Patents Assigned to Ntero Surgical, Inc.
  • Systems and methods for reducing post-surgical complications
    Patent number: 6645198
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for applying RF energy to injured tissue, particularly the peritoneum, in order to prevent harmful post-surgical adhesions. One aspect of the invention is RF energy delivery systems employing trocars, which are designed for use in laparotomies and laparoscopies. Another aspect of the invention is an RF delivery system comprising a surgical sheet with one or more electrodes for delivering the RF energy to the injured tissue resulting from conventional surgical incisions into the abdominal wall. Additionally, another aspect of the invention provides methods for controlling the treatment dosage of RF heat to the injured tissue using parameters such as treatment time, change in tissue temperature, and change in tissue impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Ntero Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Bommi Bommannan, Michael D. Laufer
  • Systems and methods for reducing post-surgical complications
    Patent number: 6520185
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for applying RF energy to injured tissue, particularly the peritoneum, in order to prevent harmful post-surgical adhesions. One aspect of the invention is RF energy delivery systems employing trocars, which are designed for use in laparotomies and laparoscopies. Another aspect of the invention is an RF delivery system comprising a surgical sheet with one or more electrodes for delivering the RF energy to the injured tissue resulting from conventional surgical incisions into the abdominal wall. Additionally, another aspect of the invention provides methods for controlling the treatment dosage of RF heat to the injured tissue using parameters such as treatment time, change in tissue temperature, and change in tissue impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Ntero Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Bommi Bommannan, Michael D. Laufer
  • Method and systems for reducing surgical complications
    Patent number: 6338731
    Abstract: Surgical complications can be minimized by reducing, or eliminating, the release of substances such as TGF-&bgr; from a surgical site by immediately sealing the edges of a surgically-made puncture or incision site. In one system, a treatment device includes an electrically conductive surface that is connected to a source of electrical energy and which can be placed in contact with the edge of a surgical incision or perforation site such that, when the conductive surface is electrically activated, it operates to heat the cellular material at the edge of the surgical incision or perforation site to inhibit (i.e., reduce) the formation of complicating connective tissue bridges. The source of electrical energy is, preferably, a radio-frequency generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Ntero Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Laufer, D. Bommi Bommannan