Patents by Inventor William T. Donofrio
William T. Donofrio 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: 11076825Abstract: A surgical instrument for assessing tissue characteristics such as tissue density and volume is disclosed. The surgical instrument is hand-held and includes transducers adapted for emitting and/or receiving acoustic signals. The surgical instrument utilizes pulse-echo to determine tissue characteristics. The surgical instrument may be utilized to determine such things as the size of a lesion and whether the lesion has been completely removed or filled with graft material.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2018Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.Inventors: Jeffrey H. Nycz, Fred J. Molz, IV, Steven Tethrake, Stanley Warren Olson, Jr., William T. Donofrio
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Publication number: 20200237464Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical system has an ultrasonic unit including an instrument operatively connected to an ultrasonic generator, wherein the instrument has an ultrasonic end effector on the distal end of a shaft. The system further includes a positioning unit including a movable arm adapted for releasably holding the instrument, whereby an operator may direct the positioning unit to position the end effector at a surgical site inside a body cavity of a patient for performing a plurality of surgical tasks. The system further includes a control unit operatively connected to the ultrasonic and positioning units, wherein the control unit is programmable with a surgical subroutine for performing the surgical tasks. The system further includes a user interface operatively connected to the control unit for initiating an operative cycle of the surgical subroutine such that the surgical tasks are automatically performed during the operative cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2020Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: Kevin L. Houser, William T. Donofrio, Foster B. Stulen
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Patent number: 10617482Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical system has an ultrasonic unit including an instrument operatively connected to an ultrasonic generator, wherein the instrument has an ultrasonic end effector on the distal end of a shaft. The system further includes a positioning unit including a movable arm adapted for releasably holding the instrument, whereby an operator may direct the positioning unit to position the end effector at a surgical site inside a body cavity of a patient for performing a plurality of surgical tasks. The system further includes a control unit operatively connected to the ultrasonic and positioning units, wherein the control unit is programmable with a surgical subroutine for performing the surgical tasks. The system further includes a user interface operatively connected to the control unit for initiating an operative cycle of the surgical subroutine such that the surgical tasks are automatically performed during the operative cycle.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2017Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Kevin L. Houser, William T. Donofrio, Foster B. Stulen
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Publication number: 20190059849Abstract: A surgical instrument for assessing tissue characteristics such as tissue density and volume is disclosed. The surgical instrument is hand-held and includes transducers adapted for emitting and/or receiving acoustic signals. The surgical instrument utilizes pulse-echo to determine tissue characteristics. The surgical instrument may be utilized to determine such things as the size of a lesion and whether the lesion has been completely removed or filled with graft material.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2018Publication date: February 28, 2019Applicant: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.Inventors: Jeffrey H. Nycz, Fred J. Molz, IV, Steven Tethrake, Stanley Warren Olson, JR., William T. Donofrio
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Patent number: 10111646Abstract: A surgical instrument for assessing tissue characteristics such as tissue density and volume is disclosed. The surgical instrument is hand-held and includes transducers adapted for emitting and/or receiving acoustic signals. The surgical instrument utilizes pulse-echo to determine tissue characteristics. The surgical instrument may be utilized to determine such things as the size of a lesion and whether the lesion has been completely removed or filled with graft material.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2015Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey H. Nycz, Fred J. Molz, IV, Steven Tethrake, Stanley Warren Olson, Jr., William T. Donofrio
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Patent number: 9814886Abstract: In some examples, an electromechanical disassociation state (EMD) of a heart of a patient can be treated by delivering electrical stimulation to a tissue site to at least one of modulate afferent nerve activity or inhibit efferent nerve activity upon determining that the heart is in an electromechanical dissociation state, where the tissue site comprises at least one of a nonmyocardial tissue site or a nonvascular cardiac tissue site. The delivery of electrical stimulation may effectively treat the EMD state of the heart, e.g., by enabling effective mechanical contraction of the heart. In another example, an electromechanical disassociation state of a heart of a patient can be treated by determining autonomic nervous system activity associated with a detected EMD state of the heart of a patient, and delivering electrical stimulation therapy to the patient based on the determined autonomic nervous system activity of the patient associated with the EMD state.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2010Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Xiaohong Zhou, Paul G. Krause, William T. Donofrio
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Patent number: 9775987Abstract: Electrical crosstalk between two implantable medical devices or two different therapy modules of a common implantable medical device may be evaluated, and, in some examples, mitigated. In some examples, one of the implantable medical devices or therapy modules delivers electrical stimulation to a nonmyocardial tissue site or a nonvascular cardiac tissue site, and the other implantable medical device or therapy module delivers cardiac rhythm management therapy to a heart of the patient.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: William T. Donofrio, John E. Burnes, Paul G. Krause, Gerald P. Arne, David J. Peichel, Xiaohong Zhou, James D. Reinke, Timothy Davis
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Publication number: 20170245882Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical system has an ultrasonic unit including an instrument operatively connected to an ultrasonic generator, wherein the instrument has an ultrasonic end effector on the distal end of a shaft. The system further includes a positioning unit including a movable arm adapted for releasably holding the instrument, whereby an operator may direct the positioning unit to position the end effector at a surgical site inside a body cavity of a patient for performing a plurality of surgical tasks. The system further includes a control unit operatively connected to the ultrasonic and positioning units, wherein the control unit is programmable with a surgical subroutine for performing the surgical tasks. The system further includes a user interface operatively connected to the control unit for initiating an operative cycle of the surgical subroutine such that the surgical tasks are automatically performed during the operative cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2017Publication date: August 31, 2017Inventors: Kevin L. Houser, William T. Donofrio, Foster B. Stulen
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Patent number: 9675375Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical system has an ultrasonic unit including an instrument operatively connected to an ultrasonic generator, wherein the instrument has an ultrasonic end effector on the distal end of a shaft. The system further includes a positioning unit including a movable arm adapted for releasably holding the instrument, whereby an operator may direct the positioning unit to position the end effector at a surgical site inside a body cavity of a patient for performing a plurality of surgical tasks. The system further includes a control unit operatively connected to the ultrasonic and positioning units, wherein the control unit is programmable with a surgical subroutine for performing the surgical tasks. The system further includes a user interface operatively connected to the control unit for initiating an operative cycle of the surgical subroutine such that the surgical tasks are automatically performed during the operative cycle.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2006Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: ETHICON LLCInventors: Kevin L. Houser, William T. Donofrio, Foster B. Stulen
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Patent number: 9597505Abstract: Electrical crosstalk between two implantable medical devices or two different therapy modules of a common implantable medical device may be evaluated, and, in some examples, mitigated. In some examples, one of the implantable medical devices or therapy modules delivers electrical stimulation to a nonmyocardial tissue site or a nonvascular cardiac tissue site, and the other implantable medical device or therapy module delivers cardiac rhythm management therapy to a heart of the patient.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: William T. Donofrio, John E. Burnes, Paul G. Krause, Xiaohong Zhou, Gerald P. Arne, David J. Peichel, James D. Reinke
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Publication number: 20160081655Abstract: A surgical instrument for assessing tissue characteristics such as tissue density and volume is disclosed. The surgical instrument is hand-held and includes transducers adapted for emitting and/or receiving acoustic signals. The surgical instrument utilizes pulse-echo to determine tissue characteristics. The surgical instrument may be utilized to determine such things as the size of a lesion and whether the lesion has been completely removed or filled with graft material.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2015Publication date: March 24, 2016Applicant: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.Inventors: Jeffrey H. Nycz, Fred J. Molz, IV, Steven Tethrake, Stanley Warren Olson, JR., William T. Donofrio
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Patent number: 9192769Abstract: Techniques for minimizing interference between the first and second medical devices or between the different therapy modules of a common medical device are described herein. In some examples, a medical device may include shunt-current mitigation circuitry and/or at least one clamping structure that helps minimize or even eliminate shunt-current that feeds into a first therapy module of the medical device via one or more electrodes electrically connected to the first therapy module. The shunt-current may be generated by the delivery of electrical stimulation by a second therapy module. The second therapy module may be enclosed in a common housing with the first therapy module or may be separate, e.g., a part of a separate medical device.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2009Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: William T. Donofrio, John E. Burnes, Paul G. Krause, Gerald P. Arne, Xiaohong Zhou
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Patent number: 8774918Abstract: Electrical crosstalk between two implantable medical devices or two different therapy modules of a common implantable medical device may be evaluated, and, in some examples, mitigated. In some examples, one of the implantable medical devices or therapy modules delivers electrical stimulation to a nonmyocardial tissue site or a nonvascular cardiac tissue site, and the other implantable medical device or therapy module delivers cardiac rhythm management therapy to a heart of the patient.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: William T. Donofrio, John E. Burnes, Paul G. Krause, Xiaohong Zhou, Gerald P. Arne, David J. Peichel, James D. Reinke
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Patent number: 8688210Abstract: Electrical crosstalk between two implantable medical devices or two different therapy modules of a common implantable medical device may be evaluated, and, in some examples, mitigated. In some examples, one of the implantable medical devices or therapy modules delivers electrical stimulation to a nonmyocardial tissue site or a nonvascular cardiac tissue site, and the other implantable medical device or therapy module delivers cardiac rhythm management therapy to a heart of the patient.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: John E. Burnes, Paul G. Krause, William T. Donofrio, Gerald P. Arne, David J. Peichel, Xiaohong Zhou, James D. Reinke
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Patent number: 8676310Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) may include a battery dedicated to providing cardiac stimulation therapy and a separate power source that provides power for electrical stimulation therapy. Such a configuration preserves the battery dedicated for providing cardiac stimulation therapy even if the second power source is depleted. As an example, the IMD may comprise a cardiac stimulation module configured to deliver at least one stimulation therapy selected from a group consisting of pacing, cardioversion and defibrillation. The IMD further comprises a electrical stimulation module configured to deliver electrical stimulation therapy, a first power source including a battery, wherein the first power source is configured to supply power to the cardiac stimulation module and not to the electrical stimulation module, and a second power source. The second power source is configured to supply power to at least the electrical stimulation module.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2009Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: John E. Burnes, Paul G. Krause, William T. Donofrio
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Patent number: 8611996Abstract: Electrical crosstalk between two implantable medical devices or two different therapy modules of a common implantable medical device may be evaluated, and, in some examples, mitigated. In some examples, one of the implantable medical devices or therapy modules delivers electrical stimulation to a nonmyocardial tissue site or a nonvascular cardiac tissue site, and the other implantable medical device or therapy module delivers cardiac rhythm management therapy to a heart of the patient.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: William T. Donofrio, John E. Burnes, Paul G. Krause, Xiaohong Zhou, Gerald P. Arne, David J. Peichel, James D. Reinke
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Patent number: 8612020Abstract: A medical device includes an implantable device having a processor, a pulse generator and a first lead having first and second ends. The first end of the lead is operably and conductively coupled to the implantable device. A first electrode is operably and conductively coupled to the second end of the first lead. The first electrode has a sharp tip for transmitting and focusing a stimulation signal from the pulse generator to a tissue site.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2009Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventor: William T. Donofrio
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Patent number: 8560060Abstract: The disclosure describes techniques of reducing or eliminating a commonality between two modules within the same implantable medical device. Each module within the implantable medical device provides therapy to a patient. The commonality between the two modules exists due to at least one common component shared by the two modules. The commonality between the two modules may create common-mode interference and a shunt current. In accordance with this disclosure, various isolation circuits located at various locations are disclosed to reduce or eliminate the commonality between the two modules. The reduction or elimination of the commonality between the two modules may reduce or eliminate common-mode interference and the shunt current.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2009Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: William T. Donofrio, Paul G. Krause, James D. Reinke, David J. Peichel, Gerald P. Arne
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Patent number: 8532779Abstract: Electrical crosstalk between two implantable medical devices or two different therapy modules of a common implantable medical device may be evaluated, and, in some examples, mitigated. In some examples, one of the implantable medical devices or therapy modules delivers electrical stimulation to a nonmyocardial tissue site or a nonvascular cardiac tissue site, and the other implantable medical device or therapy module delivers cardiac rhythm management therapy to a heart of the patient.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Paul G. Krause, John E. Burnes, William T. Donofrio, David J. Peichel, Gerald P. Arne, Xiaohong Zhou, James D. Reinke
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Patent number: 8512254Abstract: An implantable medical device for monitoring tissue perfusion that includes a light source emitting a light signal and a light detector receiving emitted light scattered by a volume of body tissue. The light detector emits a signal having an alternating current component corresponding to the pulsatility of blood flow in the body tissue volume. A processor receives the current signal and determines a patient condition in response to the alternating component of the current signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2012Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventor: William T. Donofrio