Patents Examined by George J Ulsh
  • Patent number: 10722235
    Abstract: A surgical clip includes first and second members. The first member includes a first wall and a second wall each defining a proximal curved portion. A base portion adjoins the first wall and the second wall and defines a locking feature. The second member is pivotably connected to the first member between the first and second walls. The second member includes a mating feature and defines a proximal curved portion. The mating feature of the second member is configured to selectively engage the locking feature of the first member to lock the first and second members into an approximated position. Movement of the proximal curved portions of the respective first and second members towards each other causes the mating feature of the second member to disengage from the locking feature of the first member to move the first and second members from the approximated position into an unapproximated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Jacob C. Baril, Brandon L. Calavan, Matthew A. Dinino
  • Patent number: 10722337
    Abstract: A patch for repairing a hernia defect including a patch body that is reducible into a small configuration for delivery through a narrow incision or cannula into a patient. A support member assists in unfurling the patch body from the small configuration into an expanded configuration. A sleeve releasably mounts the support member to the patch body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Blackburn, Alexander Kirby Tee, Mariah Levitt, Craig McCarthy, Aaron Abroff, Evan Gant
  • Patent number: 10722359
    Abstract: Docking devices for docking a prosthetic valve at a native valve of a heart can include a coiled docking anchor and a retrieval suture. The docking device and retrieval suture can be configured for improved retention and retrieval of the docking device after deployment. The docking devices can have an end portion with a central axis. The retrieval suture can be connected to the end portion such that a line of force applied by applying tension to the retrieval suture is substantially aligned with the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
    Inventors: Darshin S. Patel, Boaz Manash, Khen Perlmutter, Eyal Leiba, Yoav Rozen, Dinesh L. Sirimanne, Tri D. Tran, Jocelyn Chau, Noa Axelrod, Zohar Kiblitski
  • Patent number: 10716668
    Abstract: A delivery device includes an inner shaft, an outer sheath, a nosecone, and a tether component. The outer sheath is slidably disposed over the inner shaft. The nosecone is removably coupled to the inner shaft. The nosecone includes a delivery configuration for delivery to a treatment site, a radially compressed configuration in which a portion of the nosecone is configured to traverse through a heart wall, and a radially expanded configuration in which an outer surface of the nosecone contacts an outer surface of the heart wall. The tether component includes a first end coupled to the nosecone. The nosecone is configured to plug a piercing in the heart wall when in the radially expanded configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventor: Jason Quill
  • Patent number: 10716572
    Abstract: A blood flow reducer (20) for insertion in a blood vessel, the reducer (20) being adapted to be deformed from a first configuration to an expanded configuration, wherein, in the expanded configuration, the reducer (20) defines an axial lumen (40) for allowing blood flow therethrough, the axial lumen (40) having a smallest cross-section, the reducer (20) has a largest cross-section, and the smallest cross-section is comprised between 20% and 90% of the largest cross-section. In particular, the smallest cross-section is strictly comprised between 70% and 90% of the largest cross-section. A method for preconditioning a liver of a living being before partial hepatectomy, wherein a 10 to 30% stenosis is created in a branch of a portal vein conducting blood to a first liver lobe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignees: Université d'Aix-Marseille, ASSISTANCE PUBLIQUE—HÔPITAUX DE MARSEILLE, INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTÉ ET DE LA RECHERCHE MÉDICALE
    Inventors: Pierre Henri Rolland, Vincent Vidal, Emilie Hélène Marie Grégoire
  • Patent number: 10709456
    Abstract: A compression device is used to increase intra-luminal pressure within the upper esophageal sphincter of a patient in order relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective upper esophageal sphincter anatomy, physiology, or functionality. In one implementation, the compression device is used in conjunction with an external pressure sensing device to determine the external pressure that is to be applied to the cricoid for a specific patient. The compression device can be a means for the management and/or treatment of abnormal upper esophageal sphincter functionality, or a means for strengthening an esophageal sphincter of a subject, or a means for curing esophageal reflux disease of a subject, or a means for improving vocal function in a subject, or a means for managing lung aspiration, or a means for applying cricoid pressure during anesthesia intubation, or a means for stabilizing body structures such as during medical imaging or radiation treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: The Medical College of Wisconsin, Inc., Somna Therapeutics, LLC
    Inventors: Nick T. Maris, James S. Miller, Reza Shaker, Timothy Bachman, Nathan Schlueter, Eugene Paul Maloney, Eric David North, Paul Raine, Peter Alex
  • Patent number: 10709470
    Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a body, an ultrasonic transducer rotatably supported within the body and having a threaded distal end, a shaft extending from the body, a waveguide extending through the shaft and having a threaded proximal end configured to threadedly engage the threaded distal end to define a threaded coupling, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft. An integrated torque wrench mechanism is arranged within the body and includes a first torque wrench member rotationally coupled with a proximal end of the transducer, and a second torque wrench member arranged proximally of the first torque wrench member. The torque wrench members are configured to selectively couple together and frictionally engage one another to facilitate application of a predetermined maximum torque to the threaded coupling. The torque wrench members are configured to automatically decouple upon application of the predetermined maximum torque to the threaded coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Mark E. Tebbe, Ion V. Nicolaescu, Tony C. Siebel, Chad P. Boudreaux
  • Patent number: 10709888
    Abstract: An electrical stimulation lead includes a lead body; a terminal disposed along the proximal end portion of the lead body; a single electrode disposed at the distal end of the lead body; a conductor extending along the lead body and electrically coupling the terminal to the single electrode; and an adjustable sheath disposed over a portion of the lead body to cover a selected portion of the single electrode by displacing the sheath forwards or backwards relative to the single electrode to control a size of a portion of the electrode exposed for stimulation of tissue. Another electrical stimulation lead has a low-profile distal portion that has a smaller lateral width in at least one direction than a remainder of the lead body. Yet another arrangement includes a guidewire with a mapping electrode to map a region around a peripheral nerve prior to implantation of an electrical stimulation lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC NEUROMODULATION CORPORATION
    Inventor: Anne Margaret Pianca
  • Patent number: 10702681
    Abstract: The invention refers to endovascular catheters and methods useful to endovascular surgery. In particular, it refers to support catheters with balloons that are used for the placement or the forwarding of the guidewire through demanding tortuosity and important vascular stenoses in cases where the guidewire needs the best possible backup support of the catheter. This is achieved with the development of an endovascular support catheter with a mobile balloon, which has the ability to move along the body of the catheter, at its distal part. The movement of the balloon is achieved with the use of two mobile external rings, one inner wire circuit, and one control handle which is found at the proximal end of the device. The mobile balloon allows the catheter to move inside the vessel even when it is inflated and basically anchored within the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Inventor: Giannis Stefanidis
  • Patent number: 10695092
    Abstract: A uterine manipulator device includes: an elongated cannulated tube having proximal and distal ends, a cervical cup positioned on the elongated cannulated tube with a top distal portion of a first diameter and a base proximal portion of a second smaller diameter, and an occluder assembly comprising an occluder positioned proximally from the cervical cup on the elongated cannulated tube, the occluder having a body with at least one primary rib and at least two secondary ribs, wherein a diameter of at least one secondary rib is smaller than the diameter of the primary rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Conmed Corporation
    Inventors: Xiao Wu, Gregory Okoniewski, Ashley Holbrooks
  • Patent number: 10675148
    Abstract: A cartridge accommodates an intraocular lens and includes first and second cartridge parts pivotally moveable relative to each other to define an open state and a closed state. The first cartridge part has a first base element and a first plate-like wing extending from the first base element. The second cartridge part has a second base element and a second plate-like wing extending from the second base element. The first and second base elements conjointly define a receiving chamber for the lens when the first and second cartridge parts are in the closed state. A lubricant feed arrangement supplies a lubricant for the lens into the receiving chamber from outside of the cartridge when the cartridge is in the closed state. The lubricant feed arrangement includes a feed channel which is formed in one of the cartridge parts and opens into the receiving chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventor: Marco Mueller
  • Patent number: 10675031
    Abstract: A surgical clip applier is provided that includes first and second jaws on a distal end of an elongate shaft, a clip advancing assembly extending through the shaft and configured to advance a distal-most clip from a plurality of clips in the shaft into the first and second jaws. The jaws have opposed inward facing surfaces, and each inward facing surface has a clip track defined therein for receiving and guiding legs of a clip into the first and second jaws. The clip track of at least one of the jaws has at least one deflectable clip retention member disposed therein and configured to apply a biasing force to a leg of a clip disposed within the jaws to thereby retain the clip within the jaws and maintain alignment of the clip with respect to the jaws. The clip track of at least one of the jaws may also have at least one recess or protrusion designed to be complementary to and mate with a protrusion or recess in a clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Stokes, Gregory G. Scott, Michael A. Murray, Ryan J. Laurent, Disha V. Labhasetwar
  • Patent number: 10675139
    Abstract: Medical device for embolic protection in an aortic arch, comprising a catheter having a shaft and a distal end portion of the shaft, an expandable embolic protection device having a filter membrane and a frame. The frame comprises a frame loop and an elongated frame shaft having a distal end portion connected to the frame loop in a connection point, in its expanded state the frame loop spans said filter membrane and bending means to bend the distal end portion of the catheter and/or the distal end portion of the frame shaft. The medical device comprises a protective state in which the distal end portion of the catheter is bent, the embolic protection device is expanded, the frame shaft extends in a longitudinal direction of the bent distal end portion and the expanded frame loop being completely positioned distally of the connection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: PROTEMBIS GMBH
    Inventors: Karl Von Mangoldt, Conrad Rasmus, Victor Alfonso Jiménez Diaz, Carlos Maria Diaz Lopez
  • Patent number: 10675043
    Abstract: A reposable surgical clip applier includes a handle assembly, a shaft assembly releasably engagable with the handle assembly, and a clip cartridge assembly releasably engagable within the shaft assembly. When the reposable surgical clip applier is assembled, a proximal drive of the handle assembly is positioned proximally adjacent an inner drive of the shaft assembly such that movement of handle(s) of the handle assembly towards an approximated position actuates a jaw assembly of the shaft assembly. When the reposable surgical clip applier is assembled, a proximal pusher of the handle assembly is positioned proximally adjacent a distal pusher of the clip cartridge assembly such that movement of the handle(s) towards a spaced-apart position loads a distal-most surgical clip from the clip cartridge assembly into the jaw assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: Mohan P V R
  • Patent number: 10667934
    Abstract: A tool for use in loading a transcatheter valve prosthesis within a delivery catheter includes a body portion, a pivotable element and a biasing element. The body portion includes a central passageway extending form a proximal end to a distal end of the body portion. The central passageway is configured to receive a distal portion of a delivery catheter therethrough. The pivotable element is attached to the body portion and is configured to secure a tether during loading of a transcatheter valve prosthesis within the delivery catheter. The biasing element compresses the pivotable element against the body portion such that the pivotable element holds a second end against the delivery catheter and secures the tether thereto. The pivotable element may be two or more pivotable elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventor: Joshua Dwork
  • Patent number: 10660752
    Abstract: A delivery device for an implantable medical device includes an inner shaft extending in a longitudinal direction and an outer sheath adapted to surround at least a portion of the inner shaft, the outer sheath being slideable relative to the inner shaft in the longitudinal direction. A compartment defined between the inner shaft and the outer sheath is adapted to receive the medical device in an assembled condition. A retaining assembly positioned at one end of the compartment includes a first member rotatable with respect to the inner shaft, and a second member rotationally fixed with respect to the inner shaft. The medical device includes at least one retainer adapted to be received within at least one retainer slot of the first member. This arrangement enables the medical device to rotate within the compartment as the delivery device is advanced to an implantation site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Klima, Michael Shane Morrissey
  • Patent number: 10653412
    Abstract: Sutures with pre-tied knots for use in percutaneous surgical procedures and devices for easily and quickly tying complex suture knots are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Ceterix Orthopaedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Y. Hirotsuka, Michael Murillo, Yoav Ben-Haim, Justin D. Saliman, Christopher P. Bender, Michael J. Hendricksen, Stephen J. Peter, Victoria C. Quitugua, Sarah-Marie Chan, Jennifer B. Fasman
  • Patent number: 10646245
    Abstract: A needle knife device and system for cutting soft tissue under skin of a patient are provided. The needle knife can include an elongated needle including a lumen and a beveled point configured to allow the elongated needle to be inserted transcutaneously into the skin of the patient. The needle knife can also include a blade that is capable of being oscillated within the lumen of the elongated needle between a retracted position where the blade is disposed within the needle and a deployed position where the blade is disposed outside the needle beyond the beveled point. A motor unit can be operatively arranged with the blade and configured to oscillate the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Percytaneous Cosmetic Devices LLC
    Inventor: Oleh Slupchynskyj
  • Patent number: 10646214
    Abstract: A tongue advancer assembly for a tongue manipulation system includes a core mount and a tongue advancer for coupling to the core mount. The core mount includes a connection rod coupling for coupling the tongue advancer assembly to a distal end of a connection rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Matthias Hamsch, Joachim Kahlert, Steve Woodard, Asheesh Divetia, Michel Paul Barbara Van Bruggen, Antonius Adrianus Petrus Schudelaro
  • Patent number: 10631973
    Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for treating a subject with damaged tissue, such as an injury associated with a tissue to tissue (e.g., a connective tissue-to-connective tissue or tissue to bone) interface. One aspect provides an adhesive film or adhesive layer, optionally comprising a biomaterial, tissue growth factors, including CTGF/CCN2, or cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Washington University
    Inventors: Stephen Linderman, Guy Genin, Stavros Thomopoulos, Kollbe Ahn, Victor Mark Birman