Arthur W Zikorus

6361496, Mar 26, 2002

May 28, 1999

09/322326

Arthur W. Zikorus - San Jose CA
John DAngelo - Morgan Hill CA
Brian E. Farley - Los Altos CA

VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. - San Jose CA

A61B 800

600437, 600443, 606203

A pressure tourniquet having a window transparent to ultrasound is wrapped around a leg or another anatomical structure containing veins. An ultrasound transducer is placed in contact with the window of the tourniquet. The window is adjacent the anatomical structure and the transducer probes a dilated vein with ultrasound. The transducer can measure the size of the vein and detect reflux. A pneumatic bladder on the tourniquet is inflated to apply pressure to the anatomical structure so that the vein is compressed by the tissue of the surrounding anatomical structure. As pressure from the tourniquet reduces the diameter of the vein, competency of the vein valve can be temporarily restored to indicate the proper reduced diameter required to restore venous function. An electrode catheter is introduced into the vein to apply energy for durably molding the vein to the reduced diameter.

6401719, Jun 11, 2002

Aug 21, 1998

09/138808

Brian E. Farley - Los Altos CA
Christopher S. Jones - Sunnyvale CA
Mark P. Parker - San Jose CA
Joseph M. Tartaglia - Morgan Hill CA
Arthur W. Zikorus - San Jose CA

VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. - San Jose CA

A61B 1900

128898

A catheter includes a plurality of expandable primary leads to deliver energy to a fallopian tube, a vein such as a hemorrhoid or an esophageal varix, or another hollow anatomical structure requiring ligation or occlusion. Each of the primary leads includes an electrode located at the working end of the catheter. Separation is maintained between the primary leads such that the leads can receive power of selected polarity. The primary leads are constructed to expand outwardly to place the electrodes into apposition with a hollow anatomical structure. High frequency energy can be applied from the leads to create a heating effect in the surrounding tissue of the anatomical structure. The diameter of the hollow anatomical structure is reduced by the heating effect, and the electrodes of the primary leads are moved closer to one another.

6613045, Sep 2, 2003

Feb 1, 2000

09/495667

Michael D. Laufer - Menlo Park CA
Brian E. Farley - Los Altos CA
Grace Y. Schulz - San Carlos CA
Arthur W. Zikorus - San Jose CA
Mark P. Parker - San Jose CA

VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. - San Jose CA

A61B 1804

606 27, 604 20, 604113, 606 32

A catheter delivers an electrode within a vein for a minimally invasive treatment of varicose veins and venous insufficiency using RF energy. The catheter is introduced into a patient and positioned within the section of the vein to be treated. The electrode radiates high frequency energy towards the vein, and the surrounding venous tissue becomes heated and begins to shrink. The catheter includes a controllable member for limiting the amount of shrinkage of the vein to the diameter of the member. The electrode remains active until there has been sufficient shrinkage of the vein. The extent of shrinkage of the vein may be detected by fluoroscopy. After treating one section of the vein, the catheter and the electrode can be repositioned intraluminally within the vein to treat different sections of the vein until all desired venous sections and valves are repaired and rendered functionally competent.

6638273, Oct 28, 2003

Nov 27, 2000

09/724248

Brian E. Farley - Los Altos CA
Grace Y. Schulz - San Carlos CA
Dawn A. Henderson - Palo Alto CA
Mark P. Parker - San Jose CA
Arthur W. Zikorus - San Jose CA
Gary H. Miller - Milpitas CA
Jay S. Daulton - San Jose CA
Douglas Portnow - Sunnyvale CA

VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. - San Jose CA

A61B 1804

606 27, 606 32

A catheter having expandable electrodes for applying energy to a hollow anatomical structure such as a vein. When used on a vein, the catheter is useful for a minimally invasive treatment of venous insufficiency. The catheter includes conductive end rings to which the electrodes are attached, for mechanically connecting and electrically tying electrodes together to provide for a single wire electrical connection points, for transmitting energy while more evenly spacing the electrodes. Expandable arms are formed of electrically conductive material and insulated along their length except for an intermediate section that functions as the electrode. The arms are tapered to allow more room for wiring and to reduce the possibility of shorting between the ends of the arms. The catheter further includes thermocouples in the electrodes for measuring temperatures on the outer surface of the electrode. Slots are formed in the arms for mounting the thermocouples.

6682526, Jan 27, 2004

Nov 17, 2000

09/716561

Christopher S. Jones - Sunnyvale CA
Arthur W. Zikorus - San Jose CA
Mark P. Parker - San Jose CA
Brian E. Farley - Los Altos CA
Joseph M. Tartaglia - Morgan Hill CA

Vnus Medical Technologies, Inc. - San Jose CA

A61B 1818

606 32, 606 41, 606 42, 606 49, 606 50, 607101, 607113, 128898

A catheter includes a first plurality of expandable leads and a second plurality of expandable leads separate and longitudinally spaced-apart from the first plurality to deliver energy to a hollow anatomical structure, such as vein, fallopian tube, hemorrhoid, esophageal varix, to effectively ligate that structure. Each of the leads includes an electrode located at the distal end of the respective electrode lead. Polarizations of the leads may be selected to achieve the power distribution desired. Each electrode lead includes an outward bend such that when a movable sheath is moved out of contact with the leads, they expand outwardly into apposition with an inner wall of the structure to be ligated. High frequency energy can be applied from the leads to create a heating effect in the surrounding tissue of the anatomical structure. The diameter of the hollow anatomical structure is reduced by the heating effect, and the electrodes are freely moved inward by the shrinking structure while still maintaining apposition with the inner wall of the shrinking structure.

6752803, Jun 22, 2004

Jul 6, 2001

09/899885

Mitchel P. Goldman - La Jolla CA
Robert A. Weiss - Baltimore MD
Arthur W. Zikorus - San Jose CA
James G. Chandler - Boulder CO

VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. - San Jose CA

A61B 1804

606 32, 128898, 606 41

An electrode catheter is introduced into a hollow anatomical structure, such as a vein, and is positioned at a treatment site within the structure. Tumescent fluid is injected into the tissue surrounding the treatment site to produce tumescence of the surrounding tissue which then compresses the vein. The solution may include an anesthetic, and may further include a vasoconstrictive drug that shrinks blood vessels. The tumescent swelling in the surrounding tissue causes the hollow anatomical structure to become compressed, thereby exsanguinating the treatment site. Energy is applied by an electrode catheter in apposition with the vein wall to create a heating effect. The heating effect causes the hollow anatomical structure to become molded and durably assume the compressed dimensions caused by the tumescent technique. The electrode catheter can be moved within the structure so as to apply energy to a large section of the hollow anatomic structure. In a further aspect, the location of the electrodes is determined by impedance monitoring.

6769433, Aug 3, 2004

May 25, 2001

09/866517

Arthur W. Zikorus - San Jose CA
Mark P. Parker - San Jose CA
Christopher S. Jones - Sunnyvale CA
Douglas M. Petty - Pleasonton CA
Brian E. Farley - Los Altos CA
Joseph M. Tartaglia - Morgan Hill CA

VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. - San Jose CA

A61F 556

128898, 606 41

A catheter includes a plurality of primary leads to deliver energy for ligating a hollow anatomical structure. Each of the primary leads includes an electrode located at the working end of the catheter. Separation is maintained between the primary leads such that each primary lead can individually receive power of selected polarity. The primary leads are constructed to expand outwardly to place the electrodes into apposition with an anatomical structure. High frequency energy can be applied from the leads to create a heating effect in the surrounding tissue of the anatomical structure. The diameter of the hollow anatomical structure is reduced by the heating effect, and the electrodes of the primary leads are moved closer to one another. Where the hollow anatomical structure is a vein, energy is applied until the diameter of the vein is reduced to the point where the vein is occluded. In one embodiment, a secondary lead is surrounded by the primary leads, and extends beyond the primary leads.

7396355, Jul 8, 2008

Jun 21, 2004

10/872646

Mitchel P. Goldman - La Jolla CA, US
Robert A. Weiss - Baltimore MD, US
Arthur W. Zikorus - San Jose CA, US
James G. Chandler - Boulder CO, US

VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

A61B 18/18

606 41, 128898, 607105

An electrode catheter is introduced into a hollow anatomical structure, such as a vein, and is positioned at a treatment site within the structure. Tumescent fluid is injected into the tissue surrounding the treatment site to produce tumescence of the surrounding tissue which then compresses the vein. The solution may include an anesthetic, and may further include a vasoconstrictive drug that shrinks blood vessels. The tumescent swelling in the surrounding tissue causes the hollow anatomical structure to become compressed, thereby exsanguinating the treatment site. Energy is applied by an electrode catheter in apposition with the vein wall to create a heating effect. The heating effect causes the hollow anatomical structure to become molded and durably assume the compressed dimensions caused by the tumescent technique. The electrode catheter can be moved within the structure so as to apply energy to a large section of the hollow anatomic structure. In a further aspect, the location of the electrodes is determined by impedance monitoring.