Patents Assigned to ACT Medical, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5857585
    Abstract: A ligating band dispenser for attachment to the distal end of a ligating device having proximal and distal ends with a lumen extending therebetween and being adapted for supporting a plurality of ligating bands includes a support for attachment to the distal end of the ligating device and for carrying the plurality of ligating bands and having a passage communicating with the lumen; and a dispenser including a first displacement element looped about each of the bands in series attached to the support and extending through the passage and lumen whereby proximal motion of the operator element from the proximal end of the ligating device transfers individually the most distal ligating band off the distal end of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Act Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Joshua Tolkoff, Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, Andrew Ziegler, Wayne A. Minter
  • Patent number: 5785689
    Abstract: An endoscopic catheter distal end position control that enables precise control of distal catheter sheath ends relative to each other while accommodating the long length and flexibility of typical catheters and proximal, remote hand-operable control mechanisms. In a catheter assembly employing this control, an elongated flexible tubular sheath is provided having a distal end and a proximal end. A distal end member is internal to the sheath; this end member is reciprocally axially moveable relative to the sheath distal end between a retracted position that is proximal of the sheath distal end and an extended position in which the end member protrudes beyond the sheath distal end. An elongated end member interconnector is provided, with a distal end of the interconnector being connected to the end member and a proximal end of the interconnector being connected to a position actuator for axially reciprocating the end member relative to the distal end of the sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: ACT Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, Thomas H. Doucette
  • Patent number: 5743891
    Abstract: A subcutaneous safety catheter assembly includes a flexible catheter having an inner wall including a hollow stiffening member which is stiff in the longitudinal direction and flexible laterally; a needle having a sharp point at one end and a grip at the other and being adapted to being disposed in the hollow stiffening member with the sharp point extending beyond the distal end of the member; and a needle guard at the proximal end of the member for securely engaging the needle and shielding the sharp point of the needle upon its withdrawal from the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: ACT Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Joshua Tolkoff, Fernando Alvarez de Toledo
  • Patent number: 5489277
    Abstract: A catheter and a method for making the same, the catheter having a radiopaque marker ring placed within a tube, whereby the radiopaque ring is inserted into an expanded section of the tube, followed by the relaxation of the tube to its original dimensions, where the ring inner-diameter is equal or greater than the tube inner-diameter, and the ring outer-diameter is less than the tube outer-diameter, such that said inner surface of said ring is exposed to said lumen of said tube such that said inner surface provides a pathway through which other devices pass through said tube without obstruction, and said outer surface of said ring is embedded within said tube, under conditions such that the bump on the outer surface of said tube which would otherwise be present is reduced to allow said tube to pass through other devices without obstruction, said embedding condition also minimizing the overall thickness of said tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: ACT Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Joshua Tolkoff, Fernando A. de Toledo
  • Patent number: 5256158
    Abstract: A plastic catheter and a method for making the same, the catheter having radiopaque marker ring placed within a tube, whereby the radiopaque ring is inserted into the expanded section of the tube, followed by the relaxation of the tube to its original dimensions, such that there is no protusion of the ring on the tube inner-diameter, where the ring inner-diameter is equal or greater than the tube inner-diameter, and the ring outer-diameter protrudes a distance into the tube but not beyond the thickness of the tube; thereby, creating a smooth outer surface and an obstruction free inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: ACT Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Joshua Tolkoff, Fernando Alvarez de Toledo