Patents by Inventor Mark E. Schommer

Mark E. Schommer 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: 7561921
    Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to a patient programmer for an implantable medical device. The patient programmer may include one or more of a variety of features that may enhance performance, support mobility and compactness, or promote patient convenience. For example, the patient programmer may include an internal antenna for RF telemetry with the implantable medical device. The internal antenna may have a loop-like structure that defines a central aperture. A battery bay may extend at least partially into the antenna aperture from the patient programmer housing. One or more batteries may be mounted in the battery bay within the antenna aperture. In some cases, the batteries may contribute favorably to the RF load presented to the internal antenna. In particular, the batteries may present an additional load to the internal antenna, enhancing immunity to electrical and electromagnetic interference during telemetry sessions with the implantable medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Phillips, Alex C. Toy, Charles R. Lewis, Jr., Mark E. Schommer, John W. Forsberg, David P. Olson
  • Patent number: 7515967
    Abstract: An external power system, system and method for transcutaneous energy transfer to an implantable medical device having componentry for providing a therapeutic output and a secondary coil operatively coupled to the componentry. The implantable medical device is adapted to implanted at a location in a patient. An external power source has a primary coil contained in a housing. The external power source is capable of providing energy to the implantable medical device when the primary coil of the external power source is placed in proximity of the secondary coil of the implantable medical device. A holder is adapted to be externally positioned with respect to the patient at a spot in proximity of the location of the implantable medical device and secured at the spot. The holder is attachable to the housing after the holder is secured to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Phillips, David P. Olson, Mark E. Schommer, Andrew L. Schmeling, Michael J. Elvidge
  • Patent number: 7505816
    Abstract: External energy source, external charger, system of transcutaneous energy transfer, system of transcutaneous charging and method thereof. An implantable medical device has a secondary coil operatively coupled to therapeutic componentry. An external power source has a housing, a primary coil carried in the housing with the primary coil being capable of inductively energizing the secondary coil when the housing is externally placed in proximity of the secondary coil with a first surface of the housing positioned closest to the secondary coil and a thermo-electric cooling device placed associated with the first surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew L Schmeling, David P Olson, Mark E Schommer, Erik R Scott, William G. Howard, William C Phillips
  • Patent number: 7482783
    Abstract: Shipping container for an implantable medical device having a secondary coil operatively coupled to therapeutic componentry. The container is configured to hold the implantable medical device in the container with the secondary coil positioned within a distance of a first face allowing charging of the implantable medical device without disturbing the container. The container has indicia representative of a lateral location on the first face aligned with the secondary coil of the implantable medical device. Thus, the indicia may be utilized to place an external antenna in order to charge the implantable medical device without disturbing the container. Alternatively, instead of using indicia, the implantable medical device is located in a predetermined position within the container so that the external antenna may be place with respect to the predetermined position in order to charge the implantable medical device without disturbing the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E Schommer
  • Publication number: 20080127478
    Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to a patient programmer for an implantable medical device. The patient programmer may include one or more of a variety of features that may enhance performance, support mobility and compactness, or promote patient convenience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Phillips, John W. Forsberg, Mark E. Schommer, Alex C. Toy, David P. Olson, Charles R. Lewis,
  • Patent number: 7356369
    Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to a patient programmer for an implantable medical device. The patient programmer may include one or more of a variety of features that may enhance performance, support mobility and compactness, or promote patient convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Phillips, John W. Forsberg, Mark E. Schommer, Alex C. Toy, David P. Olson, Charles R. Lewis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7308316
    Abstract: A storable implantable medical device assembly. An implantable medical device has a secondary coil operatively coupled to therapeutic componentry. A container holds the implantable medical device, the container having a first face. The implantable medical device being arranged in the container such that the secondary coil is positioned within a distance of the first face. The distance allows charging of the implantable medical device without disturbing the container. The first face of the container having indicia representative of a lateral location on the first face aligned with the secondary coil of the implantable medical device. The may then be utilized to place an external antenna in order to charge the implantable medical device without disturbing the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark E. Schommer
  • Patent number: 7286881
    Abstract: External power source, and system and method using such external power source, for an implantable medical device having therapeutic componentry and a secondary coil operatively coupled to the therapeutic componentry. A primary coil is capable of inductively energizing the secondary coil when externally placed in proximity of the secondary coil. A repositionable magnetic core associated with the primary coil is capable of being repositioned by a user of the external power source. An indicator is capable of providing the user with information relative to coupling between the primary coil and the secondary coil as a function of repositioning of the repositionable magnetic core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Schommer, William C. Phillips, David P. Olson, Andrew L. Schmeling, Charles E. Peters, Steven R. Ahcan, John W. Forsberg, Michael J. Elvidge, Michael J. McMullen
  • Patent number: 7286880
    Abstract: A system and method for transcutaneous energy transfer and/or charging in a transverse direction. An external power source having a primary coil being driven at a frequency selectable in the range between eight and twelve kiloHertz contained in a housing. An implantable medical device has componentry for providing a therapeutic output and a secondary coil operatively coupled to the componentry. The external power source is capable of providing energy to the implantable medical device when the primary coil of the external power source is placed in proximity of the secondary coil of the implantable medical device. The external power source has a lateral positional adjustment for the primary coil. The frequency of the external power source is frequency adjustable providing a frequency adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: David P. Olson, William C. Phillips, Andrew L. Schmeling, Mark E. Schommer
  • Patent number: 7272445
    Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to a patient programmer for an implantable medical device. The patient programmer may include one or more of a variety of features that may enhance performance, support mobility and compactness, or promote patient convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Phillips, Mark E. Schommer, John W. Forsberg, Alex C. Toy, David P. Olson
  • Patent number: 7263406
    Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to a patient programmer for an implantable medical device. The patient programmer may include one or more of a variety of features that may enhance performance, support mobility and compactness, or promote patient convenience. For example, a patient programmer may include both an internal antenna for RF telemetry with an implantable medical device and a display. The patient programmer may include a processor or other control circuitry that selectively disables. i.e., turns off, the display during RF telemetry with the internal antenna to promote more reliable communication. The processor or control circuitry also may disable electronics associated with the display during a telemetry session. In this manner, the programmer can be configured to reduce the impact of electrical and electromagnetic noise on telemetry performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex C. Toy, Steve J. Nelson, John W. Forsberg, Mark E. Schommer, David P. Olson, William C. Phillips, Charles R. Lewis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7203549
    Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to a patient programmer for an implantable medical device. The patient programmer may include one or more of a variety of features that may enhance performance, support mobility and compactness, or promote patient convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Schommer, John W. Forsberg, Alex C. Toy, David P. Olson, William C. Phillips, Steve J. Nelson, Charles R. Lewis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6850803
    Abstract: A rechargeable implantable medical device with a magnetic shield placed on the distal side of a secondary recharging coil to improve recharging efficiency is disclosed. The rechargeable implantable medical device can be a wide variety of medical devices such as neuro stimulators, drug delivery pumps, pacemakers, defibrillators, diagnostic recorders, and cochlear implants. The implantable medical device has a secondary recharging coil carried over a magnetic shield and coupled to electronics and a rechargeable power source carried inside the housing. The electronics are configured to perform a medical therapy. Additionally a method for enhancing electromagnetic coupling during recharging of an implantable medical device is disclosed, and a method for reducing temperature rise during recharging of an implantable medical device is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Oscar Jimenez, Guillermo Echarri, John E. Kast, James E. Riekels, Mark E. Schommer
  • Publication number: 20040267332
    Abstract: A rechargeable implantable medical device with an external recharging coil carried on the medical device proximal face is disclosed. The recharging coil can be attached to the medical device housing physically, or chemically, or a combination of both physically and chemically. The recharging coil electrically couples through housing electrical feedthroughs to electronics configured to perform a therapy and a rechargeable power source both carried inside the medical device housing. Additionally methods for attaching the external recharging coil to an implantable medical device are disclosed. The rechargeable implantable medical device can be a medical devices such as a neuro stimulators, drug delivery pumps, pacemakers, defibrillators, diagnostic recorders, cochlear implants, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: John E. Kast, Oscar Jimenez, Charles E. Peters, James E. Riekels, Mark E. Schommer