With Optical Fiber Patents (Class 606/15)
  • Patent number: 11903559
    Abstract: A medical apparatus including an endoscopic tool including first and second members longitudinally slidable relative to each other; and a control connected to a proximal end of the endoscopic tool. The control includes a housing and an actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism is longitudinally slidably connected to the housing. The actuation mechanism has the first member and/or the second member connected thereto. The housing includes a connector configured to removably connect the housing to a control section of an endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Carroux, Kurt G. Shelton, Christopher A. Cook
  • Patent number: 11896249
    Abstract: A system to deliver energy to treat a mobile calculus, the system can include a drill and a lateral energy emitter. The drill can be configured to drill a recess into the mobile calculus or a passage through the mobile calculus. The lateral energy emitter can be configured to be advanced into the recess or the passage and to transmit the energy internal to the mobile calculus to fragment the mobile calculus. In some examples, the system can include a deployable capture portion to constrain a stone relative to the capture portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Schmitt, Charles Baker
  • Patent number: 11871989
    Abstract: A laser fiber probe comprises two parts, a suction sheath and a fiber conduit, which are combined together. The suction sheath has an opening in the distal end of the suction sheath and the opening is either completely in the side of the suction sheath, or in combination of part the terminal and the side. The fiber conduit has a fiber position regulator functioning to move forward or backward of the fiber tip to approach the suction opening. The relative position of the suction sheath and the fiber conduit of the fiber probe or is fixed, or can be changed through turning movement. The laser fiber probe further comprises a suction switcher to turn on or off the suction channel. The fiber probe has applications in calculus and tissue fragmentation and simultaneously evacuates them away out of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventor: Yishuai Xiong
  • Patent number: 11839391
    Abstract: A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a vessel wall (108A) of a blood vessel (108) within a body (107) of a patient (109) includes an energy source (124), a catheter fluid (132), and an emitter assembly (129). The energy source (124) generates energy. The emitter assembly (129) includes (i) at least a portion of an energy guide (122A) having a guide distal end (122D) that is selectively positioned near the treatment site (106), (ii) a plasma generator (133), and (iii) an emitter housing (260) that is secured to each of the energy guide (122A) and the plasma generator (133) to maintain a relative position between the guide distal end (122D) of the energy guide (122A) and the plasma generator (133). The energy guide (122A) is configured to receive energy from the energy source (124) and direct the energy toward the plasma generator (133) to generate a plasma bubble (134) in the catheter fluid (132).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Bolt Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Schultheis, Alvin Salinas, Alan Duong
  • Patent number: 11813020
    Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure pertain to a device with an elongated body having a distal end. The distal end may comprise a port that permits discharge of a laser energy towards a tissue from an optical fiber located in the distal end. An exterior surface of the distal end may include a cauterization portion that permits discharge of a cauterization energy towards the tissue. In some aspects, the device includes an insulative portion that attaches the distal end to the elongated body and limits energy transfer therebetween. Related systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Wang, Wen-Jui Ray Chia, Rongwei Jason Xuan, Jian James Zhang, Aditi Ray, Honggang Yu
  • Patent number: 11781857
    Abstract: An optical force sensor along with an optical processing apparatus and method are disclosed. The optical force sensor includes an optical fiber, a core included in the optical fiber, an instrument including the optical fiber, the instrument having a distal region, and a tubular structure encasing an end of the optical fiber and secured to the first conduit at the distal region of the instrument. When an optical interferometric system is coupled to the optical fiber, it processes reflected light from a portion of the core included within the tubular structure that does not include Bragg gratings to produce a measurement of a force present at the distal region of the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Dawn K. Gifford, Federico Barbagli, Samuel Chang, Anoop B. Kowshik, Oliver Wagner, Michael Paris, Mark Froggatt
  • Patent number: 11730979
    Abstract: Provided herein are noninvasive stimulation methods and apparatus for the treatment of injury to tissues using a novel pulsed laser system that combines the benefits of near-infrared laser light and optoacoustic waves. In certain embodiments, short, high-energy laser light pulses generate low intensity ultrasound waves that travel deep into brain tissues to stimulate neural function and treat neurological dysfunctions. In certain embodiments, a patient interface is provided wherein optoacoustic waves are produced by a plurality of optical absorbers overlying all of a plurality of optical fibers while in other embodiments optoacoustic waves are generated both inside the tissue and outside the tissue via a plurality of optical absorbers overlying some but not all of the optical fibers thus enabling an option of varying proportions of optoacoustic waves generated inside and outside of tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Rinat O. Esenaliev, Maria-Adelaide Micci, Donald S. Prough
  • Patent number: 11712309
    Abstract: A method for magnetic tracking of a flexible catheter device or another flexible elongated device, the method comprising: receiving by a host server a plurality of sensed values of a local magnetic field, sensed by a respective plurality of sensors, wherein the host server is optionally included in a controller of the sensors, the sensors are located along a flexible tube of a device, wherein the sensed values are at least partially due to at least one alternating magnetic field generated by at least one magnetic field generator, the source amplitude and frequency of each generated magnetic field are given to the host server; and calculating by the host server, based on the sensed magnetic field values and the given source amplitude and frequency of each generated magnetic field, a localization of the flexible tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Magnisity Ltd.
    Inventors: Ron Barak, Ariel Birenbaum, Benjamin Greenburg
  • Patent number: 11686995
    Abstract: An image capturing device comprises an elongated body, an imaging window coupled to a distal end of the elongated body, and a heat source within the elongated body. The heat source is configured to apply heat to the imaging window to remove condensation from or prevent condensation from forming on the imaging window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan Halderman, John A Barton, Mathew Clopp, Rumen Deyanov, Anqi Fan, Yves Lacroix, Derek C. Liou, Theodore W. Rogers
  • Patent number: 11684420
    Abstract: There is provided herein a catheter for resecting an undesired tissue from a body of a subject, the catheter comprising a tip section in a shape of a cylinder or a cylinder's sector having a central longitudinal axis, the tip section comprising: a central longitudinal lumen; a first set of optical fibers configured to transmit laser radiation outside a distal extremity of the tip section, in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis; a second set of optical fibers configured to transmit laser radiation, transversely to the central longitudinal axis; wherein the first set of optical fibers and the second set of optical fibers are selectively operable to resect and/or ablate the undesired tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: EXIMO MEDICAL LTD.
    Inventors: Ilan Ben Oren, Yoel Zabar, Oren Meshulam Stern
  • Patent number: 11660462
    Abstract: An implant system for photodynamic therapy with a light source for radiating light which is implantable in a resection cavity, and with an autonomous control unit which is connectable via a supply line to the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Inventors: Felix Capanni, Marc-Eric Halatsch
  • Patent number: 11660427
    Abstract: A catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures in a vascular lesion within or adjacent a vessel wall, includes a catheter and a superheating system. The catheter can advance to the vascular lesion. The catheter includes an elongate shaft and a balloon coupled to the elongate shaft. The balloon includes a balloon wall. The balloon moves between a collapsed configuration and a first expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the catheter in position relative to a treatment site. The superheating system can heat a balloon fluid within the balloon rapidly enough to achieve spontaneous vaporization of the balloon fluid and to generate inertial bubbles and acoustic pressure waves. The superheating system can include a first light guide extending along the elongate shaft. The first light guide is in optical communication with a light source at a proximal portion of the first light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Roger W. McGowan, Daniel Frank Massimini, Christopher Smuk, Haiping Shao
  • Patent number: 11648057
    Abstract: A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or a heart valve, includes a light source, a balloon, a light guide and an optical analyzer assembly. The light source generates first light energy. The balloon is positionable substantially adjacent to the treatment site. The balloon has a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior that receives a balloon fluid. The light guide receives the first light energy and guides the first light energy in a first direction from a guide proximal end toward a guide distal end positioned within the balloon interior. The optical analyzer assembly optically analyzes a second light energy from the light guide that moves in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. The optical analyzer assembly includes a safety shutdown system to inhibit the first light energy from being received by the guide proximal end of the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Bolt Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Cook, Eric Schultheis, Rachel Lynn Troutman, James Dee Swift
  • Patent number: 11638591
    Abstract: A tool has a handle and an elongate shaft that extends distally from the handle. A distal portion of the shaft is inserted into a subject during a surgical procedure. An optical fiber delivers laser energy to a tip at the distal portion of the shaft. The tip includes a mechanical cutting mechanism including a moving part that absorbs the laser energy, thermally conducts the absorbed energy to tissue that is disposed between the moving part and another part, and moves with respect to the other part in order to cut tissue that is disposed between the parts using a mechanical force that is lower than a mechanical force that would be required to cut the tissue in the absence of the laser energy. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: TAG DREAM MEDICAL LTD.
    Inventors: Yuval Perets, Yaron Tal, Dan Michael, Ran Weisman, Hagay Sitry, Hagay Botansky, Yehuda Ben Ami, Zachary Shane Sacks, Dan Nabel
  • Patent number: 11633576
    Abstract: A multi-purpose balloon intra-cavity catheter includes a catheter having a proximal end portion, a central portion and a non-branching distal end portion, a plurality of lumens associated with the catheter extending from the proximal end portion, and a plurality of inflatable balloons positioned in the central portion and/or the non-branching distal end portion. Each of the plurality of inflatable balloons is communicatively associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of lumens, the plurality of inflatable balloons being selectively inflated or deflated to position and stabilize the catheter in a cavity for delivery of a medical treatment. The catheter can include an extraction opening associated with a lumen to remove fluids and materials from the cavity, and a connector associated with a corresponding lumen adapted to selectively receive one or more of a fluid medium or a radioactive isotope provided to a corresponding lumen for delivery of the medical treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Best Medical International, Inc.
    Inventor: Manny R. Subramanian
  • Patent number: 11602641
    Abstract: A light treatment system includes: a probe configured to be inserted into a bladder, the probe including an optical fiber configured to propagate light, and a light emitter that is provided at a distal end of the optical fiber, the light emitter being configured to emit the light; and a balloon catheter into which the probe is inserted, the balloon catheter being configured to be inserted into the bladder, the balloon catheter including a distal end portion that is to be dilated in the bladder, a wall configured to divide inside of the distal end portion into two regions, and a reflector configured to reflect the light emitted by the light emitter, the reflector being provided on a surface of the wall, the surface facing a region of the two regions, the region being where the light emitter is positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Suzuki, Takeshi Yamazaki, Koji Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11592606
    Abstract: The invention relates to a positioning apparatus (100) for positioning a light-guiding fiber (206) in a calibration port (208) of a medical apparatus (202) comprising at least one light source (204) for the light-guiding fiber (206), wherein the positioning apparatus (100) comprises an elongate body (102) with two end faces (110, 112) and at least one side face (116). A channel (104) for receiving the light-guiding fiber (206) is formed in the body (102), said channel extending along a longitudinal axis of the body (102) proceeding from a first end face (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Omicron-Laserage Laserprodukte GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Dinges, Wolfgang Fürstenberg, Sönke-Nils Baumann
  • Patent number: 11576559
    Abstract: A direct vision cryosurgical and methods of use are described herein where the device may generally comprise an elongated rigid structure with a distal end, a proximal end, and a central lumen. The distal end may comprise a non-coring optically transparent needle tip with at least one lateral fenestration in communication with the central lumen. The distal end may also house at least one imaging device configured for distal imaging. A proximal end of the device may comprise a handle with a means for connecting the imaging device(s) to an imaging display(s), and a means for accessing bodily tissue in the vicinity of the distal end with a cryo-ablation probe through the central lumen and the lateral fenestration(s) for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Arrinex, Inc.
    Inventors: Vahid Saadat, Matthew Herron, Richard C. Ewers
  • Patent number: 11564743
    Abstract: Device and method for selectively ablating a submucosal layer of a duodenal wall and/or of sensory neurons therein, including a laser transmitting element coupled with the catheter body and configured to transmit a laser beam having a spot diameter of less than 200 microns and to provide an ablative dose of 0.5-2.5 J/mm; wherein the laser beam is configured to selectively ablate an area of the submucosal layer that is at least twice the size of the spot diameter, while essentially preventing damage of the surrounding mucosal, muscularis and/or serosal layers of the duodenal wall; and an expandable member configured to stretch the duodenal wall and to generate a fixed distance between the catheter's laser transmitting element and the duodenal wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: DIGMA MEDICAL LTD.
    Inventors: Ilan Ben Oren, Boaz Behar
  • Patent number: 11550141
    Abstract: A video endoscope with lateral viewing direction including a shaft having proximal and distal ends, an objective lens in the distal end, an image sensor, and a main body at the proximal end. Where a first grip rotationally fixed relative to the shaft and the main body to rotate the shaft and the main body to change the viewing direction of the objective lens. A second grip is disposed on the main body to be rotatable relative to the shaft and the main body to maintain a horizontal position of the image sensor when the viewing direction is changed. An annular seal is disposed between the second grip and the main body and/or the first grip. The seal includes a circumferentially wound coil spring having windings oriented such that a surface vector of a surface spanned by a single winding points substantially in a circumferential direction of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS WINTER & IBE GMBH
    Inventor: Alrun Thuemen
  • Patent number: 11540775
    Abstract: The embodiments include an apparatus used in combination with a computer for sensing biopotentials. The apparatus includes a catheter in which there is a plurality of sensing electrodes, a corresponding plurality of local amplifiers, each coupled to one of the plurality of sensing electrodes, a data, control and power circuit coupled to the plurality of local amplifiers, and a photonic device bidirectionally communicating an electrical signal with the data, control and power circuit. An optical fiber optically communicated with the photonic device. The photonic device bidirectionally communicates an optical signal with the optical fiber. An optical interface device provides optical power to the optical fiber and thence to the photonic device and receives optical signals through the optical fiber from the photonic device. The optical interface device bidirectionally communicates an electrical data, control and power signal to the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Neuro-Kinesis Inc.
    Inventors: Josh Shachar, Marc Rocklinger, Eli Gang
  • Patent number: 11517374
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes catheter systems and methods for treatment of occlusions, including coronary artery chronic total occlusions. The catheter system comprises a catheter coupled to a control system with a distal end inserted into a patient and proximal to a location within a blood vessel with an occlusion. The catheter comprises a flexible outer sheath surrounding a housing with a plurality of lumens to perform various functions to penetrate occlusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventors: Marc D. Feldman, Thomas E. Milner, Nitesh Katta, Arnold Estrada, Meagan Oglesby, Andrew Giles Cabe, Mehmet Cilingiroglu
  • Patent number: 11497482
    Abstract: Methods and devices described herein facilitate ablation patterns on the heart within a pericardial sac and without opening or deflating the lungs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: James G. Whayne, Sidney D. Fleischman
  • Patent number: 11464670
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for cooling an organ locally, that includes an elongate stem including a far end intended to make contact with an organ to be cooled and comprising including a cooling element having a cold finger, a crystal that has a capacity to cool via excitation at a set excitation wavelength, said crystal being positioned adjacent to said cooling element, an optical guide that is able to convey a light signal at said excitation wavelength and that opens onto said crystal, and an illuminating system including at least one light source, which light source is arranged to emit said light signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, UNIVERSITE GRENOBLE ALPES, CENTRE HOSPITALIER UNIVERSITAIRE GRENOBLE ALPES
    Inventors: Nicolas Aubert, Claude Chabrol, Stephan Chabardes, Laurent Duraffourg
  • Patent number: 11446087
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards medical optical fibers with protective tips for use with endoscopes for laser based treatment of internal bodily organs and method of manufacture therefor. The medical optical fibers have a short stripped medical optical fiber section and a protective tip provided thereon to encapsulate both the stripped medical optical fiber section and the jacket tip immediately therebehind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Lumenis Ltd.
    Inventors: Tal Waisman, Arkady Khachaturov
  • Patent number: 11439800
    Abstract: A sheath assembly includes a first sheath, a second sheath, and an attachment mechanism. The first sheath includes a first sheath inner surface defining a first sheath lumen extending along a first sheath central longitudinal axis between a first sheath first end portion and a first sheath second end portion. The second sheath includes a second sheath inner surface defining a second sheath lumen extending along a second sheath longitudinal axis between a second sheath first end portion and a second sheath second end portion. The attachment mechanism couples the second sheath to the first sheath. The attachment mechanism includes an attachment mechanism step-up dilation. At least a portion of the attachment mechanism is asymmetrical, at the attachment mechanism step-up dilation, about the first sheath central longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: EvolutionMedVentures, LLC
    Inventors: Sameer Gafoor, Ahmed Elmouelhi
  • Patent number: 11439464
    Abstract: The device serves for the controlled conveying of a cable. The device has a housing, having a cover plate, on which are externally mounted a drive wheel and contact wheel which can be radially pressed onto the drive wheel, between which the cable can be clamped. The cable can be conveyed by means of the drive wheel being driven by a drive unit in the interior of the housing. The rotational motion of the drive wheel is guided through a stationary light barrier by means of a counting disc, running synchronously therewith and having radial slots or holes in the circumferential area, for determining the motion and rotational speed of the drive wheel. The cover plate and the housing can be sterilized. The drive unit in the interior of the housing is not sterilizable, yet is completely enclosed by the sterilized housing and cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventors: Karl Pieper, Thilo Schmuck
  • Patent number: 11432963
    Abstract: Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a surgical laser system comprising first laser source configured to emit a first laser beam with a first wavelength and a second laser source configured to emit a second laser beam with a second wavelength. The surgical laser system further comprises a first diffraction optical element (DOE) tuned to the first wavelength and a second DOE tuned to the second wavelength, wherein the first DOE is configured to diffract the first laser beam into one or more first diffracted beams at a diffraction angle and the second DOE is configured to diffract the second laser beam into one or more second diffracted beams at the same diffraction angle. The surgical laser system further comprises one or more beam splitters configured to reflect the one or more first diffracted beams and the one or more second diffracted beams onto a lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Bruno Lassalas, Mark Harrison Farley, Alireza Mirsepassi, Ronald T. Smith
  • Patent number: 11420073
    Abstract: A method of treating eyelid laxity in a subject comprising exposing a tarsal plate of an eye, and applying to at least part of the exposed tarsal plate a photosensitizer that initiates crosslinking in response to photo-activating radiation; and irradiating the exposed tarsal plate with photo-activating radiation to initiate crosslinking in the tarsal plate tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Queensland Eye Institute Foundation
    Inventors: Tai Mountford Smith, Brendan Gerard Cronin, Shuko Suzuki, Traian Vasile Chirila
  • Patent number: 11419679
    Abstract: Apparatus for the treatment of a target tissue with a laser beam in which the target tissue is immersed in a liquid medium within a body lumen. The laser device is configured to provide one or more laser pulses which are configured by a controller to have an energy sufficient to form one or more vapor bubbles in the liquid medium at the distal delivery end of the fiber. The one or more pulses are configured by the controller to: first, cause a vapor bubble to be formed distally of the distal end portion of the endoscope and around the distal delivery end of the optical fiber; second, cause a second bubble to be formed distally of the first bubble; and, third, inflate the second bubble as the first bubble has begun to collapse to expand an amount sufficient to displace a substantial portion of the liquid medium from the space between the distal delivery end of the fiber and the target tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Lumenis Ltd.
    Inventors: Arkady Khachaturov, Tal Waisman, Eyal Benisty, Mikhael Feldchtein
  • Patent number: 11399892
    Abstract: A side-fire laser fiber includes an optical fiber having a distal end and a fiber cap. The fiber cap is coupled to the distal end of the optical fiber and includes a molded reflective surface and a sealed cavity. The molded reflective surface defines a wall of the cavity. Laser energy discharged from the distal end along a central axis of the optical fiber is reflected off the molded reflective surface in a direction that is transverse to the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Honggang Yu, Rongwei Jason Xuan, Jian James Zhang
  • Patent number: 11395700
    Abstract: A protective structure for the distal treatment end of a surgical laser fiber inserted into a patient through a scope includes uniformly-spaced ruler or scale markings that are visible through the scope and that enable the size of an object within the field of view of the scope to be precisely determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: OPTICAL INTEGRITY, INC.
    Inventors: Joe D. Brown, Daniel Malphurs, Howard S. Klymas
  • Patent number: 11363965
    Abstract: A digital topographic model of the luminal surface is generated by projecting an optical pattern on the luminal surface from the first location within the lumen. At least a portion of the projected pattern is detected from a second location within the lumen which is based apart from the first location. The dimensions of the luminal wall can be measured by triangulation in order to produce the digital topographic model of the body lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: VS Medtech, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger A. Stern
  • Patent number: 11357261
    Abstract: There is provided an aerosol generating device (10), the device comprising: a target (11); a laser emitter (13) configured to emit light and vaporise a vaporisable material at the target in use; and an optional light guide (14) for guiding light emitted from the laser emitter to the target. There is also provided an aerosol generating system comprising the aerosol generating device and further comprising an outer shell (400A, 400B) for receiving the aerosol generating device in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew Robert John Rogan, Roland Stalder
  • Patent number: 11350819
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes an endoscope including a control section, an insertion section, and a light guide member, a light source configured to emit light guided by the light guide member, a failure-cause detecting circuit configured to detect a pre-failure state that causes a failure of the endoscope, and a light source controller configured to control an output of the light source based on a detection result of the failure-cause detecting circuit. The failure-cause detecting circuit includes a cause predicting circuit configured to detect a second pre-failure state in which it is predicted that the endoscope reaches a first pre-failure state that directly causes the failure of the endoscope. The light source controller controls the output of the light source based on a detection result of the cause predicting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinori Tanaka, Masahiro Nishio
  • Patent number: 11350964
    Abstract: Prostate treatment using fluid stream to resect prostate tissue, thereby relieving symptoms of conditions such as BPH, prostatitis, and prostatic carcinoma. A device having a fluid delivery element is positioned within a lumen of the urethra within the prostate. A fluid stream is directed outwardly from the fluid delivery element toward a wall of the urethral lumen. The fluid delivery element is moved to scan the fluid stream over the wall to remove a volume of tissue surrounding the lumen. The fluid may be combined with therapeutically active substances or with substances that increase resection efficiency. Fluid force may be adjusted to provide selective tissue resection such that soft tissue is removed while harder tissue is left undamaged. In order to gain a working space within the urethra, another fluid may be introduced to insufflate the urethra in the region of treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: AquaBeam, LLC
    Inventors: Nikolai Aljuri, Rodney C. Perkins
  • Patent number: 11331145
    Abstract: The device comprises: —an outer tubular structure (21) having a closed terminal end; —an inner tubular structure (23), positioned in the outer tubular structure, and having a side wall with a terminal end and defining an inner volume, configured to receive a light guide (27); in which between the outer tubular structure (21) and the inner tubular structure (23) a first gap (25) for circulation of a coolant is formed; At least a portion of the external tubular structure (21) or the internal tubular structure (23) is diffusing to an electromagnetic radiation propagating in the light guide (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: ELESTA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Leonardo Masotti, Luca Breschi
  • Patent number: 11330968
    Abstract: An arrangement for sterile handling of a non-sterile endoscope in a sterile environment includes a sterile endoscope sheath having an optical element arranged at its distal end, and a non-sterile endoscope. The optical element has a light-reflecting element or a light-reflecting area which reflects detection light emitted by the detection light source as reflection light toward a proximal end of the endoscope sheath. The non-sterile endoscope includes an endoscope shaft, an illumination optical system, and an observation optical system. The non-sterile endoscope is received in the endoscope sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Beyer, Fabian Weise
  • Patent number: 11311337
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides, according to some embodiments, methods and systems for selectively reducing, blocking or inhibiting at least part of the neural activity in an organ of a subject. In preferred embodiments, the method and system are used for selectively blocking at least part of the neural activity in a duodenum of a subject in need thereof. According to some embodiments, the selective blocking occurs through use of laser radiation. According to some embodiments, the selective blocking comprises causing damage to at least part of sensory nerves located within a target area while maintaining functional activity of tissue surrounding the sensory nerves. According to some embodiments, the sensory nerves include neurons configured to transmit signals triggered by food passing through the duodenum, such as, but not limited to, neurohormonal signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: DIGMA MEDICAL LTD.
    Inventors: Ilan Ben-Oren, Avia Herschkovitz, Tamir Wolf, Irit Yaniv
  • Patent number: 11298185
    Abstract: An Optical fiber with modified distal end and related methods are provided. The optical fiber extends from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion and includes a core, a cladding, a coating, and an optional jacket. The distal end portion comprises a portion with an enlarged outer diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: LEONI Kabel GmbH
    Inventors: Angelina Bogatzki, Patrick Stock
  • Patent number: 11278352
    Abstract: A distal end of an optical fiber may be protected by a variety of alternative protective caps, tips, and/or sleeves. In one example, a generally cylindrical soft tip is arranged to fit over the end of the fiber, and to compress in an axial direction when pressed against a stone to allow a recessed tip of the fiber to contact the stone or to be maintain a minimum spacing between the fiber tip and the stone and thereby limit erosion of the fiber tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: OPTICAL INTEGRITY, INC.
    Inventor: Joe D. Brown
  • Patent number: 11241587
    Abstract: Apparatus for illuminating comprises one or more fibers, the one or more fibers including fiber portions meeting at an apex and a bottom location to form a three dimensional cage; a detector attached to each of the fiber portions for receiving light and transmitting light along each of the fiber portions, respectively; and an illumination member situated within the cage. A method for illuminating a hollow member includes the steps of inserting one or more fibers into the hollow member, wherein one or more fibers include fiber portions that meet at a location to form a three-dimensional cage; permitting light to emit from within the three-dimensional cage and towards the fiber portions; receiving light at distinct locations on each of said fibers; and allowing each of the fibers to transmit the light received on each of the fiber portions out of the hollow member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignees: Theralase Technologies, Inc., University Health Network
    Inventors: Lothar Lilge, Arkady Mandel, Wayne Embree, Don Lem, Jenny Wu, Roger Dumoulin-White
  • Patent number: 11243348
    Abstract: A high-density optical fiber ribbon is formed by two or more cladding-strengthened glass optical fibers each having an outer surface and that do not individually include a protective polymer coating. A common protective coating substantially surrounds the outer surfaces of the two or more cladding-strengthened glass optical fibers so that the common protective coating is common to the two or more cladding-strengthened glass optical fibers. A fiber ribbon cable is formed by adding a cover assembly to the fiber ribbon. A fiber ribbon interconnect is formed adding one or more optical connectors to the fiber ribbon or fiber ribbon cable. Optical data transmission systems that employ the fiber ribbon to optically connect to a photonic device are also disclosed. Methods of forming the cladding-strengthened glass optical fibers and the high-density optical fiber ribbons are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Philip Simon Brown, Matthew Ryan Drake, Richard Michael Fiacco, Mandakini Kanungo, Ming-Jun Li, Jeffery Scott Stone, Qi Wu, Haitao Zhang
  • Patent number: 11229423
    Abstract: A tissue collecting instrument which cuts and collects tissue includes a first member formed in a tubular shape and including an internal space and a side hole communicating with the internal space, a second member inserted into the internal space and configured to be movable relative to the first member, a first protruding portion provided on the first member and configured to protrude toward the inside of the side hole, and a second protruding portion provided on the second member and configured to protrude in a direction opposite to the first protruding portion, wherein the tissue is able to enter the internal space through the side hole when the first member and the second member are in a positional relationship in which the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion are spaced apart and facing each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: NANO GRAINS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keita Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11191976
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a catheter having a catheter body, a light emitter disposed at a distal end of the catheter body, and a fluid conduit coupleable to a source of fluid. The fluid conduit configured to discharge fluid from the source via the conduit and out a distal end of the catheter body. A spacing member is disposed at the distal end of the catheter body and can be moved between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. In the expanded configuration, the spacing member is disposed about the light emitter. The spacing member is at least partially transmissive and/or transflective of light emitted from the light emitter. The apparatus configured to be inserted at least partially into a body lumen, to discharge fluid into the body lumen, and to emit light from the light emitter to illuminate an interior wall of the body lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Prometheus Therapeutics Inc.
    Inventors: Baruch B. Lieber, John A. Rose
  • Patent number: 11179186
    Abstract: An endovascular near critical fluid based cryoablation catheter for creating an elongated lengthwise-continuous lesion in tissue can comprise an elongated shaft, a flexible distal tissue treatment section, and a distal tip. A plurality of flexible tubes can extend through the distal treatment section to transport a near critical fluid to and from the distal tip. The distal treatment section can also include a flexible fluid-sealed cover or barrier layer surrounding the delivery tubes. The cover and tubes can collectively define a space which is filled with a fluidic thermally conductive media. The thermally conductive media, fluid delivery tubes, and the cover can be arranged such that a flow of the near critical fluid through the tube bundle transfers heat between a target tissue and the distal treatment section of the catheter thereby creating the elongated lengthwise-continuous lesion in the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Adagio Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexei V. Babkin, Steven W. Kovalcheck, Xiaoyu Yu
  • Patent number: 11173669
    Abstract: A first structure made of a first polymer is joined to a second structure made of an incompatible second polymer by the steps of welding small bands of compatible tubing or material to the first structure to create raised structures or ribs, and mechanically linking the second structure with the ribs or raised structures at the desired attachment point. The mechanical linkage may be accomplished by using heat shrinking or mechanical compression (such as crimping) to force the incompatible second polymer around the ribs or raised structures or, in the case of raised structures formed as threads or nubs, by inter-engagement between the threads or nubs on the first structure and corresponding structures, such as internal threading, nub-receiving slots, or internal surfaces, of the second structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: OPTICAL INTEGRITY, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel Malphurs
  • Patent number: 11160633
    Abstract: A medical observation apparatus includes an imaging device that captures an observation target, an arm that supports the imaging device and includes multiple links joined to each other by multiple joints, and driving circuitry. The driving circuitry is configured to determine a control torque in at least one joint to be controlled from among the multiple joints and to control driving of the at least one joint based on the control torque such that an external torque acting on the at least one joint according to an operation on the arm is within a fixed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignees: SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC., SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeru Tamura, Yasuhiro Matsuda
  • Patent number: 11147708
    Abstract: Cataract surgery is in recent years more and more augmented and supported by the application of laser cuts in the eye tissue. Such laser systems are separate units from the phacoemulsification system units that are usually used for cataract extraction. The laser systems require the patient to be positioned under the laser unit and then being moved under the surgical microscope next to the phacoemulsification unit. The here described invention relates to systems combining several aspects of the laser system and the phacoemulsification system. In particular, this invention relates to combining at least some parts of the control system and the housing for both systems and thereby minimizing and optimizing setup time, operating room footprint, patient flow and cost. Furthermore the here disclosed invention relates to integrating the laser system under the surgical microscope and thereby significantly reducing the surgery setup and complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Lensar, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Horvath, Vanessa Isabella Vera
  • Patent number: 11135092
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a multi-core optical fiber cable (MCF). In some embodiments, an MCF comprises a plurality of cores surrounded by a cladding and a coating surrounding the cladding, wherein a refractive index of one or more of the plurality of cores is greater than a refractive index of the cladding. The MCF further comprises a probe comprising a probe tip coupled with a distal end of the MCF and a lens located at a distal end of the probe tip. In some embodiments, the lens is configured to translate laser light from the distal end of the MCF to create a multi-spot pattern of laser beams on a target surface and a distal end of the MCF terminates at an interface with the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Chenguang Diao, Mark Harrison Farley, Alireza Mirsepassi, Ronald T. Smith, Dean Richardson