Patents by Inventor Steven M. Falk

Steven M. Falk 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: 20140276070
    Abstract: A method and device for monitoring a fetal heart rate includes a reference fetal heart rate detected across an ultrasound depth zone of sensitivity. The ultrasound depth zone of sensitivity is scanned in overlapping increments of a first depth. An average fetal heart rate detected for each overlapping increment is tested for a coincidence with the reference fetal heart rate. Overlapping increments with the coincidence and a maximized signal quality rate are identified. An ultrasound depth increment of a second depth is selected representing the selected adjacent increments. Fetal heart rate is determined from an ultrasound signal returned from a scan depth of the second depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Serguei Kabakov, Steven M. Falk
  • Publication number: 20140249436
    Abstract: A fetal monitoring device includes a piezofilm sheet, a first electrode, and a second electrode. A controller is operably connected to the piezofilm sheet, first electrode, and second electrode and receives a biopotential and a piezofilm signal. The controller derives at least one of a maternal heart rate and a uterine activity for the biopotential and derives at least one of a fetal heart rate and fetal motion detection from the piezofilm signal. The controller derives an index of fetal health and operate an indicator to present the derived index of fetal health.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Serguei Kabakov, Steven M. Falk, Bradley C. Fox
  • Publication number: 20130150655
    Abstract: An infant care system includes an infant care tower configured to receive at least one medical device. A processor operates the infant care tower and the at least one medical device. A bassinet is configured to receive an infant patient within a microenvironment defined and maintained by the bassinet. Upon connection of the bassinet to the infant care tower, the processor operates to control both the infant care tower and the bassinet in maintain the microenvironment of the bassinet. In a method of treating an infant patient, an infant patient is provided in a microenvironment defined and maintained by a bassinet. The bassinet is communicatively connected to the care tower and a first processor of the infant care tower operates the bassinet to maintain the microenvironment to provide medical care to the infant patient with the at least one medical device of the infant care tower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lawrence G. Ten Eyck, Steven M. Falk
  • Publication number: 20130079661
    Abstract: A noninvasive remote parameter sensor and sensing method is provided that is particularly suited for the remote monitoring of skin temperature. The sensor and sensing method utilize luminescence-based sensors that are non-toxic and non-irritating to the skin. The sensor preferably utilizes one or more types of fluorophores that are embedded in a soft hydrogel. The sensor is illuminated with excitation light, and temperature is monitored by detecting and analyzing the emission light from the fluorophores. Because a soft hydrogel is used, the sensor can be gently wiped off the skin at the conclusion of temperature measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Leah Tolosa, Hung Lam, Yordan Kostov, Steven M. Falk, Govind Rao
  • Publication number: 20130066143
    Abstract: A method and microenvironment includes accessing a dynamic image from a computer-readable medium and displaying the dynamic image on a display device communicatively connected to the microenvironment. The dynamic image includes a representation of an action performed by a clinician with respect to the microenvironment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lawrence G. Ten Eyck, Steven M. Falk
  • Publication number: 20120179046
    Abstract: An abdominal sonar includes an ultrasound transducer array with a plurality of ultrasound transducers. The abdominal sonar further includes at least one additional ultrasound transducer. A digital signal processor is communicatively connected to the plurality of ultrasound transducers and the at least one additional ultrasound transducer. The digital signal processor individually operates the plurality of ultrasound transducers and the at least one additional ultrasound transducer. The digital signal processor receives reflected ultrasound signals back from each of the plurality of ultrasound transducers and the at least one additional ultrasound transducer and converts the received reflected ultrasound signals into an audio signal. A system for monitoring a pregnancy includes an ultrasound transducer array and at least one additional ultrasound transducer. A digital signal processor is communicatively connected to the ultrasound transducer array and the at least one ultrasound transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Serguei Kabakov, Steven M. Falk, Karsten A. Russell-wood
  • Publication number: 20120179045
    Abstract: A fetal pulse monitor includes an ultrasound crystal. An ultrasound controller is electrically connected to the ultrasound crystal and operates the ultrasound crystal to produce ultrasound signals and receive reflected ultrasound signals. A wireless transmitter is electrically connected to the ultrasound controller. A biocompatible housing at least partially surrounds the ultrasound crystal, ultrasound controller, and the wireless transmitter. A system for monitoring fetal heart rate includes a fetal pulse monitor configured for insertion into a womb of a patient and for attachment to a fetus within the womb. The fetal pulse monitor includes an ultrasound crystal, an ultrasound controller electrically connected to the ultrasound crystal, and a wireless transmitter electrically connected to the ultrasound controller. A patient monitoring device is external to the womb and includes a wireless receiver and a processor that detects instantaneous fetal heart rate from the received ultrasound signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: General Electrical Company
    Inventors: Serguei Kabakov, Steven M. Falk, Karsten A. Russell-wood
  • Patent number: 8038159
    Abstract: A transport cart for attaching to a patient care apparatus having a locking system that converts the forward caster of the transport cart from an omni-directional pivotable caster to a fixed directional device by restraining its pivoting about a vertical axis. The forward caster is located at about the center of the footprint of the combined transport cart/patient care apparatus and the fixed directional movement of the forward caster provides stability in moving the combined apparatus. The locking mechanism may be internal to the caster or may have a pair of pivotable lock arms that contact the patient care apparatus as the two are brought together and the pivotable lock arms pivot to a locked position where they sandwich the caster therebetween to restrain its ability to pivot. The locking mechanism automatically or manually releases the forward caster to again freely pivot when the transport cart/patient care apparatus are separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven M. Falk, Roopesh Edavana
  • Publication number: 20110179625
    Abstract: A transport cart for attaching to a patient care apparatus having a locking system that converts the forward caster of the transport cart from an omni-directional pivotable caster to a fixed directional device by restraining its pivoting about a vertical axis. The forward caster is located at about the center of the footprint of the combined transport cart/patient care apparatus and the fixed directional movement of the forward caster provides stability in moving the combined apparatus. The locking mechanism may be internal to the caster or may have a pair of pivotable lock arms that contact the patient care apparatus as the two are brought together and the pivotable lock arms pivot to a locked position where they sandwich the caster therebetween to restrain its ability to pivot. The locking mechanism automatically or manually releases the forward caster to again freely pivot when the transport cart/patient care apparatus are separated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Steven M. Falk, Roopesh Edavana
  • Patent number: 7954828
    Abstract: A transport cart for attaching to a patient care apparatus having a locking system that converts the forward caster of the transport cart from an omni-directional pivotable caster to a fixed directional device by restraining its pivoting about a vertical axis. The forward caster is located at about the center of the footprint of the combined transport cart/patient care apparatus and the fixed directional movement of the forward caster provides stability in moving the combined apparatus. The locking mechanism may be internal to the caster or may have a pair of pivotable lock arms that contact the patient care apparatus as the two are brought together and the pivotable lock arms pivot to a locked position where they sandwich the caster therebetween to restrain its ability to pivot. The locking mechanism automatically or manually releases the forward caster to again freely pivot when the transport cart/patient care apparatus are separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven M. Falk, Roopesh Edavana
  • Patent number: 7927269
    Abstract: A patient carestation for providing care to a patient including at least one environmental sensor sensing information concerning the environment surrounding the patient and providing electronic signals indicative of that environment. There are also physiological sensors sensing information relating to physiological conditions of the patient other than skin temperature and providing electronic signals indicative of physiological conditions of the patient. There may also be therapeutic sensors providing data based on therapy administered by peripheral apparatus and an input receiving patient information. A signal processor receives the signals from the physiological sensors, the environmental sensor, the therapeutic sensor and the patient information input and combines those signals into an integrated combination of signals for use by the caregiver. The integrated combination of signals can be used in a smart alarm or to generally appraise the caregiver at a central location as to the status of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lawrence G. Ten Eyck, Steven M. Falk, Lynn E. Lynam, Matthew L. Severns, Amy V. Lindsey, legal representative, Michael H. Mackin
  • Publication number: 20100024168
    Abstract: A transport cart for attaching to a patient care apparatus having a locking system that converts the forward caster of the transport cart from an omni-directional pivotable caster to a fixed directional device by restraining its pivoting about a vertical axis. The forward caster is located at about the center of the footprint of the combined transport cart/patient care apparatus and the fixed directional movement of the forward caster provides stability in moving the combined apparatus. The locking mechanism may be internal to the caster or may have a pair of pivotable lock arms that contact the patient care apparatus as the two are brought together and the pivotable lock arms pivot to a locked position where they sandwich the caster therebetween to restrain its ability to pivot. The locking mechanism automatically or manually releases the forward caster to again freely pivot when the transport cart/patient care apparatus are separated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Steven M. Falk, Roopesh Edavana
  • Publication number: 20090240098
    Abstract: A patient carestation for providing care to a patient including at least one environmental sensor sensing information concerning the environment surrounding the patient and providing electronic signals indicative of that environment. There are also physiological sensors sensing information relating to physiological conditions of the patient other than skin temperature and providing electronic signals indicative of physiological conditions of the patient. There may also be therapeutic sensors providing data based on therapy administered by peripheral apparatus and an input receiving patient information. A signal processor receives the signals from the physiological sensors, the environmental sensor, the therapeutic sensor and the patient information input and combines those signals into an integrated combination of signals for use by the caregiver. The integrated combination of signals can be used in a smart alarm or to generally appraise the caregiver at a central location as to the status of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Lawrence G. Ten Eyck, Steven M. Falk, Lynn E. Lynam, Matthew L. Severns, Michael H. Mackin
  • Patent number: 7282022
    Abstract: An infant care apparatus having a canopy movable with respect to an infant support for supporting an infant between a lower position enclosing the infant in an infant compartment and an upper position opening the infant compartment. The canopy has an opening and a door that can be closed to block the opening and opened to unblock the opening. A radiant heater is located in a fixed position above the infant support to direct infrared energy toward the infant support. When the canopy is in its lower position, a convective heating system warms the infant compartment. The door either closes as the canopy moves to its lower position or opens as the canopy moves to its upper position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Co
    Inventors: Steven M. Falk, Matthew L. Severns, Joseph Boris, Michael H. Mackin, Christopher A. Dykes
  • Patent number: 6837845
    Abstract: A calibration system for use with a radiant heater of an infant apparatus such as an infant warmer or an infant incubator. The system includes an electrical circuit that is used to sense the temperature of the infant by means of a thermistor and to provide a digital signal representative of the temperature. An automatic calibration system avoids the use of potentiometers by inputting two known voltages into the circuit by means of a voltage divider and recording the digital output for each voltage input. The two known voltage inputs and the known digital outputs are used in two equations to solve for the span and offset constants in those equations. Once determined, those constants are used to calibrate the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Datex-Ohmeda, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven M. Falk
  • Patent number: 6835172
    Abstract: A calibration system for use with a radiant heater of an infant apparatus such as an infant warmer or an infant incubator. The system includes an electrical circuit that is used to sense the temperature of the infant by means of a thermistor and to provide a digital signal representative of the temperature. An automatic calibration system avoids the use of potentiometers by inputting two known voltages into the circuit by means of a voltage divider and recording the digital output for each voltage input. The two known voltage inputs and the known digital outputs are used in two equations to solve for the span and offset constants in those equations. Once determined, those constants are used to calibrate the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Datex-Ohmeda, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven M. Falk
  • Publication number: 20040062288
    Abstract: A calibration system for use with a radiant heater of an infant apparatus such as an infant warmer or an infant incubator. The system includes an electrical circuit that is used to sense the temperature of the infant by means of a thermistor and to provide a digital signal representative of the temperature. An automatic calibration system avoids the use of potentiometers by inputting two known voltages into the circuit by means of a voltage divider and recording the digital output for each voltage input. The two known voltage inputs and the known digital outputs are used in two equations to solve for the span and offset constants in those equations. Once determined, those constants are used to calibrate the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: Steven M. Falk
  • Patent number: 6464627
    Abstract: A heater control system for use with a radiant heater of an infant warmer. The system utilizes a patient skin temperature and a set temperature inputted by a user and initially subtracts the patient temperature from the set point temperature to arrive at a differential signal identified as the Patient Temperature Gradient (PTG). That PTG is the used to directly control the power to the radiant heater by modifying the power to the heater depending upon the sign and the magnitude of the PTG. Thus, the method of the present invention is not a proportional control system but seeks and finds its own level of power that is not governed by any specific temperature difference and will adjust the heater power where the resulting heater power adjustment may be different for a variety of conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Datex-Ohmeda, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven M. Falk
  • Patent number: 6447442
    Abstract: A safety system that is used with an infant care apparatus comprising an infant platform with a planar surface for supporting the infant and a canopy that is vertically movable over the planar surface. A powered lifting mechanism operated by an electric motor causes the canopy to be selectively moved upwardly or downwardly by the user to enclose or open the space surrounding the infant. The safety system provides a continuous monitor of the torque of the motor and, when the torque exceeds a predetermined amount, the system disables the motor so that it terminates any further movement of the canopy. Thus, if the canopy encounters an obstacle in its travel upwardly or downwardly, the motor torque will increase as the motor tries to overcome that obstacle and the system will immediately disable the motor and terminate any further movement of the canopy to prevent damage to the obstacle or to the powered lifting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Datex-Ohmeda, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew H. Richards, Steven M. Falk
  • Publication number: 20020091297
    Abstract: A calibration system for use with a radiant heater of an infant apparatus such as an infant warmer or an infant incubator. The system includes an electrical circuit that is used to sense the temperature of the infant by means of a thermistor and to provide a digital signal representative of the temperature. An automatic calibration system avoids the use of potentiometers by inputting two known voltages into the circuit by means of a voltage divider and recording the digital output for each voltage input. The two known voltage inputs and the known digital outputs are used in two equations to solve for the span and offset constants in those equations. Once determined, those constants are used to calibrate the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventor: Steven M. Falk