Patents by Inventor Norbert Kaula

Norbert Kaula 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).

  • Publication number: 20140065580
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves a method of emulating a patient programmer. A first language is associated with a virtual representation of the patient programmer. The first language corresponds to a language understood by a healthcare professional. A second language is associated with the virtual representation of the patient programmer. The second language corresponds to a language understood by a patient user of the patient programmer. The virtual representation of the patient programmer is displayed in the first language and in the second language simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Norbert Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu
  • Publication number: 20140063003
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves an electronic device for visualizing a sensation experienced by a patient. The electronic device includes a touchscreen display configured to receive a tactile input from a user and display a visual output. The electronic device includes a memory storage component configured to store programming code. The electronic device includes a computer processor configured to execute the programming code to perform the following tasks: generating, in response to the tactile input from the user, a three-dimensional (3D) sensation map that represents the sensation experienced by the patient; deriving a two-dimensional (2D) sensation map based on the 3D sensation map, wherein the 2D sensation map contains substantially less data than the 3D sensation map; and sending the 2D sensation map over a network to facilitate a reconstruction of the 3D sensation map using the 2D sensation map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Norbert Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu
  • Publication number: 20140061304
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves a medical system. The medical system includes a medical device configured to deliver a medical therapy to a patient, a clinician programmer configured to program the medical device, and a manufacturing database configured to store and maintain an electronic inventory of a plurality of types of medical devices. The clinician programmer is configured to acquire a visual representation of the medical device, generate an electronic ticket identifying the medical device based on the visual representation, and send the electronic ticket to the manufacturing database. The manufacturing database is configured to receive the electronic ticket from the clinician programmer and perform at least one of the following tasks in response to the received electronic ticket: updating the electronic inventory, analyzing a usage trend of the medical device, predicting a potential shortage of the medical device, and suggesting a production schedule for the medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Scott Drees, Norbert Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu
  • Publication number: 20140067007
    Abstract: A method of visualizing a user interaction with a clinician programmer is disclosed. A user engagement with respect to a screen of the clinician programmer is detected via one or more sensors associated with the screen of the clinician programmer. One or more locations on the screen of the clinician programmer corresponding to the user engagement is determined. An external monitor is communicatively coupled to the clinician programmer. The external monitor displays one or more cursors that graphically represent the one or more locations on the screen of the clinician programmer corresponding to the user engagement, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Scott Drees, Norbert Kaula, Yohannes lyassu, Scott G. Leyh, Richard J. Polefko, Stephen C. Trier, Raymond L. Yoder
  • Publication number: 20140067012
    Abstract: A clinician programming system operable to control an implantable medical device includes a clinician programmer and a secondary unit. The clinician programmer has a housing, and includes a first display configured to display information indicative of the inputs by the clinician or display information indicative of status of an implantable pulse generator, the first display having a first display size. The secondary unit is separate from the housing of the clinician programmer and includes a secondary display. The secondary display is configured to communicate with the clinician programmer via the secondary display communication interface and configured to display information received via the secondary display communication interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Scott Drees, Norbert Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu, Scott G. Leyh, Richard J. Polefko, Stephen C. Trier, Raymond L. Yoder
  • Patent number: 8548579
    Abstract: The present invention involves systems and related methods for performing surgical procedures and assessments, including the use of neurophysiology-based monitoring to: (a) determine nerve proximity and nerve direction to surgical instruments employed in accessing a surgical target site; (b) assess the pathology (health or status) of a nerve or nerve root before, during, or after a surgical procedure; and/or (c) assess pedicle integrity before, during or after pedicle screw placement, all in an automated, easy to use, and easy to interpret fashion so as to provide a surgeon-driven system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: James Gharib, Allen Farquhar, Norbert Kaula, Eric Finley, Jamil Ebanna, Scot Martinelli, Goretti Medeiros
  • Patent number: 8512235
    Abstract: A system for accessing a surgical target site and related methods, involving an initial distraction system for creating an initial distraction corridor, and an assembly capable of distracting from the initial distraction corridor to a secondary distraction corridor and thereafter sequentially receiving a plurality of retractor blades for retracting from the secondary distraction corridor to thereby create an operative corridor to the surgical target site, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Miles, Scot Martinelli, Eric Finley, James Gharib, Allen Farquhar, Norbert Kaula, Goretti Medeiros
  • Patent number: 8439832
    Abstract: A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue refraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Miles, Scot Martinelli, Eric Finley, James Gharib, Allen Farquhar, Norbert Kaula, Goretti Medeiros
  • Patent number: 8403841
    Abstract: A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue refraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Miles, Scot Martinelli, Eric Finley, James Gharib, Allen Farquhar, Norbert Kaula, Goretti Medeiros
  • Publication number: 20130006333
    Abstract: An electrically identifiable medical electrode lead. The lead includes a flexible lead body having a distal end and a connector end. The lead also includes a plurality of electrodes disposed near the distal end of the flexible lead body. The lead further includes a connector disposed at the connector end of the flexible lead body, the connector including a plurality of contacts. The lead additionally includes a plurality of conductors supported by and passing through the flexible lead body, the plurality of conductors including electrical conductors that provide paths for electrical current from the connector to the plurality of electrodes. Finally, the lead includes a memory circuit supported by the flexible lead body and being in electrical communication with a contact of the plurality of contacts in the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Norbert Kaula, Jeff A. Weisgarber, Yohannes Iyassu
  • Patent number: 8343046
    Abstract: A method for accessing a spinal disc of a lumbar spine of a patient using a surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue retraction assembly. The method can include maintaining an operative corridor along a lateral, trans-psoas path using the retraction assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Miles, Scot Martinelli, Eric Finley, James Gharib, Allen Farquhar, Norbert Kaula, Jeffrey Blewett, Goretti Medeiros, legal representative
  • Publication number: 20120310299
    Abstract: A stimulation system, such as a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, having a programmer and a patient feedback device for establishing a protocol to treat a patient. The programmer uses a computer assisted stimulation programming procedure for establishing the protocol. Also described are methods of treating a patient with a spinal cord stimulation system including the programmer and the patient feedback device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Norbert Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu
  • Publication number: 20120310305
    Abstract: A patient feedback device for communicating with a programming device of an electrical stimulation system. The device includes a housing, a sensor, a controller, and a communication port. The sensor is supported by the housing and generates a sensor signal in response to an action from the patient. The controller is supported by the housing and is in operative communication with the sensor. The controller receives the sensor signal and sends information to the communication port based on the sensor signal. The communication port is connected to the housing and is in operative communication with the controller. The communication port receives information from the controller and wirelessly transmits a communication signal to the programming device of the electrical stimulation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Norbert Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu
  • Publication number: 20120310300
    Abstract: A stimulation system, such as a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, having a programmer and a patient feedback device for establishing a protocol to treat a patient. The programmer uses a computer assisted stimulation programming procedure for establishing the protocol. Also described are methods of treating a patient with a spinal cord stimulation system including the programmer and the patient feedback device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Norbert Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu, Richard J. Polefko, Steven E. Wilder, Scott G. Leyh
  • Publication number: 20120303125
    Abstract: The present invention involves systems and related methods for performing surgical procedures and assessments, including the use of neurophysiology-based monitoring to: (a) determine nerve proximity and nerve direction to surgical instruments employed in accessing a surgical target site; (b) assess the pathology (health or status) of a nerve or nerve root before, during, or after a surgical procedure; and/or (c) assess pedicle integrity before, during or after pedicle screw placement, all in an automated, easy to use, and easy to interpret fashion so as to provide a surgeon-driven system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: James Gharib, Allen Farquhar, Norbert Kaula, Jeffrey Blewett, Goretti Medeiros, Eric Finley, Jamil Ebanna, Scot Martinelli
  • Publication number: 20120238893
    Abstract: System (20) and related methods for performing surgical procedures and assessments, including the use of neurophysiology-based monitoring to determine nerve proximity and nerve direction to surgical instruments (30) employed in accessing a surgical target site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: NUVASIVE, INC.
    Inventors: Allen Farquhar, James Gharib, Norbert Kaula, Jeffrey Blewett, Goretti Medeiros
  • Publication number: 20120238822
    Abstract: A system for accessing a surgical target site and related methods, involving an initial distraction system for creating an initial distraction corridor, and an assembly capable of distracting from the initial distraction corridor to a secondary distraction corridor and thereafter sequentially receiving a plurality of retractor blades for retracting from the secondary distraction corridor to thereby create an operative corridor to the surgical target site, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Miles, Scot Martinelli, Eric Finley, James Gharib, Allen Farquhar, Norbert Kaula, Jeffrey Blewett, Goretti Medeiros
  • Publication number: 20120238895
    Abstract: A system for accessing a surgical target site and related methods, involving an initial distraction system for creating an initial distraction corridor, and an assembly capable of distracting from the initial distraction corridor to a secondary distraction corridor and thereafter sequentially receiving a plurality of retractor blades for retracting from the secondary distraction corridor to thereby create an operative corridor to the surgical target site, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: NUVASIVE, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Miles, Scot Martinelli, Eric Finley, James Gharib, Allen Farquhar, Norbert Kaula, Jeffrey Blewett, Goretti Medeiros
  • Patent number: 8265744
    Abstract: The present invention involves systems and related methods for performing surgical procedures and assessments, including the use of neurophysiology-based monitoring to: (a) determine nerve proximity and nerve direction to surgical instruments employed in accessing a surgical target site; (b) assess the pathology (health or status) of a nerve or nerve root before, during, or after a surgical procedure; and/or (c) assess pedicle integrity before, during or after pedicle screw placement, all in an automated, easy to use, and easy to interpret fashion so as to provide a surgeon-driven system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: James Gharib, Allen Farquhar, Norbert Kaula, Jeffrey Blewett, Goretti Medeiros, legal representative, Eric Finley, Scot Martinelli
  • Patent number: D698779
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Norbert Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu, Jeff Gagnon, Mike Labbe, Benjamin Cottrill