Patents by Inventor Wesley A. Santa

Wesley A. Santa 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: 11406830
    Abstract: Techniques are described for magnetic field detection using a plurality of Hall sensors and chopper-amplifier circuit. Determination that a magnetic field is present from measurement from one of the Hall sensors may trigger confirmation or confirmation and reconfirmation of the presence of the magnetic field from measurements from one or more of the other Hall sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Jalpa S. Shah, Robert W. Hocken, Jr., Joel Sivula, Wesley A. Santa
  • Patent number: 11379394
    Abstract: A hardware based block moving controller of an active device such as an implantable medical device that provides electrical stimulation reads a parameter data from a block of memory and then writes the parameter data to a designated register set of a component that performs an active function. The block of memory may include data that specifies a size of the block of memory to be moved to the register set. The block of memory may also include data that indicates a number of triggers to skip before moving a next block of memory to the register set. A trigger that causes the block moving controller to move the data from the block of memory to the register set may be generated in various ways such as through operation of the component having the register set or by a separate timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Robert W. Hocken, Wesley A. Santa, Christopher M. Arnett, Jalpa S. Shah, Joel E. Sivula
  • Patent number: 11344735
    Abstract: Medical devices include a separate enclosure that houses a battery and electrically isolates the battery from external conditions such as any metal enclosures and ultimately isolates the battery from body fluids. Thus, the separate enclosure attaches to a housing of a medical device and provides for modularity of the battery which allows, for instance, different size batteries to be used with the same medical device design. The separate enclosure further prevents stimulation current from leaking back to the battery housing by providing the electrical isolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Erik J. Hovland, Rajesh V. Iyer, Steven J. May, Gordon O. Munns, Wesley A. Santa
  • Publication number: 20220100654
    Abstract: A hardware based block moving controller of an active device such as an implantable medical device that provides electrical stimulation reads a parameter data from a block of memory and then writes the parameter data to a designated register set of a component that performs an active function. The block of memory may include data that specifies a size of the block of memory to be moved to the register set. Multiple individual block mover components of the controller may move respective blocks, each responsive to a dedicated trigger or to a same trigger. Furthermore, a given block mover or individual block mover component may have multiple selectable triggers. The block moving hardware based controller may have one or more memory devices to access, and the firmware may write to one memory while the block moving hardware based controller may read from another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Robert W. Hocken, Wesley A. Santa, Christopher M. Arnett, Jalpa S. Shah, Joel E. Sivula
  • Patent number: 11216370
    Abstract: A hardware based block moving controller of an active device such as an implantable medical device that provides electrical stimulation reads a parameter data from a block of memory and then writes the parameter data to a designated register set of a component that performs an active function. The block of memory may include data that specifies a size of the block of memory to be moved to the register set. Multiple individual block mover components of the controller may move respective blocks, each responsive to a dedicated trigger or to a same trigger. Furthermore, a given block mover or individual block mover component may have multiple selectable triggers. The block moving hardware based controller may have one or more memory devices to access, and the firmware may write to one memory while the block moving hardware based controller may read from another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Robert W. Hocken, Wesley A. Santa, Christopher M. Arnett, Jalpa S. Shah, Joel E. Sivula
  • Publication number: 20210361213
    Abstract: Devices and methods provide for the sensing of physiological signals during stimulation therapy by preventing stimulation waveform artifacts from being passed through to the amplification of the sensed physiological signal. Thus, the amplifiers are not adversely affected by the stimulation waveform and can provide for successful sensing of physiological signals between stimulation waveform pulses. A blanking switch may be used to blank the stimulation waveform artifacts where the blanking switch is operated in a manner synchronized with the stimulation waveform so that conduction in the sensing path is blocked during the stimulation pulse as well as during other troublesome artifacts such as a peak of a recharge pulse. A limiter may be used to limit the amplitude of the sensed signal, and hence the stimulation artifacts, that are passed to the amplifier without any synchronization of the limiter to the stimulation waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Scott R. Stanslaski, Peng Cong, Wesley A. Santa, Timothy J. Denison
  • Publication number: 20210275822
    Abstract: Techniques are described for magnetic field detection using a plurality of Hall sensors and chopper-amplifier circuit. Determination that a magnetic field is present from measurement from one of the Hall sensors may trigger confirmation or confirmation and reconfirmation of the presence of the magnetic field from measurements from one or more of the other Hall sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicants: Medtronic, Inc., Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jalpa S. Shah, Robert W. Hocken, Jr., Joel Sivula, Wesley A. Santa
  • Patent number: 11103172
    Abstract: Devices and methods provide for the sensing of physiological signals during stimulation therapy by preventing stimulation waveform artifacts from being passed through to the amplification of the sensed physiological signal. Thus, the amplifiers are not adversely affected by the stimulation waveform and can provide for successful sensing of physiological signals between stimulation waveform pulses. A blanking switch may be used to blank the stimulation waveform artifacts where the blanking switch is operated in a manner synchronized with the stimulation waveform so that conduction in the sensing path is blocked during the stimulation pulse as well as during other troublesome artifacts such as a peak of a recharge pulse. A limiter may be used to limit the amplitude of the sensed signal, and hence the stimulation artifacts, that are passed to the amplifier without any synchronization of the limiter to the stimulation waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Scott R. Stanslaski, Peng Cong, Wesley A. Santa, Timothy J. Denison
  • Publication number: 20200387464
    Abstract: A hardware based block moving controller of an active device such as an implantable medical device that provides electrical stimulation reads a parameter data from a block of memory and then writes the parameter data to a designated register set of a component that performs an active function. The block of memory may include data that specifies a size of the block of memory to be moved to the register set. The block of memory may also include data that indicates a number of triggers to skip before moving a next block of memory to the register set. A trigger that causes the block moving controller to move the data from the block of memory to the register set may be generated in various ways such as through operation of the component having the register set or by a separate timer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Robert W. Hocken, Wesley A. Santa, Christopher M. Arnett, Jalpa S. Shah, Joel E. Sivula
  • Patent number: 10754803
    Abstract: A hardware based block moving controller of an active device such as an implantable medical device that provides electrical stimulation reads a parameter data from a block of memory and then writes the parameter data to a designated register set of a component that performs an active function. The block of memory may include data that specifies a size of the block of memory to be moved to the register set. The block of memory may also include data that indicates a number of triggers to skip before moving a next block of memory to the register set. A trigger that causes the block moving controller to move the data from the block of memory to the register set may be generated in various ways such as through operation of the component having the register set or by a separate timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Robert W. Hocken, Wesley A. Santa, Christopher M. Arnett, Jalpa S. Shah, Joel E. Sivula
  • Publication number: 20190310955
    Abstract: A hardware based block moving controller of an active device such as an implantable medical device that provides electrical stimulation reads a parameter data from a block of memory and then writes the parameter data to a designated register set of a component that performs an active function. The block of memory may include data that specifies a size of the block of memory to be moved to the register set. The block of memory may also include data that indicates a number of triggers to skip before moving a next block of memory to the register set. A trigger that causes the block moving controller to move the data from the block of memory to the register set may be generated in various ways such as through operation of the component having the register set or by a separate timer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Robert W. Hocken, Wesley A. Santa, Christopher M. Arnett, Jalpa S. Shah, Joel E. Sivula
  • Publication number: 20190308023
    Abstract: Medical devices include a separate enclosure that houses a battery and electrically isolates the battery from external conditions such as any metal enclosures and ultimately isolates the battery from body fluids. Thus, the separate enclosure attaches to a housing of a medical device and provides for modularity of the battery which allows, for instance, different size batteries to be used with the same medical device design. The separate enclosure further prevents stimulation current from leaking back to the battery housing by providing the electrical isolation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Erik J. Hovland, Rajesh V. Iyer, Steven J. May, Gordon O. Munns, Wesley A. Santa
  • Publication number: 20190258570
    Abstract: A hardware based block moving controller of an active device such as an implantable medical device that provides electrical stimulation reads a parameter data from a block of memory and then writes the parameter data to a designated register set of a component that performs an active function. The block of memory may include data that specifies a size of the block of memory to be moved to the register set. Multiple individual block mover components of the controller may move respective blocks, each responsive to a dedicated trigger or to a same trigger. Furthermore, a given block mover or individual block mover component may have multiple selectable triggers. The block moving hardware based controller may have one or more memory devices to access, and the firmware may write to one memory while the block moving hardware based controller may read from another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Robert W. Hocken, Wesley A. Santa, Christopher M. Arnett, Jalpa S. Shah, Joel E. Sivula
  • Patent number: 10339081
    Abstract: A hardware based block moving controller of an active device such as an implantable medical device that provides electrical stimulation reads a parameter data from a block of memory and then writes the parameter data to a designated register set of a component that performs an active function. The block of memory may include data that specifies a size of the block of memory to be moved to the register set. The block of memory may also include data that indicates a number of triggers to skip before moving a next block of memory to the register set. A trigger that causes the block moving controller to move the data from the block of memory to the register set may be generated in various ways such as through operation of the component having the register set or by a separate timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Hocken, Wesley A. Santa, Christopher M. Arnett, Jalpa S. Shah, Joel E. Sivula
  • Patent number: 10328273
    Abstract: Medical devices include a separate enclosure that houses a battery and electrically isolates the battery from external conditions such as any metal enclosures and ultimately isolates the battery from body fluids. Thus, the separate enclosure attaches to a housing of a medical device and provides for modularity of the battery which allows, for instance, different size batteries to be used with the same medical device design. The separate enclosure further prevents stimulation current from leaking back to the battery housing by providing the electrical isolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Erik J. Hovland, Rajesh V. Iyer, Steven J. May, Gordon O. Munns, Wesley A. Santa
  • Patent number: 10220204
    Abstract: Leakage of signal between conduction paths of an implantable medical lead or lead and lead extension combination is detected. A stimulation signal is provided via one electrode. Two other electrodes sense the stimulation signal. A difference in amplitude of the two sensed signals is determined and based on this difference, leakage is detected. A sensing circuit may use differential amplification of the two signals and compare a resulting output signal to a leakage threshold. When the amplitude of the output signal exceeds the leakage threshold, then leakage is occurring between the conduction path providing the stimulation and one of the conduction paths used for sensing. Other techniques for determining leakage from the difference may also be used such as comparing the amplitudes of the two sensed signals and providing a value that is based on the comparison to indicate whether leakage is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Scott R. Stanslaski, Timothy R. Abraham, Timothy J. Denison, Vincent A. Roczniak, Wesley A. Santa, Steven J. Stroncek
  • Publication number: 20190030325
    Abstract: Leakage of signal between conduction paths of an implantable medical lead or lead and lead extension combination is detected. A stimulation signal is provided via one electrode. Two other electrodes sense the stimulation signal. A difference in amplitude of the two sensed signals is determined and based on this difference, leakage is detected. A sensing circuit may use differential amplification of the two signals and compare a resulting output signal to a leakage threshold. When the amplitude of the output signal exceeds the leakage threshold, then leakage is occurring between the conduction path providing the stimulation and one of the conduction paths used for sensing. Other techniques for determining leakage from the difference may also be used such as comparing the amplitudes of the two sensed signals and providing a value that is based on the comparison to indicate whether leakage is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Scott R. Stanslaski, Timothy R. Abraham, Timothy J. Denison, Vincent A. Roczniak, Wesley A. Santa, Steven J. Stroncek
  • Publication number: 20180143925
    Abstract: A hardware based block moving controller of an active device such as an implantable medical device that provides electrical stimulation reads a parameter data from a block of memory and then writes the parameter data to a designated register set of a component that performs an active function. The block of memory may include data that specifies a size of the block of memory to be moved to the register set. The block of memory may also include data that indicates a number of triggers to skip before moving a next block of memory to the register set. A trigger that causes the block moving controller to move the data from the block of memory to the register set may be generated in various ways such as through operation of the component having the register set or by a separate timer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Robert Hocken, Wesley A. Santa, Christopher M. Arnett, Jalpa S. Shah, Joel E. Sivula
  • Patent number: 9788750
    Abstract: Seizure prediction systems and methods include measuring impedance within a brain of a patient to determine whether the brain is in a state indicative of a possibility of an onset of a seizure. In some embodiments, the measured impedance is compared to a predetermined threshold in order to determine whether the brain is in a state indicative of a possibility of a seizure. In other embodiments, a trend of the impedance measurements is correlated to a template. In other embodiments, a frequency component of a waveform of the impedance measurement amplitudes over time is correlated to frequency components of a template waveform. Upon detecting a state in which a seizure is likely to occur, a seizure indicator may be generated, which, in some embodiments, may be used to activate therapy delivery to the patient or, in other embodiments, activate an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Denison, Wesley A. Santa
  • Patent number: 9724521
    Abstract: In some examples, one or more processors determine characteristics of frequency components of a sensed bioelectrical signal. In response to determining the characteristics, the one or more processors determine therapy parameters for frequency components of a stimulation signal. The one or more processors may determine the therapy parameters based on the characteristics of the frequency components of the sensed bioelectrical signal. As another example, the one or more processors may determine the therapy parameters based on received information after the characteristics of the frequency components of the sensed bioelectrical signal are displayed to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Peng Cong, Timothy J. Denison, Gabriela C. Molnar, Forrest C. M. Pape, Scott R. Stanslaski, Wesley A. Santa