Robert Phillips Laird

US Patent:

6533780, Mar 18, 2003

Filed:

Oct 23, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/925501

Inventors:

Robert J. Laird - Richmond CA
Frank W. Ingle - Palo Alto CA
Garry L. Carter - Pleasanton CA
Timothy G. Dietz - Fremont CA

Assignee:

SURx, Inc. - Livermore CA

International Classification:

A61B 1818

US Classification:

606 41, 606 23, 606 28, 606 31, 606 50, 607 96, 607101, 607102, 607105

Abstract:

The invention provides improved devices, methods, and systems for shrinking of collagenous tissues, particularly for treating urinary incontinence in a noninvasive manner by directing energy to a patients own support tissues. This energy gently heats fascia and other collagenous support tissues, causing them to contract. The energy will preferably be applied between a pair of large plate electrodes having cooled flat electrode surfaces separated by an insulating rib or film. Such cooled plate electrodes are capable of directing electrical energy through an intermediate tissue and into fascia while the cooled electrode surface prevents injury to the intermediate tissue.

US Patent:

6546934, Apr 15, 2003

Filed:

Aug 30, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/651435

Inventors:

Frank Ingle - Palo Alto CA
Garry L. Carter - Pleasanton CA
Robert J. Laird - Richmond CA
Paul Do - San Jose CA
Brian J. Mosel - Dublin CA
Michael D. Laufer - Menlo Park CA
Loren L. Roy - Scotts Valley CA

Assignee:

SURx, Inc. - Livermore CA

International Classification:

A61B 1900

US Classification:

128898, 606 41, 607138

Abstract:

The invention provides improved devices, methods, and systems for shrinking of collagenated tissues, particularly for treating urinary incontinence in a noninvasive manner by directing energy to a patients own support tissues. The energy can be applied intermittently, often between a pair of large plate electrodes having cooled flat electrode surfaces, the electrodes optionally being supported by a clamp structure. Such cooled plate electrodes are capable of directing electrical energy through an intermediate tissue and into fascia while the cooled electrode surface prevents injury to the intermediate tissue, particularly where the electrode surfaces are cooled before, during, and after an intermittent heating cycle.

US Patent:

6558381, May 6, 2003

Filed:

Jan 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/765923

Inventors:

Frank Ingle - Palo Alto CA
Garry L. Carter - Pleasanton CA
Robert J. Laird - Richmond CA
John P. Claude - San Carlos CA
Paul Do - San Jose CA
Brian J. Mosel - Dublin CA

Assignee:

SURx, Inc. - Pleasanton CA

International Classification:

A61B 1818

US Classification:

606 41, 607102, 607105, 606 28

Abstract:

The invention provides improved devices, methods, and systems for shrinking of collagenated tissues, particularly for treating urinary incontinence in a noninvasive manner by directing energy to a patients own support tissues. This energy heats fascia and other collagenated support tissues, causing them to contract. The energy can be applied intermittently, often between a pair of large plate electrodes having cooled flat electrode surfaces, the electrodes optionally being supported by a clamp structure. Such cooled plate electrodes are capable of directing electrical energy through an intermediate tissue and into fascia while the cooled electrode surface prevents injury to the intermediate tissue, particularly where the electrode surfaces are cooled before, during, and after an intermittent heating cycle. Ideally, the plate electrode comprises an electrode array including discrete electrode surface segments so that the current flux can be varied to selectively target the fascia. Alternatively, chilled âliquid electrodesâ may direct current through a selected portion of the bladder (or other body cavity) while also cooling the bladder wall, an insulating gas can prevent heating of an alternative bladder portion and the adjacent tissues, and/or ultrasound transducers direct energy through an intermediate tissue and into fascia with little or no injury to the intermediate tissue.

US Patent:

6629535, Oct 7, 2003

Filed:

Jan 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/768985

Inventors:

Frank Ingle - Palo Alto CA
Garry L. Carter - Pleasanton CA
Robert J. Laird - Richmond CA
John P. Claude - San Carlos CA
Paul Do - San Jose CA
Brian J. Mosel - Dublin CA

Assignee:

SURx, Inc. - Livermore CA

International Classification:

A61B 1900

US Classification:

128898, 607101, 607105, 606 41

Abstract:

The invention provides improved devices, methods, and systems for shrinking of collagenated tissues, particularly for treating urinary incontinence in a noninvasive manner by directing energy to a patients own support tissues. This energy heats fascia and other collagenated support tissues, causing them to contract. The energy can be applied intermittently, often between a pair of large plate electrodes having cooled flat electrode surfaces, the electrodes optionally being supported by a clamp structure. Such cooled plate electrodes are capable of directing electrical energy through an intermediate tissue and into fascia while the cooled electrode surface prevents injury to the intermediate tissue, particularly where the electrode surfaces are cooled before, during, and after an intermittent heating cycle. Ideally, the plate electrode comprises an electrode array including discrete electrode surface segments so that the current flux can be varied to selectively target the fascia. Alternatively, chilled âliquid electrodesâ may direct current through a selected portion of the bladder (or other body cavity) while also cooling the bladder wall, an insulating gas can prevent heating of an alternative bladder portion and the adjacent tissues, and/or ultrasound transducers direct energy through an intermediate tissue and into fascia with little or no injury to the intermediate tissue.

US Patent:

6976492, Dec 20, 2005

Filed:

Jan 7, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/338193

Inventors:

Frank Ingle - Palo Alto CA, US
Garry L. Carter - Pleasanton CA, US
Robert J. Laird - Richmond CA, US
John P. Claude - San Carlos CA, US
Paul Do - San Jose CA, US
Brian J. Mosel - Dublin CA, US

Assignee:

Solarant Medical, Inc. - Livermore CA

International Classification:

A61B019/00

US Classification:

128898, 606 41, 607101, 607105

Abstract:

The invention provides improved devices, methods, and systems for shrinking of collagenated tissues, particularly for treating urinary incontinence in a noninvasive manner by directing energy to a patient's own support tissues. This energy heats fascia and other collagenated support tissues, causing them to contract. The energy can be applied intermittently, often between a pair of large plate electrodes having cooled flat electrode surfaces, the electrodes optionally being supported by a clamp structure. Such cooled plate electrodes are capable of directing electrical energy through an intermediate tissue and into fascia while the cooled electrode surface prevents injury to the intermediate tissue, particularly where the electrode surfaces are cooled before, during, and after an intermittent heating cycle. Ideally, the plate electrode comprises an electrode array including discrete electrode surface segments so that the current flux can be varied to selectively target the fascia. Alternatively, chilled “liquid electrodes” may direct current through a selected portion of the bladder (or other body cavity) while also cooling the bladder wall, an insulating gas can prevent heating of an alternative bladder portion and the adjacent tissues, and/or ultrasound transducers direct energy through an intermediate tissue and into fascia with little or no injury to the intermediate tissue.

US Patent:

6994677, Feb 7, 2006

Filed:

Feb 25, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/374583

Inventors:

Eric L. Buehlmann - Redwood City CA, US
Lisanne A. Eng - San Mateo CA, US
Christine P. Ventura - San Jose CA, US
Robert J. Laird - Pinole CA, US
Frank Ingle - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Artemis Medical, Inc. - Hayward CA

International Classification:

A61B 10/00

US Classification:

600567, 606 45

Abstract:

A tissue localizing and separating assembly comprises a shaft, having a distal shaft portion, and a tissue separator device extending along the shaft. The tissue separator device has a distal separator part at the distal shaft portion movable between a retracted state, towards the distal shaft portion, and an outwardly extending, operational state, away from the distal shaft portion. A tissue localization assembly has a radially-expandable end. An elongate coupler may be used to dock the tissue localization assembly to the tissue separator device.

US Patent:

7004942, Feb 28, 2006

Filed:

Jan 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/351245

Inventors:

Robert J. Laird - Richmond CA, US
Frank W. Ingle - Palo Alto CA, US
Garry L. Carter - Pleasanton CA, US
Timothy G. Dietz - Fremont CA, US

Assignee:

Solarant Medical, Inc. - Livermore CA

International Classification:

A61B 18/18

US Classification:

606 50, 606 23, 606 28, 606 41, 607 96, 607101

Abstract:

The invention provides improved devices, methods, and systems for shrinking of collagenous tissues, particularly for treating urinary incontinence in a noninvasive manner by directing energy to a patient's own support tissues. This energy gently heats fascia and other collagenous support tissues, causing them to contract. The energy will preferably be applied between a pair of large plate electrodes having cooled flat electrode surfaces separated by an insulating rib or film. Such cooled plate electrodes are capable of directing electrical energy through an intermediate tissue and into fascia while the cooled electrode surface prevents injury to the intermediate tissue.

US Patent:

7150712, Dec 19, 2006

Filed:

Aug 5, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/212467

Inventors:

Eric L. Buehlmann - Redwood City CA, US
Robert J. Laird - Pinole CA, US
William R. Dubrul - Redwood City CA, US

International Classification:

A61B 1/00

US Classification:

600114, 600567

Abstract:

A target tissue localization assembly includes a radially expandable tissue anchor connected to the distal ends of an anchor assembly and an elongated anchor actuator element. A lock, engageable between the actuator element and the placement element, may be used to prevent collapse of the anchor from its radially expanded state. A sheath may be slidably mounted over the anchor assembly. The sheath and the anchor assembly may be configured to permit the sheath to move in a proximal direction, relative to the anchor assembly, past a chosen location while preventing the sheath from moving past the chosen location in a distal direction.