Patents Assigned to St. Jude Medical AB
  • Method and apparatus for determining a replacement time of an electric battery
    Patent number: 7912546
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for determining the replacement time of an electric battery in an implantable medical device, the battery being a hybrid battery with a combination of at least two electrode materials, one of which having better properties for high current pulsing and the other of which being a high energy density material, an electrical pulse of a predetermined duration and predetermined amplitude is drawn from the battery. The pulse amplitude significantly exceeds a base current drawn from the battery. The difference between voltages measured across the battery terminals before the pulse is emitted and at an end of the pulse is determined. The battery replacement time is determined from the voltage difference according to a predetermined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical AB
    Inventor: Tom Eriksson
  • Medical system for monitoring and localization of electrode leads in the heart
    Patent number: 7908005
    Abstract: A medical system has an implantable heart stimulator with sensing and stimulating pairs of electrodes, with an electric field through the heart being generated by the respective pairs by the application of alternating voltages at a preset frequency to the respective pairs. A signal receiver receives a signal representing the voltage potential difference between the voltage potential at one of the electrodes in the pair, and a reference electrode. The detected voltage is related to the generated electric field, and the signal receiver generates a potential different signal that is supplied to a control unit to determine parameters therefrom representing cardiac activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical AB
    Inventors: Sven-Erik Hedberg, Kenth Nilsson
  • Heart stimulator detecting atrial arrhythmia by determining wall distension by impedance measuring
    Patent number: 7908002
    Abstract: In an implantable pacemaker, pacing pulses are delivered to a ventricle in a P-wave synchronous mode as long as no atrial arrhythmia is detected, pacing pulses and a mode switch is made to deliver pacing pulses to the ventricle in a non-P-wave synchronous mode if atrial arrhythmia is detected. From an impedance signal measured in the atrium, atrial distention is determined and, in the non-P-wave synchronous mode, the delivery rate of the pacing pulses is increased to decrease the atrial distention during atrial arrhythmia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical AB
    Inventor: Carl-Johan Höijer
  • IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL LEAD AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURE THEREOF
    Publication number: 20110009938
    Abstract: An implantable medical lead for implantation in a patient which has at least one electrical conductor connected to at least one electrode and/or sensor of said lead. The at least one conductor is arranged within a continuous sheet of a polymer material. A distal portion of the lead is adapted to be located in or at a heart of said patient and a proximal portion of said lead is connectable to an implantable medical device and arranged such that, when connected to the device, at least a part of the proximal portion of the sheet is placed in close proximity to said medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: ST JUDE MEDICAL AB
    Inventor: Kenneth Dowling
  • Implantable lead with a stimulating electrode and a mapping electrode that is electrically disconnectable
    Patent number: 7860581
    Abstract: An implantable lead for delivering electrical stimuli to a human heart has a stimulating electrode for transmitting electrical stimuli to the myocardium after implantation, and a mapping electrode for use during implantation. The mapping electrode is configured to deliver electrical stimuli to the heart and to sense intrinsic cardiac activity, for the purpose of finding a suitable fixation position in the myocardium. During the implantation procedure, the mapping electrode is electrically connected to the conductor. The lead is configured to electrically disconnect the mapping electrode from the conductor after a suitable fixation position has been determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical AB
    Inventors: Johan Eckerdal, Kenneth Dahlberg
  • System and method for radio communication between an implantable medical device and an external base unit
    Patent number: 7848820
    Abstract: In a system and method for radio communication between an implantable medical device (IMD) and an external base unit, respectively including transceivers for communication therebetween, the external base unit, according to a predetermined criterion, sends a sleep message to the IMD transceiver, requesting the IMD transceiver to switch power-consuming circuitry in the IMD to a sleep, power-down mode of operation for a predetermined sleep time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical AB
    Inventor: Hans Abrahamson
  • MEDICAL DEVICE FOR DETECTING PULMONARY ARTERY PRESSURE
    Publication number: 20100286535
    Abstract: In a medical device and method to monitor pulmonary artery pressure of a patient, a first parameter related to the right ventricular straight volume of the patient's is detected, and a second parameter related to the right ventricular ejection rate of the patient's heart, or related to the workload of the patient's heart, is also determined. A pulmonary pressure index is determined by combining the first and second parameters, with variations of the pulmonary pressure index indicating variations in the pulmonary artery pressure. Pulmonary artery hypertension can be monitored with such a device and method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: ST. JUDE MEDICAL AB
    Inventor: Andreas Blomqvist
  • Detection of ischemia
    Patent number: 7778697
    Abstract: In an ischemia detection method, and in an ischemia detector and a cardiac stimulator embodying an ischemia detector, a workload of a patient is measured, as is an ejection fraction (EF) associated with the heart of the patient is determined. A predetermined reference relation between EF and workload for the patient is stored, and an analysis unit detects a state of ischemia of the patient from deviation in the determined EF for various workloads from the stored reference relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical AB
    Inventors: Anders Björling, Kjell Norén
  • Method for operating an implantable cardiac stimulator to set the atrial stimulation time interval dependent on the evoked response amplitude
    Patent number: 7761156
    Abstract: In a method for operating an implantable heart stimulating device with atrial overdrive capability having an atrial stimulation unit for stimulating the atrium via stimulation electrode(s), an atrial evoked response detector determines an atrial evoked response amplitude, and an atrial control unit controls an atrial timing unit to set an atrial stimulation time interval length between consecutively applied atrial stimulation pulses. The atrial stimulation time interval length is set in dependent on the determined atrial evoked response amplitude such that the next time interval length is a predetermined percentage of the present time interval length. If the ER signal amplitude decreases, the stimulating interval has to be decreased. The control unit can also try to increase the stimulating interval back to back until a decrease in ER signal amplitude is seen in order to avoid too high stimulating rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical AB
    Inventor: Anders Lindgren
  • Method, device, and system concerning heart stimulation
    Patent number: 7725189
    Abstract: In a cardiac stimulation method, device and system, a capture verification condition is determined. For this purpose, a number of pacing pulses are delivered to a heart chamber and signals are sensed within a time window following each pacing pulse. The sensed signals are stored and categorized as representing capture or non-capture. Using the stored signals, a weight vector is determined, that assigns different weights for different parts of each sensed signal within the time window. The weight vector is used for calculating a weighted area within the time window. The capture verification condition is determined by identifying whether the weighted area, calculated with the weight vector, of a sensed signal within the time window is above or below a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical AB
    Inventor: Anders Björling
  • MEDICAL DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE POSTURE OF PATIENT
    Publication number: 20100113961
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the posture of a patient. The method comprises the steps of: initiating (50, 52) a patient posture determining session by performing an electrical bio-impedance measurement session in at least one of a number of different electrode configurations in order to measure an impedance value for the at least one configuration; obtaining reference impedance values (54) stored in advance for the at least one configuration and for at least one potential posture of the patient; comparing (54) the measured impedance value for the at least one configuration with corresponding stored reference impedance values for at least one potential posture of the patient; and determining (56) the present posture of the patient by using results from the comparison between measured impedance values and the stored reference impedance values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: ST. JUDE MEDICAL AB
    Inventors: Malin Öhlander, Nils Holmström, Kjell Norén
  • SURFACE MODIFICATION OF IMPLANTABLE ARTICLE
    Publication number: 20100114274
    Abstract: An implantable elastomeric article having modified surface characteristics on at least one surface obtained by application of an acid on said at least one surface and after a predetermined treatment time removing the acid by rinsing. The treatment gives the surface an increased roughness that decreases the friction against another object. A method of modifying surface characteristics of at least one surface on an implantable elastomeric article, comprising application of an acid, followed by rinsing. A method of assembly of an implantable electrode lead made of silicone tubing and a spiral conductor, comprising treating the tubing with an acid before inserting the conductor into the tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: ST. JUDE MEDICAL AB
    Inventor: Kenneth Dowling
  • Detection and/or monitoring of diastolic heart failure
    Patent number: 7662086
    Abstract: In an implantable medical device for detecting and/or monitoring the progression of diastolic heart failure (DHF), and a corresponding method, a parameter is measured that is indicative of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and a variable is also measured that is indicative of the workload of the patient, and a relation is determined between LVEF and the workload, and DHF is detected and/or the progression of DHF is monitored, dependent on this relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical AB
    Inventor: Anders Björling
  • METHOD IN A MEDICAL TELEMETRY SYSTEM AND MEDICAL TELEMETRY SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20100013668
    Abstract: In a method and a medical telemetry system for communication between an external monitoring device and an implantable medical device of the medical telemetry system at a transmitting end, an implantable medical device frame layer packet is segmented into one or more data blocks of a radio packet. The data blocks are transmitted in the communication between the external monitoring device and the implantable medical device. A start of the implantable medical device is indicated in the frame layer packet by including in a first data block of the radio packet a segmentation and reassembly indicator having a first value. At the transmitting end, the data blocks are transmitted over a short-range medical radio link. At the receiving end, the data blocks are reassembled into the originally transmitted implantable medical device frame layer packet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: ST JUDE MEDICAL AB
    Inventor: Ingemar Kantervik
  • IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH LEAD FAILURE DETECTION
    Publication number: 20100010558
    Abstract: An implantable heart stimulating device has an ECG sensing unit to receive heart potential signals from sensing electrodes at an electrode lead arranged in connection with a patient's heart. The ECG sensing unit is provided with a programmable make-break threshold. The device further has a timer adapted to generate a make-break detection period, and a counter. The counter is adapted to count the number of times that the amplitude of the heart potential signal exceeds the programmable make-break threshold during the make-break detection period. When the number of times is higher than a predetermined value, the ECG obtained during the make-break detection period is stored in an ECG storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: St. Jude Medical AB
    Inventors: Hans Schüller, Anders Lindgren
  • Modular implantable medical device and manufacturing method therefor
    Patent number: 7647110
    Abstract: In an implantable medical device and a manufacturing method therefore, the implantable medical device has at least an electronics module and a battery module, each contributing functionally as well as to the shape of the outer enclosure of the implantable medical device. Different modules, and different versions of different modules, can be combined in different combinations, according to a device specification, to form different medical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical AB
    Inventors: Martin Hörnfeldt, Björn Sjögren, Eva Skoog Andersson, Eva Micski, Olof Stegfeldt
  • Porous Niobium Oxide as Electrode Material and Manufacturing Process
    Publication number: 20090292346
    Abstract: An implantable medical electrode has an electrically conductive core covered by a stable biocompatible oxide layer. The core contains niobium and the oxide contains a porous niobium oxide. In a process for producing such an implantable electrode, a core of metal or metal alloy containing niobium is connected as an anode in an electrolyte and is subjected to high potential anodic pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: ST. JUDE MEDICAL AB
    Inventor: Anna Norlin
  • Implantable cardioverter defibrillator with automatic switching to a pre-set pacing mode following delivery of a shock
    Patent number: 7610087
    Abstract: An implantable cardiac stimulator, such as a cardioverter defibrillator, is operable in an autocapture mode. Following the delivery of a defibrillation or cardioversion shock, the stimulator switches from the autocapture mode to a post-shock mode, in which predetermined pacing pulse parameter settings are used for the delivery of pacing pulses. Following the expiration of a predetermined time interval, which may be extendable, the stimulator switches back to the autocapture mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical Ab
    Inventors: Magnus Öhman, Berit Larsson
  • IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE WITH OPTIMIZATION PROCEDURE
    Publication number: 20090254139
    Abstract: In an implantable medical device and a method for the operation thereof, acoustic energy is sensed in a subject in whom the device is implanted, and signals indicative of heart sounds of the heart of the patient are produced over predetermined periods of a cardiac cycle, during successive cardiac cycles. A signal corresponding to the second heart sound (S2) is extracted from the sensed signal, and the respective durations of successive second heart sound signals are determined. An optimization procedure is implemented that includes controlling delivery of pacing pulses based on the determined durations of successive second heart sounds, to determined a combination of stimulation intervals, including at least the AV interval and the VV interval, that causes a substantially synchronized closure of the aortic and pulmonary valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: ST. JUDE MEDICAL AB
    Inventor: Anders Bjorling
  • Method for extracting timing parameters using a cardio-mechanical sensor
    Patent number: 7569020
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for measuring the ejection fraction in a mammalian heart, the opening and closing of a heart valve is sensed with an implanted sensor, and a pre-ejection period is measured as a function of the sensed opening and closing of the heart valve. The ventricular ejection time also is measured, and the ejection fraction is determined as a function of the measured pre-ejection period and the ejection time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical AB
    Inventors: Kjell Norén, Nils Holmström