Patents by Inventor Eric Whitbrook

Eric Whitbrook 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: 20230070237
    Abstract: An ablation instrument comprises an elongate shaft having a cannula channel and a scope channel, and an electrode disposed in the cannula channel. The electrode is slidable between a first position in which a distal end of the electrode is contained within the cannula channel, and a second position in which the distal end of the electrode extends out of a distal opening of the cannula channel. The ablation instrument further comprises a distal head coupled to the elongate shaft and configured for contacting solid tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: HOLOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Thomas V. Ressemann, Eric Whitbrook, John Christian Knudson
  • Patent number: 11529189
    Abstract: An ablation instrument comprises an elongate shaft having a cannula channel and a scope channel, and an electrode disposed in the cannula channel. The electrode is slidable between a first position in which a distal end of the electrode is contained within the cannula channel, and a second position in which the distal end of the electrode extends out of a distal opening of the cannula channel. The ablation instrument further comprises a distal head coupled to the elongate shaft and configured for engaging tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Hologic, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Thomas V. Ressemann, Eric Whitbrook, John Christian Knudson
  • Patent number: 11471180
    Abstract: A method for treating OAB in a female patient includes positioning a visualization scope in the patent's vagina; advancing a guide wire through a working channel of a visualization scope, until a tissue penetrating distal tip of the guide wire advances out of the working channel and penetrates a wall of the superior portion of the vagina; continuing to advance the guidewire tip submucosally through the wall of the vagina, until it is positioned within tissue of the bladder trigone; advancing a balloon dilation catheter over the guidewire until a balloon carried on a distal end portion of the balloon dilation catheter is positioned proximate the distal tip of the guidewire within the bladder trigone tissue; and inflating said balloon to form a first dissection plane between separated layers of tissue within the bladder trigone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Hologic, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Eric Whitbrook, Peter T. Keith, Thomas V. Ressemann
  • Publication number: 20200155189
    Abstract: A method for treating OAB in a female patient includes positioning a visualization scope in the patent's vagina; advancing a guide wire through a working channel of a visualization scope, until a tissue penetrating distal tip of the guide wire advances out of the working channel and penetrates a wall of the superior portion of the vagina; continuing to advance the guidewire tip submucosally through the wall of the vagina, until it is positioned within tissue of the bladder trigone; advancing a balloon dilation catheter over the guidewire until a balloon carried on a distal end portion of the balloon dilation catheter is positioned proximate the distal tip of the guidewire within the bladder trigone tissue; and inflating said balloon to form a first dissection plane between separated layers of tissue within the bladder trigone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: HOLOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Eric Whitbrook, Peter T. Keith, Thomas V. Ressemann
  • Publication number: 20200138511
    Abstract: A device and method that provides a minimally-invasive approach to performing treatments on soft tissue, such as that found in the bladder. The device is useful for manipulating tissue such that treatment tools can be inserted into the tissue at a controlled depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: HOLOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Thomas V. Ressemann, Eric Whitbrook, John Christian Knudson
  • Patent number: 10555746
    Abstract: Devices and methods for treating conditions, such as overactive bladder, caused by afferent nerve signals involving the creation of dissection planes that interrupt the afferent nerve signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: HOLOGIC, INC.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Eric Whitbrook, Peter T. Keith, Thomas V. Ressemann
  • Patent number: 10548662
    Abstract: A device and method that provides a minimally-invasive approach to performing treatments on soft tissue, such as that found in the bladder. The device is useful for manipulating tissue such that treatment tools can be inserted into the tissue at a controlled depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Hologic, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Thomas V. Ressemann, Eric Whitbrook, John Christian Knudson
  • Publication number: 20180360530
    Abstract: A device and method that provides a minimally-invasive approach to performing treatments on soft tissue, such as that found in the bladder. The device is useful for manipulating tissue such that treatment tools can be inserted into the tissue at a controlled depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: Amphora Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Thomas V. Ressemann, Eric Whitbrook, John Christian Knudson
  • Patent number: 10058381
    Abstract: A device and method that provides a minimally-invasive approach to performing treatments on soft tissue, such as that found in the bladder. The device is useful for manipulating tissue such that treatment tools can be inserted into the tissue at a controlled depth. In some implementations, the device and method described herein are suited to provide therapy to non-mucosal target tissue (or a target volume of tissue) to modulate bladder function. In an example, energy can be delivered to denervate selected portions of the bladder, such as afferent nerves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Amphora Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Thomas V. Ressemann, Eric Whitbrook, John Christian Knudson
  • Publication number: 20150335381
    Abstract: A device and method that provides a minimally-invasive approach to performing treatments on soft tissue, such as that found in the bladder. The device is useful for manipulating tissue such that treatment tools can be inserted into the tissue at a controlled depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Thomas V. Ressemann, Eric Whitbrook, John Christian Knudson
  • Publication number: 20150216532
    Abstract: Devices and methods for treating conditions, such as overactive bladder, caused by afferent nerve signals involving the creation of dissection planes that interrupt the afferent nerve signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Eric Whitbrook, Peter T. Keith, Thomas V. Ressemann
  • Patent number: 8734475
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for the use of floating magnetic elements in medical implants. The magnetic elements within the medical implant are allowed to rotate freely to align with a strong external magnetic field, such as that of an MRI scanner, and align to attract each other during the normal functioning of the medical implant in the absence of a strong external magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Torax Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Ekvall, Eric Whitbrook
  • Publication number: 20130053874
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for the use of floating magnetic elements in medical implants. The magnetic elements within the medical implant are allowed to rotate freely to align with a strong external magnetic field, such as that of an MRI scanner, and align to attract each other during the normal functioning of the medical implant in the absence of a strong external magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: TORAX MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Craig A. Ekvall, Eric Whitbrook
  • Publication number: 20110098731
    Abstract: A prosthesis for implanting in a patient may include an elongated, laterally flexible structure having first and second end portions that are spaced from one another along a length of the elongated structure. First and second magnetic structures may be respectively secured to the first and second end portions. The first and second magnetic structures may magnetically attract one another when brought into proximity with one another. This magnetic attraction can facilitate achieving desired final relative positioning and/or alignment of the magnetic structures. Thereafter, this magnetic attraction can keep (or help to keep) the end portions of the prosthesis proximate to one another, thereby forming the prosthesis into a desired closed ring shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Eric Whitbrook, Craig A. Ekvall, Jon St. Germain, Alex Peterson