Patents Issued in December 17, 2019
  • Patent number: 10506914
    Abstract: Non-white light from an endoscope (201) of a teleoperated surgical system (200) is used to illuminate a surgical site (203). A camera (220L) captures an image of the surgical site, and the image is displayed on a monitor (251). The non-white light illumination minimizes noise in the images of the surgical site presented on the monitor relative to images captured using white light illumination and displayed on the monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey DiCarlo, Tao Zhao, Stephen J. Blumenkranz, Brian D. Hoffman, Geoff Richmond
  • Patent number: 10506915
    Abstract: A first signal processing apparatus, to which a first endoscope apparatus including a first image sensor is detachably attached and communicably connected with a second signal processing apparatus to which a second endoscope apparatus including a second image sensor is attached, the first signal processing apparatus being configured to process a first imaging signal generated by the first image sensor or a second image signal generated by the second image sensor, includes a control unit configured to control a process inside the first signal processing apparatus in accordance with communication with the second signal processing apparatus. The control unit processes the first imaging signal when a first command is received, and when a second command is received, the control unit controls the process inside the first signal processing apparatus to make the process of the second imaging signal to correspond to the second command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoki Iwasaki, Tatsuhiko Suzuki, Susumu Hashimoto, Yuji Kutsuma, Toshihiro Hamada, Hironori Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10506916
    Abstract: An endoscopic system includes an endoscope that obtains image information inside a subject; a first recording medium into which the image information obtained from the endoscope is written; a second recording medium that has a table in which a recording condition for writing the image information obtained from the endoscope into the first recording medium has been recorded; and a controller that obtains, on the basis of an operation time period obtained from the endoscope, a recording condition associated with the obtained operation time period from among the plurality of recording conditions recorded in the table that the second recording medium has, and records the image information in the first recording medium under the recording condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirotaka Akiba, Daisuke Sano, Hiroyuki Ushifusa, Hiroshi Tamai, Noriyuki Takeishi, Hisashi Yoda, Tadao Eto
  • Patent number: 10506917
    Abstract: An endoscope configured to operate with a power supply voltage supplied from a processing device connected to the endoscope through a transmission cable is provided. The endoscope includes: a first chip including: an imaging element; and a first buffer configured to externally output an imaging signal generated by the imaging element; and a second chip including a second buffer configured to amplify the imaging signal output from the first buffer and output the amplified imaging signal to the transmission cable. The first buffer is configured to apply a predetermined voltage to the second buffer in a period in which the imaging element does not output the imaging signal to cause the second buffer to output a direct current at a predetermined level to the transmission cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoru Adachi
  • Patent number: 10506918
    Abstract: An optical coupler is disclosed for mounting at a distal end of an optical imaging device for visualizing a surface area covered with an opaque fluid and/or particulate matter. The coupler includes a visualization section at one end of the coupler and an attachment section connected to and extending away from the visualization section. The attachment section is dimensioned to be mounted at the distal end of the optical imaging device. The visualization section includes a proximal surface for engaging the distal end of the optical imaging device. The visualization section includes an outer surface spaced apart from the proximal surface. The outer surface extends continuously from a first outer side boundary across to a second opposite outer side boundary of the visualization section. The visualization section may include a hollow instrument channel extending from the proximal surface toward the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: James S. Titus
  • Patent number: 10506919
    Abstract: An operation switching mechanism includes a wire, a reciprocating movement member, a first biasing member, a second biasing member, switching members configured to switch states in which the first biasing member and the second biasing member perform biasing, and an operation member configured to operate the switching members according to operation from an outside and move the reciprocating movement member to a first movement position or a second movement position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuto Yoshinaga, Kazuhiko Hino
  • Patent number: 10506920
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an articulate minimally invasive surgical endoscope with a flexible wrist having at least one degree of freedom. When used with a surgical robot having a plurality of robot arms, the endoscope can be used with any of the plurality of arms thereby allowing the use a universal arm design. The endoscope in accordance to the present invention is made more intuitive to a user by attaching a reference frame used for controlling the at least one degree of freedom motion to the flexible wrist for wrist motion associated with the at least one degree of freedom. The endoscope in accordance to the present invention attenuates undesirable motion at its back/proximal end by acquiring the image of the object in association with the at least one degree of freedom based on a reference frame rotating around a point of rotation located proximal to the flexible wrist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Hasser, Nitish Swarup, Thomas G. Cooper, S. Christopher Anderson
  • Patent number: 10506921
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a travelled distance by a capsule camera are disclosed. A current global motion vector for a current image in the image sequence is determined, where the current global motion vector corresponds to movement made by the capsule camera between the current image and a reference image associated with the image sequence. A travelled distance by the capsule camera in the GI tract is determined according to the current global motion vector and prior global motion vectors derived for prior images between an initial image and the current image, where the travelled distance is measured from an initial location associated with the initial image to a current location associated with the current image. A method and system for displaying an image sequence captured by a capsule camera are also disclosed. The travelled distances associated with the image sequence are displayed on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: CAPSO VISION INC
    Inventor: Kang-Huai Wang
  • Patent number: 10506922
    Abstract: A grating element has an interface configured to cause light beams, include N visible color lights, incident to the interface to diffract at different orders. An imaging lens is configured to focus the N visible color lights diffracted by the grating element. A sensor is configured to receive and detect the focused N visible color lights. The focused N visible color lights include at least a first color light and a second color light. The first color light is diffracted in a first diffraction order and corresponds to a first wavelength resolution for the first color light. The second color light is diffracted in a second diffraction order and corresponds to a second wavelength resolution for the second color light. The first diffraction order is higher than the second diffraction order and the first wavelength resolution is smaller than the second wavelength resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: CANON U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Ikuta
  • Patent number: 10506923
    Abstract: An optical measurement system and apparatus for carrying out cataract diagnostics in an eye of a patient includes a Corneal Topography Subsystem, a wavefront aberrometer subsystem, and an eye structure imaging subsystem, wherein the subsystems have a shared optical axis, and each subsystem is operatively coupled to the others via a controller. The eye structure imaging subsystem is preferably a fourierdomain optical coherence tomographer, and more preferably, a swept source OCT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: AMO WaveFront Sciences, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Neal, Thomas D. Raymond, Richard J. Copland, Wei Xiong, Paul D. Pulaski, Stephen Farrer, Carmen Canovas Vidal, Daniel Hamrick
  • Patent number: 10506924
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a method of extracting eye velocity information from a video footage having a plurality of frames, comprising detecting at least part of an eye in at least two frames of the video footage, applying an optical flow algorithm to the at least two frames of the video footage to extract pixel velocity information, and determining a statistical measure from the pixel velocity information within the detected at least part of the eye. Other embodiments of the invention relate to a method of extracting head image trajectory information from a video footage having a plurality of frames, comprising detecting at least part of a facial region of the head image in at least two frames of the video footage, determining a measure of the movement of the at least part of a facial region between the at least two frames, and determining a transformation map from the measure of the movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Auckland UniServices Limited
    Inventors: Ben Thompson, Jason Turuwhenua
  • Patent number: 10506925
    Abstract: A reflectometry instrument includes a light source for emitting an illumination beam that illuminates the macula. A portion of the illumination beam is reflected from the macula and forms a detection beam. The detection beam is indicative of macular pigment in the macula. The instrument also includes a first mirror for reflecting the illumination beam toward the macula and for reflecting the detection beam from the macula. The instrument is configured so that the illumination beam and the detection beam remain separated between the macula and the first mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: ZeaVision, LLC
    Inventors: Scott J. Huter, Kevin Martin Magrini, Edward Allen DeHoog, Jeff Alan Burke, Nathan Franklin Engel
  • Patent number: 10506926
    Abstract: In one implementation, a device detects multiple vital signs from sensors such as a digital infrared sensor, a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor and at least one micro dynamic light scattering (mDLS) sensor, and thereafter in some implementations the vital signs are transmitted to, and stored by, an electronic medical record system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: ARC Devices Limited
    Inventors: Mark Khachaturian, Michael Smith, Irwin Gross, Christine Cherepy
  • Patent number: 10506927
    Abstract: Methods for ultrasonic communications through biological tissue using ultrasonic pulses are disclosed. For example, methods for calculating a forward data generation rate and a forward transmission probability profile for ultrasonic communications through biological material are disclosed. The method may comprise measuring sets interference values corresponding to instants on a communication channel. First and second order moments may be calculated for each instant based on the measured interference values. An outage probability may be calculated for each set and the forward data generation rate and forward transmission probability profile may be calculated based on the outage probability value and other parameters and a threshold transmission rate, a transmission delay threshold, and a residual transmission error rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: The Research Foundation for The State University of New York
    Inventors: Tommaso Melodia, Zhangyu Guan, Giuseppe Enrico Santagati
  • Patent number: 10506928
    Abstract: Methods for treating a wound include positioning a wound filler having a coating agent containing a fluorescent material proximate the wound. The wound filler is removed after a time period. The wound is then scanned using a fluorescence scanner to determine whether a portion of the wound filler remains at the wound. In response to the portion of the wound filler remaining at the wound, the portion of the wound filler is removed. Other methods and systems are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Timothy Mark Robinson, Jonathan Paul Jaeb
  • Patent number: 10506929
    Abstract: An anesthetic syringe comprising a nerve detector and an illuminated indicator. The nerve detector is configured to receive a radiative energy from a nerve in a tissue and send a signal to the illuminated indicator. The illuminated indicator shows a direction to move the syringe to a tissue location proximal to the nerve for injecting a local anesthetic drug. The syringe may accommodate a standard drug cartridge and may provide manual or automatic movement of a plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University
    Inventor: Saud Abdullah Almoumen
  • Patent number: 10506930
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for microwave-frequency, passive sensing of internal body temperature. Some implementations include one or more wearable sensors that wirelessly transmit temperature data continuously to a remote receiver. The sensor can include a probe designed to be placed on a skin site of an individual to receive near-field radiation at the skin site, and a radiometer to detect a total power of the received near-field radiation. The remote receiver includes a signal processing system that can convert the detected total power to an internal tissue temperature measurement by applying the detected power to a tissue stack model. The tissue stack model can characterize the skin site according to a set of weighting functions, each weighting function corresponding at least to electromagnetic characteristics of an associated tissue layer of the tissue stack model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: The University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventors: Zorana Popovic, Robert Scheeler, Parisa Momenroodaki, William David Haines
  • Patent number: 10506931
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for quantifying arterial stiffness and assigning an AS factor uses executable program on a computing device. The arterial pulse of an individual is monitored and the data received from the monitoring member transmitted to the computing device. The data received is processed by the processor, performing a pulse wave analysis. The primary systolic pulse and iliac reflection pulse are extracted from the pulse wave analysis and the time delay between the primary systolic pulse and the iliac reflection pulse determined. The time delay is used to calculate a second derivative based least in part, on the time delay. The frequency above zero components are separated from the second derivative and the area of the second derivative determined between a first primary systolic pulse and a first iliac reflection pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Empirical Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Martin Baruch
  • Patent number: 10506932
    Abstract: A vascular viscoelasticity evaluation device and method in which, a pulse wave obtained using a cuff is subjected to first derivation, a positive amplitude peak value Vf1 that occurs first and a negative amplitude peak value Vr2 that occurs second out of a plurality of negative amplitude peak values are detected in a state in which an external force substantially the same as or greater than the systolic blood pressure has been exerted on a blood vessel, and a ratio of the positive amplitude peak value Vf1 that occurs first to the negative amplitude peak value Vr2 that occurs second is calculated, and then the vascular viscoelasticity is evaluated on the basis of this calculated ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: Shisei Datum Co., Ltd., RIKEN
    Inventors: Yukiyoshi Saito, Ryutaro Himeno, Shu Takagi, Fuyou Liang
  • Patent number: 10506933
    Abstract: A medical monitoring device for monitoring electrical signals from the body of a subject is described. The medical monitoring device monitors electrical signals originating from a cardiac cycle of the subject and associates each cardiac cycle with a time index. The medical monitoring device applies a forward computational procedure to generate a risk score indicative of hyperkalemia, hypokalemia or arrhythmia of the subject. The medical monitoring device can adjust the forward computational procedure based upon clinical data obtained from the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Orhan Soykan, VenKatesh R. Manda, Martin T. Gerber, Christopher M. Hobot, Linda L. Ruetz, Carl Schu
  • Patent number: 10506934
    Abstract: The disclosure includes an apparatus for insertion into a body lumen. The apparatus can comprise an optical fiber pressure sensor. The optical fiber pressure sensor can comprise an optical fiber configured to transmit an optical sensing signal. A temperature compensated Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) interferometer can be in optical communication with the optical fiber. The FBG interferometer can be configured to receive a pressure and modulate, in response to the received pressure, the optical sensing signal. A compliant member such as a sensor membrane can be in physical communication with the FBG interferometer. The membrane configured to transmit the received pressure to the FBG interferometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Phyzhon Health Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Eberle, Diana Margaret Tasker, Howard Neil Rourke, David J. Spamer
  • Patent number: 10506935
    Abstract: A method for synchronizing operation of a heart assist pump device to a patient's cardiac cycle includes obtaining a signal from a motor of a heart assist pump device and filtering the signal to remove noise. The method also includes determining a speed synchronization start point at which time the motor of the heart assist pump device will begin a change in speed of operation based on the filtered signal. The method further includes modulating a speed of the motor of the heart assist pump device to a target speed at the speed synchronization start point, thereby synchronizing the change in speed of operation with a patient's cardiac cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Medvedev, Shunzhou Yu, Ren You
  • Patent number: 10506936
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a neurological status evaluation apparatus includes a signal generator configured to generate an electromagnetic signal at one or more frequencies, a transmitting antenna coupled to the signal generator and configured to transmit the electromagnetic signal, and a receiving antenna positioned proximate to the transmitting antenna such that an evaluation space is defined between the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna. The biological tissue under evaluation does not contact the transmitting antenna or the receiving antenna. The receiving antenna receives a modulated electromagnetic signal after propagating through the biological tissue under evaluation. The neurological status evaluation apparatus further includes a spectrum analyzer coupled to the receiving antenna, wherein the spectrum analyzer receives and samples the modulated electromagnetic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: University Of Cincinnati
    Inventors: Joseph Floyd Clark, Matthew L. Flaherty, George Shaw, Opeolu Adeoye
  • Patent number: 10506937
    Abstract: An electrode connector adapted for attachment to a biomedical patient electrode by either pinch or snap connection includes a pair of pivotally connected members including a connector body and a jaw pivotally connected to said connector body, with the jaw defining a beveled lower surface that functions to urge the jaw open by engagement of the top surface of an ECG stud thereby allowing the connector to be attached by snap engagement. An electrically conducting plate is disposed at the bottom of the connector to maximize electrical contact with the electrode stud. The jaw member further includes a lip functioning to engage a lower portion of the head of the stud and urge the radially enlarged base of the stud into electrical contact with the bottom surface of said electrically conducting member. An ECG electrode connector in accordance with the present invention may further be fabricated of radiolucent materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: ADVANTAGE MEDICAL ELECTRONICS, LLC
    Inventor: David Kendricks
  • Patent number: 10506938
    Abstract: A catheter comprising an elongated catheter body, an electrode array distal of the catheter body, the array having a mounting member and at least first and second spine supports. Each spine support includes a base having a planar configuration, and a plurality of spines extending from the base, wherein the first base extends in a first plane and the second base extends in a second plane different from the first plane in the mounting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: BIOSENSE WEBSTER (ISRAEL) LTD.
    Inventors: Steven Wu, Sungwoo Min
  • Patent number: 10506939
    Abstract: A method, including, receiving a first group of electrocardiograph (ECG) signals derived from a single heartbeat and generated at a respective plurality of electrodes on a catheter in a heart of a subject, formulating a template relating times of annotations of the first group of the ECG signals, and assigning the template an index. The method further includes receiving a second group of ECG signals derived from a subsequent single heartbeat and generated at the electrodes, calculating times of annotations of the second group, formulating a comparison between the template and the times of annotations of the second group, and, when the comparison indicates that the times of annotations of the second group correspond to the template, assigning the index to the second group of ECG signals, and presenting graphically on a display an occurrence of the template relative to a timeline representing heartbeats from the heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd.
    Inventors: Vladimir Rubinstein, Meir Bar-Tal
  • Patent number: 10506940
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods to map an electrical waveform to a user-perceivable input. Some system examples include at least one electrode configured to sense neural activity in a patient, a mapping controller configured to receive an electrical waveform from the at least one electrode and map the sensed neural activity to a user-perceivable output based on the sensed neural activity, and a user interface operably connected to the mapping controller and configured to provide the user-perceivable output to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis Zottola
  • Patent number: 10506941
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment providing one or more improvements includes apparatus and methods for sensing electrical activity in tissue of a person in a manner which is substantially limits or eliminates interference from noise in a surrounding environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Lee, Hans C. Lee
  • Patent number: 10506942
    Abstract: In an in-vivo signal source detection method, three electrodes are arranged on the circumference of a surface of an living body to surround multiple muscle fibers; a first voltage Vi generated when a first external resistor is connected to between each electrode and a ground potential and a second voltage V?i generated when a second external resistor is connected to between each electrode and the ground potential; and a ratio Vi/V?i is calculated from the first voltage Vi and the second voltage V?i, and the position of a signal source in the living body is detected based on three ratios Vi/V?i.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: TORAY ENGINEERING CO., LTD., THE RITSUMEIKAN TRUST
    Inventors: Tatsuya Okada, Chisa Inaka, Masaaki Makikawa, Masayasu Yoshiwaki, Yusuke Sakaue
  • Patent number: 10506943
    Abstract: A method for monitoring an intrabody region of a patient. The method comprises intercepting electromagnetic (EM) radiation from the intrabody region in a plurality of EM radiation sessions during a period of at least 6 hours, calculating a dielectric related change of the intrabody region by analyzing respective the intercepted EM radiation, detecting a physiological pattern according to said dielectric related change and outputting a notification indicating the physiological pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Sensible Medical Innovations Ltd.
    Inventors: Ilan Kochba, Dan Rappaport, Amir Saroka, Shlomi Bergida, Nadav Mizrahi, Amir Ronen
  • Patent number: 10506944
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring electrodermal activity can include a first electrode in contact with a first portion and a second electrode in contact with a second portion of a stratum corneum, and in electronic communication with the second electrode through the stratum corneum. A processing module is electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode and is operable to (a) bias the first electrode at a first voltage V+ and the second electrode at a second voltage V? (b) measure a current flowing between the first electrode and the second electrode, the current corresponding to the conductance of the stratum corneum, (c) subtract a compensation current from the measured current (d) measure a resulting current producing an amplified output voltage (e) measure a conductance of the stratum corneum, and (f) adjust at least one of the first voltage, the second voltage and the compensation current to desaturate the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Empatica Srl
    Inventors: Simone Tognetti, Ivan Cenci, Daniele Resnati, Maurizio Garbarino, Matteo Lai
  • Patent number: 10506945
    Abstract: A device for performing an MRI scan using patient specific scan parameters and a method of optimizing MRI image quality with patient specific scan parameters. The device includes a processor configured to receive MRI scout scan data of a patient injected with a contrast agent, generate a series of MRI scout scan images of the patient, select an initial inversion time (TIinitial) based on the MRI scout scan images, determine a time interval between adjacent inversion pulses (TR) based on an ECG of the patient, calculate a relaxation time (T1) based on TIinitial and TR, calculate an optimized inversion time (TIoptimized) based on the T1, and generate an output to an MRI device to perform an MRI scan of the patient based on TIoptimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Nassir F. Marrouche, Evgueni G. Kholmovski
  • Patent number: 10506946
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for visualizing the motion box of an electromagnetic sensor tracking system on a display that can be viewed by the physician are disclosed. Electromagnetic sensor tracking systems are able to determine the position and orientation (P&O) of the sensors being tracked only when the sensors are within the motion box, or the spatial region located in proximity to the electromagnetic field generators of the system. During usage of the electromagnetic sensor tracking system, the sensor can go out of this spatial region and, when this occurs, navigating it back into the motion box can be difficult. The methods, systems, and apparatuses described herein provide for the representation of sensors, the motion box, and a representation of a thorax on a display so that the clinician can view the position and orientation of the sensors with respect to the motion box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical International Holding S.ár.l.
    Inventors: Charles B. Byrd, Stavit Cohen, Alexander Gorovoy, Avinoam Romano
  • Patent number: 10506947
    Abstract: A system for selecting a calibration includes a data structure (138) including non-transitory computer readable storage media having a plurality of calibration entries stored therein and indexed to position and/or orientation criteria for a field generator. The field generator is configured for placement in an environment for sensor tracking. A calibration selection module (140) is configured to determine a position and/or orientation of the field generator and, based on the position and/or orientation, determine, using the data structure, corresponding calibration information stored in the data structure. The calibration information is optimized based upon the position and/or orientation of the field generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Shyam Bharat, Ananth Ravi, Ehsan Dehghan Marvast, Cynthia Ming-Fu Kung, Jochen Kruecker
  • Patent number: 10506948
    Abstract: A system (10) can localize an object in a patient's body. The system (10) can include a pulse generator (18 or 30) configured to provide a localization signal to at least one electrode that is fixed to the object in the patient's body. A sensor array (22) can be configured to detect an electrical field produced in response to the localization signal and provide respective sensor signals. A map generator (42) can be configured to reconstruct electrical signals based on the respective sensor signals and geometry data representing a geometric relationship between patient anatomy and the sensor array. A location calculator (50) can determine a location where the localization signal was applied based on the reconstructed electrical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: CARDIOINSIGHT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Harold Wodlinger, Charulatha Ramanathan, Ping Jia
  • Patent number: 10506949
    Abstract: A device determines drug/alcohol content level in the breath of a person (1) with a stationary monitoring device (2), a communication unit (5) for data transmission to a central computer unit (4) and a hand-held device (3), connected via a data interface (6). The hand-held device has a mouthpiece (7) to receive a breath sample in a sample-receiving unit (18). An analysis unit (8) determines and transmits a drug/alcohol level via the data interface (6) to the monitoring device (2). A camera unit (16) records a skin area (13) of the person (1). An identification unit (9) makes a comparison of a recognized pattern on the skin with a pattern stored in a memory and a control signal is generated in case a pattern deviation. A control (10) is configured to transmit image data and/or a violation of the rules for performing the test if a limit value is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Doreen Gimbel
  • Patent number: 10506950
    Abstract: A respiratory therapy instrument providing a telehealth platform for pulmonary care includes a housing with opposed extension arms, an airway tube removably clamped between the opposed extension arms, a pair of pressure sensors, and a circuit board retained within the housing. The pressure sensors are in communication with an interior of the airway tube and are configured to detect pulmonary flow data within the airway tube. The circuit board is configured to collect the pulmonary flow data detected by the pair of pressure sensors and includes a transmitter to send data, including the collected pulmonary flow data, wirelessly to a computing device. The collected pulmonary flow data is utilized in game play for an incentivization game operated on the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Compliant Games, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Shane Luttrell
  • Patent number: 10506951
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining rotational data and translational data for a joint, the rotational and translational data being indicative of rotational and translational movement of the joint during rotational and translational joint testing, respectively, the rotational and translational joint testing being implemented by a robotic testing apparatus applied to the joint. A quantity indicative of joint play of the joint is computed. The quantity is computed via a function of the rotational data and the translational data. The method includes determining whether the computed quantity exceeds a joint play threshold and, if the computed quantity exceeds the joint play threshold, comparing the rotational data and the translational data with preset rotational data and preset translational data for the rotational and translation joint testing, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: RoboDiagnostics LLC
    Inventors: Thomas P. Branch, Shaun K. Stinton, Edward Dittmar, Nathaniel K. deJarnette, T. Christopher Madden
  • Patent number: 10506952
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the respiratory activity of a subject, which comprises two or more signal generating elements being inertial sensors, or light emitting elements, applied to the thorax of a subject, for generating signals that are indicative of displacement of the thorax of the subject throughout a predetermined time period; a receiver for receiving the generated signals during breathing motions of the subject; and one or more computing devices in data communication with the receiver, for analyzing the breathing motions. The one or more computing devices is operable to generate, by the two or more signal generating elements, signals that are indicative of displacement of the thorax of the subject, throughout the predetermined time period; calculate the current displacements and relative phases of the signal generating elements throughout the predetermined time period; and calculate, throughout the predetermined time period, the breathing volume from the displacements and the relative phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: BreatheVision Ltd.
    Inventor: Ditza Auerbach
  • Patent number: 10506953
    Abstract: A system to measure sweat vapor may include a skin contact sensor, a sweat vapor sensor, and a processor. The skin contact sensor may be configured to measure one or more aspects indicative of whether the measuring device is in contact with skin of a user of the measuring device. The sweat vapor sensor may be configured to measure one or more properties of sweat vapor of the user; and the processor may be communicatively coupled to the skin contact sensor and the sweat vapor sensor. The processor may be configured to confirm operation of the measuring device based on the one or more aspects measured by the skin contact sensor, and the sweat vapor sensor receiving the sweat vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: BIOINTELLISENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Ross, David Wang
  • Patent number: 10506954
    Abstract: The claimed invention relates to mobile computing monitoring of health statistics using chemically synthesized conjugate markers providing highly specific details of personal health states. Using portable computing and communications devices, commonly known as ‘smartphones’, personal health and wellness information is gathered from chemical markers and reported to the user. Chemical markers include chemicals which undergo a measurable color change when combined with body fluids such as saliva. Health information derived from chemical markers may be optically collected, locally reported and widely broadcast over a ‘cloud based’ internet data distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Inventor: Patrick Shau-park Leung
  • Patent number: 10506955
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasive determination of a measured variable of an analyte in a biological body. The body is irradiated locally by light in an automatic manner from a wavelength range matched to an absorption signature of the analyte. At least some of the light penetrates into the body and is absorbed by the analyte. The body heats up at least locally as a result of the absorption by the analyte and a consequently occurring change in a speckle pattern of coherent light scattered at the body is detected. A value of the measured variable of the analyte is deduced from the detected change in the speckle pattern. In particular, the concentration of glucose is established in a non-invasive manner as a measured variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: SAMTD GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hans Dieter Tholl, Mathias Glasmacher
  • Patent number: 10506960
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a processor and a system (1, 1?) for screening of the state of oxygenation of a subject (100), in particular for screening of newborn babies for congenital heart disease. The system comprises an imaging unit (2) for obtaining a plurality of image frames of the subject (100) over time, and a processor (3) for processing the image frames. The imaging unit, for instance a conventional video camera as used in the vital signs monitoring using the above mentioned principle of remote PPG, is used as a contact less pulse oximeter, by use of which a body map (for at least some body parts of interest) of at least the blood oxygen saturation is created. Picking certain body areas, e.g. right upper extremity versus left upper and/or lower extremity, and combining or comparing them can serve the purpose of detecting anomalies of heart and/or circuitry functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Siegfried Walter Kaestle
  • Patent number: 10506961
    Abstract: Devices and methods for assessing ulceration risk in a tissue. Some embodiments include a device having a scan head on an extension neck extending from housing and having range of motion relative to the housing. The scan head includes light-emitting system that alternately emits light at different selected wavelengths into the tissue, and a photodetector that generates an electrical signal based on the receive light. A processor calculates regional-perfusion-index (RPI) data based on the electrical signal. Some embodiments provide a tissue-vibration mechanism to help measure mechano-transduction induced recovery from vibratory stimulation for determining short-term metabolic deficit. In some embodiments, the scan head has a topological feature (such as one or more grooves, holes, bumps and/or ridges) that provides pressure-change stimulation for measuring vascular recovery from pressure changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Eden Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey N. Schoess
  • Patent number: 10506962
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing an intraoperative assessment of brain function based on input that is obtained using a touch panel device, in response to a task, and in the presence of an intervention that is applied to a selected region of the brain. The intervention may be stimulation of the selected region of the brain, such as direct cortical stimulation. In some embodiments, a measure is determined based on the input received from the touch panel. The measure may be a performance measure, related to the performance of the task, and/or a functional measure, associated with an inferred function of the selected region of the brain. In some embodiments, an image of the brain that is registered to an intraoperative reference frame may be annotated or otherwise modified within the selected region based on the measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: ST. MICHAEL'S HOSPITAL, SUNNYBROOK RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Simon James Graham, Melanie Anne Morrison, Fred Tam, Tom Andreas Schweizer, Sunit Das, Marco Garavaglia
  • Patent number: 10506964
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a device and method for detecting fatigue driving. The device for detecting fatigue driving comprises: a first detection unit, which is disposed on a steering wheel of a vehicle, and configured to detect a grip of a driver on the steering wheel and transmit the detected grip value; and a controller, which is configured to receive the detected grip value, and determine whether the driver is in a suspected fatigue driving state according to the detected grip value and a grip standard sample value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yingyi Li
  • Patent number: 10506965
    Abstract: The various embodiments disclosed here relate to systems, methods, and devices for monitoring bladder health. Certain implementations are directed to patients who require daily catheterization. The various embodiments have at least one tube coupled to a catheter, a pressure sensor, a pump, and a processor. Certain embodiments include a digital device with a software application capable of displaying the monitored readings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
    Inventors: Christopher Cooper, Ryan Steinberg, Lewis Thomas, Eric Pahl, Sanam Zarei, Kayla Jones
  • Patent number: 10506966
    Abstract: Methods and systems relate to determining sensory motor performance based on user non-postural movements within a generated dynamic virtual environment. The generated environment requires users to: (i) utilize primary sensor inputs (e.g., vision, vestibular sensation and somatosensation); (ii) assess the dynamic virtual environment; and (iii) integrate and translate those inputs into movement to control the dynamic virtual environment. The methods may include receiving non-postural user input with respect to a state of one or more attributes of a dynamic virtual environment provided on a user interface for one or more sessions, the one or more attributes including a control object and a target which moves with respect to the control object; determining performance information based on the user input and the state of the one or more attributes for the one or more sessions; and determining sensory motor performance information from the performance information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: Emory University, Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Russell K. Gore, Michelle LaPlaca, David W. Wright, Tamara Espinoza, Shean Phelps, Brian Liu, Stephen Smith, Nicole Kosoris, Alessio Medda, Courtney Crooks
  • Patent number: 10506967
    Abstract: A multi-axis measurement device for loading force and center of gravity is provided comprising a first loading plate, and comprising: a first slidable element and a first piezoelectric pressure sensing element. A second loading plate comprising: a second slidable element and a second piezoelectric pressure sensing element. A connecting plate, respectively connects to the first slidable element, the first piezoelectric pressure sensing element, the second slidable element, and the second piezoelectric pressure sensing element. A plurality of third piezoelectric pressure sensing elements connects to the first loading plate. The first piezoelectric pressure sensing element measures the changes in force of the X-axis direction, the second piezoelectric pressure sensor element sensing element measures the changes in force of the Y-axis direction, and the third piezoelectric pressure sensor element sensing elements measure the changes in force of the Z-axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: KAOHSIUNG MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Lan-Yuen Guo, Chen-Wen Yen, Lih-Jiun Liaw, Jhen-Cyun Cheng
  • Patent number: 10506968
    Abstract: The disclosed invention provides a fluid sensing device and method capable of collecting a fluid sample, concentrating the sample with respect to one or more target analytes, and measuring the target analyte(s) in the concentrated sample. The invention is also capable of determining the change in molarity of the fluid sample with respect to the target analyte(s), as the sample is concentrated by the device. The invention further includes a method for using a fluid sensing device to concentrate a fluid sample with respect to one or more target analytes. The disclosed method further includes the ability to correlate the measured target analyte concentration to a physiological condition of a device wearer, or of a fluid source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignees: Eccrine Systems, Inc., University of Cincinnati
    Inventors: Jason Heikenfeld, Jacob A. Bertrand, Michael Brothers, Andrew Jajack