Patents Issued in July 24, 2007
  • Patent number: 7248881
    Abstract: A wireless communication system has a central computer, one or more wireless access points and one or more personal badges that communicate wirelessly with the one or more wireless access points. The badges provide the user with a communications device that permits the user to initiate telephone calls and conferences, receive telephone calls, receive pages and be located within a particular environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Vocera Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Shostak
  • Patent number: 7248882
    Abstract: The performance and ease of management of wireless communications environments is improved by a mechanism that enables access points (APs) to perform automatic channel selection. A wireless network can therefore include multiple APs, each of which will automatically choose a channel such that channel usage is optimized. Furthermore, APs can perform automatic power adjustment so that multiple APs can operate on the same channel while minimizing interference with each other. Wireless stations are load balanced across APs so that user bandwidth is optimized. A movement detection scheme provides seamless roaming of stations between APs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Autocell Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Floyd Backes, Laura Bridge
  • Patent number: 7248883
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for estimating the position and velocity of mobile wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) in a wireless communication system. Network stations use directional communication beams to divide service areas into sectors to provide communication services to the WTRUs. A WTRU saves pertinent information such as sector ID, received power and time of reception of the several received signals. The collected information is sent to the network, where it is used to estimate the WTRU's position, speed and direction of travel, which information can then be used to improve radio resource management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Angelo Cuffaro
  • Patent number: 7248884
    Abstract: The present invention provides a position data notification system and a position data notification method whereby, in consonance with the will of a transient person, the current position of the pertinent person can be reported. The system of the invention includes a position search server, which is requested for position search request from a communication terminal, receives position data from another communication terminal, and creates a map on which the position of an individual user is indicated. This system also includes a group/user management DB for managing a user or a group that consists of a predetermined number of users. This system can be applied to notify current position information of a user carrying a device, which is not pre-registered for utilizing this system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 7248885
    Abstract: A method and system provides automatic/timed silencing of a mobile phone by a telecommunications network. The method has the steps of: forming a schedule of silence at a mobile phone; sending the schedule of silence to a mobile switching center; storing the schedule of silence in a subscriber database in the mobile switching center; blocking at least incoming calls at the mobile switching center according to the stored schedule of silence, and sending a first message to the mobile phone that instructs the mobile phone to enter a silence mode; transmitting, according to the stored schedule of silence, a second message from the mobile switching center to the mobile phone that instructs the mobile phone to exit the silence mode, and ceasing to block at least the incoming calls to the mobile phone. The system implements the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Benco, Kevin J. Overend, Baoling S. Sheen, Sandra L. True, Kenneth J. Voight
  • Patent number: 7248886
    Abstract: A cordless communication system includes a mobile terminal of a public mobile communication system and a base station. The base station is connectable to a public fixed network and compatible at an air interface with the mobile communication system which has at least one authentication function. A read and write unit of the base station reads and writes from and to, respectively, at least one identification module. Sections of data of the identification module used in the base station are identical to sections of data stored on a chip card of an access-authorized mobile terminal. The read data from the identification module is processed through software implemented in the base station. The mobile terminal is authenticated with regard to the base station through the processed data, wherein the base station fulfills the same functions and tasks as a home location register and, respectively, an authentication center of the mobile communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Detemobil Deutsche Telekom Mobilnet GmbH
    Inventors: Patrik Ljungstroem, Walter Mohrs, Frieder Pernice
  • Patent number: 7248887
    Abstract: Apparatus (48), and an associated method, for facilitating operation of a mobile node (12) operable in a communication system (10) to request allocation of communication capacity upon which to communicate data pursuant to a communication service. A channel allocation request generator (52) is selectably operable to generate requests for allocation of channel capacity upon which to communicate the data. A selector (54) selects when to cause the generator (52) to communicate the additional data packets. Selection is made to delay, or otherwise prevent, retransmission of requests, when a determination is made that the retransmission is unlikely to be successful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Research in Motion Limited
    Inventors: Hongjun Zhang, Ashok Patel
  • Patent number: 7248888
    Abstract: A method and apparatus provide interactive audience participation at live entertainment events. Enjoyment for a plurality of participants is enhanced. Participants employ wireless interactive devices that present a promotional message and include user input and output interfaces. Participants are queried, and enter answers via the user input interface. The answers are transmitted to a central processor, stored as participant data, and processed into results. A visual display or the user output interface announces the results to the participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Inventor: Eric Inselberg
  • Patent number: 7248889
    Abstract: A method and a device for controlling a method for controlling the power in an asymmetric soft handover condition in a communication network, including at least two cells each cell being served by a first type network device adapted to serve second type network devices in the respective cell. The method comprises: temporarily adjusting (step S3) a communication parameter of at least one second type network device to set up and/or maintain the communication of the second type network device with the first type network device of at least one of said cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Uwe Schwarz, David Soldani, Kari Sipilä, Oscar Salonaho, Harri Holma
  • Patent number: 7248890
    Abstract: A transceiver according to some embodiments of the present invention receives data from a plurality of frequency separated transmission channels from a complementary transmitter of another transceiver and adjusts the power output of certain channels in a transmitter of the receiver. Upon start-up, the power output levels of signals in individual channels in the transmitter can be preset. A power balance can determine new power output levels of the transmitter from parameters in the receiver while receiving data transmitted by a similarly situated complementary transmitter in a second transceiver coupled to the transceiver. In some embodiments, a complementary receiver of the other transceiver determines the power outputs of the transmitter and the power levels are transmitted to the transmitter by the other transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Vativ Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sreen A. Raghavan, Thulasinath G. Manickam, Peter J. Sallaway, Gerard E. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7248891
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of managing a call through a telecommunications network (10) between an access terminal (18) connected to the network (10) and means (22) for providing a service through the network. Said means comprise firstly a multiplicity of terminals (24, 26) connected to the network, said terminals forming servers suitable for providing the service, and secondly means (28) for selecting amongst said multiplicity of servers (24, 26) the server that is best suited for providing the service to the access terminal (18). The call is also set up using a communications protocol enabling some terminals to be mobile by allocating each mobile terminal a main address that is invariable regardless of its point of connection to the network and by forwarding all of the data sent to said main address to the corresponding terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: France Telecom
    Inventors: Olivier Charles, Jean-Michel Combes
  • Patent number: 7248892
    Abstract: An electrical device such as a portable communications device, domestic or personal care appliance has a main body adapted to couple to an accessory which may be in the form of a tool attachable to the main body or a housing portion. The accessory carries a passive data storage device having a memory (59) storing control data for controlling an operation or affecting a function of the device. The passive data storage device is arranged to derive a power supply from the main body when a first coupler carried by the main body is placed in proximity to a second coupler carried by the accessory (3). Where the electrical device is a portable communications device, then the accessory may be, for example, a fascia. The coupling between the first and second couplers may be inductive or capacitive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Innovision Research & Technology PLC
    Inventors: Andrew David White, Marc Adrian Borrett, David Bernard Mapleston
  • Patent number: 7248893
    Abstract: A signal-repeating device control arrangement facilitates user control of various types of media equipment in a facility. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the different types of user-controllable media equipment are located with respective user-interface units in various zones of the facility to provide user-selectable interaction for the user. The signal-repeating device control arrangement includes a transceiver for wirelessly communicating with a user's remote control, a data-routing circuit for communication with packet-communicating devices such as over an Ethernet, and an emulation circuit for providing an interface to manufacturer-specific equipment for control of other devices types and/or user input devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: ELAN Home Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Steve Christensen, Hector Aguirre, Robert P. Farinelli
  • Patent number: 7248894
    Abstract: A data transfer system has one or more mobile stations each wearable by a living being for transmitting signals containing physiological information of the living being in response to a start command, and a base station for transmitting the start command to instruct the mobile stations to transmit the signals and thereafter receiving the signals containing the physiological information from the mobile stations. Thus, the mobile stations consume a small amount of power because they only transmit information when requested to do so. A remote computer is connected to the base station for determining a status of the living beings by receiving the physiological information from the base station and analyzing the physiological information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kennosuke Fujieda, Osamu Hattori, Norihiro Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7248895
    Abstract: A mobile telecommunications apparatus (1) is initialised with settings for use with one of a plurality of different operator networks. The apparatus, such as a mobile telephone handset has a micro-controller (12) with an associated non-volatile memory (13) that is pre-loaded with data comprising a plurality of variant packs (VP) for controlling the settings of the apparatus for use with individual networks. The handset also receives a subscriber identity device (SIM 9) that carries network identity data corresponding to the network to be used by the subscriber. The micro-controller (12) performs an initialisation procedure when the SIM is fitted to a receptor (10), to select at least one of the variant packs (VP) in dependence upon the network identity data from the SIM, and to set the settings of the apparatus in accordance with the data from the selected variant packs. The non-selected packs are not revealed to the subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Ako Shiraogawa, Esa Pollari
  • Patent number: 7248896
    Abstract: A system and method for securing a desktop cellular phone, having a SIM card inserted therein, includes turning on the phone and sending first data from a SIM card processor to the phone processor. The phone processor computes second data, using a first algorithm and the first data, and sends the second data to the SIM card processor. Meanwhile, the SIM card processor computes third data using a second algorithm and the first data. The SIM card processor compares the second data to the third data, and determines whether a relationship between the second data and the third data satisfies a first predefined requirement. If it does not, operation of the phone is, at least in part, prevented. Similar steps may additionally, or alternatively, be performed by the phone processor to verify that an authorized SIM card is inserted in the phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Spreadtrum Communications Corporation
    Inventor: Kunyuan Luo
  • Patent number: 7248897
    Abstract: In this invention, the formulas of optimizing radiation pattern of the smart antenna have been deduced and a set of weights, including amplitude and phase shift weight or only phase shift weights, for optimal channel assignment is generated using optimization techniques (e.g., advance algorithms) for smart antennas. These algorithms can deal with the Spatial Division Multiple Access (SDMA) to enlarge the capacity of communication systems and maximize the main lobes toward the users as well as minimize the pattern nulling toward the interfering sources by iterating both the amplitude weights and phase shift weights or the phase shift weight only of a cost function. Thus, an optimal radiation pattern could be derived based on the output power of the cost function with iterated amplitude and phase shift weights or only phase shift weights. At the same time, SDMA of smart antennas can be come true.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Inventor: Chao-Hsing Hsu
  • Patent number: 7248898
    Abstract: A radio device includes an array antenna including a plurality of antennas; an adaptive array processing unit multiplying signals provided from the respective antennas of the array antenna by receive weights, and thereby extracting a signal received from desired another radio device; a switch circuit provided corresponding to at least one of the plurality of antennas for providing the signal received from the corresponding antenna to the reception signal processing unit in a receive operation; and a transmission amplifier amplifying and providing a modulated transmission signal to the first switch circuit corresponding to the one of the plurality of antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Doi, Akira Ishida
  • Patent number: 7248899
    Abstract: A problem of this invention is to satisfy both of securement of visibility of a display unit and suppression of noises at the time of a telephone call etc. using a receiver and a microphone. In a portable terminal apparatus which relates to the invention, a control unit (16) judges whether a handsfree device (20) is connected or not, on the occasion that a telephone call operation is carried out by an operation unit (18) and a voice telephone call operation by a telephone call circuit (11) and a transmission/receiving unit (12) is started, and in case that the handsfree device (20) is not connected, it is judged that a user is making a telephone call by use of a receiver (13) and a microphone (14) in an apparatus main body in such a state that he puts an apparatus casing to his ear part, and at least one of a drive system, drive frequency of a display unit (19) which comprises a liquid crystal display is changed, and a drive operation giving priority over acoustic characteristics is carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Emi Ozaki, Hideki Kuga, Tomoya Rokugawa
  • Patent number: 7248900
    Abstract: A manner of providing ring-tune alerts to announce the arrival of incoming communications at a communication device such as a mobile station operable in a wireless communication network. When notification an incoming communication arrives at the mobile station, the mobile station detects the type and origin of the communication and then composes a ring tune enhanced to provide incoming call information to the subscriber. The enhancement may include temporarily compounding the ring tune, tonal or stylistic enhancement, applying compound accompaniment, or applying tempo variation. The ring-tune components may be installed by the manufacturer or distributor of the instrument, or may be downloaded by the subscriber. The communication device may also be a personal computer operable to communicate through a communication network such as the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas Deeds
  • Patent number: 7248901
    Abstract: An arrangement (1) is proposed for handling a communication device (2), which arrangement (1) comprises an attachment device (4) which can be used universally and is not specific to any given mobile telephone, and a device holder (3) which is specific to a mobile telephone, and which together form the complete arrangement (1) in the assembled state. In this case, the device holder (3) contains the necessary mechanical and electrical and/or electronic matching means to the respective communication device (2) that is to be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Inventor: Andreas Peiker
  • Patent number: 7248902
    Abstract: A multi-mode power supply device of a wireless earphone is disclosed. The earphone is communicable bi-directionally with portable communication devices wirelessly through an antenna. The earphone has a battery set. In at least one side of the earphone; an internal of the earphone has a power management circuit. The battery set supplies power to the power management circuit. The power management circuit is used to control the power on or off. The communication devices are selected from portable mobile phones and vehicle used phones. A suspender is capable of being inserted into or buckled into the groove of the earphone so that the suspender is positioned at one side of the power supply module. The suspender has a power supply module. When the suspender is combined to the earphone. The power management circuit is electrically connected to the power supply module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Inventor: Yun Chu
  • Patent number: 7248903
    Abstract: A mobile instrument includes two housings that each incorporate circuit substrates, a hinge portion that joins the two housings such that they can rotate, and a flexible printed wiring board that is passed through a cavity formed inside the hinge portion, and that electrically connects together the circuit substrates in the two housings. The flexible printed wiring board is curled inside the cavity and an elastic body is placed on an inner side of the curled flexible printed wiring board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Masaharu Yoda
  • Patent number: 7248904
    Abstract: A mobile station including a cover assembly and a wireless telecommunications signal receiving and generating assembly. Included in the cover assembly is a belt that substantially extends around the signal receiving and generating assembly, and a connector to hold the belt closed about the signal receiving and generating assembly. The belt includes a pair of side edges which define side openings through which the signal receiving and generating assembly can be accessed. Advantageously, the belt is easily exchanged with other belts so as to vary the appearance of the mobile station. Further, the side edges are easily gripped by a user holding the mobile station. In another aspect, the belt includes an integrated key pad which overlies a plurality of key contacts of the signal receiving and generating assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Julian Gartrell, Robert A. Shepherd
  • Patent number: 7248905
    Abstract: An optical rotation angle of linearly polarized light is modulated to obtain modulated light. The modulated light is passed through an inspection object containing an optically active substance. The optically active substance rotates an optical rotation angle of the modulated light. An intensity of light coming out of the inspection object is measured. Variation in the optical rotation angle of the modulated light is calculated based on the measured intensity and the angle to which the linearly polarized light is modulated. A concentration of the optically active substance in the pulsing component of the inspection object is calculated based on the variation in the optical rotation angle. Thus, concentration of glucose in the blood can be calculated without harming the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadahiro Fukuda, Takakazu Yano, Kenji Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7248906
    Abstract: A method and device are provided for the determination of the concentration of compounds in body tissue. The method utilises optical methods based on the interaction of light with compounds, whereby the concentration of the compound under analysis is determined. The method is especially suited for analysis for the concentration of glucose in blood or tissue of diabetic patients, a device being implanted underneath the skin of the patient and the method being carried out by using the implanted device. The device contains photo detectors at different levels connected by wires to an electronic circuit device. A differential analysis is performed on the signals from the detectors to reduce the effect of skin on the analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Holger Dirac, Kasper Oktavio Schweitz
  • Patent number: 7248907
    Abstract: A non-invasive imaging and analysis system suitable for measuring attributes of a target, such as the blood glucose concentration of tissue, includes an optical processing system which provides a probe and reference beam. It also includes a means that applies the probe beam to the target to be analyzed, combines the probe and reference beams interferometrically, detects concurrent interferometric signals and correlates the detected signals with previously stored electronic data to determine the attribute of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Inventor: Josh N. Hogan
  • Patent number: 7248908
    Abstract: A fluorescence indicator is injected into a living body from a container via an injecting inlet to be chemically reacted with a substance in the living body. Then, an excitation light is irradiated to the living body from an excitation light source. Then, the thus obtained reflected light is reflected multiply at an reflective film formed on the inner wall of the container, and introduced into a detecting section, where a fluorescence response originated from the chemical bond between the substance and the fluorescence indicator and contained in the reflected light is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Isao Shimoyama, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Sumito Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 7248909
    Abstract: A device and method utilizes a broadband diffuse optical spectroscopy (DOS) system to dynamically calculate the concentrations of multiple chromophores in vivo using a non-invasive probe. The device and method permit dynamic monitoring of multiple in vivo tissue chromophores non-invasively with sensitivities necessary for effective therapeutic monitoring. The device includes a probe containing first and second source optical fibers as well as first and second detector optical fibers. The probe is placed adjacent to a sample of interest and detects reflected light which is passed to a proximally located detector and spectrometer. The concentrations of multiple chromophores are determined in real time. In a preferred embodiment, the multiple tissue chromophores include at least two of methemoglobin (MetHb), deoxyhemoglobin (Hb-R), oxyhemoglobin (Hb-O2), water (H2O), and methylene blue (MB).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Jangwoen Lee, Bruce J. Tromberg, Albert E. Cerussi, Matthew Brenner
  • Patent number: 7248910
    Abstract: A detachable sensor assembly for use in monitoring a physiological parameter of a subject includes an information containing circuit and a timer. The sensor assembly stores time varying information in the information containing circuit. The information may include cumulative use times for the detachable sensor assembly and/or for components in the detachable sensor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: CardioDigital Limited
    Inventors: Luya Li, Rakesh Kumar Sethi, Ming Sun
  • Patent number: 7248911
    Abstract: In an apparatus and method of noninvasively measuring a concentration of a blood component, the method includes (a) varying a thickness of a body part of a subject, measuring absorption spectrums at different thicknesses of the body part, obtaining a first differential absorption spectrum between the absorption spectrums measured at different thicknesses, actually measuring concentrations of the blood component, and establishing a statistical model using the first differential absorption spectrum and the actually measured concentrations; and (b) estimating the concentration of the blood component using a second differential absorption spectrum obtained with respect to the body part based on the statistical model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kye-jin Jeon, Gil-won Yoon, In-duk Hwang, Sang-joon Han
  • Patent number: 7248912
    Abstract: A tissue-implantable sensor for measurement of solutes in fluids and gases, such as oxygen and glucose, is provided. The sensor includes a multiplicity of detectors, constructed and arranged to improve the probability that one or more detectors will have access to a vascular source at points in time sufficient to permit accurate measurements to be taken. Means and methods for calculating solute levels using the sensor device of the invention are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: David A. Gough, Michael C. Jablecki, Joseph Y. Lucisano, Mark B. Catlin
  • Patent number: 7248913
    Abstract: A guiding introducer system for use in the treatment of arrhythmia associated with the left ventricle from the ventricular side comprising an inner guiding introducer and an outer guiding introducer wherein the inner guiding introducer is comprised of a first and second section and the outer guiding introducer is comprised of a first and second sections. The guiding introducer system is for use in sensing, pacing, and ablating procedures in the left ventricle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Hassett
  • Patent number: 7248914
    Abstract: A method of navigating the distal end of a medical device through an operating region in a subject's body includes displaying an x-ray image of the operating region, including the distal end of the medical device; determining the location of the distal end of the medical device in a reference frame translatable to the displayed x-ray image; and displaying an enhanced indication of the distal end of the medical device on the x-ray image to facilitate the navigation of the distal end of the device in the operating region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Stereotaxis, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger N. Hastings, Steven J. Ferry, Demetrius K. Lopes
  • Patent number: 7248915
    Abstract: A mobile terminal is presented, having capability to determine when a user should be stimulated toward an awake state. The terminal includes a receiver for receiving a sleep descriptor signal indicative of at least one sleep characteristic of the user, and also includes a signal processing module for processing the sleep descriptor signal. The signal processing module is arranged to provide, at least partly in response to the sleep descriptor signal, a stimulation signal indicative that the user should be stimulated. The mobile terminal is also usable for communication by the user in the awake state. This invention further includes a method, system, and monitor to be used with the mobile terminal in order to stimulate the user toward an awake state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Valter A. G. Rönnholm
  • Patent number: 7248916
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a reference baseline of individual patient status for use in an automated collection and analysis patient care system is described. A set of collected measures is retrieved from a medical device adapted to be implanted in a patient. The collected device measures set includes individual measures which each relate to patient information recorded by the medical device adapted to be implanted during an initial time period. The collected device measures set is received from the medical device adapted to be implanted over a communications link which is interfaced to a network server. The collected device measures set is stored into a patient care record for the individual patient within a database server organized to store one or more patient care records. The collected device measures set is processed into a set of reference measures. Each reference measure is representative of at least one of measured or derived patient information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Cardiac Intelligence Corporation
    Inventor: Gust H. Bardy
  • Patent number: 7248917
    Abstract: An assembly for the purpose of self-treatment by electromagnetic waves. The assembly includes a transmitting coil arranged to transmit electromagnetic waves, the transmitting coil comprising a case in which an electromagnetic coil is accommodated. The coil is connected to a cord which, at the end remote from the case, is fitted with a plug suitable for connection to an output of a personal computer, or the like, associated with a patient. The computer or other component of the assembly also is provided with an access code for accessing a treatment site on the internet or other computer network. The treatment site is arranged for transmitting to the patient's computer a data file which, upon being processed therein, generates via the transmitting coil, a treatment signal tailored to the respective patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: De Smidsberg B.V.
    Inventor: Willem Maurits Johannes den Boer
  • Patent number: 7248918
    Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) provides an alert to a patient that has the IMD implanted in their body. The alert is used to remind the patient to schedule and/or proceed to a follow-up physician visit. The reminder is also used to remind the patient to initiate a remote communication so that stored data or other information may be transmitted to a remote computer network or other communication node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Burnes, Luc R. Mongeon
  • Patent number: 7248919
    Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system that provides an indication of patient well-being based on the autonomic balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic/vagal components of the autonomic nervous system, using time-domain processing of frequency components of a heart rate interval signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerrard M. Carlson, Julio C. Spinelli
  • Patent number: 7248920
    Abstract: A method and apparatus exercise a battery of an implantable medical device by determining whether a film is disposed on a portion of an electrode of a battery, discharging the battery a sufficient amount to reduce the film, and optimizing energy used during exercising the battery. The apparatus includes a battery having an electrode that develops a resistive film and a low deformation rate capacitor capable of storing a charge from the battery, the capacitor requiring few or no periodic discharges of the battery for reformation. The energy from the battery is periodically discharged into the low deformation-rate capacitor to reduce film buildup on the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Norton, Craig L. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7248921
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a sensing architecture for use in cardiac rhythm management devices. The sensing architecture of the present invention provides a method and means for certifying detected events by the cardiac rhythm management device. Moreover, by exploiting the enhanced capability to accurately identifying only those sensed events that are desirable, and preventing the use of events marked as suspect, the sensing architecture of the present invention can better discriminate between rhythms appropriate for device therapy and those that are not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Cameron Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Surekha Palreddy, Jay A. Warren, James William Phillips
  • Patent number: 7248922
    Abstract: A device and method for cardiac rhythm management in which a heart chamber is paced in accordance with a pacing mode that employs sense signals from the opposite chamber. A sensing refractory period is provided in order to prevent the pacing interval from being lengthened due to delays in conduction of excitation from the paced chamber to the sensed chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Baker
  • Patent number: 7248923
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a dual-use sensor such as a single accelerometer that senses an acceleration signal. A sensor processing circuit processes the acceleration signal to produce an activity level signal and a heart sound signal. The implantable medical device provides for rate responsive pacing in which at least one pacing parameter, such as the pacing interval, is dynamically adjusted based on the physical activity level. The implantable medical device also uses the heart sounds for pacing control purposes or transmits a heart sound signal to an external system for pacing control and/or diagnostic purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith R. Maile, Krzysztof Z. Siejko
  • Patent number: 7248924
    Abstract: Rate responsive pacing is limited in an atrial based pacing mode by the AV interval in order to avoid or minimize ventricular encroachment of atrial pacing. The AV or VA interval is used to permit rate responsiveness; modulate rate responsiveness or to determine a dynamic upper sensor rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Casavant, Paul A. Belk
  • Patent number: 7248925
    Abstract: A system and method for estimating optimal atrioventricular delay values for use in pacing the ventricles. Both the intrinsic inter-atrial conduction delay and the intrinsic atrioventricular conduction delay are determined for the patient and then the preferred atrioventricular pacing delay is derived therefrom. By taking into account intrinsic inter-atrial delay along with intrinsic atrioventricular delay, a more reliable estimate of the true optimal atrioventricular delay values for the patient can be achieved than with techniques that only take into account intrinsic atrioventricular delay values. In one example, the technique uses intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) signals and surface electrocardiogram (EKG) signals and hence can be performed by an external programmer without requiring Doppler echocardiography or other cardiac performance monitoring techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Bruhns, Xiaoyi Min, Paul A. Levine, Euljoon Park
  • Patent number: 7248926
    Abstract: A status indicator is provided for use with a medical device that employs a power transmitting coil. In one embodiment, the status indicator comprises a receiving coil and feedback element. The feedback element, such as a light emitting diode (LED) or liquid crystal display (LCD), is electrically coupled to the receiving coil. In another embodiment a status indicator is incorporated into the medical device, which status indicator comprises a feedback element and electronic circuitry for detecting device function and program selection. The circuitry and feedback element are incorporated into the medical device such as on the earhook of a behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Bionics Corporation
    Inventors: Carla Mann Woods, Michael A Faltys, Lee F Hartley
  • Patent number: 7248927
    Abstract: An implantable heart stimulator has an electrically conductive housing containing a pulse generator, with an electrode lead connected to the housing. The electrode lead has a proximal portion extending substantially from the housing to a location, after implantation, which is beyond the entry of the lead into the venous system and before the entry of the lead into the superior vena cava. A current source supplies an infection control current between the housing and an electrically conductive surface on the exterior of the proximal portion of the electrode lead, for counteracting bacterial growth. The housing may have a header to which the electrode lead is connected, in which case the header is provided with an electrically conductive surface as well, which can serve as an electrode for the infection control current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical AB
    Inventors: Johan Eckerdal, Martin Obel, Eva Micski
  • Patent number: 7248928
    Abstract: An artificial eye system may include an extracorporeal unit mounted outside a user's body and an intracorporeal unit 3 mounted inside a user's eye. The extracorporeal unit 2 may include a visor and a power supply unit. The visor may include a primary coil, an image receiving element that receives a picture image, a light emitting element that transmits an electric stimulus signal produced based on an image signal from the image receiving element, and an eye-gaze point recognizing unit. The intracorporeal unit may include a secondary coil that is electro-magnetically induced by the primary coil, a light receiving element that receives the electric stimulus signal from the light emitting element, a signal processing circuit that processes the electric stimulus signal received by the light receiving element, and a plurality of electrodes that transmits the electric stimulus signal processed by the signal processing circuit to the retina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Yagi
  • Patent number: 7248929
    Abstract: An implantable medical device, such as an implantable pulse generator (IPG) used with a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery having an anode electrode with a substrate made substantially from titanium. Such battery construction allows the rechargeable battery to be discharged down to zero volts without damage to the battery. The implantable medical device includes battery charging and protection circuitry that controls the charging of the battery so as to assure its reliable and safe operation. A multi-rate charge algorithm is employed that minimizes charging time while ensuring the battery cell is safely charged. Fast charging occurs at safer lower battery voltages (e.g., battery voltage above about 2.5 V), and slower charging occurs when the battery nears full charge higher battery voltages (e.g., above about 4.0 V). When potentially less-than-safe very low voltages are encountered (e.g., less than 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignees: Advanced Bionics Corporation, Quallion, LLC
    Inventors: Paul M Meadows, Carla Mann Woods, Hisashi Tsukamoto, Joey Chen
  • Patent number: 7248930
    Abstract: A medical electrical lead for establishing an electrical connection with a tissue of the body, the lead having a lead body and a semi-cylindrical cuff. In the preferred embodiment the semi-cylindrical cuff features one or more electrodes. The semi-cylindrical cuff having a long flap which wraps about the cuff and a short flap which wraps about the long flap. The semi-cylindrical cuff is relatively stiff as compared to the short flap. The short flap, in turn, is relatively the same stiffness as the long flap. The stiffness of each flap may be varied, however, so that one is more or less than the other, and in turn, than the cuff. Through such a multi-flap construction the electrodes may be positioned proximal to a nerve in such a manner that the mechanically induced damage may be minimized or even entirely eliminated. Finally, a method of implanting such an electrode is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: MedTronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Woloszko, Antoine Camps, Ron Van der Kruk