Patents by Inventor George A. Nunez

George A. Nunez 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).

  • Publication number: 20230064549
    Abstract: A multiple-firing clip device comprises a shaft comprising an exterior surface, an interior receiving therein suture fixation clips, and a distal end opening shaped to eject a suture fixation clip therefrom. The shaft defines a lateral opening and a distal shaft portion between the lateral opening and the distal end opening. A shuttle moves on the shaft and comprises a shuttle body, a snare having a distal snare portion, and a snare extension slide movable from the shuttle body along a given extent defining a slide distance and a distal end. The shuttle extends at least the distal snare portion distally through the lateral opening from the environment into the interior, through the distal shaft portion, and through the distal end opening along a length that is at least equal to the slide distance when the snare extension slide moves to the distal end of the given extent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Max Pierre Mendez, Matthew A. Palmer, M. Sean McBrayer, Thomas O. Bales, JR., Derek Dee Deville, Richard George Cartledge, Korey Kline, Carlos Rivera, George Nunez
  • Patent number: 11471150
    Abstract: A multiple-firing clip device comprises a shaft comprising an exterior surface, an interior receiving therein suture fixation clips, and a distal end opening shaped to eject a suture fixation clip therefrom. The shaft defines a lateral opening and a distal shaft portion between the lateral opening and the distal end opening. A shuttle moves on the shaft and comprises a shuttle body, a snare having a distal snare portion, and a snare extension slide movable from the shuttle body along a given extent defining a slide distance and a distal end. The shuttle extends at least the distal snare portion distally through the lateral opening from the environment into the interior, through the distal shaft portion, and through the distal end opening along a length that is at least equal to the slide distance when the snare extension slide moves to the distal end of the given extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences AG
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Max Pierre Mendez, Matthew A. Palmer, M. Sean McBrayer, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Derek Dee Deville, Richard George Cartledge, Korey Kline, Carlos Rivera, George Nunez
  • Publication number: 20220071619
    Abstract: A multiple-firing clip device includes a hollow shaft defining a lateral opening communicating with an environment and a distal shaft portion between the lateral opening and a distal end opening. A shuttle longitudinally moves on the shaft and comprises a shuttle body defining a lumen surrounding the shaft, a snare, and a snare-extender slide defining a snare track to form a snare travel path in which the snare is disposed from the body and through the track and a portion of the body. The slide moves along a given extent defining a slide distance and a distal end and movement of the slide to the distal end shortens the snare travel path to extend the snare portion through the lateral opening, through the distal shaft portion, and distally out from a distal side of the body longer than the given extent to secure a suture with the snare.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Derek Dee Deville, Kevin W. Smith, Michael Walter Kirk, Carlos Rivera, George Nunez, Thomas O. Bales, JR., Korey Kline, Matthew A. Palmer, M. Sean McBrayer, Richard George Cartledge, Max Pierre Mendez, Kevin K. Dang, Bryan A. Janish, Manouchehr A. Miraki
  • Patent number: 11172924
    Abstract: A multiple-firing clip device includes a hollow shaft defining a lateral opening communicating with an environment and a distal shaft portion between the lateral opening and a distal end opening. A shuttle longitudinally moves on the shaft and comprises a shuttle body defining a lumen surrounding the shaft, a snare, and a snare-extender slide defining a snare track to form a snare travel path in which the snare is disposed from the body and through the track and a portion of the body. The slide moves along a given extent defining a slide distance and a distal end and movement of the slide to the distal end shortens the snare travel path to extend the snare portion through the lateral opening, through the distal shaft portion, and distally out from a distal side of the body longer than the given extent to secure a suture with the snare.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences AG
    Inventors: Derek Dee Deville, Kevin W. Smith, Michael Walter Kirk, Carlos Rivera, George Nunez, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Korey Kline, Matthew A. Palmer, M. Sean McBrayer, Richard George Cartledge, Max Pierre Mendez, Kevin K. Dang, Bryan A. Janish, Manouchehr A. Miraki
  • Patent number: 10624630
    Abstract: A multiple-fire securing device includes a hollow outer shaft, a reloader, a reloader movement assembly, a rail, and securing structures each defining an inner securing orifice. The reloader longitudinally moves within the outer shaft and has a distal end shaped to temporarily contact one of the securing structures. The rail is disposed within the reloader and has an installing location. The securing structures are disposed on the rail. The reloader movement assembly moves the reloader longitudinally in a distal direction to deliver a first securing structure to the installing location from a first proximal position and moves the reloader proximally away from the installing location without the first securing structure to a position in which the distal end of the reloader temporarily contacts a second one of the securing structures. The second and successive securing structures are moved one at a time to the installing location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences AG
    Inventors: Derek Dee Deville, Kevin W. Smith, Michael Walter Kirk, Carlos Rivera, George Nunez, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Korey Kline, Matthew A. Palmer, M. Sean McBrayer, Richard Cartledge, Max Pierre Mendez, Kevin K. Dang, Bryan A. Janish, Manouchehr A. Miraki
  • Publication number: 20200008797
    Abstract: A multiple-firing clip device includes a hollow shaft defining a lateral opening communicating with an environment and a distal shaft portion between the lateral opening and a distal end opening. A shuttle longitudinally moves on the shaft and comprises a shuttle body defining a lumen surrounding the shaft, a snare, and a snare-extender slide defining a snare track to form a snare travel path in which the snare is disposed from the body and through the track and a portion of the body. The slide moves along a given extent defining a slide distance and a distal end and movement of the slide to the distal end shortens the snare travel path to extend the snare portion through the lateral opening, through the distal shaft portion, and distally out from a distal side of the body longer than the given extent to secure a suture with the snare.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Derek Dee Deville, Kevin W. Smith, Michael Walter Kirk, Carlos Rivera, George Nunez, Thomas O. Bales, JR., Korey Kline, Matthew A. Palmer, M. Sean McBrayer, Richard George Cartledge, Max Pierre Mendez, Kevin K. Dang, Bryan A. Janish, Manouchehr A. Miraki
  • Publication number: 20190374219
    Abstract: A multiple-firing clip device comprises a shaft comprising an exterior surface, an interior receiving therein suture fixation clips, and a distal end opening shaped to eject a suture fixation clip therefrom. The shaft defines a lateral opening and a distal shaft portion between the lateral opening and the distal end opening. A shuttle moves on the shaft and comprises a shuttle body, a snare having a distal snare portion, and a snare extension slide movable from the shuttle body along a given extent defining a slide distance and a distal end. The shuttle extends at least the distal snare portion distally through the lateral opening from the environment into the interior, through the distal shaft portion, and through the distal end opening along a length that is at least equal to the slide distance when the snare extension slide moves to the distal end of the given extent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Max Pierre Mendez, Matthew A. Palmer, M. Sean McBrayer, Thomas O. Bales, JR., Derek Dee Deville, Richard George Cartledge, Korey Kline, Carlos Rivera, George Nunez
  • Patent number: 10327759
    Abstract: A multiple-firing crimp device comprises crimps, a shaft, a crimp movement assembly, and a snare. Each crimp has an internal hollow. The shaft has a distal crimping location, an exterior surface, and an interior with the clips stacked therein, the crimps moving therein along a longitudinal axis. The shaft defines a lateral opening proximal to the crimping location and communicates the interior to the environment outside the exterior surface. The crimp movement assembly within the shaft delivers the first crimp to the distal crimping location by moving the first crimp longitudinally from a first proximal position into the distal crimping location and returning to a second proximal position without the first crimp. The snare pulls at least one cord from distal of the first crimp through the first crimp and through a portion of the shaft and out the side of the shaft through the lateral opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences AG
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Max Pierre Mendez, Matthew A. Palmer, M. Sean McBrayer, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Derek Dee Deville, Richard George Cartledge, Korey Kline, Carlos Rivera, George Nunez
  • Patent number: 10327758
    Abstract: A multiple-firing crimp device comprises crimps, a shaft, a crimp movement assembly, and a snare. Each crimp has an internal hollow. The shaft has a distal crimping location, an exterior surface, and an interior with the clips stacked therein, the crimps moving therein along a longitudinal axis. The shaft defines a lateral opening proximal to the crimping location and communicates the interior to the environment outside the exterior surface. The crimp movement assembly within the shaft delivers the first crimp to the distal crimping location by moving the first crimp longitudinally from a first proximal position into the distal crimping location and returning to a second proximal position without the first crimp. The snare pulls at least one cord from distal of the first crimp through the first crimp and through a portion of the shaft and out the side of the shaft through the lateral opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences AG
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Max Pierre Mendez, Matthew A. Palmer, M. Sean McBrayer, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Derek Dee Deville, Richard Cartledge, Korey Kline, Carlos Rivera, George Nunez
  • Patent number: 10016193
    Abstract: A multiple-firing crimp device comprises crimps, a shaft, a crimp movement assembly, and a snare. Each crimp has an internal hollow. The shaft has a distal crimping location, an exterior surface, and an interior with the clips stacked therein, the crimps moving therein along a longitudinal axis. The shaft defines a lateral opening proximal to the crimping location and communicates the interior to the environment outside the exterior surface. The crimp movement assembly within the shaft delivers the first crimp to the distal crimping location by moving the first crimp longitudinally from a first proximal position into the distal crimping location and returning to a second proximal position without the first crimp. The snare pulls at least one cord from distal of the first crimp through the first crimp and through a portion of the shaft and out the side of the shaft through the lateral opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences AG
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Max Pierre Mendez, Matthew A. Palmer, M. Sean McBrayer, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Derek Dee Deville, Richard Cartledge, Korey Kline, Carlos Rivera, George Nunez
  • Publication number: 20160367242
    Abstract: A multiple-firing crimp device comprises crimps, a shaft, a crimp movement assembly, and a snare. Each crimp has an internal hollow. The shaft has a distal crimping location, an exterior surface, and an interior with the clips stacked therein, the crimps moving therein along a longitudinal axis. The shaft defines a lateral opening proximal to the crimping location and communicates the interior to the environment outside the exterior surface. The crimp movement assembly within the shaft delivers the first crimp to the distal crimping location by moving the first crimp longitudinally from a first proximal position into the distal crimping location and returning to a second proximal position without the first crimp. The snare pulls at least one cord from distal of the first crimp through the first crimp and through a portion of the shaft and out the side of the shaft through the lateral opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: Edwards Lifesciences AG
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Max Pierre Mendez, Matthew A. Palmer, M. Sean McBrayer, Thomas O. Bales, JR., Derek Dee Deville, Richard George Cartledge, Korey Kline, Carlos Rivera, George Nunez
  • Publication number: 20160166248
    Abstract: A multiple-fire securing device includes a hollow outer shaft, a reloader, a reloader movement assembly, a rail, and securing structures each defining an inner securing orifice. The reloader longitudinally moves within the outer shaft and has a distal end shaped to temporarily contact one of the securing structures. The rail is disposed within the reloader and has an installing location. The securing structures are disposed on the rail. The reloader movement assembly moves the reloader longitudinally in a distal direction to deliver a first securing structure to the installing location from a first proximal position and moves the reloader proximally away from the installing location without the first securing structure to a position in which the distal end of the reloader temporarily contacts a second one of the securing structures. The second and successive securing structures are moved one at a time to the installing location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Derek Dee Deville, Kevin W. Smith, Michael Walter Kirk, Carlos Rivera, George Nunez, Thomas O. Bales, JR., Korey Kline, Matthew A. Palmer, M. Sean McBrayer, Richard Cartledge, Max Pierre Mendez, Hengchu Cao, Anthony Peter Carcia, Kevin Dang, Carey Hendsbee, Brent K. Hoffman, Brian R. Jacobs, Mohammad Jafari, Brian Janish, Jeffrey L. Mahoney, Raffaele Mazzei, Manouchehr A. Miraki, Ryan Moehle, Jeremiah Morgan, Michael C. Murad, Travis Zenyo Oba, Ralph Schneider, Fabian Daniel Schroeder, Tyler Douglas Smith, Ming H. Wu
  • Publication number: 20160038137
    Abstract: A multiple-firing crimp device comprises crimps, a shaft, a crimp movement assembly, and a snare. Each crimp has an internal hollow. The shaft has a distal crimping location, an exterior surface, and an interior with the clips stacked therein, the crimps moving therein along a longitudinal axis. The shaft defines a lateral opening proximal to the crimping location and communicates the interior to the environment outside the exterior surface. The crimp movement assembly within the shaft delivers the first crimp to the distal crimping location by moving the first crimp longitudinally from a first proximal position into the distal crimping location and returning to a second proximal position without the first crimp. The snare pulls at least one cord from distal of the first crimp through the first crimp and through a portion of the shaft and out the side of the shaft through the lateral opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Max Pierre Mendez, Matthew A. Palmer, M. Sean McBrayer, Thomas O. Bales, JR., Derek Dee Deville, Richard Cartledge, Korey Kline, Carlos Rivera, George Nunez
  • Publication number: 20150142021
    Abstract: A multiple-firing crimp device comprises crimps, a shaft, a crimp movement assembly, and a snare. Each crimp has an internal hollow. The shaft has a distal crimping location, an exterior surface, and an interior with the clips stacked therein, the crimps moving therein along a longitudinal axis. The shaft defines a lateral opening proximal to the crimping location and communicates the interior to the environment outside the exterior surface. The crimp movement assembly within the shaft delivers the first crimp to the distal crimping location by moving the first crimp longitudinally from a first proximal position into the distal crimping location and returning to a second proximal position without the first crimp. The snare pulls at least one cord from distal of the first crimp through the first crimp and through a portion of the shaft and out the side of the shaft through the lateral opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Max Pierre Mendez, Matthew A. Palmer, M. Sean McBrayer, Thomas O. Bales, JR., Derek Dee Deville, Richard Cartledge, Korey Kline, Carlos Rivera, George Nunez
  • Publication number: 20140054356
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing endoluminal anastomosis of an organ comprises an operative head including an endoscope receiving lumen for slidably receiving a flexible endoscope therein, the operative head including an annular tissue receiving space extending around a circumference of a distal end thereof and a stapling mechanism for firing staples around an entire circumference of the tissue receiving space and a tissue gripping mechanism for drawing into the tissue receiving space a portion of tissue extending around an entire circumference of the organ.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell HARTWICK, Malka BERNDT, George NUNEZ
  • Patent number: 8590764
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing endoluminal anastomosis of an organ comprises an operative head including an endoscope receiving lumen for slidably receiving a flexible endoscope therein, the operative head including an annular tissue receiving space extending around a circumference of a distal end thereof and a stapling mechanism for firing staples around an entire circumference of the tissue receiving space and a tissue gripping mechanism for drawing into the tissue receiving space a portion of tissue extending around an entire circumference of the organ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrell Hartwick, Malka Berndt, George Nunez
  • Patent number: 8287561
    Abstract: An actuator for surgical applications includes an inflation fluid conduit extending from a proximal end which, when the actuator is in an operative configuration, remains outside a patient's body, to a distal end and an inflatable member coupled to the distal end of the inflation fluid conduit so that, when inflation fluid is supplied to the inflatable member via the inflation fluid conduit, the inflatable member is expanded from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, wherein, when in the collapsed configuration, the inflatable member includes a fold extending substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis thereof so that, when inflation fluid is supplied thereto, the inflatable member expands substantially along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: George Nunez, Mohammed Ike Juman
  • Patent number: 8006889
    Abstract: A full-thickness resection system comprises a flexible endoscope and a stapling mechanism, wherein the endoscope is slidably received through at least a portion of the stapling mechanism. The stapling mechanism comprises an anvil and a stapling head mounted to the anvil so that the anvil and the stapling head are moveable with respect to one another between a tissue receiving position and a stapling position and wherein a gap formed between the stapling head and the anvil is larger in the tissue receiving position than it is in the stapling position. A position adjusting mechanism is provided for moving the anvil and the stapling head between the tissue receiving and stapling positions and a staple firing mechanism sequentially fires a plurality of staples from the stapling head across the gap against the anvil and through any tissue received in the gap and a knife cuts a portion of tissue received within the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Adams, Roy H. Sullivan, III, Lauren O. Main, Peter K. Kratsch, George A. Nunez, Jurgen A. Kortenbach, Matthew S. Solar, Gerhard F. Buess, Marc O. Schurr
  • Publication number: 20110108604
    Abstract: A full-thickness resection system comprises a flexible endoscope and a stapling mechanism, wherein the endoscope is slidably received through at least a portion of the stapling mechanism. The stapling mechanism comprises an anvil and a stapling head mounted to the anvil so that the anvil and the stapling head are moveable with respect to one another between a tissue receiving position and a stapling position and wherein a gap formed between the stapling head and the anvil is larger in the tissue receiving position than it is in the stapling position. A position adjusting mechanism is provided for moving the anvil and the stapling head between the tissue receiving and stapling positions and a staple firing mechanism sequentially fires a plurality of staples from the stapling head across the gap against the anvil and through any tissue received in the gap and a knife cuts a portion of tissue received within the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Ronald D. ADAMS, Roy H. Sullivan, III, Lauren O. Main, Peter K. Kratsch, George A. Nunez, Jurgen A. Kortenbach, Matt Solar, Gerhard F. Buess, Marc O. Schurr
  • Patent number: 7896215
    Abstract: Described is a full-thickness resection system which includes a control unit coupled to a proximal end of a flexible endoscope. The control unit remains outside of a body when the stapling head is in an operative position within a body lumen. The control unit includes (i) an anvil actuator coupled to an anvil in the stapling head, actuation of the anvil actuator moves the anvil axially relative to a stapling mechanism in the stapling head to compress a folded full-thickness portion of lumenal tissue between the anvil and the stapling mechanism. In addition, the control unit includes (ii) a stapler actuator coupled to the stapling mechanism in the stapling head, actuation of the stapler actuator causing the stapling mechanism to drive staples through the folded lumenal tissue against the anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Adams, Roy H. Sullivan, III, George A. Nunez, Lauren O. Main, Peter K. Kratsch, Jurgen A. Kortenbach, Matthew Solar, Gerhard F. Buess, Marc O. Schurr