Patents by Inventor Mark J. Ulm

Mark J. Ulm 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: 7691109
    Abstract: Large diameter self-expanding endoprosthetic devices, such as stents and stent grafts for delivery to large diameter vessels, such as the aorta, are disclosed having very small compacted delivery dimensions. Devices with deployed dimensions of 26 to 40 mm or more are disclosed that are compacted to extremely small dimensions of 5 mm or less, enabling percutaneous delivery of said devices without the need for surgical intervention. Compaction efficiencies are achieved by combining unique material combinations with new forms of restraining devices, compaction techniques, and delivery techniques. These inventive devices permit consistent percutaneous delivery of large vessel treatment devices. Additionally, small endoprosthetic devices are disclosed that can be compacted to extremely small dimensions for delivery through catheter tubes of less than 1 mm diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Armstrong, Edward H. Cully, Mark J. Ulm, Michael J. Vonesh
  • Publication number: 20100011976
    Abstract: Large diameter self-expanding endoprosthetic devices, such as stents and stent grafts for delivery to large diameter vessels, such as the aorta, are disclosed having very small compacted delivery dimensions. Devices with deployed dimensions of 26 to 40 mm or more are disclosed that are compacted to extremely small dimensions of 5 mm or less, enabling percutaneous delivery of said devices without the need for surgical intervention. Compaction efficiencies are achieved by combining unique material combinations with new forms of restraining devices, compaction techniques, and delivery techniques. These inventive devices permit consistent percutaneous delivery of large vessel treatment devices. Additionally, small endoprosthetic devices are disclosed that can be compacted to extremely small dimensions for delivery through catheter tubes of less than 1 mm diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Joseph A. Armstrong, EDWARD H. CULLY, MARK J. ULM, MICHAEL J. VONESH
  • Patent number: 7198636
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a deployment system for an endoluminal device. The deployment system includes a confining sheath placed around a compacted endoluminal device. A deployment line is provided in the system that is an integral extension of the sheath. As the deployment line is actuated, the sheath retracts from around the compacted endoluminal device. As the sheath retracts from around the endoluminal device, material from the sheath may be converted into deployment line. Once the sheath is retracted from around the compacted endoluminal device, the endoluminal device expands in configuration and repairs vascular or cardiac structures of an implant recipient. Any remaining sheath material is removed from the implantation site along with the deployment line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward H. Cully, Mark J. Ulm, Michael J. Vonesh
  • Patent number: 6981982
    Abstract: Large diameter self-expanding endoprosthetic devices, such as stents and stent grafts for delivery to large diameter vessels, such as the aorta, are disclosed having very small compacted delivery dimensions. Devices with deployed dimensions of 26 to 40 mm or more are disclosed that are compacted to extremely small dimensions of 5 mm or less, enabling percutaneous delivery of said devices without the need for surgical intervention. Compaction efficiencies are achieved by combining unique material combinations with new forms of restraining devices, compaction techniques, and delivery techniques. These inventive devices permit consistent percutaneous delivery of large vessel treatment devices. Additionally, small endoprosthetic devices are disclosed that can be compacted to extremely small dimensions for delivery through catheter tubes of less than 1 mm diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Armstrong, Edward H. Cully, Mark J. Ulm, Michael J. Vonesh
  • Patent number: 6899727
    Abstract: A constraining sheath for use around an endoprosthesis (e.g., a stent device, with or without a graft covering), which may be a balloon expandable endoprosthesis but more preferably is a self-expanding prosthesis. The endoprosthesis is coaxially enclosed within the constraining sheath, which is an outer, disruptable, preferably implantable tubular sheath, preferably made of ePTFE. The constraining sheath and endoprosthesis are preferably mounted together as an assembly on an angioplasty balloon for delivery. Deployment of the endoprosthesis entails inflating the angioplasty balloon to a pressure sufficient to disrupt or break the constraining sheath in a prescribed fashion, thereby allowing a self-expanding endoprosthesis to spontaneously deploy. The constraining sheath of ePTFE may be attached to the endoprosthesis and implanted along with the device, or alternatively attached to the balloon catheter shaft and removed with the balloon catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Armstrong, Edward H. Cully, Edward E. Shaw, Mark J. Ulm, Michael J. Vonesh
  • Patent number: 6827731
    Abstract: A constraining sheath for use around an endoprosthesis (e.g., a stent device, with or without a graft covering), which may be a balloon expandable endoprosthesis but more preferably is a self-expanding prosthesis. The endoprosthesis is coaxially enclosed within the constraining sheath, which is an outer, disruptable, preferably implantable tubular sheath, preferably made of ePTFE. The constraining sheath and endoprosthesis are preferably mounted together as an assembly on an angioplasty balloon for delivery. Deployment of the endoprosthesis entails inflating the angioplasty balloon to a pressure sufficient to disrupt or break the constraining sheath in a prescribed fashion, thereby allowing a self-expanding endoprosthesis to spontaneously deploy. The constraining sheath of ePTFE may be attached to the endoprosthesis and implanted along with the device, or alternatively attached to the balloon catheter shaft and removed with the balloon catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Armstrong, Edward H. Cully, Mark J. Ulm, Michael J. Vonesh
  • Publication number: 20040143315
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a deployment system for an endoluminal device. The deployment system includes a confining sheath placed around a compacted endoluminal device. A deployment line is provided in the system that is an integral extension of the sheath. As the deployment line is actuated, the sheath retracts from around the compacted endoluminal device. As the sheath retracts from around the endoluminal device, material from the sheath may be converted into deployment line. Once the sheath is retracted from around the compacted endoluminal device, the endoluminal device expands in configuration and repairs vascular or cardiac structures of an implant recipient. Any remaining sheath material is removed from the implantation site along with the deployment line. The deployment system also includes an endo-prosthesis mounting member placed between the endoluminal device and an underlying catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Steven R. Bruun, Edward H. Cully, James W. Mann, Mark J. Ulm, Michael J. Vonesh
  • Publication number: 20040143272
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a deployment system for an endoluminal device. The deployment system includes a confining sheath placed around a compacted endoluminal device. A deployment line is provided in the system that is an integral extension of the sheath. As the deployment line is actuated, the sheath retracts from around the compacted endoluminal device. As the sheath retracts from around the endoluminal device, material from the sheath may be converted into deployment line. Once the sheath is retracted from around the compacted endoluminal device, the endoluminal device expands in configuration and repairs vascular or cardiac structures of an implant recipient. Any remaining sheath material is removed from the implantation site along with the deployment line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Edward H. Cully, Mark J. Ulm, Michael J. Vonesh
  • Publication number: 20040143240
    Abstract: A catheter provided with an adjustable length guidewire catheter lumen, located proximal of a therapeutic device or agent positioned at the distal end of the catheter. The length of the adjustable length guidewire catheter lumen is controlled by the physician, allowing the benefits of both over-the-wire and rapid exchange systems to be provided in one catheter. The adjustable length is provided with a thin-walled tube that corrugates under axial compression. The tube may optionally be pre-corrugated or may be allowed to corrugate non-uniformly under the axial compression. The catheter length may change by, for example, over 100% of its original length between full axial compression and full axial extension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Joseph R. Armstrong, Edward H. Cully, John R. Daugherty, Eric G. Johnson, David R. King, Mark J. Ulm, Michael J. Vonesh
  • Publication number: 20040073286
    Abstract: A constraining sheath for use around an endoprosthesis (e.g., a stent device, with or without a graft covering), which may be a balloon expandable endoprosthesis but more preferably is a self-expanding prosthesis. The endoprosthesis is coaxially enclosed within the constraining sheath, which is an outer, disruptable, preferably implantable tubular sheath, preferably made of ePTFE. The constraining sheath and endoprosthesis are preferably mounted together as an assembly on an angioplasty balloon for delivery. Deployment of the endoprosthesis entails inflating the angioplasty balloon to a pressure sufficient to disrupt or break the constraining sheath in a prescribed fashion, thereby allowing a self-expanding endoprosthesis to spontaneously deploy. The constraining sheath of ePTFE may be attached to the endoprosthesis and implanted along with the device, or alternatively attached to the balloon catheter shaft and removed with the balloon catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Joseph P. Armstrong, Edward H. Cully, Edward E. Shaw, Mark J. Ulm, Michael J. Vonesh
  • Publication number: 20040015224
    Abstract: An endoprosthesis expansion system having, in combination, a delivery component such as a length of catheter tubing having at its distal end an intermediate sheath component, and an inner tube within the full length of the delivery catheter and intermediate sheath component. The inner tube has a protrusion affixed to its distal end, and an expandable endoprosthesis is fitted in a compacted state about the intermediate sheath, immediately proximal to the protrusion. If the endoprosthesis is a self-expanding endoprosthesis (as is preferred), an exterior constraining sheath is required around the outer surface of the endoprosthesis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Joseph R. Armstrong, Edward H. Cully, Craig T. Nordhausen, Mark J. Ulm, Michael J. Vonesh
  • Publication number: 20020138129
    Abstract: Large diameter self-expanding endoprosthetic devices, such as stents and stent grafts for delivery to large diameter vessels, such as the aorta, are disclosed having very small compacted delivery dimensions. Devices with deployed dimensions of 26 to 40 mm or more are disclosed that are compacted to extremely small dimensions of 5 mm or less, enabling percutaneous delivery of said devices without the need for surgical intervention. Compaction efficiencies are achieved by combining unique material combinations with new forms of restraining devices, compaction techniques, and delivery techniques. These inventive devices permit consistent percutaneous delivery of large vessel treatment devices. Additionally, small endoprosthetic devices are disclosed that can be compacted to extremely small dimensions for delivery through catheter tubes of less than 1 mm diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: Joseph R. Armstrong, Edward H. Cully, Mark J. Ulm, Michael J. Vonesh
  • Publication number: 20020099431
    Abstract: A constraining sheath for use around an endoprosthesis (e.g., a stent device, with or without a graft covering), which may be a balloon expandable endoprosthesis but more preferably is a self-expanding prosthesis. The endoprosthesis is coaxially enclosed within the constraining sheath, which is an outer, disruptable, preferably implantable tubular sheath, preferably made of ePTFE. The constraining sheath and endoprosthesis are preferably mounted together as an assembly on an angioplasty balloon for delivery. Deployment of the endoprosthesis entails inflating the angioplasty balloon to a pressure sufficient to disrupt or break the constraining sheath in a prescribed fashion, thereby allowing a self-expanding endoprosthesis to spontaneously deploy. The constraining sheath of ePTFE may be attached to the endoprosthesis and implanted along with the device, or alternatively attached to the balloon catheter shaft and removed with the balloon catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Joseph R. Armstrong, Edward H. Cully, Mark J. Ulm, Michael J. Vonesh