Patents by Inventor Charles Gresl
Charles Gresl 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: 7766823Abstract: A method of providing access to tissue for a surgical instrument through a body wall is provided. The method includes providing an expandable retractor having a flexible sheath, the retractor being in a collapsed state; introducing the retractor into the body and placing the retractor adjacent the tissue; expanding the retractor; deploying the flexible sheath by engaging the flexible sheath with a tool and driving the flexible sheath through the body wall with the tool; and inserting the surgical instrument from outside the body through the flexible sheath to provide access to the tissue by the surgical instrument.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2003Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Covidien AGInventors: Frederic H. Moll, Charles Gresl, Jr., Albert K. Chin, Philip K. Hopper
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Publication number: 20100174149Abstract: A method of providing access to tissue for a surgical instrument through a body wall is provided. The method includes providing an expandable retractor having a flexible sheath, the retractor being in a collapsed state; introducing the retractor into the body and placing the retractor adjacent the tissue; expanding the retractor; deploying the flexible sheath by engaging the flexible sheath with a tool and driving the flexible sheath through the body wall with the tool; and inserting the surgical instrument from outside the body through the flexible sheath to provide access to the tissue by the surgical instrument.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2010Publication date: July 8, 2010Inventors: Frederic H. Moll, Charles Gresl, JR., Albert K. Chin, Philip K. Hopper
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Patent number: 7744617Abstract: An apparatus for tissue dissection and instrument anchoring and methods for using such apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a cannula, a dissection balloon releasably attached to the cannula at the distal end, an anchoring balloon disposed on the cannula, and a means for inflating both balloons.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2003Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Covidien AGInventors: John P. Lunsford, Charles Gresl, Jeffrey A. Smith, Daniel T. Wallace, Albert K. Chin
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Publication number: 20090182368Abstract: An apparatus for tissue dissection and instrument anchoring and methods for using such apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a cannula, a dissection balloon releasably attached to the cannula at the distal end, an anchoring balloon disposed on the cannula, and a means for inflating both balloons.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2009Publication date: July 16, 2009Applicant: Covidien AGInventors: John P. Lunsford, Charles Gresl, Jeffrey A. Smith, Daniel T. Wallace, Albert K. Chin
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Publication number: 20080039879Abstract: Devices, tools and methods for occluding fluid flow between two walls of tissue in a patient. Two walls of tissue are compressed together with sufficient compressive force to prevent fluid flow between the two walls, while ensuring that the compressive force is not so great as to cause tissue necrosis. The devices, tools and methods may be carried out using minimally invasive surgical techniques, such as in reduced-access surgical sites. Devices, tools and methods are provided for occluding an atrial appendix.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2006Publication date: February 14, 2008Inventors: Albert K. Chin, John W. Davis, Ketan Shroff, Amit Agarwal, Shuji Uemura, Alfredo R. Cantu, Geoffrey H. Willis, Peter L. Callas, Charles Gresl
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Publication number: 20070162067Abstract: An apparatus for tissue dissection and instrument anchoring and methods for using such apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a cannula, a dissection balloon releasably attached to the cannula at the distal end, an anchoring balloon disposed on the cannula, and a means for inflating both balloons.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2007Publication date: July 12, 2007Inventors: John Lunsford, Charles Gresl, Jeffrey Smith, Daniel Wallace, Albert Chin
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Publication number: 20060270909Abstract: Devices and methods for stabilizing a portion of an organ or tissue in a closed or restricted space surgical site. Devices and methods for manipulating an organ or tissue in a closed or restricted space surgical site. Devices and methods for positioning and orienting stabilizers and manipulators I a closed or restricted space surgical site.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2005Publication date: November 30, 2006Inventors: John Davis, Geoffrey Willis, Eric Willis, Charles Gresl, Peter Callas, Thomas Vassiliades
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Publication number: 20050113901Abstract: The present invention is a myocardial lead attachment system for securing a distal end of a lead within a myocardium of a patient's heart. The system includes an anchor, a tether coupled to the anchor, and a delivery instrument for receiving and advancing the anchor through a tract in the heart from a proximal entrance site to a distal exit site in such a manner that the tether extends proximally from the anchor through the tract. The delivery instrument includes a needle having a distal tip and a nest. The nest is positioned proximal to the distal tip and is sized to receive the anchor. The delivery instrument further includes an ejection mechanism for ejecting the anchor from the nest.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2004Publication date: May 26, 2005Applicant: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.Inventors: M. Sean Coe, Ronald Heil, Peter Kelley, Jason Shiroff, Randy Westlund, Donald Palme, Charles Gresl
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Patent number: 6814696Abstract: An assembly of cannula and endoscope and dissection tip facilitate surgical procedures at remote surgical site in tissue of a patient. Relative rotation of the cannula about the endoscope from clamped rotational fixation of the cannula and endoscope is made possible by flexing a resilient clamping segment, and such relative rotation promotes convenient positioning of an eccentric tissue-dissecting tip about a vessel being harvested from within tissue of a patient. Color tinting of the tip or color-tinted illumination of tissue at a remote surgical site enhances contrasting visualization through the tip via the endoscope among the tissue types encountered at the surgical site within a patient. A tool bridge or lateral support mounts to a more rigid component such as an endoscope that extends from the proximal end of a cannula to support a more flexible surgical instrument also extending from the proximal end of the cannula.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2002Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: Origin Medsystems, Inc.Inventors: Tenny Chang, Charles Gresl, Harry Ino, Liming Lau, John P. Lunsford, Michael Wei
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Patent number: 6800085Abstract: An intravascular catheter system for the treatment of occluded blood vessels that includes tissue displacement or hinged expansion members that are movable from a closed to an open position. An actuating assembly may be provided for moving the tissue expansion members between an open and closed position to exert a substantially lateral distal end force upon the region surrounding an occluded blood vessel. The tissue expansion members may stretch apart, tear or otherwise disrupt a vascular occlusion sufficiently to create a pathway that may support the passage or placement of a guidewire or an interventional vascular device across the occlusion or obstruction. Methods of crossing or displacing a vascular occlusion are further provided that include the positioning of a vascular catheter having at least one hinged spreading member positioned at the distal region of the catheter that is responsive to directed force along the longitudinal axis of the catheter.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2001Date of Patent: October 5, 2004Assignee: LuMend, Inc.Inventors: Matthew R. Selmon, Charles F. Milo, Robert L. Wynne, Suresh S. Pai, Kent D. Dell, Charles Gresl, Gerald Hansen, E. Richard Hill, III
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Patent number: 6746462Abstract: An intravascular catheter system for the treatment of occluded blood vessels that includes tissue displacement or hinged expansion members that are movable from a closed to an open position. An actuating assembly may be provided for moving the tissue expansion members between an open and closed position to exert a substantially lateral distal end force upon the region surrounding an occluded blood vessel. The tissue expansion members may stretch apart, tear or otherwise disrupt a vascular occlusion sufficiently to create a pathway that may support the passage or placement of a guidewire or an interventional vascular device across the occlusion or obstruction. Methods of crossing or displacing a vascular occlusion are further provided that include the positioning of a vascular catheter having at least one hinged spreading member positioned at the distal region of the catheter that is responsive to directed force along the longitudinal axis of the catheter.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2000Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: LuMend, Inc.Inventors: Matthew R. Selmon, Charles F. Milo, Robert L. Wynne, Suresh S. Pai, Kent D. Dell, Charles Gresl
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Publication number: 20040097792Abstract: A method of providing access to tissue for a surgical instrument through a body wall is provided. The method includes providing an expandable retractor having a flexible sheath, the retractor being in a collapsed state; introducing the retractor into the body and placing the retractor adjacent the tissue; expanding the retractor; deploying the flexible sheath by engaging the flexible sheath with a tool and driving the flexible sheath through the body wall with the tool; and inserting the surgical instrument from outside the body through the flexible sheath to provide access to the tissue by the surgical instrument.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2003Publication date: May 20, 2004Inventors: Frederic H. Moll, Charles Gresl, Albert K. Chin, Philip K. Hopper
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Publication number: 20040077999Abstract: An intravascular catheter system for the treatment of occluded blood vessels that includes tissue displacement or hinged expansion members that are movable from a closed to an open position. An actuating assembly may be provided for moving the tissue expansion members between an open and closed position to exert a substantially lateral distal end force upon the region surrounding an occluded blood vessel. The tissue expansion members may stretch apart, tear or otherwise disrupt a vascular occlusion sufficiently to create a pathway that may support the passage or placement of a guidewire or an interventional vascular device across the occlusion or obstruction. Methods of crossing or displacing a vascular occlusion are further provided that include the positioning of a vascular catheter having at least one hinged spreading member positioned at the distal region of the catheter that is responsive to directed force along the longitudinal axis of the catheter.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2003Publication date: April 22, 2004Inventors: Matthew R. Selmon, Charles F. Milo, Robert L. Wynne, Suresh S. Pai, Kent D. Dell, Charles Gresl, Gerald Hansen, E. Richard Hill
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Patent number: 6673087Abstract: Surgical scissors include a pair of scissor blades mounted at a distal end of an elongated flexible body and a housing attached to the proximal end of the elongated body. An actuator is coupled with mechanical advantage to the scissor blades for manually controlling shearing movement of the blades in response to finger movement on the actuator back and forth along the housing. Electrical conductors are provided through body and housing from a connector to the scissor blades. The housing is configured to be assembled in mating shells with components assembled in and confined by attached shells that facilitate rapid and accurate fabrication.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2000Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Origin MedsystemsInventors: Tenny Chang, Charles Gresl, John Lunsford, Jon A. Sherman, Theodore A. Richardson
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Publication number: 20030236544Abstract: An apparatus for tissue dissection and instrument anchoring, including a dissection balloon having a viewing window (preferably a rigid, transparent window) at its distal end, or including an anchoring or dissection balloon having nonuniform elasticity selected to achieve desired inflated shape and pressure characteristics, and methods for using such apparatus. The window, which can be a lens (such as a wide angle lens), is transparent and either rigid or non-rigid but sufficiently strong to retain a desired optical shape while (and after) being pushed against tissue layers by a rigid instrument deployed within the balloon. In preferred embodiments, the balloon is a long-necked dissection balloon deployed through a cannula.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2003Publication date: December 25, 2003Inventors: John p. Lunsford, Charles Gresl, Jeffrey A. Smith, Daniel T. Wallace, Albert K. Chin
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Patent number: 6638247Abstract: An intravascular catheter system for the treatment of occluded blood vessels that includes tissue displacement or hinged expansion members that are movable from a closed to an open position. An actuating assembly may be provided for moving the tissue expansion members between an open and closed position to exert a substantially lateral distal end force upon the region surrounding an occluded blood vessel. The tissue expansion members may stretch apart, tear or otherwise disrupt a vascular occlusion sufficiently to create a pathway that may support the passage or placement of a guidewire or an interventional vascular device across the occlusion or obstruction. Methods of crossing or displacing a vascular occlusion are further provided that include the positioning of a vascular catheter having at least one hinged spreading member positioned at the distal region of the catheter that is responsive to directed force along the longitudinal axis of the catheter.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2000Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: LuMend, Inc.Inventors: Matthew R. Selmon, Charles F. Milo, Robert L. Wynne, Suresh S. Pai, Kent D. Dell, Charles Gresl, Gerald Hansen, E. Richard Hill, III
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Patent number: 6605037Abstract: An inflatable retraction apparatus is provided for retracing an organ inside a body to gain access to an adjacent tissue. The apparatus includes an able chamber formed from a single thin envelope, and capable of being collapsed for insertion through an incision and being expanded to a predetermined shape for retracing the organ. An inflation mechanism is adapted to selectively inflate the chamber to the predetermined shape. The inflation mechanism includes at least one inflation tube attached to the inflatable chamber in fluid communication theretween, and an inflatable maintaining lattice operatively enveloping the inflatable chamber and in operative association with the inflation mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 1998Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Sherwood Services AGInventors: Frederic H. Moll, Charles Gresl, Jr., Albert K. Chin, Philip K. Hopper
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Patent number: 6599304Abstract: An intravascular catheter system for the treatment of occluded blood vessels that includes tissue displacement or hinged expansion members that are movable from a closed to an open position. An actuating assembly may be provided for moving the tissue expansion members between an open and closed position to exert a substantially lateral distal end force upon the region surrounding an occluded blood vessel. The tissue expansion members may stretch apart, tear or otherwise disrupt a vascular occlusion sufficiently to create a pathway that may support the passage or placement of a guidewire or an interventional vascular device across the occlusion or obstruction. Methods of crossing or displacing a vascular occlusion are further provided that include the positioning of a vascular catheter having at least one hinged spreading member positioned at the distal region of the catheter that is responsive to directed force along the longitudinal axis of the catheter.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1999Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: LuMend, Inc.Inventors: Matthew R. Selmon, Charles F. Milo, Robert L. Wynne, Suresh S. Pai, Kent D. Dell, Charles Gresl
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Patent number: 6508825Abstract: An intravascular catheter system for the treatment of occluded blood vessels that includes tissue displacement or hinged expansion members that are movable from a closed to an open position. An actuating assembly may be, provided for moving the tissue expansion members between an open and closed position to exert a substantially lateral distal end force upon the region surrounding an occluded blood vessel. The tissue expansion members may stretch apart, tear or otherwise disrupt a vascular occlusion sufficiently to create a pathway that may support the passage or placement of a guidewire or an interventional vascular device across the occlusion or obstruction. Methods of crossing or displacing a vascular occlusion are further provided that include the positioning of a vascular catheter having at least one hinged spreading member positioned at the distal region of the catheter that is responsive to directed force along the longitudinal axis of the catheter.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 1998Date of Patent: January 21, 2003Assignee: LuMend, Inc.Inventors: Matthew R. Selmon, Charles F. Milo, Robert L. Wynne, Suresh S. Pai, Kent D. Dell, Charles Gresl, Gerald Hansen, E. Richard Hill, III
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Patent number: 6471638Abstract: An assembly of cannula and endoscope and dissection tip facilitate surgical procedures at remote surgical site in tissue of a patient. Relative rotation of the cannula about the endoscope from clamped rotational fixation of the cannula and endoscope is made possible by flexing a resilient clamping segment, and such relative rotation promotes convenient positioning of an eccentric tissue-dissecting tip about a vessel being harvested from within tissue of a patient. Color tinting of the tip or color-tinted illumination of tissue at a remote surgical site enhances contrasting visualization through the tip via the endoscope among the tissue types encountered at the surgical site within a patient. A tool bridge or lateral support mounts to a more rigid component such as an endoscope that extends from the proximal end of a cannula to support a more flexible surgical instrument also extending from the proximal end of the cannula.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2000Date of Patent: October 29, 2002Assignee: Origin Medsystems, Inc.Inventors: Tenny Chang, Charles Gresl, Harry Ino, Liming Lau, John P. Lunsford, Michael Wei