Patents by Inventor John B. Blix

John B. Blix 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: 20220096237
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a catheter device (2) for implanting a leaflet anchor (10) and a papillary anchor (9) into the heart as part of a procedure for implanting an artificial chordae line (14) that extends between the leaflet anchor (10) and the papillary anchor (9), the catheter device (2) comprising: a two-part housing section extending from a distal end (8) of the catheter device (2) along the length of the catheter device (2) toward the proximal end (4) of the catheter device (2), the two-part housing section being arranged to be placed between the papillary muscle and a leaflet (12) of the heart during use of the catheter device (2), and the two-part housing section comprising a distal part (8) at the distal end of the catheter device (2) and a proximal part (4) located on the proximal side of the distal part (8); a leaflet anchor deployment mechanism at the proximal part (4) of the housing section for deploying a leaflet anchor (10) for attachment to the leaflet (12) of the heart; a papillary anchor deplo
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Nikolai HIORTH, Hans Emil HIORTH, John B. BLIX
  • Publication number: 20220015906
    Abstract: A catheter device is described. The device is for implanting an artificial chordae line (14) in the heart. The catheter device comprises: a leaflet anchor (10) for placement in a leaflet (12) of a heart valve, wherein the leaflet anchor (10) is arranged to be coupled to the artificial chordae line (14); and a leaflet anchor deployment mechanism (6, 30, 38) for deploying the leaflet anchor (10), wherein the leaflet anchor deployment mechanism (6, 30, 38) comprises a mechanical gripper device (30, 32, 32?), for grasping the leaflet (12), wherein the gripper device (30, 32, 32?) comprises a leaflet anchor tube 38 for housing the leaflet anchor (10) in a folded configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Nikolai HIORTH, Hans Emil HIORTH, John B. BLIX
  • Publication number: 20210290288
    Abstract: Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a method of beginning an ablation procedure using a multi-electrode ablation system is described. The method includes selectively coupling the output of a power supply to a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes to increase a temperature at the first electrode to a first temperature set-point and limit a rate of increase of the temperature at the first electrode to a predetermined first rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: John B. Blix, James C. Baker, Kevin K. Ennett, John Eric Hein, Joseph Allen Brotz, Joseph William Barnier, Raymond Vincent Froehlich, Michael Olsen, Sukanya Varadharajan, Catherine A. Pipenhagen
  • Patent number: 11058474
    Abstract: Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a method of beginning an ablation procedure using a multi-electrode ablation system is described. The method includes selectively coupling the output of a power supply to a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes to increase a temperature at the first electrode to a first temperature set-point and limit a rate of increase of the temperature at the first electrode to a predetermined first rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: ST. JUDE MEDICAL, CARDIOLOGY DIVISION, INC.
    Inventors: John B. Blix, James C. Baker, Kevin K. Ennett, John Eric Hein, Joseph Allen Brotz, Joseph William Barnier, Raymond Vincent Froehlich, Michael Olsen, Sukanya Varadharajan, Catherine A. Pipenhagen
  • Patent number: 10918434
    Abstract: Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a multi-electrode ablation system includes a power supply configured to be coupled to a plurality of electrodes and a controller coupled to the power supply. The controller is configured to determine a thermal gain of each electrode of the plurality of electrodes. For each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the controller sets a power limit based at least in part on said electrode's determined thermal gain. The power limit establishes a maximum power that may be dissipated through said electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: ST. JUDE MEDICAL, CARDIOLOGY DIVISION, INC.
    Inventors: John B. Blix, James C. Baker, Kevin K. Ennett, John Eric Hein, Joseph Allen Brotz, Joseph William Barnier, Raymond Victor Froehlich, Michael Olsen, Sukanya Varadharajan
  • Publication number: 20180250059
    Abstract: Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a multi-electrode ablation system includes a power supply configured to be coupled to a plurality of electrodes and a controller coupled to the power supply. The controller is configured to determine a thermal gain of each electrode of the plurality of electrodes. For each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the controller sets a power limit based at least in part on said electrode's determined thermal gain. The power limit establishes a maximum power that may be dissipated through said electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: John B. Blix, James C. Baker, Kevin K. Ennett, John Eric Hein, Joseph Allen Brotz, Joseph William Barnier, Raymond Victor Froehlich, Michael Olsen, Sukanya Varadharajan
  • Patent number: 9987070
    Abstract: Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a multi-electrode ablation system includes a power supply configured to be coupled to a plurality of electrodes and a controller coupled to the power supply. The controller is configured to determine a thermal gain of each electrode of the plurality of electrodes. For each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the controller sets a power limit based at least in part on said electrode's determined thermal gain. The power limit establishes a maximum power that may be dissipated through said electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: ST. JUDE MEDICAL, CARDIOLOGY DIVISION, INC.
    Inventors: John B. Blix, James C. Baker, Kevin K. Ennett, John Eric Hein, Joseph Allen Brotz, Joseph William Barnier, Raymond Victor Froehlich, Michael Olsen, Sukanya Varadharajan
  • Publication number: 20170354454
    Abstract: Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a method of beginning an ablation procedure using a multi-electrode ablation system is described. The method includes selectively coupling the output of a power supply to a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes to increase a temperature at the first electrode to a first temperature set-point and limit a rate of increase of the temperature at the first electrode to a predetermined first rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: John B. Blix, James C. Baker, Kevin K. Ennett, John Eric Hein, Joseph Allen Brotz, Joseph William Barnier, Raymond Vincent Froehlich, Michael Olsen, Sukanya Varadharajan, Catherine A. Pipenhagen
  • Patent number: 9775663
    Abstract: Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a method of beginning an ablation procedure using a multi-electrode ablation system is described. The method includes selectively coupling the output of a power supply to a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes to increase a temperature at the first electrode to a first temperature set-point and limit a rate of increase of the temperature at the first electrode to a predetermined first rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: John B. Blix, James C. Baker, Kevin K. Ennett, John Eric Hein, Joseph Allen Brotz, Joseph William Barnier, Raymond Vincent Froehlich, Michael Olsen, Sukanya Varadharajan, Catherine A. Pipenhagen
  • Publication number: 20140330266
    Abstract: Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a power supply is configured to be coupled to a plurality of electrodes. A controller includes a touchscreen display configured to display at least a graphical representation of each electrode of the ablation system. The controller is configured to receive an interactive input for each respective electrode to select and deselect the electrode for activation, during which power may be supplied thereto, by touching the graphical representation of the respective electrode on the touchscreen display. This may occur during a diagnostic mode and/or an ablation procedure run mode of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Sara A. Thompson, John B. Blix, Sukanya Varadharajan, Mark Allen Catron
  • Publication number: 20140316400
    Abstract: Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a method of beginning an ablation procedure using a multi-electrode ablation system is described. The method includes selectively coupling the output of a power supply to a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes to increase a temperature at the first electrode to a first temperature set-point and limit a rate of increase of the temperature at the first electrode to a predetermined first rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: John B. Blix, James C. Baker, Kevin K. Ennett, John Eric Hein, Joseph Allen Brotz, Joseph William Barnier, Raymond Vincent Froehlich, Michael Olsen, Sukanya Varadharajan, Catherine A. Pipenhagen
  • Publication number: 20140276765
    Abstract: Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a multi-electrode ablation system includes a power supply configured to be coupled to a plurality of electrodes and a controller coupled to the power supply. The controller is configured to determine a thermal gain of each electrode of the plurality of electrodes. For each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the controller sets a power limit based at least in part on said electrode's determined thermal gain. The power limit establishes a maximum power that may be dissipated through said electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: John B. Blix, James C. Baker, Kevin K. Ennett, John Eric Hein, Joseph Allen Brotz, Joseph William Barnier, Raymond Victor Froehlich, Michael Olsen, Sukanya Varadharajan
  • Publication number: 20120143243
    Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present disclosure include a closure device, a method of making the closure device and a system that includes the closure device for closing an opening in a body lumen. The closure device includes an intravascular anchor for positioning in the body lumen, a suture coupled to the intravascular anchor, the suture to pass through the opening in the body lumen, a fastener joined to the suture, where the fastener moves longitudinally along the suture, and a plug having a first plug segment and a second plug segment. In one or more embodiments, the second plug segment has a hardness greater than the first plug segment, where the suture passes through the plug with the first plug segment between the intravascular anchor and the second plug segment and the second plug segment between the first plug segment and the fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason P. Hill, Horng-Ban Lin, James Q. Feng, Scott R. Schewe, John B. Blix
  • Patent number: D747491
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Sara A. Thompson, Mark A. Catron, Eric Collins, Matija Klemenc, Karen M. Kensok, John B. Blix
  • Patent number: D774043
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Sara A. Thompson, Mark A. Catron, Eric Collins, Matija Klemenc, John B. Blix
  • Patent number: D793559
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ST. JUDE MEDICAL, CARDIOLOGY DIVISION, INC.
    Inventors: Sara A. Thompson, Mark A. Catron, Eric Collins, Matija Klemenc, Karen M. Kensok, John B. Blix
  • Patent number: D815131
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ST. JUDE MEDICAL, CARDIOLOGY DIVISION, INC.
    Inventors: Sara A. Thompson, Mark A. Catron, Eric Collins, Matija Klemenc, John B. Blix
  • Patent number: D829238
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: ST. JUDE MEDICAL CARDIOLOGY DIVISION, INC.
    Inventors: Sara A. Thompson, Mark A. Catron, Eric Collins, Matija Klemenc, John B. Blix
  • Patent number: D914883
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: ST. JUDE MEDICAL, CARDIOLOGY DIVISION, INC.
    Inventors: Sara A. Thompson, Mark A. Catron, Eric Collins, Matija Klemenc, Karen M. Kensok, John B. Blix
  • Patent number: D987083
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Sara A. Thompson, Mark A. Catron, Eric Collins, Matija Klemenc, Karen M. Kensok, John B. Blix