Patents by Inventor Thomas Kent

Thomas Kent 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: 20170143280
    Abstract: A device is disclosed that can determine a type of disordered breathing in a patient. The device can include a number of contacts adapted to make contact with portions of an oral cavity of a patient and configured to provide a first signal indicative of one or more states of the patient's upper airway. The device can also include a control circuit configured to determine a type of disordered breathing in the patient based, at least in part, on the first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Kent, Harold Byron Kent, Christopher Fisher, Ronald W. Young, Karena Yadira Puldon, Robert Douglas Kent, Laurence Wylie Harter
  • Publication number: 20170143960
    Abstract: A device is disclosed that can predict an onset of an apnea or disordered breathing in a patient. The device can include a number of contacts adapted to make contact with the patient's tongue, and a control circuit configured to receive a first signal from the number of contacts, and predict an onset of an apnea or disordered breathing in the patient based, at least in part, on one or more characteristics of the first signal at a first time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Kent, Harold Byron Kent, Christopher Fisher, Ronald W. Young, Karena Yadira Puldon, Robert Douglas Kent, Laurence Wylie Harter
  • Publication number: 20170143257
    Abstract: A device is disclosed that can include a number of contacts to provide a first signal indicative of one or more states of the patient's upper airway, and can include a control circuit configured to determine a presence of disordered breathing in the patient, provide electrical stimulation to a portion of the patient's upper airway based on the presence of disordered breathing, and determine a level of compliance of the patient's use of the device based.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Kent, Harold Byron Kent, Christopher Fisher, Ronald W. Young, Karena Yadira Puldon, Robert Douglas Kent, Laurence Wylie Harter
  • Publication number: 20170135604
    Abstract: A device is disclosed that can detect a change in respiration of a patient. The device can include a number of contacts adapted to make contact with portions of an oral cavity of a patient, and can include a control circuit configured to detect a change in respiration of the patient based, at least in part, on the first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Kent, Harold Byron Kent, Christopher Fisher, Ronald W. Young, Karena Yadira Puldon, Robert Douglas Kent, Laurence Wylie Harter
  • Publication number: 20170135629
    Abstract: A device is disclosed that can include a number of contacts to provide a first signal indicative of one or more states of the patient's upper airway, and can include a control circuit configured to determine a level of sleep or a level of consciousness in the patient based, at least in part, on the first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Kent, Harold Byron Kent, Christopher Fisher, Ronald W. Young, Karena Yadira Puldon, Robert Douglas Kent, Laurence Wylie Harter
  • Patent number: 9572834
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods of treating oxidative stress in a subject by administering a therapeutic composition to the subject. In some embodiments, the therapeutic composition comprises a carbon nanomaterial with anti-oxidant activity. In some embodiments, the anti-oxidant activity of the carbon nanomaterial corresponds to ORAC values between about 200 to about 15,000. In some embodiments, the administered carbon nanomaterials include at least one of single-walled nanotubes, double-walled nanotubes, triple-walled nanotubes, multi-walled nanotubes, ultra-short nanotubes, graphene, graphene nanoribbons, graphite, graphite oxide nanoribbons, carbon black, oxidized carbon black, hydrophilic carbon clusters, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the carbon nanomaterial is an ultra-short single-walled nanotube that is functionalized with a plurality of solubilizing groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY, BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Jacob Berlin, Daniela Marcano, Ashley Leonard, Thomas A. Kent, Robia G. Pautler, Brittany Bitner, Taeko Inoue
  • Publication number: 20160354604
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that may be used to treat one or more restless leg syndrome (RLS) symptoms of a patient. One example method may include generating first and second stimulation waveforms using a waveform generator; electrically stimulating at least a portion of a sacral region of the patient, based on the first and second stimulation waveforms, using a number of electrodes; damping or interfering with electrical signals transmitted from the patient's brain to the patient's legs via a femoral nerve of the patient using the electrical stimulation; and reducing the one or more symptoms of RLS based on damping or interfering with the electrical signals transmitted from the patient's brain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventor: Steven Thomas Kent
  • Publication number: 20160348796
    Abstract: Embodiments include tubular diaphragm valves with a preformed mechanical closure point and optionally concave or convex convolution areas located near the flanges. These mechanical closure points and convolution areas give the embodiments an extended operational life, as compared to that of conventional cylindrical diaphragms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Carlos J. Galeazzi, Nell Cletus Levers, Thomas Kent Zinn
  • Patent number: 9435442
    Abstract: Embodiments include tubular diaphragm valves with a preformed mechanical closure point and optionally concave or convex convolution areas located near the flanges. These mechanical closure points and convolution areas give the embodiments an extended operational life, as compared to that of conventional cylindrical diaphragms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: ACORNVAC, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Carlos J. Galeazzi, Neil Cletus Levers, Thomas Kent Zinn
  • Publication number: 20160114159
    Abstract: An oral appliance is disclosed that provides electrical stimulation to a patient's tongue in a manner that prevents collapse of the tongue and/or soft palate during sleep. More specifically, the appliance may induce a reversible current or currents in a lateral direction across the tongue in a manner that shortens the patient's Palatoglossus muscle, which in turn pulls the patient's soft palate downward towards a base of the tongue and/or decreases a volume of the tongue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Kent, Laurence Wylie Harter, Harold Byron Kent, Karena Yadira Puldon
  • Publication number: 20160106977
    Abstract: An oral appliance is disclosed that provides electrical stimulation to a patient's tongue in a manner that prevents collapse of the tongue and/or soft palate during sleep. More specifically, the appliance may induce a reversible current or currents in a lateral direction across the tongue in a manner that shortens the patient's Palatoglossus muscle, which in turn pulls the patient's soft palate downward towards a base of the tongue and/or decreases a volume of the tongue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Kent, Laurence Wylie Harter, Harold Byron Kent, Karena Yadira Puldon
  • Publication number: 20160038408
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods for treating an acute axonal injury by intranasally administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a composition that includes a compound having the biological activity of inhibiting the effect of rapid stretch injury on neural stem-cell derived neurons. An example of such a compound is a Ret receptor ligand, such as a GDNF polypeptide. The compound is optionally associated with a delivery reagent. In one embodiment, the method further includes intranasally administering stem cells to the subject, such as neuronal stem cells or adipose-derived stem cells. Also provided herein are methods for decreasing impairment of long term potentiation of hippocampal synapses in a subject after an acute axonal injury.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Ping WU, Thomas A. Kent
  • Publication number: 20150320085
    Abstract: The present invention relates in general to the field of pet food. In particular the present invention relates to a meat like chunk that can be incorporated into a complete pet food. One embodiment of the present invention is a method of using multiple scraped surface heat exchangers and a steam tunnel to produce a meat like chunk. Another embodiment is a composition of meat ingredients, dried egg product, egg whites, and pea protein that results in a meat like chunk having an improved appearance that closely resembles that of actual pieces of meat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas Kent Ray
  • Publication number: 20150190630
    Abstract: An oral appliance is disclosed that provides electrical stimulation to a patient's tongue in a manner that prevents collapse of the tongue and/or soft palate during sleep. More specifically, the appliance may induce a reversible current or currents in a lateral direction across the tongue in a manner that shortens the patient's Palatoglossus muscle, which in turn pulls the patient's soft palate downward towards a base of the tongue and/or decreases a volume of the tongue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: Invicta Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Thomas Kent, Laurence Wylie Harter, Harold Byron Kent, Karena Yadira Puldon
  • Patent number: 9061936
    Abstract: Methods for substantially improving the stability of a melting furnace system including bushings and cooling apparatus for converting molten mineral material to continuous fibers is disclosed. Apparatus and methods for maintaining the molten material throughput and the electrical power load on fiberizing bushings substantially constant are disclosed. The orifice plate, with or without tips or nozzles, is subjected to a more rapid rate of heat removal after the bushing breaks out than it did while the bushing was in a desired fiberizing mode. Apparatus for blowing cooling air upward onto the orifice plate during the time the bushing is breaking out and/or hanging to provide additional cooling is disclosed along with optional additional or alternative apparatus to use for optional additional or alternative cooling is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Johns Manville
    Inventors: Terry Joe Hanna, Thomas Kent Thompson, Russell Donovan Arterburn
  • Publication number: 20150028244
    Abstract: Embodiments include tubular diaphragm valves with a preformed mechanical closure point and optionally concave or convex convolution areas located near the flanges. These mechanical closure points and convolution areas give the embodiments an extended operational life, as compared to that of conventional cylindrical diaphragms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: AcornVac Incorporated
    Inventors: Carlos J. Galeazzi, Neil Cletus Levers, Thomas Kent Zinn
  • Patent number: 8874261
    Abstract: A method and a system for operating a mobile robot comprise a range finder for collecting range data of one or more objects in an environment around the robot. A discriminator identifies uniquely identifiable ones of the objects as navigation landmarks. A data storage device stores a reference map of the navigation landmarks based on the collected range data. A data processor establishes a list or sequence of way points for the robot to visit. Each way point is defined with reference to one or more landmarks. A reader reads an optical message at or near one or more way points. A task manager manages a task based on the read optical message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Thomas Kent Hein, Karl-Heinz O. Mertins, Daniel W. Mairet
  • Publication number: 20140120081
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods of treating oxidative stress in a subject by administering a therapeutic composition to the subject. In some embodiments, the therapeutic composition comprises a carbon nanomaterial with anti-oxidant activity. In some embodiments, the anti-oxidant activity of the carbon nanomaterial corresponds to ORAC values between about 200 to about 15,000. In some embodiments, the administered carbon nanomaterials include at least one of single-walled nanotubes, double-walled nanotubes, triple-walled nanotubes, multi-walled nanotubes, ultra-short nanotubes, graphene, graphene nanoribbons, graphite, graphite oxide nanoribbons, carbon black, oxidized carbon black, hydrophilic carbon clusters, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the carbon nanomaterial is an ultra-short single-walled nanotube that is functionalized with a plurality of solubilizing groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicants: Baylor College of Medicine, William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Jacob Berlin, Daniela Marcano, Ashley Leonard, Thomas A. Kent, Robia G. Pautler, Brittany Bitner, Taeko Inoue
  • Publication number: 20130303973
    Abstract: A drug delivery device and method is disclosed. The drug delivery device may include a cutting portion configured to form a slit in a portion of eye tissue. The drug device may also include a sliding assembly configured to slide with respect to the cutting portion to deliver a biopharmaceutical device to the portion of eye tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Euclid Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Dewoolfson, Michael St. John Luttrell, Thomas Kent Mundorf, Eliot Stuart Lazar
  • Patent number: D784705
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas Kent York