DONALD DOUGLAS HICKEY, MEDICAL DOCTOR
Radiology at Main St, Buffalo, NY

6432059, Aug 13, 2002

May 15, 2001

09/855935

Donald D. Hickey - Amherst NY

The Research Foundation of State University of New York - Amherst NY

A61B 500

600486, 600561, 600593

A method and apparatus for more precisely determining mean left atrial pressure. A catheter including a balloon is inserted into an esophagus with the balloon positioned adjacent the left atrium and inflated to provide a signal of balloon pressure oscillations effected by the left atrium. By use of the fast Fourier transform, the amplitude of each of simple harmonic wave forms (or a corresponding portion thereof) making up the balloon pressure oscillation signal is corrected for characteristics of the catheter and the corrected wave forms combined into a corrected signal of balloon pressure oscillations. The balloon pressure is measured when the amplitude of the corrected balloon pressure oscillation signal is at a peak, wherein the measured balloon pressure is determined to be mean left atrial pressure.

5551439, Sep 3, 1996

Feb 24, 1995

8/393848

Donald D. Hickey - Buffalo NY

The Research Foundation of State University of New York - Albany NY

A61B 502

128673

Non-invasive apparatus and method for obtaining a quantitative determination of mean left atrial pressure or otherwise obtaining a quantitative determination of a left atrial pressure value. A balloon is inserted by means of a catheter into the esophagus and positioned adjacent the left atrium. The balloon is gradually inflated. A tracing of mean balloon pressure is obtained as the balloon is inflated. In addition, a tracing of balloon pressure on a steady baseline and with low frequency oscillations due to respiration filtered out is obtained whereby the tracing represents balloon pressure oscillations effected by left atrial pressure. In accordance with the oscillometric principle the mean balloon pressure is measured at the time when the amplitude of the balloon pressure oscillations effected by the left atrial pressure is at a peak. This mean balloon pressure is indicative of approximate mean left atrial pressure. Mean left atrial transmural pressure may be determined by subtracting therefrom the mean esophageal pressure as measured at a position in the esophagus where it is unaffected by the heart.

6238349, May 29, 2001

Jul 25, 2000

9/625329

Donald D. Hickey - Amherst NY

The Research Foundation of State University of New York - Amherst NY

A61B 500

600486

Apparatus and method for noninvasively determining cardiac performance parameters including 1) lengths of systolic time intervals, (2) contractility index, (3) pulse amplitude ratios while performing the Valsalva maneuver, (4) cardiac output index, and (5) a pulse wave velocity index. A catheter having at least one balloon is inserted into the esophagus and pressurized and positioned adjacent the aortic arch to sense aortic pressure. The effects of aortic pressure on the balloon are utilized to determine at least one of the cardiac performance parameters. The catheter may include a second balloon which is spaced from the aortic balloon a distance such that when the second balloon is in a position adjacent the left atrium to sense left atrial pressure the aortic balloon is in a position adjacent the aortic arch to sense aortic pressure, this distance being related to the distance between the left atrium and aortic arch in most adult persons.

5570671, Nov 5, 1996

Jun 7, 1995

8/472786

Donald D. Hickey - Amherst NY

The Research Foundation of State University of New York - Buffalo NY

A61B 500

128673

A method for positioning an esophageal catheter for determining a pressure associated with the left atrium. As a bi-polar electrode is moved up the esophagus, an electrogram is obtained at each of a series of incremental depths. The length of the negative portion of the largest absolute value segment of the respective P wave is determined for at least one P wave in each of the incremental electrograms. The depth of the left atrium is selected to be that which corresponds to the incremental electrode depth at which the electrogram therefor shows the greatest negative portion length. A balloon for determining a pressure associated with the left atrium is positioned at the selected depth.

5181517, Jan 26, 1993

Jun 25, 1991

7/717854

Donald D. Hickey - Buffalo NY

The State University of New York - Albany NY

A61B 0502

128673

Non-invasive apparatus and method for obtaining a quantitative determination of mean left atrial pressure or otherwise obtaining a quantitative determination of a left atrial pressure value. A balloon is inserted by means of a catheter into the esophagus and positioned adjacent the left atrium. The balloon is gradually inflated. A tracing of mean balloon pressure is obtained as the balloon is inflated. In addition, a tracing of balloon pressure on a steady baseline and with low frequency oscillations due to respiration filtered out is obtained whereby the tracing represents balloon pressure oscillations effected by left atrial pressure. In accordance with the oscillometric principle the mean balloon pressure is measured at the time when the amplitude of the balloon pressure oscillations effected by the left atrial pressure is at a peak. This mean balloon pressure is indicative of approximate mean left atrial pressure. Mean left atrial transmural pressure may be determined by subtracting therefrom the mean esophageal pressure as measured at a position in the esophagus where it is unaffected by the heart.

5263485, Nov 23, 1993

Nov 23, 1992

7/980460

Donald D. Hickey - Buffalo NY

The Research Foundation of State University of New York - Albany NY

A61B 502

128673

Non-invasive apparatus and method for obtaining a quantitative determination of mean left atrial pressure or otherwise obtaining a quantitative determination of a left atrial pressure value. A balloon is inserted by means of a catheter into the esophagus and positioned adjacent the left atrium. The balloon is gradually inflated. A tracing of mean balloon pressure is obtained as the balloon is inflated. In addition, a tracing of balloon pressure on a steady baseline and with low frequency oscillations due to respiration filtered out is obtained whereby the tracing represents balloon pressure oscillations effected by left atrial pressure. In accordance with the oscillometric principle the mean balloon pressure is measured at the time when the amplitude of the balloon pressure oscillations effected by the left atrial pressure is at a peak. This mean balloon pressure is indicative of approximate mean left atrial pressure. Mean left atrial transmural pressure may be determined by subtracting therefrom the mean esophageal pressure as measured at a position in the esophagus where it is unaffected by the heart.

5697375, Dec 16, 1997

Jan 24, 1995

8/377466

Donald D. Hickey - Amherst NY

The Research Foundation of State University of New York - Buffalo NY

A61B 502

128673

Non-invasive apparatus and method for obtaining a quantitative determination of mean left atrial transmural pressure or otherwise obtaining a quantitative determination of a left atrial pressure value. A balloon is inserted by means of a catheter into the esophagus and positioned adjacent the left atrium. The balloon is gradually inflated. A tracing of mean balloon pressure is obtained as the balloon is inflated. In addition, a tracing of balloon pressure on a steady baseline and with low frequency oscillations due to respiration filtered out is obtained whereby the tracing represents balloon pressure oscillations effected by left atrial pressure. In accordance with the oscillometric principle the mean balloon pressure is measured when the intensity of a sound wave, after its transmission through the balloon, is at a peak. This mean balloon pressure, after adjustment for the effect, if any, of heart weight, is indicative of approximate mean left atrial pressure. Mean left atrial transmural pressure may be determined by adjusting for the effects of heart weight and intrapleural pressure on mean pressure at peak sound intensity by subtracting therefrom the balloon pressure at which balloon volume begins to increase greatly relative to the increase in balloon pressure.

7527599, May 5, 2009

Jun 19, 2006

11/471145

Donald D. Hickey - Amherst NY, US

The Research Foundation of State University of New York - Amherst NY

A61N 1/362

600508, 600587, 600 18

A system and method for determining indicators of left ventricular function, and for determining the effectiveness of a cardiac therapy are disclosed. The indicators of left ventricular function can include isovolumetric relaxation time and the negative slope of a V wave obtained from measuring changes in left atrial pressure during diastole. The apparatus may include a catheter comprising an inflatable balloon for insertion into the esophagus of an individual, a compressor device for pressurizing the balloon, and a means for sensing and recording pressure changes on the balloon.

4865317, Sep 12, 1989

Nov 13, 1984

6/671000

Donald D. Hickey - Buffalo NY

A63B 2102

272141

A push-pull exercise device has a pair of parallel first rods and a pair of parallel second rods. The second rods are arranged to straddle the first rods. The two pairs of rods are longitudinally overlapped. A first member is mounted fast to the overlapped marginal end portions of the first rods and has openings therethrough to accommodate sliding passage of the second rods. A second member has a pair of first openings to accommodate sliding passage of the first rods, and has a pair of second openings to accommodate sliding passage of the second rods. A first handle is mounted to the outer ends of the first rods, and a second handle is mounted fast to the outer ends of the second rods. The first and second rods carry various abutment stops. A first pair of coil springs surround the first rods and are arranged to act between the first and second members.