Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090243559 | UNIVERSAL, FAIL-SAFE, COMMON CONTROL OF MULTIPLE ALTERNATORS ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED IN TANDEM PARALLEL FOR PRODUCING HIGH CURRENT - Two or more alternators—each typically of an economical cost and of any mixture of types and capacities—are turned by a single power source—normally the engine of a large commercial truck or bus burning fuel so as to produce minimum emissions and thus operating at such higher combustion temperature as does raises the ambient temperature of the engine compartment to 125° Celsius. The several alternators are electrically connected in tandem-parallel across a battery/load. A corresponding number of identical electronic voltage regulators, preferably of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,723,972 modified according to the present invention, respectively individually control the alternators. One electronic voltage regulators externally programmed to become a designated “master” produces a “universal” control signal in response to variations in a voltage across the battery/load. This “universal” control signal is used (1) in the “master” electronic voltage regulator itself to provide regulation to an associated alternator, and is wired to all other voltage regulators externally programmed as “followers” to (2) produce in each of these voltage regulators produces a signal for the regulation control of its associated alternator not by reference to the battery/load voltage (as would be normal), but rather by reference to the “universal” control signal. | 10-01-2009 |
20090243560 | Pulse-position-modulated vehicular alternator voltage regulator with dual AC-feedback networks, controlled "OFF" period and low inserted electrical noise - A Frequency-On-Demand type voltage regulator firstly has its power output circuit configured as a resettable monostable multivibrator that provides (1) a stable time-base that serves as an internal “OFF”-period reference; preferably also with (2) short-circuit protection to the output power transistor; and (3) a pulse train with sharply defined “ON” and “OFF” transitions as the result of the interaction between the Output and Input Stages of the Power Output Circuit through a first AC Feedback Network. The “ON” and “OFF” transitions are preferably rounded-off. Secondly, yet another, second, AC feedback network is added between the Output Stage of the Power Output Circuit and the Error-Detector/Voltage Divider Stage of the Frequency-On-Demand type voltage regulator. This second feedback network provides (1) a controlled “OFF”-period synchronized with the Output Stage signal; (2) protection against loss of a reference voltage; (3) a dead band” associated with the “ON” and “OFF” periods that confers exceptional tolerance to system electrical noise; and (4) a voltage compensation feature with “flat”, “drooping” or “rising” system voltage output characteristic versus system loading. | 10-01-2009 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090105788 | MINIMALLY INVASIVE NERVE MONITORING DEVICE AND METHOD - A device includes a mechanical sensor configured to monitor at least one muscle for a response to a stimulus, and an indicator configured to provide feedback to a user based on at least a portion of an output of the mechanical sensor. | 04-23-2009 |
20110230782 | NEURAL MONITORING SENSOR - A sensing device for detecting a muscle event includes a mechanical sensor, such as an accelerometer, that is configured to provide a signal corresponding to a mechanical movement of a muscle, a plurality of electrodes disposed on the sensing device; and a contact detection device coupled with the plurality of electrodes and configured to detect if the sensing device is in contact with a subject. | 09-22-2011 |
20110230783 | NEURAL EVENT DETECTION - A method of detecting an induced muscle response includes monitoring a mechanical parameter of a muscle; computing an amount of muscle jerk from the monitored parameter; comparing the computed muscle jerk to a jerk threshold; and identifying the occurrence of an induced muscle response if the computed muscle jerk exceeds the threshold. | 09-22-2011 |
20110237974 | NEURAL MONITORING SYSTEM - A system for detecting the presence of a nerve within a subject includes a stimulator configured to provide a stimulus to a portion of the subject, a sensing device configured to be placed in communication with a muscle of the subject and to generate an output signal corresponding to a monitored parameter of the muscle, the sensing device including a mechanical sensor configured to monitor a mechanical parameter of the muscle, and a receiver configured to receive the output signal from the sensing device and to determine if the output signal corresponds to the stimulus provided by the stimulator. | 09-29-2011 |
20130072811 | NEURAL MONITORING SYSTEM - A neural monitoring system for determining a proximity between a stimulator and a nerve within an intracorporeal treatment area of a human subject includes a stimulator, a mechanical sensor, and a receiver. The stimulator is configured to extend within the intracorporeal treatment area and to provide an electrical stimulus therein. The mechanical sensor is configured to be placed in mechanical communication with the muscle and to generate a mechanomyography output signal corresponding to a sensed mechanical movement of the muscle. The receiver is configured to: receive the mechanomyography output signal from the mechanical sensor; receive an indication of a magnitude of the provided intracorporeal stimulus; determine a magnitude of acceleration of the muscle from the received mechanomyography output signal; and determine a proximity between the stimulator and the nerve from the magnitude of the provided intracorporeal stimulus and the magnitude of acceleration of the muscle. | 03-21-2013 |
20130072812 | NEURAL MONITORING SYSTEM - A neural monitoring system for detecting an induced response of a muscle to a stimulus provided within an intracorporeal treatment area of a human subject includes a mechanical sensor configured to be placed in mechanical communication with the muscle and to generate a mechanomyography output signal corresponding to a sensed mechanical movement of the muscle, and a receiver in communication with the mechanical sensor. The receiver is configured to: receive the mechanomyography output signal from the mechanical sensor; compute a time derivative of an acceleration of the muscle from the mechanomyography output signal; compare the computed time derivative of acceleration to a jerk threshold; and indicate that the sensed mechanical movement of the muscle was induced by the provided intracorporeal stimulus if the computed time derivative of acceleration exceeds the jerk threshold. | 03-21-2013 |
20130123659 | METHOD OF ASSESSING NEURAL FUNCTION - A method of determining a change in nerve function attributable to a surgical procedure includes assessing the nerve function via a first, induced mechanomyographic muscle response prior to the surgical procedure, and reassessing the nerve function via a second, induced mechanomyographic muscle response after the surgical procedure. Each mechanomyographic muscle response may be induced through an electrical stimulus provided directly to the nerve of the subject. | 05-16-2013 |
20130253364 | NEURAL MONITORING SYSTEM - A neural monitoring system for detecting an induced response of a muscle to a stimulus provided within an intracorporeal treatment area of a human subject includes a mechanical sensor configured to be placed in mechanical communication with the muscle and to generate a mechanomyography output signal corresponding to a sensed mechanical movement of the muscle, and a receiver in communication with the mechanical sensor. The receiver is configured to: receive the mechanomyography output signal from the mechanical sensor; compute a time derivative of the sensed muscle movement from the mechanomyography output signal; compare the computed time derivative to a threshold; and indicate that the sensed mechanical movement of the muscle was induced by the provided intracorporeal stimulus if the computed time derivative exceeds the threshold. | 09-26-2013 |
20130253533 | ROBOTIC SURGICAL SYSTEM WITH MECHANOMYOGRAPHY FEEDBACK - A robotic surgical system for performing a surgical procedure within the body of a subject includes an elongate surgical instrument, a robotic controller configured to control the motion of the distal end portion of the surgical instrument, and a mechanomyography feedback system in communication with the robotic controller. The mechanomyography feedback system includes a mechanical sensor configured to monitor a physical motion of a muscle and to provide a mechanomyography signal corresponding to the monitored physical motion. Additionally, the feedback system includes a processor configured to receive the mechanomyography signal, to determine if the received signal is indicative of an induced muscle response, and to provide a control signal to the robotic controller if an induced muscle response is detected. | 09-26-2013 |
20140058283 | METHOD OF DETECTING A SACRAL NERVE - A method of detecting the presence of a sacral nerve in a human subject includes providing an electrical stimulus within an intracorporeal treatment area of the human subject; detecting a physical response of at least one of an external sphincter of the bladder and an external sphincter of the anus; and providing an indication to a user if the detected physical response corresponds to the provided electrical stimulus. | 02-27-2014 |
20140058284 | NERVE MONITORING SYSTEM - A neural monitoring system includes a stimulator configured to provide an electrical stimulus within an intracorporeal treatment area of a subject, an elongate sphincter contraction sensor, and a receiver in communication with the sphincter contraction sensor. The elongate sphincter contraction sensor includes an elongate device body configured to be inserted within a sphincter of the subject and a force sensor in mechanical communication with the elongate device body. The force sensor is configured to provide a mechanomyography output signal in response to a contact force applied against the elongate device body by the sphincter. The receiver is configured to receive the mechanomyography output signal from the elongate sphincter contraction sensor and provide an indicator to a user based on at least a portion of the output of the sphincter contraction sensor. | 02-27-2014 |
20140058288 | SPHINCTER CONTRACTION SENSOR - An elongate sphincter contraction sensor includes an elongate device body configured to be inserted within a sphincter of the subject; and a force sensor in mechanical communication with the elongate device body and configured to provide a mechanomyography output signal in response to a contact force applied against the elongate device body by the sphincter. | 02-27-2014 |
20140073986 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSESSING NEURAL HEALTH - A method of identifying a change in the health of a nerve during a surgical procedure includes determining a sensitivity of the nerve at a first time, determining a sensitivity of the nerve at a second time, and providing an indication to a user corresponding to a change in the sensitivity of the nerve from the first time to the second time. In each instance, the sensitivity of the nerve is determined by providing an electrical stimulus via an electrode disposed on a distal end portion of an elongate medical instrument, and monitoring a magnitude of a mechanical response of a muscle innervated by the nerve. | 03-13-2014 |
20140088612 | ROBOTIC SURGICAL SYSTEM WITH MECHANOMYOGRAPHY FEEDBACK - A robotic surgical system for performing a surgical procedure within the body of a subject includes an elongate surgical instrument, a robotic controller configured to control the motion of the distal end portion of the surgical instrument, and a mechanomyography feedback system in communication with the robotic controller. The mechanomyography feedback system includes an elongate sphincter contraction sensor configured to monitor a physical response of a sphincter of the subject and to provide a mechanomyography signal corresponding to the monitored response. Additionally, the feedback system includes a processor configured to receive the mechanomyography signal, to determine if the received signal is indicative of an induced sphincter response, and to provide a control signal to the robotic controller if an induced sphincter response is detected. | 03-27-2014 |