US Patent No: 6,091,995

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Devices, methods, and systems for shrinking tissues

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)
 

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Abstract

Devices, systems, and method for treating urinary incontinence generally rely on energy delivered to a patient's own pelvic support tissue to selectively contract or shrink at least a portion of that pelvic support tissue so as to reposition the bladder. The energy will preferably be applied to the endopelvic fascia and/or an arcus tendineus fascia pelvis. The invention provides a variety of devices and methods for applying gentle resistive heating of these and other tissues to cause them to contract without imposing significant injury on the surrounding tissue structures. Alternatively, heat-applying probes are configured to heat tissue structures which comprise or support a patient's urethra. By applying sufficient energy over a predetermined time, the tissue can be raised to a temperature which results in contraction without significant necrosis or other tissue damage. By selectively contracting the support tissues, the bladder neck, sphincter, and other components of the urinary tract responsible for the control of urinary flow can be reconfigured or supported in a manner which reduces urinary leakage.

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First Claim

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
VERATHON INC.BOTHELL, WA59

International Classification(s)

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  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Carter, Garry Pleasanton, CA 11 423
Ingle, Frank Palo Alto, CA 46 692
Laufer, Michael D Menlo Park, CA 197 7443

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
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5,370,678 Steerable microwave antenna systems for cardiac ablation that minimize tissue damage and blood coagulation due to conductive heating patterns 249 1993
 
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5,385,544 BPH ablation method and apparatus 258 1993
5,366,490 Medical probe device and method 399 1993
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ST. PAUL FIRE AND MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY (3)
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Philadelphia Heart Institute (1)
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SYNERON MEDICAL LTD. (1)
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UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC. (1)
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UROCATH CORPORATION (1)
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YALE UNIVERSITY (1)
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Other [Check patent profile for assignment information] (1)
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Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
AMS RESEARCH CORPORATION (16)
6,292,700 Endopelvic fascia treatment for incontinence 39 1999
6,478,791 Tuck and fold fascia shortening for incontinence 37 1999
6,546,934 Noninvasive devices and methods for shrinking of tissues 26 2000
6,629,535 Noninvasive devices, methods, and systems for shrinking of tissues 5 2001
6,685,623 Incontinence treatment with urethral guide 12 2001
6,882,885 Heating method for tissue contraction 40 2002
6,852,110 Needle deployment for temperature sensing from an electrode 31 2002
7,004,942 Ribbed electrodes and methods for their use 39 2003
7,315,762 Non-surgical incontinence treatment system and method 1 2004
7,476,242 Electrically heated/phase change probe temperature control 2 2004
7,251,531 Heating method for tissue contraction 1 2004
7,179,219 Incontinence treatment with urethral guide 16 2004
7,317,949 Energy induced bulking and buttressing of tissues for incontinence 13 2004
7,167,757 Energy induced bulking and buttressing of tissue for incontinence 6 2004
7,536,225 Endo-pelvic fascia penetrating heating systems and methods for incontinence treatment 1 2005
7,792,589 Heating method for tissue contraction 0 2005
 
MEDTRONIC ADVANCED ENERGY LLC (13)
6,689,131 Electrosurgical device having a tissue reduction sensor 150 2001
7,651,494 Fluid-assisted medical device 12 2003
8,048,070 Fluid-assisted medical devices, systems and methods 0 2003
7,815,634 Fluid delivery system and controller for electrosurgical devices 1 2003
7,951,148 Electrosurgical device having a tissue reduction sensor 0 2004
7,998,140 Fluid-assisted medical devices, systems and methods 1 2004
7,604,635 Fluid-assisted medical devices, systems and methods 1 2004
7,811,282 Fluid-assisted electrosurgical devices, electrosurgical unit with pump and methods of use thereof 7 2005
8,038,670 Fluid-assisted medical devices, systems and methods 2 2005
7,645,277 Fluid-assisted medical device 7 2005
8,075,557 Fluid-assisted medical devices and methods 0 2007
7,537,595 Fluid-assisted medical devices, systems and methods 4 2007
8,361,068 Fluid-assisted electrosurgical devices, electrosurgical unit with pump and methods of use thereof 0 2010
 
COVIDIEN LP (12)
7,997,278 Precision ablating method 1 2005
7,959,627 Precision ablating device 2 2005
7,507,238 Method for vacuum-assisted tissue ablation 2 2006
7,344,535 Devices and methods for treatment of luminal tissue 2 2006
7,993,336 Methods and systems for determining physiologic characteristics for treatment of the esophagus 1 2006
8,273,012 Cleaning device and methods 0 2007
8,439,908 Ablation in the gastrointestinal tract to achieve hemostasis and eradicate lesions with a propensity for bleeding 0 2008
8,251,992 Method and apparatus for gastrointestinal tract ablation to achieve loss of persistent and/or recurrent excess body weight following a weight-loss operation 0 2008
8,398,631 System and method of treating abnormal tissue in the human esophagus 0 2008
8,192,428 Electrosurgical instrument and method 0 2009
8,012,149 Methods and systems for determining physiologic characteristics for treatment of the esophagus 1 2010
8,377,055 Methods and systems for determining physiologic characteristics for treatment of the esophagus 0 2011
 
VERATHON INC. (8)
6,470,219 Apparatus and method for treating female urinary incontinence 18 2000
6,751,507 Endopelvic fascia treatment for incontinence 2 2001
6,836,688 Devices, methods, and systems for shrinking tissues 45 2001
7,291,129 Apparatus and methods for treating female urinary incontinence 5 2002
7,306,591 Apparatus and methods for treating female urinary incontinence 10 2002
8,412,318 Treatment of tissue in sphincters, sinuses, and orifices 1 2005
8,177,781 Apparatus and methods for treating female urinary incontinence 2 2006
8,353,908 Treatment of tissue in sphincters, sinuses, and orifices 0 2009
 
MEDTRONIC URINARY SOLUTIONS, INC. (7)
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7,343,202 Method for affecting urinary function with electrode implantation in adipose tissue 12 2005
7,283,867 Implantable system and methods for acquisition and processing of electrical signals from muscles and/or nerves and/or central nervous system tissue 32 2005
7,239,918 Implantable pulse generator for providing functional and/or therapeutic stimulation of muscles and/or nerves and/or central nervous system tissue 18 2005
7,761,167 Systems and methods for clinician control of stimulation systems 1 2006
8,165,692 Implantable pulse generator power management 0 2007
8,195,304 Implantable systems and methods for acquisition and processing of electrical signals 1 2007
 
ARTHROCARE CORPORATION (4)
8,012,153 Rotary electrosurgical apparatus and methods thereof 0 2004
7,819,863 System and method for electrosurgical cutting and ablation 4 2008
8,355,799 Systems and methods for limiting joint temperature 1 2008
8,323,279 System, method and apparatus for electrosurgical instrument with movable fluid delivery sheath 4 2009
 
COAPTUS MEDICAL CORPORATION (4)
8,052,677 Transseptal left atrial access and septal closure 0 2004
7,257,450 Systems and methods for securing cardiovascular tissue 22 2004
8,308,763 Systems and methods for transeptal cardiac procedures, including separable guidewires 0 2008
8,235,986 Systems and methods for transeptal cardiac procedures, including tissue penetrating members and associated methods 0 2008
 
CYTYC CORPORATION (4)
7,842,035 Method and apparatus for tubal occlusion 2 2004
7,905,880 Method and apparatus for tubal occlusion 2 2007
8,231,619 Sterilization device and method 0 2010
8,226,645 Apparatus for tubal occlusion 0 2010
 
ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC. (4)
6,918,906 Endoscopic ablation system with improved electrode geometry 31 2002
7,137,981 Endoscopic ablation system with a distally mounted image sensor 27 2002
7,097,644 Medical device with improved wall construction 3 2003
7,232,438 Ablation device with clear probe 1 2004
 
MEDERI THERAPEUTICS, INC. (4)
6,740,082 Surgical instruments for treating gastro-esophageal reflux 60 1998
7,167,758 Medical instruments and techniques for treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease 10 2003
7,008,419 Surgical instruments and techniques for treating gastro-esophageal reflux disease 20 2004
8,095,222 Medical instruments and techniques for treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease 0 2007
 
MEDTRONIC, INC. (3)
6,327,505 Method and apparatus for rf intraluminal reduction and occlusion 80 1999
7,207,988 Method and apparatus for providing intra-pericardial access 18 2003
8,000,807 Methods and systems for accessing the pericardial space 1 2010
 
VESSIX VASCULAR, INC. (3)
8,396,548 Selective drug delivery in a lumen 0 2009
8,401,667 Selective accumulation of energy with or without knowledge of tissue topography 0 2009
8,364,237 Tuned RF energy for selective treatment of atheroma and other target tissues and/or structures 0 2010
 
BARRX MEDICAL, INC. (2)
7,556,628 Method for tissue ablation 6 2006
7,507,234 Method for cryogenic tissue ablation 2 2006
 
CHECKPOINT SURGICAL, LLC (2)
7,896,815 Systems and methods for intra-operative stimulation 2 2005
7,878,981 Systems and methods for intra-operative stimulation 1 2007
 
GYRUS MEDICAL LIMITED (2)
6,780,180 Electrosurgical instrument 114 2000
6,510,854 Method of treatment of prostatic adenoma 35 2001
 
SYNERON MEDICAL LTD. (2)
7,643,883 Device and method for treating skin 3 2005
8,244,369 Device and method for treating skin with temperature control 0 2007
 
THERMAGE, INC. (2)
7,481,809 Handpiece with RF electrode and non-volatile memory 12 2005
8,221,410 Methods for creating tissue effect utilizing electromagnetic energy and a reverse thermal gradient 0 2008
 
ZENO CORPORATION (2)
7,537,605 Medical device for treating skin itch and rash 0 2003
7,637,930 Medical device and method for treating skin disease 0 2005
 
ACOUS TX CORPORATION (1)
8,021,359 Transseptal closure of a patent foramen ovale and other cardiac defects 2 2004
 
AthroCare Corporation (1)
8,317,786 System, method and apparatus for electrosurgical instrument with movable suction sheath 0 2009
 
BARRX MEDICAL LLC (1)
8,192,426 Devices and methods for treatment of luminal tissue 0 2007
 
BOSE CORPORATION (1)
6,547,783 Thermo-electric grip for holding soft tissue 1 2000
 
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC. (1)
8,170,686 Heatable sling support for an anatomical location 0 2006
 
COVIDEN LP (1)
7,632,268 System for tissue ablation 4 2006
 
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY (1)
6,393,314 RF driven resistive ablation system for use in MRI guided therapy 10 1999
 
LUMATHERM, INC. (1)
8,182,475 Methods and devices for the treatment of skin lesions 0 2006
 
SALIENT SURGICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (1)
7,727,232 Fluid-assisted medical devices and methods 1 2005
 
SOFRADIM PRODUCTION (1)
6,406,423 Method for surgical treatment of urinary incontinence and device for carrying out said method 121 2000
 
SOFRADIM PRODUCTION SOCIETE ANONYME (1)
6,478,727 Percutaneous device and method for treating urinary stress incontinence in women using a sub-urethral tape 111 2001
 
Solorant Medical, Inc. (1)
7,052,453 Incontinence treatment with urethral guide 7 2002
 
Other [Check patent profile for assignment information] (7)
6,607,525 Apparatus and method for treating urinary stress incontinence 15 2001
8,285,393 Device for shaping infarcted heart tissue and method of using the device 0 2005
8,467,875 Stimulation of dorsal genital nerves to treat urologic dysfunctions 0 2007
8,128,623 Thermal cautery surgical forceps 0 2009
8,409,199 Thermal cautery surgical forceps 0 2011
8,403,927 Vasectomy devices and methods 0 2012
8,465,482 Apparatus and methods for treating female urinary incontinence 0 2012