Patents Assigned to SciMed
  • Patent number: 8092391
    Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging catheter apparatus and a method of using the same to scan the inner wall of a body lumen. The ultrasonic imaging catheter apparatus comprises: (a) a flexible elongate element adapted for insertion into a body lumen, the elongate element having distal and proximal ends; (b) an ultrasonic transducer generating and detecting ultrasonic energy disposed proximate the distal end of the elongate element; (c) a reflective member disposed proximate the ultrasonic transducer and optionally rotatable with respect to an axis of the body lumen, wherein the reflective member is adapted to reflect (i) ultrasonic energy generated by the ultrasonic transducer to a wall of the body lumen and (ii) ultrasonic energy reflected by the wall back to the transducer; and (d) an actuator, for example, an electroactive polymer actuator, adapted to change the angle of incidence of the ultrasonic energy relative to the reflective member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Lucien Alfred Couvillon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8092821
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided, which contain at least one polymeric region in contact with a metallic region. The polymeric region contains at least one block copolymer that contains at least one low Tg block and at least one high Tg block. The polymeric region contains at least one polymer that contains at least one adhesion promoting group selected from one or more of halo-silane, alkoxy-silane, epoxy, anhydride, phenoxy, hydroxyl, amino, sulfonate and carboxyl groups, which at least one polymer may correspond to the block copolymer, a supplemental polymer, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick H. Strickler
  • Patent number: 8092512
    Abstract: An intraluminally implantable stent is formed of helically wound wire. The stent has a generally elongate tubular configuration and is radially expandable after implantation in a body vessel. The wire includes successively formed waves along the length of the wire. When helically wound into a tube, the waves are longitudinally nested along the longitudinal extent of the stent so as to form a densely compacted wire configuration. After radial expansion the stent maintains high radial compressive strength and wire density to retard tissue ingrowth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Rudnick, Dominik M. Wiktor
  • Patent number: 8092514
    Abstract: A stent includes a coiled-up sheet having overlapping inner and outer longitudinal sections extending parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof, and defining a periphery, the coiled-up sheet being unrollable between contracted and enlarged conditions. A plurality of stretchable elements are formed in the coiled-up sheet, the stretchable elements being expandable about the periphery between an unstretched condition to facilitate placement in a delivery device in the contracted condition and a stretched condition to facilitate expansion of the coiled-up sheet to the enlarged condition upon deployment from the delivery device. Preferably, the coiled-up sheet is biased to the enlarged condition, and the stretchable elements are biased to the stretched condition. More preferably, at least one of the biases is provided by a shape memory property of the coiled-up sheet, which is activated by exposing the stent to body temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Farhad Khosravi, Himanshu N. Patel, Yi Yang
  • Patent number: 8092818
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, medical devices are provided, which contain (a) a substrate and (b) a polymeric region disposed over the substrate which contains at least one block copolymer. The block copolymer, in turn, contains at least two polymer blocks which phase separate into two or more immiscible phase domains within the polymeric region. Moreover, a bioactive species is covalently attached to at least one of the polymer blocks. By attaching the bioactive species selectively to at least one polymer block, self-assembled clusters of the bioactive species are created as the blocks phase separate into immiscible phase domains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Richard, Michael N. Helmus
  • Patent number: 8092513
    Abstract: A prosthesis is provided for treating aneurysms, occlusive disease of vessels and body organs, and arterio-venous fistulas, occurring in single and bifurcated lumens. The prosthesis comprises an expandable coiled sheet portion having a biocompatible graft, either a sheet or tube, affixed thereto along part or all of the circumference of the coiled sheet portion. The prosthesis has a small delivery profile, making it suitable for use in a variety of body vessels. Methods of making and deploying the prosthesis in single and bifurcated lumens are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Farhad Khosravi, Michael Hogendijk, John Spiridigliozzi, Michael R. Ross, Himanshu Patel
  • Publication number: 20120004500
    Abstract: Disclosed are single-incision surgical procedures for treatment of urinary incontinence and/or pelvic floor disorders and related uses, devices, kits, and methods. Implants are also disclosed for use in the exemplary procedures. In certain embodiments, soft tissue anchors are used to anchor the surgical implants to obturator membranes of a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Weiser, George Mamo, Michael S. H. Chu, Brett Nowlin
  • Publication number: 20120004556
    Abstract: The field of the invention relates to medical imaging systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for estimating the size and position of a stent or other medical device within a patient. In one embodiment, a medical imaging system includes an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends, configured to be inserted into a vessel of a patient, an imaging device coupled to the distal end of the elongated tubular member, and a console electrically coupled to the imaging device, wherein the console includes a computer-usable medium, electrically coupled to the imaging device, having a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes said processor to execute a process including generating an image of the vessel, and overlay one or more shapes onto the image age to provide a visual approximation of the size and position of a medical device to be applied within the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Rold, Shashidhar Sathyanarayana, Tat-Jin Teo
  • Patent number: 8088100
    Abstract: A catheter system comprises a catheter and a reinforced catheter balloon. The catheter balloon has at least one cone portion and a working portion. The catheter balloon has in cross section the at least one cone portion has a polygonal shape with sides and corners. The balloon is disposed about a longitudinal axis and has an inflated state and an uninflated state. In the uninflated state the working portion of the balloon forms wings which have tips that are circumferentially aligned with the corners of the cone portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: John Blix
  • Patent number: 8088102
    Abstract: The present invention provides a dilatation and stent delivery device which tracks over two guidewires. One guidewire is disposed in each branch vessel of a bifurcation. The present invention provides a dilatation and stent delivery device which enables efficient and accurate stent deployment and dilatation of bifurcation lesions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel O. Adams, David J. Blaeser, Richard C. Mattison
  • Patent number: 8088170
    Abstract: A ureteral stent is designed to be placed within a patient's ureter to facilitate drainage from the patient's kidneys to the bladder. An elongated portion of the stent includes a length sufficient to extend substantially within the ureter from the kidney to the bladder, and the elongated portion defines a lumen extending therethrough. A retention portion extends from one end of the elongated portion and retains the position of the ureteral stent when placed substantially within the kidney. The retention portion includes an interior space that is in communication with the lumen within the elongated portion and has at least one opening for urine drainage. A flared portion extending from the other end of the elongated portion is positioned within the patient's bladder. The flared portion curves outward and includes an elastic member that maintains the shape of the flared portion when positioned within the bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Willet F. Whitmore, III
  • Patent number: 8088139
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a sleeve for use in a body lumen defined by body tissue. The sleeve includes a collapsible wall defining a lumen and including an inflatable member configured to increase a volume of the lumen when the inflatable member is in an inflated state, a conduit configured to inflate the inflatable member, and a port defined by the collapsible wall and in flow communication with the lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Scopton, Yem Chin
  • Patent number: 8088125
    Abstract: A cryoplasty catheter and method for preventing or slowing reclosure of a lesion following angioplasty. The cryoplasty catheter includes a shaft having proximal and distal ends and a dilatation balloon disposed at the distal end. An intake lumen and exhaust lumen are defined by the shaft to deliver coolant to the balloon and to exhaust or drain coolant from the balloon. The method in accordance with the present invention includes cooling a lesion to aid in remodeling the lesion through dilatation and/or freezing a portion of the lesion adjacent the dilatation balloon to kill cells within the lesion to prevent or retard restenosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel M. Lafontaine
  • Patent number: 8088061
    Abstract: An apparatus for deployment of a hemostatic clip comprises a handle assembly, a shaft connected to a distal portion thereof and a clip assembly releasably coupled to a distal portion of the shaft. The clip assembly includes clip arms and a capsule cooperating with the clip arms to provide a first user feedback indicating a decision configuration of the clip assembly. In addition, the apparatus includes a control wire including a ball connector, the control wire extending from the handle assembly and coupled to the clip assembly by the ball connector to maintain the clip assembly coupled to the shaft, wherein the ball connector is detachable from the clip assembly to provide a second user feedback indicating separation of the clip assembly from the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Keith Wells, Lance Alan Wolf, Gregory R. Furnish, Vasily P. Abramov, William C. Mers Kelly, Russell F. Durgin
  • Patent number: 8088158
    Abstract: A radiopaque implantable prosthesis including a polymeric prosthesis made from ePTFE having a node and fibril structure and a radiopaque filler integral with at least a portion of the node and fibril structure of the ePTFE. A method of making the prosthesis is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Brian Brodeur
  • Patent number: 8089029
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for processing a medical device formed from a bioabsorbable metallic material. The method begins by generating a beam of radiation onto the bioabsorbable metallic material. The radiation beam is transmitted through a fluid medium and onto a heat affected zone (HAZ) of the bioabsorbable metallic material to thereby cool the HAZ and reduce a concentration of oxygen surrounding the HAZ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific SciMed, Inc.
    Inventor: Aiden Flanagan
  • Patent number: 8088080
    Abstract: A medical instrument includes a housing, a stylet having a portion in the housing, a cannula coaxially receiving the stylet and having a portion in the housing, and a member slidably coupled to the housing. The stylet and the cannula are movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The member is configured with first and second bars to move the stylet and the cannula from their extended positions to their retracted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Leland Ray Adams, Frederick Timothy Karl, Terence Clifford Johnson, Hanspeter Robert Bayer
  • Publication number: 20110319809
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods associated with a catheter device for delivering energy to a vein. One or more catheter devices include a cooling device, an infusion device, and an energy delivery device for delivering energy to a vein to treat incompetent valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Smith
  • Patent number: 8083689
    Abstract: A guidewire having a proximal section, a distal section, and a transition section is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the proximal section may be formed of a relatively stiff, inelastic material, whereas the distal section may be formed of a relatively flexible, elastic material having super-elastic properties. A coupling member may be placed adjacent to the transition section to secure the proximal and distal sections together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony C. Vrba
  • Patent number: 8083790
    Abstract: An implantable intraluminal device includes a multilayer composite tubular device supporting one or more stents between the layer thereof. A first porous elongate tube includes an exterior surface and an interior luminal surface. A radially expandable member is disposed about the exterior surface of the first tube. A second porous elongate tube is disposed concentrically over the first tube and is secured thereto so that the radially expandable member is longitudinally immobilized therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Lentz, Edward Dormier