Patents Assigned to Minnesota Medical Development, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20110011407
    Abstract: A prosthesis for addressing pelvic organ prolapse in females comprises a frame fabricated from a shape memory material that supports a thin, flexible mesh sheet in a stretched condition when the frame is unconstrained. The mesh sheet is formed with two finger receiving pockets proximate its posterior periphery to be used by the surgeon in steering the prosthesis to a desired disposition within the pelvic basin. The frame is shaped so as to conform to and be supported by bone structures and muscle tissue in the pelvic basin while providing needed support to pelvic organs to maintain them in a proper position. The use of a shape memory material allows the prosthesis to be rolled or folded into a reduced size for ease of placement through a small incision in the wall of the vagina, but that springs back to its memorized shape following deployment from a delivery sheath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: MINNESOTA MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Philip A. Townsend, Michael Afremov
  • Publication number: 20100261954
    Abstract: A prosthesis for addressing pelvic organ prolapse in females comprises a frame comprising first and second segments or halves fabricated from a shape memory material that together support a thin, flexible sheet in a stretched condition when the frame is unconstrained. The frame is shaped so as to conform to and be supported by bone structures and muscle tissue in the pelvic basin while providing needed support to pelvic organs to maintain them in a proper position. The use of a shape memory material allows the prosthesis to be rolled or folded into a reduced size for ease of placement through a small incision in the wall of the vagina, but that springs back to its memorized shape following deployment from a. delivery sheath. By providing a two-piece segmented frame, removal of the frame structure post implantation of the prosthesis is facilitated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: Minnesota Medical Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip A. Townsend, Michael Afremov
  • Publication number: 20100261956
    Abstract: A prosthesis for addressing pelvic organ prolapse in females comprises a frame fabricated from a shape memory material that supports a thin, flexible mesh sheet in a stretched condition when the frame is unconstrained. The mesh sheet is formed with two finger receiving pockets proximate its posterior periphery to be used by the surgeon in steering the prosthesis to a desired disposition within the pelvic basin. The frame is shaped so as to conform to and be supported by bone structures and muscle tissue in the pelvic basin while providing needed support to pelvic organs to maintain them in a proper position. The use of a shape memory material allows the prosthesis to be rolled or folded into a reduced size for ease of placement through a small incision in the wall of the vagina, but that springs back to its memorized shape following deployment from a delivery sheath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: Minnesota Medical Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip A. Townsend, Michael Afremov
  • Publication number: 20100261953
    Abstract: A prosthesis for addressing pelvic organ prolapse in females comprises a frame fabricated from a shape memory material that supports a thin, flexible sheet in a stretched condition when the frame is unconstrained. The frame is shaped so as to conform to and be supported by bone structures and muscle tissue in the pelvic basin while providing needed support to pelvic organs to maintain them in a proper position. The use of a shape memory material allows the prosthesis to be rolled or folded into a reduced size for ease of placement through a small incision in the wall of the vagina, but that springs back to its memorized shape following deployment from a delivery sheath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: Minnesota Medical Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip A. Townsend, Michael Afremov, Roderick B. Brown
  • Patent number: 7468045
    Abstract: A guidewire for medical use such as in vascular and nonvascular systems. The guidewire made from a titanium molybdenum alloy wire with a composition of approximately 78% titanium 11.5% molybdenum 6% zirconium and 4.5% tin by weight such that it is softer than stainless steel guidewires and stiffer than NiTi alloy guidewires. The distal end of the guidewire is of a smaller diameter and softer than the proximal end and fitted with a coil for springiness such that the distal end will bend when encountering curves in the body passageways. The distal tip may be heat treated for a gradient of softness with the distal tip being the softest. The distal end may also be tapered to provide an additional gradient of softness. A distal tip on the distal end of the guidewire protects the wall of the passageway from being punctured as the guidewire travels through the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Minnesota Medical Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Nuss
  • Publication number: 20080306497
    Abstract: A hernia repair patch (10) comprising a wire frame of a pair of overlapping v-shaped wire segments (12, 14) attached to a prosthetic fabric material (20). The vertices (18) of the v-shaped wire segments (12, 14) are disposed in opposite directions. The wire segments (12, 14) further include attached points (16) at free ends thereof. Said wire frame supporting the prosthetic fabric material may be formed of Nitinol or other suitable shape memory alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: MINNESOTA MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Roderick B. Brown, Michael Afremov
  • Patent number: 6889740
    Abstract: A coil of tubing can have either adjacent tubes or tubes with a space therebetween. To hold the tubes in place a material such as an adhesive can be placed across the top of the coil, on the bottom of the coil or both to hold the coil in place. The material can also envelope the coils such that the coils are banded. The coils may have a length of a straight portion of tubing prior to the coil beginning and an angled portion on the inside diameter for inserting or extracting a product in the tubing which may be similarly retained. The tubing may be coiled by insertion between two templates. The templates have injection ports for inserting material to hold or encase the tubing. Thus the tubing may be inserted in the templates, a material to hold the tubing in the coiled position inserted and the coiled tubing removed from the templates ready for use in their coiled position with the material on the tubing holding the tubing in the coiled position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Minnesota Medical Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Globensky, Frederick J. Fisher, Michael Afremov, Brian Packard
  • Patent number: 6511573
    Abstract: A coil of tubing can have either adjacent tubes or tubes with a space therebetween. To hold the tubes in place a material such as an adhesive can be placed across the top of the coil, on the bottom of the coil or both to hold the coil in place. The material can also envelope the coils such that the coils are banded. The coils may have a length of a straight portion of tubing prior to the coil beginning and an angled portion on the inside diameter for inserting or extracting a product in the tubing which may be similarly retained. The tubing may be coiled by insertion between two templates. The templates have injection ports for inserting material to hold or encase the tubing. Thus the tubing may be inserted in the templates, a material to hold the tubing in the coiled position inserted and the coiled tubing removed from the templates ready for use in their coiled position with the material on the tubing holding the tubing in the coiled position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Minnesota Medical Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Globensky, Frederick J. Fisher, Michael Afremov, Brian Packard