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).

  • Rate adaptive cardiac rhythm management device using transthoracic impedance
    Patent number: 6463326
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse W. Hartley, Marc H. Cohen, Nicholas J. Stessman, Scott A. Reedstrom, Steven D. Check, James P. Nelson
  • Rate adaptive cardiac rhythm management device using transthoracic impedance
    Patent number: 6161042
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse W. Hartley, Marc H. Cohen, Nicholas J. Stessman, Scott A. Reedstrom, Steven D. Check, James P. Nelson
  • Rate adaptive cardiac rhythm management device using transthoracic impedance
    Patent number: 6076015
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse W. Hartley, Marc H. Cohen, Nicholas J. Stessman, Scott A. Reedstrom, Steven D. Check, James P. Nelson