The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 05, 2016
Filed:
Mar. 15, 2013
Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Keith A. Miesel, St. Paul, MN (US);
Scott A. Sarkinen, Greenfield, MN (US);
Emem D. Akpan, Coon Rapids, MN (US);
Douglas E. Hentges, Andover, MN (US);
Mark E. Dunlap, St. Francis, MN (US);
Darrin Schauble, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Cindy Konen, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Mark R. Bilitz, Plymouth, MN (US);
Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
Transdermal insertion of a transcutaneous filling apparatus, for the purpose of filling a fill chamber of an implanted therapy delivery device, is monitored by measuring each impedance between pairs of electrodes of a needle of the apparatus, and comparing each to a threshold impedance; the electrodes, preferably at least three in number, are isolated and spaced apart from one another along a length of the needle. A confirmation signal is generated when at least one of the measured impedances is greater than the threshold impedance, and another is less than the threshold, the condition indicating that one of the electrodes is located within a non-conductive septum, through which the apparatus must pass to access the fill chamber. A detection circuit, which may be located in a housing of the apparatus that is attached to a proximal end of the needle, measures and compares the impedances.