Patents by Inventor Kathryn E. Lockwood

Kathryn E. Lockwood 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: 20030195501
    Abstract: A plurality of electrodes are positioned at the distal end of a catheter such that the electrodes may be positioned proximal biological tissue. A select number of the electrodes have a temperature sensing device associated with them for providing a temperature signal indicative of the temperature at the interface between the electrode and the tissue. A generator operates under the control of a processor to apply power to each of the electrodes. The power has an associated phase angle and, within a time duration, a plurality of alternating on periods and off periods, one set of adjacent on and off periods defining a duty cycle. The processor is programmed to determine the temperature at the electrode/tissue interface based on the temperature signals, compare the temperature to a target temperature and to adjust the power to the electrode accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Marshall L. Sherman, Kathryn E. Lockwood, Thomas M. Castellano
  • Patent number: 6558378
    Abstract: A plurality of electrodes are positioned at the distal end of a catheter such that the electrodes may be positioned proximal biological tissue. A select number of the electrodes have a temperature sensing device associated with them for providing a temperature signal indicative of the temperature at the interface between the electrode and the tissue. A generator operates under the control of a processor to apply power to each of the electrodes. The power has an associated phase angle and, within a time duration, a plurality of alternating on periods and off periods, one set of adjacent on and off periods defining a duty cycle. The processor is programmed to determine the temperature at the electrode/tissue interface based on the temperature signals, compare the temperature to a target temperature and to adjust the power to the electrode accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Marshall L. Sherman, Kathryn E. Lockwood, Thomas M. Castellano
  • Publication number: 20020161361
    Abstract: A plurality of electrodes are positioned at the distal end of a catheter such that the electrodes may be positioned proximal biological tissue. A select number of the electrodes have a temperature sensing device associated with them for providing a temperature signal indicative of the temperature at the interface between the electrode and the tissue. A generator operates under the control of a processor to apply power to each of the electrodes. The power has an associated phase angle and, within a time duration, a plurality of alternating on periods and off periods, one set of adjacent on and off periods defining a duty cycle. The processor is programmed to determine the temperature at the electrode/tissue interface based on the temperature signals, compare the temperature to a target temperature and to adjust the power to the electrode accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Marshall L. Sherman, Kathryn E. Lockwood, Thomas M. Castellano
  • Patent number: 6391024
    Abstract: A method of assessing the adequacy of contact between an ablation electrode and biological tissue within a biological organ having biological fluid therein includes the steps of positioning the ablation electrode proximal the biological tissue; positioning a reference electrode a distance from the ablation electrode; measuring the impedance between the ablation electrode and the reference electrode at a first frequency and measuring the impedance between the ablation electrode and the reference electrode at a second frequency. The percentage difference between the first-frequency impedance and the second-frequency impedance provides an indication of the state of electrode/tissue contact. In general, a percentage difference of at least approximately 10% serves as an indication of substantially complete electrode/tissue contact. A percentage difference in the approximate range between 5% and 10% serves as an indication of partial electrode/tissue contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Weimin Sun, Thomas M. Castellano, Russ E. Anderson, Wade A. Bowe, John A. Simpson, Marshall L. Sherman, Kathryn E. Lockwood