Patents by Inventor Steven Shumaker

Steven Shumaker 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: 20060247724
    Abstract: The disclosure describes an optical fiber pressure sensor to measure sphincter pressure which may be incorporated into a therapeutic sphincter control system. The system senses sphincter pressure and sends the information to a stimulator that is capable of stimulation therapy to control sphincter contractility, thus reducing unwanted urinary incontinence. Measuring sphincter pressure is accomplished through the use of an optical fiber connected to flexible tube section placed through the sphincter, where properties of the emitted light are changed proportional to the pressure on the tube section. The light is returned to a light detector to measure light properties and create an electrical signal representative of the pressure on the tube section. The signal may then be sent by wireless telemetry to an implanted stimulator or external programmer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Gerber, Keith Miesel, Steven Shumaker