Patents by Inventor Catherine Margaret Unruh

Catherine Margaret Unruh has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11857179
    Abstract: A suturing device includes a curved needle, a suture, an elongate body, an actuator and a curved needle holder. The suture connects with the curved needle. The actuator interacts with the elongate body and is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The curved needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The curved needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip. The curved needle holder includes an inner surface defining a needle passage for holding the needle and a distal opening. The curved needle has a curved needle radius and the curved needle passage has a curved needle passage radius that is different than the curved needle radius and the curved needle frictionally engages the inner surface when the needle is in a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: DURATAP LLC
    Inventors: Mark F. Kurd, David Greg Anderson, Jaime F. Sarabia, Eric Buehlmann, Jay P. Tapper, Jens Johnson, Ann R. Lee, Catherine Margaret Unruh
  • Publication number: 20220167969
    Abstract: A suturing device includes a curved needle, a suture, an elongate body, an actuator and a curved needle holder. The suture connects with the curved needle. The actuator interacts with the elongate body and is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The curved needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The curved needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip. The curved needle holder includes an inner surface defining a needle passage for holding the needle and a distal opening. The curved needle has a curved needle radius and the curved needle passage has a curved needle passage radius that is different than the curved needle radius and the curved needle frictionally engages the inner surface when the needle is in a retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Mark F. Kurd, David Greg Anderson, Jaime F. Sarabia, Eric Buehlmann, Jay P. Tapper, Jens Johnson, Ann R. Lee, Catherine Margaret Unruh
  • Patent number: 11284885
    Abstract: A suturing device includes a curved needle, a suture, an elongate body, an actuator and a curved needle holder. The suture connects with the curved needle. The actuator interacts with the elongate body and is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The curved needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The curved needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip. The curved needle holder includes an inner surface defining a needle passage for holding the needle and a distal opening. The curved needle has a curved needle radius and the curved needle passage has a curved needle passage radius that is different than the curved needle radius and the curved needle frictionally engages the inner surface when the needle is in a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: DURASTAT LLC
    Inventors: Mark F. Kurd, David Greg Anderson, Jaime F. Sarabia, Eric Buehlmann, Jay P. Tapper, Jens Johnson, Ann R. Lee, Catherine Margaret Unruh
  • Patent number: 11090042
    Abstract: A suturing device includes an elongate body, an actuator, and a curved needle holder. The elongate body includes a distal end portion extending along a longitudinal axis. The actuator is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The curved needle holder extends away from the distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The curved needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip, and defines a curved needle passage and a distal opening adjacent the distal-most tip. A distance measured parallel with the longitudinal axis between where the curved needle holder begins to curve away from the longitudinal axis to either where the elongate body begins to curve away from the longitudinal axis or where the elongate body connects with a handle can be between about 10 cm to about 20 cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Durastat LLC
    Inventors: Mark F. Kurd, David Greg Anderson, Jaime F. Sarabia, Eric Buehlmann, Jay P. Tapper, Jens Johnson, Ann R. Lee, Catherine Margaret Unruh
  • Patent number: 10952722
    Abstract: A suturing kit includes a double-armed suture, at least one suturing device and a suture holding structure. The double-armed suture has a first needle at a first end and a second needle at a second, opposite, end. The at least one suturing device includes a first needle holder configured to receive the first needle in a retracted position, a second needle holder configured to receive the second needle in a retracted position and at least one actuator configured to drive the first needle or the second needle in an advance direction toward a released condition. The suture holding structure holds at least a portion of the suture between the first end and the second end, and the suture holding structure is separate from the at least one suturing device so as not to be inserted into the patient during the surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: DURASTAT LLC
    Inventors: Mark F. Kurd, David Greg Anderson, Jaime F. Sarabia, Eric Buehlmann, Jay P. Tapper, Jens Johnson, Ann R. Lee, Catherine Margaret Unruh
  • Patent number: 10918379
    Abstract: A suturing device includes a needle, a suture, an elongate body, an actuator and a needle holder. The suture connects with the needle. The needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip, and defines a needle passage for holding the needle and a distal opening. At least a portion of the suture extends through the distal opening when the needle is received in the needle passage and the actuator is in a first operating position. At least a portion of the suture extends along the needle passage toward the distal opening between the needle and an inner surface of the needle holder when the needle is received in the needle passage and the actuator is in the first operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: DURASTAT LLC
    Inventors: Mark F. Kurd, David Greg Anderson, Jaime F. Sarabia, Eric Buehlmann, Jay P. Tapper, Jens Johnson, Ann R. Lee, Catherine Margaret Unruh
  • Patent number: 10888314
    Abstract: A suturing device includes a curved needle, a suture, an elongate body, an actuator and a curved needle holder. The suture connects with the curved needle. The actuator is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The curved needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The curved needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip. The curved needle holder defines a curved needle passage and a distal opening. Movement of the actuator from the first operating position toward the second operating position moves the curved needle with respect to the curved needle holder toward a released condition. The distal end section is configured to allow the curved needle to release from the curved needle holder at a location offset from the distal-most tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Durastat LLC
    Inventors: Mark F. Kurd, David Greg Anderson, Jaime F. Sarabia, Eric Buehlmann, Jay P. Tapper, Jens Johnson, Ann R. Lee, Catherine Margaret Unruh
  • Patent number: 10842483
    Abstract: A suturing device includes an elongate body, an actuator, a needle holder and a knot pusher. The elongate body includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The actuator interacts with the elongate body and is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The needle holder extends away from the distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body, and includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip. The needle holder defines a needle passage and a distal opening adjacent the distal-most tip. The knot pusher connects with and extends away from at least one of the elongate body and the needle holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: DURASTAT LLC
    Inventors: Mark F. Kurd, David Greg Anderson, Jaime F. Sarabia, Eric Buehlmann, Jay P. Tapper, Jens Johnson, Ann R. Lee, Catherine Margaret Unruh
  • Publication number: 20190053798
    Abstract: A suturing device includes a curved needle, a suture, an elongate body, an actuator and a curved needle holder. The suture connects with the curved needle. The actuator is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The curved needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The curved needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip. The curved needle holder defines a curved needle passage and a distal opening. Movement of the actuator from the first operating position toward the second operating position moves the curved needle with respect to the curved needle holder toward a released condition. The distal end section is configured to allow the curved needle to release from the curved needle holder at a location offset from the distal-most tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Mark F. Kurd, David Greg Anderson, Jaime F. Sarabia, Eric Buehlmann, Jay P. Tapper, Jens Johnson, Ann R. Lee, Catherine Margaret Unruh
  • Publication number: 20190038278
    Abstract: A suturing kit includes a double-armed suture, at least one suturing device and a suture holding structure. The double-armed suture has a first needle at a first end and a second needle at a second, opposite, end. The at least one suturing device includes a first needle holder configured to receive the first needle in a retracted position, a second needle holder configured to receive the second needle in a retracted position and at least one actuator configured to drive the first needle or the second needle in an advance direction toward a released condition. The suture holding structure holds at least a portion of the suture between the first end and the second end, and the suture holding structure is separate from the at least one suturing device so as not to be inserted into the patient during the surgical procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Mark F. Kurd, David Greg Anderson, Jaime F. Sarabia, Eric Buehlmann, Jay P. Tapper, Jens Johnson, Ann R. Lee, Catherine Margaret Unruh
  • Publication number: 20190029669
    Abstract: A suturing device includes an elongate body, an actuator, a needle holder and a knot pusher. The elongate body includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The actuator interacts with the elongate body and is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The needle holder extends away from the distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body, and includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip. The needle holder defines a needle passage and a distal opening adjacent the distal-most tip. The knot pusher connects with and extends away from at least one of the elongate body and the needle holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Mark F. Kurd, David Greg Anderson, Jaime F. Sarabia, Eric Buehlmann, Jay P. Tapper, Jens Johnson, Ann R. Lee, Catherine Margaret Unruh
  • Publication number: 20190029673
    Abstract: A suturing device includes a curved needle, a suture, an elongate body, an actuator and a curved needle holder. The suture connects with the curved needle. The actuator interacts with the elongate body and is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The curved needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The curved needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip. The curved needle holder includes an inner surface defining a needle passage for holding the needle and a distal opening. The curved needle has a curved needle radius and the curved needle passage has a curved needle passage radius that is different than the curved needle radius and the curved needle frictionally engages the inner surface when the needle is in a retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Mark F. Kurd, David Greg Anderson, Jaime F. Sarabia, Eric Buehlmann, Jay P. Tapper, Jens Johnson, Ann R. Lee, Catherine Margaret Unruh
  • Publication number: 20190021726
    Abstract: A suturing device includes a needle, a suture, an elongate body, an actuator and a needle holder. The suture connects with the needle. The needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip, and defines a needle passage for holding the needle and a distal opening. At least a portion of the suture extends through the distal opening when the needle is received in the needle passage and the actuator is in a first operating position. At least a portion of the suture extends along the needle passage toward the distal opening between the needle and an inner surface of the needle holder when the needle is received in the needle passage and the actuator is in the first operating position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: Dura Tap LLC
    Inventors: Mark F. Kurd, David Greg Anderson, Jaime F. Sarabia, Eric Buehlmann, Jay P. Tapper, Jens Johnson, Ann R. Lee, Catherine Margaret Unruh
  • Publication number: 20190008506
    Abstract: A suturing device includes an elongate body, an actuator, and a curved needle holder. The elongate body includes a distal end portion extending along a longitudinal axis. The actuator is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The curved needle holder extends away from the distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The curved needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip, and defines a curved needle passage and a distal opening adjacent the distal-most tip. A distance measured parallel with the longitudinal axis between where the curved needle holder begins to curve away from the longitudinal axis to either where the elongate body begins to curve away from the longitudinal axis or where the elongate body connects with a handle can be between about 10 cm to about 20 cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Mark F. Kurd, David Greg Anderson, Jaime F. Sarabia, Eric Buehlmann, Jay P. Tapper, Jens Johnson, Ann R. Lee, Catherine Margaret Unruh