Antonio Pacifico

US Patent:

6496736, Dec 17, 2002

Filed:

Feb 9, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/500538

Inventors:

James R. Carl - Houston TX
G. Dickey Arndt - Friendswood TX
Patrick W. Fink - Fresno TX
N. Reginald Beer - Houston TX
Phillip D. Henry - Houston TX
Antonio Pacifico - Houston TX
George W. Raffoul - Houston TX

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States National Aeronatucis and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

A61F 200

US Classification:

607101, 128898, 606 33, 606 42, 607122, 607156

Abstract:

Method and apparatus are provided to treat atherosclerosis wherein the artery is partially closed by dilating the artery while preserving the vital and sensitive endothelial layer thereof. Microwave energy having a frequency from 3 GHz to 300 GHz is propagated into the arterial wall to produce a desired temperature profile therein at tissue depths sufficient for thermally necrosing connective tissue and softening fatty and waxy plaque while limiting heating of surrounding tissues including the endothelial layer and/or other healthy tissue, organs, and blood. The heating period for raising the temperature a potentially desired amount, about 20Â C. within the atherosclerotic lesion may be less than about one second. In one embodiment of the invention, a radically beveled waveguide antenna is used to deliver microwave energy at frequencies from 25 GHz or 30 GHz to about 300 GHz and is focused towards a particular radial sector of the artery. Because the atherosclerotic lesions are often asymmetrically disposed, directable or focussed heating preserves healthy sectors or the artery and applies energy to the asymmetrically positioned lesion faster than a non-directed bean.

US Patent:

60472162, Apr 4, 2000

Filed:

Aug 5, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/129832

Inventors:

James R. Carl - Houston TX
G. Dickey Arndt - Friendswood TX
Patrick W. Fink - Fresno TX
N. Reginald Beer - Houston TX
Phillip D. Henry - Houston TX
Antonio Pacifico - Houston TX
George W. Raffoul - Houston TX

Assignee:

The United States of America represented by the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

A61F 200

US Classification:

607101

Abstract:

Method and apparatus are provided to treat atherosclerosis wherein the artery is partially closed by dilating the artery while preserving the vital and sensitive endothelial layer thereof Microwave energy having a frequency from 3 GHz to 300 GHz is propagated into the arterial wall to produce a desired temperature profile therein at tissue depths sufficient for thermally necrosing connective tissue and softening fatty and waxy plaque while limiting heating of surrounding tissues including the endothelial laser and/or other healthy tissue, organs, and blood. The heating period for raising the temperature a potentially desired amount, about 20. degree. C. , within the atherosclerotic lesion may be less than about one second. In one embodiment of the invention, a radically beveled waveguide antenna is used to deliver microwave energy at frequencies from 25 GHz or 30 GHz to about 300 GHz and is focused towards a particular radial sector of the artery. Because the atherosclerotic lesions are often asymmetrically disposed, directable or focussed heating preserves healthy sectors of the artery and applies energy to the asymmetrically positioned lesion faster than a non-directed beam.

US Patent:

62265539, May 1, 2001

Filed:

Feb 9, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/501150

Inventors:

James R. Carl - Houston TX
G. Dickey Arndt - Friendswood TX
Patrick W. Fink - Fresno TX
N. Reginald Beer - Houston TX
Phillip D. Henry - Houston TX
Antonio Pacifico - Houston TX
George W. Raffoul - Houston TX

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

A61F 200

US Classification:

607101

Abstract:

Method and apparatus are provided to treat atherosclerosis wherein the artery is partially closed by dilating the artery while preserving the vital and sensitive endothelial layer thereof. Microwave energy having a frequency from 3 GHz to 300 GHz is propagated into the arterial wall to produce a desired temperature profile therein at tissue depths sufficient for thermally necrosing connective tissue and softening fatty and waxy plaque while limiting heating of surrounding tissues including the endothelial layer and/or other healthy tissue, organs, and blood. The heating period for raising the temperature a potentially desired amount about 20. degree. C. , within the atherosclerotic lesion may be less than about one second. In one embodiment of the invention, a radically beveled waveguide antenna is used to deliver microwave energy at frequencies from 25 GHz or 30 GHz to about 300 GHz and is focused towards a particular radial sector of the artery. Because the atherosclerotic lesions are often asymmetrically disposed, directable or focussed heating preserves healthy sectors of the artery and applies energy to the asymmetrically positioned lesion faster than a non-directed beam.

US Patent:

59047097, May 18, 1999

Filed:

Apr 17, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/641045

Inventors:

G. Dickey Arndt - Friendswood TX
James R. Carl - Houston TX
George W. Raffoul - Houston TX
Antonio Pacifico - Houston TX

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

A61F2/00

US Classification:

607101

Abstract:

Method and apparatus are provided for propagating microwave energy into heart tissues to produce a desired temperature profile therein at tissue depths sufficient for thermally ablating arrhythmogenic cardiac tissue to treat ventricular tachycardia and other arrhythmias while preventing excessive heating of surrounding tissues, organs, and blood. A wide bandwidth double-disk antenna (700) is effective for this purpose over a bandwidth of about six gigahertz. A computer simulation provides initial screening capabilities for an antenna such as antenna, frequency, power level, and power application duration. The simulation also allows optimization of techniques for specific patients or conditions. In operation, microwave energy between about 1 Gigahertz and 12 Gigahertz is applied to monopole microwave radiator (600) having a surface wave limiter (606). A test setup provides physical testing of microwave radiators (854) to determine the temperature profile created in actual heart tissue or ersatz heart tissue (841).

US Patent:

61344761, Oct 17, 2000

Filed:

Sep 17, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/154989

Inventors:

G. Dickey Arndt - Friendswood TX
James R. Carl - Houston TX
George W. Raffoul - Houston TX
Vincent G. Karasack - Melbourne FL
Antonio Pacifico - Houston TX
Carl F. Pieper - Tulsa OK

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

A61F 200

US Classification:

607101

Abstract:

Method and apparatus are provided for propagating microwave energy into heart tissues to produce a desired temperature profile therein at tissue depths sufficient for thermally ablating arrhythmogenic cardiac tissue to treat ventricular tachycardia and other arrhythmias while preventing excessive heating of surrounding tissues, organs, and blood. A wide bandwidth double-disk antenna (700) is effective for this purpose over a bandwidth of about six gigahertz. A computer simulation provides initial screening capabilities for an antenna such as antenna, frequency, power level, and power application duration. The simulation also allows optimization of techniques for specific patients or conditions. In operation, microwave energy between about 1 Gigahertz and 12 Gigahertz is applied to monopole microwave radiator (600) having a surface wave limiter (606). A test setup provides physical testing of microwave radiators (854) to determine the temperature profile created in actual heart tissue or ersatz heart tissue (841).

US Patent:

61757683, Jan 16, 2001

Filed:

Sep 16, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/154622

Inventors:

G. Dickey Arndt - Friendswood TX
James R. Carl - Houston TX
George W. Raffoul - Houston TX
Vincent G. Karasack - Melbourne FL
Antonio Pacifico - Houston TX
Carl F. Pieper - Tulsa OK

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

A61F 200

US Classification:

607101

Abstract:

Method and apparatus are provided for propagating microwave energy into heart tissues to produce a desired temperature profile therein at tissue depths sufficient for thermally ablating arrhythmogenic cardiac tissue to treat ventricular tachycardia and other arrhythmias while preventing excessive heating of surrounding tissues, organs, and blood. A wide bandwidth double-disk antenna (700) is effective for this purpose over a bandwidth of about six gigahertz. A computer simulation provides initial screening capabilities for an antenna such as antenna, frequency, power level, and power application duration. The simulation also allows optimization of techniques for specific patients or conditions. In operation, microwave energy between about 1 Gigahertz and 12 Gigahertz is applied to monopole microwave radiator (600) having a surface wave limiter (606). A test setup provides physical testing of microwave radiators (854) to determine the temperature profile created in actual heart tissue or ersatz heart tissue (841).

US Patent:

62230867, Apr 24, 2001

Filed:

Feb 9, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/504768

Inventors:

James R. Carl - Houston TX
G. Dickey Arndt - Friendswood TX
Patrick W. Fink - Fresno TX
N. Reginald Beer - Houston TX
Phillip D. Henry - Houston TX
Antonio Pacifico - Houston TX
George W. Raffoul - Houston TX

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

A61F 200

US Classification:

607101

Abstract:

Method and apparatus are provided to treat atherosclerosis wherein the artery is partially closed by dilating the artery while preserving the vital and sensitive endothelial layer thereof. Microwave energy having a frequency from 3 GHz to 300 GHz is propagated into the arterial wall to produce a desired temperature profile therein at tissue depths sufficient for thermally necrosing connective tissue and softening fatty and waxy plaque while limiting heating of surrounding tissues including the endothelial layer and/or other healthy tissue, organs, and blood. The heating period for raising the temperature a potentially desired amount, about 20. degree. C. within the atherosclerotic lesion may be less than about one second. In one embodiment of the invention, a radically beveled waveguide antenna is used to deliver microwave energy at frequencies from 25 GHz or 30 GHz to about 300 GHz and is focused towards a particular radial sector of the artery. Because the atherosclerotic lesions are often asymmetrically disposed directable or focussed heating preserves healthy sectors of the artery and applies energy to the asymmetrically positioned lesion faster than a non-directed beam.