Patents by Inventor Stuart D Edwards
Stuart D Edwards 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: 5968041Abstract: A cell necrosis apparatus includes an introducer with a tissue piercing distal end. An RF electrode device includes a first RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal end, a second RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal end, and a third RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal end. The first and second electrodes each have an exterior non-insulated energy delivery surface and an exterior opposing insulated surface. The first, second and third RF electrodes are deployable from the introducer with the first and second RF electrodes exterior non-insulated energy delivery surfaces facing and surrounding the third RF electrode.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 1998Date of Patent: October 19, 1999Assignee: Vida Care, Inc.Inventor: Stuart D. Edwards
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Patent number: 5964753Abstract: A probe for cardiac diagnosis and/or treatment has a catheter tube. The distal end of the catheter tube carries first and second electrode elements. The probe includes a mechanism for steering the first electrode element relative to the second electrode element so that the user can move the first electrode element into and out of contact with endocardial tissue without disturbing the contact of the second electrode element with endocardial tissue, even through the two electrode elements are carried on a common catheter tube. The distal end can carry a three dimensional structure having an open interior area. One of electrode elements can be steered through the open interior area of the structure. Electrode elements on the exterior of the structure can be used for surface mapping, while the electrode element inside the structure is steered to ablate tissue.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 1998Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Stuart D. Edwards
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Patent number: 5964727Abstract: A medical probe device comprises a catheter having a stylet guide housing with one or more stylet ports in a side wall thereof and a stylet guide for directing a flexible stylet outward through the stylet port and through intervening tissue at a preselected, adjustable angle to a target tissue. The total catheter assembly includes a stylet guide lumen communicating with the stylet port and a stylet positioned in said stylet guide lumen for longitudinal movement from the port through intervening tissue to a target tissue. The stylet can be an electrical conductor enclosed within a non-conductive layer, the electrical conductor being a radiofrequency electrode. Preferably, the non-conductive layer is a sleeve which is axially moveable on the electrical conductor to expose a selected portion of the electrical conductor surface in the target tissue. The stylet can also be a microwave antenna. The stylet can also be a hollow tube for delivering treatment fluid to the target tissue.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1997Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Assignee: Vidamed, Inc.Inventors: Stuart D. Edwards, Ronald G. Lax, Ingemar H. Lundquist, Hugh R. Sharkey
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Patent number: 5964755Abstract: An ablation apparatus includes an elongated structure. An expandable membrane is positioned at least partially adjacent to an exterior of the elongated structure. The membrane is configured to receive a electrolytic solution and release at least a portion of the electrolytic through a membrane exterior surface. An electromagnetic energy delivery device is coupled to the expandable membrane. The electromagnetic energy delivery device is also configured to be coupled with a power source.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 1996Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Assignee: Vioacare International, Inc.Inventor: Stuart D. Edwards
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Patent number: 5935123Abstract: An RF treatment apparatus includes a catheter with a catheter lumen. A removable needle electrode is positioned in the catheter lumen in a fixed relationship to the catheter. The needle electrode includes a needle lumen and a needle electrode distal end. A removable introducer is slidably positioned in the needle lumen. The introducer includes an introducer distal end. A first sensor is positioned on a surface of the needle electrode or the insulator. An RF power source is coupled to the needle electrode and a return electrode. An insulator sleeve is slidably positioned around the electrode and includes a second sensor. Resources are associated with the electrodes, sensors as well as the RF power source for maintaining a selected power at the electrode independent of changes in current or voltage.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 1996Date of Patent: August 10, 1999Assignee: Rita Medical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Stuart D. Edwards, James Baker, Bruno Strul, Ronald G. Lax
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Patent number: 5921982Abstract: A medical probe device for contacting tissue within the body a catheter tube having a control end and a probe end. The probe end includes a housing having a port. An element is located within the housing that is movable between a first position confined within the housing and a second position extending through the port outside the housing. The element has a distal tip adapted to penetrate a tissue region during movement between the first and second position. The element comprises an electrode for emitting electromagnetic radio frequency energy into the tissue region, or cannula with an interior lumen for conveying fluid to and from the tissue region, or a sensor for sensing temperature conditions in the tissue region.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1997Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Inventors: Michael D. Lesh, Stuart D. Edwards
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Patent number: 5921954Abstract: A method and system for treating aneurysms by applying RF energy to collagen. A catheter is disposed near the aneurysm and collagen is exuded into or near the aneurysm. RF energy is applied, using the same catheter or a second catheter, to the collagen, causing the collagen to harden and cover the weak region of the blood vessel wall, and providing a base onto which epithelial cells of the blood vessel may grow. The catheter comprises an electrophysiology catheter, including a ring electrode preferably disposed to deliver between about 5 and about 30 watts of RF energy at a frequency preferably between about 450 and about 600 Megahertz, to apply sufficient energy to cause the collagen to harden while avoiding damage to surrounding tissue.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 1996Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Inventors: Lawrence G. Mohr, Jr., Stuart D. Edwards
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Patent number: 5899917Abstract: A method is provided for forming a stent within a body lumen. According to the method, a distal catheter body is advanced within a body lumen to a section of a body lumen at which a stent is to be formed. One or more expandable members attached to the distal catheter body are expanded such that sections of the body lumen proximal and distal to the stent formation section of the body lumen are occluded, the distal catheter body in combination with the body lumen defining a mold space. A fluent pre-stent composition is delivered to the mold space from outside the body lumen which is continuously in fluent state during pre-stent composition delivery from outside the body lumen to the mold space. The fluent pre-stent composition is then transformed within the mold space to a non-fluent stent composition to form a stent within the mold space.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1997Date of Patent: May 4, 1999Assignee: CardioSynopsis, Inc.Inventors: Stuart D. Edwards, Thomas C. Wehman, Theodore L. Parker, Theodore Kucklick, Peter Park, Alan Stein, Eugene V. Skalnyi
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Patent number: 5897552Abstract: An ablation electrode carries a temperature sensing element for measuring the temperature of the tissue being ablated. A thermal insulating element associated with the sensing element blocks the transfer of heat energy from between the temperature sensing element and the body. The temperature sensing element therefore measures temperature without being affected by the surrounding thermal mass of the electrode.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 1997Date of Patent: April 27, 1999Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Stuart D. Edwards, Roger A. Stern
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Patent number: 5895370Abstract: A medical probe device of this invention comprising a catheter having a control end and a probe end. The probe end includes a stylet guide housing having at least one stylet port and stylet guide means for directing a flexible stylet outward through at least one stylet port and through intervening tissue to targeted tissues. A stylet is positioned in at least one of said stylet guide means, the stylet comprising a non-conductive sleeve having a RF electrode lumen and an optional a fluid supply lumen and a temperature sensor lumen therein. At least one portion of an opposed surface of the electrode lumen and the electrode can be spaced apart to define a liquid supply passageway for delivery of medicament liquid.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 1997Date of Patent: April 20, 1999Assignee: Vidamed, Inc.Inventors: Stuart D. Edwards, Hugh R. Sharkey, Ingemar H. Lundquist, Ronald G. Lax, James Allen Baker, Jr.
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Patent number: 5881727Abstract: A probe for cardiac diagnosis and/or treatment has a catheter tube. The distal end of the catheter tube carries first and second electrode elements. The probe includes a mechanism for steering the first electrode element relative to the second electrode element so that the user can move the first electrode element into and out of contact with endocardial tissue without disturbing the contact of the second electrode element with endocardial tissue, even through the two electrode elements are carried on a common catheter tube. The distal end can carry a three dimensional structure having an open interior area. One of electrode elements can be steered through the open interior area of the structure. Electrode elements on the exterior of the structure can be used for surface mapping, while the electrode element inside the structure is steered to ablate tissue.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 1996Date of Patent: March 16, 1999Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Stuart D. Edwards
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Patent number: 5879349Abstract: An apparatus that reduces a volume of a selected site in an interior of the tongue includes a handpiece and an electrode at least partially positioned in the interior of the handpiece. The electrode includes an electrode electromagnetic energy delivery surface and is advance able from the interior of the handpiece into the interior of the tongue. An electrode advancement member is coupled to the electrode and configured to advance the electrode an advancement distance in the interior of the tongue. The advancement distance is sufficient for the electrode electromagnetic energy delivery surface to deliver electromagnetic energy to the selected tissue site and reduce a volume of the selected site without damaging a hypoglossal nerve. A cable is coupled to the electrode.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1996Date of Patent: March 9, 1999Assignee: Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Stuart D. Edwards
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Patent number: 5871525Abstract: An antenna assembly has an energy propagating region that is encapsulated in a material having a high dielectric constant for minimizing the loss of energy while having a high thermal conductivity for dissipating conductive heat patterns about the energy propagating region.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 1995Date of Patent: February 16, 1999Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Stuart D. Edwards, Jerome Jackson, Roger A. Stern, Thomas M. Morse, Patrick M. Owens
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Patent number: 5871443Abstract: An electrode assembly for use in interventricular cardiac mapping includes one or more elongated splines each of which carries a plurality of spaced apart electrodes thereon. The body of each spline is formed of a plurality of alternating electrically conductive layers and the electrically non-conductive layers. A separate electrically conductive pathway is provided to connect each of the electrodes to a different one of the conductive layers. Each of the layers is electrically connected to an electrical signal processing device so that signals provided by each of the electrodes can be processed.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 1996Date of Patent: February 16, 1999Assignee: EP Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Stuart D. Edwards, Thomas F. Kordis, David K. Swanson
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Patent number: 5865788Abstract: A method and an apparatus is disclosed for delivering controlled heat to perform ablation to treat the benign prosthetic hypertrophy or hyperplasia (BPH). According to the method and the apparatus, the energy is transferred directly into the tissue mass which is to be treated in such a manner as to provide tissue ablation without damage to surrounding tissues. Automatic shut-off occurs when any one of a number of surrounding areas to include the urethra or surrounding mass or the adjacent organs exceed predetermined safe temperature limits. The constant application of the radio frequency energy over a maintained determined time provides a safe procedure which avoids electrosurgical and other invasive operations while providing fast relief to BPH with a short recovery time. The procedure may be accomplished in a doctor's office without the need for hospitalization or surgery.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1996Date of Patent: February 2, 1999Assignee: Vidamed, Inc.Inventors: Stuart D. Edwards, Hugh R. Sharkey, Ingemar H. Lundquist, Ronald G. Lax, Bruno Strul
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Patent number: 5848986Abstract: A medical probe for the treatment by radio frequency ablation of a target volume in tissue of a human having a urethral channel extending into a base of a bladder along a longitudinal axis. The probe comprises an elongate probe member having proximal and distal extremities and sized so that it can be introduced into the urethra. The elongate probe member has a passage extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity. Guide cannulae are mounted in the passage of the elongate probe member and have proximal and distal extremities with the distal extremities of the guide cannulae being in the vicinity of the distal extremity of the elongate probe member. Each of the guide cannulae has a lumen extending therethrough from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity. A radio frequency conductive electrode is disposed in each lumen. A control handle is secured to the proximal extremity of the elongate probe member.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 1996Date of Patent: December 15, 1998Assignee: Vidamed, Inc.Inventors: Ingemar H. Lundquist, Stuart D. Edwards
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Patent number: 5843026Abstract: A method and an apparatus is disclosed for delivering controlled heat to perform ablation to treat the benign prosthetic hypertrophy or hyperplasia (BPH). According to the method and the apparatus, the energy is transferred directly into the tissue mass which is to be treated in such a manner as to provide tissue ablation without damage to surrounding tissues. Automatic shut-off occurs when any one of a number of surrounding areas to include the urethra or surrounding mass or the adjacent organs exceed predetermined safe temperature limits. The constant application of the radio frequency energy over a maintained determined time provides a safe procedure which avoids electrosurgical and other invasive operations while providing fast relief to BPH with a short recovery time. The procedure may be accomplished in a doctor's office without the need for hospitalization or surgery.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1996Date of Patent: December 1, 1998Assignee: Vidamed, Inc.Inventors: Stuart D. Edwards, Hugh R. Sharkey, Ingemar H. Lundquist, Ronald G. Lax, Bruno Strul
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Patent number: 5843077Abstract: A method and apparatus for ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha. The apparatus includes a catheter having a distal portion with a dimension configured for positioning through a nostril of a patient into a nasal meatus adjacent a nasal concha, and an energy delivery device coupled to the catheter distal portion including one or more energy delivering probes extendable from the catheter distal portion a sufficient distance to be inserted into an interior of the nasal concha to deliver ablative energy therein. The distal portion of the apparatus may also include an expandable member, expansion of the expandable member within the nasal meatus immobilizing the distal portion within the nasal meatus.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1997Date of Patent: December 1, 1998Assignee: Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Stuart D. Edwards
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Patent number: 5843021Abstract: An apparatus that reduces a volume of a selected site in an interior of the tongue includes a handpiece means and an electrode means at least partially positioned in the interior of the handpiece means. The electrode means includes an electrode means electromagnetic energy delivery surface and is advance able from the interior of the handpiece means into the interior of the tongue. An electrode means advancement member is coupled to the electrode means and configured to advance the electrode means an advancement distance in the interior of the tongue. The advancement distance is sufficient for the electrode means electromagnetic energy delivery surface to deliver electromagnetic energy to the selected tissue site and reduce a volume of the selected site without damaging a hypoglossal nerve. A cable means is coupled to the electrode means.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1997Date of Patent: December 1, 1998Assignee: Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Stuart D. Edwards, Ronald G. Lax
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Patent number: 5836906Abstract: An apparatus ablates at least a portion of an interior of a body structure with a reduced chance of body structure infection. A catheter is provided with a catheter tissue interface surface and a port formed in the catheter tissue interface surface. An electrode is at least partially positioned in the interior of the catheter and is configured to be advanced and retracted in and out of the port. The electrode includes an electrode electromagmetic energy delivery surface. A disinfectant medium introduction member coupled to a source of a disinfectant medium and includes a distal end that is configured to extend into an oral cavity. An electrode advancement and retraction device is at least partially positioned in the interior of the catheter. A cable is coupled to the electrode.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1996Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: SOMNUS Medical Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Stuart D. Edwards