Patents by Inventor Thomas O. Mera

Thomas O. Mera 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).

  • Patent number: 10092754
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for remotely and intelligently tuning movement disorder of therapy systems. The present invention still further provides methods of quantifying movement disorders for the treatment of patients who exhibit symptoms of such movement disorders including, but not limited to, Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism, Dystonia, Chorea, and Huntington's disease, Ataxia, Tremor and Essential Tremor, Tourette syndrome, stroke, and the like. The present invention yet further relates to methods of remotely and intelligently or automatically tuning a therapy device using objective quantified movement disorder symptom data to determine the therapy setting or parameters to be transmitted and provided to the subject via his or her therapy device. The present invention also provides treatment and tuning intelligently, automatically and remotely, allowing for home monitoring of subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Great Lakes NeuroTechnologies Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin A Heldman, Christopher L Pulliam, Joseph P Giuffrida, Thomas O Mera
  • Patent number: 10085689
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device and method for monitoring and assessment of movement disorder symptoms. The device and method disclosed herein are particularly amenable to remote monitoring of a subject's movement disorder symptoms. Briefly stated, in certain preferred embodiments of the present invention the movement disorder monitoring device accompanies a subject to a remote location where the device is used to record data relating to the severity of a subject's movement disorder symptoms over a period of time. This data is then subsequently used by physicians or other clinicians in optimizing and assessing treatment options directed at alleviating a subject's movement disorder symptoms. The method and device of the present invention can be used to monitor symptoms of a number of movement disorders including but not limited to dystonia, essential tremor, Huntington's disease, various ataxias, multiple sclerosis, psychogenic tremor, and Parkinson's disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Great Lakes NeuroTechnolgies Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Giuffrida, Dustin A. Heldman, Thomas O. Mera
  • Patent number: 9877680
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a movement disorder monitor, and a method of measuring the severity of a subject's movement disorder. The present invention additionally relates to a treatment delivery system for treating a subject in response to changes in the severity of a subject's symptoms. The present invention further provides for a system and method, which can accurately quantify symptoms of movement disorders, utilizing continuously obtained kinetic information to be analyzed, accurately distinguishing between symptoms of movement disorders and activities of daily living, relating quantified symptoms to a standard clinical rating scale, and correlating a subject's symptoms with certain physiological and environmental factors. The present invention still further provides for home monitoring of symptoms in subjects with these movement disorders in order to capture the complex fluctuation patterns of the disease over the course of days, weeks, months, or years.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Great Lakes NeuroTechnologies Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P Giuffrida, Dustin A Heldman, Thomas O Mera
  • Patent number: 9717920
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for tuning treatment parameters in movement disorder therapy systems. The present invention further relates to a system for screening patients to determine viability as candidates for certain therapy modalities, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS). The present invention still further provides methods of quantifying movement disorders for the treatment of patients who exhibit symptoms of such movement disorders including, but not limited to, Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism, Dystonia, Chorea, and Huntington's disease, Ataxia, Tremor and Essential Tremor, Tourette syndrome, stroke, and the like. The present invention yet further relates to methods of tuning a therapy device using objective quantified movement disorder symptom data acquired by a movement disorder diagnostic device to determine the therapy setting or parameters to be provided to the subject via his or her therapy device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Great Lakes NeuroTechnologies Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin A Heldman, Christopher L Pulliam, Joseph P Giuffrida, Thomas O Mera
  • Patent number: 9662502
    Abstract: A system and method for tuning the parameters of a therapeutic medical device comprises a movement measurement data acquisition system capable of wireless transmission; processing comprising kinematic feature extraction, a scoring algorithm trained using scores from expert clinicians, a therapeutic device parameter setting adjustment suggestion algorithm preferably trained using the parameter setting adjustment judgments of expert clinicians; and a display and/or means of updating the parameter settings of the treatment device. The invention facilitates the treatment of movement disorders including Parkinson's disease, essential tremor and the like by optimizing deep brain stimulation (DBS) parameter settings, eliminating as much as possible motor symptoms and reducing time and costs of surgical and outpatient procedures and improving patient outcomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Great Lakes Neurotechnologies Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Giuffrida, Dustin A. Heldman, Thomas O. Mera
  • Patent number: 9522278
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for remotely and intelligently tuning movement disorder of therapy systems. The present invention still further provides methods of quantifying movement disorders for the treatment of patients who exhibit symptoms of such movement disorders including, but not limited to, Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism, Dystonia, Chorea, and Huntington's disease, Ataxia, Tremor and Essential Tremor, Tourette syndrome, stroke, and the like. The present invention yet further relates to methods of remotely and intelligently or automatically tuning a therapy device using objective quantified movement disorder symptom data to determine the therapy setting or parameters to be transmitted and provided to the subject via his or her therapy device. The present invention also provides treatment and tuning intelligently, automatically and remotely, allowing for home monitoring of subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Great Lakes Neuro Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin A Heldman, Christopher L Pulliam, Joseph P Giuffrida, Thomas O Mera
  • Patent number: 9393418
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for tuning treatment parameters in movement disorder therapy systems. The present invention further relates to a system for screening patients to determine if they are viable candidates for certain therapy modalities. The present invention still further provides methods of quantifying movement disorders for the treatment of patients who exhibit symptoms of such movement disorders including, but not limited to, Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism, Dystonia, Chorea, and Huntington's disease, Ataxia, Tremor and Essential Tremor, Tourette Syndrome, and the like. The present invention yet further relates to methods of tuning a therapy device using objective quantified movement disorder symptom data acquired by a movement disorder diagnostic device to allow a clinician, technician or physician to determine the therapy setting or parameters to be provided to the subject via his or her therapy device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Great Lakes Neuro Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P Giuffrida, Dustin A Heldman, Thomas O Mera
  • Patent number: 9314190
    Abstract: Most particularly, the present invention relates to a customized and adaptive movement recovery system and a method of improving the functional motor recovery of a subject with a movement disorder. The present invention provides for a system and method, which in some embodiments can accurately quantify treatment device parameters and protocols including electrical stimulation amplitude (volts/amps), frequency (Hz), and pulse width (microseconds), and medication titrations, doses, and times by utilizing accelerometric, gyroscopic or other movement related information, such as electromyography (EMG) data, or the like, and a central database, or system of databases, of patient and treatment histories. In other embodiments, the system and method provide for an adaptive central database system and automated control of movement disorder treatment devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Great Lakes NeuroTechnologies Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P Giuffrida, Dustin A Heldman, Thomas O Mera
  • Patent number: 9302046
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a movement disorder monitor, and a method of measuring the severity of a subject's movement disorder. The present invention additionally relates to a treatment delivery system for treating a subject in response to changes in the severity of a subject's symptoms. The present invention further provides for a system and method, which can accurately quantify symptoms of movement disorders, utilizing continuously obtained kinetic information to be analyzed, accurately distinguishing between symptoms of movement disorders and activities of daily living, relating quantified symptoms to a standard clinical rating scale, and correlating a subject's symptoms with certain physiological and environmental factors. The present invention still further provides for home monitoring of symptoms in subjects with these movement disorders in order to capture the complex fluctuation patterns of the disease over the course of days, weeks, months, or years.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Great Lakes NeuroTechnologies Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P Giuffrida, Dustin A Heldman, Thomas O Mera
  • Patent number: 9289603
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for remotely tuning treatment parameters in movement disorder therapy systems where the subject and clinician are located remotely from each other. The present invention still further provides methods of quantifying movement disorders for the treatment of patients who exhibit symptoms of such movement disorders including, but not limited to, Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism, Dystonia, Chorea, and Huntington's disease, Ataxia, Tremor and Essential Tremor, Tourette syndrome, stroke, and the like. The present invention yet further relates to methods of remotely tuning a therapy device using objective quantified movement disorder symptom data to determine the therapy setting or parameters to be transmitted and provided to the subject via his or her therapy device. The present invention also provides treatment and tuning remotely, allowing for home monitoring of subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Great Lakes Neuro Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P Giuffrida, Dustin A Heldman, Thomas O Mera
  • Patent number: 9238142
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for remotely and intelligently tuning movement disorder of therapy systems. The present invention still further provides methods of quantifying movement disorders for the treatment of patients who exhibit symptoms of such movement disorders including, but not limited to, Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism, Dystonia, Chorea, and Huntington's disease, Ataxia, Tremor and Essential Tremor, Tourette syndrome, stroke, and the like. The present invention yet further relates to methods of remotely and intelligently or automatically tuning a therapy device using objective quantified movement disorder symptom data to determine the therapy setting or parameters to be transmitted and provided to the subject via his or her therapy device. The present invention also provides treatment and tuning intelligently, automatically and remotely, allowing for home monitoring of subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Great Lakes NeuroTechnologies Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin A Heldman, Christopher L Pulliam, Joseph P Giuffrida, Thomas O Mera
  • Patent number: 9211417
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for tuning treatment parameters in movement disorder therapy systems. The present invention further relates to a system for screening patients to determine viability as candidates for certain therapy modalities, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS). The present invention still further provides methods of quantifying movement disorders for the treatment of patients who exhibit symptoms of such movement disorders including, but not limited to, Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism, Dystonia, Chorea, and Huntington's disease, Ataxia, Tremor and Essential Tremor, Tourette syndrome, stroke, and the like. The present invention yet further relates to methods of tuning a therapy device using objective quantified movement disorder symptom data acquired by a movement disorder diagnostic device to determine the therapy setting or parameters to be provided to the subject via his or her therapy device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Great Lakes NeuroTechnologies Inc
    Inventors: Dustin A Heldman, Christopher L Pulliam, Joseph P Giuffrida, Thomas O Mera
  • Patent number: 8702629
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a movement disorder monitor, and a method of measuring the severity of a subject's movement disorder. The present invention additionally relates to a treatment delivery system for treating a subject in response to changes in the severity of a subject's symptoms. The present invention further provides for a system and method, which can accurately quantify symptoms of movement disorders, utilizing continuously obtained kinetic information to be analyzed, accurately distinguishing between symptoms of movement disorders and activities of daily living, relating quantified symptoms to a standard clinical rating scale, and correlating a subject's symptoms with certain physiological and environmental factors. The present invention still further provides for home monitoring of symptoms in subjects with these movement disorders in order to capture the complex fluctuation patterns of the disease over the course of days, weeks, months, or years.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Great Lakes Neuro Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Giuffrida, Dustin A. Heldman, Thomas O. Mera
  • Publication number: 20140074179
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for tuning treatment parameters in movement disorder therapy systems. The present invention further relates to a system for screening patients to determine viability as candidates for certain therapy modalities, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS). The present invention still further provides methods of quantifying movement disorders for the treatment of patients who exhibit symptoms of such movement disorders including, but not limited to, Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism, Dystonia, Chorea, and Huntington's disease, Ataxia, Tremor and Essential Tremor, Tourette syndrome, stroke, and the like. The present invention yet further relates to methods of tuning a therapy device using objective quantified movement disorder symptom data acquired by a movement disorder diagnostic device to determine the therapy setting or parameters to be provided to the subject via his or her therapy device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Dustin A Heldman, Christopher L Pulliam, Joseph P Giuffrida, Thomas O Mera
  • Publication number: 20140074180
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for remotely and intelligently tuning movement disorder of therapy systems. The present invention still further provides methods of quantifying movement disorders for the treatment of patients who exhibit symptoms of such movement disorders including, but not limited to, Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism, Dystonia, Chorea, and Huntington's disease, Ataxia, Tremor and Essential Tremor, Tourette syndrome, stroke, and the like. The present invention yet further relates to methods of remotely and intelligently or automatically tuning a therapy device using objective quantified movement disorder symptom data to determine the therapy setting or parameters to be transmitted and provided to the subject via his or her therapy device. The present invention also provides treatment and tuning intelligently, automatically and remotely, allowing for home monitoring of subjects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Dustin A. Heldman, Christopher L. Pulliam, Joseph P. Giuffrida, Thomas O. Mera
  • Publication number: 20140005743
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for tuning treatment parameters in movement disorder therapy systems. The present invention further relates to a system for screening patients to determine if they are viable candidates for certain therapy modalities. The present invention still further provides methods of quantifying movement disorders for the treatment of patients who exhibit symptoms of such movement disorders including, but not limited to, Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism, Dystonia, Chorea, and Huntington's disease, Ataxia, Tremor and Essential Tremor, Tourette Syndrome, and the like. The present invention yet further relates to methods of tuning a therapy device using objective quantified movement disorder symptom data acquired by a movement disorder diagnostic device to allow a clinician, technician or physician to determine the therapy setting or parameters to be provided to the subject via his or her therapy device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Joseph P. Giuffrida, Dustin A. Heldman, Thomas O. Mera
  • Publication number: 20130123684
    Abstract: A system and method for tuning the parameters of a therapeutic medical device comprises a movement measurement data acquisition system capable of wireless transmission; processing comprising kinematic feature extraction, a scoring algorithm trained using scores from expert clinicians, a therapeutic device parameter setting adjustment suggestion algorithm preferably trained using the parameter setting adjustment judgments of expert clinicians; and a display and/or means of updating the parameter settings of the treatment device. The invention facilitates the treatment of movement disorders including Parkinson's disease, essential tremor and the like by optimizing deep brain stimulation (DBS) parameter settings, eliminating as much as possible motor symptoms and reducing time and costs of surgical and outpatient procedures and improving patient outcomes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: GREAT LAKES NEUROTECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Giuffrida, Dustin A. Heldman, Thomas O. Mera
  • Publication number: 20130123666
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a movement disorder monitor, and a method of measuring the severity of a subject's movement disorder. The present invention additionally relates to a treatment delivery system for treating a subject in response to changes in the severity of a subject's symptoms. The present invention further provides for a system and method, which can accurately quantify symptoms of movement disorders, utilizing continuously obtained kinetic information to be analyzed, accurately distinguishing between symptoms of movement disorders and activities of daily living, relating quantified symptoms to a standard clinical rating scale, and correlating a subject's symptoms with certain physiological and environmental factors. The present invention still further provides for home monitoring of symptoms in subjects with these movement disorders in order to capture the complex fluctuation patterns of the disease over the course of days, weeks, months, or years.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: GREAT LAKES NEUROTECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Giuffrida, Dustin A. Heldman, Thomas O. Mera
  • Patent number: 7771358
    Abstract: Systems and methods for grading signals from microemboli in blood flow monitored using a Doppler ultrasound system. Signals from microemboli in blood flow are graded by calculating a value related to a power for the signals from microemboli in blood flow and categorizing the signals into one of at least two grades based on the calculated value. Alternatively, signals can be categorized by assessing a power value for the microemboli in blood flow during a period of monitoring. In response to the power value being greater than or equal to a threshold value, the microemboli in blood flow are categorized based on the power value, and in response to the power value being less than the threshold value, a number of microemboli are counted during at least a portion of the period of monitoring and the microemboli are categorized based on the number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Spentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Moehring, Asanka S. Dewaraja, Thomas O. Mera, Merrill P. Spencer