Patents by Inventor W. Patrick Stephens

W. Patrick Stephens 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: 11000288
    Abstract: Described is an inflatable implant suitable for placement in the human body and left there for an indeterminate and potentially lengthy period of time. The implant includes at least one bladder wall. The bladder wall will define at least one fillable volume and may form more than one independent fillable volumes. The wall and filler material may be selected to deliver treatment materials to the locale of the implant site or to remove amounts of harmful materials from such a region. The implant may, with an appropriate filler material or bladder wall material, be used in cooperation with an appropriate radio frequency (RF) source to cause the increase of a localized internal temperature and a resulting tissue change such as coagulation, ablation, or the like. Methods of using the implant are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: TriVascular, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Patrick Stephens, Gerald Ray Martin
  • Publication number: 20190167272
    Abstract: Described is an inflatable implant suitable for placement in the human body and left there for an indeterminate and potentially lengthy period of time. The implant is one that has a low profile when introduced into the body and a larger profile when it is inflated with one or more filler materials. Depending upon design and use choices the delivered implant may be removable and adjustable in situ in size, position, location, form, and rigidity. Indeed, in some variations, the design of the implant may be such that it may be removed at a potentially fairly lengthy time after implantation. The implant includes at least one bladder wall that generally is at least partially non-elastic (or unexpandable) after the preselected size is reached. The bladder wall will define at least one fillable volume and may form more than one independent fillable volumes. The bladder wall, in some variations, may be partially elastic or expandable to permit adjustment of implant size or configuration after or during delivery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: W. Patrick Stephens, Gerald Ray Martin
  • Patent number: 10201350
    Abstract: Described is an inflatable implant suitable for placement in the human body and left there for an indeterminate and potentially lengthy period of time. The implant is one that has a low profile when introduced into the body and a larger profile when it is inflated with one or more filler materials. Depending upon design and use choices the delivered implant may be removable and adjustable in situ in size, position, location, form, and rigidity. Indeed, in some variations, the design of the implant may be such that it may be removed at a potentially fairly lengthy time after implantation. The implant includes at least one bladder wall that generally is at least partially non-elastic (or unexpandable) after the preselected size is reached. The bladder wall will define at least one fillable volume and may form more than one independent fillable volumes. The bladder wall, in some variations, may be partially elastic or expandable to permit adjustment of implant size or configuration after or during delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: TriVascular, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Patrick Stephens, Gerald Ray Martin
  • Publication number: 20100076481
    Abstract: Described is an inflatable implant suitable for placement in the human body and left there for an indeterminate and potentially lengthy period of time. The implant is one that has a low profile when introduced into the body and a larger profile when it is inflated with one or more filler materials. Depending upon design and use choices the delivered implant may be removable and adjustable in situ in size, position, location, form, and rigidity. Indeed, in some variations, the design of the implant may be such that it may be removed at a potentially fairly lengthy time after implantation. The implant includes at least one bladder wall that generally is at least partially non-elastic (or unexpandable) after the preselected size is reached. The bladder wall will define at least one fillable volume and may form more than one independent fillable volumes. The bladder wall, in some variations, may be partially elastic or expandable to permit adjustment of implant size or configuration after or during delivery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: TRIVASCULAR2, INC.
    Inventors: W. Patrick Stephens, Gerald Ray Martin
  • Patent number: 7632291
    Abstract: Described is an inflatable implant suitable for placement in the human body and left there for an indeterminate and potentially lengthy period of time. The implant is one that has a low profile when introduced into the body and a larger profile when it is inflated with one or more filler materials. Depending upon design and use choices the delivered implant may be removable and adjustable in situ in size, position, location, form, and rigidity. Indeed, in some variations, the design of the implant may be such that it may be removed at a potentially fairly lengthy time after implantation. The implant includes at least one bladder wall that generally is at least partially non-elastic (or unexpandable) after the preselected size is reached. The bladder wall will define at least one fillable volume and may form more than one independent fillable volumes. The bladder wall, in some variations, may be partially elastic or expandable to permit adjustment of implant size or configuration after or during delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Trivascular2, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Patrick Stephens, Gerald Ray Martin
  • Patent number: 7147660
    Abstract: This invention is a system for the treatment of body passageways; in particular, vessels with vascular disease. The system includes an endovascular graft with a low-profile delivery configuration and a deployed configuration in which it conforms to the morphology of the vessel or body passageway to be treated as well as various connector members and stents. The graft is made from an inflatable graft body section and may be bifurcated. One or more inflatable cuffs may be disposed at either end of the graft body section. At least one inflatable channel is disposed between and in fluid communication with the inflatable cuffs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Santa Rosa Corp.
    Inventors: Michael V. Chobotov, Brian A. Glynn, Stuart E. Kari, John M. Marthaler, Robert G. Whirley, Isaac J. Zacharias, W. Patrick Stephens
  • Publication number: 20040254625
    Abstract: Described is an inflatable implant suitable for placement in the human body and left there for an indeterminate and potentially lengthy period of time. The implant is one that has a low profile when introduced into the body and a larger profile when it is inflated with one or more filler materials. Depending upon design and use choices the delivered implant may be removable and adjustable in situ in size, position, location, form, and rigidity. Indeed, in some variations, the design of the implant may be such that it may be removed at a potentially fairly lengthy time after implantation. The implant includes at least one bladder wall that generally is at least partially non-elastic (or unexpandable) after the preselected size is reached. The bladder wall will define at least one fillable volume and may form more than one independent fillable volumes. The bladder wall, in some variations, may be partially elastic or expandable to permit adjustment of implant size or configuration after or during delivery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: TRIVASCULAR, INC.
    Inventors: W. Patrick Stephens, Gerald Ray Martin
  • Patent number: 6783541
    Abstract: A method for inhibiting or suppressing stenosis associated with an arteriovenous access. A dosage of photosensitive compound is introduced into the artery or vein. An anastomotic area of the artery or vein is then exposed to a source of light having a wavelength suitable for photoactivating the photosensitive compound for a period of time sufficient to provide a therapeutic effect. A method is also described for the delivery of drugs into the anastomotic site of an AV access to inhibit the formation of stenotic lesions at those sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Miravant Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Patrick Stephens, Steven John Rychnovsky, Jeffrey P. Walker, Heidi Nielsen, Christina Ann Waters, John S. Hill
  • Publication number: 20030125797
    Abstract: This invention is a system for the treatment of body passageways; in particular, vessels with vascular disease. The system includes an endovascular graft with a low-profile delivery configuration and a deployed configuration in which it conforms to the morphology of the vessel or body passageway to be treated as well as various connector members and stents. The graft is made from an inflatable graft body section and may be bifurcated. One or more inflatable cuffs may be disposed at either end of the graft body section. At least one inflatable channel is disposed between and in fluid communication with the inflatable cuffs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: TriVascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael V. Chobotov, Brian A. Glynn, Stuart E. Kari, John M. Marthaler, Robert G. Whirley, Isaac J. Zacharias, W. Patrick Stephens
  • Publication number: 20030100934
    Abstract: A method for inhibiting or suppressing stenosis associated with an arteriovenous access. A dosage of photosensitive compound is introduced into the artery or vein. An anastomotic area of the artery or vein is then exposed to a source of light having a wavelength suitable for photoactivating the photosensitive compound for a period of time sufficient to provide a therapeutic effect. A method is also described for the delivery of drugs into the anastomotic site of an AV access to inhibit the formation of stenotic lesions at those sites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: W. Patrick Stephens, Steven John Rychnovsky, Jeffrey P. Walker, Heidi Nielsen, Christina Ann Waters, John S. Hill