Patents by Inventor John Kast

John Kast 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: 20160317806
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an implantable medical device having reduced MRI image distortion, includes producing an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device has a configuration that comprises a housing and one or more internal components disposed within the housing. The configuration is based upon a design process that includes creating a first prototype, determining the aggregate relative magnetic permeability of the first prototype, and modifying the design of the first prototype by at least one of (a) selecting and adding a diamagnetic shimming material to the first prototype or (b) repositioning one or more internal components of the first prototype. Modifying the design results in a modified design that is the configuration for the implantable medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kast, Carl D. Wahlstrand, Mark J. Conroy, Erik R. Scott
  • Patent number: 9393408
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an implantable medical device having reduced MRI image distortion, includes producing an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device has a configuration that comprises a housing and one or more internal components disposed within the housing. The configuration is based upon a design process that includes creating a first prototype, determining the aggregate relative magnetic permeability of the first prototype, and modifying the design of the first prototype by at least one of (a) selecting and adding a diamagnetic shimming material to the first prototype or (b) repositioning one or more internal components of the first prototype. Modifying the design results in a modified design that is the configuration for the implantable medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: John Kast, Carl D. Wahlstrand, Mark J. Conroy, Erik R. Scott
  • Publication number: 20150107089
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an implantable medical device having reduced MRI image distortion, includes producing an implantable medical device. The implantable medical device has a configuration that comprises a housing and one or more internal components disposed within the housing. The configuration is based upon a design process that includes creating a first prototype, determining the aggregate relative magnetic permeability of the first prototype, and modifying the design of the first prototype by at least one of (a) selecting and adding a diamagnetic shimming material to the first prototype or (b) repositioning one or more internal components of the first prototype. Modifying the design results in a modified design that is the configuration for the implantable medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kast, Carl D. Wahlstrand, Mark J. Conroy, Erik R. Scott
  • Patent number: 8923969
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a housing formed of a first material and a first electronic component provided within the housing. The implantable medical device also includes a second material provided in contact with at least a portion of the housing. At least one of the housing and the first electronic component has a magnetic permeability in a magnetic field that differs from the magnetic permeability of water. The second material is provided in an amount effective to reduce MRI image distortion caused by the implantable medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kast, Carl D. Wahlstrand, Mark J. Conroy, Erik R. Scott
  • Publication number: 20140100640
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a housing formed of a first material and a first electronic component provided within the housing. The implantable medical device also includes a second material provided in contact with at least a portion of the housing. At least one of the housing and the first electronic component has a magnetic permeability in a magnetic field that differs from the magnetic permeability of water. The second material is provided in an amount effective to reduce MRI image distortion caused by the implantable medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kast, Carl D. Wahlstrand, Mark J. Conroy, Erik R. Scott
  • Patent number: 8548591
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a housing having a coating selectively provided on only a portion of the housing and a plurality of electronic components provided within an interior space defined by the housing. A first of the electronic components is a charging or telemetry coil and a second of the electronic components is a circuit board. The coating is provided on the housing in a first region near a component of the circuit board and is not provided on the housing in a second region near the charging or telemetry coil. The coating has a magnetic permeability suitable to and is provided in an amount effective to reduce MRI image distortion caused by the component of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic Inc.
    Inventors: John Kast, Carl D. Wahlstrand, Mark J. Conroy, Erik R. Scott
  • Publication number: 20120209352
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a housing having a coating selectively provided on only a portion of the housing and a plurality of electronic components provided within an interior space defined by the housing. A first of the electronic components is a charging or telemetry coil and a second of the electronic components is a circuit board. The coating is provided on the housing in a first region near a component of the circuit board and is not provided on the housing in a second region near the charging or telemetry coil. The coating has a magnetic permeability suitable to and is provided in an amount effective to reduce MRI image distortion caused by the component of the circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: John Kast, Carl D. Wahlstrand, Mark J. Conroy, Erik R. Scott
  • Patent number: 8131368
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a housing formed of a first material and a first electronic component provided within the housing. The implantable medical device also includes a second material provided in contact with at least a portion of the housing. At least one of the housing and the first electronic component has a magnetic permeability in a magnetic field that differs from the magnetic permeability of water. The second material is provided in an amount effective to reduce MRI image distortion caused by the implantable medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kast, Carl D. Wahlstrand, Mark J. Conroy, Erik R. Scott
  • Patent number: 7927737
    Abstract: A lithium battery includes a housing and a first electrode and a second electrode provided within the housing. A first tab is coupled to the first electrode and a second tab coupled to the second electrode. A pin is coupled to the second tab and extends to a location outside the housing. At least one of the first tab, the second tab, and the pin are formed from a material comprising vanadium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik R. Scott, Carl D. Wahlstrand, Mark J. Conroy, John Kast
  • Patent number: 7798862
    Abstract: An electrical connection assembly of a medical device includes a plurality of electrical contact blocks and a sealing member, which are held within a cavity of a base of the assembly. The sealing member includes a plurality of openings, at least one interior surface surrounding a bore and at least one void. Each electrical contact block extends into a corresponding opening of the sealing member, and a conductive sidewall of each block defines a portion of a perimeter of an area for receiving a lead connector, while the bore of the sealing member forms another portion of the perimeter of the area. The at least one void provides a compressible space in a bulk volume of the sealing member. When the lead is inserted within the area, and a cap is engaged with the base, the at least one interior surface of the sealing member is compressed about the lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kast, Mark Lent, James Olsen, Andrew Ries, James Skakoon, Carl Wahlstrand
  • Publication number: 20100145183
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a housing and a circuit board provided within the housing. The circuit board includes a plurality of electronic components electrically coupled thereto. At least one non-functional component is provided on the circuit board and formed from a material that has an electromagnetic permeability configured to reduce the amount of image distortion caused by at least one of the plurality of electronic components when the device is subject to a magnetic field during an MRI scan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl D. Wahlstrand, Mark J. Conroy, John Kast, Erik R. Scott
  • Patent number: 7684860
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a housing and a circuit board provided within the housing. The circuit board includes a plurality of electronic components electrically coupled thereto. At least one non-functional component is provided on the circuit board and formed from a material that has an electromagnetic permeability configured to reduce the amount of image distortion caused by at least one of the plurality of electronic components when the device is subject to a magnetic field during an MRI scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl D. Wahlstrand, Mark J. Conroy, John Kast, Erik R. Scott
  • Publication number: 20090247018
    Abstract: An electrical connection assembly of a medical device includes a plurality of electrical contact blocks and a sealing member, which are held within a cavity of a base of the assembly. The sealing member includes a plurality of openings, at least one interior surface surrounding a bore and at least one void. Each electrical contact block extends into a corresponding opening of the sealing member, and a conductive sidewall of each block defines a portion of a perimeter of an area for receiving a lead connector, while the bore of the sealing member forms another portion of the perimeter of the area. The at least one void provides a compressible space in a bulk volume of the sealing member. When the lead is inserted within the area, and a cap is engaged with the base, the at least one interior surface of the sealing member is compressed about the lead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: John Kast, Mark Lent, Jim Olsen, Andrew Ries, James Skakoon, Carl Wahlstrand
  • Patent number: 7553193
    Abstract: An electrical connection assembly of a medical device includes at least one conductive sidewall mounted in a fixed position to a module base; the sidewall may be electrically coupled to a feedthrough wire. The assembly further includes at least one resilient member to apply a spring force against a connector element of a lead connector when the connector element is positioned adjacent to the conductive sidewall. The spring force of the resilient member causes electrical coupling between the connector element and the conductive sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kast, Mark Lent, James Olsen, Andrew Ries, James Skakoon, Carl Wahlstrand
  • Publication number: 20080248696
    Abstract: An electrical connection assembly of a medical device includes at least one conductive sidewall mounted in a fixed position to a module base; the sidewall may be electrically coupled to a feedthrough wire. The assembly further includes at least one resilient member to apply a spring force against a connector element of a lead connector when the connector element is positioned adjacent to the conductive sidewall. The spring force of the resilient member causes electrical coupling between the connector element and the conductive sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kast, Mark Lent, James Olsen, Andrew Ries, James Skakoon, Carl Wahlstrand
  • Patent number: 7402083
    Abstract: An electrical connection assembly of a medical device includes at least one conductive sidewall mounted in a fixed position to a module base; the sidewall may be electrically coupled to a feedthrough wire. The assembly further includes at least one resilient member to apply a spring force against a connector element of a lead connector when the connector element is positioned adjacent to the conductive sidewall. The spring force of the resilient member causes electrical coupling between the connector element and the conductive sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kast, Mark Lent, Jim Olsen, Andrew Ries, James Skakoon, Carl Wahlstrand
  • Publication number: 20080009192
    Abstract: An electrical connection assembly of a medical device includes at least one conductive sidewall mounted in a fixed position to a module base; the sidewall may be electrically coupled to a feedthrough wire. The assembly further includes at least one resilient member to apply a spring force against a connector element of a lead connector when the connector element is positioned adjacent to the conductive sidewall. The spring force of the resilient member causes electrical coupling between the connector element and the conductive sidewall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: John Kast, Mark Lent, Jim Olsen, Andrew Reis, James Skakoon, Carl Wahlstrand
  • Publication number: 20070255349
    Abstract: System, method and antenna for an external power source for an implantable medical device having therapeutic componentry and a secondary coil operatively coupled to the therapeutic componentry. A housing has a first surface adapted to be placed closest to the secondary coil of the implantable medical device. A primary coil is operatively coupled to the external power and is capable of inductively energizing the secondary coil, the primary coil being wound forming generally concentric loops having an axis. The housing has a protrusion extending from the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Torgerson, John Kast, Kevin Kelly, Todd Goblish
  • Publication number: 20070248881
    Abstract: A lithium battery includes a housing and a first electrode and a second electrode provided within the housing. A first tab is coupled to the first electrode and a second tab coupled to the second electrode. A pin is coupled to the second tab and extends to a location outside the housing. At least one of the first tab, the second tab, and the pin are formed from a material comprising vanadium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Erik Scott, Carl Wahlstrand, Mark Conroy, John Kast
  • Publication number: 20070239221
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a housing formed of a first material and a first electronic component provided within the housing. The implantable medical device also includes a second material provided in contact with at least a portion of the housing. At least one of the housing and the first electronic component has a magnetic permeability in a magnetic field that differs from the magnetic permeability of water. The second material is provided in an amount effective to reduce MRI image distortion caused by the implantable medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: John Kast, Carl Wahlstrand, Mark Conroy, Erik Scott