Patents by Inventor John Delfin Rodriguez

John Delfin Rodriguez 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).

  • Patent number: 7805189
    Abstract: Apparatus and method provide flexibility in generating a stimulation waveform to an electrode of an implantable medical device. The stimulation waveform comprises at least one stimulation pulse. The embodiment of the invention supports a generation of a stimulation pulse in which an amplitude and an electrical polarity of the stimulation pulse can be dynamically changed. The embodiment comprises a capacitor arrangement, a regulator and a switching array. The capacitor arrangement can be reconfigured with respect to an electrical reference through the switching array in order for the regulator to deliver the stimulation pulse to a pair of electrodes. In another embodiment, a plurality of stimulation waveforms are generated in which different stimulation waveforms are associated with different electrodes. With the embodiment, a plurality of regulators are connected and reconfigured to the capacitor arrangement in order that the different stimulation waveforms are generated by different regulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc T. Stein, Nathan A Torgerson, Robert Leinders, Todd P Goblish, Todd D. Heathershaw, John Delfin Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20090259278
    Abstract: Apparatus and method provide flexibility in generating a stimulation waveform to an electrode of an Implantable Neuro Stimulator (INS). The stimulation waveform is synthesized for each rate period interval. Each rate period interval is partitioned into time intervals, during which stimulation pulses, recharging, and time duration delays may be induced. With the embodiment of the invention, a second stimulation pulse, having different electrical characteristics than a first stimulation pulse, may be generated during the rate period interval. An embodiment utilizes apparatus comprising a waveform controller and a waveform generator that are controlled by the waveform controller. The waveform controller uses waveform parameters to instruct the waveform generator to form stimulation pulses. Any of the components may be adjusted or deleted in the generation of the stimulation waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventors: Nathan A. Torgerson, Robert Leinders, Marc Stein, Todd P. Goblish, Todd D. Heathershaw, John Delfin Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 7489966
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for independently delivering a plurality of therapy programs in an implantable medical device. A therapy controller configures the device to generate independent pulse trains associated with a plurality of therapy programs and dynamically configures the electrodes to deliver the independent pulse trains to the patient. Once configured, the implantable medical device delivers the plurality of therapy programs to the patient wherein the therapy programs may overlap in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Leinders, Nathan A. Torgerson, Mark T. Stein, Todd P. Goblish, Todd D. Heathershaw, John Delfin Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 7483748
    Abstract: Apparatus and method provide flexibility in generating a stimulation waveform to an electrode of an Implantable Neuro Stimulator (INS). The stimulation waveform is synthesized for each rate period interval. Each rate period interval is partitioned into time intervals, during which stimulation pulses, recharging, and time duration delays may be induced. With the embodiment of the invention, a second stimulation pulse, having different electrical characteristics than a first stimulation pulse, may be generated during the rate period interval. An embodiment utilizes apparatus comprising a waveform controller and a waveform generator that are controlled by the waveform controller. The waveform controller uses waveform parameters to instruct the waveform generator to form stimulation pulses. Any of the components may be adjusted or deleted in the generation of the stimulation waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan A. Torgerson, Robert Leinders, Mark Stein, Todd P. Goblish, Todd D. Heathershaw, John Delfin Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 6950706
    Abstract: In the embodiment of the invention, apparatus and method provide flexibility in generating a stimulation waveform (that comprises at least a stimulation pulse) to an electrode of an Implantable Neuro Stimulator (INS). The waveform is synthesized for each rate period interval. A portion of the rate period interval is identified, in which the portion comprises at least one phase. During each phase, the stimulation waveform is synthesized by a waveform controller and a waveform generator. The waveform controller utilizes waveform parameters, e.g. the initial value, final value, and step time duration, to form a digital signal to the waveform generator. The waveform generator utilizes the digital signal to form the synthesized waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: John Delfin Rodriguez, Nathan A. Torgerson, Marc Stein, Steven L. Jensen
  • Patent number: 6937891
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for independently delivering a plurality of therapy programs in an implantable medical device. A therapy controller configures the device to generate independent pulse trains associated with a plurality of therapy programs and dynamically configures the electrodes to deliver the independent pulse trains to the patient. Once configured, the implantable medical device delivers the plurality of therapy programs to the patient wherein the therapy programs may overlap in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Leinders, Nathan A. Torgerson, Marc Stein, Todd P. Goblish, Todd D. Heathershaw, John Delfin Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20030208244
    Abstract: Apparatus and method provide flexibility in generating a stimulation waveform to an electrode of an implantable medical device. The stimulation waveform comprises at least one stimulation pulse. The embodiment of the invention supports a generation of a stimulation pulse in which an amplitude and an electrical polarity of the stimulation pulse can be dynamically changed. The embodiment comprises a capacitor arrangement, a regulator and a switching array. The capacitor arrangement can be reconfigured with respect to an electrical reference through the switching array in order for the regulator to deliver the stimulation pulse to a pair of electrodes. In another embodiment, a plurality of stimulation waveforms are generated in which different stimulation waveforms are associated with different electrodes. With the embodiment, a plurality of regulators are connected and reconfigured to the capacitor arrangement in order that the different stimulation waveforms are generated by different regulators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Stein, Nathan A. Torgerson, Robert Leinders, Todd P. Goblish, Todd D. Heathershaw, John Delfin Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20030204224
    Abstract: Apparatus and method provide flexibility in generating a stimulation waveform to an electrode of an Implantable Neuro Stimulator (INS). The stimulation waveform is synthesized for each rate period interval. Each rate period interval is partitioned into time intervals, during which stimulation pulses, recharging, and time duration delays may be induced. With the embodiment of the invention, a second stimulation pulse, having different electrical characteristics than a first stimulation pulse, may be generated during the rate period interval. An embodiment utilizes apparatus comprising a waveform controller and a waveform generator that are controlled by the waveform controller. The waveform controller uses waveform parameters to instruct the waveform generator to form stimulation pulses. Any of the components may be adjusted or deleted in the generation of the stimulation waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan A. Torgerson, Robert Leinders, Marc Stein, Todd P. Goblish, Todd D. Heathershaw, John Delfin Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20030204223
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for independently delivering a plurality of therapy programs in an implantable medical device. A therapy controller configures the device to generate independent pulse trains associated with a plurality of therapy programs and dynamically configures the electrodes to deliver the independent pulse trains to the patient. Once configured, the implantable medical device delivers the plurality of therapy programs to the patient wherein the therapy programs may overlap in time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Leinders, Nathan A. Torgerson, Mark Stein, Todd P. Goblish, Todd D. Heathershaw, John Delfin Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20030204221
    Abstract: In the embodiment of the invention, apparatus and method provide flexibility in generating a stimulation waveform (that comprises at least a stimulation pulse) to an electrode of an Implantable Neuro Stimulator (INS). The waveform is synthesized for each rate period interval. A portion of the rate period interval is identified, in which the portion comprises at least one phase. During each phase, the stimulation waveform is synthesized by a waveform controller and a waveform generator. The waveform controller utilizes waveform parameters, e.g. the initial value, final value, and step time duration, to form a digital signal to the waveform generator. The waveform generator utilizes the digital signal to form the synthesized waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: John Delfin Rodriguez, Nathan A. Torgerson, Marc Stein, Steven L. Jensen
  • Publication number: 20030204222
    Abstract: In the embodiment of the invention, apparatus and method provide flexibility in generating a stimulation waveform to an electrode of an Implantable Neurological Stimulator (INS). The embodiment provides a time delay interval between a first stimulation pulse and a recharging of the apparatus, in which the time delay interval is adjustable. The embodiment utilizes apparatus comprising a waveform controller and a waveform generator that is controlled by the waveform controller. With a variation of the embodiment, the apparatus utilizes passive recharging. In another variation of the embodiment, the apparatus utilizes a second stimulation to balance an accumulated charge. In another embodiment of the invention, a clinician is able to adjust the time delay interval through a telemetry channel. The waveform controller receives information about the time delay interval, and the waveform control instructs the waveform generator to adjust the time delay interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Leinders, Nathan A. Torgerson, Mark Stein, Todd P. Goblish, Todd D. Heathershaw, John Delfin Rodriguez