Patents Assigned to FLOW FORWARD MEDICAL, INC.
  • Patent number: 10537674
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing the speed of blood and wall shear stress (WSS) in a peripheral vein for a sufficient period of time to result in a persistent increase in the overall diameter and lumen diameter of the vein is provided. The method includes pumping blood at a desired rate and pulsatility. The pumping is monitored and adjusted, as necessary, to maintain the desired blood speed, WSS and pulsatility in the peripheral vein in order to optimize the rate and extent of dilation of the peripheral vein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Flow Forward Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: F. Nicholas Franano
  • Patent number: 10426878
    Abstract: A blood pump system for persistently increasing the overall diameter and lumen diameter of peripheral veins and arteries by persistently increasing the speed of blood and the wall shear stress in a peripheral vein or artery for a period of time sufficient to result in a persistent increase in the overall diameter and lumen diameter of the vessel is provided. The blood pump system includes a blood pump, blood conduit(s), a control system with optional sensors, and a power source. The pump system is configured to connect to the vascular system in a patient and pump blood at a desired rate and pulsatility. The pumping of blood is monitored and adjusted, as necessary, to maintain the desired elevated blood speed, wall shear stress, and desired pulsatility in the target vessel to optimize the rate and extent of persistent increase in the overall diameter and lumen diameter of the target vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Flow Forward Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: F. Nicholas Franano
  • Patent number: 10376629
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing the speed of blood and the wall shear stress in a peripheral artery or peripheral vein to a sufficient level and for a sufficient period of time to result in a persistent increase in the overall diameter and lumen diameter of the donating artery or donating vein is provided. The method includes systems and methods to effect the movement of blood at the desired rate and in the desired direction. The movement of blood is monitored and adjusted, as necessary, to maintain the desired blood speed and wall shear stress in the peripheral artery or vein in order to optimize the rate and extent of persistent diameter increase of the peripheral artery or peripheral vein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Flow Forward Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: F. Nicholas Franano
  • Patent number: 10293089
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing the speed of blood and wall shear stress (WSS) in a peripheral vein for a sufficient period of time to result in a persistent increase in the overall diameter and lumen diameter of the vein is provided. The method includes pumping blood at a desired rate and pulsatility. The pumping is monitored and adjusted, as necessary, to maintain the desired blood speed, WSS and pulsatility in the peripheral vein in order to optimize the rate and extent of dilation of the peripheral vein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Flow Forward Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: F. Nicholas Franano
  • Patent number: 9662431
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary blood pump with a double pivot contact bearing system with an operating range between about 50 mL/min and about 1500 mL/min. The rotary blood pump is part of a blood pump system that includes blood conduit(s), a control system with optional sensors, and a power source. Embodiments of the present invention may include elements such as wear resistant bearing materials, a rotor back plate for magnetic attraction of the rotor to reduce bearing pivot bearing forces and wear, a rotor size and shape and a bearing gap that combine to create a hydrodynamic bearing effect and reduce bearing pivot bearing forces and wear, improved intravascular conduits with increased resistance to thrombosis, conduit insertion site cuffs to resist infection, and conduit side ports amenable to the easy insertion of guidewire and catheter-based medical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: FLOW FORWARD MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: F. Nicholas Franano, Howard M. Loree, II, Geoff Tansley, Steve Woodard, Barrett Hutto
  • Patent number: 9555174
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a rotary blood pump with a double pivot contact bearing system with an operating range between about 50 mL/min and about 1500 mL/min, wherein the force on the upper bearing is less than 3N during operating speeds up to 6000 rpm. The disclosure also relates to a method of using a blood pump system for persistently increasing the overall diameter and lumen diameter of peripheral veins and arteries by persistently increasing the speed of blood and the wall shear stress in a peripheral vein or artery for period of time sufficient to result in a persistent increase in the overall diameter and lumen diameter of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: FLOW FORWARD MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: F. Nicholas Franano, Howard M. Loree, II, Geoff Tansley, Steve Woodard, Barrett Hutto
  • Patent number: 9539380
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing the speed of blood and the wall shear stress in a peripheral artery or peripheral vein to a sufficient level and for a sufficient period of time to result in a persistent increase in the overall diameter and lumen diameter of the artery or vein is provided. The method includes systems and methods to effect the movement of blood at the desired rate and in the desired direction. The movement of blood is monitored and adjusted, as necessary, to maintain the desired blood speed and wall shear stress in the peripheral artery or vein in order to optimize the rate and extent of persistent diameter increase of the peripheral artery or peripheral vein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: FLOW FORWARD MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventor: F. Nicholas Franano
  • Patent number: 9155827
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing the speed of blood and wall shear stress (WSS) in a peripheral vein for a sufficient period of time to result in a persistent increase in the overall diameter and lumen diameter of the vein is provided. The method includes pumping blood at a desired rate and pulsatility. The pumping is monitored and adjusted, as necessary, to maintain the desired blood speed, WSS and pulsatility in the peripheral vein in order to optimize the rate and extent of dilation of the peripheral vein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: FLOW FORWARD MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventor: F. Nicholas Franano