Patents by Inventor Bill Nicholson

Bill Nicholson 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).

  • Patent number: 11602362
    Abstract: A reentry catheter for crossing a vascular occlusion includes an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending there through. A reentry zone on the tubular body includes at least two and preferably three sets of opposing pairs of axially spaced exit apertures in communication with the lumen. The apertures are rotationally offset from each other and aligned in a spiral pattern around the tubular body. A method of crossing a chronic total occlusion includes the steps of advancing the reentry catheter across the occlusion via a channel formed in the subintimal space, and advancing a guidewire via a selected exit port into the native lumen distally of the occlusion. The catheter may be removed, leaving the guidewire across the occlusion to guide further interventional devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Traverse Vascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Bill Nicholson, Brad Klos, Steve Howard, David Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20220211397
    Abstract: A reentry catheter for crossing a vascular occlusion includes an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending there through. A reentry zone on the tubular body includes at least two and preferably three sets of opposing pairs of axially spaced exit apertures in communication with the lumen. The apertures are rotationally offset from each other and aligned in a spiral pattern around the tubular body. A method of crossing a chronic total occlusion includes the steps of advancing the reentry catheter across the occlusion via a channel formed in the subintimal space, and advancing a guidewire via a selected exit port into the native lumen distally of the occlusion. The catheter may be removed, leaving the guidewire across the occlusion to guide further interventional devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Bill Nicholson, Brad Klos, Steve Howard, David Matsuura
  • Patent number: 11369392
    Abstract: Intravascular catheters with fluoroscopically visible indicium of rotational orientation. The catheter includes an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end and a tubular side wall defining at least one lumen extending therethrough. At least first and second opposing pairs of radiopaque rings are embedded in the side wall, spaced axially apart from each other. A first transverse axis extending through the first pair of rings is rotationally offset from a second transverse axis extending through the second pair of rings. The rings may be supported by a subassembly integrated into the wall of the catheter. The subassembly may include a tubular body having a plurality of aperture portions connected by intervening hinge portions. In one implementation, the catheter is a reentry catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: TRAVERSE VASCULAR, INC.
    Inventors: Bill Nicholson, Brad Klos, Steve Howard, David Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20220110645
    Abstract: A reentry catheter for crossing a vascular occlusion includes an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending there through. A reentry zone on the tubular body includes at least two and preferably three sets of opposing pairs of axially spaced exit apertures in communication with the lumen. The apertures are rotationally offset from each other and aligned in a spiral pattern around the tubular body. Each aperture may be defined within a radiopaque reinforcing ring embedded within the tubular body. A first set of opposing pairs of reinforcing rings may be separated axially from a second set of opposing pairs of reinforcing rings and may be connected by a flexible hinge section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Bill Nicholson, Brad Klos, Steve Howard, David Matsuura
  • Patent number: 11154312
    Abstract: A reentry catheter for crossing a vascular occlusion includes an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending there through. A reentry zone on the tubular body includes at least two and preferably three sets of opposing pairs of axially spaced exit apertures in communication with the lumen. The apertures are rotationally offset from each other and aligned in a spiral pattern around the tubular body. Each aperture may be defined within a radiopaque reinforcing ring embedded within the tubular body. A first set of opposing pairs of reinforcing rings may be separated axially from a second set of opposing pairs of reinforcing rings and may be connected by a flexible hinge section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: TRAVERSE VASCULAR, INC.
    Inventors: Bill Nicholson, Brad Klos, Steve Howard, David Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20200330111
    Abstract: A reentry catheter for crossing a vascular occlusion includes an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending there through. A reentry zone on the tubular body includes at least two and preferably three sets of opposing pairs of axially spaced exit apertures in communication with the lumen. The apertures are rotationally offset from each other and aligned in a spiral pattern around the tubular body. Each aperture may be defined within a radiopaque reinforcing ring embedded within the tubular body. A first set of opposing pairs of reinforcing rings may be separated axially from a second set of opposing pairs of reinforcing rings and may be connected by a flexible hinge section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Bill Nicholson, Brad Klos, Steve Howard, David Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20200330731
    Abstract: Intravascular catheters with fluoroscopically visible indicium of rotational orientation are described. The catheter includes an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end and a tubular side wall defining at least one lumen extending there through. At least first and second opposing pairs of radiopaque rings are embedded in the side wall, spaced axially apart from each other. A first transverse axis extending through the first pair of rings is rotationally offset from a second transverse axis extending through the second pair of rings. The rings may be supported by a subassembly integrated into the wall of the catheter. The subassembly may include a tubular body having a plurality of aperture portions connected by intervening hinge portions. In one implementation, the catheter is a reentry catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Bill Nicholson, Brad Klos, Steve Howard, David Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20200315639
    Abstract: A reentry catheter for crossing a vascular occlusion includes an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending there through. A reentry zone on the tubular body includes at least two and preferably three sets of opposing pairs of axially spaced exit apertures in communication with the lumen. The apertures are rotationally offset from each other and aligned in a spiral pattern around the tubular body. A method of crossing a chronic total occlusion includes the steps of advancing the reentry catheter across the occlusion via a channel formed in the subintimal space, and advancing a guidewire via a selected exit port into the native lumen distally of the occlusion. The catheter may be removed, leaving the guidewire across the occlusion to guide further interventional devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Bill Nicholson, Brad Klos, Steve Howard, David Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20080143834
    Abstract: A system for evaluating and monitoring driver proficiency, performance and safety is disclosed. The system includes an apparatus having a controller that is in operative association with one or more video cameras mounted within a vehicle for providing audio/video data to the controller as well as with an OBD connection for the collection and transmission of vehicle data from the vehicle to the controller. The controller further includes a microprocessor for synchronizing the recorded vehicle data from the vehicle with the video/audio data collected from the video cameras in order to evaluate and monitor a driver's performance and proficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: David Arthur Comeau, Bill Nicholson