Abrams 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: 5813970
    Abstract: A magnetic induction coil is placed next to the scalp of a patient. A pulse train of high energy electrical waves is flowed through the induction coil to produce a sufficiently strong magnetic field to generate currents in the patient's brain for the therapy of neurologic or psychiatric illnesses. These currents induced in the brain cause multifocal neuronal discharge to induce a generalized convulsive neuronal discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Somatics, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard S. Abrams, Conrad M. Swartz
  • Patent number: 5769778
    Abstract: A medical device includes a magnetic stimulator having a magnetic induction coil which is placed next to the scalp of a patient. A pulse train of high energy electrical waves is flowed through the induction coil to produce a sufficiently strong magnetic field to generate currents in the patient's brain for the therapy of psychiatric illnesses. These currents induced in the brain are below the minimum needed to induce a convulsive brain seizure. The device includes an ECG (electrocardiograph) to monitor the electrical activity of the patient's heart and an EEG (electroencephalograph) to monitor the patient's electrical brain waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Somatics, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard S. Abrams, Conrad M. Swartz
  • Patent number: 5599795
    Abstract: A new method for the prevention and treatment of Idiopathic inflammatory Bowel Disease (IIBD), including Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, in human patients is provided. The key steps include sterilizing the intestinal tract with multiple antibiotics to kill the pre-existing bacterial flora, and replacing the latter with different, select, well-characterized bacteria taken from normal humans. The new microflora serve to generate more normal metabolic and immune responses, remitting thereby the IIBD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Inventors: Michael McCann, Richard S. Abrams
  • Patent number: 5470347
    Abstract: An electronic method and apparatus in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to automatically measure the electrical dosage of an ECT device at the time of stimulus and to prevent delivery to the patient of a dosage that is substantially (e.g., more than 5%, or 25 millicoulombs [mC], or 5 joules [J]) larger than the dosage selected by the operator. When the measured dosage varies more or less than a selected limited amount, or proportion, from the stimulus dial setting (e.g., 5% or 25 mC or 5 J), visible and/or audible signals are triggered and the device is blocked from delivering further stimuli without first being reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Somatics, Inc.
    Inventors: Conrad M. Swartz, Richard S. Abrams
  • Patent number: 5269302
    Abstract: In electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) the duration of the generated skeletal muscle, heart and brain wave activity during the administration of the electrically induced therapeutic seizures is automatically monitored. The ECT device includes a special purpose electromyograph (EMG) to detect isolated muscle activity and, in one embodiment, an electrocardiograph (ECG) to detect heart-beat intervals, and in another embodiment also includes an electroencephalograph (EEG) system to detect an EEG parameter of the electrically induced EEG seizure. The detected voltage from the EMG, ECG and EEG are converted to digital data and compared to a set of threshold reference values previously obtained from the same patient. The operator is informed by a display, or auditory signal, if the selected parameters have crossed the predetermined threshold reference value and the time period, since termination of the ECT that each parameter has taken to reach the reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Somatics, Inc.
    Inventors: Conrad M. Swartz, Richard S. Abrams