Patents by Inventor Stefan G. Kracker

Stefan G. Kracker 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: 12226644
    Abstract: An example medical device includes a plurality of electrodes, therapy delivery circuitry, and processing circuitry configured to control the therapy delivery circuitry to deliver electrical stimulation to an intercostal nerve of a patient via at least two of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the electrical stimulation is delivered with stimulation parameters configured to suppress ventricular tachyarrhythmia of the patient, wherein the stimulation parameters comprise a stimulation frequency less than or equal to 40 hertz (Hz).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan G. Kracker, Lilian Kornet, Michelle M. Galarneau, Matthew D. Bonner, Johan Maas, Berthold Stegemann, Paulus C. van Venrooij, Vasiliki Spyropoulou, Victor Peter Jozef Duijsens, Markus J. C. Lazeroms
  • Publication number: 20220362568
    Abstract: An example medical device includes a plurality of electrodes, therapy delivery circuitry, and processing circuitry configured to control the therapy delivery circuitry to deliver electrical stimulation to an intercostal nerve of a patient via at least two of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the electrical stimulation is delivered with stimulation parameters configured to suppress ventricular tachyarrhythmia of the patient, wherein the stimulation parameters comprise a stimulation frequency less than or equal to 40 hertz (Hz).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan G. Kracker, Lilian Kornet, Michelle M. Galarneau, Matthew D. Bonner, Johan Maas, Berthold Stegemann, Paulus C. van Venrooij, Vasiliki Spyropoulou, Victor Peter Jozef Duijsens, Markus J.C. Lazeroms
  • Patent number: 10058274
    Abstract: An optical perfusion sensor may monitor blood oxygen saturation of blood-perfused tissue, which may be referred to as tissue perfusion, until a tissue perfusion value is within a threshold range of a reference value, and, in some examples, for at least a minimum period of time. The tissue perfusion value may indicate an absolute blood oxygen saturation level or a relative change in blood oxygen saturation level. The reference value may be, for example, determined by an oxygen (O2) variation index that indicates a change in blood oxygen saturation of tissue. In some examples, the optical perfusion sensor may be activated upon detecting a cardiac event, such as a cardiac arrhythmia. In addition, in some examples, cardiac signal monitoring may be activated upon detecting a threshold change in tissue perfusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan G. Kracker
  • Patent number: 9326711
    Abstract: A reflectance optical perfusion sensor may include at least one light source and a plurality of detector elements arranged in a planar or nonplanar configuration, such as a three-dimensional array. The detector elements may sense light emitted by the at least one light source and reflected by a blood mass of a patient, such as blood within a blood vessel. In some examples, the detector elements may be arranged such that photodetection surfaces of at least two of the detector elements are nonparallel. In addition to or instead of the nonplanar arrangement of detector elements, an optical perfusion sensor may include a detector array including a plurality of detector elements at least partially surrounding a light source. Varying the location and orientations of detector elements may help increase a quantity of light emitted by the at least one light source and reflected toward the optical perfusion sensor by blood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan G. Kracker, Sourav Kumar Bhunia
  • Patent number: 8849385
    Abstract: Techniques for performing a lead integrity test during a suspected tachyarrhythmia are described. An implantable medical device (IMD) may perform the test prior to delivering a therapeutic shock to treat the suspected tachyarrhythmia and, in some cases, may withhold the shock based on the test. In some examples, the IMD measures an impedance of a lead a plurality of times during the suspected tachyarrhythmia. In some examples, the IMD measures the impedance a plurality of times between two sensed events of the suspected tachyarrhythmia. The IMD or another device may determine a variability of, or otherwise compare, the measured impedances to evaluate the integrity of the lead. Instead of or in addition to withholding a shock, the IMD or another device may change a sensing or stimulation vector of the IMD, or provide an alert to a user, if the integrity test indicates a possible lead integrity issue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan G. Kracker
  • Patent number: 8086302
    Abstract: An optical perfusion sensor may monitor blood oxygen saturation of blood-perfused tissue, which may be referred to as tissue perfusion, until a tissue perfusion value is within a threshold range of a reference value, and, in some examples, for at least a minimum period of time. The tissue perfusion value may indicate an absolute blood oxygen saturation level or a relative change in blood oxygen saturation level. The reference value may be, for example, determined by an optical oxygenation (O2) variation index that indicates a change in blood oxygen saturation of tissue. In some examples, an operation of a cardiac signal sensing module may be controlled based upon detecting a threshold change in tissue perfusion. For example, the cardiac signal sensing module may be activated upon detecting a threshold change in tissue perfusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan G. Kracker
  • Publication number: 20110224566
    Abstract: Techniques for performing a lead integrity test during a suspected tachyarrhythmia are described. An implantable medical device (IMD) may perform the test prior to delivering a therapeutic shock to treat the suspected tachyarrhythmia and, in some cases, may withhold the shock based on the test. In some examples, the IMD measures an impedance of a lead a plurality of times during the suspected tachyarrhythmia. In some examples, the IMD measures the impedance a plurality of times between two sensed events of the suspected tachyarrhythmia. The IMD or another device may determine a variability of, or otherwise compare, the measured impedances to evaluate the integrity of the lead. Instead of or in addition to withholding a shock, the IMD or another device may change a sensing or stimulation vector of the IMD, or provide an alert to a user, if the integrity test indicates a possible lead integrity issue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventor: Stefan G. Kracker
  • Patent number: 7974690
    Abstract: Techniques for performing a lead integrity test during a suspected tachyarrhythmia are described. An implantable medical device (IMD) may perform the test prior to delivering a therapeutic shock to treat the suspected tachyarrhythmia and, in some cases, may withhold the shock based on the test. In some examples, the IMD measures an impedance of a lead a plurality of times during the suspected tachyarrhythmia. In some examples, the IMD measures the impedance a plurality of times between two sensed events of the suspected tachyarrhythmia. The IMD or another device may determine a variability of, or otherwise compare, the measured impedances to evaluate the integrity of the lead. Instead of or in addition to withholding a shock, the IMD or another device may change a sensing or stimulation vector of the IMD, or provide an alert to a user, if the integrity test indicates a possible lead integrity issue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan G. Kracker
  • Publication number: 20090326350
    Abstract: An optical perfusion sensor may monitor blood oxygen saturation of blood-perfused tissue, which may be referred to as tissue perfusion, until a tissue perfusion value is within a threshold range of a reference value, and, in some examples, for at least a minimum period of time. The tissue perfusion value may indicate an absolute blood oxygen saturation level or a relative change in blood oxygen saturation level. The reference value may be, for example, determined by an oxygen (O2) variation index that indicates a change in blood oxygen saturation of tissue. In some examples, the optical perfusion sensor may be activated upon detecting a cardiac event, such as a cardiac arrhythmia. In addition, in some examples, cardiac signal monitoring may be activated upon detecting a threshold change in tissue perfusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan G. Kracker
  • Publication number: 20090326346
    Abstract: A reflectance optical perfusion sensor may include at least one light source and a plurality of detector elements arranged in a planar or nonplanar configuration, such as a three-dimensional array. The detector elements may sense light emitted by the at least one light source and reflected by a blood mass of a patient, such as blood within a blood vessel. In some examples, the detector elements may be arranged such that photodetection surfaces of at least two of the detector elements are nonparallel. In addition to or instead of the nonplanar arrangement of detector elements, an optical perfusion sensor may include a detector array including a plurality of detector elements at least partially surrounding a light source. Varying the location and orientations of detector elements may help increase a quantity of light emitted by the at least one light source and reflected toward the optical perfusion sensor by blood.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan G. Kracker, Sourav Kumar Bhunia
  • Publication number: 20090326356
    Abstract: An optical perfusion sensor may monitor blood oxygen saturation of blood-perfused tissue, which may be referred to as tissue perfusion, until a tissue perfusion value is within a threshold range of a reference value, and, in some examples, for at least a minimum period of time. The tissue perfusion value may indicate an absolute blood oxygen saturation level or a relative change in blood oxygen saturation level. The reference value may be, for example, determined by an optical oxygenation (O2) variation index that indicates a change in blood oxygen saturation of tissue. In some examples, an operation of a cardiac signal sensing module may be controlled based upon detecting a threshold change in tissue perfusion. For example, the cardiac signal sensing module may be activated upon detecting a threshold change in tissue perfusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventor: Stefan G. Kracker
  • Publication number: 20090326600
    Abstract: Techniques for performing a lead integrity test during a suspected tachyarrhythmia are described. An implantable medical device (IMD) may perform the test prior to delivering a therapeutic shock to treat the suspected tachyarrhythmia and, in some cases, may withhold the shock based on the test. In some examples, the IMD measures an impedance of a lead a plurality of times during the suspected tachyarrhythmia. In some examples, the IMD measures the impedance a plurality of times between two sensed events of the suspected tachyarrhythmia. The IMD or another device may determine a variability of, or otherwise compare, the measured impedances to evaluate the integrity of the lead. Instead of or in addition to withholding a shock, the IMD or another device may change a sensing or stimulation vector of the IMD, or provide an alert to a user, if the integrity test indicates a possible lead integrity issue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan G. Kracker