Patents by Inventor Douglas A. Hettrick

Douglas A. Hettrick 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: 11553960
    Abstract: Methods for treating hypertension and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology, for example, is directed to methods for therapeutic renal neuromodulation that partially inhibit sympathetic neural activity in renal nerves proximate a renal blood vessel of a human patient having a 24-hour heart rate at or above a median heart rate for a population of hypertensive patients. This reduction in sympathetic neural activity is expected to therapeutically treat one or more conditions associated with hypertension of the patient. Renal sympathetic nerve activity can be modulated, for example, using an intravascularly positioned catheter carrying a neuromodulation assembly, e.g., a neuromodulation assembly configured to use electrically-induced, thermally-induced, and/or chemically-induced approaches to modulate the renal nerves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC ARDIAN LUXEMBOURG S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Michael Bohm, Felix Mahfoud, Sandeep Brar, Douglas Hettrick, Martin Fahy
  • Patent number: 11547360
    Abstract: Systems and methods include differential diagnosis for acute heart failure to provide treatment to a patient including determining whether the patient has cardiac volume overload, determining whether the patient has decreased abdominal venous system volume, and providing the appropriate treatment in response to the determinations. A multi-sensor system may be used to determine cardiac volume and abdominal venous system volume. Fluid redistribution treatment may be provided when cardiac volume overload is accompanied by a decrease in abdominal venous system volume. Fluid accumulation treatment may be provided when cardiac volume overload is not accompanied by a decrease in abdominal venous system volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Yong K. Cho, Tom D. Bennett, Douglas A. Hettrick, Charles P. Sperling, Paul A. Sobotka, Vinod Sharma, Eduardo N. Warman, Todd M. Zielinski
  • Publication number: 20220409059
    Abstract: Systems and methods for informing and evaluating neuromodulation therapy are disclosed herein. A system configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, a guidewire having a proximal portion, a distal portion configured to be positioned at a target site in a blood vessel of a human patient, and a sensing element positioned along the distal portion. The sensing element can be a pressure sensing element, a flow sensing element, an impedance sensing element, and/or a temperature sensing element. The system can further include a controller configured to obtain one or more measurements related to a physiological parameter of the patient via the sensing element. Based on the measurements, the controller can determine the physiological parameter and compare the parameter to a predetermined threshold. Based on the comparison, the controller and/or the operator can assess the likelihood of the patient benefitting from neuromodulation therapy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Julie Trudel, Douglas Hettrick
  • Publication number: 20220370112
    Abstract: Methods for treating eating disorders and for reducing a risk associated with developing an eating disorder in patients via therapeutic renal neuromodulation and associated systems. Renal sympathetic nerve activity can be attenuated to improve a patient's eating disorder status or risk of developing an eating disorder. The attenuation can be achieved, for example, using an intravascularly positioned catheter carrying a therapeutic assembly configured to modulate the renal sympathetic nerve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Gabriel Lazarus, Douglas A. Hettrick
  • Publication number: 20220354581
    Abstract: Example systems and techniques for denervation, for example, renal denervation. In some examples, a processor determines one or more tissue characteristics of tissue proximate a target nerve and a blood vessel. The processor may generate, based on the one or more tissue characteristics, an estimated volume of influence of denervation therapy delivered by a therapy delivery device disposed within the blood vessel. The processor may generate a graphical user interface including a graphical representation of the tissue proximate the target nerve and the blood vessel and a graphical representation of the estimated volume of influence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Paul J. Coates, Douglas A. Hettrick
  • Patent number: 11457819
    Abstract: Systems and methods for informing and evaluating neuromodulation therapy are disclosed herein. A system configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, a guidewire having a proximal portion, a distal portion configured to be positioned at a target site in a blood vessel of a human patient, and a sensing element positioned along the distal portion. The sensing element can be a pressure sensing element, a flow sensing element, an impedance sensing element, and/or a temperature sensing element. The system can further include a controller configured to obtain one or more measurements related to a physiological parameter of the patient via the sensing element. Based on the measurements, the controller can determine the physiological parameter and compare the parameter to a predetermined threshold. Based on the comparison, the controller and/or the operator can assess the likelihood of the patient benefiting from neuromodulation therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC ARDIAN LUXEMBOURG S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Julie Trudel, Douglas Hettrick
  • Patent number: 11419681
    Abstract: Example systems and techniques for denervation, for example, renal denervation. In some examples, a processor determines one or more tissue characteristics of tissue proximate a target nerve and a blood vessel. The processor may generate, based on the one or more tissue characteristics, an estimated volume of influence of denervation therapy delivered by a therapy delivery device disposed within the blood vessel. The processor may generate a graphical user interface including a graphical representation of the tissue proximate the target nerve and the blood vessel and a graphical representation of the estimated volume of influence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC ARDIAN LUXEMBOURG S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Paul J. Coates, Douglas A. Hettrick
  • Patent number: 11413084
    Abstract: Methods for treating eating disorders and for reducing a risk associated with developing an eating disorder in patients via therapeutic renal neuromodulation and associated systems. Renal sympathetic nerve activity can be attenuated to improve a patient's eating disorder status or risk of developing an eating disorder. The attenuation can be achieved, for example, using an intravascularly positioned catheter carrying a therapeutic assembly configured to modulate the renal sympathetic nerve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC ARDIAN LUXEMBOURG S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Gabriel Lazarus, Douglas Hettrick
  • Publication number: 20220240807
    Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating neuromodulation via hemodynamic responses are disclosed herein. A system configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, a neuromodulation catheter comprising an elongated shaft having a distal portion, and a plurality of electrodes spaced along a distal portion. The system can further include a controller communicatively coupled to the electrodes. The controller can be configured to apply first and second stimuli at and/or proximate to a target site within a blood vessel before and after delivering neuromodulation energy to the target site, and detect, via at least one of the electrodes, vessel impedance resulting from the first and second stimuli to determine a baseline impedance and a post-neuromodulation impedance. The controller can further be configured to assess the efficacy of the neuromodulation based, at least in part, on a comparison of the baseline impedance and the post-neuromodulation impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Douglas Hettrick, Avram Scheiner
  • Publication number: 20220241020
    Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing perivascular neuromodulation therapy using computational fluid dynamics. Digital data regarding three-dimensional imaging of a target blood vessel and corresponding hemodynamic data are inputs to generating a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. The CFD model enables identification of one or more regions of the vessel suitable for neuromodulation therapy and/or identifying one or more regions of the vessel to avoid during such therapy. A system of the present technology can include a neuromodulation catheter, a computing device that can generate and analyze the CFD model, and a user interface for displaying the vessel with indicia for target regions and/or avoidance regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Douglas Hettrick, Julie Trudel
  • Publication number: 20220226042
    Abstract: Systems and methods for neuromodulation therapy are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, positioning a plurality of reference electrodes at the skin of a human patient and intravascularly positioning a plurality of ablation electrodes within a blood vessel lumen at a treatment site. The method can include obtaining impedance measurements between different combinations of the reference electrodes and the ablation electrodes and, based on the impedance measurements, identifying two or more electrode groups for treatment, where at least two of the electrode groups include a different one of the reference electrodes and a different one of the ablation electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Douglas A. Hettrick, Julie Trudel, Paul Coates, Robert J. Melder, Stefan S. Tunev, Martin Rothman, Sean Salmon
  • Publication number: 20220211331
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to techniques for identifying a medical condition, such as an infection and/or a disease, from sensor data indicative of physiological parameters. In some examples, one example technique for identifying the medical condition includes process sensor data comprising data indicative of a plurality of physiological parameters for a patient comprising an impedance parameter, computing an index based upon values corresponding to at least two of the physiological parameters and based upon a comparison between the index and prediction criterion, generating, for display, output data corresponding to the comparison results, wherein the output data indicates a prediction of the medical condition in the patient if the comparison results indicate satisfaction of the prediction criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Holly S. Norman, Douglas A. Hettrick, Mark J. Phelps, Shantanu Sarkar, Todd M. Zielinski
  • Publication number: 20220193419
    Abstract: Techniques for using multiple physiological parameters to provide an early warning for worsening heart failure are described. A system is provided that monitors a multiple diagnostic parameters indicative of worsening heart failure. The parameters preferably include are least one parameter acquired from an implanted device, such as intrathoracic impedance. The system device derives an index of the likelihood of worsening heart failure based upon the parameters using a Bayesian approach and displays the resultant index for review by a physician.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Shantanu Sarkar, Douglas A. Hettrick, Amul Y. Desai, Randolph M. Biallas, Holly S. Vitense, Jodi L. Redemske
  • Publication number: 20220133210
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring the magnetic fields generated by renal nerves before and/or after neuromodulation therapy are disclosed herein. One method for measuring the magnetic field of target nerves during a neuromodulation procedure includes positioning a neuromodulation catheter at a target site within a renal blood vessel of a human patient near the target nerves, and detecting a measurement of the magnetic field generated by the target nerves. The method can further include determining, based on the measurement of the magnetic field, a location of the target nerves, a location of ablation at the target nerves, and/or a percentage the target nerves were ablated by delivered neuromodulation energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Abhijeet Dubhashi, Douglas Hettrick, Guo Xu
  • Patent number: 11311340
    Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing perivascular neuromodulation therapy using computational fluid dynamics. Digital data regarding three-dimensional imaging of a target blood vessel and corresponding hemodynamic data are inputs to generating a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. The CFD model enables identification of one or more regions of the vessel suitable for neuromodulation therapy and/or identifying one or more regions of the vessel to avoid during such therapy. A system of the present technology can include a neuromodulation catheter, a computing device that can generate and analyze the CFD model, and a user interface for displaying the vessel with indicia for target regions and/or avoidance regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Douglas Hettrick, Julie Trudel
  • Patent number: 11311205
    Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating neuromodulation via hemodynamic responses are disclosed herein. A system configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, a neuromodulation catheter comprising an elongated shaft having a distal portion, and a plurality of electrodes spaced along a distal portion. The system can further include a controller communicatively coupled to the electrodes. The controller can be configured to apply first and second stimuli at and/or proximate to a target site within a blood vessel before and after delivering neuromodulation energy to the target site, and detect, via at least one of the electrodes, vessel impedance resulting from the first and second stimuli to determine a baseline impedance and a post-neuromodulation impedance. The controller can further be configured to assess the efficacy of the neuromodulation based, at least in part, on a comparison of the baseline impedance and the post-neuromodulation impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Douglas Hettrick, Avram Scheiner
  • Patent number: 11304749
    Abstract: Systems and methods for neuromodulation therapy are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, positioning a plurality of reference electrodes at the skin of a human patient and intravascularly positioning a plurality of ablation electrodes within a blood vessel lumen at a treatment site. The method can include obtaining impedance measurements between different combinations of the reference electrodes and the ablation electrodes and, based on the impedance measurements, identifying two or more electrode groups for treatment, where at least two of the electrode groups include a different one of the reference electrodes and a different one of the ablation electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC ARDIAN LUXEMBOURG S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Hettrick, Julie Trudel, Paul Coates, Robert J. Melder, Stefan S. Tunev, Martin Rothman, Sean Salmon
  • Patent number: 11284934
    Abstract: Methods for treating sleep disorders and for reducing a risk associated with developing a sleep disorder in patients via therapeutic renal neuromodulation and associated systems are disclosed herein. Sympathetic nerve activity can contribute to several cellular and physiological conditions associated with sleep disorders as well as an increased risk of developing a sleep disorder. One aspect of the present technology is directed to methods for improving a patient's calculated risk score corresponding to a sleep disorder status in the patient. Other aspects are directed to reducing a likelihood of developing a sleep disorder in patients presenting one or more sleep disorder risk factors. Renal sympathetic nerve activity can be attenuated to improve a patient's sleep disorder status or risk of developing a sleep disorder. The attenuation can be achieved, for example, using an intravascularly positioned catheter carrying a therapeutic assembly configured to use, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC ARDIAN LUXEMBOURG S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Gabriel Lazarus, Douglas Hettrick
  • Publication number: 20220054840
    Abstract: Methods for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or for reducing a risk associated with developing PTSD in patients via therapeutic renal neuromodulation and associated systems are disclosed herein. Sympathetic nerve activity can contribute to several cellular and physiological conditions associated with PTSD as well as an increased risk of developing PTSD following a traumatic event. One aspect of the present technology is directed to methods for improving a patient's calculated risk score corresponding to a PTSD status in the patient. Other aspects are directed to reducing a likelihood of developing PTSD in patients presenting one or more PTSD risk factors. Renal sympathetic nerve activity can be attenuated to improve a patient's PTSD status or risk of developing PTSD. The attenuation can be achieved, for example, using an intravascularly positioned catheter carrying a therapeutic assembly configured to use, e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Marcia Gallagher, Douglas A. Hettrick
  • Patent number: 11253189
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring the magnetic fields generated by renal nerves before and/or after neuromodulation therapy are disclosed herein. One method for measuring the magnetic field of target nerves during a neuromodulation procedure includes positioning a neuromodulation catheter at a target site within a renal blood vessel of a human patient near the target nerves, and detecting a measurement of the magnetic field generated by the target nerves. The method can further include determining, based on the measurement of the magnetic field, a location of the target nerves, a location of ablation at the target nerves, and/or a percentage the target nerves were ablated by delivered neuromodulation energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC ARDIAN LUXEMBOURG S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Abhijeet Dubhashi, Douglas Hettrick, Guo Xu