Dennis W O'Brien

US Patent:

6979329, Dec 27, 2005

Filed:

Dec 3, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/307709

Inventors:

Robert R. Burnside - Mountain View CA, US
Russell B. Thompson - Los Altos CA, US
David Dueiri - San Jose CA, US
Dennis M. O'Brien - Carlsbad CA, US

Assignee:

Scimed Life Systems, Inc. - Maple Grove MN

International Classification:

A61B018/18

US Classification:

606 41

Abstract:

Systems and methods for reducing the number of temperature measurement wires in multiple temperature sensor ablation systems are described. In a preferred embodiment, temperature sensors capable of measuring the temperature of body tissue and transmitting the temperature data digitally are incorporated in a catheter or probe ablation system that also includes electrodes in operative contact with the sensors. The sensors are connected in parallel to a common electrical bus, thereby allowing the system to operate using a reduced number of electrical paths as compared to conventional ablation systems. The present invention is also directed to ablation systems that incorporate analog sensors rather than digital sensors. In this embodiment, the system utilizes digital switching, filtering circuits, or oscillators to reduce the number of wires required to operate the sensors.

US Patent:

20010041891, Nov 15, 2001

Filed:

Jul 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/909110

Inventors:

Russell Thompson - Los Altos CA, US
Sidney Fleischman - Menlo Park CA, US
James Whayne - Saratoga CA, US
David Swanson - Mountain View CA, US
Huy Phan - San Jose CA, US
Dennis O'Brien - Mountain View CA, US

International Classification:

A61B018/18

US Classification:

606/041000

Abstract:

A catheter having improved steering and torque transmission capabilities.

US Patent:

20030236455, Dec 25, 2003

Filed:

May 19, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/442019

Inventors:

David Swanson - Campbell CA, US
Anant Hegde - Newark CA, US
Anna Hartzog - Sunnyvale CA, US
Alan McMillan - Westchester PA, US
Dennis O'Brien - Santa Barbara CA, US

Assignee:

SCIMED Life Systems, Inc. - Maple Grove MN

International Classification:

A61B005/04
A61B018/14

US Classification:

600/374000, 600/381000, 606/041000

Abstract:

The present invention relates to a probe assembly for mapping and ablating pulmonary vein tissue and method of using the same. The probe assembly includes an expandable and collapsible basket assembly having multiple splines. One or more of the splines carry one or more electrodes adapted to sense electrical activity in the pulmonary vein tissue. The basket assembly defines an interior, and a microporous expandable and collapsible body is disposed in the interior of the basket assembly and defines an interior adapted to receive a medium containing ions. An internal electrode is disposed within the interior of the body and is adapted to transmit electrical energy to the medium containing ions. The body includes at least one microporous region having a plurality of micropores therein sized to passions contained in the medium without substantial medium perfusion therethrough, enabling ionic transport of electrical energy from the internal electrode, through ion-containing medium to an exterior of the body to ablate pulmonary vein tissue. In other aspects of the invention, the microporous body may be replaced by a non-porous expandable and collapsible body that receives a fluid medium for expanding the nonporous body to exclude blood from the electrodes on the splines, or the probe assembly may not include any expandable and collapsible body in the basket assembly interior (one or more electrodes on splines sense electrical activity in the pulmonary vein tissue and ablate the pulmonary vein tissue).

US Patent:

62873016, Sep 11, 2001

Filed:

Sep 10, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/150833

Inventors:

Russell B. Thompson - Los Altos CA
Sidney D. Fleischman - Menlo Park CA
James G. Whayne - Saratoga CA
David K. Swanson - Mountain View CA
Huy D. Phan - San Jose CA
Dennis Michael O'Brien - Mountain View CA

Assignee:

Scimed Life Systems, Inc. - Maple Grove MN

International Classification:

A61B 1804

US Classification:

606 33

Abstract:

A catheter having improved steering and torque transmission capabilities.

US Patent:

57315388, Mar 24, 1998

Filed:

Feb 19, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/816952

Inventors:

Dennis W. O'Brien - Livermore CA
Robert L. Druce - Union City CA
Gary W. Johnson - Livermore CA
George E. Vogtlin - Fremont CA
Troy W. Barbee - Palo Alto CA
Ronald S. Lee - Livermore CA

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

F42B 312
F42C 1912

US Classification:

1022025

Abstract:

A slapper detonator comprises a solid-state high-voltage capacitor, a low-jitter dielectric breakdown switch and trigger circuitry, a detonator transmission line, an exploding foil bridge, and a flier material. All these components are fabricated in a single solid-state device using thin film deposition techniques.

US Patent:

55549268, Sep 10, 1996

Filed:

Jul 31, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/509552

Inventors:

John W. Elmer - Pleasanton CA
Alan T. Teruya - Livermore CA
Dennis W. O'Brien - Livermore CA

Assignee:

Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

G01R 1300

US Classification:

324 713

Abstract:

A tomographic technique for measuring the current density distribution in electron beams using electron beam profile data acquired from a modified Faraday cup to create an image of the current density in high and low power beams. The modified Faraday cup includes a narrow slit and is rotated by a stepper motor and can be moved in the x, y and z directions. The beam is swept across the slit perpendicular thereto and controlled by deflection coils, and the slit rotated such that waveforms are taken every few degrees form 0. degree. to 360. degree. and the waveforms are recorded by a digitizing storage oscilloscope. Two-din-tensional and three-dimensional images of the current density distribution in the beam can be reconstructed by computer tomography from this information, providing quantitative information about the beam focus and alignment.

US Patent:

55346774, Jul 9, 1996

Filed:

Mar 18, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/033607

Inventors:

John W. Elmer - Pleasanton CA
Dennis W. O'Brien - Livermore CA

Assignee:

Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

B23K 1500

US Classification:

21912135

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for electron beam (EB) machining (drilling, cutting and welding) that uses conventional EB guns, power supplies, and welding machine technology without the need for fast bias pulsing technology. The invention involves a magnetic lensing (EB optics) system and electronic controls to: 1) concurrently bend, focus, shape, scan, and rotate the beam to protect the EB gun and to create a desired effective power-density distribution, and 2) rotate or scan this shaped beam in a controlled way. The shaped beam power-density distribution can be measured using a tomographic imaging system. For example, the EB apparatus of this invention has the ability to drill holes in metal having a diameter up to 1000. mu. m (1 mm or larger), compared to the 250. mu. m diameter of laser drilling.

US Patent:

61674575, Dec 26, 2000

Filed:

Dec 11, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/763589

Inventors:

John C Eidson - Palo Alto CA
Clark Nicholson - Seattle WA
Gerald Weibel - Everett WA
Dennis O'Brien - Marysville WA
Jay M Wardle - Seattle WA
Glenn R. Engel - Lake Stevens WA
Ronald van der Meulen - Mukilteo WA

Assignee:

Agilent Technologies - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G06F 900

US Classification:

709328

Abstract:

A method for establishing bindings in distributed systems is based on a relational characterization interface (RCI) that includes the following fields: ensemble, message type, and variable name. Optional fields may be specified such as time stamp, units, location, and value. The RCI uses explicit representation and standard representations for data and other communication entities to minimize the difficulty in establishing the necessary communication between parts of these systems while maximizing the interoperability properties of the components of these systems. In addition, the interface allows for the use of distributed or collective entities. A variety of services and other supporting methods are enabled by the RCI.