Patents by Inventor Joshua Dale Howard
Joshua Dale Howard 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).
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Publication number: 20200001097Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a parameter set and programming a neuromodulation system with the parameter set are disclosed. The system includes a user interface having a display screen to display simplified graphical representations (SGRs) of the lead with at least one virtual electrode (VE) that represents one or more electrodes, and control elements. The SGRs of the lead can provide longitudinal and circumferential representations of the VE, respectively representing longitudinal or circumferential position, size, shape, or spread of the VE. The control elements may include longitudinal and circumferential control elements to enable the user to respectively adjust the longitudinal or circumferential position, size, shape, or spread of the VE. The system may generate the neuromodulation parameter set using the longitudinal and circumferential representations of the VE, and program the neuromodulation system with the neuromodulation parameter set.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2019Publication date: January 2, 2020Inventors: Joshua Dale Howard, G. Karl Steinke, Richard Mustakos
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Patent number: 10456584Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a parameter set and programming a neuromodulation system with the parameter set are disclosed. The system includes a user interface having a display screen to display simplified graphical representations (SGRs) of the lead with at least one virtual electrode (VE) that represents one or more electrodes, and control elements. The SGRs of the lead can provide longitudinal and circumferential representations of the VE, respectively representing longitudinal or circumferential position, size, shape, or spread of the VE. The control elements may include longitudinal and circumferential control elements to enable the user to respectively adjust the longitudinal or circumferential position, size, shape, or spread of the VE. The system may generate the neuromodulation parameter set using the longitudinal and circumferential representations of the VE, and program the neuromodulation system with the neuromodulation parameter set.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2016Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation CorporationInventors: Joshua Dale Howard, G. Karl Steinke, Richard Mustakos
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Patent number: 10384055Abstract: An insertion tool for a paddle lead includes an insertion tool body having a receiving end portion; a stylet channel extending along the insertion tool body; a stylet disposed in the stylet channel; and an actuator assembly disposed along the handling end portion of the insertion tool body and coupled to the stylet. The actuator assembly controls transitioning of the stylet between a first position and a second position. In some instances, the stylet can be a wire stylet that is inserted into a lumen in the paddle body of the paddle lead. In some instances, the stylet of the insertion tool pushes lead bodies of the paddle lead out of the insertion tool to release the paddle lead. In some instances, the insertion tool includes a paddle envelope to hold the paddle lead.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2017Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC NEUROMODULATION CORPORATIONInventors: James Robert Black, Anne Margaret Pianca, Joshua Dale Howard, Carolyn Madeleine Nohejl
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Patent number: 10286205Abstract: An electrical stimulation lead includes a lead body that defines an alignment feature extending distally from a proximal end of the lead body and inwardly from an outer surface of the lead body. The lead also includes electrodes disposed along the distal portion of the lead body, segmented terminals disposed along the proximal portion of the lead and arranged in sets of segmented terminals, and lead conductors electrically coupling the electrodes to the terminals. Each set of segmented terminals includes at least two segmented terminals disposed in a circumferential arrangement at a same longitudinal position of the lead. A system can include the lead and a connector for receiving the proximal end of the lead. The connector can include an alignment protuberance extending into a connector lumen and configured to be received into the alignment groove of the lead to align the lead with the connector.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation CorporationInventors: G. Karl Steinke, Joshua Dale Howard, Geoffrey Abellana Villarta
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Publication number: 20190105501Abstract: An operating room cable assembly for electrically coupling at least one implantable electrical stimulation lead to a trial stimulator includes an elongated body; a trial stimulator connector disposed at one end of the elongated body; and a lead connector disposed at another end of the elongated body. The lead connector can include one or more buttons that can be pushed to load a lead into the lead connector and released to retain the lead. Alternatively, the lead connector can include a lever that can be operated to load the lead. A further alternative is a slider with a lead engagement element that can be slid between positions allowing loading of a lead and engagement of the lead. Other alternatives include a lead connector with doors that can swing open to allow loading of a lead or a collet/sleeve that can be tightened on the lead.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Inventors: Joshua Dale Howard, Christopher Shanahan, Geoffrey Abellana Villarta, Peter Yoo
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Patent number: 10232169Abstract: A burr hole plug includes a first plug base defining a burr hole aperture and including first grooves; a second plug base to be disposed around the first plug base and including second grooves to receive a portion of an electrical stimulation lead; a cover to be disposed on the second plug base; a cap to be disposed over the burr hole aperture and coupled to the first plug base; and an extension coupled to, and extending away from, the cover. The extension includes conductors and the second plug base and the cover include conductive elements to electrically couple the terminals of the electrical stimulation lead, when disposed in the second grooves, to the conductors of the extension. An alternative burr hole plug includes a lead connector disposed on the cap and having a connector aperture to receive the proximal end of the electrical stimulation lead.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2016Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation CorporationInventors: Michael X. Govea, Joshua Dale Howard, David Ernest Wechter
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Patent number: 10195446Abstract: An operating room cable assembly for electrically coupling at least one implantable electrical stimulation lead to a trial stimulator includes an elongated body; a trial stimulator connector disposed at one end of the elongated body; and a lead connector disposed at another end of the elongated body. The lead connector can include one or more buttons that can be pushed to load a lead into the lead connector and released to retain the lead. Alternatively, the lead connector can include a lever that can be operated to load the lead. A further alternative is a slider with a lead engagement element that can be slid between positions allowing loading of a lead and engagement of the lead. Other alternatives include a lead connector with doors that can swing open to allow loading of a lead or a collet/sleeve that can be tightened on the lead.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2016Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC NEUROMODULATION CORPORATIONInventors: Joshua Dale Howard, Christopher Shanahan, Geoffrey Abellana Villarta, Peter J. Yoo
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Patent number: 10173055Abstract: An electrical stimulation system includes a lead or lead extension; a control module coupleable to the lead or lead extension; and a continuous conductive RF shield having a first portion extending along at least a portion of the lead and a second portion configured and arranged to form a perimeter band disposed around the housing of the control module. Alternatively, an electrical stimulation lead or lead extension includes a body; first contacts disposed along the distal end portion of the body; second contacts disposed along the proximal end portion of the body; a conductive RF shield disposed over, and extending along, at least a portion of the body; and a non-conductive jacket disposed over the conductive RF shield. The non-conductive jacket defines at least one window which exposes a portion of the conductive RF shield radially beneath the at least one window.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2016Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC NEUROMODULATION CORPORAATIONInventors: Joshua Dale Howard, Richard Mustakos
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Publication number: 20180154139Abstract: An implantable electrical stimulation lead including a lead body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length, wherein the distal end of the lead body is formed into a hook or coil shape; a plurality of electrodes disposed along the hook or coil at the distal end of the lead body; a plurality of terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead body; and a plurality of conductors, each conductor electrically coupling at least one of the electrodes to at least one of the terminals. The lead can be used to stimulate, for example, a dorsal root ganglion with the hook-shaped or coil-shaped distal end disposed around a portion of the dorsal root ganglion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2018Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Joshua Dale Howard, Jacob B. Leven
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Patent number: 9962541Abstract: A stimulation lead includes an electrode carrier disposed along a distal portion of a lead body. The electrode carrier defines multiple segmented-electrode-receiving apertures extending between an outer surface and a central lumen. Each of the segmented-electrode-receiving apertures includes a ledge disposed around a perimeter of that segmented-electrode-receiving aperture and inset from the outer surface of the electrode carrier. The stimulation lead also includes multiple segmented electrodes, with each of the segmented electrode disposed in a different one of the segmented-electrode-receiving apertures with an outer stimulation surface exposed through the segmented-electrode-receiving aperture and an inner surface abutting the ledge disposed around the perimeter of that segmented-electrode-receiving aperture. Conductive wires extend along the lead body and couple the segmented electrodes to terminals.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2015Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation CorporationInventors: Joshua Dale Howard, James Robert Black, Jose Ulloa, Anne Margaret Pianca
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Patent number: 9956394Abstract: A connector to couple an electrical stimulation lead to a lead extension can include lead terminals and extension connector contacts that interlock with each other. Another connector can include lead terminals and extension connector contacts that form a hook and loop fastener. Yet another connector defines a lumen for receiving a proximal portion of an electrical stimulation lead and a side-loading slit extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal surface of the connector and extending inwardly to the lumen for side-loading the electrical stimulation lead into the lumen through the side-loading slit.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2016Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation CorporationInventors: Joshua Dale Howard, Michael X. Govea
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Patent number: 9956000Abstract: A paddle lead insertion tool includes an insertion tool body having a delivery end portion, a delivery end portion, and a slider slit; a slider partially disposed within the slider slit; extenders coupled to the slider and extending to the delivery end portion to receive a paddle body between or upon the extenders; and a center push piece coupled to the slider and disposed between the extenders to push against a proximal end of the paddle body. The slider moves between an insertion position and a delivery position. The insertion tool extends the extenders and center push piece when the slider moves from the insertion position to the delivery position to extend a paddle body received by the insertion tool. The insertion tool retracts the extenders without retracting the center push piece when the slider moves from the delivery position towards the insertion position.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2015Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation CorporationInventors: Lauren Gardanier, Joshua Dale Howard
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Publication number: 20180078759Abstract: An insertion tool for a paddle lead includes an insertion tool body having a receiving end portion; a stylet channel extending along the insertion tool body; a stylet disposed in the stylet channel; and an actuator assembly disposed along the handling end portion of the insertion tool body and coupled to the stylet. The actuator assembly controls transitioning of the stylet between a first position and a second position. In some instances, the stylet can be a wire stylet that is inserted into a lumen in the paddle body of the paddle lead. In some instances, the stylet of the insertion tool pushes lead bodies of the paddle lead out of the insertion tool to release the paddle lead. In some instances, the insertion tool includes a paddle envelope to hold the paddle lead.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2017Publication date: March 22, 2018Inventors: James Robert Black, Anne Margaret Pianca, Joshua Dale Howard, Carolyn Madeleine Nohejl
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Patent number: 9919148Abstract: An implantable electrical stimulation lead including a lead body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length, wherein the distal end of the lead body is formed into a hook or coil shape; a plurality of electrodes disposed along the hook or coil at the distal end of the lead body; a plurality of terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead body; and a plurality of conductors, each conductor electrically coupling at least one of the electrodes to at least one of the terminals. The lead can be used to stimulate, for example, a dorsal root ganglion with the hook-shaped or coil-shaped distal end disposed around a portion of the dorsal root ganglion.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2013Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation CorporationInventors: Joshua Dale Howard, Jacob B. Leven
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Patent number: 9867981Abstract: An insertion tool for a paddle lead includes an insertion tool body having a receiving end portion; a stylet channel extending along the insertion tool body; a stylet disposed in the stylet channel; and an actuator assembly disposed along the handling end portion of the insertion tool body and coupled to the stylet. The actuator assembly controls transitioning of the stylet between a first position and a second position. In some instances, the stylet can be a wire stylet that is inserted into a lumen in the paddle body of the paddle lead. In some instances, the stylet of the insertion tool pushes lead bodies of the paddle lead out of the insertion tool to release the paddle lead. In some instances, the insertion tool includes a paddle envelope to hold the paddle lead.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation CorporationInventors: James Robert Black, Anne Margaret Pianca, Joshua Dale Howard, Carolyn Madeleine Noheji
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Systems and methods for making and using connector contact arrays for electrical stimulation systems
Patent number: 9839787Abstract: A connector for an implantable electrical medical device includes an elongated connector body; a connector lumen to receive a lead or lead extension; a non-conductive carrier disposed in the connector body and including at least two rails extending parallel to the connector lumen and pairs of contact holders spaced-apart along the rails; contacts with each contact disposed between one of the pairs of contact holders; and connector conductors coupled to the contacts. Instead of carrier and contacts, the connector can include contact assemblies, each contact assembly including a non-conductive contact carrier defining two nodes, and two contacts, each contact disposed in one of the two nodes, each contact including a coil and a sheath disposed around at least a portion of the coil. Another alternative includes a non-conductive carrier with contact openings; and contacts, where each contact is a rod disposed in one of the contact openings.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2017Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation CorporationInventors: Geoffrey Abellana Villarta, Joshua Dale Howard -
Patent number: 9833611Abstract: An electrical stimulation lead or lead extension includes a body having an outer surface, a proximal end, a proximal portion, at least one distal portion, an outer surface, a perimeter, and a longitudinal length, the body defining an alignment slit extending distally from the proximal end of the body and splitting the proximal portion of the body into two transversely space-apart sections; first contacts disposed along the distal portion of the body; segmented second contacts disposed along the proximal portion of the body, where each segmented second contact extends around less than the entire perimeter of the body and is separated from all other segmented second contacts by portions of the body or the alignment slit; and conductors electrically coupling the first contacts to the second contacts.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2016Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation CorporationInventors: Michael X. Govea, Joshua Dale Howard
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Patent number: 9782582Abstract: An electrical stimulation lead includes a lead body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal length; electrodes disposed along the distal end of the lead body; terminals disposed along the proximal end of the lead body; a non-conducting core extending along lead body; and conductors extending along the lead body to electrically couple the electrodes to the terminals. The conductors include a first conductor and a second conductor arranged along the core with a non-conducting gap between the first and the second conductors. Each of the first and the second conductors includes an inner conductor portion with a first electrical resistivity and an outer conductor portion having a second electrical resistivity that is at least twice the first electrical resistivity. The outer conductor portion is disposed exclusively radially outward from the inner conductor portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2016Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation CorporationInventors: Michael X. Govea, Joshua Dale Howard
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Patent number: 9782581Abstract: An electrical stimulation system includes an electrical stimulation lead with at least one lead body, electrodes disposed along the distal end portion of the lead body(ies), terminals disposed along the proximal end portion of the lead body(ies), and conductors electrically coupling the terminals to the electrodes. The electrical stimulation system also includes a lead extension coupleable to the electrical stimulation lead. The lead extension includes a connector for receiving the proximal end portion of the electrical stimulation lead. The electrical stimulation system further includes a sheath defining a sheath lumen to slidingly receive a portion of the electrical stimulation lead or a portion of the lead extension or a portion of both the electrical stimulation lead and the lead extension. The sheath includes a flexible sheath body and an elongate RF shield disposed within the sheath body and extending along the sheath.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation CorporationInventors: Joshua Dale Howard, G. Karl Steinke
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Patent number: 9775988Abstract: A stimulation lead can include segmented electrodes arranged in a single or double helix or other helical arrangement. In one method of manufacture, an electrode carrier with segmented electrode receiving openings is used. Another method employs a connected framework of helically arranged pre-electrodes that are separated during manufacture. Yet another method employs a mold to generate a planar carrier over the segmented electrodes followed by rolling the carrier into a cylinder. A further method includes forming an electrode assembly by alternative segmented electrodes with non-conducting spacers.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2014Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation CorporationInventors: Andrew Govea, Joshua Dale Howard