Patents by Inventor Julia J. Hwang

Julia J. Hwang has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8858546
    Abstract: A treatment system comprises an outer sheath and an end effector. The end effector has a plurality of cutting features, at least a portion of which are configured to debride a tissue surface when the end effector is actuated. The cutting features may also be configured to harvest tissue. A medical fluid reservoir is in fluid communication with the end effector, such that the end effector may deliver a medical fluid to a target site such as a fistula. The medical fluid may include harvested tissue cells and a scaffold material. A vacuum cannula may be positioned coaxially within the interior cavity of the end effector, and an RF probe may be positioned co-axially within the interior cavity of the vacuum cannula. The vacuum cannula and RF probe may be used together to seal a fistula in which medical fluid has been dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven G. Hall, John A. Hibner, Julia J. Hwang, Yolanda F. Carter
  • Patent number: 8702644
    Abstract: A tissue treatment device comprises a housing having a chamber that receives a treatment fluid mixture of tissue morsels and a scaffold material. A debriding shaft including a plurality of cutters is coupled with the housing. The debriding shaft extends proximally within the chamber and extends distally from the end of the housing. The debriding shaft is inserted within a treatment site such as a fistula tract and is rotated and reciprocated such that the debriding shaft removes tissue cells along the site. The site is flushed with saline or other irrigating fluid followed by application of the treatment fluid mixture. The chamber of the housing comprises agitators positioned adjacent the debriding shaft. The treatment fluid mixture passes through the chamber of the housing along and between the outer surface of the debriding shaft and the agitators for thorough mixing before exiting the device at the treatment site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven G. Hall, John A. Hibner, Julia J. Hwang, Yolanda F. Carter
  • Patent number: 8464925
    Abstract: A surgical stapler includes first and second tissue clamping members and a reservoir configured to hold a tissue treatment composition. The first tissue clamping member is configured to receive a plurality of staples. The second tissue clamping member comprises an anvil configured to form the staples. The reservoir may be provided in a handle portion of the surgical stapler, and a fluid conduit may be used to communicate the tissue treatment composition from the reservoir. An end effector lumen may selectively communicate with the fluid conduit. The lumen may also be in communication with openings to further communicate the tissue treatment composition to tissue or to a scaffold material positioned adjacent to tissue. A reservoir may alternatively be provided in one of the clamping members. A knife member may pierce a housing defining the reservoir, and a resilient member may then urge a tissue treatment composition from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Joanne Hull, Wells D. Haberstich, Steven G. Hall, John A. Hibner, Julia J. Hwang, Yolanda F. Carter, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, John B. Schulte, Rebecca J. Mollere, Patrick D. Dugan, Michael D. Cronin, Jerome R. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20110278346
    Abstract: A surgical stapler includes first and second tissue clamping members and a reservoir configured to hold a tissue treatment composition. The first tissue clamping member is configured to receive a plurality of staples. The second tissue clamping member comprises an anvil configured to form the staples. The reservoir may be provided in a handle portion of the surgical stapler, and a fluid conduit may be used to communicate the tissue treatment composition from the reservoir. An end effector lumen may selectively communicate with the fluid conduit. The lumen may also be in communication with openings to further communicate the tissue treatment composition to tissue or to a scaffold material positioned adjacent to tissue. A reservoir may alternatively be provided in one of the clamping members. A knife member may pierce a housing defining the reservoir, and a resilient member may then urge a tissue treatment composition from the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Joanne Hull, Wells D. Haberstich, Steven G. Hall, John A. Hibner, Julia J. Hwang, Yolanda F. Carter, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, John B. Schulte, Rebecca J. Mollere, Patrick D. Dugan, Michael D. Cronin, Jerome R. Morgan
  • Publication number: 20110282270
    Abstract: A tissue treatment device comprises a housing having a chamber that receives a treatment fluid mixture of tissue morsels and a scaffold material. A debriding shaft including a plurality of cutters is coupled with the housing. The debriding shaft extends proximally within the chamber and extends distally from the end of the housing. The debriding shaft is inserted within a treatment site such as a fistula tract and is rotated and reciprocated such that the debriding shaft removes tissue cells along the site. The site is flushed with saline or other irrigating fluid followed by application of the treatment fluid mixture. The chamber of the housing comprises agitators positioned adjacent the debriding shaft. The treatment fluid mixture passes through the chamber of the housing along and between the outer surface of the debriding shaft and the agitators for thorough mixing before exiting the device at the treatment site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Steven G. Hall, John A. Hibner, Julia J. Hwang, Yolanda F. Carter
  • Publication number: 20110282368
    Abstract: A fistula repair system includes a debriding member that may be inserted into a fistula to debride the fistula wall. The debriding member may include a plurality of selectively extendable barbs. The barbs may be hollow to deliver a medical fluid within the fistula. The debriding member may also include a plurality of openings configured to communicate the medical fluid within the fistula. The barbs may extend through the openings. The openings may include associated protrusions that are configured to debride the fistula wall. The medical fluid may include a slurry of tissue and a scaffold material. The tissue in the slurry may comprise minced tissue that was harvested from the patient afflicted with the fistula. A balloon may be used to at least temporarily seal one end of the fistula. An RF probe or mechanical hook member may be used to seal the other end of the fistula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Swayze, Foster B. Stulen, Mark H. Ransick, Steven G. Hall, John A. Hibner, Julia J. Hwang, Yolanda F. Carter, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
  • Publication number: 20110282337
    Abstract: A treatment system comprises an outer sheath and an end effector. The end effector has a plurality of cutting features, at least a portion of which are configured to debride a tissue surface when the end effector is actuated. The cutting features may also be configured to harvest tissue. A medical fluid reservoir is in fluid communication with the end effector, such that the end effector may deliver a medical fluid to a target site such as a fistula. The medical fluid may include harvested tissue cells and a scaffold material. A vacuum cannula may be positioned coaxially within the interior cavity of the end effector, and an RF probe may be positioned co-axially within the interior cavity of the vacuum cannula. The vacuum cannula and RF probe may be used together to seal a fistula in which medical fluid has been dispensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Steven G. Hall, John A. Hibner, Julia J. Hwang, Yolanda F. Carter