Patents Assigned to Medtronic
  • Patent number: 9439726
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for treating hypertension, e.g., via a pulsed electric field, via a stimulation electric field, via localized drug delivery, via high frequency ultrasound, via thermal techniques, etc. Such neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential attenuation or blockade, changes in cytokine up-regulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, neuromodulation is applied to neural fibers that contribute to renal function. In some embodiments, such neuromodulation is performed in a bilateral fashion. Bilateral renal neuromodulation may provide enhanced therapeutic effect in some patients as compared to renal neuromodulation performed unilaterally, i.e., as compared to renal neuromodulation performed on neural tissue innervating a single kidney.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Denise Zarins, Hanson Gifford, III, Mark Deem, Douglas Sutton, Howard R. Levin, Mark Gelfand
  • Patent number: 9439581
    Abstract: A system for locating a target tissue site is described. The system includes a locating guide that frames an area of interest upon placement over skin of a patient, an electrode patch defining an aperture and including two or more electrodes for placement within the area of interest, and a medical imaging device that indicates a location of a target tissue site within the patient based on electrical signals generated by one or more of the electrodes. A clinician may guide an introducer needle into the aperture for implanting a medical lead proximate to the target tissue site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Dinsmoor, Eric H. Bonde
  • Patent number: 9440086
    Abstract: An implantable medical device have an associated memory device is disclosed. The implantable medical device utilizes techniques for optimizing one or more embedded operations of the memory device, such operations including programming, reading or erasing data. The techniques for optimizing the embedded operations include controlling the operations as a function of an energy source of the implantable medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Gordon, Duane R. Bigelow
  • Patent number: 9439827
    Abstract: Tissue compression devices having pressure indicators and methods of using the same. The tissue compression devices provide feedback to a user with respect to the pressure being applied to selected tissue at a selected location such as a radial artery to assist the user in applying the desired amount of pressure to the tissue (such as the pressure needed to achieve hemostasis at an access site). The pressure indication may be provided by a ring indicator that moves between two configurations (e.g., a concave configuration and a convex configuration), a bellow chamber in a housing, a bladder located below a bladder window, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanaz Saatchi, Joseph Berglund, Conor Flannery, Mark Hoff, Brian Joseph Mason, Yusuke Miyashita, Remy O'Leary Pieron, Justin Williams
  • Patent number: 9439708
    Abstract: Neuromodulation cryotherapeutic devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A cryotherapeutic device configured in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present technology can include an elongated shaft having distal portion and a supply lumen along at least a portion of the shaft. The shaft can be configured to locate the distal portion intravascularly at a treatment site proximate a renal artery or renal ostium. The supply lumen can be configured to receive a liquid refrigerant. The cryotherapeutic device can further include a cooling assembly at the distal portion of the shaft. The cooling assembly can include an applicator in fluid communication with the supply lumen and configured to deliver cryotherapeutic cooling to nerves proximate the target site when the cooling assembly is in a deployed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Naomi Buckley, Benjamin J. Clark, Michael Cummins, Danny Donovan, Luke Hughes, Brian Kelly, Gary Kelly, Grace Kelly, John Kelly, Gwenda McMullin, Karun D. Naga, Stephen Nash, Eric Ryba, Fiachra Sweeney, Vincenzo Tilotta, Roman Turovskiy, Lana Woolley, Denise Zarins, Mark Gelfand, Mark S. Leung, Barry Mullins, Michael Turovskiy
  • Patent number: 9439721
    Abstract: Medical devices, systems, and methods for treating patients with tissue ablation include catheter systems having bi-modal steering mechanisms, which are capable of both linear and loop ablation. In other words, the catheter system may have two different steering modes: two-dimensional and three-dimensional. In the first and second steering modes, the steering actuator may cause one or more portions of the catheter shaft to bend in different planes. A steerable ablation catheter may include treatment elements such as electrodes at its distal end and along the catheter shaft, each of which may map, pace, and ablate. Optional features include a series of thermocouples for monitoring local temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic Ablation Frontiers LLC
    Inventors: Randell Werneth, Ricardo Roman, Timothy J. Corvi, Betty Hu
  • Patent number: 9433636
    Abstract: Bodily tissue and structures may be protected using a fluid layer containing a mixture of chitosan and oxidized polysaccharide. The mixture forms a protective gel layer via in situ crosslinking. Compared to crosslinking using a low molecular weight aldehyde such as glutaraldehyde or genipin, oxidized polysaccharides appear to provide faster gelation while avoiding the use of potentially less bioacceptable low molecular weight aldehydes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Edze Jan Tijsma, Maria Nieves Gonzalez, Erica M. TenBroek, Nancy Schaffhausen
  • Patent number: 9433783
    Abstract: Techniques for managing urinary or fecal incontinence include delivering a first type of therapy to generate a first physiological response and, upon detecting a trigger event, delivering a second type of therapy to generate a second physiological response. The first type of therapy can be delivered on a substantially regular basis, while the second type of therapy is delivered as needed to provide an additional boost of therapy. The trigger event for activating the delivery of the second type of therapy may include input from a sensor that indicates a bladder condition, patient activity level or patient posture, or patient input. In some examples, the therapy is stimulation therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Xuan K. Wei, Eric H. Bonde, Keith A. Miesel, Mark S. Lent, Gregory F. Molnar
  • Patent number: 9433521
    Abstract: Distal tips for use with delivery catheters are disclosed that are configured to maintain complete engagement between the distal tip and a distal opening of a sheath component of the delivery catheter so as to prevent separation therebetween and/or to prevent fish-mouthing of a distal leading edge of the sheath component during in vivo use. Distal tips so configured realize one or more of the objectives of safer tracking of the delivery catheter through the vasculature, safe crossing of the delivery catheter through structural components of the vasculature and heart, such as through native valves, and safe removal of the delivery catheter post deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Susheel Deshmukh, Siyan Som, Adam Shipley, Matthew Spurchise, Stephen Peter, Shishira Nagesh
  • Patent number: 9433731
    Abstract: Apparatus are provided for infusion devices and related systems and operating methods. An exemplary system includes a motor, a sensing arrangement coupled to the motor to provide output indicative of a detected characteristic of the motor when the sensing arrangement is enabled, and a module coupled to the sensing arrangement to periodically enable the sensing arrangement while the motor is idle and detect potential unintended motion of the motor based on the output from the sensing arrangement while periodically enabling the sensing arrangement. In some embodiments, the motor includes a rotor configured such that its rotation provides translational displacement of a plunger in a fluid reservoir, and the sensing arrangement includes one or more sensors configured to provide output indicative of a detected magnetic field of the rotor magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam S. Trock, Hsiao-Yu S. Kow, Nichole R. Mattson, Steve Chow, Alexander S. Campbell
  • Patent number: 9436481
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern reprogramming an implantable medical device by an external programmer to operate using a second program version, the second program version replacing a first program version in controlling operation of the implantable medical device. It can be determined whether the implantable medical device will be able to operate using the first program version to deliver therapy according to the first program version if the implantable medical device was to revert back to using the first program version. The implantable medical device can then revert to operational programming from the second program version to the first program version, the first program version saved in memory of the implantable medical device as a restore point while the implantable medical device operates according to the second program version between the reprogramming and reverting of the implantable medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Touby A. Drew
  • Patent number: 9433755
    Abstract: An anchor deployment assembly includes an anchor receiving element having an elongate member defining a first opening, a second opening, and a lumen extending from the first opening to the second opening. The lumen is configured to slidably receive at least a portion of a therapy delivery element. The assembly further includes an anchor engagement element having a body defining a channel configured to slidably receive the elongate member of the anchor receiving element. The assembly further includes an alignment element securable relative to the elongate member of the anchor receiving element and configured to secure the elongate member relative to the body of the anchor engagement element to restrict movement of the elongate member orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the channel of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Behymer, Jacob W. Silverberg, Michael R. Klardie, Michael J. Kern
  • Patent number: 9433791
    Abstract: The disclosure describes techniques for delivering electrical stimulation to decrease the ventricular rate response during an atrial tachyarrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation. AV nodal stimulation is employed during an atrial tachyarrhythmia episode with rapid ventricular conduction to distinguish ventricular tachyarrhythmia from supraventricular tachycardia and thereby prevent delivering inappropriate therapy to a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Eduardo N. Warman, John E. Burnes, Koen J. Michels, Paul D. Ziegler, Lilian Kornet
  • Patent number: 9439150
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for controlling spectral aggressors in a sensing device that uses a low power sleep mode to manage the power consumed by the device. In some examples, the techniques for controlling spectral aggressors may include configuring one or more of an algorithm processing rate for a processor, a buffering rate for the processor, a sampling rate for an analog-to-digital converter, an execution unit processing rate for the processor, and an algorithm subdivision factor for the processor such that spectral interference caused by a sleep cycle rate of the processor occurs outside of one or more target frequency bands of a sampled signal. The techniques of this disclosure may be used to reduce noise in a sensing system that uses a low power sleep mode to manage the power consumed by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Carlson, Scott R. Stanslaski, Peng Cong, Timothy J. Denison, David E. Linde, Randy M. Jensen
  • Patent number: 9427553
    Abstract: Anchors for securing a therapy device such as a therapy catheter relative to a burr hole, and systems and methods for using the same. Anchors in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure may include a connector for securing the therapy catheter to a delivery catheter, wherein the connector is independently and removably attachable to the anchor. The connector may secure the therapy catheter relative to the burr hole and isolate forces that may otherwise tend to disrupt the placement of the therapy catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian D. Nelson
  • Patent number: 9429563
    Abstract: Activated clotting time (ACT) tests detect blood clotting time based on the viscosity changes of a test sample, using a ferromagnetic washer lifted to the top of a test chamber and then dropped from the top via gravity; a drop time greater than a preset threshold value indicates clotting of the test sample. Blood samples which have high levels of heparin usually produce very weak clots that may easily be destroyed by the lifting movement of the washer. But if the clot threshold is set low to detect the weak clots, false detections occur during early testing cycles when activators are not fully suspended during the mixing cycle. Improved algorithms for lifting the washer and adjusting over time enable accurate detection of weak clots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Cheek, Lawrence Erickson, Trevor Huang, Tessy Kanayinkal, Craig Petersen, Charlene Yuan
  • Patent number: 9431312
    Abstract: A medical device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a control module, and an energy storage device. The first substrate includes at least one of a first semiconductor material and a first insulating material. The second substrate includes at least one of a second semiconductor material and a second insulating material. The second substrate is bonded to the first substrate such that the first and second substrates define an enclosed cavity between the first and second substrates. The control module is disposed within the enclosed cavity. The control module is configured to at least one of determine a physiological parameter of a patient and deliver electrical stimulation to the patient. The energy storage device is disposed within the cavity and is configured to supply power to the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J O'Brien, John K Day, Paul F Gerrish, Michael F Mattes, David A Ruben, Malcolm K Grief
  • Patent number: 9427165
    Abstract: Systems and methods for management of physiological data, for example data obtained from monitoring an electrocardiogram signal of a patient. In one example use, digital data is obtained and episodes of arrhythmias are detected. Snapshots of the digitized ECG signal may be stored for later physician review. One or more techniques may be used to avoid recording of redundant data, while ensuring that at least a minimum number of episodes of each detected arrhythmia can be stored. The system may automatically tailor its data collection to the cardiac characteristics of a particular patient. In one technique, memory is allocated to include for each detectable arrhythmia a memory segment designated to receive ECG snapshots representing only the respective arrhythmia. A shared memory pool may receive additional snapshots of as the designated memory segments fill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic Monitoring, Inc.
    Inventors: Brion Finlay, Scott Williams, Richard Fogoros, Brett Landrum, Abhi Chavan
  • Patent number: 9427575
    Abstract: An extendable medical lead comprises a lead body and a sheath defining a cavity that encloses a length of the lead body. The length of the lead body enclosed within the sheath may be coiled or otherwise gathered such that when extended, the length of the enclosed section of the lead body is greater than the length of the sheath. The sheath may include a seal to help prevent contaminant entry into the cavity in order to help reduce tissue in growth around the length of the lead body disposed within the sheath. A portion of the length of the lead body enclosed within the sheath exits the cavity through an aperture defined by the seal when a tensile force is applied to the lead body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrell M. Williams, Mark T. Marshall
  • Patent number: 9427559
    Abstract: A centering tool and a combined centering-indicator tool for finding the magnetic center and indicating the setting of an implantable adjustable valve. The centering and combined centering-indicator tools include a magnetic capsule movable within a cavity to a target located on the tool when the magnetic capsule is centered over magnet of an adjustable valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic Xomed, Inc.
    Inventors: Deep Shah, Tony Daniel Cepeda, Lori Speckman, W. Jeff Bertrand, Lawrence Hampton