Kenneth H Carr

US Patent:

6932776, Aug 23, 2005

Filed:

Jun 2, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/452154

Inventors:

Kenneth L. Carr - Woolwich ME, US

Assignee:

Meridian MedicalSSystems, LLC - Ayer MA

International Classification:

A61B005/00

US Classification:

600549, 374122

Abstract:

Apparatus for detecting vulnerable plaques embedded in the wall of a patient's blood vessel includes an intravascular catheter containing a microwave antenna, an extra-corporeal radiometer having a signal input, a reference input and an output, a cable for electrically connecting the antenna to the signal input, and a device for applying an indication of the patient's normal tissue temperature to the reference input so that when the catheter is moved along the vessel, the locations of the vulnerable plaques are reflected in a signal from the output as thermal anomalies due to the higher emissivity of the vulnerable plaques as compared to the normal tissue. A second embodiment of the apparatus has two coaxial antennas in the catheter serving two radiometers. One measures the temperature at locations in the vessel wall, the other measures the temperature at the surface. By subtracting the two signals, the locations of vulnerable plaque may be visualized.

US Patent:

7197356, Mar 27, 2007

Filed:

May 18, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/847975

Inventors:

Kenneth L. Carr - Woolwich ME, US

Assignee:

Meridian Medical Systems, LLC - Ayer MA

International Classification:

A61B 5/00

US Classification:

600430, 600549, 374122

Abstract:

Microwave detection apparatus includes an intravascular catheter containing inner and outer conductors, the distal ends of the conductors forming an antenna at a distal end of the catheter. A gap is provided in the inner conductor near the antenna thereby forming spaced-apart opposing proximal and distal inner conductor segments between which is connected an electrical circuit. That circuit includes a temperature reference and a Dicke-switch switchable in response to a switching signal between a first condition wherein the switch connects the proximal inner conductor segment to the temperature reference thereby delivering a temperature reference signal from the temperature reference to the proximal ends of the conductors and a second condition wherein the switch connects the proximal inner conductor segment to the distal inner conductor segment thereby delivering an antenna signal from the antenna to the proximal ends of the conductors.

US Patent:

7699841, Apr 20, 2010

Filed:

Mar 16, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/377789

Inventors:

Kenneth L. Carr - Woolwich ME, US

Assignee:

Meridian Medical Systems, LLC - Woolwich ME

International Classification:

A61B 18/18

US Classification:

606 33, 606 41, 607156

Abstract:

Apparatus for controlled tissue ablation includes an elongated relatively flexible antenna with a first, strip-like, conductor having opposite faces and proximal and distal ends, a dielectric spacer covering one face of the first conductor, and a second, serpentine, conductor composed of a series of similar segments positioned flush against the spacer and being coextensive lengthwise with the first conductor. The second conductor has a distal end connected to the distal end of the first conductor and a proximal end. An electrically insulating enclosure surrounds the conductors. The proximal ends of the first and second conductors may be connected via a coaxial cable to a remote microwave transmitter/receiver unit.

US Patent:

7734330, Jun 8, 2010

Filed:

Mar 23, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/088107

Inventors:

Kenneth L. Carr - Woolwich ME, US

Assignee:

Meridian Medical Systems, LLC - Woolwich ME

International Classification:

A61B 5/00

US Classification:

600430, 374122, 600549

Abstract:

The present technique utilizes microwave radiometry to detect the presence of vulnerable plaques engrained in the wall of a blood vessel. In accordance with the technique, an intravascular catheter containing at least one microwave antenna is moved along the suspect vessel. The antenna, in combination with an external microwave detection and display unit, is able to detect and display thermal anomalies due to the difference in the thermal emissivity (brightness) of vulnerable plaques as compared to normal tissue even though the two may have a common temperature.

US Patent:

7769469, Aug 3, 2010

Filed:

Jun 26, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/474883

Inventors:

Kenneth L. Carr - Woolwich ME, US
Robert C. Allison - Rancho Palos Verdes CA, US

Assignee:

Meridian Medical Systems, LLC - Woolwich ME

International Classification:

A61B 18/04
A61B 18/18

US Classification:

607101, 607100, 607154, 607156, 606 33

Abstract:

Medical catheter apparatus for minimally invasive applications includes a probe for radiating electromagnetic waves of a first frequency capable of heating tissue and detecting thermal emissions from that tissue of a second frequency indicative of tissue temperature. The probe has an inner conductor extending along the probe to a conductive probe tip and a concentric tubular outer conductor having a leading end spaced rearwardly from the probe tip and a closed trailing end shorted to the inner conductor. A dielectric sheath surrounds the outer conductor which sheath has a leading end spaced rearwardly from the leading end of the outer conductor. A diplexer integrated into the probe includes a filter circuit positioned inside the outer conductor and a coupling capacitor connected between a point on the inner conductor and the input of the filter circuit such that the conductors between that point and the shorted trailing end of the outer conductor constitute a quarter wave stub at the second frequency.

US Patent:

7933660, Apr 26, 2011

Filed:

Mar 30, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/093370

Inventors:

Kenneth L. Carr - Woolwich ME, US

Assignee:

Meridian Medical Systems - Ayer MA

International Classification:

A61B 5/01

US Classification:

607102, 606 41, 606 52, 607100, 607122

Abstract:

Apparatus for detecting vulnerable plaques embedded in the wall of a patient's blood vessel includes an intravascular catheter containing a microwave antenna, an extracorporeal radiometer having a signal input, a reference input and an output, a cable for electrically connecting the antenna to the signal input, and a device for applying an indication of the patient's normal tissue temperature to the reference input so that when the catheter is moved along the vessel, the locations of the vulnerable plaques are reflected in a signal from the output as thermal anomalies due to the higher emissivity of the vulnerable plaques as compared to the normal tissue. A second embodiment of the apparatus has two coaxial antennas in the catheter serving two radiometers. One measures the temperature at locations in the vessel wall, the other measures the temperature at the surface. By subtracting the two signals, the locations of vulnerable plaque may be visualized.

US Patent:

7989741, Aug 2, 2011

Filed:

May 8, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/745507

Inventors:

Kenneth L. Carr - Woolwich ME, US

Assignee:

Meridian Medical Systems, LLC - Woolwich ME

International Classification:

H05B 6/64
H05B 6/72
A61F 2/00

US Classification:

219693, 219761, 607101

Abstract:

Microwave warming apparatus includes a housing defining a heating waveguide with a heating cavity. An integral internal electrically conductive ridge projects from one of the longitudinal waveguide walls and extends along the waveguide. A slot having opposite ends extends from the outside through the ridge into the heating cavity, the slot being adapted to receive a cartridge containing a tube so that the tube extends through the slot into the heating cavity. Electromagnetic energy is coupled into the heating waveguide to heat the contents of the tube. A transducer constituted by a first receiving waveguide inside the ridge is adjacent to the slot so that when a cartridge is received in the slot, the transducer can sense the thermal radiation emanating from a segment of the tube and produce a corresponding waveguide-generated signal. A radiometer in the housing is responsive to the waveguide-generated signal and produces a temperature indicating signal.

US Patent:

8062228, Nov 22, 2011

Filed:

Jul 3, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/773056

Inventors:

Kenneth L. Carr - Woolwich ME, US

Assignee:

Meridian Medical Systems, LLC - Woolrich ME

International Classification:

A61B 5/00

US Classification:

600549, 374122, 600407

Abstract:

Apparatus for detecting thermal radiation emanating from two different intracranial depths in a patient includes a dual-mode transducer having a working surface for placement against a patient's cranium. The transducer includes a first antenna with an aperture adjacent the working surface that first antenna being tuned to a first frequency and producing a first output signal indicative of thermal radiation received within an antenna pattern extending a selected first distance from the working surface and a second antenna having a second aperture adjacent to the working surface within the first aperture. The second antenna is tuned to a second frequency and produces a second output signal indicative of thermal radiation received within an antenna pattern extending a selected second distance from the working surface, the second distance being shorter than the first distance. The two output signals are coupled to a receiver/control unit which thereupon monitors and displays the temperature at the two intracranial depths.