Patents by Inventor James H. Dreher
James H. Dreher 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: 20150374404Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for accessing and/or removing material from a body lumen. The apparatus includes a tubular sheath including a shaft having a proximal end and an expandable distal end that is expandable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded, tapered configuration. A treatment member can be introduced into the body lumen through the tubular sheath. The treatment member includes one or more expandable members to interact with the material to be removed from the body lumen.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2015Publication date: December 31, 2015Applicant: Incept, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey A. KROLIK, James H. DREHER, Gwendolyn A. WATANABE
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Patent number: 9126015Abstract: Apparatus are provided for accessing and/or removing material from a body lumen. The apparatus includes a tubular sheath including a shaft having a proximal end and an expandable distal end that is expandable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded, tapered configuration. In one embodiment, the expandable member include inner and outer membranes attached together and to the shaft. Optionally, the inner membrane may include a reinforcement layer and/or the outer membrane may have a longer chord length than the inner membrane, to enhance the expandable member expanding such that a distal opening is defined by the expandable member having s a relatively large diameter tapering proximally to a lumen of the shaft. Optionally, the apparatus may include a dilator and/or one or more treatment devices receivable in the lumen of the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2011Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: Incept, LLCInventors: Jeffrey A. Krolik, James H. Dreher, Gwendolyn Watanabe
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Publication number: 20150202416Abstract: An apparatus is provided that is operable in different modes to perform various functions for treating a body lumen. The apparatus includes a shaft including proximal and distal ends, a lumen extending there between, and a balloon on the distal end. The apparatus includes a valve on the distal end that selectively opens or closes an outlet communicating with the lumen. With the valve open, fluid introduced into the lumen exits the outlet into a body lumen. With the valve closed, fluid introduced into the lumen expands the balloon. The valve may be biased to be closed, e.g., by a spring element disposed within the balloon. Optionally, the apparatus also includes an actuator for expanding a helical member within the balloon interior, e.g., either before or after expanding the balloon, such that the helical member and balloon may adopt an expanded helical shape for removing material within a body lumen.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2015Publication date: July 23, 2015Inventors: Jeffrey A. KROLIK, Gwendolyn WATANABE, Juan DOMINGO, Ray BETELIA, James H. DREHER, Daryush MIRZAEE, Lucas FERNANDEZ
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Publication number: 20150119896Abstract: An apparatus is provided for removing material within a body lumen that includes a catheter including a proximal end, a distal end for introduction into a body lumen, and an aspiration lumen extending therebetween; a guide member extending from the distal end and terminating in a distal tip, the guide member comprising a track adjacent a track lumen extending from the distal tip into the aspiration lumen; and an obstruction clearing device deployable from the guide member and retractable along the track. In addition or alternatively, the apparatus includes a cutting head reciprocable within the aspiration lumen adjacent the distal end for macerating material being aspirated into the aspiration lumen.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2015Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventors: Jeffrey A. KROLIK, Daryush MIRZAEE, James H. DREHER, Juan DOMINGO, Gwendoln WATANABE
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Patent number: 8945160Abstract: An apparatus is provided that is operable in different modes to perform various functions for treating a body lumen. The apparatus includes a shaft including proximal and distal ends, a lumen extending therebetween, and a balloon on the distal end. The apparatus includes a valve on the distal end that selectively opens or closes an outlet communicating with the lumen. With the valve open, fluid introduced into the lumen exits the outlet into a body lumen. With the valve closed, fluid introduced into the lumen expands the balloon. The valve may be biased to be closed, e.g., by a spring element disposed within the balloon. Optionally, the apparatus also includes an actuator for expanding a helical member within the balloon interior, e.g., either before or after expanding the balloon, such that the helical member and balloon may adopt an expanded helical shape for removing material within a body lumen.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2010Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Hotspur Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey A. Krolik, Gwendolyn Watanabe, Juan Domingo, Ray Betelia, James H. Dreher, Daryush Mirzaee, Lucas Fernandez
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Patent number: 8939991Abstract: An apparatus is provided for removing material within a body lumen that includes a catheter including a proximal end, a distal end for introduction into a body lumen, and an aspiration lumen extending therebetween; a guide member extending from the distal end and terminating in a distal tip, the guide member comprising a track adjacent a track lumen extending from the distal tip into the aspiration lumen; and an obstruction clearing device deployable from the guide member and retractable along the track. In addition or alternatively, the apparatus includes a cutting head reciprocable within the aspiration lumen adjacent the distal end for macerating material being aspirated into the aspiration lumen.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2009Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Hotspur Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey A. Krolik, Daryush Mirzaee, James H. Dreher, Juan Domingo, Gwendolyn Watanabe
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Patent number: 8702777Abstract: A stent includes a first flaring portion including first and second sets of cells that flare outwardly when the stent is expanded from a contracted to a flared condition, and a second main portion connected to the first flaring portion. During use, the stent is introduced into a main vessel in the contracted condition and positioned with the first portion adjacent an ostium. The first portion is flared, causing first struts of the first set of cells to move from an axial towards a radial and partial circumferential orientation and causing second struts of the second set of cells to move from an axial towards a radial orientation. The second portion resists expansion when the first portion is flared. The stent is expanded further such that the second portion expands within the branch body lumen, and the first and second struts move towards a more circumferential orientation.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2006Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Incept, LLCInventors: Jeffrey A. Krolik, Eliot Kim, James H. Dreher, Farhad Khosravi
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Publication number: 20130289589Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for removing obstructive material within a body lumen. The apparatus includes a macerator device deployable from a sheath that includes an expandable cage carried by a shaft and within a constraint tube. The shaft is movable relative to the constraint tube for deploying and expanding the cage within a body lumen such that an open end of the cage is oriented towards obstructive material. The cage is advanced to capture the material or the material is directed into the cage using an expandable member expanded beyond the material and retracted to direct the material into the cage. The cage is withdrawn into the constraint tube to compress the cage radially inwardly. Materials extending through apertures in the cage are sheared off by a sharpened edge of the constraint tube. The smaller, sheared off particles are then aspirated from the body lumen through the sheath.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2012Publication date: October 31, 2013Inventors: Jeffrey A. Krolik, Juan Domingo, Daryush Mirzaee, James H. Dreher
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Patent number: 8298252Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for removing obstructive material within a body lumen. The apparatus includes a macerator device deployable from a sheath that includes an expandable cage carried by a shaft and within a constraint tube. The shaft is movable relative to the constraint tube for deploying and expanding the cage within a body lumen such that an open end of the cage is oriented towards obstructive material. The cage is advanced to capture the material or the material is directed into the cage using an expandable member expanded beyond the material and retracted to direct the material into the cage. The cage is withdrawn into the constraint tube to compress the cage radially inwardly. Material extending through apertures in the cage are sheared off by a sharpened edge of the constraint tube. The smaller, sheared off particles are then aspirated from the body lumen through the sheath.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2009Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Teleflex Medical, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey A. Krolik, Juan Domingo, Daryush Mirzaee, James H. Dreher
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Publication number: 20110282369Abstract: Apparatus are provided for accessing and/or removing material from a body lumen. The apparatus includes a tubular sheath including a shaft having a proximal end and an expandable distal end that is expandable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded, tapered configuration. In one embodiment, the expandable member include inner and outer membranes attached together and to the shaft. Optionally, the inner membrane may include a reinforcement layer and/or the outer membrane may have a longer chord length than the inner membrane, to enhance the expandable member expanding such that a distal opening is defined by the expandable member having s a relatively large diameter tapering proximally to a lumen of the shaft. Optionally, the apparatus may include a dilator and/or one or more treatment devices receivable in the lumen of the shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2011Publication date: November 17, 2011Inventors: Jeffrey A. Krolik, James H. Dreher, Gwendolyn Watanabe
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Patent number: 8043313Abstract: An apparatus is provided that is operable in different modes to perform various functions for treating a body lumen. The apparatus includes a shaft including a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen extending therebetween, and a balloon on the distal end having an interior communicating with the lumen. The apparatus includes a valve on the distal end that selectively opens or closes an outlet communicating with the lumen. With the valve open, fluid introduced into the lumen exits the outlet into a body lumen. With the valve closed, fluid introduced into the lumen expands the balloon. The apparatus also includes an actuator for axially compressing the balloon, and a helical member extends between ends of the balloon interior that expands the balloon from a contracted condition to an expanded helical shape when the actuator is activated.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2009Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Hotspur Technologies, IncInventors: Jeffrey A. Krolik, Daryush Mirzaee, Gwendolyn Watanabe, Juan Domingo, James H. Dreher
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Publication number: 20110125132Abstract: An apparatus is provided that is operable in different modes to perform various functions for treating a body lumen. The apparatus includes a shaft including proximal and distal ends, a lumen extending therebetween, and a balloon on the distal end. The apparatus includes a valve on the distal end that selectively opens or closes an outlet communicating with the lumen. With the valve open, fluid introduced into the lumen exits the outlet into a body lumen. With the valve closed, fluid introduced into the lumen expands the balloon. The valve may be biased to be closed, e.g., by a spring element disposed within the balloon. Optionally, the apparatus also includes an actuator for expanding a helical member within the balloon interior, e.g., either before or after expanding the balloon, such that the helical member and balloon may adopt an expanded helical shape for removing material within a body lumen.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2010Publication date: May 26, 2011Applicant: HOTSPUR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Jeffrey A. Krolik, Gwendolyn Watanabe, Juan Domingo, Ray Betelia, James H. Dreher, Daryush Mirzaee, Lucas Fernandez
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Publication number: 20100268265Abstract: An apparatus for capturing material within a body lumen includes a shaft carrying an expandable basket device on a distal end thereof. The basket device includes a distal basket carried and a proximal basket carried on the shaft such that the proximal basket is proximal to and spaced apart from the distal basket. Each basket includes an open end communicating with an interior of the respective basket and oriented towards one another. In one embodiment, a tubular middle portion extends between the baskets. In another embodiment, the distal basket includes an actuator coupled to the distal basket open end such that movement of the baskets towards one another causes the actuator to direct the distal basket open end inwardly to allow the open end to be received within the proximal basket to facilitate removal of the apparatus after capturing material within the baskets.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2008Publication date: October 21, 2010Applicant: INCEPT, LLCInventors: Jeffrey A. Krolik, Gwendolyn Watanabe, James H. Dreher
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Publication number: 20100137892Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for removing obstructive material within a body lumen. The apparatus includes a macerator device deployable from a sheath that includes an expandable cage carried by a shaft and within a constraint tube. The shaft is movable relative to the constraint tube for deploying and expanding the cage within a body lumen such that an open end of the cage is oriented towards obstructive material. The cage is advanced to capture the material or the material is directed into the cage using an expandable member expanded beyond the material and retracted to direct the material into the cage. The cage is withdrawn into the constraint tube to compress the cage radially inwardly. Material extending through apertures in the cage are sheared off by a sharpened edge of the constraint tube. The smaller, sheared off particles are then aspirated from the body lumen through the sheath.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2009Publication date: June 3, 2010Applicant: Hotspur Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey A. Krolik, Juan Domingo, Daryush Mirzaee, James H. Dreher
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Publication number: 20100036410Abstract: An apparatus is provided that is operable in different modes to perform various functions for treating a body lumen. The apparatus includes a shaft including a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen extending therebetween, and a balloon on the distal end having an interior communicating with the lumen. The apparatus includes a valve on the distal end that selectively opens or closes an outlet communicating with the lumen. With the valve open, fluid introduced into the lumen exits the outlet into a body lumen. With the valve closed, fluid introduced into the lumen expands the balloon. The apparatus also includes an actuator for axially compressing the balloon, and a helical member extends between ends of the balloon interior that expands the balloon from a contracted condition to an expanded helical shape when the actuator is activated.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2009Publication date: February 11, 2010Applicant: HOTSPUR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Jeffrey A. Krolik, Daryush Mirzae, Gwendolyn Watanabe, Juan Domingo, James H. Dreher
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Publication number: 20100036312Abstract: An apparatus is provided for removing material within a body lumen that includes a catheter including a proximal end, a distal end for introduction into a body lumen, and an aspiration lumen extending therebetween; a guide member extending from the distal end and terminating in a distal tip, the guide member comprising a track adjacent a track lumen extending from the distal tip into the aspiration lumen; and an obstruction clearing device deployable from the guide member and retractable along the track. In addition or alternatively, the apparatus includes a cutting head reciprocable within the aspiration lumen adjacent the distal end for macerating material being aspirated into the aspiration lumen.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2009Publication date: February 11, 2010Applicant: Hotspur Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey A. Krolik, Daryush Mirzae, James H. Dreher, Juan Domingo, Gwendolyn Watanabe
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Publication number: 20090311338Abstract: Some aspects of this disclosure relate to a method for crosslinking a biological fluid comprising combining a biological fluid with a crosslinker to covalently crosslink proteins endogenous to the biological fluid to form a crosslinked gel. Examples of a biological fluid are blood, plasma, or serum.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2009Publication date: December 17, 2009Inventors: Chandrashekhar P. Pathak, Amarpreet S. Sawhney, James H. Dreher
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Patent number: 7597882Abstract: Some aspects of this disclosure relate to a method for crosslinking a biological fluid comprising combining a biological fluid with a crosslinker to covalently crosslink proteins endogenous to the biological fluid to form a crosslinked gel. Examples of a biological fluid are blood, plasma, or serum.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2007Date of Patent: October 6, 2009Assignee: Incept LLCInventors: Chandrashekhar P. Pathak, Amarpreet S. Sawhney, James H. Dreher
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Patent number: 7582111Abstract: A stent includes a first portion including first and second bands of cells that flare outwardly when the stent is expanded from a contracted to a flared condition, and a second portion connected to the first portion by flexible connectors. During use, the stent is introduced into a main vessel in the contracted condition and positioned with the first portion adjacent an ostium and the second portion within a branch vessel extending from the ostium. The first portion is flared, causing first struts of the first set of cells to move from an axial towards a radial and partial circumferential orientation and causing second struts of the second set of cells to move from an axial towards a radial orientation. The stent is expanded further such that the second portion expands within the branch body lumen, and the first and second struts move towards a more circumferential orientation.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2006Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: INCEPT, LLCInventors: Jeffrey A. Krolik, Eliot Kim, James H. Dreher, Farhad Khosravi
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Publication number: 20070248567Abstract: Some aspects of this disclosure relate to a method for crosslinking a biological fluid comprising combining a biological fluid with a crosslinker to covalently crosslink proteins endogenous to the biological fluid to form a crosslinked gel. Examples of a biological fluid are blood, plasma, or serum.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2007Publication date: October 25, 2007Inventors: Chandrashekhar P. Pathak, Amarpreet S. Sawhney, James H. Dreher