Patents Examined by Erich Herbermann
  • Patent number: 9308007
    Abstract: A thrombus treatment device includes a support wire, a body frame portion that is disposed about an axis defined by the support wire, one or more tethers that each have a first end and a second end, and a filter element extending from the body frame portion. Each of the one or more tethers is attached at its first end to the body frame portion, and at its second end to a collar that couples the second end of each of the multiple tethers to the support wire. When the collar is positioned substantially within a region interior of the body frame portion, a rotational actuation of the support wire causes a swiveling motion of the one or more tethers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Edward H. Cully, Nathan L. Friedman, Eric H. Zacharias
  • Patent number: 9295472
    Abstract: A medical implantable occlusion Device (100) is disclosed comprising a braiding of at least one thread, an expanded diameter portion (102), and a tubular member (103) having a distal endpoint closest to the expanded diameter portion having a distal rim (107). The braiding comprises a stem (108) having a first end connected to the expanded diameter portion and a second end connected to the distal region, where the stem in a relaxed state is partly sunk into the tubular member beneath the distal rim (107), wherein the proximal region comprises a connecting member (113), wherein ends of the at least one thread are fixed to the connecting member, the expanded diameter portion comprises returning loops of the at least one thread whereby opposite ends of the at least one thread forming the expanded diameter portion are fixed to the connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Occlutech Holding AG
    Inventor: Rüdiger Ottma
  • Patent number: 9289216
    Abstract: A surgical clip is provided having two clip arms and a resiliently flexible element via which the two clip arms are connected to each other. The two clip arms each have a first free end, these first free ends being held parallel to and in contact with each other with a predetermined closing force by the resiliently flexible element when the clip is in a rest position. The clip arms are held at a second end opposite the free end on the resiliently flexible element. The clip arms have between their first and second ends sections configured to cross each other. The clip arms further have stop elements configured to complement each other. The stop elements are adapted to be brought in mutual contact when the clip is transferred from the rest position to an application position in which the free ends are spaced apart from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Dieter Weisshaupt, Markus Nesper, Klaus-Dieter Steinhilper, Thomas Pleil
  • Patent number: 9277990
    Abstract: A delivery device for a prosthetic heart valve includes a shaft, a sheath, and a pull wire. The shaft has a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis. The sheath is attached to the shaft and is rotatable about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The pull wire is mechanically coupled to the sheath such that movement of the pull wire rotates the sheath relative to the shaft. The sheath may be in a first position relative to the shaft when a distal end of the pull wire is in a first position and may be in a second position when the distal end of the pull wire is in a second position. Deflection of the sheath relative to the shaft enables a prosthetic valve to be axially aligned with the native valve annulus for deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Klima, Jeffrey Paul LaPlante
  • Patent number: 9265566
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing and an elongated shaft having a distal portion and a proximal portion coupled to the housing. The elongated shaft defines a longitudinal axis and a mandrel at the proximal portion. An inner shaft member extends at least partially through the elongated shaft. An actuating mechanism is operably coupled to the mandrel and is configured to selectively cause movement of the elongated shaft in a longitudinal direction with respect to the inner shaft member. The surgical also includes an end effector that is adapted for treating tissue and includes an upper jaw member pivotally coupled to a distal portion of the inner shaft member about a pivot axis and a lower jaw member supported by the distal portion of the elongated shaft. Longitudinal movement of the elongated shaft is configured to pivot the upper jaw member relative to the lower jaw member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Sean T. O'Neill, Jessica E. C. Olson
  • Patent number: 9226811
    Abstract: A hernia repair system includes a surgical patch, a dispenser, and a plurality of sutures. The surgical patch is movable between a contracted orientation and an expanded orientation. The dispenser includes a housing and a plunger. The housing defines a lumen. The plunger is movably secured within the lumen. The housing is configured to releasably retain the surgical patch within the lumen in the contracted orientation of the surgical patch. The plunger is configured to expel the surgical patch from the housing upon the selective actuation of the plunger from a first position to a second position. The surgical patch is autonomously positionable in the expanded orientation upon being expelled from the lumen. The plurality of sutures are configured to securely mount the surgical patch to a tissue site when the surgical patch is positioned in the expanded orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Ferass Abuzaina
  • Patent number: 9211136
    Abstract: An endoscopic surgical device comprising a slotted clear cannula, a blade and a housing, wherein the cannula is attached to the housing, and wherein the blade is enclosed in the housing and is slidable into the cannula is disclosed. The blade is enclosed within the housing and cannula, and has a horizontally-oriented pushing component and a vertically-oriented cutting component that protrudes through the slot of the cannula. A method for a performing an operative procedure on a target tissue in a subject using the endoscopic surgical device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: A.M. SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Romi Mirza, Ather Mirza
  • Patent number: 9198667
    Abstract: A medical device includes an outer shell defining a cavity, wherein the shell is movable between a deformed and unstressed state, a magnet disposed within the cavity, and a filler material carried within the cavity conforming to the interior shape of the shell in the unstressed state and being capable of holding its shape in the deformed state. The filler material converts from the deformed state to the unstressed state at a temperature not greater than human body temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Jan Weber
  • Patent number: 9192365
    Abstract: A method of providing a surgical device for closure of Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) with minimally invasive approach includes drawing a pericardial patch over a distal jaw of the surgical device, while keeping a first suture-guide channels attached to the distal jaw and a second suture-guide channels attached to a proximal jaw of the surgical device closed, inserting the surgical device through a hole incised in an intercostal space of a patient and drawing the surgical device toward the ASD, while keeping the proximal jaw of the surgical device extracorporeal, manipulating forward a guide rod of the surgical device to drive the distal jaw, opening the first suture-guide channels and the second suture-guide channels to position the first suture-guide channels and the second suture-guide channels around the ASD, and withdrawing the distal jaw such that the distal jaw latches onto the proximal jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Inventors: Farideh Roshanali, Seyed Nasser Pourmoosavi, Ali Namazi
  • Patent number: 9192370
    Abstract: A suture anchor is provided including an elongate shank defining a longitudinal axis and having at least one bone-engaging thread formed thereon, and a drive head having a proximal end and a distal end mated to the elongate shank. The drive head has a substantially oval shape and includes at least one suture attachment member formed in a portion of the drive head. The configuration of the drive head is particularly advantages in that it provides a suture anchor having improved physical properties, including a high failure torque and a high stripping strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: DEPUY MITEK, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Boock, Nathan Cauldwell
  • Patent number: 9192462
    Abstract: A tubular prosthetic device for implantation into a body lumen includes a first part including a tubular lumen and a second part including an attachment member. The second part is secured to the first part via various configurations, where the device is capable of being reduced to a diameter less than the diameter of traditional devices, for ease of use during implantation. Methods of using the device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: TriVascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Jenine S. Vinluan, Mary Jane Marston, Mark E. Purter, Riley King
  • Patent number: 9179998
    Abstract: An implantable medical device (30) for treating aortic dissections includes a stent graft part (34) having a bulbous section (48) of greater radial diameter than the radial diameter of first and second sections (60,62) of the stent graft part (34). The bulbous section (48) is able to close off the false lumen (10) of an aortic dissection, thereby to prevent any fluid backflow into the false lumen (10). Radiopaque markers (70) may be provided for orientation and deployment purposes. The device (30) is able to treat chronic dissections and reduce false lumen backflow, which remains otherwise an unresolved issue in the endovascular treatment of false lumen aneurysms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Tilo Kölbel, Erik E. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 9179930
    Abstract: An endoscopic surgical device comprising a slotted clear cannula, a blade and a housing, wherein the cannula is attached to the housing, and wherein the blade is enclosed in the housing and is slidable into the cannula is disclosed. The blade is enclosed within the housing and cannula, and has a horizontally-oriented pushing component and a vertically-oriented cutting component that protrudes through the slot of the cannula. A method for a performing an operative procedure on a target tissue in a subject using the endoscopic surgical device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: A.M. SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Romi Mirza, Ather Mirza
  • Patent number: 9173652
    Abstract: An inserter for simultaneously creating a bone tunnel and delivering an all-suture anchor. The inserter is capable of inserting into the bone tunnel a soft, non-rigid suture anchor by forming a bone tunnel (to serve as an anchor receiving area) and simultaneously, in one motion, delivering the soft suture anchor to the anchor receiving area. The soft suture anchor is made entirely of non-rigid materials including, but not limited to, filaments of soft, malleable materials such as those commonly used to make sutures. The inserter is able to not only carry or deliver the all-suture anchor into a bony substrate, but is able to do so without having to preform a hole in the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Linvatec Corporation
    Inventors: Giuseppe Lombardo, Peter C. Miller, Steven E. Fitts
  • Patent number: 9132025
    Abstract: An endovascular delivery system includes a bifurcated and inflatable prosthesis including a main tubular body having an open end and opposed ipsilateral and contralateral legs defining a graft wall therein between. A tether is disposed securably disposed to the contralateral leg, and the contralateral leg is releasably restrained towards the ipsilateral leg tether to prevent undesirable movement of the contralateral leg. A release wire within the endovascular delivery system releasably retains the tether near the ipsilateral leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: TRIVASCULAR, INC.
    Inventors: Diego Aristizabal, Michael V. Chobotov
  • Patent number: 9125741
    Abstract: A quick-connect heart valve prosthesis that can be quickly and easily implanted during a surgical procedure is provided. The heart valve may include a substantially non-expandable, non-compressible prosthetic valve and a plastically-expandable frame, thereby enabling attachment to the annulus without sutures. A system and method for deployment includes an integrated handle shaft and balloon catheter. A safety member disposed between the balloon catheter and handle shaft prevents premature catheter advancement prior to heart valve placement at the annulus, and also may prevent premature balloon inflation prior to full catheter advancement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Phung, August R. Yambao, Faisal Kalam, William C. Brunnett, Rafael Pintor, Michael J. Scott
  • Patent number: 9119713
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve having an inflow end and an outflow end includes a collapsible and expandable stent. A collapsible and expandable valve assembly is disposed within the stent and includes a plurality of leaflets. A collapsible and expandable frame formed of braided wires has a body portion and a lumen extending through the body portion for receiving the stent and the valve assembly. The frame may include features for holding the prosthetic heart valve in place in a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie Marie Board, Aaron J. Chalekian, Patrick P. Russo, John Oslund
  • Patent number: 9089329
    Abstract: A coupling system includes an applicator tool, an anastomotic prosthesis mounted on the applicator tool, and an engagement device. The applicator tool deploys a securement through the prosthesis and tissue which leaves the prosthesis attached to the tissue. The engagement device selectively engages the applicator tool onto the tissue, with the use of suction, in order to facilitate accurate placement of the prosthesis on the tissue and facilitate deployment of the securement into the tissue. The applicator tool and the tissue are able to move together while the engagement device prevents or inhibits relative movement between the applicator tool and the tissue. A method for securing an anastomotic prosthesis to tissue includes applying of suction to engage an applicator tool to the tissue while a securement is deployed out of the applicator tool and into the prosthesis and the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Thoratec Corporation
    Inventors: Carine Hoarau, Steven H. Reichenbach, George Hsu, James N. Harrington, Andrew R. Miller, Philip Haarstad, Stephen Kenneth Sundquist
  • Patent number: 9066780
    Abstract: A medical device includes an outer shell defining a cavity, wherein the shell is movable between a deformed and unstressed state, a magnet disposed within the cavity, and a filler material carried within the cavity conforming to the interior shape of the shell in the unstressed state and being capable of holding its shape in the deformed state. The filler material converts from the deformed state to the unstressed state at a temperature not greater than human body temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventor: Jan Weber
  • Patent number: 9066746
    Abstract: An endoscopic surgical device having a slotted clear cannula, a blade and a housing, wherein the cannula is attached to the housing, and wherein the blade is enclosed in the housing and is slidable into the cannula is disclosed. The blade is enclosed within the housing and cannula, and has a horizontally-oriented pushing component and a vertically-oriented cutting component that protrudes through the slot of the cannula. The device further has a device for locking a viewing device in place relative to other components of the device. A method for a performing an operative procedure on a target tissue in a subject using the endoscopic surgical device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: A.M. SURGICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Romi Mirza, Ather Mirza