Myoscience, Inc.

Asthmatx, Inc.

Pacira Cryotech, Inc.

Broncus Technologies, Inc.

Merit Medical Systems, Inc.

Cryovascular Systems, Inc.

Osseon LLC

Keith M Burger

Ronald G Williams

Lisa Elkins

Bryan E Loomas

Michael J Biggs

Dave Haugaard

Michael D Laufer

Christopher James Danek

Thomas M Keast

Joshua Cheatwood

Donald A Tanaka

Shixin Chen

John Arthur Ross

Don Akira Tanaka

James D Joye

James M Davenport

Timothy Douglas Holland

Steven P Masterson

Michael G Fourkas

Medical devices, systems, and methods for pain management and other applications may apply cooling with at least one probe inserted through an exposed skin surface of skin. The cooling may remodel one or more target tissues so as to effect a desired change in composition of the target tissue and/or a change in its behavior, often to interfere with transmission of pain signals along sensory nerves. Alternative embodiments may interfere with the function of motor nerves, the function of contractile muscles, and/or some other tissue included in the contractile function chain so as to inhibit muscle contraction and thereby alleviate associated pain. In some embodiments, other sources of pain such as components of the spine (optionally including herniated disks) may be treated.

Pain management using cryogenic remodeling

Disclosed herein is a steerable and curvable drill that can be used for various applications including vertebroplasty. The drill can include an elongate, tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending therethrough; a deflectable zone on the distal end of the tubular body including one or more laser cuts, deflectable through an angular range; an insertable wire insertable into at least a portion of the central lumen of the elongate, tubular body; a handle on the proximal end of the tubular body; a deflection control on the handle; a drill control on the handle; a drive shaft within the elongate tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end; and a boring element on the distal end of the device for creating a cavity within bone. The boring element can be operably connected to the distal end of the drive shaft via a crimping mechanism. Systems and methods involving the drill are also disclosed.

Steerable curvable vertebroplasty drill

Medical devices, systems, and methods optionally treat dermatological and/or cosmetic defects, and/or a wide range of additional target tissues. Embodiments apply cooling with at least one small, tissue-penetrating probe, the probe often comprising a needle having a size suitable for inserting through an exposed surface of the skin of a patient without leaving a visible scar. Treatment may be applied along most or all of the insertable length of an elongate needle, optionally by introducing cryogenic cooling fluid into the needle lumen through a small, tightly-toleranced lumen of a fused silica fluid supply tube, with the supply tube lumen often metering the cooling fluid. Treatment temperature and/or time control may be enhanced using a simple pressure relief valve coupled to the needle lumen via a limited total exhaust volume space.

Dermal and transdermal cryogenic microprobe systems

Embodiments include methods and systems for treating joint pain associated with a nerve. A needle of a cryogenic system may be inserted beneath a skin surface. The needle may include an electrically conducting structure at least partially surrounded by an electrical insulator for conducting electrical energy. The needle may include an outer lumen and an inner lumen extending distally within the outer lumen, the inner lumen include a distal opening open to the outer lumen. The needle may be positioned at a desired location in proximity to the nerve, and a cooling therapy including cooling cycles and thawing periods may be performed to cool tissue at the desired location. The cooling therapy may sufficiently reduce the joint pain.

Embodiments include methods and systems for treating back pain associated with a nerve. A needle of a cryogenic system may be inserted beneath a skin surface. The needle may include an electrically conducting structure at least partially surrounded by an electrical insulator for conducting electrical energy. The needle may include an outer lumen and an inner lumen extending distally within the outer lumen, the inner lumen include a distal opening open to the outer lumen. The needle may be positioned at a desired location in proximity to the nerve, and a cooling therapy including cooling cycles and thawing periods may be performed to cool tissue at the desired location. The cooling therapy may sufficiently reduce the back pain.

Methods and devices for augmenting bone, such as in performing vertebroplasty are disclosed. A bone cement injection needle is provided, having a laterally deflectable distal end. Systems are also disclosed, including the steerable and curvable injection needle, introducer and stylet. The system can also include various exit ports that can be configured with clog-resistant features, such as an obturator. Steerable cavity creation systems and methods are also disclosed.

Steerable and curvable cavity creation system

The present invention generally provides improved medical devices, systems, and methods. Some embodiments of the present invention apply cooling with at least one small, tissue-penetrating probe, the probe often comprising a needle having a size suitable for inserting through an exposed surface of the skin of a patient without leaving a visible scar. The cooling may remodel one or more target tissue so as to effect a desired change in a composition of the target tissue and/or a change in its behavior. Exemplary embodiments make use of replaceable needle probes supported by a probe body handle, with small needle probes often being replaced during treatment of a single patient. Careful control over the control of cryogenic cooling fluid into a needle probe can allow the length of the active cooling to be controlled through depletion of liquid from an evaporating cryogenic cooling flow.

Replaceable and/or easily removable needle systems for dermal and transdermal cryogenic remodeling

This relates to treating reversible chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and more particularly, to exchanging energy with airway tissue such as that found in human lungs. This exchange of energy reduces the ability of the airways to constrict, reduces the resistance within the airway to the flow of air through the airway, reduces mucus plugging of the airways, and/or increases the airway diameter. This energy exchange also may reduce the ability of the lung to produce at least one of the symptoms of reversible obstructive pulmonary disease.

Modification of airways by application of energy

Methods and devices for treating reversible chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are disclosed, which include a device for delivering energy to a wall of an airway in a human lung. The device includes a flexible elongate body with a proximal portion, a distal portion, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. The device also includes a deployment member having an electrically conducting wire extending from the proximal portion of the elongate body and extending through the lumen and terminating at a distal tip distal to the distal end of the elongate body. The device further includes an expandable basket having a plurality of curved electrode legs and a temperature sensing element coupled to the expandable basket.

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Keith M Burger