Testing Condition Of Energy Source Patents (Class 607/29)
  • Patent number: 11890482
    Abstract: A medical device system and method estimate a time from a first voltage of a power source of a medical device to a second voltage of the power source. The medical device includes a sensor coupled to the power source for generating a physiological signal. The medical device system determines a current drain from the power source required for generating the physiological signal and/or processing the physiological signal for detecting events from the physiological signal. A processor of the medical device system is configured to estimate the time from the first voltage of the power source until the second voltage based on at least the determined current drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Jenna M.S. Pender
  • Patent number: 11776684
    Abstract: A medical device and method are provided. The medical device includes a battery, a charge bank configured to store supplemental energy, memory to store program instructions, and device operational circuitry. The device operational circuitry identifies an energy demand (ED) action to be performed by the device operational circuitry in connection with at least one of monitoring a medical characteristic of interest (COI), treating the medical COI, or wirelessly communicating with a separate device. The device operational circuitry obtains an energy consumption estimate for an amount of energy to be consumed by the device operational circuitry in connection with performing the ED action and dispatches a charge instruction to charge the charge bank from the battery with supplemental energy. The device operational circuitry supplies the supplemental energy to the device operational circuitry for performing the ED action in connection with the at least one of monitoring, treating or communicating operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc
    Inventors: Jeffery Crook, Perry Li, Robert J. Williams
  • Patent number: 11657346
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for electronic telemetry-based device monitoring are described herein. A set of sensor data may be collected from a sensor array. The set of sensor data may be transmitted to a cloud service platform. A set of instructions may be received based on an evaluation of the set of sensor data. An operating parameter of the component may be adjusted using the set of instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Ergotron, Inc.
    Inventors: William Dale Tischer, Troy Edward Townes
  • Patent number: 11562823
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a medical device (DM) available to a patient (P), the medical device (DM) including a communication terminal (T) implementing software functionalities (f1, f2, f3) for accompanying the patient (P) in a predetermined therapeutic treatment, the method including: —a step (S1) of receiving the current data (DC) on execution of the software functionalities (f1, f2, f3) coming from the medical device (DM), —a step (S2) of testing the current data (DC) by comparison with reference data (DR) according to at least one predetermined vigilance rule (R) associated with a risk for the patient, and —a step (S3) of sending a vigilance message (M1) when such a risk is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: VOLUNTIS
    Inventors: Etienne Vial, Romain Marmot
  • Patent number: 11561593
    Abstract: A point-of-sale (POS) device includes a processor, a battery, a transaction object reader, a printer with a printer controller, and optionally a temperature sensor. The processor determines a present power discharge capability rate of the battery, optionally based on a temperature measured by the temperature sensor. The processor also calculates a first estimated power draw rate based on a first setting value for at least one of the components of the POS device, such as the printer. If the first estimated power draw rate is dangerously close to the present power discharge capability rate of the battery, a second estimated power draw rate is calculated based on a second setting value for the one or more components. If the second estimated power draw rate is no longer dangerously close to the present power discharge capability rate of the battery, the components are set to the second settings value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Block, Inc.
    Inventors: Cory Douthat, Jeremy Wade, Matthew H. Maibach
  • Patent number: 11324951
    Abstract: An electrical treatment device (200) includes a remaining power detection unit (302) that detects a remaining battery power of the electrical treatment device (200); a treatment content setting unit (306) that sets a treatment content; an impedance measurement unit (304) that measures a bioelectrical impedance of a site on a body of a user by using electrodes that come into contact with the site; a treatment execution unit (312) that performs treatment of the site by controlling a voltage waveform applied to the electrodes; and a determination unit (310) that determines whether treatment in accordance with the treatment content can be executed up until a treatment time elapses on the basis of a current remaining battery power and a power consumption calculated from the bioelectrical impedance and the voltage waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: OMRON HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Samejima, Yui Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11260235
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for communicating an operational state of a neuronal stimulation apparatus to an individual, comprising: means for determining the operational state of the apparatus; means for transmitting a first neuronal stimulation signal to a neuronal stimulation means of the individual adapted to elicit a sensory percept in the cortex of the individual, wherein the first neuronal stimulation signal is indicative of the operational state of the apparatus. The present invention further relates to a method and computer program comprising the steps of: determining the operational state of the apparatus, transmitting a neuronal stimulation signal to a neuronal stimulation means of the individual adapted to elicit a sensory percept in the cortex of the individual, wherein the first neuronal stimulation signal is indicative of the determined operational state of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: CereGate GmbH
    Inventor: Bálint Várkuti
  • Patent number: 11185708
    Abstract: An automated external defibrillator (AED) and AED Monitoring system made up of an AED, the AED having a self-diagnostic subroutine and performing said subroutine at regular intervals, the AED having at least an audio indicator that indicates the results of the self-diagnostic when the diagnosis is that the AED is in need of maintenance and a remote AED monitoring system, the AED monitoring system having an electromagnetic coil, microphone, battery, microprocessor, and wireless communication device, wherein the microprocessor selectively powers up the AED monitoring system prior to the AED's self-diagnostic subroutine and utilizes the electromagnetic coil and microphone to monitor for the AED's audio indicator that the AED is in need of maintenance, and the microprocessor transmitting a wireless signal through the wireless communication device indicating whether the AED is in need of maintenance; the microprocessor selectively powering down the AED monitoring system after transmitting the wireless signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: RescueStat LLC
    Inventor: Keith Hochhalter
  • Patent number: 11166662
    Abstract: A mobile device for measuring at least one electrical biosignal. The device comprises a first input and a second input, a measuring circuit part for providing an output signal indicating the electrical biosignal to be measured, the measuring circuit part comprising a first input and a second input, and a charging circuit part for charging a rechargeable battery inserted in the device, the charging circuit part comprising a first input and a second input. The first input of the measuring circuit part and the first input of the charging circuit part are connected to the first input of the mobile device and the second input of the measuring circuit part and the second input of the charging circuit part are connected to the second input of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: VITALSIGNUM OY
    Inventors: Timo Varpula, Panu Helistö
  • Patent number: 11129996
    Abstract: A charging system for an Implantable Medical Device (IMD) is disclosed having a charging coil and one or more sense coils. The charging coil and one or more sense coils are preferably housed in a charging coil assembly coupled to an electronics module by a cable. The charging coil is preferably a wire winding, while the one or more sense coils are concentric with the charging coil and preferably formed in one or more traces of a circuit board. One or more voltages induced on the one or more sense coils can be used to determine the resonant frequency of the charging coil/IMD coupled system. The determined resonant frequency can then be used to determine the position of the charging coil relative to the IMD. The magnetic field produced from the charging coil may also be driven at the resonant frequency to optimize power transfer to the IMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Aghassian, Thomas W. Stouffer, Lev Freidin
  • Patent number: 11110267
    Abstract: An electrical treatment apparatus includes an electrode contactable with a body part, a voltage regulator to regulate a voltage applied to the electrode to provide electrical stimulation to the body part, and a control circuit to control the electrical treatment apparatus. While the control circuit is performing the treatment mode in which the voltage regulator is controlled to apply a voltage at a first voltage value corresponding to the treatment mode to the electrode, the control circuit controls the voltage regulator to switch a value of the voltage applied to the electrode from the first voltage value to a second voltage value and to thereafter switch the voltage value from the second voltage value to the first voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: OMRON HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Samejima, Yui Watanabe, Makoto Tabata, Shozo Takamatsu, Tetsuya Sato
  • Patent number: 10974055
    Abstract: Circuitry useable to protect and reliably charge a rechargeable battery, even from a zero-volt state, is disclosed, and is particularly useful when employed in an implantable medical device. The circuit includes two charging paths, a first path for trickle charging the battery, and a second path for charging the battery at relatively higher currents. A passive diode is used in the first trickle-charging path which allows trickle charging even when the battery voltage is too low for reliable gating, while a gateable switch (preferably a PMOS transistor) is used in the second higher-current charging path when the voltage is higher and the switch can therefore be gated more reliably. A second diode between the two paths ensures no leakage to the substrate through the gateable switch during trickle charging. The load couples to the battery through the switch, and preferably through a second switch specifically used for decoupling the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Yuping He, David K. L. Peterson
  • Patent number: 10974057
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to control transmission of wireless energy supplied to an electrically operable medical device adapted to be implanted in a mammal patient, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an external energy source, an internal energy receiver located inside the patient and being adapted to receive the wireless energy, a stabilizing unit adapted to stabilize the wirelessly received energy in the electrically operable medical device, and a control unit comprising at least one of an internal control unit and an external control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventor: Peter Forsell
  • Patent number: 10890923
    Abstract: A charge control system includes a lithium battery configured to provide lithium battery power to a set of electrical loads, a user signaling device, and control circuitry coupled with the lithium battery and the user signaling device. The control circuitry is operative to: (A) detect availability of charge from an external charger, (B) in response to detection of the availability of charge from the external charger and prior to controlling the external charger to adjust the amount of charge stored by the lithium battery, perform a set of pre-charging assessment operations, and (C) based on the set of pre-charging assessment operations, provide a user notification via the user signaling device, the user notification indicating whether the lithium battery is properly setup for charge adjustment. When the user signaling device generates the user notification, the user is informed that the utility vehicle is properly connected to the external charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Luke Anthony O'Hara, Arthur James Harvey
  • Patent number: 10806930
    Abstract: An algorithm programmed into the control circuitry of a rechargeable-battery Implantable Medical Device (IMD) is disclosed that can quantitatively forecast and determine the timing of an early replacement indicator (tEOLi) and an IMD End of Life (tEOL). These forecasts and determinations of tEOLi and tEOL occur in accordance with one or more parameters having an effect on rechargeable battery capacity, such as number of charging cycles, charging current, discharge depth, load current, and battery calendar age. The algorithm consults such parameters as stored over the history of the operation of the IMD in a parameter log, and in conjunction with a battery capacity database reflective of the effect of these parameters on battery capacity, determines and forecasts tEOLi and tEOL. Such forecasted or determined values may also be used by a shutdown algorithm to suspend therapeutic operation of the IMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Goran N. Marnfeldt, Rafael Carbunaru, Jordi Parramon
  • Patent number: 10722724
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are implantable medical devices (IMDs) including a receiver and a battery, and methods for use therewith. The receiver includes first and second differential amplifiers, each of which monitors for a predetermined signal within a frequency range and drains power from the battery while enabled, and while not enabled drains substantially no power from the battery. To remove undesirable input offset voltages, each of the differential amplifiers, while enabled, is selectively put into an offset correction phase during which time the predetermined signal is not detectable by the differential amplifier. At any given time at least one of the first and second differential amplifiers is enabled without being in the offset correction phase so that at least one of the differential amplifiers is always monitoring for the predetermined signal. In this manner, the receiver is never blind to signals, including the predetermined signals, sent by another IMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Carroll
  • Patent number: 10576293
    Abstract: An implantable electroacupuncture device for treating a medical condition of a patient through application of electroacupuncture stimulation pulses to a target tissue location within the patient includes 1) a housing configured to be implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient, 2) pulse generation circuitry located within the housing and electrically coupled to at least two electrodes, the pulse generation circuitry being adapted to deliver stimulation sessions by way of the at least two electrodes to the target tissue location in accordance with a stimulation regimen, and 3) a primary battery contained within the housing and electrically coupled to the pulse generation circuitry, the primary battery having an internal impedance greater than 5 ohms and a capacity of less than 60 mAh, wherein the primary battery is the only battery that provides power to the pulse generation circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Valencia Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David K. L. Peterson, Jeffrey H. Greiner
  • Patent number: 10553915
    Abstract: A charging system includes a charger operable for providing a charging current to a battery pack. The charger includes a charging switch coupled between a power source and the battery pack, and a controller operable for controlling the charging switch. The controller includes a voltage sensing pin coupled to the battery pack. The controller is operable for measuring a battery voltage of the battery pack via the voltage sensing pin during a plurality of discrete time slots, and is operable for adjusting a length of a time interval between two consecutive time slots of the plurality of discrete time slots based on the battery voltage, and the controller is operable for determining an identity of the battery pack and configuring charging parameters according to the identity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: O2Micro Inc.
    Inventor: Guoxing Li
  • Patent number: 10493280
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present subject matter relate to an implantable device. Various device embodiments comprise at least one port to connect to at least one lead with at least electrode, stimulation circuitry connected to the at least one port and adapted to provide at least one neural stimulation therapy to at least one neural stimulation target using the at least one electrode, sensing circuitry connected to the at least one port and adapted to provide a sensed signal, and a controller connected to the stimulation circuitry to provide the at least one neural stimulation therapy and to the sensing circuitry to receive the sensed signal. In response to a triggering event, the controller is adapted to switch between at least two modes. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Imad Libbus, Andrew P. Kramer, William J. Linder, Jeffrey E. Stahmann
  • Patent number: 10426965
    Abstract: A defibrillator system and associated methodology for determining capacity of a battery and/or a number of battery cells contained in a pack. The system measures and stores the battery or battery pack voltage signal data and uses an algorithm to determine the remaining capacity. The algorithm takes into account the operating mode of the device, historical information of the device including, but not limited to, how long it has been since the device has been used, how the device has been used (e.g. shocking mode or idle mode), how many times the device has been used with its installed battery or battery pack, how many charging cycles and/or shocks have been delivered etc. The output from the system is fed back to the user to inform the user when the battery is low, needs to be replaced and/or how many remaining shocks are left the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Scion Medical Limited
    Inventor: Kyle R. Bowers
  • Patent number: 10300292
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed, configured to control transmission of wireless energy supplied to an electrically operable medical device adapted to be implanted in a mammal patient. The apparatus comprises an external energy source adapted to be located outside the mammal patient and comprising an external control unit, wherein the external energy source is adapted to transmit wireless energy. Further, the apparatus comprises an internal energy receiver located inside the patient and comprising an internal control unit, wherein the internal energy receiver is adapted to receive the wireless energy and to directly or indirectly supply wirelessly received energy to the electrically operable device. The apparatus further comprises at least one stabilizing unit adapted to stabilize the wirelessly received energy in the electrically operable medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Inventor: Peter Forsell
  • Patent number: 10252062
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for reliably indicating that an implantable medical device is in need of replacement. An implantable medical device includes a battery and a replacement indicator timer. The battery provides power to the implantable medical device. The replacement indicator timer counts a replacement time period to a determined replacement date for the implantable medical device. The replacement indicator timer starts the counting when an operational characteristic of the battery reaches a selected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Betzold, James W. Busacker
  • Patent number: 10171298
    Abstract: Described are systems and methods for a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) customer premises equipment (CPE) Management Center (CMC). In one embodiment, the CMC includes a communications interface to receive information from the CPE device regarding operation of the CPE device. The received information is analyzed and a command signal generation module generates a corresponding command signal for transmission to the at least one CPE device to modify the CPE device operation based on the analysis results in a manner which either enhances CPE device performance, for example increasing data rate, or improves line stability, for example reducing CPE error rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Inventors: Peter Chow, Wonjong Rhee, Ardavan Maleki Tehrani, Marc Goldburg, Georgios Ginis, Mehdi Mohseni
  • Patent number: 10105539
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for configuring a stimulation unit of a hearing device by determining whether the stimulation unit can process received stimulation data. In an example method, the stimulation unit receives one or more data signals, which comprise at least one stimulation signal that includes stimulation data, and processes one of the data signals to determine whether it can process the stimulation data in order to generate one or more stimuli. If the stimulation unit can process the stimulation data, the method includes operating the stimulation unit in a normal mode, in which case the stimulation unit processes the stimulation data to generate the one or more stimuli. On the other hand, if the stimulation unit cannot process the stimulation data, the method includes operating the stimulation in a safe mode, in which case the stimulation unit does not process the stimulation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Cochlear Limited
    Inventors: Luk Macken, Frédéric Goddeeris, Koen Van Herck
  • Patent number: 10095837
    Abstract: Techniques are described for real-time phase detection. For the phase detection, a signal is correlated with a frequency component of a frequency band whose phase is being detected, and the correlation includes predominantly decreasing weighting of past portions of the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Corey, Gregory J. Loxtercamp, Heather Diane Orser, Scott R. Stanslaski, Jadin C. Jackson
  • Patent number: 10089166
    Abstract: Call-home systems are configured and utilized. A log file is presented on a user interface of a computing device. One or more interactions that are associated with one or more instructions to modify the log file are detected on the user interface. One or more modifications to the log file are applied to the log file based on the one or more interactions. The one or more modifications include at least one of a modification that omits information from the log file, a modification that redacts information in the log file, and a modification that obfuscates information in the log file. The modified version of the log file is transferred to a call-home server based on one or more data transfer options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Lehmann, Erik Rueger, Christof Schmitt, Neil Sondhi
  • Patent number: 9933490
    Abstract: A vehicle system, includes a battery state monitoring module including a battery state monitoring device for measuring a current monitor voltage value that varies according to a current value flowing through a current detecting resistance coupled to power supply terminals of a battery, and an arithmetic circuit that determines a state of the battery based on the current monitor voltage value measured by the battery state monitoring device and transmits the determination result at a request from a high-order system, and a central control unit for outputting an internal ignition signal that directs start and stop of a engine to an electronic load circuit for controlling the engine and a starter, the battery state monitoring device carries out a short-circuit test operation for testing a short circuit state between two external terminals coupled to two ends of the current detecting resistance, and a current monitoring operation of measuring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideki Kiuchi
  • Patent number: 9884198
    Abstract: Systems and methods for extending the life of an implanted pulse generator battery are disclosed. A representative method for establishing charge parameters for a battery-powered implantable medical device includes receiving a patient-specific therapy signal parameter and, based at least in part on the patient-specific therapy signal parameter, determining a discharge rate for a battery of the implanted medical device. The method can further include determining a therapy run time, based at least in part on the discharge rate. The method can still further include determining at least one battery charging parameter, based at least in part on the run time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Nevro Corp.
    Inventor: Jon Parker
  • Patent number: 9861828
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a low-power circuit and a multi-cell power source. The cells of the power source are coupled in a parallel configuration. The implantable medical device includes both a low power circuit and a high power circuit that are coupled between the first and second cells. An isolation circuit is coupled to the first cell and the second cell in a safe parallel orientation and the first and second cells are configured in a first configuration to deliver energy to the low power circuit segment and in a second configuration that is different from the first configuration to deliver energy to the high power circuit segment. A monitoring circuit is coupled to the power source and operable to evaluate the first cell and the second cell to detect a fault condition associated with at least one of the first and second cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: John D Norton, Craig L Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9855376
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for measuring and calculating parameters to control and monitor a power transfer in an implanted medical device, including operating the device in a plurality of scalable power modes and/or coupling modes. The system may shift between or among power and/or coupling modes based on input such as data received over system communication lines, programmable timers, or electrical loading information. The system may also shift between or among power and/or coupling modes based on calculated amounts of coupling, levels of detected heat flux, and/or amounts of estimated temperature changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: MINNETRONIX, INC.
    Inventors: Vlad Bluvshtein, Lori Lucke, William Weiss
  • Patent number: 9841465
    Abstract: The state of charge of a rechargeable battery is determined by calculating the DC impedance of the battery. The impedance is calculated by: performing a two different constant current discharges of the battery at a first and second C-rates, respectively; measuring the voltage and current during the interval of each constant current discharge and calculating the amount of charge extracted from the battery up to a point where the battery voltage drops to a threshold value; calculating the state of charge of the battery; and calculating the DC impedance of the battery as a function of the difference between the battery voltages and discharge currents for the two different discharges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventor: Daniel Ladret
  • Patent number: 9814882
    Abstract: A rechargeable-battery Implantable Medical Device (IMD) is disclosed including a primary battery which can be used as a back up to power critical loads in the IMD when the rechargeable battery is undervoltage and other non-critical loads are thus decoupled from the rechargeable battery. A rechargeable battery undervoltage detector provides at least one rechargeable battery undervoltage control signal to a power supply selector, which is used to set the power supply for the critical loads either to the rechargeable battery voltage when the rechargeable battery is not undervoltage, or to the primary battery voltage when the rechargeable battery is undervoltage. Circuitry for detecting the rechargeable battery undervoltage condition may be included as part of the critical loads, and so the undervoltage control signal(s) is reliably generated in a manner to additionally decouple the rechargeable battery from the load to prevent further rechargeable battery depletion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Goran N. Marnfeldt, Rafael Carbunaru, Jordi Parramon
  • Patent number: 9789323
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for supplying wireless energy to a medical device (100) implanted in a patient, wireless energy is transmitted from an external energy source (104) located outside a patient and is received by an internal energy receiver (102) located inside the patient, for directly or indirectly supplying received energy to the medical device. An energy balance is determined between the energy received by the internal energy receiver and the energy used for the medical device, and the transmission of wireless energy is then controlled based on the determined energy balance. The energy balance thus provides an accurate indication of the correct amount of energy needed, which is sufficient to operate the medical device properly, but without causing undue temperature rise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Peter Forsell
  • Patent number: 9782594
    Abstract: An implantable medical device includes operational circuitry and a power source configured to deliver energy to the operational circuitry. The operational circuitry includes, for example, a therapy circuit. The implantable medical device also includes a deactivation element configured to disable the therapy circuit. The implantable medical device also includes a power manager configured to detect an end-of-life condition of the power source and, in response to detecting the end-of-life condition, to cause the deactivation element to disable the therapy circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Stahmann, Benjamin J. Haasl, Keith R. Maile, William J. Linder
  • Patent number: 9669219
    Abstract: Therapy systems for treating a patient are disclosed. Representative therapy systems include an implantable pulse generator, a signal delivery device electrically coupled to the pulse generator, and a remote control in electrical communication with the implantable pulse generator. The pulse generator can have a computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a process that comprises collecting the patient status and stimulation parameter; analyzing the collected patient status and stimulation parameter; and establishing a preference baseline containing a preferred stimulation parameter corresponding to a particular patient status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Nevro Corp.
    Inventors: Anthony V. Caparso, Jon Parker, Andre B. Walker, Yougandh Chitre
  • Patent number: 9636509
    Abstract: Techniques for retrieving information from an implantable medical device (IMD) having a depleted internal energy source such as a non-rechargeable battery are disclosed. The IMD is powered by and communicates with an external interrogation device to access a memory location of the IMD and for transfer of the information in the memory location to the external interrogation device subsequent to depletion of the internal energy source. In an embodiment, the memory location is included in a non-volatile memory component of the IMD to maintain the information stored in the memory component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Hintz
  • Patent number: 9526905
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for generating a plurality of output voltages from a single input power source. The techniques include implementing a switched capacitor voltage converter to provide at least two output voltages having different supply ratios. The supply ratio is defined as a function of the input voltage provided to the switched capacitor voltage converter by the power source. The switched capacitor voltage converter includes a plurality of capacitors selectively coupled to a plurality of switches to define at least a first and a second mode with each of the modes having a plurality of configurations. In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, the techniques include coupling the plurality of capacitors to define the first or second mode based on predetermined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Reinke, Charles R. Gordon, Shohan T. Hossain, Weizheng Liang, Gregg T. Sarkinen
  • Patent number: 9468769
    Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system includes a programming device that determines parameters for programming an implantable medical device based on patient-specific information including indications for use of the implantable medical device. By executing an indication-based programming algorithm, the programming device substantially automates the process between the diagnosis of a patient and the programming of an implantable medical device using parameters individually determined for that patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam W. Cates, James O. Gilkerson, Kenneth P. Hoyme
  • Patent number: 9427593
    Abstract: A system and method for estimating the current delivered to a patient during voltage-regulated electrical stimulation therapy by an implantable medical device includes calculating a total charge delivered and a peak current delivered and the time at which the peak current was delivered using a proxy for the current delivered to the patient and a component such as a current controlled oscillator, the output of which is proportional to the current proxy together with memory for storing values relating to the output proportional to the current proxy. The stored values also may be used to construct a waveform approximating the current delivered to the patient during a therapy of voltage-regulated stimulation. The system and method may be implemented in an active implantable medical device such as an implantable neurostimulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: NeuroPace, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen T. Archer
  • Patent number: 9421388
    Abstract: A rechargeable medical system comprised of an implanted device, rechargeable power storage operatively connected to the implantable device, a charging module operatively connected to the rechargeable storage, and external devices including a patient programmer and external charging means. The charging module can harvest at least one of thermal, photovoltaic, movement, RF, and magnetic energy to generate electrical power. The system has components for charging the storage from the generated power, and for measuring power generation, usage and reserve levels. The system provides for physically initiating and disrupting charging operations, for generating and communicating signals relevant to power harvesting, for monitoring, providing, and displaying data related to energy generation and energy generation criteria, and for tracking historical harvesting and energy consumption. The system may also have long-range and short-range wireless power harvesting capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Sasha John
  • Patent number: 9393420
    Abstract: A therapy system for applying an electrical signal to an internal anatomical feature of a patient includes an implantable component and an external component. The medical device can be checked for safety issues by periodically initiating a sequence of tests of an H-bridge circuit, and, during each test, monitoring a current flow through a sensing resistor electrically connected between a sensing connection of the H-bridge circuit and a ground. Current flow through the sensing resistor indicates that both series electrical switches within at least one of the two pairs of series electrical switches are active during that test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: EnteroMedics Inc.
    Inventors: Al Almendinger, Gregory Pat Spar, Koen Jacob Weijand, Randy Maas, Steve Ellsworth
  • Patent number: 9347995
    Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring an energy-storing apparatus during a non-operating event of a mechanism that draws energy from the energy-storing apparatus, which includes a plurality of energy-storing cells. The system includes a plurality of sensing units, each of which is coupled to a subset of the plurality of cells and is configured to monitor conditions of the corresponding subset of cells during the non-operating event. The system further includes a wireless communication unit and a power source. The wireless communication unit is coupled to each of the sensing units and configured to communicate a signal indicative of one of the monitored conditions of the corresponding subset of cells to a computing device. The power source provides energy to the sensing units and the wireless communication unit during the non-operating event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Thanh T. Nguyen, Junwei Jiang
  • Patent number: 9345883
    Abstract: A rechargeable-battery Implantable Medical Device (IMD) is disclosed including a primary battery which can be used as a back up to power critical loads in the IMD when the rechargeable battery is undervoltage and other non-critical loads are thus decoupled from the rechargeable battery. A rechargeable battery undervoltage detector provides at least one rechargeable battery undervoltage control signal to a power supply selector, which is used to set the power supply for the critical loads either to the rechargeable battery voltage when the rechargeable battery is not undervoltage, or to the primary battery voltage when the rechargeable battery is undervoltage. Circuitry for detecting the rechargeable battery undervoltage condition may be included as part of the critical loads, and so the undervoltage control signal(s) is reliably generated in a manner to additionally decouple the rechargeable battery from the load to prevent further rechargeable battery depletion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Goran N. Marnfeldt, Rafael Carbunaru, Jordi Parramon
  • Patent number: 9238143
    Abstract: An exemplary implantable medical device includes an electrode lead connector having at least one electrical contact for connection of an electrode lead, and an analyzing unit which is connected to the electrode lead connector and is designed to detect and evaluate a response signal present at the at least one electrical connector in response to known electromagnetic irradiation. The analyzing unit may compare a signal modulation resulting from an electromagnetic irradiation of the electrode lead with a reference signal modulation. The electrode lead may be classified as defective if the deviation exceeds a threshold deviation. If a second antenna is available, the analyzing unit may compare response signals resulting from electromagnetic irradiation of the electrode lead and the second antenna. If the ratio of response signals exceeds a threshold, the electrode lead may be classified as defective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Doerr
  • Patent number: 9186520
    Abstract: An external charger for an implantable medical device is disclosed which can automatically detect an implant and generate a charging field. The technique uses circuitry typically present in an external charger, such as control circuitry, a Load Shift Keying (LSK) demodulator, and a coupling detector. An algorithm in the control circuitry periodically issues charging fields of short duration in a standby mode. If the coupling detector detects the presence of a conductive material, the algorithm issues a listening window during which a charging field is generated. If an LSK reply signal is received at the LSK demodulator, the external charger can charge the implant in a normal fashion. If a movement signature is detected at the LSK demodulator indicative of a predetermined user movement of the external charger, a charging field is issued for a set timing period, to at least partially charge the IPG battery to restore LSK communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Aghassian
  • Patent number: 9183327
    Abstract: A method for determining use of a second life battery under load conditions to reduce CO2 emissions includes using Monte Carlo simulations to modeling uncertainties of a load profile, a renewable energy profile, and CO2 emissions rate, determining an initial state of charge SOC of the second life battery based on a Gaussian distribution for determining a rate of charging during low emission hours and discharging during high CO2 emission hours of the second life battery and storage size of the second life battery and CO2 emissions reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Laboratories America, Inc.
    Inventors: Anupama Keeli, Ratnesh Sharma
  • Patent number: 9166441
    Abstract: A charger including a class E power driver, a frequency-shift keying (“FSK”) module, and a processor. The processor can receive data relating to the operation of the class E power driver and can control the class E power driver based on the received data relating to the operation of the class E power driver. The processor can additionally control the FSK module to modulate the natural frequency of the class E power transformer to thereby allow the simultaneous recharging of an implantable device and the transmission of data to the implantable device. The processor can additionally compensate for propagation delays by adjusting switching times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: ALFRED E. MANN FOUNDATION FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
    Inventors: Brian R. Dearden, James H. Wolfe, Manish Khemani
  • Patent number: 9126054
    Abstract: A system and method for estimating the longevity of an implantable medical device (IMD). In one embodiment of a method for estimating a life of a power source of an implantable medical device, a first life estimate of the power source is determined based on a first open-loop value corresponding to an open-loop parameter for open-loop therapy delivery, a first closed loop value corresponding to a closed-loop parameter for closed-loop therapy delivery, and prior usage data corresponding to prior therapy delivery. The first life estimate of the power source is displayed. The first life estimate displayed includes a first open-loop portion associated with open-loop therapy delivery and a first closed-loop portion associated with closed-loop therapy delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: CYBERONICS, INC.
    Inventor: John C. Colborn
  • Patent number: 9095314
    Abstract: A failure detection and warning system for monitoring a medical device wherein the system structured to passively or actively detect faults occurring in the medical device being monitored, and wherein the fault includes an unprogrammed and/or undesired shut off of the medical device being monitored or an unprogrammed and/or undesired shut-off of the output of the medical device being monitored by the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: FLINT HILLS SCIENTIFIC, LLC
    Inventors: Ivan Osorio, Mark G. Frei, Naresh C. Bhavaraju
  • Patent number: 9077030
    Abstract: Implantable medical devices, implantable medical device systems that include such implantable medical devices, and implantable medical device batteries, as well as methods of making. Such devices can include a battery of relatively small volume but of relatively high power (reported as therapeutic power) and relatively high capacity (reported as capacity density).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Norton, Craig L. Schmidt, Kevin Wilmot Eberman, Lawrence Robert Heyn