Patents Examined by Corrine McDermott
  • Nasal cavity dilator
    Patent number: 7105008
    Abstract: An adjustable nasal dilation device including a first deformable body having one or more ribs able to engage opposing internal sides of a nasal cavity wall when in position and an adjustment member which expands the first deformable body to enlarge the nasal cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: ASAP Breatheassist Pty LTD
    Inventor: Paz Maryanka
  • Implantable textile prostheses having PTFE cold drawn yarns
    Patent number: 7105021
    Abstract: The present invention provides an implantable prosthesis and more specifically, an implantable tubular textile prosthesis comprising a biocompatible fabric having inner and outer surfaces and first and second ends; the fabric having a textile construction comprising cold drawn PTFE yarns having a substantially uniform denier and high molecular orientation. Use of cold drawn PTFE yarns result in implantable prostheses that have excellent abrasion resistance, strength and lubricity properties. Useful textile constructions include weaves, knits, braids, filament windings, spun windings and combinations thereof. The prostheses of the present invention are lubricious and have characteristics that closely resemble the properties of a natural body lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley I. Edens, Charles B. Hebert
  • Tissue preserving and minimally invasive hip replacement surgical procedure
    Patent number: 7105028
    Abstract: A minimally invasive hip replacement surgical procedure that is also tissue preserving is disclosed. By making a superior incision, rather than a posterior incision, neither the posterior hip capsule, nor the gluteus medius or minimus are dissected. This results in improved post-operative results in the form of less dislocations and better healing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Wright Medical Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen B. Murphy
  • Adjustable lancet device and method
    Patent number: 7105006
    Abstract: Lancet device that includes a body. A trigger is mounted to the body. A front cover has a skin engaging end that includes a lancet opening through which a lancet needle extends. A holding member is movably mounted within the body and includes a front end a rear end. The front end can be configured to receive a lancet. A stop surface moves with the holding member. A cam wheel includes cam surfaces which can be contacted by the stop surface. The cam wheel is configured to rotate at least partially. The cam wheel rotates about an axis that is parallel to an axis running through at least one of the lancet opening and the holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Stat Medical Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Shraga
  • Tubular medical endoprostheses
    Patent number: 7101392
    Abstract: A tubular prosthesis device for use within the body. The device includes, a metal filament material formed of metal outer member having an exposed outer surface and a core within the extended outer member formed of a different metal than the outer member. The core is secured within and substantially enclosed by the outer member. The device can be reduced to a small size for introduction into the body lumen and expandable to a sufficiently large size to engage the wall of the body lumen. Stents formed of composite wires are shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin R. Heath
  • Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction method
    Patent number: 7100616
    Abstract: A method of minimally invasively reducing a volume of a hyper-inflated target section of diseased lung comprising the steps of introducing a bronchoscope into a patient's airway to a position adjacent the target section and equilibrating air within the target section with atmospheric air to at least partially deflate the target lung section; injecting an inflammation-causing substance into the target section to precipitate adhesion of the walls within the target lung section, preventing substantial re-inflation of the target section by occluding an airway upstream of the target section for a period of time, and removing the airway occlusion after the target section has substantially permanently been reduced in volume. The injected substance can be autologous blood or a constituent thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Spiration, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven C. Springmeyer
  • Fixation band for affixing a prosthetic heart valve to tissue
    Patent number: 7097659
    Abstract: A fixation band for affixing a prosthetic heart valve to tissue, the fixation band comprising: a structure having a proximal end and a distal end in opposition to one another, and a lateral region between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the prosthetic heart valve is attached to one of the proximal end and the distal end of the structure; a plurality of barbs selectively configurable between a first position and a second position, the barbs being contained within a peripheral boundary of the lateral region of the structure in the first position, and the barbs being extended from the peripheral boundary of the lateral region of the structure in the second position; and an actuator for selectively moving the plurality of barbs between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven B. Woolfson, Richard B. Streeter, Daniel C. Taylor, John R. Liddicoat
  • Expandable stent and method for delivery of same
    Patent number: 7094255
    Abstract: An expandable stent having a proximal end and a distal end in communication with one another, and a tubular wall disposed between the proximal end and the distal end. The tubular wall has a longitudinal axis and a porous surface defined by a plurality of intersecting members comprising a series of longitudinal struts disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent. Each longitudinal strut in the series comprises flexure members for substantially complementary extension and compression of a diametrically opposed pair of the longitudinal struts upon flexure of the stent. The flexure members may comprise first and second curved sections which are of a different size. At least one of the curved sections may comprise an arc of greater than about 180°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Evysio Medical Devices ULC
    Inventors: Ian M. Penn, Donald R. Ricci
  • Device for treating dysphonia and method of treating with use of the same
    Patent number: 7090697
    Abstract: A device for treating spasmodic dysphonia (SD) and a surgical method of treating SD with use of the same are disclosed. The cause for SD is an excessively tight closure of the glottis. The device of the present invention is useful one for the surgery of thyroplasty type II which aims at widening the glottis. Use of the device may make the surgery easier, simpler, and shorter in time required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Isshiki, Ichiro Yamamoto
  • Graft prosthesis devices containing renal capsule collagen
    Patent number: 7087089
    Abstract: The invention provides tissue graft compositions comprising collagen-based extracellular matrices derived from renal capsules of warm-blooded vertebrates. The invention further provides a process of harvesting and purifying a renal capsule to provide an extracellular matrix material having beneficial use as a tissue graft and/or cell growth material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Cook Biotech Incorporated
    Inventors: Umesh H. Patel, Michael C. Hiles, Jason P. Hodde
  • Tubular vascular implants (stents) and methods for producing the same
    Patent number: 7087078
    Abstract: New tubular vascular implants (stents) that consist of biocompatible, thermoplastic material that have a shape memory and that contain at least one active ingredient are described. In addition, a process for their production and their use as vascular implants for prophylaxis of restenosis are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Schering AG
    Inventors: Gesine Hildebrand, Johannes Tack, Helmut Kaeufer, Hans-Martin Wache, Thomas Mueller, Peter Ewert
  • Artificial knee joint
    Patent number: 7087090
    Abstract: A prosthetic knee joint including stance-phase control means comprising lock or latch for holding the knee in a straight condition, and means determining the status of the latch, said status determining means defining a control axis located so that the lock or latch is activated when a load imposed on the joint passes through a line posterior to said axis, and is de-activated when the load passes through a line anterior to said axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Bloorview MacMillan Centre
    Inventors: Jan Andrysek, Stephen Naumann, William L. Cleghorn
  • Flexible barb for anchoring a prosthesis
    Patent number: 7081132
    Abstract: A barbed medical prosthesis is disclosed in which the barb includes a basal portion comprising a point of union with the substrate of origin (such as a strut), an anchoring portion adapted to embed into tissue, and a stress-dispersing portion located between the basal and anchoring portions. In one embodiment the stress-dispersing portion comprises a helical coil having a free winding that is unattached to the strut from which the barb extends. In another embodiment, the stress-dispersing portion comprises a series of bends or curves formed in the barb proximate to the point of union with the strut. The barb can be mechanically attached and/or soldered to the prosthesis, or integrally formed therefrom. A second barb portion and stress-dispersing portion, may also extend from the basal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Cook Incorporated
    Inventors: William A. Cook, Michael P. DeBruyne, Benjamin Nickless, Thomas A. Osborne
  • Artificial valve
    Patent number: 7081131
    Abstract: Method and apparatus implementing and using techniques for controlling flow in a body lumen, including use of an implantable medical device. The device includes a membrane implantable in a body lumen and invertibly deformable between a first position and a second position. The membrane is invertible in response to the direction of fluid flow through the lumen and can be deformable by fluid flow in the body lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation
    Inventor: Sally C. Thornton
  • Antibiotic treated implantable medical devices
    Patent number: 7081133
    Abstract: Pannus-resisting implantable medical devices comprise one or more antimicrobial reservoirs, each such reservoir incorporating antimicrobial substances in predetermined distributions for timed release in vivo. Predetermined distributions of antimicrobial substances incorporated in antimicrobial reservoirs are achieved through use of fluid solvent carriers, which may comprise supercritical fluid solvents. Precipitation of antimicrobial substances from such solvent carriers in predetermined distributions is accomplished through evaporation and/or application of heating, cooling or decreased ambient pressure to the solvent carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Carbomedics Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Andrew Chinn, R. Michael Casanova
  • Devices and methods for heart valve treatment
    Patent number: 7077862
    Abstract: Devices and methods for treating heart valves include members that assist the valve in closing during at least a portion of the cardiac cycle. Such devices include members configured to alter the shape of a valve annulus, reposition at least one papillary muscle, and/or plug an orifice of the valve so as to provide a coaptation surface for the valve leaflets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Myocor, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Vidlund, Jason E. Kalgreen, Todd J. Mortier, Cyril J. Schweich, Jr., Richard Schroeder, David Kusz
  • Apparatus and methods for variably controlled substance delivery from implanted prostheses
    Patent number: 7077859
    Abstract: The present invention provides improved stents and other prostheses for delivering substances to vascular and other luminal and intracorporeal enviroments. In particular, the present invention provides luminal prostheses which allow for a programmed and controlled substance delivery protocols for a variety of purposes. The prostheses comprise a scaffold which is implantable within a body lumen and a substance reservoir present over at least a portion of the scaffold. Usually, a rate-controlling element will be formed over the substance-containing reservoir to provide for a number of different substance release characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Avantec Vascular Corporation
    Inventors: Motasim Sirhan, John Yan
  • Attachment system for prosthesis
    Patent number: 7077868
    Abstract: An attachment system secures a residual limb to an artificial limb in a comfortable and substantially non-rotational manner. The attachment system offers proximal anchoring of the residual limb in a hard socket, by connecting a side surface of a residual limb liner to the side surface of the socket. Preferably, this connection is accomplished using an extension member extending from the liner through a portion of the socket interior, through the socket wall, and attaching to a latch mechanism. The preferred attachment system requires no clearance in the bottom of the socket well because neither the extension member nor the latch mechanism is located between the distal end of the residual limb/liner and the bottom of the well. The attachment system is preferably disposed entirely along the side of the limb and the side of the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Inventors: Dale Perkins, Matt Perkins
  • Stent delivery system
    Patent number: 7074236
    Abstract: A first stent delivery system provided with a sheath for covering the stent, the sheath including proximal sheath portion adapted to be movable in a proximal direction and a distal sheath portion adapted to be moveable in a distal direction. A second stent delivery system including an outer and intermediate tubular members covering a chamber with a preloaded stent, the outer tubular member being retractable prior to the retraction of the intermediate sheath and release of the stent. A third stent delivery system including with an inflatable balloon at a distal end of the system for fixing the system in place within the vessel prior to the release of the stent thereby insure accurate stent deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: InTek Technology L.L.C.
    Inventors: Dmitry Rabkin, Eyal Morag, Ophir Perelson, Yoram Hadar
  • Great saphenous vein varix treatment tool
    Patent number: 7070605
    Abstract: An appliance 10 for large saphenous vein varix treatment comprises a stainless steel guide wire 1 provided on a distal end with a guide portion 11 and on a proximal end with a coupled portion 12, an absorption thread 2 connected to the proximal end coupled portion 12 of the guide wire 1, a transparent flexible bag 3 for containing the absorption thread 2, and a sterilization holding case 4 for containing the guide wire 1 and the transparent flexible bag 3 in a sterilized condition. Upon use, the sterilization holding case 4 is opened, a vein sclerosing agent is injected into the transparent flexible bag 3, and the vein sclerosing agent is impregnated into the absorption thread 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Tsukada Medical Research Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichiro Katsumoto, Tadashi Yokokura