Treating Or Preventing Abnormally High Heart Rate Patents (Class 607/14)
  • Patent number: 11957919
    Abstract: An implantable system includes an implantable medical device (IMD) and a non-transvenous lead that is configured to be implanted outside of a heart. The IMD includes an output configured to be connected at least to the lead, a current generator (CG) circuit configured to generate pacing pulses, a switching circuit coupled between the CG circuit and the output, one or more capacitors coupled in parallel with the CG circuit and the switching circuit, and a control circuit coupled to the CG circuit. The control circuit is configured to manage the CG circuit to generate the pacing pulses with a constant current at the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Reza Shahandeh, Ninous Davoudi, Frank Lee, David Doudna, Jeffery Crook
  • Patent number: 11951319
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for applying anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) using subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (SICDs). An SICD implantable in a subject includes a case including a controller, and at least one conductive lead extending from the case. The at least one conductive lead includes a plurality of coil electrodes, wherein the SICD is configured, via the controller, to apply anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) to the subject using the at least one conductive lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Gene A. Bornzin, Xiaoyi Min, Wenwen Li, Stuart Rosenberg, Kyungmoo Ryu, Alexander Bornzin, Leyla Sabet, Shubha Asopa, Xing Pei
  • Patent number: 11929177
    Abstract: Techniques regarding pain treatment are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise a system, which can comprise a memory that can store computer executable components. The system can also comprise a processor, operably coupled to the memory, and that can execute the computer executable components stored in the memory. The computer executable components can include: a data collection component that can determine at least one parameter associated with a pain perception of a subject, a computing component that can determine a relationship between the pain perception and the at least one parameter using artificial intelligence, and can determine a treatment for the subject based on the relationship; and a treatment component that can cause a device associated with the subject to apply at least a portion of the treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Qinghuang Lin, Jeffrey L. Rogers, Giovanni Russo, Andrea Simonetto, Tigran Tigran Tchrakian
  • Patent number: 11896839
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are implantable medical devices and systems, and methods for used therewith, that selectively perform atrial overdrive pacing while an intrinsic atrial rate of a patient is within a specified range. Such a method can involve measuring intervals between a plurality of intrinsic atrial depolarizations that occur during a specified period, and classifying intrinsic atrial activity as stable or unstable based on the measured intervals. In response to classifying the intrinsic atrial activity as stable, atrial overdrive pacing is performed. In response to classifying the intrinsic atrial rate as unstable, atrial overdrive pacing is not performed (i.e., is abstained from being performed). Over time, effectiveness of performing atrial overdrive pacing using various different atrial interval shorting deltas are recorded in a log and updated, and the log is used to determine a preferred rate at which to perform atrial overdrive pacing for various different measured intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventor: Xing Pei
  • Patent number: 11813466
    Abstract: Devices and methods are described herein for treating cardiac conditions using electrical stimulation delivered to and sensing nerve activity from one or both of the AV node and nerve tissue innervating the AV node using one or more neural electrodes positioned in a location within the triangle of Koch of the right atrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Lilian Kornet, Richard Cornelussen, Berthold Stegemann
  • Patent number: 11776691
    Abstract: Techniques that include applying machine learning models to episode data, including a cardiac electrogram, stored by a medical device are disclosed. In some examples, based on the application of one or more machine learning models to the episode data, processing circuitry derives, for each of a plurality of arrhythmia type classifications, class activation data indicating varying likelihoods of the classification over a period of time associated with the episode. The processing circuitry may display a graph of the varying likelihoods of the arrhythmia type classifications over the period of time. In some examples, processing circuitry may use arrhythmia type likelihoods and depolarization likelihoods to identify depolarizations, e.g., QRS complexes, during the episode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Tarek D. Haddad, Niranjan Chakravarthy, Donald R. Musgrove, Andrew Radtke, Eduardo N. Warman, Rodolphe Katra, Lindsay A. Pedalty
  • Patent number: 11672987
    Abstract: An implantable system stimulates a human or animal heart. The system contains a processor, a memory unit, an atrial stimulation unit, a ventricular stimulation unit, and a detection unit for detecting atrial tachycardia. The memory unit stores a computer-readable program that prompts the processor to: a) detect by the detection unit whether atrial tachycardia to be treated is present in the heart; b) when atrial tachycardia to be treated is present, carrying out a ventricular conditioning stimulation by way of the ventricular stimulation unit; and c) applying atrial antitachycardia pacing in the form of a stimulation pulse sequence of 2 to 20 pulses or a high-frequency burst having a frequency of up to 50 Hz and a duration of up to 60 seconds by way of the atrial stimulation unit as the ventricular conditioning stimulation is being carried out and/or thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Doerr, Sergey Ershov, Torsten Radtke, Martin Roemer, Ingo Weiss
  • Patent number: 11638546
    Abstract: A system is provided for displaying heart graphic information relating to sources and source locations of a heart disorder to assist in evaluation of the heart disorder. A heart graphic display system provides an intra-cardiogram similarity (“ICS”) graphic and a source location (“SL”) graphic. The ICS graphic includes a grid with the x-axis and y-axis representing patient cycles of a patient cardiogram with the intersections of the patient cycle identifiers indicating similarity between the patient cycles. The SL graphic provides a representation of a heart with source locations indicated. The source locations are identified based on similarity of a patient cycle to library cycles of a library cardiogram of a library of cardiograms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Vektor Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Villongco
  • Patent number: 11596314
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for detecting seizure events are disclosed, including a system for identification of an increased risk of a severe neurological event. The system may include an electroencephalogram (“EEG”) monitoring unit configured to collect EEG data from the patient during at least a postictal phase or one or more seizures and a processing unit configured to receive the EEG data from the EEG monitoring unit. The processing unit is configured to detect postictal EEG suppression from the EEG data and to identify the increased risk of the severe neurological event based on the detected postictal EEG suppression. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: LivaNova USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Shivkumar Sabesan
  • Patent number: 11547857
    Abstract: Methods and devices herein are provided for managing atrial (A) pacing in connection with premature atrial contracts (PAC). The methods and devices obtain an atrial pace-on-PAC (APAC) interval and cardiac activity (CA) signals. The methods and devices are configured to: i) during a first cardiac beat; following a ventricular paced (VP) or ventricular sensed (VS) event, activate a timer for a post ventricular-atrial refractory period (PVARP) interval; and determine whether a first atrial refractory (AR) event occurs during the PVARP interval; ii) during a second cardiac beat; in response to the detecting that the first AR event occurred, initiate an APAC interval; during the APAC interval for the second cardiac beat, determine whether a second AR event occurs; and update a count of APAC events when the second AR event occurs; and iii) repeat i) and ii) for multiple cardiac beats, to track the count of APAC events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan Ireland Vance, Joy Catherine Wong, Jennifer Rhude
  • Patent number: 11464992
    Abstract: A medical device is configured to deliver anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) in the presence of T-wave alternans. The device is configured to detect a ventricular tachyarrhythmia from a cardiac electrical signal received by the medical device. In response to the detected ventricular tachyarrhythmia, the device delivers a plurality of ATP pulses at alternating time intervals. The alternating time intervals comprise at least a first ATP time interval separating a first pair of the ATP pulses and a second ATP time interval different than the first ATP time interval. The second ATP time interval consecutively follows the first ATP time interval and separates a second pair of the ATP pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Vladimir P. Nikolski
  • Patent number: 11458312
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods provide forms of asymptomatic diaphragmatic stimulation (ADS) therapy that affect pressures within the intrathoracic cavity, including: 1) dual-pulse ADS therapy, during which a first ADS pulse is delivered during a diastolic phase of a cardiac cycle and a second ADS pulse is delivered during a systolic phase, 2) paired-pulse ADS therapy, during which a first ADS pulse is delivered, closely followed by a second ADS pulse, with the second ADS pulse functioning to extend or enhance a phase of a transient, partial contraction of the diaphragm, and 3) multiple-pulse ADS therapy, during which a stream of ADS pulses is delivered, wherein the time between pulses is based on heart rate. Devices, systems and methods also monitor electromyography (EMG) activity of the diaphragm relative to baseline activity to assess the health of a diaphragm subject to ADS therapy and to adjust ADS therapy parameters or sensing parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: VisCardia, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter T. Bauer, Timothy Wheeler
  • Patent number: 11443852
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for using feature delineation to reduce the impact of machine learning cardiac arrythmia detection on power consumption of medical devices. In one example, a medical device performs feature-based delineation of cardiac electrogram data sensed from a patient to obtain cardiac features indicative of an episode of arrythmia in the patient. The medical device determines whether the cardiac features satisfy threshold criteria for application of a machine learning model for verifying the feature-based delineation of the cardiac electrogram data. In response to determining that the cardiac features satisfy the threshold criteria, the medical device applies the machine learning model to the sensed cardiac electrogram data to verify that the episode of arrhythmia has occurred or determine a classification of the episode of arrythmia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Niranjan Chakravarthy, Siddharth Dani, Tarek D. Haddad, Donald R. Musgrove, Andrew Radtke, Rodolphe Katra, Lindsay A. Pedalty
  • Patent number: 11433244
    Abstract: A cardiac pacing device to be disposed in a heart between an atrium and an atrial appendage protruding from the atrium includes a blocker and a regulator attached to the blocker. The blocker is configured to occlude the atrial appendage. The regulator is configured to contact the heart when the blocker is positioned between the atrium and the atrial appendage to occlude the atrial appendage in order to regulate a cardiac rhythm of the heart accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou
    Inventor: Pao-Hsien Chu
  • Patent number: 11432778
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for false alarm suppression in patient monitoring systems. In one embodiment, a method comprises inputting each electronic signal of a plurality of electronic signals into a corresponding predictor cloud of a plurality of predictor clouds, each predictor cloud comprising a long short-term memory neural network and a recurrent neural network, and responsive to an alarm generated based on at least one of the plurality of electronic signals, suppressing the alarm responsive to outputs of the plurality of predictor clouds indicating the alarm is false. In this way, patient monitors may be more reliable with fewer false alarms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Kaveh Samiee
  • Patent number: 11420068
    Abstract: A method and a medical device for implementing a dual-chamber pacing mode without ventricular pacing are disclosed. The method includes: obtaining pacing mode information configured by a user; controlling a dual-chamber pacemaker to operate in an ADD mode and detecting whether there is a need for delivering a pace; and performing a predetermined interruption process if a need for delivering a pace is detected. The predetermined interruption process includes: 2041) determining whether a chamber to be subsequently paced is a ventricle; 2042) if it is determined that the chamber to be subsequently paced is a ventricle, determining whether there is a need for delivering a real ventricular pace; 2043) if delivery of a real ventricular pace is not needed, delivering a virtual ventricular pace VVP and resetting a first atrial escape interval; and returning after the predetermined interruption process is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: MICROPORT SOARING CRM (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jean Cheui Hsung, Min Huang, Guiling Li
  • Patent number: 11344718
    Abstract: Embodiments of a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) system include a support structure for wearing by an ambulatory patient, a posture detector and at least one processor. When worn, the support structure maintains electrodes on the patient's body, and using the posture detector and the patient's ECG received via the electrodes, the processor determines the patient's posture, formulates posture-based templates of QRS complexes, and the patient's heart rate. The processor can use these determinations to distinguish between VT and SVT and make no-shock, and shock decisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: West Affum Holdings Corp.
    Inventor: Jaeho Kim
  • Patent number: 11318321
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for determining, by an extracardiovascular implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implanted in a patient, whether one or more test therapy signals generated by another medical device implanted in the patient is detected. In response to detecting the one or more test therapy signals, the extracardiovascular ICD provides an indication that the extracardiovascular ICD has detected the one or more test therapy signals. In some examples, the indication is an audible tone provided to a clinician. In some examples, the other medical device is an intracardiac cardiac pacing device, and the one or more test therapy signals comprises a plurality of anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert T. Sawchuk
  • Patent number: 11321082
    Abstract: In some implementations, a system causes electronic devices to initiate different types of interactions with users of the electronic devices, the interactions being initiated based on rules to selectively cause initiation of the interactions for the users. The system receives user action data from electronic devices that are associated with a particular program. The system generates log data that tracks instances in which conditions or triggers of the rules of the particular program are satisfied. Based on the user action data of the multiple users and the log data, the system evaluates effectiveness of the rules in maintaining or improving engagement of the users with the particular program. The system generates rule adjustment information for the particular program, such as information indicating one or more changes to the rules of the particular program or one or more new rules for initiating interactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: VigNet Incorporated
    Inventors: Praduman Jain, Dave Klein, Yue Cao, Neeta Jain
  • Patent number: 11241579
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for monitoring cardiac autonomic nervous system activity and modulating parasympathetic control of cardiac function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Ardell, Kalyanam Shivkumar
  • Patent number: 11241580
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing neuromodulation therapy are disclosed. The methods and systems are configured to sense an evoked neural response and use the evoked neural response as feedback for providing neuromodulation therapy. Methods of reducing stimulation artifacts that obscure the sensed evoked neural response are disclosed. The methods of artifact reduction include recording a stimulation artifact in the absence of an evoked neural response, aligning and scaling the stimulation artifact with respect to the obscured signal, and subtracting the aligned and scaled artifact from the obscured signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Rosana Esteller, Pranjali Borkar, Tianhe Zhang, Kiran K. Gururaj
  • Patent number: 11205955
    Abstract: A current-averaging audio amplifier for vehicles. The current averaging audio amplifier is connectable to a DC power source and a load, and may generally comprise a power input to receive a DC electrical power from the DC power source. The system may further include a voltage converter, such as a boost converter, connected to the power input, such that the voltage converter can receive electrical power from the DC power source. The system also includes a rechargeable battery coupled to the voltage converter, such that the voltage converter charges the rechargeable battery. An audio amplifier can be powered by the rechargeable battery and connectable to supply power to the load, wherein the average power supplied by the rechargeable battery to the audio amplifier in a finite time interval differs from the average power supplied by the DC power source to the voltage converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: D'Amore Engineering, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony T. D'Amore, Juan Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11191969
    Abstract: A method and implantable medical device system for delivering a cardiac pacing therapy that includes suspending delivery of the LV cardiac pacing therapy and sensing far-field cardiac signals via one or more far-field sensing vectors formed between a plurality of electrodes positioned on a single-pass coronary sinus lead. Far-field signal features are determined in response to the sensed far-field cardiac signals, a first offset interval and a second offset interval are determined in response to the determined far-field signal features, and an AV delay of the LV cardiac pacing therapy is adjusted in response to the determined first offset interval and second offset interval. Delivery of the LV cardiac pacing therapy having the adjusted AV delay is subsequently resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksandre Sambelashvili, Yong Cho, Jeffrey Gillberg
  • Patent number: 11153156
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices, including computer-readable media, for managing operation of devices in complex systems and changing environments. In some implementations, a server system stores data indicating management plans for each of a plurality of different devices, each management plan indicating a device-specific set of program states for programs in a predetermined set of programs. The server system alters the management plans and enforces interdependence of the programs, and the server system generates a customized instruction that alters operation of the device according to the device-specific set of program states assigned in the altered management plan for the device. The server system causes each device to perform one or more operations of the device determined according to the device-specific set of program states assigned in the altered management plan for the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Vignet Incorporated
    Inventors: Praduman Jain, Dave Klein, Neeta Jain, Yue Cao
  • Patent number: 11134881
    Abstract: A system for detecting an atrial tachyarrhythmia episode includes a medical device having sensing circuitry configured to receive a cardiac electrical signal from electrodes coupled to the medical device and a processor configured to detect an atrial tachyarrhythmia episode in response to a time duration of the cardiac electrical signal classified as an atrial tachyarrhythmia being greater than or equal to a first detection threshold. The processor is configured to determine if detection threshold adjustment criteria are met based on at least the detected first atrial tachyarrhythmia episode and adjust the first detection threshold to a second detection threshold different than the first detection threshold in response to the detection threshold adjustment criteria being met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Cao, Mark L. Brown, Elise J. Higgins, Paul J. DeGroot
  • Patent number: 11129992
    Abstract: A method for managing bradycardia through vagus nerve stimulation is provided. An implantable neurostimulator configured to deliver electrical therapeutic stimulation in both afferent and efferent directions of a patient's cervical vagus nerve is provided. An operating mode is stored, which includes parametrically defining a maintenance dose of the electrical therapeutic stimulation tuned to restore cardiac autonomic balance through continuously-cycling, intermittent and periodic electrical pulses. The maintenance dose is delivered via a pulse generator through a pair of helical electrodes via an electrically coupled nerve stimulation therapy lead independent of cardiac cycle. The patient's physiology is monitored, and upon sensing a condition indicative of bradycardia, the delivery of the maintenance dose is suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: LivaNova USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Imad Libbus, Badri Amurthur, Bruce H. KenKnight
  • Patent number: 11107565
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing diabetes patient treatment guidance for a patient in which a biochemical data set is obtained. The biochemical data set comprises test results from a single blood draw of the patient including at least three measurements selected from the set: a high-sensitivity c-reactive protein test, an adiponectin level test, an intact proinsulin level test, an insulin level test, a C-peptide test, a HbA1c test, and an eGFR level test. A demographic data set for the patient is also obtained that comprises the patient's gender and diabetes stage. The biochemical data set and demographic data set is run against one or more rules to determine a first patient therapy pattern. Then, a report is prepared based on an identity of the first therapy patient pattern. The report sets priorities among intervention classes for the patient based on the identity of the first patient pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TIGAR HEALTH, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Maurer, Barry Ginsberg
  • Patent number: 11065452
    Abstract: Methods, devices and program products are provided. The method is under control of one or more processors within an implantable medical device (IMD), obtains cardiac signals that comprise candidate episodes over a period of time and updates an episode count and episode density clock based on the candidate episodes within the period of time. Further, the method determines whether the candidate episodes are indicative of a ventricular storm arrhythmia based on the episode count and episode density clock, identifies a storm origin characteristic of interest preceding onset of the candidate episodes and directs the IMD to perform a storm intervention based on the identifying operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: PACESETTER, INC.
    Inventor: Malcolm Dennis
  • Patent number: 11064952
    Abstract: An external medical device is provided. The device can include monitoring circuitry configured to sense physiological information of a patient and a controller with one or more input components. The controller can be configured to: detect one or more patient events based, at least in part, on the physiological information; notify the patient of the detection of the one or more patient events; and receive a patient response to the notification. The patient response can include a response activity identifiable by the input component, which is configured to test a psychomotor ability of the patient, cognitive ability of the patient, strength, balance, stability, and flexibility of the patient, and/or to substantially confirm that a person performing the activity is the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: ZOLL Medical Corporation
    Inventor: Shane Volpe
  • Patent number: 11033745
    Abstract: A pacemaker is configured to deliver pacing pulses that lead pacing pulses delivered by another medical device. The pacemaker may detect pacing pulses delivered by the other medical device by a pulse detector circuit of the pacemaker, produce a pulse detect signal in response to each one of the detected pacing pulses, determine a pulse detect interval between two pulse detect signals consecutively produced by the pulse detector circuit, set a pacing escape interval based on the pulse detect interval less a pre-interval, and deliver a pacing pulse upon expiration of the pacing escape interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Edmonson, Troy E. Jackson, Robert W. Stadler
  • Patent number: 11013929
    Abstract: Techniques for facilitating improved power management for an implantable device are provided. In one example, an implantable device includes a telemetry circuit and a power management circuit. The telemetry circuit is configured to facilitate a telemetry session between the implantable device and an external device. The power management circuit is configured to connect a power supply to the telemetry circuit via a first current-limiting device based on a determination that the telemetry circuit satisfies a defined criterion. The power management circuit is also configured to connect the telemetry circuit to a second current-limiting device based on a determination that the telemetry circuit is connected to the first current-limiting device for a defined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. St. Martin, George C. Rosar, John D. Wahlstrand
  • Patent number: 10987518
    Abstract: An implantable system including an atrial leadless pacemaker (aLP) and a ventricular leadless pacemaker (vLP), and methods for use therewith, are configured or used to terminate a pacemaker mediated tachycardia (PMT). One of the aLP or the vLP detects a PMT and informs the other one. The aLP initiates a PMT PA interval that is shorter than a PA interval that the aLP would otherwise use for atrial pacing if a PMT was not detected. The vLP initiates a PMT PV interval that is longer than the PMT PA interval. If an intrinsic atrial or ventricular event is detected before PMT PA interval or the PMT PV interval expires, then these intervals will be terminated, otherwise an atrial chamber will be paced if the PMT PA interval expires, and/or a ventricular chamber will be paced if the PMT PV interval expires. This should have the effect of terminating the PMT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunlan Jiang, Matthew G. Fishler
  • Patent number: 10974050
    Abstract: Multi-modal stimulation therapy may be utilized in which two or more stimulation therapies having different stimulation parameters may be delivered to a single patient. This can preferentially stimulate different nerve fiber types and drive different functional responses in the target organs. The stimulation parameters that may vary between the different stimulation therapies include, for example, pulse frequency, pulse width, pulse amplitude, and duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignees: LivaNova USA, Inc., East Tennessee State University
    Inventors: Imad Libbus, Badri Amurthur, Bruce H. KenKnight, Jeffrey L. Ardell, Gregory A. Ordway
  • Patent number: 10967187
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for sensing cardiac events from electrodes located proximate to one or more atrial or ventricular sites, over a period of time that includes a detection period followed by an observation period. One or more processors declare a ventricular arrhythmia episode and a corresponding VT/VF therapy based on the cardiac events during at least the detection period. The processors delay delivery of the VT/VF therapy for a self-termination period within the observation period. The self-termination period represents a time period during which the ventricular arrhythmia episode may self-terminate. The processors analyze a stability characteristic of interest (COI) from the cardiac events sensed over at least a portion the observation period and determine an end point for the self-termination period, within the observation period, based on the stability COI. The VT/VF therapy is delivered when the VT/VF arrhythmia episode continues past the end point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: PACESETTER, INC.
    Inventor: Xing Pei
  • Patent number: 10940325
    Abstract: An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) receives a cardiac electrical signal by a sensing circuit while operating in a sensing without pacing mode and detects asystole based on the cardiac electrical signal. The ICD determines, in response to detecting the asystole, if asystole backup pacing is enabled, and automatically switches to a temporary pacing mode in response to the asystole backup pacing being enabled. Other examples of detecting asystole and providing a response to detecting asystole by the ICD are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Yanina Grinberg, Robert T. Sawchuk, Amy E. Thompson-Nauman, Douglas A. Peterson, Paul R. Solheim, Joel R. Lauer
  • Patent number: 10888701
    Abstract: An implantable cardiac stimulation device provides electrical stimulation therapy to stabilize the ventricular rate of a heart during episodes of atrial fibrillation. The stimulation therapy may be a plurality of sub-threshold stimulation pulses delivered to capture AV node vagal innervations following the detection of atrial fibrillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: PACESETTER, INC.
    Inventors: Euljoon Park, You-Ho Kim, Taraneh Ghaffari Farazi
  • Patent number: 10881317
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises an arrhythmia detection circuit configured to: detect atrial arrhythmia in a first portion of a sensed cardiac signal using a first arrhythmia detection criteria, wherein the sensed cardiac signal is representative of cardiac activity of a subject; and upon detection of the atrial arrhythmia, analyze a second portion of the cardiac signal that is prior in time to the first portion using a second different arrhythmia detection criteria to detect the presence or absence of the atrial arrhythmia in the second portion of the cardiac signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Perschbacher, Sunipa Saha
  • Patent number: 10864378
    Abstract: Regulating cardiac activity may include pacing the patient's heart at a starting pacing rate and instigating an intrinsic heart beat search algorithm that includes pacing at a reduced rate for a period of time and capturing electrical signals representative of cardiac electrical activity while pacing at the reduced rate in order to determine a presence or absence of intrinsic heart beats. If intrinsic heart beats are not detected, the heart may be paced at a further reduced rate for a period of time. If intrinsic beats are detected, the heart may be paced again at the starting pacing rate. This may continue until intrinsic heart beats are detected or until a lower search rate limit is reached. Diagnostic data may be collected at each stage and transmitted to a display device for analysis by a physician or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: CARDIAC PACEMAKERS, INC.
    Inventors: David A. Casavant, Jeffrey E. Stahmann, Carolina Villarreal, James O. Gilkerson, Deepa Mahajan, Paul Richard Holleran
  • Patent number: 10863916
    Abstract: Methods and systems for cardiac mapping are disclosed. An example system includes a catheter shaft with one or more electrodes coupled to a distal end of the catheter shaft. Electrodes sense electrical signals at anatomical locations within a heart. A processor coupled to the catheter shaft acquires electrogram signals of the heart using the electrodes. Each electrogram signal relates to three-dimensional positional data corresponding to the anatomical locations. The processor also store the electrogram signals of the heart corresponding to electrical activities sensed at corresponding anatomical locations, calculate an activation recovery interval associated with each of the corresponding anatomical locations, determine spatial gradient data of the activation recovery interval based on a distance between at least two neighboring anatomical locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
    Inventors: Sarah R. Gutbrod, Jacob I. Laughner, Allan C. Shuros, Matthew S. Sulkin
  • Patent number: 10835753
    Abstract: Implantable medical devices (IMD), such as but not limited to leadless cardiac pacemakers (LCP), subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillators (SICD), transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillators, neuro-stimulators (NS), implantable monitors (IM), may be configured to communicate with each other. In some cases, a first IMD may transmit instructions to a second IMD. In order to improve the chances of a successfully received transmission, the first IMD may transmit the instructions several times during a particular time frame, such as during a single heartbeat. If the second IMD receives the message more than once, the second IMD recognizes that the messages were redundant and acts accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: CARDIAC PACEMAKERS, INC.
    Inventors: Brendan Early Koop, Paul Huelskamp, Lance Eric Juffer, Kyle Leonard Nelson, Keith R. Maile, Jacob M. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 10835134
    Abstract: Methods of restoring homeostatic capacity of a subject are provided. Aspects of the invention further include compositions, systems and devices for practicing the methods. The methods and compositions described herein find use in a variety of applications. Aspects of certain embodiments of the methods include modulating a subject's autonomic nervous system in a manner sufficient to restore the homeostatic capacity of the subject. Aspects of other embodiments of the invention include administering to the subject an amount of an apoptosis modulator effective to at least partially restore homeostatic function of the neuroendocrine system of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Palo Alto Investors
    Inventors: Anthony Joonkyoo Yun, Conrad Minkyoo Yun
  • Patent number: 10780288
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are implantable medical devices and systems, and methods for used therewith, that selectively perform atrial overdrive pacing while an intrinsic atrial rate of a patient is within a specified range. Such a method can involve measuring intervals between a plurality of intrinsic atrial depolarizations that occur during a specified period, and classifying intrinsic atrial activity as stable or unstable based on the measured intervals. In response to classifying the intrinsic atrial activity as stable, atrial overdrive pacing is performed. In response to classifying the intrinsic atrial rate as unstable, atrial overdrive pacing is not performed (i.e., is abstained from being performed). Over time, effectiveness of performing atrial overdrive pacing using various different atrial interval shorting deltas are recorded in a log and updated, and the log is used to determine a preferred rate at which to perform atrial overdrive pacing for various different measured intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventor: Xing Pei
  • Patent number: 10765876
    Abstract: A medical device is configured to deliver anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) in the presence of T-wave alternans. The device is configured to detect a ventricular tachyarrhythmia from a cardiac electrical signal received by the medical device. In response to the detected ventricular tachyarrhythmia, the device delivers a plurality of ATP pulses at alternating time intervals. The alternating time intervals comprise at least a first ATP time interval separating a first pair of the ATP pulses and a second ATP time interval different than the first ATP time interval. The second ATP time interval consecutively follows the first ATP time interval and separates a second pair of the ATP pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Vladimir P. Nikolski
  • Patent number: 10769240
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical data processing method of determining an outcome quality of a medical procedure, the method comprising the following steps which are constituted to be executed by a computer: a) acquiring (S1) pre-completion medical image data describing an anatomical structure of a patient's body in a state before the medical procedure has been completed on the anatomical structure, the anatomical structure being subject to the medical procedure; b) acquiring (S1) pre-completion non-image medical data describing a state and medical history of the patient before the medical procedure has been completed on the anatomical structure; c) acquiring (S2) medical procedure planning data describing a plan for execution of the medical procedure to be carried out on the anatomical structure; d) determining (S2), based on the pre-completion medical image data and the medical procedure planning data, procedure application describing an application of the medical procedure planning data to the pr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: BRAINLAB AG
    Inventors: Stefan Vilsmeier, Bálint Varkuti
  • Patent number: 10765875
    Abstract: An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and methods of detection and treatment of dangerous and life-threatening heart rhythms by delivering real-time, customized low-energy pacing pulses to specific anatomy in the heart. The ICD includes a power source, a controller, powered by the power source, including an electronic processor, a memory, and a signal generator. The ICD also includes a lead coupled to the controller and an electrode that is in electrical communication with a His-bundle of a patient's heart. The ICD detects a ventricular arrhythmia of the patient's heart using the controller, and is configured to provide a pulsed defibrillation signal to the electrode to terminate the ventricular arrhythmia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Derek J. Dosdall, Ravi Ranjan
  • Patent number: 10750967
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for identifying areas of the heart of a patient able to be involved in the perpetuation of atrial fibrillation. This method takes into account the reference cycle of the arrhythmia and has two variants: a local variant in which the areas of the heart are each analysed separately and a regional variant in which several areas of the heart are analysed together. The invention also concerns device for implementing said method a program and the medium thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: SUBSTRATE HD
    Inventors: Clement Bars, Julien Seitz
  • Patent number: 10709347
    Abstract: A system is provided for displaying heart graphic information relating to sources and source locations of a heart disorder to assist in evaluation of the heart disorder. A heart graphic display system provides an intra-cardiogram similarity (“ICS”) graphic and a source location (“SL”) graphic. The ICS graphic includes a grid with the x-axis and y-axis representing patient cycles of a patient cardiogram with the intersections of the patient cycle identifiers indicating similarity between the patient cycles. The SL graphic provides a representation of a heart with source locations indicated. The source locations are identified based on similarity of a patient cycle to library cycles of a library cardiogram of a library of cardiograms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: VEKTOR MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventor: Christopher Villongco
  • Patent number: 10675472
    Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating electrostimulation of a heart are disclosed. A system can comprise an electrostimulation circuit that can deliver multi-site electrostimulation, including pacing at two or more sites of the heart during the same cardiac cycle. The system can comprise a heart sound sensor circuit configured to sense a heart sound (HS) signal during multi-site stimulation. The heart sound sensor circuit can also sense HS signals in response to uni-site stimulation at a specified site capturing at least a portion of the heart. The system can comprise a pacing analyzer circuit that uses the HS signals during the multi-site stimulation and during the uni-site stimulation to determine a capture status indication that indicates whether the multi-site stimulation captures the two or more sites of the heart, and can be one of a full capture indication, a partial capture indication, or a loss of capture indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Qi An, Pramodsingh Hirasingh Thakur, Yinghong Yu
  • Patent number: 10667737
    Abstract: Embodiments include methods, systems and computer program products for monitoring a person for a traumatic brain injury. Aspects include monitoring a gait of the user with one or more accelerometers embedded in the uniform and analyzing, by a processor, one or more characteristics of the gait of the user. Aspects also include determining whether the one or more characteristics of the gait indicate that the user may have suffered the traumatic brain injury and creating an alert that the user of the helmet may have suffered the traumatic brain injury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James R. Kozloski, Mark C. H. Lamorey, Clifford A. Pickover, John J. Rice
  • Patent number: 10661085
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for managing anti-tachycardia pacing therapy delivered by an implantable medical device (IMD). The methods and devices detect events from cardiac signals sensed at electrodes of the IMD. The cardiac signals represent a ventricular tachycardia (VT) episode that includes at least a select number of VT events having a corresponding VT cycle length. The methods and devices analyze the VT cycle length to define an anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) therapy that includes a first coupling interval and deliver a first ATP pulse that is spaced the first coupling interval after a reference refractory VT event sensed at the electrodes. The methods and devices deliver a second ATP pulse following the first ATP pulse by a non-stimulation segment that is at least one and three-quarters (1.75) times a projected VT cycle length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventor: Gene A. Bornzin