Patents by Inventor Nicholas R. Whitehead

Nicholas R. Whitehead 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: 11890484
    Abstract: Implantable medical devices have modular lead bores that are constructed from individual lead bore modules. A given modular lead bore utilizes the number of individual lead bore modules necessary for the particular implantable medical device. Each lead bore module has a lead bore passageway and a feedthrough passageway. An electrical contact is present within the lead bore passageway of each lead bore module and the electrical contact is aligned to the lead bore passageway of a lead bore module. Hermetic feedthrough assemblies are also present within the lead bore passageway of each lead bore module. A feedthrough pin passes through a hermetic feedthrough assembly within a feedthrough passageway of each lead bore module. Each feedthrough pin is electrically coupled to a corresponding electrical contact and the medical device circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Darren A. Janzig, Andrew Thom, Brad Tischendorf, Randy S. Roles, Steven T. Deininger, Nicholas R. Whitehead
  • Publication number: 20230127724
    Abstract: Implantable medical devices have modular lead bores that are constructed from individual lead bore modules. A given modular lead bore utilizes the number of individual lead bore modules necessary for the particular implantable medical device. Each lead bore module has a lead bore passageway and a feedthrough passageway. An electrical contact is present within the lead bore passageway of each lead bore module and the electrical contact is aligned to the lead bore passageway of a lead bore module. Hermetic feedthrough assemblies are also present within the lead bore passageway of each lead bore module. A feedthrough pin passes through a hermetic feedthrough assembly within a feedthrough passageway of each lead bore module. Each feedthrough pin is electrically coupled to a corresponding electrical contact and the medical device circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Darren A. Janzig, Andrew Thom, Brad Tischendorf, Randy S. Roles, Steven T. Deininger, Nicholas R. Whitehead
  • Patent number: 11559695
    Abstract: Implantable medical devices have modular lead bores that are constructed from individual lead bore modules. A given modular lead bore utilizes the number of individual lead bore modules necessary for the particular implantable medical device. Each lead bore module has a lead bore passageway and a feedthrough passageway. An electrical contact is present within the lead bore passageway of each lead bore module and the electrical contact is aligned to the lead bore passageway of a lead bore module. Hermetic feedthrough assemblies are also present within the lead bore passageway of each lead bore module. A feedthrough pin passes through a hermetic feedthrough assembly within a feedthrough passageway of each lead bore module. Each feedthrough pin is electrically coupled to a corresponding electrical contact and the medical device circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Darren A. Janzig, Andrew Thom, Brad Tischendorf, Randy S. Roles, Steven T. Deininger, Nicholas R. Whitehead
  • Patent number: 11291841
    Abstract: In some examples, an implantable medical device (IMD) including a hermetically sealed housing that is configured to enclose internal components. The internal components may include stimulation circuitry, processing circuitry configured to control the stimulation circuitry to deliver electrical stimulation using one or more leads received by the housing, telemetry circuitry, and a rechargeable power source. The IMD may also include a coil configured to at least one of receive energy to recharge the rechargeable power source or receive and/or transmit signals for wireless telemetry with another device, wherein the implantable medical device is configured to mount to a cranium of a patient, and wherein the coil is coiled about an axis that is approximately orthogonal to a major surface of the IMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Whitehead, Venkat R. Gaddam, Erik R. Scott, Randy S. Roles, Don A. Rutledge
  • Publication number: 20210338929
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method configured to provide feedback to a user during a refill procedure for an implantable medical device via an external refilling apparatus through the use of resilient tactile feedback element within the refill port chamber that provides tactile feedback to a user of a refill needle of a location of the needle within the refill port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Whitehead, Peter J. Larson, Christopher H. Rogers, Amanda A. Nowacki, Marc A. Crepeau, Joel A. Anderson, Forrest C.M. Pape, Elizabeth A. Fehrmann, Brandon J. Johnson, Luis Fesser
  • Publication number: 20210178168
    Abstract: Implantable medical devices have modular lead bores that are constructed from individual lead bore modules. A given modular lead bore utilizes the number of individual lead bore modules necessary for the particular implantable medical device. Each lead bore module has a lead bore passageway and a feedthrough passageway. An electrical contact is present within the lead bore passageway of each lead bore module and the electrical contact is aligned to the lead bore passageway of a lead bore module. Hermetic feedthrough assemblies are also present within the lead bore passageway of each lead bore module. A feedthrough pin passes through a hermetic feedthrough assembly within a feedthrough passageway of each lead bore module. Each feedthrough pin is electrically coupled to a corresponding electrical contact and the medical device circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Darren A. Janzig, Andrew Thom, Brad Tischendorf, Randy S. Roles, Steven T. Deininger, Nicholas R. Whitehead
  • Patent number: 10994147
    Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) includes a housing that is configured to enclose internal components including at least a processor and a power source. The housing defines two major surfaces that are generally parallel to each other and one or more channels that are each configured to receive a lead and electrically couple the respective lead to the internal components, where each of the channels extend substantially straight in to the housing along an axis generally parallel to the two major surfaces. The housing may be configured to be mounted to a cranium of a patient such that at least one of the two major surfaces approximates a curvature of the cranium. The IMD may include one or more funneling walls that define a rounded and smooth transition from a sidewall of the housing to a surface that defines one or more mouths to the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik R. Scott, Darren A. Janzig, John E. Kast, Randy S. Roles, Don A. Rutledge, Nicholas R. Whitehead, Phillip C. Falkner, Venkat R. Gaddam, Connor T. Gunsbury
  • Publication number: 20190290911
    Abstract: In some examples, an implantable medical device (IMD) including a hermetically sealed housing that is configured to enclose internal components. The internal components may include stimulation circuitry, processing circuitry configured to control the stimulation circuitry to deliver electrical stimulation using one or more leads received by the housing, telemetry circuitry, and a rechargeable power source. The IMD may also include a coil configured to at least one of receive energy to recharge the rechargeable power source or receive and/or transmit signals for wireless telemetry with another device, wherein the implantable medical device is configured to mount to a cranium of a patient, and wherein the coil is coiled about an axis that is approximately orthogonal to a major surface of the IMD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Whitehead, Venkat R. Gaddam, Erik R. Scott, Randy S. Roles, Don A. Rutledge
  • Patent number: 10245378
    Abstract: Reservoir volume of implantable infusion devices may be determined using a volume sensor that provides a signal representative of a distance between the volume sensor and a movable wall of the reservoir. The volume sensor may be a light-based or sound-based sensor, and may be located outside of the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Naresh Lakshman Raman, Alex O. Espe, Nicholas R. Whitehead, Timothy J. Denison, Venkat R. Gaddam, Scott A. Sarkinen, Erik J. Peterson, Jacob A. Otterstetter
  • Publication number: 20190060656
    Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) includes a housing that is configured to enclose internal components including at least a processor and a power source. The housing defines two major surfaces that are generally parallel to each other and one or more channels that are each configured to receive a lead and electrically couple the respective lead to the internal components, where each of the channels extend substantially straight in to the housing along an axis generally parallel to the two major surfaces. The housing may be configured to be mounted to a cranium of a patient such that at least one of the two major surfaces approximates a curvature of the cranium. The IMD may include one or more funneling walls that define a rounded and smooth transition from a sidewall of the housing to a surface that defines one or more mouths to the channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Erik R. Scott, Darren A. Janzig, John E. Kast, Randy S. Roles, Don A. Rutledge, Nicholas R. Whitehead, Phillip C. Falkner, Venkat R. Gaddam, Connor T. Gunsbury
  • Publication number: 20180264190
    Abstract: An implantable infusion device includes a reservoir for housing an infusion medium and a drive mechanism having an inlet chamber, a piston and a piston channel. The inlet chamber is in fluid communication with the reservoir. The piston channel is in fluid communication with the inlet chamber, and has a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end being closer to the inlet channel than the distal end. The piston is axially moveable within the piston channel to drive infusion medium out of the distal end of the piston channel. The clearance between the piston and the channel is sufficiently small to prevent undissolved gas in the inlet chamber from passing through the clearance. The inlet chamber may be sufficiently large to allow undissolved gas to accumulate without adversely affecting the performance of the infusion device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: James M. Haase, Nicholas R. Whitehead, Ronald L. Mezera
  • Publication number: 20180214635
    Abstract: Reservoir volume of implantable infusion devices may be determined using a volume sensor that provides a signal representative of a distance between the volume sensor and a movable wall of the reservoir. The volume sensor may be a light-based or sound-based sensor, and may be located outside of the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Naresh Lakshman Raman, Alex O. Espe, Nicholas R. Whitehead, Timothy J. Denison, Venkat R. Gaddam, Scott A. Sarkinen, Erik J. Peterson, Jacob A. Otterstetter
  • Patent number: 10010667
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing the accumulation of gases in an implantable infusion device. In one example, an implantable infusion device (IID) includes a housing, an expandable and contractible reservoir, and a standoff member. The expandable and contractible reservoir is configured to store a therapeutic agent and is arranged within the housing. A first end of the reservoir is configured to collapse toward a second end of the reservoir as the reservoir contracts. The standoff member is interposed between the first end and the second end of the reservoir and is configured to hold at least a portion of the first end offset from the second end when the reservoir is in a contracted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Haase, Ronald L. Mezera, John M. Gray, Nicholas R. Whitehead
  • Patent number: 9968733
    Abstract: An implantable infusion device includes a reservoir for housing an infusion medium and a drive mechanism having an inlet chamber, a piston and a piston channel. The inlet chamber is in fluid communication with the reservoir. The piston channel is in fluid communication with the inlet chamber, and has a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end being closer to the inlet channel than the distal end. The piston is axially moveable within the piston channel to drive infusion medium out of the distal end of the piston channel. The clearance between the piston and the channel is sufficiently small to prevent undissolved gas in the inlet chamber from passing through the clearance. The inlet chamber may be sufficiently large to allow undissolved gas to accumulate without adversely affecting the performance of the infusion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: James M. Haase, Nicholas R. Whitehead, Ronald L. Mezera
  • Patent number: 9192719
    Abstract: A method of detecting a fault condition within an implantable medical pump comprises delivering therapeutic fluid using a medical pump comprising an actuation mechanism configured to be energized to provide a pump stroke, detecting a property associated with energizing the actuation mechanism, and determining whether the property associated with energizing the actuation mechanism indicates that a fault condition exists with the medical pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Rogers, Irfan Z. Ali, Ronald L. Mezera, Keith A. Miesel, Scott A. Sarkinen, Nicholas R. Whitehead
  • Patent number: 8668666
    Abstract: A method comprises measuring a volume of fluid delivered per pump stroke for each of a plurality of substantially identical medical pumps. The substantially identical medical pumps each have a fixed stroke length. The method further comprises: storing indications of the measured volumes on one or more data storage mediums; and for each of the plurality of substantially identical medical pumps, generating a separate therapy control program based on the indication of the measured volume associated with that one of the plurality of substantially identical medical pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Whitehead, John Michael Gray, James M. Haase, Cynthia R. Nelson Konen, Thomas W. Hovind, Dale A. Young
  • Patent number: 8632496
    Abstract: A medical pump subassembly comprises a magnetic cup forming a recess. The magnetic cup includes a protrusion within the recess. The cup forms a central aperture through the protrusion. The medical pump subassembly further comprises an electromagnetic coil within the recess and circumscribing the protrusion, a weld ring surrounding the recess, a barrier plate covering the recess, and a seal between the weld ring and the barrier plate to fluidically separate an interior of the cup from an external surface of the barrier plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale A. Young, Nicholas R. Whitehead, Ahmed Elmouelhi, John Michael Gray, James M. Haase, Thomas W. Hovind, Brian M. Pattock, Cynthia R. Nelson Konen
  • Patent number: 8545484
    Abstract: An accumulator is employed in an implantable infusion device to provide compliance in the flow path of the device. The accumulator may act to increase the pumping accuracy and repeatability while simultaneously reducing the energy requirements of the device. In one example, the accumulator is arranged at the outlet of a fluid delivery pump of the infusion device. The accumulator includes a cover and a diaphragm biased away from the cover and configured to deflect toward the cover under pressure generated by the therapeutic agent in a flow path of the infusion device. The cover of the accumulator is configured to withstand the pressure generated by the therapeutic agent in the flow path without deforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Haase, Ronald L. Mezera, John M. Gray, Nicholas R. Whitehead, Jeffrey P. Bodner, Brian C. Egan
  • Publication number: 20130096537
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing the accumulation of gases in an implantable infusion device. In one example, an implantable infusion device (IID) includes a housing, an expandable and contractible reservoir, and a standoff member. The expandable and contractible reservoir is configured to store a therapeutic agent and is arranged within the housing. A first end of the reservoir is configured to collapse toward a second end of the reservoir as the reservoir contracts. The standoff member is interposed between the first end and the second end of the reservoir and is configured to hold at least a portion of the first end offset from the second end when the reservoir is in a contracted state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC INC.
    Inventors: James M. Haase, Ronald L. Mezera, John M. Gray, Nicholas R. Whitehead
  • Publication number: 20130096503
    Abstract: An accumulator is employed in an implantable infusion device to provide compliance in the flow path of the device. The accumulator may act to increase the pumping accuracy and repeatability while simultaneously reducing the energy requirements of the device. In one example, the accumulator is arranged at the outlet of a fluid delivery pump of the infusion device. The accumulator includes a cover and a diaphragm biased away from the cover and configured to deflect toward the cover under pressure generated by the therapeutic agent in a flow path of the infusion device. The cover of the accumulator is configured to withstand the pressure generated by the therapeutic agent in the flow path without deforming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: James M. Haase, Ronald L. Mezera, John M. Gray, Nicholas R. Whitehead, Jeffrey P. Bodner, Brian C. Egan