Patents Assigned to Avinger
  • Publication number: 20150099984
    Abstract: A system for optical coherence tomography includes a source of optical radiation, an optical fiber, and a graded index fiber attached to a distal end of the optical fiber. The optical fiber and the graded index fiber are together configured to provide a common path for optical radiation reflected from a reference interface at a distal end of the graded index fiber and from a target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: AVINGER, INC.
    Inventor: Manish Kankaria
  • Patent number: 8696695
    Abstract: Described herein are guidewire positioning and support devices, method for using them, method of treating a subject using them, and systems including such guidewire positioning and support devices. These devices typically include a rotatable distal tip region that may include one or more wedges. The wedges may be extendable from the rotatable distal tip. The distal end of the device may be steerable, and may be steered while still rotating the distal end of the device. The wedges (which may include sharp forward-cutting blades and blunt lateral portions) can be extended from the distal housing and locked in any position (extended, partially extended or retracted) and rotated clockwise and/or counterclockwise while locked in a retracted, extended or partially extended position. The distal region of the device may also be controllable steered from the proximal end of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Avinger, Inc.
    Inventors: Himanshu N. Patel, John B. Simpson
  • Patent number: 8644913
    Abstract: The present invention relates to: (1) guidewire support/placement catheters; (2) support/placement catheters with imaging; (3) atherectomy catheters, (4) atherectomy catheters with imaging, (5) occlusion crossing catheters, and (6) occlusion crossing catheters with imaging as well as methods for using them to treat disorders (and particularly peripheral artery disease) and systems including them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Avinger, Inc.
    Inventors: John B. Simpson, Himanshu N. Patel, Michael Zung, Charles W. McNall, Priyanshu Gupta, Maegan K. Spencer, Christopher B. White, Dennis W. Jackson, John F. Black
  • Patent number: 8548571
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and devices for predicting restenosis, and for treating atherosclerosis to prevent or reduce the incidence of restenosis. Methods of predicting restenosis in a stenosed peripheral artery may include quantitative histology of the vessel. For example, a method of treating a stenosed artery (and particularly a peripheral artery) may include the steps of determining a level of hypercellularity and one or more of the lipid-richness and extent of inflammatory cell inclusion in the tissue. An index of restenosis based on the hypercellularity and lipid richness and/or extent of inflammatory cell inclusion in the tissue may be determined. Systems for treating or preventing restenosis may include one or more imaging modalities for imaging tissue regions and determining the level of hypercellularity and one or more of the degree of lipid-richness and the extent of inflammatory cell inclusion in the tissue region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Avinger, Inc.
    Inventors: Xuanmin He, John B. Simpson, Michael H. Rosenthal, John F. Black
  • Patent number: 8361097
    Abstract: A rotating cutting head catheter for passage through chronic total occlusions or other refractory atherosclerotic plaque from diseased arteries is disclosed. The catheter's rotating cutting head is designed to reside safely within an outer protective sheath when not in use. The outer protective sheath contains one or more helical grooves or slots, and the cutting head contains protruding blades or projections that fit into these helical grooves or slots. Application of torque to an inner catheter or wire attached to the cutting head applies spin to the cutting head, and the force of the sheath's helical grooves or slots against the cutting head's protruding blades or projections advances the cutting head outward from the protective sheath. Once extended, the cutting head may now rotate freely. The device may use a guidewire to direct the cutting head to the desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Avinger, Inc.
    Inventors: Himanshu N. Patel, John B. Simpson
  • Patent number: 8062316
    Abstract: A rotating cutting head catheter for passage through chronic total occlusions or other refractory atherosclerotic plaque from diseased arteries is disclosed. The catheter's rotating cutting head is designed to reside safely within an outer protective sheath when not in use. The outer protective sheath contains one or more helical grooves or slots, and the cutting head contains protruding blades or projections that fit into these helical grooves or slots. Application of torque to an inner catheter or wire attached to the cutting head applies spin to the cutting head, and the force of the sheath's helical grooves or slots against the cutting head's protruding blades or projections advances the cutting head outward from the protective sheath. Once extended, the cutting head may now rotate freely. The device may use a guidewire to direct the cutting head to the desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Avinger, Inc.
    Inventors: Himanshu N. Patel, John B. Simpson
  • Publication number: 20100125253
    Abstract: A dual-tip catheter equipped with both a rotating cutting bit and a cavity for a probing guidewire tip for passage through chronic total occlusions or other refractory atherosclerotic plaque from diseased arteries. The catheter's guidewire tip and rotating cutting bit reside safely within an outer protective catheter sheath head when not in use, and alternately either the cutting bit or the guidewire tip will protrude out of the same distal opening of the sheath head as needed. By first drilling through refractory occlusions, and then inserting a guidewire tip into the occlusion opening formed by the cutting bit, the catheter can force the guidewire tip past the occlusion. After the guidewire tip has been fully inserted, the dual-tip catheter can be withdrawn, and an alternate catheter inserted and directed up the guidewire to the occlusion site, where the alternate catheter can perform further occlusion enlargement or therapeutic activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: Avinger
    Inventors: William John Olson, Charles McNall