Todd D Heathershaw

US Patent:

7089057, Aug 8, 2006

Filed:

Apr 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/133925

Inventors:

Todd D. Heathershaw - Phoenix AZ, US
Nathan A. Torgerson - Andover MN, US
Mark Stein - Chandler AZ, US

Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

A61N 1/08

US Classification:

607 27

Abstract:

Apparatus and method for monitoring capacitive elements of an implantable medical device system for device failure and responding thereto. A therapy measurement block monitors a charge value across one or more capacitive elements. If the charge value falls outside a prescribed range, indicating possible failure in the capacitive element, the system removes from service the capacitive element and its associated regulator, notifies the implantable neuro stimulator of the failure and/or takes appropriate corrective measures.

US Patent:

7483748, Jan 27, 2009

Filed:

Apr 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/133906

Inventors:

Nathan A. Torgerson - Andover MN, US
Robert Leinders - Limbricht, NL
Mark Stein - Chandler AZ, US
Todd P. Goblish - Maple Grove MN, US
Todd D. Heathershaw - Phoenix AZ, US
John Delfin Rodriguez - Scottsdale AZ, US

Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

A61N 1/00

US Classification:

607 46

Abstract:

Apparatus and method provide flexibility in generating a stimulation waveform to an electrode of an Implantable Neuro Stimulator (INS). The stimulation waveform is synthesized for each rate period interval. Each rate period interval is partitioned into time intervals, during which stimulation pulses, recharging, and time duration delays may be induced. With the embodiment of the invention, a second stimulation pulse, having different electrical characteristics than a first stimulation pulse, may be generated during the rate period interval. An embodiment utilizes apparatus comprising a waveform controller and a waveform generator that are controlled by the waveform controller. The waveform controller uses waveform parameters to instruct the waveform generator to form stimulation pulses. Any of the components may be adjusted or deleted in the generation of the stimulation waveform. The embodiment enables any of the associated waveform parameters to be updated at the waveform controller in order to alter the stimulation waveform.

US Patent:

7489966, Feb 10, 2009

Filed:

Jun 29, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/170497

Inventors:

Robert Leinders - Limbricht, NL
Nathan A. Torgerson - Andover MN, US
Mark T. Stein - Chandler AZ, US
Todd P. Goblish - Maple Grove MN, US
Todd D. Heathershaw - Phoenix AZ, US
John Delfin Rodriguez - Scottsdale AZ, US

Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

A61N 1/00

US Classification:

607 2, 607 6

Abstract:

Apparatus and method for independently delivering a plurality of therapy programs in an implantable medical device. A therapy controller configures the device to generate independent pulse trains associated with a plurality of therapy programs and dynamically configures the electrodes to deliver the independent pulse trains to the patient. Once configured, the implantable medical device delivers the plurality of therapy programs to the patient wherein the therapy programs may overlap in time.

US Patent:

7805189, Sep 28, 2010

Filed:

Jan 3, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/649329

Inventors:

Marc T. Stein - Chandler AZ, US
Nathan A Torgerson - Andover MN, US
Robert Leinders - Limbricht, NL
Todd P Goblish - Maple Grove MN, US
Todd D. Heathershaw - Chandler AZ, US
John Delfin Rodriguez - Chandler AZ, US

Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

A61N 1/00

US Classification:

607 2

Abstract:

Apparatus and method provide flexibility in generating a stimulation waveform to an electrode of an implantable medical device. The stimulation waveform comprises at least one stimulation pulse. The embodiment of the invention supports a generation of a stimulation pulse in which an amplitude and an electrical polarity of the stimulation pulse can be dynamically changed. The embodiment comprises a capacitor arrangement, a regulator and a switching array. The capacitor arrangement can be reconfigured with respect to an electrical reference through the switching array in order for the regulator to deliver the stimulation pulse to a pair of electrodes. In another embodiment, a plurality of stimulation waveforms are generated in which different stimulation waveforms are associated with different electrodes. With the embodiment, a plurality of regulators are connected and reconfigured to the capacitor arrangement in order that the different stimulation waveforms are generated by different regulators.

US Patent:

20030204222, Oct 30, 2003

Filed:

Apr 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/133703

Inventors:

Robert Leinders - Limbricht, NL
Nathan Torgerson - Andover MN, US
Mark Stein - Chandler AZ, US
Todd Goblish - Maple Grove MN, US
Todd Heathershaw - Phoenix AZ, US
John Rodriguez - Scottsdale AZ, US

Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

A61N001/18

US Classification:

607/048000

Abstract:

In the embodiment of the invention, apparatus and method provide flexibility in generating a stimulation waveform to an electrode of an Implantable Neurological Stimulator (INS). The embodiment provides a time delay interval between a first stimulation pulse and a recharging of the apparatus, in which the time delay interval is adjustable. The embodiment utilizes apparatus comprising a waveform controller and a waveform generator that is controlled by the waveform controller. With a variation of the embodiment, the apparatus utilizes passive recharging. In another variation of the embodiment, the apparatus utilizes a second stimulation to balance an accumulated charge. In another embodiment of the invention, a clinician is able to adjust the time delay interval through a telemetry channel. The waveform controller receives information about the time delay interval, and the waveform control instructs the waveform generator to adjust the time delay interval.

US Patent:

20030204223, Oct 30, 2003

Filed:

Apr 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/133884

Inventors:

Robert Leinders - Limbricht, NL
Nathan Torgerson - Andover MN, US
Mark Stein - Chandler AZ, US
Todd Goblish - Maple Grove MN, US
Todd Heathershaw - Phoenix AZ, US
John Rodriguez - Scottsdale AZ, US

Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

A61N001/18

US Classification:

607/048000

Abstract:

Apparatus and method for independently delivering a plurality of therapy programs in an implantable medical device. A therapy controller configures the device to generate independent pulse trains associated with a plurality of therapy programs and dynamically configures the electrodes to deliver the independent pulse trains to the patient. Once configured, the implantable medical device delivers the plurality of therapy programs to the patient wherein the therapy programs may overlap in time.

US Patent:

20030208244, Nov 6, 2003

Filed:

Apr 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/133702

Inventors:

Marc Stein - Chandler AZ, US
Nathan Torgerson - Andover MN, US
Robert Leinders - Limbricht, NL
Todd Goblish - Maple Grove MN, US
Todd Heathershaw - Phoenix AZ, US
John Rodriguez - Scottsdale AZ, US

Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

A61N001/18

US Classification:

607/048000

Abstract:

Apparatus and method provide flexibility in generating a stimulation waveform to an electrode of an implantable medical device. The stimulation waveform comprises at least one stimulation pulse. The embodiment of the invention supports a generation of a stimulation pulse in which an amplitude and an electrical polarity of the stimulation pulse can be dynamically changed. The embodiment comprises a capacitor arrangement, a regulator and a switching array. The capacitor arrangement can be reconfigured with respect to an electrical reference through the switching array in order for the regulator to deliver the stimulation pulse to a pair of electrodes. In another embodiment, a plurality of stimulation waveforms are generated in which different stimulation waveforms are associated with different electrodes. With the embodiment, a plurality of regulators are connected and reconfigured to the capacitor arrangement in order that the different stimulation waveforms are generated by different regulators.

US Patent:

20090259278, Oct 15, 2009

Filed:

Jan 26, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/359958

Inventors:

Nathan A. Torgerson - Andover MN, US
Robert Leinders - Limbricht, NL
Marc Stein - Chandler AZ, US
Todd P. Goblish - Maple Grove MN, US
Todd D. Heathershaw - Phoenix AZ, US
John Delfin Rodriguez - Scottsdale AZ, US

International Classification:

A61N 1/36

US Classification:

607 59, 607 72

Abstract:

Apparatus and method provide flexibility in generating a stimulation waveform to an electrode of an Implantable Neuro Stimulator (INS). The stimulation waveform is synthesized for each rate period interval. Each rate period interval is partitioned into time intervals, during which stimulation pulses, recharging, and time duration delays may be induced. With the embodiment of the invention, a second stimulation pulse, having different electrical characteristics than a first stimulation pulse, may be generated during the rate period interval. An embodiment utilizes apparatus comprising a waveform controller and a waveform generator that are controlled by the waveform controller. The waveform controller uses waveform parameters to instruct the waveform generator to form stimulation pulses. Any of the components may be adjusted or deleted in the generation of the stimulation waveform. The embodiment enables any of the associated waveform parameters to be updated at the waveform controller in order to alter the stimulation waveform.