Intellectual Property LLC

Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Other

Alza Corporation

Ep Technologies, Inc.

Reining International, Ltd.

Reining, William N.

Reining, Lynn E.

William N Reining

Dorin Panescu

David K Swanson

James G Whayne

Tuan Anh Nguyen

David L McGee

Ronald P Haak

Gary A Lattin

Robert R Burnside

Joseph B Phipps

Larry A McNichols

John D Badzinski

Daniel A Dupree

David F Dueiri

Lynn E Reining

Marshall J Bell

David W Arnett

A method and system for detecting a position of a metallic object are disclosed. The method includes (a) exciting a coil with an electrical signal to produce an electromagnetic field enveloping the object, (b) allowing a frequency of the electrical signal to be at the resonant frequency of the coil as affected by the object, and (c) adjusting a control signal controlling a characteristic of the electrical signal so that the characteristic substantially equals a predetermined standard level. The method further includes (d) periodically coupling and decoupling a resistive element in parallel with the coil while performing (a)&#x2013;(c), and (e) deriving a signal based upon the control signal. The derived signal is indicative of a difference between first and second values of an intermediate signal functionally related to the control signal, which are obtained when the resistive element is coupled in parallel with the coil and decoupled, respectively.

Method and apparatus for metal target proximity detection at long distances

An electrotransport device () for delivering one or more therapeutic agents through the skin includes electrodes () for contacting the skin (), at least one electrode containing the agent, a power source () for generating electrical current (I) for delivering the agent, a current generating and controlling means (), and a disabling means () for permanently and irreversibly disabling the current. The disabling means () may include a timer means (), a counter means (), or a body parameter sensor () and limit comparator () to effect permanent disabling. The disabling means may be a permanent transition to a disabled logic state, a permanent discharge of a power supply source (), or a permanent diversion of electrotransport current from the electrodes (), or a combination of the above. The permanent disabling means may include a circuit connection means () having a frangible conducting member () which permanently fractures and causes an irreversible open circuit in the connection to the electrodes () upon removing a disposable/single use electrode assembly () from a reusable portion of an electrotransport device.

Electrotransport delivery device having improved safety and reduced abuse potential

A method of communicating information from first and second transponders (or multiple transponders) to a central monitoring device, and a communications apparatus, are disclosed. The method includes receiving a starting indication at the transponders, determining start times for the transponders in response to that indication, and transmitting first and second sets of bursts from the first and second transponders, respectively. The bursts of the first set occur at at least some of a first set of potential transmission times within an interrogation period, and the bursts of the second set occur at at least some of a second set of potential transmission times during that period. Each of the potential transmission times of the burst sets are respectively determined in relation to the start times of the respective transponders. The potential transmission times of the respective burst sets are separated from one another by one of a bit-cell period and a multiple thereof.

Method for communication between central terminal and multiple transponders

An electrically conductive block component and method of producing such a block component are disclosed. The electrically conductive block component includes a main block section having first and second faces opposed to one another and a first channel extending through the main block section from the first face to the second face. The electrically conductive block component also includes a first conductive pin positioned within the first channel and having first and second end portions proximate the first and second faces, respectively. The first and second end portions of the first conductive pin are configured so that the electrically conductive block component can be both physically assembled with and electrically coupled to another electrically conductive block component.

Electrically conductive block toy

A cardiac mapping and pacing system includes a cardiac catheter having multiple electrodes and further includes an electrophysiological biological recorder. An interface system coupled between the multiple electrodes and the biological recorder permits the biological recorder to receive, process and display data acquired from the electrodes even though the number of electrodes may exceed the number of available inputs to the biological recorder. An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) implemented as a CMOS switching circuit matrix is used to effectively interface a number of individual electrodes with a variety of existing and custom biological recorders.

Unified switching system for electrophysiological stimulation and signal recording and analysis

A device for discharging fastening elements, and a method of preventing a device from discharging fastening devices into human flesh, are disclosed. The device includes a coil proximate a location of discharge, a capacitive element coupled in parallel with the conductive coil to form a resonant tank circuit, an oscillator that drives the tank circuit, a frequency detector, an amplitude control circuit and a processor. The detector detects a frequency of oscillation of the tank circuit as affected by a material proximate the coil. In response to an electrical signal from the oscillator, the control circuit generates a control signal that is provided back to the oscillator. Based upon the frequency and an additional signal functionally related to the control signal, the processor provides an output signal that prevents the device from discharging when the material proximate the coil is human flesh.

Apparatus and method for restricting the discharge of fasteners from a tool

A conductance sensor uses a high impedance feedback oscillator to drive a single coil at the natural resonant frequency of the coil coupled to a measured material. The amplitude of the driving signal is also feedback controlled. The error signal of the amplitude control yields a measurement of resistance of the measured material. The combination of frequency adjustment and amplitude control eliminates non-resistance impedance effects and amplitude-dependent effects allowing high precision, high sensitivity measurement.

Single coil conductance measuring apparatus

Unified switching system with floating substrate for

A system is used in association with a structure which, in use, is deployed in an interior body region. The structure includes an operative element. A switch matrix is coupled to the operative element. The switch matrix includes a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs. A controller is coupled to the switch matrix to control the switch matrix to couple the operative element to selected ones of the inputs and selected ones of the outputs in accordance with applied commands. An interface is coupled to the controller. The interface includes an input element to receive operator input and a processor to generate applied commands to the controller in response to operator input. The interface also includes an image controller to generate an image of the structure while coupled to the switch matrix. The image controller generates markers on the image in response to signals transmitted from the operative element through the switch matrix.

Electrophysiological interface system for use with multiple electrode

An impedance cardiograph which determines cardiac output from a measurement of variations of chest impedance, provides an improved method of calculating the effect of patient volume on the measurement from measurable patient height and chest circumference, and provides a correction process that identifies as a source of error variations in the first derivative of impedance. This latter source of error is minimized by preprocessing the impedance derivative value with a compression function which reduces the range of values of the impedance derivative when that value differs significantly from a norm of the population.

Growing community of inventors

Cross Plains, WI, United States of America

William N Reining