Patents Examined by Son Dang
  • Patent number: 9717515
    Abstract: A dual-purpose surgical bougie is disclosed for vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) procedures, and other related operations, that can serve the purpose of both operating as a guide or dilator for stapling and resecting a stomach and also securing, containing, and trans-orally extracting the resected stomach, thereby promoting faster patient recovery, minimizing and reducing the size and number of incisions, and further minimizing VSG procedure related complications, among other advantages. In one aspect of the disclosure described herein, the dual-purpose medical device can include a surgical bougie having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the bougie can be made of at least one of rubber, silicone, plastic, and metal. In addition, the bougie can include a channel or passage disposed within its central axis extending from its distal end to the proximal end, and a securement member coupled to the bougie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: MW Support Services, LLC
    Inventor: Todd McCarty
  • Patent number: 9717614
    Abstract: A handle assembly for a delivery device the sequential release of trigger wires from a prosthesis to release the prosthesis from the delivery device. The handle assembly has two handles, one of which is a rotating handle. The rotating handle has a first and second trigger wire release mechanisms which operate to sequentially release a first and second trigger wire, respectively, and a locking mechanism. The other handle has a locking mechanism that prevents that operation of the second trigger wire release mechanism until the first trigger wire has been released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jacqueline Farag Eells, Per Hendriksen, Erik E. Rasmussen, Marianne Soerensen
  • Patent number: 9706987
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring suture to bone. In one exemplary embodiment, a cannulated suture anchor is provided and it includes a suture-engaging member formed therein and configured to receive a suture therearound such that trailing ends of the suture can extend through the suture anchor. The present invention also provides exemplary sutures and drivers that can be used with the various methods and devices disclosed herein, or with other methods and devices known in the art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: DePuy Mitek, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan S. Cauldwell, Jonathan Howe, Gregory R. Whittaker, Gary McAlister, Jose E. Lizardi
  • Patent number: 9700352
    Abstract: A device for retrieving calculus in a lumen of a living body includes an elongated member possessing an outer dimension configured to be positioned in the lumen of the living body, wherein the tubular body includes an inlet, an outlet and a retrieval space in the interior at a position between the inlet and the outlet. A foldable sealing member is positioned in the tubular body interior and is axially movable in distal and proximal directions, and a plunger is connected to the sealing member so that axial movement of the plunger axially moves the sealing member in the interior of the tubular body. The foldable sealing member is folded into a folded configuration when the plunger is axially moved in a distal direction toward the inlet and being spread out in a spread-out configuration when the plunger is axially moved in a proximal direction away from the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kei Honda, Takeshi Tsubouchi
  • Patent number: 9693765
    Abstract: Knotless, adjustable anchor systems that allow for knotless tensioning of tissue (such as the rotator cuff) after anchor implantation. The knotless, adjustable anchor system includes knotless anchors (for example, swivel and/or screw-in suture anchors and/or push-in suture anchors) that are modified to carry a self-locking, adjustable construct (for example, a suture assembly with a spliced suture loop) and to position the self-locking, adjustable construct at the repair site. The system allows for knotless tensioning of the tissue after the knotless anchors have been implanted. The medial row anchors are implanted and passed through tissue in a similar fashion as the current Corkscrew® or SwiveLock® C anchors are. The lateral row anchors are similar to a knotless SutureTak® but modified to accommodate a larger suture to hold a larger load. The suture is interconnected to the medial row and returned back to the lateral row for loading into the splice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek C. Sullivan, Peter J. Dreyfuss, Laurence D. Higgins
  • Patent number: 9693793
    Abstract: In a width dimension decrease portion forming a distal end of an ultrasonic probe, a width dimension decreases from a proximal direction toward a distal direction, so that a sectional area perpendicular to a longitudinal axis decreases from the proximal direction toward the distal direction. An intermediary portion continuous between a probe body portion and the width dimension decrease portion includes a width dimension increase portion in which the width dimension increases and a thickness dimension decreases from the proximal direction toward the distal direction at the same time. In the intermediary portion, the sectional area perpendicular to the longitudinal axis does not increase and does not decrease at a higher decrease rate than in the width dimension decrease portion toward the distal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsunetaka Akagane
  • Patent number: 9687247
    Abstract: A clip applying apparatus is described for applying clips seriatim to tissue. The apparatus includes a lockout member for limiting distal movement of the camming member after the proximal-most clip has been applied to tissue. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a jaw locking member for preventing approximation of the jaw members of the apparatus. In one embodiment, a latch assembly is provided to releasably engage a clip pusher of the apparatus to the camming member of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Ernest Aranyi, Kenneth H. Whitfield, Greg Sorrentino
  • Patent number: 9675361
    Abstract: An occlusion device comprising a plurality of inner coils and a plurality of outer coils is described. When the device is deployed to a body vessel or a body cavity, it expands radially due to the material from which the outer coils are made. The inner coils function to occlude the vessel while the outer coils provide support. The device can be capped at both ends or may have a free distal end. A method of deploying the device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: COOK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Elizabeth Theobald, Andrew Conder
  • Patent number: 9675454
    Abstract: This invention relates to a delivery apparatus and method for deployment of a mitral valve replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Tendyne Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Vidlund, Kemal Schankereli
  • Patent number: 9675493
    Abstract: Provided is a goggle kit including a goggle clip attachable to the goggle frame, and a corresponding nose element, which adheres to the user's nose. The nose element and the goggle clip are configured to be detachably engageable therewith, such that when the nose element is placed on the user's nose and the goggle is placed over the user's eyes, the goggle clip and nose element may be engaged with each other, thereby urging the nasal opening of the user to dilate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Inventor: James D. Castillo
  • Patent number: 9668761
    Abstract: A dual-purpose surgical bougie is disclosed for vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) procedures, and other related operations, that can serve the purpose of both operating as a guide or dilator for stapling and resecting a stomach and also securing, containing, and trans-orally extracting the resected stomach, thereby promoting faster patient recovery, minimizing and reducing the size and number of incisions, and further minimizing VSG procedure related complications, among other advantages. In one aspect of the disclosure described herein, the dual-purpose medical device can include a surgical bougie having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the bougie can be made of at least one of rubber, silicone, plastic, and metal. In addition, the bougie can include a channel or passage disposed within its central axis extending from its distal end to the proximal end, and a securement member coupled to the bougie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: MW Support Services, LLC
    Inventor: Todd McCarty
  • Patent number: 9662107
    Abstract: Various suture anchors and surgical methods are provided. A two-part suture anchor is provided having a continuously threaded anchor body defining an axial bore and a pin. The pin includes a tip and a plate defining at least two suture receiving openings aligned in a single plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the axial bore is disposed in anchor body. Methods of attaching soft tissue to bone are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Troy M. Walters, Gregory J. Denham, Nathanael K. Conner
  • Patent number: 9662134
    Abstract: A contact portion, provided in an exposed surface of the treating section, treats a treated object by a transmitted ultrasonic vibration while intruding into the treated object toward an intruding direction from a state being in contact with the treated object. An index portion is disposed on an anti-intruding direction side with respect to the contact portion in the exposed surface. The index portion becomes an index indicating an intruding amount of the contact portion into the treated object toward the intruding direction. The index portion includes index surfaces arranged in the intruding direction, and each of the index surfaces has an angle relative to the intruding direction which is different from the angle of the adjacent index surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chie Onuma, Manabu Ishikawa, Sohei Ueda
  • Patent number: 9662136
    Abstract: An incision is formed at a site where a cellular tissue is to be dissected. A liquid is ejected to the incision. The incision is expanded. The cellular tissue is dissected. The liquid is ejected in the form of a pulse flow. The liquid is ejected in such a way as to advance obliquely to a tangential direction to a surface of the cellular tissue. A site where the liquid is applied to the surface is moved in a direction in which an angle formed by the surface and the direction of advancement of the liquid is greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Kojima, Toshiki Endo, Atsuhiro Nakagawa, Tominaga Teiji
  • Patent number: 9642611
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a suture anchor. The suture anchor includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end, the body including threads along at least a partial length of the body and at least one through hole, the threads including a profile such that the threads located near the distal end of the body include a first shape and the threads located near the proximal end of the body include a second shape different from the first shape. Delivery devices and anchor dilators are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Edwin Housman, Paul Steven Vincuilla, Richard M. Lunn, Julie Kennelly Tripodi, Paul Leo Salvas, Roland Francis Gatturna
  • Patent number: 9642616
    Abstract: A knot placement device allows a physician to apply a knot for securing two or more suture ends extending from an incision in a vessel or organ of a patient relative to each other in order to seal an opening in the vessel or organ. The knot placement device has a handle and an elongate shaft and a push rod slidably inserted in said shaft. A knot is disposed in the distal end of the shaft. An actuator on the handle may be depressed to distally advance said push rod relative to said shaft and thereby distally advance said knot. The knot may include a knot body having an inner cavity and a plug sized to fit securely within the inner cavity. In use, the plug may be inserted into the inner cavity of the knot body to fixedly hold two or more suture ends between the knot body and the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Nobles Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony A. Nobles, Steven E. Decker, Egbert Ratering
  • Patent number: 9636107
    Abstract: Methods and devices provide constriction of a heart valve annulus to treat cardiac valve regurgitation and other conditions. Embodiments typically include a device for attaching a cinching or tightening apparatus to a heart valve annulus to reduce the circumference of the annulus, thus reducing valve regurgitation. Tightening devices may include multiple tethered clips, multiple untethered crimping clips, stabilizing devices, visualization devices, and the like. In one embodiment, a plurality of tethered clips is secured circumferentially to a valve annulus, and the tether coupling the clips is cinched to reduce the circumference of at least a portion of the annulus. Methods and devices may be used in open heart surgical procedures, minimally invasive procedures, catheter-based procedures, and/or procedures on beating hearts or stopped hearts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Ancora Heart, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodolfo A. Morales, Niel F. Starksen
  • Patent number: 9636118
    Abstract: An embolic microcoil can be formed into a complex shape for use in treating aneurysms and other vascular disorders. The microcoil features a distal portion including several loops that together comprise a substantially spherical shape, and an elongated proximal portion that is deployable within the distal portion. The distal portion can create a stable frame with adequate loop coverage across a neck of the aneurysm. The proximal portion can include a series of substantially omega-shaped loops, which can apply a force against the interior of the substantially spherical shaped distal portion, expanding it into apposition with additional portions of the aneurysm wall. Methods of treating vascular disorders and methods of manufacturing certain microcoils are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: INCUMEDx, Inc.
    Inventors: Armando Garza, Be T. Le, Regina C. Velasco, Amiel R. Aguilar, Berchell J. Yee
  • Patent number: 9636109
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to biodegradable and bioresorbable materials having a mineral layer on the surface of the material. More particularly, the disclosure relates to biodegradable and bioresorbable orthopedic devices having a degradable mineral layer on the surface thereof that can be used as a delivery vehicle for biological substances. Also provided are various methods of using the mineralized devices in tissue regeneration, including bone tissue engineering, and methods for producing the mineralized devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: William L. Murphy, Jae Sung Lee, Mark D. Markel, Ben K. Graf, Geoffrey Baer, Yan Lu
  • Patent number: 9636103
    Abstract: A surgical suturing instrument including a handle assembly, an elongate member extending distally from the handle assembly and an end effector attached to the distal end of the elongate member. The end effector may include a first jaw member movable relative to a second jaw member between an open position and an approximated position for grasping tissue. Each of the jaw members define a knife slot, a first needle slot, and a second needle slot extending along a longitudinal axis of the end effector. The end effector also includes a knife assembly and an upper assembly pivotably coupled to an upper knife flange of the knife assembly. The upper assembly includes an upper bellcrank, a first needle, a first suture passing through a first aperture defined by the first needle, a second needle and a second suture passing through a second aperture defined by the second needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Christopher Penna