Patents by Inventor Steven J. Fraasch

Steven J. Fraasch 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: 20240138908
    Abstract: A method for ablating tissue by applying at least one pulse train of pulsed-field energy. The method includes delivering a pulse train of energy having a predetermined frequency to cardiac tissue, the pulse train including at least 60 pulses, an inter-phase delay between Ops and 5 ?s, an inter-pulse delay of at least 5 ?s, and a pulse width of 5 ?s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Mark Stewart, Steven J. Fraasch
  • Patent number: 11918280
    Abstract: Methods and systems for combining ablation therapy with navigation of the ablation device. An ablation system may be configured for use with one of two methods to prevent loss of navigation signals during ablation energy delivery. In the first method, ablation energy signals are filtered from the navigation signal. In the second method, the delivery of ablation energy is sequenced with the delivery of navigation energy such that ablation energy and navigation energy are not delivered at the same time and navigation signals received by the system are time-division multiplexed to reconstruct the navigation signals and determine a location of the device within the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic Ablation Frontiers LLC
    Inventors: Marshall L. Sherman, Catherine R. Condie, Trenton J. Rehberger, Steven J. Fraasch, Mark T. Stewart
  • Publication number: 20240065760
    Abstract: A method for ablating tissue by applying at least one pulse train of pulsed-field energy. The method includes delivering a pulse train of energy having a predetermined frequency to cardiac tissue, the pulse train including at least 60 pulses, an inter-phase delay between 0 ?s and 5 ?s, an inter-pulse delay of at least 5 ?s, and a pulse width of 5 ?s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Mark Stewart, Steven J. Fraasch
  • Publication number: 20230355303
    Abstract: A method for ablating tissue by applying at least one pulse train of pulsed-field energy. The method includes delivering a pulse train of energy having a predetermined frequency to cardiac tissue, the pulse train including at least 60 pulses, an inter-phase delay between O?s and 5 ?s, an inter-pulse delay of at least 5 ?s, and a pulse width of 5 ?s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Mark Stewart, Steven J. Fraasch
  • Patent number: 11701169
    Abstract: A method for ablating tissue by applying at least one pulse train of pulsed-field energy. The method includes delivering a pulse train of energy having a predetermined frequency to cardiac tissue, the pulse train including at least 60 pulses, an inter-phase delay between 0 ?s and 5 ?s, an inter-pulse delay of at least 5 ?s, and a pulse width of 5 ?s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark T. Stewart, Steven J. Fraasch
  • Publication number: 20230149071
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring and actively reducing leakage currents flowing on patient applied parts used in ablation therapy. In an example, a signal-processing circuit connected between a toroidal-coil sensor and a sleeve-capacitor coupler, both AC-coupled to the catheter cable, applies a Fourier transform and an energy minimization algorithm to the output of the toroidal-coil sensor to determine amplitudes and phases for frequency components of the signal applied to the sleeve-capacitor coupler. A corresponding current coupled through the sleeve-capacitor coupler into the catheter cable counteracts the leakage current to force the total non-therapy electrical current flowing on the patient applied parts to a level that is lower than a fixed threshold value, e.g., selected in accordance with an applicable standard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Steven J. Fraasch, Trenton J. Rehberger, Sara A. Frantz, Kevin D. Gollon, Bryce W. Bunkers
  • Patent number: 11612424
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring and modifying pulsed field ablation (PFA) energy delivery to prevent patient safety risks and/or delivery device failure. In particular, some embodiments provide methods and systems for detecting and preventing arcs and arc-induced plasma, and their causal events, during delivery of pulsed field ablation energy, as well as methods and systems for identifying conditions leading to potential delivery device failure and correcting charge imbalance or asymmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Fraasch, Trenton J. Rehberger, Qin Zhang, Lynn A. Davenport, Steven V. Ramberg, Brian T. Howard, Mark T. Stewart, Alexander J. Hill, John Vandanacker
  • Publication number: 20230052520
    Abstract: A system for hepatic nerve denervation includes a medical device and a generator in communication with the medical device. The medical device includes an elongate body having a proximal portion and a distal portion opposite the proximal portion, and a plurality of treatment electrodes coupled to the distal portion. The distal portion is configured to be in contact with an area of target tissue. The area of target tissue is an area of tissue within the hepatic artery. The generator is configured to generate and deliver at least one pulse train of energy to the plurality of treatment electrodes to ablate the area of target tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Lars M. Mattison, Steven J. Fraasch, Steven V. Ramberg, Brian J. Ross
  • Publication number: 20220338925
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for delivering energy to tissue. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and method for enhancing lesion formation without arrhythmogenic effects within relatively thick target tissues, such as the ventricles of the heart. In one embodiment, charge-neutral pulses and non-charge-neutral pulses may be delivered to induce the formation of electrolytic compounds that enhance cell death at the treatment site. Additionally or alternatively, tissue at the treatment site may be heated to sub-lethal temperature before ablating the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Mark T. Stewart, Brian T. Howard, Steven J. Fraasch
  • Publication number: 20220280229
    Abstract: A method and pulsed field ablation (PFA) system configured to provide variable impedance paths for delivery of electric fields to patient tissue using a PFA catheter are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes determining a current for each of a plurality of circuit paths, each circuit path including two electrodes. Each current may be determined based at least in part on: a desired voltage between the two electrodes; a tissue impedance between the two electrodes; and a parasitic impedance associated with the circuit path. The method also includes determining at least one of an excitation voltage and an input resistance for each circuit path of the plurality of circuit paths based at least in part on the determined current for the circuit path, parasitic impedances associated with the circuit path and a tissue impedance between the two electrodes in the circuit path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Brian T. Howard, Steven J. Fraasch, Gonzalo Martinez, Mark T. Stewart, Sara A. Frantz, Lars M. Mattison
  • Publication number: 20220133389
    Abstract: A method of determining a pulsed field ablation waveform parameter for creating a desired lesion characteristic in cardiac tissue. The method of provides an electrosurgical generator configured to deliver electroporation pulses, the generator configured to: load predetermined waveform parameters (yi); load predetermined modeling data (xi); accept entry of a user inputted desired lesion characteristic (ui); and determine at least one corresponding pulsed field ablation waveform parameter based on (ui), (yi); and (xi).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Brian T. Howard, Steven J. Fraasch, Mark T. Stewart, John Vandanacker
  • Patent number: 11229478
    Abstract: A method of determining a pulsed field ablation waveform parameter for creating a desired lesion characteristic in cardiac tissue. The method of provides an electrosurgical generator configured to deliver electroporation pulses, the generator configured to: load predetermined waveform parameters (yi); load predetermined modeling data (xi); accept entry of a user inputted desired lesion characteristic (ui); and determine at least one corresponding pulsed field ablation waveform parameter based on (ui), (yi); and (xi).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian T. Howard, Steven J. Fraasch, Mark T. Stewart, John Vandanacker
  • Publication number: 20210038283
    Abstract: A system and method for the safe delivery of treatment energy to a patient, which includes verification of system integrity before, during, or after the delivery of treatment energy and provides several mechanisms for rapid termination of the delivery of potentially harmful energy to the patient when a fault condition in the device and/or system is identified. The system may include an energy generator having processing circuitry to determine if there is a fault condition in the system and to automatically terminate a delivery of treatment energy when the processing circuitry determines there is a fault condition. The method may generally include performing a series of pre-checks, synchronizing a treatment energy delivery to the proper segment of the heart's depolarization pattern, configuring the system for treatment energy delivery, delivering the treatment energy, and performing post-treatment evaluation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Steven J. Fraasch, Catherine R. Condie, Brian T. Howard, Louis Jacob, Paul S. Lam, Trenton J. Rehberger, Mark T. Stewart, Qin Zhang
  • Patent number: 10849677
    Abstract: A system and method for the safe delivery of treatment energy to a patient, which includes verification of system integrity before, during, or after the delivery of treatment energy and provides several mechanisms for rapid termination of the delivery of potentially harmful energy to the patient when a fault condition in the device and/or system is identified. The system may include an energy generator having processing circuitry to determine if there is a fault condition in the system and to automatically terminate a delivery of treatment energy when the processing circuitry determines there is a fault condition. The method may generally include performing a series of pre-checks, synchronizing a treatment energy delivery to the proper segment of the heart's depolarization pattern, configuring the system for treatment energy delivery, delivering the treatment energy, and performing post-treatment evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Fraasch, Catherine R. Condie, Brian T. Howard, Louis Jacob, Paul S. Lam, Trenton J. Rehberger, Mark T. Stewart, Qin Zhang
  • Publication number: 20200315703
    Abstract: Methods and systems for combining ablation therapy with navigation of the ablation device. An ablation system may be configured for use with one of two methods to prevent loss of navigation signals during ablation energy delivery. In the first method, ablation energy signals are filtered from the navigation signal. In the second method, the delivery of ablation energy is sequenced with the delivery of navigation energy such that ablation energy and navigation energy are not delivered at the same time and navigation signals received by the system are time-division multiplexed to reconstruct the navigation signals and determine a location of the device within the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Marshall L. Sherman, Catherine R. Condie, Trenton J. Rehberger, Steven J. Fraasch, Mark T. Stewart
  • Patent number: 10722302
    Abstract: Methods and systems for combining ablation therapy with navigation of the ablation device. An ablation system may be configured for use with one of two methods to prevent loss of navigation signals during ablation energy delivery. In the first method, ablation energy signals are filtered from the navigation signal. In the second method, the delivery of ablation energy is sequenced with the delivery of navigation energy such that ablation energy and navigation energy are not delivered at the same time and navigation signals received by the system are time-division multiplexed to reconstruct the navigation signals and determine a location of the device within the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Medtronic Ablation Frontiers LLC
    Inventors: Marshall L. Sherman, Catherine R. Condie, Trenton J. Rehberger, Steven J. Fraasch, Mark T. Stewart
  • Publication number: 20200138506
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring and modifying pulsed field ablation (PFA) energy delivery to prevent patient safety risks and/or delivery device failure. In particular, some embodiments provide methods and systems for detecting and preventing arcs and arc-induced plasma, and their causal events, during delivery of pulsed field ablation energy, as well as methods and systems for identifying conditions leading to potential delivery device failure and correcting charge imbalance or asymmetry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Steven J. FRAASCH, Trenton J. REHBERGER, Qin ZHANG, Lynn A. DAVENPORT, Steven V. RAMBERG, Brian T. HOWARD, Mark T. STEWART, Alexander J. HILL, John VANDANACKER
  • Publication number: 20200121382
    Abstract: Systems and methods to confirm safe delivery of treatment energy to a patient by identifying a presence of a fault in an energy delivery pathway and identifying a location of the fault within the device. The system includes a processing unit configured to calculate blood impedances external to the device based on known impedance characteristics of the device, and then to calculate impedances within the device during energy delivery based on the calculated blood impedances. The processing unit prevents the delivery of energy in an energy delivery pathway that is determined to be compromised. The processing unit is also configured to compare times for two different frequencies to travel a predetermined distance, the difference in the times corresponding to a location of a fault within the energy delivery pathway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Steven J. FRAASCH, Catherine R. CONDIE, Trenton J. REHBERGER, Mark T. STEWART, Qin ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20200107879
    Abstract: A method for ablating tissue by applying at least one pulse train of pulsed-field energy. The method includes delivering a pulse train of energy having a predetermined frequency to cardiac tissue, the pulse train including at least 60 pulses, an inter-phase delay between 0 ?s and 5 ?s, an inter-pulse delay of at least 5 ?s, and a pulse width of 5 ?s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Mark T. STEWART, Steven J. FRAASCH
  • Patent number: 10555768
    Abstract: Systems and methods to confirm safe delivery of treatment energy to a patient by identifying a presence of a fault in an energy delivery pathway and identifying a location of the fault within the device. The system includes a processing unit configured to calculate blood impedances external to the device based on known impedance characteristics of the device, and then to calculate impedances within the device during energy delivery based on the calculated blood impedances. The processing unit prevents the delivery of energy in an energy delivery pathway that is determined to be compromised. The processing unit is also configured to compare times for two different frequencies to travel a predetermined distance, the difference in the times corresponding to a location of a fault within the energy delivery pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Fraasch, Catherine R. Condie, Trenton J. Rehberger, Mark T. Stewart, Qin Zhang