Patents Examined by Glenn Dawson
  • Patent number: 7144410
    Abstract: The present invention provides an occluder with a self centering system that keeps the occluder properly centered in a defect which allows the center of the occluder to remain properly positioned within the defect so that the left and right sides cover the entire defect which reduces the chance of blood shunting through the defect and increases the effectiveness of the occluder. The self centering system is comprised of a series of arms that provide tension to hold the right and left sides in place. The arms are shaped to provide a flexible intermediate zone comprising a left and a right conical shaped network, wherein each network extends from the right and left sides and narrows at the center section. The flexible intermediate zone centers the occluder and helps to hold it in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Cardia Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Marino, Michael P. Corcoran
  • Patent number: 7037314
    Abstract: A hemorrhoidal ligator and anoscope system used to facilitate ligation of internal hemorrhoids. The ligating device consists of head, shaft and firing handle assemblies and is capable of storing and releasing multiple rubber bands singularly. The ligating device comprises an inner cylinder that is removable for disposal or reloading for reuse. The inner cylinder may also be configured with a disposable sleeve, the sleeve being disposable or capable of reloading. A modified loading cone is provided for facilitating loading of the rubber bands onto the inner cylinder or the inner cylinder sleeve 9. The anoscope is configured with three lateral apertures that coincide with the anatomic locations of the internal hemorrhoids in man and thus, simultaneously expose all three hemorrhoids for ligation and grading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Inventor: David N. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 7025058
    Abstract: A delivery device for the delivery of an agent to the mouth, nose or other bodily site of a user. The delivery device includes an aerosol canister that is actuated to expel propellant, which captures and disperses the agent. In a preferred embodiment, the propellant captures and disperses the agent into the mouth or nose of a user, and inhalation by the user directs the agent to the lungs of the user. The delivery device is particularly suitable for the treatment of bronchial asthma, respiratory conditions and for the delivery of systemically absorbed agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: New England Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Armstrong, Richard C. J. Palson
  • Patent number: 6264086
    Abstract: Surgical method and apparatus for resectioning tissue, preferably lumenal tissue, with a remaining portion of an organ being anastomized with staples or other fastening device, preferably endolumenally. The apparatus may be inserted via a naturally occurring body orifice or a surgical incision and then advanced using either endoscopic or radiological imaging guidance to an area where surgery is to be performed. Under endoscopic or diagnostic imaging guidance the apparatus is positioned so tissue to be resected is manipulated into an inner cavity of the apparatus. The apparatus then cuts the diseased tissue after stapling and retains the diseased tissue within the apparatus. The rent resulting in a border of healthy tissue is anastomosed with surgical staples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventor: James F. McGuckin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5868773
    Abstract: A trocar is formed from a cannula and an interfitting obturator for penetrating body cavity walls in laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery. The obturator is provided with an improved piercing tip having a pointed blade and an improved locking shield design. The locking mechanism must be actuated before the shield will retract to expose the piercing tip. The shield is located inside the obturator sheath and provides faster coverage of the piercing tip after the body cavity wall has been penetrated. The cannula has an improved thread design to more easily and securely hold the cannula in the incision of the body cavity wall. A one piece inner housing is used in the cannula to reduce the need for welding to prevent gas leakage. The cannula also has improved seals to maintain insufflation of the body cavity and an automatic insufflation valve to facilitate connection to an external gas supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Endoscopic Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: John K. Danks, Richard V. Mazzola
  • Patent number: 5827309
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improved guarded surgical scalpel having a movable guard that can be retracted to expose the blade and that can be extended to cover the sharp cutting edge of the blade. The guard is telescopically mounted inside the blade handle and includes a deflectable top wall portion that holds a detent pin or that defines a radially extending flange. This detent pin or flange engages a slot having upturned ends formed in at least one side wall of the blade handle. The detent pin or flange is biased upwardly into the upturned ends of the slot to hold the guard in the retracted or extended position. The blade can include a tang having a notch formed therein. The distal end of one sidewall of the guard can be formed with a complementary notch such that when the distal end of the sidewall of the guard engages the proximal end of the blade, forward movement of the guard forces the blade off of the scalpel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Neil Jolly, Craig D. Newman, Robert W. Pierce
  • Patent number: 5746747
    Abstract: An instrument to perform endoscopic polypectomy having a first portion which grasps a polyp and a second portion which cuts away the polyps. The second portion is in contact with the first portion while the first portion grasps the polyp when the polyp is cut by the second portion. The first sheath member preferably contains a small grasping forcep mechanism. The second sheath member preferably contains a wire snare mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventor: John A. McKeating
  • Patent number: 5741272
    Abstract: A lithotripter for fragmenting concretions has a hollow probe with a first end that is arranged to face a concretion to be fragmented, and a second end that is received by a housing. A drive arrangement is arranged in the housing and produces energy and/or impulses at the second end of the hollow probe. The hollow probe has a lateral outlet opening and is surrounded by a connecting device to which a suction tube is attached, so that aspiration of fragmented concretions takes place outside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Inventor: Udo Kuhne
  • Patent number: 5741295
    Abstract: An overlapping tourniquet cuff system for improved application of pressure to the limb, including an inflatable bladder; a sheath for containing the inflatable bladder wherein the sheath has a length sufficient to encircle the limb and overlap on itself in a substantially circumferential direction around the limb; a mechanism for securing the overlapped sheath around the limb; and a stiffening mechanism for superimposing over a region of the overlapped and secured sheath to constrain the shape of the sheath beneath the region when the bladder is inflated. The stiffening mechanism includes a securing mechanism for securing the overlapping sheath in a substantially circumferential direction around the limb independently of the sheath securing mechanism such that the sheath remains overlapped and secured in a substantially circumferential direction if the sheath securing mechanism is not engaged or becomes ineffective while the bladder is inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: James A. McEwen
    Inventor: James A. McEwen
  • Patent number: 5716363
    Abstract: An intracellular surgical tool for removing material from an eye of a patient. The tool is provided with a blade to allow the tool to make its own incision in the eye. The tool is provided with a cutting assembly and an aspiration apparatus to remove a portion of vitreous from the eye for inspection and testing. The tool is also fitted with a mechanism for replacing the removed vitreous with saline or similar fluid. The tool is portable having a housing and battery pack releasably coupled to one another. The cutting assembly is releasably secured to the housing. Accordingly, the housing may be removed and the cutting assembly discarded so that the housing may be sterilized before performing a vitrectomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Inventor: Robert Gary Josephberg
  • Patent number: 5713889
    Abstract: A smooth blunt tip tubular structure in a form of a sound or a catheter and a pressure producing and regulating system. The sound or the catheter has a smooth blunt end on one end and a non blunted end on the opposite end. There is a lumen extending from one end to the opposite end. There is a furrow running circumferentially around the blunt end of the sound or the catheter. The furrow lies on the side wall within two centimer from the blunt end tip of the sound or the catheter. There are multiple openings on the floor of the furrow. The openings within the furrow communicate with the lumen of the sound or the catheter. The pressure producing end regulating system is in fluid communication with the lumen. The side walls of the furrow elevate above the surface of the sound or the catheter forming ridges. There are six grooves equally distanced from each other between the furrow and the tip of the sound or the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Inventor: Hau Hsien Chang
  • Patent number: 5697946
    Abstract: A balloon anchor provides for the anchoring of a surgical instrument, such as conventional trocar sheath, within a puncture opening formed by a trocar. When used on a trocar sheath, the anchor is secured to the smooth outer surface of the sheath for extension through the puncture opening as the trocar within the sheath forms the opening. Adhesive or mechanical means are provided to secure the balloon the instrument. No modification to the structure of the instrument is required. Once in place within the opening, the balloon is inflated to the interior of the tissue to anchor the instrument in place. Certain embodiments also provide for inflation of the balloon within and/or to the exterior of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Origin MedSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip K. Hopper, Tim J. Kovac, Edmund J. Roschak, Wilson Eng
  • Patent number: 5697939
    Abstract: An apparatus for holding a medical instrument, such as an endoscope, in place without exerting an undue force on an insertion hole in an abdominal cavity of a subject even when the arm of a scope-holding section is unlocked, includes a four-link parallelogram mechanism. The four-link parallelogram mechanism includes a support arm for supporting a treating tool, an arm section parallel to the support arm and upper and lower arm sections connected to the upper and lower end sides of the support arm and arm section in a parallel relation. A support mechanism supports the arm sections of the four-link parallelogram mechanism to allow the arm sections to be moved in left/right and up/down directions, while being rotated, so that a straight line connecting an intersecting point P of a center line of the treating instrument inserted into an insertion hole in an abdominal wall of a subject and the center of the insertion hole to spherical bearings of the arm is set parallel to the upper and lower arm sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Kubota, Takashi Fukaya, Koji Yasunaga, Masanori Kaneda, Hitoshi Karasawa, Kyo Imagawa, Tetsumaru Kubota, Hideyuki Adachi, Yoshinao Oaki, Kenji Yoshino, Masaya Yoshihara, Hitoshi Mizuno, Akihiro Taguchi, Yoshihiro Kosaka, Masaaki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5695520
    Abstract: A pressure-applying device for relieving distress includes a pressure applicator having a plate member and a pressure-applying body attached to and protruding from one of a pair of opposite surfaces of the plate member. The plate member has a central portion with a pair of opposite surfaces facing in opposite directions and a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion and having a pair of first opposite sides respectively connected to opposite ends of the central portion and a pair of second opposite sides spaced from a pair of opposite edges of the central portion so as to define respective elongated enclosed slots within the plate member between the second opposite sides of the peripheral portion and the pair of opposite edges of the central portion of the plate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Inventors: James V. Bruckner, Robert F. Gurnsey, Tony A. Bruckner
  • Patent number: 5695508
    Abstract: The invention constitutes a dilating catheter for blood vessels in which the catheter is constituted of a hollow radiopaque tube designed to be snaked into the blood vessel and includes a working guide inside the tube which is both longitudinally movable and rotatable. The working guide is in the form of a flexible guide which arcs out from the longitudinal axis at the distal end and rotate in three dimensions. The arc portion is designed to be located at a single point or at several points along the flexible guide, where a stenosis, i.e. vessel constriction, is located. The guide rotates to distend the tube and thereby the blood vessel at the stenosis location. The guide is connected to a rotational drive, through a speed reducer. It is also connected to a gauge which measures the mechanical resistance of the guide to rotation and to an integrating meter which integrates the mechanical resistance to rotation, to provide the physician with interactive control over the dilation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignees: Bakulev Institute of Cardio-Vascular Surgery, Vitas Corporation USA
    Inventor: Nikolay A. Chigogidze
  • Patent number: 5690666
    Abstract: This invention is an exceptionally flexible, ultrasoft vaso-occlusive or embolism forming device. It is made of a radiopaque material which may be braided or coiled to form a long, thin threadlike device having little rigidity or column strength. The diameter of the device may be less than about 0.010 inches. The wire making up the device used to form the coil or braid is typically of a diameter less than about 0.002 inches. The device is sufficiently flexible and small that it may be hydraulically delivered to a site within the vasculature of the human body using an injected drug or fluid flush through a catheter. The device assumes a loose, random mass of threadlike material after being ejected from the catheter tip at the chosen vascular site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Target Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alejandro Berenstein, Ivan Sepetka
  • Patent number: 5690668
    Abstract: The present invention provides balloon dissection apparatus and methods of use in which an elongate balloon is utilized to dissect along a region that follows a naturally existing path alongside a vessel or structure, such as an artery, a vein, a lymphatic vessel, the trachea, the esophagus, or even a nerve bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: General Surgical Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Fogarty, George D. Hermann, Jan M. Echeverry, Kenneth H. Mollenauer
  • Patent number: 5690644
    Abstract: A stent deployment device includes a flexible, elongate interior catheter and a retaining structure cooperating with the catheter to support a stent along a distal end support region of the catheter. The stent is supported in a reduced radius delivery state to facilitate delivery to a treatment site in a body lumen, by advancing the device over a previously positioned guidewire. An opening at the distal end of the device receives the guidewire into a guidewire lumen of the interior catheter. A second opening through the catheter wall just proximally of the support region allows passage of the guidewire to the exterior of the catheter, whereby the guidewire is contained within the device only along the distal end region. A retainer for the stent can include an exterior catheter surrounding the interior catheter and stent, and moveable axially relative to the interior catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Schneider (USA) Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew T. Yurek, Steven J. Healy
  • Patent number: 5690663
    Abstract: A safety trocar is provided which includes a spring-loaded shield that shields the cutting tip of the obturator after the obturator penetrates tissue. The distal end of the shield is conical in profile and contains a slot which conforms to the geometry of the cutting tip. The obturator tip contains a knife edge blade which extends the length of the cannula inner diameter. Ideally, the knife is made of an amorphous metal, and may be serrated at its edge. In one embodiment, the knife edge is contacted directly to a portion of the safety shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc.
    Inventor: Randy R. Stephens
  • Patent number: RE46874
    Abstract: Apparatus suitable for pilates and other exercise comprises rails, supported on a box-like frame and an exercise carriage, mounted on the rails, wherein the carriage comprises a first carriage section and a second carriage section which sections can be (i) connected together to form a single exercise carriage which slides forwards and backwards on the rails, or (ii) disconnected to form two exercise carriages which independently slide forwards and backwards on the rails. The apparatus also has a seat with a spring-biased foot pedal and a spring-biased trapeze bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: D'Silva Limited
    Inventors: James Bernard D'Silva, Glynn Ray Barber