Christopher M Fuller

US Patent:

7467014, Dec 16, 2008

Filed:

Apr 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/116983

Inventors:

Christopher C. Fuller - Minneapolis MN, US
William D. Verhoef - Andover MN, US
Gregory J. Haubrich - Champlin MN, US
Javaid Masoud - Shoreview MN, US
George C. Rosar - Minneapolis MN, US
Garry L. Dublin - Maple Grove MN, US
Piotr Przybyszewski - Coon Rapids MN, US

Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

A61N 1/00

US Classification:

607 60, 607 36

Abstract:

An implantable medical device (“IMD”) configured in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention generally includes a housing, a connector header block coupled to the housing, a dielectric sheath located around at least a portion of the housing and/or around at least a portion of the header block, and a telemetry antenna located within the dielectric sheath. The antenna is configured to support far field telemetry with an external device such as a programmer. In one example embodiment, the antenna is configured as a balanced antenna having two separate antenna elements driven 180 degrees out of phase. Each of the antenna elements has a feed point on a perimeter edge of the IMD housing and a floating endpoint. A number of alternate embodiments are also provided.

US Patent:

7742816, Jun 22, 2010

Filed:

Mar 31, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/278176

Inventors:

Javaid Masoud - Shoreview MN, US
Christopher C. Fuller - Bloomington MN, US

Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

A61N 1/00

US Classification:

607 32, 607 60

Abstract:

An implantable medical device (“IMD”) as described herein is configured to support concurrent multichannel data communication with one or more other devices within a body area network corresponding to a patient. The IMD, and possibly other devices within the body area network, can support the multichannel communication with any number of additional IMDs implanted within the body of the same patient. Moreover, one or more of the concurrent data communication channels may be a full-duplex channel. Example embodiments can be flexibly configured to support different data communication protocols and/or different modulation schemes as needed to suit the particular application or operating environment.

US Patent:

7928900, Apr 19, 2011

Filed:

Dec 13, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/955795

Inventors:

Christopher Fuller - Bloomington MN, US
John R. Lamberg - Minnetonka MN, US
John J Geddes - Minneapolis MN, US
Michael J Gawronski - Minneapolis MN, US

Assignee:

Alliant Techsystems Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

H01Q 19/02
H01Q 19/06
G01S 7/02
G01S 13/00
G01S 7/00

US Classification:

342175, 342 22, 342 82, 342 89, 342368, 343700 R, 343753, 343754, 343755, 343907, 343909, 343700 MS

Abstract:

An antenna array includes at least one transmit array comprising a plurality of metamaterial elements. The antenna array further includes at least one near-field stimulator for inputting electromagnetic signal to the transmit array so that a sub-wavelength target is illuminated with an electromagnetic wave.

US Patent:

8587474, Nov 19, 2013

Filed:

Apr 14, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/086713

Inventors:

Christopher Fuller - Bloomington MN, US
John R. Lamberg - Minnetonka MN, US
John J. Geddes - Minneapolis MN, US
Michael J. Gawronski - Minneapolis MN, US

Assignee:

Alliant Techsystems Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

G01S 7/02
H01Q 3/46
G01S 13/00
H01Q 3/00

US Classification:

342175, 342 5, 342 11, 342 21, 342 22, 342 27, 342 73, 342 74, 342 81, 342 82, 342 89, 342368, 343700 R, 343753, 343907, 343909

Abstract:

A radar system includes at least one transmit array comprising a plurality of metamaterial elements. The radar system further includes at least one near-field stimulator for inputting electromagnetic signal to the transmit array so that a sub-wavelength target is illuminated with an electromagnetic wave.

US Patent:

20060247711, Nov 2, 2006

Filed:

Apr 28, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/116691

Inventors:

William Verhoef - Andover MN, US
Piotr Przybyszewski - Coon Rapids MN, US
Christopher Fuller - Minneapolis MN, US
Gregory Haubrich - Champlin MN, US
Garry Dublin - Maple Grove MN, US

International Classification:

A61N 1/375

US Classification:

607032000, 607037000, 607036000

Abstract:

An implantable medical device (“IMD”) configured in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention generally includes a housing, a connector header block coupled to the housing, and a telemetry antenna located within the header block. The header block is formed from a dielectric material, which encapsulates the antenna. The antenna is configured to support far field telemetry with an external device such as a programmer. In one example embodiment, the antenna is formed from a thin round wire, has a feed point on the top perimeter sidewall of the housing, and has a floating endpoint in the header block. The antenna is contoured to form a simple curve in a plane that is approximately parallel with the major sides of the housing.

US Patent:

20080021522, Jan 24, 2008

Filed:

Jul 3, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/772994

Inventors:

William VERHOEF - Andover MN, US
Piotr PRZYBYSZEWSKI - Coon Rapids MN, US
Christopher FULLER - Bloomington MN, US
Gregory HAUBRICH - Champlin MN, US
Garry DUBLIN - Maple Grove MN, US
David NGHIEM - Shoreview MN, US
Rodney WALLACE - Maple Grove MN, US

Assignee:

MEDTRONIC, INC. - MINNEAPOLIS MN

International Classification:

A61N 1/00

US Classification:

607060000

Abstract:

An implantable medical device (“IMD”) configured in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention generally includes a housing, a connector header block coupled to the housing, and a telemetry antenna located within the header block. The header block is formed from a dielectric material, which encapsulates the antenna. The antenna is configured to support far field telemetry with an external device such as a programmer. In one example embodiment, the antenna is formed from a thin round wire, has a feed point on the top perimeter sidewall of the housing, and has a floating endpoint in the header block. The antenna is contoured to form a simple curve in a plane that is approximately parallel with the major sides of the housing.

US Patent:

20080071328, Mar 20, 2008

Filed:

Sep 5, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/850206

Inventors:

Gregory HAUBRICH - Champlin MN, US
Charles DUDDING - Lino Lakes MN, US
Christopher FULLER - Bloomington MN, US

Assignee:

MEDTRONIC, INC. - MINNEAPOLIS MN

International Classification:

A61N 1/08

US Classification:

607060000

Abstract:

A medical system includes a body-contacting signal source adapted to transmit an oscillatory signal though a body to a transducer of a device implanted therein. A detector that is coupled to the transducer, upon detection of a response of the transducer to the signal, activates a radio-frequency (RF) telemetry component of the device.

US Patent:

20120228563, Sep 13, 2012

Filed:

Aug 27, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/548937

Inventors:

Christopher C. Fuller - Bloomington MN, US
John R. Lamberg - Minnetonka MN, US
Mike Gawronski - Minneapolis MN, US

International Classification:

G02B 5/00
H01Q 1/00
H01P 7/00
G01S 13/00

US Classification:

252582, 342175, 343904, 333219

Abstract:

Composite material, devices incorporating the composite material and methods of forming the composite material are provided. The composite material includes interstitial material that has at least one of a select relative permittivity property value and a select relative permeability property value. The composite material further includes inclusion material within the interstitial material. The inclusion material has at least one of a select relative permeability property value and a select relative permittivity property value. The select relative permeability and permittivity property values of the interstitial and the inclusion materials are selected so that the effective intrinsic impedance of the interstitial and the inclusion material match the intrinsic impedance of air. Devices made from the composite include metamaterial and/or metamaterial-inspired (e.g. near-field LC-type parasitic) substrates and/or lenses, front-end protection, stealth absorbers, filters and mixers. Beyond the intrinsic, applications include miniature antenna and antenna arrays, directed energy weapons, EMI filters, RF and optical circuit components, among others.