Comic actor Danny Kaye received patent D166,807 for the co-design of "Blowout Toy or the Like". It's similar to one of those toys that unravels when you blow into at a birthday party except Kaye's has three blowouts going in different directions, not just one.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 6117131 | Multi-electrode probe for thermal ablation A multi-electrode probe for use with a catheter in an electrophysiological procedure to map and to ablate any of several tissue sites without repositioning the probe includes at least a plurality of electrodes, such as a tip and metallic rings, less than ... | 09/12/2000 |
| 6113593 | Ablation apparatus having temperature and force sensing capabilities An ablation apparatus system for treating tissues in a patient, the ablation apparatus comprising temperature sensing means for measuring a temperature, wherein said temperature sensing means comprises a temperature sensing probe and at least one temperat... | 09/05/2000 |
| 6113592 | Apparatus and method for controlling ablation depth During an ablation procedure in a chamber of the heart RF energy is used to form a myocardial lesion for treatment of some arrhythmias such as sustained supraventricular tachycardia and accessory pathways. A galvanic cell, formed by a metallic electrode h... | 09/05/2000 |
| 6099526 | Electrode structure including hydrophilic material Electrode structures are formed from flexible, porous, or woven materials. One such structure is made by forming first and second body sections, each including a peripheral edge. The first and second body sections are joined together about their periphera... | 08/08/2000 |
| 6086584 | Cellular sublimation probe and methods The invention provides exemplary electrosurgical probes and methods for their use. In one exemplary embodiment, an electrosurgical probe comprises a probe body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen. An electrode assembly is operably c... | 07/11/2000 |
| 6086581 | Large surface cardiac ablation catheter that assumes a low profile during introduction into the heart A cardiac ablation catheter has an energy emitting surface for thermally destroying tissue. The surface normally presents a compact, low profile for introduction into the heart. Once introduced, the energy emitting surface can be significantly enlarged. T... | 07/11/2000 |
| 6083255 | Bronchial stenter A device and method for treating collapsed bronchial tubes found in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma are provided. The device which has a balloon at a distal end delivers energy so that the tissue is indirectly, i.e., conduct... | 07/04/2000 |
| 6076012 | Structures for supporting porous electrode elements A catheter assembly comprising a elongated, flexible support structure having an axis. The assembly also includes an elongated porous electrode assembly carried by the support structure along the axis for contact with tissue. The elongated porous electrod... | 06/13/2000 |
| 6073051 | Apparatus for treating intervertebal discs with electromagnetic energy An externally guidable intervertebral disc apparatus manipulates tissue at a selected location of an intervertebral disc. The apparatus comprises a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis, the catheter having an intradiscal se... | 06/06/2000 |
| 6071278 | Tissue heating and ablation systems and methods using porous electrode structures with specified electrical resistivities Systems and methods for heating or ablating tissue use a porous electrode. The porous electrode comprises a wall having an interior area that contains an electrically conductive element. At least a portion of the wall comprises a porous material sized to ... | 06/06/2000 |
| 6068628 | Apparatus for treating chondromalacia A thermal energy delivery apparatus has a probe including a distal end and a proximal end. A first electrode is positioned at the distal end of the probe such that the electrode is positioned on a recessed longitudinal portion of the probe. The first elec... | 05/30/2000 |
| 6066134 | Method for electrosurgical cutting and ablation An electrosurgical probe (10) comprises a shaft (13) having an electrode array (58) at its distal end and a connector (19) at its proximal end for coupling the electrode array to a high frequency power supply (28). The shaft includes a return electrode (5... | 05/23/2000 |
| 6064902 | Pulmonary vein ablation catheter A catheter for ablating and/or mapping tissue on the inner wall of a blood vessel, including a body portion and a tip portion having a proximal section and a distal section, the proximal section including a proximal ablation electrode and a proximal mappi... | 05/16/2000 |
| 6063077 | Linear ablation device and assembly An intravascular device for the formation of linear lesions which has particular utility in the treatment of atrial fibrillation and flutter. The intravascular device has an outer delivery sheath with a distal section which has an elongated opening and a ... | 05/16/2000 |
| 6053909 | Ionothermal delivery system and technique for medical procedures An Rf energy applicator with a working end that carries a bi-polar Rf electrode system for creating a Rf-tissue interaction or ionothermal effect in subsurface tissue (a first ionothermal system) which effect is focused by concurrent actuation of a photon... | 04/25/2000 |
| 6053912 | Systems and methods for sensing sub-surface temperatures in body tissue during ablation with actively cooled electrodes Systems and associated methods for ablating body tissue employ an electrode for contacting tissue to form a tissue-electrode interface. The electrode is adapted to be connected to a source of ablation energy to conduct ablation energy for transmission by ... | 04/25/2000 |
| 6050992 | Apparatus and method for treating tissue with multiple electrodes A probe system for volumetric tissue heating and ablation comprises a cannula having a multiple electrode component reciprocatably mounted therein. Individual electrodes within the array have spring memory so that they assume a radially outward, arcuate c... | 04/18/2000 |
| 6047215 | Method and apparatus for electromagnetically assisted liposuction An improved method and apparatus for facilitating removal of fat from obese, or lipodystrophic patients, by external application of electromagnetic energy. After infiltrating the proposed zone with intumescing solution, radio frequency or microwave electr... | 04/04/2000 |
| 6042590 | Apparatus and methods for fallopian tube occlusion A sterilization device (10) is provided having a flexible housing element (12) that is smaller in diameter than the diameter of the lumen of the isthmic portion of the fallopian tube, a heating element (14) carried by the housing element adjacent to its d... | 03/28/2000 |
| 6041260 | Method and apparatus for endometrial ablation An endometrial ablation apparatus and method wherein an RF current having a frequency of between 250 kHz and 100 MHz is passed through the entire surface of an endometrium in order to provide heating of the endometrium. An electroconductive expandable mem... | 03/21/2000 |
| 6039731 | Apparatus and method for determining the extent of ablation A catheter for use in an electrophysiological procedure to ablate a site includes a first electrode having a first work function and energized by a source of RF energy. A second electrode having a second work function is disposed adjacent tissue. The diff... | 03/21/2000 |
| 6036688 | Radio frequency refractive keratectomy apparatus and method Apparatus for being held by the human hand for performing refractive keratectomy on the eye of a patient by the use of radio frequency energy from a radio frequency generator. An elongate probe has proximal and distal extremities. The proximal extremity i... | 03/14/2000 |
| 6035238 | Noninvasive devices, methods, and systems for shrinking of tissues The invention provides improved devices, methods, and systems for shrinking of collagenated tissues, particularly for treating urinary incontinence in a noninvasive manner by directing energy to a patient's own support tissues. This energy gently heats fa... | 03/07/2000 |
| 6030379 | Systems and methods for seeking sub-surface temperature conditions during tissue ablation Systems and methods for ablating body tissue use an ablation element for contacting tissue to form a tissue interface. The ablation element is adapted to be connected to a source of ablation energy to conduct ablation energy for transmission by the ablati... | 02/29/2000 |
| 6029091 | Catheter system having lattice electrodes A catheter system comprising a delivery catheter and an inner catheter, wherein the inner catheter is deployable and has a plurality of electrodes on the lattices of a trellis fixture. During a deployed state, the trellis fixture is fully extended to have... | 02/22/2000 |
| 6017338 | Fluid cooled and perfused tip for a catheter The invention relates to an ablation catheter which controls the temperature and reduces the coagulation of biological fluids on a tip of a catheter, prevents the impedance rise of tissue in contact with the catheter tip, and maximizes the potential energ... | 01/25/2000 |
| 6013074 | Apparatus and method for thermal ablation A catheter for use in an electrophysiological procedure to ablate a site includes a metallic tip having a first work function and energized by a source of RF energy. The RF energy return path is through a relatively large plate of a metallic material havi... | 01/11/2000 |
| 6011995 | Endovascular device for hyperthermia and angioplasty and method for using the same Hyperthermic treatment of tissue such as cancer tumors, is realized by providing an ohmic heating element on the distal tip of a catheter endovascularly inserted upstream of the tissue. Electrical power is provided to the element for a selected time and d... | 01/04/2000 |
| 6001094 | Implantable soluble electrode system An implantable electrode is provided for treating tissue in a patient with energy. In one variation of this embodiment, the implantable electrode includes a shaft having a length sufficient to extend from outside a body of the patient to adjacent a tissue... | 12/14/1999 |
| 5998597 | Method for improved selectivity in photo-activation of molecular agents A method for the treatment of a particular volume of plant or animal tissue comprising the steps of treating the plant or animal tissue with at least one photo-active molecular agent, wherein the particular volume of the plant or animal tissue retains at ... | 12/07/1999 |
| 5961513 | Tissue heating and ablation systems and methods using porous electrode structures Porous electrode assemblies for tissue heating and ablation systems and methods enable ionic transport of electrical energy to occur substantially free of liquid perfusion.... | 10/05/1999 |
| 5957961 | Multiple sensor, temperature controlled R-F ablation system A catheter ablation system including a catheter having a distal segment carrying at least one electrode extending along the segment and having a number of temperature sensors arranged along the distal segment adjacent the electrode, each providing an outp... | 09/28/1999 |
| 5951471 | Catheter-based coronary sinus mapping and ablation A catheter-based method for coronary sinus mapping, pacing, and ablation, wherein a flexible electrode catheter, having a tip electrode with suspension structure, is pre-shaped to snugly fit into the coronary sinus, so that the tip electrode is positioned... | 09/14/1999 |
| 5951546 | Electrosurgical instrument for tissue ablation, an apparatus, and a method for providing a lesion in damaged and diseased tissue from a mammal An electrosurgical instrument, an apparatus employing such instrument, and a method for using such instrument and apparatus for tissue ablation, are useful for forming lesions in tissue, whereby tumors, birth marks, or the like may be removed. The electro... | 09/14/1999 |
| 5928159 | Apparatus and method for characterization and treatment of tumors Apparatus and methods are provided for performing an in situ characterization of a tissue mass which may be normal, malignant, or benign, and, based on the measured characteristics of the tissue mass, therapeutically treating the tissue mass to cause necr... | 07/27/1999 |
| 5925038 | Expandable-collapsible electrode structures for capacitive coupling to tissue Electrode assemblies and associated systems employ a nonporous wall having an exterior for contacting tissue. The exterior peripherally surrounds an interior area. The wall is essentially free of electrically conductive material. The wall is adapted to as... | 07/20/1999 |
| 5921923 | Method for locating accessory pathways in the heart using multiple pairs of sensing electrodes A multiple electrode array senses electrical events in heart tissue at different orientations in a localized region. First, second, and third electrode elements are spaced apart along different axes. The electrodes are electrically isolated from each othe... | 07/13/1999 |
| 5908446 | Catheter assembly, catheter and multi-port introducer for use therewith A assembly for use in performing a medical procedure within a region in a body of a patient having a vessel therein comprising a multi-port introducer adapted to be inserted into a vessel of the patient. The multi-port introducer includes an elongate body... | 06/01/1999 |
| 5906613 | Method for R-F ablation A method and apparatus for ablation of body tissue. A catheter provided with a hollow needle is employed both for mapping the location to be ablated by injection of an excitability reducing agent and for ablating tissue, employing RF energy in conjunction... | 05/25/1999 |
| 5897553 | Ball point fluid-assisted electrocautery device An electrocautery device is disclosed. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the electrocautery electrode/tip is provided with a hollow, conductive tube terminating at its distal end in a ball point type tip. Fluid, preferably conductive fluid, ... | 04/27/1999 |