Patents by Inventor Robert J. Melder
Robert J. Melder 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).
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Publication number: 20240065757Abstract: Systems and methods for neuromodulation therapy are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, positioning a plurality of reference electrodes at the skin of a human patient and intravascularly positioning a plurality of ablation electrodes within a blood vessel lumen at a treatment site. The method can include obtaining impedance measurements between different combinations of the reference electrodes and the ablation electrodes and, based on the impedance measurements, identifying two or more electrode groups for treatment, where at least two of the electrode groups include a different one of the reference electrodes and a different one of the ablation electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Douglas A. Hettrick, Julie Trudel, Paul Coates, Robert J. Melder, Stefan S. Tunev, Martin Rothman, Sean Salmon
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Patent number: 11844568Abstract: Systems and methods for neuromodulation therapy are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, positioning a plurality of reference electrodes at the skin of a human patient and intravascularly positioning a plurality of ablation electrodes within a blood vessel lumen at a treatment site. The method can include obtaining impedance measurements between different combinations of the reference electrodes and the ablation electrodes and, based on the impedance measurements, identifying two or more electrode groups for treatment, where at least two of the electrode groups include a different one of the reference electrodes and a different one of the ablation electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Medtronic Ireland Manufacturing Unlimited CompanyInventors: Douglas A. Hettrick, Julie Trudel, Paul Coates, Robert J. Melder, Stefan S. Tunev, Martin Rothman, Sean Salmon
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Publication number: 20230329783Abstract: Systems and methods for neuromodulation therapy are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, intravascularly positioning a plurality of ablation electrodes within a blood vessel lumen at a treatment site. The method can include analyzing a renal neuromodulation target site of a patient to obtain patient-specific data related to the renal neuromodulation target site, and based on the patient specific data, delivering neuromodulation treatment to the patient via one or more of the ablation electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Inventors: Paul J. Coates, Robert J. Melder
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Patent number: 11717343Abstract: Systems and methods for neuromodulation therapy are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, intravascularly positioning a plurality of ablation electrodes within a blood vessel lumen at a treatment site. The method can include analyzing a renal neuromodulation target site of a patient to obtain patient-specific data related to the renal neuromodulation target site, and based on the patient specific data, delivering neuromodulation treatment to the patient via one or more of the ablation electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Medtronic Ireland Manufacturing Unlimited CompanyInventors: Paul J. Coates, Robert J. Melder
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Publication number: 20220226042Abstract: Systems and methods for neuromodulation therapy are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, positioning a plurality of reference electrodes at the skin of a human patient and intravascularly positioning a plurality of ablation electrodes within a blood vessel lumen at a treatment site. The method can include obtaining impedance measurements between different combinations of the reference electrodes and the ablation electrodes and, based on the impedance measurements, identifying two or more electrode groups for treatment, where at least two of the electrode groups include a different one of the reference electrodes and a different one of the ablation electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2022Publication date: July 21, 2022Inventors: Douglas A. Hettrick, Julie Trudel, Paul Coates, Robert J. Melder, Stefan S. Tunev, Martin Rothman, Sean Salmon
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Patent number: 11304749Abstract: Systems and methods for neuromodulation therapy are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, positioning a plurality of reference electrodes at the skin of a human patient and intravascularly positioning a plurality of ablation electrodes within a blood vessel lumen at a treatment site. The method can include obtaining impedance measurements between different combinations of the reference electrodes and the ablation electrodes and, based on the impedance measurements, identifying two or more electrode groups for treatment, where at least two of the electrode groups include a different one of the reference electrodes and a different one of the ablation electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2018Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: MEDTRONIC ARDIAN LUXEMBOURG S.A.R.L.Inventors: Douglas A. Hettrick, Julie Trudel, Paul Coates, Robert J. Melder, Stefan S. Tunev, Martin Rothman, Sean Salmon
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Publication number: 20210386469Abstract: Devices, agents, and associated methods for selective modulation of renal nerves by localized delivery of neural ablative substances are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology is directed to a method for delivering a neuromodulatory agent (e.g., capsaicin) via a catheter to a kidney of the patient. The neuromodulatory agent selectively neuromodulates afferent renal nerves in a patient compared efferent renal nerves of the patient. The method can also include removing the catheter from the patient after delivering the neuromodulatory agent to conclude the procedure.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2021Publication date: December 16, 2021Inventor: Robert J. Melder
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Patent number: 11116561Abstract: Devices, agents, and associated methods for selective modulation of renal nerves by localized delivery of neural ablative substances are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology is directed to a method for delivering a neuromodulatory agent (e.g., capsaicin) via a catheter to a kidney of the patient. The neuromodulatory agent selectively neuromodulates afferent renal nerves in a patient compared efferent renal nerves of the patient. The method can also include removing the catheter from the patient after delivering the neuromodulatory agent to conclude the procedure.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: MEDTRONIC ARDIAN LUXEMBOURG S.A.R.L.Inventor: Robert J. Melder
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Publication number: 20190223946Abstract: Systems and methods for neuromodulation therapy are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, intravascularly positioning a plurality of ablation electrodes within a blood vessel lumen at a treatment site. The method can include analyzing a renal neuromodulation target site of a patient to obtain patient-specific data related to the renal neuromodulation target site, and based on the patient specific data, delivering neuromodulation treatment to the patient via one or more of the ablation electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2018Publication date: July 25, 2019Inventors: Paul J. Coates, Robert J. Melder
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Publication number: 20190223945Abstract: Systems and methods for neuromodulation therapy are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, intravascularly positioning a plurality of ablation electrodes within a blood vessel lumen at a treatment site. The method can include analyzing a renal neuromodulation target site of a patient to obtain patient-specific data related to the renal neuromodulation target site, and based on the patient specific data, delivering neuromodulation treatment to the patient via one or more of the ablation electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2018Publication date: July 25, 2019Inventors: Paul J. Coates, Robert J. Melder
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Publication number: 20190223935Abstract: Devices, agents, and associated methods for selective modulation of renal nerves by localized delivery of neural ablative substances are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology is directed to a method for delivering a neuromodulatory agent (e.g., capsaicin) via a catheter to a kidney of the patient. The neuromodulatory agent selectively neuromodulates afferent renal nerves in a patient compared efferent renal nerves of the patient. The method can also include removing the catheter from the patient after delivering the neuromodulatory agent to conclude the procedure.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2019Publication date: July 25, 2019Inventor: Robert J. Melder
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Publication number: 20190151013Abstract: Systems and methods for neuromodulation therapy are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, positioning a plurality of reference electrodes at the skin of a human patient and intravascularly positioning a plurality of ablation electrodes within a blood vessel lumen at a treatment site. The method can include obtaining impedance measurements between different combinations of the reference electrodes and the ablation electrodes and, based on the impedance measurements, identifying two or more electrode groups for treatment, where at least two of the electrode groups include a different one of the reference electrodes and a different one of the ablation electrodes.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2018Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Douglas A. Hettrick, Julie Trudel, Paul Coates, Robert J. Melder, Stefan S. Tunev, Martin Rothman, Sean Salmon
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Publication number: 20150133904Abstract: Devices and methods for therapeutic photodynamic modulation of neural function in a human. One embodiment of a method in accordance with the technology includes administering a photosensitizer to a human, wherein the photosensitizer preferentially accumulates at nerves proximate a blood vessel compared to non-neural tissue of the blood vessel. The method can further include irradiating the photosensitizer using a radiation emitter positioned within the human, wherein the radiation has a wavelength that causes the photosensitizer to react and alter at least a portion of the nerves thereby providing a therapeutic reduction in sympathetic neural activity. Several embodiments of the technology are useful for disrupting renal nerves, such as renal denervation, for treating hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, and other indications.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2014Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventors: Robert J. Melder, Ayala Hezi-Yamit, Christopher W. Storment, Carol M. Sullivan
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Patent number: 8951296Abstract: Devices and methods for therapeutic photodynamic modulation of neural function in a human. One embodiment of a method in accordance with the technology includes administering a photosensitizer to a human, wherein the photosensitizer preferentially accumulates at nerves proximate a blood vessel compared to non-neural tissue of the blood vessel. The method can further include irradiating the photosensitizer using a radiation emitter positioned within the human, wherein the radiation has a wavelength that causes the photosensitizer to react and alter at least a portion of the nerves thereby providing a therapeutic reduction in sympathetic neural activity. Several embodiments of the technology are useful for disrupting renal nerves, such as renal denervation, for treating hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, and other indications.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.a.r.l.Inventors: Robert J. Melder, Ayala Hezi-Yamit, Christopher W. Storment, Carol M. Sullivan
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Patent number: 8764777Abstract: An endoventricular device includes a backbone and a plurality of segments having a plurality of anchors that are delivered to the treatment site in an inverted delivery configuration within a delivery catheter and when deployed moves from the inverted delivery configuration to a tissue penetrating implantation configuration.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2009Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.Inventor: Robert J. Melder
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Publication number: 20140114215Abstract: Methods for treating preventing or decreasing the likelihood of a human patient developing hypertension and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology, for example, is directed to methods for therapeutic renal neuromodulation that partially inhibit sympathetic neural activity in renal nerves proximate a renal blood vessel of a human patient. This reduction in sympathetic neural activity is expected to therapeutically treat one or more conditions associated with hypertension or prehypertension of the patient. Renal sympathetic nerve activity can be modulated, for example, using an intravascularly positioned catheter carrying a neuromodulation assembly, e.g., a neuromodulation assembly configured to use electrically-induced, thermally-induced, and/or chemically-induced approaches to modulate the renal nerves.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: MEDTRONIC ARDIAN LUXEMBOURG S.A.R.L.Inventors: Robert J. Melder, Stefan S. Tunev
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Patent number: 8636811Abstract: The drug eluting rolled stent and a stent delivery system, which includes a catheter; a balloon operably attached to the catheter; and a stent disposed on the balloon. The stent includes a rectangular metal foil sheet having a first side and a second side, the rectangular metal foil sheet being rolled to form a cylindrical tube having a central axis and a spiral cross section perpendicular to the central axis; a polymer drug coating disposed between and adhering the first side and the second side; and at least one opening formed through the cylindrical tube generally perpendicular to the central axis, the at least one opening being shaped to form at least one strut having in cross section polymer drug layers between metal foil layers, polymer drug layer edges of the polymer drug layers being in communication with the at least one opening.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2010Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.Inventor: Robert J. Melder
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Publication number: 20140005591Abstract: Devices and methods for therapeutic photodynamic modulation of neural function in a human. One embodiment of a method in accordance with the technology includes administering a photosensitizer to a human, wherein the photosensitizer preferentially accumulates at nerves proximate a blood vessel compared to non-neural tissue of the blood vessel. The method can further include irradiating the photosensitizer using a radiation emitter positioned within the human, wherein the radiation has a wavelength that causes the photosensitizer to react and alter at least a portion of the nerves thereby providing a therapeutic reduction in sympathetic neural activity. Several embodiments of the technology are useful for disrupting renal nerves, such as renal denervation, for treating hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, and other indications.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: MEDTRONIC ARDIAN LUXEMBOURG S.A.R.L.Inventors: Robert J. Melder, Ayala Hezi-Yamit, Christopher W. Storment, Carol M. Sullivan
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Publication number: 20110264187Abstract: The drug eluting folded stent and a stent delivery system, which includes a stent having a plurality of struts interconnected to form a tubular body. At least one of the struts includes a U-shaped strut having in cross-section a first leg, a second leg, and a closed end connecting the first leg and the second leg, wherein the first leg, the second leg, and the closed end define a recess having a drug release opening opposite the closed end; and a drug coating disposed on the first leg, the second leg, and the closed end within the recess. The drug release opening is sized to release a drug from the drug coating at a predetermined drug elution rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2010Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.Inventor: Robert J. Melder
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Publication number: 20110251663Abstract: The drug eluting rolled stent and a stent delivery system, which includes a catheter; a balloon operably attached to the catheter; and a stent disposed on the balloon. The stent includes a rectangular metal foil sheet having a first side and a second side, the rectangular metal foil sheet being rolled to form a cylindrical tube having a central axis and a spiral cross section perpendicular to the central axis; a polymer drug coating disposed between and adhering the first side and the second side; and at least one opening formed through the cylindrical tube generally perpendicular to the central axis, the at least one opening being shaped to form at least one strut having in cross section polymer drug layers between metal foil layers, polymer drug layer edges of the polymer drug layers being in communication with the at least one opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2010Publication date: October 13, 2011Applicant: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.Inventor: Robert J. Melder