Patents by Inventor Christopher S. Michalak

Christopher S. Michalak 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: 11944556
    Abstract: A stent graft device that includes a frame, a cover material covering the frame, and an anchoring member having an adjustable geometry is provided. The anchoring member may be incorporated as part of the frame or coupled thereto. The anchoring member may be formed of a material having a tensile strength such that it can be bent, straightened, or otherwise changed in shape. Tissue growth over and/or around the anchoring member anchors the stent graft device within a lumen. During removal of the stent graft device, the geometry of the anchoring member changes to allow the anchoring member to be removed from the tissue growth along a removal path with minimal trauma. The design and/or shape of the anchoring member is not particularly limited so long as the anchoring member has an adjustable geometry that permits tissue overgrowth and subsequent removal from the tissue overgrowth with minimal trauma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
  • Publication number: 20230320714
    Abstract: An implantable medical device for sealing and repairing defects in a body tissue or for creating an anastomosis includes a frame and a covering material. In some embodiments, the frame includes a single continuously wound wire that defines an apposition portion, a defect-occupying portion, and a sealing portion. In some embodiments, the tissue-sealing and anastomosis devices provided herein are well-suited for use in the GI tract including the small bowel and colon. In some embodiments, a two-part frame construct facilitates independent tailoring of apposition forces and radial forces exerted on tissues by the two-part frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Matthew A. Johnson, Nathan K. Mooney, Christopher S. Michalak
  • Patent number: 11712230
    Abstract: An implantable medical device for sealing and repairing defects in a body tissue or for creating an anastomosis includes a frame and a covering material. In some embodiments, the frame includes a single continuously wound wire that defines an apposition portion, a defect-occupying portion, and a sealing portion. In some embodiments, the tissue-sealing and anastomosis devices provided herein are well-suited for use in the GI tract including the small bowel and colon. In some embodiments, a two-part frame construct facilitates independent tailoring of apposition forces and radial forces exerted on tissues by the two-part frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew A. Johnson, Nathan K. Mooney, Christopher S. Michalak
  • Patent number: 11458007
    Abstract: A medical securing device that includes (1) a pointed tip and (2) a depth stop is provided. The depth stop includes an apex portion coupled to a trough portion. The depth stop limits the depth of penetration of the pointed tip into a wall of a body lumen. In one or more embodiment, the medical securing device may be constructed from a length of shape memory wire. Thus, during deployment, the medical securing device may spring away from a medical device to which the medical securing device is coupled such that the pointed tip makes contact with and punctures, to a limited depth, a body lumen wall. In various embodiments, a pair of barbs may be coupled to from an integral two pronged barb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
  • Publication number: 20200345523
    Abstract: A stent graft device that includes a frame, a cover material covering the frame, and an anchoring member having an adjustable geometry is provided. The anchoring member may be incorporated as part of the frame or coupled thereto. The anchoring member may be formed of a material having a tensile strength such that it can be bent, straightened, or otherwise changed in shape. Tissue growth over and/or around the anchoring member anchors the stent graft device within a lumen. During removal of the stent graft device, the geometry of the anchoring member changes to allow the anchoring member to be removed from the tissue growth along a removal path with minimal trauma. The design and/or shape of the anchoring member is not particularly limited so long as the anchoring member has an adjustable geometry that permits tissue overgrowth and subsequent removal from the tissue overgrowth with minimal trauma.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
  • Patent number: 10765539
    Abstract: A stent graft device that includes a frame, a cover material covering the frame, and an anchoring member having an adjustable geometry is provided. The anchoring member may be incorporated as part of the frame or coupled thereto. The anchoring member may be formed of a material having a tensile strength such that it can be bent, straightened, or otherwise changed in shape. Tissue growth over and/or around the anchoring member anchors the stent graft device within a lumen. During removal of the stent graft device, the geometry of the anchoring member changes to allow the anchoring member to be removed from the tissue growth along a removal path with minimal trauma. The design and/or shape of the anchoring member is not particularly limited so long as the anchoring member has an adjustable geometry that permits tissue overgrowth and subsequent removal from the tissue overgrowth with minimal trauma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
  • Patent number: 10111741
    Abstract: This document describes intralumenal stent graft devices with integrated anchor members that are selectively deployable in situ. The deployment of the anchor members is also reversible, to thereby facilitate retrieval of the stent graft device. These stent graft devices are well-suited for sealing and repairing defects in a body lumen wall. Such defects can include, but are not limited to, aneurysms and lumen wall openings. In some embodiments, the intralumenal stent graft devices provided herein are well-suited for use in the GI tract including the colon. That is the case because the integrated anchor members provide the stent graft devices with a high level of migration resistance, whereby the stent grafts can remain resiliently located in a desired position within the GI tract despite the peristaltic movements of the GI tract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
  • Publication number: 20160346075
    Abstract: A stent graft device that includes a frame, a cover material covering the frame, and an anchoring member having an adjustable geometry is provided. The anchoring member may be incorporated as part of the frame or coupled thereto. The anchoring member may be formed of a material having a tensile strength such that it can be bent, straightened, or otherwise changed in shape. Tissue growth over and/or around the anchoring member anchors the stent graft device within a lumen. During removal of the stent graft device, the geometry of the anchoring member changes to allow the anchoring member to be removed from the tissue growth along a removal path with minimal trauma. The design and/or shape of the anchoring member is not particularly limited so long as the anchoring member has an adjustable geometry that permits tissue overgrowth and subsequent removal from the tissue overgrowth with minimal trauma.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
  • Publication number: 20160120638
    Abstract: This document describes intralumenal stent graft devices with integrated anchor members that are selectively deployable in situ. The deployment of the anchor members is also reversible, to thereby facilitate retrieval of the stent graft device. These stent graft devices are well-suited for sealing and repairing defects in a body lumen wall. Such defects can include, but are not limited to, aneurysms and lumen wall openings. In some embodiments, the intralumenal stent graft devices provided herein are well-suited for use in the GI tract including the colon. That is the case because the integrated anchor members provide the stent graft devices with a high level of migration resistance, whereby the stent grafts can remain resiliently located in a desired position within the GI tract despite the peristaltic movements of the GI tract.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
  • Publication number: 20160051803
    Abstract: A medical device for sealing and repairing defects in a body lumen wall includes a wire frame and a partially-circumferential stent body. In some embodiments, the endolumenal sealing devices provided herein are well-suited for use in the GI tract including the colon. That is the case because the partially-circumferential sealing devices are configured to be compliant with the peristaltic movements of the GI tract. This feature can enable the sealing devices to resiliently remain located in a desired position within the GI tract, such that the defect in the lumen wall is sealed by the presence of the sealing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
  • Publication number: 20160051804
    Abstract: A medical device for sealing and repairing defects in a body lumen wall includes a wire frame and a partially-circumferential stent body. In some embodiments, the endolumenal sealing devices provided herein are well-suited for use in the GI tract including the colon. That is the case because the partially-circumferential sealing devices are configured to be compliant with the peristaltic movements of the GI tract. This feature can enable the sealing devices to resiliently remain located in a desired position within the GI tract, such that the defect in the lumen wall is sealed by the presence of the sealing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
  • Publication number: 20150313599
    Abstract: An implantable medical device for sealing and repairing defects in a body tissue or for creating an anastomosis includes a frame and a covering material. In some embodiments, the frame includes a single continuously wound wire that defines an apposition portion, a defect-occupying portion, and a sealing portion. In some embodiments, the tissue-sealing and anastomosis devices provided herein are well-suited for use in the GI tract including the small bowel and colon. In some embodiments, a two-part frame construct facilitates independent tailoring of apposition forces and radial forces exerted on tissues by the two-part frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Matthew A. Johnson, Nathan K. Mooney, Christopher S. Michalak
  • Publication number: 20150080945
    Abstract: A medical device for sealing and repairing defects in a body lumen wall includes a wire frame and a partially-circumferential stent body. In some embodiments, the endolumenal sealing devices provided herein are well-suited for use in the GI tract including the colon. That is the case because the partially-circumferential sealing devices are configured to be compliant with the peristaltic movements of the GI tract. This feature can enable the sealing devices to resiliently remain located in a desired position within the GI tract, such that the defect in the lumen wall is sealed by the presence of the sealing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: W. L. Gore Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
  • Publication number: 20140046427
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a securing device comprising one or more barbs. A barb may comprise a depth stop, which may itself comprise an apex portion coupled to a trough portion. A barb may be constructed, in various embodiments, from a length of shape memory wire. Thus, during deployment, a barb may spring away from a medical device to which the barb is coupled such that the barb makes contact with and punctures, to a limited depth, a body lumen wall. A barb may not, however, fully puncture a body lumen wall. Rather, a depth stop may limit a puncture depth to a depth that does not endanger and/or subject tissue surrounding or external to the lumen wall to damage and/or bleeding or leakage from within the lumen. In various embodiments, a pair of barbs may be coupled to from an integral two pronged barb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak