Measuring Blood Flow In Body Portion Other Than Heart Patents (Class 600/504)
  • Patent number: 8834382
    Abstract: A method for determining a cardiac function, comprising (i) determining base anatomical characteristics associated with the subject, (ii) determining pulse delay to a first body site (PD01) and a second body site (PD02) as a function of the anatomical characteristics, wherein the distance via the arterial tree from the aortic valve to the first body site (PD01) is different than the arterial tree distance from the aortic valve to the second body site (PD02), (iii) determining pulse wave velocity between the first body site and the second body site (PWV12), (iv) determining pulse wave velocity between the aortic valve and the first body site (PWV01) as a function of PWV12, and the anatomical characteristics; and (v) determining the pre-ejection period (PEP) as a function of PD01 and PWV01.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Cardiac Profiles, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory I. Voss, James M. Perry, Rankin A. Clinton, III, Bernhard B. Sterling, Andrew R Lawrence
  • Publication number: 20140257106
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for displaying, on a confidence gauge comprising a set of lights, a confidence level of whether a blood vessel is an artery or a vein, wherein a number of illuminated lights of the set of lights indicates the confidence level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Smok Signals LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Smok, Sheela Blaise, Sean James Coyle, Lauren Mayer, Matt Schurmann, Daniel Velez, Bruce McNair, Vikki Hazelwood
  • Publication number: 20140249399
    Abstract: A method for determining functional severity of a stenosis includes: (a) generating a simulated perfusion map from a calculated blood flow; (b) comparing the simulated perfusion map to a measured perfusion map to identify a degree of mismatch therebetween, the measured perfusion map representing perfusion in a patient; (c) modifying a parameter in a model used in calculating the blood flow when the degree of mismatch meets or exceeds a predefined threshold; (d) computing a hemodynamic quantity from the simulated perfusion map when the degree of mismatch is less than the predefined threshold, the hemodynamic quantity being indicative of the functional severity of the stenosis; and (e) displaying the hemodynamic quantity. Systems for determining functional severity of a stenosis are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Puneet Sharma, Ali Kamen, Max Schöbinger, Michael Scheuering, Dorin Comaniciu
  • Publication number: 20140243663
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: HeartFlow, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. TAYLOR
  • Patent number: 8818061
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for characterizing a blood vessel represented by vascular image data, wherein said vascular image data comprises a plurality of voxels each having an image intensity, said method comprising the steps of identifying a set of voxels representing a boundary of the blood vessel; determining a gradient vector of the image intensity for each voxel in said set of voxels representing the boundary of the blood vessel; selecting, from said set of voxels representing the boundary of the blood vessel, a subset of voxels such that all voxels have a common intersection point for their respective gradient vector extensions; and determining a vector product based on said gradient vectors for said subset of voxels, wherein the common intersection point indicates a center of said blood vessel and said vector product indicates a direction in which said blood vessel extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Orzone AB
    Inventor: Fredrik Ohlson
  • Patent number: 8812245
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: HeartFlow, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8808191
    Abstract: A method of and a device for non-invasively measuring the hemodynamic state of a subject or a human patient involve steps and units of non-invasively measuring cardiac cycle period, electrical-mechanical interval, mean arterial pressure, and ejection interval and converting the measured electrical-mechanical interval, mean arterial pressure and ejection interval into the cardiac parameters such as Preload, Afterload and Contractility, which are the common cardiac parameters used by an anesthesiologist. The converted hemodynamic state of a patient is displayed on a screen as a three-dimensional vector with each of its three coordinates respectively representing Preload, Afterload and Contractility. Therefore, a medical practitioner looks at the screen and quickly obtains the important and necessary information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: Robert Hirsh
  • Patent number: 8808188
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for continuous measurement of blood pressure based on pulse transit time and which does not require any external calibration. This technique, referred to herein as the ‘Composite Method’, is carried out with a body-worn monitor that measures blood pressure and other vital signs, and wirelessly transmits them to a remote monitor. A network of body-worn sensors, typically placed on the patient's right arm and chest, connect to the body-worn monitor and measure time-dependent ECG, PPG, accelerometer, and pressure waveforms. The disposable sensors can include a cuff that features an inflatable bladder coupled to a pressure sensor, three or more electrical sensors (e.g. electrodes), three or more accelerometers, a temperature sensor, and an optical sensor (e.g., a light source and photodiode) attached to the patient's thumb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Sotera Wireless, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Banet, Marshal Dhillon, Devin McCombie
  • Patent number: 8812246
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: HeartFlow, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8801621
    Abstract: A pulse wave data analyzing method includes successively detecting bottom and top peak values of pulse wave data along a time axis, calculating successive bottom-to-top amplitude values along the time axis, and comparing first and second peak-to-peak amplitude values occurring in succession along the time axis. If the ratio of the second peak-to-peak amplitude value to the first peak-to-peak amplitude value is smaller than a preset threshold, the bottom and top peak values related to the second peak-to-peak amplitude value are classified as temporarily erased data. The second peak-to-peak amplitude value is compared with a third peak-to-peak amplitude value occurring immediately thereafter and, if the ratio between the second and third peak-to-peak amplitude values is larger than the threshold, the temporarily erased data is restored. If the ratio between the second and third peak-to-peak amplitude values is not larger than the threshold, the temporarily erased data is completely erased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Sensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazumi Kitajima, Yoshiroh Nagai
  • Patent number: 8801625
    Abstract: Methods for noninvasively determining a pulmonary capillary blood flow or a cardiac output of a subject include determining data of the amount of gas exchanged between blood and gas in lungs of the subject, as well as data of an indicator of the content of the gas in blood of the subject. Such a determination may be made during two or more different states of ventilation. A geometric relationship is identified between data points, with any data points outlying the geometric relationship being disregarded. The remaining data points may be used to estimate or calculate a measure of pulmonary capillary blood flow or cardiac output. Systems that include elements that are configured to effect such methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: RIC Investments, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph A. Orr, Kai Kück
  • Patent number: 8801623
    Abstract: A device and method determining or measuring a biological, physical or physiological parameter of an object includes a flexible carrier configured to be placed in a vicinity of the object; and at least one a sensor element attached to the flexible carrier and configured to determine at least one biological, physical or physiological parameter. In addition, a heating element is attached to the flexible carrier and configured to provide heat to the object; and a degradable adhesive is arranged on the flexible carrier adjacent to the heating element and configured to at least temporally affix the flexible carrier to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Mareike Klee, Christianus Martinus Van Heesch, Dirk Jan Broer, Jacob Roger Haartsen
  • Patent number: 8801622
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for analyzing pulse data. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a signal containing data representing a plurality of pulses, the signal generated in response to detecting light scattered from blood perfused tissue. Further, one embodiment includes performing a pulse identification or qualification algorithm on at least a portion of the data, the pulse identification or qualification algorithm comprising at least one constant, and modifying the at least one constant based on results obtained from performing the pulse identification or qualification algorithm, wherein the results indicate that a designated number of rejected pulses has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Clark R. Baker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8784355
    Abstract: Interventional procedures on the carotid arteries are performed through a transcervical access while retrograde blood flow is established from the internal carotid artery to a venous or external location. A system for use in accessing and treating a carotid artery includes an arterial access device, a shunt fluidly connected to the arterial access device, and a flow control assembly coupled to the shunt and adapted to regulate blood flow through the shunt between at least a first blood flow state and at least a second blood flow state. The flow control assembly includes one or more components that interact with the blood flow through the shunt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Silk Road Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Enrique Criado, Tony M. Chou, Michi E. Garrison, Gregory M. Hyde, Alan Schaer, Richard Renati
  • Patent number: 8784327
    Abstract: A method and system for determination of dimension related information such as volumetric flow rate(s) of a fluid flowing through a channel. In one implementation, the method and system analyzes temporal changes in a moving fluid's velocity profile to calculate the fluid channel dimensions. In turn, the fluid channel dimensions and the fluid velocity profile data may be combined to calculate the volumetric flow rate of the fluid flowing through the channel. In this regard, the geometry of the channel can be characterized using dimensionless variables that relate dimensions, such as the radius across a circular cross-section, to the largest extent of a dimension. For example, in the case where the channel is a cylindrical tube and a pressure gradient is applied long enough for the fluid to have reached a steady state, the dimensionless radius will be the radius at any point divided by the overall radius of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Team Medical, LLC
    Inventor: Warren P. Heim
  • Patent number: 8777862
    Abstract: Improved apparatus and methods for non-invasively assessing one or more hemodynamic parameters associated with the circulatory system of a living organism. In one aspect, the invention comprises an apparatus adapted to automatically and accurately place and maintain a sensor (e.g., tonometric pressure sensor) with respect to the anatomy of the subject. The apparatus comprised of a sensor device removably coupled to an actuator which is used to position the sensor during measurements. Methods for positioning the alignment apparatus and sensor, and operating the apparatus, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Tensys Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon E. Finburgh, Andrew S. Katayama, Ronald J. Vidischak, Anthony T. Butler, Kurt Blessinger
  • Patent number: 8780176
    Abstract: A system and a method for acquiring an image of a particle flowing in a vessel, the system comprising a light source for generating an illuminating light, an imaging probe for laterally statically illuminating at least a portion of said vessel with the illuminating light, a detection unit for detecting emitted light from an illuminated portion of said particle, and a processor unit for reproducing an image of the illuminated portion of said particle from the emitted light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Technion Research & Development Foundation Limited
    Inventor: Dvir Yelin
  • Patent number: 8771195
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a cardiovascular diagnostic system which enables early detection of cardiovascular diseases and defines their causes. Unlike known electrocardiographs, the cardiovascular diagnosis system can further measure elastic coefficient of blood vessels (the degree of arteriosclerosis), blood vessel compliance, blood flow, and blood flow resistance and velocity in blood vessel branches of the right and left coronary arteries. The elastic coefficient shows organic changes to blood vessels. The compliance shows organic and functional changes of blood vessels simultaneously. The blood flow shows blood flow resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Irumedi Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang Tae Kim, Seog San Hyeon
  • Patent number: 8770752
    Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus includes an irradiation unit configured to irradiate a subject's eye with a measurement beam scanned by a scanning unit, an acquisition unit configured to acquire an image of the subject's eye based on a return beam returned from the subject's eye, of the measurement beam irradiated by the irradiation unit, and a calculation unit configured to calculate a blood flow velocity of the subject's eye based on a displacement between a position of a blood cell in a first image obtained by the acquisition unit and a position of the blood cell in a second image obtained by the acquisition unit at a different time from the first image and on a difference between time when an image of the blood cell in the first image is obtained and time when an image of the blood cell in the second image is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Futoshi Hirose, Hiroshi Imamura
  • Publication number: 20140180146
    Abstract: A system and a process for representing collateral circulation in voxels of an organ. Arterial tissue delay is estimated from perfusion data by evaluating, according to a Bayesian method, a posterior marginal probability distribution for the arterial tissue delay. The estimated arterial tissue delay of each voxel is estimated relative to a threshold value. An indication of the voxels whose arterial tissue delay values exceed the threshold is displayed on a display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: OLEA MEDICAL
    Inventor: François NICOLI
  • Publication number: 20140180045
    Abstract: A lifesaving support apparatus includes: a sensor section which is adapted to be attachable to a patient, and which is configured to acquire information of blood flow of the patient; a determining section which, based on the information of blood flow, is configured to determine whether or not a use of an automatic external defibrillator is necessary; and an outputting section which is configured to notify a rescuer of information which is determined by the determining section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicants: KYOTO UNIVERSITY, NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Wakabayashi, Hiroyuki Satake, Taku Iwami
  • Publication number: 20140180035
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods for determining the degree of improvement after a therapeutic procedure. The method can involve determining a baseline measurement prior to conducting a therapeutic procedure, conducting the therapeutic procedure, and determining a post-therapy measurement after conducting the therapeutic procedure. The method further involves comparing the post-therapy measurement to the baseline measurement, thereby determining the degree of improvement after conducting the therapeutic procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: VOLCANO CORPORATION
    Inventor: David Anderson
  • Publication number: 20140171767
    Abstract: A system and device for measuring sexual function includes an adjustable ring forming an opening to receive a penis, at least one diagnostic sensor positioned on an inner surface of the adjustable ring, wherein the ring automatically couples the diagnostic sensor to the penis throughout a range of ring diameters, and a microcontroller in communication with the at least one diagnostic sensor. The at least one diagnostic sensor measures data during sexual activity and communicates the data to the microcontroller. In fact, in an example, the device is configured to be worn by a user during sexual activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: ANDRO360 LLC
    Inventor: James M. Hotaling
  • Publication number: 20140163403
    Abstract: Automatic arterial input function (AIF) area determination is provided that can be used to facilitate the generation of parametric maps for perfusion studies based on various imaging modalities and covering a variety of tissues. Automatic AIF determination can be accomplished by extracting characteristic parameters such as maximum slope, maximum enhancement, time to peak, time to wash-out, and wash-out slope. Characteristic parameter maps are generated to show relationships among the extracted characteristic parameters, and the characteristic parameter maps are converted to a plurality of two-dimensional plots. Automated segmentation of non-AIF tissues and determination of AIF areas can be accomplished by automatically finding peaks and valleys of each phase of AIF areas on the plurality of two-dimensional plots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: MARK W. LENOX, QUN LIU
  • Patent number: 8750971
    Abstract: A heart monitoring system for a patient includes an 802 protocol transmitter; an 802 protocol receiver adapted to communicate with the 802 transmitter, the 802 protocol transmitter and receiver forming a Doppler radar to detect heartbeat motion on a chest; and an analyzer connected to one of the transmitter and receiver. The analyzer calibrates a Doppler radar signal with an actual blood pressure during a training phase to develop a model. The analyzer is configured to use the model with the Doppler radar signal during an operational phase to estimate blood pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Inventor: Bao Tran
  • Publication number: 20140155770
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: HeartFlow, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. TAYLOR
  • Patent number: 8744544
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a charge-based physiological parameter within an internal organ of a living body, and a sensor adapted to be implanted in the living body and an organ therein. The sensor includes sensing elements adapted to sense the charge-based physiological parameter within the organ, and the sensing elements include at least first and second sensing elements that are electrically conductive, aligned, spaced apart and exposed at the exterior of the sensor. The sensor further includes a device for passing an alternating current from the first to the second sensing elements through an ionic solution contacting the sensing elements. The sensor also includes a device for generating a signal corresponding to the impedance of the ionic solution based on the alternating current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Integrated Sensing Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nader Najafi, Douglas Ray Sparks
  • Patent number: 8734357
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: HeartFlow, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8734356
    Abstract: Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: HeartFlow, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8727997
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring changes in blood volume using waveforms in the peripheral vasculature. In particular, the systems and methods relate to detecting ventilation-induced variation (VIV) of waveforms in the peripheral vasculature. Advantageously, the systems and methods may relate to analyzing VIV in peripheral venous pressure (PVP). Thus, the VIV of PVP may be measured, wherein decreased VIV is indicative of decreased blood volume In exemplary embodiments, such as involving spontaneous breathing, it may be necessary to account for changes in respiratory signal strength. Thus systems and methods are also provided for assessing coherence between ventilation and VIV for a flow or pressure waveform. Specifically, coherence is evaluated by comparing the waveform to a detected respiratory signal. Finally, systems and method are provided for distinguishing the impact of respiration on the PG signal during hypervolemia as compared to hypovolemia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Yale University
    Inventors: Kirk H. Shelley, David G. Silverman, Adam J. Shelley
  • Patent number: 8728059
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method for assuring validity of monitoring parameters in combination with a therapeutic device. An exemplary embodiment of the present technique comprises perturbing a treatment administered to a patient, measuring at least one parameter of the patient reflecting the underlying physiological state and associated with the treatment, and comparing the perturbations of the treatment to measurements of the at least one parameter to determine if the perturbations to the treatment are reflected by the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Edward Karst, Clark R. Baker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8721555
    Abstract: Photoplethysmography (PPG) is obtained using one red (e.g., 660 nm) and one infrared (e.g., 880 to 940 nm) light emitting diode with a single photo diode in combination with a pressure transducer thereby allowing both CVP and SpO2 to be measured simultaneously. The system also includes sensors capable of measuring position, angle and/or movement of the sensor or patient. Once the PPG signal is acquired, high pass adaptive and/or notch filtering can be used with one element of the filter from the red and infrared signals used to measure the arterial changes needed to compute SpO2 and the other element of the signal can be used to measure CVP changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Watermark Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip R. Westbrook, Daniel J. Levendowski, Timothy Zavora, Djordje Popovic, Milenko Cvetinovic, Chris Berka
  • Patent number: 8721558
    Abstract: A device for the in vivo determination of the blood flow rate in a patient's blood vessel includes a microelectrode arrangement provided for placement in the blood vessel, an electrical power source which provides excitation energy having physiologically harmless parameters for obtaining a measured signal, a signal detector for detecting an electrical measured signal resulting from the blood flow in the presence of the excitation energy at measuring electrodes of the microelectrode arrangement, and a signal evaluation device, connected to the signal detector, for determining the blood flow rate on the basis of the measured signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: BIOTRONIK CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Gernot Kolberg, Klaus Bartels
  • Publication number: 20140128756
    Abstract: A system for in-place visualization of sensed data is provided. The system includes a formable sheet comprising a display and sensors embedded within the sheet underneath the display. The display will display information relating to sensed data on a portion of the display corresponding to locations of the sensors located underneath the display. As a result, the display displays the information above or directly above the sensors that output data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Indian Institute of Science
    Inventor: Vijay NATARAJAN
  • Patent number: 8715200
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for determining the blood flow in an individual coronary artery of a patient, wherein the method comprises the steps of positioning a temperature sensor mounted at a distal portion of a guide wire at a distal position in the coronary artery, positioning an infusion catheter in the coronary artery such that the distal end of the infusion catheter is proximally of the temperature sensor, measuring the blood temperature with the temperature sensor, infusing cold indicator fluid with a known infusion rate and known or measurable temperature into the coronary artery by the infusion catheter, measuring the temperature of the mixture of blood and indicator fluid by the temperature sensor, and calculating the coronary blood flow by a formula based on the known and measured quantities. In an extended version, the method comprises steps for relating the calculated coronary flow value to related normal flow values, or related FFR values, or a related flow resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Radi Medical Systems AB
    Inventor: Nico H. J. Pijls
  • Patent number: 8708907
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for in vivo measurement of blood parameters by processing analog electrical signals from a plurality of photodetectors. In some embodiments, it is possible to determine one or more blood parameters according to (i) a first electrical signal from a first detector and (ii) a second electrical signal from a second photodetector. A difference analog electrical signal is generated, indicative of a difference between the light response signal at the first location and light response signal at the second location, is generated. One or more blood parameters may be detected according to the difference analog electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Elfi-Tech
    Inventors: Ilya Fine, Alexander Kaminsky
  • Patent number: 8708921
    Abstract: A method for measuring reactive hyperemia in a subject is disclosed. The method includes performing a first segmental cuff plethysmography to generate a baseline arterial compliance curve and/or a baseline pressure-area (P-A) curve, performing a second segmental cuff plethysmography to generate a hyperemic arterial compliance curve and/or a hyperemic P-A curve, and calculating an area between the baseline and the hyperemic curves. The size of the area can be used as an indication of endothelial dysfunction (ED) and ED-related diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Cordex Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Michael David Whitt, Kathy Elizabeth Magliato, Stephen Ritterbush
  • Patent number: 8708918
    Abstract: A monitoring device (20) and method (200) for monitoring the health of a user is disclosed herein. The monitoring device (20) is preferably an article (25), an optical sensor (30), a circuitry assembly (35) a display member (40) and a control component (43). The monitoring device (20) preferably displays the following information about the user: pulse rate; calories expended by the user of a pre-set time period; target zones of activity; time; and distance traveled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Impact Sports Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikolai Rulkov, Mark Hunt, Donald Brady, Sammy Elhag, Steve Lui
  • Patent number: 8702615
    Abstract: A method of estimating blood flow in a brain, comprising: a) causing currents to flow inside the head by producing electric fields inside the head; b) measuring at least changes in the electric fields and the currents; c) estimating changes in the blood volume of the head, using the measurements of the electric fields and the currents, where the current are produced in children or using electrodes at or near holes in the skull. Optionally, the configuration is selected to focus the flow of current to be inside the brain to a significant degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Osran Medical Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Aharon Shapira, Alon Rappaport, Shlomi Ben-Ari
  • Publication number: 20140107494
    Abstract: Cerebral blood flow data during cognitive task execution is measured using a functional near infrared spectroscopy method, then characteristic amount extraction is performed after performing primitive analysis on the measured cerebral blood flow data. Then, by using the extracted characteristic amounts and a pre-built model for employing in determination of cognitive impairment, automatic determination is made into clinical diagnostic groups of normal (NC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is thereby possible to perform cognitive impairment determination that is suitable for mass early stage screening of elderly people.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: NAGOYA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Shohei Kato, Hidetoshi Endo
  • Publication number: 20140107441
    Abstract: A method is described for surgical implantation of a cochlear implant system. An intraoperative baseline value stapedial reflex response is determined for a cochlear implant patient. Then while performing a given step in a multi-step surgical process to implant a cochlear implant system in the patient, the stapedial reflex response is monitored, and if the stapedial reflex response changes from the baseline value response more than a safe change threshold value, the given step is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Grasso, Marek Polak
  • Patent number: 8696586
    Abstract: A method and device for measuring blood flow in the bone after a fracture, wherein a hole is drilled into the bone. The method includes the steps of inserting the metal sleeve of an osteoscope into the hole; inserting the optics of an osteoscope into the metal sleeve and focused on the cavity created by the drill; filling the device and the cavity with a physiological solution such that the pressure of the solution is above the systolic blood pressure; decreasing the pressure of the solution while observing the cavity through the osteoscope, and recording the pressure in the system at the commencement of bleeding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventor: Jozsef Nyarady
  • Patent number: 8696585
    Abstract: According to embodiments, techniques for detecting probe-off events are disclosed. A sensor or probe may be used to obtain a plethysmograph or photoplethysmograph (PPG) signal from a subject. A wavelet transform of the signal may be performed and a scalogram may be generated based at least in part on the wavelet transform. One or more characteristics of the scalogram may be determined. The determined characteristics may include, for example, an energy decrease, a broadscale high-energy cone, a regular, repeated high-scale pattern, a low-scale information pattern; and a pulse band. The absence or presence of these and other characteristics, along with information about the characteristics, may be analyzed to detect a probe-off event. A confidence indicator may be calculated in connection with probe-off event detections and alarms may be generated when probe-off events occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Ireland
    Inventors: Paul Stanley Addison, James Nicholas Watson
  • Patent number: 8684903
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a therapeutic method for improving the hemodynamics, the overall microcirculation in organs, and the restoration and preservation of deficient endothelial function in a patient, the method includes maintaining blood circulation in the patient's veins and arteries and temporarily relieving the heart of its pumping function. Relief may be accomplished by increasing the preload of the right ventricle so as to improve oxygenation of the myocardium and its contractility, reducing and diffusing regular pulsations in the proximity of the aortic root so as to improve the hemodynamics of the left ventricle of the heart, and/or mechanically stimulating the endothelium by shear forces so as to reduce systemic and pulmonary afterload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Sayed Nour
  • Patent number: 8682424
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring the electrical impedance of sections of a living body. The measurement is carried out utilizing a plurality of electrodes each of which is disposed on a section of the living body, where the electrodes are capable of applying an electrical current through at least one probed section, and measure the electrical voltage over the probed section. The voltages over the probed sections are measured and the impedances (Z(t)) and their changes (?Z(t)), and the resistances R(t) and their changes (?R(t)), are calculated, by considering the electrical current distortion components resulting from the electrical currents flowing in the other sections which are not probed, utilizing an electrical model based on the distribution of the electrical currents through the body sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: DST Delta Segments Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Noson Tsoglin, Arkady Hanon Margolin
  • Patent number: 8679028
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and devices of obtaining plethysmograph readings and utilizing plethysomography to identify when pilots are about to experience GLOC. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the invention pertains to methods and devices designed to warn a pilot that he/she is about to enter GLOC and/or automatically averting catastrophic damage or injuries by directing a plane being piloted to take predetermined corrective actions. Specifically disclosed is a system embodiment for assisting in the prevention of gravity induced loss of consciousness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignees: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc., Beta Biomed Services, Inc., Convergent Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Melker, Michael J. Banner, Brian S. Fuehrlein, George E. Worley, Neil R. Euliano
  • Publication number: 20140081089
    Abstract: Non-invasive sensor apparatus and method for assessing cardiac performance. A wide variety of different sensor components can capture sensor readings relating to patient attributes. Those sensor readings can then be compared by a processor component to derive a cardiac performance indicator relating to the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Accumed Systems Inc.
    Inventor: William W. O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20140081154
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a body includes a surgical implant configured for implantation within a body, a sensory module coupled to the surgical implant and configured for implantation into the body in conjunction with the surgical implant, and a communication module coupled to the surgical implant and configured for implantation into a body in conjunction with the surgical implant. The sensory module is configured to monitor characteristics of the surgical implant, surrounding tissue and/or adjacent tissue. The communication module is electrically coupled to the sensory module and is configured to communicate a signal derived from said characteristics to an external entity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventor: Landy Toth
  • Patent number: 8672855
    Abstract: Implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, are provided for monitoring for an impending myocardial infarction. A signal indicative of changes in arterial blood volume is obtained. Such a signal can be a photoplethysmography signal or an impedance plethysmography signal. For each of a plurality of periods of time, a metric indicative of the areas under the curve of the signal or number of inflections in the signal is determined. An impending myocardial infarction is monitored for based on changes in the metric indicative of the area under the curve of the signal or number of inflections in the signal, and an alert and/or therapy is triggered in response to an impending myocardial infarction being predicted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Fayram, Daniell Dokko, Taraneh Ghaffari Farazi, Mark Carlson
  • Publication number: 20140073976
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for determining individual-specific blood flow characteristics. One method includes acquiring, for each of a plurality of individuals, individual-specific anatomic data and blood flow characteristics of at least part of the individual's vascular system; executing a machine learning algorithm on the individual-specific anatomic data and blood flow characteristics for each of the plurality of individuals; relating, based on the executed machine learning algorithm, each individual's individual-specific anatomic data to functional estimates of blood flow characteristics; acquiring, for an individual and individual-specific anatomic data of at least part of the individual's vascular system; and for at least one point in the individual's individual-specific anatomic data, determining a blood flow characteristic of the individual, using relations from the step of relating individual-specific anatomic data to functional estimates of blood flow characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: HEARTFLOW, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy FONTE, Gilwoo CHOI, Leo GRADY, Michael SINGER