Patents by Inventor David C. Youmans
David C. Youmans 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).
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Patent number: 9125552Abstract: A module for attachment to a medical instrument to scan the anatomy with a beam of radiation. The module comprising a housing suitable for insertion in the anatomy that includes a window and a fastener to attach the housing to a medical instrument, an oscillating reflector within the housing that directs a beam of radiation onto the anatomy, and a collector to receive radiation returned from the anatomy.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2007Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Dunki-Jacobs, Randal T. Byrum, Jane A. Sheetz, Sean P. Conlon, David C. Youmans, Robert M. Trusty, Kurt R. Bally, Gary L. Long, Paul G. Ritchie, Michael S. Cropper, Thomas W. Huitema, Bradley E. White
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Patent number: 8801606Abstract: A method of monitoring a condition within a patient's body includes locating a scanned beam imaging unit at an imaging location for a period of time to observe and characterize a portion of the patient's anatomy over at least a portion of the period of time. The scanned beam imaging unit is located at the imaging location using a locating instrument. The locating instrument is removed from the patient's body with the scanned beam imaging unit remaining at the imaging location. With the scanned beam imaging unit at the imaging location, a beam of light is scanned across the portion of the anatomy and light is received from the portion of the anatomy. A video image of the portion of the anatomy is produced from imaging data generated using detected light received from the portion of the anatomy.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2007Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: Jane A. Sheetz, Jere J. Brophy, David C. Youmans, Paul G. Ritchie
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Patent number: 8626271Abstract: A system for examining an area of a patient's anatomy that comprises a probe capable of fluorescing, and a scanning beam assembly that scans the probe with a beam of excitation radiation and detects the probe's fluorescence. The scanning beam assembly including a radiation source capable of emitting one or more wavelengths of radiation that are capable of exciting the probe and causing the probe to fluoresce, a scanning device that directs the radiation onto a field-of-view to create a scan of the field-of-view, a detector to detect radiation returned from the field-of-view, and a controller to convert the detected radiation into a displayable fluorescence image.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2007Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Dunki-Jacobs, Youseph Yazdi, Michael P. Weir, Paul G. Ritchie, David C. Youmans, Robert P. Gill
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Patent number: 8332014Abstract: Methods for ascertaining, and responding to, a tissue characteristic of a surface region of patient tissue are disclosed. A scanned beam device is used to transmit a beam of sensing radiation to impinge on the surface region and to measure the reflectance of the surface region from the collected radiation returned from the surface region. The tissue characteristic of the surface region is determined from the measured reflectance, wherein the tissue characteristic is different from but related to the measured reflectance. In a first method, an indication of the determined tissue characteristic is provided, wherein the indication is other than a displayed image of the surface region. In a second method, wherein the patient tissue is undergoing medical treatment, the medical treatment is automatically modified as a function of the determined tissue characteristic. A scanned beam device having a scanning beam unit, a collector, and a controller is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2008Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventor: David C. Youmans
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Patent number: 8273015Abstract: A method for viewing a portion of a patient's anatomy that comprises placing a scanner assembly including an oscillating reflector in the anatomy, securing the scanner assembly to an anatomical structure, scanning the anatomy with the scanner assembly secured to the anatomical structure, collecting radiation returned from the scanned anatomy, and generating a displayable image of the anatomy.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2007Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: David C. Youmans, Jane A. Sheetz, Gary L. Long, Paul G. Ritchie, Michael S. Cropper, Jere J. Brophy, Bradley E. White
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Patent number: 8160678Abstract: A method for repairing or modifying an area of a patient's anatomy that comprises directing at least a portion of a scanning beam assembly to an area of a patient's anatomy, applying a radiation-responsive agent to portion of the anatomy, and exposing the radiation-responsive agent to radiation directed onto the agent by the reflector to cause the agent to therapeutically interact with the site. The scanning beam assembly including a radiation source capable of emitting radiation, a reflector that receives the radiation from the radiation source to direct the radiation onto the anatomy, wherein the reflector oscillates in at least two directions to create a scan of the anatomy, a detector to detect radiation returned from the anatomy, and a controller to convert the detected radiation into a displayable anatomy image.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2007Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: Michael S. Cropper, Thomas W. Huitema, Michael P. Weir, Robert J. Dunki-Jacobs, Jere J. Brophy, Robert M. Trusty, Randal T. Byrum, David C. Youmans, Sean P. Conlon, Gary L. Long, Paul G. Ritchie, Jane A. Sheetz
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Publication number: 20090270724Abstract: Methods for ascertaining, and responding to, a tissue characteristic of a surface region of patient tissue are disclosed. A scanned beam device is used to transmit a beam of sensing radiation to impinge on the surface region and to measure the reflectance of the surface region from the collected radiation returned from the surface region. The tissue characteristic of the surface region is determined from the measured reflectance, wherein the tissue characteristic is different from but related to the measured reflectance. In a first method, an indication of the determined tissue characteristic is provided, wherein the indication is other than a displayed image of the surface region. In a second method, wherein the patient tissue is undergoing medical treatment, the medical treatment is automatically modified as a function of the determined tissue characteristic. A scanned beam device having a scanning beam unit, a collector, and a controller is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2008Publication date: October 29, 2009Applicant: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC.Inventor: David C. Youmans
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Publication number: 20090036734Abstract: A module for attachment to a medical instrument to scan the anatomy with a beam of radiation. The module comprising a housing suitable for insertion in the anatomy that includes a window and a fastener to attach the housing to a medical instrument, an oscillating reflector within the housing that directs a beam of radiation onto the anatomy, and a collector to receive radiation returned from the anatomy.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2007Publication date: February 5, 2009Applicant: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC.Inventors: Robert J. Dunki-Jacobs, Randal T. Byrum, Jane A. Sheetz, Sean P. Conlon, David C. Youmans, Robert M. Trusty, Kurt R. Bally, Gary L. Long, Paul G. Ritchie, Michael S. Cropper, Thomas W. Huitema, Bradley E. White
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Publication number: 20090021818Abstract: A scanned beam imaging system including a housing suitable for insertion into a body and a radiation source configured to direct a beam of radiation into or through the housing and onto an area within the body. The scanned beam imaging system further includes an adjustable element inside the housing and positioned to reflect the beam of radiation or to receive the beam of radiation therethrough, wherein the adjustable element is physically adjustable to vary a property of the beam of radiation that is reflected thereby or received therethrough. The scanned beam imaging system further includes a collector configured to receive radiation returned from the area within the body.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2007Publication date: January 22, 2009Inventors: Michael P. Weir, Robert J. Dunki-Jacobs, Jere J. Brophy, Michael S. Cropper, Thomas W. Huitema, Ronald J. Kolata, Gary L. Long, Paul G. Ritchie, Jane A. Sheetz, Robert M. Trusty, Bradley E. White, David C. Youmans
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Publication number: 20080312490Abstract: A method for repairing or modifying an area of a patient's anatomy that comprises directing at least a portion of a scanning beam assembly to an area of a patient's anatomy, applying a radiation-responsive agent to portion of the anatomy, and exposing the radiation-responsive agent to radiation directed onto the agent by the reflector to cause the agent to therapeutically interact with the site. The scanning beam assembly including a radiation source capable of emitting radiation, a reflector that receives the radiation from the radiation source to direct the radiation onto the anatomy, wherein the reflector oscillates in at least two directions to create a scan of the anatomy, a detector to detect radiation returned from the anatomy, and a controller to convert the detected radiation into a displayable anatomy image.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2007Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC.Inventors: Michael S. Cropper, Thomas W. Huitema, Michael P. Weir, Robert J. Dunki-Jacobs, Jere J. Brophy, Robert M. Trusty, Randal T. Byrum, David C. Youmans, Sean P. Conlon, Gary L. Long, Paul G. Ritchie, Jane A. Sheetz
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Publication number: 20080255458Abstract: A system for examining an area of a patient's anatomy that comprises a probe capable of fluorescing, and a scanning beam assembly that scans the probe with a beam of excitation radiation and detects the probe's fluorescence. The scanning beam assembly including a radiation source capable of emitting one or more wavelengths of radiation that are capable of exciting the probe and causing the probe to fluoresce, a scanning device that directs the radiation onto a field-of-view to create a scan of the field-of-view, a detector to detect radiation returned from the field-of-view, and a controller to convert the detected radiation into a displayable fluorescence image.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2007Publication date: October 16, 2008Applicant: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC.Inventors: Robert J. Dunki-Jacobs, Youseph Yazdi, Michael P. Weir, Paul G. Ritchie, David C. Youmans, Robert P. Gill
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Publication number: 20080167521Abstract: A method of monitoring a condition within a patient's body includes locating a scanned beam imaging unit at an imaging location for a period of time to observe and characterize a portion of the patient's anatomy over at least a portion of the period of time. The scanned beam imaging unit is located at the imaging location using a locating instrument. The locating instrument is removed from the patient's body with the scanned beam imaging unit remaining at the imaging location. With the scanned beam imaging unit at the imaging location, a beam of light is scanned across the portion of the anatomy and light is received from the portion of the anatomy. A video image of the portion of the anatomy is produced from imaging data generated using detected light received from the portion of the anatomy.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Inventors: Jane A. Sheetz, Jere J. Brophy, David C. Youmans, Paul G. Ritchie
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Publication number: 20080167546Abstract: A method for viewing a portion of a patient's anatomy that comprises placing a scanner assembly including an oscillating reflector in the anatomy, securing the scanner assembly to an anatomical structure, scanning the anatomy with the scanner assembly secured to the anatomical structure, collecting radiation returned from the scanned anatomy, and generating a displayable image of the anatomy.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Applicant: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC.Inventors: David C. Youmans, Jane A. Sheetz, Gary L. Long, Paul G. Ritchie, Michael S. Cropper, Jere J. Brophy, Bradley E. White