Patents by Inventor Vernon Lin

Vernon Lin 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).

  • Restoring cough using microstimulators
    Patent number: 8532778
    Abstract: A method of inducing forced expiration in a subject is disclosed. The method can include percutaneously placing an injectable microstimulator adjacent at least one thoracic spinal nerve that innervates an intercostal muscle. For example, the microstimulator is placed within 8 cm externally of a neuroforamen through which the spinal nerve emerges from a thoracic vertebra. The method can also entail applying a stimulating electrical current from the microstimulator to the thoracic spinal nerve at a sufficient intensity and duration to induce a forced contraction of the intercostal muscle innervated by that spinal nerve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventor: Vernon Lin
  • RESTORING COUGH USING MICROSTIMULATORS
    Publication number: 20080051851
    Abstract: A method of inducing forced expiration in a subject is disclosed. The method can include percutaneously placing an injectable microstimulator adjacent at least one thoracic spinal nerve that innervates an intercostal muscle. For example, the microstimulator is placed within 8 cm externally of a neuroforamen through which the spinal nerve emerges from a thoracic vertebra. The method can also entail applying a stimulating electrical current from the microstimulator to the thoracic spinal nerve at a sufficient intensity and duration to induce a forced contraction of the intercostal muscle innervated by that spinal nerve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Vernon Lin