Eric L Chow

US Patent:

8401664, Mar 19, 2013

Filed:

Apr 29, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/097833

Inventors:

Eric Y. Chow - Houston TX, US
Anthony W. Cowley - Houston TX, US
David L. Thompson - Houston TX, US
Jianxiang Shen - Houston TX, US
James L. Flesher - Charlotte NC, US
Saadat Hussain - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Cyberonics, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

A61N 1/00

US Classification:

607 61, 607 33

Abstract:

Apparatus and methods for charging a power cell in an implantable medical device (“IMD”) are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes providing an electrical pulse to an inductor external to the IMD. A frequency of an oscillation signal induced in the inductor by the current pulse is measured. The inductor is driven with an oscillating signal having a frequency based on the measured frequency of the oscillation signal. The power cell is charged using current induced in the IMD by the driving of the inductor.

US Patent:

20120274271, Nov 1, 2012

Filed:

Apr 29, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/098020

Inventors:

David L. Thompson - Houston TX, US
Jianxiang Shen - Houston TX, US
Anthony W. Cowley - Houston TX, US
Saadat Hussain - Houston TX, US
Eric Y. Chow - Houston TX, US
Jared B. Floyd - Ferndale WA, US
James L. Flesher - Charlotte NC, US

Assignee:

CYBERONICS INC. - Houston TX

International Classification:

H02J 7/00

US Classification:

320108

Abstract:

A case for an implantable medical device includes a metal case portion, having an inside and an outside, configured to attach to at least one other case portion to define a biocompatible case for the implantable medical device. The metal case portion has a plurality of grooves disposed on at least one of the inside and the outside, the grooves being oriented substantially perpendicular to an expected direction of eddy currents produced by an inductive recharging coil in proximity thereto.

US Patent:

20120276854, Nov 1, 2012

Filed:

Apr 29, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/098279

Inventors:

Himanshu Joshi - Houston TX, US
David L. Thompson - Houston TX, US
Jared Brandon Floyd - Ferndale WA, US
Eric Y. Chow - Houston TX, US
Jonathan D. Rowell - San Antonio TX, US

Assignee:

Cyberonics, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

H04W 88/00
H01Q 13/10
H02J 7/04
H01P 11/00

US Classification:

455 73, 29600, 343767, 343770, 320108

Abstract:

An implantable medical device may include a case which houses components of the implantable medical device. The implantable medical device may include an inductive coil coupled to a rechargeable battery. The inductive coil may be operative to inductively couple to an external coil and to transfer energy from the external coil to the rechargeable battery to recharge the rechargeable battery. The implantable medical device may include a cutout formed in the case of the implantable medical device and filled with a dielectric material. The cutout may be operative to reduce eddy currents in the case during recharge of the rechargeable battery. The implantable medical device may include a slot antenna disposed within the case. The slot antenna may be operative to communicate with an external device through the cutout in the case.

US Patent:

20120276856, Nov 1, 2012

Filed:

Dec 16, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/328241

Inventors:

HIMANSHU JOSHI - Houston TX, US
Eric Y. Chow - Houston TX, US
Clint Warren - Dickinson TX, US

Assignee:

CYBERONICS, INC. - Houston TX

International Classification:

H04B 1/38
H04B 1/06
H01Q 1/42
A61N 1/36
H01P 11/00

US Classification:

455 73, 607 60, 29601, 343789, 455130

Abstract:

An implantable medical device includes a case having a conductive housing defining an opening. A dielectric material is coupled to the conductive housing to hermetically seal the opening. An antenna is within the case under the dielectric material. A header block is coupled to the case over the dielectric material.

US Patent:

20130018438, Jan 17, 2013

Filed:

Mar 29, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/433907

Inventors:

Eric Y. CHOW - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

CYBERONICS, INC. - Houston TX

International Classification:

A61N 1/378

US Classification:

607 60

Abstract:

A particular implantable device may include an antenna configured to receive a far field radiative signal. The implantable device may also include a voltage rectifier configured to rectify the far field radiative signal received by the antenna to provide a rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may further include a charge storage element operative to receive the rectified voltage signal and to store charge responsive to the rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may also include a therapy delivery unit powered by the charge storage element. The therapy delivery unit is operative to deliver a therapy to a patient.

US Patent:

20130018439, Jan 17, 2013

Filed:

Mar 29, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/434119

Inventors:

Eric Y. CHOW - Houston TX, US
Milton M. MORRIS - Bellaire TX, US
David L. THOMPSON - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

CYBERONICS, INC. - Houston TX

International Classification:

A61N 1/378

US Classification:

607 60

Abstract:

A particular implantable device may include an antenna configured to receive a far field radiative signal. The implantable device may also include a voltage rectifier configured to rectify the far field radiative signal received by the antenna to provide a rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may further include a charge storage element operative to receive the rectified voltage signal and to store charge responsive to the rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may also include a stimulation module powered by the charge storage element. The stimulation module may be operative to generate an electrical stimulation signal to stimulate a target nerve of a patient. The implantable medical device may further include a nerve wrap configured to house the voltage rectifier, the charge storage element, and the stimulation module. The nerve wrap may include one or more electrodes operative to deliver the electrical stimulation signal to the target nerve.

US Patent:

20130018440, Jan 17, 2013

Filed:

Mar 29, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/434240

Inventors:

Eric Y. CHOW - Houston TX, US
Jonathan D. ROWELL - Webster TX, US

Assignee:

CYBERONICS, INC. - Houston TX

International Classification:

A61N 1/36

US Classification:

607 61

Abstract:

A particular implantable device may include one or more antennas configured to receive a first far field radiative signal and a second far field radiative signal. The one or more antennas may be configured to receive the first far field radiative signal in a first frequency band and to receive the second far field radiative signal in a second frequency band. The implantable device may include a voltage rectifier configured to rectify the received first far field radiative signal and the received second far field radiative signal to provide a rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may further include a charge storage element operative to receive the rectified voltage signal and to store charge responsive to the rectified voltage signal. The implantable device may also include a therapy delivery unit powered by the charge storage element. The therapy delivery unit may be operative to deliver a therapy to a patient.

US Patent:

20130253612, Sep 26, 2013

Filed:

May 24, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/901874

Inventors:

Eric Y. CHOW - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

CYBERONICS, INC. - Houston TX

International Classification:

A61N 1/378
A61N 1/372

US Classification:

607 60, 607 61

Abstract:

An isolated circuit including a RF input configured to receive a far field radiative powering signal and a rectified voltage output configured to provide a rectified voltage based on the received far field radiative powering signal. The isolated circuit also includes a first power assembly comprising a first impedance coupled to the RF input where the first impedance is provided, at least in part, by activating a first switch in response to the rectified voltage satisfying a first voltage threshold. The isolated circuit also includes a second power assembly comprising a second impedance coupled to the RF input where the second impedance is provided, at least in part, by activating the first switch and a second switch in response to the rectified voltage satisfying the first voltage threshold and a second voltage threshold, respectively.