Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080228181 | ELECTROSURGICAL METHOD - Methods are disclosed for delivering energy to a body of a human or animal during a treatment procedure using an electrosurgical generator, a pre-set overall procedure time being defined for the treatment procedure, a ramp time being defined for a parameter to reach a pre-set threshold during the treatment procedure, the method comprising: measuring the parameter over time; and if the parameter has not substantially reached the pre-set threshold by the ramp time, setting a procedure extension time responsive to the time difference between the ramp time and the time at which the pre-set threshold was reached, and extending the overall procedure time by the procedure extension time. | 09-18-2008 |
20080234665 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR STABILIZING MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS - Embodiments of a device, and method of use thereof, are described for stabilizing a medical instrument, the medical instrument contacting a patient's body at a point of contact, the method using a plurality of support members for stabilizing the medical instrument, each support member comprising an instrument end and a patient end and an elongate support member body extending therebetween, the method comprising: independently coupling the instrument end of each of the plurality of support members to the medical instrument; and independently attaching the patient end of each of the plurality of support members to a surface of the patient's body for stabilizing the medical instrument. | 09-25-2008 |
20080300546 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR STABILIZING MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS - Embodiments of a device, and method of use thereof, are described for stabilizing a medical instrument, the medical instrument contacting a patient's body at a point of contact, the method using a plurality of support members for stabilizing the medical instrument, each support member comprising an instrument end and a patient end and an elongate support member body extending therebetween, the method comprising: independently coupling the instrument end of each of the plurality of support members to the medical instrument; and independently attaching the patient end of each of the plurality of support members to a surface of the patient's body for stabilizing the medical instrument. | 12-04-2008 |
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 |
20100324548 | METHODS FOR CONTROL OF ENERGY DELIVERY TO MULTIPLE ENERGY DELIVERY DEVICES - Embodiments of a system and method are described for delivering energy to a body of a human or animal through a plurality of energy delivery devices. In some embodiments, a plurality of energy delivery devices are coupled to a generator and the number of energy delivery devices is automatically detectable. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the amount of energy delivered through the energy delivery devices is controlled, at least in part, by dynamically varying the amount of time that each energy delivery device is delivering energy. | 12-23-2010 |
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 |
20120172905 | Tissue Removal Apparatus and Method of Manufacturing Same - An apparatus is disclosed for removing tissue from a patient's body. The apparatus comprises an elongate member defining a lumen and a tissue removal member disposed within the lumen. The tissue removal member comprises a flexible shaft formed from a plurality of strands, and a coil that is helically disposed around the shaft. The coil is substantially in contact with the shaft along a length of the shaft. The coil forms a plurality of outwardly extending projections and each pair of the plurality of outwardly extending projections defines a spacing therebetween. Upon rotation of the tissue removal member within the elongate member, material is conveyed through the lumen of the elongate member. A related method of manufacturing a tissue removal member is also disclosed. | 07-05-2012 |
20120172907 | Tissue Removal Apparatus - An apparatus is disclosed for removing tissue from a patient's body. The apparatus comprises a first elongate member defining a lumen and having an open distal end. The open distal end defines an opening and comprises a tip, where the tip is structured to reduce damage to tissue within the patient's body. The apparatus further comprises a tissue removal member disposed within the lumen of the elongate member. The tissue removal member comprises a distal end that is recessed from the tip of the elongate member. At least a portion of the tissue removal member protrudes beyond the opening to allow access to tissue distal to the opening. Related hollow members with blunt tips are also disclosed. | 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 |
20120232665 | Devices and Methods for Treating Tissue Defects - The present disclosure describes embodiments for treating a defect in a tissue, the tissue having internal and external surfaces. A device includes a first portion for positioning at one of the internal and external surfaces for applying a treatment force to the defect. In addition, the device has a second portion for applying a counter-force, where the second portion is operable to be positioned so that the counter-force is applied on the other of the internal and external surfaces, away from the defect so as to substantially avoid application of force at the defect. Furthermore, the device includes a coupling member for connecting the inner and outer portions. Methods of using the device are described, for example in an intervertebral disc having a herniation. | 09-13-2012 |
20130041369 | Electrosurgical Device and Methods - An electrosurgical probe with internal cooling for use in systems and methods for lesioning in bone and other tissue is disclosed. The probe includes tubular electrodes configured such that the inner surface of the lesioning electrodes are cooled, directly or indirectly, while keeping the electrodes electrically isolated. One embodiment includes an electrosurgical probe having at least two electrically isolated electrical conductors, including an inner electrical conductor and an outer electrical conductor. The inner electrical conductor defines a lumen for the circulation of a cooling fluid therein. An inner electrical insulator is disposed between the electrical conductors to electrically isolate the electrical conductors. The electrical insulator has sufficient thermal conductivity to allow for cooling of the inner and outer electrical conductors when the cooling fluid is circulating within the lumen of the inner electrical conductor. In this way, cooling of both electrodes is achieved while avoiding direct contact of the cooling fluid with one of the electrodes. | 02-14-2013 |
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 |
20130060244 | Electrosurgical Device and Methods - An electrosurgical bipolar probe with internal cooling for use in systems and methods for lesioning in bone and other tissue is disclosed. The bipolar probe includes tubular electrodes configured such that the inner surface of the electrodes are cooled, directly or indirectly, while keeping the electrodes electrically isolated. An exemplary disclosed method of using a bipolar probe having an active tip having at least two electrodes for delivering energy includes the steps of: advancing the active tip into a bone tissue; delivering energy substantially between the electrodes in a bipolar manner; and supplying cooling fluid to the active tip for internal cooling of the electrodes. Some versions of the method further include the steps of monitoring the temperature of tissue to which the energy is being delivered; and controlling the delivery of energy in response to the temperature of the tissue. | 03-07-2013 |
20130085487 | Electrosurgical Device with Offset Conductive Element - A device for forming a lesion includes a hub defining a passageway and a shaft attached to the hub and defining a lumen. The shaft has a proximal end and a distal end extending away from the hub. The shaft includes an electrically conductive material on at least a portion of an inner surface and on at least a portion on an outer surface. A conductive member has a longitudinal axis and is attached to a mounting structure mateable with mounting structure of the hub so that the conductive member extends through the passageway into the lumen so that at least near the hub the conductive member longitudinal axis is spaced from the lumen longitudinal axis to create electrical contact between the conductive member outer surface and the shaft inner surface. | 04-04-2013 |
20130109999 | Manometer for Use in Testing Spinal Region and Related Method | 05-02-2013 |
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 |
20140257265 | Systems and methods for track coagulation - Devices, and methods of use thereof, are disclosed for preventing tumor seeding when withdrawing the device along an entry-exit path. Some embodiments of the present invention comprise a method of withdrawing a probe through a tissue via a path that traverses at least some bone tissue, the method including withdrawing the probe through the path, and at least partially concurrently delivering energy in a bipolar manner from the probe to heat a layer of tissue surrounding the probe to a temperature sufficient for thermal coagulation necrosis of cells. The device may be withdrawn incrementally. | 09-11-2014 |