Patents by Inventor Kate Whitin

Kate Whitin 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: 20020111638
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and kits are provided for use with a body duct. More specifically, a device is provided for positioning sutures through a body duct. The device comprises a shaft structure for holding the end of the body duct and a suture organizer mounted about the structure. A plurality of needles are arranged on the shaft structure where each of the needles are advanced along a path in radially outward direction from the shaft structure through the end of the body duct and into a suture organizer. The suture organizer is movable relative to the shaft structure. Preferably, but not necessarily, moving the suture organizer extends the sutures from the body duct. Preferably, after the sutures have been positioned through the body duct, they may be tied off with sutures from a target body duct or tissue, where the tying off of the sutures will join the body duct to the targeted area. The suture organizer can hold the needle and sutures to facilitate the tying off of individual sutures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Applicant: Perclose, inc.
    Inventors: Kate Whitin, Lewis Isbell
  • Patent number: 6190396
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and kits are provided for use with a body duct. More specifically, a device is provided for positioning sutures through a body duct. The device comprises a shaft structure for holding the end of the body duct and a suture organizer mounted about the structure. A plurality of needles are arranged on the shaft structure where each of the needles are advanced along a path in radially outward direction from the shaft structure through the end of the body duct and into a suture organizer. The suture organizer is movable relative to the shaft structure. Preferably, but not necessarily, moving the suture organizer extends the sutures from the body duct. Preferably, after the sutures have been positioned through the body duct, they may be tied off with sutures from a target body duct or tissue, where the tying off of the sutures will join the body duct to the targeted area. The suture organizer can hold the needle and sutures to facilitate the tying off of individual sutures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Perclose, Inc.
    Inventors: Kate Whitin, Lewis Isbell