Warren P Heim
Engineers in Boulder, CO

6533781, Mar 18, 2003

Dec 29, 2000

09/751223

Warren Paul Heim - Boulder CO
Michael Olichney - Boulder CO
James L. Brassell - Boulder CO

Team Medical LLC - Boulder CO

A61B 1814

606 45, 606 49

An improved electrosurgical instrument and method is disclosed for reducing smoke generation at a surgical site. The electrosurgical instrument comprises a metal body having an outer insulating layer to reduce thermal/electrical discharge from non-functional portions of the instrument. In one aspect of the invention, an insulating layer having a thermal conductance of about 1. 2 W/cm ° K and a dielectric withstand strength of at least about 50 volts is employed. Such insulating layer may advantageously comprise silicon and/or carbon. In another aspect of the invention, the metal body is provided to have a thermal conductivity of at least about 0. 35 W/cm° K, and may advantageously comprise a metal selected from the group: gold, silver, aluminum, copper tantalum, tungsten, columbium and molybdenum. In yet a further aspect, the metal body may include an intermediate layer that defines a peripheral edge portion of reduced cross-section (e. g. , about 0. 001 inches thick or less) for electrosurgical signal transmission.

2007018, Aug 9, 2007

Jan 25, 2007

11/627340

Warren Heim - Boulder CO, US
James Brassell - Boulder CO, US

C04B 28/26

106815000

An improved coating and devices using said coating are disclosed The coating is applied in a liquid form and then dried or otherwise cured to form a durable adherent coating resistant to high temperatures and in at least one embodiment possessing hydrophobic properties. In one aspect of the invention the coating formulation contains at least in part an aqueous formulation of silica, such as colloidal silica, and one or more fillers, such as inorganic fillers, and sufficient base, such as potassium hydroxide, to have a pH exceeding about 10.5 during at least part of the formulation process. In another aspect of the invention the coating formulation contains one or more substances that affect its surface free energy such as by reducing the surface free energy to make the cured coating hydrophobic, such surface free energy altering compounds include silanes containing halogens such as fluorine or chlorine and in particular silanes containing one or more hydrolyzable groups attached to at least one silicon atom and a group containing one or more halogens such as chlorine or fluorine. In another aspect of the invention is a surgical instrument at least partially covered by a coating using the formulation of the present invention at least part of such instrument powered by electricity to produce a predetermined surgical effect.

5630710, May 20, 1997

Mar 9, 1994

8/209519

Joel Tune - Antioch IL
Robert L. Anderson - Boulder CO
Larry Blankenship - Boulder CO
Daniel C. Colesworthy - Boulder CO
Warren P. Heim - Boulder CO
Scott A. Miller - Boulder CO
Brad H. Sherman - Lafayette CO
Donald R. Widrig - Boulder CO

Baxter International Inc. - Deerfield IL

F04B 4309

417326

A remotely programmable infusion system for administering liquid to a patient includes an infusion pump unit having a pump for infusing liquids operated by means of a control including a programmed processing unit and a memory chip. The processing unit operates in accordance with delivery program data stored in the memory circuit for executing an infusion delivery sequence. An output circuit is operatively disposed between the processing unit and the pump unit to control operation of the pump unit in accordance with the infusion delivery sequence. A wireless data communication circuit is operatively connected to the control for transmitting and receiving data. A programmer remote from the pump unit includes a programmed processing unit, a memory circuit, a user interface operatively associated with the processing unit for entering program commands and configuring delivery program data for storage in the memory circuit and a modem circuit operatively connected to the processing unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from the infusion pump unit. A remote communication interface unit includes a pump interface operatively communicating, in use, with the pump wireless data communication circuit, a programmer interface, including a modem circuit operatively communicating, in use, via a telephone line with the programmer modem circuit and a control circuit operatively connected to the pump interface and the programmer interface for channeling data between the pump interface and the modem circuit.

2007000, Jan 4, 2007

Jun 29, 2006

11/427681

Warren Heim - Boulder CO, US
James Brassell - Boulder CO, US

Surginetics, LLC - Boulder CO

A61B 18/14

606041000, 606045000, 606049000

An electrosurgical blade for use in electrosurgery includes a body having at least one conductive element that is surrounded by an insulation layer except at a conductor edge portion of the conductive element. The profile of the electrosurgical blade is configured to concentrate the flow of electrosurgical energy in a concentration region to facilitate starting or initiating the electrosurgical process. The profile of the electrosurgical blade is further configured to prevent excessive delivery of electrosurgical energy to reduce or eliminate the production of smoke and eschar and reduce tissue damage.

7935112, May 3, 2011

Jun 29, 2006

11/427607

Warren P. Heim - Boulder CO, US
James L. Brassell - Boulder CO, US

Microline Surgical, Inc. - Beverly MA

A61B 18/14

606 45, 606 41

An electrosurgical instrument is disclosed for simplifying making incisions and other treatments using electrosurgery. The electrosurgical instrument comprises a body having at least one conductive element that is surrounded by an insulation layer except at a conductor edge portion of the conductive element. The conductor edge portion and insulation layer each having unique geometric shapes and composition of the parts to reduce or eliminate the production of smoke and eschar and reduce tissue damage. The outer profile of the insulation layer and conductive element are configured to facilitate the flow of electrosurgical decomposition products away from the conductor edge where they are formed.

5554172, Sep 10, 1996

May 9, 1995

8/437321

Glenn A. Horner - Boulder CO
Scott A. Miller - Boulder CO
Warren P. Heim - Boulder CO
Larry K. Blankenship - Boulder CO
James L. Brassell - Boulder CO

The Larren Corporation - Boulder CO

A61N 108

607 88

An improved directed energy surgical method and assembly is disclosed. The method and assembly contemplate the application of a directed energy stream to tissue and the application of a liquid mist stream to the tissue to reduce or eliminate smoke at the surgical site. The invention may be advantageously implemented in an assembly having a surgical pencil for emitting the directed energy stream and liquid mist stream. The liquid mist stream is generated by the surgical pencil, preferably by atomizing a liquid stream supplied thereto (e. g. , pressurized via jet atomization). The invention may be utilized in connection with conventional electrosurgical, laser surgery, ultrasound, and other techniques and devices.

2007000, Jan 4, 2007

Jun 29, 2006

11/427675

Warren Heim - Boulder CO, US
James Brassell - Boulder CO, US

Surginetics, LLC - Boulder CO

A61B 18/14

606041000, 606045000, 606049000

An electrosurgical instrument includes a body having at least one conductive element that is surrounded by an insulation layer except at a conductor edge portion of the conductive element. The profile of the electrosurgical instrument is configured to concentrate the flow of electrosurgical energy in a concentration region to facilitate starting or initiating the electrosurgical process. The profile of the electrosurgical instrument is further configured to prevent excessive delivery of electrosurgical energy to reduce or eliminate the production of smoke and eschar and reduce tissue damage.

7867226, Jan 11, 2011

Jun 29, 2006

11/427702

Warren P. Heim - Boulder CO, US
James L. Brassell - Boulder CO, US

Microline Surgical, Inc. - Beverly MA

A61B 18/14

606 41, 606 45

An electrosurgical needle includes a body having at least one conductive element in the form of a needle that is surrounded by an insulation layer except at a conductor tip portion of the conductive element. The conductor tip portion and insulation layer each have unique geometric shapes and composition of the parts to reduce or eliminate the production of smoke and eschar and reduce tissue damage. The electrosurgical needle electrode is configured to concentrate the flow of electrosurgical energy at the tip region.

7896875, Mar 1, 2011

Jun 29, 2006

11/427705

Warren P. Heim - Boulder CO, US
James L. Brassell - Boulder CO, US

Microline Surgical, Inc. - Beverly MA

A61B 18/14

606 45, 606 39

An battery-powered electrosurgical instrument includes a blade having a conductor edge portion and insulation layer with geometric shapes and composition that concentrate electrosurgical energy and reduce or eliminate the production of smoke and eschar and reduce tissue damage, thereby providing more efficient application of electrosurgical energy. The more efficient use of electrosurgical energy permits configuring the system to be battery-powered. The system may be portable or configured as a battery-backup powered system.

5707402, Jan 13, 1998

Sep 6, 1996

8/706726

Warren P. Heim - Boulder CO

Team Medical, L.L.C. - Boulder CO

A61N 108

607 88

An improved directed energy surgical method and assembly is disclosed. The method and assembly contemplate the application of a directed energy stream to tissue and the application of a liquid mist stream at a particular predetermined transverse angle to the tissue to reduce or eliminate smoke at the surgical site. The invention may be advantageously implemented in an assembly having a surgical pencil for emitting the directed energy stream and liquid mist stream. The liquid mist stream is generated by the surgical pencil, preferably by atomizing a liquid stream supplied thereto (e. g. , pressurized via jet atomization). The invention may be utilized in connection with conventional electrosurgical, laser surgery, ultrasound, and other techniques and devices.