Patents by Inventor William R. Mass
William R. Mass 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: 9552722Abstract: A modular patient communicator provides for communications with a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and connectivity with a central authority (CA) via an unsecured network. Medical firmware and a radio facilitate wireless interrogation of the PIMD and acquisition of PIMD data. A universal communications port facilitates mechanical and signal connectivity with one or a multiplicity of disparate detachable modules, some of which provide the communicator with an external communications facility and have disparate communication protocols. The communicator is devoid of an external communications facility other than the radio and universal communications port.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2013Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Inventors: Jim Sievert, William R. Mass
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Patent number: 9313192Abstract: Secured communications between patient portable communicators (PPC) and a central authority (CA) via an unsecured network are implemented using software implemented by a communications device. The communications device provides for detecting, using a multiplicity of disparate communication protocols, presence of entities requesting a network connection and determining whether or not each of the entities is a PPC, establishing, only for the entities determined to be PPCs, a connection to the CA via the unsecured network using the disparate communication protocols, authenticating only the PPCs to the CA, and facilitating communication of PPC data between the PPCs and the CA via the communications device and the unsecured network upon successful PPC authentication. The PPC data comprises at least some patient implantable medical device data acquired by the PPCs.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2014Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Inventors: Jim Sievert, Eric P. Bailey, William R. Mass
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Patent number: 9269251Abstract: A communicator facilitates communications with a remote server via a wireless network supporting a plurality of disparate data transport mechanisms having differing characteristics. A processor coupled to memory is disposed in a communicator housing, which is configured for portability. The memory stores wireless radio firmware and data transfer instructions that are executable by the processor for transferring data to the remote server in accordance with a priority level. The priority level is based in part on criticality of the data and the communicator status. A radio disposed in the housing effects communications via the wireless network in accordance with the firmware. A power source in the housing supplies power for communicator components. The processor executes program instructions for selecting a data transport mechanism among the plurality transport mechanisms based on the priority level, and transmits the data via the wireless network via the radio using the selected transport mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Inventors: John LaLonde, William R. Mass, Kenneth P. Hoyme, David C. Johnson, Joseph E. Bange, Mark Gryzwa
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Publication number: 20150206408Abstract: A communicator facilitates communications with a remote server via a wireless network supporting a plurality of disparate data transport mechanisms having differing characteristics. A processor coupled to memory is disposed in a communicator housing, which is configured for portability. The memory stores wireless radio firmware and data transfer instructions that are executable by the processor for transferring data to the remote server in accordance with a priority level. The priority level is based in part on criticality of the data and the communicator status. A radio disposed in the housing effects communications via the wireless network in accordance with the firmware. A power source in the housing supplies power for communicator components. The processor executes program instructions for selecting a data transport mechanism among the plurality transport mechanisms based on the priority level, and transmits the data via the wireless network via the radio using the selected transport mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2014Publication date: July 23, 2015Inventors: John LaLonde, William R. Mass, Kenneth P. Hoyme, David C. Johnson, Joseph E. Bange, Mark Gryzwa
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Patent number: 8970392Abstract: A communicator facilitates communications with a remote server via a wireless network supporting a plurality of disparate data transport mechanisms having differing characteristics. A processor coupled to memory is disposed in a communicator housing, which is configured for portability. The memory stores wireless radio firmware and data transfer instructions that are executable by the processor for transferring data to the remote server in accordance with a priority level. The priority level is based in part on criticality of the data and the communicator status. A radio disposed in the housing effects communications via the wireless network in accordance with the firmware. A power source in the housing supplies power for communicator components. The processor executes program instructions for selecting a data transport mechanism among the plurality transport mechanisms based on the priority level, and transmits the data via the wireless network via the radio using the selected transport mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Inventors: John LaLonde, William R. Mass, Kenneth P. Hoyme, David C. Johnson, Joseph E. Bange, Mark Gryzwa
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Publication number: 20140337922Abstract: Secured communications between patient portable communicators (PPC) and a central authority (CA) via an unsecured network are implemented using software implemented by a communications device. The communications device provides for detecting, using a multiplicity of disparate communication protocols, presence of entities requesting a network connection and determining whether or not each of the entities is a PPC, establishing, only for the entities determined to be PPCs, a connection to the CA via the unsecured network using the disparate communication protocols, authenticating only the PPCs to the CA, and facilitating communication of PPC data between the PPCs and the CA via the communications device and the unsecured network upon successful PPC authentication. The PPC data comprises at least some patient implantable medical device data acquired by the PPCs.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2014Publication date: November 13, 2014Inventors: Jim Sievert, Eric P. Bailey, William R. Mass
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Patent number: 8818522Abstract: A portable housing supports a processor coupled to memory for storing medical firmware and wireless radio firmware, first and second radios, a processor, and a power source. Communications are effected between an implantable medical device and the first radio in accordance with program instructions of the medical firmware, and between the second radio and the wireless network in accordance with program instructions of the wireless radio firmware. The first and second radios are configured to operate cooperatively in a first testing configuration, by which the first radio operates as a transmitter and the second radio operates as a receiver, and cooperatively in a second testing configuration, by which the second radio operates as a transmitter and the first radio operates as a receiver. Functional testing of the first and second radios is implemented using one or both of the first and second testing configurations.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2013Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Inventors: William R. Mass, John LaLonde, Michael W. Barton
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Patent number: 8805526Abstract: A system including an external medical data telemetry device to communicate with an implantable medical device (IMD). The external medical data telemetry device includes a processor, a reconfigurable radio-frequency (RF) transceiver circuit, at least one far-field antenna, and a user interface. The reconfigurable RF transceiver circuit modulates an outgoing IMD data signal and demodulates an incoming IMD data signal using a modulation type that is selectable from a plurality of modulation types by the processor. The processor selects the modulation type using information entered by a user through the user interface.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2006Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Inventors: Greg Carpenter, Joseph E. Bánge, Peter J. Musto, William R. Mass, Jonathan Hedstrom
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Patent number: 8755899Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling far-field radio-frequency communications with an implantable medical device in which an antenna is embedded within a dielectric compartment of the device. A helical antenna may be employed to save space while still permitting far-field telemetry over a desired range of frequencies.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2009Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey A. Von Arx, William R. Mass, Scott T. Mazar, Mark D. Amundson
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Publication number: 20140111353Abstract: A modular patient communicator provides for communications with a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and connectivity with a central authority (CA) via an unsecured network. Medical firmware and a radio facilitate wireless interrogation of the PIMD and acquisition of PIMD data. A universal communications port facilitates mechanical and signal connectivity with one or a multiplicity of disparate detachable modules, some of which provide the communicator with an external communications facility and have disparate communication protocols. The communicator is devoid of an external communications facility other than the radio and universal communications port.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2013Publication date: April 24, 2014Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Inventors: Jim Sievert, William R. Mass
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Patent number: 8700158Abstract: An interface device for facilitating transfer of medical information between a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and a remote network server via public network infrastructure is disclosed, the interface device using any of a plurality of generic network access devices having disparate communication protocols. First communication circuitry is configured to receive medical information from a patient implantable medical device (PIMD), and second communication circuitry configured to effect communication with the first communication circuitry and a generic network access device. A processor is coupled the first communication circuitry and the second communication circuitry. The processor is configured to control transmission of the medical information to the generic network access device and condition the medical device data in compliance with a predetermined medical information regulatory standard governing the PIMD. A method is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2013Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Inventors: William R. Mass, Greg Paul Carpenter, Daniel Kollmann, Arthur Lai, Philip G. Dion, Thomas R. Phillips, Aaron Eash
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Publication number: 20140062718Abstract: A communicator facilitates communications with a remote server via a wireless network supporting a plurality of disparate data transport mechanisms having differing characteristics. A processor coupled to memory is disposed in a communicator housing, which is configured for portability. The memory stores wireless radio firmware and data transfer instructions that are executable by the processor for transferring data to the remote server in accordance with a priority level. The priority level is based in part on criticality of the data and the communicator status. A radio disposed in the housing effects communications via the wireless network in accordance with the firmware. A power source in the housing supplies power for communicator components. The processor executes program instructions for selecting a data transport mechanism among the plurality transport mechanisms based on the priority level, and transmits the data via the wireless network via the radio using the selected transport mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2013Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Inventors: John LaLonde, William R. Mass, Kenneth P. Hoyme, David C. Johnson, Joseph E. Bange, Mark Gryzwa
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Publication number: 20130310896Abstract: A portable housing supports a processor coupled to memory for storing medical firmware and wireless radio firmware, first and second radios, a processor, and a power source. Communications are effected between an implantable medical device and the first radio in accordance with program instructions of the medical firmware, and between the second radio and the wireless network in accordance with program instructions of the wireless radio firmware. The first and second radios are configured to operate cooperatively in a first testing configuration, by which the first radio operates as a transmitter and the second radio operates as a receiver, and cooperatively in a second testing configuration, by which the second radio operates as a transmitter and the first radio operates as a receiver. Functional testing of the first and second radios is implemented using one or both of the first and second testing configurations.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Inventor: William R. Mass
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Patent number: 8587427Abstract: A communicator facilitates communications with a remote server via a wireless network supporting a plurality of disparate data transport mechanisms having differing characteristics. A processor coupled to memory is disposed in a communicator housing, which is configured for portability. The memory stores wireless radio firmware and data transfer instructions that are executable by the processor for transferring data to the remote server in accordance with a priority level. The priority level is based in part on criticality of the data and the communicator status. A radio disposed in the housing effects communications via the wireless network in accordance with the firmware. A power source in the housing supplies power for communicator components. The processor executes program instructions for selecting a data transport mechanism among the plurality transport mechanisms based on the priority level, and transmits the data via the wireless network via the radio using the selected transport mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2013Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Inventors: John LaLonde, William R. Mass, Kenneth P. Hoyme, David C. Johnson, Joseph E. Bange, Mark T. Gryzwa
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Publication number: 20130254348Abstract: An interface device for facilitating transfer of medical information between a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and a remote network server via public network infrastructure is disclosed, the interface device using any of a plurality of generic network access devices having disparate communication protocols. First communication circuitry is configured to receive medical information from a patient implantable medical device (PIMD), and second communication circuitry configured to effect communication with the first communication circuitry and a generic network access device. A processor is coupled the first communication circuitry and the second communication circuitry. The processor is configured to control transmission of the medical information to the generic network access device and condition the medical device data in compliance with a predetermined medical information regulatory standard governing the PIMD. A method is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Inventors: William R. Mass, Greg Paul Carpenter, Daniel Kollmann, Arthur Lai, Philip G. Dion, Thomas R. Phillips, Aaron Eash
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Publication number: 20130154851Abstract: A patient communicator for communicating with a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and facilitating communications with a remote server via a wireless network. The communicator has a housing configured for portability, and an identity module to store subscriber identification data. A processor is coupled to the identity module and is configured to prevent data exchange with the PIMD unless the identity module is authorized for use. Memory coupled to the processor stores wireless radio firmware and medical firmware. A first radio is configured to effect communications with the PIMD in accordance with execution of the medical firmware by the processor. A second radio is configured to effect communications via a channel of the wireless network with a remote server in accordance with execution of the wireless radio firmware by the processor. The processor is generally configured to use subscriber identification data to facilitate authentication by and of the remote server.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2013Publication date: June 20, 2013Applicant: CARDIAC PACEMAKERS, INC.Inventors: Robert J. Gaskill, Mark T. Gryzwa, John LaLonde, Kenneth P. Hoyme, William R. Mass, David C. Johnson, Michael W. Barton
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Patent number: 8352040Abstract: A system for communicating with an implantable medical device via RF telemetry is disclosed which mitigates the effects of nulls caused by, e.g., multi-path distortion. In one embodiment, signals transmitted by the implantable device to an external device are simultaneously received with a pair of separate spaced apart first and second antennas. The antennas may provide spatial and/or polar diversity. The presence of nulls in the implantable device's transmission pattern can be determined by detecting an error rate in the signals received from the implantable device with each antenna.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2005Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey A. Von Arx, Prashant Rawat, William R. Mass, Greg Carpenter, Vineel Vallapureddy
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Patent number: 8046080Abstract: An implantable medical device comprising a far field RF transmitter and receiver, a controller circuit communicatively coupled to the RF transmitter and receiver, and a wakeup timer circuit integral to, or communicatively coupled to, the controller. The controller is configured to initiate power up of the RF transmitter and receiver during a wakeup interval defined by the wakeup timer circuit, detect a digital key received from a second device during the wakeup interval, transmit a response using the RF transmitter when the digital key is received, and receive a communication from the second device and resynchronize the wake-up timer according to a time of the communication.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2010Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey A. Von Arx, Ron Balczewski, Scott T. Mazar, William J. Linder, William R. Mass
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Patent number: 7881795Abstract: Heart rhythm status information can be provided to a user, including providing a normal heart rhythm indication if detected electrocardiogram data is indicative of a normal heart rhythm, providing an abnormal heart rhythm indication if detected electrocardiogram data is indicative of an abnormal heart rhythm. Further, a current heart rhythm can be recorded, including recording the current heart rhythm in response to the provided abnormal heart rhythm indication if an abnormal heart rhythm indication is provided in response to the first query command, and recording the current heart rhythm in response to a second patient-initiated query command from the user-interface device following a normal heart rhythm indication in response to the first query command.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Inventors: Jay W. Axelrod, William R. Mass, Jason Malone, Richard E. Stein, Robert J. Gaskill
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Publication number: 20100152816Abstract: An implantable medical device comprising a far field RF transmitter and receiver, a controller circuit communicatively coupled to the RF transmitter and receiver, and a wakeup timer circuit integral to, or communicatively coupled to, the controller. The controller is configured to initiate power up of the RF transmitter and receiver during a wakeup interval defined by the wakeup timer circuit, detect a digital key received from a second device during the wakeup interval, transmit a response using the RF transmitter when the digital key is received, and receive a communication from the second device and resynchronize the wake-up timer according to a time of the communication.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2010Publication date: June 17, 2010Inventors: Jeffrey A. Von Arx, Ron Balczewski, Scott T. Mazar, William J. Linder, William R. Mass