Situs Corporation

Uros Corporation

University of California

Vros Corporation

Urds, Corp.

Paul F Zupkas

David G Matsuura

John P Greelis

Mikxay Sirivong

Charles R Holdaway

Walter Dean Gillespie

Charles Lowell Parsons

W Tate Scott

An ultrasound transducer comprises a sheath body constructed from a nonconductive material. The sheath body is configured to be installed over a medical device. A piezoelectric copolymer transducer is held snugly against the medical device by the sheath body when the ultrasound transducer is installed over the medical device. The piezoelectric copolymer transducer transduces incident ultrasound signals into corresponding electric signals. A ground conductor is coupled to a first surface of the piezoelectric copolymer transducer. A signal conductor is coupled to a second surface of the piezoelectric copolymer transducer and conducts the corresponding electric signals to a proximal end of the medical device.

Medical instrument sheath comprising a flexible ultrasound transducer

A drug-infusing device is implanted into a body cavity such as a bladder. The device is implanted in an uninflated, low profile state. After insertion into the body cavity, the device is filled with a substance, such as a drug, and assumes an increased profile. After the device is filled, it is allowed to float freely within the body cavity. Alternatively, the device can be tethered to a wall of the body cavity. The device delivers the drug at a controlled rate over an extended period of time. In order to deliver the drug at a controlled rate, the device preferably has a pressure-responsive valving member. The flow resistance of the valving member is responsive to the pressure at which the drug is stored within the infusing device. The resistance of the valving member decreases as the pressure within the infusing device decreases, thereby providing a resultant controlled flow rate.

Method for delivering a medication

Intravesical infuser

A delivery device and method for delivering a medical device, such as an infuser, into a body cavity are disclosed. The delivery device includes an ejector tube which slidably extends through a handle. The ejector tube is configured for easy insertion through the urethra into the bladder. A hollow inner tube is located within the ejector tube and includes luer fittings at its distal and proximal ends. The luer fitting at the proximal end of the inner tube is coupled to the handle. Movement of the ejector tube relative to the inner tube causes the distal luer fitting to be withdrawn within the ejector tube and can be used to force an infuser attached to the distal luer fitting from the distal luer fitting. Materials can be transported to the infuser from the proximal luer fitting through the inner tube and out through the distal luer connector.

Method and apparatus for placement and activation of a medical device

A surgical instrument comprising a probe for insertion into the body of a host and for manipulating the tissues of the host, the probe including an ultrasound transducer element for locating and positioning the probe within the body of the host; and a method for manipulating the tissues of a host using the surgical instrument.

Surgical instrument with ultrasound pulse generator

A surgical device is comprised of a probe adapted for insertion into a patient. The probe has a means for manipulating tissue within a zone of manipulation. The probe also has a first receiver which is disposed within the zone of manipulation. The first receiver responds to receipt of a radiated signal by generation of a first receiver signal indicating a strength at which the radiated signal is received. A means for analyzing the first receiver signal determines a measure of manipulation to the tissue within the zone of manipulation. In one embodiment, the first receiver is disposed at the tip of the probe. In another embodiment, the means for manipulating removes energy from the tissue. In yet another embodiment, the means for manipulating adds energy to the tissue so as to alter the tissue. Optionally, the means for analyzing accumulates a set of values of the first receiver signal over time in order to determine the measure of manipulation. A scanner generates the radiated signal. Optionally, the scanner is an ultrasonic scanner and the radiated signal is an ultrasonic signal.

Method and apparatus for determining a measure of tissue manipulation

A wire frame made of conductive material has a proximal end and a distal end. The wire frame is adapted for receiving an electrical potential from a remote power source. A loop of wire is disposed at the distal end of the wire frame, and a roller is disposed between the proximal end of the wire frame and the loop of wire. The wire frame is insulated, with the exception of the loop of wire and a portion of the wire frame contacting the roller. A source of suction adapted for removing gases from an area within the vicinity of the roller is activated when the electric potential is applied to the wire frame and the roller is placed in contact with human or animal tissue to thereby perform fulguration thereon. The source of suction is adapted to be reversed in order to provide a positive flow of fluid onto the roller, when the electrical potential is not applied to the wire frame.

Fulguration and cauterization device

A pentosanpolysulfate coating on medical devices reduces or eliminates side effects associated with the introduction of foreign bodies into the urinary tract of a patient. The pentosanpolysulfate coating attenuates the attachment of salts, minerals, proteins, salt, and other undesirable materials onto the medical device used in the urinary tract. Inflammatory or foreign body reaction to these pentosanpolysulfate coated medical devices are also attenuated, and growth of healthy normal tissue in the vicinity of the coated medical device of the present invention is allowed.

Pentosanpolysulfate coating for medical devices

A surgical instrument comprising a supporting structure and a thermal barrier coupled to the supporting structure. The barrier is sized and adapted for placement between the prostate and rectum during cryosurgical treatment of the prostate. The supporting structure includes a frame movable between an extended position and a retracted position and a handle coupled to the frame. The barrier includes flexible sheet material mounted on the frame and movable with the frame between the extended and retracted positions. The barrier is substantially sonolucent allowing ultrasound visualization of areas beyond the barrier.

Method of treating the prostate using cryosurgery

A cryosurgical instrument incorporates a heat transfer zone, which abuts against the portion of the cryosurgical instrument near the input refrigerant entrance, and which receives pure input refrigerant at the coldest temperature for quickly and effectively cooling this portion of the cryosurgical instrument. The cryosurgical instrument includes a shaft portion and a handle portion. The shaft portion includes an outer jacket tube having both an open and closed end. The closed end surrounds the freezing zone for freezing live tissue. A middle tube is disposed within the outer jacket tube. An inner tube is disposed within the middle tube. The inner tube is adapted for routing input cryogenic refrigerant therethrough to the freezing zone. The channel between the inner tube and middle tube forms a cryogenic refrigerant exhaust path for exhausting cryogenic refrigerant from the freezing zone. A heat transfer zone is disposed within the handle portion of the cryosurgical instrument near the entrance of the input refrigerant. The heat transfer zone may take the form of a cooling chamber. The cooling chamber is in fluid communication with the inner tube to receive input cryogenic refrigerant from inlet ports therefrom, and is adapted for circulating input refrigerant within the cooling chamber to induce heat transfer from the walls of the chamber into the refrigerant. The cryosurgical instrument further includes an exhaust chamber disposed within the handle portion adapted for receiving exhaust cryogenic refrigerant from the exhaust path. The exhaust chamber is also adapted for receiving exhaust cryogenic refrigerant from the cooling chamber through outlet ports in the cooling chamber.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Paul F Zupkas