Curon Medical, Inc.

Mederi Therapeutics, Inc.

Medtronic, Inc.

Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

B&#xc2;rrx Medical, Inc.

Respiratory Diagnostic, Inc.

Ethicon, Gmbh

Satiety, Inc.

Barrx Medical, Inc.

Respiratory Diagnostics, Inc.

John W Gaiser

David S Utley

Scott H West

Jay J Qin

Stuart D Edwards

Robin B Bek

Rachel Croft

Patrick Rimroth

Jay Chin

Mark A Maguire

Peter H Muller

Le Trong Le

David Huynh

Ronald G Lax

Larry C Heaton, Ii

Hong Li

Kevin C Ladd

James J Bernitt

David Huyhn

Michel Haissaguerre

Huu Nguyen

Walter Bruszewski

Jean C Orth

Daniel J Kasprzyk

Timothy R Machold

Charles S Taylor

Craig R Gerbi

Alex T Roth

Russell A Houser

Wilfred J Samson

Gary B Weller

Christopher Allen Julian

James R Gannoe

Andrew H Hancock

Chris Pamichev

Frank Nguyen

Hilary J Hampton

Crystine M Lee

John H Ford

Abdul-Razaq A Balogun

Scott A McIntosh

Christian Weiss

Stephan Willems

Improved devices, systems and methods for treating a tissue region provide straightforward, yet reliable ways for installing diverse functional components within the confined space of a catheter-based instrument.

Devices, systems and methods for treating tissue regions of the body

A device carries a use monitoring element that possesses a state or condition that changes in response to use of the device and that is sensed when the device is presented for use. Reuse of the device is not permitted, if the use monitoring element indicates a prior use.

Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling use of medical devices

Systems and methods deploy an electrode structure in contact with the tissue region. The electrode structure carries a sensor at a known location on the electrode structure to monitor an operating condition. The systems and methods provide an interface, which generate an idealized image of the electrode structure and an indicator image to represent the monitored operating condition in a spatial position on the idealized image corresponding to the location of the sensor on the electrode structure. The interface displays a view image comprising the idealized image and indicator image. The systems and methods cause the electrode structure to apply energy to heat the tissue region while the view image is displayed on the display screen.

Graphical user interface for association with an electrode structure deployed in contact with a tissue region

A usage key card is adapted to be handled separate from a tissue treatment device. The usage key card has a storage medium formatted to contain an identification code, which is unique to the usage key card. The usage key card is also adapted to be read by a reader separate from the device. The storage medium is also formatted, when inserted into the reader, to retain data generated pertaining to operation of the device.

System and methods for monitoring and controlling use of medical devices

A device for treating a tissue region is supplied with a separate usage key card. The usage key card comprises a storage medium, which is formatted to contain an identification code unique to the usage key card. The usage key card is adapted to be read by a remote reader, to download the identification code for processing by a controller for the device. Processing of the identification code by the controller either enables or disables operation of the device according to prescribed criteria. A viewable image is generated on a display screen that changes in response to processing of the identification code.

Graphical user interface for monitoring and controlling use of medical devices

Systems and methods are provided for positioning and stabilizing an external instrument during insertion of the instrument through the oral cavity (e.g., insertion of a catheter through the oral cavity and into the esophagus or cardia for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)). The systems and methods provide a gripping tool for association with a bite block, capable of selectively moving between an open position in which the instrument may be inserted or removed, and a closed position in which the external instrument is held in a fixed position.

Surgical apparatus with expandable structure and electrode for treating body tissue

An apparatus treats tissue at or near a sphincter. The apparatus has an elongated member having at least one lumen including an inflation lumen, and a basket assembly including a first and a second arm. An inflatable member is coupled to the inflation lumen and has a deployed and a non-deployed state. In the deployed state, the inflatable member expands the basket assembly into contact with tissue. At least one of the first and second arms of the basket assembly has a fluid lumen having an aperture for conveying a fluid from the basket assembly. A source of fluid is coupled to the fluid lumen for conveyance of fluid through the aperture. The fluid can be, e.g., an electrolytic solution, and/or an anti-infection agent, and/or an echogenic media, and/or a steroid, and/or an anesthetic, and/or a medicament, and/or a tissue cooling agent. The source can be a drug delivery device.

Sphincter treatment apparatus

A family of barrel structures is provided in a kit. Each barrel structure is differently sized and configured for advancement into anal canals of different anatomic morphologies. Instructions are provided for using the barrel structures to treat an individual. The instructions instruct assessing an anatomic morphology of an anal canal of an individual to be treated and selecting one of the barrel structures based upon the assessed anatomic morphology. Each barrel structure carries an electrode sized and configured to be coupled to a source of tissue ablation energy to be applied through the electrode to form a lesion. Each barrel structure includes a transparent side wall visualized by a direct line of sight from an end portion of the first barrel structure. The instructions instruct inserting the selected barrel structure into the anal canal and visualizing by the direct line of sight through the transparent side wall of the selected barrel structure the dentate line and the targeted tissue region. The instructions instruct, while visualizing, aligning the electrode in a desired location in the targeted tissue region above the dentate line, advancing the electrode to penetrate tissue at or near a sphincter, and applying energy through the electrode to create a lesion in the sphincter.

Systems and methods for treating dysfunctions in the intestines and rectum that adapt to the anatomic form and structure of different individuals

Unified systems and methods enable control of the use and operation of a family of different treatment devices, to treat dysfunction in different regions of the body.

Unified systems and methods for controlling use and operation of a family of different treatment devices

A system comprising a storage medium associated with a device for treating a tissue region, the device including a handle, a catheter tube extending from the handle, a temperature sensor and a basket including a plurality of spines, the spines carrying an electrode for delivering treatment energy to a tissue site. The temperature sensor senses temperature near a distal end of the electrode. The basket is movable between a non-expanded low profile condition and an expanded condition and the electrode is movable from a first position to an extended position. The storage medium is formatted to contain an identification code uniquely assigned to the device for registration of the device if absence of prior use is determined.

A sphincter tissue region is treated using a support structure sized for advancement into the anal canal. At least one electrode is carried by the structure. A mechanism is coupled to the electrode to move the electrode between a first position retracted in the support structure and a second position extended from the support structure through surface tissue to penetrate a subsurface tissue region at or near a sphincter in the anal canal. A cable is coupled to the electrode to conduct energy for application by the electrode to form a lesion in the subsurface tissue region.

Method for treating fecal incontinence

Systems and methods for treating a tissue region employ an expandable structure projecting beyond the distal end of a catheter tube. A distal tail projects beyond the far end of the basket assembly. The distal tail includes a guidewire lumen that accommodates passage of a guidewire without threading the guidewire through the catheter tube.

Systems and methods employing a guidewire for positioning and stabilizing external instruments deployed within the body

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

John W Gaiser