Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090024124 | METHODS FOR TREATING THE THORACIC REGION OF A PATIENT'S BODY - A method is disclosed for the treatment of a thoracic region of a patient's body. Embodiments of the method comprise positioning an energy delivery portion of an electrosurgical device to face a segment of a thoracic vertebra at a distance from the segment; and cooling the energy delivery portion and delivering energy through the energy delivery portion. | 01-22-2009 |
20090054962 | METHODS FOR TREATING THE THORACIC REGION OF A PATIENT'S BODY - A method is disclosed for the treatment of a thoracic region of a patient's body. Embodiments of the method comprise positioning an energy delivery portion of an electrosurgical device to face a segment of a thoracic vertebra at a distance from the segment; and cooling the energy delivery portion and delivering energy through the energy delivery portion. | 02-26-2009 |
20100099980 | POSITIONING TOOL - A method and apparatus are disclosed for a positioning tool that aids in the positioning of a treatment device under image guidance. The tool is positioned on the external surface of the patient's skin and comprises an alignment portion and an instrument positioning portion that may be viewed under an imaging means. The tool is also visible to the user without any imaging means. The tool is aligned with an internal target and provides a visual reference indication for the target location for orienting at least one treatment device at a desired treatment site relative to the internal target. | 04-22-2010 |
20100185082 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ELECTROSURGERY - A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving accuracy of placement of a cannula during delivery of electrical energy to neural structures. The apparatus includes a cannula operable to deliver electrical current where a portion of the cannula is electrically insulated and a portion of the cannula is exposed and electrically conductive. The cannula further includes a radiopaque marker located to differentiate the electrically insulated region from the electrically exposed region by allowing it to be more clearly delineated using fluoroscopy or other radiographic imaging techniques. The cannula may be used to treat pain by delivering energy to a neural structure. | 07-22-2010 |
20110264049 | STABILIZATION DEVICE - A method and apparatus are disclosed for a stabilization device for maintaining a position of a medical device relative to a body surface of a patient. The stabilization device comprises a support portion that defines a groove for receiving the medical device. The groove is structured to allow for positioning of the medical device at a plurality of angles relative to the body surface of the patient. The groove has opposing wall portions for securing the medical device. | 10-27-2011 |
20120172857 | Electrosurgical Apparatus Having a Sensor - An electrosurgical apparatus for treating tissue comprises an elongate shaft including a proximal region, a distal region having an electrically conductive region and one or more lumens through the shaft. A stylet is located within one of the lumens for obturating at least a portion of an opening defined by a distal end of the elongated shaft. The stylet distal end has a sensor and may include an occluding component substantially surrounding and affixed to it. The elongated shaft and the stylet can possibly be configured to allow passage of fluid through the lumen while the stylet is located within the lumen. Related stylet configurations are also disclosed. | 07-05-2012 |
20120172858 | Electrosurgical Tissue Treatment Method - Methods of treating spinal tissue of a patient's body are disclosed, some including providing a system including an energy source and first and second probe assemblies, wherein each of the probe assemblies includes an electrically conductive energy delivery device electrically coupled to the energy source; inserting the energy delivery devices of the first and second probe assemblies into spaced-apart treatment sites for the spinal tissue; and delivering energy from the energy source to the spinal tissue through the energy delivery devices. Various options and modifications are possible. For example, energy may be delivered in both a bipolar manner and a monopolar manner, and at least one of the fist ad second probe assemblies may be repositioned before again delivering energy. | 07-05-2012 |
20120197282 | Methods for facilitating tissue puncture - A method is disclosed for facilitating tissue puncture of a portion of biological tissue using a device, the device comprising a tissue supporting member that is adapted to be placed in a proximal position relative to a portion of the biological tissue and a tissue puncturing member that is adapted to be placed in a distal position relative to the portion of the biological tissue, so that the portion of biological tissue is between the tissue supporting member and tissue puncturing member, the method comprising: supporting the portion of biological tissue using the tissue supporting member; and advancing the tissue puncturing member in a distal direction such that the tissue puncturing member passes through the portion of the biological tissue, thereby puncturing the portion of biological tissue. | 08-02-2012 |
20130046319 | Medical Device Having a Position Indicator - A medical device is described, the medical device comprising a moveable member, moveable between a first position and a second position; an actuating member coupled to the moveable member, directly or indirectly, for manipulating the moveable member, that is for causing the movement of the moveable member; and an indicator coupled, directly or indirectly, to the actuating member, said indicator having a first state and a second state; the indicator and actuating member being cooperatively operable such that the indicator automatically transitions between the first state and the second state to indicate advancement of the member to the second position from the first position upon a predetermined actuation of the actuating member. | 02-21-2013 |
20140180313 | Suture Passing Instrumentation and Methods of use Thereof - The instant disclosure is directed to methods and devices for passing suture bi-directionally using a hybrid approach. Embodiments of a method described herein include steps of advancing a suture at least partially through tissue; and retrieving the suture; wherein one of the steps of advancing and retrieving comprises manipulating the suture directly, and wherein the other step of advancing and retrieving comprises manipulating a suture trap to which the suture is coupled. Embodiments of a device that may be used to practice the method embodiments include a bi-directional suture passer having a proximal portion for holding a portion of a suture therein; a distal tip coupled to the proximal portion and defining a tissue receiving gap there-between; a reciprocally moveable suture passing member housed within the proximal portion for translating the suture portion between the proximal portion and the distal tip; and a suture trap operable to be detachably coupled to the distal tip for capturing the suture passed by the suture passing member. | 06-26-2014 |