John M Berns

20110276046, Nov 10, 2011

May 5, 2011

13/101755

Reed R. Heimbecher - Hamel MN, US
Saurav Paul - Minneapolis MN, US
John M. Berns - Eagan MN, US
Jeffrey A. Schweitzer - St. Paul MN, US

A61B 18/12

606 35

A monitoring, managing and protecting system is provided that includes a monitoring probe working in conjunction with an ablating device. The probe is configured to be positioned in close proximity to a region of non-targeted tissue proximate an ablation site of targeted tissue and to be operatively connected to an electrical response assessment system or component. The probe includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle disposed at the proximal end thereof and a tissue monitoring and protecting apparatus disposed at the distal end thereof. The ablating device includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle mounted at the proximal end thereof and an ablation element mounted at the distal end thereof. The monitoring probe measures electrical characteristics of the non-targeted tissue and/or of the tissue between the monitoring electrode and the ablation electrode. The electrical response assessment system determines whether the tissue is being damaged based on the electrical measurements. The monitoring, managing and protecting system can notify a practitioner based on the determination, or modify or stop the ablation procedure.

20120059255, Mar 8, 2012

Sep 2, 2010

12/874788

Saurav Paul - Minneapolis MN, US
Troy T. Tegg - Elk River MN, US
Israel A. Byrd - Richfield MN, US
Riki Thao - Maplewood MN, US
Harry A. Puryear - Shoreview MN, US
Linda Nemec - Andover MN, US
John M. Berns - Eagan MN, US

A61N 1/30
A61B 18/14
A61B 6/00

600431, 604 21, 604501, 607 2, 606 41

Catheter systems include direction-sensitive, multi-polar tip electrode assemblies for electroporation-mediated therapy, electroporation-induced primary necrosis therapy and electric field-induced apoptosis therapy, including configurations for producing narrow, linear lesions as well as distributed, wide area lesions. A monitoring system for electroporation therapy includes a mechanism for delivering electrochromic dyes to a tissue site as well as a fiber optic arrangement to optically monitor the progress of the therapy as well as to confirm success post-therapy. A fiber optic temperature sensing electrode catheter includes a tip electrode having a cavity whose inner surface is impregnated or coated with thermochromic/thermotropic material that changes color with changes in temperature. An optic fiber/detector arrangement monitors the thermochromic or thermotropic materials, acquiring a light signal and generating an output signal indicative of the spectrum of the light signal. An analyzer determines an electrode temperature based on the detector output and predetermined spectrum versus temperature calibration data.

20180256249, Sep 13, 2018

Mar 5, 2018

15/911908

- St. Paul MN, US
Saurav Paul - Shoreview MN, US
John M. Berns - Eagan MN, US
Jeffrey A. Schweitzer - St. Paul MN, US

A61B 18/14

A monitoring, managing and protecting system is provided that includes a monitoring probe working in conjunction with an ablating device. The probe is configured to be positioned in close proximity to a region of non-targeted tissue proximate an ablation site of targeted tissue and to be operatively connected to an electrical response assessment system or component. The probe includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle disposed at the proximal end thereof and a tissue monitoring and protecting apparatus disposed at the distal end thereof. The ablating device includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle mounted at the proximal end thereof and an ablation element mounted at the distal end thereof. The monitoring probe measures electrical characteristics of the non-targeted tissue and/or of the tissue between the monitoring electrode and the ablation electrode. The electrical response assessment system determines whether the tissue is being damaged based on the electrical measurements. The monitoring, managing and protecting system can notify a practitioner based on the determination, or modify or stop the ablation procedure.

20160256682, Sep 8, 2016

Mar 9, 2016

15/064664

- St. Paul MN, US
Troy T. Tegg - Elk River MN, US
Israel A. Byrd - Richfield MN, US
Riki Thao - Little Canada MN, US
Harry A. Puryear - Shoreview MN, US
Linda Nemec - Andover MN, US
John M. Berns - Eagan MN, US

A61N 1/32
A61B 18/14

Catheter systems include direction-sensitive, multi-polar tip electrode assemblies for electroporation-mediated therapy, electroporation-induced primary necrosis therapy and electric field-induced apoptosis therapy, including configurations for producing narrow, linear lesions as well as distributed, wide area lesions. A monitoring system for electroporation therapy includes a mechanism for delivering electrochromic dyes to a tissue site as well as a fiber optic arrangement to optically monitor the progress of the therapy as well as to confirm success post-therapy. A fiber optic temperature sensing electrode catheter includes a tip electrode having a cavity whose inner surface is impregnated or coated with thermochromic/thermotropic material that changes color with changes in temperature. An optic fiber/detector arrangement monitors the thermochromic or thermotropic materials, acquiring a light signal and generating an output signal indicative of the spectrum of the light signal. An analyzer determines an electrode temperature based on the detector output and predetermined spectrum versus temperature calibration data.

20140278057, Sep 18, 2014

Mar 15, 2013

13/844068

John Michael Berns - Eagan MN, US

G01C 21/34

701410, 701533, 701465

A method and structure for automatically scheduling a meeting and associated reminders in an electronic calendar system combining location, time, traffic, and weather conditions. Calendars and locations of one or more participants invited to a meeting being scheduled are accessed. A participant's location and a corresponding weather, traffic, or other data is checked to determine an anticipated travel time to the meeting, and the participant is advised when the participant must depart for the meeting.