Patents by Inventor Mark J. Conroy

Mark J. Conroy 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: 12121379
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and techniques are disclosed for determining an orientation of an implanted medical lead. For example, a system may include processing circuitry configured to receive image data representing a lead implanted within a patient, identify, from the image data, at least one hypointensive portion, identify, from the image data, at least one hyperintensive portion, determine, based on the at least one hypointensive portion and the at least one hyperintensive portion, an orientation of the lead within the patient, and output the orientation of the lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Walton W. Baxter, III, Mark J. Conroy, Tyler S. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 12067825
    Abstract: An amusement park access control system includes an amusement park area having an entrance. A unified access control device is positioned at the entrance and is configured to control guest access into the amusement park area. The unified access control device includes sensor modules and an access control module physically connected to one another to form a unified structure. The sensor modules scan the entrance to determine guest identification data. An access control computer system is communicatively coupled to the unified access control device and includes databases storing guest enrollment data and entitlement data associated with the guest enrollment data. The unified access control device identifies entitlements associated with the guest identification data based on a comparison between the guest identification data, the guest enrollment data, and the entitlement data, and controls guest access through the entrance based on the identified entitlements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Brett J. Conroy, Kyle P. Hanley, Bonnie J. Spivey, Mark J. Traynor
  • Patent number: 11458306
    Abstract: A shield located within an implantable medical lead may be terminated in various ways. The shield may be terminated by butt, scarf, lap, or other joints between insulation layers surrounding the lead and an insulation extension. For lap joints, a portion of an outer insulation layer may be removed and a replacement outer insulation layer is positioned in place of the removed outer insulation layer, where the replacement layer extends beyond an inner insulation layer and the shield. The replacement layer may also lap onto a portion of the insulation extension. The barbs may be located between the replacement layer and the inner insulation layer or the insulation extension. The shield wires have ends at the termination point that may be folded over individually or may be capped with a ring located within one of the insulation layers of the jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Kern, James M. Olsen, Michael R. Klardie, Richard T. Stone, Chad Q. Cai, Spencer Fodness-Bondhus, Mark J. Conroy, Timothy R. Abraham, Brian T. Stolz
  • Publication number: 20220143400
    Abstract: A shield located within an implantable medical lead may be terminated in various ways at a metal connector. The shield may be terminated by various joints including butt, scarf, lap, or other joints between insulation layers surrounding the lead and an insulation extension. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection to a single metal connector. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection by passing between an overlapping pair of inner and outer metal connectors. The metal connectors may include features such as teeth or threads that penetrate the insulation layers of the lead. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection by exiting a jacket of a lead adjacent to a metal connector and lapping onto the metal connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Bruce R. Mehdizadeh, Brian T. Stolz, Michael Robert Klardie, James M. Olsen, Michael J. Kern, Richard T. Stone, Chad Q. Cai, Spencer Fodness-Bondhus, Mark J. Conroy, Timothy R. Abraham
  • Publication number: 20220061784
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and techniques are disclosed for determining an orientation of an implanted medical lead. For example, a system may include processing circuitry configured to receive image data representing a lead implanted within a patient, identify, from the image data, at least one hypointensive portion, identify, from the image data, at least one hyperintensive portion, determine, based on the at least one hypointensive portion and the at least one hyperintensive portion, an orientation of the lead within the patient, and output the orientation of the lead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Walton W. Baxter, III, Mark J. Conroy, Tyler S. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 11260222
    Abstract: Radiopaque markers represent that a lead is suitable for a particular medical procedure such as a magnetic resonance image scan and are added to the lead or related device. The markers may be added after implantation of the lead in various ways including suturing, gluing, crimping, or clamping a radiopaque tag to the lead or to the device. The markers may be added by placing a radiopaque coil about the lead, and the radiopaque coil may radially contract against the lead to obtain a fixed position. The markers may be added by placing a polymer structure onto the lead where the polymer structure includes a radiopaque marker within it. The polymer structure may include a cylindrical aperture that contracts against the lead to fix the position of the polymer structure. The polymer structure may form a lead anchor that includes suture wings that can be sutured to the lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: James M. Olsen, Michael R. Klardie, Richard T. Stone, Chad Q. Cai, Spencer Fodness-Bondhus, Mark J. Conroy, Timothy R. Abraham, Bruce R. Mehdizadeh, Michael J. Kern, Jay K. Lahti
  • Patent number: 11213677
    Abstract: A shield located within an implantable medical lead may be terminated in various ways at a metal connector. The shield may be terminated by various joints including butt, scarf, lap, or other joints between insulation layers surrounding the lead and an insulation extension. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection to a single metal connector. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection by passing between an overlapping pair of inner and outer metal connectors. The metal connectors may include features such as teeth or threads that penetrate the insulation layers of the lead. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection by exiting a jacket of a lead adjacent to a metal connector and lapping onto the metal connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Mehdizadeh, Brian T. Stolz, Michael Robert Klardie, James M. Olsen, Michael J. Kern, Richard T. Stone, Chad Q. Cai, Spencer Fodness-Bondhus, Mark J. Conroy, Timothy R. Abraham
  • Patent number: 11173300
    Abstract: Medical lead bodies that are paired each include a braided conductive shield. The braided conductive shield of one lead body has a value for a physical parameter that differs from a value for the physical parameter of the second lead body. The difference in values of the physical parameter for the paired lead bodies results in a reduction in heating from exposure of the lead bodies to radiofrequency energy at electrodes associated with the lead bodies. The lead bodies may be paired by being implanted adjacently to one another. The lead bodies may be further paired by being coupled to a same distal body, such as a paddle containing the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Conroy, Spencer Fodness-Bondhus, Bryan D. Stem
  • Patent number: 11013916
    Abstract: Implantable medical leads include a shield that is guarded at a termination by having a first portion and a second portion of the shield, where the first portion is between a termination of the shield at the second portion and an inner insulation layer that surrounds the filars. The first portion may reduce the coupling of RF energy from the termination of the shield at the second portion to the filars. The first and second portions may be part of a continuous shield, where the first and second portions are separated by an inversion of the shield. The first and second portions may instead be separate pieces. The first portion may be noninverted and reside between the termination at the second portion and the inner layers, or the first portion may be inverted to create first and second sub-portions. The shield termination at the second portion is between the first and second sub-portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Richard T. Stone, Mark J. Conroy, Wanzhan Liu, Gary W. Salminen
  • Publication number: 20200139111
    Abstract: Radiopaque markers represent that a lead is suitable for a particular medical procedure such as a magnetic resonance image scan and are added to the lead or related device. The markers may be added after implantation of the lead in various ways including suturing, gluing, crimping, or clamping a radiopaque tag to the lead or to the device. The markers may be added by placing a radiopaque coil about the lead, and the radiopaque coil may radially contract against the lead to obtain a fixed position. The markers may be added by placing a polymer structure onto the lead where the polymer structure includes a radiopaque marker within it. The polymer structure may include a cylindrical aperture that contracts against the lead to fix the position of the polymer structure. The polymer structure may form a lead anchor that includes suture wings that can be sutured to the lead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: James M. Olsen, Michael R. Klardie, Richard T. Stone, Chad Q. Cai, Spencer Fodness-Bondhus, Mark J. Conroy, Timothy R. Abraham, Bruce R. Mehdizadeh, Michael J. Kern, Jay K. Lahti
  • Patent number: 10556105
    Abstract: A shield located within an implantable medical lead may be terminated in various ways. The shield may be terminated by butt, scarf, lap, or other joints between insulation layers surrounding the lead and an insulation extension. For lap joints, a portion of an outer insulation layer may be removed and a replacement outer insulation layer is positioned in place of the removed outer insulation layer, where the replacement layer extends beyond an inner insulation layer and the shield. The replacement layer may also lap onto a portion of the insulation extension. Barbs may be located between the replacement layer and the inner insulation layer or the insulation extension. The shield wires have ends at the termination point that may be folded over individually or may be capped with a ring located within one of the insulation layers of the jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Kern, James M. Olsen, Michael R. Klardie, Richard T. Stone, Chad Q. Cai, Spencer Fodness-Bondhus, Mark J. Conroy, Timothy R. Abraham, Brian T. Stolz
  • Patent number: 10525263
    Abstract: Radiopaque markers represent that a lead is suitable for a particular medical procedure such as a magnetic resonance image scan and are added to the lead or related device. The markers may be added after implantation of the lead in various ways including suturing, gluing, crimping, or clamping a radiopaque tag to the lead or to the device. The markers may be added by placing a radiopaque coil about the lead, and the radiopaque coil may radially contract against the lead to obtain a fixed position. The markers may be added by placing a polymer structure onto the lead where the polymer structure includes a radiopaque marker within it. The polymer structure may include a cylindrical aperture that contracts against the lead to fix the position of the polymer structure. The polymer structure may form a lead anchor that includes suture wings that can be sutured to the lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: James M. Olsen, Michael R. Klardie, Richard T. Stone, Chad Q. Cai, Spencer Fodness-Bondhus, Mark J. Conroy, Timothy R. Abraham, Bruce R. Mehdizadeh, Michael J. Kern, Jay K. Lahti
  • Publication number: 20190308012
    Abstract: Medical lead bodies that are paired each include a braided conductive shield. The braided conductive shield of one lead body has a value for a physical parameter that differs from a value for the physical parameter of the second lead body. The difference in values of the physical parameter for the paired lead bodies results in a reduction in heating from exposure of the lead bodies to radiofrequency energy at electrodes associated with the lead bodies. The lead bodies may be paired by being implanted adjacently to one another. The lead bodies may be further paired by being coupled to a same distal body, such as a paddle containing the electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Mark J. Conroy, Spencer Fodness-Bondhus, Bryan D. Stem
  • Publication number: 20190160280
    Abstract: A shield located within an implantable medical lead may be terminated in various ways at a metal connector. The shield may be terminated by various joints including butt, scarf, lap, or other joints between insulation layers surrounding the lead and an insulation extension. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection to a single metal connector. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection by passing between an overlapping pair of inner and outer metal connectors. The metal connectors may include features such as teeth or threads that penetrate the insulation layers of the lead. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection by exiting a jacket of a lead adjacent to a metal connector and lapping onto the metal connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Bruce R. Mehdizadeh, Brian T. Stolz, Michael Robert Klardie, James M. Olsen, Michael J. Kern, Richard T. Stone, Chad Q. Cai, Spencer Fodness-Bondhus, Mark J. Conroy, Timothy R. Abraham
  • Patent number: 10293156
    Abstract: Medical lead bodies that are paired each include a braided conductive shield. The braided conductive shield of one lead body has a value for a physical parameter that differs from a value for the physical parameter of the second lead body. The difference in values of the physical parameter for the paired lead bodies results in a reduction in heating from exposure of the lead bodies to radiofrequency energy at electrodes associated with the lead bodies. The lead bodies may be paired by being implanted adjacently to one another. The lead bodies may be further paired by being coupled to a same distal body, such as a paddle containing the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Conroy, Spencer M. Bondhus, Bryan D. Stem
  • Publication number: 20190134385
    Abstract: Implantable medical leads include a shield that is guarded at a termination by having a first portion and a second portion of the shield, where the first portion is between a termination of the shield at the second portion and an inner insulation layer that surrounds the filars. The first portion may reduce the coupling of RF energy from the termination of the shield at the second portion to the filars. The first and second portions may be part of a continuous shield, where the first and second portions are separated by an inversion of the shield. The first and second portions may instead be separate pieces. The first portion may be noninverted and reside between the termination at the second portion and the inner layers, or the first portion may be inverted to create first and second sub-portions. The shield termination at the second portion is between the first and second sub-portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Richard T. Stone, Mark J. Conroy, Wanzhan Liu, Gary W. Salminen
  • Patent number: 10201700
    Abstract: A shield located within an implantable medical lead may be terminated in various ways at a metal connector. The shield may be terminated by various joints including butt, scarf, lap, or other joints between insulation layers surrounding the lead and an insulation extension. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection to a single metal connector. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection by passing between an overlapping pair of inner and outer metal connectors. The metal connectors may include features such as teeth or threads that penetrate the insulation layers of the lead. The shield may terminate with a physical and electrical connection by exiting a jacket of a lead adjacent to a metal connector and lapping onto the metal connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Mehdizadeh, Brian T. Stolz, Michael Robert Klardie, James M. Olsen, Michael J. Kern, Richard T. Stone, Chad Q. Cai, Spencer M. Bondhus, Mark J. Conroy, Timothy R. Abraham
  • Publication number: 20190030326
    Abstract: A shield located within an implantable medical lead may be terminated in various ways. The shield may be terminated by butt, scarf, lap, or other joints between insulation layers surrounding the lead and an insulation extension. For lap joints, a portion of an outer insulation layer may be removed and a replacement outer insulation layer is positioned in place of the removed outer insulation layer, where the replacement layer extends beyond an inner insulation layer and the shield. The replacement layer may also lap onto a portion of the insulation extension. The barbs may be located between the replacement layer and the inner insulation layer or the insulation extension. The shield wires have ends at the termination point that may be folded over individually or may be capped with a ring located within one of the insulation layers of the jacket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Michael J. Kern, James M. Olsen, Michael R. Klardie, Richard T. Stone, Chad Q. Cai, Spencer Fodness-Bondhus, Mark J. Conroy, Timothy R. Abraham, Brian T. Stolz
  • Publication number: 20180339153
    Abstract: An implantable medical lead has a torsional stiffness and is rotationally coupled to a stylet. Applying rotation directly to the lead in turn causes rotation of the stylet. Where the stylet has a bent tip for purposes of steering the lead, the rotation applied to the lead rotates the bent tip so that the lead can be steered by rotating the lead rather than rotating a hub of the stylet. The rotational coupling may be achieved through one or more features provided for the lead and/or the stylet, such as a feature within a lumen of the lead that mates to a feature along the stylet or a feature of the stylet hub that engages the proximal end of the lead. The torsional stillness of the lead may be provided by adding a feature within the lead body, such as a braided metal wire or an overlapping foil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: James M. Olsen, Michael R. Klardie, Richard T. Stone, Chad Q. Cai, Spencer Fodness-Bondhus, Mark J. Conroy, Timothy R. Abraham
  • Patent number: 10086194
    Abstract: A shield located within an implantable medical lead may be terminated in various ways. The shield may be terminated by butt, scarf, lap, or other joints between insulation layers surrounding the lead and an insulation extension. For lap joints, a portion of an outer insulation layer may be removed and a replacement outer insulation layer is positioned in place of the removed outer insulation layer, where the replacement layer extends beyond an inner insulation layer and the shield. The replacement layer may also lap onto a portion of the insulation extension. Barbs may be located between the replacement layer and the inner insulation layer or the insulation extension. The shield wires have ends at the termination point that may be folded over individually or may be capped with a ring located within one of the insulation layers of the jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Kern, James M. Olsen, Michael R. Klardie, Richard T. Stone, Chad Q. Cai, Spencer M. Bondhus, Mark J. Conroy, Timothy R. Abraham, Brian T. Stolz