Patents by Inventor Earle T. Roberts

Earle T. Roberts has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230245745
    Abstract: An implantable medical device is configured to alert a user of a failed or delayed automatic restart following a programming update. In some examples, the device is configured to wirelessly receive a programming update that includes a command instructing the implantable medical device to cease a therapy-delivery regimen while installing the programming update, and a timeout module configured to initiate a countdown timer for a predetermined duration of time, whereupon failure of the regimen to automatically restart upon expiration of the predetermined duration of time triggers an alert to notify a user that the implantable medical device has failed to restart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Earle T. Roberts, Bruce L. Brasaemle, Touby A. Drew
  • Patent number: 10556060
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and techniques for programming drug delivery are described. Such techniques may account for diffusion and mixing of drug within the fluid or allow for more flexible programming options. In one example, a method may include determining one or more fluid delivery parameters (e.g., volume, flow rate, or period of time) for a fluid that is a mixture of two other fluids. The determination may be based on one or more fluid delivery parameters of the two other fluids and/or a concentration profile representing the mixing between the two other fluids. In other examples, drug delivery programming may be facilitated by the selection of various patterns and steps of drug delivery. The system may track volume of delivered fluid to maintain desired dosing of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Irfan Z. Ali, Prasanna Anbazhagan, William J. Mitchell, Earle T. Roberts, Touby A. Drew
  • Patent number: 9996669
    Abstract: Techniques for automatically identifying medical devices, e.g., implantable medical device, using wireless communications in order to communicate with the medical devices are described. For instance, a programming system securely discovers a set of medical devices which have the capacity to communicate using wireless communication links. The programming system may then apply one or more search heuristics to identify a set of discovered medical devices that are likely to be a medical device with which a user desires to interact. When the user selects the desired one of the identified medical devices, the programming system launches a device interaction application associated with the desired medical device. The user may use the device interaction application to interact with the desired medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Goetz, Touby A. Drew, Earle T. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20180064872
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and techniques for programming drug delivery are described. Such techniques may account for diffusion and mixing of drug within the fluid or allow for more flexible programming options. In one example, a method may include determining one or more fluid delivery parameters (e.g., volume, flow rate, or period of time) for a fluid that is a mixture of two other fluids. The determination may be based on one or more fluid delivery parameters of the two other fluids and/or a concentration profile representing the mixing between the two other fluids. In other examples, drug delivery programming may be facilitated by the selection of various patterns and steps of drug delivery. The system may track volume of delivered fluid to maintain desired dosing of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Irfan Z. Ali, Prasanna Anbazhagan, William J. Mitchell, Earle T. Roberts, Touby A. Drew
  • Patent number: 9814834
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and techniques for programming drug delivery are described. Such techniques may account for diffusion and mixing of drug within the fluid or allow for more flexible programming options. In one example, a method may include determining one or more fluid delivery parameters (e.g., volume, flow rate, or period of time) for a fluid that is a mixture of two other fluids. The determination may be based on one or more fluid delivery parameters of the two other fluids and/or a concentration profile representing the mixing between the two other fluids. In other examples, drug delivery programming may be facilitated by the selection of various patterns and steps of drug delivery. The system may track volume of delivered fluid to maintain desired dosing of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Irfan Z. Ali, Prasanna Anbazhagan, William J. Mitchell, Earle T. Roberts, Touby A. Drew
  • Patent number: 9401894
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods employing coded magnetic fields or transfer of encryption key information via proximity telemetry are described. The systems, methods and devices help prevent or reduce unintended or unintentional distance telemetry communication between an external medical device and an implantable medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Scott L. Kalpin, Patrick S. Leong, Scott A. Sarkinen, Earle T. Roberts, William J. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20150133888
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and techniques for programming drug delivery are described. Such techniques may account for diffusion and mixing of drug within the fluid or allow for more flexible programming options. In one example, a method may include determining one or more fluid delivery parameters (e.g., volume, flow rate, or period of time) for a fluid that is a mixture of two other fluids. The determination may be based on one or more fluid delivery parameters of the two other fluids and/or a concentration profile representing the mixing between the two other fluids. In other examples, drug delivery programming may be facilitated by the selection of various patterns and steps of drug delivery. The system may track volume of delivered fluid to maintain desired dosing of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Irfan Z. Ali, Prasanna Anbazhagan, William J. Mitchell, Earle T. Roberts, Touby A. Drew
  • Patent number: 8995949
    Abstract: Devices and systems provide for proximity based selection of an implantable medical device for far field communication with an external device. By using a proximity communication that is limited to the IMD of interest during the selection process, the external device can eliminate those IMDs that are in range of far field communications but are able to receive the proximity communication. Thus, information may be shared via a proximity communication that is validated via a far field communication, or shared via a far field communication as a challenge and then validated via a proximity communication. The proximity communication may be used to initially limit the number of devices that respond to a discovery request and then subsequently used to select the intended implantable medical device as well as automatically select the appropriate therapy application corresponding to the selected IMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Earle T. Roberts, Donald L. Villalta, David S. Slack, Irfan Z. Ali, Sudheendhar Raghavendran, Nathan A. Torgerson, Garrett R. Sipple
  • Patent number: 8868201
    Abstract: Methods, devices and systems are disclosed that provide for dynamically adjusting the valid lifespan of a session key for wireless communication sessions established between at least two medical devices. Adjusting the session key lifetime balances protecting the communications link so that it is not unnecessarily susceptible to eavesdropping by third parties or other interference while obviating the need for a user to repeatedly perform access control steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Earle T. Roberts, Irfan Z. Ali, Donald L. Villalta
  • Publication number: 20140153719
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods employing coded magnetic fields or transfer of encryption key information via proximity telemetry are described. The systems, methods and devices help prevent or reduce unintended or unintentional distance telemetry communication between an external medical device and an implantable medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Scott L. Kalpin, Patrick S. Leong, Scott A. Sarkinen, Earle T. Roberts, William J. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20140120841
    Abstract: Devices and systems provide for proximity based selection of an implantable medical device for far field communication with an external device. By using a proximity communication that is limited to the IMD of interest during the selection process, the external device can eliminate those IMDs that are in range of far field communications but are able to receive the proximity communication. Thus, information may be shared via a proximity communication that is validated via a far field communication, or shared via a far field communication as a challenge and then validated via a proximity communication. The proximity communication may be used to initially limit the number of devices that respond to a discovery request and then subsequently used to select the intended implantable medical device as well as automatically select the appropriate therapy application corresponding to the selected IMD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Earle T. Roberts, Donald L. Villalta, David S. Slack, Irfan Z. Ali, Sudheendhar Raghavendran, Nathan A. Torgerson, Garrett R. Sipple
  • Patent number: 8682437
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods employing coded magnetic fields or transfer of encryption key information via proximity telemetry are described. The systems, methods and devices help prevent or reduce unintended or unintentional distance telemetry communication between an external medical device and an implantable medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott L. Kalpin, Patrick S. Leong, Scott A. Sarkinen, Earle T. Roberts, William J. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 8649757
    Abstract: Devices and systems provide for proximity based selection of an implantable medical device for far field communication with an external device. By using a proximity communication that is limited to the IMD of interest during the selection process, the external device can eliminate those IMDs that are in range of far field communications but are able to receive the proximity communication. Thus, information may be shared via a proximity communication that is validated via a far field communication, or shared via a far field communication as a challenge and then validated via a proximity communication. The proximity communication may be used to initially limit the number of devices that respond to a discovery request and then subsequently used to select the intended implantable medical device as well as automatically select the appropriate therapy application corresponding to the selected IMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Earle T. Roberts, Donald L. Villalta, David S Slack, Irfan Z. Ali, Sudheendhar Raghavendran, Nathan A. Torgerson, Garrett R. Sipple
  • Patent number: 8301110
    Abstract: Devices and systems provide for proximity based selection of an implantable medical device for far field communication with an external device. By using a proximity communication that is limited to the IMD of interest during the selection process, the external device can eliminate those IMDs that are in range of far field communications but are able to receive the proximity communication. Thus, information may be shared via a proximity communication that is validated via a far field communication, or shared via a far field communication as a challenge and then validated via a proximity communication. The proximity communication may be used to initially limit the number of devices that respond to a discovery request and then subsequently used to select the intended implantable medical device as well as automatically select the appropriate therapy application corresponding to the selected IMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Earle T. Roberts, Donald L. Villalta, David S Slack, Irfan Z. Ali, Sudheendhar Raghavendran, Nathan A. Torgerson, Garrett R. Sipple
  • Publication number: 20120271380
    Abstract: Methods, devices and systems are disclosed that provide for dynamically adjusting the valid lifespan of a session key for wireless communication sessions established between at least two medical devices. Adjusting the session key lifetime balances protecting the communications link so that it is not unnecessarily susceptible to eavesdropping by third parties or other interference while obviating the need for a user to repeatedly perform access control steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Earle T. Roberts, Irfan Z. Ali, Donald L. Villalta
  • Publication number: 20110264034
    Abstract: Techniques for programming therapy delivered a patient via a medical device are described. One example technique includes receiving a request for a modification to a therapy delivered to a patient via medical device, transmitting a request to a remote networking device for authorization for the modification to the therapy in response to the request for the modification to the therapy, receiving a response to the request for authorization, where the response to the request for authorization indicates whether the requested modification is authorized, and modifying the therapy according to the requested modification when the requested modification is determined to be authorized. In some examples, the medical device includes a medical fluid delivery device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Earle T. Roberts, Irfan Z. Ali, Emem D. Akpan, Scott L. Kalpin, Varaz Shahmirian, William J. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20110171905
    Abstract: Devices and systems provide for proximity based selection of an implantable medical device for far field communication with an external device. By using a proximity communication that is limited to the IMD of interest during the selection process, the external device can eliminate those IMDs that are in range of far field communications but are able to receive the proximity communication. Thus, information may be shared via a proximity communication that is validated via a far field communication, or shared via a far field communication as a challenge and then validated via a proximity communication. The proximity communication may be used to initially limit the number of devices that respond to a discovery request and then subsequently used to select the intended implantable medical device as well as automatically select the appropriate therapy application corresponding to the selected IMD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Earle T. Roberts, Donald L. Villalta, David S. Slack, Irfan Z. Ali, Sudheendhar Raghavendran, Nathan A. Torgerson, Garrett R. Sipple
  • Publication number: 20110172741
    Abstract: Devices and systems provide for proximity based selection of an implantable medical device for far field communication with an external device. By using a proximity communication that is limited to the IMD of interest during the selection process, the external device can eliminate those IMDs that are in range of far field communications but are able to receive the proximity communication. Thus, information may be shared via a proximity communication that is validated via a far field communication, or shared via a far field communication as a challenge and then validated via a proximity communication. The proximity communication may be used to initially limit the number of devices that respond to a discovery request and then subsequently used to select the intended implantable medical device as well as automatically select the appropriate therapy application corresponding to the selected IMD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Earle T. Roberts, Donald L. Villalta, David S. Slack, Irfan Z. Ali, Sudheendhar Raghavendran, Nathan A. Torgerson, Garrett R. Sipple
  • Patent number: 7885712
    Abstract: Techniques for increasing the safety of medical device programming using general purpose hardware, such as a general purpose personal computer, are described. In some embodiments, a system includes an intermediate computing device comprising an applications module. Information from the applications module, such as instructions for an implantable medical device (IMD), may be presented to a user via a user input terminal that is separate from the intermediate computing device. A user may interact with the user input terminal to select an instruction from the applications module, and the intermediate computing device may transmit the selected instruction to the IMD. In some embodiments, the intermediate computing device comprises a web server and the user input terminal comprises a web browser configured to access the web server. In other embodiments, the intermediate computing device comprises a client server and the user input terminal comprises a client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Goetz, Donald R. Johnson, Touby A. Drew, Andrew H. Houchins, Jeffrey T. Keacher, Theodore J. Stone, Earle T. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7848819
    Abstract: Techniques for increasing the safety of medical device programming using general purpose hardware, such as a general purpose personal computer, are described. Some embodiments include a watchdog module that is serviced by the general purpose hardware, a mediator module that monitors programming instructions from the general purpose hardware, and/or a safe mode input that may be activated by a user. In some embodiments, a system comprises an implantable medical device, an intermediate device, a computing device that communicates with the implantable medical device via the intermediate device. The intermediate device may provide any one or more of the safety measures described above. In some embodiments, the intermediate device is dedicated hardware, and critical programming functions are provided by the intermediate device, rather than the general purpose hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Goetz, Donald R. Johnson, Touby A. Drew, Andrew H. Houchins, Jeffrey T. Keacher, Theodore J. Stone, Earle T. Roberts