Patents by Inventor Clifton A. Alferness

Clifton A. Alferness 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).

  • Tissue fixation devices and a transoral endoscopic gastroesophageal flap valve restoration device and assembly using same
    Publication number: 20080004638
    Abstract: Tissue fasteners carried on a tissue piercing deployment wire fasten tissue layers of a mammalian body together. The fasteners include a first member, a second member, and a connecting member extending between the first and second members. The first and second members are substantially parallel to each other. The fasteners may be deployed in limited spaces and in various applications including the restoration of a gastroesophageal flap valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Steve Baker, Brett Carter, Stefan Kraemer, Clifton Alferness, John Adams
  • Infusion device pump
    Publication number: 20070299408
    Abstract: A disposable infusion device comprises a base arranged to adhere to a patient's skin, a cannula arranged to extend from the base to beneath the patient's skin to deliver a liquid medicament to the patient, and a source arranged to provide the cannula with a liquid medicament. The source includes a compressible tube that pumps the liquid medicament to the cannula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Clifton Alferness, John Adams, Daniel Hawkins
  • Infusion device with pressurizable liquid medicament chamber
    Publication number: 20070299397
    Abstract: A disposable infusion device comprises a base arranged to adhere to a patient's skin, a cannula arranged to extend from the base to beneath the patient's skin to deliver a liquid medicament to the patient, and a source arranged to provide the cannula with a liquid medicament. The source includes a reservoir that holds the liquid medicament and a pressurizer that pressurizes the liquid medicament from within the reservoir to provide a flow of the liquid medicament to the cannula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Clifton Alferness, John Adams, Daniel Hawkins
  • Infusion device with dosage dial control
    Publication number: 20070299399
    Abstract: A disposable infusion device comprises a base arranged to adhere to a patient's skin, a cannula arranged to extend from the base to beneath the patient's skin to deliver a liquid medicament to the patient, and a source arranged to provide the cannula with a liquid medicament. The device further includes an actuator that actuates the source to provide the liquid medicament to the cannula. The source is arranged to provide, with each actuation, a fixed volume of medicament to the cannula. A control sets the fixed volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Clifton Alferness, John Adams, Daniel Hawkins
  • Infusion device capable of providing multiple liquid medicaments
    Publication number: 20070299398
    Abstract: A disposable infusion device comprises a base arranged to adhere to a patient's skin and a cannula arranged to extend from the base to beneath the patient's skin to deliver a liquid medicament to the patient. The device further includes a first source arranged to provide the cannula with a first liquid medicament and a second source arranged to provide the cannula with a second liquid medicament.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Clifton Alferness, John Adams, Daniel Hawkins
  • Infusion device with piston pump
    Publication number: 20070299401
    Abstract: A disposable infusion device comprises a base, a cannula arranged to extend from the base to beneath the patient's skin to deliver a liquid medicament to the patient, and a source arranged to provide the cannula with a liquid medicament. The source comprises a piston pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Clifton Alferness, John Adams, Daniel Hawkins
  • Infusion device with dome pump
    Publication number: 20070299400
    Abstract: A disposable infusion device comprises a base arranged to adhere to a patient's skin, a cannula arranged to extend from the base to beneath the patient's skin to deliver a liquid medicament to the patient, and a source arranged to provide the cannula with a liquid medicament. The source includes a pump arranged to be driven by the patient that pumps the liquid medicament to the cannula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Clifton Alferness, John Adams, Daniel Hawkins
  • Disposable infusion device with medicament level indicator
    Publication number: 20070287960
    Abstract: A wearable infusion device delivers a liquid medicament, such as insulin, to a patient. The device comprises a base that contacts a patient's skin, a reservoir arranged to contain a liquid medicament to be delivered to beneath a patient's skin, a pump that causes the medicament to flow from the reservoir, and a level indicator that provides an indication of medicament level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: John Adams, Clifton Alferness, Daniel Hawkins
  • Cannula delivery apparatus and method for a disposable infusion device
    Publication number: 20070282269
    Abstract: An infusion system comprises a disposable wearable infusion device having a body arranged to be adhered to a patient's skin and a reservoir for holding a liquid medicant to be infused into the patient. The infusion system further includes a cannula driver arranged to be detachably joined with the infusion device. The cannula driver includes a cannula and is arranged to drive the cannula into a deployed position extending from the infusion device to beneath the patient's skin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Brett J. Carter, Clifton A. Alferness, John M. Adams, Daniel Hawkins
  • Cardiac reinforcement device
    Patent number: 7278964
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a cardiac reinforcement device (CRD) and method for the treatment of cardiomyopathy. The CRD provides for reinforcement of the walls of the heart by constraining cardiac expansion, beyond a predetermined limit, during diastolic expansion of the heart. A CRD of the invention can be applied to the epicardium of the heart to locally constrain expansion of the cardiac wall or to circumferentially constrain the cardiac wall during cardiac expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifton A. Alferness
  • COLLAPSIBLE DELIVERY TOOL FOR CARDIAC SUPPORT DEVICE
    Publication number: 20070225547
    Abstract: A cardiac support device and placement tool assembly. The cardiac support device has a flexible jacket with an open base end. The placement tool includes a cannula having an open end, a collapsible support on the end of the cannula releasably connected to the cardiac support device at a plurality of locations around the base end, and an acutuator. The collapsible support is movable between a collapsed state in a retracted position at which the collapsible support and cardiac support device are within the end of the cannula, and an open state in an extended position at which the collapsible support and cardiac support device are outside of the cannula with the collapsible support holding the base end of the cardiac support device in an open position for placement onto a patient's heart. The actuator moves the collapsible support between the collapsed and open states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifton Alferness
  • Mitral valve therapy device, system and method
    Patent number: 7270676
    Abstract: An assembly and method for effecting the condition of a mitral valve annulus of a heart includes a guide wire configured to be fed into the coronary sinus of the heart, and a mitral valve annulus therapy device configured to be slidingly received on the guide wire and advanced into the coronary sinus of the heart on the guide wire. A guide tube may further be employed for guiding the device into the coronary sinus. An introducer which may be employed for pushing the device into or pulling device out of the heart has a mechanism for releasably locking to the device. This enables substitution of the device if needed. Also, the crossover point of the circumflex artery and coronary sinus may be determined and avoided when the device is deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Cardiac Dimensions, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton A. Alferness, John M. Adams, John Melmoth Power
  • SEPTUM ATTACHED VENTRICULAR SUPPORT
    Publication number: 20070208211
    Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for treating congestive heart disease. The material of the device is secured to the heart proximate the septal wall. The material covering the ventricles may or may not have the same tension and or compliance. The device can be constructed as a unitary “jacket” that is slipped over the apex of the heart. Alternately, the device implanted as one, two or more separate components. In one embodiment, the material covers both the left and right ventricles. In another embodiment, the material covers only one ventricle. The device may include at least one adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the tension of the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.
    Inventors: James Shapland, Clifton Alferness, Donald Palme, Michael Girard, Donald Rohrbaugh
  • Isolating cardiac circulation
    Publication number: 20070203445
    Abstract: In a method for substantially isolating cardiac circulation from systemic circulation, flow between the coronary sinus and the right atrium is occluded. A venous collection device having a collection lumen and a support structure is located in the coronary sinus. The support structure is used to maintain patency of the coronary sinus during collection of fluid through the collection lumen. An artificial flow path is provided between the collection lumen and the one or more coronary arteries, thus isolating the cardiac circulation. According to the method, cardiac pumping for systemic circulation can be maintained during isolation of the cardiac circulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: V-KARDIA PTY LTD
    Inventors: David Kaye, Clifton Alferness, John Power, Adam Bilney
  • Cardiac reinforcement device
    Patent number: 7261684
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a cardiac reinforcement device (CRD) and method for the treatment of cardiomyopathy. The CRD provides for reinforcement of the walls of the heart by constraining cardiac expansion, beyond a predetermined limit, during diastolic expansion of the heart. A CRD of the invention can be applied to the epicardium of the heart to locally constrain expansion of the cardiac wall or to circumferentially constrain the cardiac wall during cardiac expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifton A. Alferness
  • Transesophageal gastric reduction method and device for reducing the size of a previously formed gastric reduction pouch
    Publication number: 20070191871
    Abstract: A gastric reduction pouch of a stomach is formed by gathering stomach tissue circumferentially from within the stomach to form a reduced diameter stomach section. A plurality of fasteners are deployed within the gathered stomach tissue to maintain the reduced diameter stomach portion. The gathering step may include folding the stomach tissue to produce a plurality of stomach tissue folds. A device is disclosed that is particularly adapted to permit such gastric reduction of a previously formed gastric reduction pouch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Steve G. Baker, Raymond Michael Wolniewicz, Sean Totten, Clifton A. Alferness, Scott Harshman
  • Transesophageal gastric reduction method and device for practicing same
    Publication number: 20070191870
    Abstract: A gastric reduction pouch of a stomach is formed by gathering stomach tissue circumferentially from within the stomach to form a reduced diameter stomach section. A plurality of fasteners are deployed within the gathered stomach tissue to maintain the reduced diameter stomach portion. The gathering step may include folding the stomach tissue to produce a plurality of stomach tissue folds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Steve Baker, Raymond Wolniewicz, Sean Totten, Clifton Alferness
  • Cardiac reinforcement device
    Patent number: 7255674
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a cardiac reinforcement device (CRD) and method for the treatment of cardiomyopathy. The CRD provides for reinforcement of the walls of the heart by constraining cardiac expansion, beyond a predetermined limit, during diastolic expansion of the heart. A CRD of the invention can be applied to the epicardium of the heart to locally constrain expansion of the cardiac wall or to circumferentially constrain the cardiac wall during cardiac expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifton A. Alferness
  • DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MODIFYING THE SHAPE OF A BODY ORGAN
    Publication number: 20070055293
    Abstract: An intravascular support device includes a support or reshaper wire, a proximal anchor and a distal anchor. The support wire engages a vessel wall to change the shape of tissue adjacent the vessel in which the intravascular support is placed. The anchors and support wire are designed such that the vessel in which the support is placed remains open and can be accessed by other devices if necessary. The device provides a minimal metal surface area to blood flowing within the vessel to limit the creation of thrombosis. The anchors can be locked in place to secure the support within the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventors: Clifton Alferness, John Adams, Mark Mathis, David Reuter, Cruz Beeson, Leonard Kowalsky
  • Constriction device including fixation structure
    Patent number: 7182772
    Abstract: A constriction device that constricts body tissue includes fixation structures for fixing the device on constricted body tissue. The device includes an elongated sleeve including an inner surface and opposed opened ends. The device is formed from expandable or elastic material so that when in an expanded condition, body tissue to be constricted may be received therein and thereafter, when released from the expanded condition, the body tissue is constricted by the device. The fixation structures include a plurality of fixation elements on the inner surface of the sleeve that grasp the body tissue upon release of the sleeve from the expanded condition to fix the device on the constricted tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Spiration, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton A. Alferness, Robert Barry, Clint Finger, Leslie Snyder, Jenni Rimbaugh