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).

  • Publication number: 20150249495
    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: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Richard J. Polefko, David J. Howard, Scott G. Leyh, Steven E. Wilder
  • Patent number: 9098610
    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: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard J. Polefko, David J. Howard, Scott G. Leyh, Steven E. Wilder
  • Patent number: 9072903
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Norbert Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu, Richard J. Polefko, Steven E. Wilder, Scott G. Leyh
  • Patent number: 9067074
    Abstract: A stimulation system, such as a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, having an automated search to establish a program to treat a patient with electrical stimulation. The stimulation system includes an electrical stimulation generator, a medical lead coupled to the electrical stimulation generator, and a programmer with a communication interface, a display screen, and a user interface. The display screen displays an image of a spinal column and a position of the medical lead relative to the spinal column. The system includes an automated search that stimulates a series of regions and receives patient feedback via the user interface. The system then stimulates a series of subregions within a subset of the regions based on the feedback, receives additional feedback, and identifies a subset of the subregions location for stimulation based on the additional feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard J. Polefko, Steven E. Wilder
  • Publication number: 20150165208
    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: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Stephen C. Trier, Jeffrey A. Weisgarber, Richard J. Polefko
  • Patent number: 8996117
    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: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Greatbatch, Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen Trier, Jeffrey A. Weisgarber, Richard J. Polefko
  • Patent number: 8996115
    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, where such arbitrary waveforms can also be used for charge balancing purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Greatbatch, Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen Trier, Jeffrey A. Weisgarber, Richard J. Polefko
  • Publication number: 20150080983
    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: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Scott Drees, Norbert Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu, Scott G. Leyh, Richard J. Polefko, Stephen C. Trier, Raymond L. Yoder
  • Patent number: 8903496
    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: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Scott Drees, Norbert Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu, Scott G. Leyh, Richard J. Polefko, Stephen C. Trier, Raymond L. Yoder
  • Publication number: 20140343630
    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: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Stephen C. Trier, Jeffrey A. Weisgarber, Richard J. Polefko
  • Patent number: 8874219
    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: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Greatbatch, Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen Trier, Jeffrey A. Weisgarber, Richard J. Polefko
  • Patent number: 8812125
    Abstract: A system for operating a medical device, the system comprises a medical device associated with a machine-readable representation of data and a medical programmer. The medical programmer includes a sensor configured to detect the machine-readable representation of data and a display configured to graphically display a digital image of the medical device associated with the machine-readable representation of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Norbert Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu, Scott G. Leyh, Richard J. Polefko, Stephen C. Trier
  • Patent number: 8781592
    Abstract: A stimulation system, such as a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, having a programmer for identifying an area for electrical stimulation to treat a patient. The programmer includes a communication interface, a display screen, and a user interface. The communication interface communicates with the electrical stimulation generator to generate electrical stimulation and the display screen displays a patient model. The user interface receives user input identifying an area of pain on the patient model via a selection of the area of the body part. The programmer then associates the area of pain identified with a spinal column location, and displays on the display screen a suggested medical lead position and/or a suggested stimulation area on an image of a spinal column based on the step of associating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard J. Polefko, Steven E. Wilder, Scott G. Leyh
  • Publication number: 20140094871
    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: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Trier, Jeffrey A. Weisgarber, Richard J. Polefko, David J. Howard
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140067011
    Abstract: A system for operating a medical device, the system comprises a medical device associated with a machine-readable representation of data and a medical programmer. The medical programmer includes a sensor configured to detect the machine-readable representation of data and a display configured to graphically display a digital image of the medical device associated with the machine-readable representation of data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Greatbatch, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norbert Kaula, Yohannes Iyassu, Scott G. Leyh, Richard J. Polefko, Stephen C. Trier
  • Publication number: 20130296972
    Abstract: A stimulation system, such as a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, having an automated search to establish a program to treat a patient with electrical stimulation. The stimulation system includes an electrical stimulation generator, a medical lead coupled to the electrical stimulation generator, and a programmer with a communication interface, a display screen, and a user interface. The display screen displays an image of a spinal column and a position of the medical lead relative to the spinal column. The system includes an automated search that stimulates a series of regions and receives patient feedback via the user interface. The system then stimulates a series of subregions within a subset of the regions based on the feedback, receives additional feedback, and identifies a subset of the subregions location for stimulation based on the additional feedback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Richard J. Polefko, Steven E. Wilder
  • Publication number: 20130205032
    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: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventor: Richard J. Polefko
  • Patent number: 8483836
    Abstract: A stimulation system, such as a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, having an automated search to establish a program to treat a patient with electrical stimulation. The stimulation system includes an electrical stimulation generator, a medical lead coupled to the electrical stimulation generator, and a programmer with a communication interface, a display screen, and a user interface. The display screen displays an image of a spinal column and a position of the medical lead relative to the spinal column. The system includes an automated search that stimulates a series of regions and receives patient feedback via the user interface. The system then stimulates a series of subregions within a subset of the regions based on the feedback, receives additional feedback, and identifies a subset of the subregions location for stimulation based on the additional feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard J. Polefko, Steven E. Wilder