Patents Examined by Lucas Paez
  • Patent number: 8956390
    Abstract: The present invention provides, in certain aspects, medical systems that are useful for applying bolster material to patient tissue. One such system includes a surgical fastening apparatus that is comprised of a first arm having a first arm working surface; and a cutting element operable along a cutting path. This system also includes at least one piece of bolster material having a portion received in the cutting path, and a retaining element retaining the at least one piece of bolster material in association with the first arm working surface, wherein the retaining element has one or more segments received in the cutting path and includes portions residing between the first arm working surface and the at least one piece of bolster material. The invention also provides medical devices that are useful for applying bolster materials to surgical fastening apparatuses, as well as methods for preparing and using such devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Cook Biotech Incorporated
    Inventors: Bhavin Shah, Joseph W. Zubik
  • Patent number: 8936621
    Abstract: An apparatus can include a first flexible member having first and second ends and a first body extending therebetween, where the first body defines a first passage portion. A second flexible member can have first and second ends and a second body extending therebetween, where the second body defines second and third passage portions. The first end of the first flexible member passes into and through the second passage portion such that the first end extends outside of the second passage portion, and the second end of the first flexible member passes into and through the third passage portion such that the second end extends outside of the third passage portion. The first and second ends of the second flexible member pass into and through the first passage portion to form a self-locking adjustable flexible member construct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone, Zachary Wagner
  • Patent number: 8926683
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for deploying an implantable device, such as a stent, within a lumen of a body of a patient. The delivery device may include an inner member and an outer sheath surrounding a distal portion of the inner member and configured to retain the implantable device sheathed near the distal end of the outer sheath until deployment. The outer sheath is slidably moveable relative to the inner member such that proximal movement of the outer sheath relative to the inner member deploys the implantable device. A trigger assembly of the delivery device can include an internal connector coupled to the outer sheath, a plurality of triggers, and a floater coupling two of the triggers. The triggers are serially retracted to deploy the stent. A panchor secures the stent against proximal and distal movement relative to the inner member during deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Darla Gill, Rich Snider, Zeke Eller, Jim Mottola, Tom Robinson, Brenda Lyons
  • Patent number: 8920485
    Abstract: A stent-graft delivery system includes an elongate shaft, a tip capture spindle disposed over the shaft, and a distal tip assembly coupled to the distal end of the shaft. At least one component of the delivery system constrains a stent of the stent-graft engaged with the tip capture spindle during delivery and partial-deployment of the stent-graft, and the at least one component is in a threaded relationship with the distal tip assembly. To fully deploy the stent-graft, the elongate shaft, having the distal tip assembly coupled thereto, is rotated to result in longitudinal movement of the at least one component and thereby release the stent from the tip capture spindle. The at least one component that longitudinally moves to fully deploy the stent-graft may be the tip capture spindle and/or a relatively short sleeve that extends over the tip capture spindle to the distal tip assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeff Argentine
  • Patent number: 8920312
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus and method for triangulation is disclosed which includes a housing, a rod extending through the housing and a plate attached to a distal end of the rod. The housing is adapted for sealed insertion into an incision in tissue and defines a longitudinal axis. The plate is rotatable about the longitudinal axis upon rotation of the rod and includes a plurality of slots dimensioned for the reception of surgical objects therethrough. Each of the slots is adapted to transition a surgical object between a first position and a second position upon rotation of the plate. The plate is movable relative to the housing along the longitudinal axis upon actuation of the rod in an axial direction and the plate may also be removably attachable to a distal end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Mark Russo
  • Patent number: 8882828
    Abstract: A stent-graft has a closed web end configuration in which endmost stent crowns do not extend beyond an end or edge of a tubular graft. In order to couple the stent-graft to tip capture fingers or prongs of a delivery system, the stent-graft includes a ring woven between the endmost crowns of an end stent. When end stent is in a compressed delivery configuration, sections of the ring between adjacent endmost crowns form attachment loops that longitudinally extend beyond the end of the tubular graft for engaging the tip capture fingers of a delivery system. When the end stent is in an expanded fully deployed configuration, the attachment loops retract back to the stent so that the ring is a circular band having a diameter substantially equal to the expanded diameter of the stent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Kinkade, Mark Stiger, Brandon Woll, Joshua Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8864778
    Abstract: An apparatus for suturing body lumens is provided. The apparatus includes a flexible elongated member that has a proximal end, a distal end, a central passage and multiple needle lumens extending from the proximal end toward the distal end. The flexible elongated member further includes an elongated subsection spanning from the end of the needle lumens in the elongated member to a barrel portion that includes corresponding needle lumens on the proximal end of the elongated member. The elongated subsection provides sufficient space between the needles and the barrel portion to allow transapical insertion of the elongated member into a body lumen. The apparatus further includes needles disposed within and advanceable from the needle lumens. The apparatus also includes a handle disposed at the proximal end of the elongated member. The handle is operable to retract the needles through the needle lumens toward the handle at the proximal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron M. Fortson, Douglas H. Mehl, Dinorah Merrill, David J. Milazzo
  • Patent number: 8858593
    Abstract: An emergency medical device and method is provided for treatment of open wounds by enhancing clotting and arresting hemorrhaging, particularly in the area of the neck, abdomen, chest or groin. The devices includes an elongated delivery tube for insertion into a wound cavity and subsequent delivery of a space filling, sponge-like mass containing a polymerizable liquid sealant that polymerizes upon contact with body fluids after which the delivery tube is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Charles W. Kerber, M.D., Inc.
    Inventor: Charles W. Kerber
  • Patent number: 8858573
    Abstract: An apparatus for suturing body lumens is provided. The apparatus includes a flexible elongated member that has a proximal end, a distal end, a central passage and multiple needle lumens extending from the proximal end toward the distal end. The flexible elongated member further includes an elongated subsection spanning from the end of the needle lumens in the elongated member to a barrel portion that includes corresponding needle lumens on the proximal end of the elongated member. The elongated subsection provides sufficient space between the needles and the barrel portion to allow transapical insertion of the elongated member into a body lumen. The apparatus further includes needles disposed within and advanceable from the needle lumens. The apparatus also includes a handle disposed at the proximal end of the elongated member. The handle is operable to retract the needles through the needle lumens toward the handle at the proximal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron M. Fortson, Douglas H. Mehl, Dinorah Merrill, David J. Milazzo