Patents by Inventor CAROL L. SHAFFER

CAROL L. SHAFFER 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).

  • Publication number: 20240139553
    Abstract: A histotripsy therapy system configured for the treatment of tissue is provided, which may include any number of features. Provided herein are systems and methods that provide efficacious non-invasive and minimally invasive therapeutic, diagnostic and research procedures. The systems and methods herein are configured to measure and display forces acting upon the therapy treatment head during a procedure. In some aspects, buoyancy forces from the acoustic coupling medium are also accounted for.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Ryan M. MILLER, Viktor BOLLEN, Carol L. SHAFFER, Carolyn M. TURNER
  • Patent number: 11864829
    Abstract: A handle for longitudinal movement of a first tubular member over a second tubular member includes a handle body, a nose cone, a locking mechanism, and a retraction control. The nose cone has a sleeve and an outer wall that define a control channel therebetween. The nose cone is moveable over the handle body between extended and retracted positions. The locking mechanism has locked and unlocked positions for selectively fixing the nose cone in the extended and retracted positions. A finger of the retraction control is positioned within the control channel of the nose cone. The retraction control has first and second positions relative to the nose cone for transitioning the locking mechanism between the locked and unlocked position and for moving the nose cone between the extended and retracted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: William J. Dickhans, Carol L Shaffer, Alex A. Peterson, Arlen J. Reschke
  • Patent number: 11559290
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for accessing tissue outside a bronchus and marking the location of a biopsy are provided. The method includes loading a navigation plan into a navigation system with the navigation plan including a CT volume generated from a plurality of CT images, inserting an extended working channel (EWC) including a location sensor into a patient's airways, registering a sensed location of the EWC with the CT volume of the navigation plan, and selecting a target in the navigation plan located outside the periphery of a patient's airways. The method further includes navigating the EWC and location sensor proximate the target, inserting a piercing catheter into the EWC, piercing through an airway wall to reach the target, storing a position of the location sensor in the navigation system as a biopsy location, and performing a biopsy at the stored biopsy location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Katherine A. Herdina, Carol L. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20220233240
    Abstract: A handle for longitudinal movement of a first tubular member over a second tubular member includes a handle body, a nose cone, a locking mechanism, and a retraction control. The nose cone has a sleeve and an outer wall that define a control channel therebetween. The nose cone is moveable over the handle body between extended and retracted positions. The locking mechanism has locked and unlocked positions for selectively fixing the nose cone in the extended and retracted positions. A finger of the retraction control is positioned within the control channel of the nose cone. The retraction control has first and second positions relative to the nose cone for transitioning the locking mechanism between the locked and unlocked position and for moving the nose cone between the extended and retracted positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: William J. Dickhans, Carol L. Shaffer, Alex A. Peterson, Arlen J. Reschke
  • Patent number: 11324551
    Abstract: A handle for longitudinal movement of a first tubular member over a second tubular member includes a handle body, a nose cone, a locking mechanism, and a retraction control. The nose cone has a sleeve and an outer wall that define a control channel therebetween. The nose cone is moveable over the handle body between extended and retracted positions. The locking mechanism has locked and unlocked positions for selectively fixing the nose cone in the extended and retracted positions. A finger of the retraction control is positioned within the control channel of the nose cone. The retraction control has first and second positions relative to the nose cone for transitioning the locking mechanism between the locked and unlocked position and for moving the nose cone between the extended and retracted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: William J. Dickhans, Carol L. Shaffer, Alex A. Peterson, Arlen J. Reschke
  • Patent number: 10814128
    Abstract: A catheter includes first and second handles, first and second tubular members, and first and second electrodes. The first tubular member defines a channel therethrough and is coupled to and distally extends from the first handle. The second tubular member is coupled to and distally extends from the second handle. The second tubular member is slidably disposed within the channel of the first tubular member and defines a lumen therethrough. The first and second electrodes are configured to generate an electric field therebetween. The second handle is translatable relative to the first handle between a retracted position in which the second electrode is adjacent the first electrode and an extended position in which the second electrode is spaced apart from the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Tyler J. Eckwright, Katherine A. Herdina, Carol L. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20200170628
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for accessing tissue outside a bronchus and marking the location of a biopsy are provided. The method includes loading a navigation plan into a navigation system with the navigation plan including a CT volume generated from a plurality of CT images, inserting an extended working channel (EWC) including a location sensor into a patient's airways, registering a sensed location of the EWC with the CT volume of the navigation plan, and selecting a target in the navigation plan located outside the periphery of a patient's airways. The method further includes navigating the EWC and location sensor proximate the target, inserting a piercing catheter into the EWC, piercing through an airway wall to reach the target, storing a position of the location sensor in the navigation system as a biopsy location, and performing a biopsy at the stored biopsy location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Katherine A. Herdina, Carol L. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20200170703
    Abstract: A handle for longitudinal movement of a first tubular member over a second tubular member includes a handle body, a nose cone, a locking mechanism, and a retraction control. The nose cone has a sleeve and an outer wall that define a control channel therebetween. The nose cone is moveable over the handle body between extended and retracted positions. The locking mechanism has locked and unlocked positions for selectively fixing the nose cone in the extended and retracted positions. A finger of the retraction control is positioned within the control channel of the nose cone. The retraction control has first and second positions relative to the nose cone for transitioning the locking mechanism between the locked and unlocked position and for moving the nose cone between the extended and retracted positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: William J. Dickhans, Carol L. Shaffer, Alex A. Peterson, Arlen J. Reschke
  • Patent number: 10582914
    Abstract: A bronchial piercing catheter assembly used to navigate to target tissue in a patient under EMN guidance includes a handle, a shaft, and a catheter tip. The shaft extends from the handle and includes a proximal end and a distal end. The catheter tip is located on the distal end of the shaft and is designed to penetrate tissue. The catheter tip further includes a base member defined along a central longitudinal axis of the bronchial piercing catheter and a trailing tip member adjacent to the base member. The trailing tip member tapers relative to the base member and a leading tip member adjacent to the trailing tip member. The leading tip member further tapers to a distal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Katherine A. Herdina, Carol L. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10561463
    Abstract: A handle for longitudinal movement of a first tubular member over a second tubular member includes a handle body, a nose cone, a locking mechanism, and a retraction control. The nose cone has a sleeve and an outer wall that define a control channel therebetween. The nose cone is moveable over the handle body between extended and retracted positions. The locking mechanism has locked and unlocked positions for selectively fixing the nose cone in the extended and retracted positions. A finger of the retraction control is positioned within the control channel of the nose cone. The retraction control has first and second positions relative to the nose cone for transitioning the locking mechanism between the locked and unlocked position and for moving the nose cone between the extended and retracted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: William J. Dickhans, Carol L. Shaffer, Alex A. Peterson, Arlen J. Reschke
  • Patent number: 10201265
    Abstract: A support system including a rail, a lower support, and an instrument support. The lower support is configured to receive a portion of a bronchoscope and to selectively fix the bronchoscope relative to the rail. The instrument support is slidably disposed on the rail and is selectively lockable to the rail. The instrument support is configured to releasably couple to a surgical instrument inserted through the bronchoscope to fix the position of a portion of the surgical instrument relative to the bronchoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: William J. Dickhans, Carol L. Shaffer, Alex A. Peterson, Arlen J. Reschke
  • Publication number: 20180140832
    Abstract: A catheter includes first and second handles, first and second tubular members, and first and second electrodes. The first tubular member defines a channel therethrough and is coupled to and distally extends from the first handle. The second tubular member is coupled to and distally extends from the second handle. The second tubular member is slidably disposed within the channel of the first tubular member and defines a lumen therethrough. The first and second electrodes are configured to generate an electric field therebetween. The second handle is translatable relative to the first handle between a retracted position in which the second electrode is adjacent the first electrode and an extended position in which the second electrode is spaced apart from the first electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: TYLER J. ECKWRIGHT, KATHERINE A. HERDINA, CAROL L. SHAFFER
  • Publication number: 20180132935
    Abstract: A handle for longitudinal movement of a first tubular member over a second tubular member includes a handle body, a nose cone, a locking mechanism, and a retraction control. The nose cone has a sleeve and an outer wall that define a control channel therebetween. The nose cone is moveable over the handle body between extended and retracted positions. The locking mechanism has locked and unlocked positions for selectively fixing the nose cone in the extended and retracted positions. A finger of the retraction control is positioned within the control channel of the nose cone. The retraction control has first and second positions relative to the nose cone for transitioning the locking mechanism between the locked and unlocked position and for moving the nose cone between the extended and retracted positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: William J. Dickhans, Carol L. Shaffer, Alex A. Peterson, Arlen J. Reschke
  • Patent number: 9867665
    Abstract: A handle for longitudinal movement of a first tubular member over a second tubular member includes a handle body, a nose cone, a locking mechanism, and a retraction control. The nose cone has a sleeve and an outer wall that define a control channel therebetween. The nose cone is moveable over the handle body between extended and retracted positions. The locking mechanism has locked and unlocked positions for selectively fixing the nose cone in the extended and retracted positions. A finger of the retraction control is positioned within the control channel of the nose cone. The retraction control has first and second positions relative to the nose cone for transitioning the locking mechanism between the locked and unlocked position and for moving the nose cone between the extended and retracted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: William J. Dickhans, Carol L. Shaffer, Alex A. Peterson, Arlen J. Reschke
  • Publication number: 20150073211
    Abstract: A support system including a rail, a lower support, and an instrument support. The lower support is configured to receive a portion of a bronchoscope and to selectively fix the bronchoscope relative to the rail. The instrument support is slidably disposed on the rail and is selectively lockable to the rail. The instrument support is configured to releasably couple to a surgical instrument inserted through the bronchoscope to fix the position of a portion of the surgical instrument relative to the bronchoscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: WILLIAM J. DICKHANS, CAROL L. SHAFFER, ALEX A. PETERSON, ARLEN J. RESCHKE
  • Publication number: 20150073407
    Abstract: A handle for longitudinal movement of a first tubular member over a second tubular member includes a handle body, a nose cone, a locking mechanism, and a retraction control. The nose cone has a sleeve and an outer wall that define a control channel therebetween. The nose cone is moveable over the handle body between extended and retracted positions. The locking mechanism has locked and unlocked positions for selectively fixing the nose cone in the extended and retracted positions. A finger of the retraction control is positioned within the control channel of the nose cone. The retraction control has first and second positions relative to the nose cone for transitioning the locking mechanism between the locked and unlocked position and for moving the nose cone between the extended and retracted positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: WILLIAM J. DICKHANS, CAROL L. SHAFFER, ALEX A. PETERSON, ARLEN J. RESCHKE