Patents by Inventor James R. Watson
James R. Watson 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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Patent number: 8277410Abstract: Apparatus and methods for inhibiting the introduction of air into the body during a percutaneous procedure. The apparatus may include an instrument passage lumen defining a degassing region with a degassing region distal end and a degassing region proximal end, a fluid inlet port at the degassing region distal end, and a fluid outlet port at the degassing region proximal end. So configured, fluid will flow only from the degassing region distal end to the degassing region proximal end.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2009Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.Inventor: James R. Watson
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Publication number: 20120191174Abstract: Embodiments are directed in part to endovascular prostheses and methods of deploying same. Embodiments may be directed more specifically to stent grafts and methods of positioning and deploying such devices within the body of a patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2011Publication date: July 26, 2012Applicant: TRIVASCULAR, INC.Inventors: Jenine S. Vinluan, Mark Eugene Purter, William Patrick Stephens, Mark Geusen, Carl Hermann Poppe, Christopher Lynn Staudenmayer, Diego Aristizabal, Michael V. Chobotov, James R. Watson, Teresa Woodson, Riley King
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Patent number: 8187261Abstract: A method of performing a cryotherapy procedure can include introducing a cryotherapy balloon catheter at a treatment site inside a patient's body; regulating, during a first phase of a cryotherapy procedure, flow of cryogenic fluid to and exhaust from a distal balloon portion of the cryotherapy balloon catheter to cause an initial pressure to be maintained inside the distal balloon portion that is sufficiently high to cause an outer wall of the distal balloon portion to be pressed against body tissue at the treatment site; and regulating, during a second phase of the cryotherapy procedure, flow of cryogenic fluid to and exhaust from the distal balloon portion to cause a) a temperature inside the distal balloon portion to reach a value sufficient to deliver therapeutic levels of cryotherapy to the body tissue, and b) a second-phase pressure to be maintained that is within a threshold value of the initial pressure.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2008Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.Inventor: James R. Watson
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Patent number: 8083789Abstract: A securement assembly for releasably securing an expandable stent or stent-graft relative to a delivery tube. The securement assembly comprises a belt base configured for securement relative to the delivery tube. The belt base defines a release member passage and a receiving portion. A first end of a belt is fixed relative to the belt base. The opposite end of the belt includes a retainment portion configured to releasably engage the receiving portion of the belt base. A release member is removably positioned through the release member passage and aligned with the belt retainment portion such that the retainment portion is maintained engaged with the receiving portion until the release member is moved to a non-aligned position. A method of releasably securing a portion of an expandable stent or stent-graft relative to a delivery tube is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2007Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Trivascular, Inc.Inventor: James R. Watson
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Publication number: 20110218609Abstract: Some embodiments relate in part to endovascular prostheses and methods of deploying same. Embodiments may be directed more specifically to inflatable stent grafts and methods of positioning and deploying such devices within the body of a patient. Some embodiments include inflation devices and methods that allow an inflatable portion of an inflatable stent graft to be inflated from a desired location within the inflatable portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2011Publication date: September 8, 2011Applicant: TRIVASCULAR, INC.Inventors: Michael V. Chobotov, Mary Jane Marston, Mark E, Purter, Patrick Stephens, James R. Watson, Robert G. Whirley
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Publication number: 20100241112Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods for dispersing a coolant along different portions of a supply tube of a cryo-ablation device which may be in the form of a linear ablation device or catheter probe or a balloon catheter. A supply tube includes multiple tubes that are in fluid communication with an inner space of a transmissive region or an inner space of an inflatable balloon. The tubes are coaxially arranged and extend to different lengths or to different locations such that the coolant is dispersed from different tubes at different axial locations. Annular apertures are defined by pairs of tubes and have different sizes. The tubes and arrangement thereof are structured to provide uniform or substantially uniform coolant distribution to provide uniform or substantially uniform cryo-ablation of surrounding tissue.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2010Publication date: September 23, 2010Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.Inventor: James R. Watson
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Publication number: 20100234876Abstract: A recapturing apparatus, a medical kit including the recapturing apparatus and a method for performing a medical procedure using the recapturing apparatus are provided. The recapturing apparatus includes a moveable collar and a push wire. The moveable collar comprises a proximal attachment region and a distal capture region sized to capture an expandable body therein. The push wire is configured to couple to the attachment region. The medical kit includes a sheath, a catheter having a distally-located expandable body, and the recapturing apparatus located concentrically between the sheath and the catheter. The method for performing the medical procedure includes coupling the push wire to the collar and advancing the collar distally along the catheter until the expandable body on the catheter is captured within the collar.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2010Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.Inventor: James R. Watson
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Publication number: 20100234838Abstract: A balloon elongation apparatus includes an elongated hypotube with a distal end having a reduced inner diameter portion that is configured to radially expand when a mandrel is advanced through a lumen of the hypotube towards the reduced inner diameter portion. A medical kit includes a catheter having a distally-located balloon and the elongation apparatus disposed within a guide wire tube of the catheter. In use, the balloon is elongated following a procedure in order to facilitate retracting the balloon into a sheath. The balloon is elongated by first advancing the mandrel relative to the hypotube so that the hypotube radially expands and firmly engages an inner surface of the guide wire tube and then advancing the mandrel, hypotube, and distal end of the guide wire tube relative to the catheter body.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2010Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.Inventor: James R. Watson
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Publication number: 20100217261Abstract: A steerable catheter sheath for use in directing a catheter into a desired position is provided. The sheath includes an elongated member configured to receive the catheter therein. The distal end of the elongated member is steerable in two directions, each direction having a different bent configuration, e.g., a sharp curve in one direction and an open arching curve in the other direction. A resilient structure having different bending properties in each of its lateral sides is carried in the distal portion of the elongated member and causes the asymmetric bending. In one embodiment, the resilient structure includes a hypotube with a plurality of notches and slits in the sides. In another embodiment, the resilient structure is covered in an outer coating having different durometer portions. The sheath is particularly useful for accessing left and right pulmonary veins when a transeptal entry approach is used into the left atrium.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2010Publication date: August 26, 2010Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.Inventor: James R. Watson
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Publication number: 20100179527Abstract: A method of performing cryotherapy on a patient can include positioning an outer surface of a distal portion of a cryotherapy catheter in contact with body tissue to be treated; performing a treatment phase, including regulating a temperature of the outer surface at a treatment value for a first period of time; performing a recovery phase comprising allowing the temperature of the outer surface to warm up to a recovery value that is higher than treatment value but substantially lower than a normal body temperature of the patient; and performing one or more additional treatment phases for a second period of time. Each of the first and second periods of time can be selected to allow a cold front having a cold front temperature to propagate from the outer surface and through a therapeutic portion of a thickness of the body tissue, but not substantially beyond the thickness.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2010Publication date: July 15, 2010Inventors: James R. Watson, Joann Heberer
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Publication number: 20090299356Abstract: A method of performing a cryotherapy procedure can include introducing a cryotherapy balloon catheter at a treatment site inside a patient's body; regulating, during a first phase of a cryotherapy procedure, flow of cryogenic fluid to and exhaust from a distal balloon portion of the cryotherapy balloon catheter to cause an initial pressure to be maintained inside the distal balloon portion that is sufficiently high to cause an outer wall of the distal balloon portion to be pressed against body tissue at the treatment site; and regulating, during a second phase of the cryotherapy procedure, flow of cryogenic fluid to and exhaust from the distal balloon portion to cause a) a temperature inside the distal balloon portion to reach a value sufficient to deliver therapeutic levels of cryotherapy to the body tissue, and b) a second-phase pressure to be maintained that is within a threshold value of the initial pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2008Publication date: December 3, 2009Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.Inventor: James R. Watson
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Publication number: 20090234320Abstract: Apparatus and methods for inhibiting the introduction of air into the body during a percutaneous procedure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2009Publication date: September 17, 2009Inventor: James R. Watson
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Patent number: 7575590Abstract: A branch graft stent system includes a tubular primary graft having a branch graft opening which when deployed is located in alignment with a side branch vessel emanating from the primary vessel in which a branch graft is deployed. A connector (flange) member forms a perimeter of the branch graft opening and is constructed so that the connector member is substantially flush with the wall of the tubular primary graft. The tubular branch graft has a first expandable ring and a second expandable ring spaced apart from each other as part of a connection section located at a proximal end of the tubular branch graft.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.Inventor: James R. Watson
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Publication number: 20090132020Abstract: A securement assembly for releasably securing an expandable stent or stent-graft relative to a delivery tube. The securement assembly comprises a belt base configured for securement relative to the delivery tube. The belt base defines a release member passage and a receiving portion. A first end of a belt is fixed relative to the belt base. The opposite end of the belt includes a retainment portion configured to releasably engage the receiving portion of the belt base. A release member is removably positioned through the release member passage and aligned with the belt retainment portion such that the retainment portion is maintained engaged with the receiving portion until the release member is moved to a non-aligned position. A method of releasably securing a portion of an expandable stent or stent-graft relative to a delivery tube is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2007Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATIONInventor: James R. Watson
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Publication number: 20090132026Abstract: A delivery system and method for delivering a bifurcated intracorporeal device. The delivery system comprises a shaft having a distal section supporting a primary support member positioned to be disposed within at least a primary portion of the bifurcated intracorporeal device and a secondary support member extending within a secondary portion of the bifurcated intracorporeal device. At least one belt is configured to be circumferentially disposed about a portion of the secondary support member so to at least partially constrain the secondary portion of the bifurcated intracorporeal device. A tube defining a lumen is secured relative to the secondary support member. A release member is configured to engage and releasably secure the belt in a constraining configuration. The release member extends through at least a portion of the tube lumen such that the release member is accessible adjacent a proximal end of the tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2007Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATIONInventors: Gerald Ray Martin, James R. Watson, Isaac J. Zacharias
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Patent number: 7306623Abstract: A branch graft stent system includes a tubular primary graft having a branch graft opening which when deployed is located in alignment with a side branch vessel emanating from the primary vessel in which a branch graft is deployed. A connector (flange) member forms a perimeter of the branch graft opening and is constructed so that the connector member is substantially flush with the wall of the tubular primary graft. The tubular branch graft has a first expandable ring and a second expandable ring spaced apart from each other as part of a connection section located at a proximal end of the tubular branch graft.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2005Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.Inventor: James R. Watson
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Patent number: 6581045Abstract: An asset management system (100) is disclosed, and is adapted for use to rate the condition of a physical asset component, such as a roof (102), estimate the service life of the asset, and provide a basis for decisions regarding the selection of repair alternatives and/or replacement options associated with the asset. Rating and evaluation of the asset is initiated by an operator (104) performing a “survey” of the asset to determine problem defects. Data representative of such defects is entered into the memory of an instrument (106) and transmitted to a central processing system (108). The central processing system (108) is adapted to allow the user to selectively review and evaluate the impact and financial feasibility of alternative repair and replacement options relating to the problems or defects associated with the asset.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 1995Date of Patent: June 17, 2003Assignee: Building Technology Associates, Inc.Inventor: James R. Watson
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Patent number: D246326Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 1976Date of Patent: November 8, 1977Inventor: James R. Watson
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Patent number: D421391Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 1998Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Assignee: The Quaker Oats CompanyInventors: Mary Bohn Anderson, Lawrence J. Barresi, Jennifer P. Burch, Julie Johnston Burton, Daniel J. Martinek, James R. Watson