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The following listing of issued and allowed patents are grouped by technology and by use in medical devices.
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MRI Safety for Implants and Surgical Tools
Discrete Components and Circuits
These patents cover the use of miniature electronic components and circuits to create internal resonance that can block induced energy (which can cause heating), or actively compensate for it eliminating risk to an implant patient being imaged under MRI.
 US 5,217,010 - ECG Amplifier and Cardiac Pacemaker For Use During Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Photonics
These patents cover components, subsystems, and systems for implanted devices that use optical fiber technology to eliminate the need for electrically conductive leads, which cause thermal damage and other risks to implant patients being imaged under MRI.
US 7,013,174 - Electromagnetic Interference Immune Tissue Invasive System
US 6,875,180 - Electromagnetic Interference Immune Tissue Invasive System (Photonic Remote Sending System)
US 6,850,805 - Electromagnetic Interference Immune Tissue Invasive System (Photonic Catheter)
US 6,845,266 - An Electromagnetic Interference Immune Tissue Invasive System (Photonic System Proximal)
US 6,819,958 - Electromagnetic Interference Immune Tissue Invasive System
US 6,799,069 - Electromagnetic Interference Immune Tissue Invasive System
US 6,778,856 - Electromagnetic Interference Immune Tissue Invasive System
US 6,763,268 - Electromagnetic Interference Immune Tissue Invasive System
US 6,760,628 - Electromagnetic Interference Immune Tissue Invasive System
US 6,757,566 - Electromagnetic Interference Immune Tissue Invasive System
US 6,725,092 - Electromagnetic Radiation Immune Medical Assist Device Adapter
US 6,718,207 - Electromagnetic Interference Immune Tissue Invasive System
US 6,718,203 - Electromagnetic Interference Immune Tissue Invasive System
US 6,711,440 - MRI-Compatible Medical Device with Passive Generation of Optical Sensing
US 6,768,053 - Optical Fiber Assembly
Nanomagnetic Shield Materials
Combinations of magnetic and insulating materials that create discrete structures within a nanoscale coating have properties significantly different from those in uniform bulk materials. These materials and processes can be used to create effective shielding for implants and their leads and electrodes.
US 7,162,302 - Magnetically Shielded Assembly
US 7,127,294 - Magnetically Shielded Assembly
US 7,091,412 - Magnetically Shielded Assembly
US 6,930,242 - Magnetically Shielded Conductor
US 6,906,256 - Nanomagnetic Shielding Assembly
US 6,876,886 - Magnetically Shielded Conductor
US 6,864,418 - Nanomagnetically Shielded Substrate
US 6,846,985 - Magnetically Shielded Assembly
US 6,844,492 - Magnetically Shielded Conductor
US 6,815,609 - Nanomagnetic Composition
US 6,713,671 - Magnetically Shielded Assembly
US 6,673,999 - Magnetically Shielded Assembly
US 6,506,972 - Magnetically Shielded Conductor
US 5,540,959 - Process for Preparing a Coated Substrate
Other Shield Materials, Structures, and Methods
These patents cover shields using larger-scale structures (not nanomagnetic) that are effective in eliminating unwanted induced currents. Specialized sensing and switching techniques can also be used to minimize or eliminate these sources of unwanted heating and tissue stimulation.
US 6,980,865 - Implantable Shielded Medical Device
US 6,795,736 - Electromagnetic Interference Immune Tissue Invasive System
MRI Image Enhancement
Resonant Circuit Structures
Secondary resonant circuit structures can be used to overcome the shielding or “Faraday Cage” effect created by implants such as stents, which prevents effective MRI imaging of the volume inside the stent. It is important to be able to image inside even the newest drug-eluting stents to monitor for restenosis – the redevelopment of a dangerous blockage.
US 6,847,837 - MR Imaging Method and Medical Device For Use In Method
US 6,280,385 - Stent and MR imaging process for the imaging and the determination of the position of a stent
US 6,023,636 - Magnetic resonance apparatus and method for determining the location of a positionable object in a subject
Nanomagnetic Thin-Film Coatings
Nanomagnetic coatings applied to stents and other implants that inherently block MRI imaging of their interior volume hold the promise of reversing this blocking and permitting effective diagnosis of potential restenosis.
US 6,765,144 - Magnetic Resonance Imaging Coated Assembly
Note - many of the coatings identified above under “Nanomagnetic Shield Materials” may also be designed to provide this function as well.
Intraluminal MRI Coils
The same basic technology used to reduce patient risk found in the “Photonics” patents above may be used to transmit power and weak signals to and from extremely small MRI receive coils placed at the end of a catheter. These intraluminal coils may be extended into small coronary arteries, permitting detailed diagnosis of “vulnerable plaque”, which causes the majority of fatal heart attacks.
US 2005-0197563-A1 - Optical MRI Catheter System
US 2004-0116800-A1 - Magnetic Resonance Imaging Capable Catheter Assembly
US 7,010,357 - Electromagnetic interference immune tissue invasive system
US 6,980,848 - Optical MRI Catheter System
US 6,925,322 - Optical MRI Catheter System
WIPO WO03101534A1 - Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer Assembly
Efficient Power Systems for Implants
Biothermal Power Source
This technology uses the small temperature gradients in the body to create electrical power, reducing in frequency the need to remove pacemakers or other implants simply to replace their aging batteries.
US 7,340,304 - Biothermal Power Source for Implantable Devices
US 7,127,293 - Biothermal Power Source for Implantable Devices
US 6,640,137 - Biothermal Power Source for Implantable Devices
Pulse-width Cardiac Pacing
Pulse-width-modulation techniques used in many data communication systems promise to permit stimulation of nerve tissue with far less electrical power than currently used in implantable devices.
US 7,054,686 - Pulsewidth electrical stimulation
US 6,731,979 - Pulse Width Cardiac Pacing Apparatus
Fuel Cells
US 6,503,648 - Implantable Fuel Cell
Components & Algorithms for Implants
Lead & Electrode Components
These patents cover materials and construction for cardiac pacing leads and the end end electrodes that directly contact the heart.
US 6,988,001 - Hermetic Component Housing for Photonic Catheter
US 6,968,236 - Ceramic cardiac electrodes
Fibrillation Prevention
This patent provides for advance sensing of the onset of possibly fatal fibrillation and for the application of specialized electrical signals to stop the process before it starts, eliminating the need for painful defibrillation shocks.
US 7,020,517 - Fibrillation/tachycardia monitoring and preventive system and methodology
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