Directly Or Indirectly Stimulating Motor Muscles Patents (Class 607/48)
  • Patent number: 10857354
    Abstract: An example of a system to program a neuromodulator to deliver neuromodulation to a neural target using a plurality of electrodes may comprise a programming control circuit configured to determine target energy allocations for the plurality of electrodes based on at least one target pole to provide a target sub-perception modulation field, calibrate a plurality of electrode groups in the plurality of electrodes where each of the plurality of electrode groups is in an electrode configuration and includes an electrode set of at least one electrode from the plurality of electrodes, including for each of the plurality of electrode groups receive a feedback metric to delivery of modulation energy to the neural target, and normalize the target sub-perception modulation field, including determine a space domain scaling factor using the feedback metric to account for actual electrode-tissue coupling, and apply the space domain scaling factor to the target energy allocations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Tianhe Zhang, Changfang Zhu, Que T. Doan
  • Patent number: 10843001
    Abstract: Devices for controlling spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain, and associated systems and methods, including controllers for modulation program recommendation are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes receiving, from multiple computing devices, ratings for modulation programs executed by implantable medical devices for a plurality of patients, ranking the modulation programs based on the received ratings and based on at least one characteristic of the patients and the symptoms described by the patients, receiving a recommendation request for a modulation program for a particular patient; and transmitting one or more of the highest ranking modulation programs in response to the request for a modulation program for the particular patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Nevro Corp.
    Inventor: Jon Parker
  • Patent number: 10814137
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure may include a device for conveying power from a location external to a subject to a location within the subject The device may include a flexible carrier, an adhesive on a first side of the carrier, a coil of electrically conductive material associated with the flexible carrier, and a mechanical connector extending from a second side of the carrier opposite the adhesive. The mechanical connector may be configured to be received by and retained by a receiver associated with a housing configured for mounting on the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Nyxoah SA
    Inventors: Adi Mashiach, Tim Ruytjens, Itzik Mashiach
  • Patent number: 10796596
    Abstract: Described is a closed-loop intervention control system for memory consolidation in a subject. During operation, the system simulates memory changes of a first memory in a subject during waking encoding of the memory, and then while the subject is sleeping and coupled to an intervention system. Based on the simulated memory changes, the system predicts behavioral performance for the first memory, the behavioral performance being a probability that the first memory can be recalled on cue. The system can be used to control operation (e.g., turn on or off) of the intervention system with respect to the first memory based on the behavioral performance of the first memory determined by the simulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Steven W. Skorheim, Michael D. Howard, Praveen K. Pilly
  • Patent number: 10786674
    Abstract: In some examples, a system may include a plurality of electrodes, electrical stimulation circuitry, and a controller. The controller may be configured to select one or more parameters of therapy to be delivered to a brain of a patient and to control the electrical stimulation circuitry to deliver the therapy to the brain of the patient based on the selected parameters and via a first one or more electrodes of the plurality of electrodes. The parameters may be defined based on a first plurality of electrical signals sensed at a plurality of different positions within the brain of the patient when electrical stimulation is not delivered at each of the positions and a second plurality of electrical signals sensed at each of the plurality of different positions within the brain of the patient in response to electrical stimulation delivered at each of the positions at a plurality of different intensities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianping Wu, Dwight E. Nelson, Gabriela C. Molnar
  • Patent number: 10779730
    Abstract: A method and an electrode for monitoring electrical activity in a nerve are provided along with a method of fabricating such an electrode. The electrode includes a cuff formed from a chronically-implantable material that, when implanted, extends at least partially around an external periphery of the nerve. A plurality of contacts are supported by the cuff to be arranged adjacent to different regions of the nerve distributed along a transverse direction of the nerve when the cuff is implanted. A multiplexer is coupled to the cuff to be implanted for receiving electrical signals introduced to the contacts by the nerve and multiplexing, in vivo, the electrical signals to be transmitted to an external receiver over a shared communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Dominique M. Durand, Brian Wodlinger
  • Patent number: 10782790
    Abstract: A system and method to collect gesture input through wrist tendon and muscle sensing are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes: a sensor array integrated into a wristband, the sensor array including a plurality of pressure sensors positioned for contact with particular locations on a wrist of a user wearing the wristband; and a controller unit, the controller unit including a communication interface, the controller unit being configured to: receive a plurality of sensor signals generated by the sensor array, the plurality of sensor signals corresponding to movement detected at particular locations on the wrist of the user; convert the plurality of sensor signals to a digital representation; generate a composite data packet by combining the plurality of converted sensor signals into a composite digital value; and provide the composite digital value to a processing unit of a wearable device for use in control of a user interface in the wearable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Marcio Juliato
  • Patent number: 10772523
    Abstract: A patch including a fiducial layer, an adhesive, and a sensor layer. The fiducial layer having a surface adapted to secure to a portion of skin on a patient, wherein the fiducial layer further includes a plurality of fiducial markers having at least one of acoustic properties, material density, and proton content different from those of human tissue. The adhesive being disposed along the surface of the fiducial layer. The sensor layer removably secured to a side of the fiducial layer and positionable distal the skin of the patient. The sensor layer including a plurality of sensors evenly spaced from one another, adapted to be in electrical communication with the skin of the patient, and each adapted to measure at least electric field or impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Medicomp, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Marcus, Anthony Balda, Scott Baskerville, George Koos
  • Patent number: 10765856
    Abstract: A system and method for providing therapy to a patient can include a monitoring unit and a therapy unit. The monitoring unit can have a user interface and one or more sensors to measure patient data. The therapy unit can have a stimulator for generating electrical stimulation and a microcontroller for controlling the generation of the electrical stimulation based on the measured patient data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Cala Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Serena HanYing Wong, Kathryn H. Rosenbluth, Samuel Richard Hamner, Paula Jean Chidester, Scott Lee Delp, Terence D. Sanger
  • Patent number: 10765862
    Abstract: Methods and systems for treating sleep disordered breathing by stimulating nerves that innervate the palatoglossus and/or the palatopharyngeus muscle are provided. Such therapy can be used in conjunction with hypoglossal nerve stimulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: David T. Kent
  • Patent number: 10765368
    Abstract: Exemplary implementations may provide objective, continuous, and clinically useful assessment of asthma control in subjects including young children using a device that is compact, non-intrusive, and simple. The device may include a water-resistant, flexible patch that can be comfortably worn for two weeks or more. In some implementations, the patch may resemble a Band-Aid® that is placed on the supra-sternal notch. The device may record respiratory sounds that can be analyzed to identify coughing and wheezing episodes. The device may operate in different modes including ones for assessment of nocturnal symptoms, exercise-induced asthma, and overall asthma control. The device may be useful for objectively assessing asthma control to aid clinical therapy, and for an improved way to diagnose exercise-induced asthma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: LOS ANGELES BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE AT HARBOR-UCLA MEDICAL CENTER
    Inventor: Ruey-Kang Chang
  • Patent number: 10758724
    Abstract: A delivery and deployment device may include a handle assembly and a shaft extending distally from the handle assembly. A device containment housing may be coupled to a distal region of the shaft and may extend distally therefrom. The distal containment housing may be configured to accommodate at least a portion of the IMD therein. The IMD may, for example, be a leadless pacemaker, a lead, a neurostimulation device, a sensor or any other suitable IMD. A plurality of electrodes may be distributed about an exterior surface of the device containment housing such that at least some of the plurality of electrodes may be positioned to test a potential IMD deployment location before deploying the IMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: CARDIAC PACEMAKERS, INC.
    Inventors: Brendan Early Koop, Yinghong Yu, Qi An, Keith R. Maile, Pramodsingh Hirasingh Thakur, Bin Mi, Jeffrey E. Stahmann, Viktoria A. Averina, Krzysztof Z. Siejko, Michael J. Kane, Allan Charles Shuros, Arjun D. Sharma, Brian Soltis
  • Patent number: 10751532
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of treating a disease, comprising: (a) implanting an array of electrodes on one or more targeted nerves and/or targeted muscles; and (b) treating the disease by selectively stimulating the one or more targeted nerves and/or targeted muscles through electrical pulses delivered from the array. Also disclosed herein is a device, comprising a plurality of electrodes that have the capacity to be inserted in or around a facial nerve. Further disclosed herein is a method of treating facial paralysis and/or damage in a subject, comprising: (a) detecting the level of contraction of individual muscles on a healthy, non-paralyzed side of the face of the subject; and (b) treating facial paralysis by a direct targeted stimulation of the corresponding muscles or nerve fibers on a paralyzed side of the face of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Harrison W. Lin, Hamid Djalilian, Ronald Sahyouni
  • Patent number: 10737124
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for acoustic nerve stimulation. In one aspect, a system for acoustic nerve stimulation is disclosed. The system comprises an ultrasonic phased array chip device deployable into a living organism, the ultrasonic phased array chip device including a substrate and an acoustic signaling module on the substrate that includes an array of acoustic transducer elements operable to generate ultrasonic beams based on electronic control signals, capable to propagate the ultrasonic beams through biological nervous tissue to affect nervous signal firing; and a transmitter device wearable on an exterior of the living organism, wirelessly couplable with the ultrasonic phased array chip device to transmit the electronic control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventor: Amit Lal
  • Patent number: 10722745
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a muscle signal-driven cycling system for persons with disability for rehabilitation are provided. A system comprises integrating both motor power and muscle power to facilitate rehabilitation cycling-based exercises. By using the intensity of real-time muscle activity signals as inputs, a motor applies either assistive or resistive force to rotate a gear at different speeds to facilitate or impede the cycling motion, and the electrical pulses from an electrical stimulation device can be provided to stimulate target muscles to generate muscle contraction to support the continuous cycling movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Kai Yu Tong, Wing Cheong Leung, Xiao Jun Wang, Sai Chen, Yu Qi Fang
  • Patent number: 10722751
    Abstract: A power operated exercise apparatus includes two drive mechanisms configured to drive a left pedal and a right pedal, and a position measuring device, force measuring devices for measuring positions and force conditions of the pedals. A control unit is configured to control the drive mechanism and receive measurement content of the measuring devices, and storing a plurality of exercise programs for being selected by the user. During at least one specific operation period, the control unit repeatedly determines in which directions the left pedal and the right pedal should be moved according to information of positions and force conditions of the pedals so as to meet the displacement path and the correlation of a selected one of the exercise programs and to immediately control the left drive mechanism and the right drive mechanism to respectively drive the left pedal and the right pedal to move in a determined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Health Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hung-Mao Liao
  • Patent number: 10722701
    Abstract: A nerve stimulation apparatus is provided. The nerve stimulation apparatus detects nerve activities from a body surface and applies stimulation. The nerve stimulation apparatus includes a stimulation apparatus with multiple electrodes which are arranged on skin and a current supply unit which supplies a current to the electrodes, which stimulation apparatus provides the current to a living body percutaneously to stimulate a target nerve; a measurement apparatus which measures activities of muscles governed by the nerve according to the stimulation from the stimulation apparatus; and an information processing apparatus which determines, based on a measurement result of the nerve activities obtained from the measurement apparatus, which electrode is capable of providing the target nerve activities equal to or greater than a desired value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd., National University Corporation Tokyo Medical and Dental University
    Inventors: Takafumi Ishibe, Shigenori Kawabata, Takumi Yamaga, Hiroshi Deguchi, Koji Yamaguchi, Shunichi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10716509
    Abstract: The present invention involves systems and methods for determining nerve proximity, nerve direction, and pathology relative to a surgical instrument based on an identified relationship between neuromuscular responses and the stimulation signal that caused the neuromuscular responses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Norbert F. Kaula, Jeffrey J. Blewett, James Gharib, Allen Farquhar
  • Patent number: 10709944
    Abstract: Devices systems and methods are disclosed. Among other things, the devices systems and methods can facilitate ergonomic gripping of a handle; conform to the shape of a wrist; enhance golf techniques or performance; enhance racket sport technique or performance; protect a head of a user engaged in contact sports or other hazardous activities; identify concussions, in some cases in substantially real time; provide sterilization of garments; control surgical robots; allow for medical treatment of multiple subjects without disrobing; provide biometric or other data; and/or be used to train muscles or body parts for, for example, performing specified tasks using a body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: P Tech, LLC
    Inventor: Peter M. Bonutti
  • Patent number: 10675202
    Abstract: An apparatus for rehabilitating a leg includes a base plate; a first plate having a structure such that the first plate is rotatable to lift up a toe part; a second plate having a rotatable structure to enable a sole of the patient to perform inversion and eversion movements and to allow a side surface of the sole to move up and down; a driving device; a power transfer device; and a controller. The first plate includes an outer frame, a first frame for connecting central portions of mutually facing sides of the outer frame to each other to form opening parts at two sides thereof, a second frame, and a rotational part. The second plate is prepared as a pair, and the pair of second plates include second plate bodies disposed in the opening parts, respectively, and connected to the rotational part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Robot & Convergence
    Inventors: Dae Hee Kim, Kap Ho Seo, Sung Ho Park, Min Suck Jung
  • Patent number: 10668281
    Abstract: In order to make advanced gait training easy and effective, an electrical spinal cord stimulator for gait training used in gait training for those who have difficulty in walking due to hemiplegia includes: first and second electrodes attached to a rehabilitant; a detector which detects a gait-related physical movement of the rehabilitant; and an electrical sensory nerve stimulation generator which generates, according to a detection result of the detector, electrical stimulation to be applied through the first and second electrodes to a nerve root of a sensory nerve which communicates with a spinal cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignees: Tokai University Educational System, Keio University
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Fujiwara, Yoshihisa Masakado, Junichi Ushiba
  • Patent number: 10668282
    Abstract: A system is provided for a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve or Electrical Muscle Stimulation. The system generally includes at least two electrodes carried on a single substrate adapted to be disposed in electrical contact with a body surface, and an electrical stimulation unit configured to deliver electrical pulses to muscle groups or nerve endings adjacent a body surface that is in electrical contact with the at least two electrodes. The electrical stimulation unit includes an on-board controller configured for controlling the stimulation unit to deliver electrical pulses for pain relief and/or muscle relaxation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Inventor: Eric Ye Chen
  • Patent number: 10653882
    Abstract: Provided is an electrical stimulus device including a member to be wound around an arm of a user, multiple electrodes arranged on one surface of the member, and multiple optical distance sensors arranged on the one surface of the member. An electrical stimulus signal output from an electrical stimulus generation circuit is provided to the user from a specific electrode of the multiple electrodes to provide a stimulus to a muscle of the arm at a position facing the specific electrode, and the multiple optical distance sensors detect displacement of muscles of the arm. Some electrodes of the multiple electrodes are substantially rectangular electrodes inclined with respect to a circumferential direction of the arm of the user at a predetermined angle of lower than 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: H2L Inc.
    Inventors: Emi Tamaki, Kenichiro Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 10639473
    Abstract: Multiple designs, systems, methods and processes for control using electrical signals recorded from clinically paralyzed muscles and nerves are presented. The discomplete neural prosthesis system and method for clinically paralyzed humans utilizes a controller. The controller is adapted to receive a volitional electrical signal generated by the human that is manifest below the lesion that causes the clinical paralysis. The controller uses at least the volitional electrical signal to generate a control signal that is output back to a plant to change the state of the plant, which in one aspect is one or more of the user's paralyzed muscles to achieve a functional result or to devices in the environment around the user that are adapted to receive commands from the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Christa Wheeler Moss, Paul Hunter Peckham
  • Patent number: 10625042
    Abstract: The invention discloses methods and systems for modulation of the central nervous system and more particularly for modulation of brain oscillatory activity and the brain networks that give rise to it. The methods involve using one or more non-invasive stimuli, either alone or in combination, to increase, decrease, or otherwise modulate neural oscillations, the rhythmic and/or repetitive electrical activity generated spontaneously and in response to stimuli by neural tissue in the central nervous system. Various embodiments concern methods and devices for detecting sub-optimal or pathological neural oscillatory patterns, developing treatment protocols to modify the neural oscillations in a desired manner, introducing a non-invasive stimulus or stimuli through one or more sensory pathways to treat the conditions, and for adjusting the treatment protocol to optimize the therapeutic effect of the stimulus or stimuli.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Phoenix NeuroStim Therapeutics, LLC
    Inventor: Steven Metzger
  • Patent number: 10625074
    Abstract: A peripheral nerve stimulator can be used to stimulate a peripheral nerve to treat essential tremor, Parkinson tremor, and other forms of tremor. The peripheral nerve stimulator can be either a noninvasive surface stimulator or an implanted stimulator. Stimulation can be electrical, mechanical, or chemical. Stimulation can be delivered using either an open loop system or a closed loop system with feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Cala Health, Inc.
    Inventors: Kathryn H. Rosenbluth, Scott Lee Delp, John Paderi, Vijaykumar Rajasekhar, Tahel Altman
  • Patent number: 10617535
    Abstract: A supporting module, a motion assistance apparatus including the supporting module, and a method of controlling the motion assistance apparatus are provided. The supporting module may include a supporting member configured to enclose at least a portion of a support object, and a sensor module configured to sense information regarding whether the support object is out of a neutral position with respect to the supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang Hyun Roh
  • Patent number: 10603495
    Abstract: A multiple output current stimulator circuit with fast turn on time is described. At least one pair of input side and output side transistors is arranged in a current mirror connected to a supply transistor by cascode coupling. The output side transistor supplies stimulation current to an electrode in contact with tissue. An operational amplifier connected to a reference voltage and to the output side transistor drives the supply transistor to maintain the voltage at the output side transistor equal to the reference voltage. The at least one pair of transistors includes multiple pairs of transistors whose output side transistors drive respective electrodes with stimulation currents. The stimulator determines the initiation and duration of stimulation current pulses supplied to each electrode. At circuit activation, large currents are generated which discharge capacitances in the output side transistors causing rapid output side transistor turn on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: THE ALFRED E. MANN FOUNDATION FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
    Inventor: Edward K.F. Lee
  • Patent number: 10589099
    Abstract: A method, electrical tissue stimulation system, and programmer for providing therapy to a patient are provided. Electrodes are placed adjacent tissue (e.g., spinal cord tissue) of the patient, electrical stimulation energy is delivered from the electrodes to the tissue in accordance with a defined waveform, and a pulse shape of the defined waveform is modified, thereby changing the characteristics of the electrical stimulation energy delivered from the electrode(s) to the tissue. The pulse shape may be modified by selecting one of a plurality of different pulse shape types or by adjusting a time constant of the pulse shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Dongchul Lee, Michael A. Moffitt, Christopher Ewan Gillespie, Kerry Bradley
  • Patent number: 10588579
    Abstract: A method and a robotic system for online localized fatigue-state detection of a subject in a co-working environment using a non-intrusive approach is disclosed. A force sensor, mounted on the robotic system is capable of capturing effective force applied by local muscles of the subject co-working with the robotic system, providing a non-intrusive sensing. The captured force is analyzed on-line by the robotic system 102 to detect current fatigue state of the subject and proactively predict the future state of the subject. Thus, enables alerting the subject before time avoiding any possible accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
    Inventors: Chayan Sarkar, Pradip Pramanick
  • Patent number: 10549087
    Abstract: Methods and systems for improving nerve stimulation are disclosed and are termed enhanced transcutaneous electrical stimulation (eTENS). One embodiment can be used for enhancing the excitation properties of neural tissue. In one embodiment, systems and methods are provided to enable the selective modulation of specific (targeted) neural substrate, while minimizing the activation of adjacent (non-targeted) nervous tissue, or differentially providing different modulation signals to tissue targeted by different implants. In one embodiment, the system consists of an implant that is used to modify the extracellular potential (i.e. activating function) generated by an independent electrical stimulus generator. Certain aspects of this technology can be applied to any part of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Particular embodiments of this technology provide for therapy related to urological disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: EBT Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul B. Yoo, Michael Sasha John
  • Patent number: 10543365
    Abstract: A gait modulation system including: (a) a sensor device including a sensor adapted for associating with at least one lower limb of the patient, the sensor for transducing at least one parameter related to a gait of the patient, so as to obtain gait data related to the gait, and (b) a muscle stimulator including: (i) an electrical stimulation circuit, the circuit adapted to supply an electrical stimulation output to an electrode array for performing functional electrical stimulation of at least one muscle of the lower limb, and (ii) a microprocessor, operatively connected to the at least one sensor, the microprocessor adapted for: receiving a stream of gait information based on the gait data; processing the gait information, and controlling the stimulation output based on the processing of the gait information, and wherein the microprocessor is further adapted to identify a failure in the stream of gait information, and to consequently control the electrical stimulation circuit to deliver a fail-safe stimulati
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Bioness Neuromodulation Ltd.
    Inventors: Eyal Lasko, Shmuel Springer, Mark Rubin, Amit Dar
  • Patent number: 10537281
    Abstract: Assessing decongestive therapy delivered to a heart failure patient involves use of an implantable sensor configured to sense a physiologic parameter indicative of the patient's diuresis status and a processor coupled to the implantable sensor. The sensor may comprise a thoracic fluid sensor, a heart sounds sensor, a cardiac chamber or arterial pressure sensor, a respiration sensor, or a blood chemistry sensor, for example. The processor is configured to determine if a target level of patient diuresis has been achieved based on a relationship between the sensed physiologic parameter and a threshold developed for the patient, and to produce an output in response to determining that the target level of patient diuresis has been achieved. The processor may be disposed in an implantable housing, in a patient-external housing, or in a network server system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Julie A. Thompson, Yousufali H. Dalal
  • Patent number: 10493282
    Abstract: Therapy systems for treating a patient are disclosed. Representative therapy systems include an implantable pulse generator, a signal delivery device electrically coupled to the pulse generator, and a remote control in electrical communication with the implantable pulse generator. The pulse generator can have a computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a process that comprises collecting the patient status and stimulation parameter; analyzing the collected patient status and stimulation parameter; and establishing a preference baseline containing a preferred stimulation parameter corresponding to a particular patient status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Nevro Corp.
    Inventors: Anthony V. Caparso, Jon Parker, Andre B. Walker, Yougandh Chitre
  • Patent number: 10485440
    Abstract: A bioelectric interface for monitoring, detection and transmission of detected ECG data is provided comprising a sensory system for detecting bio-physiological measurements utilizing spatially resolved potential profiles obtained from a localized cluster of sub-electrodes to form constituent sets of miniature sensor arrays. Using only a single macro-electrode, two or more sets of sub-electrode arrays are used to measure bipolar spatial gradients obtained from measured cardiac potentials. The sets of sub-electrodes containing the clusters are optimized to attain measurable gradients of diagnostic value. A minimax procedure allows bio-potential sensory acquisition through a bi-directional digital steering process, which essentially comprises monitoring, detection, selection, grouping, recording and transmission of ECG waveform characteristic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Global Cardiac Monitors, Inc.
    Inventor: Karim Alhussiny
  • Patent number: 10478623
    Abstract: System and methods for monitoring and/or controlling nerve activity in a subject are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes electrodes configured to be placed proximate to a subject's skin, and a signal detector configured to detect electrical signals using the electrodes. The system also includes a signal processor configured to receive the electrical signals from the signal detector, and apply a filter to the received electrical signals to generate filtered signals, the filter configured to attenuate at least signals having frequencies corresponding to heart muscle activity during a heartbeat. The signal processor is also configured to identify a skin nerve activity using the filtered signals, estimate a sympathetic nerve activity using the identified skin nerve activity, and further to generate a report indicative of the estimated sympathetic nerve activity. In some aspects, the system further includes a signal generator to deliver the electrical stimulation to the subject's skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Peng-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 10449382
    Abstract: An implantable subsystem includes multiple implantable neural probes disposed on a flexible substrate. Each neural probe is configured to magnetically stimulate brain neurons. Each probe includes an array of magnetic neural stimulators that magnetically stimulate neurons. Each probe also includes neural probe activation circuitry comprising thin film switches disposed on the flexible substrate. The thin film switches are electrically coupled to row and column activation lines and selectively activate the magnetic neural stimulators in response to neural stimulation activation signals carried on the activation lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Bernard D. Casse, George Daniel, Jonathan Rivnay, Christopher Paulson, Robert Street
  • Patent number: 10441788
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods for delivering therapy to an adrenal gland of a patient. The apparatuses, systems, and methods may include a lead body that attaches to a portion of the adrenal gland of the patient; and a plurality of electrodes arranged along the lead body. In addition, one or more of the plurality of electrodes may deliver stimulation energy to modulate catecholamine release from chromaffin cells within the adrenal gland.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Lynne E. Swanson, William C. Stoffregen, Bryan A. Clark, Michael X. Govea, Dennis B. Werner, Natalie A. Brill, Pramodsingh H. Thakur
  • Patent number: 10426900
    Abstract: A method for measuring an amount of pain involves positioning a needle adjacent a non-human animal which is under anesthesia, inserting the needle at a controlled puncture speed into skin of the non-human animal, and measuring a muscle action potential of a muscle portion of the non-human animal produced by the insertion of the needle. The muscle action potential is measured from insertion start, at which the insertion of the needle into the skin is started, to insertion stop, at which the insertion of the needle into the skin is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuo Okamoto, Nozomi Ami, Tadakatsu Isozaki, Daichi Kurihara
  • Patent number: 10420480
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methods generally aimed at surgery. More particularly, the present invention is directed at a system and related methods for performing surgical procedures and assessments involving the use of neurophysiology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Schermerhorn, Eric Finley, Adam Azzara, Dmitry Novikov, James E. Gharib
  • Patent number: 10420935
    Abstract: Disclosed is a voltage monitoring circuit for use in detecting if a voltage supplied to current-generating circuit is sufficient to allow the current-generating circuit to produce a desired current. In one embodiment the circuit is designed for use in an implantable device that is configured to deliver therapeutic pulses to a patient. The voltage monitoring circuit is configured to produce a signal if a supplied voltage is insufficient to allow a current-generating circuit to deliver a requested current to a set of electrodes. In one embodiment, the voltage monitoring circuit detects a change in a difference between the voltage at a node in the current-generating circuit and the supplied voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Nevro Corp.
    Inventors: Paul Illegems, Jon Parker
  • Patent number: 10391315
    Abstract: An example of a system may include electrodes on at least one lead configured to be operationally positioned for use in modulating neural tissue where the neural tissue including dorsal horn tissue or nerve root tissue, a neural modulation generator, and a controller. The neural modulation generator may be configured to use at least some electrodes to generate a modulation field. The neural modulation generator maybe configured to use a programmed modulation parameter set to promote uniformity of the modulation field in the dorsal horn tissue. The controller may be configured to control the neural modulation generator to generate the modulation field in pulse trains of at least two pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Moffitt, Changfang Zhu
  • Patent number: 10384068
    Abstract: A system for treating chronic inflammation may include an implantable microstimulator, a wearable charger, and optionally an external controller. The implantable microstimulator may be implemented as a leadless neurostimulator implantable in communication with a cervical region of a vagus nerve. The microstimulator can address several types of stimulation including regular dose delivery. The wearable charger may be worn around the subject's neck to rapidly (<10 minutes per week) charge an implanted microstimulator. The external controller may be configured as a prescription pad that controls the dosing and activity of the microstimulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: SetPoint Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Faltys, Jesse M. Simon, Yiming Liu
  • Patent number: 10376696
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed that allow a patient to self-treat a medical condition, such as migraine headache, by electrical noninvasive stimulation of a vagus nerve. The system comprises a stimulator that is applied to the surface of the patient's neck. The device housing transmits data to a patient interface device such as a mobile phone or computer relating to the status of a stimulation session. The interface device in turn may communicate with a database contained within other computers, via a network or the internet. The system is designed to address problems that arise particularly during self-treatment, when a medical professional is not present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Electrocore, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce J. Simon, Joseph P. Errico, John T. Raffle
  • Patent number: 10359856
    Abstract: A VR tactile feedback system includes a hub, a feedback point wearable device set, a bionic tendon set, a motor device, and an MCU. The feedback point wearable device set includes multiple wearable devices which can be put on multiple feedback parts of a user. The bionic tendon set includes multiple bionic tendons each having a first end connected to a corresponding wearable device and a second end accommodated in the hub. The motor device is configured to apply multiple pulling forces to the multiple bionic tendons. The MCU is configured to instruct the motor device to adjust the values of the pulling forces according to VR content, thereby providing a corresponding tactile feedback at each feedback part of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: ACER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jia-Yu Lin, Chih-Chiang Chen
  • Patent number: 10347053
    Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein involve adaptively or dynamically displaying virtual objects in a virtual reality (VR) environment, and representations, within the VR environment, of physical objects in the physical environment, i.e., outside the VR environment, in order to alert users within the VR environment. For example, if a projected movement of a user indicates that the user will move close to a physical object in the physical world, the representation of the physical object changes from an un-displayed state, in which the physical object is not visible in the VR environment, to a displayed state in which the physical object is at least partially depicted inside the VR environment. In this way, what is displayed inside the VR environment can include both virtual objects as well representations of physical objects from the physical space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Chris McKenzie, Adam Glazier, Clayton Woodward Bavor, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10342974
    Abstract: A method for interferential current stimulation by complex active regions, in which the method is adapted to generate low frequency interference active regions formed of staggered electric flux lines by disposing electrodes to stimulate specific parts of a human body by supplying electricity is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Inventor: Kou-Chang Hsieh
  • Patent number: 10335601
    Abstract: A neurostimulation system includes a programming control circuit and a user interface. The programming control circuit may be configured to generate a plurality of stimulation parameters controlling delivery of neurostimulation pulses according to one or more neurostimulation programs each specifying a pattern of the neurostimulation pulses. The user interface includes a display screen, a user input device, and a neurostimulation program circuit. The neurostimulation program circuit may be configured to allow for construction of one or more pulse trains (PTs) and one or more train groupings (TGs) of the one or more neurostimulation programs, and to allow for scheduling of delivery of the one or more neurostimulation programs, using the display screen and the user input device. Each PT includes one or more pulse blocks each including a plurality of pulses of the neurostimulation pulses. Each TG includes one or more PTs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventor: David Ernest Wechter
  • Patent number: 10315034
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system. The system includes at least one SCS lead including a lead body, at least one distal electrode located at a distal end of the lead body, the at least one distal electrode configured to apply electrical stimulation to a stimulation target of a patient, and a pain reduction assembly coupled to the lead body and configured to reduce post-operation pain at an incision site associated with implantation of the at least one SCS lead. The system further includes a pulse generator coupled to the at least one SCS lead and configured to control electrical stimulation delivered to the patient via the at least one SCS lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: PACESETTER, INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo Hou, Alexander Kent, Edward Karst, Gene A. Bornzin, Riddhi Shah, Caroline Jordan, Yelena Nabutovsky
  • Patent number: 10307589
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for providing an electrical stimulation signal to condition the pelvic wall muscles of a user and demonstrate to the user the proper muscle usage. The system and method also provides a system for measuring the users muscle response. The system and method also provides an entertaining interaction environment which encourages the user to perform self-initiated conditioning exercises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Inventor: Brent C. Reider