Patents by Inventor Peter J. Littrup
Peter J. Littrup 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).
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Publication number: 20110162390Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cooling an object with a cryogen having a critical point defined by a critical-point pressure and a critical-point temperature. A pressure of the cryogen is raised above a pressure value determined to provide the cryogen at a reduced molar volume that prevents vapor lock. Thereafter, the cryogen is placed in thermal communication with the object to increase a temperature of the cryogen along a thermodynamic path that maintains the pressure greater than the critical-point pressure for a duration that the cryogen and object are in thermal communication.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2011Publication date: July 7, 2011Inventors: PETER J. LITTRUP, Alexei V. Babkin, Robert Duncan, Sergey Boldarev
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Patent number: 7959625Abstract: A cryosurgical system adapted for treatment of fibroadenomas within the breast of a patient. The system includes cryoprobes and a control system which operates the cryoprobes to accomplish freezing in two stages, including a high power freeze and a low power freeze.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2010Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Sanarus Technologies, LLCInventors: Peter J. Littrup, Seth A. Stabinsky, Kevin Van Bladel, Lisa Zindel, Glenn Foy
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Patent number: 7921657Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cooling an object with a cryogen having a critical point defined by a critical-point pressure and a critical-point temperature. A pressure of the cryogen is raised above a pressure value determined to provide the cryogen at a reduced molar volume that prevents vapor lock. Thereafter, the cryogen is placed in thermal communication with the object to increase a temperature of the cryogen along a thermodynamic path that maintains the pressure greater than the critical-point pressure for a duration that the cryogen and object are in thermal communication.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2007Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Endocare, Inc.Inventors: Peter J. Littrup, Alexei V. Babkin, Robert Duncan, Sergey Boldarev
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Publication number: 20110040298Abstract: A cryosurgical system adapted for treatment of fibroadenomas within the breast of a patient. The system includes cryoprobes and a control system which operates the cryoprobes to accomplish freezing in two stages, including a high power freeze and a low power freeze.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2010Publication date: February 17, 2011Inventors: Peter J. Littrup, Seth A. Stabinsky, Kevin Van Bladel, Lisa Zindel, Glenn Foy
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Publication number: 20110040297Abstract: A flexible multi-tubular cryoprobe, including a housing for receiving an inlet flow of near critical cryogenic fluid from a fluid source and for discharging an outlet flow of the cryogenic fluid. A plurality of fluid transfer tubes are securely attached to the housing. This includes a set of inlet fluid transfer tubes for receiving the inlet flow from the housing; and, a set of outlet fluid transfer tubes for discharging the outlet flow to the housing. Each of the fluid transfer tubes is formed of material that maintains flexibility in a full range of temperatures from ?200° C. to ambient temperature. Each fluid transfer tube has an inside diameter in a range of between about 0.10 mm and 1.0 mm and a wall thickness in a range of between about 0.01 mm and 0.30 mm. An end cap is positioned at the ends of the plurality of fluid transfer tubes to provide fluid transfer from the inlet fluid transfer tubes to the outlet fluid transfer tubes.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2008Publication date: February 17, 2011Applicant: ENDOCARE, INC.Inventors: Alexei V. Babkin, Peter J. Littrup, Robert V. Duncan, William J. Nydam
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Patent number: 7780658Abstract: A cryosurgical system adapted for treatment of fibroadenomas within the breast of a patient. The system includes cryoprobes and a control system which operates the cryoprobes to accomplish freezing in two stages, including a high power freeze and a low power freeze.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2006Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Sanarus Technologies, LLCInventors: Peter J. Littrup, Seth A. Stabinsky, Kevin Van Bladel, Lisa Zindel, Glenn Foy
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Publication number: 20090270851Abstract: A system and a method for its use are provided to cool a cryotip at the distal end of a probe for a cryosurgical procedure. In particular, the cryotip is cooled by a liquid refrigerant to cryogenic temperatures in order to perform a cryosurgical procedure on biological tissue. The system is closed-loop, and during transit of the liquid refrigerant through the entire system, the liquid refrigerant always remains in a liquid state at a relatively low pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2009Publication date: October 29, 2009Inventors: Alexei V. Babkin, Peter J. Littrup, William J. Nydam
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Publication number: 20090113903Abstract: The methods and systems using supercritical fluids for cooling of objects with high thermal emissions are disclosed. The unique thermodynamic properties of supercritical fluids combined with microchannel cooling technology allow effective absorption of the waste heat and exclude “vapor lock”, “boiling crisis”, and other deficiencies of conventional two-phase liquid cooling.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2008Publication date: May 7, 2009Inventors: Alexei V. Babkin, Robert V. Duncan, Anatoly I. Efremov, Peter J. Littrup
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Patent number: 7507233Abstract: A cryotherapy system is provided with multiple cryoprobes, each of which has a shaft with a closed distal end adapted for insertion into a body and conduits for flowing a cryogenic fluid through the shaft to reduce a temperature of the distal end. A source is provided for the cryogenic fluid, and flow-control metering valves are provided in fluid communication with the conduits and source of the cryogenic fluid. A compressor is provided in fluid communication with the conduits of the cryoprobes to define a self-contained fluid system. The flow-control metering valves and the compressor are controlled by a computer processor to provide the desired flows of the cryogenic fluid through the conduits of the self-contained fluid system.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2006Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: Cryo Dynamics, LLCInventors: Peter J. Littrup, Alexei V. Babkin, Robert Duncan, Sergey Boldarev
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Patent number: 7458379Abstract: A cryosurgical system adapted for treatment of fibroadenomas within the breast of a patient. The system includes cryoprobes and a control system which operates the cryoprobes to accomplish freezing in two stages, including a high power freeze and a low power freeze.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2005Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Sanarus Medical, Inc.Inventors: Peter J. Littrup, Seth A. Stabinsky, Kevin Van Bladel, Lisa Zindel, Glenn Foy
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Publication number: 20080275344Abstract: A method for categorizing whole-breast density is disclosed. The method includes the steps of exposing breast tissue to an acoustic signal; measuring a distribution of an acoustic parameter by analyzing the acoustic signal; and obtaining a measure of whole-breast density from said measuring step. An apparatus is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2008Publication date: November 6, 2008Applicant: Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer InstituteInventors: Carri K. Glide-Hurst, Nebojsa Duric, Peter J. Littrup
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Patent number: 7410484Abstract: A gas-based cryotherapy probe is provided with a shaft having a closed distal end adapted for insertion into a body. A supply conduit is disposed longitudinally within the shaft for flowing gas towards the distal end, and a return conduit is disposed longitudinally within the shaft for flowing gas from the distal end. The gas is maintained at a lower pressure within the return conduit than in the supply conduit. A heat exchanger is disposed within the shaft in thermal communication with the supply conduit and return conduit to exchange heat from gas in the supply conduit to gas in the return conduit. A vacuum jacket is adapted to provide thermal isolation of the heat exchanger from the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2004Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: CryoDynamics, LLCInventors: Peter J. Littrup, Alexei V. Babkin, Robert V. Duncan, Pramod Kerkar, Sergey T. Boldarev
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Publication number: 20080173028Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cooling an object with a cryogen having a critical point defined by a critical-point pressure and a critical-point temperature. A pressure of the cryogen is raised above a pressure value determined to provide the cryogen at a reduced molar volume that prevents vapor lock. Thereafter, the cryogen is placed in thermal communication with the object to increase a temperature of the cryogen along a thermodynamic path that maintains the pressure greater than the critical-point pressure for a duration that the cryogen and object are in thermal communication.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2007Publication date: July 24, 2008Applicant: CRYODYNAMICS, LLCInventors: PETER J. LITTRUP, ALEXEI V. BABKIN, ROBERT DUNCAN, SERGEY BOLDAREV
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Patent number: 7285092Abstract: A method and system for examining tissue are provided in which the tissue is maintained in a position so that it may be insonified with a plurality of pulsed spherical or cylindrical acoustic waves. The insonifying acoustic waves are scattered by the tissue so that scattered acoustic radiation including a mix of reflected and transmitted acoustic waves is received. A representation of a portion of the tissue is then derived from the received scattered acoustic radiation.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2002Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignee: Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer InstituteInventors: Nebojsa Duric, Peter J. Littrup, Earle Holsapple, III, Robert Henry Barter, Thomas L Moore, Stephen G. Azevedo, Sidney W. Ferguson
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Patent number: 7273479Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cooling an object with a cryogen having a critical point defined by a critical-point pressure and a critical-point temperature. A pressure of the cryogen is raised above a pressure value determined to provide the cryogen at a reduced molar volume that prevents vapor lock. Thereafter, the cryogen is placed in thermal communication with the object to increase a temperature of the cryogen along a thermodynamic path that maintains the pressure greater than the critical-point pressure for a duration that the cryogen and object are in thermal communication.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2004Date of Patent: September 25, 2007Assignee: Cryodynamics, LLCInventors: Peter J. Littrup, Alexei V. Babkin, Robert Duncan, Sergey Boldarev
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Patent number: 7128738Abstract: A cryosurgical system adapted for treatment of fibroadenomas within the breast of a patient. The system includes cryoprobes and a control system which operates the cryoprobes to accomplish freezing in two stages, including a high power freeze and a low power freeze.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2004Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: Sanarus Medical, Inc.Inventors: Peter J. Littrup, Seth A. Stabinsky, Kevin Van Bladel, Lisa Zindel, Glenn Foy
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Patent number: 7083612Abstract: A cryotherapy system is provided with multiple cryoprobes, each of which has a shaft with a closed distal end adapted for insertion into a body and conduits for flowing a cryogenic fluid through the shaft to reduce a temperature of the distal end. A source is provided for the cryogenic fluid, and flow-control metering valves are provided in fluid communication with the conduits and source of the cryogenic fluid. A compressor is provided in fluid communication with the conduits of the cryoprobes to define a self-contained fluid system. The flow-control metering valves and the compressor are controlled by a computer processor to provide the desired flows of the cryogenic fluid through the conduits of the self-contained fluid system.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2004Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: CryoDynamics, LLCInventors: Peter J. Littrup, Alexei V. Babkin, Robert Duncan, Sergei Boldarov
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Patent number: 6984210Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for investigating tissue in which acoustic data are derived from scattering a plurality of pulsed spherical or cylindrical acoustic waves from a plurality of transmission elements through the tissue to a plurality of receiving elements. The acoustic data, which include a mix of reflected and transmitted acoustic waves, are received and digitized, and a representation of a portion of the tissue is generated from the digitized acoustic data.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2002Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer InstituteInventors: David H. Chambers, Jeffrey Mast, Stephen G. Azevedo, Frank Wuebbeling, Frank Natterer, Neb Duric, Peter J. Littrup, Earle Holsapple
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Publication number: 20040215295Abstract: A cryotherapy system is provided with multiple cryoprobes, each of which has a shaft with a closed distal end adapted for insertion into a body and conduits for flowing a cryogenic fluid through the shaft to reduce a temperature of the distal end. A source is provided for the cryogenic fluid, and flow-control metering valves are provided in fluid communication with the conduits and source of the cryogenic fluid. A compressor is provided in fluid communication with the conduits of the cryoprobes to define a self-contained fluid system. The flow-control metering valves and the compressor are controlled by a computer processor to provide the desired flows of the cryogenic fluid through the conduits of the self-contained fluid system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2004Publication date: October 28, 2004Applicant: MediPhysics LLPInventors: Peter J. Littrup, Alexei V. Babkin, Robert Duncan, Sergei Boldarov
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Publication number: 20040215294Abstract: A gas-based cryotherapy probe is provided with a shaft having a closed distal end adapted for insertion into a body. A supply conduit is disposed longitudinally within the shaft for flowing gas towards the distal end, and a return conduit is disposed longitudinally within the shaft for flowing gas from the distal end. The gas is maintained at a lower pressure within the return conduit than in the supply conduit. A heat exchanger is disposed within the shaft in thermal communication with the supply conduit and return conduit to exchange heat from gas in the supply conduit to gas in the return conduit. A vacuum jacket is adapted to provide thermal isolation of the heat exchanger from the shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2004Publication date: October 28, 2004Applicant: MediPhysics LLPInventors: Peter J. Littrup, Alexei V. Babkin, Robert Duncan, Pramod Kerkar, Sergey T. Boldarev