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).

  • Patent number: 10537227
    Abstract: A sheath adapter may be used within a medical device to provide one or more additional lumens. One sheath for use with a medical device may comprise a C-shaped elongate shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the C-shaped elongate shaft configured to fit onto a shaft of the medical device and a lumen extending at least partially along a length of the elongate shaft, the lumen having a first port disposed proximate the distal end of the C-shaped elongate shaft and a second port disposed proximate the proximal end of the C-shaped elongate shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Michael D. Walker, Jacob Roland, Jan Echeverry
  • Patent number: 10531785
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for fluid management in an endoscopic procedure are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fluid management device may comprise a pair of electrodes and a controller connected to the pair of electrodes. In at least some embodiments, the controller may be configured to receive signals from the pair of electrodes and determine whether a fluid in a fluid reservoir is an ionic fluid or a non-ionic fluid based on signals received from the pair of electrodes. In at least some additional embodiments, the controller may be further configured to automatically set a fluid deficit alarm threshold based on the determination of whether the fluid in the fluid reservoir is an ionic fluid or a non-ionic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Michael D. Walker, Jacob Roland, Jan Echeverry
  • Patent number: 10499987
    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: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, John H. Shadduck, Michael D. Walker, Kyle Klein, Csaba Truckai
  • Publication number: 20190336166
    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: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    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: 20190321096
    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: June 20, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Kyle Klein, Benedek Orczy-Timko, John H. Shadduck, Michael D. Walker, Csaba Truckai, Balazs Lesko
  • Patent number: 10441353
    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: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Kyle Klein, Benedek Orczy-Timko, John H. Shadduck, Michael D. Walker, Csaba Truckai, Balazs Lesko
  • Publication number: 20190290103
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for fluid management in an endoscopic procedure are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fluid management device may comprise a pair of electrodes and a controller connected to the pair of electrodes. In at least some embodiments, the controller may be configured to receive signals from the pair of electrodes and determine whether a fluid in a fluid reservoir is an ionic fluid or a non-ionic fluid based on signals received from the pair of electrodes. In at least some additional embodiments, the controller may be further configured to automatically set a fluid deficit alarm threshold based on the determination of whether the fluid in the fluid reservoir is an ionic fluid or a non-ionic fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Michael D. Walker, Jacob Roland, Jan Echeverry
  • Patent number: 10368912
    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: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Csaba Truckai, Aaron Germain, Kyle Klein, John H. Shadduck, Michael D. Walker, Benedek Orczy-Timko, Balazs Lesko
  • Patent number: 10349815
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for fluid management in an endoscopic procedure are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fluid management device may comprise a pair of electrodes and a controller connected to the pair of electrodes. In at least some embodiments, the controller may be configured to receive signals from the pair of electrodes and determine whether a fluid in a fluid reservoir is an ionic fluid or a non-ionic fluid based on signals received from the pair of electrodes. In at least some additional embodiments, the controller may be further configured to automatically set a fluid deficit alarm threshold based on the determination of whether the fluid in the fluid reservoir is an ionic fluid or a non-ionic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Michael D. Walker, Jacob Roland, Jan Echeverry
  • Patent number: 10327842
    Abstract: A medical device includes an elongated sleeve having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end. A cutting member having a plurality of sharp edges is formed from a wear-resistant ceramic material is carried at the distal end of the elongated sleeve. A motor drive is coupled to the proximal end of the elongated sleeve to rotate the sleeve at cutting member at high RPMs to cut bone and other hard tissue. An electrode is carried in a distal portion of ceramic cutting member for RF ablation of tissue when the sleeve and cutting member are is a stationary position. In methods of use, (i) the ceramic member can be engaged against bone and then rotated at high speed to cut bone tissue, and (ii) the ceramic member can be held in a stationary (non-rotating) position to engage tissue and RF energy can be delivered to the electrode to create a plasma that ablates tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: RELIGN Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Kyle Klein, Michael D. Walker, Ben Poser
  • Publication number: 20190134279
    Abstract: A fluid management system includes a pump connectable to a fluid source. An inflow line removably connects to a cannula for delivering a fluid flow from the pump into a surgical site, such as a joint cavity. A flow pressure sensor is coupled to measure flow pressure in the inflow line and produce a measured pressure value, A controller is connected to the pump and the flow pressure sensor, and the controller maintains a pressure set point by controlling a pump speed based on a backpressure-adjusted pressure value calculated by subtracting a backpressure value selected from a backpressure table from the measured pressure value. The BAPV is monitored to determine whether the BAPV deviates outside an initial BAPV range, and corrective measure are taken should such deviations occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: RELIGN Corporation
    Inventors: Steffan Benamou, Michael D. Walker, Aaron Germain
  • Publication number: 20190117043
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for fluid management in an endoscopic procedure are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fluid management device may comprise a pair of electrodes and a controller connected to the pair of electrodes. In at least some embodiments, the controller may be configured to receive signals from the pair of electrodes and determine whether a fluid in a fluid reservoir is an ionic fluid or a non-ionic fluid based on signals received from the pair of electrodes. In at least some additional embodiments, the controller may be further configured to automatically set a fluid deficit alarm threshold based on the determination of whether the fluid in the fluid reservoir is an ionic fluid or a non-ionic fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Michael D. Walker, Jacob Roland, Jan Echeverry
  • Publication number: 20190083121
    Abstract: An electrosurgical probe includes an elongated shaft assembly having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis. A distal housing is mounted on the distal end of the shaft and optionally includes a laterally open window where a plane of the window is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. An interior channel extends axially through the shaft and further through an interior of the housing to the window in the housing. An electrode member with a serrated or other elongated edge may extend longitudinally across the window and may be configured to reciprocate the elongated edge longitudinally relative to the window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: RELIGN Corporation
    Inventors: Steffan Benamou, Michael D. Walker, Aaron Germain
  • Publication number: 20190059983
    Abstract: A resecting probe includes a shaft assembly having an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve. The outer sleeve has an axial bore and an outer window in a distal side thereof, and the inner sleeve has an axial extraction channel and inner window in a distal side thereof. The inner sleeve is rotationally disposed in the axial bore of the outer sleeve to allow the inner sleeve window to be rotated in and out of alignment with the outer sleeve window, and the shaft assembly forms a flow aperture in a distal portion when the inner cutting window and the outer cutting window are out of alignment. An electrode is carried on the inner sleeve, and a motor drive is coupled to rotate the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: RELIGN Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Jeff Norton, Kyle Klein, Michael D. Walker
  • Publication number: 20190015151
    Abstract: An arthroscopic or other medical device includes an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a working end. At least one electrode for treating tissue is located at the working end of the shaft, and a fluid outflow path extends proximally from the working end through a first channel portion in the shaft. A handpiece is coupled to the proximal end of the shaft and has a body with a second channel portion formed along an axis therein. The second channel is receives a heated or other outflow from a proximal end of the first channel in the shaft, and the second channel runs along an axis of the handpiece. A thin wall sleeve is located in the handpiece so that it surrounds at least a portion of the second channel. The thin wall sleeve is surrounded by an air gap or otherwise provides a thermal barrier between an exterior surface of the thin wall sleeve and an inner surface of the body of the handpiece in order to limit heat transfer from the heated or other fluid outflow through the second channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: RELIGN Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Ben Poser, Michael D. Walker, Jan Echeverry
  • Patent number: 10178942
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for fluid management in an endoscopic procedure are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fluid management device may comprise a pair of electrodes and a controller connected to the pair of electrodes. In at least some embodiments, the controller may be configured to receive signals from the pair of electrodes and determine whether a fluid in a fluid reservoir is an ionic fluid or a non-ionic fluid based on signals received from the pair of electrodes. In at least some additional embodiments, the controller may be further configured to automatically set a fluid deficit alarm threshold based on the determination of whether the fluid in the fluid reservoir is an ionic fluid or a non-ionic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Michael D. Walker, Jacob Roland, Jan Echeverry
  • Publication number: 20190008538
    Abstract: A medical device for the selective mechanical and/or electrosurgical removal of hard and soft tissue in a patient includes an electrically conductive elongated outer housing having a distal opening and an elongated ceramic sleeve. A distal cutting window is formed in the ceramic sleeve, and the distal cutting window is aligned within the distal opening of the outer housing. A metal cutting member is rotatably disposed within the elongated ceramic sleeve and has a cutting element disposed to rotate or rotationally oscillate within the cutting window of the ceramic sleeve. The metal cutting element and the cutting window are configured to shear bone as the cutting element is advanced past an edge of the cutting window with and without the simultaneous delivery of an RF cutting current to the cutting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: RELIGN Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Jeff Norton, Michael D. Walker
  • Publication number: 20180303509
    Abstract: A medical device includes an elongated sleeve having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end. A cutting member having sharp edges formed from a wear-resistant ceramic material is carried at the distal end of the elongated sleeve. A motor drive is coupled to the proximal end of the elongated sleeve to rotate the sleeve at cutting member at high speed to cut bone and other hard tissue. An electrode is carried in a surface portion of ceramic cutting member for cautery or radiofrequency ablation of tissue when the sleeve and cutting member are is a stationary position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: RELIGN Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Kyle Klein, Michael D. Walker, Salvatore G. Mangano
  • Publication number: 20180271596
    Abstract: Tissue may be cut and extracted from an interior location in a patient's body using a probe or tool which both effects cutting and causes vaporization of a liquid or other fluid to propel the cut tissue through an extraction lumen of the cutting device. The cutting may be achieved using an electrosurgical electrode assembly, including a first electrode on a cutting member and a second electrode within a cutting probe or tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: AARON GERMAIN, KYLE KLEIN, MICHAEL D. WALKER, CSABA TRUCKAI, JOHN H. SHADDUCK
  • Patent number: 10022140
    Abstract: A medical device includes an elongated sleeve having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end. A cutting member having sharp edges formed from a wear-resistant ceramic material is carried at the distal end of the elongated sleeve. A motor drive is coupled to the proximal end of the elongated sleeve to rotate the sleeve at cutting member at high speed to cut bone and other hard tissue. An electrode is carried in a surface portion of ceramic cutting member for cautery or radiofrequency ablation of tissue when the sleeve and cutting member are is a stationary position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: RELIGN Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Germain, Kyle Klein, Michael D. Walker, Salvatore G. Mangano