University of California

Duke University

Immunolight, LLC

Cygnus Therapeutic Systems

Cygnus, Inc.

Bionix Development Corporation

Paul R Stauffer

Richard H Guy

Gordon L Flynn

Durairaj Bommannan

Hirohisa Okuyama

Zakaryae Fathi

Frederic Avery Bourke, Jr

Michael J Therien

Ian Nicholas Stanton

Paolo Maccarini

Diane Renee Fels

Katherine Sarah Hansen

Cory Robert Wyatt

Celestino John Gaeta

Toru Satoh

Richard Alan Forber

Mark Wesley Dewhirst

Doug Peder Bonnell

Jaime L Schlorff

Methods and systems for producing a change in a medium. A first method and system (1) place in a vicinity of the medium at least one upconverter including a gas for plasma ignition, with the upconverter being configured, upon exposure to initiation energy, to generate light for emission into the medium, and (2) apply the initiation energy from an energy source including the first wavelength &#x3bb;to the medium, wherein the emitted light directly or indirectly produces the change in the medium. A second method and system (1) place in a vicinity of the medium an agent receptive to microwave radiation or radiofrequency radiation, and (2) apply as an initiation energy the microwave radiation or radiofrequency radiation by which the agent directly or indirectly generates emitted light in the infrared, visible, or ultraviolet range to produce at least one of physical and biological changes in the medium.

Up and down conversion systems for production of emitted light from various energy sources including radio frequency, microwave energy and magnetic induction sources for upconversion

A thermal monitoring sheet measures surface temperature distributions of large areas, even over large, contoured surfaces. The sheet incorporates conduits that terminate or intersect at temperature measurement locations with a fixed relative arrangement to form a two-dimensional grid for sensing temperature distributions.

Thermal monitoring device

A combination applicator is able to deliver heat and radiation, either simultaneously or sequentially, for the treatment of cancer or other disease. The combination applicator is flexible and able to conform to contoured anatomy of the patient. The combination applicator comprises a flexible, dielectric containing compartment having a tissue-engaging surface and an opposite, non-tissue-engaging surface. A heating surface comprising one or more RF or microwave antennas or ultrasound transducers is supported adjacent to the non-tissue-engaging surface. In addition, a plurality of conduits are also supported on the dielectric containing compartment, the conduits being adapted to communicate with at least one brachytherapy source. Additional conduits may be located on the tissue contacting surface of the dielectric containing compartment to accommodate moving or stationary temperature monitoring sensors.

Apparatus for hyperthermia and brachytherapy delivery

A flexible microwave applicator and method of use thereof. The applicator includes a flexible, dielectric-containing compartment (e.g. temperature regulated water or oil) having a variable contour, tissue-engaging surface and an opposite non-tissue-engaging surface and an antenna array adjacent to a non-tissue-engaging surface. The antenna array includes at least one flexible printed circuit board having a front metal surface, a dielectric substrate, a back metal surface, a connection structure for connecting the antenna array to at least one external microwave device, at least one dual concentric conductor aperture on the front surface, and at least one microstrip feedline in communication with the dual concentric conductor aperture and the connection structure. The microwave applicator also includes flexible attachment material for placement over the antenna array and dielectric compartment to allow the microwave applicator to be attached to a subject like a garment which closely conforms to the anatomy portion to be heated. The flexible attachment material may be configured such that the microwave applicator is configured as an appropriately-shaped type of garment, for example, a vest, jacket, cap, hood, blanket, custom shaped conformal wrap, sleeve, or as a pair of shorts.

Microwave garment for heating and/or monitoring tissue

A method for enhancing the permeability of the skin or other biological membrane to a material such as a drug is disclosed. In the method, the drug is delivered in conjunction with ultra sound having a frequency of above about 10 MHz. The method may also be used in conjunction with chemical permeation enhancers and/or with iontophoresis.

Ultrasound-enhanced sampling of materials through the skin

A method for enhancing the permeability of the skin or other biological membrane to a material such as a drug is disclosed. In the method, the drug is delivered in conjunction with ultrasound having a frequency of above about 10 MHz. The method may also be used in conjunction with chemical permeation enhancers and/or with iontophoresis.

Ultrasound-enhanced delivery of materials into and through the skin

An implantable helical coil microwave antenna, particularly adapted for interstitial hyperthermia therapy of cancer, comprises a coaxial cable having a distal end of its outer conductor removed and a helical coil mounted on the exposed inner conductor insulator. A proximal end of the helical coil is separated axially from the distal end of the outer conductor and the distal end of the helical coil is connected to the inner conductor of the coaxial cable feed line. The antenna functions to confine heat to the area immediately surrounding the coil and thus induces substantially identical thermal profiles at varying antenna insertion depths in tissue when the antenna is energized with microwave energy.

Implantable helical coil microwave antenna

Growing community of inventors

San Rafael, CA, United States of America

Paul R Stauffer