Patents Assigned to Medtronic
  • Patent number: 8684998
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for thermally-induced renal neuromodulation. 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. In some embodiments, parameters of the neural fibers, of non-target tissue, or of the thermal energy delivery element, may be monitored via one or more sensors for controlling the thermally-induced neuromodulation. In some embodiments, protective elements may be provided to reduce a degree of thermal damage induced in the non-target tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Denise Demarais, Nicolas Zadno, Benjamin J. Clark, Erik Thai, Howard R. Levin, Mark Gelfand
  • Patent number: 8685319
    Abstract: A combination oxygenator and arterial filter device for treating blood in an extracorporeal blood circuit. The device includes a housing maintaining a core and a fiber bundle. The fiber bundle is formed by a plurality of hollow fibers continuously helically wound about the core to form layers of level wound fibers. The layers combine to define an oxygenator region and a radially outward depth filter region. A minimum gap spacing between fibers of the oxygenator region layers is greater than a minimum gap spacing of the depth filter region layers. The fiber bundle can function as a blood oxygenator and exhibits a filtration efficiency of not less than 92% in filtering particles having a particle size of about 45 microns. An oxygenator with integrated arterial filtering capability is provided that minimally impacts the extracorporeal blood circuit prime volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Olson, John L. Knoll
  • Patent number: 8688221
    Abstract: A medical device, programmer, or other computing device may determine values of one or more activity and, in some embodiments, posture metrics for each therapy parameter set used by the medical device to deliver therapy. The metric values for a parameter set are determined based on signals generated by the sensors when that therapy parameter set was in use. Activity metric values may be associated with a postural category in addition to a therapy parameter set, and may indicate the duration and intensity of activity within one or more postural categories resulting from delivery of therapy according to a therapy parameter set. A posture metric for a therapy parameter set may indicate the fraction of time spent by the patient in various postures when the medical device used a therapy parameter set. The metric values may be used to evaluate the efficacy of the therapy parameter sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Miesel, Kenneth T. Heruth, Gregory F. Molnar
  • Publication number: 20140088659
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Randolph E. Crutchfield, Lonny V. Cabelka, Mark R. Boone, Marshall J. Rasmussen
  • Publication number: 20140088697
    Abstract: A heart valve assembly comprises a first prosthesis configured to expand from an unexpanded state to an expanded state at which the first annular prosthesis contacts native tissue of a body lumen. The heart valve assembly also comprises a second prosthesis comprising a valve, and a connection adapter that secures the second prosthesis to the first prosthesis, the connection adapter having a multi-lobed circumference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. FOGARTY, Michael J. DREWS, Neil HOLMGREN, D. Bruce MODESITT
  • Publication number: 20140088561
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treatment of heart failure, hypertension and renal failure by stimulating the renal nerve. The goal of therapy is to reduce sympathetic activity of the renal nerve. Therapy is accomplished by at least partially blocking the nerve with drug infusion or electrostimulation. Apparatus can be permanently implanted or catheter based.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Howard R. Levin, Mark Gelfand
  • Publication number: 20140088693
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a heart valve apparatus includes at least two anchoring elements designed to be anchored at the annulus and/or heart wall of the valve to be treated. Each anchoring element has a support surface. At least one linking element includes a central branch and two curved side branches, one of which is designed to be engaged on the support surface of an anchoring element, while the other is designed to be engaged on the support surface of another anchoring element, the linking element then being designed to be pivoted to a position such that the anchoring elements interconnect and in which the ends of the central branch are located in the vicinity of the support surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic Corevalve LLC
    Inventors: Jacques Seguin, Bruno Lecointe, Remi Gerriet
  • Publication number: 20140088666
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to programming implantable stimulators to deliver stimulation energy via one or more implantable leads having complex electrode array geometries. The disclosure also contemplates guided programming to select electrode combinations and parameter values to support efficacy. The techniques may be applied to a programming interface associated with a clinician programmer, a patient programmer, or both. A user interface permits a user to view electrodes from different perspectives relative to the lead. For example, the user interface provides a side view of a lead and a cross-sectional view of the lead. The user interface may include an axial control medium to select and/or view electrodes at different axial positions along the length of a lead, and a rotational control medium to select and/or view electrodes at different angular positions around a circumference of the lead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Goetz, Richard T. Stone, Warren W. Ball, Carl D. Wahlstrand
  • Publication number: 20140088442
    Abstract: A medical monitoring device for monitoring electrical signals from the body of a subject is described. The medical monitoring device monitors electrical signals originating from a cardiac cycle of the subject and associates each cardiac cycle with a time index. The medical monitoring device applies a forward computational procedure to generate a risk score indicative of hyperkalemia, hypokalemia or arrhythmia of the subject. The medical monitoring device can adjust the forward computational procedure based upon clinical data obtained from the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Orhan Soykan, VenKatesh R. Manda, Martin T. Gerber, Christopher M. Hobot, Linda L. Ruetz, Carl Schu
  • Publication number: 20140088580
    Abstract: A method of treating tissue is provided, including positioning a stimulation device proximate a phrenic nerve; stimulating the phrenic nerve with the stimulation device; measuring a physiological response to the stimulation; defining a threshold physiological response value based at least in part on the measured physiological response; positioning a thermal treatment element proximate to an arrhythmogenic cardiac tissue region; applying a thermal treatment regimen to the cardiac tissue region with the medical device; measuring a physiological parameter during the thermal treatment regimen application; and conveying the measured physiological parameter to a controller, the controller comparing the measured physiological parameter to the defined physiological response value threshold, the controller adjusting the thermal treatment regimen in response to the comparison of the measured physiological parameter to the defined physiological response value threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic CryoCath LP
    Inventors: Dan WITTENBERGER, Nicolas COULOMBE
  • Patent number: 8679024
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring respiration in a patient sense a cardiac electrical signal and detect signal peaks from the cardiac electrical signal. A peak amplitude waveform is generated from the signal peaks. a first derivative of the peak amplitude waveform is computed. Inspiration pulses are derived from the first derivative signal, and a respiration metric can be computed using the inspiration pulses derived from the cardiac electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Xusheng Zhang, Jeffrey M. Gillberg
  • Patent number: 8677601
    Abstract: A method of forming a leaflet of a prosthetic valve includes placing a first piece of material on a working surface. A leaflet mold is placed on the first piece of material, and provides a outer peripheral shape comprising a curved portion. A second piece of material is placed over the first piece and the leaflet mold. The first and second pieces of material are stitched to one another along at least a portion of the curved portion of the leaflet mold. The leaflet mold is removed from first and second pieces of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Billie J. Millwee, Janice L. Shay, Carolyn Majkrzak, Melissa Young, Tara S. Kupumbati
  • Patent number: 8679518
    Abstract: Antimicrobial compounds, such as silanol or alcohol, include a protecting or leaving group that can protect the compound from degradation during the process of preparing a medical device containing the compound or reduce the volatility of the compound relative to its counterpart without the leaving group. Nearly any hydrolysable leaving group may be employed. The leaving group may be an agent that may serve a therapeutic function in addition to protecting or retaining the antimicrobial agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Hsien-Fu Wu, Catherine E. Taylor, Linnus Cheruiyot, Jianwei Li, Terese A. Bartlett, Matt Bergan
  • Patent number: 8678046
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for loading a therapeutic substance or drug within a lumenal space of a hollow wire having a plurality of side openings along a length thereof that forms a hollow drug-eluting stent with a plurality of side drug delivery openings. Loading a drug within the lumenal space of the hollow stent includes a drug filling step, in which the drug is mixed with a solvent or dispersion medium. The lumenal space may be filled with the drug solution or suspension in a reverse fill process and/or a forward fill process. After the drug filling step, a solvent or dispersion medium extracting step is performed to extract the solvent or dispersion medium from within the lumenal space such that only the drug remains within the hollow stent. A stent cleaning step may be performed to an exterior surface of the hollow stent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Melder, Barry Wohl
  • Patent number: 8682437
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods employing coded magnetic fields or transfer of encryption key information via proximity telemetry are described. The systems, methods and devices help prevent or reduce unintended or unintentional distance telemetry communication between an external medical device and an implantable medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott L. Kalpin, Patrick S. Leong, Scott A. Sarkinen, Earle T. Roberts, William J. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 8681010
    Abstract: An improved pump, reservoir and reservoir piston are provided for controlled delivery of fluids. A motor is operably coupled to a drive member, such as a drive screw, which is adapted to advance a plunger slide in response to operation of the motor. The plunger slide is removably coupled to the piston. A method, system, and an article of manufacture for automatically detecting an occlusion in a medication infusion pump is provided. The electrical current to an infusion pump is measured. Based on a series of measurements of one or more variables, the infusion pump detects whether there is an occlusion in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Minimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheldon B. Moberg, Ian B. Hanson, Cary D. Talbot
  • Patent number: 8682410
    Abstract: A medical device including a catheter having a shaft with a distal portion; a first plurality of substantially hemispherical electrodes coupled to the distal portion; a second plurality of substantially hemispherical electrodes coupled to the shaft proximal of the first plurality, where the second plurality of electrodes are oriented substantially orthogonal to the first plurality of electrodes; and an additional electrode coupled to the shaft. A console may have a processor in electrical communication with the first and second plurality of electrodes and the reference electrode, the processor programmed to obtaining a monophasic action potential recording from at least one of the first and second plurality of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Ablation Frontiers LLC
    Inventors: Randell L. Werneth, Meleze Hocini, Mark T. Stewart, Dan Wittenberger, Timothy J. Corvi, Michael Lau, Vinod Sharma
  • Patent number: 8679105
    Abstract: An intravascular catheter is provided, including a flexible elongate body; an expandable element positioned on the elongate body; a substantially linear thermal segment located distally of the expandable element; a first fluid flow path in fluid communication with the expandable element; and a second fluid flow path in fluid communication with the substantially linear thermal segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Cryocath LP
    Inventors: Dan Wittenberger, Ioana Alina Deac, Jean-Pierre Lalonde, Deborah A. De Roy
  • Patent number: 8679095
    Abstract: A flow regulator (19, 208, 308, 408) may be used in a drug delivery system 10. The regulator includes a chamber that is divided by a diaphragm (111, 211, 311, 411) into a first and second subchamber. A third subchamber is in fluid communication with the first subchamber. A valve (26, 217, 317, 417) is operatively connected to the diaphragm, wherein pressure differences between the first subchamber and second subchamber result in movement of the diaphragm and movement of the diaphragm controls operation of the valve. A flow restrictor (116, 216, 316, 416) is in fluid communication between the first and second subchambers. Flow of a drug (11, 101) is thereby regulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Olsen
  • Patent number: 8679016
    Abstract: A closed loop system or semi-closed loop system for infusing insulin using sensor values applies a redundant sensor system as a fail-safe method against sensor failure. The redundant glucose sensors are used corroborate each other and a failing sensor is detected if the sensors no longer corroborate each other. The use of redundant sensors has the additional benefit of producing better sensor signals compared to the use of a single sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Mastrototaro, Richard K. Yoon, Desmond Barry Keenan