Keith A Martin

US Patent:

7828795, Nov 9, 2010

Filed:

Feb 28, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/363707

Inventors:

Salvatore Privitera - Mason OH, US
Keith Edward Martin - Mason OH, US
Michael Dawson Hooven - Cincinnati OH, US

Assignee:

AtriCure, Inc. - West Chester OH

International Classification:

A61B 18/14
A61B 5/04
A61N 1/05

US Classification:

606 41, 607122, 600374

Abstract:

A surgical device has an integral first tip having pair of electrodes configured to ablate tissue using electric energy. A second tip has a pair of electrodes configured to provide pacing signals to a heart and/or to sense electrical signals passing through heart tissue. The second tip is configured to snap onto the first tip, such that the same device may be used for ablation, pacing, and sensing. Alternatively, the second tip may be integral with the device and the first tip configured to snap onto the second tip. Alternatively, a single integral tip of the surgical device may be used for ablation, pacing, and sensing. Such a multipurpose tip may comprise a plurality of electrode pairs or an array of electrodes. A user interface on the device or elsewhere may be operable to provide selectable modes for selectively varying properties of signals communicated to the electrodes.

US Patent:

8034051, Oct 11, 2011

Filed:

Jul 17, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/457919

Inventors:

Keith Edward Martin - Cincinnati OH, US
Salvatore Privitera - Mason OH, US
Christopher J. Park - Oregonia OH, US

Assignee:

Atricure, Inc. - West Chester OH

International Classification:

A61B 18/14

US Classification:

606 41, 606 50

Abstract:

An electrosurgical device having a distal tip for creating a lesion on tissue includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are parallel for the delivery of RF energy to tissue. A sensor electrode is provided parallel to and spaced away from the first electrode a different distance than the second electrode. When the sensor electrode and at least one of the first and second electrodes are in contact with tissue, The electrosurgical device can perform at least one of the following: ablating tissue, and sensing at least one selected from the group of voltage, tissue impedance, electrical conduction, conduction time, conduction velocity, and signal phase angle.

US Patent:

8057471, Nov 15, 2011

Filed:

Oct 12, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/902851

Inventors:

Salvatore Privitera - Mason OH, US
Keith Edward Martin - Mason OH, US
Michael Dawson Hooven - Cincinnati OH, US

Assignee:

Atricure, Inc. - West Chester OH

International Classification:

A61B 18/18

US Classification:

606 41, 606 45

Abstract:

A surgical device has an integral first tip having pair of electrodes configured to ablate tissue using electric energy. A second tip has a pair of electrodes configured to provide pacing signals to a heart and/or to sense electrical signals passing through heart tissue. The second tip is configured to snap onto the first tip, such that the same device may be used for ablation, pacing, and sensing. Alternatively, the second tip may be integral with the device and the first tip configured to snap onto the second tip. Alternatively, a single integral tip of the surgical device may be used for ablation, pacing, and sensing. Such a multipurpose tip may comprise a plurality of electrode pairs or an array of electrodes. A user interface on the device or elsewhere may be operable to provide selectable modes for selectively varying properties of signals communicated to the electrodes.

US Patent:

8348939, Jan 8, 2013

Filed:

Aug 30, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/221503

Inventors:

Keith Edward Martin - Mason OH, US
Salvatore Privitera - Mason OH, US
Christopher J. Park - Oregonia OH, US

Assignee:

AtriCure, Inc. - West Chester OH

International Classification:

A61B 18/14

US Classification:

606 41, 606 50

Abstract:

An electrosurgical device having a distal tip for creating a lesion on tissue includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are parallel for the delivery of RF energy to tissue. A sensor electrode is provided parallel to and spaced away from the first electrode a different distance than the second electrode. When the sensor electrode and at least one of the first and second electrodes are in contact with tissue. The electrosurgical device can perform at least one of the following: ablating tissue, and sensing at least one selected from the group of voltage, tissue impedance, electrical conduction, conduction time, conduction velocity, and signal phase angle.

US Patent:

20060161147, Jul 20, 2006

Filed:

Jan 18, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/037810

Inventors:

Salvatore Privitera - Mason OH, US
Keith Martin - Cincinnati OH, US
Patrick Alexander - Cincinnati OH, US

International Classification:

A61B 18/14

US Classification:

606034000, 606041000

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for controlling a surgical ablation device. Two electrodes of an ablation device against the surface of tissue. The tissue impedance is measured between the electrodes. The electrodes are energized based on the measured tissue impedance. If the measured tissue impedance is between a first threshold impedance and a second threshold impedance, the electrodes are energized to output a substantially constant wattage. If the measured tissue impedance is greater than the second threshold impedance, the electrodes are energized to output a variable wattage, the variable wattage being inversely related to the impedance of the tissue.

US Patent:

20060161149, Jul 20, 2006

Filed:

Jan 18, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/037543

Inventors:

Salvatore Privitera - Mason OH, US
Keith Martin - Cincinnati OH, US
Michael Hooven - Cincinnati OH, US

International Classification:

A61B 18/14

US Classification:

606041000

Abstract:

A surgical ablation device. A pair of electrodes, each electrode having a surface area for contacting tissue. A pair of heat sinks each in thermal communication with an electrode, the heat sinks having a volume such that the ratio of surface area of the electrode to volume of the heat sink is less than about 3 in/in. The electrodes may be slender and parallel. When the electrodes are energized with bi-polar electric energy and placed in contact with the tissue surface, the tissue is heated and ablated such that the maximum tissue temperature occurs below the tissue surface.

US Patent:

20080172048, Jul 17, 2008

Filed:

Jan 7, 2008

Appl. No.:

11/970005

Inventors:

Keith Edward Martin - Mason OH, US
Salvotore Privitera - Mason OH, US

International Classification:

A61B 18/14
A61B 18/20
A61N 7/02

US Classification:

606 10, 606 33, 606 34, 606 41, 601 3, 607 89, 607102, 607 99

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for ablating tissue are disclosed that comprise positioning two or more bidirectional ablation energy sources in spaced-apart relation in sufficient proximity to the tissue to be ablated so that, upon activation each energy source creates an energy field in the tissue to be ablated. The energy sources are spaced such that the energy fields created by at least one of the activated sources partially overlaps with the energy field created by one or more of the other energy sources. The energy sources are alternately activated and deactivated, so that a substantially constant energy field results where the energy fields created by at least two of the energy sources overlap. While the energy sources are preferably RF energy sources, other energy sources, such as microwave, may be used.

US Patent:

20100286688, Nov 11, 2010

Filed:

May 7, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/775777

Inventors:

Salvatore Privitera - Mason OH, US
Keith Edward Martin - Mason OH, US
Kenneth Lance Miller - Hamilton OH, US

International Classification:

A61B 18/18
A61B 18/14

US Classification:

606 33, 606 41

Abstract:

Ablation devices comprising elongated flexible members that are repositioned to at least partially surround tissue to be ablated. The exemplary ablation instruments utilize rigid or semi-rigid devices that are either affixed to the flexible member or repositionable along the flexible member. The clamping and ablating surfaces include electrodes or other means for delivering ablation energy. The electrodes may be brought into proximity with each other so as to provide a uniform force profile across the tissue to be ablated. In such a circumstance, once the tissue between the clamping and ablating surfaces is compressed, the electrodes are activated to create an ablation lesion.