Patents by Inventor Timothy G. Dietz
Timothy G. Dietz 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: 7052453Abstract: Devices and methods for aligning a probe body and a treatment surface adjacent a target tissue. A guide shaft can be positioned in a first body orifice. The probe body can be positioned in a second body orifice in a predetermined position relative to the guide so as to position the treatment surface adjacent the target tissue.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2002Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: Solorant Medical, Inc.Inventors: James B. Presthus, Timothy G. Dietz, Stanley Levy, Jr., F. Allen House, Steven H. Trebotich, Abdul M. Tayeb, Oren A. Mosher, George L. Matlock, Terry E. Spraker
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Patent number: 7004942Abstract: The invention provides improved devices, methods, and systems for shrinking of collagenous tissues, particularly for treating urinary incontinence in a noninvasive manner by directing energy to a patient's own support tissues. This energy gently heats fascia and other collagenous support tissues, causing them to contract. The energy will preferably be applied between a pair of large plate electrodes having cooled flat electrode surfaces separated by an insulating rib or film. Such cooled plate electrodes are capable of directing electrical energy through an intermediate tissue and into fascia while the cooled electrode surface prevents injury to the intermediate tissue.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2003Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Solarant Medical, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Laird, Frank W. Ingle, Garry L. Carter, Timothy G. Dietz
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Patent number: 6882885Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for therapeutically heating a target zone of a collagenous support tissue within a patient body. In exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides electronically determining an acceptable or unacceptable contact condition between an energy source and a first tissue layer disposed proximally to the target zone. Upon determining an acceptable contact condition, the target zone is irradiated or otherwise heated for a finite time period with energy. A determination of an unacceptable contact condition causes cessation of irradiating.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2002Date of Patent: April 19, 2005Assignee: Solarant Medical, Inc.Inventors: Stanley Levy, Jr., Timothy G. Dietz
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Patent number: 6852110Abstract: Methods and devices for improving contact between tissue and a probe. In exemplary embodiments, methods of the present invention include a deploying a needle into a target tissue and retracting the needle so that tenting around the needle is reduced. The retracting of the needle can increase the amount of tissue contact between a surface of the tissue and a surface contacting portion of a probe body.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2002Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: Solarant Medical, Inc.Inventors: Loren L. Roy, Timothy G. Dietz, Stanley Levy, Jr., F. Allen House, Carine Hoarau, Peter A. Tobisch
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Patent number: 6840954Abstract: The present invention enhances the effectiveness of treatment of support tissue structures. Generally, such tissue structures support organs and hold the organs in their proper position for appropriate functioning. When such tissue structures become weak, hyper-elastic, and/or excessively lengthy, the organs of are no longer supported in their proper position. This often leads to physical manifestations such as incontinence, hernias, and the like. Remedies often involve thermal treatment of the support tissue structures, such as thermally inducted controlled shrinkage, contraction, or stiffening of the support tissue structure. To enhance such thermal treatment and diminish the possibility of undesirable heating and damage to nearby tissue surfaces, vasoconstrictive agents are used.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2001Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: Solarant Medical, Inc.Inventors: Timothy G. Dietz, Stanley Levy, Jr.
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Publication number: 20040267336Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for treating the support structures of the body, particularly for incontinence, take advantage of two mechanisms to enhance the support provided by the fascia, ligaments and tendons: first, the invention increases a modulus of elasticity of these tissues, and particularly of the fascial tissues. The increase in modulus can be effected by directing sufficient energy to the fascial tissue so as to promote the formation of scar tissue. The second mechanism attaches tissue planes together, often by directing energy to an interface between adjacent fascial tissues.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Applicant: Solarant Medical, Inc.Inventors: George A. Morrison, Garry L. Carter, Timothy G. Dietz
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Patent number: 6751507Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for treating the support structures of the body, particularly for incontinence, take advantage of two mechanisms to enhance the support provided by the fascia, ligaments and tendons: first, the invention increases a modulus of elasticity of these tissues, and particularly of the fascial tissues. The increase in modulus can be effected by directing sufficient energy to the fascial tissue so as to promote the formation of scar tissue. The second mechanism attaches tissue planes together, often by directing energy to an interface between adjacent fascial tissues.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2001Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Solarant Medical, Inc.Inventors: George A. Morrison, Garry L. Carter, Timothy G. Dietz
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Publication number: 20040024433Abstract: Methods and devices for improving contact between tissue and a probe. In exemplary embodiments, methods of the present invention include a deploying a needle into a target tissue and retracting the needle so that tenting around the needle is reduced. The retracting of the needle can increase the amount of tissue contact between a surface of the tissue and a surface contacting portion of a probe body.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2002Publication date: February 5, 2004Applicant: SURx, Inc.Inventors: Loren L. Roy, Timothy G. Dietz, Stanley Levy, F. Allen House, Carine Hoarau, Peter A. Tobisch
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Patent number: 6685623Abstract: Devices and methods for aligning a probe body and electrodes adjacent a target tissue. A guide shaft can be coupled to the probe body for entering a first body orifice. The probe body can be positioned in a second body orifice such that coupling of the probe body and guide shaft positions the electrodes adjacent the target tissue. In exemplary embodiments, the guide shaft is coupled at an offset angular alignment from the probe body.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2001Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: SURx, Inc.Inventors: James B. Presthus, Timothy G. Dietz, Stanley Levy, Jr., F. Allen House, Steven H. Trebotich
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Patent number: 6676592Abstract: A dual coil floating mass transducer for assisting a person's hearing is provided. Inertial vibration of the housing of the floating mass transducer produces vibrations in the inner ear. A magnet is disposed within the housing biased by silicone springs so that friction is reduced between the magnet and the interior surface of the housing. Two coils reside within grooves in the exterior of the housing which cause the magnet to vibrate when an electrical signal is applied to the coils.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2002Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Symphonix Devices, Inc.Inventors: Geoffrey R. Ball, August C. Pombo, Christopher A. Julian, Eric M. Jaeger, Timothy G. Dietz, Bob H. Katz
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Publication number: 20030181965Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for therapeutically heating a target zone of a collagenous support tissue within a patient body. In exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides electronically determining an acceptable or unacceptable contact condition between an energy source and a first tissue layer disposed proximally to the target zone. Upon determining an acceptable contact condition, the target zone is irradiated or otherwise heated for a finite time period with energy. A determination of an unacceptable contact condition causes cessation of irradiating.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2002Publication date: September 25, 2003Applicant: SURx, Inc.Inventors: Stanley Levy, Timothy G. Dietz
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Publication number: 20030144576Abstract: Devices and methods for aligning a probe body and a treatment surface adjacent a target tissue. A guide shaft can be positioned in a first body orifice. The probe body can be positioned in a second body orifice in a predetermined position relative to the guide so as to position the treatment surface adjacent the target tissue.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2002Publication date: July 31, 2003Applicant: SURx, Inc. a Delaware CorporationInventors: James B. Presthus, Timothy G. Dietz, Stanley Levy, F. Allen House, Steven H. Trebotich, Abdul M. Tayeb, Oren A. Mosher, George L. Matlock, Terry E. Spraker
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Publication number: 20030135249Abstract: The invention provides improved devices, methods, and systems for shrinking of collagenous tissues, particularly for treating urinary incontinence in a noninvasive manner by directing energy to a patient's own support tissues. This energy gently heats fascia and other collagenous support tissues, causing them to contract. The energy will preferably be applied between a pair of large plate electrodes having cooled flat electrode surfaces separated by an insulating rib or film. Such cooled plate electrodes are capable of directing electrical energy through an intermediate tissue and into fascia while the cooled electrode surface prevents injury to the intermediate tissue.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2003Publication date: July 17, 2003Applicant: SURx, IncorporatedInventors: Robert J. Laird, Frank W. Ingle, Garry L. Carter, Timothy G. Dietz
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Publication number: 20030120326Abstract: The present invention enhances the effectiveness of treatment of support tissue structures. Generally, such tissue structures support organs and hold the organs in their proper position for appropriate functioning. When such tissue structures become weak, hyper-elastic, and/or excessively lengthy, the organs of are no longer supported in their proper position. This often leads to physical manifestations such as incontinence, hernias, and the like. Remedies often involve thermal treatment of the support tissue structures, such as thermally inducted controlled shrinkage, contraction, or stiffening of the support tissue structure. To enhance such thermal treatment and diminish the possibility of undesirable heating and damage to nearby tissue surfaces, vasoconstrictive agents are used.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2001Publication date: June 26, 2003Applicant: SURx, Inc.Inventors: Timothy G. Dietz, Stanley Levy
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Publication number: 20030097038Abstract: Devices and methods for aligning a probe body and electrodes adjacent a target tissue. A guide shaft can be coupled to the probe body for entering a first body orifice The probe body can be positioned in a second body orifice such that coupling of the probe body and guide shaft positions the electrodes adjacent the target tissue. In exemplary embodiments, the guide shaft is coupled at an offset angular alignment from the probe body.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2001Publication date: May 22, 2003Applicant: SURx, Inc.Inventors: James B. Presthus, Timothy G. Dietz, Stanley Levy, F. Allen House, Steven H. Trebotich
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Publication number: 20030060676Abstract: A dual coil floating mass transducer for assisting a person's hearing is provided. Inertial vibration of the housing of the floating mass transducer produces vibrations in the inner ear. A magnet is disposed within the housing biased by silicone springs so that friction is reduced between the magnet and the interior surface of the housing. Two coils reside within grooves in the exterior of the housing which cause the magnet to vibrate when an electrical signal is applied to the coils.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2002Publication date: March 27, 2003Applicant: SYMPHONIX DEVICES, INC.Inventors: Geoffrey R. Ball, August C. Pombo, Christopher A. Julian, Eric M. Jaeger, Timothy G. Dietz, Bob H. Katz
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Patent number: 6533780Abstract: The invention provides improved devices, methods, and systems for shrinking of collagenous tissues, particularly for treating urinary incontinence in a noninvasive manner by directing energy to a patient's own support tissues. This energy gently heats fascia and other collagenous support tissues, causing them to contract. The energy will preferably be applied between a pair of large plate electrodes having cooled flat electrode surfaces separated by an insulating rib or film. Such cooled plate electrodes are capable of directing electrical energy through an intermediate tissue and into fascia while the cooled electrode surface prevents injury to the intermediate tissue.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2000Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: SURx, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Laird, Frank W. Ingle, Garry L. Carter, Timothy G. Dietz
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Patent number: 6475134Abstract: A dual coil floating mass transducer for assisting a person's hearing is provided. Inertial vibration of the housing of the floating mass transducer produces vibrations in the inner ear. A magnet is disposed within the housing biased by silicone springs so that friction is reduced between the magnet and the interior surface of the housing. Two coils reside within grooves in the exterior of the housing which cause the magnet to vibrate when an electrical signal is applied to the coils.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 1999Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: Symphonix Devices, Inc.Inventors: Geoffrey R. Ball, August C. Pombo, Christopher A. Julian, Eric M. Jaeger, Timothy G. Dietz, Bob H. Katz
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Publication number: 20010044642Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for treating the support structures of the body, particularly for incontinence, take advantage of two mechanisms to enhance the support provided by the fascia, ligaments and tendons: first, the invention increases a modulus of elasticity of these tissues, and particularly of the fascial tissues. The increase in modulus can be effected by directing sufficient energy to the fascial tissue so as to promote the formation of scar tissue. The second mechanism attaches tissue planes together, often by directing energy to an interface between adjacent fascial tissues.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2001Publication date: November 22, 2001Inventors: George A. Morrison, Garry L. Carter, Timothy G. Dietz
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Patent number: 6292700Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for treating the support structures of the body, particularly for incontinence, take advantage of two mechanisms to enhance the support provided by the fascia, ligaments and tendons: first, the invention increases a modulus of elasticity of these tissues, and particularly of the fascial tissues. The increase in modulus can be effected by directing sufficient energy to the fascial tissue so as to promote the formation of scar tissue. The second mechanism attaches tissue planes together, often by directing energy to an interface between adjacent fascial tissues.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1999Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Assignee: SURx, Inc.Inventors: George A. Morrison, Garry L. Carter, Timothy G. Dietz