Patents by Inventor Todd Whitehurst

Todd 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).

  • Patent number: 9901293
    Abstract: Sensors and methods for measurement of an analyte in a medium within a living animal are described. The sensor may include an inductive element that may receive power from an external device. The sensor may also include a charge storage device (CSD) and a memory. The sensor may perform analyte measurements initiated by the external device using power received from the external device and convey the analyte measurements to the external device using the inductive element. The sensor also may perform autonomous analyte measurements using the on board charge device's power and store the autonomous analyte measurements in the memory. The sensor may convey one or more stored analyte measurements to the external device using the inductive element using power received from the external device. The sensor may include a CSD-powered clock and a CSD-powered measurement scheduler that initiate the autonomous analyte measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Senseonics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew DeHennis, Szymon Tankiewicz, Todd Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 9901250
    Abstract: Methods, sensors, and systems that prevent or reduce data loss when more than one external sensor transceiver is used with a sensor. A sensor may receive a transceiver identification (ID) of an external transceiver conveyed from the external transceiver and determine whether the received transceiver ID is a new transceiver ID. If sensor determines the received transceiver ID to be a new transceiver ID, the sensor may store the received transceiver ID in a nonvolatile storage medium of the sensor and convey, using the sensor, measurement information stored in the nonvolatile storage medium to the external transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Senseonics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeremy Emken, Philip Huffstetler, Todd Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 9891169
    Abstract: An analyte indicator may include a porous base and may be included in an analyte sensor. The analyte indicator may retain its physical, chemical, and optical properties in the presence of compression. The porous base may not vary in opacity. The analyte indicator may include (i) a polymer unit attached or polymerized onto or out of the porous base and (ii) an analyte sensing element attached to the polymer unit or copolymerized with the polymer unit. The analyte sensing element may include one or more indicator molecule. The analyte sensing element may include one or more indicator polymer chains. The analyte indicator may include (i) an indicator polymer chain attached or polymerized onto or out of the porous base and (ii) indicator molecules attached to the indicator polymer chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Senseonics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Philip Huffstetler, Jeremy Emken, Todd Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 9867540
    Abstract: An inductive sensor system for remote powering and communication with an analyte sensor (e.g., a fully implantable analyte sensor). The system may include an analyte sensor and transceiver. The system may be ferrite-enhanced. The transceiver may implement a passive telemetry for communicating with the analyte sensor via an inductive magnetic link for both power and data transfer. The link may be a co-planar, near field communication telemetry link. The transceiver may include a reflection plate configured to focus flux lines linking the transceiver and the sensor uniformly beneath the transceiver. The transceiver may include an amplifier configured to amplify battery power and provide radio frequency (RF) power to a transceiver antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Senseonics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Szymon Tankiewicz, Joshua C. Schaefer, Andrew DeHennis, Todd Whitehurst
  • Publication number: 20170281956
    Abstract: Improved external chargers for charging an implantable medical device, and particularly useful in charging a plurality of such devices, are disclosed. Each of the various embodiments include a plurality of field customization coils for customizing the magnetic charging field generated by the external charger such that the magnetic charging field is not radially symmetric. For example, one embodiment includes a primary coil with a plurality of field customization coils distributed radially with respect to the coil. The generated magnetic charging field can be rendered radially asymmetric by selectively activating or disabling the field customization coils in response to data quantifying the coupling between the various implants and the field customization coils in the charger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Rafael Carbunaru, Andrew DiGiore, Todd Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 9778190
    Abstract: An analyte indicator may include a porous base and may be included in an analyte sensor. The analyte indicator may retain its physical, chemical, and optical properties in the presence of compression. The porous base may not vary in opacity. The analyte indicator may include (i) a polymer unit attached or polymerized onto or out of the porous base and (ii) an analyte sensing element attached to the polymer unit or copolymerized with the polymer unit. The analyte sensing element may include one or more indicator molecule. The analyte sensing element may include one or more indicator polymer chains. The analyte indicator may include (i) an indicator polymer chain attached or polymerized onto or out of the porous base and (ii) indicator molecules attached to the indicator polymer chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Senseonics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Philip Huffstetler, Jeremy Emken, Todd Whitehurst
  • Publication number: 20170261432
    Abstract: An analyte indicator may include a porous base and may be included in an analyte sensor. The analyte indicator may retain its physical, chemical, and optical properties in the presence of compression. The porous base may not vary in opacity. The analyte indicator may include (i) a polymer unit attached or polymerized onto or out of the porous base and (ii) an analyte sensing element attached to the polymer unit or copolymerized with the polymer unit. The analyte sensing element may include one or more indicator molecule. The analyte sensing element may include one or more indicator polymer chains. The analyte indicator may include (i) an indicator polymer chain attached or polymerized onto or out of the porous base and (ii) indicator molecules attached to the indicator polymer chain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Applicant: Senseonics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Philip Huffstetler, Jeremy Emken, Todd Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 9700730
    Abstract: Improved external chargers for charging an implantable medical device, and particularly useful in charging a plurality of such devices, are disclosed. Each of the various embodiments include a plurality of field customization coils for customizing the magnetic charging field generated by the external charger such that the magnetic charging field is not radially symmetric. For example, one embodiment includes a primary coil with a plurality of field customization coils distributed radially with respect to the coil. The generated magnetic charging field can be rendered radially asymmetric by selectively activating or disabling the field customization coils in response to data quantifying the coupling between the various implants and the field customization coils in the charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Rafael Carbunaru, Andrew DiGiore, Todd Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 9640088
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method can be provided for encoding radio frequency identification (RFID) electronic tags to represent custom-order nutrition variables. At an electronic vendor device, a custom food order can be identified. At the electronic vendor device, a nutrition variable based on the custom food order can be determined. At the electronic vendor device, an RFID electronic tag can be encoded to store the nutritional variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Whitehurst, Zachury Minjack, Zachery Kennedy, Dennis Park, Dylan Edwards, Anton Davydov
  • Publication number: 20170049371
    Abstract: A sensor that may be used to detect the presence, amount, and/or concentration of an analyte in a medium within an animal. The sensor may include a sensor housing, an indicator element embedded within and/or covering at least a portion of the sensor housing, and a membrane over the indicator element. The membrane may reduce indicator element deterioration by preventing immune cells, such as white blood cells, from contacting the indicator element, substantially prevent transmission of light of at least a specified wavelength or range of wavelengths through the membrane, and/or permit the analyte to pass through to the indicator element. The membrane may be an opaque diffusion membrane. The sensor may include a foil. The foil may block light and/or reduce indicator element deterioration. The membrane may reduce oxidation of the indicator element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: Senseonics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeremy Emken, Philip Huffstetler, Todd Whitehurst
  • Publication number: 20160345830
    Abstract: A computing device receives analyte data produced by an analyte monitoring sensor over a communications link from at least one first device. Health data, comprising at least part of the analyte data, may be communicated over a communications link to at least one second device in response to a request. The first device may be positioned over the analyte monitoring sensor using signal strength and location information. External analyte data may be employed to calibrate the analyte monitoring sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: Senseonics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Barkha Raisoni, Todd Whitehurst, Christina Long, Steven Walters, Andrew Dehennis
  • Publication number: 20160345874
    Abstract: A computing device receives analyte data produced by an analyte monitoring sensor over a communications link from at least one first device. Health data, comprising at least part of the analyte data, may be communicated over a communications link to at least one second device in response to a request. The first device may be positioned over the analyte monitoring sensor using signal strength and location information. External analyte data may be employed to calibrate the analyte monitoring sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: Senseonics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Barkha Raisoni, David Lerner, Christina Long, Xiaoxiao Chen, Todd Whitehurst, Ravi Rastogi, Andrew Dehennis
  • Patent number: 9498156
    Abstract: A sensor (e.g., an optical sensor) that may be placed within a living animal (e.g., a human) and may be used to measure an analyte (e.g., glucose or oxygen) in a medium (e.g., interstitial fluid) within the animal. The sensor may include a sensor housing and a polymer graft including indicator molecules and covering at least a portion of the sensor housing. The opacity of the polymer graft may remain substantially the same (i.e., may have little or no variation) over time. The sensor may include a photodetector, and variation in the opacity of the polymer graft does not cause a significant change in a measurement signal output by the photodetector. The polymer hydrogel may be made of polymers including acrylic acid and/or polyethylene glycol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Senseonics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Todd Whitehurst, Philip Huffstetler
  • Patent number: 9452288
    Abstract: A system for performing a neurostimulation trial comprises an external trial stimulator capable of delivering stimulation energy to a plurality of electrodes carried by one or more stimulation leads. The external trial stimulator is configurable to operate in a plurality of stimulation energy delivery modes to respectively emulate one of different neurostimulator types. The system may further comprise a programmer capable of configuring the external trial stimulator to operate in one of the stimulation energy delivery modes. The programmer may be capable of generating a first programming screen capable of allowing a first set of stimulation parameters to be defined for the first neurostimulator type, and a second programming screen capable of allowing a second set of stimulation parameters to be defined for a second neurostimulator type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Todd Whitehurst, Rafael Carbunaru, Kristen Jaax, Andrew DiGiore, Brett D Schleicher
  • Publication number: 20160270740
    Abstract: A computing device receives analyte data produced by an analyte monitoring sensor over a communications link from at least one first device. Health data, comprising at least part of the analyte data, may be communicated over a communications link to at least one second device in response to a request. The first device may be positioned over the analyte monitoring sensor using signal strength and location information. External analyte data may be employed to calibrate the analyte monitoring sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Applicant: Senseonics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Barkha Raisoni, Barbara Montgomery, Todd Whitehurst, Shang Zhao, Mirasol Panlilio, Andrew Dehennis
  • Patent number: 9427182
    Abstract: A sensor that may be used to detect the presence, amount, and/or concentration of an analyte in a medium within an animal. The sensor may include a sensor housing, an indicator element embedded within and/or covering at least a portion of the sensor housing, and a membrane over the indicator element. The membrane may reduce indicator element deterioration by preventing immune cells, such as white blood cells, from contacting the indicator element, substantially prevent transmission of light of at least a specified wavelength or range of wavelengths through the membrane, and/or permit the analyte to pass through to the indicator element. The membrane may be an opaque diffusion membrane. The sensor may include a foil. The foil may block light and/or reduce indicator element deterioration. The membrane may reduce oxidation of the indicator element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Senseonics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeremy Emken, Philip Huffstetler, Todd Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 9427181
    Abstract: A sensor that may be used to detect the presence, amount, and/or concentration of an analyte in a medium within an animal. The sensor may include a sensor housing, an indicator element embedded within and/or covering at least a portion of the sensor housing, and a membrane over the indicator element. The membrane may reduce indicator element deterioration by preventing immune cells, such as white blood cells, from contacting the indicator element, substantially prevent transmission of light of at least a specified wavelength or range of wavelengths through the membrane, and/or permit the analyte to pass through to the indicator element. The membrane may be an opaque diffusion membrane. The sensor may include a foil. The foil may block light and/or reduce indicator element deterioration. The membrane may reduce oxidation of the indicator element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Senseonics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeremy Emken, Philip Huffstetler, Todd Whitehurst
  • Publication number: 20160242685
    Abstract: Sensors and methods for measurement of an analyte in a medium within a living animal are described. The sensor may include an inductive element that may receive power from an external device. The sensor may also include a charge storage device (CSD) and a memory. The sensor may perform analyte measurements initiated by the external device using power received from the external device and convey the analyte measurements to the external device using the inductive element. The sensor also may perform autonomous analyte measurements using the on board charge device's power and store the autonomous analyte measurements in the memory. The sensor may convey one or more stored analyte measurements to the external device using the inductive element using power received from the external device. The sensor may include a CSD-powered clock and a CSD-powered measurement scheduler that initiate the autonomous analyte measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: Senseonics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew DeHennis, Szymon Tankiewicz, Todd Whitehurst
  • Publication number: 20160210416
    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: December 23, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventor: Todd Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 9396369
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a seal is provided that includes an adhesive bottom layer, a non-adhesive top layer, and an electronic tag. The electronic tag can be positioned on or in the adhesive bottom layer or non-adhesive top layer or positioned in between the adhesive bottom layer and non-adhesive top layer. The electronic tag can include one or more processors and a computer-readable storage medium containing instructions, that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform actions. The actions can include detecting, at the electronic tag, a physical disturbance of the electronic tag and retrieving, at the electronic tag, stored data from a local memory. The actions can also include, responsive to the detection, facilitating transmission of a signal from the electronic tag that includes the retrieved data from a transmitter of the electronic tag to a device using radio frequency identification (RFID).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Whitehurst, Zachury Minjack, Zachery Kennedy, Dennis Park, Dylan Edwards, Anton Davydov