| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090105702 | METHOD FOR PERFORMING LUNG VOLUME REDUCTION - This invention relates to surgical instruments for applying energy to tissue. In one embodiment, an elongated introducer has a handle portion that includes an interior chamber that is supplied with a biocompatible liquid under pressure. An energy source causes a liquid-to-vapor phase change within the interior chamber and ejects a flow of vapor media from the working end of the introducer. The flow of vapor is controlled by a computer controller to cause a selected pressure, a selected volume of vapor, and an optional aspiration of vapor condensate. Contemporaneous with tissue contact, the vapor undergoes a vapor-to-liquid phase transition which delivers large amount of energy to the targeted tissue. In one embodiment, the system is configured for volumetric removal of tissue by means of high velocity ejection of a vapor media from a first vapor port proximate to soft tissue wherein the vapor-to-liquid phase change of the media applies energy to the tissue. The system provides a second port coupled to a suction source that cooperates with the first vapor port to suction tissue debris from the targeted site. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090105703 | METHOD FOR TREATING TISSUE - This invention relates to a novel surgical device scalable to small dimensions for thermally-mediated treatments or thermoplasties of targeted tissue volumes. An exemplary embodiment is adapted for fusing, sealing or welding tissue. The instruments and techniques utilize a thermal energy delivery means, for example an electrical energy source, to instantly elevate the temperature of a biocompatible fluid media within an electrically insulated instrument portion. The altered media which may then be a gas is characterized by a (i) a high heat content, and (ii) a high exit velocity from the working end, both of which characteristics are controlled to hydrate tissue and at the same time denature proteins to fuse, seal, weld or cause any other thermally-mediated treatment of an engaged tissue volume—while causing limited collateral thermal damage and while totally eliminating electrical current flow the engaged tissue volume. The system can further utilize a piezoelectric material that carried fluid channels to apply compressive forces to the fluid eject the fluid from the working end of make it require less electrical energy to convert it to a gas. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090149846 | MEDICAL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE - An instrument and method for applying thermal energy to targeted tissue. An instrument and method for tissue thermotherapy. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a vapor source comprising a pump configured for providing a flow of liquid media from a liquid media source into a vaporization chamber having a heating mechanism, actuating the pump to provide the liquid into the vaporization chamber, applying energy from the heating mechanism to convert a substantially water liquid media into a minimum water vapor level for causing an intended effect in tissue. For examples such levels can comprise at least 60% water vapor, at least 70% water vapor, at least 80% water vapor or at least 90% water vapor for causing an intended effect in tissue. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090216220 | MEDICAL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE - An instrument and method for tissue thermotherapy including an inductive heating means to generate a vapor phase media that is used for interstitial, intraluminal, intracavity or topical tissue treatment. In one method, the vapor phase media is propagated from a probe outlet to provide a controlled vapor-to-liquid phase change in an interface with tissue to thereby apply ablative thermal energy delivery. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090281535 | ELECTROSURIGICAL INSTRUMENT AND METHOD - An electrosurgical instrument and method for treating varicose veins. In one embodiment, an elongate catheter has a distal working end that carries an electrosurgical energy delivery surface comprising at least one electrode with a positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTCR) surface and/or an electrode with a pressure sensitive variable resistance to provide a smart surface for controlling Rf current flow at the interface of electrosurgical surface and the tissue. The electrode surface then can limit or modulate Rf energy delivery through the surface in response to the temperature of the surface or the engagement pressure of the surface against the engaged tissue. In operation, the smart electrosurgical surface prevents arcing at the electrode-tissue interface, and thus controls ohmic heating to prevent tissue desiccation, charring and emboli formation. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090312753 | THERMOTHERAPY DEVICE - This invention relates to the working end of a medical instrument that applies energy to tissue. In one embodiment, the instrument has a microfluidic tissue-engaging surface fabricated by soft lithography means together with optional superlattice cooling means that allows for very precise control of energy application, for example in neurosurgery applications. The tissue-engaging surface can eject a high-heat content vapor into the engaged tissue for treating tissue, while the superlattice cooling structure can prevent collateral thermal damage. Also, the superlattice cooling structure can be used to localize heat at a selected depth in tissue and prevent surface ablation. Also, the superlattice cooling structure can be used to prevent tissue sticking to a thermal energy delivery surface. In another embodiment, the tissue-engaging surface can be used in a jaw structure for sealing tissue together with hydrojet means for transecting the tissue. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20100076416 | MEDICAL PROBES FOR THE TREATMENT OF BLOOD VESSELS - Devices and methods for thermally-mediated treatment of blood vessels to elicit an immune response to cause rapid endothelial growth over at least portions of an implant or stent to prevent adverse events such as restenosis. Devices and methods for thermally-mediated treatment to inhibit contraction of vessels to | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100324671 | Intraocular Lens System and Method for Power Adjustment - An intraocular lens (IOL) that provides for optical power adjustment following its implantation, for example, for use in treating cataract patients. The lens body has first and second surface portions that bound at least one interior chamber or space that extends from the central optic portion to the lens periphery. The interior chamber or space has a microporous body that is intermediate inner and outer portions of the space. In one embodiment, the microporous body is capable of cooperating with an external Rf or light source to expose a charge to a charge-carrying fluid within the interior chamber. By this system, fluid flows are induced to alter the optical parameters of the lens. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20110054482 | COMPOSITES AND METHODS FOR TREATING BONE - A system and method for treating bone abnormalities including vertebral compression fractures and the like. In one vertebroplasty method, a fill material is injected under high pressures into cancellous bone wherein the fill material includes a flowable bone cement component and an elastomeric polymer component that is carried therein. The elastomer component can further carry microscale or mesoscale reticulated elements. Under suitable injection pressures, the elastomeric component ultimately migrates within the flowable material to alter the apparent viscosity across the plume of fill material to accomplish multiple functions. For example, the differential in apparent viscosity across the fill material creates a broad load-distributing layer within cancellous bone for applying retraction forces to cortical bone endplates. The differential in apparent viscosity also transitions into a flow impermeable layer at the interface of cancellous bone and the flowable material to prevent extravasasion of the flowable bone cement component. | 03-03-2011 |
