Patents by Inventor Todd K. Whitehurst

Todd K. Whitehurst 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: 20240225547
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a body, a housing component, a band operable to attach the body to a body part of a user, and a force sensor coupled to the housing component. The force sensor is operable to produce a force signal based on a force exerted between the body part of the user and the housing component. A processing unit of the wearable electronic device receives the force signal from the force sensor and determines the force exerted on the housing component based thereon. The processing unit may use that force to determine a tightness of the band, determine health information for the user, adjust determined force exerted on a cover glass, and/or to perform various other actions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven J. Martisauskas, Erik G. de Jong, Andrzej T. Baranski, Serhan O. Isikman, Steven J. Banaska, Todd K. Whitehurst, Ming L. Sartee
  • Publication number: 20240225548
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a body, a housing component, a band operable to attach the body to a body part of a user, and a force sensor coupled to the housing component. The force sensor is operable to produce a force signal based on a force exerted between the body part of the user and the housing component. A processing unit of the wearable electronic device receives the force signal from the force sensor and determines the force exerted on the housing component based thereon. The processing unit may use that force to determine a tightness of the band, determine health information for the user, adjust determined force exerted on a cover glass, and/or to perform various other actions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven J. Martisauskas, Erik G. de Jong, Andrzej T. Baranski, Serhan O. Isikman, Steven J. Banaska, Todd K. Whitehurst, Ming L. Sartee
  • Patent number: 11963795
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a body, a housing component, a band operable to attach the body to a body part of a user, and a force sensor coupled to the housing component. The force sensor is operable to produce a force signal based on a force exerted between the body part of the user and the housing component. A processing unit of the wearable electronic device receives the force signal from the force sensor and determines the force exerted on the housing component based thereon. The processing unit may use that force to determine a tightness of the band, determine health information for the user, adjust determined force exerted on a cover glass, and/or to perform various other actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven J. Martisauskas, Erik G. de Jong, Andrzej T. Baranski, Serhan O. Isikman, Steven J. Banaska, Todd K. Whitehurst, Ming L. Sartee
  • Patent number: 11937944
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a body, a housing component, a band operable to attach the body to a body part of a user, and a force sensor coupled to the housing component. The force sensor is operable to produce a force signal based on a force exerted between the body part of the user and the housing component. A processing unit of the wearable electronic device receives the force signal from the force sensor and determines the force exerted on the housing component based thereon. The processing unit may use that force to determine a tightness of the band, determine health information for the user, adjust determined force exerted on a cover glass, and/or to perform various other actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven J. Martisauskas, Erik G. de Jong, Andrzej T. Baranski, Serhan O. Isikman, Steven J. Banaska, Todd K. Whitehurst, Ming L. Sartee
  • Patent number: 11918324
    Abstract: A pulse transit time is measured non-invasively and used to calculate a blood pressure value. A method of determining one or more blood pressure values includes propagating an alternating drive current through a thorax of a subject via electrodes located on a wrist-worn device. Resulting voltage levels of the subject are sensed by the wrist-worn device. The voltage levels are processed to detect when a volume of blood is ejected from the left ventricle. Output from a pulse arrival sensor coupled to the wrist-worn device is processed to detect when a blood pressure pulse generated by ejection of the volume of blood from the left ventricle arrives at the wrist. A pulse transit time (PTT) for transit of the blood pressure pulse from the left ventricle to the wrist is calculated. One or more blood pressure values for the subject are determined based on the PTT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Sullivan, Wren Nancy Dougherty, Richard C. Kimoto, Erno Klaassen, Ravi K. Narasimhan, Stephen J. Waydo, Todd K. Whitehurst, Derek Park-Shing Young, Santiago Quijano, Zijing Zeng
  • Publication number: 20240038382
    Abstract: Methods of treatment and diagnosis using facilitated communication of health information from a patient device to a physician device are provided herein. Methods include improved dissemination and management of health information data while safeguarding patient privacy. A patient may initiate a tele-medicine session for treatment using a portable user device of the patient, after which a physician may request a set of data through the patient device relevant to the treatment. In response, the device of the patient identifies a subset of the data set requested by the physician that is authorized by the patient for release to the physician. The system further facilitates display of differing types of information on a user interface of the physician's device to facilitate improved treatments and diagnostics, health information collection and patient follow-up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventor: Todd K. Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 11728030
    Abstract: Methods of treatment and diagnosis using facilitated communication of health information from a patient device to a physician device are provided herein. Methods include improved dissemination and management of health information data while safeguarding patient privacy. A patient may initiate a tele-medicine session for treatment using a portable user device of the patient, after which a physician may request a set of data through the patient device relevant to the treatment. In response, the device of the patient identifies a subset of the data set requested by the physician that is authorized by the patient for release to the physician. The system further facilitates display of differing types of information on a user interface of the physician's device to facilitate improved treatments and diagnostics, health information collection and patient follow-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Todd K. Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 11430571
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aggregating and sharing wellness data. The wellness data can be received by a user device from any number of sensors external or internal to the user device, from a user manually entering the wellness data, or from other users or entities. The user device can securely store the wellness data on the user device and transmit the wellness data to be stored on a remote database. A user of the device can share some or all of the wellness data with friends, relatives, caregivers, healthcare providers, or the like. The user device can further display a user's wellness data in an aggregated view of different types of wellness data. Wellness data of other users can also be viewed if authorizations from those users have been received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Soli, Lawrence Y. Yang, Dennis S. Park, Stephen O. Lemay, Daniel S. Keen, James H. Foster, Zachery Kennedy, Michael O'Reilly, Guy L. Tribble, Todd K. Whitehurst
  • Publication number: 20220240859
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a body, a housing component, a band operable to attach the body to a body part of a user, and a force sensor coupled to the housing component. The force sensor is operable to produce a force signal based on a force exerted between the body part of the user and the housing component. A processing unit of the wearable electronic device receives the force signal from the force sensor and determines the force exerted on the housing component based thereon. The processing unit may use that force to determine a tightness of the band, determine health information for the user, adjust determined force exerted on a cover glass, and/or to perform various other actions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven J. Martisauskas, Erik G. de Jong, Andrzej T. Baranski, Serhan O. lsikman, Steven J. Banaska, Todd K. Whitehurst, Ming L. Sartee
  • Publication number: 20220233146
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a body, a housing component, a band operable to attach the body to a body part of a user, and a force sensor coupled to the housing component. The force sensor is operable to produce a force signal based on a force exerted between the body part of the user and the housing component. A processing unit of the wearable electronic device receives the force signal from the force sensor and determines the force exerted on the housing component based thereon. The processing unit may use that force to determine a tightness of the band, determine health information for the user, adjust determined force exerted on a cover glass, and/or to perform various other actions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven J. Martisauskas, Erik G. de Jong, Andrzej T. Baranski, Serhan O. Isikman, Steven J. Banaska, Todd K. Whitehurst, Ming L. Sartee
  • Patent number: 11344258
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a body, a housing component, a band operable to attach the body to a body part of a user, and a force sensor coupled to the housing component. The force sensor is operable to produce a force signal based on a force exerted between the body part of the user and the housing component. A processing unit of the wearable electronic device receives the force signal from the force sensor and determines the force exerted on the housing component based thereon. The processing unit may use that force to determine a tightness of the band, determine health information for the user, adjust determined force exerted on a cover glass, and/or to perform various other actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven J. Martisauskas, Erik G. de Jong, Andrzej T. Baranski, Serhan O. Isikman, Steven J. Banaska, Todd K. Whitehurst, Ming L. Sartee
  • Patent number: 11337654
    Abstract: A wearable electronic device includes a body, a housing component, a band operable to attach the body to a body part of a user, and a force sensor coupled to the housing component. The force sensor is operable to produce a force signal based on a force exerted between the body part of the user and the housing component. A processing unit of the wearable electronic device receives the force signal from the force sensor and determines the force exerted on the housing component based thereon. The processing unit may use that force to determine a tightness of the band, determine health information for the user, adjust determined force exerted on a cover glass, and/or to perform various other actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Steven J. Martisauskas, Erik G. de Jong, Andrzej T. Baranski, Serhan O. Isikman, Steven J. Banaska, Todd K. Whitehurst, Ming L. Sartee
  • Publication number: 20220151560
    Abstract: A wearable device that attaches to a body part of a user via an attachment member operates in at least a connected and a disconnected state. One or more sensors located in the wearable device and/or the attachment member detect the user's body part when present. Such detection may only be performed when the attachment member is in a connected configuration and may be used to switch the wearable device between the connected and disconnected states. In this way, the wearable device operates in the connected state when worn by a user and in the disconnected state when not worn by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Sorin V. Dusan, Daniel J. Culbert, Todd K. Whitehurst
  • Publication number: 20200367767
    Abstract: A pulse transit time is measured non-invasively and used to calculate a blood pressure value. A method of determining one or more blood pressure values includes propagating an alternating drive current through a thorax of a subject via electrodes located on a wrist-worn device. Resulting voltage levels of the subject are sensed by the wrist-worn device. The voltage levels are processed to detect when a volume of blood is ejected from the left ventricle. Output from a pulse arrival sensor coupled to the wrist-worn device is processed to detect when a blood pressure pulse generated by ejection of the volume of blood from the left ventricle arrives at the wrist. A pulse transit time (PTT) for transit of the blood pressure pulse from the left ventricle to the wrist is calculated. One or more blood pressure values for the subject are determined based on the PTT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas J. Sullivan, Wren Nancy Dougherty, Richard C. Kimoto, Erno Klaassen, Ravi K. Narasimhan, Stephen J. Waydo, Todd K. Whitehurst, Derek Park-Shing Young, Santiago Quijano, Zijing Zeng
  • Publication number: 20200367760
    Abstract: Methods and devices for obtaining a blood pressure measurement of a subject measure a transit time of a blood pulse of the subject. A method includes sensing, with a pulse ejection sensor of a wrist-worn device, ejection of blood from the left ventricle. Arrival of a resulting blood pressure pulse at the wrist is sensed via a pulse arrival sensor of the wrist-worn device. A transit time of the blood pressure pulse from the left ventricle to the wrist is determined. A relative blood pressure value of the subject is determined based on the transit time. A reference absolute blood pressure value associated with the relative blood pressure value is received. An absolute blood pressure value for the relative blood pressure value is determined based on the reference absolute blood pressure value and the relative blood pressure value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Erno H. Klaassen, Wren Nancy Dougherty, Richard C. Kimoto, Ravi K. Narasimhan, Thomas J. Sullivan, Stephen J. Waydo, Todd K. Whitehurst, Santiago Quijano, Derek Park-Shing Young, Zijing Zeng
  • Patent number: 10779738
    Abstract: Wrist-worn devices and related methods measure a pulse transit time non-invasively and calculate a blood pressure value using the pulse transit time. A wrist-worn device include a wrist-worn elongate band, at least four EKG or ICG electrodes coupled to the wrist-worn device for detecting a ventricular ejection of a heart, a photo-plethysmogram (PPG) sensor coupled to the wrist-worn device for detecting arrival of a blood pressure pulse at the user's wrist, and a controller configured to calculate a pulse transit time (PTT) for the blood pressure pulse. The controller calculates one or more blood pressure values for the user based on the PTT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas J. Sullivan, Wren Nancy Dougherty, Richard C. Kimoto, Erno Klaassen, Ravi Narasimhan, Stephen J. Waydo, Todd K. Whitehurst, Derek Park-Shing Young, Santiago Quijano, Zijing Zeng
  • Patent number: 10772512
    Abstract: The present invention provides non-invasive devices, methods, and systems for determining a pressure of blood within a cardiovascular system of a user, the cardiovascular system including a heart and the user having a wrist covered by skin. More particularly, the present invention discloses a variety of wrist-worn devices having a variety of sensors configured to non-invasively engage the skin on the wrist of the user for sensing a variety of user signals from the cardiovascular system of the user. Generally, approaches disclosed herein may passively track blood pressure values without any interaction required on the part of the user or may allow for on demand or point measurements of blood pressure values by having a user actively interact with the sensors of the wrist-worn device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Inventors: Erno H. Klaassen, Wren Nancy Dougherty, Richard C. Kimoto, Ravi Narasimhan, Thomas J. Sullivan, Stephen J. Waydo, Todd K. Whitehurst, Santiago Quijano, Derek Park-Shing Young, Zijing Zeng
  • Patent number: 10733266
    Abstract: Methods of selection of health related applications and treatment and diagnosis using health related applications are provided herein. Methods include selection of a first set of health related apps by a physician for use in treatment or diagnosis of a health condition, selection of an app from the first set by the patient with a first portable device. In one aspect, the applications are provided and managed by a service providers and include regulated health related apps. In some methods, the system communications with an insurer so as to indicate to a patient an insurance related attribute associated with each app to facilitate selection by the patient. In another aspect, methods include communication of health data elements obtained with the first portable device to the health service provider for tracking or analysis and subsequent communication between any of the first portable device and the service provider, insurer and physician.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Todd K. Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 10702171
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to blood pressure monitoring. In some embodiments, methods and devices of measuring a mean arterial pressure are provided and/or monitoring blood pressure changes. A wrist-worn device may include a plurality of sensors backed by a plurality of actuators. Subsets of the plurality of sensors may be selectively actuateable against a wrist of a user using one or more of the plurality of actuators. A preferred sensor and location may be identified based on pressure signals received from each of the sensors. In some embodiments, devices may use a fluid bladder coupled with piezoelectric film sensors. A fluid bladder pressure sensor may be used to calibrate the piezoelectric film signal to provide a static and dynamic pressure reading. In yet another embodiment, a mean arterial pressure may be calculated by processing a swept pressure signal obtained as a sensor is swept through different heights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Inventors: Ravi Narasimhan, Zijing Zeng, Richard C. Kimoto, Erno Klaassen, Thomas J. Sullivan, Derek Park-Shing Young, Todd K. Whitehurst
  • Publication number: 20200060617
    Abstract: A wearable device that attaches to a body part of a user via an attachment member operates in at least a connected and a disconnected state. One or more sensors located in the wearable device and/or the attachment member detect the user's body part when present. Such detection may only be performed when the attachment member is in a connected configuration and may be used to switch the wearable device between the connected and disconnected states. In this way, the wearable device operates in the connected state when worn by a user and in the disconnected state when not worn by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Sorin V. Dusan, Daniel J. Culbert, Todd K. Whitehurst