Patents by Inventor Dean Schaefer
Dean Schaefer 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: 7025767Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for utilizing energy, such as radio frequency (RF) energy, to treat defined areas of tissue and more particularly to ablate tumors with RF energy through the use of a needle having a spreading array of individually traversing conductive tines which are independently positioned and activated.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2003Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.Inventors: Dean A. Schaefer, David Paulk, John Sherry
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Patent number: 6942654Abstract: An intravascular catheter having a shaft, at least a portion of which includes a braid reinforcement with an axial wire or fiber disposed between the helical members that form the braid. The axial member prevents the elongation of the shaft of the catheter thereby maintaining one-to-one correspondence in axial manipulation of the catheter, even when the shaft is placed in tension. By positioning the axial member between the helical members, the axial member does not create a protrusion and does not become fixed to any adjacent polymer layer. Thus, the axial member limits axial strain of the catheter, without creating the undesirable effects of friction caused by an axial protrusion and without creating the undesirable effects of limited flexure caused by an adjacent polymer layer becoming fixed to the axial member.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2000Date of Patent: September 13, 2005Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.Inventors: Dean A. Schaefer, David Paulk, Steven M. Anderson
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Publication number: 20050182388Abstract: An intravascular catheter that exhibits the combined features of superior flexibility, softness, radiopacity and oval/kink resistance. The catheter includes an elongate shaft having a proximal region, a distal region and a lumen extending therethrough. The proximal region of the shaft includes an inner lubricious polymer layer, a reinforcement layer and an outer layer. The reinforcement layer comprises a braid having one or more metallic members and a plurality of polymer members wherein each polymer member comprises a plurality of monofilaments, preferably formed of LCP. The polymer members of the braid provide improved flexibility and softness in addition to high burst pressure. The metallic member(s) of the braid provide improved radiopacity and oval/kink resistance. The catheter may also include a longitudinal member extending along the reinforcement layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2005Publication date: August 18, 2005Inventors: Robert Garabedian, John Griego, Earl Bardsley, Dean Schaefer, Cang Dao, Steven Anderson
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Patent number: 6866660Abstract: An intravascular catheter that exhibits the combined features of superior flexibility, softness, radiopacity and oval/kink resistance. The catheter includes an elongate shaft having a proximal region, a distal region and a lumen extending therethrough. The proximal region of the shaft includes an inner lubricious polymer layer, a reinforcement layer and an outer layer. The reinforcement layer comprises a braid having one or more metallic members and a plurality of polymer members wherein each polymer member comprises a plurality of monofilaments, preferably formed of LCP. The polymer members of the braid provide improved flexibility and softness in addition to high burst pressure. The metallic member(s) of the braid provide improved radiopacity and oval/kink resistance. The catheter may also include a longitudinal member extending along the reinforcement layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2003Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Garabedian, John Griego, Earl Bardsley, Dean A. Schaefer, Cang D. Dao, Steven M. Anderson
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Publication number: 20040162543Abstract: An intravascular catheter having a shaft, at least a portion of which includes a braid reinforcement with a plurality of axial members disposed between the helical members that form the braid. The axial members provide a number of advantages including: maintaining one-to-one correspondence in axial manipulation; maintaining uniform flexibility in several planes of flexure; reducing the likelihood of causing a curling effect; increasing the strength of connections between shaft segments; uniformly increasing stiffness of the catheter; and increasing the burst strength of the catheter. By positioning the axial members between the helical members, the axial members do not create a protrusion and do not become fixed to any adjacent polymer layer. Thus, the benefits of axial members are retained, without creating the undesirable effects of friction caused by an axial protrusion and without creating the undesirable effects of limited flexure caused by an adjacent polymer layer becoming fixed to the axial member.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2004Publication date: August 19, 2004Applicant: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.Inventors: Dean A. Schaefer, David Paulk, Steven M. Anderson
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Publication number: 20040133196Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for utilizing energy, such as radio frequency (RF) energy, to treat defined areas of tissue and more particularly to ablate tumors with RF energy through the use of a needle having a spreading array of individually traversing conductive tines which are independently positioned and activated.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2003Publication date: July 8, 2004Applicant: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.Inventors: Dean A. Schaefer, David Paulk, John Sherry
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Patent number: 6709429Abstract: An intravascular catheter having a shaft, at least a portion of which includes a braid reinforcement with a plurality of axial members disposed between the helical members that form the braid. The axial members provide a number of advantages including: maintaining one-to-one correspondence in axial manipulation; maintaining uniform flexibility in several planes of flexure; reducing the likelihood of causing a curling effect; increasing the strength of connections between shaft segments; uniformly increasing stiffness of the catheter; and increasing the burst strength of the catheter. By positioning the axial members between the helical members, the axial members do not create a protrusion and do not become fixed to any adjacent polymer layer. Thus, the benefits of axial members are retained, without creating the undesirable effects of friction caused by an axial protrusion and without creating the undesirable effects of limited flexure caused by an adjacent polymer layer becoming fixed to the axial member.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2000Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.Inventors: Dean A. Schaefer, David Paulk, Steven M. Anderson
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Publication number: 20040045554Abstract: A vaso-occlusive device includes a microcoil formed into a minimum energy state secondary configuration comprising a plurality of curved segments, each defining a discrete axis, whereby the device, in its minimum energy state configuration, defines multiple axes. In a preferred embodiment, the minimum energy state secondary configuration comprises a plurality of tangentially-interconnected, substantially circular loops defining a plurality of discrete axes. In an alternative embodiment, the minimum energy state secondary configuration defines a wave-form like structure comprising a longitudinal array of laterally-alternating open loops defining a plurality of separate axes. In either embodiment, the device, in its minimum energy state secondary configuration, has a dimension that is substantially larger than the largest dimension of the vascular site in which the device is to be deployed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2003Publication date: March 11, 2004Inventors: Dean Schaefer, Horacio Almazan, David A. Ferrera, Brian J. Cox, George R. Greene
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Publication number: 20040006354Abstract: A filamentous vaso-occlusive implant device includes an elongate, flexible outer member, preferably a microcoil, arranged coaxially around at least one inner member. When the outer member is subjected to axial tension, it elongates axially, while it simultaneously contracts radially. The radial contraction is resisted by the inner member, which thereby limits the elongation of the outer member so that its elastic limit is not exceeded. Therefore, permanent stretching or deformation of the outer member is not permitted. An obturator tip is advantageously provided at the distal end of the device, and a coupling element for detachable attachment of the device to a delivery mechanism is advantageously attached to the proximal end of the device. The inner member may be a microcoil, a hollow tube, a solid filament, a spiral cut tube, a slotted tube, or a tubular braid, and it may be provided with a bioactive agent.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2002Publication date: January 8, 2004Inventors: Dean Schaefer, Horacio Almazan
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Publication number: 20040006363Abstract: A filamentous vaso-occlusive implant device includes an elongate, flexible outer member, preferably a microcoil, arranged coaxially around at least one inner member. When the outer member is subjected to axial tension, it elongates axially, while it simultaneously contracts radially. The radial contraction is resisted by the inner member, which thereby limits the elongation of the outer member so that its elastic limit is not exceeded. Therefore, permanent stretching or deformation of the outer member is not permitted. An obturator tip is advantageously provided at the distal end of the device, and a coupling element for detachable attachment of the device to a delivery mechanism is advantageously attached to the proximal end of the device. The inner member may be a microcoil, a hollow tube, a solid filament, a spiral cut tube, a slotted tube, or a tubular braid, and it may be provided with a bioactive agent.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2002Publication date: January 8, 2004Inventor: Dean Schaefer
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Publication number: 20040006362Abstract: A multifilar vaso-occlusive implant device includes a plurality of elongate filars conjointly wound into helical coils having respective windings arranged in an alternating, uniaxial adjacency with each other. The respective windings of the coils may have the same or different mean diameters and pitches, and the materials, cross-sectional shapes and areas of the respective filars of the coils may be the same or variegated to achieve a desirable increase in the axial stretch resistance, and reductions in the respective axial bending and buckling resistances of the device. A rounded obturator tip may advantageously be attached at the distal end of the device, and a coupling element for releasably coupling the device to a delivery mechanism may advantageously be attached to the proximal end of the device. A flexible tube or porous sponge may be disposed in the axial lumen of the device and loaded with a bio-active agent for delivery to a patient via implantation of the device in the patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2002Publication date: January 8, 2004Inventors: Dean Schaefer, Horacio Almazan
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Patent number: 6638277Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for utilizing energy, such as radio frequency (RF) energy, to treat defined areas of tissue and more particularly to ablate tumors with RF energy through the use of a needle having a spreading array of individually traversing conductive tines which are independently positioned and activated.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2001Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.Inventors: Dean A. Schaefer, David Paulk, John Sherry
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Patent number: 6605101Abstract: A vaso-occlusive device includes a microcoil formed into a minimum energy state secondary configuration comprising a plurality of curved segments, each defining a discrete axis, whereby the device, in its minimum energy state configuration, defines multiple axes. In a preferred embodiment, the minimum energy state secondary configuration comprises a plurality of tangentially-interconnected, substantially circular loops defining a plurality of discrete axes. In an alternative embodiment, the minimum energy state secondary configuration defines a wave-form like structure comprising a longitudinal array of laterally-alternating open loops defining a plurality of separate axes. In either embodiment, the device, in its minimum energy state secondary configuration, has a dimension that is substantially larger than the largest dimension of the vascular site in which the device is to be deployed.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2000Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Microvention, Inc.Inventors: Dean Schaefer, Horacio Almazan, David A. Ferrera, Brian J. Cox, George R. Greene, Jr.
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Publication number: 20030097119Abstract: An intravascular catheter that exhibits the combined features of superior flexibility, softness, radiopacity and oval/kink resistance. The catheter includes an elongate shaft having a proximal region, a distal region and a lumen extending therethrough. The proximal region of the shaft includes an inner lubricious polymer layer, a reinforcement layer and an outer layer. The reinforcement layer comprises a braid having one or more metallic members and a plurality of polymer members wherein each polymer member comprises a plurality of monofilaments, preferably formed of LCP. The polymer members of the braid provide improved flexibility and softness in addition to high burst pressure. The metallic member(s) of the braid provide improved radiopacity and oval/kink resistance. The catheter may also include a longitudinal member extending along the reinforcement layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2003Publication date: May 22, 2003Applicant: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Garabedian, John Griego, Earl Bardsley, Dean A. Schaefer, Cang D. Dao, Steven M. Anderson
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Publication number: 20030018356Abstract: A vaso-occlusive device includes a microcoil formed into a minimum energy state secondary configuration comprising a plurality of curved segments, each defining a discrete axis, whereby the device, in its minimum energy state configuration, defines multiple axes. In a preferred embodiment, the secondary configuration comprises a plurality of interconnected closed loops defining a plurality of discrete axes. In a second embodiment, the secondary configuration defines a wave-form like structure comprising an array of laterally-alternating open loops defining a plurality of separate axes. In a third embodiment, the secondary configuration forms a series of tangential closed loops, wherein the entire structure subtends a first angle of arc, and wherein each adjacent pair of loops defines a second angle of arc. In a fourth embodiment, the secondary configuration forms a logarithmic spiral.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2002Publication date: January 23, 2003Inventors: Dean Schaefer, Brian J. Cox, George R. Greene, David A. Ferrera, Matthew Fitz, Robert F. Rosenbluth
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Patent number: 6508805Abstract: An intravascular catheter that exhibits the combined features of superior flexibility, softness, radiopacity and oval/kink resistance. The catheter includes an elongate shaft having a proximal region, a distal region and a lumen extending therethrough. The proximal region of the shaft includes an inner lubricious polymer layer, a reinforcement layer and an outer layer. The reinforcement layer comprises a braid having one or more metallic members and a plurality of polymer members wherein each polymer member comprises a plurality of monofilaments, preferably formed of LCP. The polymer members of the braid provide improved flexibility and softness in addition to high burst pressure. The metallic member(s) of the braid provide improved radiopacity and oval/kink resistance. The catheter may also include a longitudinal member extending along the reinforcement layer.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2000Date of Patent: January 21, 2003Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Garabedian, John Griego, Earl Bardsley, Dean A. Schaefer, Cang D. Dao, Steven M. Anderson
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Publication number: 20020107534Abstract: A vaso-occlusive device includes a microcoil formed into a minimum energy state secondary configuration comprising a plurality of curved segments, each defining a discrete axis, whereby the device, in its minimum energy state configuration, defines multiple axes. In a preferred embodiment, the secondary configuration-comprises a plurality of interconnected closed loops defining a plurality of discrete axes. In a second embodiment, the secondary configuration defines a wave-form like structure comprising an array of laterally-alternating open loops defining a plurality of separate axes. In a third embodiment, the secondary configuration forms a series of tangential closed loops, wherein the entire structure subtends a first angle of arc, and wherein each adjacent pair of loops defines a second angle of arc. In a fourth embodiment, the secondary configuration forms a logarithmic spiral.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2002Publication date: August 8, 2002Inventors: Dean Schaefer, Brian J. Cox, George R. Greene, David A. Ferrera, Matthew Fitz, Robert F. Rosenbluth
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Publication number: 20020072742Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for utilizing energy, such as radio frequency (RF) energy, to treat defined areas of tissue and more particularly to ablate tumors with RF energy through the use of a needle having a spreading array of individually traversing conductive tines which are independently positioned and activated.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2001Publication date: June 13, 2002Inventors: Dean A. Schaefer, David Paulk, John Sherry
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Patent number: 6171295Abstract: An intravascular catheter that exhibits the combined features of superior flexibility, softness, radiopacity and oval/kink resistance. The catheter includes an elongate shaft having a proximal region, a distal region and a lumen extending therethrough. The proximal region of the shaft includes an inner lubricious polymer layer, a reinforcement layer and an outer layer. The reinforcement layer comprises a braid having one or more metallic members and a plurality of polymer members wherein each polymer member comprises a plurality of monofilaments, preferably formed of LCP. The polymer members of the braid provide improved flexibility and softness in addition to high burst pressure. The metallic member(s) of the braid provide improved radiopacity and oval/kink resistance. The catheter may also include a longitudinal member extending along the reinforcement layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Garabedian, John Griego, Earl Bardsley, Dean A. Schaefer, Cang D. Dao, Steven M. Anderson