Patents by Inventor George Gullickson

George Gullickson 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).

  • Steerable catheter
    Patent number: 7682358
    Abstract: A deflection mechanism for selectively inducing a bend in a catheter body includes an elongated deflection wire extending within a deflection lumen of the catheter body and into a handle. A guide track is formed within the handle and a thumb wheel is mounted proximal to the elongated guide track within the handle and supports a pinion gear; the thumb wheel and the pinion gear are adapted to be rotated about a common thumb wheel axis, which extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A rack arm extends obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the handle and includes runners received by the guide track, an attachment point coupling the deflection wire to the rack arm and a linear rack engaging the pinion gear. Rotation of the thumb wheel in a first direction draws the deflection wire proximally through the deflection lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: George Gullickson, Mark T. Stewart, Joseph E. Cardinal, Harry A. Puryear, Scott G. Klimek, James R. Skarda, Richard A. Thompson, II, Alan L. Carlson
  • Steerable catheter
    Publication number: 20050096590
    Abstract: A deflection mechanism for selectively inducing a bend in a catheter body includes an elongated deflection wire extending within a deflection lumen of the catheter body and into a handle. A guide track is formed within the handle and a thumb wheel is mounted proximal to the elongated guide track within the handle and supports a pinion gear; the thumb wheel and the pinion gear are adapted to be rotated about a common thumb wheel axis, which extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A rack arm extends obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the handle and includes runners received by the guide track, an attachment point coupling the deflection wire to the rack arm and a linear rack engaging the pinion gear. Rotation of the thumb wheel in a first direction draws the deflection wire proximally through the deflection lumen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: George Gullickson, Mark Stewart, Joseph Cardinal, Harry Puryear, Scott Klimek, James Skarda, Richard Thompson, Alan Carlson