Patents by Inventor Walter E. Voit
Walter E. Voit 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).
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Publication number: 20230180396Abstract: An electrical device, comprising a softening polymer layer, an electrode layer on a surface of the softening polymer layer and a cover polymer layer on the surface of the softening polymer layer. An opening in the polymer cover layer is filled with a reflowed solder, one end of the reflowed solder, located inside the opening, contacts a contact pad site portion of the electrode layer, and another end of the reflowed solder contacts an electrical connector electrode of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2023Publication date: June 8, 2023Inventors: Romil Modi, Jonathan Reeder, Gregory T. Ellson, Walter E. Voit, Alexandra Joshi Imre
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Patent number: 11638816Abstract: A nerve cuff electrode device comprising a cuff body having a smart memory polymer layer with a rigid configuration at room temperature and a softened configuration at about 37° C. The smart memory polymer layer has a trained curved region with a radius of curvature of about 3000 microns or less. A plurality of thin film electrodes located on the smart memory polymer layer. The thin film electrodes include discrete titanium nitride electrode sites that are located in the trained curved region. An exposed surface of each of the discrete titanium nitride electrode sites has a charge injection capacity of about 0.1 mC/cm2 or greater. Methods or manufacturing and using the device are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2021Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: Romil Modi, Walter E. Voit, Mario Romero-Ortega
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Patent number: 11596072Abstract: Flexible electrical devices comprising electrode layers on softening polymers and methods of manufacturing such devices, including lift-off processes for forming electrodes on softening polymers, processes for forming devices with a patterned double softening polymer layer, and solder reflow processes for forming electrical contacts on softening polymers.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2019Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: Romil Modi, Jonathan Reeder, Gregory T. Ellson, Walter E. Voit, Alexandra Joshi Imre
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Patent number: 11407105Abstract: A dielectric elastomer system (DES) variable stiffness actuator (VSA) is provided. In an embodiment, the DES VSA includes a variable stiffness module (VSM). The VSM includes a DES that softens when energized and stiffens when unpowered, an outer frame, and an inner frame member. The stiffness of the DES is variable. The outer frame supports the DES and the inner frame member, which is disposed within the DES. The inner frame member is configured to be displaceable with respect to the outer frame. The DES VSA also includes an actuation motor mechanically coupled to the inner frame member that is configured to cause a force to be applied to the inner frame member and the actuation motor is configured to control an equilibrium position of the DES VSA.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: Robert D. Gregg, IV, Edgar A. Bolivar, David P. Allen, Walter E. Voit
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Publication number: 20210236810Abstract: A nerve cuff electrode device comprising a cuff body having a smart memory polymer layer with a rigid configuration at room temperature and a softened configuration at about 37° C. The smart memory polymer layer has a trained curved region with a radius of curvature of about 3000 microns or less. A plurality of thin film electrodes located on the smart memory polymer layer. The thin film electrodes include discrete titanium nitride electrode sites that are located in the trained curved region. An exposed surface of each of the discrete titanium nitride electrode sites has a charge injection capacity of about 0.1 mC/cm2 or greater. Methods or manufacturing and using the device are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Inventors: Romil Modi, Walter E. Voit, Mario Romero-Ortega
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Patent number: 11045646Abstract: A nerve cuff electrode device comprising a cuff body having a smart memory polymer layer with a rigid configuration at room temperature and a softened configuration at about 37 C. The smart memory polymer layer has a trained curved region with a radius of curvature of about 3000 microns or less. A plurality of thin film electrodes located on the smart memory polymer layer. The thin film electrodes include discrete titanium nitride electrode sites that are located in the trained curved region. An exposed surface of each of the discrete titanium nitride electrode sites has a charge injection capacity of about 0.1 mC/cm2 or greater. Methods or manufacturing and using the device are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2017Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: Romil Modi, Walter E. Voit, Mario Romero-Ortega
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Publication number: 20210129323Abstract: A dielectric elastomer system (DES) variable stiffness actuator (VSA) is provided. In an embodiment, the DES VSA includes a variable stiffness module (VSM). The VSM includes a DES that softens when energized and stiffens when unpowered, an outer frame, and an inner frame member. The stiffness of the DES is variable. The outer frame supports the DES and the inner frame member, which is disposed within the DES. The inner frame member is configured to be displaceable with respect to the outer frame. The DES VSA also includes an actuation motor mechanically coupled to the inner frame member that is configured to cause a force to be applied to the inner frame member and the actuation motor is configured to control an equilibrium position of the DES VSA.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2020Publication date: May 6, 2021Inventors: Robert D. Gregg, Edgar A. Bolivar, David P. Allen, Walter E. Voit
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Patent number: 10870202Abstract: A dielectric elastomer system (DES) variable stiffness actuator (VSA) is provided. In an embodiment, the DES VSA includes a variable stiffness module (VSM). The VSM includes a DES that softens when energized and stiffens when unpowered, an outer frame, and an inner frame member. The stiffness of the DES is variable. The outer frame supports the DES and the inner frame member, which is disposed within the DES. The inner frame member is configured to be displaceable with respect to the outer frame. The DES VSA also includes an actuation motor mechanically coupled to the inner frame member that is configured to cause a force to be applied to the inner frame member and the actuation motor is configured to control an equilibrium position of the DES VSA.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2018Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: Robert D. Gregg, Edgar A. Bolivar, David P. Allen, Walter E. Voit
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Patent number: 10786671Abstract: A spinal cord stimulator device, including an implantation paddle, a connection segment and an encapsulant. The implantation paddle includes at least one pair of electrode stimulation pads, each of the electrode stimulation pads connected to ends of separate thin film electrode leads, wherein the electrode stimulation pads and the thin film electrode leads are sandwiched between softening polymer layers. The connection segment includes insulated wire leads, one end of each of the wire leads can be connected to contact pads on opposite ends of each one of the thin film leads at separated coupling joints. The encapsulant encompasses portions of the implantation paddle, including encompassing portions of the softening polymer layers surrounding the contact pads, the coupling joints and portions of the connection segment including portions of the wire leads next to the coupling joints. Methods of manufacturing device and using the device for spinal cord stimulation are also described.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2017Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignees: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Cornell UniversityInventors: Walter E. Voit, Aldo Garcia-Sandoval, Jason Carmel
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Publication number: 20200093007Abstract: Flexible electrical devices comprising electrode layers on softening polymers and methods of manufacturing such devices, including lift-off processes for forming electrodes on softening polymers, processes for forming devices with a patterned double softening polymer layer, and solder reflow processes for forming electrical contacts on softening polymers.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2019Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: Romil Modi, Jonathan Reeder, Gregory T. Ellson, Walter E. Voit, Alexandra Joshi Imre
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Publication number: 20190336771Abstract: A spinal cord stimulator device, including an implantation paddle, a connection segment and an encapsulant. The implantation paddle includes at least one pair of electrode stimulation pads, each of the electrode stimulation pads connected to ends of separate thin film electrode leads, wherein the electrode stimulation pads and the thin film electrode leads are sandwiched between softening polymer layers. The connection segment includes insulated wire leads, one end of each of the wire leads can be connected to contact pads on opposite ends of each one of the thin film leads at separated coupling joints. The encapsulant encompasses portions of the implantation paddle, including encompassing portions of the softening polymer layers surrounding the contact pads, the coupling joints and portions of the connection segment including portions of the wire leads next to the coupling joints. Methods of manufacturing device and using the device for spinal cord stimulation are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2017Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventors: Walter E. Voit, Aldo Garcia-Sandoval, Jason Carmel
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Publication number: 20190217082Abstract: A nerve cuff electrode device comprising a cuff body having a smart memory polymer layer with a rigid configuration at room temperature and a softened configuration at about 37 C. The smart memory polymer layer has a trained curved region with a radius of curvature of about 3000 microns or less. A plurality of thin film electrodes located on the smart memory polymer layer. The thin film electrodes include discrete titanium nitride electrode sites that are located in the trained curved region. An exposed surface of each of the discrete titanium nitride electrode sites has a charge injection capacity of about 0.1 mC/cm2 or greater. Methods or manufacturing and using the device are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2017Publication date: July 18, 2019Inventors: Romil Modi, Walter E. Voit, Mario Romero-Ortega
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Publication number: 20190061153Abstract: A dielectric elastomer system (DES) variable stiffness actuator (VSA) is provided. In an embodiment, the DES VSA includes a variable stiffness module (VSM). The VSM includes a DES that softens when energized and stiffens when unpowered, an outer frame, and an inner frame member. The stiffness of the DES is variable. The outer frame supports the DES and the inner frame member, which is disposed within the DES. The inner frame member is configured to be displaceable with respect to the outer frame. The DES VSA also includes an actuation motor mechanically coupled to the inner frame member that is configured to cause a force to be applied to the inner frame member and the actuation motor is configured to control an equilibrium position of the DES VSA.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2018Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventors: Robert D. Gregg, Edgar A. Bolivar, David P. Allen, Walter E. Voit
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Publication number: 20180155500Abstract: Novel and advantageous backplanes, which include a thermoset polymer substrate, are provided. The substrate can be flexible, and the polymer of the substrate can be made by mixing multifunctional thiol monomers and specifically chosen co-monomers. The monomers and co-monomers can undergo a thiol “click” chemistry reaction to form a low-cure-stress polymer network that can be used as the substrate for an electronics backplane.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2016Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Radu Reit, Adrian E. Avendano-Bolivar, David E. Arreaga-Salas, Walter E. Voit
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Patent number: 8299191Abstract: Disclosed herein are tunable shape memory polymers (SMP's) and methods for manufacturing the disclosed SMP's.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2010Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corp.Inventors: Walter E. Voit, Taylor Ware, Kenneth Gall
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Publication number: 20110092652Abstract: Disclosed herein are tunable shape memory polymers (SMP's) and methods for manufacturing the disclosed SMP's.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Inventors: Walter E. Voit, Taylor Ware, Kenneth Gall