Patents by Inventor James M. Hartmann

James M. Hartmann 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: 8036737
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to automatic impedance measurements between one or more electrodes in a set of electrodes that may be associated with a lead of an implanted device. A voltage measurement that is associated with a stimulation pulse between the two electrodes may be made. The voltage measurement may be used to determine the impedance between the two electrodes. The impedance measurement may be made for each possible pair of electrodes in the set of electrodes. The impedance measurements may be displayed to a clinician on a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Goetz, Jordan A. Barnhorst, James M. Hartmann
  • Patent number: 7526341
    Abstract: The present invention automates the adjustment of an amplitude of stimulated pulses that are generated by an implanted device. Apparatus comprises a processor that communicates with the implanted device over a communications channel through a communications module. The apparatus enables the clinician to select a pair of electrodes that is contained on a lead of the implanted device. Corresponding to each iteration of the process, the processor sends a command to the implanted device in order to increment the amplitude of the stimulation pulse between the selected electrodes. Each iteration of the process corresponds to the apparatus incrementing the current value by a predetermined incremental value that can be selected by the clinician. When the current value of the amplitude equals the target value, the process is halted. Additionally, the clinician can halt process during the execution of the process by instructing the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Goetz, Jordan A. Barnhorst, James M. Hartmann
  • Patent number: 6978171
    Abstract: The present invention automates impedance measurements between pairs of electrodes that are associated with a lead of an implanted device. Apparatus comprises a communications module and a processor, in which the processor communicates with the implanted device over a communications channel. The processor instructs the implanted device to perform a voltage measurement that is associated with a stimulation pulse between the pair of electrodes. The implanted device sends the voltage measurement to the apparatus over the communications channel from which the apparatus determines the impedance between the pair of electrodes. The apparatus initiates an impedance measurement for each pair of electrodes along the lead. With a plurality of leads, the apparatus repeats the impedance measurements for electrode pairs of the other leads. The embodiment also supports measuring a current between pairs of electrodes. The impedance measurements and current measurements are displayed to a clinician on a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Goetz, Jordan A. Barnhorst, James M. Hartmann
  • Publication number: 20030176807
    Abstract: The present invention automates impedance measurements between pairs of electrodes that are associated with a lead of an implanted device. Apparatus comprises a communications module and a processor, in which the processor communicates with the implanted device over a communications channel. The processor instructs the implanted device to perform a voltage measurement that is associated with a stimulation pulse between the pair of electrodes. The implanted device sends the voltage measurement to the apparatus over the communications channel from which the apparatus determines the impedance between the pair of electrodes. The apparatus initiates an impedance measurement for each pair of electrodes along the lead. With a plurality of leads, the apparatus repeats the impedance measurements for electrode pairs of the other leads. The embodiment also supports measuring a current between pairs of electrodes. The impedance measurements and current measurements are displayed to a clinician on a user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Goetz, Jordan A. Barnhorst, James M. Hartmann