Patents by Inventor Kenneth D. Rys

Kenneth D. Rys 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: 20240100325
    Abstract: A fixation component includes tines extending from a base portion of the fixation component. Each tine is elastically deformable between a pre-set position and an open position. Each tine includes a hook segment extending from a proximal end near the base portion to a distal end. Each tine also includes a distal segment extending from the distal end of the hook segment to a tissue-piercing tip. When positioned in the pre-set position, the hook segment extends along a pre-set curvature that encloses an angle between 135 degrees and 270 degrees, and the distal segment extends away from a longitudinal axis of the fixation component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Kuhn, Michael P. Campbell, Vladimir Grubac, Kenneth D. Rys, Richard W. Swenson, Charles Lowell Wilson
  • Publication number: 20220339435
    Abstract: A fixation component includes tines extending from a base portion of the fixation component. Each tine is elastically deformable between a pre-set position and an open position. Each tine includes a hook segment extending from a proximal end near the base portion to a distal end. Each tine also includes a distal segment extending from the distal end of the hook segment to a tissue-piercing tip. When positioned in the pre-set position, the hook segment extends along a pre-set curvature that encloses an angle between 135 degrees and 270 degrees, and the distal segment extends away from a longitudinal axis of the fixation component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Kuhn, Michael P. Campbell, Vladimir Grubac, Kenneth D. Rys, Richard W. Swenson, Charles Lowell Wilson
  • Patent number: 11400281
    Abstract: A tine portion of an implantable medical device includes a hook segment and a distal segment terminated by a tissue-piercing tip, wherein the distal segment extends from a distal end of the hook segment to the tip. The hook segment, which is elastically deformable from a pre-set curvature, for example, defined by a single radius, preferably tapers from a first width thereof, in proximity to a proximal end thereof, to a smaller, second width thereof, in proximity to the distal end thereof, wherein the tip has a width that is greater than the second width of the hook segment. Alternately, the tine portion may include a hook segment that is defined by two radii and a straight section extending therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Kuhn, Michael P. Campbell, Vladimir Grubac, Kenneth D. Rys, Richard W. Swenson, Charles Lowell Wilson
  • Publication number: 20200121923
    Abstract: A tine portion of an implantable medical device includes a hook segment and a distal segment terminated by a tissue-piercing tip, wherein the distal segment extends from a distal end of the hook segment to the tip. The hook segment, which is elastically deformable from a pre-set curvature, for example, defined by a single radius, preferably tapers from a first width thereof, in proximity to a proximal end thereof, to a smaller, second width thereof, in proximity to the distal end thereof, wherein the tip has a width that is greater than the second width of the hook segment. Alternately, the tine portion may include a hook segment that is defined by two radii and a straight section extending therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Kuhn, Michael P. Campbell, Vladimir Grubac, Kenneth D. Rys, Richard W. Swenson, Charles Lowell Wilson
  • Patent number: 10518084
    Abstract: A tine portion of an implantable medical device includes a hook segment and a distal segment terminated by a tissue-piercing tip, wherein the distal segment extends from a distal end of the hook segment to the tip. The hook segment, which is elastically deformable from a pre-set curvature, for example, defined by a single radius, preferably tapers from a first width thereof, in proximity to a proximal end thereof, to a smaller, second width thereof, in proximity to the distal end thereof, wherein the tip has a width that is greater than the second width of the hook segment. Alternately, the tine portion may include a hook segment that is defined by two radii and a straight section extending therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Kuhn, Michael P. Campbell, Vladimir Grubac, Kenneth D. Rys, Richard W. Swenson, Charles L. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20190009078
    Abstract: A tine portion of an implantable medical device includes a hook segment and a distal segment terminated by a tissue-piercing tip, wherein the distal segment extends from a distal end of the hook segment to the tip. The hook segment, which is elastically deformable from a pre-set curvature, for example, defined by a single radius, preferably tapers from a first width thereof, in proximity to a proximal end thereof, to a smaller, second width thereof, in proximity to the distal end thereof, wherein the tip has a width that is greater than the second width of the hook segment. Alternately, the tine portion may include a hook segment that is defined by two radii and a straight section extending therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Jonathan L. KUHN, Michael P. CAMPBELL, Vladimir GRUBAC, Kenneth D. RYS, Richard W. SWENSON, Charles L. WILSON
  • Patent number: 10071243
    Abstract: A tine portion of an implantable medical device includes a hook segment and a distal segment terminated by a tissue-piercing tip, wherein the distal segment extends from a distal end of the hook segment to the tip. The hook segment, which is elastically deformable from a pre-set curvature, for example, defined by a single radius, preferably tapers from a first width thereof, in proximity to a proximal end thereof, to a smaller, second width thereof, in proximity to the distal end thereof, wherein the tip has a width that is greater than the second width of the hook segment. Alternately, the tine portion may include a hook segment that is defined by two radii and a straight section extending therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Kuhn, Michael P Campbell, Vladimir Grubac, Kenneth D Rys, Richard W Swenson, Charles L Wilson
  • Patent number: 9987483
    Abstract: A tine portion for an implantable medical device includes a hook segment and a distal segment terminated by a tissue-piercing tip, wherein the distal segment extends from the hook segment to the tip. The hook segment, which is elastically deformable from a pre-set curvature, has one of: a round cross-section and an elliptical cross-section, while the distal segment has a flattened, or approximately rectangular cross-section. One or a pair of the tine portions may be integrally formed, with a base portion, from a superelastic wire, wherein the base portion is configured to fixedly attach to the device, for example, being captured between insulative members of a fixation subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth D Rys, Thomas A Anderson, Vladimir Grubac, Jonathan L Kuhn
  • Publication number: 20170165479
    Abstract: A tine portion for an implantable medical device includes a hook segment and a distal segment terminated by a tissue-piercing tip, wherein the distal segment extends from the hook segment to the tip. The hook segment, which is elastically deformable from a pre-set curvature, has one of: a round cross-section and an elliptical cross-section, while the distal segment has a flattened, or approximately rectangular cross-section. One or a pair of the tine portions may be integrally formed, with a base portion, from a superelastic wire, wherein the base portion is configured to fixedly attach to the device, for example, being captured between insulative members of a fixation subassembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Rys, Thomas A. Anderson, Vladimir Grubac, Jonathan L. Kuhn
  • Patent number: 9579500
    Abstract: A tine portion for an implantable medical device includes a hook segment and a distal segment terminated by a tissue-piercing tip, wherein the distal segment extends from the hook segment to the tip. The hook segment, which is elastically deformable from a pre-set curvature, has one of: a round cross-section and an elliptical cross-section, while the distal segment has a flattened, or approximately rectangular cross-section. One or a pair of the tine portions may be integrally formed, with a base portion, from a superelastic wire, wherein the base portion is configured to fixedly attach to the device, for example, being captured between insulative members of a fixation subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth D Rys, Thomas A Anderson, Vladimir Grubac, Jonathan L Kuhn
  • Patent number: 9283381
    Abstract: A tine portion of an implantable medical device includes a hook segment and a distal segment extending therefrom, wherein the hook segment is pre-set to extend along a curvature and is elastically deformable therefrom to an open position. The distal segment includes a tooth and an end that surrounds the tooth, wherein the end includes a pair of legs and a distal arch. The legs extend along a length of, and on opposing sides of the tooth, and the distal arch extends between the legs, distal to a tissue-piercing tip of the tooth. When the hook segment is in the open position, and a force is applied along a longitudinal axis of the device, to push the distal arch of the distal segment against tissue, for initial tissue penetration, the legs of the end of the distal segment bend in elastic deformation to expose the tissue-piercing tip to the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Grubac, Jonathan L Kuhn, Kenneth D Rys, Richard W Swenson
  • Patent number: 9248300
    Abstract: A relatively compact implantable cardiac medical device includes a wireless communications module, which employs a directional antenna and which is adapted to receive input concerning ventricular wall motion. When the cardiac medical device is anchored to a ventricular wall, transmitter elements of the communications modules are only activated for communication during a detected period of reduced ventricular wall motion. The period of reduced ventricular wall motion may be defined as at least one time interval during which an axis of the directional antenna does not rotate out from a baseline orientation by more than 15 degrees. The communication may be conducted with an external programmer-type device, or with another implanted device, for example, located remote from the heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Rys, Michael Andrew Reinert
  • Publication number: 20160001068
    Abstract: A tine portion of an implantable medical device includes a hook segment and a distal segment extending therefrom, wherein the hook segment is pre-set to extend along a curvature and is elastically deformable therefrom to an open position. The distal segment includes a tooth and an end that surrounds the tooth, wherein the end includes a pair of legs and a distal arch. The legs extend along a length of, and on opposing sides of the tooth, and the distal arch extends between the legs, distal to a tissue-piercing tip of the tooth. When the hook segment is in the open position, and a force is applied along a longitudinal axis of the device, to push the distal arch of the distal segment against tissue, for initial tissue penetration, the legs of the end of the distal segment bend in elastic deformation to expose the tissue-piercing tip to the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Vladimir Grubac, Jonathan L. Kuhn, Kenneth D. Rys, Richard W. Swenson
  • Publication number: 20150352353
    Abstract: A tine portion for an implantable medical device includes a hook segment and a distal segment terminated by a tissue-piercing tip, wherein the distal segment extends from the hook segment to the tip. The hook segment, which is elastically deformable from a pre-set curvature, has one of: a round cross-section and an elliptical cross-section, while the distal segment has a flattened, or approximately rectangular cross-section. One or a pair of the tine portions may be integrally formed, with a base portion, from a superelastic wire, wherein the base portion is configured to fixedly attach to the device, for example, being captured between insulative members of a fixation subassembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Rys, Thomas A. Anderson, Vladimir Grubac, Jonathan L. Kuhn
  • Patent number: 9155882
    Abstract: A tine portion of an implantable medical device includes a hook segment and a distal segment extending therefrom, wherein the hook segment is pre-set to extend along a curvature and is elastically deformable therefrom to an open position. The distal segment includes a tooth and an end that surrounds the tooth, wherein the end includes a pair of legs and a distal arch. The legs extend along a length of, and on opposing sides of the tooth, and the distal arch extends between the legs, distal to a tissue-piercing tip of the tooth. When the hook segment is in the open position, and a force is applied along a longitudinal axis of the device, to push the distal arch of the distal segment against tissue, for initial tissue penetration, the legs of the end of the distal segment bend in elastic deformation to expose the tissue-piercing tip to the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Grubac, Jonathan L Kuhn, Kenneth D Rys, Richard W Swenson
  • Patent number: 9119959
    Abstract: A tine portion for an implantable medical device includes a hook segment and a distal segment terminated by a tissue-piercing tip, wherein the distal segment extends from the hook segment to the tip. The hook segment, which is elastically deformable from a pre-set curvature, has one of: a round cross-section and an elliptical cross-section, while the distal segment has a flattened, or approximately rectangular cross-section. One or a pair of the tine portions may be integrally formed, with a base portion, from a superelastic wire, wherein the base portion is configured to fixedly attach to the device, for example, being captured between insulative members of a fixation subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth D Rys, Thomas A Anderson, Vladimir Grubac, Jonathan L Kuhn
  • Publication number: 20150039071
    Abstract: A tine portion of an implantable medical device includes a hook segment and a distal segment extending therefrom, wherein the hook segment is pre-set to extend along a curvature and is elastically deformable therefrom to an open position. The distal segment includes a tooth and an end that surrounds the tooth, wherein the end includes a pair of legs and a distal arch. The legs extend along a length of, and on opposing sides of the tooth, and the distal arch extends between the legs, distal to a tissue-piercing tip of the tooth. When the hook segment is in the open position, and a force is applied along a longitudinal axis of the device, to push the distal arch of the distal segment against tissue, for initial tissue penetration, the legs of the end of the distal segment bend in elastic deformation to expose the tissue-piercing tip to the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Grubac, Jonathan I. Kuhn, Kenneth D. Rys, Richard W. Swenson
  • Publication number: 20150039070
    Abstract: A tine portion of an implantable medical device includes a hook segment and a distal segment terminated by a tissue-piercing tip, wherein the distal segment extends from a distal end of the hook segment to the tip. The hook segment, which is elastically deformable from a pre-set curvature, for example, defined by a single radius, preferably tapers from a first width thereof, in proximity to a proximal end thereof, to a smaller, second width thereof, in proximity to the distal end thereof, wherein the tip has a width that is greater than the second width of the hook segment. Alternately, the tine portion may include a hook segment that is defined by two radii and a straight section extending therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan I. Kuhn, Michael P. Campbell, Vladimir Grubac, Kenneth D. Rys, Richard W. Swenson, Charles L. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20150039069
    Abstract: A tine portion for an implantable medical device includes a hook segment and a distal segment terminated by a tissue-piercing tip, wherein the distal segment extends from the hook segment to the tip. The hook segment, which is elastically deformable from a pre-set curvature, has one of: a round cross-section and an elliptical cross-section, while the distal segment has a flattened, or approximately rectangular cross-section. One or a pair of the tine portions may be integrally formed, with a base portion, from a superelastic wire, wherein the base portion is configured to fixedly attach to the device, for example, being captured between insulative members of a fixation subassembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Rys, Thomas A. Anderson, Vladimir Grubac, Jonathan I. Kuhn
  • Publication number: 20130066169
    Abstract: A relatively compact implantable cardiac medical device includes a wireless communications module, which employs a directional antenna and which is adapted to receive input concerning ventricular wall motion. When the cardiac medical device is anchored to a ventricular wall, transmitter elements of the communications modules are only activated for communication during a detected period of reduced ventricular wall motion. The period of reduced ventricular wall motion may be defined as at least one time interval during which an axis of the directional antenna does not rotate out from a baseline orientation by more than 15 degrees. The communication may be conducted with an external programmer-type device, or with another implanted device, for example, located remote from the heart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Rys, Michael Andrew Reinert