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).

  • Patent number: 10610626
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: ABIOMED EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Gerd Spanier, Frank Kirchhoff, Thorsten Siess, Dirk Michels
  • Publication number: 20200094019
    Abstract: An intravascular blood pump 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 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: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Frank Kirchhoff, Walid Aboulhosn
  • Patent number: 10442660
    Abstract: An elevator brake control system (10) is described, in particular for controlling an elevator brake in a machine room-less elevator, the elevator including a drive machine drivingly coupled to an elevator car for moving the elevator car between a plurality of landings in a hoistway, and an elevator brake having at least an engaged condition for holding the elevator car at a fixed position in the hoistway, and a released condition for allowing the elevator car to move along the hoistway; the elevator brake control system (10) comprising a first safety device (T1) and a second safety device (T2), each of the first safety device (T1) and the second safety device (T2) responsive to detection of a failure in any sub-system of the elevator, such as to bring the elevator brake into its engaged condition in response to detection of such failure; wherein each of the first safety device (T1) and the second safety device (T2) comprises a power semiconductor switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Peter Herkel, Frank Kirchhoff
  • Publication number: 20190298974
    Abstract: An introducer sheath for providing vascular access in a patient's body comprises a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being configured to be inserted into a patient's vessel to allow a medical device to be inserted from the proximal end through the tubular body out of the distal end into the patient's vessel. The tubular body includes a recoil section that has a radial compressibility which is higher than a radial compressibility of at least a portion of the tubular body that is distal to the recoil section. This enables the patient's vessel and surrounding tissue to recoil at the puncture site, which is advantageous for the patient, e.g. with respect to wound healing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Walid Aboulhosn, Frank Kirchhoff
  • Patent number: 10294272
    Abstract: A peptide effective in blocking the CXC-chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) mediated HIV-1 NL4-3 (X4-tropic) infection with an IC50 value of less than 50 ?M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Pharis Biotec GmbH
    Inventors: Wolf-Georg Forssmann, Frank Kirchhoff, Jan Münch, Ludger Ständker
  • Publication number: 20190083690
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Frank Kirchhoff, Christoph Nix
  • Publication number: 20190046702
    Abstract: The invention relates to an intravascular blood pump. The blood pump comprises a pump section and a flow cannula. A proximal end portion of the flow cannula is connected to the pump section such that blood can enter the blood flow inlet, and a distal end portion of the flow cannula includes at least one blood flow-through opening for blood to enter the flow cannula. The distal end portion comprises an enlarged diameter portion, with at least a major portion of the blood flow-through opening being disposed in the enlarged diameter portion. The blood pump further comprises a sleeve overlapping the enlarged diameter portion. The sleeve has a structure that prevents its distal end from bending radially inwards into the blood flow-through openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Walid Aboulhosn, Frank Kirchhoff, Christoph Nix, Gerd Spanier
  • Publication number: 20180157482
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method (200) of updating safety-related software in a people conveyor system, particularly in an elevator system (10), the method comprising: the steps of providing an updated version of the safety-related software (210); storing (230) the updated version of the safety-related software in a safety unit (60) of the people conveyor system; activating (240) the updated version of the safety-related software, the step of activating including operating a software update activation switch permanently associated with the people conveyor system; and in case of successful activation of the updated version of the safety-related software, controlling the operation of the people conveyor system based on the updated version of the safety-related software (290).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Frank Kirchhoff, Martin Georg Walter Hnida, Michael Wilke, Hermann Ludwig Lorenz, Peter Herkel
  • Publication number: 20180133382
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Caitlyn Hastie, Frank Kirchhoff, Thorsten Siess
  • Publication number: 20170355560
    Abstract: An elevator brake monitoring system includes a car (12); a machine (18) configured to actuate movement of the car; and a brake (32) configured to decelerate the car; wherein the system is configured to operate the machine to move the car at a pre-determined speed, engage the brake, measure a braking parameter and compare the measured braking parameter to a reference braking parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Peter Herkel, Frank Kirchhoff
  • Publication number: 20170283212
    Abstract: An elevator brake control system (10) is described, in particular for controlling an elevator brake in a machine roomless elevator, the elevator including a drive machine drivingly coupled to an elevator car for moving the elevator car between a plurality of landings in a hoistway, and an elevator brake having at least an engaged condition for holding the elevator car at a fixed position in the hoistway, and a released condition for allowing the elevator car to move along the hoistway; the elevator brake control system (10) comprising a first safety device (T1) and a second safety device (T2), each of the first safety device (T1) and the second safety device (T2) responsive to detection of a failure in any sub-system of the elevator, such as to bring the elevator brake into its engaged condition in response to detection of such failure; wherein each of the first safety device (T1) and the second safety device (T2) comprises a power semiconductor switching device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Peter Herkel, Frank Kirchhoff
  • Patent number: 9750861
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Abiomed, Inc.
    Inventors: Caitlyn Hastie, Frank Kirchhoff, Thorsten Siess
  • Patent number: 9669142
    Abstract: An intravascular rotary blood pump possesses a catheter (10), a pumping device (50) fixed distally to the catheter (10) and at least one pressure sensor (30; 60) firmly connected to the pumping device (50) and having a pressure-sensitive area (32) which is exposed to the surroundings and aligned orthogonally to the general longitudinal axis of the blood pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: ABIOMED EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Gerd Spanier, Thorsten Siess, Frank Kirchhoff
  • Publication number: 20170143952
    Abstract: 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. A wall of the tubular body of the base sheath has a through channel. This channel extends in the wall from the distal end towards the proximal end. The channel can be present separately from the pass-through channel of the base sheath or can form a sideways extension of the pass-through channel, at least at the distal end. Such through channel is adapted to conduct blood from the vessel to the proximal end of the sheath when the sheath has been inserted into a vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Christoph Nix, Frank Kirchhoff, Patrick Hunziker
  • Publication number: 20170136225
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Thorsten Siess, Christoph Nix, Frank Kirchhoff, Ger O'Carrol
  • Publication number: 20170087286
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Gerd Spanier, Frank Kirchhoff, Thorsten Siess, Dirk Michels
  • Publication number: 20170049947
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Scott C. Corbett, Glen Robert Fantuzzi, John Murphy, Frank Kirchhoff, David Brousseau, Thorsten Siess
  • Patent number: 9550017
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Abiomed Europe GMBH
    Inventors: Gerd Spanier, Frank Kirchhoff, Thorsten Siess, Dirk Michels
  • Publication number: 20160317730
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Caitlyn Hastie, Frank Kirchhoff, Thorsten Siess
  • Publication number: 20160257528
    Abstract: An elevator controller includes a memory; an input/output unit; and a processor, the processor executing certified safety software and non-safety software, the non-safety software executed in a safe container to prevent the non-safety software from violating a non-safety software parameter and affecting the safety software.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Frank KIRCHHOFF, Peter HERKEL, Andreas TUTAT