Patents Examined by Jonathan W Miles
  • Patent number: 8696696
    Abstract: A tissue cutting device is disclosed, which is structured and arranged to be inserted through the vascular system into a body vessel adjacent to the heart and/or into the heart, and to be subsequently subjected to a change of shape in order to penetrate into the heart tissue. The tissue cutting device may thus be used for treating disorders to the heart rhythm regulation system. A kit of devices provides a plurality of devices for creating a lesion pattern for treating such disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Syntach AG
    Inventor: Jan Otto Solem
  • Patent number: 8690907
    Abstract: Vascular treatment and methods include a plurality of self-expanding bulbs and a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Joints between woven structures and hypotubes include solder. Woven structures include patterns of radiopaque filaments measurable under x-ray. Structures are heat treated to include at least shapes at different temperatures. A catheter includes a hypotube including interspersed patterns of longitudinally spaced rows of kerfs. Heat treating systems include a detachable flange. Laser cutting systems include a fluid flow system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Insera Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Vallabh Janardhan, Vikram Janardhan
  • Patent number: 8690896
    Abstract: A surgical staple remover apparatus includes a handle located at a rear of the apparatus, an upward sloped jaw element comprising a pair of jaws, an arm having a hook element on a distal end, wherein the arm is positioned such that the hook element is disposed over the jaw element, a housing, a spring that couples the housing to the arm, a lever mechanically coupled to the arm, wherein moving the lever closer to the handle results in the hook element pressing against a crown of a surgical staple, deforming the surgical staple for removal and moving the surgical staple proximally, and a strip element located on top of the jaw element, such that when the hook element deforms and moves the surgical staple proximally, the surgical staple is moved under the strip element and held in place by same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sinn Rx, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Sinnreich, William Sinnreich
  • Patent number: 8685052
    Abstract: Various medical devices and methods for cutting, evacuating and/or performing work on tissue are provided. The devices and methods may utilize a reciprocating mechanism or motor powered by suction from a vacuum source. The medical devices and methods may be used on tissue in various regions of a patient's body and for treating various conditions, e.g., for performing a polypectomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Laurimed, LLC
    Inventors: Brian R. DuBois, James T. Nielsen, Alexander Gordon
  • Patent number: 8685088
    Abstract: A system for easily transferring an intraocular lens (IOL) from an inserter into a patient's eye. The system includes an inserter handpiece with a holding station for receiving or storing an IOL. The IOL may be pre-loaded within the holding station during manufacture, and the inserter handpiece coupled to a delivery tube so that the entire system is ready for use by a surgeon to implant an IOL. The IOL may have an optic and leading and trailing haptics coupled to the optic, and the holding station may be capable of manipulating the haptics as desired to facilitate transfer of the IOL through the delivery tube into the eye. For instance, the holding station may fold one or both of the haptics over the optic. Preferably, the holding station maintains the haptics in their folded positions during transfer of the IOL into the delivery tube. The holding station desirably maintains the IOL in a relaxed configuration during storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Abbott Medical Optics Inc.
    Inventor: Steven R Anderson
  • Patent number: 8685057
    Abstract: A dental tweezers with plastic tweezers main body is disclosed. A weight cavity is disposed on both tweezers arms of the main body. Weight arms of a metal weight are inserted into the weight cavities. A weight seat holds the metal weight in place on the tweezers main body. The metal weight makes the dental tweezers feel heavier and more substantial. After the dental tweezers have been used the metal weight is removed from the main body. The plastic tweezers main body is disposed of and the metal weight is retained for future use in an new plastic tweezers main body. A use indicator of the tweezers main body indicates that the dental tweezers has been used. The use indicator provides easy determination of whether or not the dental tweezers has been previously used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Ming-Yuan Wu
  • Patent number: 8679150
    Abstract: A biomedical shape-set textile structure based mechanical thrombectomy systems and methods are described. In one of the embodiments, the mechanical thrombectomy device can be customized to the length of the clot in each patient. In one of the embodiments, the mechanical thrombectomy device because of the textile structure has a very low overall profile or thickness that is less than 0.0125 inches (0.317 mm) and therefore can be deployed within microcatheters with inner lumen diameter as small as 0.014 inches (0.355 mm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Insera Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Vallabh Janardhan, Vikram Janardhan
  • Patent number: 8679132
    Abstract: An insertion system for inserting a sensor into fatty tissue, comprising an insertion device and an insertion needle containing a sensor, wherein the insertion device comprises a holder for the insertion needle, and a piercing mechanism so as to move the holder, with the needle held by the same, in a feed direction for a puncture. The piercing mechanism changes the feed direction during the puncture so that, at the end of the puncture, an insertion needle held by the holder is oriented obliquely or perpendicular to the initial feed direction. Also provided are methods for controlling a needle moved by an insertion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Deck
  • Patent number: 8679140
    Abstract: At least on aspect of the present disclosure relates to a surgical clamping device, comprising first and second shaft members each having a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof, a gripping member disposed on the first shaft member, and a gear system disposed on the second shaft member and configured to receive the gripping member and incrementally lock the gripping member in at least one predefined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Dennis W. Butcher
  • Patent number: 8673002
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for performing small incision DLEK include providing a corneal transplantation donor tissue graft; then forming the tissue graft into an implantable configuration using the flexible substrate. Related medical kits and tools for forming a compact or rolled donor tissue graft are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Wake Forest University Health Science
    Inventors: Keith Andrew Walter, Kurt Weber
  • Patent number: 8672950
    Abstract: A micro-invasive medical instrument includes a shaft and an end balloon on a distal end of the shaft, where the end balloon completely encloses the distal end of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Hahn, Frank Doll, Anne-Kathrin Graf, Sven Steckeler
  • Patent number: 8668734
    Abstract: Intraocular lens delivery devices and methods of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: PowerVision, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Hildebrand, Claudio Argento, Gregory V. Matthews
  • Patent number: 8668718
    Abstract: A staple for attaching a sheet-like implant to tissue or bone may, include first and second arms, and first and second flukes. In some embodiments, the first arm has a proximal end and a distal end, and the second arm has a proximal end and a distal end. A bridge extends from the proximal end of the first arm to the proximal end of the second arm. The first fluke has a proximal end abutting the distal end of the first arm, and the first fluke extends distally from the first arm. The first fluke has a lateral extent larger than a lateral extent of the first arm and is mounted eccentrically thereto. The first fluke includes a proximal surface projecting at an outward angle in a proximal direction away from the distal end of the first arm to engage the tissue or bone when inserted therein. The second fluke has similar features. This arrangement causes the first and second flukes to rotate in response to a pullout force on the bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Rotation Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Euteneuer, Rebecca McCarville, Duane Frion, Nathaniel Zenz-Olson, Diane M. Feehan
  • Patent number: 8663308
    Abstract: The medical devices, such as stent grafts, described herein preferably include a tubular remodelable graft material attached to a support frame formed at least in part from a metallic bioabsorbable material. The remodelable graft material preferably includes an extracellular matrix material such as small intestinal submucosa (SIS). The support frame attached to the graft is preferably a bioabsorbable magnesium alloy. The devices may be implanted within a peripheral vascular body vessel from a percutaneous delivery catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael Schafer, Andrew W. Conder, Robert W. Harrell, Marck Wassmann, Gert P. Andersen
  • Patent number: 8663257
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for using an anastomosis device to repair severed tissues resulting from a surgical medical procedure such as a radical prostatectomy, ilio-orthotopic neobladder construction, cystoprostatectomy, cystectomy, urethral anastomosis, or ureteral anastomosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: AMS Research Corporation
    Inventors: Kory P. Hamel, Vincent G. Copa
  • Patent number: 8657844
    Abstract: A medical expanding apparatus is disclosed that can separate adhered neural tissues or muscle tissues. The apparatus includes an expanding member, an air tube, a connecting part, a body, and a front cover. The expanding member is expanded in the human body using air pressure. The air tube, whose one end is coupled to the expanding member, holds the expanding member and guides the air into the inside of the expanding member. The connecting part, whose one end is fitted into the other end of the air tube to be tightly coupled to the air tube, guides the air into the air tube. The body has an air inflow pipe and transfers the air flowing in through the air inflow pipe to the connecting part in order to expand the expanding member. One end of the body is coupled to the other side end of the connecting part. The front cover, coupled to the one end of the body, closely couples the connecting part and the body, so that the body holds the connecting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: BM Korea Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Chang-Hwa You, Boo-Gou Park
  • Patent number: 8657842
    Abstract: Various medical devices and methods for cutting, evacuating and/or performing work on tissue are provided. The devices and methods may utilize a reciprocating mechanism or motor powered by suction from a vacuum source. The medical devices and methods may be used on tissue in various regions of a patient's body and for treating various conditions, e.g., for performing a polypectomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Laurimed, LLC
    Inventors: Brian R. Dubois, James T. Nielsen, Alexander Gordon
  • Patent number: 8657836
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device that protects the tissue in the posterior part of the introitus vaginae, i.e. the commissura posterior. The origin of perineal tear starts here when the segment is stretched to double or triple its length during delivery of the head. Tears can be more extensive into the perineal body, continue into the anal sphincter and in worse cases even through the whole perineum into the anal canal. In use the device may protect against perineal tears of the posterior vaginal wall into the mucosa, perineal skin, muscles, even more profound down to the anal sphincter muscle and into the rectum and the rectal mucosa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Vernix Pharma A/S
    Inventor: Knut Haadem
  • Patent number: 8647356
    Abstract: A lancing system comprising a lancet with a handle portion and a needle bearing portion, the needle bearing portion retaining a thin needle protected by a safety cap. The safety cap includes first and second chambers, where the first chamber acts as a sheath and the second chamber having a surface positioned to compromise the structure of the needle when the needle bearing portion of the lancet body is inserted into the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Inventor: Stanley I. Kim
  • Patent number: 8641748
    Abstract: A guidewire loaded stent for delivery through a catheter is described herein. The stent delivery assembly can deliver and place a stent within tortuous regions of the body which are accessible to guidewires but inaccessible to stenting catheters. The assembly comprises a guidewire covered in part by a retractable sheath and a radially expandable stent near or at the distal end of the guidewire. The whole assembly is advanced through conventional catheters or it may be used alone. In either case, when the stent is adjacent to a treatment site within the body, the sheath is retracted proximally to expose the stent for radial expansion into contact with the vessel wall. Radio-opaque marker bands are optionally located on either side or both sides of the stent on the guidewire body to aid in visual placement. The assembly can optionally include an expandable balloon on the guidewire for different treatment modalities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Bay Street Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Hebert, Marc-Alan Levine