Patents by Inventor Thaddeus S. Brink
Thaddeus S. Brink 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: 20240050742Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are configured delivering one or more sequences of different pulse trains to a patient. For example, a system includes processing circuitry configured to control stimulation circuitry to deliver a sequence of a plurality of trains of electrical stimulation pulses, wherein each train of the plurality of trains of electrical stimulation pulses comprises respective pulses at least partially defined by a unique parameter variation pattern of a plurality of parameter variation patterns, and control the stimulation circuitry to repeatedly deliver the sequence of the plurality of trains of electrical stimulation pulses.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2023Publication date: February 15, 2024Inventors: Lisa M. Jungbauer Nikolas, Sarah J. Offutt, Katie C. Bittner, Julia P. Slopsema, Thaddeus S. Brink, Leonid M. Litvak
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Patent number: 11744499Abstract: This disclosure describes methods, systems, and devices configured to determine a timing of a future bladder related event of a patient. For example, a system includes processing circuitry configured to identify a timing of a plurality of bladder related events of a patient, determine, based on the timing of the plurality of bladder related events of the patient, a probability to experience a bladder related event function for the patient, the probability to experience a bladder related event function indicating a probability that the patient will experience a bladder related event at an elapsed time after a previous bladder related event, predict, based on the probability to experience a bladder related event function, a timing of a future bladder related event, and control delivery of a therapy to the patient based on the predicted timing of the future bladder related event.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2020Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Dwight E. Nelson, Thaddeus S. Brink, Lance Zirpel, Adam P. Steiner
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Publication number: 20230069981Abstract: An example system includes stimulation generation circuitry configured to deliver electrical stimulation to a patient; sensing circuitry configured to sense one or more biomarker signals; and processing circuitry configured to: cause delivery of electrical stimulation with the patient in a first patient state; receive a first instance of a biomarker signal in presence of the electrical stimulation with the patient in the first patient state; cause delivery of electrical stimulation with the patient in a second patient state; receive a second instance of the biomarker signal in presence of the electrical stimulation with the patient in the second patient state; determine whether a difference between the first instance of the biomarker signal and the second instance of the biomarker signal satisfies a threshold; select a therapy mode based on whether the difference satisfies the threshold; and cause delivery of electrical stimulation in accordance with the selected therapy mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2022Publication date: March 9, 2023Inventors: Benjamin P. Isaacson, Scott R. Stanslaski, Abbey Beuning Holt Becker, Rene A. Molina, Caleb C. Zarns, David E. Linde, Nicholas D. Buse, Thaddeus S. Brink
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Patent number: 11571575Abstract: This disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for autotitrating stimulation parameters.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2017Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Xin Su, Thaddeus S. Brink, Dwight E. Nelson
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Publication number: 20220266031Abstract: An example method includes determining, by an implantable medical device (IMD), an electrode of a plurality of electrodes of a lead to be used to deliver electrical stimulation to a patient at a particular time; selecting, by the IMD and based on the determined electrode, a set of electrodes of the plurality of electrodes; and sensing, by the IMD and via the selected set of electrodes, electrical signals of the patient at the particular time.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2022Publication date: August 25, 2022Inventors: Benjamin P. Isaacson, David E. Linde, Scott R. Stanslaski, Christopher L. Pulliam, Rene A. Molina, Abbey Beuning Holt Becker, David L. Carlson, Nicholas D. Buse, Duane L. Bourget, Thaddeus S. Brink
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Patent number: 11376438Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods may manage therapy delivery to a patient based on one or more physiological markers. In some examples, a method includes detecting a physiological marker that occurs prior in time to a dysfunctional phase of a physiological cycle, wherein a dysfunctional state of the physiological cycle occurs during the dysfunctional phase without treatment, responsive to detecting the physiological marker, initiating a first phase of the physiological cycle having a duration of time. The method may also include, responsive to the first phase elapsing, controlling a therapy delivery module to deliver neurostimulation therapy during a second phase that begins prior to the dysfunctional phase, wherein the neurostimulation therapy is configured to treat the dysfunctional state.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2019Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Thaddeus S. Brink, Dwight E. Nelson, Xin Su, Lance Zirpel
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Publication number: 20220105348Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods may manage therapy delivery to a patient based on one or more physiological markers. In some examples, a method includes detecting a physiological marker that occurs prior in time to a dysfunctional phase of a physiological cycle, wherein a dysfunctional state of the physiological cycle occurs during the dysfunctional phase without treatment, responsive to detecting the physiological marker, initiating a first phase of the physiological cycle having a duration of time. The method may also include, responsive to the first phase elapsing, controlling a therapy delivery module to deliver neurostimulation therapy during a second phase that begins prior to the dysfunctional phase, wherein the neurostimulation therapy is configured to treat the dysfunctional state.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2021Publication date: April 7, 2022Inventors: Thaddeus S. Brink, Dwight E. Nelson, Xin Su, Lance Zirpel
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Publication number: 20220080206Abstract: This disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for autotitrating stimulation parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2021Publication date: March 17, 2022Inventors: Xin Su, Thaddeus S. Brink, Dwight E. Nelson
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Patent number: 11253314Abstract: The disclosure describes devices, systems, and techniques for identifying and treating bladder dysfunction. In one example, a method includes identifying one or more focal points at respective locations of bladder tissue of a bladder of a patient, the one or more focal points initiating coordinated contractions of a detrusor muscle. The method may also, or alternatively, include ablating, for each of the one or more focal points, a respective portion of the bladder tissue at the respective location of the focal point. Ablation of these targeted portions of the bladder tissue may reduce the coordinated contractions of the detrusor muscle and alleviate overactive bladder symptoms.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2020Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Thaddeus S. Brink, Blake A. Hedstrom, Dwight E. Nelson, Ashish Singal, Xin Su
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Patent number: 11241582Abstract: An example method includes receiving, by an implantable device and from an external device, an energy signal; transducing, by the implantable device, the energy signal into electrical power; outputting, by the implantable device and to the external device, a feedback signal that represents an absolute level of the electrical power transduced from the energy signal, wherein the feedback signal includes a first portion that represents a relative level of the electrical power transduced from the energy signal and a second portion that represents a reference voltage level; and delivering, by the implantable device, a level of electrical stimulation therapy proportional to the absolute level of the electrical power transduced from the energy signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2018Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Jamu K. Alford, Thaddeus S. Brink, Douglas S. Cerny, Sarah J. Offutt, Jerel K. Mueller
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Patent number: 11116980Abstract: Techniques for delivering electrical stimulation therapy comprising a complex variation to at least one electrical stimulation parameter are described. In one example, processing circuitry of an implantable medical device (IMD) identifies a plurality of electrical stimulation parameters for at least one pulse train of electrical stimulation. The processing circuitry defines a complex variation to at least one electrical stimulation parameter of the plurality of electrical stimulation parameters. The processing circuitry modifies the at least one pulse train of electrical stimulation by introducing the complex variation to the electrical stimulation parameter function and controls a stimulation generator of the IMD to generate, as modified, the at least one pulse train of electrical stimulation.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2018Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Dwight E. Nelson, Thaddeus S. Brink, Lance Zirpel
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Patent number: 11045650Abstract: In general, techniques, methods, systems, and devices for delivering high frequency neurostimulation to control one or more pelvic disorders are described. In one example, a method includes identifying, by a medical device configured to be at least partially implanted in a patient, an indication to inhibit bladder activity. The medical device generates, in response to identifying the indication, electrical stimulation therapy comprising first electrical stimulation pulses comprising a first frequency greater than or equal to about 500 Hertz and less than or equal to about 5,000 Hertz. Further, the medical device delivers the electrical stimulation therapy to a target nerve selected from a group consisting of: a sacral nerve, a pelvic nerve, a tibial nerve, and a pudendal nerve of the patient.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2017Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Thaddeus S. Brink, Dwight E. Nelson, Lance Zirpel, Xin Su, Blake A. Hedstrom, Erik J. Peterson, David A. Dinsmoor
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Publication number: 20200397361Abstract: This disclosure describes methods, systems, and devices configured to determine a timing of a future bladder related event of a patient. For example, a system includes processing circuitry configured to identify a timing of a plurality of bladder related events of a patient, determine, based on the timing of the plurality of bladder related events of the patient, a probability to experience a bladder related event function for the patient, the probability to experience a bladder related event function indicating a probability that the patient will experience a bladder related event at an elapsed time after a previous bladder related event, predict, based on the probability to experience a bladder related event function, a timing of a future bladder related event, and control delivery of a therapy to the patient based on the predicted timing of the future bladder related event.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2020Publication date: December 24, 2020Inventors: Dwight E. Nelson, Thaddeus S. Brink, Lance Zirpel, Adam P. Steiner
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Publication number: 20200281649Abstract: The disclosure describes devices, systems, and techniques for identifying and treating bladder dysfunction. In one example, a method includes identifying one or more focal points at respective locations of bladder tissue of a bladder of a patient, the one or more focal points initiating coordinated contractions of a detrusor muscle. The method may also, or alternatively, include ablating, for each of the one or more focal points, a respective portion of the bladder tissue at the respective location of the focal point. Ablation of these targeted portions of the bladder tissue may reduce the coordinated contractions of the detrusor muscle and alleviate overactive bladder symptoms.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Inventors: Thaddeus S. Brink, Blake A. Hedstrom, Dwight E. Nelson, Ashish Singal, Xin Su
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Patent number: 10765355Abstract: This disclosure describes methods, systems, and devices configured to determine a timing of a future bladder related event of a patient. For example, a system includes processing circuitry configured to identify a timing of a plurality of bladder related events of a patient, determine, based on the timing of the plurality of bladder related events of the patient, a probability to experience a bladder related event function for the patient, the probability to experience a bladder related event function indicating a probability that the patient will experience a bladder related event at an elapsed time after a previous bladder related event, predict, based on the probability to experience a bladder related event function, a timing of a future bladder related event, and control delivery of a therapy to the patient based on the predicted timing of the future bladder related event.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Dwight E. Nelson, Thaddeus S. Brink, Lance Zirpel, Adam P. Steiner
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Publication number: 20200230406Abstract: A method includes monitoring a sensor signal and classifying a physiological marker of a patient based upon the sensor signal. The method also includes generating a control signal based on the classified physiological marker, the control signal controlling an implantable stimulation device to provide the electrical stimulation at a target site within the patient. The method further includes adapting one or more of a manner in which processor circuitry classifies the physiological markers, generates the control signal, or one or more stimulation parameters of a stimulation program based on the classified physiological markers or patient input so as to automatically adjust one or more of timing or the stimulation parameters of the electrical stimulation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2020Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventors: Thaddeus S. Brink, Thomas Adamski, Scott R. Stanslaski, Lance Zirpel, Jeffrey Herron
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Patent number: 10660699Abstract: The disclosure describes devices, systems, and techniques for identifying and treating bladder dysfunction. In one example, a method includes identifying one or more focal points at respective locations of bladder tissue of a bladder of a patient, the one or more focal points initiating coordinated contractions of a detrusor muscle. The method may also, or alternatively, include ablating, for each of the one or more focal points, a respective portion of the bladder tissue at the respective location of the focal point. Ablation of these targeted portions of the bladder tissue may reduce the coordinated contractions of the detrusor muscle and alleviate overactive bladder symptoms.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2015Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Thaddeus S. Brink, Blake A. Hedstrom, Dwight E. Nelson, Ashish Singal, Xin Su
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Publication number: 20200054878Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods may manage therapy delivery to a patient based on one or more physiological markers. In some examples, a method includes detecting a physiological marker that occurs prior in time to a dysfunctional phase of a physiological cycle, wherein a dysfunctional state of the physiological cycle occurs during the dysfunctional phase without treatment, responsive to detecting the physiological marker, initiating a first phase of the physiological cycle having a duration of time. The method may also include, responsive to the first phase elapsing, controlling a therapy delivery module to deliver neurostimulation therapy during a second phase that begins prior to the dysfunctional phase, wherein the neurostimulation therapy is configured to treat the dysfunctional state.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2019Publication date: February 20, 2020Inventors: Thaddeus S. Brink, Dwight E. Nelson, Xin Su, Lance Zirpel
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Publication number: 20190358460Abstract: An example method includes receiving, by an implantable device and from an external device, an energy signal; transducing, by the implantable device, the energy signal into electrical power; outputting, by the implantable device and to the external device, a feedback signal that represents an absolute level of the electrical power transduced from the energy signal, wherein the feedback signal includes a first portion that represents a relative level of the electrical power transduced from the energy signal and a second portion that represents a reference voltage level; and delivering, by the implantable device, a level of electrical stimulation therapy proportional to the absolute level of the electrical power transduced from the energy signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2018Publication date: November 28, 2019Inventors: Jamu K. Alford, Thaddeus S. Brink, Douglas S. Cerny, Sarah J. Offutt, Jerel K. Mueller
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Publication number: 20190328303Abstract: This disclosure describes methods, systems, and devices configured to determine a timing of a future bladder related event of a patient. For example, a system includes processing circuitry configured to identify a timing of a plurality of bladder related events of a patient, determine, based on the timing of the plurality of bladder related events of the patient, a probability to experience a bladder related event function for the patient, the probability to experience a bladder related event function indicating a probability that the patient will experience a bladder related event at an elapsed time after a previous bladder related event, predict, based on the probability to experience a bladder related event function, a timing of a future bladder related event, and control delivery of a therapy to the patient based on the predicted timing of the future bladder related event.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2018Publication date: October 31, 2019Inventors: Dwight E. Nelson, Thaddeus S. Brink, Lance Zirpel, Adam P. Steiner