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).
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Publication number: 20240341836Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2024Publication date: October 17, 2024Applicant: HOLOGIC, INC.Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Thomas V. Ressemann, Eric Whitbrook, John Christian Knudson
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Patent number: 11998263Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 9, 2022Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Assignee: Hologic, Inc.Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Thomas V. Ressemann, Eric Whitbrook, John Christian Knudson
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Publication number: 20230070237Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2022Publication date: March 9, 2023Applicant: HOLOGIC, INC.Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Thomas V. Ressemann, Eric Whitbrook, John Christian Knudson
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Patent number: 11529189Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: Hologic, Inc.Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Thomas V. Ressemann, Eric Whitbrook, John Christian Knudson
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Patent number: 11471180Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 23, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Hologic, Inc.Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Eric Whitbrook, Peter T. Keith, Thomas V. Ressemann
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Publication number: 20200155189Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2020Publication date: May 21, 2020Applicant: HOLOGIC, INC.Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Eric Whitbrook, Peter T. Keith, Thomas V. Ressemann
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Publication number: 20200138511Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2019Publication date: May 7, 2020Applicant: HOLOGIC, INC.Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Thomas V. Ressemann, Eric Whitbrook, John Christian Knudson
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Patent number: 10555746Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 4, 2015Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: HOLOGIC, INC.Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Eric Whitbrook, Peter T. Keith, Thomas V. Ressemann
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Patent number: 10548662Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 27, 2018Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Hologic, Inc.Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Thomas V. Ressemann, Eric Whitbrook, John Christian Knudson
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Publication number: 20180360530Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2018Publication date: December 20, 2018Applicant: Amphora Medical, Inc.Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Thomas V. Ressemann, Eric Whitbrook, John Christian Knudson
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Patent number: 10058381Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 22, 2015Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Amphora Medical, Inc.Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Thomas V. Ressemann, Eric Whitbrook, John Christian Knudson
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Publication number: 20150335381Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2015Publication date: November 26, 2015Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Thomas V. Ressemann, Eric Whitbrook, John Christian Knudson
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Publication number: 20150216532Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2015Publication date: August 6, 2015Inventors: Edwin J. Hlavka, Eric Whitbrook, Peter T. Keith, Thomas V. Ressemann
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Patent number: 8734475Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 13, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Torax Medical, Inc.Inventors: Craig A. Ekvall, Eric Whitbrook
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Publication number: 20130053874Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2012Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: TORAX MEDICAL, INC.Inventors: Craig A. Ekvall, Eric Whitbrook
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Publication number: 20110098731Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2010Publication date: April 28, 2011Inventors: Eric Whitbrook, Craig A. Ekvall, Jon St. Germain, Alex Peterson