Patents by Inventor R. Michael Ecker

R. Michael Ecker 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).

  • Automatic lead recognition for implantable medical device
    Patent number: 5534018
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the availability of unipolar and/or bipolar pacing/sensing paths in a body-implantable cardiac pacing system. In one embodiment, a pacemaker system includes impedance monitoring circuitry for periodically measuring impedance between pairs of electrodes that are potentially available for pacing and/or sensing. This impedance monitoring circuitry includes circuitry for delivering excitation pulses between pairs of potentially available electrodes (including the pacemaker canister in the case of unipolar pacing or sensing), and for monitoring the current and voltage between those pairs of electrodes during delivery of an excitation pulse. Availability of a pair of electrodes for pacing and/or sensing is indicated if the impedance between a pair of electrodes is found to lie within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Wahlstrand, Daniel J. Baxter, R. Michael Ecker, Daniel R. Greeninger, Charles G. Yerich