Patents Examined by Katherine Dowe
  • Patent number: 9168044
    Abstract: A cord assembly including an elongate cord extending between a first end in the form of at least one loop and an opposite free second end and a cleat fixedly attached to the looped end of the elongate cord. The cleat includes at least two recesses for receiving and securing the second end of the elongate cord during use, for example, as a tourniquet or to secure some other item. In use, the free end is passed through the loop so that the cord extends around the limb or other item to which it is being applied, and then the free end of the cord is locked into the cleat using the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Inventor: Jeffrey B. Kirkham
  • Patent number: 9119654
    Abstract: Surgical methods and devices allow closed-chest surgery to be performed on a heart of a patient while the heart is beating. A region of the heart is stabilized by engaging a surface of the heart with a stabilizer without having to stop the heart. Motion of the target tissues is inhibited sufficiently to treat the target tissues with robotic surgical tools which move in response to inputs of a robotic system operator. A stabilizing surface of the stabilizer is coupled to a drive system to position the surface from outside the patient, preferably by actuators of the robotic servomechanism. Exemplary stabilizers includes a suture or other flexible tension member spanning between a pair of jointed bodies, allowing the member to occlude a coronary blood vessel and/or help stabilize the target region between the stabilizing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Andris D. Ramans, David J. Rosa, Volkmar Falk
  • Patent number: 9113939
    Abstract: Surgical tools that can be used in single port laparoscopic procedures can include a low-profile handle assembly to minimize tool interference adjacent the incision site. For example, a handle assembly for a surgical instrument can have a generally in-line configuration extending linearly along a central longitudinal axis of an elongate shaft of the instrument. A linkage mechanism including a trigger, an actuation link, and an actuation shaft can be positioned within the in-line handle. The linkage mechanism can be pivoted between an open position in which end effectors of the instrument are open and a toggle position in which the end effectors are locked closed. A locking mechanism such as a ratchet mechanism can also be used to lock the end effectors. A surgical dissector can include gripping jaws having a curved profile or an angled elongate shaft to minimize tool interference and maximize visibility within a procedure site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corporation
    Inventors: Arkadiusz A. Strokosz, David T. Okihisa, Steven E. Decker, Phillip DeAlday, Scott V. Taylor, Henry Kahle
  • Patent number: 9107734
    Abstract: An embolic protection device for use in a patient's blood vessel, such as the aorta, has an approximately cylindrical outer structure made of a filter mesh material and an approximately conical inner structure also made of a filter mesh material. On the downstream end of the embolic protection device, the wider end of the conical inner structure is joined to the cylindrical outer structure. The upstream end of the embolic protection device is open for blood to flow between the conical inner structure and the cylindrical outer structure. The space between the conical inner structure and the cylindrical outer structure defines a collection chamber for captured emboli. The narrow upstream end of the conical inner structure has a catheter port with a resilient seal that is sized for passage of a catheter shaft. The filter mesh material may be self-supporting or it may be supported on a resilient-framework or an inflatable framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: EMBOLINE, INC.
    Inventor: Amir Belson
  • Patent number: 9101739
    Abstract: An inflation device includes a syringe body containing a bore. The bore holds a fluid that is used to inflate a separate device such as a dilation balloon. A plunger assembly slides within the syringe bore and contains a sealing member that forms a fluid tight seal with the syringe body. A shut-off valve is disposed within the distal end of the syringe body. The distal end of the syringe body has a fluid bypass channel fluidically coupled to the aperture of a connector. The shut-off valve has a spring-biased moveable piston with a bypass lumen contained therein, wherein the bypass lumen forms a fluid path between the bore and the fluid bypass channel when the pressure of the fluid is below a threshold value. The fluid path between the bore and the fluid bypass channel is interrupted when the pressure of the fluid is above the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: ENTELLUS MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Paul R. Lesch, Jr., Paul A. Vajgrt, Timothy B. Petrick
  • Patent number: 9095674
    Abstract: A nose clip includes an outer support member adapted to contact an outside surface of a nose. A bridge connected at a first end to the outer support member; and an inner support member connected to a second end of the bridge and adapted to be inserted into the nostril and to contact an inner surface of the nostril. When inserted, tension generated between the outer support member and the inner support member causes lateral movement of a surface within the nostril and opens a nasal airway. Additionally, the inner support can be curved to create an outward movement of the lateral wall of the nose. This in turn enables improved breathing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Inventor: Dean M. Toriumi
  • Patent number: 9095362
    Abstract: Surgical assemblies and related methods are disclosed that provide for the transmission of high levels of actuation torque to a rotary mechanism of an end effector supported by an independently rotatable main shaft without causing undesirable rotation of the main shaft. An input drive shaft is coupled with both the rotary mechanism and the main shaft via a transmission and a rotational coupling so that the main shaft is passively subjected to a counteracting torque opposite in direction to the actuation torque transmitted to the rotary mechanism so as to inhibit rotational driving of the main shaft by the transmitted actuation torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: INTUTITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory W. Dachs, II, John W. Zabinski, Gabriel F. Brisson, Todd Murphy
  • Patent number: 9095342
    Abstract: Embolic implants and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The implants may be used for occluding blood flow at endovascular sites. One use is in intracranial aneurysm emolization/occlusion and another in parent vessel occlusion (PVO) or sacrifice. Various features provide for improved use (e.g., regarding delivery, recapture, visualization and/or occlusion) and manufacturability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Frank P. Becking, Nicholas C. deBeer, Siddharth Loganathan
  • Patent number: 9095681
    Abstract: A catheter system including a housing and a first drive mechanism supported by the housing configured to impart movement to a first catheter device is provided. The first drive mechanism is moveable between an engaged position in which the first drive mechanism engages the first catheter device and a disengaged position in which the first drive mechanism does not engage the first catheter device. The catheter system includes a second drive mechanism supported by the housing configured to impart movement to a second catheter device. The second drive mechanism is moveable between an engaged position in which the second drive mechanism engages the second catheter device and a disengaged position in which the second drive mechanism does not engage the second catheter device. The catheter system includes a manual control configured to allow a user to manually move the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism between the engaged and disengaged positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Corindus Inc.
    Inventors: Tal Wenderow, Thomas Bromander, James J. Kennedy, III, Stanley O. Thompson, Jon B. Taylor, Jeffrey Lightcap, John Murphy, Graham Eacock
  • Patent number: 9084623
    Abstract: To perform a tool exchange in a medical robotic system, tool is retracted back into an entry guide from a deployed position and pose so that an assistant in the operating room may replace it with a different tool. While the tool is being retracted back towards the entry guide by user action, its configuration is changed to an entry pose while avoiding collisions with other objects so that it may fit in the entry guide. After the tool exchange is completed, a new tool is inserted in the entry guide and extended out of the guide by user action to the original position of the old tool prior to its retraction into the entry guide while the tool's controller assists the user by reconfiguring the new tool so as to resemble the original deployed pose of the old tool prior to its retraction into the entry guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Gomez, Nicola Diolaiti, David Q. Larkin, Paul E. Lilagan, Probal Mitra, Tabish Mustafa
  • Patent number: 9078630
    Abstract: A device for sealing a patent foramen ovale (PFO) in the heart is provided. The device includes a left atrial anchor adapted to be placed in a left atrium of the heart, a right atrial anchor adapted to be placed in a right atrium of the heart, and an elongate member adapted to extend through the passageway and connect the left and right atrial anchors. The right atrial anchor preferably includes a plurality of arms and a cover attached to the arms. The left atrial anchor also includes a plurality of arms and preferably does not include a cover. Preferably, the elongate member has a first end of fixedly connected to the left atrial anchor and a portion, proximal to the first end, releasably connected to the right atrial anchor. Preferably, the elongate member is flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis W. Wahr, David J. Blaeser, Peter T. Keith, Thomas V. Ressemann
  • Patent number: 9072513
    Abstract: Devices and methods used in termination of a tissue tightening procedure are described. Termination includes the cinching of a tether to tighten the tissue, locking the tether to maintain tension, and cutting excess tether. In procedures involving anchors secured to the tissue, the tether is coupled to the anchors and the tissue is tightened via tension applied to the anchors by cinching the tether. In general, the devices and methods can be used in minimally invasive surgical procedures, and can be applied through small incisions or intravascularly. A method for tightening tissue by fixedly coupling a first anchor to a tether and slidably coupling a second anchor to the tether, securing both anchors to the tissue, applying tension to the tether intravascularly, fixedly coupling the tether to the second anchor, and cutting the tether is described. The tissue to be tightened can comprise heart tissue, in particular heart valve annulus tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Guided Delivery Systems Inc.
    Inventors: John To, Niel F. Starksen, Tenny C. Calhoun, Brian Tang
  • Patent number: 9072583
    Abstract: Intragastric volume-occupying devices and methods for treating obesity are provided. The devices, which are inflated by carbon dioxide, include an aluminum or silicon oxide barrier layer providing carbon dioxide retention and an alkylene vinyl alcohol polymer layer providing structural integrity in vivo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Obalon Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark C. Brister, Kaushik A. Patel, Andrew P. Rasdal, Nelson Quintana, Neil R. Drake, Antonio C. Llevares, Dubravka Markovic, Amy D. L. VandenBerg
  • Patent number: 9066826
    Abstract: Medical device delivery systems, and related methods and components, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew C. Heidner, Richard C. Gunderson
  • Patent number: 9060893
    Abstract: The invention relates to a delivery system for a medical device and a method for operating a delivery system for a medical device, in particular a stent having a proximal end and a distal end, an inner shaft enclosing an inner lumen and an outer shaft surrounding the inner shaft in at least some areas and enclosing an intermediate lumen. One or more openings are provided in the inner shaft establishing a fluid connection between the inner lumen and the intermediate lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: BIOTRONIK VI Patent AG
    Inventors: Raimund Moehl, Amir Fargahi
  • Patent number: 9044266
    Abstract: An implant deployment device (10) includes a pusher member (30), inner catheter (24), dilator tip (20) upon which an implant (18) is supported during deployment into a lumen of a patient. A sheath (32) substantially surrounds the pusher member (30), the inner catheter (24), the dilator tip (20), covering the implant (18) and containing the implant (18) therewithin. The pusher member (30), inner catheter (24), dilator tip (20) has at least one longitudinal groove formed in its outer surface. This engages with at least one tooth (112) formed in an inner surface of the sheath (32) or an inner surface of a component of the device that is attached to the sheath (32), such as a clamping collar (90) or a locking unit (100). The tooth (112) engages with a longitudinal groove (80) and is able to move along the groove (80) in a longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Lars S. Nimgaard
  • Patent number: 9044221
    Abstract: Improved methods and apparatuses for heart valve repair in a beating heart of a patient utilize an exchangeable heart valve repair system. Heart valve repair system can include a port adapted to be seated in the heart wall and an imaging catheter slidable within the port. The imaging catheter can be selectively locked relative to the port for insertion into the heart and unlocked once the port is seated to allow the imaging catheter to move distally towards target tissue. A deployment catheter slidably disposed in the imaging catheter and a repair cartridge slidably disposed in the deployment catheter can be used to capture the target tissue and deploy a repair device into the tissue after proper capture is confirmed. System elements can be selectively removed from and replaced within port to deploy additional repair devices while port maintains a seal while elements are and are not inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: NeoChord, Inc.
    Inventors: John Zentgraf, David Joseph Parins, Arun Saini
  • Patent number: 9039751
    Abstract: Endoprothesis delivery systems and methods for making an using the same. An example medical endoprosthesis delivery system may include an inner member. An outer member may at least partially surround the inner member. The inner member and the outer member may be configured so that an implantable medical endoprosthesis can be disposed therebetween. A coupling device may be coupled to a portion of the outer member so that, when there is substantially no slack in the coupling device, as the coupling device moves in a proximal direction the portion of the outer member moves in the proximal direction. An adjustable stop may be coupled to the coupling device so that, when there is slack in the coupling device, as the adjustable stop is moved in the proximal direction, the amount of slack in the coupling device can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: John R. Moberg, Michael Gerdts
  • Patent number: 9028508
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an epilating apparatus (10) comprising a first disc assembly (12) arranged in a first row (14) and at least a second disc assembly (16) arranged in a second row (18), wherein during operation of the apparatus (10) the first disc assembly (12) and the second disc assembly (16) rotate (substantially) in a same direction. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a circumferential speed of the first disc assembly (12) is different from a circumferential speed of the second disc assembly (16). In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, the first disc assembly and the second disc assembly are arranged angularly relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Juergen Holzbauer, Ferdinand Sereinig
  • Patent number: 9028521
    Abstract: A surgical instrument for use with a surgical portal apparatus is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes an elongate shaft and a dilating member disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft. The elongate shaft has proximal and distal ends and defines a longitudinal axis. The dilating member has an outer surface that includes at least one atraumatic edge member. The at least one atraumatic edge member extends proximally from a tip of the dilating member. The dilating member has a first substantially triangular cross-section disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Robert C. Smith