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).
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Patent number: 12121379Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 31, 2021Date of Patent: October 22, 2024Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Walton W. Baxter, III, Mark J. Conroy, Tyler S. Stevenson
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Patent number: 12067825Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 22, 2021Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: Universal City Studios LLCInventors: Brett J. Conroy, Kyle P. Hanley, Bonnie J. Spivey, Mark J. Traynor
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Patent number: 11458306Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 28, 2018Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20220143400Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2021Publication date: May 12, 2022Inventors: 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
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Publication number: 20220061784Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Walton W. Baxter, III, Mark J. Conroy, Tyler S. Stevenson
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Patent number: 11260222Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 19, 2019Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 11213677Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 31, 2019Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 11173300Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 15, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.Inventors: Mark J. Conroy, Spencer Fodness-Bondhus, Bryan D. Stem
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Patent number: 11013916Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 17, 2018Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.Inventors: Richard T. Stone, Mark J. Conroy, Wanzhan Liu, Gary W. Salminen
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Publication number: 20200139111Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2019Publication date: May 7, 2020Inventors: 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
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Patent number: 10556105Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 7, 2018Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: 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
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Patent number: 10525263Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 19, 2018Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20190308012Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2019Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: Mark J. Conroy, Spencer Fodness-Bondhus, Bryan D. Stem
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Publication number: 20190160280Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2019Publication date: May 30, 2019Inventors: 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
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Patent number: 10293156Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 2, 2018Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.Inventors: Mark J. Conroy, Spencer M. Bondhus, Bryan D. Stem
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Publication number: 20190134385Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2018Publication date: May 9, 2019Inventors: Richard T. Stone, Mark J. Conroy, Wanzhan Liu, Gary W. Salminen
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Patent number: 10201700Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 31, 2016Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20190030326Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2018Publication date: January 31, 2019Inventors: 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
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Publication number: 20180339153Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2018Publication date: November 29, 2018Inventors: James M. Olsen, Michael R. Klardie, Richard T. Stone, Chad Q. Cai, Spencer Fodness-Bondhus, Mark J. Conroy, Timothy R. Abraham
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Patent number: 10086194Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 27, 2010Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: 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