Patents Examined by John Lacyk
  • Directionless (orientation independent) needle injection port
    Patent number: 8821373
    Abstract: Generally described herein are certain embodiments directed to an orientation-independent injection port fluidly coupled to a gastric banding system. The injection port may be configured to simplify the port-targeting process when a medical professional attempts to penetrate the injection port with a needle during a gastric band-adjusting procedure. For example, the injection port may be orientation-independent with the entire outer shell acting as the needle access point. Alternatively, and/or in addition, the inner core of the injection port may be hard or firm, thereby allowing for easier locating (e.g., when the medical professional performs palpation). Furthermore, the hard inner core may prevent needle over-throws, and help stabilize pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Schwab, Sean Snow
  • Device, system and methods for introducing soft tissue anchors
    Patent number: 8821370
    Abstract: A system for providing support to an anatomical structure of the pelvis includes first and second soft tissue anchors, a suburethral support, an introducer, and a filament. The first soft tissue anchor has a proximal end and a distal end and includes a base having a hollow tubular structure, a plurality of barbs, and a tip. The sub-urethral support portion has first and second ends, the first and second soft tissue anchors extending from the first and second ends of the sub-urethral support portion. The introducer has an elongate shaft and a handle, the elongate shaft having a proximal end at the handle and a distal end with an aperture extending through the distal end. The filament extends through the hollow tubular section of the first soft tissue anchor and through the aperture in the distal end of introducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Coloplast A/S
    Inventor: James Browning
  • Method for soft tissue anchoring with introducer
    Patent number: 8821369
    Abstract: A method of providing support to an anatomical structure of the pelvis includes making a vaginal incision for providing access for placement of a mesh support device below a urethra of a patient without penetrating an abdominal wall of the patient. The mesh support device includes a sling portion and first and second soft tissues connected to first and second ends of the sling portion. The mesh support device is delivered through the vaginal incision using an introducer including a curved elongate shaft having a distal portion and a proximal portion connected to a handle. A suture is passed through a hollow tubular section of the first soft tissue anchor. The suture passed through an aperture in a distal end of the introducer and the introducer is advanced over the suture until the first soft tissue anchor is located at the distal end of the introducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Colorplast A/S
    Inventor: James Browning
  • Devices for minimally invasive pelvic surgery
    Patent number: 8814777
    Abstract: The invention, in various embodiments, provides systems, devices, and methods for treating urinary incontinence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry N. Gellman, Rodney Brenneman, David Sauvageau, William Pintauro, Rodney Appell, Armand A. Morin
  • Implants, tools, and methods for treatment of pelvic conditions
    Patent number: 8808162
    Abstract: Described are various embodiments of surgical procedures, systems, implants, devices, tools, and methods, useful for treating pelvic conditions in a male or female, the pelvic conditions including incontinence (various forms such as fecal incontinence, stress urinary incontinence, urge incontinence, mixed incontinence, etc.), vaginal prolapse (including various forms such as enterocele, cystocele, rectocele, apical or vault prolapse, uterine descent, etc.), and other conditions caused by muscle and ligament weakness, the devices and tools including devices and tools for anchoring an implant to supportive tissue and adjusting the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: AMS Research Corporation
    Inventors: Paul J. Gindele, Justin M. Crank, Matthew S. Finlay, William J. Rissmann
  • Sling with support and suspending members formed from same polymer
    Patent number: 8801596
    Abstract: A sling for treating urinary incontinence includes a suburethral support and first and second elongated suspending members. The suburethral support has opposite ends, is formed from a polymer and has first physical properties including a density, a length and a width. The first and second suspending members are formed from the same polymer as the suburethral support and have second physical properties including a density, a length and a width. The density of the suspending members is different than the density of the suburethral support. The first and second suspending members are each formed separately from and attached to one of the opposite ends of the suburethral support. The length of each of the suspending members is greater than the length of the suburethral support, and the width of each of the suspending members is less than the width of the suburethral support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Coloplast A/S
    Inventor: James Browning
  • Sub-motor-threshold stimulation of deep brain targets using transcranial magnetic stimulation
    Patent number: 8795148
    Abstract: Systems and methods for modulating deep brain target regions using an array of TMS electromagnets, wherein each TMS electromagnet stimulates the target at a level that is below motor threshold (MT). Neurological disorders (or disorders having neurological effects) may be treated by sub-MT stimulation of deep-brain targets from an array of TMS electromagnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Cervel Neurotech, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Bret Schneider, David J. Mishelevich
  • Method for treating female sexual dysfunction
    Patent number: 8795153
    Abstract: There is provided a method for treating sexual dysfunction of a female patient comprising stimulating at least one portion of the patient's female erectile tissue to at least restrict the blood flow leaving the erectile tissue to obtain engorgement with blood of the female erectile tissue. To improve the erection effect the method further comprises gently constricting the erectile portion to restrict the venous blood flow in the erectile portion, and then stimulating the constricted erectile portion to cause contraction of the erectile portion to at least further restrict the blood flow leaving the erectile tissue to obtain engorgement with blood of the female erectile tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Inventor: Peter Forsell
  • Devices and methods for delivering sutures and implants
    Patent number: 8795152
    Abstract: A medical device for the delivery of sutures and implants through tissue of a patient's body. The medical device includes a handle, an elongated shaft member, a needle carrier, and a slideable mechanism. A method of delivering a suture or an implant includes inserting and deploying a medical device including a handle, an elongated shaft member, a needle carrier, and a slideable mechanism into tissue of a patient's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. H. Chu
  • Propulsion inflatable penile implant
    Patent number: 8795154
    Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure relates to an implantable penile prosthesis including an elongated cylinder that includes a pendulous portion configured to move from a non-pressurized state to a pressurized state. A tapered tailoring portion of the elongated cylinder is configured to anchor the elongated cylinder at a base of the penis. The elongated cylinder further includes a flared reservoir portion, at least a portion of which has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the pendulous portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Inventor: Said I. Hakky
  • Systems, devices, and methods for minimally invasive pelvic surgery
    Patent number: 8790238
    Abstract: The invention, in various embodiments, provides systems, devices, and methods for treating urinary incontinence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry N. Gellman, Rodney Brenneman, David J. Sauvageau, William Pintauro, Rodney Appell, Armand A. Morin
  • Ventricular volume reduction
    Patent number: 8790242
    Abstract: Devices and systems including implants (which may be removable) and methods of using them for reducing ventricular volume. The implants described herein are cardiac implants that may be inserted into a patient's heart, particularly the left ventricle. The implant may support the heart wall, or may be secured to the heart wall. The implants are typically ventricular partitioning device for partitioning the ventricle into productive and non-productive regions in order to reduce the ventricular volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: CardioKinetix, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Kermode, Miles D. Alexander, Michael P. Boutillette, Matthew T. Davila, Irene Bing Bie Tan
  • Systems, devices, and methods for minimally invasive pelvic surgery
    Patent number: 8790239
    Abstract: The invention, in various embodiments, provides systems, devices, and methods for treating urinary incontinence. The invention also provides a driver and methods for advancing needles, cannulas, and other medical devices through the pubic bone. The driver may be used in connection with a driver frame assembly for proper positioning and stabilization of the driver, and with other devices for creating a cavity in the urethral floor and for positioning medical devices therein. The invention also provides simple connections for attaching a suture to a device within the cavity in the urethral floor or in the vagina, an also for attaching sutures to the pubic bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry N. Gellman, Rodney J. Brenneman, David J. Sauvageau, William Pintauro, Rodney Appell, Armand Morin
  • Middle ear implant for otosclerosis
    Patent number: 8771167
    Abstract: A middle ear transducer arrangement is described for engaging a round window membrane of a patient cochlea. A mechanical transducer is surgically implantable into a fixed position in the round window niche of the patient cochlea adjacent to the round window membrane. A drive face on the outer surface of the transducer has a diameter less than half the diameter of the round window membrane. The fixed position of the transducer engages the drive face against a side section of the round window membrane without engaging the center point to generate an acoustic stimulation signal for perception as sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Vibrant Med-E1 Hearing Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Grasso
  • Multi-polar magnetic devices for treating patients and methods therefor
    Patent number: 8764620
    Abstract: A system for treating patients includes a first magnetic device including a set of four magnetic discs arranged in an array, the four magnetic discs including two having negative magnetic poles lying in a first plane and two having positive magnetic poles lying in the first plane, wherein the two magnetic discs having negative magnetic poles extend along a first diagonal line and the two magnetic discs having positive magnetic poles extend along a second diagonal line that crosses the first diagonal line, and a housing containing the four magnetic discs for maintaining the magnetic discs in the array arrangement, the housing including an alignment marker for aligning the first magnetic device on a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventors: Laurie A. Bechler, Joseph R. Mele
  • Penile prosthesis
    Patent number: 8764627
    Abstract: A male impotence treatment apparatus comprises an adjustable prosthesis device implanted in an impotent patient. The prosthesis device engages the corpus cavernosum or penile tissue of the patient to provide flaccid or erect state of the penis. An implanted adjustment device is adapted to adjust the prosthesis such that the penis can be temporarily erected. The prosthesis is preferably controlled with a remote control and an implanted powered operation device, which may include servo means, operates the adjustment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Obtech Medical AG
    Inventor: Peter Forsell
  • Dissolvable protective treatment for an implantable supportive sling
    Patent number: 8753259
    Abstract: The invention provides, in one embodiment, a sling assembly including an implantable supportive sling and a biocompatible dissolvable protective treatment on at least a portion of the sling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Doreen Rao
  • Penile implant for aiding achievement of a penile erection
    Patent number: 8740770
    Abstract: An implant for helping a male patient achieve a penile erection, the implant comprising a pair of substantially straight and substantially rigid rods and an interconnecting structure. The rods are configured for being implanted subcutaneously in the patient and are selectively movable from a retracted mode of the implant to a deployed mode of the implant, where in the deployed mode a desired portion of each rod is within the penis shaft and in the retracted mode at least a majority of each rod is out of the penis shaft. Each rod comprises at least one flexible portion, the flexible portion being configured for being bent at a desired angle and for maintaining the desired angle. The interconnecting structure is implanted subcutaneously in the patient and joined to the rods, and is configured for stabilizing the rods within the penis shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Inventor: William K. Joh
  • Penile prosthetic reservoir
    Patent number: 8740771
    Abstract: An implantable penile prosthetic includes a pump attachable between a body implantable reservoir and a cylinder that is implantable into a corpora cavernosum of a penis. The body implantable reservoir is substantially empty of liquid prior to implantation and includes a first end portion including a neck having an opening that is adapted to communicate with the pump and an end wall on an end of the reservoir that is opposite of the neck. The end wall extends between a first surface of the reservoir and a second surface of the reservoir. The reservoir includes a first substantially planar edge surrounding a periphery of the first surface of the reservoir and a second substantially planar edge surrounding a periphery of the second surface of the reservoir. The first surface is concave relative to the first edge and the second surface is concave relative to the second edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Coloplast A/S
    Inventor: Nicholas Ellering
  • Device for carrying out a sexual act
    Patent number: 8734323
    Abstract: Device for fulfilling sex ?cf comprising ? prosthesis placed, at least partially, around the male-member, at the base thereof, characterized by comprising means for retaining in place said prosthesis around the member, and in that said prosthesis is inflatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventor: Nicola Staffolani