Patents Assigned to INSIGHTFUL INSTRUMENTS, INC.
  • Publication number: 20240091066
    Abstract: A system for incising tissue with a plasma comprises an elongate electrode configured to incise the tissue along a tissue incision profile and a tissue contact element configured to shape the tissue, which comprises one or more of a channel or a protrusion to form one or more of a corresponding protrusion or indentation in a tissue surface while the tissue is incised with the electrode along the incision profile. The tissue contact element shapes the tissue sufficiently to allow the tissue to form one or more complimentary features along the incision profile when the tissue relaxes to a free-standing configuration with removal of the tissue contact element. The complementary features may be incised into the tissue to provide increased mechanical stability between the separated tissue regions, such as with nominally interlocking protrusion(s) and indentation(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: INSIGHTFUL INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael WILTBERGER, Phillip GOODING, Dan ANDERSEN
  • Patent number: 11896283
    Abstract: An elongate electrode is configured to flex and generate plasma to incise tissue. An electrical energy source operatively coupled to the electrode is configured to provide electrical energy to the electrode to generate the plasma. A tensioning element is operatively coupled to the elongate electrode. The tensioning element can be configured to provide tension to the elongate electrode to allow the elongate electrode to flex in response to the elongate electrode engaging the tissue and generating the plasma. The tensioning element operatively coupled to the flexible elongate electrode may allow for the use of a small diameter electrode, such as a 5 ?m to 20 ?m diameter electrode, which can allow narrow incisions to be formed with decreased tissue damage. In some embodiments, the tensioning of the electrode allows the electrode to more accurately incise tissue by decreasing variations in the position of the electrode along the incision path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: INSIGHTFUL INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael W. Wiltberger, Phillip Gooding, Dan E. Andersen
  • Publication number: 20230074204
    Abstract: An elongate electrode is configured to flex and generate plasma to incise tissue. An electrical energy source operatively coupled to the electrode is configured to provide electrical energy to the electrode to generate the plasma. A tensioning element is operatively coupled to the elongate electrode. The tensioning element can be configured to provide tension to the elongate electrode to allow the elongate electrode to flex in response to the elongate electrode engaging the tissue and generating the plasma. The tensioning element operatively coupled to the flexible elongate electrode may allow for the use of a small diameter electrode, such as a 5 ?m to 20 ?m diameter electrode, which can allow narrow incisions to be formed with decreased tissue damage. In some embodiments, the tensioning of the electrode allows the electrode to more accurately incise tissue by decreasing variations in the position of the electrode along the incision path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: INSIGHTFUL INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael W. WILTBERGER, Phillip GOODING, Dan E. ANDERSEN
  • Patent number: 11490948
    Abstract: An elongate electrode is configured to flex and generate plasma to incise tissue. An electrical energy source operatively coupled to the electrode is configured to provide electrical energy to the electrode to generate the plasma. A tensioning element is operatively coupled to the elongate electrode. The tensioning element can be configured to provide tension to the elongate electrode to allow the elongate electrode to flex in response to the elongate electrode engaging the tissue and generating the plasma. The tensioning element operatively coupled to the flexible elongate electrode may allow for the use of a small diameter electrode, such as a 5 ?m to 20 ?m diameter electrode, which can allow narrow incisions to be formed with decreased tissue damage. In some embodiments, the tensioning of the electrode allows the electrode to more accurately incise tissue by decreasing variations in the position of the electrode along the incision path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: INSIGHTFUL INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael W. Wiltberger, Phillip Gooding, Dan E. Andersen
  • Publication number: 20210307806
    Abstract: An elongate electrode is configured to flex and generate plasma to incise tissue. An electrical energy source operatively coupled to the electrode is configured to provide electrical energy to the electrode to generate the plasma. A tensioning element is operatively coupled to the elongate electrode. The tensioning element can be configured to provide tension to the elongate electrode to allow the elongate electrode to flex in response to the elongate electrode engaging the tissue and generating the plasma. The tensioning element operatively coupled to the flexible elongate electrode may allow for the use of a small diameter electrode, such as a 5 ?m to 20 ?m diameter electrode, which can allow narrow incisions to be formed with decreased tissue damage. In some embodiments, the tensioning of the electrode allows the electrode to more accurately incise tissue by decreasing variations in the position of the electrode along the incision path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: INSIGHTFUL INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael W. WILTBERGER, Phillip GOODING, Dan E. ANDERSEN