Roderick E Briscoe

6447484, Sep 10, 2002

Jan 23, 1998

09/012520

Roderick E. Briscoe - Rockford MI
Paul F. Rom - Kentwood MI
Karyl L. Stapert - Grand Rapids MI
David B. DeWindt - Grand Rapids MI
Ronald A. Devries - Zeeland MI
Steven R. Gundry - Redlands CA
William F. Sidor - Rockford MI

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61M 5178

60416402, 604 9601, 604264, 60416701

An obturator for a cannula includes an elongate member and a flexible disc. The cannula has proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween. The distal end of the cannula has a circular cross-section. The cannula also includes a first portion having a non-circular cross-section and at least one fluid aperture formed adjacent the distal end. The flexible disc of the obturator is coupled to a distal end of the elongate member, both of which are adapted to be telescopically received in the lumen of the cannula. The flexible disc is configured to restrict the flow of fluid, entering the at least one fluid aperture, through the lumen.

6458096, Oct 1, 2002

Apr 5, 1996

08/628763

Roderick E. Briscoe - Rockford MI
Russell A. Corace - Grand Rapids Township MI

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61M 2900

604 9601, 604247, 60410201, 606194

An autoinflating catheter and balloon assembly having an autoregulating structure to prevent overinflation of the balloon as a result of variable fluid flow rates through the catheter lumen. A tight-fitting elastomeric balloon is provided on the distal end of the catheter body, and the assembly is constructed so that at least a portion of the fluid flow through the lumen is directed to the balloon to inflate it. As the balloon is inflated, more and more of the fluid flow through the catheter is discharged from the catheter, thereby preventing overinflation of the balloon.

6645194, Nov 11, 2003

Dec 21, 2001

10/026234

Roderick E. Briscoe - Rockford MI
Paul F. Rom - Kentwood MI
Karyl L. Stapert - Grand Rapids MI
David B. DeWindt - Grand Rapids MI
Ronald A. Devries - Zeeland MI
Steven R. Gundry - Redlands CA
William E. Sidor - Rockford MI

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61M 3100

604506, 604508

An obturator for a cannula includes an elongate member and a flexible disc. The cannula has proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween. The distal end of the cannula has a circular cross-section. The cannula also includes a first portion having a non-circular cross-section and at least one fluid aperture formed adjacent the distal end. The flexible disc of the obturator is coupled to a distal end of the elongate member, both of which are adapted to be telescopically received in the lumen of the cannula. The flexible disc is configured to restrict the flow of fluid, entering the at least one fluid aperture, through the lumen.

6749583, Jun 15, 2004

Sep 5, 2002

10/235300

Roderick E. Briscoe - Rockford MI
Russell A. Corace - Grand Rapids Township MI

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61M 2900

604 9601, 604247, 604537, 606194

An autoinflating catheter and balloon assembly having an autoregulating structure to prevent overinflation of the balloon as a result of variable fluid flow rates through the catheter lumen. A tight-fitting elastomeric balloon is provided on the distal end of the catheter body, and the assembly is constructed so that at least a portion of the fluid flow through the lumen is directed to the balloon to inflate it. As the balloon is inflated, more and more of the fluid flow through the catheter is discharged from the catheter, thereby preventing overinflation of the balloon.

6758809, Jul 6, 2004

Jun 6, 2002

10/164734

Roderick E. Briscoe - Rogers MN
David J. S. Kim - Maple Grove MN

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61B 1702

600229, 600210

An improved stabilizer or retractor or other surgical tool having an elongated distal arm carrying a tissue-contacting mechanism at its distal end and a tensioning mechanism at its proximal end for locking functional components of the tool in a desired position or configuration. The tensioning mechanism is mounted to a turret or other structure attaching the distal arm to a base by means of a shorter, proximally extending flexible arm. The flexible proximal arm allows the tensioning mechanism to be moved relative to the base so that it can be placed more conveniently in the operative field.

7083620, Aug 1, 2006

Jul 17, 2003

10/621893

Scott E. Jahns - Hudson WI, US
David E. Francischelli - Anoka MN, US
Alison A. Lutterman - Minneapolis MN, US
James R. Keogh - Maplewood MN, US
Roderick E. Briscoe - Rogers MN, US
William G. O'Neill - Maple Grove MN, US
Jack Goodman - Ann Arbor MI, US
Tom P. Daigle - Corcoran MN, US
Paul T. Rothstein - Maple Grove MN, US
Adam A. Podbelski - Minneapolis MN, US
Stephen J Roddy - Maple Grove MN, US
David J. S. Kim - Maple Grove MN, US
Mark R. Bilitz - Minneapolis MN, US

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61B 18/18
A61B 17/28

606 51, 606205

A hemostat-type device for ablative treatment of tissue, particularly for treatment of atrial fibrillation, is constructed with features that provide easy and effective treatment. A swiveling head assembly can allow the jaws to be adjusted in pitch and roll. Malleable jaws can permit curved lesion shapes. A locking detent can secure the jaws in a closed position during the procedure. An illuminated indicator provides confirmation that the device is operating. A fluid delivery system simplifies irrigated ablation procedures.

7497857, Mar 3, 2009

Apr 29, 2003

10/425531

Roderick E. Briscoe - Rogers MN, US

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61B 18/14
A61B 18/16

606 32, 606 41

Methods and devices for forming a lesion in a target tissue having a cavity within. A first RF electrode and a second RF electrode can be coupled to opposite poles of an RF current source. The second electrode can be inserted into the tissue cavity and expanded to contact the target tissue from within. The first electrode can be externally disposed against the target tissue while applying RF current between the first and second electrodes to ablate the target tissue. Some methods are directed to ablating tribiculated atrial wall tissue to treat atrial fibrillation. The second electrode can contact the tribiculated tissue directly from within to provide a direct path between the two electrodes. In some methods, the second electrode is inserted through an incision made to remove an atrial appendage. The methods can provide deeper, narrower lesions relative to those made using remote, indifferent electrodes.

7678108, Mar 16, 2010

Jun 2, 2005

11/143128

Steven C. Chrisitian - Brooklyn Park MN, US
David E. Francischelli - Brooklyn Park MN, US
Daniel Charles Haeg - Champlin MN, US
Marie T. Steinbrink - Woodbury MN, US
Roderick E. Briscoe - Rogers MN, US
Tom P. Daigle - Brooklyn Park MN, US

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61B 18/14

606 41

Embodiments of the invention provide an ablation apparatus for ablating target tissue adjacent pulmonary veins of a patient. The ablation apparatus can include a tube capable of being advanced around the pulmonary veins to form a loop. The tube can receive or include electrodes to ablate target tissue. Some embodiments provide a loop ablation device, which may include a cannula and two or more electrode rods carrying two or more bipolar electrodes. The electrode rods can be advanced through the distal ends toward the proximal ends of the loop and toward the target tissue. The bipolar electrodes can receive energy to ablate the target tissue. The bipolar electrodes may be surrounded by the liquid within the cannula while ablating the target tissue. The loop ablation device can further include a rotating grasping mechanism coupled to the electrode rods.