Patents by Inventor Michael W. Keefe

Michael W. Keefe 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).

  • Method and apparatus for cartilage reshaping by radiofrequency heating
    Patent number: 6589235
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reshaping cartilage using radiofrequency heating. The cartilage temperature is raised sufficiently for stress relaxation to occur in the cartilage, but low enough so that significant denaturation of the cartilage does not occur. The RF electrodes may be designed to also function as molds, preses, clamps, or mandrills to deform the cartilage tissue. Changes in various properties of the cartilage associated with stress relaxation in the cartilage may be measured in order to provide the control signal to provide effective reshaping without denaturation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, The Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Brian J. F. Wong, Thomas E. Milner, Emil N. Sobol, Michael W. Keefe
  • Method and apparatus for cartilage reshaping by radiofrequency heating
    Publication number: 20020016588
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reshaping cartilage using radiofrequency heating. The cartilage temperature is raised sufficiently for stress relaxation to occur in the cartilage, but low enough so that significant denaturation of the cartilage does not occur. The RF electrodes may be designed to also function as molds, preses, clamps, or mandrills to deform the cartilage tissue. Changes in various properties of the cartilage associated with stress relaxation in the cartilage may be measured in order to provide the control signal to provide effective reshaping without denaturation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Brian J.F. Wong, Thomas E. Milner, Emil N. Sobol, Michael W. Keefe