Patents by Inventor John E. Ashley

John E. Ashley 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: 20040167554
    Abstract: A device for reentering a true lumen from a subintimal location includes a rotating cutting element and energy emitting element. Energy is emitted to determine the location of the true lumen and the cutting element is exposed to cut an access path to the true lumen. The cutting element may be gradually exposed and the distal portion may be bent or articulated to move the cutting element toward the material to be cut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Applicant: Fox Hollow Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John B. Simpson, Michael H. Rosenthal, Gautama B. Venegas, Darren G. Doud, John E. Ashley
  • Patent number: 6767347
    Abstract: A catheter for delivering energy to a surgical site is disclosed. The catheter includes at a proximal end a handle and at a distal end a probe. The catheter includes at least one energy delivery device and an activation element. The at least one energy delivery device is located at the distal end of the catheter to deliver energy to portions of the surgical site. The activation element is located at the distal end of the catheter, to transition the probe from a linear to a multi-dimensional shape, within the surgical site. Methods for deploying the probe from the linear to multi-dimensional shape are disclosed. In another embodiment of the invention, the catheter includes a heating element fabricated on a substrate by photo-etching to deliver thermal energy to portions of the surgical site. In another embodiment of the invention, the catheter includes an energy delivery element, a tip and a blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Oratec Interventions, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugh R. Sharkey, Joel Saal, Jeffrey A. Saal, John E. Ashley
  • Patent number: 6757565
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument is provided, having a holding formation, an elongated probe, an electrode, and a conductor. The elongated probe is connected to and extends from the holding formation. The electrode is located on an end of the elongated probe opposing the holding formation, and has a leading edge and a face. The electrode is locatable so that the face is substantially in a horizontal plane and the leading edge is above the horizontal plane. The conductor extends along the elongated probe and has a portion connected to the electrode to provide RF power thereto. The electrode creates a temperature profile with a temperature adjacent to the leading edge being higher than a temperature adjacent to the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Oratec Interventions, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugh R. Sharkey, John E. Ashley, Kobi Iki
  • Patent number: 6749605
    Abstract: A catheter for delivering energy to a surgical site is disclosed. The catheter includes at a proximal end a handle and at a distal end a probe. The catheter includes at least one energy delivery device and an activation element. The at least one energy delivery device is located at the distal end of the catheter to deliver energy to portions of the surgical site. The activation element is located at the distal end of the catheter, to transition the probe from a linear to a multi-dimensional shape, within the surgical site. Methods for deploying the probe from the linear to multi-dimensional shape are disclosed. In another embodiment of the invention, the catheter includes a heating element fabricated on a substrate by photo-etching to deliver thermal energy to portions of the surgical site. In another embodiment of the invention, the catheter includes an energy delivery element, a tip and a blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Oratec Interventions, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Ashley, Hugh R. Sharkey, Joel Saal, Jeffrey A. Saal
  • Patent number: 6699244
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument is provided which includes a holding formation, a probe shaft, an electric conductor, and a probe tip. The probe shaft is secured to the holding formation and has an elongated section extending therefrom. The electric conductor extends along the elongated section. The probe tip is located on a distal end of the probe shaft opposing the holding formation. The probe tip defines a volatization chamber with a mouth out of the probe tip. The probe tip includes an electrode, to which RF current is provided through the electric conductor. The electrode heats an area adjacent to the probe tip. The electrode also heats a liquid in the first volatization chamber to evaporate the liquid into a vapor pocket that ejects from the first volatization chamber through the mouth out of the probe tip. A pump effect is created so that the liquid maintains the probe tip at a more stable temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Oratec Interventions, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Remberto Carranza, Hugh R. Sharkey, John E. Ashley, Gary S. Fanton
  • Publication number: 20030153906
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument is provided, having a holding formation, an elongated probe, an electrode, and a conductor. The elongated probe is connected to and extends from the holding formation. The electrode is located on an end of the elongated probe opposing the holding formation, and has a leading edge and a face. The electrode is locatable so that the face is substantially in a horizontal plane and the leading edge is above the horizontal plane. The conductor extends along the elongated probe and has a portion connected to the electrode to provide RF power thereto. The electrode creates a temperature profile with a temperature adjacent to the leading edge being higher than a temperature adjacent to the face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Hugh R. Sharkey, John E. Ashley, Kobi Iki
  • Publication number: 20030032954
    Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument is provided which includes a holding formation, a probe shaft, an electric conductor, and a probe tip. The probe shaft is secured to the holding formation and has an elongated section extending therefrom. The electric conductor extends along the elongated section. The probe tip is located on a distal end of the probe shaft opposing the holding formation. The probe tip defines a volatization chamber with a mouth out of the probe tip. The probe tip includes an electrode, to which RF current is provided through the electric conductor. The electrode heats an area adjacent to the probe tip. The electrode also heats a liquid in the first volatization chamber to evaporate the liquid into a vapor pocket that ejects from the first volatization chamber through the mouth out of the probe tip. A pump effect is created so that the liquid maintains the probe tip at a more stable temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: J. Remberto Carranza, Hugh R. Sharkey, John E. Ashley, Gary S. Fanton
  • Patent number: 6350262
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for treating tissue with thermal energy while minimizing the amount of thermal energy to which adjacent tissue is exposed. A surgical instrument for delivering thermal energy to a section of tissue during percutaneous surgery, includes: an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and a split tip electrode coupled to said distal end, said split tip electrode i) including a first component and a second component coupled to said first component, and ii) defining a principle axis. The thermal energy is delivered to said section of tissue so as to heat said section of tissue asymmetrically with regard to said principle axis of said split tip electrode. The systems and methods provide advantages in that thermal energy can be directed to one side of the split tip so that a first of two juxtaposed areas of a surgical site can be heated while a second of the two juxtaposed layers is substantially not heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Oratec Interventions, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Ashley
  • Publication number: 20010031963
    Abstract: A catheter for delivering energy to a surgical site is disclosed. The catheter includes at a proximal end a handle and at a distal end a probe. The catheter includes at least one energy delivery device and an activation element. The at least one energy delivery device is located at the distal end of the catheter to deliver energy to portions of the surgical site. The activation element is located at the distal end of the catheter, to transition the probe from a linear to a multi-dimensional shape, within the surgical site. Methods for deploying the probe from the linear to multi-dimensional shape are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: Hugh R. Sharkey, Joel Saal, Jeffrey A. Saal, John E. Ashley
  • Publication number: 20010023348
    Abstract: A catheter for delivering energy to a surgical site is disclosed. The catheter includes at a proximal end a handle and at a distal end a probe. The catheter includes at least one energy delivery device and an activation element. The at least one energy delivery device is located at the distal end of the catheter to deliver energy to portions of the surgical site. The activation element is located at the distal end of the catheter, to transition the probe from a linear to a multi-dimensional shape, within the surgical site. Methods for deploying the probe from the linear to multi-dimensional shape are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventors: John E. Ashley, Hugh R. Sharkey, Joel Saal, Jeffrey A. Saal
  • Patent number: 6258086
    Abstract: A catheter for delivering energy to a surgical site is disclosed. The catheter includes at a proximal end a handle and at a distal end a probe. The catheter includes at least one energy delivery device and an activation element. The at least one energy delivery device is located at the distal end of the catheter to deliver energy to portions of the surgical site. The activation element is located at the distal end of the catheter, to transition the probe from a linear to a multi-dimensional shape, within the surgical site. Methods for deploying the probe from the linear to multi-dimensional shape are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Oratec Interventions, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Ashley, Hugh R. Sharkey, Joel Saal, Jeff A. Saal
  • Patent number: 6176857
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for treating tissue with thermal energy while minimizing the amount of thermal energy to which adjacent tissue is exposed. A surgical instrument for delivering thermal energy to a section of tissue during percutaneous surgery, includes: an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and a split tip electrode coupled to the distal end, the split tip electrode i) including a first component and a second component coupled to the first component, and ii) defining a principle axis. The thermal energy is delivered to the section of tissue so as to heat the section of tissue asymmetrically with regard to the principle axis of the split tip electrode. The systems and methods provide advantages in that thermal energy can be directed to one side of the split tip so that a first of two juxtaposed areas of a surgical site can be heated while a second of the two juxtaposed layers is substantially not heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Oratec Interventions, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Ashley