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20180212 – A Bayesian optimization algorithm can be used for selecting and tuning operational parameters of medical stimulation devices such as deep brain stimulators (DBS) and spinal cord stimulators. The algorithm helps select the optimal set of parameters to test so as to find the therapeutic minimum/maximum in as few evaluations as possible. This optimization approach may be used in a wide... Read More
20180198 – Adaptive 3D printing is a new approach that allows 3D printing on moving freeform surfaces. The closed-loop method combines direct ink writing of functional materials and real-time feedback control to fabricate devices on moving surfaces. The hybrid fabrication procedure, which combines conformal 3D printing of electrical connects with automatic pick-and-place of surface-mounted... Read More
20180120 – A new design for a shape memory alloy compression garment (SMA-CG) provides dynamic compression for therapeutic relief. The garment features nickel titanium (NiTi) alloy SMA spring actuators that provide compressive force when electrical power is applied. A novel tension limiting switch gives patients independent control of compression and offers hands-free power switching for constant... Read More
20170283 – A novel self-assembly process uses remote-controlled microwave energy to create microscale, self-assembled three-dimensional (3D) structures. The structures are fabricated with a nanometer scale coating of chromium (Cr), on top of which lie polymer photoresist hinges. When Cr absorbs microwaves energy, the polymer hinges melt and reform, thus driving self-assembly. Varying the Cr... Read More
20090032 – A new algorithm tracks exterior and interior surfaces of organs to provide a surgeon with a real-time, 3D view of organs as they deform. The 3-D reconstruction allows the surgeon to “see” through the wall of an organ during surgery rather than just look at its surface. The algorithm is based on sparse sampling of the exterior surfaces tracked by identifying subspaces in which the... Read More
20180031 – A new traumatic brain injury (TBI) catheter features an extra ventricular drain (EVD) with integrated redundant pressure transducers and multi-focal electrical stimulating and monitoring electrodes. The following innovations address the new era of traumatic brain injury neurocritical care: Two independent, continuous pressure transducers. Built into the tip of the EVD catheter,... Read More
z04188 – A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method performs in vivo imaging of amyloid plaque in the brain, with or without a contrast agent. The image is reconstructed using data acquired from a very high resolution spin-echo imaging pulse sequence, which achieves contrast using a respiratory gated and cardiac gated spin-echo pulse sequence to reduce motion artifacts at the very high image... Read More
20170394 – A novel bottom-up approach allows magnetic resonance users to custom design optimal radiofrequency (RF) pulses. The method generates pulses using an algorithm that allows users to design RF pulses with a control variable not normally available to them. The tool optimizes pulse shapes up front to match desired bandwidth, thus minimizing power, boosting the signal-to-noise ratio and... Read More
20160347 – The MnMotion System™ is an easy to use clinical tool to accurately measure, diagnose and objectively track progress for shoulder movement disorders. The system consists of a physical component that attaches to a mobile device or smartphone and accurately measures shoulder positions. The handle maximizes accuracy of measurement, including location of fingers relative to important bony... Read More
20180269 – An intraoral device offers targeted drug delivery. The self-contained apparatus (which may or may not contain cartridges) is placed in the mouth between the upper and lower teeth. When compressed, the fluid chambers expel fluid through a nozzle onto the target surface (i.e., posterior oropharyngeal surface and palatine tonsils). The device provides rapid, targeted therapy for several... Read More
20130048 – A nanocomposite material comprised of polyhydroxalkanoate (PHA) biopolymers blended with graphene nanoparticles offers enhanced strength and elastic modulus for renewable and biodegradable plastics, rubbers and flexible packaging materials. Graphene adds strength to the materials while PHA adds desirable properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility for medical applications, and... Read More
20140266 – A new, multi-purpose arm ergometer design improves patient access to exercise in many situations. The system was initially designed for patients lying supine in a hospital bed, providing upper extremity exercise for bedridden persons. The device uses a lightweight arm ergometer with a self-contained mobile frame that safely provides access to arm exercise. The device is mobile, for easy... Read More
20150192 – A wearable, multi-sensor device incorporated into socks measures leg size, tissue elasticity, and lower leg water content to remotely monitor lower extremity edema. Calibration-free magnetic field sensors accurately measure leg size, thin-film force sensors measure tissue elasticity, and measuring the change in ultrasound speed detects tissue water content. The device provides fluid... Read More
20160018 – An adaptive image-based refocusing algorithm uses synthetic-aperture imaging data for safe and effective focused ultrasound in imaging and treating tissue abnormalities in complex media. The refocusing technology, designed for ultrasound arrays with transmit-receive capabilities, is well-suited for any imaging array with transmit-receive capability (in particular, for large-aperture... Read More
20170154 – A site-specific patch, which attaches to the skin like an adhesive bandage, offers non-invasive transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) neuromodulation via dual-mode ultrasound array (DMUA) transducers. The DMUA transducer patch features lightweight transducers with a low-profile, layered structure of a 3D-printed lens (based on the treatment target and surface topography), thin polymer... Read More
20170160 – A manufacturing and delivery process design provides a medical device that can remedy heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. The device, a three-dimensional textile structure manufactured with a superelastic wire, is delivered and attached by catheter to the left ventricle of the heart, where the superelastic textile structure provides a radial outward force on the left... Read More
20180063 – A two-stage variational approach for segmenting 3D bone computed tomography (CT) data performs robustly with respect to thin cartilage interfaces. The method uses fracture mechanics in the second stage to remove fine-scale contact bridges that connect object contours generated in the first stage. This approach eliminates spurious contacts between individual segmentation regions based on... Read More
20150097 – Multi-band echo planar imaging (MB-EPI), a new approach to increase data acquisition efficiency and/or temporal resolution, can potentially overcome critical limitations of standard acquisition strategies for obtaining high-resolution, whole brain perfusion imaging using arterial spin labeling. While multiband may also introduce certain confounding effects, recent studies reveal that the... Read More
20140287 – A computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) tool, based on a novel predictive model for cancer detection from quantitative multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) data, uses magnetic resonance images to identify key markers of prostate cancer to aid in diagnosing and monitoring prostate cancer. The method, validated on histological prostate cancer tissue, requires the implementation of a multi-parametric MRI... Read More
20100155-20120287 – A dual mode ultrasound array system provides real-time 2D/3D displacement and strain imaging in the vicinity of a vessel to identify and localize the vessel walls. The system uses a real-time monitoring and feedback image control of the therapy based on imaging data acquired using the dual mode ultrasound array (DMUA) of transducer elements, and adaptive, real-time refocusing improves... Read More
20140121 – Multi-band SWIFT (MB-SWIFT) is a magnetic resonance pulse sequence that produces better diagnostic images by significantly increasing excitation and acquisition bandwidths, which reduces blurring, increases signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for fast relaxing spins, and allows imaging even without comprehensive shimming of the static magnetic field B0. This method is the first in the class of... Read More
20130136 – An IV line lifting device lifts and holds multiple IV lines and allows appropriate slack in the IV line to accommodate patient movement. The device clamps onto an IV pole, can be extended up or out, depending on the situation, and provides some different options for holding the IV lines (e.g., a spiral ring, a split ring or a notched separator). By keeping multiple IV lines suspended and... Read More
20120120 – A progressive series of five new coils make practical human cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) possible for the first time at 7T. MRI and MRS at 7T have great potential as tools for imaging and spectroscopic detection of cardiovascular diseases, yet there are currently no means available for practical 7T cardiac MRI and MRS. This new technology... Read More
20130110 – An intraoral radiofrequency (RF) loop coil placed, between the teeth, efficiently images teeth and associated dental structures. The coil is oriented with its axis parallel (coaxial) with the Zeeman field (coil plane perpendicular to B0) and captures B1 information using the coil’s transverse sensitivity volume. This orientation provides one of the most appropriate fields of view (FOV)... Read More
20120122 – A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method and apparatus amplifies radio frequency (RF) signals from MRI coils. The coils, containing antenna elements, are power amplified by a distributed power amplifier with electronic devices (e.g., field-effect transistors). The approach locates an MRI coil with antenna elements within an MR magnet and amplifies its RF signal to obtain high-power RF... Read More
20120123 – A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method and apparatus can receive radio frequency (RF) signals while simultaneously transmitting a signal of like frequency. The MRI and spectroscopy technology removes artifacts of the transmitted excitation signal (Tx) from the received signal (Rx), leaving only the desired net received signal (NRx) to generate an image from the MR response if the... Read More
20170291 – A multi-part body coil apparatus can transmit (Tx) and/or receive (Rx) radiofrequency (RF) signals suitable for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or magnetic-resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The coil is configured as either a circularly polarized transverse-electric-magnetic (TEM) coil or a birdcage coil, and is easily assembled, disassembled (e.g., for easier maintenance, testing, tuning... Read More
20120119 – A new method automatically adjusts electrical performance of radiofrequency (RF) coil assemblies of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems during the medical imaging process of a subject in order to control changes in loading conditions of the RF coil caused by the subject during the imaging process. Automatically tuning the RF coil circuits provides real-time tuning that electrically... Read More
20120060 – A new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach uses a spatiotemporally-encoded MRI pulse sequence (e.g., SWIRLY and/or STEREO) in combination with a smart, adaptive, or phased RF transmit front end. Combining these two components allows highly spatially localized regions of uniform excitation, even in the presence of Band B inhomogeneities. The transmit front end is comprised of a... Read More
20150126 – Acousto-electromagnetic imaging is a hybrid, multimodal neuroimaging technology that fully integrates focused ultrasound with electromagnetic sensing and imaging for mapping dynamic electrophysical (e.g., brain) activation. The noninvasive technology achieves neuroimaging of brain activity with high spatio-temporal resolution (i.e., mm spatial resolution and ms temporal resolution) and... Read More
20170020 – Iteratively reweighted edge sparsity minimization (IRES) is an inverse imaging strategy for estimating extended sources from electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG). IRES can quantitatively and objectively image the extent of electrical sources in an organ system from noninvasive electromagnetic signals measured over the body surface. Source sparsity is exploited in... Read More
20160370 – An injectable liquid embolic agent mixed with piezoelectric crystals enables al method of piezoelectric material delivery and thermal tumor ablation via high intensity focused ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The mixture can be delivered to a tumor in a minimally invasive manner, and the embolic agent enables specific localization and retention of the piezoelectric material... Read More
20170293 – The Sliding Windowed Infinite Fourier Transform (SWIFT) algorithm analyzes and extracts frequency amplitude/phase information from digital signals in real time. This spectral analysis technique analyzes any real-time digital signal, from neural signals to accelerometer data to radio waves. The algorithm uses an infinite length causal exponential function as its window, which gives more... Read More
20170050 – A 3D printed airway stent and delivery system can be rapidly customized and atraumatically inserted into pediatric airways to provide temporary internal support for the airway (or other duct or plenum) to treat tracheo-bronchomalacia (TBM). The stent is made of silicone, an FDA approved material that is conformable, biocompatible and suitable for additive manufacturing. The length and... Read More
20170163 – A new orthopedic meniscus repair system provides orthopedic surgeons the ability to repair meniscus tears in the white-white space and can repair a variety of tear types (e.g., longitudinal, radial, flap, horizontal, bucket handle and degenerative lesions). The tool allows the surgeon to place suture knots in any area of the implant matrix in the same amount of time as a meniscectomy and... Read More
20170066 – A new multi-modal, targeted approach to deep-brain stimulation (DBS) therapy manages multiple symptoms simultaneously to treat various neurological and co-morbid conditions. In particular, the technology can help Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients overcome co-morbid sleep disturbances by using DBS waveforms and stimulation parameters to promote sleep. The technology uses the same... Read More
20140236 – Radiofrequency (RF) pulses for in-vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are prone to errors due to physiological motion of organs in the torso during the respiratory cycle. Two different strategies mitigate these errors and obtain solutions robust against respiratory changes within an imaging scan or between different scans. Both methods require calibration scans (B1+ and DeltaB0 maps)... Read More
20170298-20170299 – A flexible tactile sensor, 3D printed with electronic inks, can detect and differentiate human movements (e.g., radial pulse and finger pressing/bending). The stretchable sensor consists of a conductive coil placed between two stretchable electrode layers. A custom, multi-functional 3D printing process prints silver-impregnated silicone inks with tunable printability and electrical... Read More
20160298 – “Smart” compression garments can be controlled dynamically using shape changing materials (such as shape memory alloys (SMA)) enables clinical cardiovascular intervention in both healthy and unhealthy populations. The degree of compression, timing of compression, and type and site of compression (pressure) can be controlled dynamically. Controlling compression allows the ability to gait... Read More
20160251 – A new craniotome design helps prevent dural tears during craniotomy procedures. The device uses high pressure liquid (e.g., sterile saline solution) to separate the dura from the cranium ahead of the craniotome in order to minimize the risk of the dura snagging on the dura guard. The concept could be marketed as either an entirely new craniotome design or an attachment to... Read More
20170172 – A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method enables imaging with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) contrast throughout the entire cardiac cycle with high temporal resolution. LGE, the clinical gold standard for assessing focal fibrosis/scars, depicts scar tissue as an enhancement 10-20 minutes after contrast injection. Contrast-agent accumulates in the scar-tissue due to diminished washout... Read More
20130259 – A spatial gradient based electrical property tomography (EPT) method uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to produce non-invasive and high spatial resolution in vivo imaging of electrical conductivity and permittivity of biological tissues. Electrical properties are determined based on estimated radiated gradient values of the electrical properties of the object. For example, electrical... Read More
20160260 – A new method designs and implements spatially selective, multidimensional adiabatic radio frequency (RF) pulses for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Spatially selective inversion is achieved adiabatically in both two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) regions of interest. The multidimensional adiabatic pulses are designed by dividing a parent adiabatic pulse into 2D selective... Read More
20100245 – A simple, robust and scalable method of directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells, including embryonic stem (hES) cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, generates insulin-producing cells in vitro that have reversed diabetes in vivo and in diabetic mice. A simple, broadly applicable four-step process demonstrates that hES and human iPS cells from dermal fibroblast... Read More
20170198 – An MRI-compatible electrode array records brain physiological signals in animals and humans. The array is manufactured with carbon nanotubes or other nano-structured materials and will be tuned to have a magnetic susceptibility very close to that of brain tissue. Matching the magnetic susceptibilities of the electrode array and brain tissue will highly reduce—or even eliminate—magnetic... Read More
20170069 – An algorithm using particle swarm optimization (PSO) in programming electrodes in deep brain stimulation arrays (DBSAs) provides clinicians with an intuitive, semi-automated approach for programming multi-electrode neuromodulation systems. The system and methods optimize deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy by producing a range of optimal electrode configuration solutions that can achieve... Read More
20160259 – A deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrode system allows simultaneous neuromodulation and reception of the neuronal response. The method provides electromagnetic (EM) stimulation (using at least three probes for simultaneous modulation) in pulsed and/or continuous wave configuration with different wave forms. A multi-strip multichannel array electrode generates rotating electric fields, and... Read More
20160374 – A lung biopsy tool features an endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) sensor, LED illumination, a camera chip, steering capabilities and a flexible biopsy needle. Unique aspects of the device are the integrated camera chip (1x1mm Naneye camera) and LED illumination. The device is less than 2 mm in diameter and can therefore be deployed through the tool port of a standard bronchoscope. While... Read More
20170018 – A high-voltage, fully-integrated neural stimulator chip for electrical microstimulation features a small chip area and high channel density. Using a feedback-assisted current mirror structure with resource sharing and an efficient chip layout achieves simultaneous high-voltage compliance, high output impedance and high channel count. A foreground current calibration uses a single external... Read More
20160413 – A miniature system on a chip (SoC) device enables continuous, full-duplex neural recording with simultaneous electrical microstimulation. The technology enables precise, closed-loop neuromodulation based on direct neuronal feedback. Scalable and with a small chip area and high channel density, this new design could suppress electrode noise and support high impedance electrodes, especially... Read More
