Patents by Inventor Robert S. Behl
Robert S. Behl 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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Patent number: 7566332Abstract: Methods and apparatus for delivering, monitoring, balancing, and/or dispersing high-frequency current flow in monopolar electrosurgery. The methods generally include positioning an active electrode in or on target tissue, positioning at least two dispersive electrodes on tissue remote from the target tissue, establishing electrical current flow from the active electrode through the dispersive electrodes, and individually adjusting the current through at least one of the dispersive electrodes to balance the current through the dispersive electrodes. By adjusting and balancing the current through two or more dispersive electrodes, safety of electrosurgical systems may be enhanced by preventing unwanted patient burns.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2003Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.Inventors: Jerry W. Jarrard, Robert S. Behl
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Publication number: 20090163907Abstract: Methods and apparatus for delivering, monitoring, balancing, and/or dispersing high-frequency current flow in monopolar electrosurgery. The methods generally include positioning an active electrode in or on target tissue, positioning at least two dispersive electrodes on tissue remote from the target tissue, establishing electrical current flow from the active electrode through the dispersive electrodes, and individually adjusting the current through at least one of the dispersive electrodes to balance the current through the dispersive electrodes. By adjusting and balancing the current through two or more dispersive electrodes, safety of electrosurgical systems may be enhanced by preventing unwanted patient burns.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2009Publication date: June 25, 2009Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.Inventors: Jerry W. Jarrard, Robert S. Behl
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Patent number: 7462183Abstract: Occluding structures may be created within a body lumen by advancing a length of material distally through the body lumen. By drawing a distal location on the advanced length of material in a proximal direction, the material may be compacted into a structure which at least partially occludes the lumen. The occluding structure may be used for a variety of purposes, including removing obstructions from the body lumen, such as kidney stones from the ureter; providing hemostasis in a blood vessel; providing occlusion of a fallopian tube; temporary constraint of stone fragments in the urinary tract; capture or restraint of clot in blood vessels; and the like. Apparatus for performing the method may comprise a length of material attached at its distal end to tubular guide or other advancement member. Tensioning members may also be provided for collapsing and compacting the length of material within the body lumen.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2004Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Percutaneous Systems, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Behl, Alexander L. Huang
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Publication number: 20080255633Abstract: Large tissue regions are treated using pairs of electrode arrays. The electrode arrays may be concave and disposed in tissue so that their concave portions are opposed to each other. Axial conductors may be provided extending from the arrays and toward each other in order to increase the heating of tissues lying along the axis between the deployed electrode arrays. By properly spacing the electrode arrays apart and selecting the diameters of the arrays, desired volumes of tissue may be treated, typically with a bipolar, radiofrequency current.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2008Publication date: October 16, 2008Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.Inventors: Robert S. Behl, Morton Grosser, Alexander L. Huang
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Patent number: 7387628Abstract: Large tissue regions are treated using pairs of electrode arrays. The electrode arrays may be concave and disposed in tissue so that their concave portions are opposed to each other. Axial conductors may be provided extending from the arrays and toward each other in order to increase the heating of tissues lying along the axis between the deployed electrode arrays. By properly spacing the electrode arrays apart and selecting the diameters of the arrays, desired volumes of tissue may be treated, typically with a bipolar, radiofrequency current.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2000Date of Patent: June 17, 2008Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Behl, Morton Grosser, Alexander L. Huang
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Publication number: 20080033396Abstract: A percutaneous luminal access system comprises a thin-walled, collapsible sheath, an introducer, a hemostatic valve, and an access catheter. An introducer may comprise either a pusher tube or an elongate member, or where the introducer is used to axially advance the sheath into a blood vessel or other target lumen. A hemostatic valve may be connected to a proximal end of the sheath, and the access catheter introduced through the hemostatic valve. Pressurized fluid may also be introduced through the hemostatic valve and delivered through a flow region around the catheter within the sheath and optionally through the catheter to the target luminal site.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2007Publication date: February 7, 2008Applicant: Percutaneous Systems, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Danek, Robert S. Behl, Julia Rasor
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Patent number: 7195629Abstract: Large tissue regions are treated using pairs of electrode arrays. The electrode arrays may be concave and disposed in tissue so that their concave portions are opposed to each other. Axial conductors may be provided extending from the arrays and toward each other in order to increase the heating of tissues lying along the axis between the deployed electrode arrays. By properly spacing the electrode arrays apart and selecting the diameters of the arrays, desired volumes of tissue may be treated, typically with a bipolar, radiofrequency current.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2003Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Behl, Morton Grosser, Alexander L. Huang
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Patent number: 7001379Abstract: Method for heating tissue by delivering radio frequency energy through tissue electrodes having controlling energy delivery so that an abrupt increase in impedance between the electrodes and the tissue is observed, typically in the form of an abrupt decrease in power delivered to the electrodes. The power at which the impedance increases and/or the time required to induce such an increase in impedance, are relied on to determine acceptable ranges to achieve a maximum sustainable delivery of radio frequency energy to the tissue consistent with complete, rapid, and uniform heating of the tissue.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2004Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Behl, Eben L. Kermit, Peter F. Lyons, Colin J. Nichols
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Patent number: 6889089Abstract: A system for treating a target region in tissue beneath a tissue surface comprises a probe for deploying an electrode array within the tissue and a surface electrode for engaging the tissue surface above the treatment site. Preferably, surface electrode includes a plurality of tissue-penetrating elements which advance into the tissue, and the surface electrode is removably attachable to the probe. The tissue may be treated in a monopolar fashion where the electrode array and surface electrode are attached to a common pole on an electrode surgical power supply and powered simultaneously or successively, or in a bipolar fashion where the electrode array and surface electrode are attached to opposite poles of the power supply. The systems are particularly useful for treating tumors and other tissue treatment regions which lie near the surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2001Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Behl, Eben L. Kermit
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Patent number: 6802839Abstract: The present invention provides methods, systems, and kits for protecting body tissues which are adjacent to tissues undergoing thermal treatment. The methods, systems, and kits are useful for thermally ablating tumors which lie at or near the surface of an organ, such as the kidney, pancreas, stomach, spleen, and particularly the liver. In radiofrequency and electrosurgical treatment, electrodes may penetrate and heat may dissipate into surrounding tissues and into tissue adjacent to the target organ, thus causing unwanted tissue damage. These risks and others may be lessened or avoided with the use of an interface shield between the target region and adjacent body tissues to shield surrounding organs and tissue from treatment effects.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2002Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Radiotherapeutics CorporationInventor: Robert S. Behl
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Publication number: 20040158239Abstract: Large tissue regions are treated using pairs of electrode arrays. The electrode arrays may be concave and disposed in tissue so that their concave portions are opposed to each other. Axial conductors may be provided extending from the arrays and toward each other in order to increase the heating of tissues lying along the axis between the deployed electrode arrays. By properly spacing the electrode arrays apart and selecting the diameters of the arrays, desired volumes of tissue may be treated, typically with a bipolar, radiofrequency current.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2003Publication date: August 12, 2004Inventors: Robert S. Behl, Morton Grosser, Alexander L. Huang
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Publication number: 20040147919Abstract: Methods for heating tissue by delivering radio frequency energy through tissue electrodes comprise controlling energy delivery so that an abrupt increase in impedance between the electrodes and the tissue is observed, typically in the form of an abrupt decrease in power delivered to the electrodes. The power at which the impedance increases and/or the time required to induce such an increase in impedance, are relied on to determine acceptable ranges to achieve a maximum sustainable delivery of radio frequency energy to the tissue consistent with complete, rapid, and uniform heating of the tissue.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2004Publication date: July 29, 2004Applicant: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Behl, Eben L. Kermit, Peter F. Lyons, Colin J. Nichols
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Patent number: 6685700Abstract: Methods for heating tissue by delivering radio frequency energy through tissue electrodes comprise controlling energy delivery so that an abrupt increase in impedance between the electrodes and the tissue is observed, typically in the form of an abrupt decrease in power delivered to the electrodes. The power at which the impedance increases and/or the time required to induce such an increase in impedance, are relied on to determine acceptable ranges to achieve a maximum sustainable delivery of radio frequency energy to the tissue consistent with complete, rapid, and uniform heating of the tissue.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2001Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: RadioTherapeutics CorporationInventors: Robert S. Behl, Eben L. Kermit, Peter F. Lyons, Colin J. Nichols
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Patent number: 6648882Abstract: Large tissue regions are treated using pairs of electrode arrays. The electrode arrays may be concave and disposed in tissue so that their concave portions are opposed to each other. Axial conductors may be provided extending from the arrays and toward each other in order to increase the heating of tissues lying along the axis between the deployed electrode arrays. By properly spacing the electrode arrays apart and selecting the diameters of the arrays, desired volumes of tissue may be treated, typically with a bipolar, radiofrequency current.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2000Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: Radio Therapeutics CorporationInventors: Robert S. Behl, Morton Grosser, Alexander L. Huang
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Publication number: 20020198523Abstract: The present invention provides methods, systems, and kits for protecting body tissues which are adjacent to tissues undergoing thermal treatment. The methods, systems, and kits are useful for thermally ablating tumors which lie at or near the surface of an organ, such as the kidney, pancreas, stomach, spleen, and particularly the liver. In radiofrequency and electrosurgical treatment, electrodes mayh penetrate and heat may dissipate into surrounding tissues into tissue adjacent to target organ, thus causing unwanted tissue damage. These risks and others may be lessened or avoided with the use of an interface shield between the target region and adjacent body tissues to shield surrounding organs and tissue from treatment effects.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2002Publication date: December 26, 2002Applicant: RadioTherapeutics, Inc.Inventor: Robert S. Behl
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Patent number: 6471695Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods, systems, and kits for protecting body tissues which are adjacent to tissues undergoing thermal treatment. Thermal treatment is often prescribed for tumors and other disease conditions within body organs and other tissue masses. The methods, systems, and kits are particularly useful for treating tumors which lie at or near the surface of an organ, such as the kidney, pancreas, stomach, spleen, and particularly the liver. One risk of treating such tumors is the possibility of mistargeting the tumor and penetrating a delivery cannula or portions of a treatment device beyond the surface into the adjacent tissues or organs. In the case of radiofrequency or electrosurgical treatment, healthy surrounding tissue may be directly ablated. An additional risk, present even when the tumor is correctly targeted, is the possibility of thermal damage to the surrounding, non-targeted tissue.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2000Date of Patent: October 29, 2002Assignee: Radiotherapeutics, Inc.Inventor: Robert S. Behl
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Patent number: 6470218Abstract: A system for treating a target region in tissue beneath a tissue surface comprises a probe for deploying an electrode array within the tissue and a surface electrode for engaging the tissue surface above the treatment site. Preferably, surface electrode includes a plurality of tissue-penetrating elements which advance into the tissue, and the surface electrode is removably attachable to the probe. The tissue may be treated in a monopolar fashion where the electrode array and surface electrode are attached to a common pole on an electrode surgical power supply and powered simultaneously or successively, or in a bipolar fashion where the electrode array and surface electrode are attached to opposite poles of the power supply. The systems are particularly useful for treating tumors and other tissue treatment regions which lie near the surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2000Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Assignee: Radiotherapeutics, Inc.Inventor: Robert S. Behl
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Publication number: 20020035362Abstract: Methods for heating tissue by delivering radio frequency energy through tissue electrodes comprise controlling energy delivery so that an abrupt increase in impedance between the electrodes and the tissue is observed, typically in the form of an abrupt decrease in power delivered to the electrodes. The power at which the impedance increases and/or the time required to induce such an increase in impedance, are relied on to determine acceptable ranges to achieve a maximum sustainable delivery of radio frequency energy to the tissue consistent with complete, rapid, and uniform heating of the tissue.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2001Publication date: March 21, 2002Applicant: RADIOTHERAPEUTICS CORPORATIONInventors: Robert S. Behl, Eben L. Kermit, Peter F. Lyon, Colin J. Nichols
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Patent number: 6358246Abstract: Methods for heating tissue by delivering radio frequency energy through tissue electrodes comprise controlling energy delivery so that an abrupt increase in impedance between the electrodes and the tissue is observed, typically in the form of an abrupt decrease in power delivered to the electrodes. The power at which the impedance increases and/or the time required to induce such an increase in impedance, are relied on to determine acceptable ranges to achieve a maximum sustainable delivery of radio frequency energy to the tissue consistent with complete, rapid, and uniform heating of the tissue.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1999Date of Patent: March 19, 2002Assignee: Radiotherapeutics CorporationInventors: Robert S. Behl, Eben L. Kermit, Peter F. Lyons, Colin J. Nichols
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Patent number: 6337998Abstract: A system for treating a target region in tissue beneath a tissue surface comprises a probe for deploying an electrode array within the tissue and a surface electrode for engaging the tissue surface above the treatment site. Preferably, surface electrode includes a plurality of tissue-penetrating elements which advance into the tissue, and the surface electrode is removably attachable to the probe. The tissue may be treated in a monopolar fashion where the electrode array and surface electrode are attached to a common pole on an electrode surgical power supply and powered simultaneously or successively, or in a bipolar fashion where the electrode array and surface electrode are attached to opposite poles of the power supply. The systems are particularly useful for treating tumors and other tissue treatment regions which lie near the surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 1999Date of Patent: January 8, 2002Inventors: Robert S. Behl, Eben L. Kermit