Patents by Inventor Fergus Merritt

Fergus Merritt 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: 10098702
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods configured to assess the severity of a blockage in a vessel and, in particular, a stenosis in a blood vessel, provide visual depictions of vessel that allow assessment of the vessel and, in particular, any stenosis or lesion of the vessel, simulate one or more treatment options for the vessel, and perform treatment on any stenosis or lesion of the vessel, including guiding placement of one or more treatment devices are provided. The method can include obtaining pressure measurements from first and second instruments positioned within a vessel of a patient during a diagnostic procedure where the second instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel; identifying a treatment option based on the obtained pressure measurements; and performing the identified treatment option, wherein a user display guides placement of one or more treatment devices associated with the identified treatment option.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: VOLCANO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fergus Merritt, Justin Davies
  • Publication number: 20180263507
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating treatment options are disclosed. The methods can include obtaining pressure measurements from first and second instruments positioned within a vessel of a patient while the second instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel from a first position to a second position and the first instrument remains stationary within the vessel; and outputting a visual representation of the pressure measurements obtained by the first and second instruments on a display, the output visual representation including a graphical display of a pressure ratio of the obtained pressure measurements and at least a portion of a pressure waveform of the obtained pressure measurements identifying a diagnostic period utilized in calculating the pressure ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Fergus MERRITT, Vaishali MITTAL
  • Patent number: 10076301
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating treatment options are disclosed. A method of evaluating a vessel of a patient, comprises: obtaining intravascular data from an intravascular instrument positioned within a vessel of a patient while the intravascular instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel from a first position to a second position; obtaining an angiographic image of the vessel while the intravascular instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel; correlating the intravascular data from the intravascular instrument to locations on the angiographic image; and outputting an enhanced angiographic image of the vessel on a display, the enhanced angiographic image including the angiographic image overlaid with visualizations representing the intravascular data at the correlated locations. Corresponding systems are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: VOLCANO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bret C. Millett, Joe Burnett, Howard David Alpert, Fergus Merritt
  • Publication number: 20180228387
    Abstract: An intravascular system includes at least one pressure-sensing instrument sized and shaped for introduction into a vessel of a patient; a processing unit in communication with the pressure-sensing instrument, the processing unit configured to: obtain proximal pressure measurements for at least one cardiac cycle of the patient while the pressure-sensing instrument is positioned proximal of a stenosis of the vessel; obtain distal pressure measurements while the pressure-sensing instrument is positioned distal of the stenosis; select a diagnostic window within a cardiac cycle by identifying a change in sign of a slope associated with the proximal and/or distal pressure measurements, wherein the diagnostic window encompasses only a portion of the cardiac cycle of the patient; calculate a pressure ratio between the distal and proximal obtained during the diagnostic window; and output the calculated pressure ratio to a display device in communication with the processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Jinhyoung PARK, Fergus MERRITT
  • Patent number: 9974443
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating treatment options are disclosed. The methods can include obtaining pressure measurements from first and second instruments positioned within a vessel of a patient while the second instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel from a first position to a second position and the first instrument remains stationary within the vessel; and outputting a visual representation of the pressure measurements obtained by the first and second instruments on a display, the output visual representation including a graphical display of a pressure ratio of the obtained pressure measurements and at least a portion of a pressure waveform of the obtained pressure measurements identifying a diagnostic period utilized in calculating the pressure ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Fergus Merritt, Vaishali Mittal
  • Patent number: 9820660
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are configured to assess the severity of a blockage in a vessel and, in particular, a stenosis in a blood vessel. In some particular embodiments, the devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure are configured to assess the severity of a stenosis in the coronary arteries without the administration of a hyperemic agent. In some embodiments, the devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure are configured to optimize proximal and distal pressure measurements utilized to assess the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: VOLCANO CORPORATION
    Inventors: S. Eric Ryan, Fergus Merritt
  • Publication number: 20160166232
    Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some instances, a method for treating a vessel of a patient includes collecting intravascular ultrasound imaging data of the placement of the stent using the intravascular ultrasound imaging device, estimating, using a processing device, a restenosis probability value based on the intravascular ultrasound imaging data of the placement of the stent and communicating the estimated restenosis probability value to a clinician. Associated devices and systems are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Fergus Merritt
  • Patent number: 9364153
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating treatment options are disclosed. The methods can include obtaining pressure measurements from first and second instruments positioned within a vessel of a patient while the second instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel from a first position to a second position and the first instrument remains stationary within the vessel; and outputting a visual representation of the pressure measurements obtained by the first and second instruments on a display, the output visual representation including a graphical display of a pressure ratio of the obtained pressure measurements and at least a portion of a pressure waveform of the obtained pressure measurements identifying a diagnostic period utilized in calculating the pressure ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Fergus Merritt, Vaishali Mittal
  • Publication number: 20160157785
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods automatically detecting anomalous waveforms and eliminating these waveforms from physiologic measurements are disclosed. For example, in some instances a method includes collecting a pressure data from an intravascular device positioned within the vessel of the patient, the pressure data including a pressure waveform for each cardiac cycle of the patient; comparing the pressure waveform for each cardiac cycle of the patient to a reference pressure waveform to identify an anomalous pressure waveform; and calculating a pressure ratio utilizing the pressure data from the intravascular device, wherein data from the anomalous pressure waveform is excluded from the calculation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Fergus Merritt, Andrew Tochterman, John Unser, David Anderson
  • Publication number: 20160157807
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods of evaluating risk associated with a condition of the vessel and issuing an automatic recommendation based on co-registered physiological measurements are disclosed. The includes steps of obtaining image data for the vessel of the patient, obtaining physiological measurements for the vessel of the patient, co-registering the obtained physiological measurements with the obtained image data such that the physiological measurements are associated with corresponding portions of the vessel of the patient, analyzing the co-registered physiology measurements to identify a region of interest, and outputting, to a user interface, a suggested diagnostic procedure for the region of interest based on the analysis of the co-registered physiology measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: David Anderson, Fergus Merritt
  • Publication number: 20160157808
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for evaluating patient vasculature are provided. In some instances, the methods can include obtaining external imaging data associated with at least one of a vessel and a heart; obtaining physiology data associated with the vessel; obtaining intravascular imaging data associated with the vessel; co-registering the physiology data and the intravascular imaging data with the external imaging data; generating a three-dimensional graphical representation of the at least one of the vessel and the heart based on the external imaging data, the physiology data, and the intravascular imaging data; and outputting the graphical representation of the at least one of the vessel and the heart to a display device, wherein the graphical representation includes a first indicator associated with a location within the vessel of the co-registered physiology data and a second indicator associated with a location within the vessel of the co-registered intravascular imaging data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Fergus Merritt, David Anderson
  • Publication number: 20160157787
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods of mapping a vessel system of a patient and identifying lesions therein are disclosed. This includes a method of evaluating a vessel of a patient, the method comprising obtaining image data for the vessel of the patient, obtaining physiological measurements for the vessel of the patient, co-registering the obtained physiological measurements with the obtained image data such that the physiological measurements are associated with corresponding portions of the vessel of the patient, analyzing the co-registered physiology measurements to determine a classification of a lesion within the vessel of the patient, and outputting, to a user interface, the classification of the lesion. Other associated methods, systems, and devices are also provided herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Fergus Merritt, Andrew Tochterman, Jacqueline Keller
  • Publication number: 20160073972
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for evaluating a vessel of a patient are provided. The method includes outputting, to a touch-sensitive display of a bedside controller, a screen display including: a visual representation of a first pressure ratio of pressure measurements obtained by first and second instruments positioned within a vessel while the second instrument is moved from a distal position to a proximal position relative a stenosis and the first instrument remains stationary; and a first proximal pressure waveform and a first distal pressure waveform; receiving, through the touch-sensitive display of the bedside controller, a user touch input on the first proximal pressure waveform and/or the first distal pressure waveform identifying a time at which pressure measurements were obtained; and modifying the screen display, in response to the user touch input, to further include a visual representation of the obtained pressure measurements corresponding to the identified time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Howard David Alpert, David Anderson, Asher Cohen, Fergus Merritt, Meng Lim
  • Publication number: 20160015327
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating treatment options are disclosed. The methods can include obtaining proximal pressure measurements from a proximal pressure sensing component positioned within a vessel of a patient; obtaining distal pressure measurements from multiple pressure sensing components positioned within the vessel of the patient, wherein the multiple pressure sensing components are positioned distal of the proximal pressure sensing component and are spaced along a length of the vessel; and outputting a screen display having a visual representation of the proximal and distal pressure measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Fergus Merritt, Andrew Tochterman, David Anderson
  • Publication number: 20160007866
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating treatment options are disclosed. The methods can include introducing instruments into the vessel of a patient and obtaining proximal and distal pressure measurements of a stenosis of the vessel, calculating a pressure ratio based on the obtained proximal and distal pressure measurements, applying a correlation factor to the calculated pressure ratio to produce a predicted diagnostic pressure ratio, and displaying the predicted diagnostic pressure ratio to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Andrew Tochterman, Fergus Merritt
  • Publication number: 20160008084
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods configured to assess the severity of a blockage in a vessel and, in particular, a stenosis in a blood vessel, provide visual depictions of vessel that allow assessment of the vessel and, in particular, any stenosis or lesion of the vessel, simulate one or more treatment options for the vessel, and perform treatment on any stenosis or lesion of the vessel, including guiding placement of one or more treatment devices are provided. The method can include obtaining pressure measurements from first and second instruments positioned within a vessel of a patient during a diagnostic procedure where the second instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel; identifying a treatment option based on the obtained pressure measurements; and performing the identified treatment option, wherein a user display guides placement of one or more treatment devices associated with the identified treatment option.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicants: VOLCANO CORPORATION, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
    Inventors: Fergus Merritt, Justin Davies
  • Publication number: 20150238096
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating treatment options are disclosed. The methods can include obtaining pressure measurements from first and second instruments positioned within a vessel of a patient while the second instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel from a first position to a second position and the first instrument remains stationary within the vessel; and outputting a visual representation of the pressure measurements obtained by the first and second instruments on a display, the output visual representation including a graphical display of a pressure ratio of the obtained pressure measurements and at least a portion of a pressure waveform of the obtained pressure measurements identifying a diagnostic period utilized in calculating the pressure ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Fergus Merritt, Vaishali Mittal
  • Publication number: 20150230713
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating treatment options are disclosed. The methods can include obtaining pressure measurements from first and second instruments positioned within a vessel of a patient while the second instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel from a first position to a second position and the first instrument remains stationary within the vessel; and outputting a visual representation of the pressure measurements obtained by the first and second instruments on a display, the output visual representation including a graphical display of a pressure ratio of the obtained pressure measurements and at least a portion of a pressure waveform of the obtained pressure measurements identifying a diagnostic period utilized in calculating the pressure ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Fergus Merritt, Vaishali Mittal
  • Publication number: 20150119705
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating risk associated with a condition of the vessel are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of evaluating a vessel of a patient includes obtaining physiology measurements from a first instrument and a second instrument positioned within the vessel of the patient while the second instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel from a first position to a second position and the first instrument remains stationary within the vessel; outputting the physiology measurements and an image of the vessel on a display, the output image including visualizations based on the obtained physiology measurements; and evaluating whether to perform to surgical procedure based on the physiology measurements and the image of the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew Tochterman, David Anderson, Fergus Merritt
  • Publication number: 20150112152
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are configured to assess the severity of a blockage in a vessel and, in particular, a stenosis in a blood vessel. In some particular embodiments, the devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure are configured to assess the severity of a stenosis in the coronary arteries without the administration of a hyperemic agent. In some embodiments, the devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure are configured to optimize proximal and distal pressure measurements utilized to assess the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: S. Eric Ryan, Fergus Merritt