Patents by Inventor Robert L. Rennaker

Robert L. Rennaker 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: 20230264023
    Abstract: A motor-deficit-therapeutic method (for treatment of a patient who has hemiparesis) includes: providing, to the patient afflicted with a hemiparesis, a neurostimulator configured to stimulate a vagus nerve of the patient using electrical, magnetic, optical, acoustic or mechanical stimulation; and initiating stimulation of the vagus nerve by the neurostimulator so that at least a portion of the stimulation occurs at least during performance by the patient of a motor therapy session which is hemiparesis-therapeutic, thereby improving the patient's hemiparesis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Michael P. KILGARD, Navzer ENGINEER, David Michael PIERCE, Robert L. RENNAKER
  • Patent number: 11638824
    Abstract: A method of treating motor deficits in a stroke patient, comprising assessing a patient's motor deficits, determining therapeutic goals for the patient, based on the patient's motor deficits, selecting therapeutic tasks based on the therapeutic goals, performing each of the selected therapeutic tasks repetitively, observing the performance of the therapeutic tasks, initiating the stimulation of the vagus nerve manually at approximately a predetermined moment during the performance of the therapeutic tasks, stimulating the vagus nerve of the patient during the performance of the selected therapeutic tasks, and improving the patient's motor deficits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael P. Kilgard, Nazer Engineer, David Michael Pierce, Robert L. Rennaker
  • Publication number: 20210316141
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for the treatment of spinal cord injury in a subject by administering vagus nerve stimulation. In particular, the vagus nerve stimulation is administered in combination with conventional rehabilitation training.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Robert L. RENNAKER, II, Michael P. KILGARD, Patrick D. GANZER, Seth A. HAYS
  • Patent number: 10576284
    Abstract: Systems and methods for stimulating tissue. Exemplary embodiments include systems and methods configured to maintain one electrode at a fixed voltage potential and switching a second electrode between different fixed voltage potentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Dane W Grasse, Robert L Rennaker, II
  • Publication number: 20180221666
    Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing targeted neuroplasticity training. Exemplary embodiments include a vagus nerve stimulator, a controller, and a monitoring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: ROBERT L. RENNAKER, II, MICHAEL P. KILGARD, SETH HAYS
  • Patent number: 10029094
    Abstract: A method for treating neural deficits resulting from multiple sclerosis, involving assessing a subject's motor, sensory, cognitive, or emotional deficits caused by multiple sclerosis; selecting a rehabilitative task based said deficits; determining the subject's acceptable performance threshold for the rehabilitative task; and providing a paired training therapy. The paired training therapy comprises having the subject to perform a trial of the rehabilitative task; classifying the subject's performance on the trial as either acceptable or unacceptable, wherein an acceptable performance is performance at or above the subject's acceptable performance threshold, and an unacceptable performance is performance below the subject's acceptable performance threshold; and reinforcing acceptable performance by selectively stimulating the subject's vagus nerve after completion of the acceptable performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael P. Kilgard, Robert L. Rennaker, II
  • Publication number: 20180085578
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for the treatment of spinal cord injury in a subject by administering vagus nerve stimulation. In particular, the vagus nerve stimulation is administered in combination with conventional rehabilitation training.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: Robert L. RENNAKER, II, Michael P. KILGARD, Patrick D. GANZER, Seth A. HAYS
  • Publication number: 20170326370
    Abstract: Systems and methods for stimulating tissue. Exemplary embodiments include systems and methods configured to maintain one electrode at a fixed voltage potential and switching a second electrode between different fixed voltage potentials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: The Board of Regents of The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Dane W. GRASSE, Robert L. Rennaker, II
  • Publication number: 20170100590
    Abstract: A method of treating motor deficits in a stroke patient, comprising assessing a patient's motor deficits, determining therapeutic goals for the patient, based on the patient's motor deficits, selecting therapeutic tasks based on the therapeutic goals, performing each of the selected therapeutic tasks repetitively, observing the performance of the therapeutic tasks, initiating the stimulation of the vagus nerve manually at approximately a predetermined moment during the performance of the therapeutic tasks, stimulating the vagus nerve of the patient during the performance of the selected therapeutic tasks, and improving the patient's motor deficits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Michael P. KILGARD, Nazer ENGINEER, David Michael PIERCE, Robert L. RENNAKER
  • Patent number: 9533152
    Abstract: A method of treating motor deficits in a stroke patient, comprising assessing a patient's motor deficits, determining therapeutic goals for the patient, based on the patient's motor deficits, selecting therapeutic tasks based on the therapeutic goals, performing each of the selected therapeutic tasks repetitively, observing the performance of the therapeutic tasks, initiating the stimulation of the vagus nerve manually at approximately a predetermined moment during the performance of the therapeutic tasks, stimulating the vagus nerve of the patient during the performance of the selected therapeutic tasks, and improving the patient's motor deficits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael P. Kilgard, Navzer Engineer, David Michael Pierce, Robert L. Rennaker
  • Patent number: 9522272
    Abstract: A method of treating motor deficits in a stroke patient, comprising assessing a patient's motor deficits, determining therapeutic goals for the patient, based on the patient's motor deficits, selecting therapeutic tasks based on the therapeutic goals, performing each of the selected therapeutic tasks repetitively, observing the performance of the therapeutic tasks, initiating the stimulation of the vagus nerve manually at approximately a predetermined moment during the performance of the therapeutic tasks, stimulating the vagus nerve of the patient during the performance of the selected therapeutic tasks, and improving the patient's motor deficits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael P. Kilgard, Nazer Engineer, David Michael Pierce, Robert L. Rennaker
  • Patent number: 9522273
    Abstract: A method of treating motor deficits in a stroke patient, comprising assessing a patient's motor deficits, determining therapeutic goals for the patient, based on the patient's motor deficits, selecting therapeutic tasks based on the therapeutic goals, performing each of the selected therapeutic tasks repetitively, observing the performance of the therapeutic tasks, initiating the stimulation of the vagus nerve manually at approximately a predetermined moment during the performance of the therapeutic tasks, stimulating the vagus nerve of the patient during the performance of the selected therapeutic tasks, and improving the patient's motor deficits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael P. Kilgard, Navzer Engineer, David Michael Pierce, Robert L. Rennaker
  • Patent number: 9522274
    Abstract: A method of treating motor deficits in a stroke patient, comprising assessing a patient's motor deficits, determining therapeutic goals for the patient, based on the patient's motor deficits, selecting therapeutic tasks based on the therapeutic goals, performing each of the selected therapeutic tasks repetitively, observing the performance of the therapeutic tasks, initiating the stimulation of the vagus nerve manually at approximately a predetermined moment during the performance of the therapeutic tasks, stimulating the vagus nerve of the patient during the performance of the selected therapeutic tasks, and improving the patient's motor deficits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael P. Kilgard, Navzer Engineer, David Michael Pierce, Robert L. Rennaker
  • Patent number: 9504831
    Abstract: A method of treating motor deficits in a stroke patient, comprising assessing a patient's motor deficits, determining therapeutic goals for the patient, based on the patient's motor deficits, selecting therapeutic tasks based on the therapeutic goals, performing each of the selected therapeutic tasks repetitively, observing the performance of the therapeutic tasks, initiating the stimulation of the vagus nerve manually at approximately a predetermined moment during the performance of the therapeutic tasks, stimulating the vagus nerve of the patient during the performance of the selected therapeutic tasks, and improving the patient's motor deficits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael P. Kilgard, Navzer Engineer, David Michael Pierce, Robert L. Rennaker
  • Patent number: 9474904
    Abstract: A method of treating motor deficits in a stroke patient, comprising assessing a patient's motor deficits, determining therapeutic goals for the patient, based on the patient's motor deficits, selecting therapeutic tasks based on the therapeutic goals, performing each of the selected therapeutic tasks repetitively, observing the performance of the therapeutic tasks, initiating the stimulation of the vagus nerve manually at approximately a predetermined moment during the performance of the therapeutic tasks, stimulating the vagus nerve of the patient during the performance of the selected therapeutic tasks, and improving the patient's motor deficits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael P. Kilgard, Navzer Engineer, David Michael Pierce, Robert L. Rennaker
  • Publication number: 20160279417
    Abstract: A method for improving speech recognition, involving assessing a subject's speech recognition ability, selecting a set of speech sounds appropriate for speech recognition training, providing a paired training therapy, and repeating the paired training therapy. The paired training therapy involves selecting a speech sound from the set of speech sounds and introducing said speech sound while concurrently stimulating the subject's vagus nerve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
    Inventors: Michael P. Kilgard, Robert L. Rennaker, II
  • Publication number: 20160144176
    Abstract: A method for treating neural deficits resulting from multiple sclerosis, involving assessing a subject's motor, sensory, cognitive, or emotional deficits caused by multiple sclerosis; selecting a rehabilitative task based said deficits; determining the subject's acceptable performance threshold for the rehabilitative task; and providing a paired training therapy. The paired training therapy comprises having the subject to perform a trial of the rehabilitative task; classifying the subject's performance on the trial as either acceptable or unacceptable, wherein an acceptable performance is performance at or above the subject's acceptable performance threshold, and an unacceptable performance is performance below the subject's acceptable performance threshold; and reinforcing acceptable performance by selectively stimulating the subject's vagus nerve after completion of the acceptable performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
    Inventors: Michael P. Kilgard, Robert L. Rennaker, II
  • Patent number: 9333355
    Abstract: A method of treating motor deficits in a stroke patient, comprising assessing a patient's motor deficits, determining therapeutic goals for the patient, based on the patient's motor deficits, selecting therapeutic tasks based on the therapeutic goals, performing each of the selected therapeutic tasks repetitively, observing the performance of the therapeutic tasks, initiating the stimulation of the vagus nerve manually at approximately a predetermined moment during the performance of the therapeutic tasks, stimulating the vagus nerve of the patient during the performance of the selected therapeutic tasks, and improving the patient's motor deficits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignees: MICROTRANSPONDER, INC., THE BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: Michael P. Kilgard, Navzer Engineer, David Michael Pierce, Robert L. Rennaker
  • Publication number: 20150094785
    Abstract: A method of treating motor deficits in a stroke patient, comprising assessing a patient's motor deficits, determining therapeutic goals for the patient, based on the patient's motor deficits, selecting therapeutic tasks based on the therapeutic goals, performing each of the selected therapeutic tasks repetitively, observing the performance of the therapeutic tasks, initiating the stimulation of the vagus nerve manually at approximately a predetermined moment during the performance of the therapeutic tasks, stimulating the vagus nerve of the patient during the performance of the selected therapeutic tasks, and improving the patient's motor deficits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Michael P. KILGARD, Navzer ENGINEER, David Michael PIERCE, Robert L. RENNAKER
  • Publication number: 20150073493
    Abstract: A method of treating motor deficits in a stroke patient, comprising assessing a patient's motor deficits, determining therapeutic goals for the patient, based on the patient's motor deficits, selecting therapeutic tasks based on the therapeutic goals, performing each of the selected therapeutic tasks repetitively, observing the performance of the therapeutic tasks, initiating the stimulation of the vagus nerve manually at approximately a predetermined moment during the performance of the therapeutic tasks, stimulating the vagus nerve of the patient during the performance of the selected therapeutic tasks, and improving the patient's motor deficits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Michael P. KILGARD, Navzer ENGINEER, David Michael PIERCE, Robert L. RENNAKER