Patents by Inventor Nina M. Graves

Nina M. Graves 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: 8744562
    Abstract: A medical device system that includes a brain monitoring element, cardiac monitoring element and a processor. The processor is configured to receive a brain signal from the brain monitoring element and a cardiac signal from the cardiac monitoring element. The processor is further configured to compare the brain signal to the cardiac signal. A method of comparing a brain signal to a cardiac signal is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathon E. Giftakis, Nina M. Graves
  • Patent number: 8738136
    Abstract: Apparatus and method detect a detection cluster that is associated with a neurological event, such as a seizure, of a nervous system disorder and update therapy parameters that are associated with a treatment therapy. The occurrence of the detection cluster is detected when the maximal ratio exceeds an intensity threshold. If the maximal ratio drops below the intensity threshold for a time interval that is less than a time threshold and subsequently rises above the intensity threshold, the subsequent time duration is considered as being associated with the detection cluster rather than being associated with a different detection cluster. Consequently, treatment of the nervous system disorder during the corresponding time period is in accordance with one detection cluster. Treatment therapy may be provided by providing electrical stimulation, drug infusion or a combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark G. Frei, Ivan Osorio, Nina M. Graves, Scott F. Schaffner, Mark T. Rise, Jonathon E. Giftakis, David L. Carlson
  • Patent number: 8725244
    Abstract: A device determines values for one or more metrics that indicate the quality of a patient's sleep based on sensed physiological parameter values. Sleep efficiency, sleep latency, and time spent in deeper sleep states are example sleep quality metrics for which values may be determined. The sleep quality metric values may be used, for example, to evaluate the effectiveness of a therapy delivered to the patient by a medical device. In some embodiments, determined sleep quality metric values are automatically associated with the therapy parameter sets according to which the medical device delivered the therapy when the physiological parameter values were sensed, and used to evaluate the effectiveness of the various therapy parameter sets. The medical device may deliver the therapy to treat a non-respiratory neurological disorder, such as epilepsy, a movement disorder, or a psychological disorder. The therapy may be, for example, deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Miesel, Kenneth T. Heruth, Jonathan C. Werder, Steve R. LaPorte, Nina M. Graves
  • Publication number: 20140032512
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for storing data records associated with a medical monitoring event in a data structure. These include initiating loop recording in an implantable medical device upon determination of a neurological event, wherein loop recording comprises storing a data record of a plurality of data records in a data structure, the plurality of data records representing information about determined neurological events. Methods and apparatus can further include determining a priority index for the plurality of data records based on severity levels of the determined neurological events and replacing older data records of the plurality of data records on the data structure with new data records according to the priority index, wherein the new data records selectively replace those data records in the data structure having the lowest associated priority index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Touby A. Drew, Jonathon E. Giftakis, David L. Carlson, Eric J. Panken, Jonathan C. Werder, Nina M. Graves
  • Patent number: 8594798
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods support multi-modal operation of a medical device system for a nervous system disorder. The medical device system comprises an implanted component and an external component and supports a first feature and a second feature that are associated with the treatment therapy. The medical device system supports both features when the implanted component and the external component are coupled. If the external component is decoupled, the implanted component continues to support the first feature. Moreover, the embodiment may support a plurality of features during a treatment interval. Another aspect of the invention allows for modularly expanding a medical device system in order to add a feature that enhances existing functionality or that provides additional functionality. In an embodiment, a module that is associated with an external component of the medical device system supports the added feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan Osorio, Mark G. Frei, Mark T. Rise, Scott F. Schaffner, Nina M. Graves
  • Patent number: 8579786
    Abstract: Apparatus and method support a neurological event screening for a medical device. The medical device assists a user in determining a configuration of the medical device for delivering an effective treatment for a nervous system disorder. The medical device detects a neurological event, such as a seizure, and reports a neurological event focus location and a neurological event spread to the user. The user may use the information to provide a configuration of a therapeutic delivery unit and associated therapy parameters. Therapeutic treatment is delivered to the patient, and the medical device is provided an indication of the patient's acceptance to the treatment. The user may modify the configuration and therapy parameters in order to achieve efficacy and acceptance. Depending upon the patient's acceptance, therapy is applied in either an open loop mode or a closed loop mode. The medical device determines whether the treatment is successful in accordance with a criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan Osorio, Mark G. Frei, Naresh C. Bhavaraju, Thomas E. Peters, Nina M. Graves, Scott F. Schaffner, Jonathon E. Giftakis, Mark T. Rise, Jonathan C. Werder
  • Patent number: 8565864
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for storing data records associated with a medical monitoring event in a data structure. These include initiating loop recording in an implantable medical device upon determination of a neurological event, wherein loop recording comprises storing a data record of a plurality of data records in a data structure, the plurality of data records representing information about determined neurological events. Methods and apparatus can further include determining a priority index for the plurality of data records based on severity levels of the determined neurological events and replacing older data records of the plurality of data records on the data structure with new data records according to the priority index, wherein the new data records selectively replace those data records in the data structure having the lowest associated priority index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Touby A. Drew, Jonathon E. Giftakis, David L. Carlson, Eric J. Panken, Jonathan C. Werder, Nina M. Graves
  • Patent number: 8485979
    Abstract: An implantable neurostimulator device for implantation in a head of a patient includes a housing adapted to be implanted beneath a patient's scalp, and a cardiac monitoring element, a brain monitoring element, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive a cardiac signal from the cardiac monitoring element, identify cardiac events in the cardiac signal, receive a brain signal from the brain monitoring element, identify neurological events in the brain signal, and indicate a relationship between the neurological events and the cardiac events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathon E Giftakis, Nina M Graves, David L. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8478417
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for storing data records associated with a medical monitoring event in a data structure. An implanted device obtains data and stores the data in the data record in a first data structure that is age-based. Before an oldest data record is lost, the oldest data record may be stored in a second data structure that is priority index-based. The priority index may be determined by a severity level and may be further determined by associated factors. The implanted device may organize, off-load, report, and/or display a plurality of data records based on an associated priority index. Additionally, the implanted device may select a subset or composite of physiologic channels from the available physiologic channels based on a selection criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Touby A. Drew, Jonathon E. Giftakis, Nina M. Graves, Jonathan C. Werder, David L. Carlson
  • Patent number: 8376943
    Abstract: Patient input indicating the occurrence of an event and information relating to the event may be collected by a computing device. In some examples, the patient input is received via an event indication input mechanism of a medical device programmer. A clinician may review the event information to evaluate the efficacy of a therapy system (e.g., a particular therapy program or program group) or a patient's condition. In one example, a patient may activate an event indication input mechanism to indicate the occurrence of a seizure symptom, and input information relating to the seizure, such as the duration, severity, type of seizure or efficacy of a therapy system implemented to manage seizures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Kovach, Warren W. Ball, Sarah B. Alme, Nina M. Graves
  • Patent number: 8332038
    Abstract: A system includes one or more sensors and a processor. Each of the sensors generates a signal as a function of at least one physiological parameter of a patient that may discernibly change when the patient is asleep. The processor monitors the physiological parameters, and determines whether the patient is asleep based on the parameters. In some embodiments, the processor determines plurality of sleep metric values, each of which indicates a probability of the patient being asleep, based on each of a plurality of physiological parameters. The processor may average or otherwise combine the plurality of sleep metric values to provide an overall sleep metric value that is compared to a threshold value in order to determine whether the patient is asleep. In addition, an electroencephalogram signal may be used to identify sleep states of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth T. Heruth, Keith A. Miesel, Jonathan C. Werder, Steve R. LaPorte, Nina M. Graves
  • Patent number: 8326431
    Abstract: Implantable medical device adapted to be implanted in a patient having a plurality of neurological disorders. First and second therapy modules are adapted to provide first and second outputs to the patient for the treatment of first and second of the plurality of disorders, respectively. Also, a method for the treatment of a plurality of neurological disorders in a patient. A first output is provided to the patient for the treatment of a first one of the plurality of neurological disorders and a second output is provided to the patient for the treatment of a second one of the plurality of neurological disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Werder, Leslie A. LeMire, Nina M. Graves, David C. Ullestad
  • Patent number: 8308661
    Abstract: A device, such as an implantable medical device (IMD), programming device, or other computing device determines when a patient is attempting to sleep. When the device determines that the patient is attempting to sleep, the device determines values for one or more metrics that indicate the quality of a patient's sleep based on at least one physiological parameter of the patient. When the device determines that the patient is not attempting to sleep, the device periodically determines activity levels of the patient. Activity metric values may be determined based on the determined activity levels. A clinician may use sleep quality information and patient activity information presented by a programming device to, for example, evaluate the effectiveness of therapy delivered to the patient by a medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Miesel, Kenneth T. Heruth, Jonathan C. Werder, Steve R. LaPorte, Nina M. Graves
  • Patent number: 8214035
    Abstract: A system for regulating or modulating cardiac therapy using brain state information. The modulation may include suppressing standard, prescribed cardiac therapy for a period of time or it may involve modulating the type of cardiac therapy delivered In another embodiment, a system is provided for determining whether a cardiac event is categorized as neurologically matched, and, if so, modulating the therapeutic output to the heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathon E. Giftakis, Nina M. Graves, Jonathan C. Werder, Eric J. Panken
  • Patent number: 8209019
    Abstract: A system for regulating or modulating cardiac therapy using brain state information. The modulation may include suppressing standard, prescribed cardiac therapy for a period of time or it may involve modulating the type of cardiac therapy delivered In another embodiment, a system is provided for determining whether a cardiac event is categorized as neurologically matched, and, if so, modulating the therapeutic output to the heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathon E. Giftakis, Nina M. Graves, Jonathan C. Werder, Eric J. Panken
  • Patent number: 8209009
    Abstract: A medical device system that includes a brain stimulating element, cardiac monitoring element and a processor. The processor is configured to receive a brain stimulation signal from the brain stimulating element and a cardiac signal from the cardiac monitoring element. The processor is further configured to determine at least one reference point for a stimulation event time period by evaluation of the brain stimulation signal. The processor further identifies a first portion of the cardiac signal based on the at least one reference point of the stimulation event time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathon E. Giftakis, Nina M. Graves, Mark Turner Rise
  • Publication number: 20120150251
    Abstract: An implantable medical device such as an implantable pulse generator that includes EEG sensing for monitoring and treating neurological conditions, and leadless ECG sensing for monitoring cardiac signals. The device includes a connector block with provisions for cardiac leads which may be used/enabled when needed. If significant co-morbid cardiac events are observed in patients via the leadless ECG monitoring, then cardiac leads may be subsequently connected for therapeutic use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathon E. Giftakis, Nina M. Graves, Jonathan C. Werder, Eric J. Panken
  • Patent number: 8187181
    Abstract: A medical device system capable of scoring a severity of sensed neurological signals relating to a nervous system disorder. The system comprises a monitoring element that receives a neurological signal having at least one event to be scored. The medical device system identifies one or more features of the neurological signal to use in scoring and computes a score of relative severity of the event using the identified feature. Once two or more events have been scored, the events may be ranked by severity relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan Osorio, Mark G. Frei, Nina M. Graves, Jonathon E. Giftakis
  • Publication number: 20120116179
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for storing data records associated with a medical monitoring event in a data structure. These include initiating loop recording in an implantable medical device upon determination of a neurological event, wherein loop recording comprises storing a data record of a plurality of data records in a data structure, the plurality of data records representing information about determined neurological events. Methods and apparatus can further include determining a priority index for the plurality of data records based on severity levels of the determined neurological events and replacing older data records of the plurality of data records on the data structure with new data records according to the priority index, wherein the new data records selectively replace those data records in the data structure having the lowest associated priority index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Touby A. Drew, Jonathon E. Giftakis, David L. Carlson, Eric J. Panken, Jonathan C. Werder, Nina M. Graves
  • Patent number: 8112148
    Abstract: A medical device system and method for monitoring cardiac signal activity in patients with nervous system disorders. In some embodiments, a brain signal and a cardiac signal are received by a processor, brain events are identified in the brain signal, and the brain events are used to identify portions of the cardiac signal. In some embodiments, Event portions of the cardiac signal are identified corresponding to brain event time periods, and Inter-event portions are identified corresponding to time periods between brain events. An Inter-event heart-rate variability (HRV) calculation is performed using Inter-event portions of the cardiac signal, and an output of the medical device system is modified based upon the calculated Inter-event HRV according to certain embodiments of the invention. An Event HRV may also be calculated according to certain embodiments, and an output modified based on comparisons of the Event HRV to the Inter-event HRV, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathon E. Giftakis, David L. Carlson, Eric J. Panken, Nina M. Graves, Mark Turner Rise, Kevin L Bright, Chark Stanford