Patents by Inventor Steven L. Waldhauser

Steven L. Waldhauser 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: 10485435
    Abstract: In one example, this disclosure is directed to a kit for intravascular implantation of an implantable medical device, the kit comprising an outer sheath, the outer sheath sized to traverse a vasculature of the patient, and an elongated inner sheath with a tapered distal end. The inner sheath is slidable within the inner lumen of the outer sheath and is selectably removable from the inner lumen of the outer sheath by sliding the inner sheath out of the proximal opening of the outer sheath. The kit includes an elongated deployment receptacle including a deployment bay slidable within the inner lumen of the outer sheath when the inner sheath is not within the inner lumen of the outer sheath. The deployment bay carries an implantable medical device through the inner lumen of the outer sheath and facilitates deployment of the implantable medical device from the distal end of the outer sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik C. Griswold, James Calvin Allan, Rudolph A. Beasley, William J. Havel, Jon D. Schell, Don H. Tran, Steven L. Waldhauser
  • Patent number: 10172549
    Abstract: A device includes a handle, an expandable structure including a plurality of splines extending from a proximal hub to a distal hub, a first electrode on a first spline of the plurality of splines, an outer tube extending from the handle to the proximal hub, and a shaft extending through the outer tube from the handle to the distal hub. The expandable structure has a collapsed state and a self-expanded state. The handle is configured to retract the shaft. Retracting the shaft may expand the expandable structure outward of the self-expanded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Cardionomic, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven L. Waldhauser, Steven C. Christian
  • Publication number: 20180168503
    Abstract: A device includes a handle, an expandable structure including a plurality of splines extending from a proximal hub to a distal hub, a first electrode on a first spline of the plurality of splines, an outer tube extending from the handle to the proximal hub, and a shaft extending through the outer tube from the handle to the distal hub. The expandable structure has a collapsed state and a self-expanded state. The handle is configured to retract the shaft. Retracting the shaft may expand the expandable structure outward of the self-expanded state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Steven L. Waldhauser, Steven C. Christian
  • Publication number: 20180050206
    Abstract: A method of facilitating therapeutic neuromodulation of a heart of a patient includes positioning an electrode in a pulmonary artery, positioning a sensor in vasculature, delivering via a stimulation system first and second electrical signals of a series of electrical signals to the electrode. The second electrical signal differs from the first electrical signal by a magnitude of a first parameter of a plurality of parameters. The method includes determining via the sensor, sensor data indicative of one or more heart activity properties in response to the delivery of the series of electrical signals, and delivering a therapeutic neuromodulation signal to the pulmonary artery using selected electrical parameters. The selected electrical parameters include a selected magnitude of the first parameter. The selected magnitude of the first parameter is based at least partially on the sensor data. The therapeutic neuromodulation signal increases heart contractility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Steven L. Waldhauser, Steven D. Goedeke
  • Patent number: 9854982
    Abstract: In one example, this disclosure is directed to a method for intravascular implantation of an implantable medical device comprising positioning a distal end of an elongated outer sheath forming an inner lumen adjacent a target site within a vasculature of a patient, and partially deploying an implantable medical device from the distal opening, wherein the implantable medical device includes an expandable fixation element. A portion of the expandable fixation element assumes an expanded position when the implantable medical device is partially deployed from the distal opening. The method including advancing the distal end of the outer sheath within the vasculature with the implantable medical device partially deployed from the distal opening, and monitoring at least one of the vasculature and the portion of the expandable fixation element for deflection to determine when the size of the portion of the expandable fixation element corresponds to the size of the vasculature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: James Calvin Allan, Erik C. Griswold, William J. Havel, Steven L. Waldhauser, Kelly M. Wien, Kendra Yasger, Rudolph A. Beasley, Jon D. Schell, Don H. Tran
  • Patent number: 9833625
    Abstract: In one example, this disclosure is directed to a kit for intravascular implantation of an implantable medical device within a patient, the kit comprising an elongated outer sheath forming a first inner lumen with a distal opening, the outer sheath sized to traverse a vasculature of the patient, and an elongated inner sheath forming a second inner lumen. An outer diameter of the inner sheath is smaller than the diameter of the first inner lumen such that the inner sheath fits within the first inner lumen, wherein the inner sheath is slidable within the first inner lumen. The second inner lumen at a distal end of the inner sheath is configured to carry an implantable medical device. The inner sheath forms a slit at a distal end of the inner sheath to facilitate deployment of the implantable medical device out of the distal opening of the outer sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven L. Waldhauser, Kelly M. Wien, Kendra Yasger
  • Patent number: 9717421
    Abstract: In one example, this disclosure is directed to a kit for intravascular implantation of an implantable medical device within a patient, the kit comprising an elongated outer sheath forming an inner lumen with a distal opening, the outer sheath sized to traverse a vasculature of the patient, and an elongated inner sheath with an enlarged distal portion, wherein the enlarged distal portion is configured to substantially fill the inner lumen and close-off the distal opening of the outer sheath. The enlarged distal portion is slidable relative to the outer sheath. The inner sheath further includes a tether with a helical element that is remotely controllable from a proximal end of the inner sheath to release the implantable medical device from a distal portion of the outer sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik C. Griswold, James Calvin Allan, Rudolph A. Beasley, William Berthiaume, Arvind K. Srinivas, Don H. Tran, Suruchi Anand, Martha A. Barajas-Torres, Matthew S. Poole, Steven L. Waldhauser
  • Publication number: 20170173338
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for catheters for use in electrical neuromodulation. The catheter of the present disclosure includes an elongate body having a first end and a second end. The elongate body includes a longitudinal center axis that extends between the first end and the second end. The elongate body further includes three or more surfaces that define a convex polygonal cross-sectional shape taken perpendicularly to the longitudinal center axis. The catheter further includes one or more electrodes on one surface of the three or more surfaces of the elongate body, where conductive elements extend through the elongate body. The conductive elements can conduct electrical current to combinations of the one or more electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Steven L. Waldhauser, Steven D. Goedeke, Duane G. Frion
  • Publication number: 20170173339
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a method for treating a patient in which a catheter having an electrode array is moved through the pulmonary trunk of the patient towards a branch point that helps to define the beginning of a left pulmonary artery and a right pulmonary artery of the heart. The electrode array is positioned in the right pulmonary artery where the electrodes contact a posterior surface, a superior surface and/or an inferior surface of the right pulmonary artery. The one or more electrodes can be positioned to contact the posterior surface, the superior surface and/or the inferior surface of the right pulmonary artery at a position superior to the branch point. The electrode array can also be positioned in the right pulmonary artery no more than three times the diameter of the pulmonary trunk to the right of the branch point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Steven L. Waldhauser, Steven D. Goedeke
  • Publication number: 20170065812
    Abstract: A catheter having an elongate body, at least two elongate stimulation members extending from the elongate body, at least one electrode on each of the elongate stimulation members, where the electrodes form an electrode array that receives and conducts electrical current. The elongate stimulation members curve only in the first volume defined at least in part by a first plane, and a second volume defined at least in part by the first plane and being opposite the first volume can contain no electrodes. The catheter can further include a position gauge having a marking that indicates a length between a second end of the elongate body and a bumper end of the position gauge. The catheter can also include a pulmonary artery catheter having a lumen, where the catheter extends through the lumen of the pulmonary artery catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Steven D. Goedeke, Steven L. Waldhauser, Charles L. Euteneuer
  • Patent number: 9339197
    Abstract: In one example, this disclosure is directed to a kit for intravascular implantation of an implantable medical device within a patient, the kit comprising an elongated outer sheath forming an inner lumen with a distal opening, the outer sheath sized to traverse a vasculature of the patient, and an elongated inner sheath with an inflatable member at its distal portion. The inflatable member is inflatable from a proximal end of the inner sheath to close-off the distal opening of the outer sheath when inflated. The inner sheath further includes a stopper proximally located relative to the inflatable member. The inflatable member is remotely controllable from a proximal end of the inner sheath to retract in a proximal direction towards the stopper. The inflatable member can be retracted in a proximal direction towards the stopper and past an implantable medical device positioned within a distal portion of the outer sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik C. Griswold, Rudolph A. Beasley, James Calvin Allan, Suruchi Anand, Martha A. Barajas-Torres, Matthew S. Poole, Arvind K. Srinivas, Steven L. Waldhauser, William Berthiaume
  • Patent number: 9332928
    Abstract: An volume of a patient can be mapped with a system operable to identify a plurality of locations and save a plurality of locations of a mapping instrument. The mapping instrument can include one or more electrodes that can sense a voltage that can be correlated to a three dimensional location of the electrode at the time of the sensing or measurement. Therefore, a map of a volume can be determined based upon the sensing of the plurality of points without the use of other imaging devices. An implantable medical device can then be navigated relative to the mapping data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Toby Markowitz, Mustafa Karamanoglu, Pooja Mehta, Ioana Fleming, David A. Scanlon, Michael Kryger, Sean Campbell-Massa, Chad Giese, Steven L. Waldhauser, Shangqian Peter Zhang, Jeff Jannicke, Phillip Falkner, Don Hefner, Eduardo N. Warman, James Steeves, Rogier Receveur, Koen Michels, Olaf Eick, Vincent Larik
  • Patent number: 9302078
    Abstract: Systems for gaining access into a body of a patient around an implanted body of an elongate medical device include a sheath having a deformable wall that allows insertion of the device body into a lumen surrounded by the sheath wall. The sheath wall may include first and second edges that extend from a proximal end to a distal end of the lumen, or just extend along a distal portion of the lumen. A tool, which includes a groove sized to grasp about a circumference of the device body, may facilitate insertion of the device body into the lumen of those sheath embodiments that include the first and second edges, by spreading at least one of the first and second edges of the wall apart from the other of the first and second edges while the device body is grasped within the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy A. Lieberman, Steven L Waldhauser, Javier J Echenique, Lonnie D. Ronning, Linnea R. Lentz, Kimberly A. Oleson, Deanna K. Levenhagen, Phillip C. Falkner, Michael W. Kimmel
  • Patent number: 9179860
    Abstract: An volume of a patient can be mapped with a system operable to identify a plurality of locations and save a plurality of locations of a mapping instrument. The mapping instrument can include one or more electrodes that can sense a voltage that can be correlated to a three dimensional location of the electrode at the time of the sensing or measurement. Therefore, a map of a volume can be determined based upon the sensing of the plurality of points without the use of other imaging devices. An implantable medical device can then be navigated relative to the mapping data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Toby Markowitz, Mustafa Karamanoglu, Pooja Mehta, Ioana Fleming, David A. Scanlon, Michael Kryger, Sean Campbell-Massa, Chad Giese, Steven L. Waldhauser, Shangqian Peter Zhang, Jeff Jannicke, Phillip Falkner, Don Hefner, Eduardo N. Warman, James Steeves, Rogier Receveur, Koen Michels, Olaf Eick, Vincent Larik
  • Patent number: 9078667
    Abstract: A mapping and ablation catheter that reduces the risk of cardiac perforation during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The catheter comprises an elongate shaft including a proximal and distal portions, where the distal portion comprises a plurality of segments including a proximal-most segment, a distal-most segment and one or more intermediate segments between the proximal-most and distal-most segments. The catheter can include a diagnostic electrode in the distal most segment, an atraumatic tip located at the distal end of the distal-most segment, and an ablation electrode located in a segment proximal to the distal-most segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.
    Inventors: William G. Besser, Steven L. Waldhauser
  • Patent number: 8942829
    Abstract: Methods, devices and assemblies for anchoring implanted medical electrical leads employed in the stimulating and/or sensing of signals in tissue are disclosed. The devices include a lead anchoring clip having a central hub portion, an anchoring portion for coupling to tissue and a lead engagement mechanism that couples the clip to a medical electrical lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul T. Rothstein, Martin J. Clements, Michael W. Kimmel, Steven L. Waldhauser
  • Patent number: 8887736
    Abstract: A volume of a patient can be mapped with a system operable to identify a plurality of locations and save a plurality of locations of a mapping instrument. The mapping instrument can include one or more electrodes that can sense a voltage that can be correlated to a three dimensional location of the electrode at the time of the sensing or measurement. Therefore, a map of a volume can be determined based upon the sensing of the plurality of points without the use of other imaging devices. An implantable medical device can then be navigated relative to the mapping data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Toby Markowitz, Sean Campbell-Massa, Phillip Falkner, Ioana Fleming, Chad Giese, Mustafa Karamanoglu, Michael Kryger, Karl Evan Nowak, Pooja Mehta, James Steeves, Lane A. Phillips, Shangqian Peter Zhang, Steven L. Waldhauser, David A. Scanlon, Brian Houston Craig, Eduardo N. Warman, Koen Michels, Marie P. Smith, Noelle Christine Hurtig, Olaf Eick, Rogier Receveur, Vincent Larik, Brent Chelgren, Victoria Interrante
  • Patent number: 8843189
    Abstract: A volume of a patient can be mapped with a system operable to identify a plurality of locations and save a plurality of locations of a mapping instrument. The mapping instrument can include one or more electrodes that can sense a voltage that can be correlated to a three dimensional location of the electrode at the time of the sensing or measurement. Therefore, a map of a volume can be determined based upon the sensing of the plurality of points without the use of other imaging devices. An implantable medical device can then be navigated relative to the mapping data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Toby Markowitz, Mustafa Karamanoglu, Pooja Mehta, Ioana Fleming, David A. Scanlon, Michael Kryger, Sean Campbell-Massa, Chad Giese, Steven L. Waldhauser, Shangqian Peter Zhang, Jeff Jannicke, Phillip Falkner, Don Hefner, Eduardo N. Warman, James Steeves, Rogier Receveur, Koen Michels, Olaf Eick, Vincent Larik
  • Patent number: 8839798
    Abstract: A system for determining a location of an instrument within an anatomy is provided. The system can include a first instrument, which can define at least one lumen. The system can further include a second instrument, which can be received through the at least one lumen. The system can include at least one electrode, which can be coupled to a distal end of the first instrument. The electrode can be responsive to electrical activity to generate at least one signal. The system can include a sensing unit, which can be in contact with the anatomy to sense electrical activity within the anatomy at a location near the instrument. The sensing unit can be in communication with the electrode to receive the signal. The system can further include a control module that can determine, based on the sensed electrical activity and the signal, the location of the first instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Toby Markowitz, Chad Giese, Jeff Jannicke, Steven L. Waldhauser
  • Patent number: 8831701
    Abstract: An volume of a patient can be mapped with a system operable to identify a plurality of locations and save a plurality of locations of a mapping instrument. The mapping instrument can include one or more electrodes that can sense a voltage that can be correlated to a three dimensional location of the electrode at the time of the sensing or measurement. Therefore, a map of a volume can be determined based upon the sensing of the plurality of points without the use of other imaging devices. An implantable medical device can then be navigated relative to the mapping data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Toby Markowitz, Mustafa Karamanoglu, Pooja Mehta, Ioana Fleming, David A. Scanlon, Michael Kryger, Sean Campbell-Massa, Chad Giese, Steven L. Waldhauser, Shangqian Peter Zhang, Jeff Jannicke, Phillip Falkner, Don Hefner, Eduardo N. Warman, James Steeves, Rogier Receveur, Koen Michels, Olaf Eick, Vincent Larik