Patents by Inventor Timothy Joseph Nichols

Timothy Joseph Nichols 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).

  • Apparatus and method to automatic remote software updates of medical device systems
    Patent number: 6363282
    Abstract: A system and method for providing an automated software update to a programmer or equivalent device used in implantable medical device system is disclosed. The programmer comprises a remote instrument configuration database containing current instrument configuration information. The programmer user interface initiates an interface to a centralized globally accessible remote expert data center located at a distal location relative to the programmer. The remote expert data center includes an instrument configuration database containing configuration data for the programmer. The remote expert data center also includes a released software database containing software applications compatible with the programmer. Further, the remote expert data center contains a rule set database which identifies an approved software application for the programmer. A management component of the remote expert data center enables the transmission of the approved software application to the programmer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Joseph Nichols, Kurt R. Linberg