Patents by Inventor James L. Vacek

James L. Vacek 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).

  • Hot tip catheter assembly
    Patent number: 5057105
    Abstract: A hot tip catheter assembly is disclosed which resolves atherosclerotic plaque buildup in vivo. The catheter has a heater, a cap, a thermocouple, power leads, thermocouple leads, and a central distal lumen to position the catheter within the artery. The catheter tip has a thin, non-adhesive coating of a hard, heat-conducting material. The thermocouple is used to continuously evaluate the temperature at the tip of the catheter, and the temperature is then regulated by a computer-controlled feedback system. The catheter can completely melt the buildup without damage to the artery by direct contact with the plaque, without use of balloon catheter angioplasty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: The University of Kansas Med Center
    Inventors: David G. Malone, James L. Vacek, G. Scott Smith
  • Hot tip catheter assembly
    Patent number: RE35330
    Abstract: A hot tip catheter assembly is disclosed which resolves atherosclerotic plaque buildup in vivo. The catheter has a heater, a cap, a thermocouple, power leads, thermocouple leads, and a central distal lumen to position the catheter within the artery. The catheter tip has a thin, non-adhesive coating of a hard, heat-conducting material. The thermocouple is used to continuously evaluate the temperature at the tip of the catheter, and the temperature is then regulated by a computer-controlled feedback system. The catheter can completely melt the buildup without damage to the artery by direct contact with the plaque, without use of balloon catheter angioplasty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: University of Kansas Medical Center
    Inventors: David G. Malone, James L. Vacek, G. Scott Smith