Patents by Inventor William J. Combs

William J. Combs 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: 20230030361
    Abstract: A pellet for testing intestinal and anorectal function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Ghassan S. Kassab, Hans Gregersen, William J. Combs, Frederic P. Field
  • Patent number: 10213115
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method of detecting ischemia with a pressure sensor. The method can include obtaining a pressure signal and determining a pressure rate of change. The method can also include identifying at least one of impaired relaxation and impaired contractility in order to detect ischemia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarah A Audet, James K Carney, William J Combs, Tommy D Bennett, Barbro M. L. Kjellstrom
  • Publication number: 20160213265
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method of detecting ischemia with a pressure sensor. The method can include obtaining a pressure signal and determining a pressure rate of change. The method can also include identifying at least one of impaired relaxation and impaired contractility in order to detect ischemia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Sarah A. Audet, James K. Carney, William J. Combs, Tommy D. Bennett, Barbro M.L. Kjellstrom
  • Patent number: 9301698
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method of detecting ischemia with a pressure sensor. The method can include obtaining a pressure signal and determining a pressure rate of change. The method can also include identifying at least one of impaired relaxation and impaired contractility in order to detect ischemia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarah A. Audet, James K. Carney, William J. Combs, Tommy D. Bennett, Barbro M. L. Kjellstrom
  • Patent number: 9179852
    Abstract: Embodiments include heart monitoring systems, apparatus, and methods adapted to detect myocardial ischemia. An apparatus includes at least one first-tier sensor/analyzer adapted to sense a first input related to cardiac function, and to produce a first-tier trigger signal when the first input indicates myocardial ischemia. In an embodiment, a first-tier sensor/analyzer includes an ECG sensor/analyzer. In another embodiment, a first-tier sensor/analyzer includes a patient activator. An apparatus further includes at least one second-tier sensor/analyzer adapted to sense a second input related to cardiac function, and to produce a second-tier trigger signal when the second input indicates myocardial ischemia. In an embodiment, a second-tier sensor-analyzer includes a heart sound sensor/analyzer. A triggering element is adapted to produce a response-invoking signal in response to the first-tier trigger signal and the second-tier trigger signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarah A. Audet, James K. Carney, William J. Combs
  • Patent number: 8498705
    Abstract: An implantable medical device provides ventricular pacing capabilities and optimizes AV intervals for multiple purposes. In general, intrinsic conduction is promoted by determining when electromechanical systole (EMS) ends and setting an AV interval accordingly. EMS is determined utilizing various data including QT interval, sensor input, and algorithmic calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Raul Chirife, William J. Combs, Russell R. Lundstrom
  • Publication number: 20130006339
    Abstract: Implantable biomedical device leads comprising liquid conductors. In an exemplary embodiment of a lead for use in a biomedical application of the present disclosure, the lead comprises a lead body having a distal end and a proximal end, the lead body defining a first interior lumen therethrough, and an electrically conductive composition positioned within the first interior lumen, the electrically conductive composition comprising a metal in a liquid state at or below about 98° F. In another embodiment, the electrically conductive composition is selected from the group consisting of gallium, a gallium-indium alloy, Galinstan, its/their alloys, and combinations thereof. In various embodiments, the metallic electrically conductive composition is used along with a second non-metallic electrically conductive composition such as a conductive polymer, an electrically conductive liquid, an electrically conductive gel, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Keith L. March, William J. Combs, Aaron Matthew Kyle, Nichole Marilyn Leahy-Glass
  • Patent number: 8332031
    Abstract: An implantable medical device provides ventricular pacing capabilities and optimizes AV intervals for multiple purposes. In general, intrinsic conduction is promoted by determining when electromechanical systole (EMS) ends and setting an AV interval accordingly. EMS is determined utilizing various data including QT interval, sensor input, and algorithmic calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Raul Chirife, William J Combs, Russell L. Lundstrom
  • Patent number: 8200333
    Abstract: An implantable medical device provides ventricular pacing capabilities and optimizes AV intervals for multiple purposes. In general, intrinsic conduction is promoted by determining when electromechanical systole (EMS) ends and setting an AV interval accordingly. EMS is determined utilizing various data including QT interval, sensor input, and algorithmic calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Raul Chirife, William J. Combs, Russell L. Lundstrom
  • Patent number: 7996084
    Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) performs periodic testing of a patient to determine ischemia threshold information. At selected times while the patient is at rest, the IMD increases the pacing rate over time until it receives feedback either from the patient or from an ischemia sensor. The IMD determines the threshold based upon the pacing rate at the time when the feedback was received. The threshold information can be used to adjust the upper pacing rate that can be used during rate adaptive pacing, to determine the effects of drug therapy, and to provide a general indication of the state of coronary artery disease in the patient. The periodic increase of pacing rate to the ischemic zone also provides a preconditioning of the myocardium to allow the patient greater exercise benefit without angina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Stylos, Todd J. Sheldon, Steven N. Lu, William J. Combs, Robert J. Nehls
  • Patent number: 7991467
    Abstract: Subcutaneous Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (SubQ ICDs) are disclosed that are entirely implantable subcutaneously with minimal surgical intrusion into the body of the patient and provide distributed cardioversion-defibrillation sense and stimulation electrodes for delivery of cardioversion-defibrillation shock and pacing therapies across the heart when necessary. The SubQ ICD is implemented with other implantable and external medical devices and communicates to provide drugs and therapy in a coordinated and synergistic manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Toby Markowitz, Douglas A. Hettrick, William J. Combs, Todd J. Sheldon, David L. Thompson, Raja N. Ghanem, Kevin A. Wanasek
  • Publication number: 20110152964
    Abstract: An implantable medical device provides ventricular pacing capabilities and optimizes AV intervals for multiple purposes. In general, intrinsic conduction is promoted by determining when electromechanical systole (EMS) ends and setting an AV interval accordingly. EMS is determined utilizing various data including QT interval, sensor input, and algorithmic calculations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Raul Chirife, William J. Combs, Russell R. Lundstorm
  • Patent number: 7899533
    Abstract: An implantable medical device provides ventricular pacing capabilities and optimizes AV intervals for multiple purposes. In general, intrinsic conduction is promoted by determining when electromechanical systole (EMS) ends and setting an AV interval accordingly. EMS is determined utilizing various data including QT interval, sensor input, and algorithmic calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Raul Chirife, William J. Combs, Russell R. Lundstrom
  • Publication number: 20110022108
    Abstract: An implantable medical device provides ventricular pacing capabilities and optimizes AV intervals for multiple purposes. In general, intrinsic conduction is promoted by determining when electromechanical systole (EMS) ends and setting an AV interval accordingly. EMS is determined utilizing various data including QT interval, sensor input, and algorithmic calculations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Raul Chirife, William J. Combs, Russell L. Lundstrom
  • Patent number: 7848808
    Abstract: An implantable medical device system and method in which the implantable device is adapted to operate in a minimum ventricular pacing mode. The device delivers cardiac pacing pulses in a first pacing mode during a normal mode of operation and upon detecting myocardial ischemia alters the first pacing mode in response to the myocardial ischemia detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd J. Sheldon, William J. Combs, Lee Stylos, Steven N. Lu, Robert J. Nehls
  • Patent number: 7831303
    Abstract: An implantable cardiac stimulation system and method having continuous capture management capabilities are provided. Continuous capture management is realized by continuously monitoring for secondary effects of loss of capture, thereby effectively providing continuous capture management in any heart chamber without encountering the limitations normally associated with evoked response sensing. A pacing threshold search is triggered upon detecting a secondary indicator of loss of capture. Secondary indicators of loss of capture may be lead-related changes, changes related to the occurrence of atrial sensed events, changes related related to the occurrence of ventricular sensed or paced events, and/or changes related to a monitored physiological condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Rueter, William J. Combs
  • Patent number: 7826895
    Abstract: The invention is directed to techniques for monitoring organ rejection. An implanted device monitors the impedance of the transplanted organ. When the impedance measurements indicate that the organ is being rejected, the device provides early warning of rejection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Parsonnet, William J. Combs
  • Patent number: 7792580
    Abstract: Implantable medical devices having two or more leads can utilize digital signal processing to sample and filter the acquired data. The processed data is utilized to identify electrical activity in cardiac tissue remote from the lead location. An atrial lead and a ventricular lead are used to acquire data and the data is processed to indicated electrical timing within the HIS bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Lynn A. Borowitz, William J. Combs
  • Publication number: 20100222840
    Abstract: An implantable medical device provides ventricular pacing capabilities and optimizes AV intervals for multiple purposes. In general, intrinsic conduction is promoted by determining when electromechanical systole (EMS) ends and setting an AV interval accordingly. EMS is determined utilizing various data including QT interval, sensor input, and algorithmic calculations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Raul Chirife, William J. Combs, Russell L. Lundstrom
  • Patent number: 7769449
    Abstract: An implantable medical device provides ventricular pacing capabilities and optimizes AV intervals for multiple purposes. In general, intrinsic conduction is promoted by determining when electromechanical systole (EMS) ends and setting an AV interval accordingly. EMS is determined utilizing various data including QT interval, sensor input, and algorithmic calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Raul Chirife, William J. Combs, Russell R. Lundstrom