Patents by Inventor Fredrick Winch

Fredrick Winch 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).

  • Patent number: 8257241
    Abstract: A brachytherapy device for treating tissue within a cavity of a body. The device may include a first set of tubes configured to be inserted into the cavity through an opening at the surface of the body. Each of the tubes may have an external end and an interior channel beginning at the external end that is configured to receive radioactive material. The external ends of the tubes may be bundled together. The tubes may be of a length that causes the external ends to be near the opening in the surface of the body while the tubes are in the cavity. A seal may be configured to prevent fluid that originates from the cavity from entering into the external ends of the tubes while they are near the opening in the surface of the body. The seal may include a gasket that is pressed against the external ends of the tubes. The gasket may have openings that align with channels within the external ends of the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Portola Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: L. Michael Cutrer, Leigh Spotten, Joseph Wong, Fredrick Winch
  • Patent number: 8137256
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a brachytherapy apparatus that delivers a low dose, partial breast irradiation treatment for post-lumpectomy patients via introduction of a catheter-like device through a cannula. The apparatus may be introduced post-surgically with local anesthesia under image guidance into the previous excision site and into a cavity by a surgeon. The brachytherapy apparatus includes a seed containment device configured to contain a plurality of low-dose radioactive seeds therein. The seed containment device may be one or more thin-walled tubes. The apparatus is further configured to expand so that at least a portion of the seed containment device is positioned against the remaining tissue and the plurality of radioactive seeds are disposed at the perimeter of the seed containment device. Also described are various clamps for the apparatus, and sleeves for adjusting the size of the device to fit a cavity when the apparatus is in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Portola Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: L. Michael Cutrer, Richard A. Terwilliger, Fredrick Winch, John Zhang, Wayne Higgins, Terence Ellard, David Bossi
  • Publication number: 20100204536
    Abstract: A brachytherapy device for treating tissue within a cavity of a body. The device may include a first set of tubes configured to be inserted into the cavity through an opening at the surface of the body. Each of the tubes may have an external end and an interior channel beginning at the external end that is configured to receive radioactive material. The external ends of the tubes may be bundled together. The tubes may be of a length that causes the external ends to be near the opening in the surface of the body while the tubes are in the cavity. A seal may be configured to prevent fluid that originates from the cavity from entering into the external ends of the tubes while they are near the opening in the surface of the body. The seal may include a gasket that is pressed against the external ends of the tubes. The gasket may have openings that align with channels within the external ends of the tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: L. Michael Cutrer, Leigh Spotten, Joseph Wong, Fredrick Winch
  • Publication number: 20100191034
    Abstract: A brachytherapy device may include an expandable outer cage, an expandable inner cage positioned within the outer cage and configured to receive radioactive material at its perimeter, and a movable actuator configured to cause the outer and inner cages to expand simultaneously in response to movement of the actuator between certain positions while maintaining a substantially constant separation distance between the outer and inner cages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: L. Michael Cutrer, Richard A. Terwilliger, Joe Wong, Fredrick Winch
  • Publication number: 20080269539
    Abstract: A brachytherapy device for treating tissue within a cavity of a body. The device may include a first set of tubes configured to be inserted into the cavity through an opening at the surface of the body. Each of the tubes may have an external end and an interior channel beginning at the external end that is configured to receive radioactive material. The external ends of the tubes may be bundled together. The tubes may be of a length that causes the external ends to be near the opening in the surface of the body while the tubes are in the cavity. A seal may be configured to prevent fluid that originates from the cavity from entering into the external ends of the tubes while they are near the opening in the surface of the body. The seal may include a gasket that is pressed against the external ends of the tubes. The gasket may have openings that align with channels within the external ends of the tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: L. Michael Cutrer, Leigh Spotten, Joseph Wong, Fredrick Winch
  • Publication number: 20080108859
    Abstract: A brachytherapy device may include an expandable outer cage, an expandable inner cage positioned within the outer cage and configured to receive radioactive material at its perimeter, and a movable actuator configured to cause the outer and inner cages to expand simultaneously in response to movement of the actuator between certain positions while maintaining a substantially constant separation distance between the outer and inner cages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: L. Michael Cutrer, Richard A. Terwilliger, Joe Wong, Fredrick Winch
  • Patent number: 7357770
    Abstract: A brachytherapy device may include an expandable outer cage, an expandable inner cage positioned within the outer cage and configured to receive radioactive material at its perimeter, and a movable actuator configured to cause the outer and inner cages to expand simultaneously in response to movement of the actuator between certain positions while maintaining a substantially constant separation distance between the outer and inner cages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: North American Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: L. Michael Cutrer, Richard A Terwilliger, Joe Wong, Fredrick Winch
  • Publication number: 20070142694
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a brachytherapy apparatus that delivers a low dose, partial breast irradiation treatment for post-lumpectomy patients via introduction of a catheter-like device through a cannula. The apparatus may be introduced post-surgically with local anesthesia under image guidance into the previous excision site and into a cavity by a surgeon. The brachytherapy apparatus includes a seed containment device configured to contain a plurality of low-dose radioactive seeds therein. The seed containment device may be one or more thin-walled tubes. The apparatus is further configured to expand so that at least a portion of the seed containment device is positioned against the remaining tissue and the plurality of radioactive seeds are disposed at the perimeter of the seed containment device. Also described are various clamps for the apparatus, and sleeves for adjusting the size of the device to fit a cavity when the apparatus is in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: L. Michael Cutrer, Richard A. Terwilliger, Fredrick Winch, John Zhang, Wayne Higgins, Terence Ellard, David Bossi