Patents by Inventor Stephen A. Howard

Stephen A. Howard 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: 12029467
    Abstract: A method and system for creating permanent lesions in an area of target tissue, such as tissue at or proximate a junction between a pulmonary vein and the left atrium. The method may generally include positioning a medical device in contact with a pulmonary vein ostium, ablating the tissue, and recording a plurality of temperature measurements from one or more of three temperature sensors. The device may include an occlusion element in communication with a coolant source, a first sensor located distal of the occlusion element, a second sensor located proximal of the occlusion element, and a third sensor located in the occlusion element. One or more temperature measurements may be compared with each other to assess occlusion of the pulmonary vein, and/or may be compared with a set of reference temperatures to predict a real-time temperature within the target tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic CryoCath LP
    Inventors: Dan Wittenberger, Jean-Pierre Lalonde, Stephen A. Howard
  • Publication number: 20240016484
    Abstract: A transseptal system includes a needle, a guidewire, a handle, and a dilator. The handle defines a needle passage to slidably receive the needle, and a guidewire passage to slidably receive the guidewire. The dilator defines a lumen having a distal region and a proximal region. The dilator is coupled to the handle such that the lumen is open to the needle passage and the guidewire passage. The proximal region of the lumen is sized to simultaneously receive the needle body and the guidewire. The distal region is sized to slidably receive one of the needle and the guidewire on an individual basis. A transseptal puncture and access procedure can be performed, including puncturing tissue with the needle followed by immediate advancement of the guidewire into the accessed area, eliminating the need for multiple instrument exchanges during the procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Stephen A. Howard, Kevin A. Knutsen
  • Patent number: 11806000
    Abstract: A transseptal system includes a needle, a guidewire, a handle, and a dilator. The handle defines a needle passage to slidably receive the needle, and a guidewire passage to slidably receive the guidewire. The dilator defines a lumen having a distal region and a proximal region. The dilator is coupled to the handle such that the lumen is open to the needle passage and the guidewire passage. The proximal region of the lumen is sized to simultaneously receive the needle body and the guidewire. The distal region is sized to slidably receive one of the needle and the guidewire on an individual basis. A transseptal puncture and access procedure can be performed, including puncturing tissue with the needle followed by immediate advancement of the guidewire into the accessed area, eliminating the need for multiple instrument exchanges during the procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Howard, Kevin A. Knutsen
  • Publication number: 20220257226
    Abstract: A transseptal system includes a needle, a guidewire, a handle, and a dilator. The handle defines a needle passage to slidably receive the needle, and a guidewire passage to slidably receive the guidewire. The dilator defines a lumen having a distal region and a proximal region. The dilator is coupled to the handle such that the lumen is open to the needle passage and the guidewire passage. The proximal region of the lumen is sized to simultaneously receive the needle body and the guidewire. The distal region is sized to slidably receive one of the needle and the guidewire on an individual basis. A transseptal puncture and access procedure can be performed, including puncturing tissue with the needle followed by immediate advancement of the guidewire into the accessed area, eliminating the need for multiple instrument exchanges during the procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Howard, Kevin A. Knutsen
  • Publication number: 20220226636
    Abstract: Implantable apparatus includes two or more alignable marker elements, and systems and methods for manufacturing such implantable apparatus, and methods to utilize such implantable apparatus. For example, the implantable apparatus may include a first alignable marker element and a second alignable marker element that may be used to ensure proper alignment with a target site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Jay T. Rassat, Varun Bhatia, Kendall Emfield, Ryan Lahm, Alan Cheng, Douglas S. Hine, Kristin M. Johnson, Gregory N. Nesseth, Jonathan E. Baxter, Daniel W. Celotta, Stephen A. Howard, Nathan A. Grenz, Brian P. Colin, Ronald A. Drake, Juan Meng, Hongyang Lu
  • Publication number: 20220071682
    Abstract: A method and system for creating permanent lesions in an area of target tissue, such as tissue at or proximate a junction between a pulmonary vein and the left atrium. The method may generally include positioning a medical device in contact with a pulmonary vein ostium, ablating the tissue, and recording a plurality of temperature measurements from one or more of three temperature sensors. The device may include an occlusion element in communication with a coolant source, a first sensor located distal of the occlusion element, a second sensor located proximal of the occlusion element, and a third sensor located in the occlusion element. One or more temperature measurements may be compared with each other to assess occlusion of the pulmonary vein, and/or may be compared with a set of reference temperatures to predict a real-time temperature within the target tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Dan WITTENBERGER, Jean-Pierre LALONDE, Stephen A. HOWARD
  • Patent number: 11207116
    Abstract: A method and system for creating permanent lesions in an area of target tissue, such as tissue at or proximate a junction between a pulmonary vein and the left atrium. The method may generally include positioning a medical device in contact with a pulmonary vein ostium, ablating the tissue, and recording a plurality of temperature measurements from one or more of three temperature sensors. The device may include an occlusion element in communication with a coolant source, a first sensor located distal of the occlusion element, a second sensor located proximal of the occlusion element, and a third sensor located in the occlusion element. One or more temperature measurements may be compared with each other to assess occlusion of the pulmonary vein, and/or may be compared with a set of reference temperatures to predict a real-time temperature within the target tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Medtronic CryoCath LP
    Inventors: Dan Wittenberger, Jean-Pierre Lalonde, Stephen A. Howard
  • Publication number: 20190374275
    Abstract: A method and system for creating permanent lesions in an area of target tissue, such as tissue at or proximate a junction between a pulmonary vein and the left atrium. The method may generally include positioning a medical device in contact with a pulmonary vein ostium, ablating the tissue, and recording a plurality of temperature measurements from one or more of three temperature sensors. The device may include an occlusion element in communication with a coolant source, a first sensor located distal of the occlusion element, a second sensor located proximal of the occlusion element, and a third sensor located in the occlusion element. One or more temperature measurements may be compared with each other to assess occlusion of the pulmonary vein, and/or may be compared with a set of reference temperatures to predict a real-time temperature within the target tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Dan WITTENBERGER, Jean-Pierre LALONDE, Stephen A. HOWARD
  • Patent number: 10433895
    Abstract: A method and system for creating permanent lesions in an area of target tissue, such as tissue at or proximate a junction between a pulmonary vein and the left atrium. The method may generally include positioning a medical device in contact with a pulmonary vein ostium, ablating the tissue, and recording a plurality of temperature measurements from one or more of three temperature sensors. The device may include an occlusion element in communication with a coolant source, a first sensor located distal of the occlusion element, a second sensor located proximal of the occlusion element, and a third sensor located in the occlusion element. One or more temperature measurements may be compared with each other to assess occlusion of the pulmonary vein, and/or may be compared with a set of reference temperatures to predict a real-time temperature within the target tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic CryoCath LP
    Inventors: Dan Wittenberger, Jean-Pierre Lalonde, Stephen A. Howard
  • Publication number: 20170027630
    Abstract: A method and system for creating permanent lesions in an area of target tissue, such as tissue at or proximate a junction between a pulmonary vein and the left atrium. The method may generally include positioning a medical device in contact with a pulmonary vein ostium, ablating the tissue, and recording a plurality of temperature measurements from one or more of three temperature sensors. The device may include an occlusion element in communication with a coolant source, a first sensor located distal of the occlusion element, a second sensor located proximal of the occlusion element, and a third sensor located in the occlusion element. One or more temperature measurements may be compared with each other to assess occlusion of the pulmonary vein, and/or may be compared with a set of reference temperatures to predict a real-time temperature within the target tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Dan WITTENBERGER, Jean-Pierre LALONDE, Stephen A. HOWARD
  • Patent number: 9468485
    Abstract: A method and system for creating permanent lesions in an area of target tissue, such as tissue at or proximate a junction between a pulmonary vein and the left atrium. The method may generally include positioning a medical device in contact with a pulmonary vein ostium, ablating the tissue, and recording a plurality of temperature measurements from one or more of three temperature sensors. The device may include an occlusion element in communication with a coolant source, a first sensor located distal of the occlusion element, a second sensor located proximal of the occlusion element, and a third sensor located in the occlusion element. One or more temperature measurements may be compared with each other to assess occlusion of the pulmonary vein, and/or may be compared with a set of reference temperatures to predict a real-time temperature within the target tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic CryoCath LP
    Inventors: Dan Wittenberger, Jean-Pierre Lalonde, Stephen A. Howard
  • Publication number: 20150164570
    Abstract: A method and system for creating permanent lesions in an area of target tissue, such as tissue at or proximate a junction between a pulmonary vein and the left atrium. The method may generally include positioning a medical device in contact with a pulmonary vein ostium, ablating the tissue, and recording a plurality of temperature measurements from one or more of three temperature sensors. The device may include an occlusion element in communication with a coolant source, a first sensor located distal of the occlusion element, a second sensor located proximal of the occlusion element, and a third sensor located in the occlusion element. One or more temperature measurements may be compared with each other to assess occlusion of the pulmonary vein, and/or may be compared with a set of reference temperatures to predict a real-time temperature within the target tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC CRYOCATH LP
    Inventors: Dan Wittenberger, Jean-Pierre Lalonde, Stephen A. Howard
  • Patent number: 8790689
    Abstract: The invention comprises a transdermal dosage form comprising an active agent component comprising an active agent and an adverse agent component comprising an adverse agent, wherein the active agent component defines at least one channel extending substantially there through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Purdue Pharma L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Howard, Bruce Reidenberg
  • Patent number: 8778382
    Abstract: The invention comprises a transdermal dosage form comprising an active agent component comprising an active agent and an adverse agent component comprising an adverse agent, wherein the active agent component defines at least one channel extending substantially there through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Purdue Pharma L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Howard, Bruce Reidenberg
  • Patent number: 7943173
    Abstract: Disclosed in certain embodiments is a pharmaceutical composition comprising from 10 to 40 mg of oxycodone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and 0.65 to 0.90 mg naloxone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Purdue Pharma L.P.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Breder, Robert D. Colucci, Stephen A Howard, Benjamin Oshlack, Curtis Wright
  • Publication number: 20030069263
    Abstract: Disclosed in certain embodiments is a pharmaceutical composition comprising from 10 to 40 mg of oxycodone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and 0.65 to 0.90 mg naloxone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventors: Christopher D. Breder, Robert D. Colucci, Stephen A. Howard, Benjamin Oshlack, Curtis Wright
  • Patent number: 5645858
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a multilayered controlled release pharmaceutical dosage form. More particularly the dosage form is adapted for water soluble drugs and comprises a plurality of coated particles wherein each has multiple layers about a core containing a drug active whereby the drug containing core and at least one other layer of drug active is overcoated with a controlled release barrier layer and preferably an outer layer of additional drug is adapted for immediate release to preferably provide one immediate releasing layer and at least two controlled releasing layers of a water soluble drug from the multilayered coated particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
    Inventors: Pramod M. Kotwal, Stephen A. Howard
  • Patent number: 5474786
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a multilayered controlled release pharmaceutical dosage form. More particularly the dosage form is adapted for water soluble drugs and comprises a plurality of coated particles wherein each has multiple layers about a core containing a drug active whereby the drug containing core and at least one other layer of drug active is overcoated with a controlled release barrier layer and preferably an outer layer of additional drug is adapted for immediate release to preferably provide one immediate releasing layer and at least two controlled releasing layers of a water soluble drug from the multilayered coated particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
    Inventors: Pramod M. Kotwal, Stephen A. Howard
  • Patent number: 5395626
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a multilayered controlled release pharmaceutical dosage form. More particularly the dosage form is adapted for water soluble drugs and comprises a plurality of coated particles wherein each has multiple layers about a core containing a drug active whereby the drug containing core and at least one other layer of drug active is overcoated with a controlled release barrier layer and preferably an outer layer of additional drug is adapted for immediate release to preferably provide one immediate releasing layer and at least two controlled releasing layers of a water soluble drug from the multilayered coated particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation
    Inventors: Pramod M. Kotwal, Stephen A. Howard