Actuate Patent Applications

Ultrasonic Transducer and Transdermal Delivery System

Granted: October 20, 2016
Application Number: 20160303360
A transdermal delivery system including a first passive portion containing a substance for delivery in a reservoir and a second active portion that includes an ultrasonic source. The ultrasonic source includes piezoelectric element(s) that receive electrical stimulation and move radially. A support member fixed to one side of the piezoelectric element(s) restricts movement at that side, so the opposite side expands and contracts. A fulcrum attached to the support member opposite of the…

Medical Tool With Electromechanical Control and Feedback

Granted: June 23, 2016
Application Number: 20160175543
A medical device for reducing the force necessary to penetrate living being tissue using a variety of reciprocating motion actuators. The reciprocating actuator drives a penetrating member, such as a needle, through the tissue at a reduced force while the device detects the passage of the penetrating member through the tissue. Upon passage of the penetrating member through the tissue, a feedback system monitors electromechanical properties of a control signal of the device and…

Photoacoustic Needle Insertion Platform

Granted: July 30, 2015
Application Number: 20150208925
A device for differentiating tissue is provided that has a first laser transmission source that outputs a first laser beam in which output from the first laser transmission source is transferred into tissue. A second laser transmission source is provided that outputs a second laser beam that has a wavelength that is different than the first laser beam. Output from the first and second laser transmission sources is transferred into the tissue. A needle system is present for insertion into…

Devices and Methods for Clearing Occlusions and for Providing Irrigation in In-Situ Artificial and Natural Lumens

Granted: September 4, 2014
Application Number: 20140249472
Devices and methods for the effective clearing of artificial tubes, for example, in-situ clearing of artificial tubes in a living being are covered in this disclosure. The devices and methods provide a controller comprising at least one actuator for generating repetitive motion, and a stem coupled to the at least one actuator. The stem includes at least one fluid source, a conduit member in fluidic communication with the fluid source, and a reciprocating member at least partially…

Devices for Clearing Blockages in In-Situ Artificial Lumens

Granted: July 3, 2014
Application Number: 20140188055
Devices and methods for the effective clearing of artificial tubes, especially in-situ clearing of artificial tubes in a living being is covered in this disclosure. An elongated clearing member includes either a fixed or an adjustable element that selectively defines the portion of the elongated clearing member that is insertable within the artificial tube. The proximal end of the clearing member is releasably secured to the driving mechanism and the driving mechanisms may comprise a…

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

Granted: July 3, 2014
Application Number: 20140185074
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for generating accessible documents. In one embodiment, an initial document in a print format is obtained. The print format of the initial document is identified as one of a plurality of print formats. A parser corresponding to the one of the plurality of print formats is applied such that the initial document is parsed according to the print format of the initial document. An intermediate document that conforms to an intermediate format is generated…

Method for Clearing Blockages in In-Situ Artificial Lumens

Granted: February 6, 2014
Application Number: 20140039448
Devices and methods for the effective clearing of artificial tubes, especially in-situ clearing of artificial tubes in a living being are covered in this disclosure. An elongated clearing member includes either a fixed or an adjustable element that selectively defines the portion of the elongated clearing member that is insertable within the artificial tube. The proximal end of the clearing member is releasably secured to the driving mechanism and the driving mechanisms may comprise a…

Devices for Clearing Blockages in In-Situ Artificial Lumens

Granted: February 6, 2014
Application Number: 20140039419
Devices and methods for the effective clearing of artificial tubes, especially in-situ clearing of artificial tubes in a living being are covered in this disclosure. An elongated clearing member includes either a fixed or an adjustable element that selectively defines the portion of the elongated clearing member that is insertable within the artificial tube. The proximal end of the clearing member is releasably secured to the driving mechanism and the driving mechanisms may comprise a…

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING BIOPOTENTIALS FOR SIMULTANEOUS MULTIPLE CONTROL FUNCTIONS IN COMPUTER SYSTEMS

Granted: May 16, 2013
Application Number: 20130120246
A biosignal-computer-interface apparatus and method. The apparatus includes one or more devices for generating biosignals based on at least one physiological parameter of an individual, and a computer-interface device capable of performing multiple tasks, including converting the biosignals into at least one input signal, establishing a scale encompassing different levels of the input signal, multiplying the input signal into parallel control channels, dividing the scale into multiple…

MEDICAL TOOL FOR REDUCED PENETRATION FORCE WITH FEEDBACK MEANS

Granted: March 21, 2013
Application Number: 20130072856
A medical device for reducing the force necessary to penetrate living being tissue using a variety of reciprocating motion actuators, including piezoelectric, voice coil, solenoids, pneumatics or fluidics. The reciprocating actuator drives a penetrating member, such as a needle, through the tissue at a reduced force while the device detects the passage of the penetrating member through the tissue. Upon passage of the penetrating member through the tissue, electrical power to the…

MEDICAL TOOL FOR REDUCED PENETRATION FORCE WITH FEEDBACK MEANS

Granted: March 21, 2013
Application Number: 20130072857
A medical device for reducing the force necessary to penetrate living being tissue using a variety of reciprocating motion actuators, including piezoelectric, voice coil, solenoids, pneumatics or fluidics. The reciprocating actuator drives a penetrating member, such as a needle, through the tissue at a reduced force while the device detects the passage of the penetrating member through the tissue. Upon passage of the penetrating member through the tissue, electrical power to the…

MEDICAL TOOL FOR REDUCED PENETRATION FORCE WITH FEEDBACK MEANS

Granted: March 14, 2013
Application Number: 20130066200
A medical device for reducing the force necessary to penetrate living being tissue using a variety of reciprocating motion actuators, including piezoelectric, voice coil, solenoids, pneumatics or fluidics. The reciprocating actuator drives a penetrating member, such as a needle, through the tissue at a reduced force while the device detects the passage of the penetrating member through the tissue. Upon passage of the penetrating member through the tissue, electrical power to the…

DEVICES FOR CLEARING BLOCKAGES IN IN-SITU ARTIFICIAL LUMENS

Granted: January 17, 2013
Application Number: 20130018331
A device for the breaking-apart of occlusions includes a stationary fitting, a hollow tube and a second fitting configured to reciprocate so as to cause the hollow tube to be compressed and expanded. The hollow tube is coupled on one side to the stationary fitting, and the stationary fitting provides access to a hollow portion of the hollow tube.

DEVICES FOR CLEARING BLOCKAGES IN IN-SITU ARTIFICIAL LUMENS

Granted: January 17, 2013
Application Number: 20130018305
A method for the in situ clearing of blockages in artificial tubes completely or partially disposed within a living being is described. The method includes coupling a first end of a releasably-securable flexible clearing member to a controller, inserting a second working end of the flexible clearing member into an opening in the artificial tube, energizing the controller such that said flexible clearing member experiences repetitive motion, and positioning the flexible clearing member…

DEVICES FOR CLEARING BLOCKAGES IN IN-SITU ARTIFICIAL LUMENS

Granted: January 17, 2013
Application Number: 20130018304
A device for the in situ clearing of blockages in a tube includes a controller and a clearing member. The controller can have a housing and an actuator for generating repetitive motion. The clearing member can be releasably coupled to the controller and suitable for insertion in the tube. The tube can be at least partially disposed within a living being. The controller can be located external to the living being. The clearing member can have a first end releasably coupled to the…

MEDICAL TOOL WITH ELECTROMECHANICAL CONTROL AND FEEDBACK

Granted: August 16, 2012
Application Number: 20120209303
A medical device for reducing the force necessary to penetrate living being tissue using a variety of reciprocating motion actuators. The reciprocating actuator drives a penetrating member, such as a needle, through the tissue at a reduced force while the device detects the passage of the penetrating member through the tissue. Upon passage of the penetrating member through the tissue, a feedback system monitors electromechanical properties of a control signal of the device and…

MEDICAL TOOL FOR REDUCED PENETRATION FORCE

Granted: March 29, 2012
Application Number: 20120078164
A medical device is provided having reduced penetration force. The device includes a body having a central hollow channel and a piezoelectric transducer received within and secured to the body. The piezoelectric transducer has a hollow portion concentric with the central hollow channel. A tubular member is associated with and in communication with the piezoelectric transducer. The tubular member has at least one open end formed concentric with the central hollow channel and the hollow…

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING BIOPOTENTIALS FOR SIMULTANEOUS MULTIPLE CONTROL FUNCTIONS IN COMPUTER SYSTEMS

Granted: December 8, 2011
Application Number: 20110301488
A biosignal-computer-interface apparatus and method. The apparatus includes one or more devices for generating biosignals based on at least one physiological parameter of an individual, and a computer-interface device capable of performing multiple tasks, including converting the biosignals into at least one input signal, establishing a scale encompassing different levels of the input signal, multiplying the input signal into parallel control channels, dividing the scale into multiple…

DOCUMENT DATA ACCESS

Granted: October 13, 2011
Application Number: 20110249286
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for accessing data from electronic documents stored as print streams are disclosed. In one embodiment, an electronic document conforming to one of a plurality of print formats is obtained. The electronic document is parsed according to the one of the plurality of print formats to generate an intermediate data structure conforming to an intermediate format such that the electronic document is converted to the intermediate format, wherein the…

AUTOMATED ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

Granted: October 13, 2011
Application Number: 20110249284
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for generating accessible documents. In one embodiment, an initial document in a print format is obtained. The print format of the initial document is identified as one of a plurality of print formats. A parser corresponding to the one of the plurality of print formats is applied such that the initial document is parsed according to the print format of the initial document. An intermediate document that conforms to an intermediate format is generated…