Patents by Inventor Richard J. Polefko

Richard J. Polefko 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: 10946198
    Abstract: A method, device and/or system for generating arbitrary waveforms of a desired shape that can be used for generating a stimulation pulse for medical purposes such as for spinal cord stimulation therapy, including the option of using such arbitrary waveforms for charge balancing purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: CIRTEC MEDICAL CORP.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Trier, Jeffrey A. Weisgarber, Richard J. Polefko
  • Patent number: 10653884
    Abstract: A controller for implementing a method, device and/or system for generating arbitrary waveforms of a desired shape that can be used for generating a stimulation pulse for medical purposes such as for spinal cord stimulation therapy, where such arbitrary waveforms can also be used for charge balancing purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: NUVECTRA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen C. Trier, Jeffrey A. Weisgarber, Richard J. Polefko, David J. Howard
  • Publication number: 20190175911
    Abstract: A method, device and/or system for generating arbitrary waveforms of a desired shape that can be used for generating a stimulation pulse for medical purposes such as for spinal cord stimulation therapy, including the option of using such arbitrary waveforms for charge balancing purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Stephen C. Trier, Jeffrey A. Weisgarber, Richard J. Polefko
  • Patent number: 10213603
    Abstract: A method, device and/or system for generating arbitrary waveforms of a desired shape that can be used for generating a stimulation pulse for medical purposes such as for spinal cord stimulation therapy, including the option of using such arbitrary waveforms for charge balancing purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: NUVECTRA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen C. Trier, Jeffrey A. Weisgarber, Richard J. Polefko
  • Patent number: 9974108
    Abstract: A method of identifying an external device that sent a message and then determining whether to process the message based in part on the identity of the external device that sent the message. The implanted device receives a message from the external device and identifies an external device ID in the received message. The external device ID identifies the external device that sent the message. The implanted device then compares the external device ID from the message to a stored list of approved external device IDs. The implanted device processes the message when the external device ID matches one or the approved external device IDs in the stored list of approved external device IDs. However, the message is disregarded when the external device ID does not match any of the approved external device IDs in the stored list of approved external device IDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Nuvectra Corporation
    Inventor: Richard J. Polefko
  • Publication number: 20180104492
    Abstract: A controller for implementing a method, device and/or system for generating arbitrary waveforms of a desired shape that can be used for generating a stimulation pulse for medical purposes such as for spinal cord stimulation therapy, where such arbitrary waveforms can also be used for charge balancing purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen C. Trier, Jeffrey A. Weisgarber, Richard J. Polefko, David J. Howard
  • Patent number: 9901740
    Abstract: In a method for programming an implantable device, an input is received at a user interface on a tablet-style clinician programmer. A first display signal is generated on the clinician programmer that updates content on a first display based on the received user input. The first display has a first size. A second display signal is generated for transmission to a secondary unit having a second display separate from the clinician programmer. The second display has a second size larger than the first size. The generating of the second display signal includes enhancing the content of the second display signal to provide a clear image on the second size display. The second display signal is transmitted from the clinician programmer to the second display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: NUVECTRA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott Drees, Norbert Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu, Scott G. Leyh, Richard J. Polefko, Stephen C. Trier, Raymond L. Yoder
  • Patent number: 9861822
    Abstract: A method, device and/or system for generating arbitrary waveforms of a desired shape that can be used for generating a stimulation pulse for medical purposes such as for spinal cord stimulation therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Nuvectra Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen C. Trier, Jeffrey A. Weisgarber, Richard J. Polefko
  • Patent number: 9782587
    Abstract: A controller for implementing a method, device and/or system for generating arbitrary waveforms of a desired shape that can be used for generating a stimulation pulse for medical purposes such as for spinal cord stimulation therapy, where such arbitrary waveforms can also be used for charge balancing purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: NUVECTRA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen C. Trier, Jeffrey A. Weisgarber, Richard J. Polefko, David J. Howard
  • Publication number: 20170232258
    Abstract: A method, device and/or system for generating arbitrary waveforms of a desired shape that can be used for generating a stimulation pulse for medical purposes such as for spinal cord stimulation therapy, including the option of using such arbitrary waveforms for charge balancing purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen C. Trier, Jeffrey A. Weisgarber, Richard J. Polefko
  • Patent number: 9656076
    Abstract: A method, device and/or system for generating arbitrary waveforms of a desired shape that can be used for generating a stimulation pulse for medical purposes such as for spinal cord stimulation therapy, including the option of using such arbitrary waveforms for charge balancing purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Nuvectra Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen C. Trier, Jeffrey A. Weisgarber, Richard J. Polefko
  • Patent number: 9555255
    Abstract: A portable electronic programmer has a display screen, one or more sensors, a non-transitory memory storing instructions, and one or more electronic processors configured to execute the instructions to perform operations that include: detecting, via the one or more sensors, that the display screen of the portable electronic programmer has been engaged by an object; determining a location of the display screen of the portable electronic programmer that has been engaged; and causing an external monitor to display a visual indicator that corresponds to the location of the display screen of the portable electronic programmer, the external monitor being communicatively coupled to the portable electronic programmer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventors: Scott Drees, Norbert Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu, Scott G. Leyh, Richard J. Polefko, Stephen C. Trier, Raymond L. Yoder
  • Publication number: 20160228717
    Abstract: A portable electronic programmer has a display screen, one or more sensors, a non-transitory memory storing instructions, and one or more electronic processors configured to execute the instructions to perform operations that include: detecting, via the one or more sensors, that the display screen of the portable electronic programmer has been engaged by an object; determining a location of the display screen of the portable electronic programmer that has been engaged; and causing an external monitor to display a visual indicator that corresponds to the location of the display screen of the portable electronic programmer, the external monitor being communicatively coupled to the portable electronic programmer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Scott Drees, Norbert Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu, Scott G. Leyh, Richard J. Polefko, Stephen C. Trier, Raymond L. Yoder
  • Patent number: 9358390
    Abstract: A stimulation system, such as a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, having a programmer with a user interface. The programmer determines a position of an implanted medical lead with respect to a patient's spinal column. The programmer overlays the medical lead, an initial stimulation field, and an initial target stimulation area within the initial stimulation field on an image of the spinal column. A user enters, via the user interface, graphical manipulations of displayed boundaries of the initial stimulation field and the initial target stimulation area. The graphical manipulations of the stimulation field and the target stimulation field are independent of each other and they may move and/or alter the shape of the boundaries. The programmer then determines stimulation parameters to drive the implanted medical lead to generate the displayed stimulation field and target stimulation field as manipulated by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: NUVECTRA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard J. Polefko, Steven E. Wilder, Scott G. Leyh
  • Patent number: 9314640
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Scott F. Drees, Norbert F. Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu, Scott G. Leyh, Richard J. Polefko, Stephen C. Trier, Raymond L. Yoder
  • Publication number: 20160045750
    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: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Scott F. Drees, Norbert F. Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu, Scott G. Leyh, Richard J. Polefko, Stephen C. Trier, Raymond L. Yoder
  • Patent number: 9248292
    Abstract: A method, device and/or system for generating arbitrary scalable waveforms of a desired shape that can be used for generating a stimulation pulse for medical purposes such as for spinal cord stimulation therapy, where scaling function(s) can be used to scale arbitrary waveforms for increased flexibility and which can also be used for charge balancing purposes as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Trier, Jeffrey A. Weisgarber, Richard J. Polefko
  • Patent number: 9180302
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Scott Drees, Norbert Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu, Scott G. Leyh, Richard J. Polefko, Stephen C. Trier, Raymond L. Yoder
  • Patent number: 9174048
    Abstract: A stimulation system, such as a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, for storing position information of an implanted medical lead implanted in a patient. A communication unit is configured to receive, from a first programmer, position data that indicates an actual position of the implanted medical lead with respect to a spinal column of the patient and an anatomically correct image of the spinal column. The communication unit is further configured to forward the position data, and to transmit both to a second programmer. The second programmer is then able to display a representation of the implanted medical lead on the anatomically correct image in an anatomically correct location and in an actual orientation based on the position data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard J. Polefko, Steven E. Wilder, Scott G. Leyh
  • Patent number: 9154219
    Abstract: Systems and methods for communication between an implantable medical device and an external device. Data blocks are generated and transmitted between the implantable device and the external device. The data blocks include a first flag indicating whether the data block is a first data block in a message and when the data block is a subsequent data block in a multiple data block message. When the first flag indicates that the data block is a first data block in a message, the data block also contains a device ID, a command token, and message content. When the first flag indicates that the data block is a subsequent data block in a multiple data block message, the data block contains additional message content that is appended to message content from a previously received data block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Greatbach Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard J. Polefko, David J. Howard, Scott G. Leyh, Steven E. Wilder