Patents by Inventor Wesley A. Santa

Wesley A. Santa 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: 20100033240
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a chopper stabilized instrumentation amplifier. The amplifier is configured to achieve stable measurements at low frequency with very low power consumption. The instrumentation amplifier uses a differential architecture and a mixer amplifier to substantially eliminate noise and offset from an output signal produced by the amplifier. Dynamic limitations, i.e., glitching, that result from chopper stabilization at low power are substantially eliminated through a combination of chopping at low impedance nodes within the mixer amplifier and feedback. The signal path of the amplifier operates as a continuous time system, providing minimal aliasing of noise or external signals entering the signal pathway at the chop frequency or its harmonics. The amplifier can be used in a low power system, such as an implantable medical device, to provide a stable, low-noise output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Denison, Wesley A. Santa
  • Patent number: 7622988
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a chopper stabilized instrumentation amplifier. The amplifier is configured to achieve stable measurements at low frequency with very low power consumption. The instrumentation amplifier uses a differential architecture and a mixer amplifier to substantially eliminate noise and offset from an output signal produced by the amplifier. Dynamic limitations, i.e., glitching, that result from chopper stabilization at low power are substantially eliminated through a combination of chopping at low impedance nodes within the mixer amplifier and feedback. The signal path of the amplifier operates as a continuous time system, providing minimal aliasing of noise or external signals entering the signal pathway at the chop frequency or its harmonics. The amplifier can be used in a low power system, such as an implantable medical device, to provide a stable, low-noise output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Denison, Wesley A. Santa
  • Publication number: 20090082691
    Abstract: In general, the disclosure is directed to a frequency selective monitor and methods for monitoring physiological signals in one or more selected frequency bands. A frequency selective monitor may utilize a heterodyning, chopper-stabilized amplifier architecture to convert a selected frequency band to a baseband for analysis. The frequency selective monitor may be useful in a variety of therapeutic and/or diagnostic applications. As examples, a frequency selective signal monitor may be provided within a medical device or within a sensor coupled to a medical device. The physiological signal may be analyzed in one or more selected frequency bands to trigger delivery of patient therapy and/or recording of diagnostic information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Timothy J. Denison, Randy M. Jensen, Wesley A. Santa
  • Publication number: 20080269631
    Abstract: Seizure prediction systems and methods include measuring impedance within a brain of a patient to determine whether the brain is in a state indicative of a possibility of an onset of a seizure. In some embodiments, the measured impedance is compared to a predetermined threshold in order to determine whether the brain is in a state indicative of a possibility of a seizure. In other embodiments, a trend of the impedance measurements is correlated to a template. In other embodiments, a frequency component of a waveform of the impedance measurement amplitudes over time is correlated to frequency components of a template waveform. Upon detecting a state in which a seizure is likely to occur, a seizure indicator may be generated, which, in some embodiments, may be used to activate therapy delivery to the patient or, in other embodiments, activate an alarm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Denison, Wesley A. Santa
  • Publication number: 20080269630
    Abstract: Seizure prediction systems and methods include measuring impedance and a potential within a brain of a patient to determine whether the brain is in a state indicative of a possibility of seizure. In some embodiments, at least one of the measured impedance or the measured potential may be used as a primary indication of the brain state indicative of a possibility of seizure. In one embodiment, if one of the measured impedance or the measured potential indicates a seizure, the other measurement (impedance or potential) may be used to validate whether the brain is in the state indicative of the possibility of seizure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Denison, Wesley A. Santa
  • Publication number: 20080183098
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a chopper stabilized instrumentation amplifier. The amplifier is configured to achieve stable measurements at low frequency with very low power consumption. The instrumentation amplifier uses a differential architecture and a mixer amplifier to substantially eliminate noise and offset from an output signal produced by the amplifier. Dynamic limitations, i.e., glitching, that result from chopper stabilization at low power are substantially eliminated through a combination of chopping at low impedance nodes within the mixer amplifier and feedback. The signal path of the amplifier operates as a continuous time system, providing minimal aliasing of noise or external signals entering the signal pathway at the chop frequency or its harmonics. The amplifier can be used in a low power system, such as an implantable medical device, to provide a stable, low-noise output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Denison, Wesley A. Santa
  • Patent number: 7391257
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a chopper stabilized instrumentation amplifier. The amplifier is configured to achieve stable measurements at low frequency with very low power consumption. The instrumentation amplifier uses a differential architecture and a mixer amplifier to substantially eliminate noise and offset from an output signal produced by the amplifier. Dynamic limitations, i.e., glitching, that result from chopper stabilization at low power are substantially eliminated through a combination of chopping at low impedance nodes within the mixer amplifier and feedback. The signal path of the amplifier operates as a continuous time system, providing minimal aliasing of noise or external signals entering the signal pathway at the chop frequency or its harmonics. The amplifier can be used in a low power system, such as an implantable medical device, to provide a stable, low-noise output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Denison, Wesley A. Santa