Patents by Inventor Gerald Hansen

Gerald Hansen 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: 6800085
    Abstract: An intravascular catheter system for the treatment of occluded blood vessels that includes tissue displacement or hinged expansion members that are movable from a closed to an open position. An actuating assembly may be provided for moving the tissue expansion members between an open and closed position to exert a substantially lateral distal end force upon the region surrounding an occluded blood vessel. The tissue expansion members may stretch apart, tear or otherwise disrupt a vascular occlusion sufficiently to create a pathway that may support the passage or placement of a guidewire or an interventional vascular device across the occlusion or obstruction. Methods of crossing or displacing a vascular occlusion are further provided that include the positioning of a vascular catheter having at least one hinged spreading member positioned at the distal region of the catheter that is responsive to directed force along the longitudinal axis of the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: LuMend, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Selmon, Charles F. Milo, Robert L. Wynne, Suresh S. Pai, Kent D. Dell, Charles Gresl, Gerald Hansen, E. Richard Hill, III
  • Publication number: 20040077999
    Abstract: An intravascular catheter system for the treatment of occluded blood vessels that includes tissue displacement or hinged expansion members that are movable from a closed to an open position. An actuating assembly may be provided for moving the tissue expansion members between an open and closed position to exert a substantially lateral distal end force upon the region surrounding an occluded blood vessel. The tissue expansion members may stretch apart, tear or otherwise disrupt a vascular occlusion sufficiently to create a pathway that may support the passage or placement of a guidewire or an interventional vascular device across the occlusion or obstruction. Methods of crossing or displacing a vascular occlusion are further provided that include the positioning of a vascular catheter having at least one hinged spreading member positioned at the distal region of the catheter that is responsive to directed force along the longitudinal axis of the catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Matthew R. Selmon, Charles F. Milo, Robert L. Wynne, Suresh S. Pai, Kent D. Dell, Charles Gresl, Gerald Hansen, E. Richard Hill
  • Patent number: 6638247
    Abstract: An intravascular catheter system for the treatment of occluded blood vessels that includes tissue displacement or hinged expansion members that are movable from a closed to an open position. An actuating assembly may be provided for moving the tissue expansion members between an open and closed position to exert a substantially lateral distal end force upon the region surrounding an occluded blood vessel. The tissue expansion members may stretch apart, tear or otherwise disrupt a vascular occlusion sufficiently to create a pathway that may support the passage or placement of a guidewire or an interventional vascular device across the occlusion or obstruction. Methods of crossing or displacing a vascular occlusion are further provided that include the positioning of a vascular catheter having at least one hinged spreading member positioned at the distal region of the catheter that is responsive to directed force along the longitudinal axis of the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: LuMend, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Selmon, Charles F. Milo, Robert L. Wynne, Suresh S. Pai, Kent D. Dell, Charles Gresl, Gerald Hansen, E. Richard Hill, III
  • Patent number: 6508825
    Abstract: An intravascular catheter system for the treatment of occluded blood vessels that includes tissue displacement or hinged expansion members that are movable from a closed to an open position. An actuating assembly may be, provided for moving the tissue expansion members between an open and closed position to exert a substantially lateral distal end force upon the region surrounding an occluded blood vessel. The tissue expansion members may stretch apart, tear or otherwise disrupt a vascular occlusion sufficiently to create a pathway that may support the passage or placement of a guidewire or an interventional vascular device across the occlusion or obstruction. Methods of crossing or displacing a vascular occlusion are further provided that include the positioning of a vascular catheter having at least one hinged spreading member positioned at the distal region of the catheter that is responsive to directed force along the longitudinal axis of the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: LuMend, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Selmon, Charles F. Milo, Robert L. Wynne, Suresh S. Pai, Kent D. Dell, Charles Gresl, Gerald Hansen, E. Richard Hill, III
  • Patent number: 6398798
    Abstract: A catherer system and method are provided including a blunt end assembly with a catheter and a blunt end member. The blunt end member includes jaw sections which have a first position or closed position for locating the blunt end member at the site of the occlusion within the native lumen of the blood vessel and a second position or open position wherein the jaw sections are able to press against the interior walls of the lumen adjacent the occlusion. The assembly includes an actuation member for moving the jaw sections from the closed to the open positions repeatedly resulting in a fracturing of the occlusion. A guide wire may be thread through an internal opening in the catheter and the blunt end member and after fracturing, across the occlusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: LuMend, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Selmon, Gerald Hansen, Charles Milo
  • Publication number: 20010020172
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a blunt end assembly including a catheter and a blunt end member. The blunt end member includes jaw sections which have a first closed position for locating the blunt end member at the site of the occlusion within the native lumen of the blood vessel and a second open position wherein the jaw sections are able to press against the interior walls of the lumen adjacent the occlusion. The assembly includes an actuation member for moving the jaw sections from the closed to the open positions repeatedly resulting in a fracturing of the occlusion. A guide wire may be thread through an internal opening in the catheter and the blunt end member and after fracturing across the occlusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 1998
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventors: MATTHEW R. SELMON, GERALD HANSEN, CHARLES MILO
  • Publication number: 20010018596
    Abstract: An intravascular catheter system for the treatment of occluded blood vessels that includes tissue displacement or hinged expansion members that are movable from a closed to an open position. An actuating assembly may be provided for moving the tissue expansion members between an open and closed position to exert a substantially lateral distal end force upon the region surrounding an occluded blood vessel. The tissue expansion members may stretch apart, tear or otherwise disrupt a vascular occlusion sufficiently to create a pathway that may support the passage or placement of a guidewire or an interventional vascular device across the occlusion or obstruction. Methods of crossing or displacing a vascular occlusion are further provided that include the positioning of a vascular catheter having at least one hinged spreading member positioned at the distal region of the catheter that is responsive to directed force along the longitudinal axis of the catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: Matthew R. Selmon, Charles F. Milo, Robert L. Wynne, Suresh S. Pai, Kent D. Dell, Charles Gresl, Gerald Hansen, E. Richard Hill
  • Patent number: 6120516
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an intravascular catheter system for crossing a severe or total arterial occlusion; particularly, a steerable intravascular catheter providing a working element and the optical guidance thereof in crossing an occlusion. Also disclosed is a method of crossing a severe or total arterial occlusion with a steerable catheter working element under optical guidance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Lumend, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Selmon, Gerald Hansen, Charles Milo
  • Patent number: 6010449
    Abstract: An intravascular catheter system for crossing a severe or total arterial occlusion includes a steerable intravascular catheter providing a working element and an optical guidance system. The optical guidance system is realized by an optical member with may include an imaging shaft that is rotated and measured by a motor/encoder assembly or which may include an optical switching device connected to a plurality of optical fibers. The working element may include a plurality of opening members that are actuated by an external plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: LuMend, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Selmon, Gerald Hansen, Charles Milo
  • Patent number: 5968064
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a blunt end assembly including a catheter and a blunt end member. The blunt end member includes jaw sections which have a first closed position for locating the blunt end member at the site of the occlusion within the native lumen of the blood vessel and a second open position wherein the jaw sections are able to press against the interior walls of the lumen adjacent the occlusion. The assembly includes an actuation member for moving the jaw sections from the closed to the open positions repeatedly resulting in a fracturing of the occlusion. A guide wire may be thread through an internal opening in the catheter and the blunt end member and after fracturing, across the occlusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: LuMend, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Selmon, Gerald Hansen, Charles Milo
  • Patent number: 5741270
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is manual actuator for retracting and advancing a therapeutic working element of an intravascular catheter system via an actuation shaft or one or more pulling wires. The manual actuator includes a hollow cylindrical bracing member having an open proximal end and a distal end, and a hollow cylindrical retracting member, the retracting member being slidable, in a telescoping fashion, into the open proximal end of the bracing member. An actuation shaft is secured near to the proximal end of the retracting member and the distal end of the actuation shaft is secured to the therapeutic working element. Alternatively, at least one pulling wire is secured proximal to the proximal end of the retracting member. The distal end of the pulling wire is secured to the therapeutic working element. At least one resilient connecting member has a proximal end attached proximate the proximal end of the retracting member, and a distal end attached proximate the distal end of the bracing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: LuMend, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Hansen, E. Richard Hill, III, Charles Milo
  • Patent number: 5429136
    Abstract: An atherectomy catheter having ultrasound imaging capability provided by an acoustic transducer disposed within a catheter housing which includes a circular cutting edge for removal of stenotic tissue. Risk of induced emboli is reduced by arrangements of transducer and cutter maneuvering members which permit the cutting edge to remain shielded by the housing during catheter positioning and scanning. Both single and array transducers are employed in a variety of configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Devices for Vascular Intervention, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Milo, Gerald Hansen, Fred H. Co