Patents by Inventor Paul S. Kratoska

Paul S. Kratoska 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: 10610681
    Abstract: An apparatus for fastening around a cranial burr hole includes a substantially flat core and a shell encapsulating a ring portion of the core. The shell defines an orifice substantially centered within the ring portion, and has a contoured lower surface to match the cranial curvature. Pliable arms of the core extend laterally from the ring portion, each being terminated by a fastener member. A central portion of a placement tool for the apparatus has a lower part configured to extend through the apparatus orifice, and an upper part from which first and second arms of the tool extend laterally. Each tool arm is terminated with a receptacle to hold a bone screw, and, when the tool central portion lower part extends through the apparatus orifice, each receptacle aligns with a corresponding fastener member, and lower openings of the receptacles are generally oriented along the contoured lower surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Medtronic Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Duijsens, Carmen Dimovski, Paul S. Kratoska, Joseph P. Ricci, Paulus C. van Venrooij
  • Publication number: 20190060637
    Abstract: An apparatus for fastening around a cranial burr hole includes a substantially flat core and a shell encapsulating a ring portion of the core. The shell defines an orifice substantially centered within the ring portion, and has a contoured lower surface to match the cranial curvature. Pliable arms of the core extend laterally from the ring portion, each being terminated by a fastener member. A central portion of a placement tool for the apparatus has a lower part configured to extend through the apparatus orifice, and an upper part from which first and second arms of the tool extend laterally. Each tool arm is terminated with a receptacle to hold a bone screw, and, when the tool central portion lower part extends through the apparatus orifice, each receptacle aligns with a corresponding fastener member, and lower openings of the receptacles are generally oriented along the contoured lower surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Victor Duijsens, Carmen Dimovski, Paul S. Kratoska, Joseph P. Ricci, Paulus C. van Venrooij
  • Patent number: 10092727
    Abstract: A medical device assembly includes a tunneler having a proximal end and a distal end and a carrier element fixed to the distal end of the tunneler. In various embodiments the carrier element is configured to be slidably disposed within a lead connection lumen. In various embodiments the carrier element includes a plurality of recesses configured to engage a lead extension set screw. In various embodiments the carrier element can freely rotate relative to the rest of the tunneler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Paul S. Kratoska, Robert L. Olson, Bruce A. Behymer, Alan O. Fung
  • Publication number: 20160243336
    Abstract: A medical device assembly includes a tunneler having a proximal end and a distal end and a carrier element fixed to the distal end of the tunneler. In various embodiments the carrier element is configured to be slidably disposed within a lead connection lumen. In various embodiments the carrier element includes a plurality of recesses configured to engage a lead extension set screw. In various embodiments the carrier element can freely rotate relative to the rest of the tunneler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Paul S. Kratoska, Robert L. Olson, Bruce A. Behymer, Alan O. Fung
  • Patent number: 9326821
    Abstract: A medical device assembly includes a tunneler having a proximal end and a distal end and a carrier element fixed to the distal end of the tunneler. In various embodiments the carrier element is configured to be slidably disposed within a lead connection lumen. In various embodiments the carrier element includes a plurality of recesses configured to engage a lead extension set screw. In various embodiments the carrier element can freely rotate relative to the rest of the tunneler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Paul S. Kratoska, Robert L. Olson, Bruce A. Behymer, Alan O. Fung
  • Patent number: 8945114
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a method and a system that may be used to provide feedback regarding the flow of fluid during ablation therapy. The system includes a generator that generates energy to ablate at least a portion of a target tissue, a needle that delivers the energy to the target tissue, a return electrode that receives energy dispersed from the needle, a catheter that houses at least a portion of the needle, a pump that delivers a fluid to the target tissue via the catheter, a sensor that detects a fluid parameter indicative of at least one of flow or pressure of the fluid, and a processor that analyzes the fluid parameter detected by the sensor. The sensor may be located between the pump and the target tissue. The fluid parameter detected by the system may be pressure or flow. The system may be used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmed Elmouelhi, Paul S. Kratoska
  • Publication number: 20120277760
    Abstract: A medical device assembly includes a tunneler having a proximal end and a distal end and a carrier element fixed to the distal end of the tunneler. In various embodiments the carrier element is configured to be slidably disposed within a lead connection lumen. In various embodiments the carrier element includes a plurality of recesses configured to engage a lead extension set screw. In various embodiments the carrier element can freely rotate relative to the rest of the tunneler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Kratoska, Robert L. Olson, Bruce A. Behymer, Alan O. Fung
  • Publication number: 20080275440
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a method of providing feedback regarding the outcome of ablation therapy. Measuring one or more tissue properties after the ablation procedure may allow the clinician to verify the size of the lesion formed or other therapy results. In one embodiment, the invention is directed toward a method for providing feedback regarding the results of tissue ablation, the method comprising deploying one or more needles from a catheter into a target tissue, delivering energy via at least one of the one or more needles to ablate at least a portion of the target tissue to form a lesion, stopping energy delivery via the at least one of the one or more needles, and measuring a tissue property via at least one of the one or more needles after the energy delivery has been stopped. The measured tissue property may be temperature or impedance. Also, the measured tissue property may be used to determine a volume of the lesion formed by ablation therapy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Paul S. Kratoska, Thomas R. Skwarek
  • Publication number: 20080269737
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a method and a system that may be used to provide feedback regarding the flow of fluid during ablation therapy. The system includes a generator that generates energy to ablate at least a portion of a target tissue, a needle that delivers the energy to the target tissue, a return electrode that receives energy dispersed from the needle, a catheter that houses at least a portion of the needle, a pump that delivers a fluid to the target tissue via the catheter, a sensor that detects a fluid parameter indicative of at least one of flow or pressure of the fluid, and a processor that analyzes the fluid parameter detected by the sensor. The sensor may be located between the pump and the target tissue. The fluid parameter detected by the system may be pressure or flow. In particular, the system may be used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmed Elmouelhi, Paul S. Kratoska
  • Patent number: 5445616
    Abstract: A medication delivery device having a particularly compact size. The compact size is achieved by arranging the components of the device so that the reservoir refill port is positioned laterally adjacent a bellows medication reservoir. Preferably, the medication reservoir is doughnut shaped and the refill port is positioned in a centrally located aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Kratoska, Raymond F. McMullen
  • Patent number: 5443450
    Abstract: A medication delivery device having a particularly compact size due to the bulged configuration of the cover. The device includes a housing having a base and a cover. The cover includes a side portion and a substantially planer surface joined by a curved portion. The curved portion is bulged outwardly in a manner such that the area of the internal cavity bounded by the side portion, the substantially planer surface and the base includes substantially all of the area which would be formed if the side portion and the substantially planer surface were extended and joined in the absence of the curved portion. This enables the entire vertical space of the internal cavity to be utilized and allows the thickness of the device to be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Kratoska, Chris C. Christiansen
  • Patent number: 5328465
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for limiting access to a septum in a body implanted device. The apparatus includes a screen member which covers the septum. The screen member has a plurality of openings which are sized such that needles larger than a predetermined size will not pass through the openings. Needles of a size less than the predetermined size of the openings will pass through and be provided access to the septum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Kratoska, Larry D. Kuecker, Douglas O. Hankner