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John T. To, Newark US

John T. To, Newark, CA US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080208230EXPANDABLE ROTATING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TISSUE ASPIRATION - An apparatus and method for removing tissue and/or other material from a patient includes a shaft and a tissue disrupting mechanism operatively coupled to the shaft. The shaft may be coupled to a handpiece or a robotic or remote-controlled system. The mechanism may comprise a rotatable or other movable element having a distal portion with fixed or adjustable radial dimensions. The mechanism may have one or more tissue cutting, chopping, grinding, emulsifying or disrupting features with an adjustable outer diameter for removing substantial tissues. The apparatus may be configured to urge or draw substantial material into the device upon rotation or other movement of the shaft and/or tissue, and may optionally be coupled to sources of suction or aspiration. A radiofrequency or other energy source is optionally included for tissue ablation or other tissue remodeling effects, and/or to enhance coagulation.08-28-2008
20090018565Atherectomy devices, systems, and methods - The devices and methods generally relate to treatment of occluded body lumens. In particular, the present devices and method relate to removal of the occluding material from the blood vessels as well as other body lumens.01-15-2009
20090018566Atherectomy devices, systems, and methods - The devices and methods generally relate to treatment of occluded body lumens. In particular, the present devices and method relate to removal of the occluding material from the blood vessels as well as other body lumens.01-15-2009
20090018567Atherectomy devices, systems, and methods - The devices and methods generally relate to treatment of occluded body lumens. In particular, the present devices and method relate to removal of the occluding material from the blood vessels as well as other body lumens.01-15-2009
20090024085Atherectomy devices, systems, and methods - The devices and methods generally relate to treatment of occluded body lumens. In particular, the present devices and method relate to removal of the occluding material from the blood vessels as well as other body lumens.01-22-2009
20090062871BALLOON CANNULA SYSTEM FOR ACCESSING AND VISUALIZING SPINE AND RELATED METHODS - Balloon cannula systems may be used for accessing and visualizing the spine and related methods of treatment, including a forward-looking balloon system for creating a working space and the balloon system having atraumatic dissection capability to allow visualization in spine. The devices and methods described may be used, for example, to perform annulus repair, herniated disc excision, and denervation of neurological tissue; to dispense pharmacological agents and/or cell or tissue therapy agents; to diagnose disc degeneration and bony degeneration, spinal stenosis, and nucleus decompression, and to perform disc augmentation.03-05-2009
20090062872BALLOON CANNULA SYSTEM FOR ACCESSING AND VISUALIZING SPINE AND RELATED METHODS - Balloon cannula systems may be used for accessing and visualizing the spine and related methods of treatment, including a forward-looking balloon system for creating a working space and the balloon system having atraumatic dissection capability to allow visualization in spine. The devices and methods described may be used, for example, to perform annulus repair, herniated disc excision, and denervation of neurological tissue; to dispense pharmacological agents and/or cell or tissue therapy agents; to diagnose disc degeneration and bony degeneration, spinal stenosis, and nucleus decompression, and to perform disc augmentation.03-05-2009
20090216284BALLOON CANNULA SYSTEM FOR ACCESSING AND VISUALIZING SPINE AND RELATED METHODS - Balloon cannula systems may be used for accessing and visualizing the spine and related methods of treatment, including a forward-looking balloon system for creating a working space and the balloon system having atraumatic dissection capability to allow visualization in spine. The devices and methods described may be used, for example, to perform annulus repair, herniated disc excision, and denervation of neurological tissue; to dispense pharmacological agents and/or cell or tissue therapy agents; to diagnose disc degeneration and bony degeneration, spinal stenosis, and nucleus decompression, and to perform disc augmentation.08-27-2009
20090234378Atherectomy devices and methods - The devices and methods generally relate to treatment of occluded body lumens. In particular, the present devices and method relate to removal of the occluding material from the blood vessels as well as other body lumens.09-17-2009
20100076476SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CABLE-BASED TISSUE REMOVAL - Systems and methods for treating disc herniation include surgical and endoscopic access and removal of disc tissue. The tissue removal devices that may be used include flexible elongate members, such as a cable, that may be inserted into a vertebral disc and rotated to pulverize the disc material and facilitate its removal.03-25-2010
20100121153RETRACTOR CANNULA SYSTEM FOR ACCESSING AND VISUALIZING SPINE AND RELATED METHODS - Retractor cannula systems may be used for accessing and visualizing the spine and related methods of treatment, including a forward-looking retractor cannula system for creating a working space and the retractor cannula system having atraumatic dissection capability to allow visualization in spine. The devices and methods described may be used, for example, to perform annulus repair, herniated disc excision, and denervation of neurological tissue; to dispense pharmacological agents and/or cell or tissue therapy agents; to diagnose disc degeneration and bony degeneration, spinal stenosis, and nucleus decompression, and to perform disc augmentation.05-13-2010
20100191057PENETRATING MEMBER WITH DIRECT VISUALIZATION - Systems and methods for accessing the spine include tissue penetrating members with direct visualization capability that may be used to form an access pathway to a targeted treatment site. The direct visualization capability, which may be provided by fiberoptic illumination and imaging components, may be use to visualize the tissue as the access pathway is formed by the tissue penetrating member. The tissue penetrating members include catheters and cannulas with sharpened tips with integrated fiberoptic components and/or channels in which a fiberscope or miniscope may be inserted. Apertures and/or transparent materials are provided to permit imaging of tissue about the distal end of the tissue penetrating member.07-29-2010
20110054507DEVICES AND METHODS FOR ARCHED ROOF CUTTERS - Disclosed herein are tissue-removal devices and methods for treating spinal diseases using such devices. The tissue-removal devices may comprise a cable and/or extendable elements with a retracted and a deployed configuration. The cable and/or extendable elements may be distally supported and restrained by a support element such that the support element may be pushed transversely away when the extendable element is distally extended into its deployed configuration. An annular cutting element may be provided about the distal end of the extendable element or the support element. Various configurations of the extendable and support elements are described herein, as well as methods of using tissue-removal devices with extendable and support elements coupled by an annular cutting element for treating spinal diseases.03-03-2011
20110087257MINIMALLY INVASIVE DISCECTOMY - Systems and methods for minimally invasive discectomy procedures are described herein. The systems include a bendable flexible cannula may have a straight configuration suitable for insertion and withdrawal into spinal tissue, and a curved configuration suitable for accessing certain areas of a vertebral disc that may be difficult to reach in the straight configuration. A cannula is straightened by inserting a straight stylet therethrough. The straight stylet may have a deflectable region that facilitates its insertion into the cannula. Removal of a straight stylet from a cannula may allow the cannula to assume its curved configuration. The systems may be used with tissue removal devices, and certain variations of tissue removal devices may comprise a collector for aspiration, as well as a travel limiter to restrict inadvertent motions of the tissue removal devices within a vertebral structure.04-14-2011
20110098531DILATOR WITH DIRECT VISUALIZATION - Dilators with a threaded distal portion and direct visualization capability may be used for penetrating and dilating stiff tissues and bones. The threaded portion of a dilator engages the tissue between the insertion site and the target site, and may be rotated for advancing through the target tissue in a more controlled fashion. The direct visualization capability may be used to visualize the ligament as the threaded distal portion passes through the ligamentum flavum. The devices and methods described may be used in procedures, for example, where ligaments surrounding the epidural space need to be dilated in order to deliver one or more surgical instruments into the epidural space.04-28-2011
20110098711DEVICES AND METHODS FOR ARCHED ROOF CUTTERS - Disclosed herein are tissue-removal devices and methods for treating spinal diseases using such devices. The tissue-removal devices may comprise a cable and/or extendable elements with a retracted and a deployed configuration. The cable and/or extendable elements may be distally supported and restrained by a support element such that the support element may be pushed transversely away when the extendable element is distally extended into its deployed configuration. An annular cutting element may be provided about the distal end of the extendable element or the support element. Various configurations of the extendable and support elements are described herein, as well as methods of using tissue-removal devices with extendable and support elements coupled by an annular cutting element for treating spinal diseases.04-28-2011
20110152906Devices, systems, and methods for debulking restenosis of a blood vessel - Devices, systems, and methods are employed to restore patency to arterial lesions, e.g., by debulking restenosis in a blood vessel or within a stent or coil.06-23-2011
20110152907Devices, systems, and methods for performing atherectomy including delivery of a bioactive material - Devices, systems, and methods are employed to perform an atherectomy in an identified region to restore patency to arterial lesions. A bioactive material is introduced into the identified region before, after or during performing the atherectomy. The bioactive material can be introduced, e.g., on a balloon coated with the bioactive material, which is expanded in contact with the identified region to deliver the bioactive material. The bioactive material can be, e.g., at least one of a restenosis-inhibiting agent, a thrombus-inhibiting agent, and an anti-inflammatory agent.06-23-2011

Patent applications by John T. To, Newark, CA US