Patents by Inventor Aaron J. Hjelle
Aaron J. Hjelle has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8100821Abstract: A delivery device for efficiently delivering a cardiac support device of the type having a jacket. The device includes a body, a deployment mechanism and an actuating mechanism. The deployment mechanism is for releasable connection to a cardiac support device and movable within the jacket between retracted and extended states to drive the jacket between collapsed and open configurations. At least portions of the deployment mechanism within the jacket have a lubricious surface to substantially reduce friction between the jacket and a heart onto which the jacket is being positioned. The actuating mechanism moves the deployment mechanism between the retracted and extended states.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2008Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Mardil, Inc.Inventors: Aaron J. Hjelle, Louis Labrousse, Robert G. Walsh, Paul Andrew Pignato, Michael J. Girard
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Publication number: 20110166412Abstract: A cardiac support device including a jacket and elastic attachment structure for self-securing the jacket to a heart. The attachment structures can include undulating metal and polymer elements, a silicone band and elastomeric filaments on a base end of the jacket.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2011Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: MARDIL, INC.Inventors: Robert G. WALSH, Aaron J. HJELLE, Paul Andrew PIGNATO, Ann Margaret THOMAS, Hani N. SABBAH, Noreen Walen THOMPSON, Holly J. HICKS
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Publication number: 20100268019Abstract: A device for delivery of a cardiac support device for treating cardiac disease of a heart includes a multistage deployment mechanism and an actuating mechanism for controlling the positions of the deployment mechanism. The deployment mechanism is operable to change between a retracted state and an extended state, and includes a plurality of independent stages, including, in one embodiment, a first stage including a guide structure for location adjacent a portion of the patient's heart when in the extended state. A second stage is movably coupled to the first stage, and is guided by the guide structure between the retracted and extended states. The second stage further releasably engages and supports the cardiac support device and positions the cardiac support device at the desired implantation location, guided by the guide structure of the stage. In some embodiments, the deployment mechanism may include additional stages.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2010Publication date: October 21, 2010Applicant: ACORN CARDIOVASCULAR, INC.Inventors: Aaron J. HJELLE, Paul A. PIGNATO, Robert G. WALSH, William E. COHN, Ann Margaret THOMAS
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Publication number: 20100152542Abstract: A method for managing the pericardium during intra-pericardial procedures such as the delivery of cardiac support devices. One embodiment of the method includes making an incision through the pericardium to provide access to the pericardial space, and inserting a plurality of strips of lubricious material into and through the incision. The strips of material are spaced around the edges of the incision to form a tubular barrier against the pericardium. End portions of the strips of material in the pericardial space are expanded away from the body to form a lip that lines the inside of the pericardium around the incision.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2010Publication date: June 17, 2010Applicant: ACORN CARDIOVASCULAR, INC.Inventors: Aaron J. HJELLE, Paul Andrew PIGNATO, Robert G. WALSH, Richard C. Mattison
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Publication number: 20100137678Abstract: A cardiac support device including a jacket and elastic attachment structure for self-securing the jacket to a heart. The attachment structures can include undulating metal and polymer elements, a silicone band and elastomeric filaments on a base end of the jacket.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2010Publication date: June 3, 2010Applicant: ACORN CARDIOVASCULAR, INC.Inventors: Robert G. WALSH, Aaron J. HJELLE, Paul Andrew PIGNATO, Ann Margaret THOMAS, Hani N. SABBAH, Noreen Walen THOMPSON, Holly J. HICKS
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Patent number: 7727142Abstract: A device for delivery of a cardiac support device for treating cardiac disease of a heart includes a multistage deployment mechanism and an actuating mechanism for controlling the positions of the deployment mechanism. The deployment mechanism is operable to change between a retracted state and an extended state, and includes a plurality of independent stages, including, in one embodiment, a first stage including a guide structure for location adjacent a portion of the patient's heart when in the extended state. A second stage is movably coupled to the first stage, and is guided by the guide structure between the retracted and extended states. The second stage further releasably engages and supports the cardiac support device and positions the cardiac support device at the desired implantation location, guided by the guide structure of the stage. In some embodiments, the deployment mechanism may include additional stages.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2006Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.Inventors: Aaron J. Hjelle, Paul Andrew Pignato, Robert G. Walsh, William E. Cohn, Ann Margaret Thomas
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Publication number: 20100094080Abstract: An apparatus for placing a cardiac support device (CSD) on a heart. The apparatus includes a body, a deployment mechanism on the body for supporting the CSD in an open position for placement on the heart, and a release mechanism coupled to the deployment mechanism for releasably mounting the CSD to the deployment mechanism. The release mechanism includes a release element for releasably engaging the CSD, and a release actuator coupled to the release element for actuating the release element to release the CSD.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2009Publication date: April 15, 2010Applicant: ACORN CARDIOVASCULAR, INC.Inventors: Aaron J. Hjelle, James Edward Shapland, Michael Andreini, Dan Titcomb, Jeffrey Popowski, Bradley Knippel
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Patent number: 7651462Abstract: An apparatus for placing a cardiac support device (CSD) on a heart. The apparatus includes a body, a deployment mechanism on the body for supporting the CSD in an open position for placement on the heart, and a release mechanism coupled to the deployment mechanism for releasably mounting the CSD to the deployment mechanism. The release mechanism includes a release element for releasably engaging the CSD, and a release actuator coupled to the release element for actuating the release element to release the CSD.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2006Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.Inventors: Aaron J. Hjelle, James Edward Shapland, Michael Andreini, Dan Titcomb, Jeffrey Popowski, Bradley Knippel
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Publication number: 20090131743Abstract: A delivery device for efficiently delivering a cardiac support device of the type having a jacket. The device includes a body, a deployment mechanism and an actuating mechanism. The deployment mechanism is for releasable connection to a cardiac support device and movable within the jacket between retracted and extended states to drive the jacket between collapsed and open configurations. At least portions of the deployment mechanism within the jacket have a lubricious surface to substantially reduce friction between the jacket and a heart onto which the jacket is being positioned. The actuating mechanism moves the deployment mechanism between the retracted and extended states.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2008Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.Inventors: Aaron J. HJELLE, Louis Labrousse, Robert G. Walsh, Paul Andrew Pignato, Michael J. Girard
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Publication number: 20080319255Abstract: A method for implanting a cardiac support device (CSD) on a patient's heart. An amount of contrast agent sufficient to cause structures on the heart to be visible upon fluoroscopic or other imaging is introduced into the pericardial space surrounding the heart. The heart and contrast agent are imaged to provide a visual indication of the location of the structures of the heart. The CSD is placed on the heart using the visual indications provided by the imaging.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2008Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicant: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.Inventors: William E. Cohn, Aaron J. Hjelle, Robert G. Walsh, Kevin Paul Bassett
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Publication number: 20080097146Abstract: A cardiac support device that can be efficiently implanted on a patient's heart. The cardiac support device includes a jacket for constraining cardiac expansion and one or more lubricious elements releasably secured with respect to an inside surface of the jacket.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2006Publication date: April 24, 2008Applicant: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.Inventors: Aaron J. Hjelle, Louis Labrousse, Robert G. Walsh, Paul Andrew Pignato
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Publication number: 20080033234Abstract: An apparatus for placing a cardiac support device (CSD) on a heart. The apparatus includes a body, a deployment mechanism on the body for supporting the CSD in an open position for placement on the heart, and a release mechanism coupled to the deployment mechanism for releasably mounting the CSD to the deployment mechanism. The release mechanism includes a release element for releasably engaging the CSD, and a release actuator coupled to the release element for actuating the release element to release the CSD.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2006Publication date: February 7, 2008Applicant: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.Inventors: Aaron J. Hjelle, James Edward Shapland, Michael Andreini, Dan Titcomb, Jeffrey Popowski, Bradley Knippel
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Publication number: 20080004488Abstract: A delivery device for efficiently delivering a cardiac support device of the type having a jacket. The device includes a body, a deployment mechanism and an actuating mechanism. The deployment mechanism is for releasable connection to a cardiac support device and movable within the jacket between retracted and extended states to drive the jacket between collapsed and open configurations. At least portions of the deployment mechanism within the jacket have a lubricious surface to substantially reduce friction between the jacket and a heart onto which the jacket is being positioned. The actuating mechanism moves the deployment mechanism between the retracted and extended states.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2006Publication date: January 3, 2008Applicant: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.Inventors: Aaron J. Hjelle, Louis Labrousse, Robert G. Walsh, Paul Andrew Pignato, Michael J. Girard
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Publication number: 20080004489Abstract: A method for efficiently implanting a cardiac support device on a patient's heart. The method includes causing lubricious material to be located between the cardiac support device and the heart while the cardiac support device is being implanted on the heart. The lubricious material is removed from between the cardiac support device and the heart after the cardiac support device is implanted.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2006Publication date: January 3, 2008Applicant: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.Inventors: Louis Labrousse, Aaron J. Hjelle, Robert G. Walsh, Paul Andrew Pignato
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Publication number: 20070270654Abstract: Tools for managing the pericardium during intra-pericardial procedures such as the delivery of cardiac support devices. One embodiment of the tool includes a tubular body of low friction material having a diameter, a fixed lip on an exterior end and an extendable lip on an interior end. The extendable lip moves with respect to the body between a retracted state and an expanded state. The tool is inserted through an incision in the pericardium and deployed by moving the lip to the expanded state. When deployed a barrier portion of the body engages the edges of the incision and the extendable lip lines the inside of the pericardium around the incision.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2006Publication date: November 22, 2007Applicant: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.Inventors: Paul Andrew Pignato, Aaron J. Hjelle, Robert G. Walsh, Richard C. Mattison
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Publication number: 20070270882Abstract: A method for managing the pericardium during intra-pericardial procedures such as the delivery of cardiac support devices. One embodiment of the method includes making an incision through the pericardium to provide access to the pericardial space, and inserting a plurality of strips of lubricious material into and through the incision. The strips of material are spaced around the edges of the incision to form a tubular barrier against the pericardium. End portions of the strips of material in the pericardial space are expanded away from the body to form a lip that lines the inside of the pericardium around the incision.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2006Publication date: November 22, 2007Applicant: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.Inventors: Aaron J. Hjelle, Paul Andrew Pignato, Robert G. Walsh, Richard C. Mattison
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Publication number: 20070208215Abstract: A cardiac support device including a jacket and elastic securing structure for self-securing the jacket to a heart. The securing structures can include undulating metal and polymer elements, a silicone band and elastomeric filaments.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2006Publication date: September 6, 2007Applicant: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.Inventors: Aaron J. Hjelle, Paul Andrew Pignato, Robert G. Walsh, Ann Margaret Thomas, Holly J. Hicks
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Publication number: 20070208214Abstract: A device for delivery of a cardiac support device for treating cardiac disease of a heart includes a multistage deployment mechanism and an actuating mechanism for controlling the positions of the deployment mechanism. The deployment mechanism is operable to change between a retracted state and an extended state, and includes a plurality of independent stages, including, in one embodiment, a first stage including a guide structure for location adjacent a portion of the patient's heart when in the extended state. A second stage is movably coupled to the first stage, and is guided by the guide structure between the retracted and extended states. The second stage further releasably engages and supports the cardiac support device and positions the cardiac support device at the desired implantation location, guided by the guide structure of the stage. In some embodiments, the deployment mechanism may include additional stages.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2006Publication date: September 6, 2007Applicant: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.Inventors: Aaron J. Hjelle, Paul A. Pignato, Robert G. Walsh, William E. Cohn, Ann Margaret Thomas
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Publication number: 20070208216Abstract: A cardiac support device including a jacket and elastic self-fitting structures between base and apex ends of the jacket. The fitting structures can include undulating metal and polymer elements and a silicone panel between the base and apex ends of the jacket.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2006Publication date: September 6, 2007Applicant: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.Inventors: Paul Andrew Pignato, Robert G. Walsh, Aaron J. Hjelle, Ann Margaret Thomas, Holly J. Hicks
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Publication number: 20070208217Abstract: A cardiac support device including a jacket and elastic attachment structure for self-securing the jacket to a heart. The attachment structures can include undulating metal and polymer elements, a silicone band and elastomeric filaments on a base end of the jacket.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2006Publication date: September 6, 2007Applicant: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.Inventors: Robert G. Walsh, Aaron J. Hjelle, Paul Andrew Pignato, Ann Margaret Thomas, Hani N. Sabbah, Noreen Walen Thompson, Holly J. Hicks