Patents Examined by Christine A Dedoulis
  • Patent number: 11399771
    Abstract: Various aspect of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods that may include an introducer for facilitating placement of an implantable monitor. The introducer may include an indicator configured to indicate at least one of width, depth, and position for an arrangement of the implantable monitor relative to a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Kathryn Sick, Keith R. Maile, Britta C. Veldman, Arthur J. Foster
  • Patent number: 11389227
    Abstract: An electrosurgical device includes a handpiece, an electrode tip extending from the handpiece, the electrode tip configured to deliver an RF signal, and a multivariate controller disposed on the handpiece. The multivariate controller is configured to activate the electrode tip and adjust a setting of the RF signal within a range of settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC
    Inventor: Mark Guirguis
  • Patent number: 11382649
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongate member, and a motor assembly. The elongate member extends from the handle assembly and defines a longitudinal axis of the surgical instrument. The motor assembly is disposed within the handle assembly and is configured to rotate the elongate member about the longitudinal axis relative to that handle assembly in response to sensed movement of the handle assembly about the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Scott E. M. Frushour, Christopher A. Valentine
  • Patent number: 11364070
    Abstract: Novel and versatile apparatuses for delivering one or more of thermal ablation and irreversible electroporation therapies to target tissue. In some examples, a device includes at its distal end a plurality of electrodes that can be advanced or retracted to pierce patient tissue, with a variable position and size shaft electrode provided near the distal end of the device to allow manipulation of therapy fields to achieve various tissue destruction field shapes. A number of method of use examples are described as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Forsyth, Matthew Ryan Dewitt, Hong Cao, Timothy A. Ostroot
  • Patent number: 11350986
    Abstract: Method and devices for delivering pulsed RF ablation energy to enable the creation of lesions in tissue are disclosed. The delivery of RF energy is controlled such that the generator power setting remains sufficiently high to form adequate lesions while mitigating against overheating of tissue. An ablation catheter tip having high-thermal-sensitivity comprises a thermally-insulative ablation tip insert supporting at least one temperature sensor and encapsulated, or essentially encapsulated, by a conductive shell. A system for delivering pulsed RF energy to a catheter during catheter ablation comprises an RF generator and a pulse control box operatively connected to the generator and configured to control delivery of pulsatile RF energy to an ablation catheter comprising at least one temperature sensor mounted in its tip. Also disclose is a method of controlling the temperature of an ablation catheter tip while creating a desired lesion using pulsatile delivery of RF energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy T. Tegg, Dale E. Just, Gregory K. Olson
  • Patent number: 11350992
    Abstract: Methods for treating a human patient diagnosed with cancer with therapeutic neuromodulation and associated systems are disclosed herein. Sympathetic nerve activity can contribute to several cellular and physiological processes associated with the progression of cancer. One aspect of the present technology is directed to methods that attenuate neural traffic along target sympathetic nerves innervating tissue proximate a primary malignant tumor. Other aspects are directed to methods that at least partially inhibit sympathetic neural activity in a renal nerve of a patient diagnosed with cancer or who has a high risk of developing cancer. Targeted sympathetic nerve activity can be attenuated to improve a measurable physiological parameter corresponding to the progression of cancer in the patient. The attenuation can be achieved, for example, using an intravascularly positioned catheter carrying a therapeutic assembly, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC ARDIAN LUXEMBOURG S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Garrett Pilcher, Robert Melder
  • Patent number: 11350988
    Abstract: A minimally invasive medical technique for treating lung tumors includes use of multiple ablation modalities in a single procedure. Condensable vapor ablation and electrosurgical ablation are applied to treat the surface of the tumor and to debulk inner regions of the tumor, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Uptake Medical Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Henne, Robert Barry, Henky Wibowo
  • Patent number: 11324546
    Abstract: Tissue may be cut and extracted from an interior location in a patient's body using a probe or tool which both effects cutting and causes vaporization of a liquid or other fluid to propel the cut tissue through an extraction lumen of the cutting device. The cutting may be achieved using an electrosurgical electrode assembly, including a first electrode on a cutting member and a second electrode within a cutting probe or tool. Thus, over a first cutting portion, radio frequency current may help cut the tissue and over a second or over transition region, the RF current may initiate vaporization of the fluid or other liquid to propel the tissue from the cutting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: MINERVA SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: John H. Shadduck, Aaron Germain, Csaba Truckai, Kyle Klein, Michael D. Walker
  • Patent number: 11311228
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for receiving signals from a human subject's head includes a headset having a plurality of electroencephalographic “(EEG”) electrodes associated therewith for facilitating receiving EEG signals from the subject's head and at least one ear clip configured to be releasably secured to the subject's ear(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: WAVI Co.
    Inventors: David Oakley, Edward Altshuler, Scott Seamans, David Joffe, Francis Palermo, Andre Joffe, Hunter Velds
  • Patent number: 11304753
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, devices, and methods for treating heart failure. In some variations, a catheter for forming an anastomosis in a heart may comprise a first catheter comprising an electrode. A second catheter may be slidably disposed within the first catheter. The second catheter may comprise a barb and a dilator comprising a mating surface configured to engage the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Alleviant Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Pate, Zachary R. Berman
  • Patent number: 11272947
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a movable handle, a trigger, a drive assembly operably coupled between the movable handle and an end effector assembly such that movement of the movable handle from an initial position to a compressed position manipulates the end effector assembly, and a linkage operably coupled between the trigger and a knife such that movement of the trigger from an un-actuated position to an actuated position rotates the linkage to deploy the knife relative to the end effector assembly. A drive housing of the drive assembly inhibits rotation of the linkage when the movable handle is disposed in the initial position and the trigger is disposed in the un-actuated position. The drive housing cams along a surface of the linkage to urge the linkage to rotate when the movable handle is returned towards the initial position, thereby returning the trigger towards the un-actuated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Stephen J. Stamm, James D. Allen, IV, Victor K. Appel, Craig V. Krastins, Jessica E. C. Olson, Purvishkumar H. Soni, Ross Tichota
  • Patent number: 11272972
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method includes identifying a nerve extending across a transection path; administering a cooling therapy to the identified nerve at a location proximal to the transection path so as to degenerate the identified nerve across the transection path prior to or during surgical transection along the transection path, wherein cooling the identified nerve prevents or reduces neuroma formation at a transected end of the nerve after transection of the nerve. In some embodiments, a method includes degenerating a portion of a nerve while preserving a connective tissue framework of the nerve. During or after the degeneration, the preserved connective tissue framework may be transected at a transection location distal to the treatment location. The regeneration of the nerve may be repeatedly disrupted for a period of time to reduce a regenerative rate of the nerve and delay neuroma formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Pacira CryoTech, Inc.
    Inventors: John Allison, Jessica Preciado Dummett, Michael Hsu
  • Patent number: 11241183
    Abstract: This document discloses EEG headset designs that address shortcomings in prior art headsets and also provides headset solutions for new and useful applications utilizing EEG headsets. One such application is brain computer interface (BCI) applications, and more specifically, a BCI application for stroke therapy in which the headset is utilized to obtain ipsilateral brain signals. This document also discloses BCI devices and methods utilizing EEG headsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Neurolutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Leuthardt, Gerwin Schalk, Daniel W. Moran, Rob Coker, David Bundy, Robert R. Ragland, Peter J. D'Aquanni, Thomas Voorhees, Gilbert L Carlson
  • Patent number: 11219480
    Abstract: Disclosed is a soft tissue excision apparatus having a handle and an elongated blade support member extending from the handle. The distal end of blade support member includes a first thermally conductive blade support arm and a second thermally conductive blade support arm. An electrically heatable blade is supported at and electrically isolated from the distal ends of the two thermally conductive blade support arms. A first electrically conductive lead extends from the proximal end of the thermally conductive blade support member to a first blade heater contact pad. A second electrically conductive lead extends from the proximal end of the thermally conductive blade support member to a second blade heater contact pad. First and second electrically conductive flexible leads extend from the proximal end of the thermally conductive blade support member to a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Hemostatix Medical Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Philip E. Eggers, Brad Beale, Jerry Van Eyck
  • Patent number: 11207070
    Abstract: Described here are devices and methods for treating hypertension by forming a fistula between two blood vessels to reduce blood pressure of a patient. The fistula may be formed using a catheter having an electrode that is placed in a first blood vessel. In some instances, a desired amount of blood pressure is determined. In other instances, the hypertension is drug resistant hypertension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: TVA Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam L. Berman, William E. Cohn, Dana R. Mester, Damian A. Jelich, Thomas D. Pate, Philip M. Tetzlaff
  • Patent number: 11197715
    Abstract: A cable assembly includes a rigid portion, a flexible central portion, and a radiating portion. The rigid portion is configured to couple to a source of electrosurgical energy and to prevent fluid ingress towards the source of electrosurgical energy. The flexible central portion extends from the rigid portion and includes an inner conductor, a dielectric disposed about the inner conductor, and a conductive braid disposed about the dielectric. The radiating portion extends from the central portion and is configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: William J. Dickhans, John J. Halbur, Joseph D. Brannan
  • Patent number: 11103306
    Abstract: Various catheters with expandable and contractible fluid pathways extending therethrough, and methods of use, are provided herein. In an exemplary embodiment, a catheter is provided with an elongate body having an electrode at the distal end thereof. One or more expandable members or wings can extend between the electrode and the distal end of the elongate body. The catheter can also include an actuator extending therethrough and coupled to the electrode such that movement of the actuator is effective to advance and retract the electrode, thereby moving the one or more expandable members between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The catheter can also include a fluid sealed lumen formed therein and configured to receive fluid and to deliver fluid to one or more pathways formed in the electrode. The actuator can extend through the fluid sealed lumen, however it can be fluidly separated from the lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Sirona Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Haghighi-Mood, Richard Jonathan Cohen
  • Patent number: 11090115
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of treating affected external or surface tissue comprising the steps of providing a source of affected external or surface tissue; generating a source of microwave energy; transmitting said microwave energy into said affected external or surface tissues; exposing said affected external and surface tissues to said microwave energy to raise the local temperature to thereby ablate, remove, coagulate or otherwise alter said affected external and surface tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Atlantic Cancer Research Institute
    Inventors: J. R. Jocelyn Paré, Jacqueline M. R. Bélanger
  • Patent number: 11065053
    Abstract: A cable assembly includes a rigid portion, a flexible central portion, and a radiating portion. The rigid portion is configured to couple to a source of electrosurgical energy and to prevent fluid ingress towards the source of electrosurgical energy. The flexible central portion extends from the rigid portion and includes an inner conductor, a dielectric disposed about the inner conductor, and a conductive braid disposed about the dielectric. The radiating portion extends from the central portion and is configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: William J. Dickhans, Flor De Maria R. Nonalaya, Joseph D. Brannan, John J. Halbur
  • Patent number: 11051873
    Abstract: Various forms are directed to systems and methods for dissection and coagulation of tissue. A method for detecting a short circuit in a surgical system configured to apply radio frequency energy and ultrasonic energy to a target surgical site that includes delivering radio frequency (RF) energy to an electrode of a surgical instrument, transitioning from delivering the RF energy to delivering ultrasonic energy to an ultrasonic blade of the surgical instrument, delivering an exploratory ultrasonic pulse to the ultrasonic blade, measuring an ultrasonic property of tissue engaged by the surgical instrument, wherein the ultrasonic property is associated with the exploratory ultrasonic pulse, determining whether the measured ultrasonic property is consistent with a behavior of low impedance tissue, and delivering ultrasonic energy to the ultrasonic blade to cut the tissue upon determining that the measured ultrasonic property is consistent with ultrasonic energy being applied to low impedance tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Eitan T. Wiener, Benjamin J. Danziger, David C. Yates, Kevin L. Houser, Ryan M. Asher, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jeffrey D. Messerly, Geoffrey S. Strobl, Kristen G. Denzinger