Patents by Inventor William K. Yee

William K. Yee 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: 20160235495
    Abstract: Assemblies, systems, and methods related to remotely-steerable ablation procedures are described. A necked-down ablation catheter may be coupled within a working lumen of a robotically-steerable sheath configured to be driveably coupled to an electromechanical instrument driver. The ablation catheter may be an irrigated ablation catheter having an irrigation fluid reservoir at its distal tip. The outer diameter of the distal portion of the ablation catheter is generally larger than that of the more proximal aspects due, in part, to the fact that the proximal aspects are designed to fit through a relatively low-profile steerable sheath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel T. Wallace, Katherine Whitin Lee, Sean Murphy, Randall L. Schlesinger, Eric A. Schultheis, William K. Yee
  • Patent number: 9254123
    Abstract: An instrument having a flexible and elongated body includes at least a lumen and a flex member disposed within the lumen. The flex member may be capable of providing steering control to a first portion of the elongate body while providing load bearing support to a second portion of the elongate body. A pull wire may be disposed within the flex member, and at least a distal portion of the pull wire may be coupled to the elongate body and a proximal portion of the pull wire may be operatively coupled to a control unit. The control unit may be coupled to a proximal portion of the elongate body. In addition, a control member may be operatively coupled to the control unit such that a distal portion of the control member may be positioned near a proximal portion of the flex member. The control member may be configured to support the flex member and control the movement or displacement of the flex member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: HANSEN MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffery B. Alvarez, Casey Lewis, Francis MacNamara, Enrique Romo, Neal A. Tanner, William K. Yee
  • Publication number: 20100280320
    Abstract: An instrument having a flexible and elongated body includes at least a lumen and a flex member disposed within the lumen. The flex member may be capable of providing steering control to a first portion of the elongate body while providing load bearing support to a second portion of the elongate body. A pull wire may be disposed within the flex member, and at least a distal portion of the pull wire may be coupled to the elongate body and a proximal portion of the pull wire may be operatively coupled to a control unit. The control unit may be coupled to a proximal portion of the elongate body. In addition, a control member may be operatively coupled to the control unit such that a distal portion of the control member may be positioned near a proximal portion of the flex member. The control member may be configured to support the flex member and control the movement or displacement of the flex member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: HANSEN MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffery B. ALVAREZ, Casey LEWIS, Francis MACNAMARA, William K. YEE
  • Publication number: 20100280525
    Abstract: An instrument having a flexible and elongated body includes at least a lumen and a flex member disposed within the lumen. The flex member may be capable of providing steering control to a first portion of the elongate body while providing load bearing support to a second portion of the elongate body. A pull wire may be disposed within the flex member, and at least a distal portion of the pull wire may be coupled to the elongate body and a proximal portion of the pull wire may be operatively coupled to a control unit. The control unit may be coupled to a proximal portion of the elongate body. In addition, a control member may be operatively coupled to the control unit such that a distal portion of the control member may be positioned near a proximal portion of the flex member. The control member may be configured to support the flex member and control the movement or displacement of the flex member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: HANSEN MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffery B. ALVAREZ, Neal A. TANNER, Casey LEWIS, Francis MACNAMARA, William K. YEE
  • Publication number: 20100280449
    Abstract: An instrument having a flexible and elongated body includes at least a lumen and a flex member disposed within the lumen. The flex member may be capable of providing steering control to a first portion of the elongate body while providing load bearing support to a second portion of the elongate body. A pull wire may be disposed within the flex member, and at least a distal portion of the pull wire may be coupled to the elongate body and a proximal portion of the pull wire may be operatively coupled to a control unit. The control unit may be coupled to a proximal portion of the elongate body. In addition, a control member may be operatively coupled to the control unit such that a distal portion of the control member may be positioned near a proximal portion of the flex member. The control member may be configured to support the flex member and control the movement or displacement of the flex member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: HANSEN MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffery B. ALVAREZ, Casey LEWIS, Francis MACNAMARA, Enrique ROMO, Neal A. TANNER, William K. YEE
  • Publication number: 20090254083
    Abstract: Assemblies, systems, and methods related to remotely-steerable ablation procedures are described. A necked-down ablation catheter may be coupled within a working lumen of a robotically-steerable sheath configured to be driveably coupled to an electromechanical instrument driver. The ablation catheter may be an irrigated ablation catheter having an irrigation fluid reservoir at its distal tip. The outer diameter of the distal portion of the ablation catheter is generally larger than that of the more proximal aspects due, in part, to the fact that the proximal aspects are designed to fit through a relatively low-profile steerable sheath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: Hansen Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel T. Wallace, Katherine Whitin Lee, Sean Murphy, Randall L. Schlesinger, Eric A. Schultheis, William K. Yee