Medconx, Inc.

Metcal, Inc.

Invicta Medical, Inc.

Raychem Limited

Beta Phase, Inc.

Harold Byron Kent

Aaron T Fine

Joseph R Layton

James John Levante

James J LeVante

Steven Thomas Kent

Laurence Wylie Harter

Karena Yadira Puldon

Thor Roff

Thomas H McGaffigan

Gary Yasumura

An oral appliance is disclosed that provides electrical stimulation to a patient's tongue in a manner that prevents collapse of the tongue and/or soft palate during sleep. More specifically, the appliance may induce a reversible current or currents in a lateral direction across the tongue in a manner that shortens the patient's Palatoglossus muscle, which in turn pulls the patient's soft palate downward towards a base of the tongue and/or decreases a volume of the tongue.

Method and apparatus for treating sleep apnea

An oral appliance provides electrical stimulation to a patient's tongue in a manner that prevents collapse of the tongue and/or soft palate during sleep. More specifically, the appliance may induce a reversible current or currents in a lateral direction across the tongue in a manner that shortens the patient's Palatoglossus muscle, which in turn pulls the patient's soft palate downward towards a base of the tongue, and/or decreases a volume of the tongue.

A method and system for transporting a fluid, gas, semi-solid, cryogen, or particulate matter, or combination thereof, between a three-dimensional structure and a substantially two-dimensional structure is disclosed. A system and method for electrically coupling a three-dimensional structure to a substantially two dimensional structure is also disclosed.

System for attaching a substantially three-dimensional structure to a substantially two-dimensional structure

A male connector, including: a body having a proximal end and a distal end; and an elastomeric member disposed around an outer surface of the distal end of the body, wherein the distal end of the body is configured to be received into a female connector interface in a medical device, and wherein the proximal end of the body is configured to receive an electronic block connector therein.

Male medical device electrical connector with engineered friction fit

A micro solder pot includes a dielectric substrate having at least one hole formed therein, a conductive coating coupled to the interior of the hole, and at least one heat transfer pad spaced from the hole in thermal communication with the conductive coating of the hole. When the heat transfer pad is exposed to a heat source, the conductive coating inside the hole is heated. The micro solder pot may also include a thermally activated conductive material disposed within the hole. When the heat transfer pad is exposed to a heat source, the thermally activated conductive material becomes liquidus such that a component can be inserted into the liquidus material. When the heat source is removed, the thermally activated conductive material cools to couple the component to the conductive coating in the hole.

Micro solder pot

A male connector includes a body and an elastomeric member. The body has a proximal end and a distal end. The elastomeric member is disposed around an outer surface of the distal end of the body. The distal end of the body is configured to be received into a female connector interface in a device. The proximal end of the body is configured to couple with an electronic block connector selected from a plurality of electronic block connectors, each of which has a different pin arrangement but a common coupling interface.

An intelligent connector assembly for use in an interface between a device and a cable, including: a block having a circuit thereon, the block being configured to be received onto a housing, with alignment features on the housing and the block such that the block is receivable in only one orientation into the housing, and a plurality of external interfaces on the block. A method of simultaneously fabricating a plurality of circuit blocks for aligned positioning onto the housing of individual connectors, by: simultaneously fabricating a plurality of blocks on a single sheet of material; cutting a repeating pattern of holes across the single sheet; and separating the single sheet into sections such that each individual block is disposed on an identically shaped section of the single sheet.

Intelligent connector assembly for use in medical device cables

A power transfer pad, having: a non-conductive board having a top and a bottom; a plurality of conductive substrate sections disposed across the top of the non-conductive board; at least one conducting element disposed on each of the conductive substrate sections; a plurality of electrical contacts on the bottom of the non-conductive board, wherein each of the electrical contacts on the bottom of the non-conductive board are in electrical communication with one of the conductive substrate sections on the top of the non-conductive board.

Direct contact power transfer pad and method of making same

A method of simultaneously fabricating a plurality of circuit blocks is presented. Each circuit block is configured for aligned positioning onto a housing of an individual electrical connector. The method includes simultaneously fabricating a plurality of circuits on a single sheet of material and cutting a repeating pattern of holes across the sheet of material. Then the sheet is separated into individual identical sections that have one or more peripheral edge. A circuit board is defined by each section. Each of the sections has a peripheral shape that is defined by the one or more peripheral edges. The peripheral shape is sized and configured to be receivable in only one orientation into a housing of an electrical connector. The holes are cut in the sheet of material such that holes are associated with each peripheral edge of each section.

Method of simultaneously fabricating circuit blocks

A mechanical limiter device, having: a housing with a slot passing at least partially therearound, the slot forming a plurality of teeth in a side of the housing; a plunger movable within the housing; a biasing mechanism configured to urge the plunger in a proximal direction within the housing; a contact member extending through the slot in the side of the housing, the contact member being configured to advance past at least one of each of the plurality of teeth in the slot each time the plunger is moved back and forth within the housing. The contact member may perform a switching function.

Mechanical limiter device

A mechanical limiter switch for use in a medical or surgical device has a substantially cylindrically shaped housing with a perimeter and an opening in an axial direction. The housing has a pattern along the perimeter. A spring is mounted in the opening along the axial direction, and is pre-stressed for movement in a radial direction and pre-stressed for movement in the axial direction. The spring has a radial member protruding through the pattern of the housing. A plunger is mounted in the opening along the axial direction, abutting the spring for urging the spring in the axial direction and for moving the member in the pattern along the perimeter. After a pre-determined number of activations of the plunger in the axial direction, the member will come to a terminating position and will either contact a pin to establish electrical continuity or at the terminating position break electrical continuity.

Mechanical limiter switch

A mechanical limiter switch device, having: a housing with a slot passing at least partially therearound, the slot forming a plurality of teeth in a side of the housing; a plunger movable within the housing; a biasing mechanism configured to urge the plunger in a proximal direction within the housing; a contact member extending through the slot in the side of the housing, the contact member being configured to advance past at least one of each of the plurality of teeth in the slot each time the plunger is moved back and forth within the housing. The contact member may perform a switching function.

Pushbutton mechanical limiter switch including movable contact located in housing passage way

Pushbutton mechanical limiter switch including movable contact with conductive radial segment located in serrated housing passageway

An electrical connector, bridge connector and opening accessory to protect the contacts on flexible circuitry of such connectors from being damaged by the sharp edges of a printed circuit board like member wherein the opening accessory is provided with spaced apart cam means that spread apart cam bearing portions of the connectors outside flexible circuitry mounted thereon is disclosed.

Connector and opening accessory

A flexible circuit which may be a strap or a board or the like has a plurality of conductors exposed on one surface in a predetermined array and a heater disposed on the opposed surface so as to heat the exposed conductors. The exposed conductors may have solder or the heat activated conductive bonding material applied thereto so that the flexible circuit may be directly connected to a component, a printed circuit board, a connector or the like. If a reusable bonding material, such as solder, is employed the heater may be utilized to both connect and disconnect the flexible circuit.

Growing community of inventors

Portola Valley, CA, United States of America

Harold Byron Kent