Patents Issued in January 24, 2017
  • Patent number: 9549642
    Abstract: A bidet for infants and children includes a main body that is shaped as a chair, has an inner surface and an outer surface and comprises a backrest part with a predetermined length, a cradling part forming a predetermined angle with the backrest part, and a buttock-cradling part between the backrest part and the cradling part and connecting the backrest part and the cradling part and concavely recessed in the inner surface of the main body, a plurality of hang protrusions formed at an outer surface of the backrest part and arranged with predetermined intervals for fixing the main body at different angles, and a supporting member having a predetermined length and formed at a bottom surface of the buttock-cradling part, and a discharge port is formed lengthwise through a center portion of the buttock-cradling part concavely recessed in the inner surface of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Ju Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 9549643
    Abstract: A door assembly compensates for any deflection of the track which may occur with a heavy door material and/or a curved door support track. In particular, the present disclosure provides track mounting assemblies which can be tilted in order to “fine tune” the orientation of the door with respect to the surrounding support structure, e.g., the bathtub or shower base threshold. If the curved track deflects from the weight of one or more sliding doors, the track can be tilted to ensure that the door remains level and functions as intended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Delta Faucet Company
    Inventors: Gerald Hayes, Jeff Ferris
  • Patent number: 9549644
    Abstract: The present invention provides an adjustable shower curtain. In one embodiment, the apparatus for modifying a substantially planar profile of a bathtub curtain in a bathing enclosure space comprises a shower curtain, wherein the shower curtain comprises a top side, a bottom side, a left lateral side, a right lateral side, a length, and a width, wherein a surface defined by the top side, the bottom side, the left lateral side, and the right lateral side is positionable in a substantially planar profile; an adjustable portion operatively coupled to the shower curtain enabling a user to modify the substantially planar profile of the shower curtain surface, wherein the shower curtain surface is configured to substantially conform to the contour of the adjustable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Norman McLeod
  • Patent number: 9549645
    Abstract: The SUDZ-BATH-CLOTH use standard length and width of two typical bath cloths, which are 10 inches to 12 inches. There are for corners that are threaded together to create a firm and long lasting hold of the two cloths materials from opening apart. The inside insert is created to purposely produce thousands of tiny bubbles. The insert has four arms that can be measured diagonally, from tip to tip, that will measure 12.5 inches. The perimeter from tip to tip as measured in say a (square) shaped object will be 8.75 inches. There are four triangle shaped designed patterns next to each arm. Two sides give a measurement of 7.50 inches tip to tip. The other two sides measured north to south, tip to tip gives a measurement of 5.5 inches. The insert is 1.0 inches thick, but can exceed with raised topping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Michael David Spina
  • Patent number: 9549646
    Abstract: Wipe dispensers are provided wherein particular wipe-gripping and wipe-ripping structures are provided to overcome problems encountered with the prior art. Particularly, gripping and ripping structures are provided to prevent the removal of more than one wipe at a time from a dispenser and to prevent a following wipe from falling back into the interior of a container when separated from a lead wipe being removed from the container. In particular embodiments, structures are provided to avoid pinching an individual's finger when feeding a wipe up through the gripping and ripping structures. In yet other particular embodiments, a boss is provided to prevent wipes from bunching up during the dispensing thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: GOJO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene W. Ray, Michael J. Gmerek, III
  • Patent number: 9549647
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus for coupling a toilet seat to a toilet includes a bolt including a proximal end comprising an upper flange and a lower flange, the upper flange and lower flange defining a contact portion; and a threaded distal end; and a hinge including a first portion including a mechanism to rotatably couple the first portion to the toilet seat; and a second portion including a resilient member including a C-shaped engagement configured to be received by contact portion of the bolt via a snap fit in response to the application of a horizontal force to hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Michael R. Leibfried
  • Patent number: 9549648
    Abstract: An extraction cleaner for a floor surface comprises a portable extractor and a base adapted to be moved to perform a cleaning operation on the floor surface when the portable extractor is operably mounted to the base. The portable extractor includes a suction hose for manually suctioning fluid from the floor surface, a recovery tank interconnected to the suction hose for receiving recovered fluid from the floor surface, and a fluid delivery system for dispensing a cleaning fluid onto the floor surface. One or more connections are made between the base and components of the portable extractor when the portable extractor is operably mounted to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Lenkiewicz, Jr., Tom Minh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9549649
    Abstract: There is provided a robot cleaner including a main body, a suction unit that sucks air including foreign substances into the main body, a moving unit that moves the main body, a dust collecting unit that has a filter for filtering the foreign substances included in the air sucked by the suction unit and a dust collecting case that collects the foreign substances filtered by the filter, and a detection unit that detects whether or not the filter is attached to the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Ohhyun Baek, Moohyun Ko, Inbo Shim
  • Patent number: 9549650
    Abstract: A cleaning appliance comprises a cyclonic separating apparatus for separating dust from an airflow, the cyclonic separating apparatus having at least one cyclone, a support structure housing a motor and fan assembly for creating an airflow through the separating apparatus, the cyclonic separating apparatus comprising a duct which directs air from the at least one cyclone towards the support structure, the support structure or duct comprising at least one mesh screen through which air from the cyclonic separating apparatus must pass before reaching the motor and fan assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Matthew William Ford, Phillip John Chambers, Neil Ewen Callum MacQueen, Emily Kaye Pettitt, Spencer James Robert Arthey
  • Patent number: 9549651
    Abstract: A steam cleaning accessory for use with a steam generator comprises a flexible sheath having a first side wall, a second side wall and a base there between. At least one steam conduit has at least one steam outlet. The at least one steam conduit is arranged to be in fluid communication with the steam generator. At least one flexible thermal insulation layer is mounted between the first and second side walls. The steam conduit is mounted on a first side of the base and the flexible thermal insulation layer is mounted on a second side of the base. A restraint is coupled to the flexible sheath and arranged to receive a user's hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventor: Vincent Cooper
  • Patent number: 9549652
    Abstract: A steam cleaning accessory for use with a steam generator comprises a flexible body comprising a front wall, a rear wall and base extending there between. At least one steam conduit is connectable to the steam generator and is arranged to be in fluid communication therewith. The steam conduit comprises at least one steam outlet for ejecting steam. The at least one steam outlet is mounted on an underside of the base which is configured to be adjacent to a surface to be cleaned. A flexible pocket is mounted on the flexible body and arranged to receive a user's hand. A barrier projects from the flexible body which is engageable with the surface to be cleaned. The barrier is located on a rear wall side of the at least one steam outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventor: Christoher Hussey
  • Patent number: 9549653
    Abstract: A toy gathering and storage device for gathering and storing toys includes a rake that has a handle which comprises an exterior section and an interior section, such that the handle is extendable. A top edge of a slat is coupled to a bottom end of the exterior section. A plurality of claws is coupled to and extends from a bottom edge of the slat. The device includes a collector that has a rod which comprises an inner section and an outer section, such that the rod is extendable. A bracket is coupled to and extends from a bottom terminus of the outer section. A pan is pivotally coupled to the bracket. A bag, which is flexible, is positionable around the pan and the bracket. The bag is couplable to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Vatsal Kapuriya
  • Patent number: 9549654
    Abstract: A notched fluid applicator comprising a base with a dispenser pad or a brush. The notch allows the application of a fluid to a surface containing one or more protrusions. The applicator may be used to apply fluid to the surface of an article such as a glass substrate, printed circuit board, or other surface containing one or more protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Designetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Williams, Charles J. Barnhart, Kirk Toczynski
  • Patent number: 9549655
    Abstract: An apparatus for the hot and moist cleaning of floors is disclosed, having an elongate body including a handle at a proximal end thereof and a water reservoir; and a cleaning head flexibly disposed at a distal end of the elongate body and having a heating plate and a cleaning pad, wherein the heating plate forms a planar underside of the cleaning head and includes a heating element to heat the planar underside. The water reservoir is adapted to moisten the cleaning pad when the planar underside is above 85 C. The cleaning pad is removably attached against and in thermal communication with the planar underside such that the cleaning pad is moistened and heated to a temperature between 85 C and 100 C, inclusive. And the heating plate does not substantially heat water from the water reservoir prior to the moistening of the cleaning pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Pier Antonio Milanese
  • Patent number: 9549656
    Abstract: An apparatus for horizontal surface cleaning includes a cleaning head for engaging horizontal surfaces to be cleaned, a handle pivotally engaging the cleaning head for grasping during horizontal surface cleaning, and a tank affixed to the handle and pivotal therewith relative to the cleaning head. The tank is adapted to contain a surface cleaning liquid. The handle and tank have together an upright orientation during storage and a tilted orientation during horizontal surface cleaning. The tank includes a valve that closes during the upright orientation to prevent the liquid from exiting the tank, and opens during the tilted orientation to allow the liquid to exit the tank. The tilted orientation is caused during horizontal surface cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Pier Antonio Milanese
  • Patent number: 9549657
    Abstract: A dishwasher for automatically executing a cycle of operation for treatment of dishes includes a tub having multiple walls at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving dishes for treatment wherein at least one of the multiple walls is thermoformed from sheet material and a method of making a tub for a dishwasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron P. Bennett, Tod E. Boyd, Rexford W. Cordill, Donald J. Wilson, Marvin R. Mealman
  • Patent number: 9549658
    Abstract: A household appliance for performing a useful cycle of operation on a physical article may have a treating chamber for holding the physical article during performance of the useful cycle of operation. The household appliance may include a temporary controllable device located within the treating chamber where the temporary controllable device may be communicated with via a signal relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paul E. Beshears, Jr., Kristopher L. Delgado, Brent A. Deweerd, Sathish A. Sundaram
  • Patent number: 9549659
    Abstract: The invention is a dish rack for accommodating oversized containers in an automated dish machine. The rack includes a generally porous base surrounded by upstanding sidewalls and at least a pair of notches in one sidewall or opposing sidewalls configured for receiving an edge of the an oversized container. One form of the invention includes a wire framework having a base and one or more stanchions that extend generally upwardly from the base. The notches and wire framework are configured for supporting an oversized container at an angled position within an automated dish machine to inhibit spray from being directed out of the dish machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Jensen, Wesley Mark Nelson, Bryan John Henneman
  • Patent number: 9549660
    Abstract: A dishwasher having an improved structure by which a basket is easily withdrawn, the dishwasher including a case, a basket arranged within the case to receive objects to be washed, a rail provided on an inner wall of the case in order to guide the basket such that the basket is withdrawn forward of the case, a link unit mounted to the basket to lift the basket, and an auxiliary unit connected to the link unit such that lifting force acts on the basket based on a position of the basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nam Soo Park, Seung Mok Lee, Jae Won Lee, Young Kyun Jeong
  • Patent number: 9549661
    Abstract: A medical system including an endoscope having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween is disclosed. The endoscope includes a port configured to provide access to the lumen. In addition, the system may include an actuation member slidably disposed through the lumen such that a proximal end of the actuation member extends through the port, and a distal end of the actuation member is operably coupled to an end-effector. The system may further include an actuation handle removably secured to the actuation member. In one embodiment, a portion of the end-effector has dimensions larger than a maximum dimension of the lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Raybin, Naroun Suon, Paul Smith
  • Patent number: 9549662
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment providing one or more improvements includes an endoscope connector for connecting any given one of a plurality of working assemblies to an imaging assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: San Marino Capital, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Demers, Marek Sekowski
  • Patent number: 9549663
    Abstract: A minimally invasive surgical system includes a guide tube and a telemanipulatively controlled surgical retractor instrument that extends through the guide tube. The portion of the retractor instrument that extends beyond the distal end of the guide tube includes several links that can be steered. In some aspects, joints between the links provide degrees of freedom in the same direction of movement. In some aspects, a grasping end effector is coupled to the end of the retractor instrument, and in further aspects the grasping end effector is coupled by a passively rotating wrist mechanism that rotates as the retractor instrument is moved while the end effector grasps tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: David Q. Larkin
  • Patent number: 9549664
    Abstract: A medical instrument includes a housing with an aperture, a window component that comprises a transparent material and closes off the aperture, and a thin-walled area that surrounds the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Harald Baumann, Elmar Teichtmann
  • Patent number: 9549665
    Abstract: There is provided an endoscope that prevents occurrence of buckling of a flexible body built in an insertion part of the endoscope without damaging other built-in components, and is easy to manufacture without impairing the curving manipulability. The endoscope includes a curvable portion, and an elongated insertion part being inserted into a subject. The endoscope has an elongated flexible body built in the insertion part, and a flexible protective tube that covers an outer periphery of the flexible body. The protective tube has a first region that covers the range of the flexible body, and a second region that covers the range of the soft portion. The elastic constant of the first region is smaller than the elastic constant of the second region, and the external diameter of the protective tube in the first region is larger than the external diameter of the protective tube of the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Sugisawa, Keisuke Naito
  • Patent number: 9549666
    Abstract: A deflectable endoscope including an imaging structure, an outer member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, an elongated column member extending distally from the outer member and an inner member positioned coaxial with the outer member and attached to the column member. The inner member extends distally of the outer member and has a distal tip portion. A reinforcement member is positioned over the column member to restrict axial movement of the column member such that when one of the inner member or outer member is moved with respect to the other, axial compression of the column member is restricted by the reinforcement member causing the distal tip portion of the inner member to deflect laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Curvo Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen J. Hebert
  • Patent number: 9549667
    Abstract: An endoscope including a rigid section having opposed first and second ends and an opening situated between the first and second ends, the rigid section defining a longitudinal axis; a handle portion coupled to a first end of the rigid section and having first and second scissor-type handles suitable for grasping by a user; and a base part situated at the second end of the rigid section and coupled to the first handle of the scissor-type handles such that displacement of the first handle causes a rotation of the base part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventors: Harish M. Manohara, Anna Liao, Youngsam Bae, Hrayr Karnig Shahinian
  • Patent number: 9549668
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining at least one relevant single image, wherein a plurality of single optical images are generated during a continuous optical measurement (3) of a dental subject (1) to be recorded. During the optical measurement (3) an audio recording is generated by means of a microphone (4) and at least one speech sequence (12; 15; 28) spoken by a user (6) is recorded. The relevant single image (7; 8; 24) is then selected within a specified sequence duration between a start time (17, 18) and an end time of the speech sequence (12; 15; 28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SIRONA DENTAL SYSTEMS GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9549669
    Abstract: The method include: (a) displaying at least one dynamic target image of at least one sign over a display area; (b) receiving subjective feedback from the subject indicating that the subject is positioned at a maximum distance of best acuity (MDBA) from the target image, wherein the MDBA is the maximum distance in which the subject recognizes the sign; (c) measuring one or more parameter associated with distance, during the time the subject has reached the MDBA distance, using at least one sensor; (d) estimating the MDBA by estimating the distance between the eye of the subject and the display area in which the target image is displayed by using the sensor data and (e) calculating the refractive error of the eye according to the estimated MDBA and characteristics of the target image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: 6 OVER 6 VISION LTD.
    Inventor: Ofer Limon
  • Patent number: 9549670
    Abstract: Systems and methods automatically locate optical surfaces of an eye and automatically generate surface models of the optical surfaces. A method includes OCT scanning of an eye. Returning portions of a sample beam are processed to locate a point on the optical surface and first locations on the optical surface within a first radial distance of the point. A first surface model of the optical surface is generated based on the location of the point and the first locations. Returning portions of the sample beam are processed so as to detect second locations on the optical surface beyond the first radial distance and within a second radial distance from the point. A second surface model of the optical surface is generated based on the location of the point on the optical surface and the first and second locations on the optical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Optimedica Corporation
    Inventors: Javier Gonzalez, Bruce Woodley
  • Patent number: 9549671
    Abstract: Improved optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging systems are generally described. In an example, an OCT imaging system includes a tunable laser source, an interferometer, a splitter, and a detector. The tunable laser source is configured to provide a wavelength-scanned beam. The interferometer is configured to split the wavelength-scanned beam into a reference beam and an object beam. The splitter is configured to split the object beam into a first path corresponding to an anterior chamber imaging component and a second path corresponding to a retinal imaging component. The detector is configured to detect a signal caused by interference between the reference beam and at least a portion of the object beam reflected from the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SANTEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Changho Chong
  • Patent number: 9549672
    Abstract: An appliance for recording an image of an ocular fundus includes an irradiating device with a radiation source and optical components for generating an illumination strip. A scanning device is set up to cause a scanning movement of the illumination strip for the purpose of scanning the ocular fundus. An optoelectronic sensor senses detection light issuing from the ocular fundus. The optoelectronic sensor has a plurality of sensor rows and is set up such that charges contained in one sensor row are each shifted, with a time delay, into a further sensor row. A control means is connected to the scanning device and/or to the optoelectronic sensor and is set up to control the scanning movement and/or the time delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss AG
    Inventors: Peter Westphal, Daniel Bublitz
  • Patent number: 9549673
    Abstract: A scanning laser ophthalmoscope includes: an irradiation optical system including a laser light source and an optical scanner; a light receiving optical system including first to third photo detectors; and a processor. The light receiving optical system includes a wavelength separator causing the light of a first wavelength range to be received by the first photo detector, the light of a second wavelength range to be received by the second photo detector, and the light of a third wavelength range to be received by the third photo detector. The processor generates a first fundus image on the basis of the light reception signal from the first photo detector, a second fundus image on the basis of the light reception signal from the second photo detector, and a third fundus image on the basis of the light reception signal from the third photo detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Akita, Hiroyoshi Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 9549674
    Abstract: An implantable medical device applies an electric signal to at least a portion of a heart in a subject. A resulting electric signal is collected from the heart and is used together with the applied signal for determining a cardiogenic impedance signal. The impedance signal is processed in order to estimate an isovolumetric contraction time, an isovolumetric relaxation time and an ejection time for a heart cycle. These three time parameters are employed for calculating a Tei-index of the heart. The Tei-index can be used as myocardial performance parameter in heart diagnosis and/or cardiac therapy adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: ST. JUDE MEDICAL AB
    Inventors: Michael Broome, Andreas Blomqvist
  • Patent number: 9549675
    Abstract: A person support apparatus includes a frame and a support surface cooperating with the frame to support a person. The person support apparatus also has a sensor coupled to one of the frame and the support surface. The sensor detects at least one characteristic associated with the person. A controller is coupled to the sensor. In response to at least one of a condition of the frame, a condition of the support surface, a position of the person, or a condition of the person, the controller operates to control the sensor by at least one of changing a gain of the sensor and changing a manner in which a signal from the sensor is filtered. In some instances, the controller turns the sensor off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl W. Riley, Timothy J. Receveur, David L. Ribble
  • Patent number: 9549676
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a system comprising a sensor signal processor configured to receive a plurality of electrical sensor signals produced by a plurality of sensors and at least one sensor signal produced by an implantable sensor, a memory that includes information indicating a co-morbidity of a subject, a sensor signal selection circuit that selects a sensor signal to monitor from among the plurality of sensor signals, according to an indicated co-morbidity, a threshold adjustment circuit that adjusts a detection threshold of the selected sensor signal according to the indicated co-morbidity, and a decision circuit that applies the adjusted detection threshold to the selected sensor signal to determine whether an event associated with worsening heart failure (HF) occurred in the subject and outputs an indication of whether the event associated with worsening HF occurred to a user or process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Haresh G. Sachanandani, Yunlong Zhang
  • Patent number: 9549677
    Abstract: Methods for detecting a seizure, by use of a wavelet transform maximum modulus (WTMM) algorithm applied to body data. A non-transitive, computer-readable storage device for storing data that when executed by a processor, perform such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: FLINT HILLS SCIENTIFIC, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Ivan Osorio, Alexey Lyubushin, Didier Sornette
  • Patent number: 9549678
    Abstract: Featured are methods and systems for assessing cardiac filing pressure non-invasively. Such methods include, inter alia, arranging a photoplethysmography (PPG) transducer on a finger of a patient and fluidly coupling a pressure transducer to the patient's mouth so that the pressure transducer measures expiratory pressure. The PPG transducer provides an output of a pulse volume signal of cardiac circulatory flow. Such methods also including determining a pulse amplitude ratio, using the pulse volume near the end of the expiratory effort and a baseline pulse volume, and assessing the pulse amplitude ratio so as to determine a filing pressure condition for the heart of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventor: Harry A. Silber
  • Patent number: 9549679
    Abstract: A stenotic lesion can be characterized by measuring both pressure drop across the stenotic lesion and the size of the vessel lumen adjacent the stenotic lesion, both with sensors delivered intravascularly to the stenotic lesion site. The size (e.g., inner diameter, cross-sectional profile) of the vessel lumen adjacent the stenotic lesion can be measured via one or more intravascular ultrasound transducers. Such one or more intravascular ultrasound transducer(s) can be delivered to the site of the stenotic lesion with the same delivery device that carries a pressure transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: ACIST Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason F Hiltner, Kendall R. Waters, Thomas C. Moore, Robert Zelenka
  • Patent number: 9549680
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward obtaining a plurality of impedance-measurement signals while a set of at least three electrodes are concurrently contacting a user. Additionally, various aspects of the present disclosure include determining a plurality of pulse characteristic signals based on the plurality of impedance-measurement signals. One of the pulse characteristic signals is extracted from one of the impedance-measurement signals and is used as a timing reference to extract and process another of the pulse characteristic signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Physiowave, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurent B. Giovangrandi, Gregory T. Kovacs, Robert Bruce Darling
  • Patent number: 9549681
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a framework for facilitating patient signal analysis. In accordance with one aspect, the framework generates a signature cycle matrix corresponding to a single cycle of the patient signal data by segmenting the patient signal data into multiple portions. The signature cycle matrix may further be segmented into sub-matrices corresponding to different levels. Properties of the sub-matrices may then be determined to generate diagnostic results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC.
    Inventor: Hongxuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9549682
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring the well-being of a target are disclosed. In a method embodiment, data representing a signal is received by a computer system. The signal may be generated at least in part by one or more sensors in response to the detection of a change in an electrical field, electric potential, capacitance, and/or dielectric constant of a target spaced apart from the one or more sensors. The method may further include identifying, using the computer system and based at least in part on the data electronically received by the computer system, a recurring pattern in the received data. The method may also include determining, using the computer system and based at least in part on the received data, whether a deviation from the recurring pattern transgresses a threshold. The deviation may comprise a subset of the data electronically received by the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Life Detection Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Howie, Guy McIlroy, John Haggis, Nanci Yuan
  • Patent number: 9549683
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to determine one or more sensing zones on a body surface for electrocardiographic mapping of a region of interest associated with the heart. The sensing zone can be utilized to facilitate acquisition, processing and mapping of electrical activity for the corresponding region of interest. In other examples, an application-specific arrangement of electrodes can also be provided based on the sensing zone that is determined for the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Cardioinsight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ping Jia, Charulatha Ramanathan, Maria Strom, Brian P. George, Lalita Bhetwal, Harold Wodlinger, Jonathan D. Small
  • Patent number: 9549684
    Abstract: Reconstruction of cardiac information representing a complex rhythm disorder is facilitated by assigning activation onsets to non-discernible beats in low confidence signals based upon time associations relative to activation onsets in adjacent high confidence signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, The United States of America as Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Sanjiv Narayan, Ruchir Sehra
  • Patent number: 9549685
    Abstract: An integrated catheter placement system for accurately placing a catheter within a patient's vasculature is disclosed. In one embodiment, the integrated system comprises a system console, a tip location sensor for temporary placement on the patient's chest, and an ultrasound probe. The tip location sensor senses a magnetic field of a stylet disposed in a lumen of the catheter when the catheter is disposed in the vasculature. The ultrasound probe ultrasonically images a portion of the vasculature prior to introduction of the catheter. ECG signal-based catheter tip guidance is included in the integrated system to enable guidance of the catheter tip to a desired position with respect to a node of the patient's heart. Various aspects for visualizing and manipulating display of the ECG signal data acquired via the present system, together with aspects of various ECG sensor configurations, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: C. R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy B. Cox, Christian W. Crook
  • Patent number: 9549686
    Abstract: A time series myoelectric potential signal is acquired, which is representative of time series activity amount of a muscle of a driver when the driver is performing a driving operation on the vehicle, the muscle being involved in the driving operation. Based on the acquired time series myoelectric potential signal, a parameter value indicative of a fluctuation amount of the time-series myoelectric potential signal and an average value of the myoelectric potential signal are obtained. Drivability of the vehicle is evaluated based on the obtained parameter value and the obtained average value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kuramori, Masayoshi Kamijo, Tsugutake Sadoyama
  • Patent number: 9549687
    Abstract: A patient transport apparatus having a table configured to support a patient, a base attached to the table, a docking system attached to the base, the docking system configured to couple to a mating docking system of an MR imaging system, and a plurality of bays formed in the base, with each bay configured to receive a patient care module therein. The patient transport apparatus further includes a control system configured to be electrically coupled to each patient care module received within the plurality of bays and configured to centrally control each patient care module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Emil Markov Georgiev, Jason A. Polzin, Ryan W. Rindy, Mark J. Stefka, Robert Meurer
  • Patent number: 9549688
    Abstract: A detection unit and a method for detecting an implanted medical device in an MRI environment employ a telemetry transmission from the implanted medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Volkert A. Zeijlemaker
  • Patent number: 9549689
    Abstract: A method for determining a location of an object in a three-dimensional localization field created by a localization system includes the following steps: providing a catheter having known spacing between electrodes; providing a lookup table of data correlating locations of an object within the localization field with measurements made by the localization system; placing the catheter into the localization field; using the localization system to determine the location of the electrodes based on the lookup table; calculating an observed distance between electrodes; comparing the observed distance to the known electrode spacing; and adjusting the lookup table to more accurately measure the spacing of the electrodes. A Kernel function, such as the derivative of a Gaussian function, may be used to update the lookup table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric S. Olson
  • Patent number: 9549690
    Abstract: A system is configured to monitor the dead space fraction of a subject in a substantially ongoing manner, rather than only updating the dead space fraction of the subject if one or more blood gas parameters of the subject are measured. This may facilitate enhanced control over respiratory therapy being provided to the subject, may inform decisions about care of the subject, and/or may provide other enhancements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Lara Brewer, Joseph Allen Orr
  • Patent number: 9549691
    Abstract: A monitoring system includes a Doppler radar formed with an IEEE 802 protocol transmitter and an IEEE 802 protocol receiver to detect motion, wherein frequency waves are transmitted by the IEEE 802 protocol transmitter and reflected waves are received by the IEEE protocol 802 receiver; and an analyzer to perform Doppler operations using the IEEE 802 protocol transmitter and receiver, wherein the analyzer calibrates a training Doppler radar signal during a training phase to develop a model and wherein the analyzer applies the model with the Doppler radar signal during an operational phase to determine position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Bao Tran