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).
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Patent number: 11944556Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 21, 2020Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
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Publication number: 20230320714Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2023Publication date: October 12, 2023Inventors: Matthew A. Johnson, Nathan K. Mooney, Christopher S. Michalak
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Patent number: 11712230Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 30, 2015Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.Inventors: Matthew A. Johnson, Nathan K. Mooney, Christopher S. Michalak
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Patent number: 11458007Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 7, 2013Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
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Publication number: 20200345523Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2020Publication date: November 5, 2020Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
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Patent number: 10765539Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 23, 2016Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
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Patent number: 10111741Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 14, 2015Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
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Publication number: 20160346075Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2016Publication date: December 1, 2016Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
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Publication number: 20160120638Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2015Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
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Publication number: 20160051803Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2015Publication date: February 25, 2016Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
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Publication number: 20160051804Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2015Publication date: February 25, 2016Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
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Publication number: 20150313599Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2015Publication date: November 5, 2015Inventors: Matthew A. Johnson, Nathan K. Mooney, Christopher S. Michalak
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Publication number: 20150080945Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2013Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: W. L. Gore Associates, Inc.Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak
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Publication number: 20140046427Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2013Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.Inventor: Christopher S. Michalak