Patents by Inventor Larry J. Kovach
Larry J. Kovach 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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Publication number: 20240074884Abstract: A medical assembly includes a balloon expandable endoprosthesis comprising a plurality of ringed stent elements flexibly connected to each other via at least one flexible connector, the endoprosthesis being deployable from an undeployed state with an undeployed diameter to a deployed state with a deployed diameter. The medical assembly further includes a catheter assembly comprising a balloon, and a cover along the balloon. The endoprosthesis is coaxially located about the balloon and the cover. One or more portions of the balloon and the cover reach an intermediate diameter between the undeployed diameter and the deployed diameter in which the portions of the balloon and the cover are inflated by increasing an inflation pressure within the balloon and approximately maintained at about the intermediate diameter until the inflation pressure increases by at least 1 atmosphere to overcome a yield strength of the cover.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Larry J. Kovach, Joseph B. Koenig
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Patent number: 11779481Abstract: A medical assembly includes a balloon expandable endoprosthesis comprising a plurality of ringed stent elements flexibly connected to each other via at least one flexible connector, the endoprosthesis being deployable from an undeployed state with an undeployed diameter to a deployed state with a deployed diameter. The medical assembly further includes a catheter assembly comprising a balloon, and a cover along the balloon. The endoprosthesis is coaxially located about the balloon and the cover. One or more portions of the balloon and the cover reach an intermediate diameter between the undeployed diameter and the deployed diameter in which the portions of the balloon and the cover are inflated by increasing an inflation pressure within the balloon and approximately maintained at about the intermediate diameter until the inflation pressure increases by at least 1 atmosphere to overcome a yield strength of the cover.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2020Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.Inventors: Larry J. Kovach, Joseph B. Koenig
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Publication number: 20230172737Abstract: The present disclosure includes an endoprosthesis delivery system comprising an elongate member, such as a catheter, an endoprosthesis, and an end cap having one or more protrusions extending therefrom. The protrusions may assist in retraction of end cap into an outer sheath, such as an introducer sheath. In some examples, the protrusion includes fins. In some embodiments, the endoprosthesis delivery system further includes a covering member disposed about the endoprosthesis. The protrusions may support the covering member, which may extend beyond the distal end of the endoprosthesis and onto the end cap. In some embodiments, the end cap comprises a tapered profile, which may assist in retraction of the catheter tip and end cap into an outer sheath.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2023Publication date: June 8, 2023Inventors: Bret J. Kilgrow, Larry J. Kovach, Brandon C. Short, Anna F. Timbie
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Patent number: 11583425Abstract: The present disclosure includes an endoprosthesis delivery system comprising an elongate member, such as a catheter, an endoprosthesis, and an end cap having one or more protrusions extending therefrom. The protrusions may assist in retraction of end cap into an outer sheath, such as an introducer sheath. In some examples, the protrusion includes fins. In some embodiments, the endoprosthesis delivery system further includes a covering member disposed about the endoprosthesis. The protrusions may support the covering member, which may extend beyond the distal end of the endoprosthesis and onto the end cap. In some embodiments, the end cap comprises a tapered profile, which may assist in retraction of the catheter tip and end cap into an outer sheath.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2019Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.Inventors: Bret J. Kilgrow, Larry J. Kovach, Brandon C. Short, Anna F. Timbie
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Patent number: 11547548Abstract: A vascular graft incorporating a stent into a portion of its length. While various materials may be used for the vascular graft, the graft is preferably an ePTFE graft. The stent is preferably a self-expanding stent, although it may alternatively be a balloon expandable stent. The vascular graft preferably has a continuous inner tubular liner that extends between the opposing ends of the graft and provides a continuous luminal surface for blood contact that is uninterrupted by seams or joints. The length portion of the graft that does not include the stent has a greater wall thickness than does the portion including the stent.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2018Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.Inventors: Edward H. Cully, Deenu Kanjickal, Bret J. Kilgrow, Larry J. Kovach, Timothy T. Stringer
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Publication number: 20220226137Abstract: The present disclosure includes an endoprosthesis delivery system comprising an elongate member, such as a catheter, an endoprosthesis, a covering member disposed about the endoprosthesis, and at least one flexible element situated between the endoprosthesis and the covering member. The covering member can extend beyond an end of the endoprosthesis. In operation, as the covering member is removed, the flexible element can guide the covering member over the end of the endoprosthesis to prevent entanglement between the end of the endoprosthesis and the covering member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2022Publication date: July 21, 2022Inventors: Joseph R. Armstrong, Edward H. Cully, Jeffrey B. Duncan, Larry J. Kovach, Douglas F. Pajot, Brandon C. Short, Mark J. Ulm, Michael J. Vonesh
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Patent number: 11324617Abstract: The present disclosure includes an endoprosthesis delivery system comprising an elongate member, such as a catheter, an endoprosthesis, a covering member disposed about the endoprosthesis, and at least one flexible element situated between the endoprosthesis and the covering member. The covering member can extend beyond an end of the endoprosthesis. In operation, as the covering member is removed, the flexible element can guide the covering member over the end of the endoprosthesis to prevent entanglement between the end of the endoprosthesis and the covering member.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2017Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.Inventors: Joseph R. Armstrong, Edward H. Cully, Jeffrey B. Duncan, Larry J. Kovach, Douglas F. Pajot, Brandon C. Short, Mark J. Ulm, Michael J. Vonesh
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Patent number: 10905539Abstract: A stent-graft having a smaller compacted diameter suitable to allow the stent-graft to be transported through a body conduit to a desired site. The stent-graft is deployed at the desired site by self-expanding to a first larger diameter from the smaller compacted diameter. The stent-graft has at least one flared end when self-expanded to the first larger diameter. The stent graft is further diametrically expandable by the application of force such as the inflation of a catheter balloon within the stent-graft to a still larger, maximum second diameter that is equal to about the maximum diameter of the flared end.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.Inventors: Larry J. Kovach, Raymond W. Uerling
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Publication number: 20200253763Abstract: A medical assembly includes a balloon expandable endoprosthesis comprising a plurality of ringed stent elements flexibly connected to each other via at least one flexible connector, the endoprosthesis being deployable from an undeployed state with an undeployed diameter to a deployed state with a deployed diameter. The medical assembly further includes a catheter assembly comprising a balloon, and a cover along the balloon. The endoprosthesis is coaxially located about the balloon and the cover. One or more portions of the balloon and the cover reach an intermediate diameter between the undeployed diameter and the deployed diameter in which the portions of the balloon and the cover are inflated by increasing an inflation pressure within the balloon and approximately maintained at about the intermediate diameter until the inflation pressure increases by at least 1 atmosphere to overcome a yield strength of the cover.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2020Publication date: August 13, 2020Inventors: Larry J. Kovach, Joseph B. Koenig
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Patent number: 10568752Abstract: A medical assembly includes a balloon expandable endoprosthesis comprising a plurality of ringed stent elements flexibly connected to each other via at least one flexible connector, the endoprosthesis being deployable from an undeployed state with an undeployed diameter to a deployed state with a deployed diameter. The medical assembly further includes a catheter assembly comprising a balloon, and a cover along the balloon. The endoprosthesis is coaxially located about the balloon and the cover. One or more portions of the balloon and the cover reach an intermediate diameter between the undeployed diameter and the deployed diameter in which the portions of the balloon and the cover are inflated by increasing an inflation pressure within the balloon and approximately maintained at about the intermediate diameter until the inflation pressure increases by at least 1 atmosphere to overcome a yield strength of the cover.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2016Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.Inventors: Larry J. Kovach, Joseph B. Koenig
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Publication number: 20190388252Abstract: An open stent (a stent having open space through its thickness at locations between the ends of the stent), incorporating flexible, preferably polymeric, connecting elements into the stent wherein these elements connect adjacent, spaced-apart stent elements. Preferably the spaced-apart adjacent stent elements are the result of forming the stent from a helically wound serpentine wire having space provided between adjacent windings. Other stent forms such as multiple, individual spaced-apart ring-shaped or interconnected stent elements may also be used. The connecting elements are preferably longitudinally oriented.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2019Publication date: December 26, 2019Inventors: Joseph R. Armstrong, Edward H. Cully, Mark Y. Hansen, Brian L. Johnson, Bret J. Kilgrow, Larry J. Kovach, James D. Silverman
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Patent number: 10456281Abstract: An open stent (a stent having open space through its thickness at locations between the ends of the stent), incorporating flexible, preferably polymeric, connecting elements into the stent wherein these elements connect adjacent, spaced-apart stent elements. Preferably the spaced-apart adjacent stent elements are the result of forming the stent from a helically wound serpentine wire having space provided between adjacent windings. Other stent forms such as multiple, individual spaced-apart ring-shaped or interconnected stent elements may also be used. The connecting elements are preferably longitudinally oriented.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.Inventors: Joseph R. Armstrong, Edward H. Cully, Mark Y. Hansen, Brian L. Souter, Bret J. Kilgrow, Larry J. Kovach, James D. Silverman
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Publication number: 20190167459Abstract: The present disclosure includes an endoprosthesis delivery system comprising an elongate member, such as a catheter, an endoprosthesis, and an end cap having one or more protrusions extending therefrom. The protrusions may assist in retraction of end cap into an outer sheath, such as an introducer sheath. In some examples, the protrusion includes fins. In some embodiments, the endoprosthesis delivery system further includes a covering member disposed about the endoprosthesis. The protrusions may support the covering member, which may extend beyond the distal end of the endoprosthesis and onto the end cap. In some embodiments, the end cap comprises a tapered profile, which may assist in retraction of the catheter tip and end cap into an outer sheath.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2019Publication date: June 6, 2019Inventors: Bret J. Kilgrow, Larry J. Kovach, Brandon C. Short, Anna F. Timbie
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Publication number: 20190133750Abstract: A vascular graft incorporating a stent into a portion of its length. While various materials may be used for the vascular graft, the graft is preferably an ePTFE graft. The stent is preferably a self-expanding stent, although it may alternatively be a balloon expandable stent. The vascular graft preferably has a continuous inner tubular liner that extends between the opposing ends of the graft and provides a continuous luminal surface for blood contact that is uninterrupted by seams or joints. The length portion of the graft that does not include the stent has a greater wall thickness than does the portion including the stent.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2018Publication date: May 9, 2019Inventors: Edward H. Cully, Deenu Kanjickal, Bret J. Kilgrow, Larry J. Kovach, Timothy T. Stringer
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Patent number: 10195064Abstract: The present disclosure includes an endoprosthesis delivery system comprising an elongate member, such as a catheter, an endoprosthesis, a covering member disposed about the endoprosthesis, a tip, and an end cap. The tip and end cap can be integral to each other. The covering member can extend beyond the distal end of the endoprosthesis and onto the end cap. The end cap can comprise a tapered profile, which may assist in retraction of the catheter tip and end cap into an outer sheath. The end cap can further comprise one or more fins.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2015Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.Inventors: Bret J. Kilgrow, Larry J. Kovach, Brandon C. Short, Anna F. Timbie
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Patent number: 10080643Abstract: A vascular graft incorporating a stent into a portion of its length. While various materials may be used for the vascular graft, the graft is preferably an ePTFE graft. The stent is preferably a self-expanding stent, although it may alternatively be a balloon expandable stent. The vascular graft preferably has a continuous inner tubular liner that extends between the opposing ends of the graft and provides a continuous luminal surface for blood contact that is uninterrupted by seams or joints. The length portion of the graft that does not include the stent has a greater wall thickness than does the portion including the stent.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2016Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: W. L. Gore Associates, Inc.Inventors: Edward H. Cully, Deenu Kanjickal, Bret J. Kilgrow, Larry J. Kovach, Timothy T. Stringer
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Patent number: 9987395Abstract: Articles comprising an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having serpentine fibrils and having a discontinuous coating of a fluoropolymer thereon are provided. The fluoropolymer may be located at least partially in the pores of the expanded fluoropolymer membrane. In exemplary embodiments, the fluoropolymer is fluorinated ethylene propylene. The application of a tensile force at least partially straightens the serpentine fibrils, thereby elongating the article. The expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane may include a microstructure of substantially only fibrils. The articles can be elongated to a predetermined point at which further elongation is inhibited by a dramatic increase in stiffness. In one embodiment, the articles are used to form a covered stent device that requires little force to distend in the radial direction to a first diameter but is highly resistant to further distension to a second diameter (stop point).Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2016Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.Inventors: Larry J Kovach, Rachel Radspinner
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Publication number: 20180116842Abstract: The present disclosure includes an endoprosthesis delivery system comprising an elongate member, such as a catheter, an endoprosthesis, a covering member disposed about the endoprosthesis, and at least one flexible element situated between the endoprosthesis and the covering member. The covering member can extend beyond an end of the endoprosthesis. In operation, as the covering member is removed, the flexible element can guide the covering member over the end of the endoprosthesis to prevent entanglement between the end of the endoprosthesis and the covering member.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2017Publication date: May 3, 2018Inventors: Joseph R. Armstrong, Edward H. Cully, Jeffrey B. Duncan, Larry J. Kovach, Douglas F. Pajot, Brandon C. Short, Mark J. Ulm, Michael J. Vonesh
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Publication number: 20180049898Abstract: An open stent (a stent having open space through its thickness at locations between the ends of the stent), incorporating flexible, preferably polymeric, connecting elements into the stent wherein these elements connect adjacent, spaced-apart stent elements. Preferably the spaced-apart adjacent stent elements are the result of forming the stent from a helically wound serpentine wire having space provided between adjacent windings. Other stent forms such as multiple, individual spaced-apart ring-shaped or interconnected stent elements may also be used. The connecting elements are preferably longitudinally oriented.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2017Publication date: February 22, 2018Inventors: Joseph R. Armstrong, Edward H. Cully, Mark Y. Hansen, Brian L. Johnson, Bret J. Kilgrow, Larry J. Kovach, James D. Silverman
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Patent number: 9855160Abstract: The present disclosure includes an endoprosthesis delivery system comprising an elongate member, such as a catheter, an endoprosthesis, a covering member disposed about the endoprosthesis, and at least one flexible element situated between the endoprosthesis and the covering member. The covering member can extend beyond an end of the endoprosthesis. In operation, as the covering member is removed, the flexible element can guide the covering member over the end of the endoprosthesis to prevent entanglement between the end of the endoprosthesis and the covering member.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2014Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.Inventors: Joseph R. Armstrong, Edward H. Cully, Jeffrey B. Duncan, Larry J. Kovach, Douglas F. Pajot, Brandon C. Short, Mark J. Ulm, Michael J. Vonesh