Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080215119 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING STIMULATION FIELD GENERATED BY ELECTRODE ARRAY - An implantable pulse generator includes a current steering capability that allows a clinician or patient to quickly determine a desired electrode stimulation pattern, including which electrodes of a group of electrodes within an electrode array should receive a stimulation current, including the amplitude, width and pulse repetition rate of such current. Movement of the selected group of electrodes is facilitated through the use of remotely generated directional signals, generated by a pointing device, such as a joystick. As movement of the selected group of electrodes occurs, current redistribution amongst the various electrode contacts takes place. The redistribution of stimulus amplitudes utilizes re-normalization of amplitudes so that the perceptual level remains fairly constant. This prevents the resulting paresthesia from falling below the perceptual threshold or above the comfort threshold. | 09-04-2008 |
20080221637 | IMPLANTABLE PULSE GENERATOR HAVING CURRENT STEERING MEANS - An implantable pulse generator includes a current steering capability that allows a clinician or patient to quickly determine a desired electrode stimulation pattern, including which electrodes of a group of electrodes within an electrode array should receive a stimulation current, including the amplitude, width and pulse repetition rate of such current. Movement of the selected group of electrodes is facilitated through the use of remotely generated directional signals, generated by a pointing device, such as a joystick. As movement of the selected group of electrodes occurs, current redistribution amongst the various electrode contacts takes place. The redistribution of stimulus amplitudes utilizes re-normalization of amplitudes so that the perceptual level remains fairly constant. This prevents the resulting paresthesia from falling below the perceptual threshold or above the comfort threshold. | 09-11-2008 |
20090133508 | Biomimetic Tactile Sensor for Control of Grip - Disclosed is a robust tactile sensor array that mimics the human fingertip and its touch receptors. The mechanical components are similar to a fingertip, with a rigid core surrounded by a weakly conductive fluid contained within an elastomeric skin. It uses the deformable properties of the finger pad as part of the transduction process. Multiple electrodes are mounted on the surface of the rigid core and connected to impedance measuring circuitry within the core. External forces deform the fluid path around the electrodes, resulting in a distributed pattern of impedance changes containing information about those forces and the objects that applied them. Strategies for extracting features related to the mechanical inputs and using this information for reflexive grip control. | 05-28-2009 |
20090240302 | IMPLANTABLE PULSE GENERATOR HAVING CURRENT STEERING MEANS - An implantable pulse generator includes a current steering capability that allows a clinician or patient to quickly determine a desired electrode stimulation pattern, including which electrodes of a group of electrodes within an electrode array should receive a stimulation current, including the amplitude, width and pulse repetition rate of such current. Movement of the selected group of electrodes is facilitated through the use of remotely generated directional signals, generated by a pointing device, such as a joystick. As movement of the selected group of electrodes occurs, current redistribution amongst the various electrode contacts takes place. The redistribution of stimulus amplitudes utilizes re-normalization of amplitudes so that the perceptual level remains fairly constant. This prevents the resulting paresthesia from falling below the perceptual threshold or above the comfort threshold. | 09-24-2009 |
20090272201 | ENHANCEMENTS TO IMPROVE THE FUNCTION OF A BIOMIMETIC TACTILE SENSOR - Tactile sensors are disclosed that mimic the human fingertip and its touch receptors. The mechanical components are similar to a fingertip, with a rigid core surrounded by a weakly conductive fluid contained within an elastomeric skin. The deformable properties of the finger pad can be used as part of a transduction process. Multiple electrodes can be mounted on the surface of the rigid core and connected to impedance measuring circuitry within the core. External forces deform the fluid path around the electrodes, resulting in a distributed pattern of impedance changes containing information about those forces and the objects that applied them. Strategies are described for extracting features related to the mechanical inputs and using this information for reflexive grip control. Controlling grip force in a prosthetic having sensory feedback information is described. Techniques are described for enhancing the useful force range for impedance sensors by internally texturing the elastomeric skin. | 11-05-2009 |
20100139418 | MEASUREMENT OF SLIDING FRICTION-INDUCED VIBRATIONS FOR BIOMIMETIC TACTILE SENSING - Tactile sensors are disclosed that mimic the human fingertip and its touch receptors. The mechanical components are similar to a fingertip, with a rigid core surrounded by a weakly conductive fluid contained within an elastomeric skin. The deformable properties of the finger pad can be used as part of a transduction process. Multiple electrodes can be mounted on the surface of the rigid core and connected to impedance measuring circuitry within the core. External forces deform the fluid path around the electrodes, resulting in a distributed pattern of impedance changes containing information about those forces and the objects that applied them. Strategies are described for extracting features related to the mechanical inputs and using this information for reflexive grip control. Controlling grip force in a prosthetic having sensory feedback information is described. Pressure transducers can provide sensory feedback by measuring micro-vibrations due to sliding friction. | 06-10-2010 |
20110060386 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING STIMULATION FIELD GENERATED BY ELECTRODE ARRAY - An implantable pulse generator includes a current steering capability that allows a clinician or patient to quickly determine a desired electrode stimulation pattern, including which electrodes of a group of electrodes within an electrode array should receive a stimulation current, including the amplitude, width and pulse repetition rate of such current. Movement of the selected group of electrodes is facilitated through the use of remotely generated directional signals, generated by a pointing device, such as a joystick. As movement of the selected group of electrodes occurs, current redistribution amongst the various electrode contacts takes place. The redistribution of stimulus amplitudes utilizes re-normalization of amplitudes so that the perceptual level remains fairly constant. This prevents the resulting paresthesia from falling below the perceptual threshold or above the comfort threshold. | 03-10-2011 |
20120046712 | IMPLANTABLE PULSE GENERATOR HAVING CURRENT STEERING MEANS - An implantable pulse generator includes a current steering capability that allows a clinician or patient to quickly determine a desired electrode stimulation pattern, including which electrodes of a group of electrodes within an electrode array should receive a stimulation current, including the amplitude, width and pulse repetition rate of such current. Movement of the selected group of electrodes is facilitated through the use of remotely generated directional signals, generated by a pointing device, such as a joystick. As movement of the selected group of electrodes occurs, current redistribution amongst the various electrode contacts takes place. The redistribution of stimulus amplitudes utilizes re-normalization of amplitudes so that the perceptual level remains fairly constant. This prevents the resulting paresthesia from falling below the perceptual threshold or above the comfort threshold. | 02-23-2012 |
20120130448 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING STIMULATION FIELD GENERATED BY ELECTRODE ARRAY - An implantable pulse generator includes a current steering capability that allows a clinician or patient to quickly determine a desired electrode stimulation pattern, including which electrodes of a group of electrodes within an electrode array should receive a stimulation current, including the amplitude, width and pulse repetition rate of such current. Movement of the selected group of electrodes is facilitated through the use of remotely generated directional signals, generated by a pointing device, such as a joystick. As movement of the selected group of electrodes occurs, current redistribution amongst the various electrode contacts takes place. The redistribution of stimulus amplitudes utilizes re-normalization of amplitudes so that the perceptual level remains fairly constant. This prevents the resulting paresthesia from falling below the perceptual threshold or above the comfort threshold. | 05-24-2012 |
20130090633 | OSMOTIC PATCH PUMP - An osmotic patch pump may include a dry agent on a die-cut piece of film that may exert an osmotic pressure when dissolved by a fluid. A chamber may contain the dry agent and have a chamber wall made of a semi-permeable membrane that allows fluid to enter the chamber through the membrane, but does not allow dissolved agent to escape from the chamber through the membrane. A sponge may have a surface in contact with an outer surface of the semi-permeable membrane and may be configured to soak up fluid when placed in contact with the sponge. Flow volume and rate may be controlled by user-operated micro valves. The chamber and fluid communication channels may be embossed on a substrate as part of a simple and low cost manufacturing process. | 04-11-2013 |
20140069212 | COMPLIANT TACTILE SENSOR WITH FLUID-FILLED, SPONGE-LIKE MATERIAL - A compliant tactile sensor may include sponge-like material, a flexible skin, and a fluid pressure sensor. The flexible skin may have a shape, absorb fluid, compress in response to force applied to the sponge-like material, and decompress and return to its original shape when the force is removed. The flexible skin may cover an outer surface of the sponge-like material. The fluid pressure sensor may sense changes in pressure in fluid that is within the sponge-like material caused by a force applied to the flexible skin. | 03-13-2014 |
20140195195 | OBJECT INVESTIGATION AND CLASSIFICATION - An object investigation and classification system may include an object test system, a data storage system, and a data processing system. The object test system may receive a command to perform at least one action with a test object, perform the at least one action with the test object, and return test information indicative of at least one percept resulting from the at least one action. The data storage system may contain an experience database containing data indicative of multiple classifications and, for each classification, at least one action that was performed with at least one previously-observed reference object having this classification, and at least one percept value that is based in whole or in part on the test information resulting from the at least one action. The data processing system may: a) for each of multiple different classifications, compute or receive an initial prior probability that a test object falls within the classification; b) determine at least one action that should be performed with the test object to obtain at least one percept about the test object that is likely to enable the classification of the test object to be more accurately determined based on the initial prior probabilities and the data within the experience database; c) cause the object test system to perform the at least one action with the test object; d) receive test information from the object test system indicative of at least one percept resulting from the at least one action with the test object; e) compute at least one percept value; f) for each of multiple different classifications, determine a posterior probability that the test object falls within the classification based on the initial prior probability, the at least one percept value, and data within the experience database; g) determine whether any of the posterior probabilities meets or exceeds a threshold; h) if none of the posterior probabilities meet or exceed the threshold, repeat b) through i), substituting the posterior probabilities determined in f) for the initial prior probabilities in b); and/or i) when one or more of the posterior probabilities meets or exceeds the threshold, output information indicative of one or more of the classifications that correspond to the one or more posterior probabilities that meets or exceeds the threshold. | 07-10-2014 |
20140324124 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING STIMULATION FIELD GENERATED BY ELECTRODE ARRAY - An implantable pulse generator includes a current steering capability that allows a clinician or patient to quickly determine a desired electrode stimulation pattern, including which electrodes of a group of electrodes within an electrode array should receive a stimulation current, including the amplitude, width and pulse repetition rate of such current. Movement of the selected group of electrodes is facilitated through the use of remotely generated directional signals, generated by a pointing device, such as a joystick. As movement of the selected group of electrodes occurs, current redistribution amongst the various electrode contacts takes place. The redistribution of stimulus amplitudes utilizes re-normalization of amplitudes so that the perceptual level remains fairly constant. This prevents the resulting paresthesia from falling below the perceptual threshold or above the comfort threshold. | 10-30-2014 |
20150039048 | IMPLANTABLE PULSE GENERATOR HAVING CURRENT STEERING MEANS - An implantable pulse generator includes a current steering capability that allows a clinician or patient to quickly determine a desired electrode stimulation pattern, including which electrodes of a group of electrodes within an electrode array should receive a stimulation current, including the amplitude, width and pulse repetition rate of such current. Movement of the selected group of electrodes is facilitated through the use of remotely generated directional signals, generated by a pointing device, such as a joystick. As movement of the selected group of electrodes occurs, current redistribution amongst the various electrode contacts takes place. The redistribution of stimulus amplitudes utilizes re-normalization of amplitudes so that the perceptual level remains fairly constant. This prevents the resulting paresthesia from falling below the perceptual threshold or above the comfort threshold. | 02-05-2015 |
20150066123 | NERVE CUFF WITH POCKET FOR LEADLESS STIMULATOR - An extravascular nerve cuff that is configured to hold a leadless, integral, implantable microstimulator. The nerve cuff may include a cuff body having a pocket or pouch for removably receiving the implantable device within. The nerve cuff can be secured around the nerve such that the electrodes of the device are stably positioned relative to the nerve. Furthermore, the nerve cuff drives the majority of the current from the stimulation device into the nerve, while shielding surrounding tissues from unwanted stimulation. | 03-05-2015 |