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).
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Publication number: 20090242612Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2009Publication date: October 1, 2009Inventors: Ronald D. Adams, Roy H. Sullivan, III, George A. Nunez, Lauren O. Main, Peter K. Kratsch, Jurgen A. Kortenbach, Matt Solar, Gerhard F. Buess, Marc O. Schurr
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Patent number: 7546939Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 25, 2006Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.Inventors: Ronald D. Adams, Roy H. Sullivan, III, George A. Nunez, Lauren O. Main, Peter K. Kratsch, Jurgen A. Kortenbach, Matt Solar, Gerhard F. Buess, Marc O. Schurr
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Publication number: 20060191975Abstract: Describeed 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: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2006Publication date: August 31, 2006Inventors: Ronald Adams, Roy Sullivan, George Nunez, Lauren Main, Peter Kratsch, Jurgen Kortenbach, Matt Solar, Gerhard Buess, Marc Schurr
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Patent number: 7059331Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 19, 2002Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.Inventors: Ronald D. Adams, Roy H. Sullivan, III, George A. Nunez, Lauren O. Main, Peter K. Kratsch, Jurgen A. Kortenbach, Matt Solar, Gerhard F. Buess, Marc O. Schurr
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Publication number: 20050145675Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2003Publication date: July 7, 2005Inventors: Darrell Hartwick, Malka Berndt, George Nunez
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Patent number: 6874669Abstract: The present invention is directed to a full-thickness resection system comprising 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 includes 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. A position adjusting mechanism is provided for moving the anvil and the stapling head relative to one another. An integrated surgical retainer for use in the full thickness resectioning device is described. The integrated surgical staple retainer comprises a calibrating portion, a retaining portion, and a grasping portion. The calibrating portion defines a circular opening which has a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of a working channel of the full thickness resectioning device.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2004Date of Patent: April 5, 2005Assignee: Boston Scientific SciMed, Inc.Inventors: Ronald D. Adams, Roy H. Sullivan, George Nunez
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Patent number: 6866178Abstract: The present invention is directed to a full-thickness resection system comprising 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 includes 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. A position adjusting mechanism is provided for moving the anvil and the stapling head relative to one another. An integrated surgical retainer for use in the full thickness resectioning device is described. The integrated surgical staple retainer comprises a calibrating portion, a retaining portion, and a grasping portion. The calibrating portion defines a circular opening which has a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of a working channel of the full thickness resectioning device.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2003Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Boston Scientific SciMed, Inc.Inventors: Ronald D. Adams, Roy H. Sullivan, George Nunez
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Patent number: 6840423Abstract: The present invention is directed to a full-thickness resection system comprising 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 includes 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. A position adjusting mechanism is provided for moving the anvil and the stapling head relative to one another. An integrated surgical retainer for use in the full thickness resectioning device is described. The integrated surgical staple retainer comprises a calibrating portion, a retaining portion, and a grasping portion. The calibrating portion defines a circular opening which has a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of a working channel of the full thickness resectioning device.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2003Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.Inventors: Ronald D. Adams, Roy H. Sullivan, George Nunez
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Publication number: 20040232198Abstract: The present invention is directed to a full-thickness resection system comprising 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 includes 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. A position adjusting mechanism is provided for moving the anvil and the stapling head relative to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2004Publication date: November 25, 2004Inventors: Ronald D. Adams, Roy H. Sullivan, George Nunez
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Publication number: 20040134964Abstract: The present invention is directed to a full-thickness resection system comprising 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 includes 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. A position adjusting mechanism is provided for moving the anvil and the stapling head relative to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2003Publication date: July 15, 2004Inventors: Ronald D. Adams, Roy H. Sullivan, George Nunez
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Patent number: 6709706Abstract: A substrate, such as a catheter or a guide wire, or a portion of the substrate is provided with a lubricous, hydrophilic abrasion-resistant coating by: (a) coating the substrate with a first aqueous coating composition having an aqueous dispersion or emulsion of a polymer having organic acid functional groups and a polyfunctional crosslinking agent having functional groups capable of reacting with organic acid groups, and drying the coating to obtain a substantially water-insoluble coating layer having excess polyfunctional including functional groups being reactive with organic acid groups remaining; and (b) contacting the dried water-insoluble coating layer with a second aqueous coating composition having an aqueous solution or dispersion of a hydrophilic polymer having organic acid functional groups, a polymer having organic acid functional groups and a polyfunctional crosslinking agent having functional groups capable of reacting with organic acid groups, and drying the combined coating to form an intermeType: GrantFiled: March 14, 2003Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.Inventors: Shengping Zhong, George Nunez, Eric Welch
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Patent number: 6695198Abstract: The present invention is directed to a full-thickness resection system comprising 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 includes 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. A position adjusting mechanism is provided for moving the anvil and the stapling head relative to one another. An integrated surgical retainer for use in the full thickness resectioning device is described. The integrated surgical staple retainer comprises a calibrating portion, a retaining portion, and a grasping portion. The calibrating portion defines a circular opening which has a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of a working channel of the full thickness resectioning device.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2003Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.Inventors: Ronald D. Adams, Roy H. Sullivan, George Nunez
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Publication number: 20040002726Abstract: An actuator for surgical applications comprises 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: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2002Publication date: January 1, 2004Inventors: George Nunez, Mohammed Ike Juman
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Publication number: 20030162032Abstract: A substrate, such as a catheter or a guide wire, or a portion of the substrate is provided with a lubricous, hydrophilic abrasion-resistant coating by: (a) coating the substrate with a first aqueous coating composition having an aqueous dispersion or emulsion of a polymer having organic acid functional groups and a polyfunctional crosslinking agent having functional groups capable of reacting with organic acid groups, and drying the coating to obtain a substantially water-insoluble coating layer having excess polyfunctional including functional groups being reactive with organic acid groups remaining; and (b) contacting the dried water-insoluble coating layer with a second aqueous coating composition having an aqueous solution or dispersion of a hydrophilic polymer having organic acid functional groups, a polymer having organic acid functional groups and a polyfunctional crosslinking agent having functional groups capable of reacting with organic acid groups, and drying the combined coating to form an intermeType: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2003Publication date: August 28, 2003Inventors: Shengping Zhong, George Nunez, Eric Welch
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Publication number: 20030132267Abstract: The present invention is directed to a full-thickness resection system comprising 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 includes 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. A position adjusting mechanism is provided for moving the anvil and the stapling head relative to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2003Publication date: July 17, 2003Inventors: Ronald D. Adams, Roy H. Sullivan, George Nunez
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Publication number: 20030127491Abstract: The present invention is directed to a full-thickness resection system comprising 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 includes 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. A position adjusting mechanism is provided for moving the anvil and the stapling head relative to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2003Publication date: July 10, 2003Inventors: Ronald D. Adams, Roy H. Sullivan, George Nunez
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Patent number: 6585144Abstract: An integrated surgical staple retainer for use in the full thickness resectioning device is described. The integrated surgical staple retainer comprises a calibrating portion, a retaining portion, and a grasping portion. The calibrating portion defines a circular opening which has a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of a working channel of the full thickness resectioning device. The retaining portion has a lower surface adapted to limit movement of the surgical staples in the fill thickness resectioning device and is adjacent to the calibrating portion of the integrated surgical staple retainer.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2001Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Acimed Life Systems, Inc.Inventors: Ronald D. Adams, Roy H. Sullivan, George Nunez
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Publication number: 20030111507Abstract: An actuator for a resection device comprises a housing which, when in an operative position, is located within a body lumen of a patient and an inflatable element having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein a characteristic length of the inflatable element is greater when in the expanded configuration than when in the collapsed configuration, a first surface of the inflatable element contacting the housing and a second surface of the inflatable element contacting a moveable component of the device movably coupled to the housing such that changing the configuration of the inflatable element between the expanded and collapsed configurations moves the moveable component relative to the housing in combination with a fluid supply line extending from a distal end connected to the inflatable element to a proximal end which, when the housing is in the operative position, remains outside the body of the patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2001Publication date: June 19, 2003Inventor: George Nunez
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Patent number: 6558798Abstract: A substrate, such as a catheter or a guide wire, or a portion of the substrate is provided with a lubricous, hydrophilic abrasion-resistant coating by: (a) coating the substrate with a first aqueous coating composition having an aqueous dispersion or emulsion of a polymer having organic acid functional groups and a polyfunctional crosslinking agent having functional groups capable of reacting with organic acid groups, and drying the coating to obtain a substantially water-insoluble coating layer having excess polyfunctional including functional groups being reactive with organic acid groups remaining; and (b) contacting the dried water-insoluble coating layer with a second aqueous coating composition having an aqueous solution or dispersion of a hydrophilic polymer having organic acid functional groups, a polymer having organic acid functional groups and a polyfunctional crosslinking agent having functional groups capable of reacting with organic acid groups, and drying the combined coating to form an intermeType: GrantFiled: June 7, 2001Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.Inventors: Shengping Zhong, George Nunez, Eric Welch
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Publication number: 20030019905Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Ronald D. Adams, Roy H. Sullivan, George A. Nunez, Lauren O. Main, Peter K. Kratsch, Jurgen A. Kortenbach, Matt Solar, Gerhard F. Buess, Marc O. Schurr