Patents Assigned to SciMed Life Systems
  • Patent number: 7153320
    Abstract: Distal protection filter retrieval devices and methods of retrieving a distal protection filter. A filter retrieval catheter may comprise an inner tube, an outer tube disposed over the inner tube, an annular lumen disposed between the inner tube and the outer tube, and a tapered member coupled to the lumen. The tapered member may be movable between a first position for passing a lesion and a second position retrieving a filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Euteneuer, Thomas E. Broome
  • Patent number: 7153277
    Abstract: Medical devices and methods of manufacturing medical devices. The medical devices include an elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion and a connector assembly disposed adjacent the elongated member to connect the proximal and distal portions, the connector assembly including a radiopaque marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Skujins, Brian R. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 7147617
    Abstract: A graft, for example, an arterio-venous shunt graft, is provided, which in a first aspect of the subject invention, is formed with longitudinal ribs. With fibrotic tissue ingrowth between the ribs, a composite rib/tissue layer is formed about the graft. The ribs provide counteracting lateral force against the embedded tissue to seal punctures formed therethrough during hemodialysis procedures. To provide additional surface area for puncturing, the graft may be formed with a truncated cross-section. With a second aspect of the invention, the graft is mounted onto a strip to prevent kinking, twisting or bending during an implantation procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamie S. Henderson, Warren A. Joeckel, Ronald Rakos
  • Publication number: 20060271036
    Abstract: A medical assembly and method are provided to effectively treat abnormal tissue, such as, a tumor. The target tissue is thermally ablated using a suitable source, such as RF or laser energy. A cooling shield is placed in contact with non-target tissue adjacent the target tissue, and actively cooled to conduct thermal energy away from the non-target tissue. In one method, the cooling shield can be placed between two organs, in which case, one of the two organs can comprise the target tissue, and the other of the two organs can comprise the non-target tissue. In this case, the cooling shield may comprise an actively cooled inflatable balloon, which can be disposed between the two organs when deflated, and then inflated. The inflatable balloon can be actively cooled by pumping a cooling medium through it. In another method, the cooling shield can be embedded within the non-target tissue. In this case, the cooling shield can comprise one or more needles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Applicant: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (formerly known as Scimed Life Systems, Inc.)
    Inventors: Robert Garabedian, Robert Rioux
  • Patent number: 7137991
    Abstract: An embolic protection filtering device and method of making and using the same. The present invention comprises a filtering device including an elongate shaft and a filter that may be releasably attachable to the shaft. The filter may include a coupling member that may be used to secure the filter to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Byron Fedie
  • Publication number: 20060249165
    Abstract: A method for treating morbid obesity in a body of a mammal having a gastrointestinal tract extending through a stomach and a pyloric sphincter and a wall forming the stomach and pyloric sphincter. At least one implant is formed in the wall in the vicinity of the pyloric sphincter to inhibit emptying of the stomach.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Applicant: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Silverman, Alan Stein
  • Patent number: 7131948
    Abstract: A catheter is provided for insertion in the he blood vessel of a patient for ultrasonically imaging the vessel wall. The catheter includes a tubular element and an internally housed drive cable for effective circumferential scan about the catheter of an ultrasonic generating means. Both the tubular element and the drive cable are of a size and flexibility sufficient to permit their introduction into the vessel and subsequent advancement through the vessel to the location of the vessel wall where imaging is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul G. Yock
  • Patent number: 7131997
    Abstract: A method of treating tissue includes placing substantially spherical polymer particles in the tissue. The particles include an interior region having relatively large pores and a first region substantially surrounding the interior having fewer relatively large pores than the interior region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: George Bourne, Marcia S. Buiser, Thomas V. Casey, II, Steve Keenan, Janel L. Lanphere, Jianmin Li, Erin P. McKenna, Zarouhi Minasian, Doreen Rao
  • Publication number: 20060247620
    Abstract: A medical probe assembly and method for ablating tissue using radio frequency energy. The medical probe assembly includes an elongated shaft, a needle electrode array, and a hinged handle. The handle has a collar, which when in the up position covers the hinge so that the device can be used as a conventional medical probe. When the collar is in the down position the hinge is exposed, and the handle can be bent to reduce its overall height. With this reduced height the probe can be used while a patient is lying in a CT scanner or an MRI chamber. Therefore, the surgeon can monitor the ablation during the procedure, and thus avoid unnecessary damage to the surrounding healthy tissue on the one hand, and insufficient ablation of the diseased tissue on the other hand. An alternate embodiment uses a flexible handle instead of a hinged one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Applicant: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (formerly known as Scimed Life Systems, Inc.)
    Inventors: George Bourne, Robert Rioux
  • Patent number: 7127789
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the stent delivery system comprises an inner catheter. A handle is disposed at the proximal end of the inner catheter, and an enlarged tip is disposed at the distal end thereof. A stent engaging sleeve coaxially surrounds and is secured to a portion of the inner catheter proximally contiguous to the tip. A stent is mounted over the stent engaging sleeve in a longitudinally stretched state and is maintained, until deployment, in the stretched state by a stent restraining sleeve. The stent restraining sleeve, which coaxially surrounds the stent and is appropriately sized to maintain the stent in its stretched state, is a braided tube formed directly over the stent. The system also includes an outer catheter that surrounds much of the distal end of the inner catheter up to its tip, the outer catheter being adapted for axial movement relative to the inner catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Stinson
  • Patent number: 7130054
    Abstract: Diffraction grating based fiber optic interferometric systems for use in optical coherence tomography, wherein sample and reference light beams are formed by a first beam splitter and the sample light beam received from a sample and a reference light beam are combined on a second beam splitter. In one embodiment, the first beam splitter is an approximately 50/50 beam splitter, and the second beam splitter is a non 50/50 beam splitter. More than half of the energy of the sample light beam is directed into the combined beam and less than half of the energy of the reference light beam are directed into the combined beam by the second beam splitter. In another embodiment, the first beam splitter is a non 50/50 beam splitter and the second beam splitter is an approximately 50/50 beam splitter. An optical circulator is provided to enable the sample light beam to bypass the first beam splitter after interaction with a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Isaac Ostrovsky, Mark D. Modell, Robert J. Crowley
  • Patent number: 7128956
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polymeric treatment for curved regions in shaft assemblies that increases curve retention without affecting the flexibility within these regions. More specifically, the present invention modifies the underlying crystalline morphology of a polymer in order to decrease crystal fracturing. In particular, the present invention treats polymeric materials suitable for catheter construction with a nucleating agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Yiqun Wang, John Chen, Lixiao Wang
  • Patent number: 7128862
    Abstract: A tubular extruded member particularly suitable for use in medical devices such as intravascular catheters and guide wires, wherein the extruded tubular member includes multiple layers having biaxial helical orientation in different directions. A counter-rotation extrusion process may be used to orient the layers in different biaxial helical directions. The counter-rotation extrusion process provides orientation in two different circumferential directions in addition to a longitudinal direction. By combining the dual direction or biaxial helical orientation with multiple layers, different layers of the tubular member may be tailored to have the desired mechanical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Lixiao Wang
  • Patent number: 7125413
    Abstract: Endoscopic devices and methods used for fastening multiple tissue layers, such as, for example, an endoscopic fundoplication procedure, are disclosed. The endoluminal device includes a tissue fastener, a flexible needle having means for grasping and releasing a portion of the tissue fastener, and a deflector for deflecting and guiding the needle toward the multiple tissue layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergey S. Grigoryants, Liem T. Vu
  • Publication number: 20060235261
    Abstract: A method for forming a valve-like mechanism in a body of a mammal having an esophagus extending through a lower esophageal sphincter to a stomach and formed by a wall having a muscle layer and a mucosal layer. The method comprises the step of forming at least one implant in the muscle layer of the wall in the vicinity of the lower esophageal sphincter. The at least one implant inhibits opening of esophagus at the lower esophageal sphincter and causes the mucosal layer to appose in the vicinity of the implants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Applicant: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Silverman, Alan Stein
  • Patent number: 7122048
    Abstract: A self-expanding endoluminal device comprising at least one tubular filamentary member having a hollow core for receiving a guidewire, the tubular member having a straightened configuration with the guidewire in the hollow core and a shape memory configuration without the guidewire in the hollow core. A delivery system includes the guidewire. The hollow core may contain a substance that is adapted to be eluted from the tubular member or permanently contained inside. The device may further comprise a graft. The device may also comprise a plurality of filamentary members, more than one of which may comprise tubular members. The device may also have a severable extension that extends outside of the body through which the substance may be periodically injected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristian DiMatteo, Robert C. Thistle
  • Patent number: 7118539
    Abstract: An intravascular guidewire having an articulating distal section for improved maneuverability beyond a lesion or other protrusion within a body lumen. An elongated core wire having an actuatable stop disposed thereon is adapted to have a reduced profile in a first position, and an enlarged profile in a second position. The actuatable stop can be adapted to expand by any number of means, including a spring coil, a polymeric tube or a mesh sleeve. In one particular embodiment, the actuatable stop comprises a distal section of a tubular member having a plurality of circumferentially disposed openings adapted to permit a plurality of struts disposed therebetween to expand in an outward direction when compressed axially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony C. Vrba, Alan Eskuri
  • Patent number: 7118584
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methodology of and apparatus for accurately positioning devices for performing endoscopic cannulation, papillotomy and sphincterotomy and similar procedures. The sphincterotome with a steerable or adjustable distal segment of the present invention allows the physician to control the position of the distal tip of the device independently of the endoscope and adjust for inconsistencies in the device and the anatomy. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a threaded portion of a cable assembly cooperates with a torque transmission element and a cog to enable the operator to rotate a cutting wire into a desired position relative to the catheter. Alternate embodiments allow the operator to fix the depth of a needle knife while allowing, if desired, accurate rotational positioning of the associated catheter. Threaded stabilizing elements, pivot elements and a steering wire may be used together or individually to accomplish these features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Griego, Yem Chin
  • Patent number: 7115101
    Abstract: A guide wire including a lubricous distal portion and a less lubricous intermediate portion proximal of said distal portion. One guide wire provides a highly lubricous distal portion with a hydrophilic layer and a less lubricous intermediate portion with a hydrophobic layer. Another guide wire provides a lubricous distal portion with a polymer tip that is itself hydrophilic. Yet another guide wire provides a less lubricous intermediate portion using a stainless steel coil helically wound around the tapering intermediate portion. The coil is preferably coated with a hydrophobic coating such as PTFE or silicone. The coil can either abut the distal portion proximal end or extend into the distal portion interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard G. Cornelius, Anthony Kelzenberg, Michael J. Urick, Brian R. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 7115109
    Abstract: A rapid exchange stent delivery catheter includes an inner tubular member having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a stent holding portion located adjacent the distal portion of the inner member, and a guide wire lumen extending from a proximal guide wire opening disposed distal of the proximal portion of the inner member to a distal guide wire opening disposed at a distal end of the inner member. The proximal guide wire opening has a first length. An outer tubular member is slidably disposed about the inner member. The outer member has a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a guide wire opening disposed distal of the proximal portion of the outer member. The guide wire opening of the outer member has a second length that is shorter than the first length and a guide wire ramp extends into, and is movable along the first length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Gerdts, Mary Bronson, August Powell