Rita Medical Systems, Inc.

Other

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc.

Angiodynamics, Inc.

Oratec Interventions, Inc.

Zomed International

Enteric Medical Technologies, Inc.

Zomed

Edward J Gough

Alan A Stein

Stuart D Edwards

David E Silverman

Kee S Lee

David Douglass

Patrick J Burns

Daniel J Balbierz

Olexander Hnojewyj

Gregory M Cruise

Chaya Hirsch

John Zepeda

Peter H Lazarus

Richard C Breen

James A Baker, Jr

An ablation apparatus includes an ablation energy source producing an electromagnetic energy output. A multiple antenna device is included, and has a primary antenna with a longitudinal axis, a central lumen and a distal end, and a secondary antenna with a distal end. The secondary antenna is deployed from the primary antenna central lumen in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis. The multiple antenna device is coupled to the ablation energy source.

Ablation apparatus and method

An injection device for use with tissue of a mammalian body comprising a first tubular member and a second tubular member slidably disposed in the first tubular member. The first and second tubular members have respective proximal and distal extremities. The distal extremity of the second tubular member is provided with a needle that is extendable from the distal extremity of the first tubular member. The proximal extremity of the second tubular member is lockable relative to the proximal extremity of the first tubular member. The second tubular member has a column strength when locked within the first tubular member for limiting retraction of the second tubular member relative to the first tubular member during puncture of the tissue by the needle.

Injection device

A kit for treating a gastrointestinal tract of a mammal and including a package and a tubular needle, an end piece and a container of an implant-forming material carried within the package. The end piece has an outer surface provided with at least one recess and an internal passageway communicating with the recess. The end piece is mounted on the distal extremity of an elongate probe member and introduced into the upper portion of the gastrointestinal tract. A portion of the wall of the gastrointestinal tract is drawn into the recess and the tubular needle is extended through the elongate probe member and the internal passageway into the portion of the wall in the recess. Material from the container is loaded into the tubular needle and injected into the portion of the wall to form an implant in the wall.

Kit for forming implants in wall of gastrointestinal tract

A multiple antenna ablation apparatus includes an electromagnetic energy source, a trocar including a distal end, and a hollow lumen extending along a longitudinal axis of the trocar, and a multiple antenna ablation device with three or more antennas. The antennas are initially positioned in the trocar lumen as the trocar is introduced through tissue. At a selected tissue site the antennas are deployable from the trocar lumen in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis. Each of the deployed antennas has an electromagnetic energy delivery surface of sufficient size to, (i) create a volumetric ablation between the deployed antennas, and (ii) the volumetric ablation is achieved without impeding out any of the deployed antennas when 5 to 200 watts of electromagnetic energy is delivered from the electromagnetic energy source to the multiple antenna ablation device. At least one cable couples the multiple antenna ablation device to the electromagnetic energy source.

Multiple antenna ablation apparatus and method

An apparatus for treating a wall of a body cavity comprising an elongate probe member having a distal extremity with an outer surface and at least one recess opening onto the outer surface. When a suction source is coupled to the apparatus, a suction is created in the recess to draw a portion of the wall into the recess. A needle is slidably disposed in the elongate probe member and actuatable from outside the body for movement from a retracted position to an extended position in which the distal end portion of the needle extends into the recess whereby the needle can be extended into the portion of the wall drawn into the recess.

Apparatus for treating wall of body cavity

An ablation apparatus includes an ablation energy source producing an electromagnetic energy output. A monopolar multiple antenna device is included and has a primary antenna with a longitudinal axis, a central lumen and a distal end, and a secondary antenna with a distal end. The secondary antenna is deployed from the primary antenna central lumen in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis. The primary antenna and secondary antennas are each electromagnetically coupled to the electromagnetic energy source.

Multiple antenna ablation apparatus and method with multiple sensor feedback

A cell necrosis apparatus has a flexible introducer including a lumen and a distal end sufficiently sharp to penetrate tissue. An energy delivery device is positionable in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue. The energy delivery device includes a first RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal portion and a second RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal portion. The first and second RF electrodes are deployable with curvature from the introducer at a selected tissue site in a lateral direction away from the periphery of the introducer.

Cell necrosis apparatus

An ablation apparatus includes a handpiece, an electrode extending from a handpiece distal end, a probe, a thermal sensor and an energy source. The electrode includes a distal end and a lumen, a cooling medium inlet conduit and a cooling medium exit conduit. Both conduits extend through the electrode lumen to an electrode distal end. A sidewall port, isolated from a cooling medium flowing in the inlet and outlet conduits, is formed in the electrode. The probe is at least partially positionable in the electrode lumen and configured to be advanced and retracted in and out of the sidewall aperture. The thermal sensor is supported by the probe. The electrode is coupled to an energy source.

Multiple antenna ablation apparatus and method with cooling element

A fluidic media introduction apparatus for closing an opening in a vessel wall includes an elongated member with a fluidic media introduction port and a guide wire lumen. The guide wire lumen extends from a proximal portion to a distal portion of the elongated member. A fluidic media mixing chamber is positioned in the elongated member and coupled to a fluidic media introduction port. A fluidic media delivery lumen is coupled to the mixing chamber. A fluidic media advancement port is positioned at the distal portion of the elongated member. An inflatable member is coupled to the distal portion of the elongated member.

Fluidic media introduction apparatus

An orthopedic apparatus, for effecting a change in ligaments, joint capsules and connective tissue through the controlled contraction of collagen fibers, includes a trocar. The trocar has a trocar elongated body with a trocar longitudinal axis, a trocar distal end that is laterally deflectable relative to the trocar longitudinal axis, and a trocar proximal end. An electrode is positioned at the trocar distal end. The electrode delivers substantially uniform energy across an energy delivery surface of the electrode. The energy delivery surface is positioned next to an area of collagen fibers to cause a controlled amount of contraction of the collagen fibers while minimizing dissociation and breakdown of the collagen fibers. A handle is positioned at the proximal end of the trocar. The handle includes an actuating member and a locking member. The actuating member has a resting position and one or more activation positions that cause the trocar distal end to become laterally deflected to a desired position of deflection. The locking member has a resting position and a locking position that locks the deflected trocar distal end in place. Further, the locking member is releasable from the locking position to the resting position or to one that is intermediate between the two in order to modify the activation position of the actuating member and change the deflection of the trocar distal end. The distal end's deflection can be readily adjusted and can return to a non-deflected position. The handle can be held in one hand, and the actuating and locking members each operable by a thumb and a finger of the hand.

Orthopedic apparatus for controlled contraction of collagen tissue

An apparatus comprising an elongate probe member having proximal and distal extremities for use with a suction source to treat a portion of a wall forming a cavity in a body having a natural body opening for accessing the cavity. The elongate probe member has a length so that when the distal extremity is in the vicinity of the portion of the wall the proximal extremity is outside of the body. The distal extremity of the elongate probe member has an outer surface and is provided with at least one recess opening onto the outer surface and an internal passageway communicating with the recess. When the suction source is coupled to the apparatus a suction is created in the recess by means of the passageway to draw the portion of the wall into the recess. A hollow needle is slidably disposed in the elongate probe member and has a distal end portion. The needle is actuatable from outside the body for movement from a retracted position in which the distal end portion of the needle is out of the recess and an extended position in which the distal end portion of the needle extends into the recess. The needle can be extended into the portion of the wall drawn into the recess so as to introduce a material into the portion of the wall and form an implant in the portion of the wall.

Apparatus for forming implants in gastrointestinal tract and kit for use therewith

A cell necrosis apparatus includes an introducer with a distal end sufficiently sharp to penetrate tissue. An energy delivery device has a first set of RF electrodes and a second set of RF electrodes. Each RF electrode of the first and second sets has a tissue piercing distal end and is positionable in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue. The first and second sets of RF electrodes are deployable with curvature from the introducer. The second set of RF electrodes is deployable a greater distance from the introducer than the first set of RF electrodes.

An ablation apparatus includes an introducer with a distal end sufficiently sharp to penetrate tissue. An energy delivery device is configured to be coupled to an energy source. The energy delivery device includes a first electrode and a second electrode each with a tissue piercing distal portion. The first and second electrodes are at least partially positionable in the introducer and deployable from the introducer at a selected tissue site to an expanded state. In the expanded state the deployed first and second electrodes distend laterally away from the introducer with a radius of curvature to form a shaped array of deployed electrodes at the tissue site when positioned at the selected tissue site. The first electrode distal portion and the second electrode distal portion are each at least partially made of a shaped memory alloy material that displays stress induced martensite behavior above body temperature. A cable couples the energy source to the energy delivery device.

Growing community of inventors

Menlo Park, CA, United States of America

Edward J Gough