Patents Examined by Tammie K. Heller
  • Patent number: 9656083
    Abstract: A method for titrating a stimulation parameter for one or more electrode contacts in a system for stimulating a hypoglossal nerve of a patient includes activating one of the one or more electrode contacts to stimulate the hypoglossal nerve of the patient, obtaining a first and/or second physiological measurement from the patient, comparing the first and/or second physiological measurement to a first and/or second predetermined target value, adjusting a stimulation parameter for the one of the one or more electrode contacts if the first and/or second physiological measurement differs from the first and/or second predetermined target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: IMTHERA MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Paul M. Meadows, Marcelo G. Lima, Faisal N. Zaidi, Jasper Benke
  • Patent number: 9643009
    Abstract: An implantable stimulation system comprises a stimulator for generating electrical stimulation and a conductive stimulation lead having a proximal end electrically coupled to the stimulator, wherein at least a first component of the impedance looking into the stimulator is substantially matched to the impedance of the stimulation lead. At least one distal stimulation electrode is positioned proximate the distal end of the stimulation lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Piotr Przybyszewski, Carl D. Wahlstrand, Timothy J. Davis, Gregory A. Hrdlicka, James M. Olsen
  • Patent number: 9643022
    Abstract: A medical device control unit may include at least one processing device, a circuit electrically coupled to the at least one processing device, and a flexible housing configured to contain the at least one processing device and the circuit. The flexible housing may include at least one connection portion configured to engage a connector protruding from a flexible carrier, and at least one electrical contact electrically coupled to the circuit and configured to establish an electrical connection with an exposed electrical contact on the flexible carrier when the connection portion is engaged with the at least one connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Nyxoah SA
    Inventors: Adi Mashiach, Itzik Mashiach, Guy Siman
  • Patent number: 9636070
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are provided for monitoring and displaying medical parameters for a patient. In one embodiment, a display screen can include information related to a physiological parameter being measured from a patient. The information can include a current value based on values of the physiological parameter gathered from the patient over a period of time. The display screen can indicate whether or not the current value is within a predetermined normal range for the physiological parameter and whether or not the current value is within a predetermined goal range for the physiological parameter. The goal range can be nested within the normal range. If the current value moves outside the normal range, an alarm can be triggered. A goal alarm can be triggered if the current value is within the normal range but falls outside the goal range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Salim Kassem, Nicholas Baruch, Kenneth Creasy
  • Patent number: 9636510
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for a defibrillator that specifies treatment protocols in terms of number of chest compressions instead of time intervals. The defibrillator includes a connection port that is configured to attach with a plurality of electrodes that are capable of delivery of a defibrillation shock and/or sensing one or more physical parameters. An energy storage device capable of storing a charge is attached to the plurality of electrodes. A controller is coupled to the plurality of electrodes and the energy storage device, the controller is configured to provide CPR chest compression instructions in terms of the numbers of CPR chest compressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Physio-Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Chapman, Robert G. Walker, Ronald Eugene Stickney
  • Patent number: 9636069
    Abstract: A system and method of detecting and classifying atrial fibrillations (AFs) monitors an electro-cardiogram (ECG) signal of the patient. Based on the monitored ECG signals, AF episodes are detected. Monitored physiological parameters are utilized to determine an activity level of the patient at the time of the detected AF episode, wherein the activity level is associated with the detected AF episode. The etiology of the detected AF episodes is classified as adrenergic if the AF episodes occur while the patient is active, and classified as vagal if the AF episodes occur while the patient is at rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic Monitoring, Inc.
    Inventors: Niranjan Chakravarthy, Abhi Chavan
  • Patent number: 9630000
    Abstract: MRI/RF compatible leads include at least one conductor, a respective conductor having at least one segment with a multi-layer stacked coil configuration. The lead can be configured so that the lead heats local tissue less than about 10 degrees Celsius (typically about 5 degrees Celsius or less) or does not heat local tissue when a patient is exposed to target RF frequencies at a peak input SAR of at least about 4 W/kg and/or a whole body average SAR of at least about 2 W/kg. Related leads and methods of fabricating leads are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignees: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation, MRI Interventions, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Bottomley, Parag V. Karmarkar, Justin M. Allen, William A. Edelstein, Peter Piferi, Brian Gore
  • Patent number: 9620918
    Abstract: A modular header and method of fabricating same for making electrical connection between an array of feed-through pins extending through a wall of a hermetically sealed enclosure of an implantable medical device and lead connect or receptacles within the header in which the header is fabricated using a pre-formed molded header module, together with a set or harness of interconnected flexible conductors incorporated and sealed by an overlayer of medical grade polymer material. The assembled modular header is capable of complete pre-testing prior to assembly onto an implantable medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott A. Spadgenske
  • Patent number: 9604053
    Abstract: The methods and apparatus for lead placement on a surface of the heart are employed using an elongated body having proximal and distal end portions. The body defines a lead receiving passageway extending between a proximal inlet and a distal outlet for receiving a lead therethrough for contact with the heart surface. The elongated body is adapted for insertion between a pericardium and an epicardial surface. At least a portion of the body may have a non-circular cross-sectional shape adapted to retain the body orientation between the pericardium and the epicardial surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SentreHEART, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron V. Kaplan, Kevin F. Hahnen
  • Patent number: 9604048
    Abstract: An electrical stimulation lead has a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and a longitudinal length and includes a lead body extending along the lead. The lead body includes an expandable mesh disposed along the distal end portion of the lead. The electrical stimulation lead also includes a number of electrodes attached to the mesh and a number of terminals disposed along the proximal end portion of the electrical stimulation lead. Further, the electrical stimulation lead includes multiple conductors electrically coupling the terminals to the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventor: Michael X. Govea
  • Patent number: 9592379
    Abstract: A medical device delivers a therapy to a patient. The medical device or another device may periodically determine an activity level or gait parameter of the patient, and associate each determined level or parameter with a current therapy parameter set. A value of at least one activity metric is determined for each of a plurality of therapy parameter sets based on the activity levels or parameters associated with that therapy parameter set. Whether the patient is currently experiencing or anticipated to experience gait freeze caused by their neurological disorder, such as Parkinson's disease, may also be determined. Gait freeze events may be associated with current therapy parameters and used to determine activity metric values. In some examples, the activity metric associated with certain therapy parameters may be presented to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth T. Heruth, Keith A. Miesel, Gregory F. Molnar
  • Patent number: 9592327
    Abstract: The present document discusses medical device systems and related methods. In an embodiment, a medical device system can include a cardiac device. The cardiac device can include a processor, a memory, a communications circuit, and one or more sensors. The cardiac device can be configured to engage a sensor mode specific for patients receiving or having implanted ventricular assist devices. The cardiac device can be configured to process data as specified by the sensor mode specific for patients receiving or having implanted ventricular assist devices. In an embodiment, a method for monitoring heart failure patients is discussed. In an embodiment, a method of controlling devices for heart failure patients is discussed. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramesh Wariar, Pramodsingh Hirasingh Thakur, Viktoria A. Averina, Yi Zhang, Qi An
  • Patent number: 9561378
    Abstract: Energy delivered from an implantable medical device to stimulate tissue within a patient's body is controlled. An electrical signal used to stimulate the tissue is changed from a first energy state to a second energy state during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The energy delivered is maintained at the second energy state after the MRI scan. A capture threshold of the tissue is then measured, and the energy delivered to the tissue is adjusted based on the measured capture threshold of the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Stubbs, Kevin G. Wika
  • Patent number: 9561313
    Abstract: A rotor for an axial-flow blood pump has blades projecting outwardly from a hub and channels between the blades. The blades incorporate hydrodynamic bearing surfaces capable of suspending the rotor during operation. The rotor has a configuration which provides superior pumping action and reduced shear of blood passing through the pump. The forwardly facing pressure surfaces of the blades may include outflow corner surface at their downstream ends. The outflow corner surfaces desirably slope rearwardly and intersect the rearwardly-facing suction surfaces of the blades at outflow ends of the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: HeartWare, Inc.
    Inventor: Mustafa Ertan Taskin
  • Patent number: 9549691
    Abstract: A monitoring system includes a Doppler radar formed with an IEEE 802 protocol transmitter and an IEEE 802 protocol receiver to detect motion, wherein frequency waves are transmitted by the IEEE 802 protocol transmitter and reflected waves are received by the IEEE protocol 802 receiver; and an analyzer to perform Doppler operations using the IEEE 802 protocol transmitter and receiver, wherein the analyzer calibrates a training Doppler radar signal during a training phase to develop a model and wherein the analyzer applies the model with the Doppler radar signal during an operational phase to determine position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Bao Tran
  • Patent number: 9549681
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a framework for facilitating patient signal analysis. In accordance with one aspect, the framework generates a signature cycle matrix corresponding to a single cycle of the patient signal data by segmenting the patient signal data into multiple portions. The signature cycle matrix may further be segmented into sub-matrices corresponding to different levels. Properties of the sub-matrices may then be determined to generate diagnostic results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC.
    Inventor: Hongxuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9545513
    Abstract: Various configurations of systems that employ leadless electrodes to provide pacing therapy are provided. In one example, a system that provides multiple sites for pacing of myocardium of a heart includes wireless pacing electrode assemblies that are implantable at sites proximate the myocardium using a percutaneous, transluminal, catheter delivery system. Also disclosed are various configurations of such systems, wireless electrode assemblies, and delivery catheters for delivering and implanting the electrode assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Hastings, Anupama Sadasiva, Michael J. Pikus, Graig L. Kveen
  • Patent number: 9532724
    Abstract: Devices and methods obtain and use endovascular electrograms in a number of clinical applications and settings. In one embodiment, a method for locating an indwelling medical device within a vasculature of a patient includes identifying an endovascular ECG waveform complex from an endovascular ECG signal associated with the indwelling medical device, then calculating an absolute value of the energy of the endovascular ECG waveform complex over a predetermined segment thereof. A position of the medical device within the vasculature is then determined by observation of the absolute value of the energy of the predetermined segment of the endovascular ECG waveform complex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Bard Access Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Sorin Grunwald
  • Patent number: 9522282
    Abstract: A system includes a first implantable medical device configured to receive a first far field radiative signal at a first frequency from an external transmitter to charge a first charge storage device. The first implantable medical device includes a first therapy delivery unit powered by the first charge storage device. The first therapy delivery unit delivers a first therapy to a first target tissue of a patient. The system also includes a second implantable medical device configured to receive a second far field radiative signal at a second frequency from the external transmitter to charge a second charge storage device. The second implantable medical device includes a second therapy delivery unit powered by the second charge storage device. The second therapy delivery unit delivers a second therapy to a second target tissue of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: CYBERONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Y. Chow, Jonathan D. Rowell
  • Patent number: 9511236
    Abstract: A leadless cardiac pacemaker that does not require a separate hermetic housing surrounding the battery and electronics compartments is provided. The cardiac pacemaker can include a battery disposed in a battery housing and a set of electronics disposed in an electronics housing. In some embodiments, the battery housing and the electronics housing can comprise an external surface of the pacemaker. The pacemaker can include a first set of welds separating the battery from the set of electronics, and a second set of welds separating the set of electronics and the battery from an exterior of the housing. Various embodiments for achieving dual-redundant welds are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Varady, Alan Ostroff, Peter M. Jacobson