Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080243151 | Luminal Structure Anchoring Devices and Methods - The present invention relates to a device for endoscopy or endosonography-guided transluminal interventions whereby two luminal structures in the body may be drawn toward each other and a fluid conduit formed in between. The device may have a hollow central member to which is coupled a distal retention member and in one embodiment a proximal retention member. The retention members may each be positioned inside one of the luminal structures and expanded from a first condition to an expanded second condition having an increased radius. The length of the central member may be shortened and its diameter expanded to approximate the two retention members and thereby the luminal structures. | 10-02-2008 |
20090030440 | ULTRASONIC CURVED BLADE - An ultrasonic dissection and coagulation system for surgical use is provided. The system includes an ultrasonic instrument, a control module, and a remote actuator. The ultrasonic instrument has a housing and an elongated body portion extending from the housing. An ultrasonic transducer supported within the housing is operatively connected to a cutting jaw by a vibration coupler. The vibration coupler conducts high frequency vibration from the ultrasonic transducer to the cutting jaw. The cutting jaw has a blade surface which is curved downwardly and outwardly in the distal direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion along its length such that an angle defined by a line drawn tangent to the blade surface and the longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion varies between 5 degrees and 75 degrees. A clamp member having a tissue contact surface is positioned adjacent to the cutting jaw and is movable from an open position in which the tissue contact surface is spaced form the blade surface to a clamped position in which the tissue contact surface is in close juxtaposed alignment with the blade surface to clamp tissue therebetween. The clamp member and the curved cutting jaw combine to enhance contact between tissue and the blade surface of the cutting jaw during cutting. Further, the continuously varying angle of the blade surface with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body portion facilitates selective user control over the application of force on tissue during a cutting or dissecting procedure. | 01-29-2009 |
20090054911 | SURGICAL THREADING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USING SAME - Described herein is a threading device that includes an elongated rod having first and second opposite ends, and a suture having first and second opposite ends. The first end of the suture is associated with the rod. The rod is at least partially covered with a coating that secures the first end of the suture to the rod. The second end of the suture extends outside the coating. This provides a threading rod having a suture permanently attached thereto. | 02-26-2009 |
20100000548 | JAW THRUST DEVICE AND METHOD - A pair of pads is held against the remus of a patient's jaw, to prevent the jaw from slipping back and causing an airway obstruction, while the patient's neck is hyperextended to also cause the patient's airway to stay open. A device including the adjustable jaw pads as well as a triangularly shaped portion over which the patient's neck rests is not required to be attached to the surface on which the patient is lying, and permits the patient to be rolled on either side while still maintaining the patency of the patient's airway. | 01-07-2010 |
20100036226 | NERVE SURVEILLANCE CANNULAE SYSTEMS - An expandable tip cannula system, comprising: a hollow cannula shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and an expandable tip mounted at the distal end of the hollow cannula shaft, the expandable tip comprising a plurality of generally-triangular shaped petals held together in a radially-inwardly tapered arrangement between adjacent petals, each petal comprising a nerve sensing electrode disposed therein. | 02-11-2010 |
20100076299 | Inducing Desirable Temperature Effects On Body Tissue Using Alternate Energy Sources - A system for inducing desirable temperature effects on body tissue, the body tissue being disposed about a lumen. The system includes an elongate catheter having a proximal end and a distal end with an axis therebetween with an energy delivery portion for transmission of energy. A tissue analyzer configured to characterize the body tissue in the lumen proximate the energy delivery portion and an energy source coupled to the energy delivery portion transmitting tissue treatment energy, wherein the energy is non-RF energy. A processor coupled to the tissue analyzer and energy source, the processor configured to determine an appropriate treatment energy for the characterized body tissue so as to mildly heat the body tissue with the energy delivery portion without ablating. | 03-25-2010 |
20100125239 | Selective Drug Delivery In a Lumen - Methods and systems are disclosed for selective drug or fluid delivery in a lumen through a coating or fluid delivery channels. One system includes an elongate catheter having a proximal end and a distal end with an axis therebetween, the catheter having a radially expandable balloon near the distal end and an energy delivery portion proximate the balloon for transmission of energy, a thermally changeable coating having a releasable drug coupled to the balloon, the thermally changeable coating being oriented to be urged against the body tissue when the expandable balloon expands and an energy source operatively coupled to the energy delivery portion configured to energize the energy delivery portion to heat and liquefy the thermally changeable coating to release the drug to the body tissue. | 05-20-2010 |
20100168743 | Tuned RF energy for selective treatment of atheroma and other target tissues and/or structures - A catheter and catheter system can use energy tailored for remodeling and/or removal of target material along a body lumen, often of atherosclerotic material of a blood vessel of a patient. An elongate flexible catheter body with a radially expandable structure may have a plurality of electrodes or other electrosurgical energy delivery surfaces to radially engage atherosclerotic material when the structure expands. An atherosclerotic material detector system may measure and/or characterize the atherosclerotic material and its location, optionally using impedance monitoring. | 07-01-2010 |
20110245843 | Nerve Surveillance Cannulae Systems - An expandable tip cannula system, comprising: a hollow cannula shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and an expandable tip mounted at the distal end of the hollow cannula shaft, the expandable tip comprising a plurality of generally-triangular shaped petals held together in a radially-inwardly tapered arrangement between adjacent petals, each petal comprising a nerve sensing electrode disposed therein. | 10-06-2011 |
20110288433 | Electromyography System - Methods for determining structural integrity of a bone within the spine of a patient, the bone having a first aspect and a second aspect, wherein the second aspect separated from the first aspect by a width and located adjacent to a spinal nerve. The methods involve (a) applying an electrical stimulus to the first aspect of the bone; (b) electrically monitoring a muscle myotome associated with the spinal nerve to detect if an onset neuro-muscular response occurs in response to the application of the electrical stimulus to the first aspect of the bone; (c) automatically increasing the magnitude of the electrical stimulus to until the onset neuro-muscular response is detected; and (d) communicating to a user via at least one of visual and audible means information representing the magnitude of the electrical stimulus which caused the onset neuro-muscular response. | 11-24-2011 |
20120016387 | SURGICAL THREADING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USING SAME - A threading device assembly for use in plastic surgery that includes a first elongated rod having first and second opposite ends, a second elongated rod having first and second opposite ends, and a suture having first and second opposite ends. The first end of the suture is secured to the first elongated rod at a location that is approximately halfway between the first and second ends, and the second end of the suture is secured to the second elongated rod at a location that is approximately halfway between the first and second ends. | 01-19-2012 |
20120029382 | Electromyography System - Methods for determining structural integrity of a bone within the spine of a patient, the bone having a first aspect and a second aspect, wherein the second aspect separated from the first aspect by a width and located adjacent to a spinal nerve. The methods involve (a) applying an electrical stimulus to the first aspect of the bone; (b) electrically monitoring a muscle myotome associated with the spinal nerve to detect if an onset neuro-muscular response occurs in response to the application of the electrical stimulus to the first aspect of the bone; (c) automatically increasing the magnitude of the electrical stimulus to until the onset neuro-muscular response is detected; and (d) communicating to a user via at least one of visual and audible means information representing the magnitude of the electrical stimulus which caused the onset neuro-muscular response. | 02-02-2012 |
20120157986 | Inducing desirable temperature effects on body tissue - Methods and systems are disclosed for treating diseased tissue by gentle heating. The method induces vasodilation on tissue disposed about an lumen having both healthy tissue and diseased tissue. The method includes coupling a probe surface to the luminal tissue at a target location and transmitting desired quantities of tissue remodeling energy from the coupled probe into each of a plurality of discrete remodeling zones in the luminal tissue so that the tissue remodeling energy heats the plurality of remodeling zones, the remodeling energy being configured to avoid muscular contraction and inhibit both acute and long-term occlusion of the lumen. | 06-21-2012 |
20120157987 | Selectable Eccentric Remodeling and/or Ablation of Atherosclerotic Material - A catheter and catheter system for eccentric remodeling and/or removal of atherosclerotic material of a blood vessel of a patient include an elongate flexible catheter body with a radially expandable structure. A plurality of electrodes or other electrosurgical energy delivery surfaces can radially engage atherosclerotic material when the structure expands. An atherosclerotic material detector near the distal end of the catheter body may measure circumferential atherosclerotic material distribution, and a power source selectively energizes the electrodes to eccentrically remodel the measured atherosclerotic material. | 06-21-2012 |
20120157988 | TUNED RF ENERGY FOR SELECTIVE TREATMENT OF ATHEROMA AND OTHER TARGET TISSUES AND/OR STRUCTURES - A catheter and catheter system can use energy tailored for remodeling and/or removal of target material along a body lumen, often of atherosclerotic material of a blood vessel of a patient. An elongate flexible catheter body with a radially expandable structure may have a plurality of electrodes or other electrosurgical energy delivery surfaces to radially engage atherosclerotic material when the structure expands. An atherosclerotic material detector system may measure and/or characterize the atherosclerotic material and its location, optionally using impedance monitoring. | 06-21-2012 |
20120157989 | TUNED RF ENERGY AND ELECTRICAL TISSUE CHARACTERIZATION FOR SELECTIVE TREATMENT OF TARGET TISSUES - A catheter and catheter system can use energy tailored for remodeling and/or removal of target material along a body lumen, often of atherosclerotic material of a blood vessel of a patient. An elongate flexible catheter body with a radially expandable structure may have a plurality of electrodes or other electrosurgical energy delivery surfaces to radially engage atherosclerotic material when the structure expands. An atherosclerotic material detector system may measure and/or characterize the atherosclerotic material and its location, optionally using impedance monitoring. | 06-21-2012 |
20120158101 | System for inducing desirable temperature effects on body tissue - A catheter and catheter system may be used to treat disease tissue by gentle heating in combination with gentle or standard dilation. An elongate flexible catheter body with a radially expandable balloon having a plurality of electrodes engage tissue including diseased tissue when the structure expands. | 06-21-2012 |
20120253223 | Surgical Access and Nerve Surveillance - An expandable tip cannula system, comprising: a hollow cannula shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and an expandable tip mounted at the distal end of the hollow cannula shaft, the expandable tip comprising a plurality of generally-triangular shaped petals held together in a radially-inwardly tapered arrangement between adjacent petals, each petal comprising a nerve sensing electrode disposed therein. | 10-04-2012 |
20120291786 | JAW THRUST DEVICE AND METHOD - A pair of pads is held against the remus of a patient's jaw, to prevent the jaw from slipping back and causing an airway obstruction, while the patient's neck is hyperextended to also cause the patient's airway to stay open. A device including the adjustable jaw pads as well as a triangularly shaped portion over which the patient's neck rests is not required to be attached to the surface on which the patient is lying, and permits the patient to be rolled on either side while still maintaining the patency of the patient's airway. | 11-22-2012 |
20130023865 | Imaging and Eccentric Atherosclerotic Material Laser Remodeling and/or Ablation Catheter - Devices, systems, and methods for treating atherosclerotic lesions and other disease states, particularly for treatment of vulnerable plaques, can incorporate optical coherence tomography or other imaging techniques which allow a structure and location of an eccentric plaque to be characterized. Remodeling and/or ablative laser energy can then be selectively and automatically directed to the appropriate plaque structures, often without imposing mechanical trauma to the entire circumference of the lumen wall. | 01-24-2013 |
20130041326 | INJECTION APPARATUS FOR LONG DISTANCE DELIVERY OF SOFT TISSUE BULKING AGENTS CONTAINING MICROSPHERES - An injection device is formed as a long tubular structure with a wire that controls a piston in the structure from a proximal end, allowing therapeutic material to be injected into a patient through a needle at a distal end. | 02-14-2013 |
20130066316 | SELECTABLE ECCENTRIC REMODELING AND/OR ABLATION - A catheter and catheter system for eccentric remodeling and/or removal of atherosclerotic material of a blood vessel of a patient include an elongate flexible catheter body with a radially expandable structure. A plurality of electrodes or other electrosurgical energy delivery surfaces can radially engage atherosclerotic material when the structure expands. An atherosclerotic material detector near the distal end of the catheter body may measure circumferential atherosclerotic material distribution, and a power source selectively energizes the electrodes to eccentrically remodel the measured atherosclerotic material. | 03-14-2013 |
20130096583 | SURGICAL THREADING DEVICE WITH REMOVABLE SUTURE - A threading device assembly for use in plastic surgery that includes a threading rod and a removable suture assembly secured to the threading rod. The threading rod includes an elongated tube with first and second opposite ends and a reduced diameter portion defined therein, and a translucent light guide extending through the elongated tube. The light guide allows light to be transmitted through the material comprising the light guide from one end of the tube to the other. The removable suture assembly includes a cuff positioned in and at least partially around the reduced diameter portion of the elongated tube, and a suture secured to the cuff. | 04-18-2013 |
20130172815 | SELECTIVE DRUG DELIVERY IN A LUMEN - Methods and systems are disclosed for selective drug or fluid delivery in a lumen through a coating or fluid delivery channels. One system includes an elongate catheter having a proximal end and a distal end with an axis therebetween, the catheter having a radially expandable balloon near the distal end and an energy delivery portion proximate the balloon for transmission of energy, a thermally changeable coating having a releasable drug coupled to the balloon, the thermally changeable coating being oriented to be urged against the body tissue when the expandable balloon expands and an energy source operatively coupled to the energy delivery portion configured to energize the energy delivery portion to heat and liquefy the thermally changeable coating to release the drug to the body tissue. | 07-04-2013 |
20130178758 | Electromyography System - Methods for determining structural integrity of a bone within the spine of a patient, the bone having a first aspect and a second aspect, wherein the second aspect separated from the first aspect by a width and located adjacent to a spinal nerve. The methods involve (a) applying an electrical stimulus to the first aspect of the bone; (b) electrically monitoring a muscle myotome associated with the spinal nerve to detect if an onset neuro-muscular response occurs in response to the application of the electrical stimulus to the first aspect of the bone; (c) automatically increasing the magnitude of the electrical stimulus to until the onset neuro-muscular response is detected; and (d) communicating to a user via at least one of visual and audible means information representing the magnitude of the electrical stimulus which caused the onset neuro-muscular response. | 07-11-2013 |
20130184551 | NEUROMONITORING DILATOR - A neuromonitoring dilator including a dilator portion and a probe portion. Each of the dilator portion and the probe portion may be provided with at least one electrode for nerve surveillance. The electrodes may be electrically connectable to a control unit in such a way as to be electrically insulated from each other. | 07-18-2013 |
20130245658 | ULTRASONIC CURVED BLADE - An ultrasonic dissection and coagulation system for surgical use is provided. The system includes an ultrasonic instrument, a control module, and a remote actuator. The ultrasonic instrument has a housing and an elongated body portion extending from the housing. An ultrasonic transducer supported within the housing is operatively connected to a cutting jaw by a vibration coupler. The vibration coupler conducts high frequency vibration from the ultrasonic transducer to the cutting jaw. A trocar assembly including a cannula may be provided to slidably receive the elongated portion of the ultrasonic instrument. | 09-19-2013 |
20130274658 | SELECTABLE ECCENTRIC REMODELING AND/OR ABLATION - A catheter and catheter system for treatment of a blood vessel of a patient include an elongate flexible catheter body with a radially expandable structure. A plurality of electrodes or other electrosurgical energy delivery surfaces can radially engage material to be treated when the structure expands. A material detector near the distal end of the catheter body may measure circumferential material distribution, and a power source selectively energizes the electrodes to eccentrically treat of a body lumen. | 10-17-2013 |
20130338466 | NERVE SURVEILLANCE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY - A nerve surveillance electrode assembly for a surgical access instrument including a substrate, at least one electrode, at least one lead, and a connector such that the nerve surveillance electrode assembly may be selectively applied to a surgical access instrument in such a way that the nerve surveillance electrode assembly is positioned to detect nerves while the surgical access instrument is being advanced toward a surgical target site. | 12-19-2013 |
20140024963 | Surgical Access and Nerve Surveillance - An expandable tip cannula system, comprising: a hollow cannula shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and an expandable tip mounted at the distal end of the hollow cannula shaft, the expandable tip comprising a plurality of generally-triangular shaped petals held together in a radially-inwardly tapered arrangement between adjacent petals, each petal comprising a nerve sensing electrode disposed therein. | 01-23-2014 |
20140180196 | TUNED RF ENERGY AND ELECTRICAL TISSUE CHARACTERIZATION FOR SELECTIVE TREATMENT OF TARGET TISSUES - A catheter and catheter system can use energy tailored for remodeling and/or removal of target material along a body lumen, often of atherosclerotic material of a blood vessel of a patient. An elongate flexible catheter body with a radially expandable structure may have a plurality of electrodes or other electrosurgical energy delivery surfaces to radially engage atherosclerotic material when the structure expands. An atherosclerotic material detector system may measure and/or characterize the atherosclerotic material and its location, optionally using impedance monitoring. | 06-26-2014 |
20140303666 | DILATION SYSTEM - A dilation system for accessing a surgical target site to perform surgical procedures. In one version, the dilation system includes a plurality of open sided dilators having non-circular cross sections and configured to slidably and non-rotationally engage with one another in a sequential manner. In another version, the dilation system includes an expandable dilator movable from a closed condition to an expanded condition. | 10-09-2014 |