Patents by Inventor Scott F. Alexander

Scott F. Alexander 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).

  • System and Method for Determining Proximity Relative to a Nerve
    Publication number: 20110270121
    Abstract: A system for determining proximity of a surgical device relative to nerve structure includes at least one surgical device having a sensor assembly operably coupled to a processing unit and configured to transmit at least one electrical signal generated by the processing unit through nerve structure to elicit a measurable response there from. The processing unit is configured to calculate a signature property value of nerve structure based on the measurable response and to determine proximity of the nerve structure to the surgical device based on the measurable response. The processing unit is further configured to test the nerve function after completing the surgical procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: TYCO Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Kristin D. Johnson, Scott F. Alexander, Jeffrey M. Roy, Rebecca J. Coulson
  • System and Method for Determining Proximity Relative to a Critical Structure
    Publication number: 20110224668
    Abstract: A system for determining proximity of a surgical device relative to an anatomical structure includes at least one surgical device having a sensor assembly operably coupled to a processing unit. The sensor assembly is configured to transmit at least one electrical signal through the target anatomical structure to elicit a measurable response from the target anatomical structure. The processing unit is configured to calculate a signature property value of the target anatomical structure based on the measurable response and to determine proximity of the at least one surgical device relative to the target anatomical structure based on a comparison between the signature property value and at least one other signature property. An indicator is operably coupled to the processing unit and is configured to alert a user of the identified target anatomical structure based on the determined proximity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Kristin D. Johnson, Christopher A. Valentine, Scott F. Alexander, Ronald J. Podhajsky
  • System and Method for Determining Proximity Relative to a Critical Structure
    Publication number: 20110224543
    Abstract: A system for determining proximity of a surgical device relative to an anatomical structure includes at least one surgical device having a sensor assembly operably coupled to a processing unit and configured to transmit at least one electrical signal generated by the processing unit through a target anatomical structure to elicit a measurable response from the target anatomical structure. The processing unit is configured to calculate a signature property value of the target anatomical structure based on the measurable response. The processing unit is configured to identify the target anatomical structure based on a comparison between the signature property value and at least one other signature property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Kristin D. Johnson, Christopher A. Valentine, Scott F. Alexander, Ronald J. Podhajsky