Steven Goetz

US Patent:

6736810, May 18, 2004

Filed:

Jul 11, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/903296

Inventors:

Michael F. Hoey - Shoreview MN
Mark A. Christopherson - Shoreview MN
Steven M. Goetz - Brooklyn Center MN

Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

A61B 1818

US Classification:

606 34, 606 41, 607105

Abstract:

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for producing a virtual electrode within or upon a tissue to be treated with radio frequency alternating electric current, such tissues including but not limited to liver, lung, cardiac, prostate, breast, and vascular tissues and neoplasms. An apparatus in accord with the present invention includes a supply of a conductive or electrolytic fluid to be provided to the patient, an alternating current generator, and a processor for creating, maintaining, and controlling the ablation process by the interstitial or surficial delivery of the fluid to a tissue and the delivery of electric power to the tissue via the virtual electrode. A method in accord with the present invention includes delivering a conductive fluid to a predetermined tissue ablation site for a predetermined time period, applying a predetermined power level of radio frequency current to the tissue, monitoring at least one of several parameters, and adjusting either the applied power and/or the fluid flow in response to the measured parameters.

US Patent:

6849073, Feb 1, 2005

Filed:

Apr 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/131960

Inventors:

Michael F. Hoey - Shoreview MN, US
Mark A. Christopherson - Shoreview MN, US
Steven M. Goetz - Fridley MN, US

Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

A61B 1818

US Classification:

606 34, 607105, 606 41

Abstract:

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for producing a virtual electrode within or upon a tissue to be treated with radio frequency alternating electric current, such tissues including but not limited to liver, lung, cardiac, prostate, breast, and vascular tissues and neoplasms. An apparatus in accord with the present invention includes a supply of a conductive or electrolytic fluid to be provided to the patient, an alternating current generator, and a processor for creating, maintaining, and controlling the ablation process by the interstitial or surficial delivery of the fluid to a tissue and the delivery of electric power to the tissue via the virtual electrode. A method in accord with the present invention includes delivering a conductive fluid to a predetermined tissue ablation site for a predetermined time period, applying a predetermined power level of radio frequency current to the tissue, monitoring at least one of several parameters, and adjusting either the applied power and/or the fluid flow in response to the measured parameters.

US Patent:

6978171, Dec 20, 2005

Filed:

Mar 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/099436

Inventors:

Steven M. Goetz - Brooklyn Center MN, US
Jordan A. Barnhorst - Little Canada MN, US
James M. Hartmann - Minneapolis MN, US

Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

A61B005/00

US Classification:

600547

Abstract:

The present invention automates impedance measurements between pairs of electrodes that are associated with a lead of an implanted device. Apparatus comprises a communications module and a processor, in which the processor communicates with the implanted device over a communications channel. The processor instructs the implanted device to perform a voltage measurement that is associated with a stimulation pulse between the pair of electrodes. The implanted device sends the voltage measurement to the apparatus over the communications channel from which the apparatus determines the impedance between the pair of electrodes. The apparatus initiates an impedance measurement for each pair of electrodes along the lead. With a plurality of leads, the apparatus repeats the impedance measurements for electrode pairs of the other leads. The embodiment also supports measuring a current between pairs of electrodes.

US Patent:

6985088, Jan 10, 2006

Filed:

Mar 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/099786

Inventors:

Steven M. Goetz - Brooklyn Center MN, US
Gregory Pat Spar - Big Lake MN, US

Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

H04Q 9/00

US Classification:

34087007, 607 5, 607 27, 607 30, 607 59, 607 60, 607 32, 600523

Abstract:

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for configuring an external device so that may communicate with and an implantable medical device in accordance with a desired telemetry protocols. The external device utilizes a telemetry module can be loaded with a protocol driver necessary for communicating with the implantable medical device. Once the desired protocol driver has been installed, the telemetry module and its associated external device, e. g. , a physician programmer, are enabled to communicate with the implantable medical device.

US Patent:

7023359, Apr 4, 2006

Filed:

Mar 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/099785

Inventors:

Steven M. Goetz - Brooklyn Center MN, US
Gregory Pat Spar - Big Lake MN, US
Gregg C. Link - Inner Grove Heights MN, US

Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

H04Q 9/00

US Classification:

34087007, 607 5, 607 27, 607 30, 607 59, 607 60, 607 32, 600523

Abstract:

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for configuring an external device so that may communicate with and an implantable medical device in accordance with a desired telemetry protocols. The external device utilizes a configurable telemetry module that comprises a protocol driver that interacts with a transmit driver and a receive driver, both of which can be configured to process a telemetry signal in accordance with the necessary telemetry protocol for communicating with the implantable medical device. Once the transmit and receive drivers are configured, the telemetry module and its associated external device, e. g. , a physician programmer, are enabled to communicate with the implantable medical device.

US Patent:

7035690, Apr 25, 2006

Filed:

Nov 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/295752

Inventors:

Steven M. Goetz - Brooklyn Center MN, US

Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

A61N 1/18

US Classification:

607 46, 607 2, 607 59, 607 60, 349169, 128897

Abstract:

A programming-device user interface may include multiple levels of abstraction for programming treatment settings. A stimulation zone-programming interface may be at a highest level of abstraction and may include idealized stimulation zones. A field strength-programming interface may be at a middle level of abstraction and may include electromagnetic field-strength patterns generated by the stimulation zones, and/or electrode settings, and a depiction of how the electromagnetic fields interact with each other. An electrode-programming interface may be at a lowest level of abstraction and may depict treatment settings at an electrodes-view level. These interfaces may include a display of a stimulatable area of the patient's body. The display may include a depiction of leads and/or the underlying physiology, such as a depiction of a portion of a spine. Algorithms map treatment settings from one level of abstraction to settings at one or more other levels of abstraction.

US Patent:

7169144, Jan 30, 2007

Filed:

Oct 31, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/699548

Inventors:

Michael F. Hoey - Shoreview MN, US
Mark A. Christopherson - Shoreview MN, US
Steven M. Goetz - Brooklyn Center MN, US

Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

A61B 18/18

US Classification:

606 34, 606 41

Abstract:

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for producing a virtual electrode within or upon a tissue to be treated with radio frequency alternating electric current, such tissues including but not limited to liver, lung, cardiac, prostate, breast, and vascular tissues and neoplasms. An apparatus in accord with the present invention includes a supply of a conductive or electrolytic fluid to be provided to the patient, an alternating current generator, and a processor for creating, maintaining, and controlling the ablation process by the interstitial or surficial delivery of the fluid to a tissue and the delivery of electric power to the tissue via the virtual electrode. A method in accord with the present invention includes delivering a conductive fluid to a predetermined tissue ablation site for a predetermined time period, applying a predetermined power level of radio frequency current to the tissue, monitoring at least one of several parameters, and adjusting either the applied power and/or the fluid flow in response to the measured parameters.

US Patent:

7184837, Feb 27, 2007

Filed:

Jan 29, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/767674

Inventors:

Steven M. Goetz - Brooklyn Center MN, US

Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

A61N 1/36

US Classification:

607 45, 607 2, 607 27, 607 30, 607 59, 128925

Abstract:

In general, the invention is directed to a technique for selection of parameter configurations for an implantable neurostimulator using Bayesian networks. The technique may be employed by a programming device to allow a clinician to select parameter configurations, including electrode configurations, and then program an implantable neurostimulator to deliver therapy using the selected parameter configurations. In operation, the programming device executes a parameter configuration search algorithm to guide the clinician in the selection of parameter configurations. The search algorithm relies on a Bayesian network structure that encodes conditional probabilities describing different states of the parameter set. The Bayesian network structure provides a conditional probability table that represents causal relationships between different parameter configurations. The search algorithm uses the Bayesian network structure to infer likely efficacies of possible parameter configurations based on the efficacies of parameter configurations already observed.