Patents by Inventor Robert Gaunt

Robert Gaunt 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: 20230158305
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for monitoring and regulating physiological states and functions are disclosed. Several embodiments include application of one or more microelectrode arrays to a dorsal root ganglion for measurement of sensory neuron activity, or stimulation of sensory reflex circuits. The methods and apparatuses can be used, for example, for monitoring or controlling bladder function in a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Douglas Weber, Robert Gaunt, Timothy Bruns
  • Publication number: 20230021860
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a device, such as a virtual reality (VR) and/or a prosthetic limb are provided. A biomimetic controller of the system comprises a signal processor and a musculoskeletal model. The signal processor processes M biological signals received from a residual limb to transform the M biological signals into N activation signals, where M and N are integers and M is less than N. The musculoskeletal model transforms the N activation signals into intended motion signals. A prosthesis controller transforms the intended motion signals into three or more control signals that are outputted from an output port of the prosthesis controller. A controlled device receives the control signals and performs one or more tasks in accordance with the control signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Anton Sobinov, Sergiy Yakovenko, Valeriya Gritsenko, Matthew Boots, Robert Gaunt, Jennifer Collinger, Lee Fisher
  • Publication number: 20230011528
    Abstract: Mechanisms for selecting formats for streaming media content items are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Gaunt, Richard Leider, Michael Smouha, Matt Doucleff, Steven Robertson, Alexander Yakubovich, Hsieh-Chung Chen, Pawel Jurczyk
  • Patent number: 11433238
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of reducing phantom limb pain or diabetic neuropathy pain, and increasing prosthetic control, by stimulating dorsal spinal rootlets and/or lateral spinal cord adjacent to the dorsal rootlets, of sensory neurons innervating the limb with the phantom limb pain or diabetic neuropathy pain, or the prosthetic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Lee Erik Bartholomew Fisher, Robert A. Gaunt, Douglas J. Weber
  • Patent number: 11433241
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for monitoring and regulating physiological states and functions are disclosed. Several embodiments include application of one or more microelectrode arrays to a dorsal root ganglion for measurement of sensory neuron activity, or stimulation of sensory reflex circuits. The methods and apparatuses can be used, for example, for monitoring or controlling bladder function in a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Douglas Weber, Robert Gaunt, Timothy Bruns
  • Patent number: 11197769
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a device, such as a virtual reality (VR) and/or a prosthetic limb are provided. A biomimetic controller of the system comprises a signal processor and a musculoskeletal model. The signal processor processes M biological signals received from a residual limb to transform the M biological signals into N activation signals, where M and N are integers and M is less than N. The musculoskeletal model transforms the N activation signals into intended motion signals. A prosthesis controller transforms the intended motion signals into three or more control signals that are outputted from an output port of the prosthesis controller. A controlled device receives the control signals and performs one or more tasks in accordance with the control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignees: West Virginia University, University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Anton Sobinov, Sergiy Yakovenko, Valeriya Gritsenko, Matthew Boots, Robert Gaunt, Jennifer Collinger, Lee Fisher
  • Publication number: 20200324113
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of reducing phantom limb pain or diabetic neuropathy pain, and increasing prosthetic control, by stimulating dorsal spinal rootlets and/or lateral spinal cord adjacent to the dorsal rootlets, of sensory neurons innervating the limb with the phantom limb pain or diabetic neuropathy pain, or the prosthetic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Lee Erik Bartholomew Fisher, Robert A. Gaunt, Douglas J. Weber
  • Publication number: 20200253751
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a device, such as a virtual reality (VR) and/or a prosthetic limb are provided. A biomimetic controller of the system comprises a signal processor and a musculoskeletal model. The signal processor processes M biological signals received from a residual limb to transform the M biological signals into N activation signals, where M and N are integers and M is less than N. The musculoskeletal model transforms the N activation signals into intended motion signals. A prosthesis controller transforms the intended motion signals into three or more control signals that are outputted from an output port of the prosthesis controller. A controlled device receives the control signals and performs one or more tasks in accordance with the control signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Anton Sobinov, Sergiy Yakovenko, Valeriya Gritsenko, Matthew Boots, Robert Gaunt, Jennifer Collinger, Lee Fisher
  • Publication number: 20170189684
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for monitoring and regulating physiological states and functions are disclosed. Several embodiments include application of one or more microelectrode arrays to a dorsal root ganglion for measurement of sensory neuron activity, or stimulation of sensory reflex circuits. The methods and apparatuses can be used, for example, for monitoring or controlling bladder function in a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventors: Douglas Weber, Robert Gaunt, Timothy Bruns
  • Patent number: 9622671
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for monitoring and regulating physiological states and functions are disclosed. Several embodiments include application of one or more microelectrode arrays to a dorsal root ganglion for measurement of sensory neuron activity, or stimulation of sensory reflex circuits. The methods and apparatuses can be used, for example, for monitoring or controlling bladder function in a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH—OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
    Inventors: Douglas Weber, Robert Gaunt, Timothy Bruns
  • Publication number: 20060184211
    Abstract: The invention provides an implant, system and method for electrically stimulating a target tissue to either activate or block neural impulses. The implant provides a conductive pathway for a portion of electrical current flowing between surface electrodes positioned on the skin and transmits that current to the target tissue. The implant has a passive electrical conductor of sufficient length to extend from subcutaneous tissue located below a surface cathodic electrode to the target tissue. The conductor has a pick-up end which forms an electrical termination having a sufficient surface area to allow a sufficient portion of the electrical current to flow through the conductor, in preference to flowing through body tissue between the surface electrodes, such that the target tissue is stimulated to either activate or block neural impulses. The conductor also has a stimulating end which forms an electrical termination for delivering the current to the target body tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Gaunt, Arthur Prochazka
  • Patent number: 6543740
    Abstract: Disclosed is a positioner for transmitting movement in up to six degrees-of-freedom to an object on the positioner, the positioner comprising a base plate, a first plate mounted on the base plate by a first mechanical linkage, a first actuator arrangement for moving the first plate, a second plate mounted on the first plate by a second mechanical linkage, a second actuator arrangement for moving the second plate, and a holder attached to the second plate for mounting the object. One of the first and second plates is movable in a plane in up to three degrees-of-freedom, and the other of the first and second plates is movable in up to three degrees-of-freedom that are out of the plane. It is also possible to add an additional plate, including an actuator arrangement for moving the additional plate, mounted by a mechanical linkage between the second plate and the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Robert Gaunt, Scott Roberts, Andre Anthony
  • Publication number: 20030047660
    Abstract: Disclosed is a positioner for transmitting movement in up to six degrees-of-freedom to an object on the positioner, the positioner comprising a base plate, a first plate mounted on the base plate by a first mechanical linkage, a first actuator arrangement for moving the first plate, a second plate mounted on the first plate by a second mechanical linkage, a second actuator arrangement for moving the second plate, and a holder attached to the second plate for mounting the object. One of the first and second plates is movable in a plane in up to three degrees-of-freedom, and the other of the first and second plates is movable in up to three degrees-of-freedom that are out of the plane. It is also possible to add an additional plate, including an actuator arrangement for moving the additional plate, mounted by a mechanical linkage between the second plate and the holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Robert Gaunt, Scott Roberts, Andre Anthony