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Ear splint to correct congenital ear deformities
7199 – Congenital ear deformities such as low grade microtia, lop ear, Stahl ear, cryptotia, or prominotia are fairly common in infants. Currently, there are two ways to treat ear deformities: ear molding and ear surgery. Surgery is costly, and the risks of anesthesia and other complications usually defer surgery until the child reaches six years of age. However, deformities of the ears can lead to... Read More
Artificial muscle peripheral nerve repair tool kit for treating neuromas
5871 – This technology uses electrical stimulation and a tissue engineered artificial muscle derived from the patient to treatment neuromas (painful nerve growths). This reduces the pain experienced by the patient. Neuromas are often result from the nerves left behind after a limb amputation. About 1.7 million limb amputees are present in the US. About 75% of limb amputees have report severe limb... Read More
Two-Phase Technique to Remove Calcified Plaques and Restore Blood Flow Coupled to A Catheter Temperature Control System in Atherectomy
7229 – The technology disclosed is a novel two-phase atherectomy technique to restore blood flow with minimized cutting force and temperature rise. The method can be used as a safer alternative to existing atherectomy techniques. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Cardiovascular disease is predominantly cased by atherosclerosis—a condition where... Read More
Monolithically-Integrated Micro-LEDs on Silicon Substrate for Implantable Neural Probes
6277 – Implantable neural probes with monolithically-integrated micro-LEDs on silicon substrates have been demonstrated at the University of Michigan. Monitoring how neural circuits work together and perform computational processing is critical to the understanding of brain function and behavior. Through optogenetics, photosensitive ion channel proteins called opsins can be introduced into specific... Read More
In-home physical therapy tool for Brachial plexus palsy using Physically Assistive Therapy for Hands (PATH)
6518 – In-home physical therapy represents 90% of all outpatient rehabilitation spending. Despite of high demand and frequent use, in-home physical therapy gets delivered in one of the most outdated and least reliable way; prescription of therapeutic movements as diagrams on a piece of paper relaying 100% on patients' motivation to stick to the exercise regimen. This poses a significant challenge to... Read More
Device for Fixation of an Adjustable Length Tube Through a Preformed Tract into a Hollow Cavity
6633 – Patients who can’t get enough food or liquids through the oral route use an enteral feeding tube. This may be due to decreased appetite, difficulty in swallowing and post-surgery that interferes with eating. The tube transfers food directly into the stomach through the abdominal skin via a surgically-created tract. Feeding tube is preferred for patients who require long-term nutrition... Read More
MRI Compatible Piezoelectric MEMS Energy Harvester with Tip Mass for Leadless Pacemaker for Heartbeat Vibrations
6782 – Energy harvesting devices and their unique ability to convert the ambient energy into electrical energy has attracted much interest in industrial and manufacturing sectors. Vibration is one of the common sources in energy harvesting and a widely used method of converting vibration into the electricity is by using the piezoelectric materials. One important application of such piezoelectric... Read More
Direct Brain-Computer Interface for Cognitive Assessment
6101 – In many case individuals with neurological conditions such as ALS or traumatic brain injuries do not have motor and verbal control required to communicate using typical methods. When cognitive assessments are used to measure cognitive abilities which can be used to determine therapies and services, the assessments are inaccessible to these patients because they cannot select answers. ... Read More
A Catheter and Method for Cardiac Intracavitary Mapping and Navigation
5848 – This is an intracardiac mapping catheter that can be used in cardiac electrophysiology studies to guide catheter ablation for treating cardiac arrhythmias. It is a non-contact mapping system that detects movement of the blood inside a heart chamber and uses that information to localize the source of fibrillation in the heart wall. Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia that... Read More
Methods and Apparatus for Optimizing Therapeutic Temperature Control
6114 – Described here are the methods and designed apparatus for optimized therapeutic control for clinical use. Therapeutic hypothermia is now a well-developed technique used in certain surgeries where blood flow to the brain may be jeopardized or in the care of the victim of cardiac arrest. In both settings, this is done to help preserve or improve neurologic function. Hypothermia can be induced... Read More
MyChemoCare Teleconsultation App to Address Chemotherapeutic Symptoms
6271 – This mobile app enhances personal communications between doctors and chemotherapy patients who may be far from their specialist or have difficulty making frequent trips to the in-person consultations by facilitating easy tracking and discussion of symptoms. Telemedicine is a growing market valued at approximately $7.6 billion, aiming to improve healthcare outcomes for remote populations... Read More
Atraumatic Tip Geometry for Endoluminal Devices
6453 – Enteral nutrition refers to the delivery of nutrients directly to the gastrointestinal tract, and is used for patients who are unable to eat normally due to illnesses or surgeries. Formulae are introduced into the stomach and intestines using feeding tubes, passed through the nose or skin. These tubes are semi-rigid in nature, and do not always readily conform to the convoluted and curved... Read More
Gated Spiral Membrane Oxygenator as a Prosthetic Lung
6007 – This spiral membrane oxygenator technology (also called a prosthetic lung) can be used to oxygenate blood in heart lung machines and extracorporeal oxygenators to maintain blood oxygenation in patients. This machine is used in patients with respiratory failure and patients undergoing heart surgeries such as coronary bypass surgery. 395,000 coronary bypass surgeries were performed in 2010.... Read More
System for Determining Blood Flow Rate in a Vessel Using Diverted Flow Measurements
1506p1d1 – A system and method are provided for determining the performance of a vessel, such as a hemodialysis access, which communicates blood between two locations of a patient. A conduit, such as an external dialysis circuit or an intravascular catheter, is provided in fluid communication with the vessel, and has a diversion point for diverting blood from the vessel into the conduit. The system... Read More
A New Method for Determining Hemodialysis Access Blood Flow Using Intradialytic Access Doppler Ultrasound and Variable Dialysis Blood Pump Flow Rates
1506 – UM File # 1506 Background Hemodialysis patients often have an arteriovenous shunt, or access, surgically created between an artery and vein in a location in the body. While this access provides a convenient connection, its malfunction is a frequent occurrence; in particular, unpredictable thrombosis and stenosis in causes a reduction in blood flow, which, if untreated, can cause undesired... Read More
Dynamic Work Surface Prompting Physical Activity
5831 – Researchers in the University of Michigan Medical School have developed a table or work surface that encourages users to remain physically active. The technology prompts users to perform non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) in a way that does not have a cognitive price. An array of medical issues from obesity to heart disease are caused by inactivity and excess sitting, driving many... Read More
Jaw thrust device for maintaining airway patency
5950 – Impaired consciousness in patients as a result of anesthesiology or other factors could result in airway blockage by the tongue. Typical techniques to manage this condition are either invasive or require the continuous physical intervention by a clinician. Herein, we describe medical device capable of passively performing a jaw thrust maneuver on a patient to ensure airway patency. The device... Read More
Electrochemically Modulated Delivery of Nitric Oxide from Diazeniumdiolates and Inorganic Nitrite
5188 – U.S. market for medical devices is the world’s largest and it is estimated at $105.8 billion. These devices save or drastically improve the quality of life of millions of people. To improve these devices, coating technologies have been developed and their market is estimated to reach $3.9 billion by 2014. Key issues with even the most successful implanted devices arise from... Read More
Method for Targeted Limb Rehabilitation with Multi-Limb Exercise Machines
4855 – University of Michigan Researchers in the Mechanical Engineering Department have developed a technology that allows for the targeted rehabilitation of a set of muscles. The technology is a multi-limb exercise machine which allows a user to utilize both their weak and healthy muscles in a natural motion, while providing feedback to ensure that the user does not rely primarily on the... Read More
Electrochemically Modulated Delivery of Nitric Oxide
5279 – U.S. market for medical devices is the world’s largest and it is estimated at $100 billion. These devices save or drastically improve the quality of life of millions of people. However, common issues with even the most successful implanted devices arise from biocompatibility problems and risk of serious infections. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that over 2 million people... Read More
BioBolt
4265 – Neural activity interface systems can access and monitor brain activities in the form of single neuron (action potential or spike) or ensemble of many neurons. Access of this information enables better understanding and prediction of neuronal behavior. One of the most important issues in developing the neural interface system is long-term durability and reliability as well as the safety... Read More
High Output Fistula Management System
4258 – In the U.S. 1 in every 3000 people are diagnosed with some form of autoimmune disorder affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Of these patients a significant portion of them will develop further complications, either from the disease or from surgery, that result in a rupture of their GI tract allowing the contents of the stomach or intestines to leak out. This abnormal opening... Read More
Bio-Artificial Neuro Muscular Interface Device
4018 – Chronic implantation of electrodes and neural prosthetic devices in the central nervous system may be associated with tissue injury and inflammation. The encapsulation of implanted electrodes by glia and immune cells often lead to neuronal loss in the vicinity of the electrode, and prevention of signal transduction. Improved biocompatibility and associated electrical functionality of the... Read More
Device to Deploy Diagnostic or Therapeutic Agent with or without Biopsy
3939 – Approximately 2% to 5% of patients undergoing biopsies in the United States suffer from serious bleeding complications due to the diagnostic procedure. The risk of bleeding from a biopsy procedure is the leading risk associated with biopsies and is the reason physicians refrain from conducting these procedures on high risk patients even though diagnostic information from a biopsy would be... Read More
Identification, Enrichment and Use of Mammalian Photoreceptor Precursors
3501 – According to the National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey (Disability Supplement, 1994 and 1995), approximately 1.3 million people in the U. S. were legally blind, with estimated annual cost of $4 billion to the federal government. In the developed countries, a majority of diseases leading to untreatable blindness involve the death of photoreceptors. Since... Read More
Mechanical Extension Implants for Short Bowel Syndrome
3213 – Short-bowel syndrome (SBS) is a devastating disease associated with mortality rates exceeding 30%. It is a condition where the small intestinal length is far less than required for proper nutrient absorption. The syndrome prevents a self-sustaining absorption of nutrients from the intestine, and supplemental parental nutrition is required. However, several long-term effects due to... Read More
Microengineered Cochlear Analog Transducer
3234 – The typical human cochlea operates over a two and a half decade frequency band, from 20 Hz-20 kHz, covers 120 dB of dynamic range, and can distinguish tones which differ by less than 0.5%. Sounds as quiet as 0 dB SPL (20 .mu.Pa RMS) can be heard. Humans are also able to discriminate sounds temporally with spacing as small as 10-20 .mu.s. Marine mammals such as whales hear over an even... Read More
Trapped-Fluid Micromachined Capacitive Acoustic Sensor
3233 – The typical human cochlea operates over a two and a half decade frequency band, from 20 Hz-20 kHz, covers 120 dB of dynamic range, and can distinguish tones which differ by less than 0.5%. Sounds as quiet as 0 dB SPL (20 .mu.Pa RMS) can be heard. Humans are also able to discriminate sounds temporally with spacing as small as 10-20 .mu.s. The human cochlea is small, occupying a volume of... Read More
Particle-Containing Complex Porous Materials
3110 – Controlled release of biologically-active agents from a polymeric materials is a powerful means to deliver a therapeutic agent. In this approach, the therapeutic can be delivered to a localized area while minimizing unwanted systemic side effects, achieve high local dosage with small quantities of the therapeutic, and prevent unnecessary destruction of the molecule in delivery routes. The... Read More
Electro-Magnetic Cuff Flow Sensor
2850 – Chronic measurement of fluid flow is essential in the long-term monitoring of many diseases such as those related to the heart and kidney. For instance, balloon angioplasty procedures, which implant a stent within blood vessels are commonly used in coronary artery disease. Monitoring of blood flow within those vessels is crucial to monitor for potential recoiling of blood vessels or... Read More
An Integrated Global Layout and Local Microstructure Topology Optimization for Spinal Cage Design and Fabrication
2504 – Conventional designs of spinal interbody fusion cages have mainly focused on providing immediate strength to maintain disc height and shielding bone grafts within the cage. As such, the geometric features of conventional designs show little distinction from each other and most designs fall into a category consisting of pipe shapes with thick shells as outer walls and a hollow interior... Read More
Discrimination of one to one Tachycardias Using the Variability of Atrioventricular and Ventriculoatrial Intervals
1999 – Cardiac rhythm management devices known as implantable cardioverter/defibrillators (ICDs) are designed to treat ventricular tachyarrhythmias by delivering an electrical shock pulse to the heart. Cardioversion and/or defibrillation can be used to terminate most tachyarrhythmias, including VT and VF. The electric shock terminates the tachyarrhythmia by depolarizing all of the myocardium... Read More
Hydrogels and Water Soluble Polymeric Carriers for Drug Delivery
1622 – Alginate and other hydrogels are attractive materials for a variety of biomedical applications, including cell transplantation, and drug delivery. In many of these applications one desires to either seed cells into the material, or allow for cellular invasion following implantation into the body. However, alginate is typically used in the physical form of a hydrogel, with small pores (nm... Read More
Thin-Film, Flat-Panel Dosimeter
1246 – Dosimetry is a measurement and/or calculation of absorbed dose of energy per unit mass of the irradiated target material. In medical applications, the target material is usually the patient, where several modes of diagnostics and therapy rely on ionizing irradiation, including radiotherapy, x-rays, electrons, protons, neutrons, and heavy ions. For example, in radiation therapy for cancer,... Read More