Patents by Inventor Daniel Friedrichs

Daniel Friedrichs 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: 20170252090
    Abstract: An electrosurgical generator includes: a power supply configured to output a DC waveform; a current or voltage source coupled to the power supply and configured to output current; and a power converter coupled to the current source. The power converter includes at least one power switching element operated at a switching waveform and configured to generate a radio frequency waveform based on the energy from the current or voltage source. The radio frequency waveform includes at least one pulse having an overshoot peak. The electrosurgical generator further includes a clipper circuit coupled to the current source and the power converter, the clipper circuit configured to generate a clipping voltage to clip the overshoot peak; and a controller coupled to the power converter and configured to modulate the switching waveform to generate the radio frequency waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: ROBERT B. SMITH, STEVEN C. RUPP, DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS
  • Publication number: 20170224404
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a plasma catheter including a tubular member; a conductive cylindrical member; a first electrode; and a second electrode. The tubular member defines a longitudinal lumen therethrough and has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The conductive cylindrical member is disposed at the distal portion of the tubular member. The first electrode is embedded in a first side of the tubular member and coupled to the conductive cylindrical member. The second electrode is embedded in a second side of the tubular member diametrically opposed to the first side. The second electrode is offset from the tubular member and aligned with a center axis defined by the conductive cylindrical member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: JOE D. SARTOR, DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS, WILLIAM SCOTT DARROW
  • Publication number: 20170209202
    Abstract: A dual-output generator is configured to output two or more waveforms at different frequencies. In particular, the dual-output generator is configured to provide low-frequency output, which may be suitable for ultrasonic surgical instruments, and a high-frequency output, which may be suitable for electrosurgical instruments, while reducing the amplitude of all remaining frequencies other than the two selected low and high frequencies to about zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS, CHONGWEN ZHAO, BRADFORD C. TRENTO, DANIEL J. COSTINETT
  • Publication number: 20170135744
    Abstract: A system and method for return electrode monitoring are provided. The system includes an isolation circuit, a first controller, a second controller, and a detection circuit. The isolation circuit includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. The first controller is coupled to the primary winding. The second controller and the detection circuit are coupled to the secondary winding. The detection circuit includes an interrogation signal circuit, a resonant tank filter, and a current-to-voltage converter. The interrogation signal circuit provides an interrogation signal to at least one electrode pad. The resonant tank filter filters a response signal received from the electrode pad. The current-to-voltage converter generates a voltage signal based on a current value of the response signal. The second controller generates a digital impedance value based on the voltage signal, and provides the digital impedance value to the first controller by way of the isolation circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: ROBERT B. SMITH, STEVEN C. RUPP, DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS
  • Publication number: 20170142858
    Abstract: A thermal management system and method for electronic devices is provided. The system includes an electronic device, a heat sink, and a thermally conducting and electrically insulating thermal bridge that is interposed between the electronic device and the heat sink. The thermal bridge thermally couples the electronic device to the heat sink and electrically isolates the electronic device from the heat sink. The electronic device, the heat sink, and the thermal bridge are mounted on a same planar surface of a printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: STEVEN C. RUPP, DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS, ROBERT B. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20170000557
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes a housing, an elongated shaft, and an end-effector assembly. The proximal end of the shaft is operably associated with the housing. The end-effector assembly is operably coupled to the distal end of the shaft and includes first and second jaw members. Each of the first and second jaw members includes a sealing plate and a bipolar electrode. Either one or both of the first and second jaw members is movable from a position in spaced relation relative to the other jaw member to at least one subsequent position wherein the sealing plates cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. The electrosurgical instrument includes a semiconductor switch operably coupled to at least one of the sealing plates and at least one of the bipolar electrodes. The semiconductor switch is configured to enable user selection between energizing the at least one sealing plate or the at least one bipolar electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: JOE D. SARTOR, DANIEL FRIEDRICHS
  • Publication number: 20170000549
    Abstract: A system for minimizing neuromuscular stimulation includes a converter, an inverter, and a controller. The converter is configured to output a dc waveform and includes at least one first switching element operated at a first duty cycle. The inverter is coupled to the converter and includes at least one second switching element operated at a second duty cycle. The inverter is configured to invert the DC waveform to generate an electrosurgical pulse waveform. The controller is coupled to the converter and the inverter, and is configured to control the first duty cycle to adjust a magnitude of the electrosurgical pulse waveform and the second duty cycle to adjust at least one property of the electrosurgical pulse waveform to minimize neuromuscular stimulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: JAMES A. GILBERT, DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS
  • Publication number: 20160302847
    Abstract: An electrosurgical generator may reduce unintended tissue damage by improving regulation of output power. The electrosurgical generator may control the power during a cycle, and react to a change in power if arcing occurs. Voltage sources, especially, demonstrate the tendency to have large, uncontrolled power excursions during normal electrosurgical use. The magnitude of the power excursions may be dependent on various factors. An exemplary electrosurgical generator control scheme reduces or minimizes the thermal spread by accurately supplying the specified power within a few cycles. Additionally, fast and accurate regulation provided by the constant voltage mode reduces or minimizes unintentional tissue charring. Thus, reduced thermal spread and charring should result in better surgical outcomes by reducing scarring and decreasing healing times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Robert Erickson, Daniel Friedrichs, James Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20160287311
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices, and methods for interdigitation of waveforms for dual-output electrosurgical generators. Such methods may comprise outputting DC energy from a power supply, converting DC energy from the power supply, by a plurality of amplifiers coupled to the power supply, into a plurality of RF waveforms, and controlling the plurality of RF amplifiers to interdigitate the first and second RF waveforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventor: DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS
  • Publication number: 20160287227
    Abstract: An electrosurgical electrospinning device is presented including a reservoir having a polymer solution disposed therein, the reservoir cooperating with a dispensing apparatus configured to dispense the polymer solution from the reservoir. The electrosurgical electrospinning device further includes a plurality of nozzles connected to the reservoir, each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles including a plurality of needles and a blow-spraying mechanism for blowing gas around each nozzle of the plurality of nozzles when the polymer solution is dispensed from the plurality of needles. The gas from the blow-spraying mechanism and the polymer solution from the plurality of needles are coaxially applied directly onto tissue at voltages of less than or equal to 3 kV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Vincent Zaballa, Daniel A. Friedrichs
  • Patent number: 9445865
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes a housing, an elongated shaft, and an end-effector assembly. The proximal end of the shaft is operably associated with the housing. The end-effector assembly is operably coupled to the distal end of the shaft and includes first and second jaw members. Each of the first and second jaw members includes a sealing plate and a bipolar electrode. Either one or both of the first and second jaw members is movable from a position in spaced relation relative to the other jaw member to at least one subsequent position wherein the sealing plates cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. The electrosurgical instrument includes a semiconductor switch operably coupled to at least one of the sealing plates and at least one of the bipolar electrodes. The semiconductor switch is configured to enable user selection between energizing the at least one sealing plate or the at least one bipolar electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Joe D. Sartor, Daniel Friedrichs
  • Patent number: 9379643
    Abstract: An electrosurgical generator may reduce unintended tissue damage by improving regulation of output power. The electrosurgical generator may control the power during a cycle, and react to a change in power if arcing occurs. Voltage sources, especially, demonstrate the tendency to have large, uncontrolled power excursions during normal electrosurgical use. The magnitude of the power excursions may be dependent on various factors. An exemplary electrosurgical generator control scheme reduces or minimizes the thermal spread by accurately supplying the specified power within a few cycles. Additionally, fast and accurate regulation provided by the constant voltage mode reduces or minimizes unintentional tissue charring. Thus, reduced thermal spread and charring should result in better surgical outcomes by reducing scarring and decreasing healing times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate, Covidien LP
    Inventors: Daniel Friedrichs, Robert Erickson, James Gilbert
  • Publication number: 20160143685
    Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator and an instrument coupled to the electrosurgical generator. The electrosurgical generator includes an output stage configured to generate the electrosurgical energy at a plurality of radio frequencies, a plurality of sensors configured to sense a voltage waveform and a current waveform of the electrosurgical energy, and a controller coupled to the output stage and the plurality of sensors. The instrument supplies the electrosurgical energy to the tissue. The controller of the electrosurgical generator is further configured to calculate at least one parasitic parameter based on the electrosurgical energy at the plurality of frequencies and control the output stage based on the at least one parasitic parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventor: DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS
  • Publication number: 20160023021
    Abstract: An ultrasonic motion generator includes a non-resonant inverter, an ultrasonic transducer, and a comparator. The non-resonant inverter inverts direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) having a first frequency. The ultrasonic transducer is electrically coupled with the non-resonant inverter and generates an ultrasonic motion based on the inverted AC. The comparator automatically detects a deviation of the first frequency from a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic transducer based on motion current passing through the ultrasonic transducer and generates an output signal based on the deviation to drive the non-resonant inverter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: XIAOSEN LIU, ADRIAN I. COLLI-MENCHI, JAMES A. GILBERT, DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS, KEITH W. MALANG, EDGAR SANCHEZ-SINENCIO
  • Publication number: 20150238248
    Abstract: A plasma system is disclosed. The plasma system includes a plasma instrument having an elongated body defining a lumen therethrough and a first electrode and a second electrode; an ionizable media source in fluid communication with the lumen and configured to supply ionizable media thereto; and a variable frequency energy source adapted to be coupled to the first and second electrodes and configured to supply energy to the first and second electrodes sufficient to ignite ionizable media supplied by the ionizable media source to generate a plasma influent, wherein a frequency of the energy is adjustable to modify at least one property of the plasma effluent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: JAMES E. THOMPSON, DANIEL A. FRIEDRICHS
  • Publication number: 20150080880
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument includes a housing, an elongated shaft, and an end-effector assembly. The proximal end of the shaft is operably associated with the housing. The end-effector assembly is operably coupled to the distal end of the shaft and includes first and second jaw members. Each of the first and second jaw members includes a sealing plate and a bipolar electrode. Either one or both of the first and second jaw members is movable from a position in spaced relation relative to the other jaw member to at least one subsequent position wherein the sealing plates cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. The electrosurgical instrument includes a semiconductor switch operably coupled to at least one of the sealing plates and at least one of the bipolar electrodes. The semiconductor switch is configured to enable user selection between energizing the at least one sealing plate or the at least one bipolar electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: JOE D. SARTOR, DANIEL FRIEDRICHS
  • Publication number: 20150025521
    Abstract: An electrosurgical generator is provided. The electrosurgical generator includes at least one converter configured to output a DC waveform and a nonlinear carrier control current. At least one boost inverter is coupled to the at least one converter and is configured to convert the DC waveform to generate at least one electrosurgical waveform. At least one inductor is connected in series with the at least one converter and at least one boost inverter and is configured to output an inductor current. A controller is coupled to the at least one converter and the at least one boost inverter and is configured to maintain the inductor current at a predetermined value by controlling a pulse duration of a duty cycle of the at least one converter based on a comparison of inductor current and the nonlinear control current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: DANIEL FRIEDRICHS, JAMES A. GILBERT
  • Publication number: 20150025523
    Abstract: An electrosurgical generator is provided. The electrosurgical generator includes: a non-resonant radio frequency output stage configured to output a substantially square electrosurgical waveform; and a controller coupled to the non-resonant radio frequency output stage, the controller configured to adjust a crest factor of the substantially square electrosurgical waveform on a cycle-by-cycle basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: DANIEL FRIEDRICHS, JAMES A. GILBERT, STEVEN C. RUPP
  • Patent number: 8889709
    Abstract: The present invention relates in general to an inhibitor of a glutaminyl peptide cyclotransferase-like protein (QPCTL), and the use thereof for the treatment and/or prevention of an inflammatory disease or disorder selected from the group consisting of (a) chronic and acute inflammations, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, restenosis, pancreatitis; (b) other inflammatory diseases, e.g. neuropathic pain, graft rejection/graft failure/graft vasculopathy, HIV infections/AIDS, gestosis, tuberous sclerosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinizing polyradiculoneuropathy and multiple sclerosis; (c) neuroinflammation; and (d) neurodegenerative diseases, e.g. mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease, neurodegeneration in Down Syndrome, Familial British Dementia, and Familial Danish Dementia, which may result from neuroinflammation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Probiodrug AG
    Inventors: Hans-Ulrich Demuth, Stephan Schilling, Michael Wermann, Holger Cynis, Astrid Kehlen, Daniel Friedrich, Torsten Hoffmann, Kathrin Gans, Jens-Ulrich Rahfeld, Ulrich Heiser, Michael Almstetter, Robert Sommer, Ulf-Torsten Gaertner, Antje Hamann, Michael Thormann, Andreas Treml
  • Publication number: 20140228833
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a plasma system including an electrosurgical generator; an ionizable media source; and a plasma instrument. The plasma instrument includes a housing having a lumen defined therein terminating in an opening at a distal end thereof, the lumen being in fluid communication with an ionizable media source and a pair of electrodes coupled to the electrosurgical generator. The plasma system also includes a return electrode pad configured to couple to a patient; and a polarization controller electrically coupled to the return electrode, the polarization controller configured to adjust conductive coupling of the return electrode pad to the electrosurgical generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: DANIEL FRIEDRICHS, JOE D. SARTOR