Patents by Inventor Christopher Paul Hancock

Christopher Paul Hancock 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).

  • ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR ABLATION AND RESECTION
    Publication number: 20200289195
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument which is capable of simultaneously ablating an area of tissue with microwave energy and performing resection with RF energy. The instrument comprises a structure for conveying both RF and microwave energy to an instrument tip that is configured to emit the microwave energy in a manner suitable for ablation (e.g. as a substantially spherical field) and to emit the RF energy in a more focussed manner to enable accurate and controllable resection to be performed. The energy conveying structure comprises a coaxial transmission line for conveying microwave energy. The coaxial transmission line has a hollow inner conductor that defines a passage that supports a second transmission line for conveying radiofrequency energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Paul HANCOCK, Malcolm WHITE, Patrick BURN, Peter CLEGG
  • ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR FREEZING AND ABLATING BIOLOGICAL TISSUE
    Publication number: 20200289199
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for applying microwave energy to biological tissue, where the instrument is capable of freezing biological tissue in a region around a radiating tip portion and applying microwave energy to the frozen tissue. By freezing the region around the radiating tip portion, microwave energy radiated from the radiating tip portion can be transmitted through the frozen region with low losses and into tissue surrounding the frozen region. This enables the size of the treatment area to be increased without having to increase the amount of microwave energy delivered to the radiating tip portion. The instrument comprises a transmission line, a radiating tip, a fluid feed for conveying a tissue-freezing fluid, and a thermal transfer portion arranged to provide thermal communication between the tissue-freezing fluid and biological tissue in a treatment zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Paul HANCOCK, Malcolm WHITE, Patrick BURN, Peter CLEGG, Pallav SHAH
  • ELECTROSURGICAL APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING RF AND/OR MICROWAVE ENERGY INTO BIOLOGICAL TISSUE
    Publication number: 20200268445
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for delivering electromagnetic energy to biological tissue, the instrument comprising an active tip having an electrically conductive protective hull mounted on an underside thereof. The hull has a smoothly contoured convex undersurface, and is formed as a shaped piece of electrically conductive bio-compatible material having a low coefficient of friction with biological tissue (e.g. stainless steel) which has the dual function of (i) physically protecting tissue that lies underneath the active tip, and (ii) providing an electrical connection between a coaxial feed line and the active tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Paul HANCOCK, Rohan MONICO, Steve MORRIS, Tom CRAVEN, Stefania POHLMANN
  • ELECTROSURGICAL APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20200253664
    Abstract: An electrosurgical apparatus comprising an electrosurgical forceps instrument that combines la robust jaw opening mechanism with an a microwave energy delivery mechanism. The instrument includes a rigid bracket mounted at a distal end of a flexible shaft, wherein a pair of jaws are pivotably mounted on the rigid bracket. The instrument includes an energy delivery structure comprising a flexible dielectric substrate having a first electrode and an second electrode formed on one of the pair of jaws, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged to emit microwave energy. The electrosurgical apparatus may also comprise a handpiece that combines rotation control of an electrosurgical instrument with both power delivery and end effector actuation (e.g. jaw closure, blade retraction or the like).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Paul HANCOCK, George Christian ULLRICH, David Edward WEBB, Louis TURNER, Simon MEADOWCROFT, Jessi JOHNSON, Miriam TAIMISTO
  • INTERFACE JOINT FOR AN ELECTROSURGICAL APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20200246068
    Abstract: An interface joint with one or both of a needle actuation mechanism or an integrated shaft rotation mechanism. The interface joint comprises a flexible shaft between a housing and an electrosurgical instrument, e.g. for conveying power and/or fluid therebetween. The needle actuation mechanism comprises an actuation rod extending out of the housing and an actuator movably mounted on the housing. The shaft rotation mechanism comprises a rotation actuator rotatably mounted on the housing and operably coupled to the flexible shaft. Providing an integrated shaft rotation mechanism may obviate the need for a separate torque transmission unit. The improved needle actuation mechanism may use a pivoting connection to enable longer needle extension distances to be achieved for a given actuation distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Paul HANCOCK, Rohan MONICO, Huw HOPKINS, Tom CRAVEN, Steve MORRIS
  • Electrosurgical apparatus for delivering RF and/or microwave energy into biological tissue
    Patent number: 10729495
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for applying to biological tissue RF electromagnetic energy and/or microwave frequency EM energy, wherein the instrument tip has a protective hull with a smoothly contoured convex undersurface facing away from a planar body, and wherein the planar body has a tapering distal edge, and wherein an underside of the planar body extends beyond the protective hull at the tapering distal edge. Also disclosed herein is an interface joint for integrating into a single cable assembly all of (i) a fluid feed, (ii) a needle movement mechanism, and (iii) an energy feed (e.g. a coaxial cable), and a torque transfer device for permitting controlled rotation of the cable assembly within the instrument channel of an endoscope. The interface joint and torque transfer device may be integrated as a single component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: CREO MEDICAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Julian Mark Ebbutt, Christopher Paul Hancock, Steven Morris, Malcolm White, Brian Saunders
  • ELECTROSURGICAL RESECTOR TOOL
    Publication number: 20200222112
    Abstract: An electrosurgical resector tool having an energy delivery structure that provides a plurality of operational modalities that facilitate biological tissue cutting and sealing using radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) energy and/or microwave EM energy. The tool comprises a static first blade element, and a pivotable second blade element that has a length commensurate with the first blade element whereby, in a closed position, it lies adjacent to a laterally facing surface of the first blade element. The blade elements constitute an energy delivery mechanisms that is compact enough to enable the tool to be insertable through an instrument channel of a surgical scoping device, such as an endoscope, gastroscope or bronchoscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Paul HANCOCK, Louis TURNER, Patrick BURN, Malcolm WHITE, Simon MEADOWCROFT, George Christian ULLRICH, David Edward WEBB
  • Microwave plasma sterilisation system and applicators therefor
    Patent number: 10688204
    Abstract: A sterilization system having a controllable non-ironing microwave radiation source for providing microwave energy for combining with a gas to produce atmospheric low temperature plasma for sterilizing biological tissue surfaces or the like. A plasma generating region may be contained in a hand held plasma applicator. The system may include an impedance adjustor e.g. integrated in the plasma applicator arranged to set a plasma strike condition and plasma sustain condition. The gas and microwave energy may be transported to a plasma generating region along an integrated cable assembly. The integrated cable assembly may provide a two way gas flow arrangement to permit residual gas to be removed from the surface. Invasive surface plasma treatment is therefore possible. The plasma applicator may have multiple plasma emitters to produce a line or blanket of plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: CREO MEDICAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Christopher Paul Hancock
  • CONTROL DEVICE FOR AN ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENT
    Publication number: 20200179653
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a shape memory effect (SME) material, such as nitinol, in an actuator for effecting rotation of an electrosurgical instrument. The actuator may be part of a control mechanism for rotating a tip of an electrosurgical instrument relative to a flexible shaft that encases components of the instrument as they are conveyed along an instrument channel of a surgical scoping device, such as an endoscope, bronchoscope, laparoscope, gastroscope, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Paul HANCOCK, Louis TURNER
  • MICROWAVE PLASMA STERILISATION SYSTEM AND APPLICATORS THEREFOR
    Publication number: 20200171180
    Abstract: A sterilization system having a controllable non-ionizing microwave radiation source for providing microwave energy for combining with a gas to produce atmospheric low temperature plasma for sterilizing biological tissue surfaces or the like. A plasma generating region may be contained in a hand held plasma applicator. The system may include an impedance adjustor e.g. integrated in the plasma applicator arranged to set a plasma strike condition and plasma sustain condition. The gas and microwave energy may be transported to a plasma generating region along an integrated cable assembly. The Integrated cable assembly may provide a two way gas flow arrangement to permit residual gas to be removed from the surface. Invasive surface plasma treatment is therefore possible. The plasma applicator may have multiple plasma emitters to produce a line or blanket of plasma.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventor: Christopher Paul HANCOCK
  • APPARATUS FOR STERILISING AN INSTRUMENT CHANNEL OF A SURGICAL SCOPING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20200155266
    Abstract: Sterilisation apparatus comprising a sterilisation instrument configured inserted through the instrument channel of a surgical scoping device and a withdrawal device for withdrawing the sterilisation instrument from the instrument channel predetermined rate. The sterilisation instrument comprises an elongate probe having probe tip with a first electrode and a second electrode arranged to produce an electric field from received RF and/or microwave frequency EM energy. In operation the instrument may disinfect an inner surface of the instrument channel by emitting energy whilst being withdrawn through the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Paul HANCOCK, Louis TURNER, Patrick BURN, Sandra SWAIN, Julian Mark EBBUTT, Simon MEADOWCROFT, George Christian ULLRICH, David Edward WEBB, John BISHOP
  • Electrical connector for an electrosurgical apparatus
    Patent number: 10610284
    Abstract: An electrosurgical apparatus comprising an electrosurgical instrument for delivering RF energy and/or microwave frequency energy into biological tissue, an interference cable for conveying radiofrequency (RF) and/or microwave frequency energy between an electrosurgical generator and the electrosurgical instrument, wherein a sterile barrier sheath surrounds a connection interface between the instrument and interface cable. The sterile barrier sheath and instrument may be a sterilisable unit suitable for repeated use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: CREA MEDICAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Hancock, Francis Amoah, Julian Mark Ebbutt, Jeremy Paul Gardner, Robin Alexander Crossley, Rohan Monico
  • ELECTROSURGICAL SNARE
    Publication number: 20200093536
    Abstract: An electrosurgical snare, e.g. suitably sized for insertion down the instrument channel of an endoscope, arranged to radiate microwave frequency energy (e.g. having a frequency greater than 1 GHz) from an elongate conductive element within an area encircled by a retractable loop. The elongate conductive element and retractable loop may be independently slidable relative to a snare base at a distal end of a sleeve to provide an appropriate device configuration. By controlling the shape of the emitted microwave field, the risk of collateral thermal damage can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Paul HANCOCK, Malcolm WHITE, Craig GULLIFORD, Brian SAUNDERS, Sandra May Bernadette HOLMES
  • Surgical snare with ability to deliver electromagnetic energy and/or thermal plasma into biological tissue
    Patent number: 10568689
    Abstract: A surgical snare comprising a means of delivering thermal plasma on to biological tissue encircled by the snare. The snare may be “cold” snare, i.e. formed from insulating material, or active, i.e. connected to receive RF and/or microwave energy to be radiated into the area encircled by the snare. The surgical snare may thus deliver into biological tissue encircled by a retractable loop any one of (i) a plasma to perform surface coagulation, (ii) a non-ionising microwave field (in the absence of plasma) to perform coagulation at a deeper level, and (iii) an RF field to assist with cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: CREO MEDICAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Hancock, Malcolm White
  • ELECTROSURGICAL APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING RF AND/OR MICROWAVE ENERGY INTO BIOLOGICAL TISSUE
    Publication number: 20200030031
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for applying to biological tissue RF electromagnetic energy and/or microwave frequency EM energy, wherein the instrument tip has a protective hull with a smoothly contoured convex undersurface facing away from a planar body, and wherein the planar body has a tapering distal edge, and wherein an underside of the planar body extends beyond the protective hull at the tapering distal edge. Also disclosed herein is an interface joint for integrating into a single cable assembly all of (i) a fluid feed, (ii) a needle movement mechanism, and (iii) an energy feed (e.g. a coaxial cable), and a torque transfer device for permitting controlled rotation of the cable assembly within the instrument channel of an endoscope. The interface joint and torque transfer device may be integrated as a single component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Julian Mark EBBUTT, Christopher Paul HANCOCK, Steven MORRIS, Malcolm WHITE, Brian SAUNDERS
  • ELECTROSURGICAL APPARATUS AND ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENT
    Publication number: 20200022755
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument capable of supporting resonance of microwave energy at multiple frequencies. The instrument comprises a coaxial cable and a radiating distal tip portion arranged to receive microwave energy from the coaxial cable. The radiating tip portion consists of a dielectric material having an electrical length selected in conjunction with its dielectric properties at three or more frequencies of microwave energy to support resonance at each frequency. By providing a single device that can effectively couple microwave energy into biological tissue at three or more frequencies, tissue ablation can be performed rapidly with accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Paul HANCOCK, Patrick BURN, Maicolm WHITE, Louis TURNER
  • Electrosurgical forceps for delivering microwave energy from a non-resonant unbalanced lossy transmission line structure
    Patent number: 10531918
    Abstract: Electrosurgical forceps for delivering microwave energy into biological tissue from a non-resonant unbalanced lossy transmission line structure located within or formed by the jaws of the forceps. The transmission line structure may be formed across the gap between the jaw element by opposed conductive elements, which are respectively electrically connected to inner and outer conductors of a coaxial cable. Alternatively, each jaw element may comprise its own lossy transmission line, whereby a power splitter is used to divide microwave energy from the coaxial cable. The forceps may be used endoscopically in the gastrointestinal tract or laparoscopically or in open surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: CREO MEDICAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Hancock, Malcolm White
  • Electrosurgical forceps for delivering microwave energy from a non-resonant unbalanced lossy transmission line structure
    Patent number: 10531915
    Abstract: Electrosurgical forceps for delivering microwave energy into biological tissue from a non-resonant unbalanced lossy transmission line structure located within or formed by the jaws of the forceps. The transmission line structure may be formed across the gap between the jaw element by opposed conductive elements, which are respectively electrically connected to inner and outer conductors of a coaxial cable. Alternatively, each jaw element may comprise its own lossy transmission line, whereby a power splitter is used to divide microwave energy from the coaxial cable. The forceps may be used endoscopically in the gastrointestinal tract or laparoscopically or in open surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: CREO MEDICAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Hancock, Malcolm White
  • MICROWAVE ENERGY TRANSFER COMPONENT FOR ELECTROSURGICAL APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20200008872
    Abstract: A microstrip impedance transformer that permits efficient (i.e. low loss) coupling of a microwave feed line (e.g. a conventional 50? coaxial cable) to an instrument cable, where the instrument cable has a lower impedance (e.g. in the range 12 to 14?) and includes an internal passageway. The microstrip impedance transformer is configured to perform impedance matching between the microwave feed line and the instrument cable in a manner that does not adversely affect a separate feed, e.g. for delivering fluid, into the internal passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Paul HANCOCK, Malcolm White, Shaun Preston
  • ELECTROSURGICAL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF TISSUE ABLATION
    Publication number: 20190380778
    Abstract: An electrosurgical apparatus for treating fluid-filled biological growths by replacing the fluid within the growth with a substance that assists in delivering treatment energy. The treatment energy may be microwave energy or may be thermal energy derived from microwave energy. The apparatus comprises an instrument having a radiating tip portion, and a fluid delivery mechanism for transporting fluid to and from a treatment zone located around the radiating tip portion. The fluid delivery mechanism comprises a rigid insertion element arranged to extend into the treatment zone, whereby fluid can be aspirated from the treatment zone, and a substance injected into the treatment zone to replace the aspirated fluid. The injected substance has dielectric properties selected to facilitate uniform delivery of treatment energy to biological tissue in the treatment zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher Paul HANCOCK, Patrick BURN, Charlie CAMPION, Louis TURNER