Patents by Inventor Alvaro J. Laguna

Alvaro J. Laguna 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).

  • Publication number: 20040006359
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved balloon catheter. The balloon is of a composite material having the flexibility and elastic characteristics of an elastomeric material, yet exhibiting the growth limits of inelastic materials. The balloon may be treated to maintain a substantially constant length during inflation and deflation. The balloon may be provided with regions of porosity for the delivery of therapeutic agents, and may be treated to exhibit regions of distinct compliance. Also disclosed is an apparatus, which may be used to impart the regions of distinct compliance into the balloon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Inventor: Alvaro J. Laguna
  • Publication number: 20030074016
    Abstract: Balloon catheters having the strength and maximum inflated diameter characteristics of an angioplasty balloon and having the recovery characteristics during deflation of an elastic embolectomy balloon. The balloon catheter can be made in very small sizes and has a lubricious and chemically inert outer surface. The balloon catheter is easy to navigate through tortuous passageways, is capable of rapid inflation and deflation and has high burst strengths. Balloon covers having these same characteristics are also described for use with conventional embolectomy balloons or angioplasty balloons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Carey V. Campbell, Alvaro J. Laguna, Mark S. Spencer
  • Patent number: 6375637
    Abstract: A catheter balloon having a controlled failure mechanism such that release of pressure contained within the balloon occurs in a controlled fashion when a predetermined inflation pressure in excess of normal operating pressure is reached within the balloon. The failure mechanism is the result of incorporating a failure mechanism into at least one end of the balloon, for example, with a controlled amount of attachment of the at least one end to the catheter shaft. This end of the balloon therefore fails at a predetermined pressure with the failure occurring before catastrophic failure of the balloon by rupture between the balloon ends. The controlled failure mechanism allows for non-catastrophic failure such that the balloon remains intact following failure and remains easily withdrawable from the body conduit into which it has been inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Carey V. Campbell, Alvaro J. Laguna
  • Patent number: 6139572
    Abstract: A delivery system for use with intraluminal vascular grafts, allowing for easy delivery, deployment of an intraluminal graft and withdrawal of the delivery system. The system employs a balloon catheter to deploy one end of the graft and uses a separate means to deploy the remainder of the graft. A hollow, bullet-shaped tip is used to enclose the balloon during insertion and withdrawal of the delivery system, wherein the bullet-shaped tip is axially movable to either expose or enclose the balloon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Carey V. Campbell, Alvaro J. Laguna
  • Patent number: 6120477
    Abstract: Balloon catheters having the strength and maximum inflated diameter characteristics of an angioplasty balloon and having the recovery characteristics during deflation of an elastic embolectomy balloon. The balloon catheter can be made in very small sizes and has a lubricious and chemically inert outer surface. The balloon catheter is easy to navigate through tortuous passageways, is capable of rapid inflation and deflation and has high burst strengths. Balloon covers having these same characteristics are also described for use with conventional embolectomy balloons or angioplasty balloons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Carey V. Campbell, Alvaro J. Laguna, Mark S. Spencer
  • Patent number: 5868704
    Abstract: Balloon catheters having the strength and maximum inflated diameter characteristics of an angioplasty balloon and having the recovery characteristics during deflation of an elastic embolectomy balloon. The balloon catheter can be made in very small sizes and has a lubricious and chemically inert outer surface. The balloon catheter is easy to navigate through tortuous passageways, is capable of rapid inflation and deflation and has high burst strengths. Balloon covers having these same characteristics are also described for use with conventional embolectomy balloons or angioplasty balloons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Carey V. Campbell, Alvaro J. Laguna, Mark S. Spencer
  • Patent number: 5843171
    Abstract: A tube of porous PTFE having at least two first and at least two second regions wherein the at least two first regions have a greater density than the at least two second regions. For tubes of porous expanded PTFE having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils, the at least two first regions have a mean fibril length that is less than that of the at least two second regions. Preferably the regions are arranged in the form of ring-shaped segments of the tube wherein denser segments alternate along the length of the tube with less dense segments. Other arrangements between the different regions are possible; for example, the regions may be oriented in a spiral relationship with each other along the length of the tube. The porous PTFE tubes of the present invention have excellent radial compression resistance without requiring additional exterior reinforcing members due to the presence of the denser regions that are provided with a circumferential orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Carey V. Campbell, James H. Chastain, Larry J. Kovach, Alvaro J. Laguna, Daniel B. Pond
  • Patent number: 5800522
    Abstract: A tube which circumferentially distends from its initial circumference upon the application of a circumferentially distending force such as applied by an internal pressure, and which exhibits minimal recoil following the removal of the circumferentially distending force. The tube preferably has a second circumference larger than the initial circumference which remains substantially unchanged by further increasing force once it has been achieved. Because of the distensible circumference and minimal recoil of the tube, the tube is useful as a liner for pipes and vessels and particularly for pipes and vessels having irregular internal surfaces to which the tube can smoothly conform. The tube is preferably made from porous PTFE with thin walls, in which form it is particularly useful as a liner for both living and prosthetic blood vessels and to line anastomoses between living and prosthetic blood vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Carey V. Campbell, James F. Kasic, II, Larry J. Kovach, Alvaro J. Laguna, James D. Lewis, Mark E. Mayrand, David J. Myers, Stanislaw L. Zukowski
  • Patent number: 5752934
    Abstract: Balloon catheters having the strength and maximum inflated diameter characteristics of an angioplasty balloon and having the recovery characteristics during deflation of an elastic embolectomy balloon. The balloon catheter can be made in very small sizes and has a lubricous and chemically inert outer surface. The balloon catheter is easy to navigate through tortuous passageways, is capable of rapid inflation and deflation and has high burst strengths. Balloon covers having these same characteristics are also described for use with conventional embolectomy balloons or angioplasty balloons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Carey V. Campbell, Alvaro J. Laguna
  • Patent number: 5747128
    Abstract: A tube of porous PTFE having at least two first and at least two second regions wherein the at least two first regions have a greater density than the at least two second regions. For tubes of porous expanded PTFE having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils, the at least two first regions have a mean fibril length that is less than that of the at least two second regions. Preferably the regions are arranged in the form of ring-shaped segments of the tube wherein denser segments alternate along the length of the tube with less dense segments. Other arrangements between the different regions are possible; for example, the regions may be oriented in a spiral relationship with each other along the length of the tube. The porous PTFE tubes of the present invention have excellent radial compression resistance without requiring additional exterior reinforcing members due to the presence of the denser regions that are provided with a circumferential orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Carey V. Campbell, James H. Chastain, Alvaro J. Laguna, Daniel B. Pond