Patents Issued in May 8, 2018
  • Patent number: 9962041
    Abstract: An infant bather having a flexible water bath supported by a frame. The frame has a scissors fold such that the flexible water bath folds one way to an open configuration for bathing an infant and folds the other way to a closed configuration for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Regalo International, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Flannery, Porter R. Million
  • Patent number: 9962042
    Abstract: An article support for a surface, the support including a base having a first end portion and a second end portion, the base first end portion is adjacent to the surface. A reservoir is disposed within the second end portion, the reservoir having a terminating margin periphery forming an aperture. An omni-directional substantially planar extension originating at the margin periphery and outwardly terminating in an outer perimeter, the planar extension has a segmented primary surface and a secondary surface wherein the secondary surface faces the first end portion. A portion of the primary surface is formed from an inverted equilateral square pyramid wherein an apex of the pyramid is disposed within the aperture. Operationally, the article is placed upon the primary surface, the article having a plurality of point contacts upon the primary surface causing the article to clear the margin periphery for drainage from the article into the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Inventors: Leonard L. Hierath, Melissa Ruth Harris
  • Patent number: 9962043
    Abstract: A soap dispenser that is engaged to the aerator threads on a faucet. When the faucet is switched on, water flows through a first pathway in the dispenser and exits the dispenser through an opening on the lower front of the device. The dispenser includes a separate second pathway which holds a quantity of liquid soap. A roller assembly provided on the dispenser controls the flow of soap from the second pathway. A graphic image of a face aesthetically pleasing to children may be provided on the front of the housing. The graphic image is positioned so that the opening through which water flows forms the mouth of the face. A trough member in the first pathway smooths the water flow so that water flowing out of the opening takes on the appearance of a tongue sticking out of the mouth of the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Wet Heads Inc.
    Inventors: Vito Braic, Robert G. Dickie
  • Patent number: 9962044
    Abstract: A touch screen wipe dispenser preferably includes a wipe retainer, a wipe roll and a wipe cover. The wipe retainer preferably includes a wipe cylindrical tube and a key ring hook that extends from one end of the wipe cylindrical tube. A retainer wipe slot is formed through a length of the wipe cylindrical tube. The wipe roll includes a plurality of wipe sheets. The wipe roll is inserted into the wipe cylindrical tube and also extends through the retainer wipe slot. The wipe cover includes a cover cylindrical tube and a twist cap that terminates one end of the cover cylindrical tube. A cover wipe slot is formed through a length of the cover cylindrical tube. A user extracts a wipe sheet from the screen wipe dispenser by rotating the twist cap relative to the key hook ring, such that the pull wipe feeds outward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel S. Ovokaitys, Dawn M. Ovokaitys
  • Patent number: 9962045
    Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for strips of coiled flexible material having at regular intervals tear lines to form the strips. The apparatus includes a casing receiving the coil, the casing having a circular opening for the passage and distribution of a strip of coiled flexible material under a tensile stress. The casing also includes at least one washer fixed on the casing concentrically with the distribution opening, wherein the internal diameter of the at least one washer is smaller than the diameter of the opening. The one or more washers are made of an elastomeric material capable of being deformed under the effect of the material distribution through the opening for achieving, concomitantly, a strip cut along a tear line. The one or more washers cooperate with an element manually operable and arranged to reduce the internal diameter of the one or more washers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Inventor: Maurice Granger
  • Patent number: 9962046
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaning appliance comprises a handheld vacuum cleaning device comprising a motor coupled to a fan for generating an air flow through a nozzle air inlet. It also comprises a support frame comprising: a cleaning head having a cleaning head air inlet; and an air outlet in fluid communication with the cleaning head air inlet, the air outlet configured to couple with the nozzle air inlet when the handheld vacuum cleaning device is secured to the support frame and to create an airflow path from the cleaning head air inlet to the nozzle air inlet. The air outlet is moveable with respect to the support frame into a first position in which the air outlet projects from the support frame when the handheld vacuum cleaning device is detached from the support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventor: David Rowntree
  • Patent number: 9962047
    Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner can include an air inlet conduit having an inlet conduit axis, a suction motor and fan assembly having a suction motor axis of rotation, and a cyclone unit comprising a cyclone chamber having a cyclone axis of rotation. The inlet conduit axis can be generally parallel to the cyclone axis and when the inlet conduit axis is horizontally disposed, the inlet conduit axis is positioned above the cyclone axis and a projection of the inlet conduit axis intersects the suction motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventors: Andre D. Brown, Wayne Conrad, Nina Conrad, Lee M. Cottrell, Dave Petersen, Jason B. Thorne, Adam Udy
  • Patent number: 9962048
    Abstract: A hand vacuum cleaner may include a suction motor and fan assembly that is positioned downstream of a pre-motor filter. A post motor filter may be positioned downstream of the suction motor and fan assembly and may be in the lower end of the hand vacuum cleaner and an energy storage member may be in an upper end of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Nina Conrad, Dave Petersen
  • Patent number: 9962049
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus is provided with a brush drive motor control and/or a bleed valve control is provided on a handle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: SharkNinja Operating LLC
    Inventor: Jason Boyd Thorne
  • Patent number: 9962050
    Abstract: An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprises a surface cleaning head and a cleaning unit moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head between a generally upright position and a rearwardly inclined in use position, and a telescoping push handle. The cleaning unit comprises an air treatment member assembly comprising an air treatment member and a suction motor. The telescoping push handle comprises upper and lower telescoping longitudinally extending members which are reconfigurable between a retracted position and a first extended position, the lower telescoping longitudinally extending member having a first pivot joint wherein the first pivot joint is non-rotationally locked when the push handle is in the retracted position and the upper telescoping longitudinally extending member is pivotal about the first pivot joint when the push handle is in the first extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Ernest Conrad, Nina Conrad, Dave Petersen
  • Patent number: 9962051
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing having a suction nozzle opening, a source of suction in fluid communication with the suction nozzle opening for generating a working air stream through the housing, and a multiply-adjustable debris collecting blade coupled along the rear of the suction nozzle opening for collecting debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary A. Kasper
  • Patent number: 9962052
    Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and includes a suction motor. The surface cleaning apparatus may be battery powered and/or may have a power requirement of 200 Watts or less. A cyclone chamber is provided in the air flow path and has an air outlet which is covered by a screen. In one embodiment, there is an absence of a vortex finder. In another embodiment, a vortex finder that extends into the cyclone chamber less than the height of the cyclone inlet and optionally less than the height of the cyclone inlet may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 9962053
    Abstract: Provided is a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner includes a main body including a cord reel around which a power cord is wound and a cord reel button for operating the cord reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jinwook Seo, Jungmin Moon
  • Patent number: 9962054
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a robot cleaner and a robot cleaning system having the same. The robot cleaner includes a main body, a traveling unit configured to move the main body, a cleaning unit configured to execute cleaning, a camera configured to capture an image including foreign substances, a communication unit configured to exchange data with a mobile terminal or a server, and a controller configured to control transmission of the image including the foreign substances and image related information to the mobile terminal or the server and to execute cleaning of an area around the foreign substances based on cleaning execution information regarding the foreign substances or to execute no cleaning of the area around the foreign substances based on cleaning avoidance information regarding the foreign substances, transmitted from the mobile terminal or the server. Thereby, the robot cleaner may selectively clean foreign substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Daegeun Seo, Juwan Lee, Lagyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 9962055
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a mute operation method and a mute operation apparatus for an automatic cleaning device, the mute operation method includes: receiving a mute instruction; planning a mute cleaning path according to the mute instruction; switching to a mute mode and performing a cleaning operation according to the mute cleaning path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Xiaomi Inc.
    Inventors: Pengfei Zhang, Yongfeng Xia, Heng Qu, Tiejun Liu
  • Patent number: 9962056
    Abstract: A self-wringing flat mop includes a flat mop head, a mop handle and a holding sleeve. The mop handle includes a connection rod, a holding rod, and a transmission assembly. The holding rod is operated to rotate. The transmission assembly transmits rotation to the connection rod. The connection rod drives the flat mop head to collapse and wring out water. The transmission assembly includes a first engaging member and a second engaging member for undertaking engagement-disengagement actions. The holding rod includes a limiting rib. The holding sleeve sleeves the mop handle and includes a control lever. The control lever is turned pivotally with respect to the holding sleeve to separate the first engaging member from the second engaging member and restore the collapsed flat mop head to the flattened state. The holding sleeve includes a unidirectional limiting ring corresponding to the limiting rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: JIAXING JACKSON TRAVEL PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xue Lin Zhu
  • Patent number: 9962057
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for cleaning floors and/or surfaces, having a container for holding a cleaning fluid, a discharge device for discharging the cleaning fluid onto a floor and/or surface to be cleaned, and a heating device for heating and/or tempering and/or evaporating the cleaning fluid. The cleaning apparatus can easily be supplied with energy for heating and/or tempering and/or evaporating the cleaning fluid, and the apparatus can be operated cordlessly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Uwe Dingert, Norbert Weis, Mike Kosub, Tomaso Cascione
  • Patent number: 9962058
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub configured to define a washing space, a rack provided in the tub to provide a space where washing objects are held, a spray arm provided in the tub and located under the rack to spray wash water to the rack, and a noise shield provided between the spray arm and a bottom surface of the tub to reduce a kinetic energy of the wash water falling from above the spray arm toward the bottom surface of the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yongho Shin, Sanghoon Lee, Sangheon Yoon, Gapsu Shin
  • Patent number: 9962059
    Abstract: A warewasher includes a liquid recirculation system for spraying wares with wash liquid from a collecting tank. The warewasher includes a filter arrangement for capturing food debris in a wash spray before the wash spray reaches the wares being cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Steven H. Kramer
  • Patent number: 9962060
    Abstract: A method of operating a dishwasher having a pump and filter assembly including an impeller adapted to recirculate liquid, a housing defining an interior and exterior, a rotating filter to effect a filtering of the liquid, and a granular agent supply with granular agent cleaning the filter by scouring the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jacquelyn R. Geda, Antony M. Rappette
  • Patent number: 9962061
    Abstract: A dishwasher (2.1, 2.2) has at least one wash system for spraying wash liquid and at least one final-rinse system for spraying final-rinse liquid, wherein a control device (50) is provided for actuating the at least one wash system and/or the at least one final-rinse system in accordance with a predefined execution program. To save on resources during operation, and meet the requirements for hygienic operation, which are defined in hygiene guidelines applicable locally (in a territorially delimited manner) at least a first execution program is stored in the control device (50), the execution program created taking into account requirements for hygienic operation which are applicable in a first territorial region, and at least a second execution program is stored in the control device (50), the second execution program created taking into account requirements for hygienic operation which are applicable in a second territorial region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: PREMARK FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Dennis Firchau, Matthias Oertel, Daniel Glasow
  • Patent number: 9962062
    Abstract: A supply container for placement in a dispensing device of a program-controlled cleaning appliance, in particular a dishwasher, includes a main body providing a volumetric space, the volumetric space being of a size suitable for storing an amount of powdered detergent sufficient for performing a plurality of wash cycles. The main body includes a bottom portion and a circumferential side wall integrally formed therewith, the side wall being equipped with a flange located opposite the bottom portion and extending radially outwardly from the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: MIELE & CIE. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Wegener, Fabian Hils, Guenter Kroeger, Holger Ernst
  • Patent number: 9962063
    Abstract: A dishwasher having a tub defining a treating chamber, a dish rack, and a spray assembly associated with the dish rack. The spray assembly may include at least one sprayer positioned to spray treating liquid onto dishes received by the rack. The sprayer has two openings and may be movable between a first position where the treating liquid flows through the first liquid opening into the treating chamber and does not flow through the second liquid opening and a second position where the treating liquid flows through the second liquid opening into the treating chamber. The sprayer may be rotatable between positions and may emit spray in both positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paul E. Beshears, Jr., David H. Chen, Mark S. Feddema, Deborah L. Gregory, Todd M. Jozwiak, Timothy D. Lee, Antony M. Rappette, Jason A. Sibley, Chad T. Vanderroest, Ameresh B. Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 9962064
    Abstract: An adapter for the releasable and relockable coupling of an endoscope with a camera head has an inner wall and an outer wall that are connected with one another via a connecting wall extending between the inner wall and outer wall at or near their first axial ends, and which inner wall and outer wall are arranged with at least a lateral separation from one another, so that an open clearance results between the inner wall and outer wall on a second axial side that is situated opposite the first axial ends. Furthermore, the adapter comprises a coupling wall that seals a clearance enclosed by the inner wall at or near a second axial end of the inner wall, such that the clearance that is enclosed by the inner wall is open at a first axial side that is situated opposite the second axial end of the inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: XION GMBH
    Inventors: Helmut Laser, Holger Muller
  • Patent number: 9962065
    Abstract: An optical scanning observation system includes: an endoscope having an optical scanning portion for scanning an object; a drive signal generation portion configured to generate a drive signal and supply the signal to the optical scanning portion; an electric-current measurement portion configured to measure an electric current value of the drive signal; a first storage portion in which a measured electric current value when the temperature of the optical scanning portion is a predetermined temperature is stored; a second storage portion in which a plurality of parameters that are set according to the size of the measured electric current value are stored; and a correction processing portion configured to correct a scanning range of the endoscope by reading in from the second storage portion a parameter that corresponds to the size of the measured electric current value read in from the first storage portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Soichiro Koshika
  • Patent number: 9962066
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for performing surgical procedures is disclosed including a flexible entry guide tube, and a first steering device. The flexible entry guide tube has one or more lumens extending along its length from a proximal end to substantially at or near a distal end. At least one of the one or more lumens is an instrument lumen with open ends to receive a flexible shaft of a surgical tool to perform surgery near the distal end of the flexible entry guide tube. The first steering device is insertable into the instrument lumen to shape the flexible entry guide tube as it is inserted through an opening in a body and along a path towards a surgical site. The apparatus may further include a flexible locking device to couple to the flexible entry guide tube and selectively rigidize the flexible entry guide tube to hold its shape. The flexible entry guide tube may be steered by remote control with one or more actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore W. Rogers, David Q. Larkin
  • Patent number: 9962067
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to detecting insufficient volume of a fluid aspiration. During aspiration of fluids, a pressure trace is obtained using a pressure transducer. An algorithm is applied to detect short shot (i.e., insufficient aspiration) instances utilizing characteristics of the pressure trace. In addition, the fluid probe geometry may be optimized to improve the accuracy of the detection, and temperature may be obtained to correct the pressure trace to account for fluid viscosity and thereby further improve the accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventors: Pei-Ying Hsieh, Qiang Huang
  • Patent number: 9962068
    Abstract: An image pickup system includes a light emitting section that emits light for illuminating an object which operates periodically, an image pickup section including an image pickup device that performs an image pickup operation by a rolling shutter system, a period detection section that detects a period of motion of the object, a light emission signal generating section that outputs a stroboscopic light emission signal for causing the light emitting section to perform a stroboscopic light emission in synchronism with the period of the motion, a light emission period control section that sets as a light emission permission period, and a light emission non-permission period, and a light emission control section that performs control for causing the light emitting section to perform a light emission in the light emission permission period, and performs control for inhibiting a light emission of the light emitting section in the light emission non-permission period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidetsugu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9962069
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an endoscopic camera for a robotic surgical system includes a stereo camera module mounted to a robotic arm of a patient side cart. The optical and electro-optic components of the camera module are hermetically sealed within a first housing. Signals from an electro-optic component travel through traces in a ceramic substrate forming one side of the hermetically sealed first housing. A second housing surrounds the first housing and optical fibers are dispersed between the housings to provide lighting in a body cavity. The camera module may be sterilized by an autoclave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Scott, David C. Shafer, Dominique Brichard, Peter M. Herzlinger
  • Patent number: 9962070
    Abstract: Violet light and blue light is applied sequentially to an object. In a wavelength range (380-440 nm) of the violet light, each of reflectances of most-superficial and superficial blood vessels is lower than reflectance of middle-layer blood vessels. In a wavelength range (440-480 nm) of the blue light, the reflectance of the middle-layer blood vessels is lower than those of the most-superficial and superficial blood vessels. Brightness of mucous membrane in a normalized first signal obtained under the violet light is equivalent to that in a normalized second signal obtained under the blue light. A subtraction image is obtained by subtraction between the normalized first and second signals, and superimposed on the first signal. A special image, in which the most-superficial and superficial blood vessels correspond to falling edges and the middle-layer blood vessels correspond to rising edges and the blood vessels are distinguished from each other, is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yuki Terakawa
  • Patent number: 9962071
    Abstract: System and method directed towards providing full and even illumination of a patient's retina through lighting integrated into a handheld fundus lens. By integrating the lighting, the method and system reduces and even eliminate many lens artifacts and reflections. By increasing the accuracy, quality, and field of view afforded during clinical examination of the retina, the method and system will allow practitioners to make more accurate diagnoses and will increase safety during retinal surgical procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventor: Paul Andrew Yates
  • Patent number: 9962072
    Abstract: In general, certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and systems for analyzing eye and contact lens condition. According to various embodiments, a method is provided comprising receiving an image of an eye. The method further comprises extracting condition information of the eye and receiving diagnosis information from a database. The method further comprises comparing the condition information with the diagnosis information and providing an analysis of the eye. In various embodiments, the eye may include a contact lens on the surface of the eye and the condition information may include a condition of the contact lens. In some embodiments, the analysis may include an estimated suggested time to remove the contact lens. In other embodiments, the analysis may include an estimated expiration of the contact lens. In some embodiments, the database may comprise both local storage and global databases access through a global network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Inventor: Anantha Pradeep
  • Patent number: 9962073
    Abstract: A tomographic image capturing apparatus includes a fixation lamp configured to guide a line of sight of a subject's eye, and a control unit configured to control a projection position of measuring light according to a predetermined position on a fundus of the subject's eye and a projection position of the fixation lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukio Sakagawa
  • Patent number: 9962074
    Abstract: An ophthalmic imaging device that captures an image of a test eye, the device includes: an OCT optical system configured to acquire an OCT signal by scanning a tissue of the test eye with measurement light, the ophthalmic imaging device configured to execute: receiving a designation of a wide area which is wider than a unit area which is an acquisition unit for acquiring motion contrast data indicating a motion of the tissue; acquiring a plurality of OCT signals for the same position at different timing in each of a plurality of unit areas, the plurality of unit areas being positioned in the designated wide area and being not completely overlapped with each other; and acquiring the motion contrast data of each of the plurality of unit areas by processing the plurality of OCT signals acquired for the same position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norimasa Satake, Ai Takaya
  • Patent number: 9962075
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for the determining a rate of change of one or more analyte concentrations in a target using non invasive non contact imaging techniques such as OCT. Generally, OCT data is acquired and optical information is extracted from OCT scans to quantitatively determine both a flow rate of fluid in the target and a concentration of one or more analytes. Both calculations can provide a means to determine a change in rate of an analyte over time. Example methods and systems of the disclosure may be used in assessing metabolism of a tissue, where oxygen is the analyte detected, or other functional states, and be generally used for the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignees: Northwestern University, Opticent INC
    Inventors: Ji Yi, Wenzhong Liu, Vadim Backman, Hao F. Zhang, Kieren J. Patel
  • Patent number: 9962076
    Abstract: Imaging systems are provided allowing examination of different object regions spaced apart in a depth direction by visual microscopy and by optical coherence tomography. An axial field of view and a lateral resolution is varied depending on which object region is examined by the imaging system. The proposed imaging systems are in particular applicable for thorough examination of the human eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AG
    Inventors: Christoph Hauger, Markus Seesselberg, Martin Hacker, Keith O'Hara
  • Patent number: 9962077
    Abstract: A corneal topographer includes: a flat panel display configured to display a light pattern and to project the light pattern onto a cornea of an eye disposed on a first side of the flat panel display; an optical system disposed on a second side of the flat panel display, the optical system being configured to receive and process reflected light from the cornea that passes through the flat panel display from the cornea to the optical system; a camera configured to receive the processed reflected light from the optical system and to capture therefrom a reflected light pattern from the cornea produced in response to the projected light pattern; and one or more processors configured to execute an algorithm to compare the projected light pattern to the reflected light pattern from the cornea, and to produce a topographic map of the cornea based on a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: AMO Wavefront Sciences, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Farrer, W. Shea Powers, Daniel R. Neal, Larry B. Voss
  • Patent number: 9962078
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to eye tracking systems and methods which track eyes by illuminating the eyes using a light source and detecting the eye illuminations using a sensor. Implementations of the present disclosure may utilize a light source with a dynamic lighting position to account for changes in lighting conditions during the tracking which interfere with detection of the eye illuminations, such as reflections in glasses which may obscure a user's eyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventor: Eric J. Larsen
  • Patent number: 9962079
    Abstract: A slit lamp device for use in an ophthalmoscope includes one or more light sources for providing a light path comprised of one or more beams of: visible light and infrared (IR) light; a slit lamp control mechanism along the light path for receiving the one or more light beams and forming the one or more light beams into a slit light beam; the slit lamp control mechanism further controlling the width of the formed slit light beam; a first, narrow slit passes visible light through the slit control mechanism and a second, wider slit passes IR light though the slit control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: LUMENIS LTD.
    Inventors: Tomer Carmeli, Yosef Wexler, Shai Yefet, Oren Liav
  • Patent number: 9962080
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for qualifying an alarm among the alarms stemming from a first supervision system supervising the activity of an individual, the system being adapted to compute an activity index that is representative of the activity of the individual, alarms being triggered by the supervision system in the event of a drift in the activity index, a drift corresponding to a difference in the value of the index in relation to a reference value, the method being such that it is implemented in a management server connected to at least one second supervision system, and that it has, on reception of an alarm triggered by the first supervision system, steps of obtainment of a drift in the activity index of the at least one second supervision system, comparison of the drift in the activity index of the first supervision system and a value that is representative of the drift in the activity index of the at least one second system, and qualification of the alarm according to the result of the comparison
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Orange
    Inventors: Marc Berenguer, Marie-Jeanne Bouzid
  • Patent number: 9962081
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for remote monitoring. In some example implementations, there is provided a method. The method may include receiving, at a remote monitor, a notification message representative of an event detected, by a server, from analyte sensor data obtained from a receiver monitoring an analyte state of a host; presenting, at the remote monitor, the notification message to activate the remote monitor, wherein the remote monitor is configured by the server to receive the notification message to augment the receiver monitoring of the analyte state of the host; accessing, by the remote monitor, the server, in response to the presenting of the notification message; and receiving, in response to the accessing, information including at least the analyte sensor data. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: DexCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Robert Mensinger, Eric Cohen, Phil Mayou, Eli Reihman, Katherine Yerre Koehler, Rian Draeger, Angela Marie Traven
  • Patent number: 9962082
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a sensor related to measurement of biometric information, at least one module that performs a specific function, a memory that stores an instruction related to operations of the sensor and the module, and at least one processor electrically connected to the sensor, the at least one module, and the memory to execute the instruction. When acquiring an event related to initiation of the measurement of the biometric information, the processor may deactivate at least one function of a module, or execute an instruction such that the deactivation state is maintained or the operating mode (for example, a low power mode) of the electronic device is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Kim, Hyung Rock Jung, Hye Jung Seo, Cheol Ho Cheong, Jae Woong Chun, Won Suk Choi, Chang Ryong Heo
  • Patent number: 9962083
    Abstract: Provided are embodiments of systems, computer medium and computer-implemented methods for monitoring the health of an employee while the employee is located in an employee workstation. A method including collecting, from a plurality of biomechanical sensors disposed throughout the employee workstation, biomechanical health data indicative of biomechanical characteristics of the employee, determining an employee biomechanical health profile based at least in part on the collected biomechanical health data. The employee biomechanical health profile including biomechanical health characteristics, biomechanical health conditions and/or biomechanical health risks for the employee. The method including generating a health plan for the employee based at least in part on the biomechanical health profile, and displaying the employee biomechanical health profile and the health plan to the employee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Samantha J. Horseman
  • Patent number: 9962084
    Abstract: An implantable pressure sensor arrangement is disclosed. The arrangement includes a substrate, a coil positioned on the substrate, a flexible membrane positioned proximate to the coil and configured to be moveable with respect to the coil, thereby forming a fluid chamber, fluidly sealed from outside of the implantable pressure sensor arrangement, a porous membrane positioned on the flexible membrane and configured to transfer pressure from outside of the implantable pressure sensor arrangement onto the flexible membrane wherein a differential pressure is generated on the two sides of the flexible membrane thereby causing the flexible membrane to deflect towards and away from the coil, and an electrode coupled to the flexible membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Babak Ziaie, Marcus Anthony Brown, Teimour Maleki-Jafarabadi, Seung Hyun Song
  • Patent number: 9962085
    Abstract: An inductive wireless power transfer and communication system includes an electrostatic shield for one of the coils. The electrostatic shield is inductively coupled with the coil and is configured as an open circuit. A signal processing element or elements, especially a modulator or a demodulator, are connected across the electrical discontinuity in the electrostatic shield. Because the electrostatic shield is inductively coupled to the coil, the modulator or demodulator can operate on the signal on the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: The Alfred E. Mann Foundation For Scientific Research
    Inventor: Glen A. Griffith
  • Patent number: 9962086
    Abstract: A medical imaging data processing apparatus comprises a receiving unit configured to receive first medical imaging data that represents a region of a subject at a first time, and second medical imaging data that represents the region of the subject at a second, later time, a registration unit configured to perform a registration procedure to obtain registration data representative of a registration between the first medical imaging data and the second medical imaging data, an evaluation unit configured to process the registration data to determine, for each of a plurality of positions in the region, a value of a registration measure, the registration measure representing at least one feature of the registration as a function of position, wherein the evaluation unit is configured to, for at least some of the plurality of positions in the region, determine whether an abnormality is present by comparing the value of the registration measure to a statistical atlas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Mohammad Dabbah, Keith Goatman, Ian Poole
  • Patent number: 9962087
    Abstract: A method for automatically identifying and localizing anatomical regions of a left ventricle of a heart using a segment model, the method including receiving a volumetric MR image series of one or more time-points in a heart cycle with associated myocardial boundaries, representing the heart, performing a long-axis partitioning on each image of the volumetric image series, performing a short-axis partitioning volumetric image series, generating a polar map, wherein each image of the volumetric image series is mapped to a location on the polar map, wherein the location is characterized using the long-axis partitioning and the short-axis partitioning, and generating a mapping from the polar map to a voxel in an associated image of the volumetric image series representing an anatomical location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rahil Garnavi, Xi Liang, Tanveer Fathima Syeda-Mahmood, Simon Frank Wail
  • Patent number: 9962088
    Abstract: The handheld device is useful in the diagnosis of diseases and medical conditions based on audiometric analysis of resonated sound. This device has a mechanism to create a sound with the particular characteristics, a mechanism to transmit the sound into the human body at the given anatomical surface area, a system to pick up or receive the resonated sound, an audiometric analyzer and a display to display the results based on the audiometric analysis of resonated sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Inventor: Rajesh Palani
  • Patent number: 9962089
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for assessing data from digital images of psoriasis lesion for said psoriasis lesion thickness by utilizing a developed computer vision system to obtain Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) parameters in particular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY PETRONAS SDN BHD
    Inventors: Ahmad Fadzil Mohamad Hani, Hurriyatul Fitriyah
  • Patent number: 9962090
    Abstract: Certain aspects relate to apparatuses and techniques for non-invasive optical imaging that acquires a plurality of images corresponding to both different times and different frequencies. Additionally, alternatives described herein are used with a variety of tissue classification applications, including assessing the presence and severity of tissue conditions, such as burns and other wounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Spectral MD, Inc.
    Inventors: John Michael DiMaio, Wensheng Fan, Jeffrey E. Thatcher, Weizhi Li, Weirong Mo