Patents Examined by John D. Yasko
  • Patent number: 6461336
    Abstract: An angioplastic device used for treating the areas surrounding bifurcated vessels. The device has an elongated and relatively flexible tubular guiding catheter assembly that slidably houses a guide positioning assembly therein. The elongated tubular guiding catheter assembly has a non-circular lumen that cooperatively receives a guides carrier assembly with a non-circular cross-section. The guide carrier assembly includes two internal through passages through which two guide members are slidably passed and directed to different branches in a bifurcated vessel. The guide members carry at the distal end a balloon with or without stents to be positioned against the internal walls of the vessels being treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Inventor: Jorge Casado Larré
  • Patent number: 6436070
    Abstract: A non-reusable needle-bearing safety medical device is provided. The device is operable for inserting an intravenous catheter into a patient. The device includes a needle for piercing the patient's skin and guiding the catheter into the vein of the patient. The needle is operable in two positions, an extended position, in which the needle projects forwardly from a housing, and a retracted position, in which the needle is retracted into the barrel so that the needle is enclosed by the barrel to prevent inadvertent contact with the needle after use. A needle retainer releasably retains the needle in the projecting position against the bias of a spring that biases the needle rearwardly toward the retracted position. After use, the operator displaces an actuator to release the needle. The spring then propels the needle rearwardly into the retracted position. In this way, the device is non-reusable and the needle is shielded to prevent contact with the sharpened tip of the contaminated needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: MDC Investment Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Botich, Thor R. Halseth
  • Patent number: 6432092
    Abstract: A tissue mapping injection device suitable for use during a lymphatic breast mapping procedure is provided. The device includes a housing having an elongated body portion extending distally therefrom. A plunger is slidably positioned within the housing. A connector rod is secured to the forward end of the plunger and extends distally through the elongated body portion. The plunger and the connector rod define a fluid delivery channel. A plurality of needles are secured to the distal end of the connector rod. Each of the needles is constructed from a shape memory material and defines a fluid injection channel which communicates with the fluid delivery channel. The plunger is movable from a retracted position wherein the needles are positioned within the elongated body portion to an advanced position wherein the needles extend outwardly from the distal end of the elongated body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventor: Eric C. Miller
  • Patent number: 6325777
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a low profile catheter valve comprising a movable sealer portion positioned within the inflation lumen of a catheter. The sealer portion forms a fluid tight seal with the inflation lumen by firmly contacting the entire circumference of a section of the inflation lumen. The sealer portion may be positioned proximally of a side-access inflation port on the catheter, to establish an unrestricted fluid pathway between the inflation port and an inflatable balloon on the distal end of the catheter. As desired, the clinician may move the sealer portion to a position distal of the inflation port, thereby preventing any fluid from being introduced into or withdrawn from the balloon via the inflation port. Also disclosed herein is an inflation adaptor for moving the sealer portion within the catheter to establish or close the fluid pathway between the inflation port and the inflatable balloon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Medtronic PercuSurge, Inc.
    Inventors: Gholam-Reza Zadno-Azizi, April A. Marano-Ford, Celso J. Bagaoisan, Jefferey C. Bleam, Isaac J. Kim, Jeffrey F. Field, Roy Leguidleguid, Mukund Patel, George Tsai
  • Patent number: 6322548
    Abstract: A delivery catheter system for delivering a substance delivery member into a patient's left ventricle which includes a first delivery catheter with a shaped distal extremity configured to be aligned with or parallel to a longitudinal axis or long dimension of the patient's left ventricle and a second delivery catheter slidably and rotatably disposed within an inner lumen of the first delivery catheter which has a shaped distal shaft section and an inner lumen configured to slidably receive a substance delivery member such as an elongated cannula slidably disposed within a polymer sheath. The shaped distal section of the first delivery catheter is shaped or is shapeable within the patient's heart chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Eclipse Surgical Technologies
    Inventors: Sam G. Payne, Randy J. Kesten, Michael Aita, Stewart Kume, Stephen B. Pearce, Manuel A. Javier, Jr., Michael H. Rosenthal
  • Patent number: 6312414
    Abstract: A blood suction apparatus for aspirating blood from a patient is developed as a one-hand held instrument having a handgrip. A centrifuge chamber, shaped to narrow from its tangentially directed top blood inlet to its bottom blood outlet end, like a funnel. A gas outlet opening from a gas collection space above the chamber and to which a suction device can be connected. A blood outlet at the lower end of the centrifuge chamber with both outlets connectable to a source of suction. The orientations of the handgrip and of elements passing through the handgrip are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Inventors: Alexander Brockhoff, Hans Plechinger
  • Patent number: 6302866
    Abstract: The present invention provides a catheter head including a cannula housing, a needle holder connectable to the cannula housing and a guide sleeve associated with the needle holder for positioning and guiding a connecting needle, and for being narrowly slide-guided over a portion of said cannula housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Disetronic Licensing AG
    Inventor: Rolf Marggi
  • Patent number: 6290691
    Abstract: A vascular dilatation catheter including an elongated catheter shaft having a distal and a proximal end and a first lumen extending therethrough fluid connection with a distally located balloon and a second lumen capable of receiving a guidewire is provided with a clip device attached about a proximal portion of the catheter shaft and adapted to releasibly secure the catheter shaft in a coiled configuration between uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Sarah J. Krieger
  • Patent number: 6280413
    Abstract: A thrombolytic filtration and drug delivery catheter is disclosed comprising a shaft which longitudinal ribs. The ribs are compressed while being advanced to the site of interest and are released at the site, flaring to a diameter greater than the diameter of the shaft. The ribs can be compressed by a sleeve or thread, for example. Drugs or other agents can be delivered through lumens in the shaft and ribs, out through ports in the ribs. Preferably, the ports are positioned to deliver the drugs or other agents between the ribs and within the region defined by the ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Medtronic Ave, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Clark, Souise S. Clark, Victor I. Chornenky, Michael R. Forman, Jeffrey A. Lee
  • Patent number: 6273869
    Abstract: The hollow cannula is made with a smooth tip to avoid sharp corners on the inside diameter or outside diameter in order to avoid scraping or scoring of a slit or pre-pre-pierced septum during passage through the septum. The cannula may be employed in various types of embodiments including swabable valve connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: Vincent L. Vaillancourt
  • Patent number: 6267749
    Abstract: A syringe is provided that comprises a plunger which is adapted to be locked in place when it is fully compressed. The plunger comprises a frangible section which has a breaking strength less than the holding strength of the locking structure. Thus, if an attempt is made to withdraw the plunger and reuse the syringe after the plunger has been fully compressed, the plunger will break, rather than withdrawing from the syringe barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Safeguard Medical Limited
    Inventors: Kodobor Miklos, Filippo Filippe
  • Patent number: 6264635
    Abstract: An implantable rotary blood pump including a rotor mounted for rotation within a pump housing. The rotor has a shaft portion and an impeller carried by the shaft portion. A rotor motor is provided, with the motor including a plurality of permanent magnets carried by the impeller and motor stators on opposite sides of the impeller. The motor is operable to transmit torque and also to provide an axial magnetic force that acts as an axial bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Kriton Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard K. Wampler, David M. Lancisi
  • Patent number: 6261259
    Abstract: A needle retraction device for removing a needle from a patient. The needle retraction device comprising a housing having an exterior wall which defines an interior compartment. A moveable member, having a pair of spaced apart movable legs or shoulders, separated from one another by an elongate slot, is located within the interior compartment. The pair of spaced apart movable legs or shoulders are also spaced from a remainder of the moveable member by a cavity or area which is sized to receive a coupling hub of a needle therein. The moveable member is movable from a first position, in which the pair of spaced apart movable legs or shoulders are located outside of the interior compartment of the needle retraction device for receiving a needle, and a second retracted position, in which the pair of spaced apart movable legs or shoulders, along with a supported needle or needle assembly, are completely retracted inside the interior compartment of the housing to prevent an inadvertent needle stick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Inventor: Craig J. Bell
  • Patent number: 6258113
    Abstract: Guidewire-deliverable devices and methods of using the devices for separating adjacent layers of tissue and for delivering a surgical prosthesis to an operating site. A guidewire-deliverable cannula provides an elongate window for accessing the operating site with a tissue-separating device. The tissue-separating device may include one of several types of an inflatable balloon or a tissue-dissecting member. The tissue-separating balloon may simultaneously deliver the prosthesis during tissue separation and may further be detached to remain with the prosthesis over the operating site. Alternatively, the prosthesis may be separately provided after the adjacent layers of tissue have been separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald D. Adams, William J. Shaw
  • Patent number: 6258080
    Abstract: This invention is a surgical device. In particular, it is a catheter suitable for treating a tissue target within the body, which target is accessible through the vascular system. Central to the invention is the use of stiffener ribbons, typically metallic, wound within the catheter body in such a way as to create a catheter having controllable stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Target Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventor: Gene Samson
  • Patent number: 6248093
    Abstract: An improved pump is provided for controlled delivery of fluids wherein the pump includes a reservoir and a movable piston. A plunger slide is in removable contact with the movable piston. A motor, is operably coupled to a drive member, such as a drive screw. The motor is disposed in-line with the drive member and the plunger slide. The drive member is operably connected to the plunger slide and is disposed to be substantially enclosed by the plunger slide when the plunger slide is in at least one position. The drive member is adapted to advance the plunger slide in response to operation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: MiniMed Inc.
    Inventor: Sheldon Moberg
  • Patent number: 6241707
    Abstract: A safety needle cannula module in interchangeable combination with a safety syringe and plunger module, wherein the safety needle cannula module is formed with one of a variety of needle cannula sizes and wherein said safety syringe may be one of a variety of syringe sizes. The safety needle cannula module with needle cannula of desired size is attached to a safety syringe module wherein said safety syringe is a desired size. After medication is injected into a body with the safety needle cannula and the safety syringe, the safety syringe module reacts with the safety needle cannula module and further causes said safety needle cannula to be automatically retracted and disposed within the hollow plunger said safety syringe module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Inventor: Edward D. Dysarz
  • Patent number: 6241710
    Abstract: The invention provides surgical needles with a porous distal portion from which a liquid injectate will weep or ooze multidirectionally under injection pressure while the porous distal portion of the needle is inserted into a body surface. The porous distal portion of the needle can be fabricated from a porous carbon, metal, ceramic or polymer and preferably has a decreasing gradient of impedance to fluid flowing to the point of the needle to compensate for the falling off of injection pressure as fluid moves towards the point, thereby ensuring uniform weeping of the injectate along the injection course. The needle is adapted for attachment to a catheter or syringe. In another embodiment, a surgical assemblage is provided wherein a porous distal portion having similar fluid flow characteristics is located along the distal end of a catheter, and a needle point is attached to the distal end of the catheter (e.g., a steerable catheter) for piercing tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Tricardia LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. VanTassel, David R. Holmes, Jr., Robert S. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 6238374
    Abstract: An infuser for transferring hazardous treatment fluids to and from a medical application includes a spill containing housing having a medical application connecting element and a syringe seat. The syringe seat of the infuser leads to a syringe connecting element that provides a fluid coupling between the syringe and a fluid passage leading to the medical application connecting element. The interior of the housing can be sealed against leaks, for example, by providing the housing in two portions with a gasket provided between the portions. A fluid tight coupling between the syringe and the interior of the housing may be created by integrally forming a septum with the gasket and coupling the syringe with the syringe connecting element through the septum. The infuser can also be provided with two syringe seats so that two different fluids can be transferred. In one embodiment, a second syringe connecting element is provided in fluid-tight communication with a second fluid passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Proxima Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventor: Rance A. Winkler
  • Patent number: RE37439
    Abstract: There is disclosed herein a syringe with a protector case which holds a carpule and permits the injection of fluid contained in the carpule into the patient. The syringe is molded of plastic or other suitable material which is sterilizable. The device comprises several parts including a body, protector case, needle, needle cap, plug, plunger and harpoon. The harpoon can be integrally molded on the plunger. The major components of the device preferably are molded from a suitable plastic and may be clear or of a color like or similar to a surgical glove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Safety Syringes, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Firth, Anthony R. Perez