Patents Assigned to Medtronic
  • Patent number: 9364637
    Abstract: A method for positioning a centering introducer in a heart of a patient, which includes the steps of inserting an anchoring wire delivery catheter through a heart wall and to a treatment region of the heart, deploying at least one anchoring wire from the delivery catheter and into tissue in the treatment region of the heart, and removing the delivery catheter from the heart. A centering introducer can then be advanced along the anchoring wire to the treatment region, wherein the centering introducer includes an introducer element and at least one balloon. At least one of the balloons can then be inflated to reorient the introducer element in at least one direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the centering introducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Rothstein
  • Patent number: 9364280
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for pulsed electric field neuromodulation via an intra-to-extravascular approach, e.g., to effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, changes in cytokine upregulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, the ITEV PEF system comprises an intravascular catheter having one or more electrodes configured for intra-to-extravascular placement across a wall of patient's vessel into proximity with target neural fibers. With the electrode(s) passing from an intravascular position to an extravascular position prior to delivery of the PEF, a magnitude of applied voltage or energy delivered via the electrode(s) and necessary to achieve desired neuromodulation may be reduced relative to an intravascular PEF system having one or more electrodes positioned solely intravascularly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Denise Zarins, Benjamin J. Clark, Nicolas Zadno, Hanson Gifford, III, Erik Thai
  • Patent number: 9364609
    Abstract: An electronic controller for an insulin infusion device includes a processor architecture and at least one memory element. The memory element stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor architecture, provide an insulin on board (IOB) compensation module to estimate a current IOB value that indicates an amount of active insulin in the body of the user, calculate an IOB rate based at least in part on the estimated current IOB value, determine an adjusted insulin infusion rate based at least in part on the calculated IOB rate and an uncompensated insulin infusion rate, select a final insulin infusion rate for the device, and provide the selected final insulin infusion rate to regulate delivery of insulin by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Desmond Barry Keenan, John J. Mastrototaro, Benyamin Grosman, Neha J. Parikh, Anirban Roy
  • Patent number: 9368270
    Abstract: A planar transformer assembly, for use in charging capacitors of an ICD, includes windings arranged to minimize voltage across intervening dielectric layers. Each secondary winding of a preferred plurality of secondary windings is arranged relative to a primary winding, in a hierarchical fashion, such that the DC voltage, with respect to ground, of a first secondary winding, of the plurality of secondary windings, is lower than that of a second secondary winding, with respect to ground, wherein the first secondary winding is in closest proximity to the primary winding. The primary winding and each secondary winding are preferably formed on a corresponding plurality of dielectric layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark R Boone
  • Patent number: 9364324
    Abstract: Described is a delivery system for minimally invasive delivery of a self-expandable stent to a body lumen, and particularly delivery of a prosthetic valve to the right ventricular outflow tract. Also described is a method of loading a stent onto such a delivery system, and a method of delivering a self-expandable stent to a desired anatomic site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Nasser Rafiee, Morgan House, Nareak Douk, Philipp Bonhoeffer
  • Publication number: 20160158102
    Abstract: A pouch for mixing and dispensing a composition including a pouch body and a port body. The pouch body includes opposing, first and second major flexible walls sealed to one another along respective peripheries thereof to define an internal chamber and a pouch perimeter. The pouch body has a C-like shape. The port body projects from the first wall and is fluidly open to the internal chamber. With this configuration, various components, such as a powder component and a liquid component, can be mixed by a user's hand(s) in pressing the walls in a kneading fashion, with the resultant composition being dispensed through the port body. In some embodiments, the pouch is provided to a user with a powder component pre-loaded in the internal chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: Medtronic Xomed, Inc.
    Inventor: Lissa N. Venosh
  • Patent number: 9357949
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system that displays posture state information, physiological conditions of a patient on an avatar or other graphical representation of a human body, and therapy parameter information to facilitate the programming of therapy that is delivered to a patient. In some examples, the system may include an implantable medical device (IMD) that delivers therapy to a patient and incorporates a posture state module that detects a posture state engaged by the patient to determine the therapy delivered to the patient. An external programming device may communicate with the IMD, e.g., in real-time, to display the posture state of the patient as well as therapy parameters and physiological conditions associated with the posture state of the patient. The external programming device may receive adjustment input from the clinician to adjust one or more therapy parameters for therapy delivered to a patient in a specific posture state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Touby A. Drew
  • Patent number: 9357932
    Abstract: An adherent device to monitor a tissue hydration of a patient comprises an adhesive patch to adhere to a skin of the patient. A plurality of electrodes are connected to the patch and capable of electrically coupling to the patient. Circuitry is coupled to the plurality of electrodes to measure a tissue resistance of the patient at a first frequency and to detect a low frequency droop in the measured tissue resistance. In response to detected low frequency droop, the circuitry is configured to measure a tissue resistance of the patient at a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency to verify the detection of low frequency droop, and to temporarily suspend data collection based on the detection and verification of low frequency droop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic Monitoring, Inc.
    Inventors: Imad Libbus, Mark J. Bly
  • Patent number: 9362570
    Abstract: A battery assembly for a medical device includes an elongate cathode, an elongate anode, an electrolyte, and an elongate housing assembly encapsulating the cathode, the anode, and the electrolyte. The battery assembly also includes a first electrode exposed from and electrically insulated from the housing assembly. One of the anode and the cathode is electrically coupled to the first electrode, and the other of the anode and the cathode is electrically coupled to the housing assembly. Respective axes of the cathode and the anode are substantially parallel to an axis of the housing assembly, and the cathode and anode each include a flat portion that face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Lund, Steven J. May, Donald R. Merritt, Hailiang Zhao
  • Patent number: 9358370
    Abstract: Embodiments hereof relate to a guidewire formed from an elongated shaft, at least a portion of the shaft having an outer layer, a plurality of channels formed through the outer layer, and an inner core. The outer layer is formed from a material non susceptible to erosion by an erosion agent and the inner core is formed from a radiopaque material susceptible to erosion by the erosion agent. When exposed to the erosion agent, core material adjacent to the channels is removed to form a pattern of integral radiopaque segments or markers with a plurality of voids therebetween. By controlling the location of channels and the rate of erosion of the core material, the pattern of integral radiopaque segments and voids allow for in situ measurement when viewed under fluoroscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark L. Stiger, Richard L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 9362660
    Abstract: An implantable medical device connector assembly and method of manufacture include a molded, insulative shell having an inner surface forming a connector bore, a circuit member including one or more traces extending through apertures in the connector shell. One or more conductive members, positioned along the connector bore, are electrically coupled to the traces. The sealing members are positioned between the conductive members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J Ries, Jeffrey A Swanson, George A Patras
  • Patent number: 9362774
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for a method of charging a battery. In an example, the method includes determining a capacity of the battery, and determining a state of charge of the battery. The method also includes charging the battery with a charging current, wherein the charging current is based on the capacity of the battery and the state of charge of the battery, and wherein charging the battery comprises reducing the charging current in response to the state of charge of the battery changing with respect to the capacity of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Reid K. Bornhoft
  • Patent number: 9351783
    Abstract: A method and system for performing pulmonary vein isolation, mapping, and assessing pulmonary vein occlusion using a single device. The device may generally include an ablation element, such as a cryoballoon, and a sensing component slidably disposed within a lumen of the device and bearing one or more mapping electrodes and one or more pressure sensors. The method may generally include mapping cardiac electrical signals within a heart and/or pulmonary vein, positioning a distal portion of the sensing component within a pulmonary vein, advancing the ablation element until it is in contact with the pulmonary vein ostium, recording blood pressure measurements within the pulmonary vein with the one or more pressure sensors to assess pulmonary vein occlusion, and activating the treatment element when the pulmonary vein is completely occluded. The sensing component may have a straight or hooped configuration, or a configuration therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic CryoCath LP
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Jannicke, Mark Allen Benscoter, Patricia K. Fuher
  • Patent number: 9351648
    Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) includes an electrode that forms a first snap-fit attachment area and an insulator that forms a through-hole, a second snap-fit attachment area and a third snap-fit attachment area. The second snap-fit attachment area mates with the first snap-fit attachment area of the electrode. The IMD further includes a body including an elongated conductive housing and a feedthrough wire extending therefrom. The body forms a fourth snap-fit attachment area on one end that mates with the third snap-fit attachment area of the insulator such that the feedthrough wire extends through the through-hole of the insulator. The housing encloses at least one of a battery, a sensor, and an electronic circuit. The insulator functions to electrically isolate the electrode from the housing of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kamal D. Mothilal, George Patras
  • Patent number: 9352165
    Abstract: A method and medical device for detecting a cardiac event that includes sensing cardiac signals from a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes forming a first sensing vector sensing a first interval and a second sensing vector simultaneously sensing a second, determining, for each of the first interval and the second interval, whether each beat of the plurality of beats is one of a match beat and a non-match beat, determining whether each beat of the plurality of beats is one of a high confidence beat and a low confidence beat, determining, for each of the first interval and the second interval, the number of beats determined to be both a non-match beat and a high confidence beat is greater than a non-match threshold, and determining whether to deliver therapy for the cardiac event in response to identifying of each of the first interval and the second interval as being one of shockable and not shockable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Xusheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 9352121
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controllably variable fluid flow are disclosed that provide the ability to modify the effective cross-sectional area of the fluid delivery conduit available for fluid flow. Accordingly, selective control of these configurations allows fluid flow to be regulated as desired while the fluid delivery pressure remains the same. Additional configurations provided herein allow for the selective manipulation of a footprint or therapeutic pattern achievable with the medical device during a single procedure, negating the need for the removal and insertion of multiple devices to achieve the same variations in treatment geometry or characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic CryoCath LP
    Inventors: Regina E. Groves, Jean-Pierre Lalonde, Timothy G. Laske, Claudia Lueckge, Dan Wittenberger, Ramin Sabbaghe-Kermani, Mahmoud Kabir-Seraj
  • Patent number: 9352094
    Abstract: A catheter proximal section is preferably formed from a relatively soft part and a relatively rigid part, and includes a proximal terminal end that defines a perimeter of an opening into a lumen of the catheter. The proximal section may further include a feature for interlocking engagement with an accessory tool. An inner surface of each of the relatively soft and rigid parts may be located opposite one another, on either side of the catheter lumen. The relatively soft and rigid parts may be included in a sealing assembly that further includes an attachment feature for removable connection of the assembly to the proximal section catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A Drake, Stanten C Spear, Lester O Stener, Gary R Fiedler, Scott W Hayden, Kendra Yasger
  • Patent number: 9356264
    Abstract: An electrode assembly for use in a battery may include a mandrel and one or more insulative portions. The insulative portions may be formed about and may extend from one or more end regions of a battery mandrel. Further, insulative portions may electrically insulate one or more elements of the electrode assembly from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Nidelkoff, Jay T. Rassat, Sheila A. Mullen, Jeffrey J. Clayton, Nicholas J. Haupt, Paul B. Aamodt
  • Patent number: 9352125
    Abstract: Anchors for securing a medical device relative to a burr hole, wherein the anchors may accommodate most any implantation trajectory through the burr hole. Such anchors may further secure the device along any such trajectory without imparting undesirable biasing forces that may shift the device from its intended implanted location. In some embodiments, the anchor is configured with a cup-shaped retention member through which the medical device passes. The retention member may receive a volume of curable material therein to provide strain relief to the medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Bodner
  • Patent number: 9351789
    Abstract: A device and method for treating a variety of tissue locations within a patient's body using a single device that includes an elongate body having a distal portion, a shaft rotatably and slidably disposed within the elongate body, and a first arm and a second arm each coupled to the elongate body distal portion. Retraction and rotation of the shaft transitions the each arm from a linear configuration to a radially expanded configuration in which each arm has an arcuate shape and lies in a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the elongate body longitudinal axis. Electrodes coupled to the arms are equidistant from the longitudinal axis of the elongate body in different radial directions when the device is in the radially expanded configuration. The electrodes are radially symmetrical about the shaft when the radially expanded configuration has a first diameter or a second diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic Ablation Frontiers LLC
    Inventors: Alex Novichenok, Reynaldo O. Cruz, Aaron R. Strunk