Patents by Inventor Thomas Sprinkle

Thomas Sprinkle 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).

  • Publication number: 20230056660
    Abstract: Electrosurgical systems and methods are provided for RF nerve ablation, wherein a control console has multiple RF amplifiers associated with multiple channels, and multiple DC power supplies each dedicated to a corresponding one of the RF amplifiers. Each of a plurality of power supply relays are coupled between one of the DC power supplies and the dedicated corresponding one of the RF amplifiers. A controller is configured to apply switching signals to control each of the power supply relays to selectively switch on and off connections between the DC power supplies and the dedicated corresponding RF amplifiers. The controller may apply control signals to each RF amplifier sequentially, one at a time, to deliver energy separately and independently to each of the corresponding channels. The controller may be configured to apply the switching signals to self-grounding relays to selectively switch on and off connections between the channels and return relays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Sprinkle, Habib Baydoun, Blake Latchford, Edward Crampton
  • Publication number: 20230000544
    Abstract: An assembly for radiofrequency ablation of tissue. The assembly includes a cannula and an electrode. A cannula body includes a cannula bend, and a single side opening radially positioned on an outer side of the cannula body. The outer side may be opposite an inner side on which a tip terminates at a point. A cannula hub may include indicia on a face that corresponds to the inner side. An electrode bend of an electrode body may be formed at a same axial location along its length as the cannula bend is formed along the length of the cannula body. The electrode may include a thermocouple near a distal end of the electrode body to be either directed through the single side opening in a dual active tip mode, or seated in a distal section of the cannula body in a single active tip mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Sprinkle
  • Patent number: 11497543
    Abstract: Electrosurgical systems and methods are provided for RF nerve ablation, wherein a control console is utilized with a passive or active cable accessory connecting to different of electrode attachments, such as monopolar and bipolar self-grounding types. The control console has multiple RF amplifiers that are associated with multiple channels of the control console and that are energized according to control signals non-simultaneously applied by a controller of the control console. The control console stores and processes identification data and usage data relating to cable accessories and electrode attachments that are connected or have been connected to the control console over time. The control console displays a representation of this processed data on a graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Sprinkle, Habib Baydoun, Blake Latchford, Edward Crampton
  • Patent number: 11452561
    Abstract: An assembly for radiofrequency ablation of tissue. A cannula includes a cannula hub and a cannula body including a cannula bend, a lumen, and side opening within an outer side of the cannula bend. An electrode includes an electrode hub and an electrode body dimensioned to be inserted within the lumen of the cannula body in at least first and second rotational orientations as indicated by registration of respective indicia on the cannula and electrode hubs. A distal section of the electrode body extends past the side opening of the cannula body in the first rotational orientation, and the distal section extends through the side opening in the second rotational orientation. The indicia of the cannula hub and the electrode hub may be indicative of the orientation of the cannula bend and an electrode bend, respectively. Methods of performing radiofrequency ablation of the tissue with the assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Sprinkle
  • Publication number: 20200078083
    Abstract: Electrosurgical systems and methods are provided for RF nerve ablation, wherein a control console is utilized with a passive or active cable accessory connecting to different of electrode attachments, such as monopolar and bipolar self-grounding types. The control console has multiple RF amplifiers that are associated with multiple channels of the control console and that are energized according to control signals non-simultaneously applied by a controller of the control console. The control console stores and processes identification data and usage data relating to cable accessories and electrode attachments that are connected or have been connected to the control console over time. The control console displays a representation of this processed data on a graphical user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Sprinkle, Habib Baydoun, Blake Latchford, Edward Crampton
  • Publication number: 20190029748
    Abstract: An assembly for radiofrequency ablation of tissue. A cannula includes a cannula hub and a cannula body including a cannula bend, a lumen, and side opening within an outer side of the cannula bend. An electrode includes an electrode hub and an electrode body dimensioned to be inserted within the lumen of the cannula body in at least first and second rotational orientations as indicated by registration of respective indicia on the cannula and electrode hubs. A distal section of the electrode body extends past the side opening of the cannula body in the first rotational orientation, and the distal section extends through the side opening in the second rotational orientation. The indicia of the cannula hub and the electrode hub may be indicative of the orientation of the cannula bend and an electrode bend, respectively. Methods of performing radiofrequency ablation of the tissue with the assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Sprinkle
  • Patent number: 10159526
    Abstract: A cannula assembly for radiofrequency ablation of tissue. A cannula body includes a cannula distal section including electrically conductive material. A cannula bend is between proximal and distal sections, and a lumen extends between the proximal and distal ends. A side opening is within an outer side of the cannula body and opening into the lumen. A body is dimensioned to be inserted and seated within the lumen of the cannula. The body includes a body bend such that, depending on a rotational orientation of the body relative to the cannula body, a body distal section is seated within the lumen of the cannula distal section or extends out of the side opening. An electrically insulating sleeve may be disposed over the cannula body. Complimentary indicia on a cannula hub and a body hub provide an indication of the rotational orientation of the body relative to the cannula body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: STRYKER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Thomas Sprinkle
  • Publication number: 20180168719
    Abstract: A cannula assembly for radiofrequency ablation of tissue. A cannula body includes a cannula distal section including electrically conductive material. A cannula bend is between proximal and distal sections, and a lumen extends between the proximal and distal ends. A side opening is within an outer side of the cannula body and opening into the lumen. A body is dimensioned to be inserted and seated within the lumen of the cannula. The body includes a body bend such that, depending on a rotational orientation of the body relative to the cannula body, a body distal section is seated within the lumen of the cannula distal section or extends out of the side opening. An electrically insulating sleeve may be disposed over the cannula body. Complimentary indicia on a cannula hub and a body hub provide an indication of the rotational orientation of the body relative to the cannula body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: Stryker Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Sprinkle
  • Patent number: 9221006
    Abstract: Embodiments of oxygen concentrators having a sieve bed that includes a vessel filled with a separation medium are disclosed. The sieve bed vessel at least partially supports one chassis component of the oxygen concentrator with respect to another chassis component. of the oxygen concentrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Invacare Corp.
    Inventors: William Chambers, Dennis Sniezek, Thomas Sprinkle
  • Publication number: 20150342668
    Abstract: An assembly (32) for use as part of an electrosurgical tool system (30). The assembly includes a cannula (42) and an electrode (66). The cannula is formed with a bend (54) proximal to the distal section. The electrode has a bent section (80) formed from a flexible shape memory material. The electrode can be inserted into the cannula so that a distal section of the electrode seats in the distal section of the cannula. In this configuration, the assembly has a single active tip, the distal section of the cannula. Alternatively, the electrode can be oriented so that when the electrode is inserted in the cannula the distal section of the electrode extends out of a side opening (58) of the cannula. In this configuration, the assembly has two active tips, the distal sections of both the cannula and the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas Sprinkle
  • Publication number: 20140007405
    Abstract: Embodiments of oxygen concentrators having a sieve bed that includes a vessel filled with a separation medium are disclosed. The sieve bed vessel at least partially supports one chassis component of the oxygen concentrator with respect to another chassis component. of the oxygen concentrator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Invacare Corporation
    Inventors: William Chambers, Dennis Sniezek, Thomas Sprinkle
  • Patent number: 8562725
    Abstract: Embodiments of oxygen concentrators having a sieve bed that includes a vessel filled with a separation medium are disclosed. The sieve bed vessel at least partially supports one chassis component of the oxygen concentrator with respect to another chassis component. of the oxygen concentrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Invacare Corporation
    Inventors: William Chambers, Dennis Sniezek, Thomas Sprinkle
  • Patent number: 7722700
    Abstract: Component gas is separated from a gas mixture. Component gas flow rate, or demand, is determined. One or more gas separator operating parameters is changed based on the component gas flow rate. For example, gas flow rate can be approximated by measuring a rate of pressure decay of a product tank during a time period in which the tank is not being replenished by the separating system. When it is determined that the flow rate is relatively low, operating parameters of the separating system are changed to improve system performance with the lower demand. For example, a target product tank pressure at which sieve beds are switched can be lowered when demand is lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Invacare Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Sprinkle
  • Publication number: 20080066616
    Abstract: Component gas is separated from a gas mixture. Component gas flow rate, or demand, is determined. One or more gas separator operating parameters is changed based on the component gas flow rate. For example, gas flow rate can be approximated by measuring a rate of pressure decay of a product tank during a time period in which the tank is not being replenished by the separating system. When it is determined that the flow rate is relatively low, operating parameters of the separating system are changed to improve system performance with the lower demand. For example, a target product tank pressure at which sieve beds are switched can be lowered when demand is lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas Sprinkle
  • Publication number: 20060086251
    Abstract: In one aspect, a product gas concentrator is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus may include: a first process separating adsorbable components from a source gaseous mixture, a second process providing concentrated product gas in a continuous output mode, a third process providing concentrated product gas in a pulsed output mode, and a fourth process selectively switching between the continuous and pulsed output modes. In another embodiment, the apparatus may include: a first process pressurizing a source gaseous mixture, a second process separating adsorbable components from the pressurized gaseous mixture, a product tank accumulating concentrated product gas for dispensing, an output path, a third process selecting a volume to be dispensed during a predetermined time, a pressure sensor monitoring pressure of the concentrated product gas, and a fourth process controlling flow of the concentrated product gas in response to the selected volume and the monitored pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas Sprinkle