Other

Environmental Robots, Inc.

Wizard Technologies, Inc.

The United States of America As Represented by the United States

University of New Mexico

University of Maine System

Maine Medical Center

Sandia Corporation

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Energy

Mainehealth

Wovenwire Corporation

Ophthalmotronics, Inc.

Mohsen Shahinpoor

David P Soltanpour

Albert Goodman

Robert D Ecker

Sorin Gabriel Popa

Parsa Shahinpoor

Mehran Mojarrad

Kwang J Kim

Laurel Sillerud

Ronald S Hawke

Daniel J Segalman

Jonathan M Borkum

Bradford L Smith

Allan R Susoeff

David R Martinez

Douglas B Adolf

James R Asay

Gerald L Sauve

Clint A Hall

Walter R Witkowski

Carl H Konrad

The present disclosure relates to electrically controllable surgical tools. In general, surgical devices are provided having an electrically controllable, fingered operating end for use in angiography, endovascular and/or neurological surgery. The finger(s) at the operating end can be made from ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) material to facilitate control of the finger(s).

Electrically controllable surgical tools

Systems and devices for pulsed heating of the ST36 acupoint and/or other acupoint(s) by noninvasive transcutaneous magnetic induction heating towards (1) ameliorating cognitive impairment arising, for example, from head-injury, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's; (2) helping to prevent neurodegenerative diseases; (3) preventing and treating age-related cognitive decline; and (4) preventing and treating depression manifesting, for example, as Major Depressive Disorder, Dysthymic Disorder, or Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood.

System for noninvasive pulsed magnetic induction heating of acupoints for the neurorehabilitation of stroke and brain injury, and for the prevention and treatment of dementia, age-related cognitive decline, and depression

A Double Accommodating Intraocular Lens (DAIOL), which not only axially moves its flexible optic to accommodate, but also peripherally compresses or decompresses the optic to change its convexity or power, thus, double accommodating simultaneously upon contraction or expansion of the ciliary muscles and subsequently the lens capsule. The DAIOL includes a deployable semi-rigid or elastic haptic assembly and a flexible single optic. The DAIOL is further composed of three or four ring haptics and three or four deployable resilient lazy tongs, attached to a single elastically flexible plate encompassing a flexible optic. Accordingly, the radial compression of the capsular bag by the contraction of the ciliary muscles axially moves and radially compresses the flexible optic in the lens and vice versa upon radial expansion of the capsular bag, backward axial movement, and decompression of the optic, due to the resilient lazy tongs action, for double accommodation.

Double accommodating intraocular accordion lens

A surgical procedure is described for the restoration of eyelid function in individuals suffering from ptosis or upper eyelid droop syndrome that makes a patient unable to voluntarily fully raise an eyelid. The surgical procedure includes implantation and suturing of eye drop (pH) activated and actuated fibrous contractile and expansive artificial muscles such as pH active hydrogels of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) artificial muscles that are surgically implanted and sutured under the superior palpebral conjunctiva in a serpentine parallel configuration with respect to the tarsal (meibomian) glands of the upper eyelid and anchored to the tissues of superior fornix.

Surgical correction of ptosis by polymeric artificial muscles

A novel active contact lens system configured to allow the wearer to alter the corrective features of the contact lens by means of a biasing force. The biasing force can, for example, be different eye drop solutions having different pH levels.

Synthetic muscle-based multi-powered active contact lens

New polymeric materials and their fabrication methods that are electrically active in terms of sensing and actuation are invented. These materials are comprised of solid-state ion-conducting materials such as polyethylene oxide (PEO) and its derivatives or imbedded in a family of mixed polymer systems such as polydivinylbenzene (DVB) and polystyrene polymers. Such materials suitably electroded with conductive materials such as gold, platinum and silver exhibit large deformation (both two and three dimensionally) under low electric fields of 10's V/mm. Conversely, if these materials are deformed, they produce 10's of mV/mm electric fields that can be used as means of sensing or electromechanical powering devices for batteries. The method of fabricating the new polymeric materials comprises the steps of providing a polyelectrolyte material, mixing the polyelectrolyte material with a conductive material and affixing at least two electrodes to the mixed polyelectrolyte material and conductive material.

Method of fabricating a dry electro-active polymeric synthetic muscle

A switch, such as an electromechanical or optical switch, whose state is responsive to temperature history, for example temperature excursions above or below a critical temperature. An element of the sensor made from shape memory alloy changes shape when exposed, even temporarily, to temperatures above the Austenitic start temperature As or below the Martensite start temperature Ms of the shape memory alloy sensor element. The shape change of the SMA element causes the sensor to change between two readily distinguishable states. The sensor can include a one-way stop element that creates a persistent indication of the temperature history. The switch also has built-in stops allowing the sensor to be manufactured and stored at temperatures above the Austenitic temperature without causing the indication of an over-temperature event, before the actual use.

Shape memory alloy temperature sensor and switch

Soft, multi-fingered resilient robotic fingers for selectively assisting heart ventricles or other organ to produce internal pressure and to pump blood, in synchrony with the systolic contraction of the ventricle or organ, as well as providing arrhythmia control of a beating heart. The apparatus is electrically-controlled and implantable. The plurality of soft fingers monitor and gently squeeze the heart (systole) or organ to enhance blood circulation and assist the heart or organ. The soft fingers work in harmony, by means of a micro-processor controlled solenoid or other linear robotic actuators such as metal-hydride actuators or polymeric artificial muscles, and a resilient body or a spring, to close once the solenoid is powered to retract away from the heart or organ when the solenoid is not powered. Monitoring electrodes can be affixed to the soft fingers. The power supply for the implanted device can be transcutaneously rechargeable batteries.

Electrically-controllable multi-fingered resilient heart compression devices

Correction of eye refractive errors like presbyopia, hyperopia, myopia, and astigmatism using either pre-tensioned or transcutaneously energized artificial muscle implants to change the axial length and anterior curvatures of the eye globe by bringing the retina/macula region to coincide with the focal point. The implants are scleral constrictor bands, segments or ribs for inducing accommodation of a few diopters, to correct refractive errors on demand or automatically. The implant comprises an active sphinctering band encircling the sclera, implanted under the conjunctiva and under the extraocular muscles to uniformly constrict the eye globe, to induce active temporary myopia (hyperopia) by increasing(decreasing) the length and curvature of the globe. Multiple and specially designed constrictor bands enable surgeons to correct astigmatism. The artificial muscles comprise materials such as composite magnetic shape memory (MSM), heat shrink, shape memory alloy-silicone rubber, electroactive ionic polymeric artificial muscles or etectrochemically contractile ionic polymers bands.

Surgical correction of human eye refractive errors by active composite artificial muscle implants

Surgical correction of presbyopia and hyperopia by a circularly distributed assembly of mini-bridges implanted between the interior surfaces of the ciliary muscle and the exterior surface of the lens capsule, for augmenting the transmission of the contraction force of the ciliary muscle/zonule assembly to the lens capsule. The lens is symmetrically squeezed by mini-bridges acting in concert with the ciliary muscle thus changing the curvature of the lens. The mini-bridges are composite synthetic muscles comprising either passive biocompatible mini-bridges made with polymeric gels, silicone polymers or a composite, electromagnetically or mechanically deployable mini-bridges, inflatable balloons or synthetic muscles. The surgical procedure comprises using a ciliary muscle relaxant to stretch the lens/zonules/ciliary muscle assembly. An ultrasonic biomicroscope (UBM) is then used to enable the surgeon to see the area for implantation and the mini-bridges and thus perform endoscopic or incisional surgery to implant the mini-bridges in and around zonular cavities.

Accommodating zonular mini-bridge implants

A sensor provides a persistent indication that it has been exposed to temperatures below a certain critical temperature for a predetermined time period. An element of the sensor made from shape memory alloy changes shape when exposed, even temporarily, to temperatures below the Austenitic start temperature Aand well into Martensite finish temperature Moff the shape memory alloy. The shape change of the SMA element causes the sensor to change between two readily distinguishable states. The sensor includes a one-way stop element that creates a persistent indication of the temperature history, allowing the sensor to be manufactured and stored at temperatures above the Austenitic temperature without causing the indication of an over-temperature event.

Shape memory alloy temperature sensor

The present invention relates to an electronic device, which can be triggered by the proximity of bioelectric fields, or by the motion of charges and ions. The triggered element of the device can be controlled between the two states: on and off. From this point of view it can be considered a switch. However, the triggered element can also attain all the intermediate states between the on and off states, according to the intensity of the external stimuli. From this point of view it can be considered a sensor, since its response is directly related to the sensed stimulus.

Growing community of inventors

Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

Mohsen Shahinpoor