Patents by Inventor George M. Acosta
George M. Acosta 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: 8740763Abstract: The disclosure describes a device for asymmetrical irradiation of a body cavity or site, such as after removal of tissue, e.g. biopsy or lumpectomy. The device includes an elongated tubular shaft having an inner lumen and a tubular wall with a plurality of lumens extending within the wall which are configured for receiving a radiation source. The distal portion of the tubular shaft is cut into a plurality of longitudinally separated wall segments with a lumen extending within at least one of the wall segments. A support member is positioned within the separated wall segments to support and position the wall segments in a desired configuration for brachytherapy. An expandable member such as an inflatable balloon is mounted on the distal shaft portion about the separated wall segments wall which when inflated secures the distal shaft portion within a desired intracorporeal site for brachytherapy treatment.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Hologic Inc.Inventors: George M. Acosta, Paul Lubock
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Patent number: 8360950Abstract: The disclosure describes a device for asymmetrical irradiation of a body cavity or site, such as after removal of tissue, e.g. biopsy or lumpectomy. The device includes an elongated tubular shaft having an inner lumen and a tubular wall with a plurality of lumens extending within the wall which are configured for receiving a radiation source. The distal portion of the tubular shaft is cut into a plurality of longitudinally separated wall segments with a lumen extending within at least one of the wall segments. A support member is positioned within the separated wall segments to support and position the wall segments in a desired configuration for brachytherapy. An expandable member such as an inflatable balloon is mounted on the distal shaft portion about the separated wall segments wall which when inflated secures the distal shaft portion within a desired intracorporeal site for brachytherapy treatment.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2009Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Senorx, Inc.Inventors: George M. Acosta, Paul Lubock
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Patent number: 8246676Abstract: A venous valve prosthesis includes a hollow conduit (40) defining a central passageway through which blood may flow. Opposing, pliable leaflet members (30) are located within the conduit and move back and forth between a first, open position, whereby blood may flow through the central passageway in a first direction, and a second, closed position, whereby blood is prevented from backflowing through the central passageway in a second direction which is opposite the first direction. A hollow and generally cylindrical support member (10, 20) retains the leaflet members and is coaxially disposed within the conduit. The support member includes opposing cutaway regions (18) defining two axially extending struts (16) supporting the leaflet members. The cutaway regions, in cooperation with the struts, allow the leaflet members to collapse inwardly to the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2005Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Biomedical Research Associates, Inc.Inventors: George M. Acosta, George F. Kick
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Patent number: 7787924Abstract: The invention involves the monitoring of a biological parameter through a compact analyzer. The preferred apparatus is a spectrometer based system that is attached continuously or semi-continuously to a human subject and collects spectral measurements that are used to determine a biological parameter in the sampled tissue. The preferred target analyte is glucose. The preferred analyzer is a near-IR based glucose analyzer for determining the glucose concentration in the body.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2006Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Sensys Medical, Inc.Inventors: George M. Acosta, James R. Henderson, N. Alan Abul Haj, Timothy L. Ruchti, Stephen L. Monfre, Thomas B. Blank, Kevin H. Hazen
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Publication number: 20090198095Abstract: The disclosure describes a device for asymmetrical irradiation of a body cavity or site, such as after removal of tissue, e.g. biopsy or lumpectomy. The device includes an elongated tubular shaft having an inner lumen and a tubular wall with a plurality of lumens extending within the wall which are configured for receiving a radiation source. The distal portion of the tubular shaft is cut into a plurality of longitudinally separated wall segments with a lumen extending within at least one of the wall segments. A support member is positioned within the separated wall segments to support and position the wall segments in a desired configuration for brachytherapy. An expandable member such as an inflatable balloon is mounted on the distal shaft portion about the separated wall segments wall which when inflated secures the distal shaft portion within a desired intracorporeal site for brachytherapy treatment.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2009Publication date: August 6, 2009Inventors: George M. Acosta, Paul Lubock
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Publication number: 20090188098Abstract: The disclosure describes a device for asymmetrical irradiation of a body cavity or site, such as after removal of tissue, e.g. biopsy or lumpectomy. The device includes an elongated tubular shaft having an inner lumen and a tubular wall with a plurality of lumens extending within the wall which are configured for receiving a radiation source. The distal portion of the tubular shaft is cut into a plurality of longitudinally separated wall segments with a lumen extending within at least one of the wall segments. A support member is positioned within the separated wall segments to support and position the wall segments in a desired configuration for brachytherapy. An expandable member such as an inflatable balloon is mounted on the distal shaft portion about the separated wall segments wall which when inflated secures the distal shaft portion within a desired intracorporeal site for brachytherapy treatment.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2009Publication date: July 30, 2009Inventors: George M. Acosta, Paul Lubock
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Patent number: 7519406Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for noninvasive sampling. More particularly, the method and apparatus relate to control of motion of an optical sample probe interface relative to a tissue sample site. A dynamic probe interface, is used to collect spectra of a targeted sample, control positioning of the sample probe relative to the tissue sample in terms of at least one of x-, y-, and z-axes, and/or control of sample tissue displacement to minimize spectral variations resulting from the sampling process and increase analyte property estimation precision and accuracy.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2005Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Sensys Medical, Inc.Inventors: Thomas B. Blank, George M. Acosta, Timothy L. Ruchti, Mutua Mattu, Alexander D. Lorenz, Kevin H. Hazen, James R. Henderson
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Patent number: 7505801Abstract: A placement guide apparatus with an improved hydration inducing plug used in coupling a noninvasive analyzer to a sampling site to determine analyte in the human body is disclosed. The hydration inducing plug includes at least one fluoropolymer that may be used as a coupling agent. The guide apparatus may further include an automated or semi-automated coupling fluid delivery system. Use of either of these couplers mitigates issues associated with related technology and enhances noninvasive analyte measurements, such as a near-IR diffuse reflectance based noninvasive glucose concentration analyzer.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2007Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: Sensys Medical, Inc.Inventors: Stephen L. Monfre, George M. Acosta, Thomas B. Blank, Kevin H. Hazen
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Patent number: 7133710Abstract: The invention involves the monitoring of a biological parameter through a compact analyzer. The preferred apparatus is a spectrometer based system that is attached continuously or semi-continuously to a human subject and collects spectral measurements that are used to determine a biological parameter in the sampled tissue. The preferred target analyze is glucose. The preferred analyzer is a near-IR based glucose analyzer for determining the glucose concentration in the body.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2003Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: Sensys Medical, Inc.Inventors: George M. Acosta, James R. Henderson, N. Alan Abul Haj, Timothy L. Ruchti, Stephen L. Monfre, Thomas B. Blank, Kevin H. Hazen
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Patent number: 7015782Abstract: A magnetic field based mechanical apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is based on coupled attracting or opposing magnets in conjunction with the insertion or removal of a magnetic field modifier. In the preferred embodiment, two repelling magnets are drawn together with the insertion of a magnetic field modifier. The field modifier may be another magnet having an opposing pole. Removal of the field modifier returns the forces to their original states. This oscillating motion may be driven with a low energy and/or small power supply. The resulting motion of the opposing magnets can drive mechanical system such as a linear, gear, ratchet, or reciprocating drive.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2004Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: Sensys Medical, Inc.Inventors: Stephen Kincaid, George M. Acosta, Roxanne Abul-Haj, Kevin H. Hazen
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Patent number: 6958076Abstract: A venous valve prosthesis includes a hollow conduit (40) defining a central passageway through which blood may flow. Opposing, pliable leaflet members (30) are located within the conduit and move back and forth between a first, open position, whereby blood may flow through the central passageway in a first direction, and a second, closed position, whereby blood is prevented from backflowing through the central passageway in a second direction which is opposite the first direction. A hollow and generally cylindrical support member (10, 20) retains the leaflet members and is coaxially disposed within the conduit. The support member includes opposing cutaway regions (18) defining two axially extending struts (16) supporting the leaflet members. The cutaway regions, in cooperation with the struts, allow the leaflet members to collapse inwardly to the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2002Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Assignee: BioMedical Research Associates Inc.Inventors: George M. Acosta, George F. Kick
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Patent number: 6956649Abstract: A ceramic reference in conjunction with a spectrometer, a metallized ceramic material, and a method of utilizing a ceramic material as a reference in the ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared, or infrared spectral regions are presented. The preferred embodiments utilize a ceramic reference material to diffusely reflect incident source light toward a detector element for quantification in a reproducible fashion. Alternative embodiments metallize either the incident surface or back surface of to form a surface diffuse reflectance standard. Optional wavelength reference layers or protective layers may be added to the ceramic or to the metallized layer. The reference ceramic is used to provide a measure of optical signal of an analyzer as a function of the analyzers spatial, temporal, and environmental state.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2003Date of Patent: October 18, 2005Assignee: Sensys Medical, Inc.Inventors: George M. Acosta, Kevin H. Hazen, N. Alan Abul-Haj, Stephen L. Monfre, Thomas B. Blank
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Publication number: 20040239461Abstract: A magnetic field based mechanical apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is based on coupled attracting or opposing magnets in conjunction with the insertion or removal of a magnetic field modifier. In the preferred embodiment, two repelling magnets are drawn together with the insertion of a magnetic field modifier. The field modifier may be another magnet having an opposing pole. Removal of the field modifier returns the forces to their original states. This oscillating motion may be driven with a low energy and/or small power supply. The resulting motion of the opposing magnets can drive mechanical system such as a linear, gear, ratchet, or reciprocating drive.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventors: Stephen Kincaid, George M. Acosta, Roxanne Abul-Haj, Kevin H. Hazen
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Publication number: 20040169857Abstract: A ceramic reference in conjunction with a spectrometer, a metallized ceramic material, and a method of utilizing a ceramic material as a reference in the ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared, or infrared spectral regions are presented. The preferred embodiments utilize a ceramic reference material to diffusely reflect incident source light toward a detector element for quantification in a reproducible fashion. Alternative embodiments metallize either the incident surface or back surface of to form a surface diffuse reflectance standard. Optional wavelength reference layers or protective layers may be added to the ceramic or to the metallized layer. The reference ceramic is used to provide a measure of optical signal of an analyzer as a function of the analyzers spatial, temporal, and environmental state.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2003Publication date: September 2, 2004Inventors: George M. Acosta, Kevin H. Hazen, N. Alan Abul-Haj, Stephen L. Monfre, Thomas B. Blank
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Patent number: 6587702Abstract: A non-invasive system for characterizing and classifying the state and structure of a tissue sample operates on a near infrared absorbance spectrum of in vivo tissue. A method that uses near-infrared spectral measurements to characterize and classify the state and structure of tissue sampled based on absorbance features related to fat in adipose tissue is provided. Also provided is a method of estimating skin fold thickness. The approach provides information about sources of tissue variability and is therefore useful for establishing the general category of the tissue structure. Categorization of subjects on the basis of the determination is suitable for further spectral analysis and the measurement of biological and chemical compounds, such as blood analytes. The invention further provides a method of estimating percent body fat based on a skin fold thickness estimate.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2000Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Instrumentation Metrics, IncInventors: Timothy L. Ruchti, Kevin H. Hazen, Marcy R. Makarewicz, George M. Acosta
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Publication number: 20020177894Abstract: A venous valve prosthesis includes a hollow conduit (40) defining a central passageway through which blood may flow. Opposing, pliable leaflet members (30) are located within the conduit and move back and forth between a first, open position, whereby blood may flow through the central passageway in a first direction, and a second, closed position, whereby blood is prevented from backflowing through the central passageway in a second direction which is opposite the first direction. A hollow and generally cylindrical support member (10, 20) retains the leaflet members and is coaxially disposed within the conduit. The support member includes opposing cutaway regions (18) defining two axially extending struts (16) supporting the leaflet members. The cutaway regions, in cooperation with the struts, allow the leaflet members to collapse inwardly to the closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2002Publication date: November 28, 2002Inventors: George M. Acosta, George F. Kick
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Patent number: 6267758Abstract: An apparatus for in situ saphenous vein bypass includes an operating catheter which includes an optical fiber and an electrode, and a control catheter which includes a valvulotome. The operating catheter and control catheter are locked together and advanced through an incision in the leg. The catheters are closely spaced from each other, on opposite sides of a valve to be disrupted. Then, the valvulotome is manipulated to disrupt the valve, the electrode is manipulated to stanch blood flow from the valve and to close off side branches, and both procedures are viewed by means of the optical fiber. The valves of the saphenous vein are thusly disrupted in sequence, and the side branches to the saphenous vein closed off, to thereby modify the saphenous vein in situ for arterial use. In alternate embodiments, the electrode is used with delivery catheters to stop blood flow through a side branch or varicose vein. The electrode includes an embedded temperature sensor for sensing electrode temperature.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1997Date of Patent: July 31, 2001Assignee: ESC Medical Systems Ltd.Inventors: Derek J. Daw, George M. Acosta, John R. Brustad
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Patent number: 5772627Abstract: An ultrasonic tissue resector is slidably engaged with a working channel of a flexible neuroendoscope for resecting brain tumors, cysts, hematomas, and herniated spinal discs. The resector includes a piezoelectric transducer for generating ultrasonic energy. The ultrasonic energy is coupled to an ultrasonic probe having a rigid proximal segment for transmitting the energy therealong and a flexible distal segment which can bend to conform to the flexible neuroendoscope. An aspiration channel is provided, and the resector can be endoscopically positioned in the brain through the neuroendoscope and energized to ultrasonically break up tissue such as tumors, cysts, and hematomas and remove the tissue through the aspiration channel.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1996Date of Patent: June 30, 1998Assignee: Neuro Navigational Corp.Inventors: George M. Acosta, Derek J. Daw
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Patent number: 5700262Abstract: A flexible bipolar electrode for neurosurgery includes an inner hypotube defining an irrigation passageway and a hollow outer electrode surrounding the hypotube, with the outer electrode and hypotube together establishing a bipolar electrode. An empty void is established between the electrodes to facilitate flexibility of the bipolar electrode when, for example, the electrode is advanced through a curved lumen of a neuroendoscopy instrument.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1995Date of Patent: December 23, 1997Assignee: Neuro Navigational, L.L.C.Inventors: George M. Acosta, Lance Kumm
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Patent number: 5658282Abstract: An apparatus for in situ saphenous vein bypass includes an operating catheter which includes an optical fiber and an electrode, and a control catheter which includes a valvulotome. The operating catheter and control catheter are locked together and advanced through an incision in the leg. The catheters are closely spaced from each other, on opposite sides of a valve to be disrupted. Then, the valvulotome is manipulated to disrupt the valve, the electrode is manipulated to stanch blood flow from the valve and to close off side branches, and both procedures are viewed by means of the optical fiber. The valves of the saphenous vein are thusly disrupted in sequence, and the side branches to the saphenous vein closed off, to thereby modify the saphenous vein in situ for arterial use. In alternate embodiments, the electrode is used with delivery catheters to stop blood flow through a side branch or varicose vein. The electrode includes an embedded temperature sensor for sensing electrode temperature.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: August 19, 1997Assignee: Endovascular, Inc.Inventors: Derek J. Daw, George M. Acosta, John R. Brustad