Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Bocek

Thomas M. Bocek 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: 20210123994
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing external magnetic fields in implantable medical devices are provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an apparatus for sensing magnetic fields. An apparatus embodiment includes a sensing circuit with at least one inductor having a magnetic core that saturates in the presence of a magnetic field having a prescribed flux density. The apparatus embodiment also includes an impedance measuring circuit connected to the sensing circuit. The impedance measuring circuit is adapted to measure impedance of the sensing circuit and to provide a signal when the impedance changes by a prescribed amount. According to an embodiment, the sensing circuit includes a resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit. The impedance measuring circuit includes a transthoracic impedance measurement module (TIMM), according to an embodiment. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Karl Gauglitz, Thomas M Bocek, Mark Rutzer, Lorin W Matthews, William E. Reagor, Blair Erbstoeszer
  • Patent number: 10921396
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing external magnetic fields in implantable medical devices are provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an apparatus for sensing magnetic fields. An apparatus embodiment includes a sensing circuit with at least one inductor having a magnetic core that saturates in the presence of a magnetic field having a prescribed flux density. The apparatus embodiment also includes an impedance measuring circuit connected to the sensing circuit. The impedance measuring circuit is adapted to measure impedance of the sensing circuit and to provide a signal when the impedance changes by a prescribed amount. According to an embodiment, the sensing circuit includes a resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit. The impedance measuring circuit includes a transthoracic impedance measurement module (TIMM), according to an embodiment. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Gauglitz, Thomas M. Bocek, Mark Rutzer, Lorin W. Matthews, William E. Reagor, Blair Erbstoeszer
  • Publication number: 20170322266
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing external magnetic fields in implantable medical devices are provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an apparatus for sensing magnetic fields. An apparatus embodiment includes a sensing circuit with at least one inductor having a magnetic core that saturates in the presence of a magnetic field having a prescribed flux density. The apparatus embodiment also includes an impedance measuring circuit connected to the sensing circuit. The impedance measuring circuit is adapted to measure impedance of the sensing circuit and to provide a signal when the impedance changes by a prescribed amount. According to an embodiment, the sensing circuit includes a resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit. The impedance measuring circuit includes a transthoracic impedance measurement module (TIMM), according to an embodiment. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Karl Gauglitz, Thomas M. Bocek, Mark Rutzer, Lorin W. Matthews, William E. Reagor, Blair Erbstoeszer
  • Patent number: 9766307
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing external magnetic fields in implantable medical devices are provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an apparatus for sensing magnetic fields. An apparatus embodiment includes a sensing circuit with at least one inductor having a magnetic core that saturates in the presence of a magnetic field having a prescribed flux density. The apparatus embodiment also includes an impedance measuring circuit connected to the sensing circuit. The impedance measuring circuit is adapted to measure impedance of the sensing circuit and to provide a signal when the impedance changes by a prescribed amount. According to an embodiment, the sensing circuit includes a resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit. The impedance measuring circuit includes a transthoracic impedance measurement module (TIMM), according to an embodiment. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Gauglitz, Thomas M. Bocek, Mark Rutzer, Lorin W. Matthews, William E. Reagor, Blair Erbstoeszer
  • Patent number: 8958877
    Abstract: An ambulatory or implantable device, such as a pacer, defibrillator, or other cardiac rhythm management device, can tolerate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or other noise without turning on an integrated circuit diode by selectively providing a bias voltage that can overcome an expected induced voltage resulting from the MRI or other noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Stessman, Michael J. Lyden, Thomas M. Bocek, William J. Linder, Joseph M. Bocek
  • Publication number: 20140296699
    Abstract: An ambulatory or implantable device, such as a pacer, defibrillator, or other cardiac rhythm management device, can tolerate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or other noise without turning on an integrated circuit diode by selectively providing a bias voltage that can overcome an expected induced voltage resulting from the MRI or other noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Stessman, Michael J. Lyden, Thomas M. Bocek, William J. Linder, Joseph M. Bocek
  • Publication number: 20140194729
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing external magnetic fields in implantable medical devices are provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an apparatus for sensing magnetic fields. An apparatus embodiment includes a sensing circuit with at least one inductor having a magnetic core that saturates in the presence of a magnetic field having a prescribed flux density. The apparatus embodiment also includes an impedance measuring circuit connected to the sensing circuit. The impedance measuring circuit is adapted to measure impedance of the sensing circuit and to provide a signal when the impedance changes by a prescribed amount. According to an embodiment, the sensing circuit includes a resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit. The impedance measuring circuit includes a transthoracic impedance measurement module (TIMM), according to an embodiment. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Gauglitz, Thomas M. Bocek, Mark Rutzer, Lorin W. Matthews, William E. Reagor, Blair Erbstoeszer
  • Patent number: 8755886
    Abstract: An ambulatory or implantable device, such as a pacer, defibrillator, or other cardiac rhythm management device, can tolerate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or other noise without turning on an integrated circuit diode by selectively providing a bias voltage that can overcome an expected induced voltage resulting from the MRI or other noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Stessman, Michael J. Lyden, Thomas M. Bocek, William J. Linder, Joseph M. Bocek
  • Patent number: 8710826
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing external magnetic fields in implantable medical devices are provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an apparatus for sensing magnetic fields. An apparatus embodiment includes a sensing circuit with at least one inductor having a magnetic core that saturates in the presence of a magnetic field having a prescribed flux density. The apparatus embodiment also includes an impedance measuring circuit connected to the sensing circuit. The impedance measuring circuit is adapted to measure impedance of the sensing circuit and to provide a signal when the impedance changes by a prescribed amount. According to an embodiment, the sensing circuit includes a resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit. The impedance measuring circuit includes a transthoracic impedance measurement module (TIMM), according to an embodiment. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Gauglitz, Thomas M. Bocek, Mark Rutzer, Lorin W. Matthews, William E. Reagor, Blair Erbstoeszer
  • Patent number: 8676335
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with an IMD and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver. The processor is configured to detect an error in a data unit received from the IMD, transmit a series of synchronization signals during an uninterrupted communication sequence, and receive, for each synchronization signal, a new data unit and the number of requested duplicate data units from the IMD. Each synchronization signal includes an echo code, wherein the echo code corresponds to a request for a number of duplicate data units to be sent in response to detecting the error in the data unit received during said uninterrupted communication sequence. The number of duplicate data units corresponds to a value of the echo code, and a duplicate data unit corresponds to a data unit previously transmitted by the IMD during said uninterrupted communication sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehdi Katoozi, Kenneth F. Cowan, Thomas M. Bocek, Mark Rutzer, Scott Vanderlinde, Prashant Rawat
  • Publication number: 20120046707
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing external magnetic fields in implantable medical devices are provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an apparatus for sensing magnetic fields. An apparatus embodiment includes a sensing circuit with at least one inductor having a magnetic core that saturates in the presence of a magnetic field having a prescribed flux density. The apparatus embodiment also includes an impedance measuring circuit connected to the sensing circuit. The impedance measuring circuit is adapted to measure impedance of the sensing circuit and to provide a signal when the impedance changes by a prescribed amount. According to an embodiment, the sensing circuit includes a resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit. The impedance measuring circuit includes a transthoracic impedance measurement module (TIMM), according to an embodiment. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Karl Gauglitz, Thomas M. Bocek, Mark Rutzer, Lorin W. Matthews, William E. Reagor, Blair Erbstoeszer
  • Patent number: 8049489
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing external magnetic fields in implantable medical devices are provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an apparatus for sensing magnetic fields. An apparatus embodiment includes a sensing circuit with at least one inductor having a magnetic core that saturates in the presence of a magnetic field having a prescribed flux density. The apparatus embodiment also includes an impedance measuring circuit connected to the sensing circuit. The impedance measuring circuit is adapted to measure impedance of the sensing circuit and to provide a signal when the impedance changes by a prescribed amount. According to an embodiment, the sensing circuit includes a resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit. The impedance measuring circuit includes a transthoracic impedance measurement module (TIMM), according to an embodiment. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Gauglitz, Thomas M. Bocek, Mark Rutzer, Lorin W. Matthews, William E. Reagor, Blair Erbstoeszer
  • Publication number: 20110160803
    Abstract: An ambulatory or implantable device, such as a pacer, defibrillator, or other cardiac rhythm management device, can tolerate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or other noise without turning on an integrated circuit diode by selectively providing a bias voltage that can overcome an expected induced voltage resulting from the MRI or other noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Stessman, Michael J. Lyden, Thomas M. Bocek, William J. Linder, Joseph M. Bocek
  • Publication number: 20080071168
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing external magnetic fields in implantable medical devices are provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an apparatus for sensing magnetic fields. An apparatus embodiment includes a sensing circuit with at least one inductor having a magnetic core that saturates in the presence of a magnetic field having a prescribed flux density. The apparatus embodiment also includes an impedance measuring circuit connected to the sensing circuit. The impedance measuring circuit is adapted to measure impedance of the sensing circuit and to provide a signal when the impedance changes by a prescribed amount. According to an embodiment, the sensing circuit includes a resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit. The impedance measuring circuit includes a transthoracic impedance measurement module (TIMM), according to an embodiment. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Karl Gauglitz, Thomas M. Bocek, Mark Rutzer, Lorin W. Matthews, William E. Reagor, Blair Erbstoeszer