Patents by Inventor Gwenda Francis

Gwenda Francis 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: 20220054829
    Abstract: A tool has an outer assembly, which includes a deployment tube, extending around, and moveable with respect to an inner assembly of the tool; the inner assembly includes a single pull wire and a distal member configured to engage an end of an implantable medical device. The deployment tube includes an articulating segment located just proximal to an enlarged distal-most portion, which contains the device and the distal member. Relatively soft and stiff sections of a composite sidewall define the articulating segment and extend alongside one another, such that, when the pull wire is actuated, the composite sidewall causes bending of the segment in two directions. A handle assembly of the tool includes a control member for the pull wire, and may further include a flushing subassembly that has a connector port located at an end of the handle assembly that is opposite a proximal port of the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Sean Ward, Rónán P. Wood, Paula McDonnell, Gwenda Francis, Aram Jamous
  • Patent number: 11110278
    Abstract: A tool has an outer assembly, which includes a deployment tube, extending around, and moveable with respect to an inner assembly of the tool; the inner assembly includes a single pull wire and a distal member configured to engage an end of an implantable medical device. The deployment tube includes an articulating segment located just proximal to an enlarged distal-most portion, which contains the device and the distal member. Relatively soft and stiff sections of a composite sidewall define the articulating segment and extend alongside one another, such that, when the pull wire is actuated, the composite sidewall causes bending of the segment in two directions. A handle assembly of the tool includes a control member for the pull wire, and may further include a flushing subassembly that has a connector port located at an end of the handle assembly that is opposite a proximal port of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Ward, Rónán Wood, Gwenda Francis, Paula McDonnell, Aram Jamous
  • Publication number: 20210068886
    Abstract: Neuromodulation cryotherapeutic devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A cryotherapeutic device configured in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present technology can include an elongated shaft having distal portion and a supply lumen along at least a portion of the shaft. The shaft can be configured to locate the distal portion intravascularly at a treatment site proximate a renal artery or renal ostium. The supply lumen can be configured to receive a liquid refrigerant. The cryotherapeutic device can further include a cooling assembly at the distal portion of the shaft. The cooling assembly can include an applicator in fluid communication with the supply lumen and configured to deliver cryotherapeutic cooling to nerves proximate the target site when the cooling assembly is in a deployed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Naomi Buckley, Benjamin J. Clark, Michael Cummins, Danny Donovan, Mark Gelfand, Luke Hughes, Brian Kelly, Gary Kelly, Grace Kelly, John Kelly, Mark S. Leung, Gwenda Francis, Barry Mullins, Karun D. Naga, Stephen Nash, Eric Ryba, Fiachra Sweeney, Vincenzo Tilotta, Roman Turovskiy, Lana Woolley, Denise Zarins, Michael Turovskiy
  • Patent number: 10842547
    Abstract: Neuromodulation cryotherapeutic devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A cryotherapeutic device configured in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present technology can include an elongated shaft having distal portion and a supply lumen along at least a portion of the shaft. The shaft can be configured to locate the distal portion intravascularly at a treatment site proximate a renal artery or renal ostium. The supply lumen can be configured to receive a liquid refrigerant. The cryotherapeutic device can further include a cooling assembly at the distal portion of the shaft. The cooling assembly can include an applicator in fluid communication with the supply lumen and configured to deliver cryotherapeutic cooling to nerves proximate the target site when the cooling assembly is in a deployed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC ARDIAN LUXEMBOURG S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Naomi Buckley, Benjamin J. Clark, Michael Cummins, Danny Donovan, Mark Gelfand, Luke Hughes, Brian Kelly, Gary Kelly, Grace Kelly, John Kelly, Mark S. Leung, Gwenda Francis, Barry Mullins, Karun D. Naga, Stephen Nash, Eric Ryba, Fiachra Sweeney, Vincenzo Tilotta, Roman Turovskiy, Lana Woolley, Denise Zarins, Michael Turovskiy
  • Patent number: 10758729
    Abstract: In a system for retrieving an implanted device, a flared inner surface of a catheter tubular sidewall may define a distal-most opening of a device receptacle; the opening has a first diameter equal to that of the receptacle, and a second diameter, coincident with a distal-most edge of the tubular sidewall, and at least 5% greater than the receptacle diameter. Alternately, a retrieval tool in sliding engagement within a lumen of a catheter includes a shaft assembly, through which a snare member passes, and which includes a collapsible spring-biased perimeter sidewall; the sidewall defines a capture member passageway approximately coaxial, and in fluid communication with a lumen of the shaft assembly. A distal-most opening of the passageway has a spring-biased diameter that is greater than that of a distal-most opening of a device receptacle of the catheter, and a collapsed diameter that is less than the receptacle distal-most opening diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Paula McDonnell, Brendan P Geraghty, Gwenda Francis, Rónán Wood, Sean Ward, Pat McHugh, Tomas K Kelly
  • Publication number: 20190275321
    Abstract: A tool has an outer assembly, which includes a deployment tube, extending around, and moveable with respect to an inner assembly of the tool; the inner assembly includes a single pull wire and a distal member configured to engage an end of an implantable medical device. The deployment tube includes an articulating segment located just proximal to an enlarged distal-most portion, which contains the device and the distal member. Relatively soft and stiff sections of a composite sidewall define the articulating segment and extend alongside one another, such that, when the pull wire is actuated, the composite sidewall causes bending of the segment in two directions. A handle assembly of the tool includes a control member for the pull wire, and may further include a flushing subassembly that has a connector port located at an end of the handle assembly that is opposite a proximal port of the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Sean WARD, Rónán WOOD, Gwenda FRANCIS, Paula MCDONNELL, Aram JAMOUS
  • Patent number: 10300287
    Abstract: A delivery system for an implantable medical device includes a tool and a tethering member extending side-by-side within an inner shaft thereof; the tool extends within a first lumen, being in sliding engagement therein, and includes a distal end coupling feature that protrudes from a distal end of the inner shaft; and the tethering member has a first segment extending within a second lumen, and a second segment extending from the first segment and distally from the distal end of the inner shaft to an end of the tethering member, which is configured to engage with a holding member of the device, and with which the coupling feature of the tool is configured to couple. A retainer may be joined to another end of the tethering member that protrudes from a proximal port of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Madden, Tomas K Kelly, John Gallagher, Gwenda Francis, Brendan Patrick Geraghty, Francis Denis McEvoy, Barry O'Connell, Rónán Wood
  • Patent number: 10188445
    Abstract: Neuromodulation cryotherapeutic devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A cryotherapeutic device configured in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present technology can include an elongated shaft having distal portion and a supply lumen along at least a portion of the shaft. The shaft can be configured to locate the distal portion intravascularly at a treatment site proximate a renal artery or renal ostium. The supply lumen can be configured to receive a liquid refrigerant. The cryotherapeutic device can further include a cooling assembly at the distal portion of the shaft. The cooling assembly can include an applicator in fluid communication with the supply lumen and configured to deliver cryotherapeutic cooling to nerves proximate the target site when the cooling assembly is in a deployed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Naomi Buckley, Benjamin J. Clark, Michael Cummins, Danny Donovan, Mark Gelfand, Luke Hughes, Brian Kelly, Gary Kelly, Grace Kelly, John Kelly, Mark S. Leung, Gwenda Francis, Barry Mullins, Karun D. Naga, Stephen Nash, Eric Ryba, Fiachra Sweeney, Vincenzo Tilotta, Roman Turovskiy, Lana Woolley, Denise Zarins, Michael Turovskiy
  • Patent number: 10080888
    Abstract: A shaft of an interventional medical system catheter has a distal end formed by opposing elastically deformable retention features that protrude into a lumen of the shaft, and that define an expandable distal opening of the lumen. The retention features secure an implantable medical device to the catheter by an interlocking engagement within a gap defined by a necked-in portion of a device holding member. Each retention feature includes a distal-facing surface defining the distal opening, and, when an elongate release member of the catheter, which extends within the shaft lumen, applies a push force against proximal-facing surfaces of the features, the distal opening expands from a constricted to an open configuration, wherein the open configuration allows passage of the device holding member through the distal opening, and the constricted configuration allows for the interlocking engagement with the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomas K Kelly, Gwenda Francis, Brendan P Geraghty, Pat McHugh, Sean Ward
  • Publication number: 20170368338
    Abstract: A delivery system for an implantable medical device includes a tool and a tethering member extending side-by-side within an inner shaft thereof; the tool extends within a first lumen, being in sliding engagement therein, and includes a distal end coupling feature that protrudes from a distal end of the inner shaft; and the tethering member has a first segment extending within a second lumen, and a second segment extending from the first segment and distally from the distal end of the inner shaft to an end of the tethering member, which is configured to engage with a holding member of the device, and with which the coupling feature of the tool is configured to couple. A retainer may be joined to another end of the tethering member that protrudes from a proximal port of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffrey Madden, Tomas K. Kelly, John Gallagher, Gwenda Francis, Brendan Patrick Geraghty, Francis Denis McEvoy, Barry O'Connell, Rónán Wood
  • Patent number: 9844664
    Abstract: An engagement subassembly of a catheter, for retrieving an implanted medical device, may include at least three segments or, alternately, capture members being spring biased outward from a longitudinal axis of the subassembly, wherein a device receptacle of the catheter forces the capture members/segments, against the spring bias thereof, toward the axis. Each capture member includes a spring-biased wire and a grip, which is located between proximal and distal portions of the corresponding wire, and which is configured to interlock within a gap between a device attachment feature and housing; a length of each wire distal portion may be approximately equal to that of the device housing. An interlocking edge of each segment interlocks within the gap between the attachment feature and housing, when a distal-facing surface of each segment, which tapers outward from the axis in a distal direction, comes into confronting engagement with the device housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis D McEvoy, Brendan P Geraghty, Paula McDonnell, Pat McHugh, Colin W Meade, Sean Ward, Rónán Wood, Kealan E O'Carroll, Tomas K Kelly, Gwenda Francis
  • Publication number: 20170136231
    Abstract: A shaft of an interventional medical system catheter has a distal end formed by opposing elastically deformable retention features that protrude into a lumen of the shaft, and that define an expandable distal opening of the lumen. The retention features secure an implantable medical device to the catheter by an interlocking engagement within a gap defined by a necked-in portion of a device holding member. Each retention feature includes a distal-facing surface defining the distal opening, and, when an elongate release member of the catheter, which extends within the shaft lumen, applies a push force against proximal-facing surfaces of the features, the distal opening expands from a constricted to an open configuration, wherein the open configuration allows passage of the device holding member through the distal opening, and the constricted configuration allows for the interlocking engagement with the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Tomas K. Kelly, Gwenda Francis, Brendan P. Geraghty, Pat McHugh, Sean Ward
  • Publication number: 20170100582
    Abstract: An engagement subassembly of a catheter, for retrieving an implanted medical device, may include at least three segments or, alternately, capture members being spring biased outward from a longitudinal axis of the subassembly, wherein a device receptacle of the catheter forces the capture members/segments, against the spring bias thereof, toward the axis. Each capture member includes a spring-biased wire and a grip, which is located between proximal and distal portions of the corresponding wire, and which is configured to interlock within a gap between a device attachment feature and housing; a length of each wire distal portion may be approximately equal to that of the device housing. An interlocking edge of each segment interlocks within the gap between the attachment feature and housing, when a distal-facing surface of each segment, which tapers outward from the axis in a distal direction, comes into confronting engagement with the device housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Francis D. McEvoy, Brendan P. Geraghty, Paula McDonnell, Pat McHugh, Colin W. Meade, Sean Ward, Rónán Wood, Kealan E. O'Carroll, Tomas K. Kelly, Gwenda Francis
  • Publication number: 20170095662
    Abstract: In a system for retrieving an implanted device, a flared inner surface of a catheter tubular sidewall may define a distal-most opening of a device receptacle; the opening has a first diameter equal to that of the receptacle, and a second diameter, coincident with a distal-most edge of the tubular sidewall, and at least 5% greater than the receptacle diameter. Alternately, a retrieval tool in sliding engagement within a lumen of a catheter includes a shaft assembly, through which a snare member passes, and which includes a collapsible spring-biased perimeter sidewall; the sidewall defines a capture member passageway approximately coaxial, and in fluid communication with a lumen of the shaft assembly. A distal-most opening of the passageway has a spring-biased diameter that is greater than that of a distal-most opening of a device receptacle of the catheter, and a collapsed diameter that is less than the receptacle distal-most opening diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Paula McDonnell, Brendan P. Geraghty, Gwenda Francis, Rónán Wood, Sean Ward, Pat McHugh, Tomas K. Kelly