Patents Examined by Nils A Potter
  • Patent number: 11311225
    Abstract: A system for monitoring medical conditions includes a conformable medical monitoring device that includes a first substrate layer, which includes an electronics module, many signal traces, and at least one electrode, such that one or more of the many signal traces electrically couple the at least one electrode to the electronics module. The conformable medical monitoring device includes a second substrate layer positioned over the electronics module, the first substrate layer, or any combination thereof to insulate the electronics module, the first substrate layer, or any combination thereof. The conformable medical monitoring device also includes a third substrate layer positioned over the second substrate layer, such that the third substrate layer reduces electromagnetic interference caused by a voltage pulse and includes an adjustable system coupled to the first substrate layer and that changes a position of the at least one electrode relative to the electronics module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Azar Alizadeh, Andrew A. Burns, Matthew Jeremiah Misner, Ralf Lenigk, Jeffrey Michael Ashe, Obi Aghogho, Nancy Cecelia Stoffel, Juha Virtanen, Otto Pekander, Timo Toivanen, Robert Santala
  • Patent number: 11278243
    Abstract: A repositionable surface electrode for patient monitoring includes an active electrode layer having a top surface and a bottom surface and a leadwire connected to the active electrode layer. A first substrate has a top side, a bottom side, and a hole there through. The first substrate is positioned below the bottom surface of the active electrode layer such that the hole is aligned with the active electrode layer. An electrode gel channel is configured to conduct potentials from the patient's skin to the active electrode layer, the electrode gel channel extending through the hole in the first substrate. A silicone layer on the bottom side of the first substrate, avoiding the hole and the electrode channel, is configured to adhere the surface electrode to the patient's skin and to be removed from the patient's skin without becoming saturated with skin cells such that the electrode repositionable on the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert Filip Arnold Santala
  • Patent number: 11272975
    Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods relate to controlling the application of electrosurgical energy by an electrosurgical instrument. An electrosurgical generator in accordance with the present disclosure includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The instructions when executed, cause the generator to receive signals from the instrument over time relating to whether tissue is grasped by the instrument, receive an indication to provide an indicated treatment power to the instrument where the indicated treatment power is set by a user, determine based on the signals that tissue is currently grasped and that, for at least a predetermined length of time prior, no tissue had been grasped, and based on the determination, provide a treatment power surge to the instrument for a surge time period. After the surge time period, the generator provides the indicated treatment power to the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Donald L. Tonn, James E. Dunning, William D. Faulkner, Jennifer R. McHenry, Devon E. Scott-Drechsel, Eric M. Westra
  • Patent number: 11259863
    Abstract: Electrosurgery blades including electrosurgery blade assemblies having argon beam capability. The electrosurgery blade includes a thin conductive member having a lead sharp cutting end and an opposite noon-cutting end and a non-conductive coating covering the thin conductive member such that at least a portion of the lead cutting end and at least a portion of the opposite non-cutting end of the thin conductive member remain exposed. An electrosurgery blade assembly having argon beam capability includes the previously described electrosurgery blade, a non-conductive tube member having a hollow tubular shaped opening positioned on top of the electrosurgery blade, and a conductive hollow tubular member contained within at least a portion of the non-conductive tube member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: L.C. Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Ioan Cosmescu
  • Patent number: 11259831
    Abstract: Various devices related to a therapeutic ultrasound device for use during a medical procedure to cauterize tissue are disclosed. The therapeutic ultrasound device can include an inner tube assembly and an outer tube assembly. The device can further include a tissue engagement assembly that is secured to the distal end of the inner tube and the distal end of the outer tube. The tissue engagement assembly includes a plurality of transducers configured to provide therapeutic ultrasound. The device can include a housing assembly that is secured to the proximal end of the inner tube and the proximal end of the outer tube. The housing assembly can include a handle configured to actuate the inner tube relative to the outer tube to engage and disengage the tissue engagement assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Novuson Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart B. Mitchell, Eric Hadford, Daniel Baker
  • Patent number: 11246649
    Abstract: A resecting probe includes a shaft assembly having an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve. The outer sleeve has an axial bore and an outer window in a distal side thereof, and the inner sleeve has an axial extraction channel and inner window in a distal side thereof. The inner sleeve is rotationally disposed in the axial bore of the outer sleeve to allow the inner sleeve window to be rotated in and out of alignment with the outer sleeve window, and the shaft assembly forms a flow aperture in a distal portion when the inner cutting window and the outer cutting window are out of alignment. An electrode is carried on the inner sleeve, and a motor drive is coupled to rotate the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve. A controller is coupled to the motor drive and controls rotation of the inner sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Relign Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Jeff Norton, Kyle Klein, Michael D. Walker
  • Patent number: 11251635
    Abstract: A vital signs monitor includes an equipment housing defining an equipment compartment, a circuit assembly and a battery residing inside the equipment compartment, an electrical connector forming a connection between the battery assembly and the circuit assembly, and a battery discharge circuit. A retainer joined to the equipment housing retains the battery assembly in the housing. The retainer is separable from the housing so that its separation causes a break in the electrical connection and activates the discharge circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: Thaddeus J. Wawro, David M. Antos, Jennifer Bergstrom, Kenneth V Coon, III, Jennifer M. Grant, Scott A. Martin, Carlos A. Suarez
  • Patent number: 11241267
    Abstract: A multi-pole synchronous pulmonary artery radiofrequency ablation catheter may comprise a control handle, a catheter body and an annular ring. One end of the catheter body may be flexible, and the flexible end of the catheter body may be connected to the annular ring. The other end of the catheter body may be connected to the control handle. A shape memory wire may be arranged in the annular ring. One end of the shape memory wire may extend to an end of the annular ring and the other end of the shape memory wire may pass through a root of the annular ring and be fixed on the flexible end of the catheter body. The annular ring may be provided with an electrode group. The device possesses advantages of simple operation, short operation time and controllable precise ablation. The device can be used to treat pulmonary hypertension with pulmonary denervation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Pulnovo Medical (Wuxi) Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Shaoliang Chen
  • Patent number: 11241268
    Abstract: A medical device including an energy generator, a proximal end, and a distal end. The proximal end may include a handle and one or more connectors coupled to the energy generator. The distal end may include a number of movable branch members connected to one or more movable filaments at the distal end to form at least one expandable snare. At least one of the one or more movable filaments may be coupled to the one or more connectors to transfer energy to the at least one of the one or more movable filaments. A portion of the at least one of the one or more movable filaments forming the at least one expandable snare may be insulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed. Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. H. Chu
  • Patent number: 11234579
    Abstract: A resectoscope has an elongated shaft tube, an elongated optic arranged therein with a lens at the distal end and an electrode assembly, wherein the electrode assembly in turn includes an electrode arranged at the distal end of the arms of a fork assembly, which are arranged on opposing sides of the lens and are brought together in a transition region to an electrode shaft, wherein the electrode assembly can be extended in the longitudinal direction by a stroke length from a first position, in which the electrode is arranged inside the shaft tube in front of the lens, into a second position in which the arms of the fork assembly protrude out of the shaft tube. The length of the arms of the fork assembly is thereby greater than 1.2 times the stroke length. The electrode assembly is configured correspondingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventors: Sebastian Stühle, Nils Kapfermann, Thomas Freitag, Andreas Kaiser, Christian Brockmann
  • Patent number: 11207120
    Abstract: An electrosurgical device is described. The device can include a housing, a channel, and an actuator. The channel can comprise an electrode forming a tip. The actuator can be mechanically coupled to the electrode and the housing. The actuator can be configured to move between a first position and a second position and can be further configured to transition the tip from a retracted position when the actuator is at the first position to an extended position when the actuator is at the second position. A movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position can close an electrical circuit comprising the electrode and a source of electrical energy to generate a flow of current through the electrode for heating the tip to an elevated temperature suitable for cauterizing tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventors: Dev Mandavia, Devin Li, Jack Corelli, Samuel Hunter Hatcher, Jason Weis
  • Patent number: 11207126
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument with smoke evacuation, having an electrode, a suction lumen, and a plurality of slots connected to suction lumen, in which the slots may be longer than they are wide and wider than they are thick. The electrosurgical instrument may have the slots arranged longitudinally about its central axis, and the suction lumen may be wider than the slot widths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC
    Inventors: Alexander J. Segit, Jonathan J. Barry, Amy Bradley, Peter Goodwin
  • Patent number: 11207088
    Abstract: An endoscopic surgical device includes: a sheath; a forceps section protruding from a cover provided at a distal end of the sheath and including a pair of openable-closable forceps components; an operable member that is connected to a proximal end of the forceps section, that opens the forceps components when moved forward in a longitudinal direction, and that closes the forceps components when moved rearward; and a flow-path formation member having a through-hole through which the operable member extends and having a first liquid delivery hole constituted by a gap between the through-hole and the operable member and a second liquid delivery hole constituted by a gap between the flow-path formation member and an inner peripheral surface of the cover. The operable member is provided with a large-diameter section that abuts on the flow-path formation member when the operable member is moved forward to block the first liquid delivery hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroki Kuriki
  • Patent number: 11197714
    Abstract: A bipolar electrosurgical device is disclosed that operates in a mechanical cutting mode and a hemostasis mode. The device includes a housing and a blade assembly extending from the housing. The blade assembly forms a cutting tip and cutting window at a distal end region to provide mechanical cutting of tissue and first and second electrode assemblies to provide electrical energy to tissue. The first electrode assembly includes an outer shaft defining a first electrode surface and the second electrode assembly includes an electrode body extending along and electrically isolated from an outer shaft and defining a U-shape in cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Medtronic Xomed, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Prisco, Eric P. Detmers, Wenjeng Li, David J. Little, Patrick Richart, Jose Valdez
  • Patent number: 11192696
    Abstract: A thermal pack including: a pouch containing a thermal source; and a bendable and deformable support one of attached to or disposed within the pouch, the support being configured such that the pouch is deformed into a shape matching a contour of a body part and the pouch is maintained in the shape while applied to the body part by the support. The support can include one or more deformable elongated members extending in at least one direction of the pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: NYCE INNOVATIONS, LLC.
    Inventor: Robert Baschnagel
  • Patent number: 11185365
    Abstract: High-frequency (HF) tools are used in medicine for manipulating body tissue, using an HF resectoscope. For electrical insulation of an electrode from an electrode support, the ends of the electrode are initially guided through ceramic tubes. These ceramic tubes are sensitive in particular to forces transverse to the longitudinal axis of the resectoscope. Disclosed herein is a high-frequency tool that has increased stability with respect to transverse forces. An electrode has two ends, which for establishing a connection to an electrode support are each insertable into a receiving opening of the ends of the electrode support, or positionable in front of the ends. The electrode is contacted in an electrically conductive manner, at least in the area of a receiving opening, with a conductor wire that is guided in the electrode support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Brockmann, Andreas Kaiser
  • Patent number: 11185366
    Abstract: Apparatus, consisting of a probe having a distal end that is configured to be inserted into contact with tissue. An electrode is attached to the distal end, and there is a temperature sensor incorporated in the distal end and configured to output a temperature signal. A radiofrequency (RF) signal generator is configured to apply a pulse of RF electrical energy via the electrode to the tissue, so as to heat the tissue. The apparatus includes processing circuitry that is configured to compute, based on the temperature signal, a rate of temperature change of the distal end following termination of the pulse, and to estimate a thickness of the tissue in response to the rate of temperature change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd.
    Inventors: Assaf Govari, Israel Zilberman, Andres Claudio Altmann
  • Patent number: 11179189
    Abstract: A monopolar electrosurgical instrument and electrosurgical system for treating biological tissue by a plasma. The instrument includes a tubular line for conducting a gas to the treatment location, wherein the line consists of electrically insulating material and has a distal opening for the exit of the gas in the direction of the tissue to be treated, and an electrode arranged in the region of the distal opening in the line, wherein the electrode is connectable to an electrosurgical generator to ignite a plasma discharge in the gas. Improving the ignition behavior, the inner surface of the line has an enhanced electrical conductivity in the distal opening. Furthermore, a method for producing an electrosurgical instrument for providing a line made of nonconductive material, an electrode, and enhancing the conductivity of an inner surface of the line in the region of the opening, for enhancing the conductivity in the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventor: Uwe Fischer
  • Patent number: 11179271
    Abstract: Thermal packs including: a pouch containing a thermal source; and a bendable and deformable support attached to or disposed within the pouch, the support configured such that the pouch is deformed into a shape matching a contour of a body part and the pouch is maintained in the shape while applied to the body part by the support, where the support includes members, each of which having a cup at a first end and a ball at a second end, the ball of one of members being rotatably fitted within the cup of an adjacent one of the members; one or more wires encased in a casing or an loop or hook fastener such that a flap, having an other of the hook or loop fastener, extended from the pouch is folded over the support to retain the support adjacent to the pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: NYCE INNOVATIONS, LLC.
    Inventor: Robert Baschnagel
  • Patent number: 11179174
    Abstract: In an end effector of a high-frequency treatment instrument, a coating covers an outer surface of an electrode, and formed from a conductive mixture obtained by mixing a non-conductive material and a conductive material. The conductive material contained in the mixture includes first elements and second elements, and each of the first elements has a shape with a higher flatness quotient than each of the second elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsunetaka Akagane