Patents by Inventor CHRISTOPHER SMUK
CHRISTOPHER SMUK 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).
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Patent number: 11950799Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to systems and methods for intravascular lesion disruption. In an embodiment, a catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures upon a vascular lesion within or adjacent a blood vessel wall is included. The system includes a catheter configured to advance to a vascular lesion, the catheter including an elongate shaft that defines at least a first orifice for fluid flow; a balloon, coupled to the elongate shaft, that surrounds the first orifice where the balloon can expand from a collapsed configuration suitable for advancing the catheter through a patient's vasculature to a first expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the catheter in position relative to a treatment site; and a propulsion system configured to propel a fluid from the first orifice toward the balloon wall to create an inertial impulse in a vessel wall to transfer momentum to the vascular lesion. Other embodiments are also included herein.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Frank Massimini, Roger W. McGowan, Christopher Smuk, Binh C. Tran
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Publication number: 20240081847Abstract: A photoacoustic catheter adapted for placement within a blood vessel having a vessel wall includes an elongate shaft, a balloon and a photoacoustic transducer. The elongate shaft can extend from a proximal region to a distal region. The elongate shaft can include a light guide that is configured to be placed in optical communication with a light source. The balloon is coupled to the elongate shaft, and can be configured to expand from a collapsed configuration suitable for advancing the photoacoustic catheter through a patient's vasculature to a first expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the photoacoustic catheter in position relative to a treatment site. The photoacoustic transducer can be disposed on a surface of the balloon and in optical communication with the light guide. The photoacoustic transducer can include a light-absorbing material and a thermal expansion material.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Applicant: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.Inventors: Roger W. McGowan, Daniel Frank Massimini, Haiping Shao, Christopher Smuk
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Patent number: 11819229Abstract: A photoacoustic catheter adapted for placement within a blood vessel having a vessel wall includes an elongate shaft, a balloon and a photoacoustic transducer. The elongate shaft can extend from a proximal region to a distal region. The elongate shaft can include a light guide that is configured to be placed in optical communication with a light source. The balloon is coupled to the elongate shaft, and can be configured to expand from a collapsed configuration suitable for advancing the photoacoustic catheter through a patient's vasculature to a first expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the photoacoustic catheter in position relative to a treatment site. The photoacoustic transducer can be disposed on a surface of the balloon and in optical communication with the light guide. The photoacoustic transducer can include a light-absorbing material and a thermal expansion material.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2020Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.Inventors: Roger W. McGowan, Daniel Frank Massimini, Haiping Shao, Christopher Smuk
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Patent number: 11660427Abstract: A catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures in a vascular lesion within or adjacent a vessel wall, includes a catheter and a superheating system. The catheter can advance to the vascular lesion. The catheter includes an elongate shaft and a balloon coupled to the elongate shaft. The balloon includes a balloon wall. The balloon moves between a collapsed configuration and a first expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the catheter in position relative to a treatment site. The superheating system can heat a balloon fluid within the balloon rapidly enough to achieve spontaneous vaporization of the balloon fluid and to generate inertial bubbles and acoustic pressure waves. The superheating system can include a first light guide extending along the elongate shaft. The first light guide is in optical communication with a light source at a proximal portion of the first light guide.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.Inventors: Roger W. McGowan, Daniel Frank Massimini, Christopher Smuk, Haiping Shao
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Patent number: 11622779Abstract: A photoacoustic catheter can include an elongate shaft and a first photoacoustic transducer. The elongate shaft can extend from a proximal region to a distal region and can include a first light guide that is in optical communication with a light source. The first photoacoustic transducer can be disposed within the distal region of the elongate shaft and can be in optical communication with the first light guide. The first photoacoustic transducer can impart acoustic pressure waves upon a calcified lesion to induce fractures. The first photoacoustic transducer can include a light-absorbing material and a thermal expansion material that can be in contact with one another.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2019Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.Inventors: Roger W. McGowan, Binh C. Tran, Christopher Smuk, Daniel Frank Massimini
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Publication number: 20220313304Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to systems and methods for intravascular lesion disruption. In an embodiment, a catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures upon a vascular lesion within or adjacent a blood vessel wall is included. The system includes a catheter configured to advance to a vascular lesion, the catheter including an elongate shaft that defines at least a first orifice for fluid flow; a balloon, coupled to the elongate shaft, that surrounds the first orifice where the balloon can expand from a collapsed configuration suitable for advancing the catheter through a patient's vasculature to a first expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the catheter in position relative to a treatment site; and a propulsion system configured to propel a fluid from the first orifice toward the balloon wall to create an inertial impulse in a vessel wall to transfer momentum to the vascular lesion. Other embodiments are also included herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventors: Daniel Frank Massimini, Roger W. McGowan, Christopher Smuk, Binh C. Tran
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Patent number: 11399862Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to systems and methods for intravascular lesion disruption. In an embodiment, a catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures upon a vascular lesion within or adjacent a blood vessel wall is included. The system includes a catheter configured to advance to a vascular lesion, the catheter including an elongate shaft that defines at least a first orifice for fluid flow; a balloon, coupled to the elongate shaft, that surrounds the first orifice where the balloon can expand from a collapsed configuration suitable for advancing the catheter through a patient's vasculature to a first expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the catheter in position relative to a treatment site; and a propulsion system configured to propel a fluid from the first orifice toward the balloon wall to create an inertial impulse in a vessel wall to transfer momentum to the vascular lesion. Other embodiments are also included herein.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Frank Massimini, Roger W. McGowan, Christopher Smuk, Binh C. Tran
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Patent number: 11103262Abstract: An ultrasound catheter may be adapted for placement within a blood vessel having a vessel wall for treating a vascular lesion within or adjacent the vessel wall. The ultrasound catheter includes an elongate shaft extending from a distal region to a proximal region and an ultrasound transducer that is disposed relative to the distal region of the elongate shaft and is adapted to impart near-field acoustic pressure waves upon the vascular lesion in order to mechanically modify the vascular lesion. An inflatable balloon is disposed about the ultrasound transducer and is coupled to the elongate shaft, the inflatable balloon having a collapsed configuration suitable for advancing the ultrasound catheter through a patient's vasculature and an expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the ultrasound catheter in position relative to a treatment site.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2019Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.Inventors: Binh C. Tran, Douglas Dean Pagoria, Roger W. McGowan, Christopher Smuk, Daniel Frank Massimini
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Publication number: 20200398033Abstract: A catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures in a vascular lesion within or adjacent a vessel wall, includes a catheter and a superheating system. The catheter can advance to the vascular lesion. The catheter includes an elongate shaft and a balloon coupled to the elongate shaft. The balloon includes a balloon wall. The balloon moves between a collapsed configuration and a first expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the catheter in position relative to a treatment site. The superheating system can heat a balloon fluid within the balloon rapidly enough to achieve spontaneous vaporization of the balloon fluid and to generate inertial bubbles and acoustic pressure waves. The superheating system can include a first light guide extending along the elongate shaft. The first light guide is in optical communication with a light source at a proximal portion of the first light guide. The first light guide can include a first light window at a distal portion of the first light guide.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2020Publication date: December 24, 2020Inventors: Roger W. McGowan, Daniel Frank Massimini, Christopher Smuk, Haiping Shao
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Publication number: 20200397453Abstract: A photoacoustic catheter adapted for placement within a blood vessel having a vessel wall includes an elongate shaft, a balloon and a photoacoustic transducer. The elongate shaft can extend from a proximal region to a distal region. The elongate shaft can include a light guide that is configured to be placed in optical communication with a light source. The balloon is coupled to the elongate shaft, and can be configured to expand from a collapsed configuration suitable for advancing the photoacoustic catheter through a patient's vasculature to a first expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the photoacoustic catheter in position relative to a treatment site. The photoacoustic transducer can be disposed on a surface of the balloon and in optical communication with the light guide. The photoacoustic transducer can include a light-absorbing material and a thermal expansion material.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2020Publication date: December 24, 2020Inventors: Roger W. McGowan, Daniel Frank Massimini, Haiping Shao, Christopher Smuk
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Publication number: 20200397461Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to systems and methods for intravascular lesion disruption. In an embodiment, a catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures upon a vascular lesion within or adjacent a blood vessel wall is included. The system includes a catheter configured to advance to a vascular lesion, the catheter including an elongate shaft that defines at least a first orifice for fluid flow; a balloon, coupled to the elongate shaft, that surrounds the first orifice where the balloon can expand from a collapsed configuration suitable for advancing the catheter through a patient's vasculature to a first expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the catheter in position relative to a treatment site; and a propulsion system configured to propel a fluid from the first orifice toward the balloon wall to create an inertial impulse in a vessel wall to transfer momentum to the vascular lesion. Other embodiments are also included herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2020Publication date: December 24, 2020Inventors: Daniel Frank Massimini, Roger W. McGowan, Christopher Smuk, Binh C. Tran
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Publication number: 20200129195Abstract: A photoacoustic catheter can include an elongate shaft and a first photoacoustic transducer. The elongate shaft can extend from a proximal region to a distal region and can include a first light guide that is in optical communication with a light source. The first photoacoustic transducer can be disposed within the distal region of the elongate shaft and can be in optical communication with the first light guide. The first photoacoustic transducer can impart acoustic pressure waves upon a calcified lesion to induce fractures. The first photoacoustic transducer can include a light-absorbing material and a thermal expansion material that can be in contact with one another. The thermal expansion material can include polydimethylsiloxane, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyimide, polyisobutylene, polyisobutylene polyurethane, polyurethanes, styrene isoprene butadiene, ethylene propylene polyacrylic, ethylene acrylic, fluorosilicone, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, and/or thermoplastic elastomers.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2019Publication date: April 30, 2020Inventors: Roger W. McGowan, Binh C. Tran, Christopher Smuk, Daniel Frank Massimini
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Patent number: 10499820Abstract: Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a system for measuring blood pressure. The system may include a pressure sensing guidewire including a pressure sensor and a first optical fiber extending proximally from the pressure sensor. The system may also include an optical connector cable including a distal connector capable of being coupled to the guidewire. The optical connector cable may include a second optical fiber that is capable of optically communicating with the first optical fiber. A coupler may be disposed within the distal connector and disposed between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2014Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.Inventors: Roger W. McGowan, Christopher Smuk, Peter Thornton, Jr.
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Publication number: 20190282249Abstract: An ultrasound catheter may be adapted for placement within a blood vessel having a vessel wall for treating a vascular lesion within or adjacent the vessel wall. The ultrasound catheter includes an elongate shaft extending from a distal region to a proximal region and an ultrasound transducer that is disposed relative to the distal region of the elongate shaft and is adapted to impart near-field acoustic pressure waves upon the vascular lesion in order to mechanically modify the vascular lesion. An inflatable balloon is disposed about the ultrasound transducer and is coupled to the elongate shaft, the inflatable balloon having a collapsed configuration suitable for advancing the ultrasound catheter through a patient's vasculature and an expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the ultrasound catheter in position relative to a treatment site.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: Binh C. Tran, Douglas Dean Pagoria, Roger W. McGowan, Christopher Smuk, Daniel Frank Massimini
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Publication number: 20190282250Abstract: An ultrasound catheter is adapted for placement within a blood vessel having a vessel wall and is adapted for treating a vascular lesion within or adjacent the vessel wall. The ultrasound catheter includes an elongate shaft extending from a distal region to a proximal region and an ultrasound transducer that is disposed within the distal region of the elongate shaft, the ultrasound transducer adapted to impart near-field, acoustic pressure waves upon the vascular lesion in order to mechanically modify the vascular lesion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Inventors: Binh C. Tran, Douglas Dean Pagoria, Roger W. McGowan, Christopher Smuk, Daniel Frank Massimini
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Publication number: 20140350414Abstract: Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a system for measuring blood pressure. The system may include a pressure sensing guidewire including a pressure sensor and a first optical fiber extending proximally from the pressure sensor. The system may also include an optical connector cable including a distal connector capable of being coupled to the guidewire. The optical connector cable may include a second optical fiber that is capable of optically communicating with the first optical fiber. A coupler may be disposed within the distal connector and disposed between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2014Publication date: November 27, 2014Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.Inventors: ROGER W. MCGOWAN, CHRISTOPHER SMUK, PETER THORNTON, JR.