Patents by Inventor Brian M. Taff

Brian M. Taff 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).

  • Publication number: 20200406024
    Abstract: A catheter system and a recapture assembly for the catheter system which serves to expand the system's functionality to support highly-articulated implant recapture. The recapture assembly comprises: a cinch tube with a centering device provided at the distal end of the cinch tube and a tether located within the cinch tube adapted to be telescoped relative to the cinch tube. Also, a method for retrieval of the implant comprising a hitch-like element at its proximal end by the catheter system is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: Biotronik SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Brian M. Taff, Andrew B. Kibler
  • Patent number: 10799707
    Abstract: In an electrostimulator which applies electrical stimulation to patient tissue, measurements of lead impedance (tissue resistance), battery status, and like matters are used to format and/or truncate the ranges of programmable therapeutic output settings available for selection by a clinician. The clinician can therefore better tell whether chosen settings can actually be successfully implemented, and/or whether they may have adverse effects on device lifespan or patient safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Brian M. Taff, Kurt Swenson, Hannes Kraetschmer
  • Publication number: 20200316390
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system, comprising: an implantable medical device, wherein the implantable medical device comprises an ultrasound transducer configured to receive an ultrasound wave, a packaging, wherein the packaging encloses an internal space, wherein the implantable medical device is arranged in the internal space, and a device mount arranged in the internal space, wherein the implantable medical device is fastened to the device mount in a releasable fashion, and wherein the device mount contacts an inner side of a portion of the packaging and forms an acoustic coupler configured to pass an ultrasound wave applied to an outer side of the portion of the packaging to the ultrasound transducer of the implantable medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Kurt Swenson, Brian M. Taff
  • Publication number: 20200188681
    Abstract: An implantable medical system for intra-body communication, comprising an implantable first device. The first device comprises a plurality of capacitors and a DC blocking capacitor. The first device is configured to discharge the plurality of capacitors via the DC blocking capacitor in an encoded sequence to generate a signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Marcelo Baru, Brian M. Taff, Andrew B. Kibler
  • Patent number: 10478627
    Abstract: An implantable leadless pacemaker (iLP) for a human or animal heart is provided that includes a housing, at least two electrode poles for picking up electrical potentials and/or delivering electrical stimulation, a stimulation control unit in connection with the electrode poles, a sensing unit that is in connection with at least one electrode pole, a signal processing unit in connection with the sensing unit, a signal evaluation unit in connection with the signal processing unit and/or the sensing unit, and an energy source. The sensing unit is configured to sense a first signal associated with an activity of the first heart chamber, and the stimulation control unit is configured to deliver electrical stimulation in the first heart chamber via the at least two electrode poles. The sensing unit is configured to sense a second signal associated with an activity of a second heart chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Biotronik SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Muessig, Andrew Kibler, Larry Stotts, Brian M. Taff
  • Publication number: 20190254556
    Abstract: A medical implant system, comprising: an implant that is implantable into a patient, and a catheter configured for explanting the implant. The catheter and/or the implant is/are configured to measure a distance (D) between a tip of the catheter and the implant. The system is configured to generate an output signal indicative of said distance (D). In another embodiment, the system comprises a sensor element which is configured to measure at least one physical quantity indicative of a local anatomical environment of the implant. Also, methods for recapturing and/or explanting an implanted implant are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Brian M. Taff, Andrew B. Kibler, R. Hollis Whittington, Dirk Muessig, Larry Stotts
  • Publication number: 20190240496
    Abstract: An intracardiac pacemaker device, comprising a housing that is configured to be implanted entirely within a ventricle (V) of a heart (H), an electronic module for generating pacing pulses, a battery for supplying energy to the electronic module, an elongated lead extension protruding from the housing, at least a first electrode arranged on the elongated lead extension, and a pacing electrode and a return electrode for applying said pacing pulses to cardiac tissue, wherein the pacing electrode is arranged on the housing. The electronic module is electrically coupled to the pacing electrode via the housing, and wherein the electronic module is configured to carry out measurements of electrical activity via the at least one first electrode of the elongated lead extension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. von Arx, Wantjinarjo Suwito, Brian M. Taff, Eric Austin, Hannes Kraetschmer, Min Qu, Isaac Kreft, Dirk Muessig, Larry Stotts
  • Patent number: 10336090
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device may include a discharge port, an energy generating element to discharge liquid through the discharge port, a first liquid supply on a first side of the discharge port, a second liquid supply on a second side of the discharge port opposite the first side, a first liquid flow path extending from the first liquid supply to the discharge port, a second liquid flow path extending from the second liquid supply to the discharge port and a fluid displacement actuator in the first liquid flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Alexander Govyadinov, Craig Olbrich, Brian M. Taff
  • Patent number: 10300692
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes an inkjet nozzle with a main actuator and a peripheral actuator in a firing chamber. A determination is made as to whether the inkjet nozzle has sat idle, e.g., not firing for a threshold period of time. When the inkjet nozzle has sat idle, both the main actuator and the peripheral actuator are activated to jet at least one ink drop. When the inkjet nozzle has not sat idle, only the main actuator is activated to jet ink drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Brian M. Taff, Erik D. Torniainen, Daniel A. Kearl
  • Publication number: 20190015667
    Abstract: An implantable device system for applying electrical stimulation to a patient, including: a first implantable device configured to measure at least one parameter indicative of a physiological or an activity state of the patient, a second implantable device configured to apply and/or adapt electrical stimulation to the patient in response to said at least one parameter, and wherein the first implantable device is further configured to communicate information pertaining to said at least one parameter to the second implantable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Brian M. Taff, Jeffrey A. von Arx, Hannes Kraetschmer, Larry Stotts
  • Publication number: 20180201024
    Abstract: A fluid ejection device may include a discharge port, an energy generating element to discharge liquid through the discharge port, a first liquid supply on a first side of the discharge port, a second liquid supply on a second side of the discharge port opposite the first side, a first liquid flow path extending from the first liquid supply to the discharge port, a second liquid flow path extending from the second liquid supply to the discharge port and a fluid displacement actuator in the first liquid flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Alexander Govyadinov, Craig Olbrich, Brian M. Taff
  • Publication number: 20180140847
    Abstract: A biventricular (BiV) implantable cardiac stimulator contains a stimulation control unit, one or more stimulation units, an impedance measurement unit and an impedance evaluation unit. The stimulation control unit is operatively connected to one or more stimulation units to control delivery of stimulation pulses by the one or more stimulation units. The stimulation control unit is configured to assess ventricular contractility based on an impedance signal generated by the impedance evaluation unit and to switch between at least a univentricular left ventricular stimulation mode and a biventricular stimulation mode and to evaluate the ventricular contractility in relation to the respective ventricular stimulation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: BRIAN M. TAFF, HANNES KRAETSCHMER
  • Publication number: 20180133490
    Abstract: In an electrostimulator which applies electrical stimulation to patient tissue, measurements of lead impedance (tissue resistance), battery status, and like matters are used to format and/or truncate the ranges of programmable therapeutic output settings available for selection by a clinician. The clinician can therefore better tell whether chosen settings can actually be successfully implemented, and/or whether they may have adverse effects on device lifespan or patient safety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: BRIAN M. TAFF, KURT SWENSON, HANNES KRAETSCHMER
  • Patent number: 9969177
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a fluid ejection device includes a die substrate having first and second fluid slots along opposite substrate sides and separated by a substrate central region. First and second internal columns of closed chambers are associated with the first and second slots, respectively, and the internal columns are separated by the central region. Fluidic channels extending across the central region fluidically couple closed chambers from the first internal column with closed chambers from the second internal column. Pump actuators in each closed chamber pump fluid through the channels from slot to slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Alexander Govyadinov, Craig Olbrich, Brian M. Taff
  • Publication number: 20180110980
    Abstract: An implantable medical device including a control unit, at least a right ventricular sensing unit and/or a right atrial sensing unit, wherein the right ventricular sensing unit is connected or can be connected to a right ventricular stimulation electrode lead having at least one electrode pole and a stimulation unit that is connected or can be connected to a multipolar left ventricular stimulation electrode lead having a plurality of electrode poles. The control unit is adapted to determine right atrioventricular conduction state and to cause selection of one of the plurality of electrode poles of the multipolar left ventricular stimulation electrode lead depending a respective determined right atrioventricular conduction state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventor: Brian M. Taff
  • Publication number: 20180071543
    Abstract: A system and method for installing/implanting a leadless implant can include a leadless implant with shortened tine-based anchors and an implantation tool with a modified tip. The tines can extend from a surface of the leadless implant and may include a preformed curve or other shape to enable the tine to hook into or grapple tissue. The implantation tool may be provided with a modified tip to assist with proper alignment, insertion, and anchoring of the shortened tines. A tip of the implantation tool can have a reduced inner diameter to cause the tine tips to be approximately normal to the surface of the tissue to which the implant is being anchored. Upon deployment of the leadless implant, the tines of the anchoring mechanism are appropriately aligned for proper insertion so that robust anchoring is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Brian M. Taff, Dirk Muessig, Jeffrey A. von Arx, Wantjinarjo Suwito, Larry Stotts, Andrew B. Kibler, Eric Austin
  • Publication number: 20180056649
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes an inkjet nozzle with a main actuator and a peripheral actuator in a firing chamber. A determination is made as to whether the inkjet nozzle has sat idle, e.g., not firing for a threshold period of time. When the inkjet nozzle has sat idle, both the main actuator and the peripheral actuator are activated to jet at least one ink drop. When the inkjet nozzle has not sat idle, only the main actuator is activated to jet ink drops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Brian M. Taff, Erik D. Torniainen, Daniel A. Kearl
  • Patent number: 9844933
    Abstract: An inkjet printhead includes an inkjet nozzle with a main actuator and at least one peripheral actuator in the same firing chamber. A determination is made as to whether the inkjet nozzle has sat idle, e.g., not firing for a threshold period of time. When the inkjet nozzle has sat idle, both the main actuator and the peripheral actuator are activated to jet at least one ink drop to renew the inkjet nozzle to mitigate decap conditions. When the inkjet nozzle has not sat idle, only the main actuator is activated to jet ink drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Brian M. Taff, Erik D. Torniainen, Daniel A. Kearl
  • Patent number: 9676186
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a fluid ejection device includes a die substrate with a chiclet adhered by its front side to the die substrate. The fluid ejection device also includes an ink delivery slot formed through the chiclet from its back side to its front side. The fluid ejection device further includes a mixing bead at the back side of the chiclet, adjacent the ink delivery slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Brian M. Taff
  • Publication number: 20170157945
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a fluid ejection device includes a die substrate having first and second fluid slots along opposite substrate sides and separated by a substrate central region. First and second internal columns of closed chambers are associated with the first and second slots, respectively, and the internal columns are separated by the central region. Fluidic channels extending across the central region fluidically couple closed chambers from the first internal column with closed chambers from the second internal column. Pump actuators in each closed chamber pump fluid through the channels from slot to slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander Govyadinov, Craig Olbrich, Brian M. Taff