Patents by Inventor William Bedingham

William Bedingham 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: 12582375
    Abstract: An auscultation device having a headset, a chest piece, and tubing connecting the chest piece to the headset. At least one connector disposed in the tubing between the headset and the chest piece and the at least one connector comprising a first female connector portion and a second male connector portion. The first female connector portion having a receiving cavity and a collar which is slidable and used to lock the first and second portions together, and the second male connector portion having a through hole, a compressible O-ring, and a latching ring collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: William Bedingham, J. Peter Robinson
  • Patent number: 12458319
    Abstract: An auscultation device having a chest piece with a sound output aperture in fluid communication with a diaphragm on a bottom surface of the chest piece. A digital stethoscope component with a sound input aperture and a connector fluidly connecting the sound output aperture to the sound input aperture. The connector is designed such that the auscultation device is free standing on a horizontal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2025
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Rogers, William Bedingham, J. Peter Robinson
  • Patent number: 12376996
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hearing protector (10) with a sensor module (30) having a module sensor (32). The sensor module (30) is removably attached to the cushion (22, 24) and the cup (12A, 14A) of the earmuff (12, 14) of the hearing protector (10). The hearing protector (10) according to present disclosure allows the arrangement of sensors at a hearing protector (10) in an easy and cost-efficient way even with multiple sensors. The advantage of such a hearing protector (10) is an easy, compact and reliable solution of a hearing protector (10) providing information about the environment and about the conditions of the user (100) or worker using such a hearing protector (10). Also, a method of retrofitting such a sensor module (30) to a hearing protector (1) is provided. Such a method is advantageous because reversible retrofitting of existing hearing protectors (1) not having the required functionality of sensors is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Henning T. Urban, Jonas A. Nilsson, Abel Gladstone Mangam, Caroline M. Ylitalo, William Bedingham, Erik O. Levholt, Patrick R. T. Hjort
  • Publication number: 20240293261
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hearing protector (10) with a sensor module (30) having a module sensor (32). The sensor module (30) is removably attached to the cushion (22, 24) and the cup (12A, 14A) of the earmuff (12, 14) of the hearing protector (10). The hearing protector (10) according to present disclosure allows the arrangement of sensors at a hearing protector (10) in an easy and cost-efficient way even with multiple sensors. The advantage of such a hearing protector (10) is an easy, compact and reliable solution of a hearing protector (10) providing information about the environment and about the conditions of the user (100) or worker using such a hearing protector (10). Also, a method of retrofitting such a sensor module (30) to a hearing protector (1) is provided. Such a method is advantageous because reversible retrofitting of existing hearing protectors (1) not having the required functionality of sensors is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Inventors: Henning T. Urban, Jonas A. Nilsson, Abel Gladstone Mangam, Caroline M. Ylitalo, William Bedingham, Erik O. Levholt, Patrick R. T. Hjort
  • Publication number: 20240164740
    Abstract: A modular stethoscope includes a first module including a chestpiece and a first tubing disposed in fluid communication with and connected to the chestpiece. The chestpiece is configured to transmit acoustic waves through the first tubing. The modular stethoscope further includes a second module detachably connected to the first module. The second module includes a second tubing and a headset disposed in fluid communication with the second tubing. The modular stethoscope further includes a tube connector fluidly disposed between the first tubing of the first module and the second tubing of the second module. The tube connector is detachably connected to the first tubing of the first module. The tube connector includes a first part, a second part, and a quick coupling member configured to detachably and scalably connect the first part to the second part to acoustically couple the first tubing to the second tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: William Bedingham, Daniel J. Rogers
  • Publication number: 20240032875
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method of displaying a portion of an acoustic signal on an electronic stethoscope. The method can include receiving the acoustic signal from an acoustic sensor of the electronic stethoscope and an electrical signal from a sensing module of the electronic stethoscope. The method can include identifying a trigger point associated with the electrical signal. The method can include generating acoustic information from the acoustic signal and synchronizing the acoustic information to the trigger point for the cardiac cycle. The method can include generating a phonocardiogram as a composite phonocardiogram based on the synchronized acoustic information. The method can include displaying a representative portion of the composite phonocardiogram in real-time for a duration of a first period of time on a display that is integral to a chest piece of the electronic stethoscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventor: William Bedingham
  • Publication number: 20240008836
    Abstract: An auscultation device having a chest piece with a sound output aperture in fluid communication with a diaphragm on a bottom surface of the chest piece. A digital stethoscope component with a sound input aperture and a connector fluidly connecting the sound output aperture to the sound input aperture. The connector is designed such that the auscultation device is free standing on a horizontal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Daniel J. Rogers, William Bedingham, J. Peter Robinson
  • Publication number: 20240008835
    Abstract: An auscultation device having a headset, a chest piece, and tubing connecting the chest piece to the headset. At least one connector disposed in the tubing between the headset and the chest piece and the at least one connector comprising a first female connector portion and a second male connector portion. The first female connector portion having a receiving cavity and a collar which is slidable and used to lock the first and second portions together, and the second male connector portion having a through hole, a compressible O-ring, and a latching ring collar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: William Bedingham, J. Peter Robinson
  • Publication number: 20230148871
    Abstract: Example systems are described in which a personal protective equipment (PPE) respirator device includes one or more sensor arranged within the PPE to detect exhalation breath temperature of a user, and a computing device configured to generate, based on the detected exhalation breath temperature, a metric indicative of core body temperature of the user wearing the PPE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: William Bedingham, Jordan J.W. Craig, Andrew W. Long, Richard J. Sabacinski, John R. Stark, Daniel B. Taylor, Caroline M. Ylitalo, Chin-Yee Ng, Christopher M. Brown, Eric H. Tsai, Glenn E. Casner, Jeremy W. Nueman, Jia Hu, Mark G. Mathews, Maioding Dai, Perry S. Dotterman, Travis W. Rasmussen, William K. Preska
  • Patent number: 11582548
    Abstract: A ring-shaped cushion for a hearing protector or audio headset. The cushion has a circumferential contact pad for sealing on a wearer's head and an attachment for sealing with an earmuff. The cushion further has a sound insulation tube that inwardly defines an inner space. The sound insulation tube extends between the contact pad and the attachment. The cushion has a ventilation passage that extends entirely through the cushion between an inlet opening in the contact pad and an area outside of the inner space. The cushion may further include one or more physiological sensors to monitor the health of a wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Van Cuong Bui, Caroline M. Ylitalo, Caitlin E. Meree, Patrick Hjort, William Bedingham, Assumpta A. G. Bennaars-Eiden, Daniel B. Taylor, Jonas A. Nilsson, Richard C. Webb, Andrew W. Long, Henning T. Urban
  • Patent number: 11369336
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to an ergonomic chestpiece for a stethoscope. The chestpiece includes a bottom surface which is generally planar and adapted to be placed near the patient for receiving auscultatory sounds. The chestpiece includes a raised center portion defining first and second lateral indented gripping surfaces, the raised center portion having a top surface opposite the bottom surface. The chestpiece includes a stem portion extending distally from the raised center portion. The first lateral indented gripping surface is defined by a first wall comprising a first concave surface arcuate about a first axis and the second lateral indented gripping surface is defined by a second wall comprising a second concave surface arcuate about a second axis. The first axis and the second axis form a V-shape comprising an apex oriented in a direction of the stem portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William Bedingham, Daniel J. Rogers, Tyler J. Sandback
  • Publication number: 20220079548
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a stethoscope that includes a chestpiece having an inside surface and an outside surface. A portion of the inside surface forms a bell and a portion of the outside surface is electrically conductive. The stethoscope includes a plurality of sensors and a speaker that communicatively coupled to a first sensor. The stethoscope also includes a controller circuit that is configured to receive a plurality of sensor readings from the plurality of sensors. The controller circuit can determine a noise profile based on the plurality of sensor readings and a first volume output through the speaker, determine whether a noise profile threshold is met by the noise profile; and reduce volume output through the speaker from the first volume to a second volume based on the noise profile threshold being met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventor: William Bedingham
  • Publication number: 20220061795
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a stethoscope chestpiece. The stethoscope chestpiece includes a first major cavity formed from a portion of an outer wall portion. The outer wall portion includes an outer lower edge forming an outer lower edge perimeter that establishes a bottommost plane. The stethoscope chestpiece also includes a second major cavity formed from a portion of an inner wall portion having an immobilizing element disposed thereon, the second major cavity is within the first major cavity, and a portion of the immobilizing element is spaced-apart with a portion of the outer lower edge perimeter. The first major cavity volume is at least two times a second major cavity volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel J. Rogers, William Bedingham, Tyler J. Sandback
  • Publication number: 20220031256
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method of displaying a portion of an acoustic signal on an electronic stethoscope. The method can include receiving the acoustic signal from an acoustic sensor of the electronic stethoscope and an electrical signal from a sensing module of the electronic stethoscope. The method can include identifying a trigger point associated with the electrical signal. The method can include generating acoustic information from the acoustic signal and synchronizing the acoustic information to the trigger point for the cardiac cycle. The method can include generating a phonocardiogram as a composite phonocardiogram based on the synchronized acoustic information. The method can include displaying a representative portion of the composite phonocardiogram in real-time for a duration of a first period of time on a display that is integral to a chest piece of the electronic stethoscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventor: William Bedingham
  • Patent number: 11116401
    Abstract: At least some aspects of the present disclosure direct to systems and methods for monitoring a physiological condition with a plurality of sensors. The system includes a wireless adaptor device and a wireless sensor device. The wireless adaptor device is configured to transmit wireless identification of the wireless adaptor device to the wireless sensor device via a NFC communication. The wireless sensor device is configured establish a wireless communication with the wireless adaptor device using the wireless identification of the wireless adaptor device. The wireless sensor device is further configured to transmit sensor signals to the wireless adaptor device via the established wireless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: William Bedingham, Jeffrey G. Zinn
  • Publication number: 20210013929
    Abstract: A first electrical node configured to monitor a digital signal is disclosed. The first electrical node includes a first connector and a second connector. The first electrical node includes a processor configured to receive a digital signal from the second connector. The processor is configured to determine whether a portion of the digital signal is intended for the first electrical node. The processor is configured to convert the portion of the digital signal to an analog signal based on whether the portion is intended for the first electrical node without affecting the digital signal received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: William Bedingham
  • Publication number: 20200396532
    Abstract: A ring-shaped cushion for a hearing protector or audio headset. The cushion has a circumferential contact pad for sealing on a wearer's head and an attachment for sealing with an earmuff. The cushion further has a sound insulation tube that inwardly defines an inner space. The sound insulation tube extends between the contact pad and the attachment. The cushion has a ventilation passage that extends entirely through the cushion between an inlet opening in the contact pad and an area outside of the inner space. The cushion may further include one or more physiological sensors to monitor the health of a wearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Van Cuong Bui, Caroline M. Ylitalo, Caitlin E. Meree, Patrick Hjort, William Bedingham, Assumpta A.G. Bennaars-Eiden, Daniel B. Taylor, Jonas A. Nilsson, Richard C. Webb, Andrew W. Long, Henning T. Urban
  • Publication number: 20200214660
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to an ergonomic chestpiece for a stethoscope. The chestpiece includes a bottom surface which is generally planar and adapted to be placed near the patient for receiving auscultatory sounds. The chestpiece includes a raised center portion defining first and second lateral indented gripping surfaces, the raised center portion having a top surface opposite the bottom surface. The chestpiece includes a stem portion extending distally from the raised center portion. The first lateral indented gripping surface is defined by a first wall comprising a first concave surface arcuate about a first axis and the second lateral indented gripping surface is defined by a second wall comprising a second concave surface arcuate about a second axis. The first axis and the second axis form a V-shape comprising an apex oriented in a direction of the stem portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William Bedingham, Daniel J. Rogers, Tyler J. Sandback
  • Patent number: 10639021
    Abstract: Shapeable articles, kits including one or more of the shapeable articles, and methods of making and/or using the shapeable articles. The shapeable articles include a shapeable member that can be shaped or manipulated into three-dimensional shapes without the use of tools and hold those shapes after removal of the force required to achieve the shape. The shapeable articles could have a variety of uses including use as surgical retractors to move and/or restrain non-target tissue and/or organs to improve access to the target tissue and/or organs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Ranjani V. Parthasarathy, Hannah C. Cohen, Haoming Rong, Amanda C. Engler, William Bedingham, Nicholas R. Powley, Korey W. Karls, Michael J. Vostal, Matthew T. Scholz, Michelle H. Stevens, Catherine D. Heapy
  • Publication number: 20200113498
    Abstract: A wireless pulse oximeter device can include a front-end circuit. The device also include a wireless communications module to communicate with a medical monitor or wireless receiver device. The device can also have a controller communicatively coupled to the front-end circuit and the wireless communication module. The controller can have one or more processors configured to receive the at least two photodiode readings, determine an AC component value and a DC component value of a first one of the at least two photodiode readings, transmit the AC component value, determine an R-value corresponding to a ratio of an optical absorption of a first wavelength of light to an optical absorption of a second wavelength of light, for a first set of photodiode readings, and transmit the R-value for the first set of photodiode readings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: WILLIAM BEDINGHAM