Patents by Inventor Olaf Skerl

Olaf Skerl 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: 20230181040
    Abstract: A miniaturized medical device comprises an electronic functional device for performing a function of said miniaturized medical device. The miniaturized medical device further comprises a wake-up device for transferring said functional device from a switched-off state to an operational state. Herein, the wake-up device comprises an electrical detection circuit configured to generate a wake-up signal and a switch device. The switch device comprises a switch member, a magnet device attached to the switch member and at least one switch contact. The switch member is excitable by a time-varying magnetic field to perform an oscillating movement for acting onto said at least one switch contact to perform a switching action of the switching device in the electrical detection circuit and to in this way generate the wake-up signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Olaf SKERL, André VAN OOYEN
  • Publication number: 20230055392
    Abstract: An implantable medical device comprises an electronic functional device for performing a function of said implantable medical device, said electronic functional device having an operational state for performing said function and a switched-off state. A wake-up device serves for transferring said functional device from said switched-off state to said operational state. The wake-up device comprises a first timer circuit for repeatedly transferring the functional device to the operational state according to a predetermined first timing scheme, a detection device for detecting a signal from a signal source external to the implantable medical device, and a second timer circuit for repeatedly switching the detection device to a reception state according to a second timing scheme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Moss, André Seidelt, Andreas Arndt, Olaf Skerl, Thomas Finnberg
  • Patent number: 11350855
    Abstract: A sensor system detects a presence or concentration of an analyte in a medium. The sensor system contains a sensor having a sensor head with a chamber. The sensor head has a permeable area through which the analyte can pass into the chamber when the sensor head contacts the medium. A cross-linked hydrogel fills the chamber, the hydrogel is configured to undergo a change in volume when contacting the analyte passed into the chamber which leads to a change in pressure in the chamber. A pressure sensor is configured to measure the pressure in the chamber for detecting the presence or concentration of the analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Bunge, Henning Ebert, Olaf Skerl, Alexander Borck
  • Patent number: 10349839
    Abstract: An implantable pressure sensor device (100) has a housing (10) which is at least partially made of a pressure transmitting membrane (20), and which includes one or more regions which can reversibly deform while maintaining the surface area of the membrane (20) when the internal volume of the housing (10) is changed. The housing (10) has a non-circular cross-section which can deform to a more circular shape when pressure in the internal volume increases. An inner housing is preferably situated within the housing, with its exterior spaced from the interior of the housing, and has its inner volume in fluid communication with the space between the housing and inner housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: BIOTRONIK SE & CO.
    Inventors: Jens Philipp, Joachim Elsner, Sarah Biela, Alois Pfenniger, Andreas Bitzer, Henning Ebert, Olaf Skerl, Andre van Ooyen
  • Publication number: 20180153453
    Abstract: A sensor system detects a presence or concentration of an analyte in a medium. The sensor system contains a sensor having a sensor head with a chamber. The sensor head has a permeable area through which the analyte can pass into the chamber when the sensor head contacts the medium. A cross-linked hydrogel fills the chamber, the hydrogel is configured to undergo a change in volume when contacting the analyte passed into the chamber which leads to a change in pressure in the chamber. A pressure sensor is configured to measure the pressure in the chamber for detecting the presence or concentration of the analyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Andreas Bunge, Henning Ebert, Olaf Skerl, Alexander Borck
  • Publication number: 20160249818
    Abstract: An implantable pressure sensor device (100) has a housing (10) which is at least partially made of a pressure transmitting membrane (20), and which includes one or more regions which can reversibly deform while maintaining the surface area of the membrane (20) when the internal volume of the housing (10) is changed. The housing (10) has a non-circular cross-section which can deform to a more circular shape when pressure in the internal volume increases. An inner housing is preferably situated within the housing, with its exterior spaced from the interior of the housing, and has its inner volume in fluid communication with the space between the housing and inner housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Jens Philipp, Joachim Elsner, Sarah Biela, Alois Pfenniger, Andreas Bitzer, Henning Ebert, Olaf Skerl, Andre van Ooyen
  • Patent number: 9427176
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes an integrated or connectable implantable three-dimensional acceleration sensor, and a ballistocardiogram (BCG) capturing unit that is connected or connectable to the acceleration sensor. The BCG evaluation unit processes an acceleration signal provided by the acceleration sensor and derives a BCG from the 3D accelerometer output signal. A BCG evaluation unit is connected to the BCG capturing unit, and is designed to evaluate a BCG provided by the BCG capturing unit and supply an output signal representing stroke volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Olaf Skerl, Michael Lippert, Jens Kirchner
  • Patent number: 8965493
    Abstract: An electromedical implant for monitoring a thoracic property of a living being is provided that includes a detector arrangement including an impedance measuring unit and an electrode arrangement, which are equipped to capture a measurement signal associated with the thoracic property in the form of an impedance signal; a monitoring arrangement, which is connected to the detector arrangement and equipped to generate a parameter from the measurement signal that is indicative of the thoracic property, and an evaluation unit, which is connected to the monitoring arrangement and equipped to determine an evaluation result regarding the thoracic property based on the parameter. According to the invention, the electrode arrangement comprises at least a plurality of mutually isolated electrodes, which are disposed on the housing and operatively connected by way of the impedance measuring unit and which can be separately controlled, wherein an electrode body has a strip shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Biotronik SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Olaf Skerl, Michael Lippert, Gerald Czygan
  • Patent number: 8862231
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a multi-axial acceleration sensor and an evaluation unit connected thereto. The evaluation unit is configured to (1) split the accelerometer output signal into at least two signal components, one of which is associated with a right-ventricular contraction and another of which is associated with a left-ventricular contraction; (2) detect events in the signal components, and/or determine signal features therein; and (3) determine at least one characteristic value K by evaluating the signal components, and/or the events and/or signal features therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Biotronik SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Kirchner, Michael Vollkron, Olaf Skerl
  • Patent number: 8792970
    Abstract: A system which generates a warning signal in the event of looming pulmonary edema and/or looming decompensation. The system has an impedance detection unit for determining impedance values, which represent a transthoracic impedance course, and an impedance analysis unit (78), which is connected to the impedance detection unit. The impedance analysis unit (78) is implemented to determine the degree of modulation for a particular impedance course detected by the impedance detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: BIOTRONIK CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Olaf Skerl, Michael Lippert, Gerald Czygan, Stefan Paule
  • Patent number: 8652048
    Abstract: An implant predicts decompensation of a patient's heart based on an acoustic pressure measurement. The implant includes first and second acoustic transducers, which are matched to each other and which rest in/on the patient's thorax. The first acoustic transducer emits an acoustic signal which has at least one first signal portion having a first frequency. The second acoustic transducer is designed to receive and re-emit the emitted acoustic signal, or to reflect it, such that the first acoustic transducer receives the emitted acoustic signal. A signal processing unit communicates with at least one of the two acoustic transducers and determines an attenuation value as a function of the attenuation of the received acoustic signal versus the originally emitted acoustic signal, and provides a prediction signal as a function of a comparison of the attenuation value to a threshold value, wherein the prediction signal indicates the development of decompensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Biotronik SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Olaf Skerl, Michael Lippert
  • Patent number: 8571641
    Abstract: A monitoring apparatus having a signal input for signals representing measurement values of one or more physiological parameters, and an evaluation and processing unit connected to the signal input. The evaluation and processing unit is designed to select, or differently weight, individual values from the values received for further processing based on one or more criteria such that measurement values raising doubts as to the validity thereof are not selected or given a very low weighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Thomas Kraemer, Michael Lippert, Olaf Skerl, Gerald Czygan, Stefan Paule
  • Patent number: 8521265
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a heart monitor, which is connected to or can be connected to at least one sensor for pressure and volume data or equivalent substitute variables and which comprises an evaluation unit for processing at least one input signal reflecting the temporal course of pressure and volume data or equivalent substitute variables of the heart. The evaluation unit is configured such that it segments the input signal in accordance with individual completed cardiac cycles and examines segments of the input signal obtained in this way as to whether a particular segment of the input signal represents a PV diagram, which corresponds to specified quality conditions regarding the direction of circulation, morphology and distance between a starting and end values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Michael Vollkron, Gerald Czygan, Thomas Kraemer, Michael Lippert, Olaf Skerl
  • Patent number: 8491485
    Abstract: An electromedical implant (100, 101, 102, 103) for monitoring a cardiac blood flow (B1) of a patient includes a detector (10, 10?, 10?) which obtains a first measurement signal (S1) associated with the cardiac blood flow (B1) and a second measurement signal (S2) associated with the epithoracic, peripheral blood flow (B2). A monitoring assembly (20) then generates a first parameter (P1) from the first measurement signal (S1) which is indicative of a time (tsys) at which blood is ejected from the heart, and a second parameter (2) from the second measurement signal (S2) which is indicative of a time (tgef) of a blood pulse in the thoracic tissue which is associated with the ejection of blood. An evaluation unit (30) then generates a pulse transit time (?t=tgef?tsys) from the first parameter (P1) and the second parameter (P2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Biotronik SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gerald Czygan, Michael Lippert, Olaf Skerl
  • Patent number: 8390279
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a measuring device including a sensor catheter, an evaluation unit, and means for receiving a magnetic field and converting the magnetic field to an electrical measurement signal which are situated in the sensor catheter and connected to the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit is designed to evaluate the electrical measurement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Biotronik vi Patent AG
    Inventors: Bjoern Klocke, Olaf Skerl
  • Publication number: 20130053907
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a multi-axial acceleration sensor and an evaluation unit connected thereto. The evaluation unit is configured to (1) split the accelerometer output signal into at least two signal components, one of which is associated with a right-ventricular contraction and another of which is associated with a left-ventricular contraction; (2) detect events in the signal components, and/or determine signal features therein; and (3) determine at least one characteristic value K by evaluating the signal components, and/or the events and/or signal features therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Jens Kirchner, Michael Vollkron, Olaf Skerl
  • Publication number: 20130023740
    Abstract: An implantable device includes a posture sensor and a physiological signal sensor. The posture sensor supplies at least one first sensor output signal indicating body posture and/or changes therein. The physiological signal sensor supplies at least one second sensor output signal indicative of at least one physiological parameter such as blood pressure, intracardiac impedance, stroke volume, heart sounds, heart rate, and/or biochemical measurements (e.g., oxygen concentration). An evaluation unit processes the first and second sensor output signals and determines one or more variables that describe the dynamic behavior of the second sensor output signal in response to a change in body posture indicated by the first sensor output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Jens Kirchner, Olaf Skerl
  • Patent number: 8323193
    Abstract: An implantable biosensor, which comprises a measuring (or first) chamber filled with the test fluid, which is able to convert a change of the concentration of a predetermined analyte or ion type into a change of a physical variable. To this end, the measuring chamber is closed by at least one membrane, which is permeable to the analyte or ion type and impermeable to the test fluid. In addition, the biosensor is equipped with at least one microacoustic sensor, which is operatively connected to the test fluid such that it can detect the physical variable that changes with the concentration of the analyte or ion type. Further relates to a sensor arrangement comprising at least one such implantable biosensor, the arrangement including a polling system that is wirelessly coupled to the biosensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Olaf Skerl, Albrecht Urbaszek, Gerald Czygan
  • Publication number: 20120245476
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes an integrated or connectable implantable three-dimensional acceleration sensor, and a ballistocardiogram (BCG) capturing unit that is connected or connectable to the acceleration sensor. The BCG evaluation unit processes an acceleration signal provided by the acceleration sensor and derives a BCG from the 3D accelerometer output signal. A BCG evaluation unit is connected to the BCG capturing unit, and is designed to evaluate a BCG provided by the BCG capturing unit and supply an output signal representing stroke volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Olaf Skerl, Michael Lippert, Jens Kirchner
  • Patent number: 8271085
    Abstract: An implantable medical device has an impedance or admittance determination unit, an alternating current or voltage source, a measuring unit, and an analysis unit which is connected to the alternating current or AC voltage source and the measuring unit to calculate an impedance value or an admittance value at different times. The impedance or admittance determination unit may generate measuring current having two different frequencies (preferably below 100 kHz), and the analysis unit may calculate pairs of impedance or admittance values which are chronologically assigned to one another for different frequencies of the measuring current, and calculate a value for a blood impedance or blood admittance component which is independent of the impedance of the body tissue surrounding a particular blood vessel, The analysis unit may also determine trends in this value over time as an indicator for a change of blood hematocrit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Biotronik CRM Patent AG
    Inventors: Michael Lippert, Olaf Skerl, Stefan Paule, Bernhard Fahn, Gerald Czygan, Heinrich Reinke, Albrecht Urbaszek