Patents by Inventor Kevin T. Watkins

Kevin T. Watkins 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).

  • Temperature indicating devices and methods of use
    Patent number: 7445617
    Abstract: A method of treating tissue of a body during a surgical procedure is provided comprising providing tissue comprising normal tissue and abnormal tissue; inserting at least one temperature indicating device into the tissue with the temperature indicating device comprising an indicator to provide an indication of when a trigger temperature has been attained and a trigger mechanism configured to operate when heated to the trigger temperature and trigger the activation of the indicator; heating the tissue sufficiently to ablate at least a portion of the abnormal tissue; and transferring heat from the tissue to the trigger mechanism, the heat sufficient to heat the trigger mechanism to the trigger temperature and trigger the activation of the indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Salient Surgical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Jacqueline Eastwood, N. Joseph Espat, Michael E. McClurken, Kevin T. Watkins