Patents by Inventor Sean M. McBrayer
Sean M. McBrayer 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: 9295511Abstract: A method for delivering RF energy to living tissue includes the steps of extending a guidewire to a tissue treatment site in a body. A controllable stiffness catheter is provided with a stiffness device having non-metallic properties and a temperature-changing device. The stiffness device is in a stiff state below a given temperature and in a soft state above the given temperature. While supplying power to the temperature-changing device, the catheter is threaded along the guidewire up to the treatment site in the soft state. Power is removed from the temperature-changing device to alter the non-metallic properties of the stiffness device and directly result in a change of the stiffness device to the stiff state without straightening the catheter. The RF energy supply device is physically contacted with the treatment site and RF energy is delivered to the treatment site from the RF energy supply device.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2013Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: Syntheon, LLCInventors: Kevin W. Smith, Matthew A. Palmer, Sean M. McBrayer, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Derek Dee Deville, Joe Abelleira
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Patent number: 8803475Abstract: A device for sterilizing and charging a battery of an instrument, comprising a sterilization device sealingly enclosing therein at least one battery of an instrument and operable to sterilize the at least one battery, an inductively powered battery-charging device disposed inside the sterilization device and having a charger operable to be placed in conductive contact with and charge the at least one battery and a power receiver sub-assembly electrically coupled to the charger and operable to receive electrical power inductively from outside the sterilization device and supply the received electrical power to the charger to charge the battery during sterilization, and a power supply disposed outside the sterilization device and operable to supply power inductively to the power receiver sub-assembly through the sterilization device.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2012Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Syntheon, LLCInventors: Kevin W. Smith, Sean M. McBrayer, Derek Dee Deville, Thomas O. Bales, Jr.
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Publication number: 20130274739Abstract: A method for delivering RF energy to living tissue includes the steps of extending a guidewire to a tissue treatment site in a body. A controllable stiffness catheter is provided with a stiffness device having non-metallic properties and a temperature-changing device. The stiffness device is in a stiff state below a given temperature and in a soft state above the given temperature. While supplying power to the temperature-changing device, the catheter is threaded along the guidewire up to the treatment site in the soft state. Power is removed from the temperature-changing device to alter the non-metallic properties of the stiffness device and directly result in a change of the stiffness device to the stiff state without straightening the catheter. The RF energy supply device is physically contacted with the treatment site and RF energy is delivered to the treatment site from the RF energy supply device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2013Publication date: October 17, 2013Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Matthew A. Palmer, Sean M. McBrayer, Thomas O. Bales, JR., Derek Dee Deville, Joe Abelleira
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Patent number: 8491520Abstract: A method for delivering RF energy to living tissue includes the steps of extending a guidewire to a tissue treatment site in a body. A controllable stiffness catheter is provided with a stiffness device having non-metallic properties and a temperature-changing device. The stiffness device is in a stiff state below a given temperature and in a soft state above the given temperature. While supplying power to the temperature-changing device, the catheter is threaded along the guidewire up to the treatment site in the soft state. Power is removed from the temperature-changing device to alter the non-metallic properties of the stiffness device and directly result in a change of the stiffness device to the stiff state without straightening the catheter. The RF energy supply device is physically contacted with the treatment site and RF energy is delivered to the treatment site from the RF energy supply device.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2010Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Syntheon, LLCInventors: Kevin W. Smith, Matthew A. Palmer, Sean M. McBrayer, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Derek Dee Deville, Joe Abelleira
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Patent number: 8083713Abstract: A method and device for treating a Chronic Total Occlusion provides a controllable stiffness catheter with a shaft having a stiffness sheath and an access lumen. The device has a stiffness device in a stiff state below a given temperature and in a soft state above the temperature, a temperature-changing device in thermal contact with the stiffness device, the temperature-changing device changing a temperature of the stiffness device below and above the temperature, and a power controller electrically connected to the stiffness device and selectively supplying power to the temperature-changing device to change a stiffness of the stiffness device between the stiff and soft states. A guidewire is moved to a treatment site and the catheter moves along the guidewire up to CTO in its soft state. The catheter stiffens without straightening and, in the stiff state, the catheter or the guidewire is projecting through the CTO.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2009Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Syntheon, LLCInventors: Kevin W. Smith, Matthew A. Palmer, Derek Dee Deville, Sean M. McBrayer, Korey Robert Kline
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Publication number: 20100280510Abstract: A method for delivering RF energy to living tissue includes the steps of extending a guidewire to a tissue treatment site in a body. A controllable stiffness catheter is provided with a stiffness device having non-metallic properties and a temperature-changing device. The stiffness device is in a stiff state below a given temperature and in a soft state above the given temperature. While supplying power to the temperature-changing device, the catheter is threaded along the guidewire up to the treatment site in the soft state. Power is removed from the temperature-changing device to alter the non-metallic properties of the stiffness device and directly result in a change of the stiffness device to the stiff state without straightening the catheter. The RF energy supply device is physically contacted with the treatment site and RF energy is delivered to the treatment site from the RF energy supply device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2010Publication date: November 4, 2010Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Matthew A. Palmer, Sean M. McBrayer, Thomas O. Bales, JR., Derek Dee Deville, Joe Abelleira
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Publication number: 20090299280Abstract: A method and device for treating a Chronic Total Occlusion provides a controllable stiffness catheter with a shaft having a stiffness sheath and an access lumen. The device has a stiffness device in a stiff state below a given temperature and in a soft state above the temperature, a temperature-changing device in thermal contact with the stiffness device, the temperature-changing device changing a temperature of the stiffness device below and above the temperature, and a power controller electrically connected to the stiffness device and selectively supplying power to the temperature-changing device to change a stiffness of the stiffness device between the stiff and soft states. A guidewire is moved to a treatment site and the catheter moves along the guidewire up to CTO in its soft state. The catheter stiffens without straightening and, in the stiff state, the catheter or the guidewire is projecting through the CTO.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2009Publication date: December 3, 2009Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Matthew A. Palmer, Derek Dee Deville, Sean M. McBrayer, Korey Robert Kline
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Patent number: 7559916Abstract: A method and device for treating a Chronic Total Occlusion provides a controllable stiffness catheter with a shaft having a stiffness sheath and an access lumen. The device has a stiffness device in a stiff state below a given temperature and in a soft state above the temperature, a temperature-changing device in thermal contact with the stiffness device, the temperature-changing device changing a temperature of the stiffness device below and above the temperature, and a power controller electrically connected to the stiffness device and selectively supplying power to the temperature-changing device to change a stiffness of the stiffness device between the stiff and soft states. A guidewire is moved to a treatment site and the catheter moves along the guidewire up to CTO in its soft state. The catheter stiffens without straightening and, in the stiff state, the catheter or the guidewire is projecting through the CTO.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2005Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Syntheon, LLCInventors: Kevin W. Smith, Matthew A. Palmer, Derek Dee Deville, Sean M. McBrayer, Korey Robert Kline