Patents by Inventor Michael D. Walker

Michael D. Walker 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: 20260007460
    Abstract: A tissue resection device comprises inner and outer coaxial sleeves. The outer sleeve has a cutting window formed therein, and the inner sleeve has a distal cutting end that can be reciprocated past the cutting window. The sleeves comprise electrodes to provide electrosurgical cutting, and an edge portion of the window includes a dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2025
    Publication date: January 8, 2026
    Applicant: MINERVA SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: AARON GERMAIN, KYLE KLEIN, MICHAEL D. WALKER, BENEDEK ORCZY-TIMKO
  • Publication number: 20250380981
    Abstract: The tissue cutting device comprises an elongated assembly including both an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve. The outer sleeve has a tissue-receiving window, and the inner sleeve has a distal end which cuts tissue as the inner sleeve is advanced past the window. The tissue is received into a lumen of the inner sleeve, and the inner sleeve lumen is typically enlarged in a proximal direction to reduce the tendency of resected tissue to lodge therein. The tissue displacement member is optionally provided at a distal end of the outer sleeve to further aid in dislodging tissue which becomes captured in a distal end of the inner sleeve of the lumen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2025
    Publication date: December 18, 2025
    Applicant: MINERVA SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Kyle Klein, Benedek Orczy-Timko, John H. Shadduck, Michael D. Walker, Casba Truckai, Balazs Lesko
  • Publication number: 20250352714
    Abstract: A fluid management system for use in a tissue resection procedure includes a controller. An inflow pump is operated by the controller and configured to provide fluid inflow through a flow path to a site in patient's body. An outflow pump is operated by the controller and configured to provide fluid outflow through a flow path from the site in patient's body. A motor driven resecting device may be provided for resecting tissue at the site. The controller is configured to actuate an inflow pump and an outflow pump in response to various signals and various algorithms are provided to provide malfunction warnings and assure safe operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2025
    Publication date: November 20, 2025
    Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: AARON GERMAIN, KYLE KLEIN, MICHAEL D. WALKER, ROBIN BEK
  • Patent number: 12426943
    Abstract: A tissue resection device comprises inner and outer coaxial sleeves. The outer sleeve has a cutting window formed therein, and the inner sleeve has a distal cutting end that can be reciprocated past the cutting window. The sleeves comprise electrodes to provide electrosurgical cutting, and an edge portion of the window includes a dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2025
    Assignee: MINERVA SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Kyle Klein, Michael D. Walker, Benedek Orczy-Timko
  • Patent number: 12419682
    Abstract: The tissue cutting device comprises an elongated assembly including both an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve. The outer sleeve has a tissue-receiving window, and the inner sleeve has a distal end which cuts tissue as the inner sleeve is advanced past the window. The tissue is received into a lumen of the inner sleeve, and the inner sleeve lumen is typically enlarged in a proximal direction to reduce the tendency of resected tissue to lodge therein. The tissue displacement member is optionally provided at a distal end of the outer sleeve to further aid in dislodging tissue which becomes captured in a distal end of the inner sleeve of the lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2025
    Assignee: MINERVA SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Kyle Klein, Benedek Orczy-Timko, John H. Shadduck, Michael D. Walker, Csaba Truckai, Balazs Lesko
  • Publication number: 20250275806
    Abstract: A tissue cutting device has an outer sleeve with a distal window and an inner cutting sleeve which moves past the window to cut tissue. The inner cutting sleeve has a lumen which may have a larger proximal diameter than distal diameter. A perimeter of the window may comprise a dielectric material. A distal edge of the inner sleeve may be displaced inwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2025
    Publication date: September 4, 2025
    Applicant: MINERVA SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Kyle Klein, Michael D. Walker, Benedek Orczy-Timko, Balazs Lesko
  • Patent number: 12402939
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for resecting tissue are disclosed. In some embodiments, a tissue resecting device may comprise an elongated structure having a longitudinal axis, the elongated structure comprising an outer sleeve with a distal window configured to receive uterine polyp tissue and an inner sleeve configured to move between a proximal position and a distal position relative to the window. In some further embodiments, the device may also comprise an electrode element coupled to the inner sleeve. In some even further embodiments, the device may include an insulative layer covering at least a portion of the inner sleeve, wherein the tissue resecting device is configured to fail when used to resect tissue more fibrous than uterine polyp tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2025
    Assignee: MINERVA SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Michael D. Walker, Jacob Roland, Jan Echeverry
  • Patent number: 12397099
    Abstract: A fluid management system for use in a tissue resection procedure includes a controller. An inflow pump is operated by the controller and configured to provide fluid inflow through a flow path to a site in patient's body. An outflow pump is operated by the controller and configured to provide fluid outflow through a flow path from the site in patient's body. A motor driven resecting device may be provided for resecting tissue at the site. The controller is configured to actuate an inflow pump and an outflow pump in response to various signals and various algorithms are provided to provide malfunction warnings and assure safe operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2025
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Kyle Klein, Michael D. Walker, Robin Bek
  • Publication number: 20250195139
    Abstract: A probe for resecting and coagulating tissue comprises an outer sleeve having a tissue cutting window and an inner sleeve having a tissue cutting distal end. And RF cutting region is formed at the distal end of the inner member and an RF coagulation region is formed on an exterior surface of the inner member immediately proximal to the cutting surface. A single power supply providing a single RF energy mode can be connected to both RF applicator regions to simultaneously cut and coagulate tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2025
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Applicant: MINERVA SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, John H. Shadduck, Michael D. Walker, Kyle Klein, Csaba Truckai
  • Patent number: 12310649
    Abstract: A tissue cutting device has an outer sleeve with a distal window and an inner cutting sleeve which moves past the window to cut tissue. The inner cutting sleeve has a lumen which may have a larger proximal diameter than distal diameter. A perimeter of the window may comprise a dielectric material. A distal edge of the inner sleeve may be displaced inwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: MINERVA SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Kyle Klein, Michael D. Walker, Benedek Orczy-Timko, Balazs Lesko
  • Patent number: 12256987
    Abstract: A probe for resecting and coagulating tissue comprises an outer sleeve having a tissue cutting window and an inner sleeve having a tissue cutting distal end. And RF cutting region is formed at the distal end of the inner member and an RF coagulation region is formed on an exterior surface of the inner member immediately proximal to the cutting surface. A single power supply providing a single RF energy mode can be connected to both RF applicator regions to simultaneously cut and coagulate tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: MINERVA SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, John H. Shadduck, Michael D. Walker, Kyle Klein, Csaba Truckai
  • Publication number: 20240398441
    Abstract: A fluid management system for use with a fluid reservoir includes an inflow pump and an outflow pump. The inflow pump is connectable to a probe for delivering a distention fluid to a body cavity. The outflow pump removes the distention fluid through the same probe, thus establishing a re-circulating volume of distention fluid within the body cavity. The removed fluid is filtered and returned to a fluid reservoir for eventual recycling to the body cavity. A controller adjusts the flow rates of the inflow pump and the outflow pump to maintain a pre-selected fluid pressure or volume within the body cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Csaba Truckai, Aaron Germain, Kyle Klein, John H. Shadduck, Michael D. Walker, Benedek Orczy-Timko, Balazs Lesko
  • Publication number: 20240341837
    Abstract: Tissue is resected and extracted from an interior location in a patient's body using a probe or tool which both effects resection and causes vaporization of a liquid or other fluid to propel the resected tissue through an extraction lumen of the resecting device. Resection is achieved using an electrosurgical electrode assembly including a first electrode on a resecting member and a second electrode within a resection probe or tool. Over a first resecting portion, radio frequency current helps resect the tissue and over a second or over transition region, the RF current initiates vaporization of the fluid or other liquid to propel the tissue from the resection device. In one embodiment, an extending element extends from a housing and into a channel in a resecting member as the resecting member moves toward a distal position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicant: MINERVA SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: AARON GERMAIN, MICHAEL D. WALKER, BENEDEK ORCZY-TIMKO
  • Publication number: 20240299087
    Abstract: A tissue resection device comprises inner and outer coaxial sleeves. The outer sleeve has a cutting window formed therein, and the inner sleeve has a distal cutting end that can be reciprocated past the cutting window. The sleeves comprise electrodes to provide electrosurgical cutting, and an edge portion of the window includes a dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: MINERVA SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: AARON GERMAIN, KYLE KLEIN, MICHAEL D. WALKER, BENEDEK ORCZY-TIMKO
  • Publication number: 20240293141
    Abstract: A surgical fluid management system delivers fluid for distending a uterine cavity to allow cutting and extraction of uterine fibroid tissue, polyps and other abnormal uterine tissue. The system comprises a fluid source, fluid deliver lines, one or more pumps, and a filter for re-circulating the distension fluid between the source and the uterine cavity. A controller can monitor fluid retention by the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Kyle Klein, Aaron Germain, Csaba Truckai, Michael D. Walker
  • Patent number: 12076048
    Abstract: A fluid management system for use with a fluid reservoir includes an inflow pump and an outflow pump. The inflow pump is connectable to a probe for delivering a distention fluid to a body cavity. The outflow pump removes the distention fluid through the same probe, thus establishing a re-circulating volume of distention fluid within the body cavity. The removed fluid is filtered and returned to a fluid reservoir for eventual recycling to the body cavity. A controller adjusts the flow rates of the inflow pump and the outflow pump to maintain a pre-selected fluid pressure or volume within the body cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Csaba Truckai, Aaron Germain, Kyle Klein, John H. Shadduck, Michael D. Walker, Benedek Orczy-Timko, Balazs Lesko
  • Publication number: 20240245450
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for resecting tissue are disclosed. In some embodiments, a tissue resecting device may comprise an elongated structure having a longitudinal axis, the elongated structure comprising an outer sleeve with a distal window configured to receive uterine polyp tissue and an inner sleeve configured to move between a proximal position and a distal position relative to the window. In some further embodiments, the device may also comprise an electrode element coupled to the inner sleeve. In some even further embodiments, the device may include an insulative layer covering at least a portion of the inner sleeve, wherein the tissue resecting device is configured to fail when used to resect tissue more fibrous than uterine polyp tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: MINERVA SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Michael D. Walker, Jacob Roland, Jan Echeverry
  • Patent number: 12042214
    Abstract: Tissue is resected and extracted from an interior location in a patient's body using a probe or tool which both effects resection and causes vaporization of a liquid or other fluid to propel the resected tissue through an extraction lumen of the resecting device. Resection is achieved using an electrosurgical electrode assembly including a first electrode on a resecting member and a second electrode within a resection probe or tool. Over a first resecting portion, radio frequency current helps resect the tissue and over a second or over transition region, the RF current initiates vaporization of the fluid or other liquid to propel the tissue from the resection device. In one embodiment, an extending element extends from a housing and into a channel in a resecting member as the resecting member moves toward a distal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: MINERVA SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Michael D. Walker, Benedek Orczy-Timko
  • Publication number: 20240225720
    Abstract: A tissue cutting device has an outer sleeve with a distal window and an inner cutting sleeve which moves past the window to cut tissue. The inner cutting sleeve has a lumen which may have a larger proximal diameter than distal diameter. A perimeter of the window may comprise a dielectric material. A distal edge of the inner sleeve may be displaced inwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: MINERVA SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Kyle Klein, Michael D. Walker, Benedek Orczy-Timko, Balazs Lesko
  • Patent number: 12016618
    Abstract: A tissue resection device comprises inner and outer coaxial sleeves. The outer sleeve has a cutting window formed therein, and the inner sleeve has a distal cutting end that can be reciprocated past the cutting window. The sleeves comprise electrodes to provide electrosurgical cutting, and an edge portion of the window includes a dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: MINERVA SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Kyle Klein, Michael D. Walker, Benedek Orczy-Timko