Patents Issued in May 21, 2024
  • Patent number: 11986333
    Abstract: Medical imaging devices, systems, and methods thereof. The medical imaging system may include a movable station and a gantry. The movable station includes a gantry mount rotatably attached to the gantry. The gantry includes an outer C-arm slidably mounted to and operable to slide relative to the gantry mount, an inner C-arm slidably coupled to the outer C-arm and, an imaging signal transmitter and sensor attached to the C-arms. The two C-arms work together to provide a full 360 degree rotation of the imaging signal transmitter. The movable station may include a motion control system and an imaging control system. In embodiments, the motion control system includes omni-directional wheels for precision controlled-movement of the movable station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Globus Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Norbert Johnson, Robert Stevens, Hisham Salem, Yuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 11986334
    Abstract: To provide a technique with which an operator, when talking into a microphone, can recognize whether or not his/her voice is being output from a speaker in a scan room, a CT apparatus 1 has: an operator microphone 41 installed in an operation room R2 for receiving a voice of an operator 81; a patient microphone 2 installed in a scan room R1 for receiving a voice of a patient 80; a speaker 50 installed in the operation room R2 for outputting the voice of the patient 80 received by the patient microphone 2; a speaker 5 installed in the scan room R1 for outputting the voice of the operator 81 received by the operator microphone 41; and a light-emitting section 31 for informing, in the case that the patient microphone 2 has received the voice of the operator 81 output from the speaker 5, the operator 81 that his/her voice is being output from the speaker 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Naoki Ariyama, Yoshio Takaichi
  • Patent number: 11986335
    Abstract: The invention concerns an extra-oral dental imaging apparatus for obtaining a radiographic image of a patient, the apparatus comprising:—a support frame,—a gantry that supports an x-ray source and at least one x-ray sensor in correspondence with the x-ray source, the gantry being movable relative to the support frame, wherein the apparatus further comprises a seat arrangement that is connected to the support frame and that is movable between at least two distinct positions: a working position in which the seat arrangement is located in a working area under the gantry, at least one rest position in which the seat arrangement is located away from the working area so as to leave clear the working area under the gantry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Inventors: Stephane Varlet, Yann Lecuyer, Olivier Nesme
  • Patent number: 11986336
    Abstract: A non-spectral computed tomography scanner includes a radiation source configured to emit x-ray radiation, a detector array configured to detect x-ray radiation and generate non-spectral data, and a memory configured to store a spectral image module that includes computer executable instructions including a neural network trained to produce spectral volumetric image data. The neural network is trained with training spectral volumetric image data and training non-spectral data. The non-spectral computed tomography scanner further includes a processor configured to process the non-spectral data with the trained neural network to produce spectral volumetric image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Chuanyong Bai, Yang-Ming Zhu, Sheng Lu, Shiyu Xu, Hao Dang, Hao Lai, Douglas McKnight, Hui Wang
  • Patent number: 11986337
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for computed tomography (CT) imaging technologies that are tailored to specific regions of interest and provide a reduced radiation dose. An imaging system for cardiac CT comprises a beam-shaping filtration and exposure control technologies specifically tailored to imaging of the heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Inventors: Francisco Contijoch, Brendan Colvert, Elliot McVeigh
  • Patent number: 11986338
    Abstract: A mobile radiography apparatus includes a hybrid power supply system which includes batteries of different types. Each of the different type batteries is configured to supply electric power to a different portion of the mobile radiography apparatus. The different electric power supply characteristics of each the different battery types is matched to a corresponding power demand characteristic of one of the different portions of the mobile radiography apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventor: Jangho Park
  • Patent number: 11986339
    Abstract: System (10) for determining a position of an interventional device (11) respective an image plane (12) defined by an ultrasound imaging probe (13). The position is determined based on ultrasound signals transmitted between the ultrasound imaging probe (13) and an ultrasound transducer (15) attached to the interventional device (11). An image reconstruction unit (IRU) provides a reconstructed ultrasound image (RUI). A position determination unit (PDU) computes a lateral position (LAPTOFSmax, ?IPA) of the ultrasound transducer (15) respective the image plane (12) based on a time of flight (TOFSmax) of a maximum detected intensity (ISmax) ultrasound signal. The position determination unit (PDU) also computes an out-of-plane distance (Dop) between the ultrasound transducer (15) and the image plane (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Mischa Megens, Hendrik Roelof Stapert, Mustafa Hakan Gokgurler, Stefan Van De Pas, Jeroen Kortsmit, Franciscus Hendrikus Van Heesch, Harm Jan Willem Belt, Ameet Kumar Jain, Kunal Vaidya
  • Patent number: 11986340
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for the placement of elongate medical members within a patient's body using coaptive ultrasound that combines magnetic guidance with ultrasound visualization of the medical member in the patient's body. A coaptive ultrasound probe adaptor magnetically attracts an elongate medical member within the patient with sufficient force so as to allow the operator to manually guide the member to its intended location. The adaptor mates with an ultrasound probe to provide the medical operator ultrasound feedback of the position of the member, thus allowing internal placement without the need for more specialized medical equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: University of Maryland, Baltimore
    Inventor: Steven P. Tropello
  • Patent number: 11986341
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for use in contexts such as minimally invasive surgery (MIS). A device having an ultrasound transducer and methods for using the device are disclosed. A patient's anatomy may be scanned by use of the device and various target anatomy located. Trajectory information which corresponds to a path free of the various target anatomy may be presented to an operator of the device. By scanning the tissue, identifying the anatomy, and presenting the results to the operator, unnecessary damage to elements of the patient's anatomy may be avoided or lessened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Tissue Differentiation Intelligence, LLC
    Inventors: Kern Singh, Sachin Gupta
  • Patent number: 11986342
    Abstract: A method may include intravenously directing first bubbles into a patient's venous circulatory system and to a right side of the patient's heart. The first bubbles may have sizes that fall within a first range. The method may further include monitoring the patient's heart, with ultrasound imaging, to detect presence of the first bubbles on a left side of the patient's heart. Upon detecting the first bubbles on the left side of the patient's heart, the method may further include intravenously directing second bubbles into the patient's venous circulatory system and to the right side of the patient's heart. The second bubbles may have sizes that fall within a second range that is different than the first range. Upon detecting the second bubbles on the left side of the patient's heart, the method may further include initiating treatment to minimize risk of stroke in the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Agitated Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Micah J Eimer, Morgan Evans, Benjamin Arcand, Jennifer Chmura, C. Lance Boling
  • Patent number: 11986343
    Abstract: An ultrasonic endoscope includes: an ultrasonic transducer having an ultrasonic vibrator; a distal end portion body disposed continuously with a proximal end side of the ultrasonic transducer; an erecting base housing portion that is disposed in the distal end portion body and has an opening which opens toward one side in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the distal end portion body; a treatment tool lead-out port that communicates with the inside of the erecting base housing portion; an erecting base that is disposed in the inside of the erecting base housing portion and changes a lead out direction of a treatment tool led out from the treatment tool lead-out port; and a cleaning communication hole that is formed in a wall surface on a side opposite to a side where the opening of the erecting base housing portion is disposed and communicates with an outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Morimoto, Toshizumi Tanaka, Shozo Iyama
  • Patent number: 11986344
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable probe for photoacoustic tomography, capable of performing line-by-line scanning or area-by-area scanning by using a small number of light inputs; and a real-time photoacoustic tomography device. The probe for photoacoustic tomography includes: a lens receiving light inputs from an optical fiber so as to make the same proceed as small diameter parallel light; a Powell lens receiving the small diameter parallel light and generating a line beam of a predetermined thickness, and allowing energy dispersed on a line to be uniform on the entire line; a lens making the line beam pass therethrough such that the line beam has a predetermined width and a reduced thickness so as to be line-focused at a target area; an acoustic reflection glass for separating, from a light path, an acoustic wave outputted from the target area; and an acoustic measurement unit for measuring acoustic strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: PUKYONG NATIONAL UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Chul Ho Oak, Eun Kee Park, Jung-Eun Park, Yeh Chan Ahn
  • Patent number: 11986345
    Abstract: A system may include an ultrasound probe and a controller unit configured to communicate with the ultrasound probe. The controller unit may be further configured to select an aiming mode for an ultrasound probe; detect a target of interest; determine a centroid for the detected target of interest; display a center indicator based on the determined centroid; detect that the center indicator is within a threshold number of pixels or distance of a centerline of a field of view of the ultrasound probe; and highlight the generated center indicator, in response to detecting that the center indicator is within the threshold number of pixels or distance of the centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Verathon Inc.
    Inventor: Marion Douglas
  • Patent number: 11986346
    Abstract: A gel pad for facilitating ultrasound scanning between an ultrasound transducer and a skin surface is provided. The gel pad has a first surface being bendable with a small degree and maintained locally flat, and a second surface being more bendable than the first surface for contacting the skin surface. A coupling media is arranged between the first and second surface with a stiffness gradient increasing from the second surface to the first surface. The first surface is capable of facilitating the ultrasound transducer to move swiftly on the gel pad. The second surface is capable of conforming to a non-uniform shape of the skin surface. On the first or second surface, position markers are provided for determining coordinates of the ultrasound transducer, by blocking ultrasound signals from transmitting through the gel pad to generate dark strips or marks in the ultrasound images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Telefield Medical Imaging Limited
    Inventors: Yongping Zheng, Queenie Tsung Kwan Shea
  • Patent number: 11986347
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system comprises an ultrasound imaging apparatus operable to acquire ultrasound image data and comprising a power accepting interface; and a dual function charging and cooling unit configured to detachably couple to the ultrasound imaging apparatus; wherein the dual function charging and cooling unit comprises i) a power conveying element to convey power to the ultrasound imaging apparatus and ii) an active cooling element for removing heat from the ultrasound imaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Clarius Mobile Health Corp.
    Inventors: Daniel Rahardja, Binda Zhang
  • Patent number: 11986348
    Abstract: An ultrasound system 1 includes an ultrasound probe 2 and an image display device 3 that are wirelessly connected to each other. The ultrasound probe 2 includes a transducer array 11, a transmitting and receiving unit 14 that generates a sound ray signal by directing the transducer array 11 to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, an image information data generation unit 20 that generates image information data from the sound ray signal, a compression unit 18 that compresses the image information data, and a compression ratio setting unit 23 that sets a compression ratio of the image information data. The image display device 3 includes a decompression unit 33, a display unit 36 that displays an ultrasound image based on the decoded image information data, and an inspection mode setting unit 39 that sets an inspection mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yukiya Miyachi
  • Patent number: 11986349
    Abstract: An ultrasound device is described. The ultrasound device may include a cavity, a membrane, and a sensing electrode. When an electrical signal is applied to the sensing electrode and a static bias is applied to the membrane, the membrane vibrates within the cavity and produces ultrasonic signals. The cavity, the membrane, and the sensing electrode may be considered a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT). The sensing electrode may be shaped as a ring, whereby the central portion of the sensing electrode is removed. Removal of the central portion of the sensing electrode may reduce the parasitic capacitance without substantially affecting the production of ultrasonic signals by the CMUT. This, in turn, can result in an increase in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the ultrasonic signals. The ultrasound device may further include a bond pad configured for wire bonding, and a trench electrically isolating the bond pad from the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Keith G. Fife, Jianwei Liu, Joseph Lutsky, Sarp Satir, Jungwook Yang
  • Patent number: 11986350
    Abstract: An imaging system includes: a transceiver cell for generating a pressure wave and converting an external pressure wave into an electrical signal; and a control unit for controlling an operation of the transceiver cell. The transceiver cell includes: a substrate; at least one membrane suspending from the substrate; and a plurality of transducer elements mounted on the at least one membrane. Each of the plurality of transducer elements has a bottom electrode, a piezoelectric layer on bottom electrode, and at least one top electrode on the piezoelectric layer. Each of the plurality of transducer element generates a bending moment in response to applying an electrical potential across the bottom electrode and the at least one top electrode and develops an electrical charge in response to a bending moment due to the external pressure wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Exo Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandeep Akkaraju, Haesung Kwon, Yusuf Haque, Janusz Bryzek
  • Patent number: 11986351
    Abstract: A flexible electronic circuit includes a plurality of leaves having a proximal section, a distal section, and an intermediate section. The plurality of leaves are bonded to each other within the distal section and loose within the intermediate section. The intermediate section also includes conductive connector pads for a wiring harness. A plurality of test connector pads are disposed on the plurality of leaves within the proximal section. The leaves within the proximal section may also be bonded to each other, for example in a ribbon or stepped configuration, in order to facilitate connection to testing apparatus. Once the circuit is tested, the proximal section can be severed from the intermediate section prior to installation of the circuit into a medical device, such as an intracardiac echocardiography catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur G. Blanck, Fermin Armando Lupotti
  • Patent number: 11986352
    Abstract: A method of estimating lung motion includes collecting multiple ultrasound image data captured at one or more locations of a sample region of tissue. The method further includes comparing the multiple ultrasound image data and determining temporal correlation coefficients between each of the multiple ultrasound image data. The method still further includes displaying an image of the sample region of the tissue with the temporal correlation coefficients identified, thereby indicating lung motion. In further methods, the determined temporal correlation coefficients are used to determine an amount of decorrelation, which can be used to determine strain of the tissue over the sample region and to calculate lung displacements and lung shape changes representing ventilation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rubin, James D. Hamilton, Oliver D. Kripfgans, J. Brian Fowlkes
  • Patent number: 11986353
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic device according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry estimates a health state on the basis of a measurement value measured using ultrasonic image data. The processing circuitry determines an additional examination used to diagnose the health state, on the basis of the estimated health state. The processing circuitry outputs information indicative of the health state and the additional examination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignees: National University Corporation Okayama University, CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norihisa Toh, Kousuke Namiki, Koichiro Kurita
  • Patent number: 11986354
    Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus for medical examination using ultrasonic waves, comprising a movable transducer probe which includes a transducer array of electroacoustic transducers for transmitting ultrasonic signals into a patient body and receiving as analog raw data ultrasonic echoes; the transducer probe configured to generate digital raw data based on the received analog raw data which comprises measurement data sets for temporally consecutive measurement time intervals, and is configured to transmit the digital raw data via a digital data interface; a computer device configured to buffer the respective measurement data sets of the digital raw data and is configured to carry out a digital beamforming for each of the buffered measurement data sets, to obtain a reconstructed image of the tissue sector, and generate, based on the reconstructed images, an image stream with a predetermined image refresh rate and supply it to a display means which reproduces the image stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: H-NEXT GMBH
    Inventor: Oliver Heid
  • Patent number: 11986355
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an ultrasound imaging system comprising: an image processor configured to receive at least one set of volume data resulting from a three-dimensional ultrasound scan of a body and to provide corresponding display data, an anatomy detector configured to detect a position and orientation of an anatomical object of interest within the at least one set of volume data, a slice generator for generating a plurality of two-dimensional slices from the at least one set of volume data, wherein said slice generator is configured to define respective slice locations based on the results of the anatomy detector for the anatomical object of interest so as to obtain a set of two-dimensional standard views of the anatomical object of interest, wherein the slice generator is further configured to define for each two-dimensional standard view which anatomical features of the anatomical object of interest are expected to be contained, and an evaluation unit for evaluating a quality factor for e
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Irina Waechter-Stehle, Jurgen Weese
  • Patent number: 11986356
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide ultrasound systems and devices that provide for reduction of reverberation artifacts in ultrasound images by automatically changing imaging settings such as PRI or transmit/receive configuration based on detected amounts of reverberation in ultrasound images. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor circuit in communication with an ultrasound probe. The processor circuit obtains a plurality of ultrasound images obtained using a plurality of different PRIs and/or pulse sequences, calculates an amount of reverberation artifacts in each of the plurality of ultrasound images, selects a pulse repetition interval and/or pulse sequence based on the amounts of reverberation artifacts in each of the plurality of ultrasound images, and controls the ultrasound transducer to obtain a reduced-reverberation ultrasound image using the selected pulse repetition interval or pulse sequence. The reduced-reverberation ultrasound image is then output to a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Paul Sheeran, Charles Tremblay-Darveau, Thanasis Loupas, Allison Arden Daniels
  • Patent number: 11986357
    Abstract: A single-use handle is configured to attach to a working shaft that can support a sounder for measuring the medullary canal of a proximal radius, and a planarizer that is configured to planarize a proximal edge of the proximal radius after the proximal radius has been resected. The handle can further include a plurality of sizing cavities that are configured to receive the resected bone so as to determine the size of the resected bone. The handle can further include an ejector that is configured to decouple the planarizer from the working shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Synthes GMBH
    Inventors: Brian C. Hodorek, Matt J. Purdy, J. Michael Wiater, Anand M. Murthi, Matthew J. Smith, Derek J. Cuff, Andrew Jawa
  • Patent number: 11986358
    Abstract: A device comprising: (a) one or more markers, some or all of which are expandable rounded members that are expandable from a stored state to an expanded state and when in the expanded state each of the expandable rounded members expand to move into contact with a lumen in an organ; and (b) one or more tissue tags connected to the expandable rounded members or the expandable rounded members being made of a magnetized material; and wherein the expandable rounded members are configured to be located within and deployed from an insertion mechanism into the lumen in the organ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc.
    Inventors: Kester J. Batchelor, Huisun Wang, Theodore C. Blus, Nikhil M. Murdeshwar
  • Patent number: 11986359
    Abstract: Imaging marker embodiments that may be used for marking sites within a patient's body are discussed. Some imaging marker embodiments are particularly useful for imaging with ultrasound imaging modalities and some imaging marker embodiments may be suitable for imaging with multiple modes of imaging modalities. Method embodiments for making and using imaging markers are also discussed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: View Point Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: William Blair, Mike Jones, John Merritt
  • Patent number: 11986360
    Abstract: A device for clearing obstructions from a medical tube includes a housing defining an interior, an exterior, and a port providing fluid communication therebetween. The device further includes an elongated guide wire residing at least partially within the housing, and first and second rollers defining a nip therebetween that are located within the housing. A guide wire extends through the nip and is drivable for advancement and retraction thereof through the port via rotation of the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: ClearFlow, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward M. Boyle, Jr., Kenneth J. Chesnin, Wayne A. Noda, Paul Molloy, Al Diaz, Daniel Hyman, Jon D. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 11986361
    Abstract: An exemplary device is indicated for use in physically debriding thrombus fragments from a stent retriever, using hospital-grade saline, or heparinized saline, for example. This device may be used in the sterile field, during a mechanical thrombectomy procedure. An exemplary cleaning device for cleaning a stent retriever within a sterile surgical field may include a chamber configured to receive and enclose a stent retriever to be cleaned, at least one port configured for connection with a fluid source to enable inflow and/or outflow of a fluid to or from the chamber, and one or more support structures configured to support the stent retriever in a fixed position inside the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventors: Dennis J. Rivet, II, Shane Diller, John F. Reavey-Cantwell
  • Patent number: 11986362
    Abstract: To provide a zirconia mill blank for dental cutting and machining which has excellent machinability in a thin workpiece such as an inlay, an onlay and a veneer, and may impart high strength and high translucency to a zirconia perfect sintered body without a special sintering such as HIP treatment, and a preparing method thereof. The zirconia mill blank for dental cutting and machining has a porosity within a range of 15 to 30%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: SHOFU INC.
    Inventors: Kazumichi Nonaka, Shuhei Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11986363
    Abstract: The invention comprises an improved method and system for building a denture. The invention further comprises a technique for building teeth and a denture base in a digital space. The invention even further comprises a method for adapting a digital denture base contemporaneously with changes made to digital teeth on the same model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Global Dental Science, LLC
    Inventor: Scott C. Keating
  • Patent number: 11986364
    Abstract: Disclosed is a machinable dental bulk block that is a glass ceramic block including an amorphous glass matrix and crystalline phases introduced into the matrix. A major crystalline phase is lithium disilicate and a minor crystalline phase is lithium phosphate. The dental block is made of a functionally gradient material in which the major crystalline phase exhibits a gradient of particle sizes in a depth direction of the dental block and which has no interface at a point where the gradient of particle sizes of the major crystalline phase changes. The dental bulk block is useful for production of a dental prosthesis (artificial tooth) similar to a natural tooth. The dental bulk block can reduce time and the number of processing steps to manufacture a dental prosthesis and provides improved structural stability through good force distribution obtained by functionally graded mechanical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: HASS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyung Bong Lim, Yong Su Kim
  • Patent number: 11986365
    Abstract: A coloring device for coloring a dental prosthesis by an inkjet method, the dental prosthesis coloring device includes an inkjet head having a nozzle that ejects ink droplets; a holding unit that holds the prosthesis; a drive unit that moves the inkjet head or the holding unit in a predetermined direction in an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system; and a control unit that controls the inkjet head and the drive unit, wherein the control unit is configured to control the inkjet head and the drive unit based on predetermined coloring data and three-dimensional data of the prosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: KURARAY NORITAKE DENTAL INC.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Ito, Sho Ito
  • Patent number: 11986366
    Abstract: The invention relates to correction factors, in particular digital correction factors or printed correction factors, as translation (x,y,z) data and/or as data of the rotation of at least one real prefabricated prosthetic tooth up to a plurality of real prefabricated prosthetic teeth in a mounting for material-ablating processing of the prosthetic teeth, the correction factors preferably being assigned to the mounting as bar code or as quick-response code for use in a digitally controlled material-ablating process, the mounting having at least one fixed real prefabricated tooth. The invention also relates to the mounting with assigned digital correction factors as well as to a method for determining the digital correction factors of the at least one real prefabricated prosthetic tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: KULZER GMBH
    Inventors: Novica Savic, Karl-Heinz Renz, Silke Maren Gall, Stefan Rombeck
  • Patent number: 11986367
    Abstract: The invention relates to method of manufacturing a recess wall lined with bristles for a mouthpiece for simultaneously brushing at a plurality of dental positions, and to a recess wall and mouthpiece manufactured according to the method. In a providing step, an elongate, continuous, bristled sheet part having a first side lined with a plurality of bristles is provided. The elongate sheet part defines a length axis extending parallel to the sheet part and, viewed transverse to the length axis, a cross-sectional shape. The sheet part obtained in the providing step has an initial condition in which the cross-sectional shape has an initial shape, and the length axis is arch-shaped. In a transforming step, the sheet part of the providing step is transformed from the initial condition to a final condition to provide the recess wall. In the final condition the cross-sectional shape has a final U-shape, the length axis is arch shaped, and the first side is a concave inner side of the final U-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: DENTAL ROBOTICS GROUP B.V.
    Inventors: Joppe Gideon Van Dijk, Tim Anton Snijder, Thomas Van De Water
  • Patent number: 11986368
    Abstract: A method of reducing counterfeit medicaments or reducing medicament abuse is provided, the method comprising making an oral appliance for delivering a medicament to teeth and/or soft tissue areas inside an oral cavity, the oral appliance comprising an interior surface having a medicament disposed in or on at least a portion of and/or all of the interior surface of the oral appliance, the interior surface being formed to fit contours of at least the portion of the teeth and/or soft tissue areas inside the oral cavity and being configured for holding the medicament in contact with at least the portion of the teeth and/or soft tissue areas inside the oral cavity to deliver the medicament thereto. In some embodiments, the oral appliance is used in a blockchain system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Emanate Biomedical, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter John Zegarelli
  • Patent number: 11986369
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a dental treatment difficulty in digital treatment planning. The methods may include calculating tooth position changes from an initial dental model to a target dental model in a mouth quadrant of a patient's dentition. The changes in position may be determined by projecting distances between initial positions and subsequent positions of teeth onto an arch line of the initial dental model. A treatment difficulty of anterior-posterior (A-P) correction may be determined for the mouth quadrant based on an average change in position, wherein a greater average change in position is associated with a higher treatment difficulty of A-P correction. The digital treatment plan may be adjusted so that a provider skill level meets or exceeds the treatment difficulty of A-P correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Artem Borovinskih, Roman A. Roschin, Rene M. Sterental, Dmitriy Ten
  • Patent number: 11986370
    Abstract: Patterned dental positioning appliances including a shell including one or more cavities shaped to receive and exert repositioning forces on one or more teeth of a subject's dentition. An inner surface of at least a portion of the one or more cavities may include a raised mesh pattern arranged to contact one or more teeth within the at least a portion of the one or more cavities. The raised mesh pattern may be arranged to impart a contact force that affects one or more of a direction, a duration and a magnitude of the repositioning forces exerted on the one or more teeth. The raised mesh pattern may be is integrally formed with the shell and is made of the same polymer material as the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunhua Li, Yan Chen
  • Patent number: 11986371
    Abstract: A custom tool for bonding orthodontic appliances in a mouth of a patient, the custom tool comprising: a facial body for a patient-specific, customized fit with the facial side of a plurality of teeth of the patient, a lingual body for a patient-specific, customized fit with the lingual side of the plurality of the teeth of the patient, wherein the lingual body. wherein the facial body and lingual body are configured to combine with the teeth of the patient to position orthodontic appliances on the plurality of teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Inventors: James D. Hansen, Joseph C. Dingeldein, John M. Pilgrim
  • Patent number: 11986372
    Abstract: A method for preserving the alveolar ridge using partial extraction therapy. The method comprises de-coronating the tooth to leave a tooth root, de-coring a coronal portion of the tooth root to leave a tooth ring, severing an apical root portion of the tooth root from the tooth ring and removing the apical root portion. The tooth ring provides a ring of natural material that reinforces the coronal part of the tooth socket in the gum and reduces or obviates alveolar resorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: CASTLE WALL PTY LTD
    Inventors: Cameron Glenn Castle, Glenn Alan Castle
  • Patent number: 11986373
    Abstract: A dental anchoring system for fastening prostheses having a male component, a female component which is coupled to the male component, and a connection element which is coupled to the female component and makes up the retaining element of the prosthesis configured to be joined to the connection element. The dental anchoring system is configured to achieve a self-adjustable fastening of the prosthesis which enables the mobility of prosthesis to be controlled when it is subjected to a load during the use thereof by a patient; and wherein the mobility is limited by a ring-shaped stop of the female component, when at least one portion of a ring-shaped plane of the connection element comes into contact with ring-shaped stop of the female component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: CREATECH MEDICAL, S.L.
    Inventors: Arkaitz Ortega Trucios, Julen Gimeno Eguia, Mikel Gómez Picaza, Rubén Urzainki Beristain, Antxoka Urzainki Beristain
  • Patent number: 11986374
    Abstract: Personalised calibration methods and devices adapted to identify acoustical corrections to be applied for in-ear dosimetry. The acoustical corrections allow to convert a measured acoustic pressure within the ear-canal of a user to an equivalent acoustic pressure at the ear-drum and/or in free-field. The methods and devices also allow to distinguish noises originating from the user from noises of the environment in the ear occluded by an earplug. Such a distinction is done using two microphones to simultaneously measure the acoustic pressure within the ear-canal and outside the ear-canal. The device may be used to determine a cumulative sound pressure level dosage for which a user being exposed to surrounding sounds over a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: ECOLE DE TECHNOLOGIE SUPERIEURE
    Inventors: Fabien Bonnet, Jeremie Voix, Hugues Nelisse, Marcos Nogarolli
  • Patent number: 11986375
    Abstract: A deep insert, inflatable hearing protection earplug is provided that is easy for an untrained user to insert correctly, reliably providing high acoustic attenuation and remaining both secure and comfortable for long durations in a human ear. The earplug comprises a soft elastomer shell that forms a sealed volume filled with an inert fluid. The earplug can comprise a slender, flexible stem that is easily insertable into the ear canal when deflated. The proximal end of the earplug can be situated outside the ear canal, within the concha of the ear, and incorporates a bulb with a hemispherical, bistable cap. After inserting the shaft of the earplug into the ear canal, the wearer applies force with a finger to invert the cap, which transitions elastically from a convex to a concave external geometry, displacing a fixed volume of fluid to inflate a sheath that forms the outer covering of the stem, filling and sealing the ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: CREARE LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Dietz, Marc C. Ramsey
  • Patent number: 11986376
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a dressing configured to cover a wound. The dressing includes a substrate layer, a contact layer and a readable pattern layer. The substrate layer is light-permeable. The contact layer is located at a side of the substrate layer, and the contact layer is configured to contact the wound or skin around the wound. The readable pattern layer is disposed on the contact layer. The readable pattern layer includes a plurality of positioning marks and a plurality of colored cells. The positioning marks are configured to define an information area. The colored cells are located in the information areas, wherein at least part of the colored cells includes a biological indicator, and the positioning marks and the colored cells are visible through the substrate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: CYMMETRIK ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sz-Hau Chen, Chun-Hsiang Yang
  • Patent number: 11986377
    Abstract: A re-closable wound dressing is provided. A base layer is operable to be attached to a skin of a patient. The base layer forms a pre-fabricated aperture through which a wound of the patient is accessible. A cover layer is coupled with the base layer. The cover layer is operable to cover the pre-fabricated aperture, and is permanently adhered to the base layer along at least a portion of the cover layer. The base layer and the cover layer are made of like materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Inventor: Geof Clippert
  • Patent number: 11986378
    Abstract: A fluid distribution material for an absorbent article includes a formed film that includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side includes a plurality of elongated ridges extending from a first land area, a plurality of valleys defined by adjacent elongated ridges and the first land area, and a plurality of primary apertures located at bottoms of the valleys. The second side includes a plurality of apertured protuberances extending from a second land area. Each of the protuberances includes a continuous sidewall extending from the second land area to a distal end that includes a secondary aperture substantially aligned with a primary aperture. The formed film has a thickness greater than about 0.9 mm under a pressure of 0.071 psi, and a thickness greater than about 0.3 mm under a pressure of 0.6 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: FITESA FILM PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventors: Andrew D. Maschino, Phillip A. Mellor, Jesse B. Schalburg
  • Patent number: 11986379
    Abstract: A composite includes a first substrate and a second substrate joined in a bonding region, wherein the first substrate comprises a first Peak Force Tensile Strength and the second Peak Force Tensile Strength. The first Peak Force Tensile Strength is greater than or equal to the second Peak Force Tensile Strength. The bonding region has a Bond Density of about 10% to about 22%; and a Composite Tensile Strength at Peak Force that is within about 15% of the second Peak Force Tensile Strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Ray Dennis Dria, Michael Joseph Page, Joseph Leslie Grolmes, Scott Alan King, Matthew Steven Ritter, Christopher Colin Arp
  • Patent number: 11986380
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bending-resistant nerve catheter and a preparation method and application thereof, and relates to the technical field of tissue engineering materials. The catheter of the present application includes an inner layer, a middle layer and an outer layer, and each layer uses raw materials of biodegradable polymers; among them, the inner layer includes a smooth surface inner layer, an oriented microchannel inner layer or a fibrous inner layer, the middle layer is a fibrous middle layer with crossing angles, the middle layer is prepared by entangling micron fibers with a certain angular arrangement, and the outer layer is made of randomly entangled polymer fibers and is tightly bonded to the middle layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignees: Neosheng (Tianjin) Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Nankai University
    Inventors: Meifeng Zhu, Deling Kong, Xianhao Dong, Guangzhou Song
  • Patent number: 11986381
    Abstract: A surgical instrument system includes a pair of side-specific orthopaedic surgical instrument assemblies. The right-limb side-specific instrument assembly is kitted so as to be devoid of left-limb side-specific instruments and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: DEPUY IRELAND UNLIMITED COMPANY
    Inventors: Dennis A. Stoller, Stephanie M. Wainscott, Jonathan C. Lee, Rebecca L. Chaney
  • Patent number: 11986382
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the intravascular treatment of clot material within a blood vessel of a human patient are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, positioning a distal portion of a catheter proximate to the clot material within the blood vessel. The method can further include coupling a pressure source to the catheter via a tubing subsystem including a valve or other fluid control device and, while the valve is closed, activating the pressure source to charge a vacuum. The valve can then be opened to apply the vacuum to the catheter to thereby aspirate at least a portion of the clot material from the blood vessel and into the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Inari Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Merritt, Jacqueline Macias, Brian Michael Strauss, Thomas Tu