Ultrasonic Patents (Class 601/2)
  • Patent number: 11684340
    Abstract: An ultrasound endoscope includes: an insertion portion; an ultrasound functional unit including an ultrasound transducer; an endoscope functional unit that at least includes an imaging optical system; and a balloon locking portion configured to connect the ultrasound functional unit and the endoscope functional unit, the balloon locking portion having a groove shape that can lock a balloon. A first plane passes, in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, through a first end portion of the ultrasound transducer near the endoscope functional unit, the first plane being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, and the first plane is positioned closer to a proximal end than a second plane passing through a second end portion of the balloon locking portion near the ultrasound functional unit, the second plane being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the insertion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshihiro Kitahara
  • Patent number: 11684387
    Abstract: A method for sealing a vessel includes supplying electrical energy to an ultrasonic surgical instrument having an end effector and a transducer coupled to the end effector, when the end effector is grasping a vessel, sensing parameters of the vessel when the end effector achieves a predetermined velocity, estimating a size of the vessel based on the sensed parameters, controlling the electrical energy based on maintaining a predetermined initial heating rate of heating the vessel until a predetermined amount of energy corresponding to the estimated size of the vessel has been delivered, and controlling the electrical energy based on a predetermined heating rate curve of heating the vessel after the predetermined amount of energy corresponding to the estimated size of the vessel has been delivered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: David J. Van Tol, Kelly E. Goodman, Keith W. Malang, Christopher T. Tschudy
  • Patent number: 11672553
    Abstract: An ultrasound catheter with fluid delivery lumens, fluid evacuation lumens and a light source is used for the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhages. After the catheter is inserted into a blood clot in the brain, a lytic drug can be delivered to the blood clot via the fluid delivery lumens while applying ultrasonic energy to the treatment site. As the blood clot is dissolved, the liquefied blood clot can be removed by evacuation through the fluid evacuation lumens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: EKOS Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Wilcox, Ronald L. Haas
  • Patent number: 11667975
    Abstract: Among the various aspects of the present disclosure is the provision of a noninvasive and localized brain liquid biopsy using focused ultrasound. Briefly, therefore, the present disclosure is directed to methods and systems to identify brain lesion or tumor characteristics without the need for a solid brain biopsy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Washington University
    Inventors: Eric Leuthardt, Gavin Dunn, Hong Chen, Allegra Petti
  • Patent number: 11648083
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a device having a circuit. The circuit includes at least one boost converter receiving power from an energy source, a square wave driver in series with the boost converter, an inductor in series with the square wave driver for converting a square wave to a sinusoidal wave, and a piezoelectric transducer in series with the inductor, the piezoelectric transducer connectable to a load. The device further includes a phase-locked loop coupled to the circuit to determine a resonance frequency of the piezoelectric transducer when the piezoelectric transducer is connected to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: INTER-MED, INC.
    Inventors: Gary J. Pond, John Baeten, Michael W. Allen
  • Patent number: 11648424
    Abstract: A histotripsy therapy system configured for the treatment of tissue is provided, which may include any number of features. Provided herein are systems and methods that provide efficacious non-invasive and minimally invasive therapeutic, diagnostic and research procedures. In particular, provided herein are optimized systems and methods that provide targeted, efficacious histotripsy in a variety of different regions and under a variety of different conditions without causing undesired tissue damage to intervening/non-target tissues or structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: HistoSonics Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Cannata, Ryan Miller, Alexander P. Duryea, Dejan Teofilovic, Zeljko Mladenovic, Aleksandra Rakic, Joshua Stopek
  • Patent number: 11648000
    Abstract: Vertebral probes for fusionless spinal surgeries and related surgical methods. In some embodiments, the probe may comprise a shaft having one or more tapering portions. Some embodiments may further comprise one or more non-tapering portions. The probe may further comprise a distal tip extending from a shelf or ledge that may allow for penetration of the tip therethrough with a first force and be configured to inhibit further advancement of the probe by requiring a second force substantially greater than the first force to achieve further advancement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Braunvest LLC
    Inventor: John T. Braun
  • Patent number: 11612750
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for automatic generation of a stimulation therapy that mimics electrographic activity in the brain at natural seizure termination define a stimulation therapy to be generated by an implanted component of a medical device system and delivered to a subject through identifying data characterizing a patient's seizures, especially at termination. A machine learning model identifies the seizures or seizure types from which to establish a canonical seizure or seizure type, and an algorithm translates the canonical seizure or seizure type into data that can be used to characterize a stimulation therapy. The systems, methods, and devices, include those configured to deliver the stimulation therapy that emulates the canonical seizure or seizure type when the seizure is detected, with the aim of terminating the seizure sooner than it would terminate without intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: NeuroPace, Inc.
    Inventor: Beata Jarosiewicz
  • Patent number: 11607568
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for deactivating bronchial nerves extending along the secondary bronchial branches of a mammalian subject to treat asthma and related conditions. An ultrasonic transducer (11) is inserted into the bronchus as, for example, by advancing the distal end of a catheter (10) bearing the transducer into the secondary bronchial section to be treated. The ultrasonic transducer emits circumferential ultrasound so as to heat tissues throughout circular impact volume (13) as, for example, at least about 1 cm3 encompassing the bronchus to a temperature sufficient to inactivate nerve conduction but insufficient to cause rapid ablation or necrosis of the tissues. The treatment can be performed without locating or focusing on individual bronchial nerves. The apparatus and methods utilized for lung tumor ablation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: AERWAVE MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Reinhard J. Warnking, Satoshi Nishiaoki
  • Patent number: 11602370
    Abstract: The disclosed technology is directed to a treatment instrument having a vibration generating device and a handle for operation. The vibration generating device comprises a housing and a generator including a transducer disposed within the housing. The transducer generates vibration by using electric energy and a first electric contact disposed on the housing. A connector is rotatable about a predetermined rotational axis with respect to the housing of the generator. A coupler is disposed in the connector and having a second electric contact rotatable about the predetermined rotational axis with respect to the first electric contact in a state in which an electric connection of the second electric contact to the first electric contact is maintained. The connector further includes a conductive member forming a part of an electric path of a current that flows based on an operating input at an operating member provided on the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi Kurosaka
  • Patent number: 11589911
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a nozzle for a device for the dermo-cosmetic treatment of dark skin spots by cyto-selective cryotherapy comprising a spray jet supplied by a tank of pressurised liquified cryogenic gas. The nozzle comprises an upper ring for connecting to a shell, extended by a central body of which the side wall which narrows downwards has longitudinal openings and delimits a gas expansion chamber communicating with a frustoconical dispersal conduit arranged inside an end piece to be applied to the skin and opening to the outside through a discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: CRYONOVE PHARMA
    Inventors: Denis Marin, Jean-Christophe Anton
  • Patent number: 11576721
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for locating and identifying nerves innervating the wall of arteries such as the renal artery. The present invention identifies areas on vessel walls that are innervated with nerves; provides indication on whether energy is delivered accurately to a targeted nerve; and provides immediate post-procedural assessment of the effect of energy delivered to the nerve. The methods includes evaluating a change in physiological parameters after energy is delivered to an arterial wall; and determining the type of nerve that the energy was directed to (sympathetic or parasympathetic or none) based on the evaluated results. The system includes at least a device for delivering energy to the wall of blood vessel; sensors for detecting physiological signals from a subject; and indicators to display results obtained using said method. Also provided are catheters for performing the mapping and ablating functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SYMAP MEDICAL (SUZHOU), LIMITED
    Inventor: Jie Wang
  • Patent number: 11576791
    Abstract: Piezoelectric osteotomy devices and corresponding systems and methods for removing an acetabular cup or shell from a patient's acetabulum are disclosed. In one embodiment, the piezoelectric osteotomy device includes a piezoelectric element to actuate a cutting tip on an armature. In some such embodiments, the cutting tip may be extended and/or retracted to facilitate cutting of bone around an acetabular cup. The armature may include a fluid output port located proximate the cutting tip to mitigate heat generated by the cutting tip. In one embodiment, the piezoelectric osteotomy device is arranged and configured to provide constant current adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: Smith & Nephew, Inc., Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited
    Inventors: Michael Bozeman, Monali Shah, Roy Messina, Andrea Karduss, Jeffrey J. Shea
  • Patent number: 11564704
    Abstract: In an energy treatment system, a processor temporally detects an electrical property value of an ultrasonic transducer, holds a temporary peak value of the electrical property value, detects an impedance value between the probe electrode and the jaw electrode, and compares the electrical property value and the temporary peak value to determine whether a predetermined condition is satisfied, and whether the impedance value exceeds a predetermined threshold. In response to determining that the electric property value satisfies the predetermined condition and the impedance value is larger than the predetermined threshold, the processor performs at least one of: (i) stopping and (ii) decreasing output from the first power supply, and notifying the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Minoru Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 11547604
    Abstract: A method and system perform an ophthalmic procedure on an eye having an optical path from the lens to the retina. An image of at least part of the eye is received in a data processing unit. The image includes the optical path. The data processing unit determines keep out zone(s) and identifies undesirable feature(s) based on the image. The keep out zone(s) include the retina. The data processing unit also selects one of the undesirable feature(s) for removal. At least part of the undesirable feature is outside of the keep out zone(s). Confirmation for removal of the undesirable feature is received in the data processing unit. In response to receiving the confirmation, a control unit controls a laser to perform laser removal the at least the portion of the undesirable feature without targeting any portion of the keep out zone(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Tammo Heeren
  • Patent number: 11547815
    Abstract: A system includes an endoscope configured for insertion into an internal body cavity and a fluid management system. The fluid management system includes a pump configured to pump fluid through the endoscope into the internal body cavity and a controller configured to determine a pressure within the internal body cavity based upon a current feedback signal received from the pump. A method includes supplying a drive signal to a pump to pump fluid into an internal body cavity, receiving a current feedback signal from the pump, and determining a pressure within the internal body cavity based on the current feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: Jason S. Minahan
  • Patent number: 11547432
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a body, an ultrasonic supported by the body, a shaft extending distally from the body and defining a shaft axis, a waveguide extending distally through the shaft, and an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector includes an ultrasonic blade coupled to a distal end of the waveguide and having a primary blade treatment surface configured to treat tissue, and a clamp arm coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The shaft and the waveguide are selectively rotatable relative to one another about the shaft axis through a predefined range of angular motion between an assembly state and an operational state. In the assembly state, the clamp arm and the primary blade treatment surface are rotationally offset from one another. In the operational state, the clamp arm and the primary blade treatment surface are rotationally aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Matthew C. Miller, Sean P. Conlon, Michael E. Boehm, Richard W. Flaker, Bryce Hansen, Rafael J. Ruiz Ortiz
  • Patent number: 11540880
    Abstract: An electrosurgical apparatus having a feed structure comprising a radiofrequency (RF) channel for conveying RF electromagnetic (EM) radiation from an RF signal generator to a probe and a microwave channel for conveying microwave EM radiation from a microwave signal generator to the probe, wherein the RF channel and microwave channel comprise physically separate signal pathways, wherein the feed structure includes a combining circuit having an input connected to the signal pathway on the RF channel, another input connected to the signal pathway on the microwave channel, and an output connected to a common signal pathway for conveying the RE EM radiation and EM radiation separately or simultaneously to the probe, and wherein the microwave channel includes a waveguide isolator connected to isolate the signal pathway on the microwave channel from the RF EM radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: CREO MEDICAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Hancock, Malcolm White, Francis Amoah, Nuwan Dharmisiri
  • Patent number: 11540848
    Abstract: An ultrasonic thrombus removing system includes a front sheath tube (1) and a rear sheath tube (5) that are independent and that are inserted into a blood vessel (2); a rear end outer portion of the front sheath tube (1) is mounted with a front blocking balloon (105), and a front end outer portion of the rear sheath tube (5) is mounted with a rear blocking balloon (504); a breaking cavity (4) being formed between the two blocking balloons; the front blocking balloon (105) and the rear blocking balloon (504) expand or contract in the blood vessel (2) by means of the squeezing or loosening of an external force so as to block or open front and rear sides of the thrombus (3); an inner portion of the rear sheath tube (5) is provided with a core tube (502) that co-axially penetrates therethrough, a front end of the core tube (502).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: JIANGXI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Gaipin Cai, Xiaoyan Luo, Pengfei Zhan, Tiedong Cheng, Haohua Chen, Huiming Chen
  • Patent number: 11517499
    Abstract: A method for treating the kidney with focused extracorporeal shockwaves in a noninvasive manner. The method configured to restore blood flow velocity in the interlobular renal arteries, the method using non-invasive focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy (‘ESWT’), the method comprising applying between 1 and 2400 non-invasive focused shockwaves having a repetition rate above one shockwave per second, and energy density of about 0.02 to 0.18 mJ/mm2. The non-invasive shockwave treatment is applied to various focal zones encompassing renal structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventor: Avner Spector
  • Patent number: 11511116
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for planning and/or providing neuromodulation. An example system includes a first data input module for stimulation related basic data, a second data input module for stimulation related response data, a transfer module configured and arranged such that the stimulation related basic data received by the data input module are linked and/or translated into and/or with the response data and/or artificial response data created by the transfer module, wherein the data generated by the transfer module are transfer data, the transfer data comprising link data and/or translation data and/or artificial response data, and a mapping module configured and arranged such that based on the stimulation related basic data and stimulation related response data and the transfer data a digital characteristic map is generated, which describes an interrelation between the stimulation related basic data and the stimulation related response data and the transfer data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignees: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL), ONWARD Medical N.V.
    Inventors: Fabien Wagner, Karen Minassian, Marco Capogrosso, Gregoire Courtine, Robin Brouns, Jurriaan Bakker, Andre Kleibeuker, Bert Bakker, Vincent Delattre
  • Patent number: 11497518
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical handpiece may include an assembled handpiece, an ultrasonic tip, a tubing set, and an irrigation sleeve. The assembled handpiece may include an assembled motor, a housing sleeve, and a nosecone. The housing sleeve and the nosecone may be disposed over a portion of the assembled motor. The assembled motor may include an assembled transducer, a transducer sleeve, and an angled adaptor. The transducer sleeve may be disposed over a portion of the assembled transducer. The assembled transducer may include an amplifier, one or more piezoelectric rings, and a connector block. A surgeon may use the ultrasonic surgical handpiece to perform a portion of a surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Inventors: Gregg D Scheller, Steven J Apperson, Johanna L Bryan, David G Wuchinich
  • Patent number: 11501751
    Abstract: To alleviate information-dependent behavior by using a mobile terminal of a user of the mobile terminal. A mobile terminal including a first signal generator that generates a frequency signal in the audible band, a second signal generator that generates a high-frequency signal in a frequency band higher than the audible band, a speaker that converts the high-frequency signal into a corresponding high-frequency sound, and a timing controller that controls timing of the generation of the high-frequency signal to be a timing that does not correlate with the timing of the generation of the frequency signal in the audible band is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: ACTION RESEARCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Oohashi, Norie Kawai, Emi Nishina, Manabu Honda
  • Patent number: 11490919
    Abstract: A minimally invasive ultrasonic osteotome head and a minimally invasive ultrasonic powered system for bone; the minimally invasive ultrasonic osteotome head comprises an osteotome rod (11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61) and a head end (12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62), the head end (12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62) being located at a front end of the osteotome rod(11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61), and the head end (12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62) being bent laterally at a certain angle, wherein knurled teeth or skewed teeth are provided on the bent portion. By means of bending the head end (12, 22, 32, 42, 52, 62), bone tissue around the transforaminal endoscope may be removed. Therefore, a surgeon may, as much as possible, have more operation space under the limited endoscope channel, thereby increasing bone removal efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Beijing SMTP Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qun Cao, Zhenzhou Li, Songtao Zhan
  • Patent number: 11471053
    Abstract: Temperature uncertainty maps are calculated based on a rolling window of temperature maps, which is updated as new temperature maps are generated. The rolling window mitigates the effect of transient motion during a thermal therapy procedure. A clinician or an automated control system can then update a portion of an anatomical boundary or the thermal therapy applicator center based on the temperature uncertainty map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Profound Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandre Bigot, Patrick Leonard, Ron Kurtz
  • Patent number: 11458069
    Abstract: A treatment method to reduce or eliminate a patient's symptoms caused by a medical condition or disease is disclosed. The treatment has the step of administering acoustic shock waves directed to one or more reflexology zones or to one or more reflexology zones and an area near a source of the pain if any is exhibited to treat the medical condition. The treatment further has the steps of activating acoustic shock waves of an acoustic shock wave generator to emit acoustic shock waves and subjecting the one or more reflexology zones or the one or more reflexology zones and the area near a source of the medical condition or pain, if any is exhibited, to acoustic shock waves to treat the medical condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Softwave Tissue Regeneration Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John F. Warlick, John Patrick Finney
  • Patent number: 11446175
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems, compositions, and methods for improving one or more skin characteristics in a subject. These systems, compositions, and methods are configured to cool the subject's skin at a target site to a degree that alters adipocyte signaling but does not produce significant destruction of subcutaneous lipid-rich cells. In some embodiments, alteration of adipocyte signaling produces an improvement in one or more skin characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel N. Jimenez Lozano, Like Zeng, Linda Pham, George Frangineas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11439425
    Abstract: A surgical procedure of preparing bone holes to dispose an implanted tendon to a femur when performing reconstruction of a ligament in a knee joint, includes: forming a first bone hole in the femur; and applying ultrasonic vibration from a treatment portion of an ultrasonic treatment instrument to the femur, thereby cutting and expanding the first bone hole from the inside of the knee joint to the first bone hole of the femur along a predetermined depth, and forming a second bone hole having a polygonal shape, an approximately polygonal shape, an elliptical shape or an approximately elliptical shape to receive the implanted tendon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michio Takayama, Takamitsu Sakamoto, Ken Fujisaki
  • Patent number: 11406848
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an ultrasound therapy device using high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and a control method thereof. The ultrasound therapy device comprises: an array type HIFU converter having a plurality of HIFU conversion elements; and a control unit for performing a control to treat tissues in a focusing area by selecting and driving some of the HIFU conversion elements of the array type HIFU converter and irradiating ultrasound signals to an object through the driven active conversion elements to generate heat energy, wherein, after an elapse of a predetermined time period, the control unit drives a combination of other conversion elements as new active conversion elements in replacement of the active conversion elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SOGANG UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Tai-Kyong Song, Pilsu Kim, Jiwon Park, Sua Bae
  • Patent number: 11406315
    Abstract: A non-invasive system for monitoring brain trauma, the system comprising: a plurality of spaced apart brainwave sensors configured to monitor brainwaves of a user of the system; one or more force determination sensors, configured to determine an amount of force exerted on the user's head; and a processing unit configured to: obtain a plurality of brainwave readings from the brainwave sensors and a plurality of force readings from the force determination sensors; provide a notification upon the force readings indicating that the amount of force exerted on the user's head exceeds a threshold or upon the brainwave readings indicating an abnormal brain activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Inventor: Elliot Steven Finkelstein
  • Patent number: 11389263
    Abstract: Surgical instruments include a first drive assembly having a first drive gear and a lockout mechanism positioned for releasable engagement with the first drive assembly to inhibit rotation of the first drive gear. The lockout mechanism includes a pawl and an actuator for moving the pawl from a first position in engagement with the first drive gear to a second position spaced from the first drive gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Justin Williams, Joseph Eisinger, Michael Ingmanson, Kelly Azeredo, Thomas Wingardner, David Valentine, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11389372
    Abstract: A method of modulating glandular secretions by administering acoustic shock waves to a reflexology zone has been discovered. In one preferred embodiment, a treatment method achieves one or more of a) modulating blood sugar levels, b) stimulating insulin production levels or c) normalizing A1C levels by administering acoustic shock waves to a reflexology zone or region of a patient. The treatment method further has the steps of: activating acoustic shock waves of an acoustic shock wave generator to emit acoustic shock waves; subjecting the reflexology zone to acoustic shock waves stimulating the pancreas to have a modulated response wherein the modulated response is one of an adjustment in blood sugar levels or insulin production and release or normalizing A1C levels which increases low level output, decreases high level output or stabilizes erratic output; and wherein the emitted acoustic shock waves are focused or unfocused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Softwave Tissue Regeneration Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John F. Warlick, John Patrick Finney, Janey Lynn Watts
  • Patent number: 11375979
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic probe having an improved heat radiation capability. The ultrasonic probe includes a transducer module configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic signal, a housing configured to accommodate the transducer module, a cable connected to the transducer module inside the housing and drawn from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing through an end of the housing, a bending device configured to cover the cable and connected to the end of the housing to receive heat, a strain relief configured to surround the bending device and including a heat radiation groove extending along a circumferential direction of the cable, and a heat radiation fin inserted into the heat radiation groove such that one end thereof is in contact with the bending device and the other end thereof is in contact with outside air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG MEDISON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gil Ju Jin, Ji Ho Gu
  • Patent number: 11364079
    Abstract: A shock wave generating device includes an optical fiber and a reflective part, and is configured to reflect and converge the shock wave generated inside the reflective part to an outside of the reflective part. The reflective part includes: a reflector having a concave surface having a cut surface-of-revolution shape, and a through hole, which is formed coaxially with a rotating axis of the concave surface, and into which the optical fiber is to be inserted; a sealing body configured to seal an opening portion of the concave surface; and a liquid to be charged between the concave surface and the sealing body. The optical fiber has a distal end arranged at a position on a rear side of a focal point of the concave surface, at which the shock wave reflected by the concave surface is convergeable outside the reflective part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: SOUND WAVE INNOVATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yamamoto, Kazuyoshi Takayama, Hiroaki Shimokawa
  • Patent number: 11351075
    Abstract: A convertible patient support apparatus includes a patient support bed and a removable patient contact disposed in a hole in the patient support bed. The hole is defined by a support frame. A static membrane is attached to the support frame. One of a plurality of removable patient contacts can be removably attached to the support frame to convert the convertible patient support apparatus based on the patient and/or therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Profound Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Antti Matias Syrjä, Aaro Tuominen, Raimund Christopher Wieland Jung
  • Patent number: 11338156
    Abstract: Systems and methods for noninvasive tissue tightening are disclosed. Thermal treatment of tissues such as superficial muscular aponeurosis system (SMAS) tissue, muscle, adipose tissue, dermal tissue, and combinations thereof are described. In one aspect, a system is configured for treating tissue through delivery of ultrasound energy at a depth, distribution, temperature, and energy level to achieve a desired cosmetic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Guided Therapy Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Slayton, Peter G. Barthe, Inder Raj S. Makin, Brian D. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 11318243
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, a system for treating a tissue site is disclosed that may comprise a manifold including a non-porous film having a plurality of closed cells defined by a sealed region perforated with apertures extending through the sealed region, wherein the manifold is adapted to contact the tissue site. The system may further comprise a cover adapted to provide a fluid seal between a therapeutic environment including the manifold proximate one side of the cover and a local external environment on the other side of the cover. In one embodiment, the plurality of closed cells is adapted to form distal channels with the cover and the apertures are adapted to provide fluid communication between the distal channels and the tissue site. The system may further comprise a negative-pressure source fluidly coupled to the therapeutic environment and adapted to provide negative pressure through the distal channels and the apertures to the tissue site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Mark Robinson, Christopher Brian Locke
  • Patent number: 11318330
    Abstract: The subject matter of the present disclosure generally relates to techniques for following a treatment protocol having one or more treatment parameters to cause a targeted physiological outcome at a distal site, assessing an expression level of a gene in a region of interest after completing the treatment protocol, and modifying the one or more treatment parameters based on the expression level of the gene. The treatment protocol may include one or more ultrasound energy treatments to the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Puleo, Lakshmi Sireesha Kaanumalle, Victoria Eugenia Cotero, John Frederick Graf
  • Patent number: 11298568
    Abstract: Systems and methods for ablating tissue include an ablation device having an energy source and a sensor. The energy source provides a beam of energy directable to target tissue, and the sensor senses energy reflected back from the target tissue. The sensor collects various information from the target tissue in order to facilitate adjustment of ablation operating parameters, such as changing power or position of the energy beam. Gap distance between the energy source and target tissue, energy beam incident angle, tissue motion, tissue type, lesion depth, etc. are examples of some of the information that may be collected during the ablation process and used to help control ablation of the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Auris Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Hira V. Thapliyal, David A. Gallup, James W. Arenson
  • Patent number: 11284841
    Abstract: An implant sized and shaped to be endovascularly delivered to the middle meningeal artery includes a carrier that carries a payload between first and second ends thereof. An anchor mechanism associated with the implant transitions into a swollen state in response to exposure to bodily fluids. In the swollen state, said anchor mechanism anchors the implant to the middle meningeal artery. Before or during the transition, the anchor mechanism permits endovascular delivery of the implant to the middle meningeal artery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Tufts Medical Center, Inc.
    Inventors: Adel M. Malek, Carl Heilman
  • Patent number: 11278745
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for treatment of subcutaneous fat by simultaneously transdermally inducing both ultrasonic transverse vibrations and ultrasonic longitudinal vibrations in subcutaneous tissue, for example for reduction of subcutaneous fat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Inventors: Alexander Britva, Alexander Dverin, Yevgeny Pens, Joseph Lepselter, Ziv Karni, Shahar Tsurgil, Ohad Toledano
  • Patent number: 11253729
    Abstract: An external ultrasound generating treating device (12) to induce spinal cord and/or spinal nerve treatment comprises at least two sub-arrays of ultrasound generating treatment transducers, a left sub-array (20iL) being located on a left lateral side and a right sub-array (20iR) being located on a right lateral side of the central longitudinal axis (Ai). The device comprises a support structure (32) having at least one module (34i) comprising a left lateral section (34iL) and a right lateral section (34iR). The support structure (32) maintains, in use of the device, a constant distance and a constant relative angular orientation around the central longitudinal axis (Ai) between the first left and first right treatment transducers or set of treatment transducers (20iL, 20iR). Also disclosed is an apparatus including the external ultrasound generating treating device (12) and methods of its use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: SORBONNE UNIVERSITE, ASSISTANCE PUBLIQUE—HÔPITAUX DE PARIS
    Inventor: Alexandre Carpentier
  • Patent number: 11250675
    Abstract: A sensor system includes an actuator, an accelerometer coupled with the actuator, a rigid member, a transducer, and one or more processors. The actuator generates motion. The accelerometer outputs an acceleration signal responsive to at least the motion of the actuator. The rigid member extends from a first end coupled with the accelerometer to a second end. The transducer is coupled with the second end of the rigid member. The transducer can be configured to couple with a load, and can output a force signal responsive to at least a portion of the motion of the actuator transmitted to the transducer via the rigid member. The one or more processors determine a mechanical impedance of the load based at least on the acceleration signal and the force signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Morteza Khaleghimeybodi, Chuming Zhao, Scott Porter
  • Patent number: 11241592
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for more locally stimulating a desired stimulation region in a predetermined part of an object, the apparatus including a first ultrasonic wave generator configured to output a first ultrasonic beam to a predetermined part of an object, a second ultrasonic wave generator configured to output a second ultrasonic beam to the predetermined part of the object, and a controller configured to control the first ultrasonic wave generator and the second ultrasonic wave generator such that central axes of the first ultrasonic wave generator and the second ultrasonic wave generator are disposed on the same plane, and a crossing angle between the first ultrasonic beam and the second ultrasonic beam is a predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hyunjoo Lee, HyungGuk Kim, Seongyeon Kim
  • Patent number: 11241586
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for a treating dementia or Alzheimer's disease in a subject in need thereof. In one example, combined auditory and visual stimuli having a frequency of about 20 Hz to about 60 Hz, and more specifically about 40 Hz, are non-invasively delivered to the subject to induce synchronized gamma oscillations in at least one brain region of the subject. In particular, pursuant to various treatment and exposure protocols, combined auditory and visual stimulation (as opposed to auditory or visual stimulation alone) promotes a microglia response in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). More generally, combined auditory and visual stimulation induces an extended microglia clustering response in the auditory cortex, the visual cortex, and the mPFC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Li-Huei Tsai, Anthony James Martorell, Ho-Jun Suk, Ed Boyden
  • Patent number: 11235178
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to techniques for facilitating personalized neuromodulation treatment protocols. In one embodiment, a predetermined treatment position of an energy application device is used to guide future treatments for the patient. In one embodiment, a position of the energy application device relative to the predetermined treatment position is determined. In one embodiment, a total dose of ultrasound energy applied to the region of interest is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Puleo, Yang Zhao, Kirk Dennis Wallace, Ying Fan, Jeffrey Michael Ashe, David Andrew Shoudy
  • Patent number: 11221672
    Abstract: The present invention provides an asymmetric EEG-based coding and decoding methods for BCIs, the BCI system includes an evoked stimulus module, an acquisition module and an EEG signal data set including a training set Xk and a testing sample Y, and an EEG signal decoding module; the evoked stimulus module sends a hybrid coding visual stimulus to subjects to evoke a specific EEG signal as required; the acquisition module obtains data information by amplifying and filtering the EEG signal so as to constitute EEG signal module; the decoding module coverts the data information into an instruction set for outputting the coding method of the present invention uses asymmetric characteristics of brain electrophysiological activity response to stimulus, combines with coding strategies such as SDMA, CDMA, FDMA and phase division multiple access coding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: TIANJIN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Minpeng Xu, Dong Ming, Xiaolin Xiao
  • Patent number: 11213342
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes: a handpiece; a movable member configured to transmit a driving force to a treating member to treat a subject by moving relatively to the handpiece; and a connector arranged inside the handpiece, and including a strip to apply a pressing force to the movable member. The movable member includes a first conductive portion formed therein. The connector includes a second conductive portion formed on the strip. The second conductive portion abutting against the first conductive portion to connect the movable member and the handpiece electrically. The second conductive portion of the connector is a molded interconnect device constituting a three-dimensional circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenjiro Kanno, Tomoyuki Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 11194038
    Abstract: A multistatic array topology and image reconstruction process for fast 3D near field microwave imaging are presented. Together, the techniques allow for hardware efficient realization of an electrically large aperture and video-rate image reconstruction. The array topology samples the scene on a regular grid of phase centers, using a tiling of multistatic arrays. Following a multistatic-to-monostatic correction, the sampled data can then be processed with the well-known and highly efficient monostatic Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) imaging algorithm. In this work, the approach is described and validated experimentally with the formation of high quality microwave images. The scheme is more than two orders of magnitude more computationally efficient than the backprojection method. In fact, it is so efficient that a cluster of four commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) graphical processing units (GPUs) can render a 3D image of a human-sized scene in 0.048-0.101 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: William F. Moulder, James D. Krieger, Denise T. Maurais-Galejs, Huy T. Nguyen, Jeffrey S. Herd
  • Patent number: 11166632
    Abstract: A neuromodulator accurately measures—in real time and over a range of frequencies—the instantaneous phase and amplitude of a natural signal. For example, the natural signal may be an electrical signal produced by neural tissue, or a motion such as a muscle tremor. The neuromodulator generates signals that are precisely timed relative to the phase of the natural signal. For example, the neuromodulator may generate an exogenous signal that is phase-locked with the natural signal. Or, for example, the neuromodulator may generate an exogenous signal that comprises short bursts which occur only during a narrow phase range of each period of an oscillating natural signal. The neuromodulator corrects distortions due to Gibbs phenomenon. In some cases, the neuromodulator does so by applying a causal filter to a discrete Fourier transform in the frequency domain, prior to taking an inverse discrete Fourier transform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Elemind Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nir Grossman, David Wang, Edward Boyden