Patents by Inventor Frank Kirchhoff
Frank Kirchhoff 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: 11951297Abstract: An intravascular blood pump comprises a pumping device including an impeller and an electric motor for driving the impeller. A rotor of the electric motor is rotatable about an axis of rotation and coupled to the impeller so as to be able to cause rotation of the impeller. An outer sleeve forms a casing of the pumping device, wherein stator components are fixed inside the outer sleeve by means of a casting compound. In a method of manufacturing the blood pump the stator components are placed on a molding base, including the outer sleeve to thereby form an interspace between the molding base and the outer sleeve in which the stator components are disposed. The casting compound is then injected into the interspace via the molding base to fix the stator components inside the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve preferably comprises a magnetically conductive material to form a yoke of the electric motor.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2019Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Abiomed Europe GmbhInventors: Frank Kirchhoff, Josef Penners, Thorsten Siess, Werner Carell, Wolfgang Kerkhoffs
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Patent number: 11951299Abstract: An intravascular blood pump having a rotatable shaft carrying an impeller and a housing with an opening through which the shaft extends with the impeller positioned outside the housing. The shaft and the housing have surfaces forming a circumferential gap which has a gap width of no more than 2 ?m over at least part of the length of the gap and at least one of the surfaces forming the gap is made of a material having a thermal conductivity of at least 100 W/mK, in particular a ceramic material such as silicon carbide.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2019Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: ABIOMED, INC.Inventors: Frank Kirchhoff, Thorsten Siess, Wolfgang Kerkhoffs
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Publication number: 20240058593Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cannula (4) for an intravascular blood pump comprises the steps of forming a first axial section (13) and a second axial section (15) of an elongate tubular body of the cannula (4) by dispensing a first liquid material and a second liquid material, respectively, onto a mandrel (7) by means of at least one dispenser (8). The mandrel (7) is rotated and the dispenser (8) moves relative to the mandrel (7) in an axial direction during dispensing of the liquid materials. The first and second axial sections (13, 15) are formed so as to have different bending stiffnesses. The first and second liquid materials are dispensed onto the mandrel (7) such that the first and second liquid materials blend into each other to form a smooth transition area (14).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Applicant: Abiomed Europe GmbHInventors: Walid Aboulhosn, Thorsten Siess, Frank Kirchhoff
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Publication number: 20240050698Abstract: An intravascular blood pump may have a catheter (10) and a pumping device (1) attached to the catheter (10). The catheter (10) extends along a longitudinal axis and has a distal end (11) and a proximal end (12) opposite the distal end (11). The catheter (10) may have a tubular stiffening structure (15) extending longitudinally between the proximal end (12) and the distal end (11) of the catheter (10). The tubular stiffening structure (15) has a lumen (21) and a proximal end (17) and a closed distal end (16) opposite the proximal end (17), wherein the lumen (21) of the stiffening structure (15) is configured to receive a pressurized fluid having an over-pressure of at least 5 bar.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2023Publication date: February 15, 2024Applicant: Abiomed Europe GmbHInventors: Thorsten Siess, Frank Kirchhoff, Walid Aboulhosn
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Publication number: 20240024655Abstract: A blood pump system including a blood pump, an intravascular flow cannula, and a pressure sensor. The intravascular flow cannula is in flow communication with the blood pump and has a distal end portion distally from the blood pump and a proximal end portion closer to the blood pump. The intravascular flow cannula has at least one blood flow through opening at its distal end portion for blood to enter or exit the flow cannula. The blood flow through opening has a borderline surrounding the through opening. The pressure sensor is configured radially within the flow cannula and borders a proximal portion of the borderline.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Applicant: Abiomed Europe GmbHInventors: Thorsten Siess, Frank Kirchhoff, Christopher Nix
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Patent number: 11833314Abstract: A sheath assembly for the insertion of a percutaneous pump includes a tubular sheath body dimensioned for insertion into a blood vessel through a vessel aperture. The tubular sheath body includes a wall having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, an inner surface defining a first lumen substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a second lumen disposed within the wall between the inner surface and the outer surface and extending from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion. The first lumen is dimensioned to allow passage of a portion of the percutaneous pump, and the second lumen is dimensioned for passage of a guidewire. A stylet is removably positioned to substantially occlude the second lumen. The stylet has a proximal end releasably secured to the sheath assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2021Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: ABIOMED, INC.Inventors: Scott C. Corbett, Glen R. Fantuzzi, John Murphy, Frank Kirchhoff, David Brousseau, Thorsten Siess
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Publication number: 20230381480Abstract: A sheath for producing a fully sealed access to the interior of a vessel of an animal or human body comprises a base sheath having a tubular body defining a pass-through channel. The base sheath is adapted to be inserted into the vessel through a vessel aperture. The sheath further comprises an expansion device which is adapted to cooperate with the base sheath such that the outer diameter of the sheath increases in the region of the vessel aperture with the sheath in a stationary position in the vessel and upon actuation of the expansion device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Applicant: Abiomed Europe GmbHInventors: Thorsten Siess, Christoph Nix, Frank Kirchhoff, Ger O'Carrol
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Patent number: 11781550Abstract: The invention relates to a micromotor (10), the stator of which contains a back iron jacket (18). Said back iron jacket consists of a continuous unslotted sleeve consisting of a metal alloy that contains ferritic iron as the main constituent, up to 30% chromium and preferably aluminium and yttrium oxide. Electric conductivity is reduced by the oxidation of the aluminium. The yttrium oxide performs the same function. The reduced electric conductivity suppresses eddy currents to a great extent. The back iron jacket (18) has a high magnetic conductivity with a small wall thickness, thus increasing the electrical output for a motor with a small diameter.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2020Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: ABIOMED EUROPE GMBHInventors: Thorsten Siess, Frank Kirchhoff
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Publication number: 20230302271Abstract: An intravascular blood pump having a drive section (11), a catheter (14) fastened to the drive section proximally and a pump section (12) fastened to the drive section distally possesses an electric motor (21) whose motor shaft (25) is mounted in the drive section (11) with two radial sliding bearings (27, 31) and an axial sliding bearing (40). During operation, purge fluid is conveyed through the bearing gap of the axial sliding bearing (40) and farther through the radial sliding bearing (31) at the distal end of the drive section (11). The purge fluid is highly viscous, for example 20% glucose solution.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Applicant: Abiomed Europe GmbHInventors: Gerd Bruno Spanier, Frank Kirchhoff, Thorsten Siess, Dirk Michels
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Patent number: 11752322Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cannula (4) for an intravascular blood pump comprises the steps of forming a first axial section (13) and a second axial section (15) of an elongate tubular body of the cannula (4) by dispensing a first liquid material and a second liquid material, respectively, onto a mandrel (7) by means of at least one dispenser (8). The mandrel (7) is rotated and the dispenser (8) moves relative to the mandrel (7) in an axial direction during dispensing of the liquid materials. The first and second axial sections (13, 15) are formed so as to have different bending stiffnesses. The first and second liquid materials are dispensed onto the mandrel (7) such that the first and second liquid materials blend into each other to form a smooth transition area (14).Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2018Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: ABIOMED EUROPE GMBHInventors: Walid Aboulhosn, Thorsten Siess, Frank Kirchhoff
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Patent number: 11744987Abstract: An intravascular blood pump may have a catheter (10) and a pumping device (1) attached to the catheter (10). The catheter (10) extends along a longitudinal axis and has a distal end (11) and a proximal end (12) opposite the distal end (11). The catheter (10) may have a tubular stiffening structure (15) extending longitudinally between the proximal end (12) and the distal end (11) of the catheter (10). The tubular stiffening structure (15) has a lumen (21) and a proximal end (17) and a closed distal end (16) opposite the proximal end (17), wherein the lumen (21) of the stiffening structure (15) is configured to receive a pressurized fluid having an over-pressure of at least 5 bar.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2018Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Abiomed Europe GMBHInventors: Thorsten Siess, Frank Kirchhoff, Walid Aboulhosn
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Patent number: 11730939Abstract: A sheath for producing a fully sealed access to the interior of a vessel of an animal or human body comprises a base sheath having a tubular body defining a pass-through channel. The base sheath is adapted to be inserted into the vessel through a vessel aperture. The sheath further comprises an expansion device which is adapted to cooperate with the base sheath such that the outer diameter of the sheath increases in the region of the vessel aperture with the sheath in a stationary position in the vessel and upon actuation of the expansion device.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2015Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: ABIOMED EUROPE GMBHInventors: Thorsten Siess, Christoph Nix, Frank Kirchhoff, Ger O'Carrol
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Patent number: 11724091Abstract: A blood pump system including a blood pump, an intravascular flow cannula, and a pressure sensor. The intravascular flow cannula is in flow communication with the blood pump and has a distal end portion distally from the blood pump and a proximal end portion closer to the blood pump. The intravascular flow cannula has at least one blood flow through opening at its distal end portion for blood to enter or exit the flow cannula. The blood flow through opening has a borderline surrounding the through opening. The pressure sensor is configured radially within the flow cannula and borders a proximal portion of the borderline.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2017Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: ABIOMED EUROPE GMBHInventors: Thorsten Siess, Frank Kirchhoff, Christoph Nix
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Publication number: 20230166098Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed including: an intracardiac pump device having a path for a guidewire extending through the pump device from a first opening to a second opening; and a lumen which extends from a first end located outside of the pump device, into the pump device through the first opening in the pump device, along the path for the guidewire, out of the pump device through the second opening, and to a second end located outside of the pump device. The lumen is configured to receive the guidewire such that when the guidewire passes through the lumen from the first end to the second end, the guidewire is positioned along the path.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2022Publication date: June 1, 2023Applicant: ABIOMED, Inc.Inventors: Caitlyn Hastie, Frank Kirchhoff, Thorsten Siess
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Patent number: 11648390Abstract: An intravascular blood pump having a drive section (11), a catheter (14) fastened to the drive section proximally and a pump section (12) fastened to the drive section distally possesses an electric motor (21) whose motor shaft (25) is mounted in the drive section (11) with two radial sliding bearings (27, 31) and an axial sliding bearing (40). During operation, purge fluid is conveyed through the bearing gap of the axial sliding bearing (40) and further through the radial sliding bearing (31) at the distal end of the drive section (11). The purge fluid is highly viscous, for example 20% glucose solution.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: ABIOMED EUROPE GMBHInventors: Gerd Spanier, Frank Kirchhoff, Thorsten Siess, Dirk Michels
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Publication number: 20230131339Abstract: A peptide derivative selected from a list of peptide derivatives with a sequence derived from human serum albumin fragment EPI-X4 is provided, which binds to CXCR4 with about 1000-fold stronger efficiency than EPI-X4. The peptide derivatives comprise length variants as well as modifications by length variants, D-amino acids, coupling of fatty acids, cholesterol or polymers, acetyl substitutions of amino groups, amination of carboxyl groups. Further provided are pharmaceutical compositions of the peptide derivative.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2021Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventors: Jan MUENCH, Frank KIRCHHOFF, Mirja HARMS, Ashraf H. ABADI, Monika Maged Wadi HABIB, Alexander ZELIKIN, Sheiliza CARMALI, Elsa SANCHEZ GARCIA, Pandian SOKKAR
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Publication number: 20230057161Abstract: An intravascular blood pump having a rotatable shaft carrying an impeller and a housing with an opening through which the shaft extends with the impeller positioned outside the housing. The shaft and the housing have surfaces forming a circumferential gap which converges towards the impeller-side end of the gap and which has a minimum gap width of preferably no more than 5 ?m, more preferably no more than 2 ?m.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2022Publication date: February 23, 2023Applicant: Abiomed Europe GmbHInventors: Frank Kirchhoff, Thorsten Siess, Wolfgang Kerkhoffs
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Publication number: 20220409852Abstract: An intravascular blood pump for percutaneous insertion comprises a catheter (10) and a pumping device (1) attached to the catheter (10). The catheter (10) extends along a longitudinal axis and has a distal end (11) and a proximal end (12) opposite the distal end (11). The catheter (10) comprises an elongate stiffening structure (15) extending continuously longitudinally along the length of the catheter (10) between the proximal end (11) and the distal end (12) of the catheter (10). The stiffening structure (15) may comprise a shape-memory material, such as Nitinol. It may be in the form of a wire that extends loosely through the lumen of the catheter and helps to avoid or significantly reduce kinks in the catheter.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2022Publication date: December 29, 2022Applicant: Abiomed Europe GmbHInventors: Thorsten Siess, Frank Kirchhoff
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Patent number: 11511101Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed including: an intracardiac pump device having a path for a guidewire extending through the pump device from a first opening to a second opening; and a lumen which extends from a first end located outside of the pump device, into the pump device through the first opening in the pump device, along the path for the guidewire, out of the pump device through the second opening, and to a second end located outside of the pump device. The lumen is configured to receive the guidewire such that when the guidewire passes through the lumen from the first end to the second end, the guidewire is positioned along the path.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: ABIOMED, INC.Inventors: Caitlyn Hastie, Frank Kirchhoff, Thorsten Siess
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Patent number: 11446482Abstract: An intravascular blood pump having a rotatable shaft carrying an impeller and a housing with an opening through which the shaft extends with the impeller positioned outside the housing. The shaft and the housing have surfaces forming a circumferential gap which converges towards the impeller-side end of the gap and which has a minimum gap width of preferably no more than 5 ?m, more preferably no more than 2 ?m.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2019Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: Abiomed Europe GmbHInventors: Frank Kirchhoff, Thorsten Siess, Wolfgang Kerkhoffs