Patents Examined by Jing Ou
  • Patent number: 10307165
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a locking portion, a flexible pulling portion, a flexible body, and a plurality of barb features extending laterally from the body. The locking portion is configured to receive the pulling portion. The pulling portion is configured to engage and translate relative to the locking portion after the locking portion has received the pulling portion. The flexible body extends from the locking portion to the pulling portion. The flexible body is configured to form a loop when the pulling portion engages the locking portion. The loop is configured to decrease in size in response to pulling of the pulling portion relative to the locking portion. The barb features are configured to engage a tubular region of tissue and thereby form pleats in the tubular region of tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Cortney E. Henderson, Tamara S. Vetro Widenhouse, Charles J. Scheib
  • Patent number: 10245026
    Abstract: The present invention relates to devices, and methods for using the devices, to create and secure a tissue fold during an endoluminal medical procedure. The devices and methods may be used for folding and securing, for example, a fundus wall onto an esophagus wall or esophageal tissue in the region of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to reduce the diameter of the esophagus opening in that region. One aspect of the invention includes forming the tissue fold by closing a grasping arm that is pivotably connected to an overtube that has been positioned at the juncture of the fundus wall and esophagus wall. A further aspect of the invention includes tissue clips configured to be inserted and positioned through an endoluminal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc O. Schurr, Kurt Geitz, Robert Sakal, Gerhard F. Buess, Daniel Kalanovic
  • Patent number: 10238483
    Abstract: Devices and methods for assisting valve function, replacing venous valves, and predicting valve treatment successes. In at least one embodiment of an endograft valve device of the present disclosure, the device comprises an endograft body configured for expansion from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration within a luminal organ and comprising a first portion having a proximal end defining a proximal end aperture and a distal end defining a distal end aperture, the first portion tapering toward the distal end so that the distal end aperture has a relatively smaller cross-sectional area than the proximal end aperture when the valve device is expanded, and a valve portion positioned at or near the distal end of the first portion, the valve portion configured to receive fluid flowing through the distal end aperture of the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: 3DT Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Ghassan S. Kassab
  • Patent number: 10201343
    Abstract: A system for treating a prostate includes a cartridge, a handle configured to receive the cartridge, and an anchor assembly. The cartridge includes the anchor assembly and the handle includes an actuator and a spring mechanism loaded with mechanical energy. The cartridge and handle mate via pivoting and are aligned via alignment features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: NeoTract, Inc.
    Inventors: Ling-Kang Tong, Theodore M Bender, Robert M George, Joseph Catanese, III, Imraan Aziz
  • Patent number: 10201414
    Abstract: An introduction arrangement for a fenestrated or branched stent graft (13) intended for deployment into the lumen of a vessel having a blind vessel extending from it. The introducer (1) has a distal end intended to remain outside a patient in use and a proximal end with a nose cone dilator (11) and an arrangement to retain the branched stent graft distally of the nose cone dilator. A sheath (15) on the introducer extends over the branched stent graft to the nose cone dilator. An indwelling catheter (21) extends from the distal end of the introducer and enters the fenestration or side arm and through to the nose cone dilator, the indwelling catheter has a guide wire (29) extending through it. The guide wire can be extended beyond the nose cone dilator in use before the sheath is withdrawn from the branched stent graft so that it can be snared from the contra-lateral artery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignees: Cook Medical Technologies LLC, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    Inventors: David Ernest Hartley, John Lennon Anderson, Roy K. Greenberg, Wolf Stelter
  • Patent number: 10194904
    Abstract: A surgical staple configured to close an opening in tissue is provided. The surgical staple includes a base including first and second base portions and first and second legs extending from respective first and second base portions. The first and second base portions form a bendable connection therebetween. The staple has a first substantially open position in which the first base portion defines an angle with the second base portion and a second substantially closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Frank Viola, Gerald Hodgkinson
  • Patent number: 10188382
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for passing a suture. In general, described herein are suturing devices, such as suture passers, as well as methods of suturing tissue. These suture passing devices may include dual deployment suture passers in which a first distal jaw member is moveable at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body of the device and the second distal jaw member is retractable proximally to the distal end region of the elongate body and/or the first jaw member. Also described herein are suture passers in which the tissue penetrator passing the suture travels in an approximately sigmoidal pathway, with the distal end of the tissue penetrator extending distally from one jaw of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ceterix Orthopaedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Murillo, Christopher P. Bender, Mark Y. Hirotsuka, Michael J. Hendricksen, Justin D. Saliman, John G. McCutcheon
  • Patent number: 10166095
    Abstract: An introduction arrangement for a fenestrated or branched stent graft (13) intended for deployment into the lumen of a vessel having a blind vessel extending from it. The introducer (1) has a distal end intended to remain outside a patient in use and a proximal end with a nose cone dilator (11) and an arrangement to retain the branched stent graft distally of the nose cone dilator. A sheath (15) on the introducer extends over the branched stent graft to the nose cone dilator. An indwelling catheter (21) extends from the distal end of the introducer and enters the fenestration or side arm and through to the nose cone dilator, the indwelling catheter has a guide wire (29) extending through it. The guide wire can be extended beyond the nose cone dilator in use before the sheath is withdrawn from the branched stent graft so that it can be snared from the contra-lateral artery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventor: David Ernest Hartley
  • Patent number: 10159506
    Abstract: Various exemplary methods and devices for actuating surgical instruments are provided. In general, a surgical device can include one or more actuation shafts configured to facilitate actuation of the device. In an exemplary embodiment, the device can include four actuation shafts, two actuation shafts to facilitate articulation of the device, one actuation shaft to facilitate opening and closing of jaws at a distal end of the device, and one actuation shaft to facilitate moving a cutting element of the device. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the one or more actuation shafts can include a distal elongate member and a proximal elongate member having a proximal end attached to a distal end of the distal elongate member. The proximal elongate member can be rigid, and the distal elongate member can be flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Chad P. Boudreaux, Jason R. Lesko, Eric N. Johnson, Kevin M. Fiebig, Carl J. Draginoff, Jr., Scott B. Killinger, Kris E. Kallenberger, Barry C. Worrell
  • Patent number: 10154857
    Abstract: Left and right bodies coupled together create a chamber interiorly and form a handle exteriorly. Each of the bodies has a closed proximal end and an open distal end and retention fingers adjacent to the open distal end. A replaceable head has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the replaceable head has toothed projections removably received by the retention fingers. The distal end of the replaceable head has an oval shaped section. A medical grade adhesive tape has an interior surface adhesively attached to the oval shaped section of the replaceable head and has an exterior surface with an abrasive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Inventor: Rebecca C. Dunmire
  • Patent number: 10149676
    Abstract: A device for delivering an implant to a vascular disorder of a patient includes a delivery pusher. A stationary blade may be coupled to the delivery pusher. The stationary blade may include a sharp and stationary cutting component for cutting through a suture coupling the implant to the delivery pusher and for thereby releasing the implant when placed in proximity to the vascular disorder. In some cases, the strength of a junction connecting the suture to the implant is equal to or greater than the tensile strength of the suture itself. Additionally, or alternatively, a detachment handle may be fixedly and permanently attached to the delivery pusher such that a user of the device need not couple the detachment handle to the delivery pusher. The detachment handle may include a user manipulable component for initiating a mechanical release of the implant when placed in proximity to the vascular disorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: INCUMEDx, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Edwin Mirigian, Be Thi Le, Brendon James Bolos, Berchell John Yee, Amiel Richard Aguilar, Regina Coeli Velasco, Crystal Kay Sein Lwin, Liem Ho
  • Patent number: 10149757
    Abstract: A delivery system and method for delivering a prosthetic heart valve to the aortic valve annulus via a transaortic approach. The system includes a balloon catheter for delivering a balloon-expandable prosthetic heart valve through an introducer from an approach from outside the patient, through a minimally-invasive opening in the chest cavity through an incision in the aorta, and into the aorta and aortic annulus. The balloon catheter includes a flexible, tapered tip just distal of the balloon to facilitate positioning of the prosthetic heart valve in the proper orientation within the aortic annulus. The prosthetic heart valve may be installed over the existing calcified leaflets, and a pre-dilation valvuloplasty procedure may also be utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Dehdashtian, Teodoro S. Jimenez
  • Patent number: 10123805
    Abstract: A device frame includes a plurality of elongate frame members, first and second hub members substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis of the device frame, and a coupling element that couples the first hub member to the second hub member. The device frame includes a face section, a laterally facing skirt section, and an inverted section. First portions of the elongate members define the face section and extend radially from the first hub member. Second portions of the elongate members define the laterally facing skirt section and extend in a distal, axial, and helical direction along a first rotational direction from the face section. Third portions of the elongate members define the inverted section and extend in a generally proximal direction from a distal portion of the laterally facing skirt section to the second hub member along a rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Bridget B. Ayres, Nathan C. Korey, Steven J. Masters, Thomas R. McDaniel, Aaron L. Paris, Kenneth M. Schipper, Nicholas S. Webster, Roark N. Wolfe, Peter J. Zeller
  • Patent number: 10092296
    Abstract: A hand-operable surgical clip applicator (10) including a barrel (12) having a first end (14) and a second end (16), the second end formed to accommodate a surgical clip, a crimping lever (20) pivotally connected at the second end of the barrel, and a trigger (28) co-located with the barrel, the trigger being operable to pivot the crimping lever, the pivoting movement of the crimping lever causing the surgical clip to be urged from an open position to a closed position, wherein the trigger has an operating portion on either side of the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: FEMCARE-NIKOMED LIMITED
    Inventors: Desmond John Miles, John Philip Briant, Adrian John Streeter, James Daniel John, Iain Grierson McDerment, Nick Harrison, Robin Eddington
  • Patent number: 10080707
    Abstract: A pacifier assembly including a compressible pacifier, a cover, a clip and a strap. The compressible pacifier has a nipple with a radial base which is secured between a ring and a handle. The cover is adapted to be secured to the compressible pacifier while the clip is adapted to be fastened to a general object. The strap is attached to the clip at a first end and the compressible pacifier at a second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Munchkin, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Bryan Dunn, Nairi Khachikian, Sung Yun Chan, Matthew Joseph Saxton
  • Patent number: 10058344
    Abstract: A medical device may include a housing. The housing may include an outer wall, an inner wall spaced from the outer wall, and a cavity between the outer wall and the inner wall. The cavity may be in fluid communication with a lumen configured to adjust pressure within the cavity. The medical device may also include a cutting tool configured to move from extending around an outer surface of the housing to entering the cavity of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Raybin, Paul Smith, Naroun Suon, Daniel Lang
  • Patent number: 10052129
    Abstract: Methods and devices for separating an implanted object, such as a pacemaker lead, from tissue surrounding such object in a patient's vasculature system. Specifically, the surgical device includes a handle, an elongate sheath and a circular cutting blade that extends from the distal end of the sheath upon actuating the handle. The circular cutting blade is configured to engage the tissue surrounding an implanted lead and cut such tissue in a coring fashion as the surgical device translates along the length of the lead, thereby allowing the lead, as well as any tissue remaining attached to the lead, to enter the device's elongate shaft. The surgical device has a barrel cam cylinder in the handle assembly that imparts rotation of the blade and a separate cam mechanism in the tip of outer sheath assembly that imparts and controls the extension and retraction of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: THE SPECTRANETICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Grace, Weston H. Lee, Robert Carver
  • Patent number: 10034669
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anastomosing tissue in the body. In one exemplary embodiment, an anastomotic device is provided having an elongate tubular body that is disposable through a body lumen and that includes proximal and distal portions. The proximal and distal portions can each include a plurality of asymmetrical s-shaped slits and can each be adapted to expand upon rotation to form proximal and distal wings. The proximal and distal wings can extend toward one another to engage tissue therebetween and thereby form a passageway through the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Inventors: James E. Coleman, Christy Cummins
  • Patent number: 10028851
    Abstract: An implantable medical device, such as a stent, with a coating region for controlling erosion of the substrate region is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Dugan, David C. Gale
  • Patent number: 10016201
    Abstract: A vascular plug has a frame or skeleton which includes a ring of spring material and, attached to the frame, a cover of impervious or porous material. The plug is able to open a cup configuration when in a deployed condition, so as to provide an occlusion barrier to blood flow. The frame can be radially contracted by twisting into a multi-coiled configuration for deployment through an introducer. The vascular plug has a very short deployment length, making it suitable for deployment in precise locations and is also able to expand to a variety of operating diameters, thereby being suitable for a range of vessel sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Christina Rauff Hansen