Patents Assigned to Thoratec Laboratories Corporation
-
Publication number: 20090130170Abstract: Bioimplantable devices comprising a polyetherurethane modified by admixture with siloxane surface modifying additive that may be loaded with a therapeutic agent are provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2008Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventors: Ramesh Babu Jayaraman, Russell Gill
-
Patent number: 5984857Abstract: This invention provides a simple skeletal muscle linear pull energy convertor which can harness the maximal amount of muscle power for a wide variety of implantable medical devices, including the full range of circulatory support devices. The muscle powered system provides completely implantable circulatory support as an alternative to cardiac transplantation, with a quality of life relatively free from external batteries, transcutaneous energy transmission and other electromechanical hardware.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1994Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Assignee: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventors: Keith Evan Buck, David John Farrar, Robert Joseph Harvey, Philip Litwak, John Robert Rueff
-
Patent number: 5814705Abstract: The present invention provides a composition that softens at a predetermined temperature, preferably between about 20.degree. C. and 90.degree. C., and more preferably between about 20.degree. C. and about 62.degree. C., comprising at least one block copolymer having at least two thermal transition temperatures. The composition is characterized by at least two thermal transition temperatures, one of which is a predetermined lower transition temperature, preferably between about 20.degree. C. to 90.degree. C., and more preferably between about 20.degree. C. to about 62.degree. C., and one of which is an upper transition temperature. The present invention also provides a method of making the composition, a method of making biomedical materials and articles, and toys and toy components, with shape-memory properties from the composition, and biomedical materials and articles, and toys and toy components, with shape-memory properties made from the composition.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: September 29, 1998Assignee: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventors: Robert S. Ward, Judy S. Riffle
-
Patent number: 5766207Abstract: A driver for at least one pneumatically-actuated ventricular assist device (VAD), includes a portable housing which encloses a single pump for performing blood-filling and blood-emptying operations of the VAD, a switching valve for alternately communicating the inlet and outlet of the pump with the VAD, a vacuum relief device for subjecting the VAD to negative pressure when performing blood-filling, a battery, and a controller for controlling operation of the driver. The use of a single pump enables the driver to be fully portable. A novel blood pumping system and a method of using the same are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1996Date of Patent: June 16, 1998Assignee: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventors: David Stuart Potter, Dereck Ronald Wheeldon, Terrence Michael McCarthy, Charles David Ogilvy Potter
-
Patent number: 5701919Abstract: This invention provides a simple skeletal muscle linear pull energy convertor which can harness the maximal amount of muscle power for a wide variety of implantable medical devices, including the full range of circulatory support devices. The muscle powered system provides completely implantable circulatory support as an alternative to cardiac transplantation, with a quality of life relatively free from external batteries, transcutaneous energy transmission and other electromechanical hardware.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: December 30, 1997Assignee: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventors: Keith Evan Buck, David John Farrar, Robert Joseph Harvey, Philip Litwak, John Robert Rueff
-
Patent number: 5653676Abstract: This invention provides a simple skeletal muscle linear pull energy convertor which can harness the maximal amount of muscle power for a wide variety of implantable medical devices, including the full range of circulatory support devices. The muscle powered system provides completely implantable circulatory support as an alternative to cardiac transplantation, with a quality of life relatively free from external batteries, transcutaneous energy transmission and other electromechanical hardware.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: August 5, 1997Assignee: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventors: Keith Evan Buck, David John Farrar, Robert Joseph Harvey, Philip Litwak, John Robert Rueff
-
Patent number: 5506300Abstract: The present invention provides a composition that softens at a predetermined temperature, preferably between about 20.degree. C. and 90.degree. C., and more preferably between about 20.degree. C. and about 62.degree. C., comprising at least one block copolymer having at least two thermal transition temperatures. The composition is characterized by at least two thermal transition temperatures, one of which is a predetermined lower transition temperature, preferably between about 20.degree. C. to 90.degree. C., and more preferably between about 20.degree. C. to about 62.degree. C., and one of which is an upper transition temperature. The present invention also provides a method of making the composition, a method of making biomedical materials and articles, and toys and toy components, with shape-memory properties from the composition, and biomedical materials and articles, and toys and toy components, with shape-memory properties made from the composition.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1993Date of Patent: April 9, 1996Assignee: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventors: Robert S. Ward, Judy S. Riffle
-
Patent number: 5344385Abstract: This invention provides a simple skeletal muscle linear pull energy convertor which can harness the maximal amount of muscle power for a wide variety of implantable medical devices, including the full range of circulatory support devices. The muscle powered system provides completely implantable circulatory support as an alternative to cardiac transplantation, with a quality of life relatively free from external batteries, transcutaneous energy transmission and other electromechanical hardware.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1991Date of Patent: September 6, 1994Assignee: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventors: Keith E. Buck, David J. Farrar, Robert J. Harvey, Philip Litwak, John R. Rueff
-
Patent number: 5235003Abstract: Novel linear polysiloxane-polyacetone block copolymers are useful as surface modifying additives due in part to their miscibility with a wide variety of base polymers. A particularly preferred polysiloxane-polycaprolactone linear blocked copolymer is miscible with nylon and is useful for forming surface modified nylon products.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 1990Date of Patent: August 10, 1993Assignee: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventors: Robert S. Ward, Judy S. Riffle
-
Patent number: 4963595Abstract: Novel linear polysiloxane-polylactone block copolymers are useful as surface modifying additives due in part to their miscibility with a wide variety of base polymers. A particularly preferred polysiloxane-polycaprolactone linear blocked copolymer is miscible with nylon and is useful for forming surface modified nylon products.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1988Date of Patent: October 16, 1990Assignee: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventors: Robert S. Ward, Judy S. Riffle
-
Patent number: 4731073Abstract: An arterial graft prosthesis comprises a first interior zone of a solid, segmented polyether-polyurethane material surrounded by a second zone of a porous, segmented polyether-polyurethane and a third zone immediately surrounding said second zone and of a solid, segmented polyether-polyurethane. The interior zone may have a lining or blood interface of a microporous zone of segmented polyether-polyurethane, and the exterior, third zone may be surrounded by a tissue interface of a microporous zone of segmented polyether-polyurethane. In some instances the exterior may be confined by a tube of substantially non-stretchable netting fastened in place at chosen, spaced intervals or other forms of reinforcement may be employed. Other materials can be used.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1984Date of Patent: March 15, 1988Assignee: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventor: Thomas C. Robinson
-
Patent number: 4662358Abstract: An electronic control system for controlling the operation of a cardiac prosthesis is disclosed. The cardiac prosthesis includes dominant and subordinate ventricles which receive blood in response to body requirements and an actuation device coupled to the ventricles for ejecting blood from the ventricles. The electronic control system includes sensing devices to determine the volume of blood in the ventricles as a function of time. A control device, which in the preferred embodiment is a programmed microcomputer, includes a clock controller which first determines the filling flow rates of the ventricles from the volume information from the sensing devices. The ventricle with the greatest filling flow rate is selected as the dominant ventricle. The clock controller then adjusts the heart rate of the cardiac prosthesis as a function of the filling flow rate of the dominant ventricle to allow just enough time for the dominant ventricle to fill completely.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 1984Date of Patent: May 5, 1987Assignee: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventors: David J. Farrar, Thomas C. Robinson
-
Patent number: 4604762Abstract: An arterial graft prosthesis comprises a first interior zone of a solid, segmented polyether-polyurethane material surrounded by a second zone of a porous, segmented, polyether-polyurethane and a third zone immediately surrounding said second zone and of a solid, segmented polyether-polyurethane. The interior zone may have a lining or blood interface of a microporous zone of segmented polyether-polyurethane, and the exterior, third zone may be surrounded by a tissue interface of a microporous zone of segmented polyether-polyurethane. In some instances the exterior may be confined by a tube of substantially non-stretchable netting fastened in place at chosen, spaced intervals or other forms of reinforcement may be employed. Other materials can be used.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 1981Date of Patent: August 12, 1986Assignee: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventor: Thomas C. Robinson
-
Patent number: 4559648Abstract: A safety drive for an artificial heart, if the right drive should fail it is simply put out of operation, while if the left drive fails, the right drive, which is still functioning, is switched over to the left circulatory pump and thus serves as a system-internal backup drive.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1984Date of Patent: December 24, 1985Assignee: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventors: Klaus Affeld, Axel Mohnhaupt, Frank Jorn
-
Patent number: 4551131Abstract: A movable blood aspiration wand, especially for use in autotransfusion, carries with it a tank for anticoagulant replenished from an anticoagulant source fixed at a high source and is connected to a blood reservoir at a low elevation. Differences in wand height relative to the source and to the blood reservoir are compensated for, so that differences in wand height and corresponding blood and anticoagulant head do not substantially vary the anticoagulant proportion added to the aspirated blood.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 1983Date of Patent: November 5, 1985Assignee: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventors: Clive Miles, Gary Schneiderman
-
Patent number: 4540406Abstract: Anticoagulant is added to blood being aspirated through a hand-held wand having a venturi throat. The anticoagulant flows into the wand from a generally closed anticoagulant reservoir higher than the wand as replacement air flows into the anticoagulant air reservoir. This air inflow is controlled by a regulator fixed on the wand and in accordance with the amount of aspirated blood flowing in through the venturi throat.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 1983Date of Patent: September 10, 1985Assignee: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventor: Clive Miles
-
Patent number: 4476708Abstract: A flow controller primarily for breathing gas analysis has a gas flow circuit leading from a breathing air inlet to a gas analyzer and to a vacuum source. Another gas is bled into the circuit between the breathing air inlet and a point upstream of the vacuum source. Such other gas is precluded from flowing upstream in the circuit toward the gas analyzer by making the intervening flow path or conduit of suitable dimensions to have a Peclet number at least equal to 4 and preferably greater than 4 and about 6.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1982Date of Patent: October 16, 1984Assignee: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventors: Kenneth J. Baker, Keith E. Buck, Irving C. Chase, Robert B. Fraser, Clive Miles
-
Patent number: 4456014Abstract: For restricting the flow of breathing gas between a patient's breathing tube and a breathing gas analyzer, there is provided a fitting extending into the breathing tube. The fitting preferably has a restricted inlet volume opening through a filter and through a capillary tube into an outlet connectable to the gas analyzer.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 1983Date of Patent: June 26, 1984Assignee: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventors: Keith E. Buck, Irving C. Chase, Marius J. Morin
-
Patent number: 4454643Abstract: A tool for applying a membrane on a small upstanding post like device, which tool incorporates a housing with means for securing the membrane across the top of the post with additional means disposed opposite the post for holding the membrane against the post and urging it down the side of the post, the housing being closeable to serve as a shipping container and a calibration cell for the device to be membraned with means to secure the post captive with little or no chance of its falling into a non-sterile environment.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1981Date of Patent: June 19, 1984Assignee: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventors: David E. Downie, Gary Schneiderman, Eric D. Shulse, Stanley J. Withers
-
Patent number: 4430998Abstract: A closure band of water-vapor permeable, flexible, elastic plastic spans a cut in the flesh and holds the cut closed. Flesh-engaging penetrants such as hooks are partly embedded in or are part of the band and engage the flesh either side of the cut. Adhesive on the band also contacts the flesh and helps hold the penetrants embedded. A tear strip overlying openings through the band, when removed, allows inspection of the cut.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1982Date of Patent: February 14, 1984Assignee: Thoratec Laboratories CorporationInventors: Robert J. Harvey, Philip Litwak, William A. Ribich, John M. Dubowik