Patents by Inventor William D. Verhoef

William D. Verhoef 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).

  • Patent number: 8868794
    Abstract: System and method for interfacing with a medical device having a host device and a communication module. The host device has a user interface configured to input and display information relating to the interfacing with the medical device. The communication module is locally coupled to the host device and configured to communicate wirelessly with the medical device. The system, implemented by the host device and the communication module, is configured to communicate with the medical device with functions. The system, implemented by at least one of the host device and the communication module, has a security condition. At least one of the functions is disabled, at least in part, from operating on the system based upon the security condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Javaid Masoud, William D. Verhoef, Gregory J. Haubrich, Christopher M. Petersen
  • Patent number: 8855591
    Abstract: A wireless telemetry module and associated method reject interference in a received signal. The wireless telemetry module includes an antenna receives a communication signal transmitted at a desired channel frequency and having a channel bandwidth. A transceiver is controlled to operate in receiving and transmitting modes by a processor. An interference rejection module receives control signals from the processor corresponding to the desired channel frequency and is coupled between the antenna and the transceiver when the transceiver is operating in the receiving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Nowak, William D. Verhoef, Eric D. Corndorf
  • Patent number: 8626310
    Abstract: An implantable medical device (“IMD”) is provided having an antenna and an RF telemetry module for far field telemetry communications arranged on an exterior of the IMD housing, such that telemetry signal processing may be performed on the exterior of the housing. One or more feedthrough conductive paths extend through the housing to communicatively couple the RF module to circuitry within the housing. In this manner RF module is arranged entirely external to the housing, such that only power and/or low frequency data bit signals are required to be passed through the feedthrough conductive path. This allows the feedthrough conductive path to be filtered to prevent undesired interference signals (e.g., electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals) from entering the housing through the feedthrough conductive path coupled to the RF module. In some embodiments, the antenna and RF module are formed in an integrated assembly attachable to an exterior portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael William Barror, William D. Verhoef, Joyce K. Yamamoto, Robert S. Wentink, Gregory J. Haubrich
  • Patent number: 8428722
    Abstract: A communications device facilitates communication between a medical device and a wireless communications network and comprises a telemetry circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more medical devices, and a computer network communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate directly with a wireless computer network. The communications device also comprises a peripheral device communication interface configured to communicate with a wireless peripheral device and a processor being in operable communication with, and configured to control operations of, the telemetry circuit, the network communication interface, and the peripheral device communication interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Verhoef, Gregory J. Haubrich, Javaid Masoud, Len D. Twetan
  • Publication number: 20120166680
    Abstract: System and method for interfacing with a medical device having a host device and a communication module. The host device has a user interface configured to input and display information relating to the interfacing with the medical device. The communication module is locally coupled to the host device and configured to communicate wirelessly with the medical device. The system, implemented by the host device and the communication module, is configured to communicate with the medical device with functions. The system, implemented by at least one of the host device and the communication module, has a security condition. At least one of the functions is disabled, at least in part, from operating on the system based upon the security condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Javaid Masoud, William D. Verhoef, Gregory J. Haubrich, Christopher M. Petersen
  • Publication number: 20120163663
    Abstract: System and method for interfacing with a medical device. The system has a host device and a communication module. The host device has a user interface configured to input and display information relating to the interfacing with the medical device. The communication module is locally coupled to the host device and configured to communicate wirelessly with the medical device. The system, implemented by the host device and the communication module, is configured to communicate with the medical device with functions. The system, implemented by at least one of the host device and the communication module, has validation layers configured for use by users, each of the users having access to at least one of the validation layers based on a validation condition, each individual one of the functions being operational through the user interface only with one of the validation layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Javaid Masoud, Gregory J. Haubrich, William D. Verhoef, Bo Zhang, Christopher M. Petersen
  • Publication number: 20120165619
    Abstract: System and method for providing medical information concerning a patient having first patient physiological data and second patient physiological data. The system has a medical device and a handheld device. The medical device is configured to be implanted in the patient and has a sensor configured to obtain the first patient physiological data and a communication module. The handheld device has a communication module, a processor and a user interface. The device communication module is configured to communicate with the medical device communication module, the device communication module being configured to transfer the first patient physiological data to the handheld device via the communication module. The processor is configured to combine the first patient physiological data and the second patient physiological data and generate feedback having a recommended course of action based, at least in part, on the first patient physiological data and the second patient physiological data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Javaid Masoud, William D. Verhoef, Mark A. Maass, Bo Zhang, Christopher M. Petersen, Gregory J. Haubrich
  • Publication number: 20120147791
    Abstract: A wireless telemetry module and associated method reject interference in a received signal. The wireless telemetry module includes an antenna receives a communication signal transmitted at a desired channel frequency and having a channel bandwidth. A transceiver is controlled to operate in receiving and transmitting modes by a processor. An interference rejection module receives control signals from the processor corresponding to the desired channel frequency and is coupled between the antenna and the transceiver when the transceiver is operating in the receiving mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Michael E. Nowak, William D. Verhoef, Eric D. Corndorf
  • Patent number: 8126418
    Abstract: A wireless telemetry module and associated method reject interference in a received signal. The wireless telemetry module includes an antenna receives a communication signal transmitted at a desired channel frequency and having a channel bandwidth. A transceiver is controlled to operate in receiving and transmitting modes by a processor. An interference rejection module receives control signals from the processor corresponding to the desired channel frequency and is coupled between the antenna and the transceiver when the transceiver is operating in the receiving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Nowak, William D. Verhoef, Eric D. Corndorf
  • Patent number: 8000799
    Abstract: A remote patient monitoring system is provided including an implantable medical device (IMD) capable of collecting and storing medical data and multiple, networked external monitoring devices adapted for wireless communication with the IMD. The networked monitoring devices may be configured such that one device is the master and remaining devices are repeater units wherein the master monitoring device coordinates communication between the networked devices and the IMD based on maximizing the received transmission signal strength between the IMD and the monitoring device network. The system may further include a data communications network coupled to at least one of the multiple external monitoring devices to allow data to be transferred to a database or other communication medium. Likewise, data may be received by the monitoring device network from a database or other communication medium to be transferred to the IMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: William D. Verhoef
  • Publication number: 20110037614
    Abstract: A remote patient monitoring system is provided including an implantable medical device (IMD) capable of collecting and storing medical data and multiple, networked external monitoring devices adapted for wireless communication with the IMD. The networked monitoring devices may be configured such that one device is the master and remaining devices are repeater units wherein the master monitoring device coordinates communication between the networked devices and the IMD based on maximizing the received transmission signal strength between the IMD and the monitoring device network. The system may further include a data communications network coupled to at least one of the multiple external monitoring devices to allow data to be transferred to a database or other communication medium. Likewise, data may be received by the monitoring device network from a database or other communication medium to be transferred to the IMD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventor: William D. Verhoef
  • Patent number: 7840275
    Abstract: A remote patient monitoring system is provided including an implantable medical device (IMD) capable of collecting and storing medical data and multiple, networked external monitoring devices adapted for wireless communication with the IMD. The networked monitoring devices may be configured such that one device is the master and remaining devices are repeater units wherein the master monitoring device coordinates communication between the networked devices and the IMD based on maximizing the received transmission signal strength between the IMD and the monitoring device network. The system may further include a data communications network coupled to at least one of the multiple external monitoring devices to allow data to be transferred to a database or other communication medium. Likewise, data may be received by the monitoring device network from a database or other communication medium to be transferred to the IMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: William D. Verhoef
  • Publication number: 20100249887
    Abstract: A communications device facilitates communication between a medical device and a wireless communications network and comprises a telemetry circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more medical devices, and a computer network communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate directly with a wireless computer network. The communications device also comprises a peripheral device communication interface configured to communicate with a wireless peripheral device and a processor being in operable communication with, and configured to control operations of, the telemetry circuit, the network communication interface, and the peripheral device communication interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: William D. Verhoef, Gregory J. Haubrich, Javaid Masoud, Len D. Twetan
  • Patent number: 7761164
    Abstract: A communications device facilitates communication between a medical device and a wireless communications network and comprises a telemetry circuit configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more medical devices, and a computer network communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate directly with a wireless computer network. The communications device also comprises a peripheral device communication interface configured to communicate with a wireless peripheral device and a processor being in operable communication with, and configured to control operations of, the telemetry circuit, the network communication interface, and the peripheral device communication interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Verhoef, Gregory J. Haubrich, Javaid Masoud, Len D. Twetan
  • Publication number: 20100168818
    Abstract: An implantable medical device (“IMD”) is provided having an antenna and an RF telemetry module for far field telemetry communications arranged on an exterior of the IMD housing, such that telemetry signal processing may be performed on the exterior of the housing. One or more feedthrough conductive paths extend through the housing to communicatively couple the RF module to circuitry within the housing. In this manner RF module is arranged entirely external to the housing, such that only power and/or low frequency data bit signals are required to be passed through the feedthrough conductive path. This allows the feedthrough conductive path to be filtered to prevent undesired interference signals (e.g., electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals) from entering the housing through the feedthrough conductive path coupled to the RF module. In some embodiments, the antenna and RF module are formed in an integrated assembly attachable to an exterior portion of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Michael William Barror, William D. Verhoef, Joyce K. Yamamoto, Robert S. Wentink, Gregory J. Haubrich
  • Publication number: 20100114243
    Abstract: A wireless telemetry module and associated method reject interference in a received signal. The wireless telemetry module includes an antenna receives a communication signal transmitted at a desired channel frequency and having a channel bandwidth. A transceiver is controlled to operate in receiving and transmitting modes by a processor. An interference rejection module receives control signals from the processor corresponding to the desired channel frequency and is coupled between the antenna and the transceiver when the transceiver is operating in the receiving mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Michael E. Nowak, William D. Verhoef, Eric D. Corndorf
  • Patent number: 7672731
    Abstract: An implantable device, such as an implantable medical device (IMD) includes at least two radio frequency (RF) antennas and may additionally include an RF communication circuit. The RF antennas are spatially diverse, are disposed adjacent a housing, and are each configured to receive RF signals transmitted to the IMD from a remote RF signal source. The RF communication circuit, if included, is disposed within the housing and is configured to selectively receive the RF signals received by one or more of the spatially diverse RF antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Garry L. Dublin, Gregory J. Haubrich, Chris C. Fuller, Piotr Przybyszewski, Len D. Twetan, William D. Verhoef
  • Patent number: 7467014
    Abstract: An implantable medical device (“IMD”) configured in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention generally includes a housing, a connector header block coupled to the housing, a dielectric sheath located around at least a portion of the housing and/or around at least a portion of the header block, and a telemetry antenna located within the dielectric sheath. The antenna is configured to support far field telemetry with an external device such as a programmer. In one example embodiment, the antenna is configured as a balanced antenna having two separate antenna elements driven 180 degrees out of phase. Each of the antenna elements has a feed point on a perimeter edge of the IMD housing and a floating endpoint. A number of alternate embodiments are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher C. Fuller, William D. Verhoef, Gregory J. Haubrich, Javaid Masoud, George C. Rosar, Garry L. Dublin, Piotr Przybyszewski
  • Patent number: 7319901
    Abstract: An implantable medical device (“IMD”) configured in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention generally includes a housing, a connector header block coupled to the housing, and an optional telemetry antenna coupled to the header block. The optional antenna assembly is suitably configured to support the intended IMD application (e.g., the desired telemetry range, the intended IMD implant location, or other practical considerations). The optional antenna assembly may be utilized by itself or in cooperation with a permanent telemetry antenna of the IMD. In one practical embodiment, the optional antenna assembly has a connection end that is compliant with known pacemaker electrode lead standards, which allows the IMD to leverage existing connection methodologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Garry L. Dublin, William D. Verhoef, Rodney S. Wallace
  • Patent number: 7016733
    Abstract: Improved telemetry antennas and methods of fabrication for an implantable medical device (IMD) for use in uplink telemetry (UT) and downlink telemetry (DT) transmissions between the IMD and an external medical device (EMD) are disclosed. A first telemetry antenna element is supported to extend in a first direction along a minor side of the IMD housing by a first header segment, and a second antenna element is supported to extend in a second direction along a second minor side of the IMD housing by a second header segment. The first and second antenna elements are supported to extend apart at substantially 90° to one another, i.e., substantially orthogonally, in substantially a common plane to optimize UT transmission and DT reception of UHF telemetry signals by at least one of the first and second antenna elements depending upon the mutual spatial orientation with the antenna elements of an EMD antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Garry L. Dublin, William D. Verhoef, Rodney S. Wallace, Len D. Twetan, Eugene Kuschnir, Gregory J. Haubrich, Piotr J Przybyszewski, Christine G. Kronich, Bonnie Dougherty, legal representative, Eduardo H. Villaseca, deceased