Daniel S Elliott

US Patent:

6537192, Mar 25, 2003

Filed:

Jun 5, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/587624

Inventors:

Daniel M. Elliott - Shorewood MN
George M. Hoedeman - Eden Prairie MN
John J. Berkey - St. Louis Park MN
Jonathan D. Elliott - St. Paul MN

Assignee:

Mentor Corporation - Santa Barbara CA

International Classification:

A61M 3600

US Classification:

600 1

Abstract:

An automated system for loading low dose radioisotope seeds into a plurality of implant needles includes a loading station into which a replaceable cartridge may be positioned. The cartridge is preloaded with a plurality of radioisotope seeds and a plurality of spacers. The cartridge has at least one aperture and preferably the radioisotope seeds and spacers are loaded around the periphery of a rotatable drum within the cartridge. The loading station has a cartridge receiving structure and an automated motion control system. When the cartridge is positioned in the cartridge receiving structure, the automated motion control system preferably drives a pair of stepper motors within the cartridge, one for rotating the rotatable drum and one for sliding a pushrod to selectively eject radioisotope seeds and spacers from the cartridge into each of a plurality of implant needles positioned so as to receive the radioisotopes seeds and spacers within the implant needle. In one embodiment, the implant needles are positioned tip first into the loading station, and once a predetermined arrangement of radioisotope seeds and spacers are loaded into the implant needle, a plug is positioned in the tip of the implant needle. Preferably, the automated system includes a computer processor having a touch screen user interface that is connected to and directs the operation of the automated motion control system to load the plurality of implant needles in accordance with a predetermined dose plan.

US Patent:

6599231, Jul 29, 2003

Filed:

Sep 11, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/658636

Inventors:

Daniel M. Elliott - Shorewood MN
George M. Hoedeman - Eden Prairie MN
John J. Berkey - St. Louis Park MN
Jonathan D. Elliott - St. Paul MN

Assignee:

Mentor Corporation - Santa Barabara CA

International Classification:

A61M 3612

US Classification:

600 7

Abstract:

A loading clip for low dose radioisotope seeds has a body having a channel defined therein. The channel has a cavity adapted for receiving a radioisotope seed at a distal end. A slider member slidably positionable within the channel has a spring biased tooth at a distal end. A constant force spring member is slidably positioned within the channel between the slider member and the body. Radioisotope seeds are magazined into the loading clip biased against the constant force spring member by operation of the slider member extending the tooth over the cavity and retracting a radioisotope seed in the cavity into the channel. In one embodiment, radioisotope seeds are magazined into the loading clip that is then used to load an automated seed cartridge. In this embodiment, the loading clip has structure for mating with an aperture in the automated seed cartridge so as to introduce radioisotope seeds into the seed cartridge one at a time. Preferably, the loading clip is provided with a machine readable storage medium accessible via an electrical connector that stores indicia representing at least information about the radioisotope seeds located in the loading clip.

US Patent:

6616593, Sep 9, 2003

Filed:

Jun 5, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/587642

Inventors:

Daniel M. Elliott - Shorewood MN
George M. Hoedeman - Eden Prairie MN
John J. Berkey - St. Louis Park MN
Jonathan D. Elliott - St. Paul MN

Assignee:

Mentor Corporation - Santa Barbara CA

International Classification:

A61N 510

US Classification:

600 7

Abstract:

An automated cartridge for use in an automated system for low dose radioisotope procedures is replaceable in the automated system and has a housing that contains a selectively positionable member having a plurality of radioisotope seeds preloaded in chambers defined in the positionable member. An aperture in the housing allows an elongated member to selectively eject radioisotope seeds from chambers in the positionable member when a given chamber is aligned with the aperture. A mechanism in the cartridge automatically positions the selectively positionable member in alignment with the aperture. Preferably, a feedback mechanism generates a positional feedback signal of a position of the chambers of the positionable member relative to the aperture.

US Patent:

6869390, Mar 22, 2005

Filed:

Nov 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/010968

Inventors:

Daniel M. Elliott - Shorewood MN, US
John J. Berkey - St. Louis Park MN, US
George M. Hoedeman - Eden Prairie MN, US

Assignee:

Mentor Corporation - Santa Barbara CA

International Classification:

A61M036/00

US Classification:

600 1, 600 7

Abstract:

An automated implantation system assists the implantation of low dose radioisotope seeds in a patient as part of a brachytherapy procedure. A Z-axis automated motion control system and an X-Y axis automated motion control system control a needle assembly. The X-Y axis automated motion control system positions an insertion axis of the needle assembly relative to the patient. The Z-axis automated motion control system selectively moves the needle assembly along the insertion axis to implant at least one radioisotope seed. This process is repeated for a plurality of locations on a base plane perpendicular to the insertion axis. Preferably, the radioisotope seeds are contained in a replaceable cartridge and the needle assembly is also replaceable.

US Patent:

7229400, Jun 12, 2007

Filed:

Jan 31, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/355603

Inventors:

Daniel M. Elliott - Shorewood MN, US
George M. Hoedeman - Eden Prairie MN, US
John J. Berkey - St. Louis Park MN, US
Jonathan D. Elliott - St. Paul MN, US

Assignee:

Mills Biopharmaceuticals LLC - Oklahoma City OK

International Classification:

A61N 5/00

US Classification:

600 1

Abstract:

An automated system for loading low dose radioisotope seeds into a plurality of implant needles is comprised of a loading station into which a replaceable cartridge may be positioned. The cartridge is preloaded with a plurality of radioisotope seeds and a plurality of spacers. The cartridge has at least one aperture and preferably the radioisotope seeds and spacers are loaded around the periphery of a rotatable drum within the cartridge. The loading station has a cartridge receiving structure and an automated motion control system. When the cartridge is positioned in the cartridge receiving structure, the automated motion control system preferably drives a pair of stepper motors within the cartridge, one for rotating the rotatable drum and one for sliding a pushrod to selectively eject radioisotope seeds and spacers from the cartridge into each of a plurality of implant needles positioned so as to receive the radioisotopes seeds and spacers within the implant needle. In one embodiment, the implant needles are positioned tip first into the loading station, and once a predetermined arrangement of radioisotope seeds and spacers are loaded into the implant needle, a plug is positioned in the tip of the implant needle. Preferably, the automated system includes a computer processor having a touch screen user interface that is connected to and directs the operation of the automated motion control system to load the plurality of implant needles in accordance with a predetermined dose plan.

US Patent:

7351192, Apr 1, 2008

Filed:

May 25, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/853575

Inventors:

Daniel M. Elliott - Shorewood MN, US
George M. Hoedeman - Eden Prairie MN, US
John J. Berkey - St. Louis Park MN, US

Assignee:

Core Oncology, Inc. - Tampa FL

International Classification:

A61N 5/00

US Classification:

600 1

Abstract:

A selectively loadable/sealable bioresorbable carrier assembly for retaining and positioning elements used in brachytherapy procedures comprises a bioresorbable tube having a closed distal end and a proximal open end. The bioresorbable tube is loaded with a selectable arrangement of elements, including at least one radioactive seed, through the proximal open end. After the bioresorbable tube is selectably loaded, the bioresorbable tube is heat sealed at a sealing position adjacent a proximalmost element. Once sealed, the bioresorbable tube maintains the arrangement of elements throughout the treatment duration.

US Patent:

7455681, Nov 25, 2008

Filed:

Sep 13, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/949115

Inventors:

Robert C. Wilke - Eden Prairie MN, US
Daniel M. Elliott - Shorewood MN, US
George M. Hoedeman - Eden Prairie MN, US
John J. Berkey - Buffalo MN, US
Paul J. Anderson - Eden Prairie MN, US

Assignee:

Wound Care Technologies, LLC - Minneapolis MN

International Classification:

A61B 17/08
A61D 1/00

US Classification:

606216

Abstract:

A wound closure system and a method of closing a wound are disclosed. The wound closure system includes a plurality of skin anchors mechanically attached to external skin tissue around a periphery of a wound, a line extending between the skin anchors, the line slidably engaged with each skin anchor, and a biasing member that provides tension on the line to draw all of the skin anchors toward the wound. The method of closing a wound includes the steps of attaching a plurality of skin anchors to external skin around a periphery of a wound, extending a line between the skin anchors around substantially the entire periphery of the wound, and providing tension to the line to draw the skin anchors toward the wound.

US Patent:

7686829, Mar 30, 2010

Filed:

Nov 4, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/982509

Inventors:

Daniel M. Elliott - Shorewood MN, US
George M. Hoedeman - Eden Prairie MN, US
John J. Berkey - Buffalo MN, US
Paul J. Anderson - Eden Prairie MN, US
Robert C. Wilke - Eden Prairie MN, US

Assignee:

Wound Care Technologies, Inc. - Chanhassen MN

International Classification:

A61B 17/08
A61D 1/00

US Classification:

606216

Abstract:

A wound closure system and a method of closing a wound are disclosed. The disclosure is directed to a wound closure system comprising a skin anchor mechanically attached to external skin tissue on a first side of a generally linear wound, an anchorable tensioning apparatus mechanically attached to external skin tissue on an opposite side of the wound, and a line extending between the skin anchor and the tensioning apparatus to movably connect the anchor to the tensioning apparatus. The line is fixedly engaged with an anchor on one side of the wound while the tensioning apparatus provides tension on the line to draw the skin anchor and the tensioning apparatus toward each other and toward the wound.