Patents Examined by Lindsey G. Wehrheim
  • Patent number: 11918811
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for managing pain uses a multiplexed modulation/stimulation signal to provide pain relief during spinal cord stimulation or peripheral nerve stimulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic SG, LLC
    Inventors: Ricardo Vallejo, David Leonardo Cedeno, Nathan A. Torgerson, Brian Andrew Smith
  • Patent number: 11904172
    Abstract: An external device transfers a key to an implantable medical device over a proximity communication and then establishes a first far field communication session with the implantable medical device where the key is used for the first communication session. This first communication session may occur before implantation while the implantable medical device is positioned outside of the sterile field so that using a proximity communication is easily achieved. Once the implantable medical device is passed into the sterile field for implantation, the external device may then establish a second far field communication session with the implantable medical device where the last key that was used for the first communication session is again used for the second communication session which avoids the need for another proximity communication to occur within the sterile field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Warren W. Ball, Ajinkya M. Joglekar, Nathan A. Torgerson, Matthew L. Plante
  • Patent number: 11896837
    Abstract: An apparatus adapted to transmit wireless energy from an external energy transmitting device placed externally to a human body to an internal energy receiver placed internally in the human body is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first electric circuit to supply electrical pulses to the external transmitting device, said electrical pulses having leading and trailing edges. The electrical circuit is adapted to perform at least one of the following: vary the lengths of first time intervals between successive leading and trailing edges of the electrical pulses and/or the lengths of second time intervals between successive trailing and leading edges of the electrical pulses, and vary the first and second time intervals to have lengths in the range of, that are in the magnitude of order of or are shorter than, a time constant of the first electric circuit, and a relationship or proportion between the lengths of the first and second time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventor: Peter Forsell
  • Patent number: 11896812
    Abstract: A system and method for positioning a modular heart pump about the ventricles of the heart. The modular heart pump has at least one active panel and an apical base. Each active panel includes an inflatable membrane. The apical base helps retain the active panels on position about the heart. The components are assembled in vivo to create a pump assembly that encircles all or part of the heart. During installation, the active panels are advanced along the outside of the ventricles. Suction is provided on the leading edge of the active panels to remove any fluids and/or loose tissue that may prevent the active panel from advancing to an operable position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Lifebridge Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Mark P. Anstadt
  • Patent number: 11896811
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward implantable medical devices, systems, and methods for cardiac assistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Bryson, Dustin C. Burkart, Zachary A. Crannell, Joshua D. Cross, Robert M. Depue, James L. Goepfrich, Paul D. Goodman, Brandon C. Hedberg, Jason D. Hemmer, Jeffrey Kennington, Elton R. Migliati, Bryan Reep, Edward E. Shaw, James D. Silverman, Richard D. Strones
  • Patent number: 11865327
    Abstract: A system and method for calculating representative frequency signatures for target regions of the brain. The method includes aggregating representative classified microelectrode recordings taken from regions of the brain of multiple patients to an initial database. The classified microelectrode recording data is then transformed into the frequency domain. Frequencies profiles, grouped according to each target region of the brain they represent, are stored in a database. A coherence or Z-score representing the prominence of a frequency with respect to other frequencies within a group of frequencies profiles for each target region of the brain they represent is then calculated and stored, as well as the average power of the frequencies within the group of frequency profiles. Redundant frequencies or frequencies above or below pre-determined thresholds are removed from the group of frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Kevin M Biddell
  • Patent number: 11832840
    Abstract: A flexible circuit of a surgical instrument includes a rigid section and a flexible section. The rigid section is configured to mechanically interlock with a component of the surgical instrument and has at least one of the following mounted thereon: (1) a processing device and (2) a logic element. The flexible section is aligned with one of the following: (1) an active bending portion of a shaft assembly of the surgical instrument and (2) an articulation joint of the shaft assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris
  • Patent number: 11819694
    Abstract: A therapy electrode apparatus for dispensing conductive gel to skin of a patient wearing a wearable defibrillator includes a therapy electrode, at least one reservoir comprising the conductive gel, and a gel deployment device comprising at least two reactive chemicals. The at least one reservoir is configured to release the conductive gel between the therapy electrode and a patient's skin prior to a delivery of one or more therapeutic shocks. The gel deployment device configured to, on receiving a treatment signal from a controller of the wearable defibrillator operably connected to the gel deployment device, cause the at least two reactive chemicals to come into contact to produce a pressurized fluid to release the conductive gel from the at least one reservoir between the therapy electrode and the patient's skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ZOLL Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J Hulings, Scott D Quinnell, Ronald A Seman, Dale Ballard
  • Patent number: 11779278
    Abstract: An internal device (1) is implanted in a living body (300). A control section (6) causes a communication section (5) to wirelessly transmit data corresponding to electroencephalogram signals of the living body (300) which are detected through a group of N (N is 2 or more) electrodes, to an external device (200). When the communication section (5) receives a designation signal designating a group of M electrode(s) (2a), M being smaller than N, the communication section (5) is caused to transmit data corresponding to electroencephalogram signals of the living body (300) which are detected through the group of M electrode(s) (2a), to the external device (200) in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignees: NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION, OSAKA UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY, SPChange, LLC.
    Inventors: Kaoru Imajo, Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Masayuki Hirata, Seiji Kameda, Takafumi Suzuki, Hiroshi Ando, Takatsugu Kamata
  • Patent number: 11771909
    Abstract: A wearable cardiac defibrillator (“WCD”) system may include a support structure that a patient can wear, an energy storage module that can store an electrical charge, and a discharge circuit that can discharge the electrical charge through the patient so as to shock him or her, while the patient is wearing the support structure. Embodiments may actively take into account bystanders, both to protect them from an inadvertent shock, and also to enlist their help. In some embodiments the WCD system includes a speaker system that transmits a sound designed to assist a bystander to perform CPR. Optionally CPR chest compressions received by the patient can be further detected, and feedback can be given. In embodiments, a WCD system may include a user interface that can be controlled to output CPR prompts tailored to a skill level of the bystander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: WEST AFFUM HOLDINGS DAC
    Inventors: Joseph L. Sullivan, David Peter Finch, Phillip Dewey Foshee, Jr., Isabelle Banville, Richard C. Nova, Krystyna Szul, Daniel Finney, Laura Marie Gustavson, Gregory T. Kavounas
  • Patent number: 11752348
    Abstract: A method or system for facilitating the determining and setting of stimulation parameters for programming an electrical stimulation system using closed loop programming is provided. For example, pulse generator feedback logic is executed by a processor to interface with control instructions of an implantable pulse generator by incorporating one or more machine learning engines to automatically generate a proposed set of stimulation parameter values that each affect a stimulation aspect of the implantable pulse generator, receive one or more clinical responses and automatically generate a revised set of values taking into account the received clinical responses, and repeating the automated receiving of a clinical response and adjusting the stimulation parameter values taking the clinical response into account, until or unless a stop condition is reach or the a therapeutic response is indicated within a designated tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: David Blum, Sherry Lin, Hemant Bokil, Michael A. Moffitt
  • Patent number: 11730952
    Abstract: A hippocampal prosthesis for bypassing a damaged portion of a subject's hippocampus and restoring the subject's ability to form long-term memories. The hippocampal prosthesis includes a first set of hippocampal electrodes configured to receive an input signal from at least one of the subject's hippocampus or surrounding cortical region. The hippocampal prosthesis includes a processing device having a memory and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory and to the first set of hippocampal electrodes. The processing device being configured to generate an output signal based on the input signal received from the first set of hippocampal electrodes. The hippocampal prosthesis includes a second set of hippocampal electrodes operatively coupled to the one or more processors and configured to receive and transmit the output signal to the subject's hippocampus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Dong Song, Theodore William Berger
  • Patent number: 11712571
    Abstract: A feedthrough for an AIMD is described. The feedthrough includes an electrically conductive ferrule having a ferrule sidewall defining a ferrule opening. The ferrule sidewall has a height. At least one recessed pocket has a depth extending part-way through the height of the ferrule. An oxide-resistant pocket-pad is nested in the recessed pocket. An electrical connection material is supported on the pocket-pad for making an oxide-resistant electrical connection to the ferrule. An insulator is hermetically sealed to the ferrule in the ferrule opening. At least one active via hole extends through the insulator with an active conductive pathway residing in and hermetically sealed to the insulator in the active via hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Christine A. Frysz, Robert A. Stevenson, Jason Woods
  • Patent number: 11712562
    Abstract: The disclosed electrical stimulation system generates interventions to assist patients in complying with a diet. The wearable device includes a microprocessor, electrical stimulator and at least one electrode configured to deliver electrical stimulation to the epidermis, through a range of 0.1 mm to 10 mm or a range of 0.1 mm to 20 mm of the dermis, of a T2 dermatome to a T12 dermatome or meridian of the patient, a C5 to a T1 dermatome across the hand and/or arm, and/or the upper chest regions. The device is adapted to provide electrical stimulation as per stimulation protocols and to communicate wirelessly with a companion control device configured to monitor and record appetite patterns of the patient and deliver titrated therapy. The control device is also configured to monitor, record, and modify stimulation parameters of the stimulation protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventors: Bevil Hogg, Raul E. Perez
  • Patent number: 11707630
    Abstract: Systems and methods for pacing cardiac conductive tissue are described. In an embodiment, a medical system includes an electrostimulation circuit to generate pacing pulses to stimulate a His bundle or a bunch branch. A sensing circuit senses a far-field ventricular activation, determines a cardiac synchrony indicator using the far-field ventricular activation in response to His bundle or bundle branch pacing, and verifies His-bundle capture status using the determined cardiac synchrony indicator. The system can determine a pacing threshold using the capture status under different stimulation strength values. The electrostimulation circuit can deliver stimulation pulses in accordance with the determined pacing threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: David Arthur Casavant, Deepa Mahajan, David L. Perschbacher
  • Patent number: 11684788
    Abstract: A device for implant in a hole in cranium relative to a bone table includes a can having an electrical-contact pad. The can has a perimeter edge defining a boundary, and a recessed portion with an upper surface positioned to lie beneath the bone table when the can is placed in the hole. The device also include a cover assembly that couples to and decouples from the can at the electrical-contact pad. A strain relief system includes a lower strain relief and an upper strain relief. The lower strain relief defines channels that receive a portion of a lead and includes a curved portion that extends upward from the upper surface of the recessed portion to the bone table, and a linear portion that extends from the curved portion to an end beyond the perimeter edge. The upper strain relief couples to and decouples from the can and/or the lower strain relief.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: NeuroPace, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Vandenburg, Jerzy Sochor
  • Patent number: 11672987
    Abstract: An implantable system stimulates a human or animal heart. The system contains a processor, a memory unit, an atrial stimulation unit, a ventricular stimulation unit, and a detection unit for detecting atrial tachycardia. The memory unit stores a computer-readable program that prompts the processor to: a) detect by the detection unit whether atrial tachycardia to be treated is present in the heart; b) when atrial tachycardia to be treated is present, carrying out a ventricular conditioning stimulation by way of the ventricular stimulation unit; and c) applying atrial antitachycardia pacing in the form of a stimulation pulse sequence of 2 to 20 pulses or a high-frequency burst having a frequency of up to 50 Hz and a duration of up to 60 seconds by way of the atrial stimulation unit as the ventricular conditioning stimulation is being carried out and/or thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Doerr, Sergey Ershov, Torsten Radtke, Martin Roemer, Ingo Weiss
  • Patent number: 11666773
    Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (“WCD”) system includes a support structure that can be worn by a patient, and a defibrillator coupled to the support structure. An ECG input, rendered from an ECG of the patient, may meet a primary shock criterion. One or more sensor modules are further provided, which are worn by the patient at different times. The sensor modules may monitor different physiological parameters of the patient, and transmit signals about them. The WCD system further has a multi-sensor interface to receive the transmitted signals, and a processor to determine from them whether a secondary shock criterion is met. If both the primary and the secondary shock criteria are met, the decision is to shock. The signals increase specificity of the detection, while the patient can wear different modules depending on context.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: West Affum Holdings DAC
    Inventors: Fred William Chapman, Gregory T. Kavounas
  • Patent number: 11524156
    Abstract: A device for decreasing the pain associated with biopsies for cancer determination. The device includes electrical stimulation and injection of anesthetics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Inventors: Heather Marisa Richardson, Sergio Lara Pereira Monteiro
  • Patent number: 11511123
    Abstract: An implantable medical device comprising a sealed flat housing enclosing an electronic circuitry; a plurality of feedthrough conductors, each feedthrough conductor comprising a proximal end part connected to the enclosed electronic circuitry and a distal end part extending from a side surface of the housing and cumulated on said side surface; a tubing that houses a plurality of wires connected to said feedthrough conductors and that is arranged on the housing; and a longitudinal slit through the wall of the tubing through which the wires extend out of the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: OTICON MEDICAL A/S
    Inventor: Hervé Ibanez