ALFRED E. MANN FOUNDATION FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160036244 | WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER AND COMMUNICATIONS - An inductive wireless power transfer and communication system includes an electrostatic shield for one of the coils. The electrostatic shield is inductively coupled with the coil and is configured as an open circuit. A signal processing element or elements, especially a modulator or a demodulator, are connected across the electrical discontinuity in the electrostatic shield. Because the electrostatic shield is inductively coupled to the coil, the modulator or demodulator can operate on the signal on the coil. | 02-04-2016 |
20160025535 | MICROFLUIDIC FLOW RATE SENSOR - A microfluidic flow rate sensor includes a droplet within a channel and a droplet movement detector that generates a signal based on the position and/or movement of the droplet within the channel. A processor determines the flow rate of a fluid through the channel based on the signal received from the droplet movement detector. In one example, the droplet movement detector is an optical detector, such as a combination of a lens and an image capturing device. In other examples, the droplet is electrically conductive, and at least a portion of the channel is conductive or includes electrical contacts. The position of the droplet within the channel is determined by observing the electrical characteristics of the channel. | 01-28-2016 |
20150374997 | HIGH VOLTAGE MONITORING SUCCESSIVE APPROXIMATION ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERTER - A successive approximation ADC made of a low voltage configurable differential amplifier and low voltage logic circuits which can convert a high voltage analog input to a digital equivalent. The differential amplifier can be configured as either an op amp or a comparator depending upon the mode of operation. An input capacitor C | 12-31-2015 |
20150318712 | CLASS E COIL DRIVER WITH SWITCHED CAPACITOR ASK MODULATION - A feedback controlled coil driver with ASK modulation is disclosed. A class E coil driver drives an LC circuit to generate a magnetic signal via the inductor. A modulation capacitor is coupled to the LC circuit to modulate the coil driver signal. The voltage across the coil driver switch is sampled. The difference between the sampled voltage and a reference voltage is integrated and compared to a ramp voltage to obtain an optimal on time for the coil driver switch such that coil current is maximized. | 11-05-2015 |
20150247797 | MICROCHANNEL PLASMON RESONANCE BIOSENSOR - Methods and systems for biosensing are disclosed, based on microchannel surface plasmon resonance. A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor ( | 09-03-2015 |
20150130435 | TIMING CONTROLLED AC TO DC CONVERTER AND METHOD - A timing controlled converter and method for converting a time varying input signal to a regulated DC output voltage for application to a load circuit. A feedback loop is employed as a control means for switchably coupling the time varying input signal to the load circuit for controlled periods of time in a manner so as to provide an average load voltage equal to a reference voltage. The duration of the controlled periods of time is a function of: the difference between the time varying input signal and the output voltage; and the integral of the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage. | 05-14-2015 |
20140350651 | HIGH RELIABILITY WIRE WELDING FOR IMPLANTABLE DEVICES - Methods of making an implantable pulse generator are disclosed herein. The implantable pulse generator can include a body defining an internal volume and a plurality of wires extending from out of the internal volume of the body. Some of these wires can be connected, either directly or indirectly to a lead via a welded joint. The welded joint can be created by first resistance welding and then laser welding some of the wires to a connector. | 11-27-2014 |
20140330354 | MULTI-BRANCH STIMULATION ELECTRODE FOR SUBCUTANEOUS FIELD STIMULATION - A multi-branch stimulation electrode is disclosed herein. The multi-branch stimulation electrode can include a plurality of branches that extend from a hub. The branches can each include one or several stimulation contacts that can deliver an electrical current to tissue contacting the stimulation contacts. The stimulation contacts can be electrically connected with the lead. The lead can extend from the hub and can be connected with the pulse generator. The branches can include features to facilitate implantation including, for example, one or several removable stiffening elements. | 11-06-2014 |
20140330348 | IMPLANT RECHARGER HANDSHAKING SYSTEM AND METHOD - Systems, methods, and devices for wireless recharging of an implanted device. In response to receiving identification information from an implanted device, a charger can set an electrical field to a first field strength and receive first field strength information from the implanted device. The charger can then set the electrical field to a second field strength and receive second field strength information from the implanted device. This information relating to the first and second field strengths can be used to determine whether to recharge the implanted device. | 11-06-2014 |
20140277269 | HIGH VOLTAGE MONITORING SUCCESSIVE APPROXIMATION ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERTER - A successive approximation ADC made of a low voltage configurable differential amplifier and low voltage logic circuits which can convert a high voltage analog input to a digital equivalent. The differential amplifier can be configured as either an op amp or a comparator depending upon the mode of operation. An input capacitor C | 09-18-2014 |
20140277268 | CURRENT SENSING MULTIPLE OUTPUT CURRENT STIMULATORS - 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. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277073 | SURGICAL DILATORS WITH TIPS HAVING CURVED TAPERS - Surgical dilators with tips having curved tapers and with a minimal distance between the distal and proximal ends of the dilator tips provide for precision placement of miniature medical devices at a target area in a body with reduced insertion force. A contour of a longitudinal cross section of the dilator tip comprises a first convex portion extending from the distal end to a first interface; a concave portion extending from the first interface to a second interface; and a second convex portion extending from the second interface to a third interface at the proximal end. The first convex portion and the second convex portion are convex relative to an interior of the tip and the concave portion is concave relative to the interior of the tip. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277022 | SUTURE TRACKING DILATORS AND RELATED METHODS - Suture tracking dilators and methods for removing implanted medical devices such as microstimulators or microsensors from living tissue are described. A suture tracking dilator has a slit running along its axial length. The slit can have a curved portion. A suture is attached to a medical device prior to its implantation. To remove the implanted medical device, the free end of the suture is exposed and inserted in the slit in the suture tracking dilator. The suture is held under tension at its free end, the dilator is inserted in the living tissue and the dilator follows the suture to the implanted medical device. The medical device is removed by pulling on the free end of the suture. | 09-18-2014 |
20140243703 | IMPLANTABLE SHUNT SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED PRESSURE SENSORS - A hermetically sealed biocompatible pressure sensor module configured for implant at a desired site at which a pressure is to be measured. Anodic bonding of the pressure module package components which have similar thermal coefficients of expansion provides low stress bonding and maintains long term reliability, dependability and accuracy. The pressure sensor module includes a pressure sensitive membrane which is in direct contact with the environment at which a pressure is to be measured. The pressure sensor module forms a part of a pressure measuring system which uses a telemetry link between the pressure sensor module and an external controller for data transmission and transfer. Operating power for the pressure sensor module is provided by the external controller and an internal rechargeable energy storage component. Accordingly, the pressure measuring system provides a dual stage power and data transfer capability for use with an implantable system. An exemplary use of the pressure sensor module is in a three pressure sensor system including a flow control valve in a shunt to treat hydrocephalus. The use of integrated circuit chips and an internal coil with an optional ferrite core in the pressure sensor module provides for low power consumption and reliable signal processing. An embodiment of the invention includes a pressure sensor and associated electromagnetic coils embedded in the tip portion of the shunt for measuring the pressure of fluid externally of the shunt at the tip portion. | 08-28-2014 |
20140213885 | SYSTEM FOR DETERIMING RELATIVE DISTANCE(S) AND/OR ANGEL(S) BETWEEN AT LEAST TWO POINTS - Systems and method utilizing microelectronic devices for determining relative positions such as distances and/or angles between at least two points is described. The points may be locations of parts of the body such as the fingers on a person's hand. A first microelectronic device is adapted to emit magnetic signals and at least one second microelectronic device is adapted to receive the magnetic signals, wherein a controller is adapted to communicate with the first and second microelectronic devices. The second microelectronic device and/or the controller are adapted to determine a distance and angle between the first and the second microelectronic devices based on the strength of the magnetic signals received by the second microelectronic device. | 07-31-2014 |
20140207252 | NEURAL PROSTHETIC WITH TOUCH-LIKE SENSING - An apparatus and method is related to providing sensing functions that are similar to “human touch” when located in a prosthetic device such as a BION microstimulator that is implanted in a patient. The apparatus includes a power circuit, a communication circuit and a sensor circuit. The power circuit provides power to the communication circuit and the sensor circuit. The sensor cooperates with the communication circuit, which communicates to the brain. The sensor uses various techniques to detect changes in the environment for the surrounding tissue using criteria such as reflectivity, impedance, conductivity, return signal spectrum, return signal rate and return signal phase to name a few. For example, the impedance observed by the sensor changes when: the skin tissue is deformed around the sensor, or when the skin is surrounded by water. The sensory information is interpreted by the brain as an analog of touch or feel. | 07-24-2014 |
20140207122 | Drug Delivery Safety System - A drug delivery safety system includes a programmer with a display and a communications device adapted to communicate with an ambulatory medical device. The programmer has access to a database of information, and is adapted to receive and process the information and a user input and to control the display to provide a graphical user interface that prompts a user of the programmer to provide an additional user input when the user input requests a drug delivery protocol for the ambulatory medical device that is not already stored in the database as a clinician-approved drug delivery protocol. | 07-24-2014 |
20130309676 | BIASED N-MERS IDENTIFICATION METHODS, PROBES AND SYSTEMS FOR TARGET AMPLIFICATION AND DETECTION - A method for selecting oligonucleotides for biased polynucleotide amplification is described. Related probes, methods and systems are also described. | 11-21-2013 |
20120287984 | POWER AND BIDIRECTIONAL DATA TRANSMISSION - Systems and methods for power and bidirectional data transmission using a plurality of wires. A multiphase digital signal is downlinked from a main unit to a remote unit over the plurality of wires and is converted to a DC power signal used to power the remote unit. Uplink data is sent from the remote to the main over one selected wire during a predetermined time period for an uplink transmission by amplitude modulating the received digital signal at the remote. During an uplink, the output impedance of the line driver in the main unit connected to the wire selected for the uplink is increased to allow for the uplink amplitude modulation. The modulated signal is maintained within the noise margins of the digital circuits in the main and remote units. | 11-15-2012 |
20120237785 | BONDING TITANIUM TO STAINLESS STEEL - Forming an implantable component assembly by bonding a stainless steel part to a titanium part by heating a component assembly comprised of the titanium part, the stainless steel part, and a compact filler layer of titanium-nickel particulate material placed between the two parts and heated at a temperature that is less than the melting point of either the stainless steel part or the titanium part. The component assembly is held in intimate contact at temperature in a non-reactive atmosphere for a sufficient time to develop a hermetic and strong bond between the stainless steel part and the titanium part. The bonded component assembly is optionally treated with acid to remove any residual free nickel and nickel salts, to assure a biocompatible component assembly, when implanted in a human body. | 09-20-2012 |
20120073114 | METHOD OF BONDING TITANIUM TO STAINLESS STEEL - A method of bonding a stainless steel part to a titanium part by heating a component assembly comprised of the titanium part, the stainless steel part, and a laminated titanium-nickel filler material placed between the two parts and heated at a temperature that is less than the melting point of either the stainless steel part or the titanium part. The component assembly is held in intimate contact at temperature in a non-reactive atmosphere for a sufficient time to develop a hermetic and strong bond between the stainless steel part and the titanium part. The bonded component assembly is optionally treated with acid to remove any residual free nickel and nickel salts, to assure a biocompatible component assembly, if implanted in living tissue. | 03-29-2012 |
20110224805 | STRAPLESS PROSTHETIC ARM - Permanent magnets or electromagnets or a combination of such magnets are provided to retain a prosthetic device on an extremity or limb, such as an amputated arm. The prosthesis utilizes the opposing forces, which are developed by virtue of like magnetic poles being in proximity to each other, to urge the prosthesis to remain attached to the extremity. The prosthesis is prevented from rotation by virtue of a centering force that is provided by an attachment magnet in the prosthesis being placed between two implanted magnets. A removable mounting ring is placed over the prosthesis to maintain it on the extremity. | 09-15-2011 |
20110141784 | TIMING CONTROLLED AC TO DC CONVERTER - A timing controlled converter for converting a time varying input signal to a regulated DC output voltage for application to a load circuit. A feedback loop is employed as a control means for switchably coupling the time varying input signal to the load circuit for controlled periods of time in a manner so as to provide an average load voltage equal to a reference voltage. The duration of the controlled periods of time is a function of: the difference between the time varying input signal and the output voltage; and the integral of the difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage. | 06-16-2011 |
20110053546 | OPTIMAL NARROWBAND INTERFERENCE REMOVAL FOR SIGNALS SEPARATED IN TIME - A system and method for improving the processing of communications signals received in the presence of narrowband interference signals. The received communications signals are time sampled and transformed into a series of spectral terms in the frequency domain that are then evaluated to identify narrowband interference signals. The identified narrowband interference terms can be calculated to a value that will optimize the corrupted spectral terms resulting from the communication, and an inverse transformation can be used to generate a time domain signal that is free from interference. | 03-03-2011 |
20110050331 | HIGH VOLTAGE CURRENT SOURCE AND VOLTAGE EXPANDER IN LOW VOLTAGE PROCESS - A high voltage current source and a voltage expander implemented in a low voltage semiconductor process. The voltage expander extends the operating voltage range of a stack of transistors to multiple times a supply voltage Vdd at the output node of the stack without exceeding the breakdown voltage of any of the transistors in the stack. The voltage expander uses a diode and a voltage divider to detect the output node voltage changes and generates a plurality of voltages that control the gate voltages for the stack of transistors. A high voltage wide swing current source utilizes a transistor to set the output current and the voltage expander to extend the output voltage range of the current setting transistor. An additional transistor and another current source ensure that the output current is constant throughout the entire output voltage range between about 0 V and multiple times the supply voltage Vdd. | 03-03-2011 |
20110050321 | HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCH IN LOW VOLTAGE PROCESS - A high voltage analog switch operable by a binary signal is implemented in a low voltage semiconductor process. The switch has three parallel circuit paths, with each path comprising at least three series connected transistors. Control signals are selectively applied to the control terminals of the transistors to control the switch and selectively turn on or turn off each of the three circuit paths depending on the input voltage range, so that the breakdown voltage of all of the transistors is never exceeded in any mode of operation. | 03-03-2011 |
20110050318 | HIGH VOLTAGE DIFFERENTIAL PAIR AND OP AMP IN LOW VOLTAGE PROCESS - A high voltage differential pair and op amp implemented in a low voltage semiconductor process. The high voltage differential pair expands the incoming common mode voltage of a differential pair to multiple times the normal operating voltage of the differential pair through the use of high voltage current sources, current sinks and stacks of transistors. The high voltage op amp includes a high voltage input stage and a high voltage common source amplifier to expand the output voltage range to multiple times the normal operating voltage of the op amp. | 03-03-2011 |
20100290517 | PULSE EDGE DEMODULATION - Systems and methods for the demodulation of pulse edge modulated signals for communications systems which are useful in body implanted electronics. A pulse edge modulated signal is generated by retarding or advancing each pulse edge of a carrier to be modulated relative to its original position in time, depending on the state of the digital bit to be modulated on that edge. Each modulated edge of a pulse edge modulated signal is demodulated by determining the position in time of the modulated edge relative to the original respective position of the modulated edge prior to modulation. | 11-18-2010 |
20100290516 | PULSE EDGE MODULATION - Systems and methods for the pulse edge modulation of digital carrier signals for communications systems which are useful in body implanted electronics. A digital carrier signal is generated and the carrier is pulse edge modulated with digital data. A pulse edge modulated signal is generated by either retarding or advancing each pulse edge of a carrier to be modulated relative to its original position in time, depending on the state of the digital bit to be modulated on that edge. | 11-18-2010 |
20090259264 | SURGICALLY IMPLANTABLE WIRE CONNECTOR - A surgically implantable wire connecting device that is adaptable to accept various diameter wires by selecting pre-wired mandrels, each having a specific candidate diameter wire and length, and attaching the mandrels together in a metal crimp tube. The final assembly during surgery requires a simple crimp of the crimp tube to the adapter tube by using a standard crimp tool. The delicate lead wires that are being attached are not deformed or crushed by the crimp process and are located remote from the crimp. | 10-15-2009 |
20080255636 | System and method for sharing a common communication channel between multiple systems of implantable medical devices - A system and method that facilitates multiple systems of communicating devices, i.e., a master device and one or more implantable slave devices, to coexist on a common, e.g., RF, communication channel having a limited temporal bandwidth while maintaining the required update rate between each master device and its associated slave devices. In embodiments of the present invention, master devices periodically transmit one or more beacon messages that are suitable for identification by other such master devices at a communication range greater than the communication range that may cause interference between systems and thus enabling one or more systems to cause the position of its frame periods to be interleaved with the frame periods of other such systems in anticipation of systems moving in closer proximity and actually interfering with each other. | 10-16-2008 |