Patents by Inventor Nicholas J. Stessman

Nicholas J. Stessman 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: 8335563
    Abstract: An implantable medical device with an inductive switching regulator having an inductor with a ferromagnetic core is described. The device incorporates a core saturation detector for detecting saturation in the inductor core indicating the presence of a magnetic field such as produced by an MRI scan. The device is configured to alter its behavior when core saturation is detected such as by entering an MRI mode that may include cessation of therapy, fixed-rate bradycardia pacing, and/or disablement of tachyarrhythmia therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Stessman
  • Publication number: 20120116471
    Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure relates to a system for dynamic battery management in implantable medical devices. An embodiment of the system includes two or more devices for measuring battery capacity for an implantable medical device battery. The embodiment also includes a controller connected to the measuring devices. The controller is adapted to combine the measurements from the measuring devices using a weighted average to determine battery capacity consumed. According to various embodiments, at least one of the measuring devices includes a coulometer. At least one of the measuring devices includes a capacity-by-voltage device, according to an embodiment. The system further includes a display in communication with the controller in various embodiments. The display is adapted to provide a depiction of battery longevity in units of time remaining in the life of the implantable medical device battery, according to various embodiments. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Rajesh Krishan Gandhi, William J. Linder, Michael J. Lyden, Nicholas J. Stessman, Jonathan H. Kelly, James Kalgren
  • Publication number: 20120004694
    Abstract: A medical device can include a therapy circuit configured to provide a specified electrostimulation therapy to a tissue site, the specified electrostimulation therapy including a scheduled completion, the therapy circuit including a protection circuit configured to adjust specification of the electrostimulation therapy being provided so as to provide an adjusted electrostimulation therapy before the scheduled completion. The medical device can include a monitoring circuit comprising a comparator. The monitoring circuit can be configured to trigger the protection circuit to inhibit the therapy circuit when the therapy circuit output parameter exceeds the specified threshold as indicated by the comparator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Jacob M. Ludwig, William J. Linder, Douglas J. Brandner, Nicholas J. Stessman, Douglas Michael Hannan, Scott R. Stubbs, Jeffrey E. Stahmann, Arthur Foster
  • Publication number: 20110276103
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises an electrostimulation energy storage capacitor, a circuit path that provides pacing stimulation from the capacitor through the load, a constant current neural stimulation circuit that is switchable into the circuit path to provide neural stimulation through the load and switchable out of the circuit path to provide the pacing stimulation through the load, and a control circuit configured to selectively enable delivery of the pacing stimulation or the constant current neural stimulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Keith R. Maile, Ramprasad Vijayagopal, Nicholas J. Stessman, Firmin Musungu
  • Patent number: 8055343
    Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure relates to a system for dynamic battery management in implantable medical devices. An embodiment of the system includes two or more devices for measuring battery capacity for an implantable medical device battery. The embodiment also includes a controller connected to the measuring devices. The controller is adapted to combine the measurements from the measuring devices using a weighted average to determine battery capacity consumed. According to various embodiments, at least one of the measuring devices includes a coulometer. At least one of the measuring devices includes a capacity-by-voltage device, according to an embodiment. The system further includes a display in communication with the controller in various embodiments. The display is adapted to provide a depiction of battery longevity in units of time remaining in the life of the implantable medical device battery, according to various embodiments. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh Krishan Gandhi, William J. Linder, Michael J. Lyden, Nicholas J. Stessman, Jonathan H. Kelly, James Kalgren
  • Publication number: 20110160806
    Abstract: An implantable or other ambulatory medical device can include a magnetic field detector, such as configured to detect an intense magnetic field. In an example, the ambulatory or implantable medical device can include an inductive switching supply, such as including one or more of a peak current comparator, or a zero current comparator. In an example, the ambulatory or implantable medical device can include a controller circuit, configured to control a switch, such as to controllably charge an inductor included in the inductive switching supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Michael J. Lyden, Nicholas J. Stessman
  • Publication number: 20110160803
    Abstract: An ambulatory or implantable device, such as a pacer, defibrillator, or other cardiac rhythm management device, can tolerate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or other noise without turning on an integrated circuit diode by selectively providing a bias voltage that can overcome an expected induced voltage resulting from the MRI or other noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Stessman, Michael J. Lyden, Thomas M. Bocek, William J. Linder, Joseph M. Bocek
  • Publication number: 20090182389
    Abstract: An implantable medical device with an inductive switching regulator having an inductor with a ferromagnetic core is described. The device incorporates a core saturation detector for detecting saturation in the inductor core indicating the presence of a magnetic field such as produced by an MRI scan. The device is configured to alter its behavior when core saturation is detected such as by entering an MRI mode that may include cessation of therapy, fixed-rate bradycardia pacing, and/or disablement of tachyarrhythmia therapy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Stessman
  • Publication number: 20090149905
    Abstract: During auto-threshold, autocapture, or other evoked response sensing, post-pace artifact is reduced by using a smaller coupling capacitor value than what is used when not in such an evoked response sensing configuration. This can be accomplished by borrowing another capacitor for use as the coupling capacitor. The borrowed capacitor can be a backup pacing capacitor from the same or a different pacing channel. The borrowed capacitor can also be a coupling capacitor from a different pacing channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Lyden, Nicholas J. Stessman
  • Publication number: 20090149904
    Abstract: An implantable medical device configured to deliver a defibrillation energy to a heart can sense a left ventricular activation using information received from a unipolar sensing or pacing vector defined between a left ventricle and an internal thoracic location external to a heart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Perschbacher, James O. Gilkerson, Nicholas J. Stessman
  • Patent number: 7509167
    Abstract: An implantable medical device with an inductive switching regulator having an inductor with a ferromagnetic core is described. The device incorporates a core saturation detector for detecting saturation in the inductor core indicating the presence of a magnetic field such as produced by an MRI scan. The device is configured to alter its behavior when core saturation is detected such as by entering an MRI mode that may include cessation of therapy, fixed-rate bradycardia pacing, and/or disablement of tachyarrhythmia therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Stessman
  • Publication number: 20080097544
    Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure relates to a system for dynamic battery management in implantable medical devices. An embodiment of the system includes two or more devices for measuring battery capacity for an implantable medical device battery. The embodiment also includes a controller connected to the measuring devices. The controller is adapted to combine the measurements from the measuring devices using a weighted average to determine battery capacity consumed. According to various embodiments, at least one of the measuring devices includes a coulometer. At least one of the measuring devices includes a capacity-by-voltage device, according to an embodiment. The system further includes a display in communication with the controller in various embodiments. The display is adapted to provide a depiction of battery longevity in units of time remaining in the life of the implantable medical device battery, according to various embodiments. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Rajesh Krishan Gandhi, William J. Linder, Michael J. Lyden, Nicholas J. Stessman, Jonathan H. Kelly, James Kalgren
  • Patent number: 7191005
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for measuring battery current. According to one aspect, a medical device is provided that comprises a battery, a pulse generator, and a current measuring device. The pulse generator draws a pulse generator current from the power source, and the current measuring device determines the pulse generator current or tracks charge depletion from the battery. The current measuring device comprises an oscillator and a counter. The oscillator produces an oscillating output with a frequency of oscillation dependent on the pulse generator current, and the counter provides an oscillation count for the oscillating output. The current measuring device is capable of being calibrated while continuously determining the pulse generator current. In one embodiment, the current measuring device includes at least two current sources, each including an operational amplifier that has an autozeroing feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Stessman
  • Patent number: 7039464
    Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management apparatus may include a monitored energy source, a reference energy source, and a measurement module. The monitored source provides an initial pacing amplitude voltage and a pacing droop voltage, while the reference source provides a substantially fixed reference voltage. The measurement module, coupled to the monitored source and the reference source, provides a measurement related to the lead impedance associated with the rhythm management apparatus that is substantially independent of the reference voltage. Thus, a system may include the apparatus coupled to a lead wire. An article may cause a machine to implement a method which operates to determine a ratio of the actual initial pacing amplitude voltage to the actual pacing droop voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Stessman
  • Patent number: 6885894
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for measuring battery current. According to one aspect, a medical device is provided that comprises a battery, a pulse generator, and a current measuring device. The pulse generator draws a pulse generator current from the power source, and the current measuring device determines the pulse generator current or tracks charge depletion from the battery. The current measuring device comprises an oscillator and a counter. The oscillator produces an oscillating output with a frequency of oscillation dependent on the pulse generator current, and the counter provides an oscillation count for the oscillating output. The current measuring device is capable of being calibrated while continuously determining the pulse generator current. In one embodiment, the current measuring device includes at least two current sources, each including an operational amplifier that has an autozeroing feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Stessman
  • Publication number: 20040111125
    Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management apparatus may include a monitored energy source, a reference energy source, and a measurement module. The monitored source provides an initial pacing amplitude voltage and a pacing droop voltage, while the reference source provides a substantially fixed reference voltage. The measurement module, coupled to the monitored source and the reference source, provides a measurement related to the lead impedance associated with the rhythm management apparatus that is substantially independent of the reference voltage. Thus, a system may include the apparatus coupled to a lead wire. An article may cause a machine to implement a method which operates to determine a ratio of the actual initial pacing amplitude voltage to the actual pacing droop voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Stessman
  • Publication number: 20030176897
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for measuring battery current. According to one aspect, a medical device is provided that comprises a battery, a pulse generator, and a current measuring device. The pulse generator draws a pulse generator current from the power source, and the current measuring device determines the pulse generator current or tracks charge depletion from the battery. The current measuring device comprises an oscillator and a counter. The oscillator produces an oscillating output with a frequency of oscillation dependent on the pulse generator current, and the counter provides an oscillation count for the oscillating output. The current measuring device is capable of being calibrated while continuously determining the pulse generator current. In one embodiment, the current measuring device includes at least two current sources, each including an operational amplifier that has an autozeroing feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Stessman
  • Patent number: 6584355
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for measuring battery current. According to one aspect, a medical device is provided that comprises a battery, a pulse generator, and a current measuring device. The pulse generator draws a pulse generator current from the power source, and the current measuring device determines the pulse generator current or tracks charge depletion from the battery. The current measuring device comprises an oscillator and a counter. The oscillator produces an oscillating output with a frequency of oscillation dependent on the pulse generator current, and the counter provides an oscillation count for the oscillating output. The current measuring device is capable of being calibrated while continuously determining the pulse generator current. In one embodiment, the current measuring device includes at least two current sources, each including an operational amplifier that has an autozeroing feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Stessman
  • Publication number: 20030105499
    Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) device detects transthoracic impedance, extracts ventilation or other information, and adjusts a delivery rate of the CRM therapy accordingly. A four-phase sequence of alternating direction current pulse stimuli is periodically delivered to a patient's thorax. A transthoracic impedance signal is extracted using a weighted demodulation. Signal processing extracts ventilation information and removes cardiac stroke information using an adaptive lowpass filter. The adaptive filter cutoff frequency is based on the patient's heart rate; a higher cutoff frequency is provided for higher heart rates. Peak/valley detection indicates tidal volume, which is integrated to extract minute ventilation (MV). Short and long term averages are formed and compared to establish a MV indicated rate. Rate adjustment ignores MV information when a noise-measurement exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse W. Hartley, Marc H. Cohen, Nicholas J. Stessman, Scott A. Reedstrom, Steven D. Check, James P. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20020163991
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are provided for measuring battery current. According to one aspect, a medical device is provided that comprises a battery, a pulse generator, and a current measuring device. The pulse generator draws a pulse generator current from the power source, and the current measuring device determines the pulse generator current or tracks charge depletion from the battery. The current measuring device comprises an oscillator and a counter. The oscillator produces an oscillating output with a frequency of oscillation dependent on the pulse generator current, and the counter provides an oscillation count for the oscillating output. The current measuring device is capable of being calibrated while continuously determining the pulse generator current. In one embodiment, the current measuring device includes at least two current sources, each including an operational amplifier that has an autozeroing feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Stessman