Darrell O Wagner

US Patent:

6546287, Apr 8, 2003

Filed:

Oct 6, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/680790

Inventors:

William J. Havel - Maple Grove MN
Joe D. Bourland - West Lafayette IN
Leslie A. Geddes - Lafayette IN
Willis A. Tacker - Lafayette IN
Darrell O. Wagner - Isanti MN

Assignee:

Purdue Research Foundation - West Lafayette IN

International Classification:

A61N 136

US Classification:

607 7, 607 8

Abstract:

A controlled-power defibrillator and method of defibrillation for automatically compensating for changes in patient resistance during delivery of a defibrillation pulse. A switching power converter is connected between a storage capacitor and a pair of electrodes adapted for connection to a patients body, either internally or externally. A closed-loop power control circuit is operatively connected to the power converter for control of the power delivered to the patient, the power control circuit generating a target voltage signal for the storage capacitor, the target voltage signal having a defined relationship with the waveform of the power desired to be delivered to the patient. The power control circuit monitors the actual voltage on the storage capacitor and adjusts the delivery of power to the patient as a function of the difference between desired and actual storage capacitor voltage. The power converter is adapted to capture energy from the discharge of an existing defibrillator and to convert captured energy from the existing defibrillator to a waveform different from that generated by the existing defibrillator.

US Patent:

6957104, Oct 18, 2005

Filed:

Jan 3, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/038498

Inventors:

Darrell Wagner - Isanti MN, US

Assignee:

Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

A61N001/362

US Classification:

607 9

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for preventing atrial fibrillation arising from a premature atrial contraction. Upon detection of a premature atrial contraction, a pace is delivered to a ventricle at a specified AV interval selected as either a late-pace or early-pace value. The resulting ventricular depolarization then occurs during a time when the atria are not vulnerable to the triggering of fibrillation.

US Patent:

7047071, May 16, 2006

Filed:

Mar 12, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/799341

Inventors:

Darrell Orvin Wagner - Isanti MN, US
Adam W. Cates - Minneapolis MN, US
Curtis Charles Lindstrom - Roseville MN, US

Assignee:

Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. - Saint Paul MN

International Classification:

A61N 1/18
A61N 1/38

US Classification:

607 4, 607 5, 607 10, 607 28

Abstract:

Systems and methods of verifying that implantable cardiac devices operate as intended in a particular patient involve one or more of determining proper placement of system components, determining stimulus levels useful for individual patient stratification, and determining stimulus levels that indicate efficacy of devices, implantable within a given patient. A pacing stimulus set at a surface pacing level is delivered to a patient's heart using surface electrodes. The patient is determined to not be a candidate for implantation of a subcutaneous defibrillation system if the surface pacing level needed to capture the heart exceeds a predetermined level. The patient may be determined to be a candidate for implantation of a subcutaneous system if the surface pacing level needed to effect capture is within an acceptance level. Such determinations are preferably based on a proportionality relationship between a subcutaneous defibrillation level and a surface pacing level.

US Patent:

7110811, Sep 19, 2006

Filed:

Dec 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/334696

Inventors:

Darrell O Wagner - Isanti MN, US
Hugo X. Gonzalez - Woodinville WA, US

Assignee:

Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

A61N 1/39

US Classification:

607 4, 607 5

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for delivering electrical shock therapy in order to treat atrial tachyarrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation is presented. The ventricular rhythm of certain patients during an episode of atrial fibrillation may be such that shockable R—R intervals are infrequent or do not occur at all. Continuous electrical stimulation of the atria after detection of an atrial tachyarrhythmia may be utilized to modify the ventricular rhythm in such patients to increase the frequency of shockable R—R intervals.

US Patent:

7117035, Oct 3, 2006

Filed:

Apr 1, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/816464

Inventors:

Darrell Orvin Wagner - Isanti MN, US
Paul Haefner - Circle Pines MN, US

Assignee:

Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. - Saint Paul MN

International Classification:

A61N 1/365

US Classification:

607 17, 607 18, 607 2

Abstract:

A system includes a housing with energy delivery circuitry and detection circuitry. One or more electrodes are coupled to the circuitry and used to sense cardiac and muscle activity. A processor is coupled to the energy delivery and detection circuitry. The processor may detect a ventricular arrhythmia using a cardiac signal developed from the sensed cardiac activity and may also detect an activity state of the patient using an activity signal developed from the sensed muscle activity. The processor modifies delivery of a therapy to treat the arrhythmia in response to the activity signal. A method involves detecting signals using subcutaneous electrodes, and discerning a cardiac signal and a patient activity signal from the detected signals. Arrhythmia therapy may be modified to treat the arrhythmia in response to the activity signal.

US Patent:

7142912, Nov 28, 2006

Filed:

Jul 12, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/194435

Inventors:

Darrell O. Wagner - Isanti MN, US
Robert J. Sweeney - Woodbury MN, US
Adam W. Cates - Minneapolis MN, US
Apurv Kamath - Minneapolis MN, US
Eric G. Lovett - Roseville MN, US

Assignee:

Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

A61N 1/08

US Classification:

607 4, 600518

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for assessing the risk of atrial fibrillation in a patient by calculating the relative frequency of short and long intervals between successive heart beats during sinus rhythm is presented. An imbalance of short over long sinus intervals has been found to indicate a higher risk of atrial fibrillation. An implantable cardiac device may be configured to automatically deliver interventional therapy to restore sinus interval balance when such an imbalance is detected.

US Patent:

7302294, Nov 27, 2007

Filed:

Apr 2, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/817749

Inventors:

Apurv Kamath - Solana Beach CA, US
Paul Haefner - Circle Pines MN, US
Darrell Orvin Wagner - Isanti MN, US
Marina Brockway - Shoreview MN, US

Assignee:

Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

A61N 1/365

US Classification:

607 6

Abstract:

Cardiac systems and methods using ECG and blood information for arrhythmia detection and discrimination. Detection circuitry is configured to produce an ECG. An implantable blood sensor configured to produce a blood sensor signal is coupled to a processor. The processor is coupled to the detection and energy delivery circuitry, and used to evaluate and treat cardiac rhythms using both the cardiac electrophysiologic and blood sensor signals. The blood sensor is configured for subcutaneous non-intrathoracic placement and provided in or on the housing, on a lead coupled to the housing, and/or separate to the housing and coupled to the processor via hardwire or wireless link. The blood sensor may be configured for optical sensing, using a blood oxygen saturation sensor or pulse oximeter. A cardiac rhythm may be evaluated using the electrocardiogram signal and the blood sensor signal, and tachyarrhythmias may be treated after confirmation using the blood sense signal.

US Patent:

7349742, Mar 25, 2008

Filed:

Dec 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/745341

Inventors:

Ron Heil - Roseville MN, US
Darrell Orvin Wagner - Isanti MN, US
Adam W. Cates - Minneapolis MN, US
Curtis Charles Lindstrom - Roseville MN, US

Assignee:

Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

A61N 1/05

US Classification:

607116

Abstract:

Subcutaneous systems and leads may be fixed in tissue after placement by use of one or more expanding fixation elements. An expanding fixation element is provided on an implantable lead and configured to secure one or both of a subcutaneous electrode and the lead body within subcutaneous non-intrathoracic tissue. A delivery apparatus comprising a sheath may be included that is configured to introduce the lead to a desired subcutaneous non-intrathoracic location within the patient. A method of lead delivery typically involves introducing a sheath into a subcutaneous non-intrathoracic body location of a patient, providing a lead comprising a lead body and an electrode, and advancing the lead through the sheath and to the subcutaneous non-intrathoracic body location. The method further involves fixing the lead to subcutaneous non-intrathoracic tissue using an expanding fixation element and thereafter removing the sheath from the patient.