Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090209852 | Systems and Methods for Treating a Patient Using Guided Radiation Therapy or Surgery - Systems and methods for locating and tracking a target, i.e., measuring the position and/or rotation of a target during setup and treatment of a patient in guided radiation therapy applications for the head and neck. One embodiment is directed toward a device having a body and markers, such as excitable transponders and/or radiographic fiducials, fixable in or on the body for localizing the body. For example, the body can be a mouthpiece body having a channel configured to receive a patient's teeth such that the mouthpiece is repeatedly and consistently placed in the same relative position in the patient when the patient bites down on the mouthpiece. The transponders can be alternating magnetic transponders and the fiducials can be gold seeds. Other embodiments include a device having a two-piece body, a first piece of the body having excitable transponders and a second piece of the body having radiographic fiducials. | 08-20-2009 |
20090211027 | Patient Support Systems for Use with Radiation Therapy Systems and Other Applications - An apparatus for supporting a patient in radiation therapy and other applications. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a support structure and a panel carried by the support structure. The support structure can have first and second support members, such as rigid girders or other structures comprising substantially dielectric materials. The panel is also a rigid structure comprising substantially dielectric materials. The panel can further include a pass-through zone or other type of zone that is compatible with an ionizing radiation beam. For example, the panel can have a grid or solid low-density structure that mitigates beam contamination. The support structure and the panel together are configured to position a magnetic marker implanted in the patient in a navigational zone in which a magnetic field transmitted from the marker is not affected by conductive components or loops of conductive material in the pedestals or cantilevered support structures of conventional patient systems. | 08-27-2009 |
20090216113 | Apparatus and Methods for Using an Electromagnetic Transponder in Orthopedic Procedures - Electromagnetic transponders as markers are used to localize and guide orthopedic procedures including: knee replacement, hip replacement, shoulder replacement, damaged bone reconstruction, and spine surgery, and more particularly, to guide orthopedic surgical navigation and alignment techniques and instruments. For example, the marker could further be used in any number of guides or templates that attach to the bony anatomy, such as a surgical guide, cutting guide, cutting jig, resection block and/or resurfacing guide. Further, the marker could be incorporated into an existing intramedullary guide rod for a femur and an extramedullary guide rod for a tibia in a knee replacement surgery; or into an external surgical guide system, or the marker could eliminate the need for an external template altogether. According to yet another anticipated use of the tracking system, the marker could be used in conjunction with or replace an optical alignment system. | 08-27-2009 |
20090278689 | MINIATURE RESONATING MARKER ASSEMBLY - A miniature resonating marker assembly that includes, in one embodiment, a ferromagnetic core, a wire coil disposed around the core, and a capacitor connected to the wire coil adjacent to the magnetic core. The core, coil, and capacitor form a signal element that, when energized, generates a magnetic field at a selected resonant frequency. The magnetic field has a magnetic center point positioned along at least one axis of the signal element. An inert encapsulation member encapsulates the signal element therein and defines a geometric shape of the resonating marker assembly. The geometric shape has a geometric center point substantially coincident with the magnetic center point along at least a first axis of the signal element. The shape and configuration of the assembly also provides for a miniature signal element specifically tuned to resonate at a selected frequency with a high quality factor. | 11-12-2009 |
20090299174 | INSTRUMENTS WITH LOCATION MARKERS AND METHODS FOR TRACKING INSTRUMENTS THROUGH ANATOMICAL PASSAGEWAYS - Instruments and methods for tracking such instruments in a human patient. One embodiment of an instrument in accordance with the invention comprises an elongated body, such as an elongated flexible member, which has a distal section configured to be passed through a vessel or other passageway in a human. The instrument can further include a lumen through the distal section and a magnetic marker having a transponder at the distal section. The transponder includes a circuit configured to be energized by a wirelessly transmitted magnetic excitation energy and to wirelessly transmit a magnetic location signal in response to the excitation energy. The magnetic marker, for example, can be attached to or otherwise integral with the instrument. | 12-03-2009 |
20090306644 | SYSTEMS, ASSEMBLIES, AND METHODS FOR TREATING A BRONCHIAL TREE - Systems, assemblies, and methods to treat pulmonary diseases are used to decrease nervous system input to distal regions of the bronchial tree within the lungs. Treatment systems damage nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. The treatment systems are capable of heating nerve tissue, cooling the nerve tissue, delivering a flowable substance that cause trauma to the nerve tissue, puncturing the nerve tissue, tearing the nerve tissue, cutting the nerve tissue, applying pressure to the nerve tissue, applying ultrasound to the nerve tissue, applying ionizing radiation to the nerve tissue, disrupting cell membranes of nerve tissue with electrical energy, or delivering long acting nerve blocking chemicals to the nerve tissue. | 12-10-2009 |
20090306728 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR STIMULATING AND/OR SENSING NEURONS IN A PATIENT - Instruments and method of using instruments for implanting electrodes into a patient. The instrument can include a body configured to be implanted into a patient, an electrode contact carried by the body, and a marker carried by the body. The electrode contact has an electrically conductive surface exposed at a location along the body to sense electrical activity and/or deliver electrical stimulation to the target neural structure. The marker can include a transponder configured to be energized by a wirelessly transmitted excitation energy and to wirelessly transmit a location signal in response to the excitation energy. The instrument is tracked as it is implanted into the patient by time multiplexing the wirelessly transmitted excitation energy and the location signal such that the absolute location of the marker can be determined in real time. | 12-10-2009 |
20100036241 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR IMPLANTING OBJECTS, SUCH AS BRONCHOSCOPICALLY IMPLANTING MARKERS IN THE LUNG OF PATIENTS - Apparatuses and methods for implanting objects, such as a marker, in the lungs of patients. In one embodiment, a bronchoscopic catheter assembly for implanting an object in the lung of a patient includes a handle, a delivery catheter projecting outwardly from the handle, and a push wire contained within the catheter In one aspect of this embodiment, the catheter can be configured to releasably hold a plurality of markers at a distal end. In another aspect of this embodiment, the push wire can be operably connected to the handle and axially moveable within the delivery catheter to eject the marker out of the catheter within the bronchi of the patient. In a further aspect of this embodiment, the marker can further include an anti-migration device associated with the marker for holding the marker in place once the marker is deployed in the bronchi. The anti-migration device can be integral with the marker or positioned proximate to the marker to prevent migration of the marker. | 02-11-2010 |
20100298858 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EXTERNAL BEAM RADIATION TREATMENTS OF RESECTION CAVITIES - Apparatus and methods for external beam radiation treatments of resection cavities are described. One embodiment of such an apparatus comprises a stabilization device having an expandable member configured to (a) be implanted in a patient and (b) move from a first position for insertion into a resection cavity within the patient to a second position for stabilizing tissue of the cavity. The apparatus further includes an active marker coupled to the stabilization device and an electrically conductive line connected to the active marker. The active marker is configured to transmit a signal. The electrically conductive line has an internal portion coupled to the stabilization device and an external portion configured to be coupled to a signal generator and/or a signal processor located outside of the patient. | 11-25-2010 |
20100317968 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REAL-TIME TRACKING OF TARGETS IN RADIATION THERAPY AND OTHER MEDICAL APPLICATIONS - Systems and methods for tracking targets in real time for radiation therapy and other applications. In one embodiment, a method includes collecting position information of a marker implanted within a patient at a site relative to the target at a time t | 12-16-2010 |
20110046481 | GUIDED RADIATION THERAPY SYSTEM - A system and method for accurately locating and tracking the position of a target, such as a tumor or the like, within a body. In one embodiment, the system is a target locating and monitoring system usable with a radiation delivery source that delivers a selected doses of radiation to a target in a body. The system includes one or more excitable beacons positionable in or near the target, an external excitation source that remotely excites the beacons to produce an identifiable signal, and a plurality of sensors spaced apart in a known geometry relative to each other. A computer is coupled to the sensors and configured to use the beacon measurements to identify a target isocenter within the target. The computer compares the position of the target isocenter with the location of the machine isocenter. The computer also controls movement of the patient and a patient support device so the target isocenter is coincident with the machine isocenter before and during radiation therapy. | 02-24-2011 |
20110118725 | NON-INVASIVE AND MINIMALLY INVASIVE DENERVATION METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PERFORMING THE SAME - A system and method can be used to denervate at least a portion of a bronchial tree. An energy emitter of an instrument is percutaneously delivered to a treatment site and outputs energy to damage nerve tissue of the bronchial tree. The denervation procedure can be performed without damaging non-targeted tissue. Minimally invasive methods can be used to open airways to improve lung function in subjects with COPD, asthma, or the like. Different sections of the bronchial tree can be denervated while leaving airways intact to reduce recovery times. | 05-19-2011 |
20110130655 | IMPLANTABLE DEVICES AND METHODS FOR EXTERNAL BEAM RADIATION TREATMENTS - Implantable devices and methods for external beam radiation treatments are disclosed. One embodiment of an implantable device for guided radiation therapy comprises an active marker configured to be positioned within the patient and to transmit a non-ionizing wireless signal in response to a non-ionizing wirelessly transmitted source energy. The device further includes a fastening unit coupled to the active marker and configured to (a) hold the marker within a desired distance of a target in the tissue and (b) inhibit deformation of tissue from moving the active marker relative to the target. | 06-02-2011 |
20110152855 | DELIVERY DEVICES WITH COOLABLE ENERGY EMITTING ASSEMBLIES - Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat to ablate, damage, or otherwise affect tissue. The treatment systems are capable of delivering a coolable ablation assembly that ablates targeted tissue without damaging non-targeted tissue. The coolable ablation assembly damages nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. | 06-23-2011 |
20110249880 | MOTION COMPENSATION FOR MEDICAL IMAGING AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Medical imaging and localization methods and systems for producing a motion-compensated image of a planning target volume (PTV) of a patient. In one embodiment, an imaging and localization system includes sensors that are positioned to receive an electromagnetic location signal from one or more active markers affixed to or adjacent a PTV. A signal processing component can produce real-time localization data corresponding to the location signal, and a system interface can receive such localization data. The system interface can also receive raw image data from an imaging subsystem and process the raw image data based on the localization data. For example, the imaging subsystem can include a computed tomography (CT) imaging system and image slices or frames can be binned based on the localization data. | 10-13-2011 |
20110257647 | SYSTEMS, ASSEMBLIES, AND METHODS FOR TREATING A BRONCHIAL TREE - Systems, assemblies, and methods to treat pulmonary diseases are used to decrease nervous system input to distal regions of the bronchial tree within the lungs. Treatment systems damage nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. The treatment systems are capable of heating nerve tissue, cooling the nerve tissue, delivering a flowable substance that cause trauma to the nerve tissue, puncturing the nerve tissue, tearing the nerve tissue, cutting the nerve tissue, applying pressure to the nerve tissue, applying ultrasound to the nerve tissue, applying ionizing radiation to the nerve tissue, disrupting cell membranes of nerve tissue with electrical energy, or delivering long acting nerve blocking chemicals to the nerve tissue. | 10-20-2011 |
20110308016 | PATIENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR USE WITH RADIATION THERAPY SYSTEMS AND OTHER APPLICATIONS - An apparatus for supporting a patient in radiation therapy and other applications. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a support structure and a panel carried by the support structure. The support structure can have first and second support members, such as rigid girders or other structures comprising substantially dielectric materials. The panel is also a rigid structure comprising substantially dielectric materials. The panel can further include a pass-through zone or other type of zone that is compatible with an ionizing radiation beam. For example, the panel can have a grid or solid low-density structure that mitigates beam contamination. The support structure and the panel together are configured to position a magnetic marker implanted in the patient in a navigational zone in which a magnetic field transmitted from the marker is not affected by conductive components or loops of conductive material in the pedestals or cantilevered support structures of conventional patient support systems. | 12-22-2011 |
20120016358 | SYSTEMS, ASSEMBLIES, AND METHODS FOR TREATING A BRONCHIAL TREE - Systems, assemblies, and methods to treat pulmonary diseases are used to decrease nervous system input to distal regions of the bronchial tree within the lungs. Treatment systems damage nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. The treatment systems are capable of heating nerve tissue, cooling the nerve tissue, delivering a flowable substance that cause trauma to the nerve tissue, puncturing the nerve tissue, tearing the nerve tissue, cutting the nerve tissue, applying pressure to the nerve tissue, applying ultrasound to the nerve tissue, applying ionizing radiation to the nerve tissue, disrupting cell membranes of nerve tissue with electrical energy, or delivering long acting nerve blocking chemicals to the nerve tissue. | 01-19-2012 |
20120016363 | DELIVERY DEVICES WITH COOLABLE ENERGY EMITTING ASSEMBLIES - Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat to ablate, damage, or otherwise affect tissue. The treatment systems are capable of delivering a coolable ablation assembly that ablates targeted tissue without damaging non-targeted tissue. The coolable ablation assembly damages nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. | 01-19-2012 |
20120016364 | DELIVERY DEVICES WITH COOLABLE ENERGY EMITTING ASSEMBLIES - Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat to ablate, damage, or otherwise affect tissue. The treatment systems are capable of delivering a coolable ablation assembly that ablates targeted tissue without damaging non-targeted tissue. The coolable ablation assembly damages nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. | 01-19-2012 |
20120203216 | SYSTEMS, ASSEMBLIES, AND METHODS FOR TREATING A BRONCHIAL TREE - Systems, assemblies, and methods to treat pulmonary diseases are used to decrease nervous system input to distal regions of the bronchial tree within the lungs. Treatment systems damage nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. The treatment systems are capable of heating nerve tissue, cooling the nerve tissue, delivering a flowable substance that cause trauma to the nerve tissue, puncturing the nerve tissue, tearing the nerve tissue, cutting the nerve tissue, applying pressure to the nerve tissue, applying ultrasound to the nerve tissue, applying ionizing radiation to the nerve tissue, disrupting cell membranes of nerve tissue with electrical energy, or delivering long acting nerve blocking chemicals to the nerve tissue. | 08-09-2012 |
20120203222 | SYSTEMS, ASSEMBLIES, AND METHODS FOR TREATING A BRONCHIAL TREE - Systems, assemblies, and methods to treat pulmonary diseases are used to decrease nervous system input to distal regions of the bronchial tree within the lungs. Treatment systems damage nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. The treatment systems are capable of heating nerve tissue, cooling the nerve tissue, delivering a flowable substance that cause trauma to the nerve tissue, puncturing the nerve tissue, tearing the nerve tissue, cutting the nerve tissue, applying pressure to the nerve tissue, applying ultrasound to the nerve tissue, applying ionizing radiation to the nerve tissue, disrupting cell membranes of nerve tissue with electrical energy, or delivering long acting nerve blocking chemicals to the nerve tissue. | 08-09-2012 |
20120209261 | SYSTEMS, ASSEMBLIES, AND METHODS FOR TREATING A BRONCHIAL TREE - Systems, assemblies, and methods to treat pulmonary diseases are used to decrease nervous system input to distal regions of the bronchial tree within the lungs. Treatment systems damage nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. The treatment systems are capable of heating nerve tissue, cooling the nerve tissue, delivering a flowable substance that cause trauma to the nerve tissue, puncturing the nerve tissue, tearing the nerve tissue, cutting the nerve tissue, applying pressure to the nerve tissue, applying ultrasound to the nerve tissue, applying ionizing radiation to the nerve tissue, disrupting cell membranes of nerve tissue with electrical energy, or delivering long acting nerve blocking chemicals to the nerve tissue. | 08-16-2012 |
20120209296 | SYSTEMS, ASSEMBLIES, AND METHODS FOR TREATING A BRONCHIAL TREE - Systems, assemblies, and methods to treat pulmonary diseases are used to decrease nervous system input to distal regions of the bronchial tree within the lungs. Treatment systems damage nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. The treatment systems are capable of heating nerve tissue, cooling the nerve tissue, delivering a flowable substance that cause trauma to the nerve tissue, puncturing the nerve tissue, tearing the nerve tissue, cutting the nerve tissue, applying pressure to the nerve tissue, applying ultrasound to the nerve tissue, applying ionizing radiation to the nerve tissue, disrupting cell membranes of nerve tissue with electrical energy, or delivering long acting nerve blocking chemicals to the nerve tissue. | 08-16-2012 |
20120302909 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SCREENING SUBJECTS - A screening method can be used to determine whether a subject is a suitable candidate for interventional therapy. The method can be used to determine the likelihood the subject will receive a therapeutic effect from denervation therapy. The determination is based, at least in part, on lung information obtained by performing lung function tests with and without treating the subject's lungs with a test agent. Based on the response to a test agent, the subject's response to a therapy is predicted. | 11-29-2012 |
20120310233 | SYSTEMS, APPARATUSES, AND METHODS FOR TREATING TISSUE AND CONTROLLING STENOSIS - Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat to ablate, damage, or otherwise affect tissue. The treatment systems are capable of delivering a coolable ablation assembly that ablates targeted tissue without damaging non-targeted tissue. The coolable ablation assembly damages nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. The system, delivery devices, and methods can damage tissue and manage scarring and stenosis. | 12-06-2012 |
20120316552 | SYSTEMS, ASSEMBLIES, AND METHODS FOR TREATING A BRONCHIAL TREE - Systems, assemblies, and methods to treat pulmonary diseases are used to decrease nervous system input to distal regions of the bronchial tree within the lungs. Treatment systems damage nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. The treatment systems are capable of heating nerve tissue, cooling the nerve tissue, delivering a flowable substance that cause trauma to the nerve tissue, puncturing the nerve tissue, tearing the nerve tissue, cutting the nerve tissue, applying pressure to the nerve tissue, applying ultrasound to the nerve tissue, applying ionizing radiation to the nerve tissue, disrupting cell membranes of nerve tissue with electrical energy, or delivering long acting nerve blocking chemicals to the nerve tissue. | 12-13-2012 |
20120316559 | SYSTEMS, ASSEMBLIES, AND METHODS FOR TREATING A BRONCHIAL TREE - Systems, assemblies, and methods to treat pulmonary diseases are used to decrease nervous system input to distal regions of the bronchial tree within the lungs. Treatment systems damage nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. The treatment systems are capable of heating nerve tissue, cooling the nerve tissue, delivering a flowable substance that cause trauma to the nerve tissue, puncturing the nerve tissue, tearing the nerve tissue, cutting the nerve tissue, applying pressure to the nerve tissue, applying ultrasound to the nerve tissue, applying ionizing radiation to the nerve tissue, disrupting cell membranes of nerve tissue with electrical energy, or delivering long acting nerve blocking chemicals to the nerve tissue. | 12-13-2012 |
20120323062 | DATA PROCESSING FOR REAL-TIME TRACKING OF A TARGET IN RADIATION THERAPY - A facility for processing data is described. The facility receives a stream of digital location indications, each location indication identifying a location of a patient while undergoing radiation therapy. In response to each location indication of the string, in substantially real-time relative to the receipt of the position indication, the facility performs an action responsive to the location indication. | 12-20-2012 |
20130172657 | INTEGRATED RADIATION THERAPY SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATING A TARGET IN A PATIENT - An integrated radiation therapy process comprises acquiring first objective target data related to a parameter of a target within a patient by periodically locating a marker positioned within the patient using a localization modality. This method continues with obtaining second objective target data related to the parameter of the target by periodically locating the marker. The first objective target data can be acquired in a first area that is apart from a second area which contains a radiation delivery device for producing an ionizing radiation beam for treating the patient. The localization modality can be the same in both the first and second areas. In other embodiments, the first objective target data can be acquired using a first localization modality that uses a first energy type to identify the marker and the second objective target data can be obtained using a second localization modality that uses a second energy. | 07-04-2013 |
20130289555 | DELIVERY DEVICES WITH COOLABLE ENERGY EMITTING ASSEMBLIES - Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat to ablate, damage, or otherwise affect tissue. The treatment systems are capable of delivering a coolable ablation assembly that ablates targeted tissue without damaging non-targeted tissue. The coolable ablation assembly damages nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. | 10-31-2013 |
20130289556 | DELIVERY DEVICES WITH COOLABLE ENERGY EMITTING ASSEMBLIES - Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat to ablate, damage, or otherwise affect tissue. The treatment systems are capable of delivering a coolable ablation assembly that ablates targeted tissue without damaging non-targeted tissue. The coolable ablation assembly damages nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. | 10-31-2013 |
20130296647 | DELIVERY DEVICES WITH COOLABLE ENERGY EMITTING ASSEMBLIES - Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat to ablate, damage, or otherwise affect tissue. The treatment systems are capable of delivering a coolable ablation assembly that ablates targeted tissue without damaging non-targeted tissue. The coolable ablation assembly damages nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. | 11-07-2013 |
20130310822 | COMPACT DELIVERY PULMONARY TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING PULMONARY FUNCTION - A pulmonary treatment system includes a compact configuration for delivery to a first airway of a patient. An energy delivery system of the pulmonary treatment system delivers energy to target tissue in or along an airway wall of the first airway to reduce airway resistance in a second airway distal to the first airway. The pulmonary treatment system protects tissue in the airway wall of the first airway located between the target tissue and the energy delivery system by at least one of thermodynamically cooling, circulating a liquid coolant through the pulmonary treatment system, and shielding a portion of the energy delivery system. | 11-21-2013 |
20140093049 | DYNAMIC/ADAPTIVE TREATMENT PLANNING FOR RADIATION THERAPY - A facility for facilitating custom radiation treatment planning is described. During a distinguished radiation treatment session for a patient, the facility collects data indicating positioning of a predefined treatment site of the patient relative to a target treatment location throughout the distinguished radiation treatment session. The facility associates the collected positioning data with data describing one or more other aspects of the distinguished radiation treatment session. The facility provides the associated data to a treatment planning facility to determine a treatment plan for future radiation treatment sessions for the patient. | 04-03-2014 |
20140303489 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR USING AN ELECTROMAGNETIC TRANSPONDER IN ORTHOPEDIC PROCEDURES - Electromagnetic transponders as markers are used to localize and guide orthopedic procedures including: knee replacement, hip replacement, shoulder replacement, damaged bone reconstruction, and spine surgery, and more particularly, to guide orthopedic surgical navigation and alignment techniques and instruments. For example, the marker could further be used in any number of guides or templates that attach to the bony anatomy; such as a surgical guide, cutting guide, cutting jig, resection block and/or resurfacing guide. Further, the marker could be incorporated into an existing intramedullary guide rod for a femur and an extramedullary guide rod for a tibia in a knee replacement surgery; or into an external surgical guide system, or the marker could eliminate the need for an external template altogether. According to yet another anticipated use of the tracking system, the marker could be used in conjunction with or replace an optical alignment system. | 10-09-2014 |
20150051597 | DELIVERY DEVICES WITH COOLABLE ENERGY EMITTING ASSEMBLIES - Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat to ablate, damage, or otherwise affect tissue. The treatment systems are capable of delivering a coolable ablation assembly that ablates targeted tissue without damaging non-targeted tissue. The coolable ablation assembly damages nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. | 02-19-2015 |