Patents by Inventor Andrew P. Kramer

Andrew P. Kramer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8682430
    Abstract: A neural stimulation system senses autonomic activities and applies neural stimulation to sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves to control autonomic balance. The neural stimulation system is capable of delivering neural stimulation pulses for sympathetic excitation, sympathetic inhibition, parasympathetic excitation, and parasympathetic inhibition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Imad Libbus, Andrew P. Kramer, Julio C. Spinelli
  • Publication number: 20140074178
    Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system selects one of multiple electrodes associated with a particular heart chamber based on a relative timing between detection of a depolarization fiducial point at the multiple electrodes, or based on a delay between detection of a depolarization fiducial point at the multiple electrodes and detection of a reference depolarization fiducial point at another electrode associated with the same or a different heart chamber. Subsequent contraction evoking stimulation therapy is delivered from the selected electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiang Ding, Julio C. Spinelli, Andrew P. Kramer
  • Patent number: 8639330
    Abstract: A system, method, or device classifies an arrhythmia according to the temporal order in which a depolarization wave associated with a particular heart contraction is received at a plurality of electrodes. One or more antiarrhythmia therapies is mapped to each arrhythmia classification. When a particularly classified arrhythmia is detected, the correspondingly mapped therapy list is selected and an appropriate antiarrhythmia therapy delivered. In one example, the particular therapy delivered in response to an arrhythmia depends at least in part on its historical success in treating arrhythmias of that classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Julio C. Spinelli, Qingsheng Zhu, Jeffrey E. Stahmann, Andrew P. Kramer
  • Patent number: 8634913
    Abstract: An apparatus for reversing ventricular remodeling with electro-stimulatory therapy. A ventricle is paced by delivering one or more stimulatory pulses in a manner such that a stressed region of the myocardium is pre-excited relative to other regions in order to subject the stressed region to a lessened preload and afterload during systole. The unloading of the stressed myocardium over time effects reversal of undesirable ventricular remodeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew P. Kramer, Rodney W. Salo, Julio C. Spinelli, Bruce H. KenKnight
  • Patent number: 8634930
    Abstract: Various system embodiments include a glucose control input, a low physical activity input, and a diabetic therapy delivery system adapted to respond to the glucose control input and the low physical activity input to deliver diabetic therapy. According to various embodiments, the diabetic therapy includes an anti-arrhythmia therapy, a hypertension therapy, a neural stimulation therapy adapted to reduce a risk of myocardial infarction, a neural stimulation therapy adapted to be applied after a myocardial infarction to reduce an infarct area, a neural stimulation therapy adapted to reduce a risk of sudden cardiac death, a therapy adapted to secrete insulin, or a therapy to reduce a workload of a diabetic heart. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Yousufali Dalal, Andrew P. Kramer, Lizbeth M. Mino
  • Patent number: 8600498
    Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system selects one of multiple electrodes associated with a particular heart chamber based on a relative timing between detection of a depolarization fiducial point at the multiple electrodes, or based on a delay between detection of a depolarization fiducial point at the multiple electrodes and detection of a reference depolarization fiducial point at another electrode associated with the same or a different heart chamber. Subsequent contraction-evoking stimulation therapy is delivered from the selected electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiang Ding, Julio C. Spinelli, Andrew P. Kramer
  • Publication number: 20130317561
    Abstract: Various aspects relate to a method. In various embodiments, a therapy of a first therapy type is delivered, and it is identified whether a therapy of a second therapy type is present to affect the therapy of the first therapy type. Delivery of the therapy is controlled based on the presence of the therapy of the second therapy type. Some embodiments deliver the therapy of the first type using one set of parameters in the presence of a therapy of a second type, and deliver the therapy of the first type using another set of parameters when the therapy of the second type is not present. In various embodiments, one of the therapy types includes a cardiac rhythm management therapy, and the other includes a neural stimulation therapy. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Imad Libbus, Andrew P. Kramer, William J. Linder, Jeffrey E. Stahmann
  • Patent number: 8571687
    Abstract: A neurostimulation device includes an external neurostimulator worn by a patient using a bracing element that braces a portion of the patient's body. The external neurostimulator delivers neurostimulation to modulate a cardiovascular function of the patient. In one embodiment, the external stimulator delivers the neurostimulation transcutaneously to a stimulation target in the patient's body using surface stimulation electrodes placed on the body approximately over the stimulation target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Imad Libbus, Anthony V. Caparso, Andrew P. Kramer
  • Patent number: 8562532
    Abstract: A phase analysis technique provides for quantification of regional wall motion asynchrony from endocardial border contours generated from two-dimensional echocardiographic ventricular images. The technique produces results including a degree of radial ventricular asynchrony in heart failure patients with ventricular conduction delay to predict a magnitude of contractile function improvement with pacing therapy. Quantification of change in ventricular regional wall motion asynchrony in response to a therapy provides for a means to identify candidates to receive the therapy and quantitatively predict the benefit of the therapy. Quantification of changes in ventricular regional wall motion asynchrony in response to a sequence of therapies provides for a means to determine an approximately optimal therapy for an intended patient response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew P. Kramer, Etienne Huvelle
  • Patent number: 8565875
    Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system provides both a safe maximum pacing rate limit and a physiological maximum pacing rate limit. In one embodiment, a normal maximum tracking rate (MTR) and a hysteresis MTR are provided. The hysteresis MTR is set higher than the normal MTR and functions as a maximum pacing rate. When an atrial rate exceeds the hysteresis MTR limit, the maximum pacing rate limit is set to the normal MTR. Once the atrial rate falls below a predetermined threshold, the maximum pacing rate limit is set to the hysteresis MTR. This provides for a more rapid and natural maximum pacing rate limit for a patient, while still protecting the patient from being paced at abnormally high rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew P. Kramer
  • Publication number: 20130268014
    Abstract: A system for use during revascularization includes a catheter having an adjustable balloon for delivery a stent, one or more pacing electrodes for delivering one or more pacing pulses to a patient's heart, and a pacemaker configured to generate the one or more pacing pulses to be delivered to the heart via the one or more pacing electrodes. The one or more pacing pulses are delivered at a rate substantially higher than the patient's intrinsic heart rate without being synchronized to the patient's intrinsic cardiac contractions, and are delivered before, during, or after an ischemic event to prevent or reduce cardiac injury.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: Allan C. Shuros, Tamara Colette Baynham, Jihong Qu, Joseph M. Pastore, Andrew P. Kramer, Frits W. Prinzen, Ward Y.R. Vanagt, Richard N. Cornelussen
  • Publication number: 20130267893
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present subject matter relate to an implantable device. Various device embodiments comprise at least one port to connect to at least one lead with at least electrode, stimulation circuitry connected to the at least one port and adapted to provide at least one neural stimulation therapy to at least one neural stimulation target using the at least one electrode, sensing circuitry connected to the at least one port and adapted to provide a sensed signal, and a controller connected to the stimulation circuitry to provide the at least one neural stimulation therapy and to the sensing circuitry to receive the sensed signal. In response to a triggering event, the controller is adapted to switch between at least two modes. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: Imad Libbus, Andrew P. Kramer, William J. Linder, Jeffrey E. Stahmann
  • Publication number: 20130261691
    Abstract: Various aspects provide an implantable device. In various embodiments, the device comprises at least one port, where each port is adapted to connect a lead with an electrode to the device. The device further includes a stimulation platform, including a sensing circuit connected to the at least one port to sense an intrinsic cardiac signal and a stimulation circuit connected to the at least one port via a stimulation channel to deliver a stimulation signal through the stimulation channel to the electrode. The stimulation circuit is adapted to deliver stimulation signals through the stimulation channel for both neural stimulation therapy and CRM therapy. The sensing and stimulation circuits are adapted to perform CRM functions. The device further includes a controller connected to the sensing circuit and the stimulation circuit to control the neural stimulation therapy and the CRM therapy. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Imad Libbus, Andrew P. Kramer, Anthony V. Caparso, Kristofer J. James, Stephen Ruble, Weiying Zhao
  • Patent number: 8538520
    Abstract: A gene regulatory system detects ischemia events and is capable of delivering a biologic therapy in response to the detection of an ischemic event or the reception of a command. The biologic therapy protects the heart from ischemic damage by regulating the expression of an exogenously introduced gene product. In one embodiment, the gene regulatory system includes an implantable system that emits at least one gene regulatory signal in response to the detection of the ischemic event or the reception of the command. The gene regulatory signal directly or indirectly regulates gene expression of the gene product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Pastore, Jeffrey Ross, Tamara Colette Baynham, Rodney W. Salo, Andrew P. Kramer, Julio C. Spinelli
  • Patent number: 8521283
    Abstract: A method of optimizing cardiac resynchronization therapy delay over a patient's full range of activity for use in operating an implantable cardiac pacing device and such a device are disclosed. The method includes measuring selected conduction time between selected sites in the heart for a plurality of beats and logging the values on a periodic repeating programmable basis to produce cumulative data and constructing a current template of conduction time in relation to one or more other sensed parameters of interest over a desired range of patient activity levels. The current template is used to derive suggested optimum pacing timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew P. Kramer, Jeffrey Stahmann, Veerichetty A. Kadhiresan
  • Publication number: 20130211471
    Abstract: A neural stimulation system senses autonomic activities and applies neural stimulation to sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves to control autonomic balance. The neural stimulation system is capable of delivering neural stimulation pulses for sympathetic excitation, sympathetic inhibition, parasympathetic excitation, and parasympathetic inhibition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Imad Libbus, Andrew P. Kramer, Julio C. Spinelli
  • Patent number: 8509891
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for setting the pacing parameters utilized by an implantable cardiac device in delivering cardiac resynchronization therapy. The system may, in different embodiments, be implemented in programming of the implantable device and an external programmer in communication therewith or in the programming of the implantable device by itself. The selection of the pacing parameters is based at least in part upon measurements of intrinsic cardiac conduction parameters. Among the pacing parameters which may be selected in this way are the atrio-ventricular delay interval used in atrial-tracking and AV sequential pacing modes and the biventricular offset interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew P. Kramer, Jiang Ding
  • Patent number: 8504149
    Abstract: Various aspects relate to a method. In various embodiments, a therapy of a first therapy type is delivered, and it is identified whether a therapy of a second therapy type is present to affect the therapy of the first therapy type. Delivery of the therapy is controlled based on the presence of the therapy of the second therapy type. Some embodiments deliver the therapy of the first type using one set of parameters in the presence of a therapy of a second type, and deliver the therapy of the first type using another set of parameters when the therapy of the second type is not present. In various embodiments, one of the therapy types includes a cardiac rhythm management therapy, and the other includes a neural stimulation therapy. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Imad Libbus, Andrew P. Kramer, William J. Linder, Jeffrey E. Stahmann
  • Publication number: 20130190837
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present subject matter provide a device. In various embodiments, the device comprises a port adapted to connect a lead, a pulse generator connected to the port and adapted to provide a neural stimulation signal to the lead, and a signal processing module connected to the port and adapted to receive and process a nerve traffic signal from the lead into a signal indicative of the nerve traffic. The device includes a controller connected to the pulse generator and the signal processing module. The controller is adapted to implement a stimulation protocol to provide the neural stimulation signal with desired neural stimulation parameters based on the signal indicative of the nerve traffic. Other aspects are provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Imad Libbus, Andrew P. Kramer, Julia Moffitt
  • Publication number: 20130190840
    Abstract: An embodiment relates to a method for delivering a vagal stimulation therapy to a vagus nerve, including delivering a neural stimulation signal to non-selectively stimulate both afferent axons and efferent axons in the vagus nerve according to a predetermined schedule for the vagal stimulation therapy, and selecting a value for at least one parameter for the predetermined schedule for the vagal stimulation therapy to control the neural stimulation therapy to avoid physiological habituation to the vagal stimulation therapy. The parameter(s) include at least one parameter selected from the group of parameters consisting of a predetermined therapy duration parameter for a predetermined therapy period, and a predetermined intermittent neural stimulation parameter associated with on/off timing for the intermittent neural stimulation parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Imad Libbus, Andrew P. Kramer