Patents Examined by Michael Kahelin
  • Patent number: 9757071
    Abstract: Systems and methods for suppressing electrical noise in an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal obtained by at least one electrode and displayed on an ECG monitor are disclosed. The system includes a conductive material distinct from the at least one electrode and configured to contact a surface of a patient, and filtering circuitry connected in series between the conductive material and ground. The filtering circuitry may be configured to filter to ground the electrical noise present within the patient before it is received by the at least one electrode and is prevented from distorting the ECG signal that is displayed on the ECG monitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: BAYER HEALTHCARE LLC
    Inventors: Bruno Fazi, Jr., Jason Palmer
  • Patent number: 9750877
    Abstract: Presented here are techniques for controlling glucose levels of a patient based on predicted time to a target glucose level. One methodology predicts a trajectory of the blood glucose level based on past observations of the blood glucose level, determines a cost expression based on the trajectory, and affects a future command to an infusion pump to affect a cost value according to the cost expression. Another methodology defines a target blood glucose concentration level for the patient, observes a current blood glucose concentration for the patient based on signals received from a blood-glucose sensor, and predicts a duration of time for the patient's blood glucose concentration to reach the target blood glucose concentration level based on the observed current blood glucose concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventor: Paul H. Kovelman
  • Patent number: 9750861
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed including: an intracardiac pump device having a path for a guidewire extending through the pump device from a first opening to a second opening; and a lumen which extends from a first end located outside of the pump device, into the pump device through the first opening in the pump device, along the path for the guidewire, out of the pump device through the second opening, and to a second end located outside of the pump device. The lumen is configured to receive the guidewire such that when the guidewire passes through the lumen from the first end to the second end, the guidewire is positioned along the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Abiomed, Inc.
    Inventors: Caitlyn Hastie, Frank Kirchhoff, Thorsten Siess
  • Patent number: 9750555
    Abstract: A method and system for continuously delivering cryotreatment to a treatment device. In one embodiment, the system may include a first PID circuit in the fluid delivery line and a second PID circuit in the fluid return line, and the first and second PID circuits may operate simultaneously to continuously provide coolant to a cryotreatment device during the inflation phase, ablation phase, and warming (or thawing) phase while providing for temperature adjustment. Alternatively, the system may include a bypass line by which coolant may bypass the subcooler system and be delivered to the cryotreatment device at non-ablation temperatures during the inflation phase. During the ablation phase, coolant may flow through the subcooler system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic CryoCath LP
    Inventors: Dan Wittenberger, Rachid Mahrouche
  • Patent number: 9750418
    Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices include at least one pressure sensing component within a distal portion of the device. In that regard, one or more electrical, electronic, optical, and/or electro-optical pressure-sensing components is secured to an elongated substrate such that the pressure-sensing component is mounted perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the device. In some implementations, the elongated substrate has a cylindrical profile. Methods of making, assembling, and/or using such intravascular devices and associated systems are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: VOLCANO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bret C. Millett, David H. Burkett, Paul Douglas Corl
  • Patent number: 9750419
    Abstract: A method of determining a blood pressure of a patient includes determining a plurality of pressure pulses, wherein each pressure pulse of the plurality of pressure pulses comprises a profile having a maximum profile height. The method also includes determining a pulse score associated with the plurality of pressure pulses, wherein the pulse score is determined based on the profiles of the pressure pulses and the maximum profile heights. The method further includes determining that the pulse score is above a pulse score threshold, and generating, in response to determining that the pulse score is above the pulse score threshold, a pulse curve based on the maximum profile heights. The method also includes determining the blood pressure of the patient without completely occluding a blood vessel of the patient, wherein the blood pressure is determined based on a plurality of values corresponding to respective points on the pulse curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyson B. Whitaker, David E. Quinn, Shawn C. St. Pierre, Matthew J. Kinsley, John A. Lane, Joseph Buchanon
  • Patent number: 9750463
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to a system for analysis of respiratory distress in hospitalized patients. The system performs multi-parametric simultaneous analysis of respiration rate (RR) and pulse oximetry (SpO2) data trends in order to gauge patterns of patient instability pertaining to respiratory distress. Three patterns in SpO2 and RR are used along with LOWESS algorithm and Chauvenets criteria for outlier rejection to obtain robust short term and long term trends in RR and SpO2. Pattern analysis detects the presence of any one of three pattern types proposed. Further, a learning paradigm is introduced to find unknown instances of respiratory distress. This algorithm in conjunction with the learning model allows early detection of respiratory distress in hospital ward and ICU patients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gokul Swamy, Sahika Genc, Hariharan Ravishankar, Aditya Saha
  • Patent number: 9743842
    Abstract: A biological parameter displaying apparatus includes: a coordinate displaying unit which displays first coordinates in which a first biological parameter of a patient, which is measured by a first measuring unit, is set as an X-axis, and a second biological parameter of the patient, which is different in kind from the first biological parameter and which is measured by a second measuring unit, is set as a Y-axis; a plot data producing unit which produces first plot data, each of the first plot data being produced based on first measurement values of the first and second biological parameters which are measured at a same time or in a same time zone; and a plot displaying unit which plots the first plot data in the first coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: NIHON KOHDEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masami Tanishima, Mitsushi Hyogo
  • Patent number: 9743871
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a continuous analyte sensor having more than one working electrode, and configured to reduce or eliminate crosstalk between the working electrodes. In another embodiment, a continuous analyte sensor having more than one working electrode, and configured so that a membrane system has equal thicknesses over each of the electrodes, despite having differing numbers of layers over each of the electrodes. In another embodiment, a configuration for connecting a continuous analyte sensor to sensor electronics. In another embodiment, methods for forming precise windows in an insulator material on a multi-electrode assembly. In another embodiment, a contact assembly for a continuous analyte sensor having more than one working electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: DexCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter C. Simpson, Sebastian Bohm, Robert J. Boock, Matthew D. Wightlin, Huashi Zhang
  • Patent number: 9737266
    Abstract: A signal representing physiological information may include information related to respiration. A patient monitoring system may generate a plurality of autocorrelation sequences from the signal and combine the autocorrelation sequences to generate a combined autocorrelation sequence. The combined autocorrelation sequence may be analyzed to identify one or more peaks that may correspond to respiration information. Respiration information such as respiration rate may be determined based on the one or more peaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett Ireland
    Inventors: James Dripps, James Ochs, Paul S. Addison, James Watson
  • Patent number: 9737713
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are circuits and methods for a multi-electrode implantable stimulator device incorporating one decoupling capacitor in the current path established via at least one cathode electrode and at least one anode electrode. In one embodiment, the decoupling capacitor may be hard-wired to a dedicated anode on the device. The cathodes are selectively activatable via stimulation switches. In another embodiment, any of the electrodes on the devices can be selectively activatable as an anode or cathode. In this embodiment, the decoupling capacitor is placed into the current path via selectable anode and cathode stimulation switches. Regardless of the implementation, the techniques allow for the benefits of capacitive decoupling without the need to associate decoupling capacitors with every electrode on the multi-electrode device, which saves space in the body of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Jordi Parramon, Kiran Nimmagadda, Emanuel Feldman, Yuping He
  • Patent number: 9737258
    Abstract: A method and associated apparatus combine a calculation of chaos of a quantifiable cardiac characteristic associated with a patient with a measurement of a non-increasing parasympathetic activity of the patient to detect a physiological abnormality of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Chi-Sang Poon, Zhi-De Deng
  • Patent number: 9737701
    Abstract: Electrodes, multi-electrode patches, and electrodes for biomedical systems are provided. The electrode includes an adhesive film layer having a top surface and a bottom surface. A conductive element is substantially surrounded by the adhesive film layer. A conductive gel layer covers at least portion of a surface of the conductive element. The conducting gel comprises a material that does not result in significant skin irritation on a human subject after a period of at least about one week.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: ZOLL MEDICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael R. Dupelle, Christopher Desmarais, Mark Totman
  • Patent number: 9737224
    Abstract: Physiological monitoring can be provided through an actigraphy sensor imbedded into an electrocardiography monitor, which correlates movement and electrocardiographic data. Physiological monitoring can be provided through a wearable monitor that includes two components, a flexible extended wear electrode patch and a removable reusable monitor recorder. The wearable monitor sits centrally on the patient's chest along the sternum. The patient can place an electrode patch anywhere within the general region of the sternum. The occurrence of actigraphy events are monitored by the monitor recorder through an actigraphy sensor. Actigraphy becomes a recordable actigraphy event occurrence when the movement of the wearable monitor and, therefore, the patient, exceeds a certain criteria threshold of acceleration or deceleration as detected by the actigraphy sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Bardy Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gust H. Bardy, Jason Felix, Jon Mikalson Bishay
  • Patent number: 9731111
    Abstract: A connector for an implantable medical device includes a lumen extending from a port defined along a length of a connector housing. Axially-spaced-apart connector couplers are disposed along the lumen and are configured to couple to a proximal end of an inserted lead or lead extension. Each of the connector couplers includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced-apart coupling members and at least one elastic member. The plurality of circumferentially-spaced-apart coupling members each have inner surfaces and outer surfaces. The inner surfaces of the coupling members are configured and arranged to couple to the proximal end of the lead or lead extension when the proximal end of the lead or lead extension is inserted into the lumen. The at least one elastic member couples the coupling members to one another such that a distance between the coupling members is expandable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Robert DeRohan, Aditya Vasudeo Pandit
  • Patent number: 9731118
    Abstract: A three-dimensional annular electrode array (AEA) device is disclosed for use as a cybernetic neural interface for the neural control and sensory feedback of a bionic prosthetic device. The AEA, designed for implantation into a nerve, is comprised of a body (6) that can be coupled to a sleeve(s) (9, 10) or a sleeve(s) with a compartmentalized inner core (12) for connection to the proximal and distal ends of a transected nerve, respectively. Regenerating nerve axons capture and sequester laterally projecting electrode terminals (4) arranged in radiating clusters (5) of a plurality of electrode sub-array nodes (2) that make up the array; connected by a primary electrode lead (7) to a connector contact array (3) in a plurality of connectors (1) for connection to wired or wireless electromechanical systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Inventor: Pedro Galvan-Garcia
  • Patent number: 9731138
    Abstract: An implantable medical device system is configured to deliver cardiac pacing by receiving a cardiac electrical signal by sensing circuitry of a first device via a plurality of sensing electrodes, identifying by a control module of the first device a first cardiac event from the cardiac electrical signal, setting a first pacing interval in response to identifying the first cardiac event, controlling a power transmitter of the first device to transmit power upon expiration of the first pacing interval, receiving the transmitted power by a power receiver of a second device; and delivering at least a portion of the received power to a patient's heart via a first pacing electrode pair of the second device coupled to the power receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W Stadler, Zhongping Yang, Sarah A Audet, James K Carney, James D Reinke, Andrew J Ries, John D Wahlstrand
  • Patent number: 9724517
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern delivering electrical stimulation to the brain at a plurality of different levels of a stimulation parameter and sensing a bioelectrical response of the brain to delivery of the electrical stimulation for each of the plurality of different levels of the stimulation parameter. A suppression window of the stimulation parameter can be identified as having a suppression threshold as a lower boundary and an after-discharge threshold as an upper boundary based on the sensed bioelectrical responses. A therapy level of the stimulation parameter can be set for therapy delivery based on the suppression window. The therapy level of the stimulation parameter may be set closer to the suppression threshold than the after-discharge threshold within the suppression window. Data for hippocampal stimulation demonstrating a suppression window is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathon E. Giftakis, Paul H. Stypulkowski, Timothy J. Denison, Scott R. Stanslaski
  • Patent number: 9724009
    Abstract: A system and method of locating a source of a heart rhythm disorder are provided in which a first pair of cardiac signals is processed to define a first coefficient associated with variability of the first pair of signals at a first region of the heart. A second pair of cardiac signals is processed to define a second coefficient associated with variability of the second pair of signals at a second region of the heart. Thereafter, the first coefficient of variability is compared to the second coefficient of variability to determine a direction towards the source of the rhythm disorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Topera, Inc., The United State of America as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Sanjiv Narayan, Carey Robert Briggs
  • Patent number: 9724513
    Abstract: A method and neurostimulation system for treating a patient are provided. A plurality of pulsed electrical waveforms are respectively delivered within a plurality of timing channels of the neurostimulation system, thereby treating the patient. Sets of stimulation pulses within the pulsed electrical waveforms that will potentially overlap temporally are predicted. Stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms are temporally shifted in a manner that prevents overlap of the potentially overlapping pulse sets while preventing frequency locking between the timing channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Courtney Lane, Rafael Carbunaru, Kerry Bradley, David K. L. Peterson, Andrew DiGiore, Michael Moffitt