Patents by Inventor Richard Ian Whyte

Richard Ian Whyte 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 to prevent esophageal damage
    Patent number: 8454588
    Abstract: An apparatus for moving the esophagus includes an elongate body having a distal tip, a controlled curvature section, and a flexible section. A handle is coupled to the flexible section to adjust the curvature of the controlled curvature section. The length of the controlled curvature section is less than the length of the thoracic portion of the esophagus. Further, a method of adjusting the curvature of the esophagus during a therapeutic procedure in a treatment area outside of the esophagus includes positioning within the esophagus an elongate body having a distal tip, a controlled curvature section, and a flexible section and adjusting the curvature of the controlled curvature section to increase the distance between the esophagus and a treatment area outside of the esophagus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Gregory Brian Rieker, Venkatesh Vasudevan, Uday N. Kumar, William Croisettier, William Bragg, Gary Mekikian, Richard Ian Whyte