Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Tiernan
Stephen J. Tiernan 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: 7037295Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a co-extruded, tapered multi-layer shaft. A co-extruded, tapered multi-layer shaft may be fabricated by selecting a first material for the inner layer of the shaft and a second material for the outer layer of the shaft. The first and second materials are then co-extruded by a co-extrusion system including a puller with programmable tapering capabilities. The system forms a hollow tubing having an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the tubing has the desired tapered characteristics. The result is a tapered tubular shaft having an inner layer and an outer layer.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2003Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Tiernan, Jeong S. Lee, Mina W. B. Chow, Stephen G. Schaible
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Patent number: 6692511Abstract: A method of forming a thin-walled polymeric tubular member for an intralumenal device, and the member produced thereby. The thin-walled tubular member extruded using the method of the invention is suitable for use a sleeve for a catheter shaft or balloon. The thin-walled tubular member has a single wall thickness of not greater than about 0.003 inch (0.0076 cm). In the method of the invention, the thin-walled tubular member is formed by co-extruding a thin-walled first polymer layer with a removable second polymer layer, and the two layers are separated by dissolution or physical removal of the second layer, to leave the first layer, with the first polymer layer forming the thin-walled tubular member. Because the method of the invention involves co-extruding a removable second polymer layer along with the thin-walled first polymer layer, conventional tooling dimensions in the extruder may be used.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2001Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.Inventor: Stephen J. Tiernan
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Publication number: 20030199836Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a co-extruded, tapered multi-layer shaft. A co-extruded, tapered multi-layer shaft may be fabricated by selecting a first material for the inner layer of the shaft and a second material for the outer layer of the shaft. The first and second materials are then co-extruded by a co-extrusion system including a puller with programmable tapering capabilities. The system forms a hollow tubing having an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the tubing has the desired tapered characteristics. The result is a tapered tubular shaft having an inner layer and an outer layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2003Publication date: October 23, 2003Inventors: Stephen J. Tiernan, Jeong S. Lee, Mina W.B. Chow, Stephen G. Schaible
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Patent number: 6579484Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a co-extruded, tapered multi-layer shaft. A co-extruded, tapered multi-layer shaft may be fabricated by selecting a first material for the inner layer of the shaft and a second material for the outer layer of the shaft. The first and second materials are then co-extruded by a co-extrusion system including a puller with programmable tapering capabilities. The system forms a hollow tubing having an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the tubing has the desired tapered characteristics. The result is a tapered tubular shaft having an inner layer and an outer layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1999Date of Patent: June 17, 2003Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.Inventors: Stephen J. Tiernan, Jeong S. Lee, Mina W. B. Chow, Stephen G. Schaible
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Patent number: 6530938Abstract: The invention is directed to a catheter formed at least in part of a multilayered member having a first layer which is fusion bondable to another catheter component such as the skirt of an inflatable balloon and a second layer which is adjacent the first layer having a melting point greater than the first layer so that the multilayered member of the catheter is not deformed when the other catheter component is fusion bonded to the first layer of the multilayered member. The second layer is preferably lubricious in nature. In one embodiment of the invention, the multilayered member is a tubular element with the lubricious second layer defining an inner lumen extending within the tubular element. The outer layer of the tubular member may extend beyond the distal end of the inner layer and form a non-traumatic distal tip. Alternatively, a flexible non-traumatic distal tip may be fusion bonded to at least the outer layer of the multilayered tubular member.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1999Date of Patent: March 11, 2003Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jeong Soo Lee, Kenneth L. Wantink, Alan A. Tannier, Stephen J. Tiernan
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Publication number: 20010004703Abstract: A method of forming a thin-walled polymeric tubular member for an intralumenal device, and the member produced thereby. The thin-walled tubular member extruded using the method of the invention is suitable for use a sleeve for a catheter shaft or balloon. The thin-walled tubular member has a single wall thickness of not greater than about 0.003 inch (0.0076 cm). In the method of the invention, the thin-walled tubular member is formed by co-extruding a thin-walled first polymer layer with a removable second polymer layer, and the two layers are separated by dissolution or physical removal of the second layer, to leave the first layer, with the first polymer layer forming the thin-walled tubular member. Because the method of the invention involves co-extruding a removable second polymer layer along with the thin-walled first polymer layer, conventional tooling dimensions in the extruder may be used.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2001Publication date: June 21, 2001Applicant: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.Inventor: Stephen J. Tiernan
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Patent number: 6224803Abstract: A method of forming a thin-walled polymeric tubular member for an intralumenal device, and the member produced thereby. The thin-walled tubular member extruded using the method of the invention is suitable for use a sleeve for a catheter shaft or balloon. The thin-walled tubular member has a single wall thickness of not greater than about 0.003 inch (0.0076 cm). In the method of the invention, the thin-walled tubular member is formed by co-extruding a thin-walled first polymer layer with a removable second polymer layer, and the two layers are separated by dissolution or physical removal of the second layer, to leave the first layer, with the first polymer layer forming the thin-walled tubular member. Because the method of the invention involves co-extruding a removable second polymer layer along with the thin-walled first polymer layer, conventional tooling dimensions in the extruder may be used.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1999Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.Inventor: Stephen J. Tiernan
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Patent number: 6010521Abstract: The invention is directed to a catheter formed at least in part of a multilayered member having a first layer which is fusion bondable to another catheter component such as the skirt of an inflatable balloon and a second layer which is adjacent the first layer having a melting point greater than the first layer so that the multilayered member of the catheter is not deformed when the other catheter component is fusion bonded to the first layer of the multilayered member. The second layer is preferably lubricious in nature. In one embodiment of the invention, the multilayered member is a tubular element with the lubricious second layer defining an inner lumen extending within the tubular element. The outer layer of the tubular member may extend beyond the distal end of the inner layer and form a non-traumatic distal tip. Alternatively, a flexible non-traumatic distal tip may be fusion bonded to at least the outer layer of the multilayered tubular member.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1997Date of Patent: January 4, 2000Assignee: Advanced Cardiovasular Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jeong Soo Lee, Kenneth L. Wantink, Alan A. Tannier, Stephen J. Tiernan