Patents by Inventor Zhenyi Ma
Zhenyi Ma 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).
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Publication number: 20210267670Abstract: An ablation catheter comprises an elongated catheter body; at least one ablation element disposed in a distal portion which is adjacent the distal end of the catheter body; an illumination optical element disposed in the distal portion, the illumination optical element being light-transmissive to emit light from the illumination optical element to the targeted tissue region; and a collection optical element disposed in the distal portion, the collection optical element being light-transmissive to collect one or more of returned, backscattered or newly excited light from the targeted tissue region. The illumination or excitation optical element and the collection optical element are axially spaced from one another and axially optically isolated from one another within the distal portion to substantially prevent light from traveling between the illumination optical element and the collection optical element along a path within the distal portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: John W. Sliwa, Stephen A. Morse, Zhenyi Ma
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Publication number: 20210267671Abstract: Electrode assemblies include segmented electrodes disposed on a catheter. The segmented electrodes can be constructed at the tip of the catheter. Tip electrodes can be constructed from an electrically insulative substrate comprising an inner lumen, an external tip surface, and a plurality of channels extending from the inner lumen to the external tip surface, a plurality of segmented electrodes, and a plurality of spot electrodes. Each of the plurality of segmented electrodes and each of the plurality of spot electrodes can be laterally separated from each other by an electrically non-conductive substrate portion and each of the spot electrodes and each of the segmented electrodes can be electrically coupled to at least one wire or conductor trace.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: John W. Sliwa, Zhenyi Ma, Stephen A. Morse, John A. Hauck, Don Curtis Deno
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Patent number: 11051877Abstract: Medical devices for diagnosis or treatment of tissue in a body. Representative devices include an elongate shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion configured for movement relative to the proximal portion. A flexible member having a predetermined stiffness is disposed between the proximal and distal portions. One or more coils and an electrically passive element are disposed within the shaft with either the coils or element configured for movement with the distal portion. The element comprises a material effecting an electrical characteristic of the coils. Movement of the distal portion in response to its contact with the tissue and relative movement of the coils and element causes a change in the electrical characteristic in at least one of the coils indicative of at least a contact force magnitude between the distal portion and the tissue. Several embodiments allow determination of both force magnitude and force vector direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2014Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.Inventors: John W. Sliwa, Alon Izmirli, Zhenyi Ma, Troy T. Tegg
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Publication number: 20210137577Abstract: An ablation catheter comprises: an elongated catheter body extending longitudinally between a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis; a distal member disposed adjacent the distal end, the distal member including an ablation element to ablate a biological member; one or more acoustic transducers disposed in the distal member and each configured to direct an acoustic signal toward a respective target ablation region and receive reflection echoes therefrom; and an acoustic redirection member disposed in the distal member to at least partially redirect the acoustic signal from at least one of the acoustic transducers toward a tissue target. The distal member includes a most-distal portion, a proximal portion, and a deflectable portion between the most-distal portion and proximal portion to permit deflection between the most-distal portion and proximal portion of the distal member. The transducers and redirection member are mounted on opposite sides of the deflectable portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2020Publication date: May 13, 2021Inventors: John W. Sliwa, Zhenyi Ma, Stephen A. Morse
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Patent number: 10980598Abstract: Electrode assemblies include segmented electrodes disposed on a catheter. The segmented electrodes can be constructed at the tip of the catheter. Tip electrodes can be constructed from an electrically insulative substrate comprising an inner lumen, an external tip surface, and a plurality of channels extending from the inner lumen to the external tip surface, a plurality of segmented electrodes, and a plurality of spot electrodes. Each of the plurality of segmented electrodes and each of the plurality of spot electrodes can be laterally separated from each other by an electrically non-conductive substrate portion and each of the spot electrodes and each of the segmented electrodes can be electrically coupled to at least one wire or conductor trace.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2016Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.Inventors: John W. Sliwa, Zhenyi Ma, Stephen A. Morse, John A. Hauck, Don Curtis Deno
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Patent number: 10959773Abstract: An ablation catheter comprises an elongated catheter body; at least one ablation element disposed in a distal portion which is adjacent the distal end of the catheter body; an illumination optical element disposed in the distal portion, the illumination optical element being light-transmissive to emit light from the illumination optical element to the targeted tissue region; and a collection optical element disposed in the distal portion, the collection optical element being light-transmissive to collect one or more of returned, backscattered or newly excited light from the targeted tissue region. The illumination or excitation optical element and the collection optical element are axially spaced from one another and axially optically isolated from one another within the distal portion to substantially prevent light from traveling between the illumination optical element and the collection optical element along a path within the distal portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2018Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: St. Jude Medical, LLCInventors: John W. Sliwa, Stephen A. Morse, Zhenyi Ma
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Patent number: 10864034Abstract: An ablation catheter comprises: an elongated catheter body extending longitudinally between a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis; a distal member disposed adjacent the distal end, the distal member including an ablation element to ablate a biological member; one or more acoustic transducers disposed in the distal member and each configured to direct an acoustic signal toward a respective target ablation region and receive reflection echoes therefrom; and an acoustic redirection member disposed in the distal member to at least partially redirect the acoustic signal from at least one of the acoustic transducers toward a tissue target. The distal member includes a most-distal portion, a proximal portion, and a deflectable portion between the most-distal portion and proximal portion to permit deflection between the most-distal portion and proximal portion of the distal member. The transducers and redirection member are mounted on opposite sides of the deflectable portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2017Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: St. Jude Medical, LLCInventors: John W. Sliwa, Zhenyi Ma, Stephen A. Morse
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Patent number: 10561395Abstract: A force-sensing tip assembly for a catheter comprises a tip shell, an acoustic transducer, a first target, and a first spring. The tip shell is for joining to the catheter. The acoustic transducer is disposed within the tip shell and is capable of generating an acoustic ping. The first target is spaced from the acoustic transducer within the tip shell. The first spring is in the tip shell and configured to allow a relative position between the acoustic transducer and the first target to change over a range. The first target is shaped and positioned to reflect at least a portion of the acoustic ping back to the acoustic transducer as a first echo over at least a portion of the range.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.Inventors: John W. Sliwa, Stephen A. Morse, Zhenyi Ma
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Patent number: 10512754Abstract: A tip for a medical device includes a hollow body having a window, a sensor positioned within the hollow body and oriented such that its active surface is pointed towards the window, and a membrane positioned within a beam path of the sensor. The membrane passes energy without preventing an outer surface of the hollow body of the tip from coming in contact with tissue, thus allowing the hollow body to deliver therapy to an adjacent tissue and/or diagnose adjacent tissue. The membrane can cover the window or the sensor. The membrane is desirably permeable to an irrigant, such that a suitable level of irrigant outflow from the window is maintained, and thin enough that it minimizes attenuation of energy passing to and/or from the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.Inventors: John W. Sliwa, Zhenyi Ma, Stephen A. Morse
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Patent number: 10349965Abstract: Systems and methods for aligning directionally operable medical devices with and upon target tissue. Systems and methods for aligning medical devices such as directional ablation catheters to and upon target tissue by monitoring irrigant backpressure. The current disclosure provides solutions to the problem of rotationally or angularly aligning a directional medical device toward tissue.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2017Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.Inventors: John W. Sliwa, Zhenyi Ma, Stephen A. Morse
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Publication number: 20190008586Abstract: An ablation catheter comprises an elongated catheter body; at least one ablation element disposed in a distal portion which is adjacent the distal end of the catheter body; an illumination optical element disposed in the distal portion, the illumination optical element being light-transmissive to emit light from the illumination optical element to the targeted tissue region; and a collection optical element disposed in the distal portion, the collection optical element being light-transmissive to collect one or more of returned, backscattered or newly excited light from the targeted tissue region. The illumination or excitation optical element and the collection optical element are axially spaced from one another and axially optically isolated from one another within the distal portion to substantially prevent light from traveling between the illumination optical element and the collection optical element along a path within the distal portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2018Publication date: January 10, 2019Inventors: John W. Sliwa, Stephen A. Morse, Zhenyi Ma
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Patent number: 10080607Abstract: An ablation catheter comprises an elongated catheter body; at least one ablation element disposed in a distal portion which is adjacent the distal end of the catheter body; an illumination optical element disposed in the distal portion, the illumination optical element being light-transmissive to emit light from the illumination optical element to the targeted tissue region; and a collection optical element disposed in the distal portion, the collection optical element being light-transmissive to collect one or more of returned, backscattered or newly excited light from the targeted tissue region. The illumination or excitation optical element and the collection optical element are axially spaced from one another and axially optically isolated from one another within the distal portion to substantially prevent light from traveling between the illumination optical element and the collection optical element along a path within the distal portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2015Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: St. Jude Medical, LLCInventors: John W. Sliwa, Stephen A. Morse, Zhenyi Ma
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Publication number: 20180132886Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for aligning directionally operable medical devices with and upon target tissue. In particular, the instant disclosure relates to systems and methods for aligning medical devices such as directional ablation catheters to and upon target tissue by monitoring irrigant backpressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2017Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: John W. Sliwa, Zhenyi Ma, Stephen A. Morse
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Publication number: 20180064417Abstract: An ablation catheter includes a tubular catheter body having a lumen, a tip portion, a liquid inlet, at least one liquid outlet, a liquid flow path defined between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet, and an ablation element mounted on the tip portion of the catheter body. A rotationally-scanning ultrasound assembly is disposed within the lumen of the catheter body adjacent the tip portion. The ultrasound assembly includes an ultrasound transducer having an active face, an acoustic mirror acoustically coupled to the active face of the ultrasound transducer, and an impeller positioned in the liquid flow path and operably coupled to at least one of the ultrasound transducer and the acoustic mirror to impart rotational motion thereto when a liquid flows through the impeller.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2017Publication date: March 8, 2018Inventors: John W. Sliwa, Zhenyi Ma
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Publication number: 20180000445Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods of monitoring lesion formation using one-dimensional echograms are disclosed. In certain aspects, lesion formation progress is monitored using the intensity of reflectors in successive echograms during ablation. In another aspect, lesion formation progress is monitored based upon actual or apparent movement of acoustic reflectors before and after ablation. In still another aspect, the presence or absence of resonant microbubbles known to populate forming lesions are used to provide feedback on lesion formation. A lesion analysis processor can be programmed to determine lesion formation progress using any of the foregoing approaches, either alone or in various combinations.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2016Publication date: January 4, 2018Inventors: John W. Sliwa, Zhenyi Ma
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Patent number: 9848899Abstract: Systems and methods for aligning directionally operable medical devices with and upon target tissue. Systems and methods for aligning medical devices such as directional ablation catheters to and upon target tissue by monitoring irrigant backpressure. The current disclosure provides solutions to the problem of rotationally or angularly aligning a directional medical device toward tissue.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.Inventors: John W. Sliwa, Zhenyi Ma, Stephen A. Morse
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Publication number: 20170354395Abstract: An apparatus for imaging tissue in three dimensions (e.g. ICE catheter) includes a shaft, a static imaging element (20) disposed within the shaft, an oscillating energy deflector (24) positioned within the beam path of the imaging element, and a drive assembly operable to oscillate the energy deflector. The imaging element can be acoustic or electromagnetic, and the energy deflector can be a prism, a lens or an acoustic mirror. By oscillating the energy deflector and/or by providing an asymmetric energy deflector, a plurality of two-dimensional image slices can be obtained. These image slices can then be assembled into a three-dimensional volumetric image.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2015Publication date: December 14, 2017Inventors: Fermin A. Lupotti, John W. Sliwa, Zhenyi Ma, Stephen A. Morse
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Patent number: 9833217Abstract: An ablation catheter includes a tubular catheter body having a lumen, a tip portion, a liquid inlet, at least one liquid outlet, a liquid flow path defined between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet, and an ablation element mounted on the tip portion of the catheter body. A rotationally-scanning ultrasound assembly is disposed within the lumen of the catheter body adjacent the tip portion. The ultrasound assembly includes an ultrasound transducer having an active face, an acoustic mirror acoustically coupled to the active face of the ultrasound transducer, and an impeller positioned in the liquid flow path and operably coupled to at least one of the ultrasound transducer and the acoustic mirror to impart rotational motion thereto when a liquid flows through the impeller.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2008Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.Inventors: John W. Sliwa, Zhenyi Ma
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Publication number: 20170312002Abstract: An ablation catheter comprises: an elongated catheter body extending longitudinally between a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis; a distal member disposed adjacent the distal end, the distal member including an ablation element to ablate a biological member; one or more acoustic transducers disposed in the distal member and each configured to direct an acoustic signal toward a respective target ablation region and receive reflection echoes therefrom; and an acoustic redirection member disposed in the distal member to at least partially redirect the acoustic signal from at least one of the acoustic transducers toward a tissue target. The distal member includes a most-distal portion, a proximal portion, and a deflectable portion between the most-distal portion and proximal portion to permit deflection between the most-distal portion and proximal portion of the distal member. The transducers and redirection member are mounted on opposite sides of the deflectable portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Inventors: John W. Sliwa, Zhenyi Ma, Stephen A. Morse
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Patent number: 9717547Abstract: An ablation catheter comprises: an elongated catheter body extending longitudinally between a proximal end and a distal end along a longitudinal axis; a distal member disposed adjacent the distal end, the distal member including an ablation element to ablate a biological member; one or more acoustic transducers disposed in the distal member and each configured to direct an acoustic signal toward a respective target ablation region and receive reflection echoes therefrom; and an acoustic redirection member disposed in the distal member to at least partially redirect the acoustic signal from at least one of the acoustic transducers toward a tissue target. The distal member includes a most-distal portion, a proximal portion, and a deflectable portion between the most-distal portion and proximal portion to permit deflection between the most-distal portion and proximal portion of the distal member. The transducers and redirection member are mounted on opposite sides of the deflectable portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Inc.Inventors: John Sliwa, Zhenyi Ma, Stephen Morse