Patents Assigned to Medtronic
  • Patent number: 8892207
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are described for monitoring synchronization of two or more brain areas and delivering an electrical therapy to the brain to facilitate synchronization of the two or more brain areas. The electrical therapy can be titrated to improve synchronization between the two or more areas of the brain based on the one or more signals, the synchronization between the two or more areas of the brain occurring in response to the patient being exposed to external sensory stimulus, wherein the electrical therapy does not independently cause activation of either of the two or more areas of the brain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwight E. Nelson, Rahul Gupta
  • Patent number: 8887619
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and techniques for managing heat generated in coils for wireless energy transmission are disclosed. Inductive coupling between two coils (e.g., a primary coil and a secondary coil) may be used to recharge the power source of an implantable medical device. A phase change material may be thermally coupled to the primary coil to absorb heat generated during the inductive coupling and reduce temperature increases of the primary coil. In one example, the phase change material may be configured to absorb heat from an energy transfer coil. A housing may be configured to contain the phase change material and a coupling mechanism may be configured to removably attach the housing to the energy transfer coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd A. Kallmyer, John E. Kast, David P. Olson, Randy S. Roles, Venkat R. Gaddam
  • Patent number: 8892204
    Abstract: A chronically implanted medical device, connected to a medical electrical lead that includes a sensor, is used to detect cardiac afterload. Electrical stimulation is delivered proximate to aortic arch tissue of a patient in order to reduce a patient's cardiac afterload. Electrical stimulation is terminated after a termination condition is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Rodolphe Katra
  • Patent number: 8891847
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of implant detection includes receiving a three-dimensional (3D) image of an anatomy portion of a patient from computed tomography (CT) projections of the patient in an image processing computing system. A cluster of voxels forming an implant candidate is identified on a CT slice of the 3D image and the identified implant candidate is compared with artifacts of implants from an implant database stored in a memory of the computing system. A best-fit implant is selected from the implant database and a graphical image of the best-fit implant is overlaid on the CT slice on a display of the computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick A. Helm, Shuanghe Shi
  • Patent number: 8888699
    Abstract: Methods for treating a patient and further to devices for performing such treatment, e.g., methods and devices to perturb at least one physiological system and deliver therapy to the patient based on the effects of such perturbation. For example, a method for using an implantable medical device is disclosed that involves a method for using an implantable medical device delivering electrical stimuli to an afferent nerve associated with the selected organ. The efferent electrical activity is monitored in an efferent nerve responsive to delivering electrical stimuli to the afferent nerve, the monitored efferent electrical activity includes an indirect component of a compound action potential (CAP). A status of the selected organ is assessed based upon the indirect component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Hendrik Peter Johan Buschman, Richard N. M. Cornelussen, Michael Roland Scott Hill, Lilian Kornet, Simone Cornelia Maria Anna Ordelman, Petrus Hermanus Veltink
  • Patent number: 8888847
    Abstract: A cover for receiving an implantable medical device includes self-anchoring protrusions that engage tissue of a pocket where the device is implanted to resist movement including rotation and flipping. The implantable medical device is placed into the cover prior to being placed into the pocket so that once in the pocket, the device may reduce rotating, flipping, or otherwise moving. The self-anchoring protrusions may include barbs of various shapes to frictionally engage the tissue of the pocket. The cover may include features such as a strap and elastic construction to assist in holding the implantable medical device within the cover. Apertures may be included to enable the device. The cover may include additional features like suture tabs to allow additional fixation via suturing the cover to the surrounding tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Hexiang Zhu Drew, Gary R. Noel
  • Patent number: 8892214
    Abstract: An implantable electrical lead for applying stimulation energy to bodily tissue, such as a patient's nervous system, from an external power source. The lead is defined by a distal section, an intermediate section and a proximal section, and includes a lead body, a plurality of insulated wires, and a plurality of connector elements. The lead body includes a plurality of electrodes and an anchoring device. The insulated wires are electrically coupled to the electrodes, respectively. A wire intermediate segment extends proximal the lead body and is characterized as having a non-coiled configuration, terminating at a respective connector element for coupling to an external power source. The wire intermediate segments are extendible through a patient's skin and are sealable relative to the skin. The lead is adapted for providing temporary electrical stimulation to a sacral nerve in a bipolar mode, with the anchoring device inhibiting electrode migration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric H. Bonde, Eric M. Stetz, Carole A. Tronnes, James T. Henry
  • Patent number: 8890681
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for displaying representations of therapy session histories with a programmer device configured to program an implantable fluid delivery device. Information regarding the session histories may be stored in a memory of the fluid delivery device. An example programmer includes a user interface comprising a display to present a representation of a plurality of therapy sessions administered by an implantable fluid delivery device to a patient, and a processor that controls the user interface to present on the display the representation of the plurality of therapy sessions. The representation may include simultaneously displayed, temporally-ordered representations of the plurality of therapy sessions, such as a graph comprising a plurality of nodes, each node corresponding to one of the therapy sessions. Horizontal locations of the nodes may correspond to relative ending dates for the corresponding therapy session, and shapes of each node may represent infusion patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Goetz, Sarah B. Alme
  • Publication number: 20140336631
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for achieving thermally-induced renal neuromodulation by intravascular access are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present application, for example, is directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods that incorporate a treatment device comprising an elongated shaft. The elongated shaft is sized and configured to deliver a thermal element to a renal artery via an intravascular path. Thermally-induced renal neuromodulation may be achieved via direct and/or via indirect application of thermal energy to heat or cool neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Andrew Wu, Benjamin J. Clark, Denise Zarins, Erik Thai
  • Publication number: 20140331475
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for crimping a medical device are disclosed. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for reducing the diameter of a collapsible heart valve prosthesis to be loaded onto a delivery device. The devices, systems, and methods using at least one funnel to crimp the heart valve prosthesis and load it onto the delivery system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic Vascular Galway
    Inventors: Niall Duffy, Marian Creaven, Philip Haarstad, Frank Harewood, Igor Kovalsky, Jason Quill, Daniel Gelfman, Ana Menk, Darren Janzig, Shyam Gokaldas, Kenneth Warnock
  • Publication number: 20140336638
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for renal neuromodulation using a pulsed electric field to effectuate electroporation or electrofusion. It is expected that renal neuromodulation (e.g., denervation) may, among other things, reduce expansion of an acute myocardial infarction, reduce or prevent the onset of morphological changes that are affiliated with congestive heart failure, and/or be efficacious in the treatment of end stage renal disease. Embodiments of the present invention are configured for extravascular delivery of pulsed electric fields to achieve such neuromodulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.a.r.I.
    Inventors: Mark Deem, Denise Zarins, Douglas Sutton, Hanson Gifford, III, Howard R. Levin, Mark Gelfand, Benjamin J. Clark
  • Patent number: 8882665
    Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein relates to monitoring and/or controlling levels of an analyte in bodily fluid. In particular, estimation of a concentration of the analyte in a first physiological compartment based upon observations of a concentration of the analyte in a second physiological compartment may account for a latency in transporting the analyte between the first and second physiological compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Ning Yang, Rebecca K. Gottlieb, Keith Nogueira, Xiaolong Li, Bradley Liang
  • Patent number: 8882828
    Abstract: A stent-graft has a closed web end configuration in which endmost stent crowns do not extend beyond an end or edge of a tubular graft. In order to couple the stent-graft to tip capture fingers or prongs of a delivery system, the stent-graft includes a ring woven between the endmost crowns of an end stent. When end stent is in a compressed delivery configuration, sections of the ring between adjacent endmost crowns form attachment loops that longitudinally extend beyond the end of the tubular graft for engaging the tip capture fingers of a delivery system. When the end stent is in an expanded fully deployed configuration, the attachment loops retract back to the stent so that the ring is a circular band having a diameter substantially equal to the expanded diameter of the stent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Kinkade, Mark Stiger, Brandon Woll, Joshua Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8886302
    Abstract: In general, the disclosure relates to the delivery of therapy according to a detected posture state of a patient. The disclosure contemplates a variety of techniques for managing therapy delivered to a patent. In one example, the disclosure relates to a technique including delivering therapy to a patient from a medical device, wherein the therapy is delivered to the patient according to a detected posture state of the patient; and automatically adjusting at least one aspect of the therapy delivered from a medical device based at least in part on one or more of time or patient posture state behavior, wherein automatically adjusting at least one aspect of therapy comprises suspending at least one aspect of the therapy or decreasing a posture state detection frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis M. Skelton, Jon P. Davis
  • Patent number: 8886323
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for delivering electrical stimulation to the brain of a patient at a frequency greater than a selected frequency. The techniques may reestablish gamma frequency band activity within the brain of a patient, and thus improve the patient's movements and cognitive states. In one example, the disclosure is directed to a method that includes selecting a frequency within a gamma frequency band and delivering electrical stimulation at a frequency greater than the selected frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianping Wu, Dwight E. Nelson, Rahul Gupta
  • Patent number: 8886314
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for inducing ventricular fibrillation in a patient to facilitate defibrillation threshold testing. The apparatus includes a plurality of output capacitors that are dynamically configurable in a selected stacking arrangement that facilitates delivery of energy for inducing the ventricular fibrillation. An output of the apparatus is coupled to patient electrodes and a threshold energy level delivered by the output capacitors is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Randolph E. Crutchfield, Lonny V. Cabelka, Mark R. Boone, Marshall J. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8882710
    Abstract: An insertion device may include a base adapted to be carried by a patient, and a housing attached to the base, the housing having a fluid connector arranged for movement relative to the base. A pair of interactive elements including a first interactive element may be supported on the base and a second interactive element supported on the housing at a location to be interactable with the first interactive element when the fluid connector is moved to a predetermined position. Circuitry may be configured to detect an interaction between the first interactive element and the second interactive element when the fluid connector is in the predetermined position, the circuitry configured to provide a signal or a change in state in response to detecting the interaction between the first interactive element and the second interactive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Minimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin A. Chong, Eric M. Lorenzen, Rafael Bikovsky, Arsen Ibranyan, Adam J. Livingston, Tom McGee, Steven Masterson
  • Patent number: 8886332
    Abstract: A visualization of an area or volume of tissue activated during stimulation according to a set of stimulation parameters is generated. The area or volume of activation is modeled based on a non-uniform grid of model neurons. Select portions of the grid have the model neurons more closely spaced, resulting in finer resolution graphical representation, while less closely spaced model neurons in other portions of the grid may avoid additional computation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriela C. Molnar, Maciej T. Lazarewicz
  • Patent number: 8882756
    Abstract: The invention provides a bipolar electrosurgical device to treat tissue in a presence of radio frequency energy and a fluid provided from the device. In one embodiment, the device comprises a first electrode and a second electrode at the end of a malleable shaft assembly to be hand shapeable by a user of the device, and at least one fluid outlet. The malleable shaft assembly comprises a first shaft and a second shaft, a length of the first shaft and a length of the second shaft in an outer member comprising a polymer, and at least a portion of the first shaft and at least a portion of the second shaft being malleable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC
    Inventors: Roger D. Greeley, Steven G. Miller, Vaclav O. Podany, Brian M. Conley, Chad M. Greenlaw
  • Patent number: 8884779
    Abstract: A telemetry head for communication with an implantable medical device comprises a telemetry antenna and a shield substantially surrounding at least a portion of the antenna, the shield having a coating comprising a ferromagnetic material applied to at least a portion of the shield, wherein the coating is configured to shield at least the portion of the telemetry antenna from electromagnetic interference fields while permitting telemetry signals to pass through the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald M. Herman, David R. Walsh, Richard O. Berg, Lester O. Stener