Patents by Inventor Craig A. Ekvall

Craig A. Ekvall 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).

  • Publication number: 20240138983
    Abstract: A delivery system includes a delivery sheath with a control device and at least one supra-annular support being movable through a lumen of the delivery sheath. The control device includes a connection member coupled to a distal end of a control catheter. The connection member is configured to removably couple to the prosthetic valve at a proximal position along a supra-annular portion of the prosthetic valve. The control device is operable to advance the prosthetic valve in a compressed configuration through the delivery sheath and to at least partially deploy the prosthetic valve in an expanded configuration into a native valve annulus. The supra-annular support(s) is/are removably coupleable at one or more positions along the supra-annular portion of the prosthetic valve and is/are configured to stabilize or actuate at least a portion of the prosthetic valve relative to an annular plane of a native heart valve during deployment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: VDyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig EKVALL, Robert VIDLUND
  • Publication number: 20230149161
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described herein for anchoring a prosthetic heart valve. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tether attachment member that includes a base member that defines at least a portion of a tether passageway through which a portion of a tether extending from a prosthetic heart valve can be received therethrough. The base member defines a locking pin channel that intersects the tether passageway. A locking pin is disposable within the locking pin channel and movable between a first position in which the locking pin is at a spaced distance from the tether passageway, and a second position in which the locking pin intersects the tether passageway and can engage the portion of a tether disposed therein to secure the tether to the tether attachment member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: Tendyne Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Vidlund, Mark Christianson, Craig Ekvall
  • Patent number: 11617645
    Abstract: A self-expanding wire frame for a pre-configured compressible transcatheter prosthetic cardiovascular valve, a combined inner frame/outer frame support structure for a prosthetic valve, and methods for deploying such a valve for treatment of a patient in need thereof, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Tendyne Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Christianson, Chad Perrin, Zachary Tegels, Craig Ekvall, Robert M. Vidlund
  • Patent number: 11612480
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described herein for anchoring a prosthetic heart valve. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tether attachment member that includes a base member that defines at least a portion of a tether passageway through which a portion of a tether extending from a prosthetic heart valve can be received therethrough. The base member defines a locking pin channel that intersects the tether passageway. A locking pin is disposable within the locking pin channel and movable between a first position in which the locking pin is at a spaced distance from the tether passageway, and a second position in which the locking pin intersects the tether passageway and can engage the portion of a tether disposed therein to secure the tether to the tether attachment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Tendyne Holdings, inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Vidlund, Mark Christianson, Craig Ekvall
  • Publication number: 20230000626
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve can include an outer support assembly, an inner valve assembly, which define between them an annular space, and a pocket closure that bounds the annular space to form a pocket in which thrombus can be formed and retained. Alternatively, or additionally, the outer support assembly and the inner valve assembly can be coupled at the ventricle ends of the outer support assembly and the inner valve assembly, with the outer support assembly being relatively more compliant in hoop compression in a central, annulus portion than at the ventricle end, so that the prosthetic valve can seat securely in the annulus while imposing minimal loads on the inner valve assembly that could degrade the performance of the valve leaflets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: Tendyne Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Christianson, Chad Perrin, Zachary Tegels, Craig Ekvall, Robert Vidlund, Son Mai, Michael Evans
  • Patent number: 11523902
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described herein for use in the delivery and deployment of a prosthetic mitral valve into a heart. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a catheter assembly, a valve holding tube and a handle assembly. The valve holding tube is releasably couplable to a proximal end portion of the catheter assembly and to a distal end portion of the handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a housing and a delivery rod. The delivery rod is configured to be actuated to move distally relative to the housing to move a prosthetic heart valve disposed within the valve holding tube out of the valve holding tube and distally within a lumen of the elongate sheath of the catheter assembly. The catheter assembly is configured to be actuated to move proximally relative to the housing such that the prosthetic valve is disposed outside of the lumen of the elongate sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Tendyne Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Ekvall, Khoi Le, John F. Otte, Zachary J. Tegels, Robert M. Vidlund
  • Patent number: 11471281
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve can include an outer support assembly, an inner valve assembly, which define between them an annular space, and a pocket closure that bounds the annular space to form a pocket in which thrombus can be formed and retained. Alternatively, or additionally, the outer support assembly and the inner valve assembly can be coupled at the ventricle ends of the outer support assembly and the inner valve assembly, with the outer support assembly being relatively more compliant in hoop compression in a central, annulus portion than at the ventricle end, so that the prosthetic valve can seat securely in the annulus while imposing minimal loads on the inner valve assembly that could degrade the performance of the valve leaflets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Tendyne Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Christianson, Chad Perrin, Zachary Tegels, Craig Ekvall, Robert Vidlund, Son Mai, Michael Evans
  • Patent number: 11464628
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described herein for use in the delivery of a prosthetic mitral valve. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an epicardial pad configured to engage an outside surface of a heart to secure a prosthetic heart valve in position within the heart. The epicardial pad defines a lumen configured to receive therethrough a tether extending from the prosthetic valve. The epicardial pad is movable between a first configuration in which the epicardial pad has a first outer perimeter and is configured to be disposed within a lumen of a delivery sheath and a second configuration in which the epicardial pad has a second outer perimeter greater than the first outer perimeter. The epicardial pad can be disposed against the outside surface of the heart when in the second configuration to secure the prosthetic valve and tether in a desired position within the heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Tendyne Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Vidlund, Igor Kovalsky, Zachary J. Tegels, Craig A. Ekvall
  • Publication number: 20220280292
    Abstract: A delivery system for side-delivery of a prosthetic valve includes a compression device defining a lumen having a first perimeter at a proximal end that is larger than a second perimeter of the lumen at a distal end. A loading device is coupleable to the compression device and defines a lumen having substantially the second perimeter. A distal end of the loading device includes a first gate that is movable between an open state and a closed state to at least partially occlude the lumen of the loading device. A delivery device defines a lumen having substantially the second perimeter. A proximal end of the delivery device is coupleable to the distal end of the loading device and includes a second gate movable between an open state and a closed state to at least partially occlude the lumen of the delivery device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: VDyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert VIDLUND, Mark CHRISTIANSON, Neelakantan SAIKRISHNAN, Scott KRAMER, Lucas HARDER, David HOLTAN, Craig EKVALL, Cameron VIDLUND
  • Patent number: 11382753
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described herein for positioning an epicardial anchor device and measuring the load of a tether extending from a prosthetic heart valve and coupled to the epicardial anchor device. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a handle assembly coupled to an elongate member and a docking member coupled to a distal end of the elongate member. The docking member can be releasably coupled to an epicardial anchor device configured to secure a tether extending from a prosthetic heart valve implanted with a heart at a location on an exterior of a ventricular wall of the heart. A force sensor device is coupled to the handle assembly and can measure a force exerted on the force sensor device. The force is associated with a tension of the tether extending through the elongate member and handle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Tendyne Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Ekvall, Robert M. Vidlund
  • Patent number: 11344412
    Abstract: A delivery system for side-delivery of a prosthetic valve includes a compression device defining a lumen having a first perimeter at a proximal end that is larger than a second perimeter of the lumen at a distal end. A loading device is coupleable to the compression device and defines a lumen having substantially the second perimeter. A distal end of the loading device includes a first gate that is movable between an open state and a closed state to at least partially occlude the lumen of the loading device. A delivery device defines a lumen having substantially the second perimeter. A proximal end of the delivery device is coupleable to the distal end of the loading device and includes a second gate movable between an open state and a closed state to at least partially occlude the lumen of the delivery device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: VDyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Vidlund, Mark Christianson, Neelakantan Saikrishnan, Scott Kramer, Lucas Harder, David Holtan, Craig Ekvall, Cameron Vidlund
  • Patent number: 11311379
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a self-expanding wire frame body, a valve disposed in the body, a leaflet clip coupled to the body, and a control element operably coupled to the leaflet clip. The body has a proximal end and a distal end. The leaflet clip is configured to be transitioned between a first configuration in which the prosthetic valve can be inserted into a heart, and a second configuration in which the leaflet clip is disposed to capture a native valve leaflet between the leaflet clip and the wire frame body when the body is disposed in a native annulus of an atrioventricular valve of a heart. The control element extends from the leaflet clip through a ventricle of the heart and out a wall of the ventricle to allow a user to transition the leaflet clip from its first configuration to its second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Tendyne Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Christianson, Zachary J. Tegels, Craig A. Ekvall, Robert M. Vidlund
  • Patent number: 11246562
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described herein for use in the alignment and deployment of a prosthetic heart valve, such as a mitral valve. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tube assembly and a needle assembly configured to be received through a lumen of an outer tube member of the tube assembly. The needle assembly includes an elongate needle having a distal tip configured to be inserted through the epicardial surface of a heart. An imaging probe is coupled to a coupling member and includes an imaging element. The imaging probe is configured to provide image data associated with a location of a commissural-commissural (C-C) plane and a location of the anterior-posterior (A-P) plane of the mitral valve and the annular region of the heart such that a prosthetic mitral valve can be positioned within the heart based at least in part on the C-C plane and the A-P plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Tendyne Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Vidlund, Craig A. Ekvall
  • Patent number: 11224510
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a self-expanding wire frame body, a valve disposed in the body, a leaflet clip coupled to the body, and a control element operably coupled to the leaflet clip. The body has a proximal end and a distal end. The leaflet clip is configured to be transitioned between a first configuration in which the prosthetic valve can be inserted into a heart, and a second configuration in which the leaflet clip is disposed to capture a native valve leaflet between the leaflet clip and the wire frame body when the body is disposed in a native annulus of an atrioventricular valve of a heart. The control element extends from the leaflet clip through a ventricle of the heart and out a wall of the ventricle to allow a user to transition the leaflet clip from its first configuration to its second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Tendyne Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Christianson, Zachary Tegels, Craig Ekvall, Robert Vidlund
  • Publication number: 20220000614
    Abstract: A delivery system for side-delivery of a prosthetic valve includes a compression device defining a lumen having a first perimeter at a proximal end that is larger than a second perimeter of the lumen at a distal end. A loading device is coupleable to the compression device and defines a lumen having substantially the second perimeter. A distal end of the loading device includes a first gate that is movable between an open state and a closed state to at least partially occlude the lumen of the loading device. A delivery device defines a lumen having substantially the second perimeter. A proximal end of the delivery device is coupleable to the distal end of the loading device and includes a second gate movable between an open state and a closed state to at least partially occlude the lumen of the delivery device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: VDyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert VIDLUND, Mark CHRISTIANSON, Neelakantan SAIKRISHNAN, Scott KRAMER, Lucas HARDER, David HOLTAN, Craig EKVALL, Cameron VIDLUND
  • Patent number: 11179239
    Abstract: A delivery system for side-delivery of a prosthetic valve includes a compression device defining a lumen having a first perimeter at a proximal end that is larger than a second perimeter of the lumen at a distal end. A loading device is coupleable to the compression device and defines a lumen having substantially the second perimeter. A distal end of the loading device includes a first gate that is movable between an open state and a closed state to at least partially occlude the lumen of the loading device. A delivery device defines a lumen having substantially the second perimeter. A proximal end of the delivery device is coupleable to the distal end of the loading device and includes a second gate movable between an open state and a closed state to at least partially occlude the lumen of the delivery device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: VDyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Vidlund, Mark Christianson, Neelakantan Saikrishnan, Scott Kramer, Lucas Harder, Craig Ekvall
  • Patent number: 11166814
    Abstract: A delivery system for side-delivery of a prosthetic valve includes a compression device defining a lumen having a first perimeter at a proximal end that is larger than a second perimeter of the lumen at a distal end. A loading device is coupleable to the compression device and defines a lumen having substantially the second perimeter. A distal end of the loading device includes a first gate that is movable between an open state and a closed state to at least partially occlude the lumen of the loading device. A delivery device defines a lumen having substantially the second perimeter. A proximal end of the delivery device is coupleable to the distal end of the loading device and includes a second gate movable between an open state and a closed state to at least partially occlude the lumen of the delivery device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Vdyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Vidlund, I, Mark Christianson, Scott Kramer, Craig Ekvall, Cameron Vidlund
  • Publication number: 20210330459
    Abstract: The invention relates to an anchor hook and methods of using the same for subannular anchoring of a transcatheter heart valve replacement, and in particular for an orthogonally delivered (side-delivered) transcatheter prosthetic heart valve having a annular support frame having compressible wire cells that facilitate rolling and folding the valve length-wise, or orthogonally to the central axis of the flow control component, allowing a very large diameter valve to be delivered and deployed to the mitral or tricuspid valve from the inferior vena cava or superior vena cava, or trans-septally to the mitral valve, the valve having a height of about 5-60 mm and a diameter of about 25-80 mm, without requiring an oversized diameter catheter and without requiring a delivery catheter to bend 90 degrees during deployment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: VDyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark CHRISTIANSON, Robert VIDLUND, Chad PERRIN, Craig EKVALL
  • Publication number: 20210244533
    Abstract: A delivery system for side-delivery of a prosthetic valve includes a compression device defining a lumen having a first perimeter at a proximal end that is larger than a second perimeter of the lumen at a distal end. A loading device is coupleable to the compression device and defines a lumen having substantially the second perimeter. A distal end of the loading device includes a first gate that is movable between an open state and a closed state to at least partially occlude the lumen of the loading device. A delivery device defines a lumen having substantially the second perimeter. A proximal end of the delivery device is coupleable to the distal end of the loading device and includes a second gate movable between an open state and a closed state to at least partially occlude the lumen of the delivery device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Applicant: VDyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Vidlund, Mark Christianson, Neelakantan Saikrishnan, Scott Kramer, Chad Ferrin, Lucas Harder, David Holtan, Craig Ekvall, Cameron Vidlund
  • Publication number: 20210236112
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described herein for repositioning a tether attached to a prosthetic heart valve. In some embodiments, a method includes inserting a distal end portion of a snare device through an incision at a first location in a ventricular wall of a heart and within the left ventricle of the heart. A tether extending from a prosthetic mitral valve, through the left ventricle and out an incision at a second location on the ventricular wall of the heart is snared with the snare device. The tether is pulled with the snare device such that a proximal end of the tether is moved back through the incision at the second location on the ventricular wall and into the left ventricle. The snare device is pulled proximally such that the tether is pulled proximally through the incision at the first location in the ventricular wall of the heart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Tendyne Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Vidlund, Craig A. Ekvall