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David N. Heard, Boulder US

David N. Heard, Boulder, CO US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20090054891ELECTROSURGICAL SYSTEM EMPLOYING MULTIPLE ELECTRODES AND METHOD THEREOF - A system and method for heat ablation of tissue in which energy is sequentially applied to at least two electrodes inserted into tissue. The system is comprised of a radiofrequency (RF) source for supplying RF energy, at least two electrodes configured to apply RF energy to tissue, at least one return electrode for returning the RF energy to the RF source, and a controller configured to sequentially apply the RF energy to each of the at least two electrodes. The sequential delivery of energy is determined by the measured current and voltage, the calculated impedance at each of the electrodes and the timing for each electrode. An internal load may be activated with the previously activated channel and remain on until the next channel is activated to avoid the generator from having an open circuit.02-26-2009
20090248010Electrosurgical Pencil Including Improved Controls - The present disclosure relates to electrosurgical devices having a plurality of hand-accessible variable controls. An electrosurgical device configured for connection to a source of electrosurgical energy is provided and includes a housing; an electrical circuit supported within the housing, the electrical circuit being connectable to the source of electrosurgical energy; and a controller slidably supported on the housing, wherein the controller is configured to exert a force on the electrical circuit to affect a change in the electrical circuit and to provide a tactile feedback to a user of the electrosurgical device as the controller is moved relative to the housing.10-01-2009
20090248015Electrosurgical Pencil Including Improved Controls - The present disclosure relates to electrosurgical devices having a plurality of hand-accessible variable controls. An electrosurgical device configured for connection to a source of electrosurgical energy is provided and includes a housing; an electrical circuit supported within the housing, the electrical circuit being connectable to the source of electrosurgical energy, wherein the electrical circuit is provided with at least one tactile enhancement feature; and a controller slidably supported on the housing, wherein the controller is configured to exert a force on the electrical circuit to affect a change in the electrical circuit and to exert a force on a surface of the housing to engage the tactile enhancement feature and provide a tactile feedback to a user of the electrosurgical device as the controller is moved relative to the housing10-01-2009
20090248016Electrosurgical Pencil Including Improved Controls - The present disclosure relates to electrosurgical devices having a plurality of hand-accessible variable controls. An electrosurgical device configured for connection to a source of electrosurgical energy is provided and includes a housing; an electrical circuit supported within the housing, the electrical circuit being connectable to the source of electrosurgical energy; and a controller slidably supported on the housing, wherein the controller is configured to exert a force on each of the housing and the electrical circuit to affect a change in the electrical circuit and to provide a tactile feedback to a user of the electrosurgical device as the controller is moved relative to the housing.10-01-2009
20090248017Electrosurgical Pencil Including Improved Controls - The present disclosure relates to electrosurgical devices having a plurality of hand-accessible variable controls. An electrosurgical device configured for connection to a source of electrosurgical energy is provided and includes a housing; an electrical circuit supported within the housing, the electrical circuit being connectable to the source of electrosurgical energy; and a controller slidably supported on the housing, wherein the controller is configured to exert a force on each of the housing and the electrical circuit to affect a change in the electrical circuit and to provide a tactile feedback to a user of the electrosurgical device as the controller is moved relative to the housing.10-01-2009
20100023007Electrosurgical devices, systems and methods of using the same - According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a desiccation device for operation on a target tissue is provided. The device includes a handle; a shaft extending distally from the handle, wherein the shaft defines a lumen therethrough; and a head having a loop configuration supported on a distal end of the shaft, the head being hollow and defining a lumen therethrough, said lumen being in fluid communication with the lumen of the shaft. At least a portion of the cutting head is electrically connected to a source of electrosurgical energy. A fluid is circulatable through the lumen of the shaft and the head.01-28-2010
20100023008Suction Coagulator - An electrosurgical suction coagulator is disclosed having improved thermal insulation between the active electrode and adjacent tissue. In embodiments, passive insulation is used to control the transfer of thermal energy from an electrosurgical electrode into surrounding tissue. Braided, closed-sell foam material, and open cell foam materials may be used to thermally insulate the outer surface of a suction coagulator shaft from an inner electrode. In embodiments, a suction coagulator shaft includes an external covering formed from open-cell foam material, which may be saturated with a coolant, such as water or saline, to increase the thermal mass of the shaft. In other embodiments, active cooling delivers coolant to the operative site. In yet other embodiments, a suction coagulator shaft includes a cooling jacket through which coolant is passed to actively cool the instrument. The improved electrosurgical suction coagulator disclosed herein may have a reduced operating surface temperatures which may result in reduced risk of undesirable effects to adjacent tissue, and may result in reduced operative times and improved patient outcomes.01-28-2010
20100076427Seal and Separate Algorithm - A method for controlling delivery of energy to seal and divide tissue includes applying energy to tissue in a first phase through an electrosurgical forceps having at least one electrically energizable electrode. The method also includes detecting a predetermined condition based on the application of energy to tissue during the first phase. The method also includes applying energy to tissue during a second phase upon detection of the predetermined condition and providing tension to the tissue during the second phase to separate the tissue.03-25-2010
20100179532Electrosurgical System Employing Multiple Electrodes - A system for heat ablation of tissue in which energy is sequentially applied to at least two electrodes inserted into tissue, the system comprising a radiofrequency source configured to supply radiofrequency energy to two or more electrodes, at least one return electrode for returning the RF energy to the RF source, and a controller configured to sequentially apply the RF energy to each of the two or more electrodes for a predetermined period of time. The controller includes a determiner configured to determine an off time for a next electrode in a sequence and a comparator configured to compare the off time for the next electrode in the sequence to a predetermined minimum off time. The controller applies the radiofrequency energy to the next electrode in the sequence when the off time is greater than the predetermined minimum off time.07-15-2010
20100274244Electrosurgical Tissue Sealer and Cutter - A surgical instrument comprises an end effector including a pair of jaw members configured to move with respect to one another between an open configuration and a closed configuration for clamping tissue. At least one jaw member includes an elongate cam slot extending in a longitudinal direction over a substantial a length a tissue clamping surface of the at least one jaw member. A plurality of electrically isolated, and longitudinally spaced electrodes is supported by the tissue clamping surface and is configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue. A reciprocating member engages the elongate cam slot and is extendable to a sealing position with respect to each of the electrodes to define a predetermined gap distance between a particular electrode and an opposing tissue clamping surface.10-28-2010
20100292686Cool-Tip Combined Electrode Introducer - The present disclosure relates to systems, devices and methods for positioning and placing multiple electrodes in a target surgical site. An introducer is provided for facilitating the insertion of a cluster of electrodes into the body of a patient for performing tissue ablation. The introducer includes a body portion including a plurality of holes formed therein for selectively receiving a respective elongated shaft of the electrodes therethrough, wherein the holes of the introducer orient and space each electrode relative to one another, wherein the introducer includes a centrally disposed hole formed therein for receiving a guide needle therethrough.11-18-2010
20110022047Active Cooling System and Apparatus for Controlling Temperature of a Fluid used During Treatment of Biological Tissue - A system for controlling temperature of a fluid used during treatment of biological tissue includes a fluid temperature control apparatus. The apparatus includes at least one heat transfer device and a solution bag and/or a heat transfer membrane. The solution bag and/or the heat transfer membrane reside in thermal communication with the heat transfer device. When the solution bag and/or the heat transfer membrane is fluidically coupled to an electrosurgical device, fluid is supplied to the electrosurgical device at a controlled temperature during a surgical procedure utilizing the electrosurgical device to enable more efficient treatment of the biological tissue. A corresponding method includes fluidically coupling the fluid temperature control apparatus to the electrosurgical device and supplying fluid at a controlled temperature during a surgical procedure utilizing the electrosurgical device to enable more efficient treatment of the biological tissue.01-27-2011
20110092971Electrosurgical Pencil with Advanced ES Controls - An electrosurgical system is provided that includes an electrosurgical generator; and an electrosurgical pencil selectively connectable to the electrosurgical generator. The electrosurgical pencil includes an elongated housing; at least one electrocautery end effector removably supportable within the housing and extending distally from the housing, the electrocautery end effector being connected to the electrosurgical generator; and at least one voltage divider network supported on the housing. The at least one voltage divider network is electrically connected to the electrosurgical generator and controls at least one of the intensity of electrosurgical energy being delivered to the electrosurgical pencil and the mode of electrosurgical energy being delivered to the electrosurgical pencil. The voltage divider network generates a plurality of characteristic voltages which are measurable by the electrosurgical generator and which electrosurgical generator in turn transmits a corresponding waveform duty cycle at a particular intensity to the electrocautery end effector of the electrosurgical pencil.04-21-2011

Patent applications by David N. Heard, Boulder, CO US