Heart Rate Regulating (e.g., Pacing) Patents (Class 607/9)
  • Patent number: 10737102
    Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) may include a fixation module, and a device module that is configured to be releasably connected to the fixation module. The device module may have a proximal end and a distal end, and may include a power source and a controller that is operably coupled to the power source. The controller may be configured to sense cardiac electrical activity via two or more electrodes and/or deliver pacing pulses via two or more electrodes. The device module may include a first part of a releasable connector while the fixation module may include a second part of the releasable connector, wherein the first part of the releasable connector and the second part of the releasable connector cooperate to releasably connect the device module with the fixation module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: CARDIAC PACEMAKERS, INC.
    Inventors: Erin Kristen Webb, Bryan J. Swackhamer, Dana Sachs
  • Patent number: 10735887
    Abstract: A spatial audio processing system operable to enable audio signals to be spatially extracted from, or transmitted to, discrete locations within an acoustic space. Embodiments of the present disclosure enable an array of transducers being installed in an acoustic space to combine their signals via inverting physical and environmental models that are measured, learned, tracked, calculated, or estimated. The models may be combined with a whitening filter to establish a cooperative or non-cooperative information-bearing channel between the array and one or more discrete, targeted physical locations in the acoustic space by applying the inverted models with whitening filter to the received or transmitted acoustical signals. The spatial audio processing system may utilize a model of the combination of direct and indirect reflections in the acoustic space to receive or transmit acoustic information, regardless of ambient noise levels, reverberation, and positioning of physical interferers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Wave Sciences, LLC
    Inventors: James Keith McElveen, Gregory S. Nordlund, Jr., Leonid Krasny
  • Patent number: 10668292
    Abstract: Embodiments describe herein generally pertain to implantable medical device (IMDs), and methods for use therewith, that can be used to automatically switch an IMD from its normal operational mode to an MRI safe mode, and vice versa, within increased specificity. In certain embodiments, a controller of the IMD uses a magnetic field sensor to determine whether a first magnetic field condition is detected, and uses an accelerometer to determine whether a positional condition is detected. In response to the first magnetic field condition being detected, and the positional condition being detected, the controller can use the magnetic field sensor to determine whether a second magnetic field condition is detected, which differs from the first magnetic field condition. The controller can then cause the IMD to enter the MRI safe mode based at least in part on the first and second magnetic field conditions and the positional condition being detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Xing Pei, Brad Lindevig, Stuart Rosenberg, Nima Badie
  • Patent number: 10653887
    Abstract: An implantable medical device implements a special mode of operation, such as a mode of electrical stimulation therapy, during conditions where there may be an increased likelihood that a device reset will occur. The implantable medical device recovers from the device reset by copying values that specify the special mode and that are stored in a non-volatile memory to an operating memory. The special mode is implemented after the device reset has occurred by using the values copied to the operating memory. One version of the special mode is an MRI mode that allows the implantable medical device to safely operate during an MRI scan. The fields of the MRI scan may trigger a device reset, but the MRI mode values are copied from the non-volatile memory to the operating memory, and the MRI mode is implemented after the reset by using the values copied to the operating memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy A. Jenison, Michael D. Levy, Benjamin P. Rhodes, Christopher C. Stancer
  • Patent number: 10646720
    Abstract: Implantation of a cardiac stimulus system using parasternal access to the ITV is provided. Superior access may be achieved using parasternal locations in the upper ribcage to access the ITV. Inferior access may be achieved using parasternal locations in the lower ribcage to access the ITV. Parasternal access may include creating an opening in an intercostal space between two ribs and advancing a needle using ultrasound guidance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: CARDIAC PACEMAKERS, INC.
    Inventor: G. Shantanu Reddy
  • Patent number: 10649053
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for clinical practice of medical imaging on patients with metal-containing devices, such as implanted cardiac devices. In particular, Disclosed herein are methods and systems for improved late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) MRI for assessing myocardial viability for patients with implanted cardiac devices, i.e., cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Peng Hu
  • Patent number: 10617881
    Abstract: According to at least one aspect, an external medical device is provided. The external medical device includes at least one electrode to detect cardiac activity of a patient, a treatment component to provide a therapy to the patient based at least in part on the detected cardiac activity, a user interface including at least one caregiver interface and at least one patient interface, and a processor in communication with the user interface. The processor may be configured to provide a first set of information to the caregiver interface and a second set of information to the patient interface. The first set of information may include information for operating the external medical device in conjunction with the patient and the second set of information may include information for allowing the patient to cause the external medical device to suspend providing the therapy to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: ZOLL MEDICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Trisha A. Pavel, John G. Clark, Edward J. Donnelly, Thomas E. Kaib
  • Patent number: 10603496
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a stimulus circuit, a cardiac signal sensing circuit, and a control circuit. The cardiac signal sensing circuit senses a cardiac activity signal using a sensing channel. The stimulus circuit provides electrical pulse energy to a first pacing channel that includes a first left ventricular (LV) electrode and a second pacing channel that includes a second LV electrode. The control circuit initiates delivery of electrical pulse energy using the first and second pacing channels according to a first multi-site LV pacing mode; determines a cardiac event associated with a change in cardiac conduction path using a sensed cardiac activity signal; and changes to a second LV pacing mode in response to determining the cardiac event. The second LV pacing mode is different from the first multi-site LV pacing mode in one or more of a pacing site location and inter-electrode stimulus timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Ternes, Keith L. Herrmann, Britta Catherine Veldman
  • Patent number: 10589100
    Abstract: Methods and devices are is provided for controlling a pacing therapy utilizing left ventricular multi-point pacing (MPP). The method and device provide electrodes configured to be located proximate to an atrial (A) site, a right ventricular (RV) site and multiple left ventricular (LV) sites of the heart. The method and device utilizes one or more processors. The processors determine atrial-ventricular conduction delays (AVCD) between the A site and multiple corresponding LV sites and determines pacing latencies at the LV sites. The processors adjusts the AVCDs, based on the pacing latency at the corresponding LV sites, to form atrial-ventricular latency adjusted (ARPL) conduction delays for the corresponding LV sites, calculates interventricular pacing (VV) delays for combinations of the LV sites based on the corresponding ARPL conduction delays and manages pacing therapy, that utilizes left ventricular MPP, based on the VV delays for the corresponding LV sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoyi Min, Kyungmoo Ryu, Stuart Rosenberg, David Muller
  • Patent number: 10583286
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods for delivering therapy to an adrenal gland of a patient. The apparatuses, systems, and methods may include a housing and a plurality of electrodes arranged with the housing. In addition, one or more of the plurality of electrodes may deliver stimulation energy to modulate L-dopa release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC NEUROMODULATION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lynne E. Swanson, William C. Stoffregen, Bryan A. Clark, Michael X. Govea, Dennis B. Werner, Natalie A. Brill, Pramodsingh H. Thakur
  • Patent number: 10583292
    Abstract: An implantable electronic neuromodulation system includes an implantable pulse generator comprising a controller and a memory. The memory is configured to store an emulated neurosensory signal representative of nerve traffic acquired from a patient equipped with an extra-aortic balloon pump counter-pulsation system or an intra-aortic balloon pump counter-pulsation system. A lead is coupled to the implantable pulse generator. At least one electrode is coupled to the lead. The at least one electrode is positionable in contact with or adjacent to at least one nerve that carries sensory information from baroreceptors. The controller is configured to stimulate the at least one nerve using the emulated neurosensory signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: CHF Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: David Lerner
  • Patent number: 10556111
    Abstract: An implantable assembly is described for acquisition of neuronal electrical signals at a selected location which propagate along at least one nerve fiber contained in a nerve fiber bundle, as well as for selective electrical stimulation of the at least one nerve fiber, having: an implantable electrode assembly (E) which is disposed on a biocompatible support substrate which can be positioned around the nerve fiber bundle in a cuff, which has a cylindrical support substrate surface (i) which in the implanted condition is orientated facing the nerve fiber bundle, on which a first electrode assembly for locationally selective acquisition of the neuronal electrical signals and selective electrical stimulation of the at least one nerve fiber, and on which a second electrode assembly is disposed to record an ECG signal, and an analysis and control unit (A/S) which can be electrically conductively connected or is connected to the implantable electrode assembly (E), in which the locationally selective acquired neuron
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Neuroloop GmbH
    Inventors: Dennis Plachta, Mortimer Giehrtmuehlen, Thomas Stieglitz, Josef Zentner
  • Patent number: 10549102
    Abstract: Sensors are applied to the heart and sensor data is supplied to a rules engine. The rules engine applies rules that reflect a CRM pharmaceutical regime of the patient to the sensor data to determine whether an electrical waveform should be applied to the heart. When electrical stimulation is warranted, the drug “awareness” rules are used by the rules engine to instruct a multi-phase cardiac stimulus generator to generate an electrical waveform that improves the performance of the drugs administered to the patient, allow the patient to be administered a lower dose of a particular drug, and/or reduce or eliminate side effects from the drugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: MR3 MEDICAL, LLC
    Inventors: Morton M. Mower, Ralph Hall
  • Patent number: 10547171
    Abstract: A power transistor supplying power to a load is coupled to a current limiter circuit including a differential amplifier that operates to detect a difference between a sense voltage, indicative of a load current, and a voltage reference. A control terminal of the power transistor is driven by a first output of the differential amplifier as a function of the detected difference. A voltage clamp circuit coupled to an input terminal generates a floating ground. A short-circuit protection circuit coupled to the floating ground and interposed between a second output of the differential amplifier and the control terminal of the power transistor provides a short-circuit protection for the first output of the differential amplifier. A reaction time circuit is coupled between the first and second outputs of the differential amplifier and a source terminal of the power transistor to limit a short-circuit current at the source terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Ignazio Bruno Mirabella, Francesco Pulvirenti, Salvatore Pappalardo
  • Patent number: 10517540
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for reducing the size of data payloads delivered to downstream processing from a raw series of biological sensor recordings. In one variation, the system comprises a low-power hardware architecture that combines serially sampled neural signal data with a transformation matrix (TFM) using a novel systolic random-logic-macro (RLM) array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: HI LLC
    Inventors: Kristopher Anderson, Randal Koene, Antonio H. Lara, John W. Stanton
  • Patent number: 10518089
    Abstract: A method of providing therapy to a patient using a plurality of electrodes is provided. The electrodes are located adjacent a target neural tissue region having a first nerve fiber of a relatively small diameter and a second nerve fiber of a relatively large diameter. The method comprises sourcing electrical current from a local anode into the target neural tissue region. The method further comprises therapeutically sinking a first portion of the electrical current from the target neural tissue region into a local cathode. The method further comprises sinking a second portion of the electrical current into a cathode remote from the target neural tissue region. The ratio of the sourced electrical current over the first sunk electrical current portion has a value that allows the first nerve fiber to be recruited by the electrical current while preventing the second nerve fiber from being recruited by the electrical current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Dongchul Lee, Kerry Bradley, David K. L. Peterson
  • Patent number: 10506939
    Abstract: A method, including, receiving a first group of electrocardiograph (ECG) signals derived from a single heartbeat and generated at a respective plurality of electrodes on a catheter in a heart of a subject, formulating a template relating times of annotations of the first group of the ECG signals, and assigning the template an index. The method further includes receiving a second group of ECG signals derived from a subsequent single heartbeat and generated at the electrodes, calculating times of annotations of the second group, formulating a comparison between the template and the times of annotations of the second group, and, when the comparison indicates that the times of annotations of the second group correspond to the template, assigning the index to the second group of ECG signals, and presenting graphically on a display an occurrence of the template relative to a timeline representing heartbeats from the heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd.
    Inventors: Vladimir Rubinstein, Meir Bar-Tal
  • Patent number: 10485439
    Abstract: Fast recovery electrocardiogram (ECG) signal method and apparatus are provided. In one embodiment, an ECG apparatus includes an input for receiving a biometric cardiogram signal, such as a Wilson Central Terminal (WCT) signal, and a combiner, such as an adder, for producing a compensated signal. An analog to digital converter provides a digitized version of the compensated signal to a processor. The processor produces an ECG reflective of the compensated signal and also outputs a digital signal corresponding to high frequency response of the digitized compensated signal to a digital to analog converter. The digital to analog converter provides an analog version of the digital signal corresponding to high frequency response of the digitized compensated signal to compensate for low response of the biometric cardiogram signal to high frequency spikes. A resultant ECG is produced by the processor having pacing signal contribution within the biometric cardiogram signal cancelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: BIOSENSE WEBSTER (ISREAL) LTD.
    Inventor: Assaf Govari
  • Patent number: 10478627
    Abstract: An implantable leadless pacemaker (iLP) for a human or animal heart is provided that includes a housing, at least two electrode poles for picking up electrical potentials and/or delivering electrical stimulation, a stimulation control unit in connection with the electrode poles, a sensing unit that is in connection with at least one electrode pole, a signal processing unit in connection with the sensing unit, a signal evaluation unit in connection with the signal processing unit and/or the sensing unit, and an energy source. The sensing unit is configured to sense a first signal associated with an activity of the first heart chamber, and the stimulation control unit is configured to deliver electrical stimulation in the first heart chamber via the at least two electrode poles. The sensing unit is configured to sense a second signal associated with an activity of a second heart chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Biotronik SE & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dirk Muessig, Andrew Kibler, Larry Stotts, Brian M. Taff
  • Patent number: 10449368
    Abstract: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) delivered to a heart of a patient may be adjusted based on detection of a surrogate indication of the intrinsic atrioventricular conduction of the heart. In some examples, the surrogate indication is determined to be a sense event of the first depolarizing ventricle of the heart within a predetermined period of time following the delivery of a fusion pacing stimulus to the later depolarizing ventricle. In some examples, the CRT is switched from a fusion pacing configuration to a biventricular pacing configuration if the surrogate indication is not detected, and the CRT is maintained in a fusion pacing configuration if the surrogate indication is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksandre T. Sambelashvili, Thomas J. Mullen, Todd J. Sheldon
  • Patent number: 10448855
    Abstract: In situations in which an implantable medical device (IMD) (e.g., an extravascular ICD) is co-implanted with a leadless pacing device (LPD), it may be important that the IMD knows when the LPD is delivering pacing, such as anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP). Techniques are described herein for detecting, with the IMD and based on the sensed electrical signal, pacing pulses and adjusting operation to account for the detected pulses, e.g., blanking the sensed electrical signal or modifying a tachyarrhythmia detection algorithm. In one example, the IMD includes a pace pulse detector that detects, based on the processing of sensed electrical signals, delivery of a pacing pulse from a second implantable medical device and blank, based on the detection of the pacing pulse, the sensed electrical signal to remove the pacing pulse from the sensed electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Reinke, Xusheng Zhang, Vinod Sharma, Vladimir P. Nikolski, Michael B. Terry, Scott A. Hareland, Daniel L. Hansen, Donna M. Salmi
  • Patent number: 10441794
    Abstract: Methods and devices for reducing ventricle filling volume are disclosed. In some embodiments, an electrical stimulator may be used to stimulate a patient's heart to reduce ventricle filling volume or even blood pressure. When the heart is stimulated in a consistent way to reduce blood pressure, the cardiovascular system may over time adapt to the stimulation and revert back to the higher blood pressure. In some embodiments, the stimulation pattern may be configured to be inconsistent such that the adaptation response of the heart is reduced or even prevented. In some embodiments, an electrical stimulator may be used to stimulate a patient's heart to cause at least a portion of an atrial contraction to occur while the atrioventricular valve is closed. Such an atrial contraction may deposit less blood into the corresponding ventricle than when the atrioventricular valve is opened throughout an atrial contraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: BackBeat Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuval Mika, Darren Sherman, Robert S. Schwartz, Robert A. Van Tassel, Daniel Burkhoff
  • Patent number: 10441797
    Abstract: A medical device for stimulating the heart using biventricular stimulation. The device includes a sensor for detecting an endocardial acceleration parameter and a processing circuit configured to receive the endocardial acceleration parameter. The device further includes stimulation electronics coupled to the processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to use the EA parameter to evaluate the biventricular stimulation. The evaluation includes comparing the value of the EA parameter in biventricular mode to the value of the EA parameter in left only mode or right only mode, and using the comparison and an assessment of the variability of the EA parameter as a function of the AVD in the left or right mode to distinguish between cases comprising: (a) normal operation, (b) a loss of RV or LV capture, (c) possible anodal stimulation. The processing circuit is further configured to conduct at least one update to operational parameters of the device based on the determined case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Sorin CRM SAS
    Inventors: Filippo Ziglio, Fabrizio Renesto
  • Patent number: 10391302
    Abstract: A device for electrical stimulation of one or more components of the periodontal complex and surrounding tissue of a tooth, for uses such as reducing orthodontic pain and encouraging tooth movement, has electrodes of a rigid, electrically conductive material in a fixed spatial relationship configured for application to oral mucosa and attached gingiva adjacent to, and along a periodontal ligament of, a root structure of a single tooth. An electrical circuit is configured for electrical connection to the at least two electrodes. The electrical circuit has an output providing a subsensory electrical stimulus comprising a waveform in accordance with predetermined stimulation parameters. After the electrodes are applied to the oral mucosa and attached gingiva adjacent to, and along the periodontal ligament of, a root structure of the tooth, a switch, when activated, activates the electrical circuit to output the electrical stimulus through the at least two electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Inventor: Cosmo Haralambidis
  • Patent number: 10391318
    Abstract: A medical device and medical device system for determining capture during delivery of a ventricular pacing therapy that includes a subcutaneous sensing device comprising a subcutaneous electrode to sense a subcutaneous cardiac signal and to emit a trigger signal in response to the sensed cardiac signal, an intracardiac therapy delivery device capable of being implanted within a left ventricle of a heart to receive the trigger signal and deliver the ventricular pacing therapy to the left ventricle in response to the emitted trigger signal, and a processor positioned within the subcutaneous sensing device, the processor configured to compare a beat of the subcutaneous cardiac signal sensed by the sensing device subsequent to the ventricular pacing therapy being delivered to a baseline template associated with a non-paced beat, and determine whether the delivered ventricular pacing therapy captures the left ventricle in response to the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Subham Ghosh
  • Patent number: 10314651
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring and performing tissue modulation are disclosed. An example system may include an elongate shaft having a distal end region and a proximal end and having at least one modulation element and one sensing electrode disposed adjacent to the distal end region. The sensing electrode may be used to determine and monitor changes in tissue adjacent to the modulation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard B. Richardson, Scott R. Smith, Mark L. Jenson
  • Patent number: 10285647
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for assigning map points to anatomical segments of a heart. The method and system utilize an intravascular mapping tool configured to be inserted into at least one of the endocardial or epicardial space. The mapping tool is maneuvered to select locations proximate to surfaces of the heart, while collecting map points at the select locations to form a ROI data set. The method and system store the ROI data set in a data storage and defines apical, basal and circumferential landmarks within the ROI data set. The method and system automatically calculate circumferential and longitudinal segment boundaries, associated with wall segments of the heart, based on the apical, basal and circumferential landmarks. The method and system automatically assign segment identifiers (IDs) to the map points based on locations of the map points relative to the circumferential and longitudinal boundaries, the segment IDs associated with wall segments of the heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Pacesetter Inc.
    Inventors: Hoda Razavi, Yelena Nabutovsky
  • Patent number: 10279178
    Abstract: An electrostimulation device comprises a hand-held electrostimulation generator receiving an input music signal and providing at an output a nerve electrostimulation signal modulated by the music signal, an electronic signal conduit having conductive leads conductively connected to the output of the electrostimulation generator, and an electrode coupler comprising an earbud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Neuvana, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Cartledge, Daniel Cartledge, Ami Brannon, Kermit Falk, Gregory L. Mayback
  • Patent number: 10271786
    Abstract: Reconstruction of cardiac information associated with a heart rhythm disorder includes accessing a plurality of neighboring cardiac signals and eliminating far-field activations from the neighboring cardiac signals using one or more divergence criteria that define local activations, where the divergence criteria is associated with divergence among the plurality of neighboring cardiac signals. The local activations in the plurality of neighboring cardiac signals may be used to construct a clinical representation of the heart rhythm disorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, The United States of America as Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Topera, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjiv Narayan, Carey Robert Briggs
  • Patent number: 10272248
    Abstract: In some examples, controlling delivery of CRT includes delivering ventricular pacing according to a sequence of different values of at least one of A-V delay or V-V delay, and acquiring one or more electrograms from respective vectors. For each of the different values of the at least one of A-V delay or V-V delay, at least one of a QRS amplitude or a QRS area may be determined based on the one or more electrograms, and a target change in QRS amplitude or QRS area between adjacent ones of the values of the at least one of A-V delay or V-V delay of the sequence may be identified. In response to the identification of the target change, the implantable medical device may deliver the ventricular pacing at a value of the at least one of A-V delay or V-V delay determined based on the identification to provide CRT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignees: Medtronic, Inc., Universiteit Maastricht, Academisch Ziekenhuis Maastricht
    Inventors: Elien B. Engels, Kevin Vernooy, Alfonso Aranda Hernandez, Frits W. Prinzen, Jeffrey M. Gillberg
  • Patent number: 10251555
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and interfaces are described herein for assisting in noninvasive location selection for an implantable electrode for use in cardiac therapy. Mechanical motion information and surrogate electrical activation times may be used to identify one or more candidate site regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Subham Ghosh, Manfred Justen, Eric Schilling
  • Patent number: 10252060
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treatment of hypertension and heart failure by increasing secretion of endogenous atrial hormones by pacing of the heart. Pacing is done during the ventricular refractory period resulting in premature atrial contraction that does not result in ventricular contraction. Pacing results in the atrial wall stress, peripheral vasodilation, ANP secretion. Concomitant reduction of the heart rate is monitored and controlled as needed with backup pacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: BackBeat Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Levin, Mark Gelfand
  • Patent number: 10215661
    Abstract: A device includes at least one antenna, a power supply that generates a voltage using electrical energy contained in a first radio frequency (RF) signal generated by an RF scanner, at least two ports to which respective ends of at least one electrical conductor are attached, an impedance meter to which the at least two ports are conductively linked and a transmission controller configured to communicate to the RF scanner, via the antenna, a second RF signal containing data indicating the measured electrical impedance. The impedance meter and the transmission controller are powered by the voltage generated by the power supply using the electrical energy contained in the first RF signal generated by the RF scanner. The device can be configured to be embedded into at least one structural material of a physical structure, or embedded into a structural wrap configured to be attached to the physical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bruce H. Hyre
  • Patent number: 10206601
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and interfaces are described herein for assisting a user in noninvasive evaluation of patients for cardiac therapy and noninvasive evaluation of cardiac therapy being delivered. The systems, methods, and interfaces may provide graphical representations of cardiac electrical activation times about one or more portions of human anatomy and one or more cardiac health metrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Gillberg, Subham Ghosh
  • Patent number: 10201710
    Abstract: An implantable medical device comprises therapy delivery circuitry and processing circuitry. The therapy delivery circuitry is configured to deliver anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) therapy to a heart of a patient. The ATP therapy includes one or more pulse trains and each of the one or more pulse trains includes a plurality of pacing pulses. The processing circuitry is configured to, for at least one of the plurality of pacing pulses of at least one of the one or more pulse trains, determine at least one latency metric of an evoked response of the heart to the pacing pulse. The processing circuitry is further configured to modify the ATP therapy based on the at least one latency metric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy E. Jackson, Vincent P. Ganion
  • Patent number: 10195443
    Abstract: Approaches to rank potential left ventricular (LV) pacing vectors are described. Early elimination tests are performed to determine the viability of LV cathode electrodes. Some LV cathodes are eliminated from further testing based on the early elimination tests. LV cathodes identified as viable cathodes are tested further. Viable LV cathode electrodes are tested for hemodynamic efficacy. Cardiac capture and phrenic nerve activation thresholds are then measured for potential LV pacing vectors comprising a viable LV cathode electrode and an anode electrode. The potential LV pacing vectors are ranked based on one or more of the hemodynamic efficacy of the LV cathodes, the cardiac capture thresholds, and the phrenic nerve activation thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Krzysztof Z. Siejko, Shibaji Shome, Jiang Ding
  • Patent number: 10188353
    Abstract: A system for monitoring autonomic health may include an autonomic nerve stimulation (ANS) dose delivery system and a response extractor. The response extractor may be configured to record physiological parameter values including first population data that includes evoked response (ER) values corresponding to evoked physiological responses, and second population data that includes reference values that include no effect (NE) values corresponding to times without a physiological response. The response monitor may calculate evoked response metrics (ERMs) using the first and second population data where each of the ERMs may be dependent on background autonomic activity. The response extractor may analyze the ERMs to provide ERM analysis, and provide an indication of autonomic health using the ERM analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Stolen, Stephen B. Ruble, Rahul Agarwal, Nicholas Wold
  • Patent number: 10172568
    Abstract: A method of operation of a medical device system for determining prospective heart failure hospitalization risk. The method includes measuring one or more data observations via one or more electrodes of an implanted medical device disposed in a patient's body. The data observations are stored into memory of the implantable medical device of a patient. The data observations are transmitted to an external device. The processor of the external device parses the data observations into one or more evaluation periods. Using the number of observations in one or more evaluation periods, a look up table, stored into memory of the external device, is accessed. The look up table associates prospective heart failure hospitalization risk with the data observations noted in the evaluation period. One or more embodiments involve a weighted prospective heart failure hospitalization risk for the set of evaluation periods. The prospective heart failure hospitalization is then displayed on the graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Vinod Sharma, Eduardo N Warman, Karen J Kleckner
  • Patent number: 10159840
    Abstract: An active implantable medical device for neurostimulation therapy is disclosed. The device produces stimulation pulse sequences generated continuously in succession during activity periods separated by intermediate inactivity periods during which no stimulation is issued. An input signal, provided by a physiological sensor, representative of cardiac activity and/or of the patient's hemodynamic status is received by circuitry. The circuitry further provides for dynamic control of the neurostimulation therapy, wherein the length of activity periods is modulated based on the current value level of the control parameter compared to a threshold. The duration of the next period of inactivity is calculated by the circuitry at the end of each activity period to maintain a constant duty cycle ratio between periods of activity and periods of inactivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignees: SORIN CRM SAS, UNIVERSITÉ DE RENNES 1, INSERM-INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Bonnet, Alfredo Hernandez, Guy Carrault, Hector Romero
  • Patent number: 10137297
    Abstract: A medical device system and method for detecting dislodgement of a ventricular lead determines one or more characteristics of a cardiac signal received via the ventricular lead that are associated with dislodgement of the ventricular lead during atrial fibrillation, and detects dislodgement of the ventricular lead based on the determined characteristics. The medical device and system provides a lead dislodgment alert in response to detecting dislodgement. In some examples, an implantable medical device withholds delivery of a ventricular defibrillation therapy based on detecting dislodgement of the ventricular lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce D. Gunderson
  • Patent number: 10130819
    Abstract: A system for synchronizing application of treatment signals with a cardiac rhythm is provided. The system includes a memory that receives and stores a synchronization signal indicating that a predetermined phase such as R-wave of a cardiac rhythm of a patient has started. A synchronization module analyzes whether the stored synchronization signal is erroneous and if so, prevents a medical treatment device from applying a treatment energy signal such as an IRE pulse to a patient to take into account an irregular heart beat and noise in the synchronization signal in order to maximize safety of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Callas, James Lovewell, Bradley C. Stribling, Dave Warden
  • Patent number: 10124176
    Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) may include a communication module, a therapy control module, a firmware control module, and a service application. The communication module is configured to wirelessly communicate over an RF link with an external device. The therapy control module is configured to deliver therapy to the patient, and may include a reprogrammable therapy logic circuit configured to operate the therapy control module in a reprogrammable mode of operation, and base-therapy state machine (BTSM) logic circuit configured to operate the therapy control module in a base therapy mode of operation. The firmware control module may include CPU and a memory. The service application may be stored in the memory. The firmware control module is configured to launch the service application, and the BTSM logic circuit provides a base level of sensing and pacing therapy while the communications module in parallel maintains the RF link with the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongjian Wu, Eric Husky, David Doudna, Chao-wen Young, Min Yang, Robert Romano, Tommy Akkila, Goran Budgifvars, Eduardo Serrano
  • Patent number: 10110127
    Abstract: On embodiment pertains to an apparatus including a control loop configured to receive an output voltage sense signal. The control loop includes a compensator; a PWM signal generator coupled to an output of the compensator; a reference circuit configured to receive a tracking signal, and which is configured to low bandwidth low pass filter the tracking signal when the tracking signal amplitude becomes substantially constant and representative of an output voltage that is substantially non-zero; and an error amplifier having a first input coupled to an output of the reference circuit, a second input configured to receive the output voltage sense signal, and an output coupled to the compensator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: INTERSIL AMERICAS LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Chieng
  • Patent number: 10092759
    Abstract: An implantable medical device is provided that comprises a pulse generator circuit that times delivery of ventricular pacing pulses based on a base intracardiac interval (ICI). A processor is provided that has memory storing program instructions and storing atrial and ventricular events over multiple cardiac cycles and that is responsive to execution of the program instructions. The processor adjusts the base ICI by an ICI adjustment, during one or more of the multiple cardiac cycles, to promote intrinsic heart activity. The processor further counts a number of the cardiac cycles in which the ICI adjustments occurred in conjunction with arrhythmias to identify an excessive adjustment count and modifies the ICI adjustment to utilize a new ICI adjustment based on the excessive adjustment count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventor: Xing Pei
  • Patent number: 10096829
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery attains both a high capacity and excellent low-temperature characteristics. A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, a nonaqueous electrolyte and a battery case accommodating the battery constituents, the positive electrode having a positive electrode mixture layer including a lithium transition metal oxide and a conductive auxiliary, the lithium transition metal oxide containing at least Ni. The percentage of Ni in the total moles of metal element(s) except lithium present in the oxide is not less than 88 mol %, the content of the conductive auxiliary being not less than 0.75 parts by mass and not more than 1.25 parts by mass, the ratio of the lithium transition metal oxide being not less than 25 parts by volume in the inside of the battery case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Mizawa, Junichi Sugaya
  • Patent number: 10080887
    Abstract: An implantable leadless cardiac pacing device including a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, an electrode positioned proximate the distal end of the housing configured to be positioned adjacent cardiac tissue, and a tissue anchoring member extending from the distal end of the housing configured to secure the housing to cardiac tissue. The device further includes a tissue engagement verification feature configured to provide feedback upon engagement of the tissue anchoring member in cardiac tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian L. Schmidt, Benjamin J. Haasl, John M. Edgell, Dana Sachs
  • Patent number: 10065042
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a system for cardiac stimulation optimization utilizing cardiac asynchrony and pulse pressure data. The system includes: an analysis circuitry to receive cardiac signals collected at two locations of a patient's heart during an application to the heart of stimulation in accordance with multiple (VV) delay intervals, calculate an asynchrony index for the VV delay intervals, and determine one of the VV intervals as optimal based on the asynchrony index for that VV interval; an implantable stimulation device to cycle through the VV intervals while applying the stimulation, and further configured to cycle through atrioventricular (AV) delay intervals while applying additional stimulation in accordance with the optimal VV delay interval; and an arterial pulse pressure sensor to measure arterial pulse pressure during the application of the additional stimulation, wherein the analysis circuitry determines one of the AV delay intervals as optimal based on the arterial pulse pressure measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: XSynchro, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Felipe Ortega, Julio César Spinelli, Maria Paula Bonomini, Luis Dante Barja
  • Patent number: 10039469
    Abstract: A medical device performs a method for detecting an atrial tachyarrhythmia by determining RR intervals between successive R-waves of a cardiac electrical signal and determining classification factors from the R-waves identified over a predetermined time period by determining at least a first classification factor correlated to variability of the RR intervals and a second classification factor indicating a presence of a ventricular tachyarrhythmia. The device classifies the cardiac electrical signal of the predetermined time period as unclassified, atrial tachyarrhythmia or non-atrial tachyarrhythmia by comparing the determined classification factors to classification criteria. The predetermined time period is classified as unclassified when the second classification factor indicates the presence of a ventricular tachyarrhythmia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Elise J. Higgins, Mark L. Brown, Jian Cao
  • Patent number: 10022054
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a cardiac monitoring system includes multiple sensors configured for implantation in a cardiovascular system of a user. Each sensor includes a sensing unit configured to be disposed in sensory communication with the location for measuring a biological parameter in the at least one heart chamber. The sensing unit is also configured to generate a sensory signal associated with the biological parameter. Each sensor also includes a wireless transceiver configured to receive the sensory signal from the sensing unit. The wireless transceiver is further configured to wirelessly transmit the sensory signal to an external processing device disposed outside a body of the user. The external processing device monitors, based on the sensory signal received from at least two sensors from the plurality of sensors, cardiac health associated with at least one of an implanted device or a surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Integrated Sensing Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nader Najafi, Jacek Rysard Baranowski, David Joseph Goetzinger
  • Patent number: RE47031
    Abstract: The present invention provides a switched-mode power converter with regulation demand pulses sent across a galvanic isolation barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: CogniPower, LLC
    Inventors: William H. Morong, Thomas E. Lawson