Patents by Inventor Clifton Alferness

Clifton 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).

  • Patent number: 6908478
    Abstract: A device, system, and method effects mitral valve annulus geometry of a heart. The device includes a first anchor configured to be positioned within and fixed to the coronary sinus of the heart adjacent the mitral valve annulus within the heart. A cable is fixed to the first anchor and extends proximately therefrom and slidingly through a second anchor which is positioned and fixed in the heart proximal to the first anchor. A lock locks the cable to the second anchor when tension is applied to the cable for effecting the mitral valve annulus geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Cardiac Dimensions, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton A. Alferness, John M. Adams, Mark L. Mathis, David G. Reuter
  • Publication number: 20050131276
    Abstract: A constriction device that constricts body tissue is viewable under X ray fluoroscopy. The device includes an elongated sleeve. The sleeve includes opposed opened ends and is formed from expandable or elastic material to receive therein, when in an expanded condition, body tissue to be constricted and to constrict the body tissue therein when released from the expanded condition. At least a portion of the sleeve includes X ray opaque material rendering the device visible under X ray fluoroscopy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventors: Clifton Alferness, Robert Barry, Clint Finger, Hugo Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 6902524
    Abstract: A jacket of biological compatible material has an internal volume dimensioned for an apex of the heart to be inserted into the volume and for the jacket to be slipped over the heart. The jacket has a longitudinal dimension between upper and lower ends sufficient for the jacket to surround a lower portion of the heart with the jacket surrounding a valvular annulus of the heart and further surrounding the lower portion to cover at least the ventricular lower extremities of the heart. The jacket is adapted to be secured to the heart with the jacket surrounding at least the valvular annulus and the ventricular lower extremities. The jacket is adjustable on the heart to snugly conform to an external geometry of the heart and assume a maximum adjusted volume for the jacket to constrain circumferential expansion of the heart beyond the maximum adjusted volume during diastole and to permit unimpeded contraction of the heart during systole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton A. Alferness, Donald G. Rohrbaugh, J. Edward Shapland, Michael J. Girard, Donald F. Palme, II, James E. Cox
  • Patent number: 6896652
    Abstract: A jacket of biological compatible material has an internal volume dimensioned for an apex of the heart to be inserted into the volume and for the jacket to be slipped over the heart. The jacket has a longitudinal dimension between upper and lower ends sufficient for the jacket to surround a lower portion of the heart with the jacket surrounding a valvular annulus of the heart and further surrounding the lower portion to cover at least the ventricular lower extremities of the heart. The jacket is adapted to be secured to the heart with the jacket surrounding at least the valvular annulus and the ventricular lower extremities. The jacket is adjustable on the heart to snugly conform to an external geometry of the heart and assume a maximum adjusted volume for the jacket to constrain circumferential expansion of the heart beyond the maximum adjusted volume during diastole and to permit unimpeded contraction of the heart during systole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton A. Alferness, Jai Shankar Raman, John Melmouth Power
  • Patent number: 6893392
    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: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifton A. Alferness
  • Patent number: 6860847
    Abstract: A constriction device that constricts body tissue is viewable under X ray fluoroscopy. The device includes an elongated sleeve. The sleeve includes opposed opened ends and is formed from expandable or elastic material to receive therein, when in an expanded condition, body tissue to be constricted and to constrict the body tissue therein when released from the expanded condition. At least a portion of the sleeve includes X ray opaque material rendering the device visible under X ray fluoroscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Spiration, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton A. Alferness, Robert Barry, Clint Finger, Hugo X. Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20050043745
    Abstract: A resection device and method permits safe and efficient encapsulation, isolation and resection of body tissue. The device includes a sheath of flexible and severable material configured to receive the body tissue to be resectioned as it is drawn therein. The sheath may be expandable and held in an expanded condition as the body tissue to be resectioned is drawn into the sheath. Thereafter, the sheath is permitted to collapse about the body tissue to contain and constrict the body tissue. Once the body tissue to be resectioned is disposed in the sheath, the sheath is severed to resection the body tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: Clifton Alferness, Hugo Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20050038507
    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: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Clifton Alferness, John Adams, John Power
  • Publication number: 20050033419
    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: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Clifton Alferness, John Adams, John Power
  • Publication number: 20050033344
    Abstract: An intra-bronchial device placed and anchored in an air passageway of a patient to collapse a lung portion associated with the air passageway. The device includes a support structure, an obstructing member carried by the support structure that reduces ventilation to the lung portion by preventing air from being inhaled into the lung portion, and at least one anchor carried by the support structure that anchors the obstruction device within the air passageway. The anchor may engage the air passageway wall by piercing or friction, include a stop dimensioned for limiting the piercing of the air passageway wall, and may be releasable from the air passageway for removal of the intra-bronchial device. The anchors may be carried by a peripheral portion of the support structure, or by a central portion of the support structure. The obstructing member may be a one-way valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: David Dillard, Hugo Gonzalez, Seung Yi, Lauri DeVore, Mia Park, Dean Corcoran, Jenni Rimbaugh, Clifton Alferness
  • Publication number: 20050033310
    Abstract: An air passageway obstruction device includes a frame structure and a flexible membrane overlying the frame structure. The frame structure is collapsible upon advancement of the device into the air passageway, expandable into a rigid structure upon deploying in the air passageway and re-collapsible upon removal from the air passageway. The flexible membrane obstructs inhaled air flow into a lung portion communicating with the air passageway. The device may be removed after deployment in an air passageway by re-collapsing the device and pulling the device proximally through a catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Clifton Alferness, Richard Lin, Wilfred Jaeger
  • Publication number: 20050027353
    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: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Clifton Alferness, John Adams, John Power
  • Publication number: 20040243140
    Abstract: An air passageway obstruction device includes a frame structure and a flexible membrane overlying the frame structure. The frame structure is collapsible upon advancement of the device into the air passageway, expandable into a rigid structure upon deploying in the air passageway and re-collapsible upon removal from the air passageway. The flexible membrane obstructs inhaled air flow into a lung portion communicating with the air passageway. The device may be removed after deployment in an air passageway by re-collapsing the device and pulling the device proximally through a catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Clifton A. Alferness, Hugo X. Gonzalez, David H. Dillard
  • Publication number: 20040211412
    Abstract: An air passageway obstruction device includes a frame structure and a flexible membrane overlying the frame structure. The frame structure is collapsible upon advancement of the device into the air passageway, expandable into a rigid structure upon deploying in the air passageway and re-collapsible upon removal from the air passageway. The flexible membrane obstructs inhaled air flow into a lung portion communicating with the air passageway. The device may be removed after deployment in an air passageway by re-collapsing the device and pulling the device proximally through a catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Clifton A. Alferness, Hugo X. Gonzalez, David H. Dillard
  • Publication number: 20040206349
    Abstract: An air passageway obstruction device includes a frame structure and a flexible membrane overlying the frame structure. The frame structure is collapsible upon advancement of the device into the air passageway, expandable into a rigid structure upon deploying in the air passageway and re-collapsible upon removal from the air passageway. The flexible membrane obstructs inhaled air flow into a lung portion communicating with the air passageway. The device may be removed after deployment in an air passageway by re-collapsing the device and pulling the device proximally through a catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Clifton A. Alferness, Hugo X. Gonzalez, David H. Dillard
  • Patent number: 6800090
    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: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Cardiac Dimensions, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton A. Alferness, John M. Adams, John Melmoth Power
  • Publication number: 20040193260
    Abstract: A device, system, and method effects mitral valve annulus geometry of a heart. The device includes a first anchor configured to be positioned within and fixed to the coronary sinus of the heart adjacent the mitral valve annulus within the heart. A cable is fixed to the first anchor and extends proximately therefrom and slidingly through a second anchor which is positioned and fixed in the heart proximal to the first anchor. A lock locks the cable to the second anchor when tension is applied to the cable for effecting the mitral valve annulus geometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Clifton A. Alferness, John M. Adams, Mark L. Mathis, David G. Reuter
  • Publication number: 20040181121
    Abstract: A jacket of biological compatible material has an internal volume dimensioned for an apex of the heart to be inserted into the volume and for the jacket to be slipped over the heart. The jacket has a longitudinal dimension between upper and lower ends sufficient for the jacket to surround a lower portion of the heart with the jacket surrounding a valvular annulus of the heart and further surrounding the lower portion to cover at least the ventricular lower extremities of the heart. The jacket is adapted to be secured to the heart with the jacket surrounding at least the valvular annulus and the ventricular lower extremities. The jacket is adjustable on the heart to snugly conform to an external geometry of the heart and assume a maximum adjusted volume for the jacket to constrain circumferential expansion of the heart beyond the maximum adjusted volume during diastole and to permit unimpeded contraction of the heart during systole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton A. Alferness, Jai Shankar Raman, John Melmouth Power
  • Publication number: 20040181122
    Abstract: A jacket of biological compatible material has an internal volume dimensioned for an apex of the heart to be inserted into the volume and for the jacket to be slipped over the heart. The jacket has a longitudinal dimension between upper and lower ends sufficient for the jacket to surround a lower portion of the heart with the jacket surrounding a valvular annulus of the heart and further surrounding the lower portion to cover at least the ventricular lower extremities of the heart. The jacket is adapted to be secured to the heart with the jacket surrounding at least the valvular annulus and the ventricular lower extremities. The jacket is adjustable on the heart to snugly conform to an external geometry of the heart and assume a maximum adjusted volume for the jacket to constrain circumferential expansion of the heart beyond the maximum adjusted volume during diastole and to permit unimpeded contraction of the heart during systole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton A. Alferness, Jai Shankar Raman, John Melmouth Power
  • Publication number: 20040181125
    Abstract: A jacket of biological compatible material has an internal volume dimensioned for an apex of the heart to be inserted into the volume and for the jacket to be slipped over the heart. The jacket has a longitudinal dimension between upper and lower ends sufficient for the jacket to surround a lower portion of the heart with the jacket surrounding a valvular annulus of the heart and further surrounding the lower portion to cover at least the ventricular lower extremities of the heart. The jacket is adapted to be secured to the heart with the jacket surrounding at least the valvular annulus and the ventricular lower extremities. The jacket is adjustable on the heart to snugly conform to an external geometry of the heart and assume a maximum adjusted volume for the jacket to constrain circumferential expansion of the heart beyond the maximum adjusted volume during diastole and to permit unimpeded contraction of the heart during systole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton A. Alferness, Jai Shankar Raman, John Melmouth Power