Han Sen Medical, Inc.

Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Medtronic, Inc.

C. R. Bard, Inc.

Covidien Ag

Albert N Solbjor

Barry Weitzner

Gary S Rogers

Woojin Lee

Dwight Meglan

Robert E Ailinger

David Lawrence Brock

Fernando Alvarez De Toledo

Douglas M Macarthur

Michael Ciannella

Susan M Ostrowski

John F Vacha

David Driscoll

Michael W Gauderer

David R Stern

Christopher Tocci

Christian A Moses

The disclosed technology is directed to a RF power generator and feedback control system used to regulate the electrical power delivered to a cutting filament (i.e., a cutting electrode) of an electrosurgical instrument. The electrosurgical instrument uses the delivered energy to form a cutting arc for ablating a tissue mass to access a target tissue therein. The instrument forms a basket-like receptacle around the target tissue to excise the target tissue from the ablated tissue mass. As the instrument forms the receptacle, the length of exposed filament ablating the tissue changes. To this end, the RF power generator described herein is configured to vary the total power delivered during the deployment of the instrument based on a measurement of output power derived from a differential phase angle between a current sense output and a voltage sense output, in some embodiments, to maintain a uniform power density along the length of exposed filament.

Electrosurgical generator and methods

An electrosurgical apparatus and method for cutting and resecting a tissue volume is described. The apparatus includes one or more electrosurgical filaments and capture components deployable by forward extension at or near a forward tip of an elongated shaft of the apparatus to form an elliptical path that defines, with the other capture components, a spheroidal receptacle configured to surround a tissue volume for resection. The elliptical path is formable by a first extension followed by a second extension, said first extension having a first axial component and a radial expansion component, and said second extension having a second axial component and a radial contraction component, where at least one of the capture components is of varying stiffness.

Electrosurgical method and apparatus with varying stiffness capture components

A method of performing a medical procedure (e.g., a cardiac bypass procedure) on a patient comprises introducing at least one medical instrument into a patient (e.g., percutaneously), conveying control signals from a remote controller to a drive unit, and operating the drive unit in accordance with the control signals to actuate at least one tool respectively located on the medical instrument(s) to transversely secure a first anatomical vessel (e.g., a blood vessel) to a sidewall of a second anatomical vessel (e.g., another blood vessel). In one method, the control signals are conveyed from the remote controller to the drive unit in response to user commands. The user commands may be movements made at a user interface that correspond to movements of the medical instrument(s).

Robotic medical instrument system

A drive mechanism for use with an elongated medical implement comprises a motor, a first pulley mechanically coupled to the motor, and a second pulley. The drive mechanism further comprises a connector mechanically coupled to the second pulley. The connector is configured for laterally receiving the medical implement. The drive mechanism further comprises a belt wrapped around the first and second pulleys to transmit force from the motor to the connector. A robotic medical system comprises a user interface configured for receiving at least one command, a drive mechanism including a motor and a connector configured for laterally receiving the medical implement, and an electrical controller configured for directing the motor to cause the drive mechanism to move the medical implement within at least one degree-of-freedom.

Coaxial catheter system

A medical system comprises a first medical probe having indicia, and a second medical probe in a coaxial arrangement with the first medical probe. The second medical probe has a detector (e.g., an optical detector) configured for detecting a passage of the indicia as the first and second medical probes are moved relative to each other. In one embodiment, the first medical probe is an inner medical probe, and the second medical probe is an outer medical probe. The medical system further comprises an electromechanical driver coupled to the first and second medical probes, and a controller configured for directing the electromechanical driver to move the first and second medical probes relative to each other, and for receiving signals from the detector indicating the relative movement between the first and second medical probes.

A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient comprises introducing a medical instrument into a patient (e.g., percutaneously), conveying control signals from a remote controller to a drive unit, and operating the drive unit in accordance with the control signals to actuate the tool located on the medical instrument to secure a stent to an anatomical vessel (e.g., a blood vessel, such as an abdominal aorta). The tool may be a sewing tool that is controlled to stitch the stent to the anatomical vessel. In one method, the control signals are conveyed from the remote controller to the drive unit in response to user commands. The user commands may be movements made at a user interface that correspond to movements of the medical instrument.

A robotic medical system for use with an intravascular catheter that delivers fluid within an anatomical vessel is provided. The robotic medical system comprises a user interface configured for receiving at least one command, an electromechanical driver configured for being coupled to the catheter, a fluid delivery controller coupled to the catheter, and an electric controller configured for directing the electromechanical driver to mechanically move the catheter within at least one degree-of-freedom and for directing the fluid delivery controller to deliver fluid to the catheter in response to the at least one command. The robotic medical system may further comprise a source of fluid and a fluid line configured for coupling the source of fluid to the catheter, and a manifold configured for fluidly interfacing with the catheter, in which case, the manifold has a fluid inlet port coupled to the fluid line.

A robotic medical system and method of performing a medical procedure are provided. The robotic medical system comprises a user interface configured for receiving commands, an electromechanical driver configured for being coupled to outer and inner catheters having proximal and distal balloons, a balloon controller configured for being coupled to the proximal and distal balloons, and an electric controller configured for directing the electromechanical driver to linearly translate the outer and inner catheters relative to each other and for directing the balloon controller to inflate and deflate the proximal and distal balloons in response to the command(s). The method may comprise inflating and deflating the proximal and distal balloons, and linearly translating the inner and outer catheters relative to each other in a specified sequence to move the inner and outer catheters along the anatomical vessel.

A robotic medical system comprises a user interface configured for receiving at least one command, a first drive mechanism configured for receiving the outer medical implement, a second drive mechanism configured for receiving the inner medical implement, a linear drive arrangement (e.g., one of a drive screw drive arrangement, a rack and pinion drive arrangement, and a belt/pulley drive arrangement) mechanically coupled to the first and second drive mechanisms, and a motor array. The robotic medical system further comprises an electric controller configured for directing the motor array to cause the first drive mechanism to axially rotate the outer medical implement, to cause the second drive mechanism to axially rotate the inner medical implement, and to cause the linear drive mechanism to linearly translate the first and second drive mechanisms relative to each other in response to the at least one command.

A single operator drainage catheter delivery system and method of use. The delivery system includes a guide member having a guidewire lumen extending through a distal portion thereof, with a proximal guidewire port located distal of the proximal end. A placement catheter disposed over the guide member has a catheter lumen extending through a distal portion thereof, with a proximal guidewire port located distal of the proximal end. Locating the proximal guidewire ports as such allows the delivery system to be used by a single person with a shorter guidewire. A drainage catheter is disposed about the guide member distal of the placement catheter. The drainage catheter delivery system preferably includes a means for releasably connecting the placement catheter to the drainage catheter, wherein the releasable connecting means disconnects the drainage catheter upon displacement of the guide member.

Drainage catheter delivery system

A low profile adaptor is disclosed for use with a gastrostomy feeding tube which has been inserted by means of conventional endoscopic procedures or with a replacement feeding tube inserted through the patient's stomach. The tube is cut to the approximate length by the surgeon. The adaptor comprises an anti-reflux valve assembly having a stem which can be plugged into the open end of the feeding tube. The valve assembly contains a seal which functions as a one-way valve to prevent reflux of gastric contents but which permits the introduction of feeding solution into the feeding tube. A clamp is placed around the feeding tube and the valve stem and locked into place to secure the valve assembly to the feeding tube at a location flush with the patient's skin. A silicone cover is placed around the clamp to protect the patient from skin irritation caused by the clamp, and also to protect the clamp and valve assembly from contamination.

Growing community of inventors

Waltham, MA, United States of America

Albert N Solbjor