Katherine L Williams

US Patent:

6379351, Apr 30, 2002

Filed:

Feb 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/507366

Inventors:

Hira V. Thapliyal - Los Altos CA
Philip E. Eggers - Dublin OH
Katherine M. Williams - Gilroy CA
Michael A. Baker - Woodside CA
Phillip M. Olsen - Sunnyvale CA

Assignee:

Arthrocare Corporation - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

A61B 1814

US Classification:

606 41, 606 45, 606 48, 606108, 607122, 607126, 604 35

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to systems, methods and apparatus for removing implanted objects from a patients body, particularly implanted endocardial or epicardial pacemaker leads and transvenous defibrillation leads from a patients heart. In one aspect of the invention, an electrosurgical catheter is advanced to a position within the thoracic cavity adjacent a portion of a pacemaker lead that is affixed to heart tissue. Preferably, the catheter is advanced over the pacemaker lead, i. e. , using the pacemaker lead as a guidewire, to facilitate this positioning step. Once the distal end of the catheter reaches a blockage, or a portion of the lead that is attached to fibrous scar tissue, a high frequency voltage difference is applied between one or more electrode terminal(s) at the distal end of the catheter and one or more return electrode(s) to remove the scar tissue around the lead. The catheter is then advanced further along the lead until it reaches another blockage caused by fibrous scar tissue, and the process is continued until the catheter reaches the distal tip of the lead in the myocardium. At this point, the distal tip may be severed from the rest of the lead, or pulled out of the myocardial tissue in a conventional manner.

US Patent:

20070056125, Mar 15, 2007

Filed:

Sep 5, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/515454

Inventors:

Katherine Williams - Carlsbad CA, US

International Classification:

A46B 13/04

US Classification:

015029000

Abstract:

The Water Conservationist is a unique battery operated motorized cleaning device that will do the labor of a many household chores for the consumer. It is unique in the fact that it conserves water while doing all these chores. The stem and actuator in the water compartment controls the amount of water released to clean. There is a great amount of water wasted in all these household chores. It will be beneficial for the environment if this invention is used by the consumers. The thirteen attachments will be used for various chores attached to this cleaning device. It is new for cleaning because it controls the amount of water to be used which will be readily available installed in this invention. The water and attachments are all in one invention.

US Patent:

61834696, Feb 6, 2001

Filed:

Jan 2, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/002315

Inventors:

Hira V. Thapliyal - Los Altos CA
Philip E. Eggers - Dublin OH
Katherine M. Williams - Gilroy CA
Michael A. Baker - Woodside CA
Phillip M. Olsen - Sunnyvale CA

Assignee:

ArthroCare Corporation - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

A61B 1814

US Classification:

606 41

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to systems, methods and apparatus for removing implanted objects from a patient's body, particularly implanted endocardial or epicardial pacemaker leads and transvenous defibrillation leads from a patient's heart. In one aspect of the invention, an electrosurgical catheter is advanced to a position within the thoracic cavity adjacent a portion of a pacemaker lead that is affixed to heart tissue. Preferably, the catheter is advanced over the pacemaker lead, i. e. , using the pacemaker lead as a guidewire, to facilitate this positioning step. Once the distal end of the catheter reaches a blockage, or a portion of the lead that is attached to fibrous scar tissue, a high frequency voltage difference is applied between one or more electrode terminal(s) at the distal end of the catheter and one or more return electrode(s) to remove the scar tissue around the lead. The catheter is then advanced further along the lead until it reaches another blockage caused by fibrous scar tissue, and the process is continued until the catheter reaches the distal tip of the lead in the myocardium. At this point, the distal tip may be severed from the rest of the lead, or pulled out of the myocardial tissue in a conventional manner.