Patents by Inventor Randell L. Werneth

Randell L. Werneth 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).

  • RF energy delivery system and method
    Patent number: 8475449
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for the ablation of tissue. A steerable ablation catheter can include one or more ablation elements at its distal end and one or more ablation elements fixedly attached to its shaft. The distal end of the ablation catheter can be deflected to assume a number of different deflection geometries in at least one direction along the shaft. One feature of the ablation catheter is that its shaft can comprise materials of differing durometers or stiffnesses attached together at a joint. Methods associated with use of the ablation catheter are also covered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic Ablation Frontiers LLC
    Inventors: Randell L. Werneth, Ricardo D. Roman, Christopher G. Kunis, Alexander J. Asconeguy, Sadaf Soleymani, Martin Chambers, Hakan Oral, Fred Morady, Jerald L. Cox, Guillermo W. Moratorio, Samuel Fu, J. Christopher Flaherty, Nenita Trinidad
  • Ablation catheter
    Patent number: 8337492
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for the mapping of electrical signals and the ablation of tissue. Embodiments include an ablation catheter that has an array of ablation elements attached to a deployable carrier assembly. The carrier assembly can be transformed from a compact, linear configuration to a helical configuration, such as to map and ablate pulmonary vein ostia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic Ablation Frontiers LLC
    Inventors: Christopher G. Kunis, Ricardo David Roman, Alexander J. Asconeguy, J. Christopher Flaherty, Randell L. Werneth
  • Atrial Appendage Occlusion and Arrhythmia Treatment
    Publication number: 20120283585
    Abstract: Atrial appendage occlusion devices and arrhythmia treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Randell L. Werneth, David Zarbatany
  • Atrial ablation catheter and method of use
    Patent number: 8273084
    Abstract: An atrial ablation catheter and methods for its use. The endocardial catheter includes an electrode array particularly adapted to locate and ablate foci of arrhythmia which are required for sustained atrial fibrillation is provided. The array is easily deployed and retracted from the catheter, and presents a distally oriented electrode array that can be pressed against the wall of the atrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic Ablation Frontiers LLC
    Inventors: Christopher G. Kunis, Thomas M. Castellano, Marshall L. Sherman, Randell L. Werneth
  • MULTI-ARRAY MONOPHASIC ACTION POTENTIAL MEDICAL DEVICE
    Publication number: 20120232374
    Abstract: A medical device including a catheter having a shaft with a distal portion; a first plurality of substantially hemispherical electrodes coupled to the distal portion; a second plurality of substantially hemispherical electrodes coupled to the shaft proximal of the first plurality, where the second plurality of electrodes are oriented substantially orthogonal to the first plurality of electrodes; and an additional electrode coupled to the shaft. A console may have a processor in electrical communication with the first and second plurality of electrodes and the reference electrode, the processor programmed to obtaining a monophasic action potential recording from at least one of the first and second plurality of electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Randell L. WERNETH, Meleze HOCINI, Mark T. STEWART, Dan WITTENBERGER, Timothy J. CORVI, Michael LAU, Vinod SHARMA
  • Selective organ cooling catheter with guidewire apparatus and temperature-monitoring device
    Patent number: 8163000
    Abstract: A guidable catheter for heating or cooling fluid in a feeding vessel in a vasculature of a patient includes a heat transfer element having exterior surface irregularities to create turbulence in a surrounding fluid. A supply catheter delivers a working fluid to an interior of the heat transfer element, and a return catheter returns a working fluid from the interior of the heat transfer element. A guidewire tube is provided adjacent one of the supply catheter or the return catheter and runs substantially parallel to the axis of the guidable catheter to receive a guidewire disposed within the guidewire tube. A temperature-monitoring device is disposed at the distal tip of the guidewire. Feedback is provided to control the temperature of a source of working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Innercool Therapies, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Dobak, III, Juan C. Lasheras, Randell L. Werneth
  • CRYOGENIC MEDICAL DEVICE WITH THERMAL GUARD AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20110313410
    Abstract: A medical device, system and method are provided for thermal medical treatment. A medical device for cryogenic treatment may include a tip and a thermal guard or shield. The tip may be at a distal end of a catheter shaft, having a distal surface and lateral surfaces. The thermal guard may be coupled to the catheter proximal of the distal tip, surrounding the longitudinal axis and exposing the distal surface, to resist heat transfer from body fluids to the lateral surfaces of the tip. An efficiency of heat transfer from selected tissue to be treated to the distal surface of the cryogenic tip is thereby increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventor: Randell L. WERNETH
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF PERFORMING MEDICAL PROCEDURES
    Publication number: 20110270237
    Abstract: A medical method is provided, including a medical device having a distal assembly including at least one electrode and at least one treatment element, the medical device generating information regarding at least one of a physiological measurement and an operational parameter of the medical device; a plurality of surface electrodes affixable to a skin of the patient, wherein the surface electrodes are in electrical communication with the distal assembly to obtain position information of the medical device; and a processor pairing the position information and the at least one of a physiological measurement and an operational parameter of the medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC ABLATION FRONTIERS LLC
    Inventors: Randell L. Werneth, Marshall Sherman, Mark T. Stewart, J. Christopher Flaherty
  • TRANSSEPTAL CROSSING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20110270239
    Abstract: A medical device for crossing a tissue wall and methods of use thereof are provided. The device may include a flexible shaft defining a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a lumen extending therebetween to apply a vacuum to at least a portion of the tissue wall; and a tissue penetration element movably positioned within the shaft. The device may further include one or more anchors, one or more expandable elements disposed thereon, an image capture device coupled to a portion thereof, an expandable array, and/or one or more electrically conductive segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventor: Randell L. WERNETH
  • Selective organ cooling apparatus and method
    Patent number: 8038703
    Abstract: An endovascular heat transfer device which can have a smooth exterior surface, or a surface with ridges and grooves. The device can have a plurality of elongated, articulated segments, with each having such a surface. A flexible joint connects adjacent elongated, articulated segments. The flexible joints can be bellows or flexible tubes. An inner lumen is disposed within the heat transfer segments. The inner lumen is capable of transporting a pressurized working fluid to a distal end of the heat transfer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Innercool Therapies, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Dobak, III, Juan C. Lasheras, Randell L. Werneth
  • Selective organ cooling apparatus
    Patent number: 7998182
    Abstract: An endovascular heat transfer device which can have a smooth exterior surface, or a surface with ridges and grooves. The device can have a plurality of elongated, articulated segments, with each having such a surface. A flexible joint connects adjacent elongated, articulated segments. The flexible joints can be bellows or flexible tubes. An inner lumen is disposed within the heat transfer segments. The inner lumen is capable of transporting a pressurized working fluid to a distal end of the heat transfer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Innercool Therapies, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Dobak, III, Juan C. Lasheras, Randell L. Werneth
  • ABLATION CATHETER
    Publication number: 20110106074
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for the mapping of electrical signals and the ablation of tissue. Embodiments include an ablation catheter that has an array of ablation elements attached to a deployable carrier assembly. The carrier assembly can be transformed from a compact, linear configuration to a helical configuration, such as to map and ablate pulmonary vein ostia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC ABLATION FRONTIERS LLC
    Inventors: Christopher G. KUNIS, Ricardo David Roman, Alexander J. ASCONEGUY, J. Christopher FLAHERTY, Randell L. WERNETH
  • Ablation catheter
    Patent number: 7850685
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for the mapping of electrical signals and the ablation of tissue. Embodiments include an ablation catheter that has an array of ablation elements attached to a deployable carrier assembly. The carrier assembly can be transformed from a compact, linear configuration to a helical configuration, such as to map and ablate pulmonary vein ostia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic Ablation Frontiers LLC
    Inventors: Christopher G. Kunis, Ricardo David Roman, Alexander J. Asconeguy, J. Christopher Flaherty, Randell L. Werneth
  • Irrigated Ablation Catheter System and Methods
    Publication number: 20100057073
    Abstract: An ablation catheter for performing tissue ablation has an elongate shaft with a lumen. A tip ablation electrode is mounted on the distal end of the shaft. The tip electrode has walls that, together with the plug, define a chamber. The tip electrode has a fluid exit port. A shaft ablation electrode is mounted on the shaft proximal to the tip electrode. The catheter has a cooling fluid delivery system with a connection to a cooling fluid source. A fluid within the lumen of the elongate shaft penetrates the plug and delivers cooling fluid to the fluid exit port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Ricardo D. Roman, Randell L. Werneth, Sadaf Soleymani, Alexander J. Asconeguy, Guillermo W. Moratorio
  • Irrigated Ablation Catheter System and Methods
    Publication number: 20100057072
    Abstract: An ablation catheter for performing tissue ablation, having an elongate shaft with a lumen and a tip ablation electrode at the distal end of the shaft. The tip electrode has a fluid exit port opening through the surface of the tip electrode and at least one channel extending along the surface of the tip electrode to allow fluid passage in the event that the fluid exit port is blocked. The catheter has a connector to a cooling fluid source, and a fluid delivery tube within the shaft lumen to deliver cooling fluid from the connector to the fluid exit port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Ricardo D. Roman, Randell L. Werneth, Sadaf Soleymani, Alexander J. Asconeguy, Guillermo W. Moratorio
  • Irrigated Ablation Catheter System and Methods
    Publication number: 20100057074
    Abstract: An ablation catheter for performing tissue ablation has an elongate shaft with a lumen. A tip ablation electrode is mounted on the distal end of the shaft. The tip electrode has walls that, together with the plug, define a chamber. The tip electrode has a fluid exit port. The catheter has a cooling fluid delivery system with a connection to a fluid source and a fluid delivery tube within the lumen of the elongate shaft. The fluid delivery tube penetrating said plug and delivers fluid to the fluid exit port. The catheter has a valve assembly in located in the chamber between the fluid delivery tube and the fluid exit port. The valve assembly prevents the flow of cooling fluid through the fluid delivery tube when in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Ricardo D. Roman, Randell L. Werneth, Sadaf Soleymani, Alexander J. Asconeguy, Guillermo W. Moratorio
  • Low Power Tissue Ablation System
    Publication number: 20090182325
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for the ablation of tissue. Embodiments include an ablation catheter that has an array of ablation elements attached to a deployable carrier assembly. The carrier assembly can be constrained within the lumen of a catheter, and deployed to take on an expanded condition. The carrier assembly includes multiple electrodes that are configured to ablate tissue at low power. Additional embodiments include a system that includes an interface unit for delivering one or more forms of energy to the ablation catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Randell L. Werneth, Christopher G. Kunis, J. Christopher Flaherty, Marshall L. Sherman
  • RF Energy Delivery System and Method
    Publication number: 20090149848
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for the ablation of tissue. A steerable ablation catheter can include one or more ablation elements at its distal end and one or more ablation elements fixedly attached to its shaft. The distal end of the ablation catheter can be deflected to assume a number of different deflection geometries in at least one direction along the shaft. One feature of the ablation catheter is that its shaft can comprise materials of differing durometers or stiffnesses attached together at a joint. Methods associated with use of the ablation catheter are also covered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Randell L. Werneth, Ricardo D. Roman, Christopher G. Kunis, Alexander J. Asconeguy, Sadaf Soleymani, Jeffrey Trinidad, Nenita Trinidad, Martin Chambers, Hakan Oral, Fred Morady, Jerald L. Cox, Guillermo W. Moratorio, Samuel Fu, J. Christopher Flaherty
  • ABLATION CATHETER
    Publication number: 20090030411
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for the ablation of tissue. Embodiments include an ablation catheter which has an array of ablation elements attached to a deployable carrier assembly. The carrier assembly can be constrained within the lumen of a catheter, and deployed to take on an expanded condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Randell L. Werneth, Marshall L. Sherman, Thomas M. Castellano, J. Christopher Flaherty, Gary Edward Currie
  • Atrial ablation catheter adapted for treatment of septal wall arrhythmogenic foci and method of use
    Patent number: 7468062
    Abstract: An atrial ablation catheter with an electrode array particularly adapted to locate and ablate foci of arrhythmia which are required for sustained atrial fibrillation is provided. The array is easily deployed and retracted from the catheter, and presents a proximally oriented electrode array that can be pulled against the septal wall of the left atrium to engage the septal wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Ablation Frontiers, Inc.
    Inventors: Hakan Oral, Randell L. Werneth, Thomas M. Castellano, Christopher G. Kunis