Patents by Inventor Blair D. Walker

Blair D. Walker 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: 8277386
    Abstract: The present invention provides for an improved combination sensor tip that includes an ultrasound transducer and a pressure sensor both disposed at or in close proximity to the distal end of the combination sensor tip. The present invention also provides for an improved connector to couple a guide wire to a physiology monitor that reduces torsional resistance when maneuvering the guide wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Volcano Corporation
    Inventors: Masood Ahmed, Edward Anthony Oliver, Joseph Puleo, Christopher Dee Ingman, Blair D. Walker
  • Patent number: 8231537
    Abstract: The present invention provides for an improved combination sensor tip that includes a pressure sensor and a second sensor other than a pressure sensor, both disposed at or in close proximity to the distal end of the combination sensor tip. The present invention also provides for an improved connector to couple a guide wire to a physiology monitor that reduces torsional resistance when maneuvering the guide wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Volcano Corporation
    Inventors: Masood Ahmed, Edward Anthony Oliver, Joseph Puleo, Christopher Dee Ingman, Blair D. Walker
  • Publication number: 20120185022
    Abstract: A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include hollow fibers which are adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. The hollow fibers enhance the surface area of contact, as well as the mixing of both the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body or alternatively positioned to systemically cool the entire body system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicants: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, ZOLL CIRCULATION, INC.
    Inventors: Wayne A. Noda, Mike L. Jones, Scott M. Evans, Blair D. Walker, William J. Worthen, Yves Pierre Gobin
  • Patent number: 8206332
    Abstract: A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include hollow fibers which are adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. The hollow fibers enhance the surface area of contact, as well as the mixing of both the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body or alternatively positioned to systemically cool the entire body system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignees: Zoll Circulation Inc., The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Wayne A. Noda, Mike L. Jones, Scott M. Evans, Blair D. Walker, William J. Worthen, Yves Pierre Gobin
  • Publication number: 20120130250
    Abstract: The present invention provides for pleated bags used with interventional pullback systems, including imaging catheters such as IVUS catheters, as well as for use with other catheters. An exemplary pleated bag of the present invention may be an elongate, sterile bag, having a plurality of pleats near the distal end, and including an orifice proximal to the pleats designed to allow passage of a catheter into the bag. The present invention also provides for a system that includes a pullback device, catheter, and pleated bag. The present invention allows for improved imaging catheter procedures at reduced costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: VOLCANO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy K. Glynn, Ernest W. Heflin, Norman H. Hossack, Julie A. Riolo, Blair D. Walker
  • Patent number: 8128595
    Abstract: A kit of parts comprises a system and instructions for use for controlling patient temperature which uses a central venous line catheter having a heat exchange element. The central venous line catheter is provided with one or more lumens for providing access to the central blood supply of the patient, and with additional lumens for communicating heat exchange fluid to the heat exchange element. Heat exchange fluid temperature is controlled through a feed back loop in which patient temperature is sensed and used to control a temperature control unit comprising a heating device and/or a cooling device in heat exchange relationship with the heat exchange fluid. A tubing set transports the heat exchange fluid between the central venous line and the temperature control unit, with a pump serving to circulate the fluid in a closed fluid circuit in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Zoll Circulation, Inc.
    Inventors: Blair D. Walker, Scott M. Evans, David P. Balding, Peter Barker
  • Patent number: 8109894
    Abstract: A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include hollow fibers which are adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. The hollow fibers enhance the surface area of contact, as well as the mixing of both the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body or alternatively positioned to systemically cool the entire body system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignees: Zoll Circulation, Inc., The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Wayne A. Noda, Mike L. Jones, Scott M. Evans, Blair D. Walker, William J. Worthen, Yves Pierre Gobin
  • Patent number: 8105263
    Abstract: A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include hollow fibers which are adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. The hollow fibers enhance the surface area of contact, as well as the mixing of both the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body or alternatively positioned to systemically cool the entire body system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignees: Zoll Circulation, Inc., The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Wayne A. Noda, Mike L. Jones, Scott M. Evans, Blair D. Walker, William J. Worthen, Yves Pierre Gobin
  • Patent number: 8104479
    Abstract: The present invention provides for pleated bags used with interventional pullback systems, including imaging catheters such as IVUS catheters, as well as for use with other catheters. An exemplary pleated bag of the present invention may be an elongate, sterile bag, having a plurality of pleats near the distal end, and including an orifice proximal to the pleats designed to allow passage of a catheter into the bag. The present invention also provides for a system that includes a pullback device, catheter, and pleated bag. The present invention allows for improved imaging catheter procedures at reduced costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Volcano Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy K. Glynn, Ernest W. Heflin, Norman H. Hossack, Julie A. Riolo, Blair D. Walker
  • Patent number: 8105262
    Abstract: A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include hollow fibers which are adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. The hollow fibers enhance the surface area of contact, as well as the mixing of both the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body or alternatively positioned to systemically cool the entire body system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignees: Zoll Circulation, Inc., The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Wayne A. Noda, Mike L. Jones, Scott M. Evans, Blair D. Walker, William J. Worthen, Yves Pierre Gobin
  • Patent number: 8105264
    Abstract: A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include hollow fibers which are adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. The hollow fibers enhance the surface area of contact, as well as the mixing of both the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body or alternatively positioned to systemically cool the entire body system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignees: Zoll Circulation, Inc., The Regents of the University of Califonia
    Inventors: Wayne A. Noda, Mike L. Jones, Scott M. Evans, Blair D. Walker, William J. Worchen, Yves Pierre Gobin
  • Publication number: 20110264073
    Abstract: A liquid embolic delivery system is provided for trapping an injected liquid embolic composition to prevent the liquid embolic from solidifying or otherwise passing outside of an embolization area. The delivery system includes a catheter for delivery of a liquid embolic composition and a containment member positioned at a distal end of the catheter which is shaped to trap the liquid embolic composition delivered through the lumen of the catheter. The containment member is formed as a brush, nest, sponge, swab, flexible sack, or other shape into and around which the liquid embolic composition is injected. The liquid embolic composition is trapped or meshes with the containment member during solidification containing the liquid embolic and preventing the embolic composition from passing into the blood stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Andrew H. Cragg, Blair D. Walker, John Perl, II, Michael Jones, George Robert Greene, George Wallace, Richard J. Greff
  • Patent number: 7976527
    Abstract: A liquid embolic delivery system is provided for trapping an injected liquid embolic composition to prevent the liquid embolic from solidifying or otherwise passing outside of an embolization area. The delivery system includes a catheter for delivery of a liquid embolic composition and a containment member positioned at a distal end of the catheter which is shaped to trap the liquid embolic composition delivered through the lumen of the catheter. The containment member is formed as a brush, nest, sponge, swab, flexible sack, or other shape into and around which the liquid embolic composition is injected. The liquid embolic composition is trapped or meshes with the containment member during solidification containing the liquid embolic and preventing the embolic composition from passing into the blood stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Micro Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew H. Cragg, Blair D. Walker, John Perl, II, Michael Jones, George R. Greene, George Wallace, Richard J. Greff
  • Publication number: 20110130812
    Abstract: A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include hollow fibers which are adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. The hollow fibers enhance the surface area of contact, as well as the mixing of both the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body or alternatively positioned to systemically cool the entire body system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: WAYNE A. NODA, Mike L. Jones, Scott M. Evans, Blair D. Walker, William J. Worchen, Yves Pierre Gobin
  • Publication number: 20110125237
    Abstract: A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include hollow fibers which are adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. The hollow fibers enhance the surface area of contact, as well as the mixing of both the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body or alternatively positioned to systemically cool the entire body system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: WAYNE A. NODA, Mike L. Jones, Scott M. Evans, Blair D. Walker, William J. Worthen, Yves Pierre Gobin
  • Publication number: 20110125236
    Abstract: A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include hollow fibers which are adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. The hollow fibers enhance the surface area of contact, as well as the mixing of both the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body or alternatively positioned to systemically cool the entire body system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: WAYNE A. NODA, Mike L. Jones, Scott M. Evans, Blair D. Walker, William J. Worthen, Yves Pierre Gobin
  • Publication number: 20110125235
    Abstract: A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include hollow fibers which are adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. The hollow fibers enhance the surface area of contact, as well as the mixing of both the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body or alternatively positioned to systemically cool the entire body system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: WAYNE A. NODA, Mike L. Jones, Scott M. Evans, Blair D. Walker, William J. Worthen, Yves Pierre Gobin
  • Patent number: 7930014
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a vascular image are disclosed wherein a single composite display simultaneously provides a first view of a patient including an angiogram image and a second view including an intravascular image rendered from information provided by an imaging probe mounted on a distal end of a flexible elongate member. A cursor, having a position derived from image information provided by a radiopaque marker proximate the imaging probe, is displayed within the angiogram image to correlate the position of the imaging probe to a presently displayed intravascular image and thus provide an easily discernable identification of a position within a patient corresponding to a currently displayed intravascular image. The resulting composite display simultaneously provides: an intravascular image that includes information about a vessel that is not available from an angiogram and a current location within a vessel of a source of intravascular image data from which the intravascular image is rendered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Volcano Corporation
    Inventors: R. Scott Huennekens, Stephen M. Fry, Blair D. Walker, Jon D. Klingensmith, Nancy Perry Pool, Vincent J. Burgess, William R. Kanz
  • Patent number: 7857781
    Abstract: A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include hollow fibers which are adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. The hollow fibers enhance the surface area of contact, as well as the mixing of both the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body or alternatively positioned to systemically cool the entire body system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Zoll Circulation, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne A. Noda, Mike L. Jones, Scott M. Evans, Blair D. Walker, William J. Worthen, Yves Pierre Gobin
  • Publication number: 20100241201
    Abstract: A catheter is adapted to exchange heat with a body fluid, such as blood, flowing in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel. The catheter includes a shaft with a heat exchange region disposed at its distal end. This region may include hollow fibers which are adapted to receive a remotely cooled heat exchange fluid preferably flowing in a direction counter to that of the body fluid. The hollow fibers enhance the surface area of contact, as well as the mixing of both the heat exchange fluid and the body fluid. The catheter can be positioned to produce hypothermia in a selective area of the body or alternatively positioned to systemically cool the entire body system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Wayne A. Noda, Mike L. Jones, Scott M. Evans, Blair D. Walker, William J. Worthen, Yves Pierre Gobin