Xoft, Inc.

Candescent Technologies Corporation

Silicon Video, Inc.

Xoft Microtube, Inc.

Jan Medical, Inc.

Tagent Corporation

International Technical Associates

University of California

Varian Medical Systems, Inc.

Other

Cooper Lasersonics, Inc.

Tagent 6 Corporation

Woodtoga Holdings Company

Paul A Lovoi

Peter Clark Smith

Theodore S Fahlen

Robert M Duboc

Alex L Lim

Darius Francescatti

James E Jervis

Christopher J Curtin

Daren Stewart

Steve Axelrod

Anthony P Schmid

Jarie G Bolander

Thomas W Rusch

Ray Schumacher

Bernard Baron

Ronald S Nowicki

Heike Hausen

Michael Klein

Christopher J Spindt

James Edward Clayton

Robert R Burnside

Kieran Murphy

David L Morris

Michael Robert Forman

Robert G Neimeyer

Forrest Kim Wunderlich

Petre Vatahov

John Thomas

Anthony G Jennetti

Neil Jarvis

Christopher J Lee

Earl E Dozier

Leonard Reed

Charlie MacVean

Geoff A Zawolkow

Jeff Jarvela

Pete Neild

Teri E Judelson

Oscar Ayzenberg

Alan M Frank

Mark Philip Carol

Wim Leemans

Rudolf A Wiedemann

Warren Fay

Peter J Neild

Steven D Hansen

Donald G Pellinen

John Rieke

Tom W Rusch

Daren L Stewart

Michael R Love

David J Hoffmann

Scott Tremberth

Wade Smith

David J Hoffman

A method of locating a tool or device uses vision driven navigation augmented by inertial guidance. The vision navigation is in reference to fiducial markers in a room viewed by cameras mounted on the tool or device. The cameras calculate the location of the tool or device based on the fiducial markers. The combination of a camera fiducial location and inertial guidance assures knowing the tool's location and orientation regardless of interruption of line-of-sight. Using combined guidance provides a more robust and precise tool or device location and pointing. MEMS sensors and smart phone cameras can be used to make compact tools or devices.

Terminal guidance for improving the accuracy of the position and orientation of an object

Cerebral vasospasm is detected in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients by use of highly sensitive accelerometers in contact with the head. Acceleration data can be investigated in the time domain, typically averaged over a number of heartbeats, to detect a drop in energy during diastole, and diastole/systole ratio can be compared with known data of normal and vasospastic patients. Data from one or more accelerometers can also be subjected to FFT and optionally plotted in a waterfall diagram, to observe the appearance of energy at higher frequencies as 50 Hz to 1000 Hz, also indicating vasospasm.

Non-invasive detection of cerebral vasospasm

Vascular conditions are detected non-invasively in the human body using a collection of information from small local regions of the vasculature, or from a specific signature or 'BrainPulse' that can be derived from a patient's heartbeat-induced cranium movements. An array of accelerometers or other sensors are engaged against the head of a patient and skull movements, preferably under 100 Hz, are recorded. Vibration signatures of vessel structures such as branches, aneurysms, stenosis, etc. using random, periodic, band limited or transient analysis provides a library for further processing. The signature library is used to localize the origin of the recognized vascular feature, and the localized feature is presented to the physician in a clinically relevant manner.

Noninvasive detection of human brain conditions and anomalies

Vascular conditions are detected non-invasively in the human body using a collection of information from small local regions of the vasculature. An array of accelerometers are attached to the head and blood flow sounds are recorded. Vibration signatures of vessel structures such as branches, aneurysms, stenosis, etc. using random, periodic, band limited or transient analysis provides a signature library for further processing. The signature library is used to localize the origin of recognized vascular features and the localized feature is presented to the physician in a clinically relevant manner.

System and method for non-invasive detection of human cranial conditions

Attenuating masks for selective attenuation of radiation, particularly from an x-ray source in brachytherapy, employ materials having atomic number in a specific range, so as to attenuate radiation dose intensity generally proportionally through a range of distance from the source. Some preferred attenuation materials are silver and molybdenum. A set of small masks can be provided for a particular design of catheter that holds a radiation source, each mask having a size and shape to define a different solid angle of masking, so that in a brachytherapy procedure, sensitive tissue such as bone or skin can be protected by proper selection of and positioning of the attenuating mask, to reduce the dose intensity to that tissue.

Proportional attenuation of radiation in brachytheraphy treatment

A laser accelerator driven electronic brachytherapy system, device, and method for particle based treatment of a tumor or other human diseases and conditions.

Laser accelerator driven particle brachytherapy devices, systems, and methods

Vascular conditions are detected non-invasively in the human body using a collection of information from small local regions of the vasculature. An array of accelerometers or other sensors are attached to the head or other points of interest of a patient and blood flow sounds are recorded. Vibration signatures of vessel structures such as branches, aneurysms, stenosis, etc. using random, periodic, band limited or transient analysis provides a library for further processing. The signature library is used to localize the origin of the recognized vascular feature, and the localized feature is presented to the physician in a clinically relevant manner.

Non-invasive characterization of human vasculature

Brachytherapy treatment of a patient's lung tissue following resection is effected using a balloon applicator which is inserted, normally through the same opening used for the surgery, through the chest wall and into the cavity. The lung and chest openings are closed around the applicator and generally sealed around the applicator. A suction port is provided, in a suction circuit of the applicator, to withdraw fluid from the pleural cavity, at intervals as needed, to assure that the lung can be inflated. Different embodiments of suction circuits are disclosed. A bronchial applicator and method are also disclosed.

Brachytherapy apparatus and method for use with minimally invasive surgeries of the lung

A flexible, lightweight radiation absorbing sheet or shield includes heavy metal particles in one layer and mid-atomic number particles in another layer, the layer that will be adjacent to the patient. The shield is particularly intended for protection of the wearer and others from radiation emanating from a therapeutic source positioned within the patient's body. With the disclosed multi-layer shield construction, backscattered radiation off the heavy metal particle layer, affecting the patient's adjacent tissue, is minimized.

Lightweight radiation absorbing shield

Radiation treatment methods for breast cancer following resection, both intraoperative and post operative, involve mapping preferably using an electronic x-ray source, and can include rotation of a direction source. By using a very rapid, near-instantaneous method of pathology of tissue margins following resection, the invention carries out intraoperative radiation treatment, preferably with the patient remaining anesthetized. Whether or not radiation is intraoperative, the invention preferably includes a mapping procedure using an electronic source that is progressed through the resection cavity while radiation dose is sensed at one or more points, to determine the shape of the resection cavity.

Method for adaptive radiation treatment of breast tissue surrounding a cancer resection cavity of arbitrary shape

In brachytherapy radiation treatment, particularly on the breast following a tumor resection, adequate skin to balloon distance must be maintained, to avoid damage to the skin. Often the distance is too small in certain areas or at a single point. The disclosed procedures and devices are effective to manipulate the skin-to-balloon distance to increase that distance when necessary, using vacuum, friction or other means to grip, move and 'bunch' the breast tissue from regions of larger balloon-skin distance to regions with inadequate balloon-skin distance. The apparatus can include a ring or ring shaped array that fits around the breast, larger than the balloon, a circular vacuum device, or a cup which is pushed over the breast to move tissue toward a thin tissue region. In many cases only a few millimeters of added distance are needed to meet minimum requirements so that the radiation procedure can commence.

Method for modifying skin distance from a brachytherapy balloon applicator

Proportional attenuation of radiation in brachytherapy treatment

A vaginal brachytherapy applicator is versatile to different anatomies and more comfortable to the patient than prior applicators. An inflatable balloon on a shaft may be inelastic or elastic. In one embodiment the shaft is rotatable relative to the balloon for enabling a ring or band of dose delivery, for versatility in radiation placement. Alternatively, the source can be rotated and pulled back within a stationary shaft. An adjustment is provided for reducing the length of balloon that inflates, to accommodate different anatomies and positions. Although isotope radiation sources can be used in the applicator, an electronic source is preferred, and the system and method include procedures for using the applicator with an electronic source.

Gynecological brachytherapy applicator and system

Treatment of lesions in any luminal or organ system of mammalian anatomy is performed using an electronic source of ionizing radiation and aided by an endoscopic or percutaneous approach.

Endoscopic/percutaneous electronic radiation applicator and method of use

Growing community of inventors

Saratoga, CA, United States of America

Paul A Lovoi