Patents by Inventor Thomas R. Skwarek
Thomas R. Skwarek 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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Patent number: 9668803Abstract: This disclosure describes impedance computation techniques that may reduce the effect of crosstalk, thus generating more accurate impedance measurements. In particular, an ablation system models the electrical interaction among the active electrodes and a common return electrode using a star-configuration resistor model. The ablation system computes one or more parameters of the star-configuration resistor model and adjusts the therapy based on at least the computed parameters of the star-configuration resistor model.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2014Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Nikhil Bhushan, Thomas R. Skwarek, Graham Spall, Keith S. Bosacker
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Publication number: 20140350543Abstract: This disclosure describes impedance computation techniques that may reduce the effect of crosstalk, thus generating more accurate impedance measurements. In particular, an ablation system models the electrical interaction among the active electrodes and a common return electrode using a star-configuration resistor model. The ablation system computes one or more parameters of the star-configuration resistor model and adjusts the therapy based on at least the computed parameters of the star-configuration resistor model.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2014Publication date: November 27, 2014Inventors: Nikhil Bhushan, Thomas R. Skwarek, Graham Spall, Keith S. Bosacker
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Patent number: 8801704Abstract: This disclosure describes impedance computation techniques that may reduce the effect of crosstalk, thus generating more accurate impedance measurements. In particular, an ablation system models the electrical interaction among the active electrodes and a common return electrode using a star-configuration resistor model. The ablation system computes one or more parameters of the star-configuration resistor model and adjusts the therapy based on at least the computed parameters of the star-configuration resistor model.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2011Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Nikhil Bhushan, Thomas R. Skwarek, Graham Spall, Keith S. Bosacker
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Patent number: 8758337Abstract: The disclosure describes a user interface that may be used to control ablation therapy and monitor ablation therapy progress in systems that utilize wet electrode ablation techniques. The user interface presents a virtual electrode depth icon to a user that indicates the size of a lesion that may be created with the selected virtual electrode depth. The virtual electrode depth may be changed by the user according to the ablation therapy most appropriate for a patient, and the user may interact with the user interface to define the virtual electrode depth. In this manner, the user interface may be a touchscreen or other input device such as a mouse, pointing device, or keyboard. The user interface may also provide a thermometer icon that represents a patient temperature, a timer icon that represents a remaining time for therapy, and other representations of therapy progress.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Thomas R. Skwarek, William K. Wenger, Keith S. Bosacker
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Publication number: 20110319885Abstract: The disclosure describes a user interface that may be used to control ablation therapy and monitor ablation therapy progress in systems that utilize wet electrode ablation techniques. The user interface presents a virtual electrode depth icon to a user that indicates the size of a lesion that may be created with the selected virtual electrode depth. The virtual electrode depth may be changed by the user according to the ablation therapy most appropriate for a patient, and the user may interact with the user interface to define the virtual electrode depth. In this manner, the user interface may be a touchscreen or other input device such as a mouse, pointing device, or keyboard. The user interface may also provide a thermometer icon that represents a patient temperature, a timer icon that represents a remaining time for therapy, and other representations of therapy progress.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Inventors: Thomas R. Skwarek, William K. Wenger, Keith S. Bosacker
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Patent number: 8048069Abstract: The disclosure describes a user interface that may be used to control ablation therapy and monitor ablation therapy progress in systems that utilize wet electrode ablation techniques. The user interface presents a virtual electrode depth icon to a user that indicates the size of a lesion that may be created with the selected virtual electrode depth. The virtual electrode depth may be changed by the user according to the ablation therapy most appropriate for a patient, and the user may interact with the user interface to define the virtual electrode depth. In this manner, the user interface may be a touchscreen or other input device such as a mouse, pointing device, or keyboard. The user interface may also provide a thermometer icon that represents a patient temperature, a timer icon that represents a remaining time for therapy, and other representations of therapy progress.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2007Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Thomas R. Skwarek, William K. Wenger, Keith S. Bosacker
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Publication number: 20110130755Abstract: This disclosure describes impedance computation techniques that may reduce the effect of crosstalk, thus generating more accurate impedance measurements. In particular, an ablation system models the electrical interaction among the active electrodes and a common return electrode using a star-configuration resistor model. The ablation system computes one or more parameters of the star-configuration resistor model and adjusts the therapy based on at least the computed parameters of the star-configuration resistor model.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2011Publication date: June 2, 2011Inventors: Nikhil Bhushan, Thomas R. Skwarek, Graham Spall, Keith Bosacker
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Publication number: 20110060328Abstract: The disclosure describes a system that may be used to deliver a plurality of therapies using one portable device. The system includes a fluid pump that pumps fluid from a container to a therapy device to treat a patient. The fluid pump resides within a pump bay of the therapy delivery device. The fluid may be used to increase cool a tissue of the patient or clear debris. In one embodiment, generated signals may be delivered by a peripheral accessory connected to the generator through the connector board, and the generator may generate radio frequency (RF) energy for the purpose of prostate tissue ablation, where the effective ablation area of an electrode is increased by the fluid. In addition, the therapy delivery device may include a touch screen user interface, a visual operation indicator, a signal generator, and a removable connector board.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2010Publication date: March 10, 2011Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.Inventors: Thomas R. Skwarek, Mark A. Christopherson
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Patent number: 7896871Abstract: This disclosure describes impedance computation techniques that may reduce the effect of crosstalk, thus generating more accurate impedance measurements. In particular, an ablation system models the electrical interaction among the active electrodes and a common return electrode using a star-configuration resistor model. The ablation system computes one or more parameters of the star-configuration resistor model and adjusts the therapy based on at least the computed parameters of the star-configuration resistor model.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2007Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Nikhil Bhushan, Thomas R. Skwarek, Graham Spall, Keith Bosacker
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Publication number: 20080275440Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a method of providing feedback regarding the outcome of ablation therapy. Measuring one or more tissue properties after the ablation procedure may allow the clinician to verify the size of the lesion formed or other therapy results. In one embodiment, the invention is directed toward a method for providing feedback regarding the results of tissue ablation, the method comprising deploying one or more needles from a catheter into a target tissue, delivering energy via at least one of the one or more needles to ablate at least a portion of the target tissue to form a lesion, stopping energy delivery via the at least one of the one or more needles, and measuring a tissue property via at least one of the one or more needles after the energy delivery has been stopped. The measured tissue property may be temperature or impedance. Also, the measured tissue property may be used to determine a volume of the lesion formed by ablation therapy.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2007Publication date: November 6, 2008Inventors: Paul S. Kratoska, Thomas R. Skwarek
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Patent number: 7437194Abstract: The invention is directed to techniques for providing electrical stimulation to the prostate gland of a patient. In particular, various techniques are described for providing such stimulation in order to treat sexual dysfunction, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or other disorders. In some embodiments, the stimulation may be provided to the prostate gland to cause erection or ejaculation in order to treat various sexual dysfunctions. In other embodiments, the stimulation may comprise a training sequence of pulses selected to train and modify the cellular structure of the prostate gland in order to treat BPH or similar prostate disorders.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2003Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Thomas R. Skwarek, Martin T. Gerber
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Publication number: 20080208187Abstract: This disclosure describes impedance computation techniques that may reduce the effect of crosstalk, thus generating more accurate impedance measurements. In particular, an ablation system models the electrical interaction among the active electrodes and a common return electrode using a star-configuration resistor model. The ablation system computes one or more parameters of the star-configuration resistor model and adjusts the therapy based on at least the computed parameters of the star-configuration resistor model.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2007Publication date: August 28, 2008Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Nikhil Bhushan, Thomas R. Skwarek, Graham Spall, Keith Bosacker
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Publication number: 20080082145Abstract: The disclosure describes a user interface that may be used to control ablation therapy and monitor ablation therapy progress in systems that utilize wet electrode ablation techniques. The user interface presents a virtual electrode depth icon to a user that indicates the size of a lesion that may be created with the selected virtual electrode depth. The virtual electrode depth may be changed by the user according to the ablation therapy most appropriate for a patient, and the user may interact with the user interface to define the virtual electrode depth. In this manner, the user interface may be a touchscreen or other input device such as a mouse, pointing device, or keyboard. The user interface may also provide a thermometer icon that represents a patient temperature, a timer icon that represents a remaining time for therapy, and other representations of therapy progress.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2007Publication date: April 3, 2008Inventors: Thomas R. Skwarek, William K. Wenger, Keith S. Bosacker
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Patent number: 7238182Abstract: The invention provides a transurethral ablation device comprising a catheter sized for insertion into a urethra of a male patient. A distal end of the catheter defines a lateral cavity. A vacuum line applies vacuum pressure to the cavity to capture a portion of the urethra and a portion of the prostate into the cavity. An ablation probe has a distal tip mounted within the catheter adjacent the cavity, and is movable for insertion into the captured portion of the prostate. The ablation probe can be inserted with an orientation substantially parallel to the urethral wall. Alternatively, multiple ablation probes can be provided for simultaneous use in ablating tissue with a target site in the prostate. A suction cannula may be used to remove ablated tissue from the target site.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2003Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: John M. Swoyer, Thomas R. Skwarek
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Publication number: 20040215179Abstract: The invention provides a transurethral ablation device comprising a catheter sized for insertion into a urethra of a male patient. A distal end of the catheter defines a lateral cavity. A vacuum line applies vacuum pressure to the cavity to capture a portion of the urethra and a portion of the prostate into the cavity. An ablation probe has a distal tip mounted within the catheter adjacent the cavity, and is movable for insertion into the captured portion of the prostate. The ablation probe can be inserted with an orientation substantially parallel to the urethral wall. Alternatively, multiple ablation probes can be provided for simultaneous use in ablating tissue with a target site in the prostate. A suction cannula may be used to remove ablated tissue from the target site.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2003Publication date: October 28, 2004Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: John M. Swoyer, Thomas R. Skwarek
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Patent number: D551769Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2005Date of Patent: September 25, 2007Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Thomas R. Skwarek, Mark A. Christopherson
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Patent number: D560280Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2007Date of Patent: January 22, 2008Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Thomas R. Skwarek, Mark A. Christopherson