Patents by Inventor John L. Wardle

John L. Wardle 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: 20210069496
    Abstract: Described herein are polymer formulations for facilitating electrical stimulation of nasal or sinus tissue. The polymer formulations may be hydrogels that are prepared by a UV cross-linking process. The hydrogels may be included as a component of nasal stimulator devices that electrically stimulate the lacrimal gland to improve tear production and treat dry eye. Additionally, devices and methods for manufacturing the nasal stimulators, including shaping of the hydrogel, are described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: James Donald Loudin, Amitava Gupta, John L. Wardle, Christopher William Stivers, Anand Doraiswamy, Marie Dvorak Christ, F. Richard Christ
  • Publication number: 20200391024
    Abstract: A handheld stimulator device is described that can deliver a stimulus to tissue of a user. For example, the stimulator device can include a stimulator probe including an electrode and a deformable element configured to assist with allowing stimulus delivery by the electrode. The handheld stimulator device can also include a stimulator body configured to releasably couple to the stimulator probe. The stimulator body can include a power source and at least one contact pin positioned along the stimulator body to, during coupling of the stimulator body to the stimulator probe, form an initial contact configuration with the deformable element in an original state and cause the deformable element to transition into a deformed state. The formation of the initial contact configuration and the deformable element in the deformed state can allow delivery of a stimulus by the stimulator probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventor: John L. Wardle
  • Patent number: 9301756
    Abstract: Surgical coils are disclosed for marking, anchoring, stapling and suturing. Such surgical coils may be implanted in the body by deforming them to a small cross section profile, sliding them through a low profile delivery device then deploying them from an embodiment of a delivery device at a targeted site. Embodiments of surgical coils when deployed revert back to a coiled configuration and circle tissue at the target site. Such surgical coils may be deployed about attachment members, such as suture lines, marker lines and the like for anchoring same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventor: John L. Wardle
  • Patent number: 8608725
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to eluting coils having a relaxed coiled state and a straightened state that may be deployed at a fixed location within a patient's body and may accurately dispense and distribute fluids and or dissolvable substances at site specific locations of the body. Some embodiments of eluting elements are configured to be subsequently retrieved from a delivery site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventor: John L. Wardle
  • Publication number: 20130006201
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to eluting coils having a relaxed coiled state and a straightened state that may be deployed at a fixed location within a patient's body and may accurately dispense and distribute fluids and or dissolvable substances at site specific locations of the body. Some embodiments of eluting elements are configured to be subsequently retrieved from a delivery site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventor: John L. Wardle
  • Patent number: 8337509
    Abstract: A cannula for an ocular implant delivery system. In some embodiments, the cannula includes a tubular member having a curved portion, a distal opening surrounded by a distal opening surface, and a distal tip, the distal tip being adapted to be inserted into an anterior chamber of a human subject's eye, through trabecular meshwork and into Schlemm's canal of the eye, a proximal portion of the tubular member being adapted to extend from a location exterior to the eye when the distal tip is in Schlemm's canal of the eye, the cannula being further adapted to cooperate with an advancement mechanism to advance an ocular implant through the tubular member toward and through the distal opening into Schlemm's canal of the eye when the distal tip is disposed in Schlemm's canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ivantis, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew T. Schieber, John L Wardle, Edward Matthees, Charles L. Euteneuer
  • Patent number: 8287553
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to eluting coils having a relaxed coiled state and a straightened state that may be deployed at a fixed location within a patient's body and may accurately dispense and distribute fluids and or dissolvable substances at site specific locations of the body. Some embodiments of eluting elements are configured to be subsequently retrieved from a delivery site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventor: John L. Wardle
  • Publication number: 20120123469
    Abstract: Surgical coils for marking, anchoring, stapling and suturing that can be implanted in the body by deforming it to a small cross section profile and then sliding it through a low profile delivery device then deployig from an embodiment of a delivery device at a targeted site. Embodiments of surgical coils when deployed revert back to a coiled configuration and circle tissue at the target site. Can be deployed about attachment members, such as suture lines, marker lines and the like for anchoring same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventor: John L. Wardle
  • Patent number: 8128641
    Abstract: Surgical coils are disclosed for marking, anchoring, stapling and suturing. Such surgical coils may be implanted in the body by deforming them to a small cross section profile, sliding it them through a low profile delivery device then deploying them from an embodiment of a delivery device at a targeted site. Embodiments of surgical coils when deployed revert back to a coiled configuration and circle tissue at the target site. Such surgical coils may be deployed about attachment members, such as suture lines, marker lines and the like for anchoring same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Inventor: John L. Wardle
  • Patent number: 8029470
    Abstract: Systems and methods for penetrating a tissue membrane to gain access to a target site are disclosed. In some examples, systems and methods for accessing the left atrium from the right atrium of a patient's heart are carried out by puncturing the intra-atrial septal wall. One embodiment provides a system for transseptal cardiac access that includes a stabilizer sheath having a side port, a shaped guiding catheter configured to exit the side port and a tissue penetration member disposed within and extendable from the distal end of the guide catheter. The tissue penetration member may be configured to penetrate tissue upon rotation and may be coupled to a distal portion of a torqueable shaft. In some embodiments, the stabilizer sheath and shaped guiding catheter may be moved relative to the patient's body structure and relative to each other so that a desired approach angle may be obtained for the tissue penetration member with respect to the target tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Whiting, Neal L. Eigler, John L. Wardle, Werner Hafelfinger, Brian Mann
  • Patent number: 7967790
    Abstract: A hemostasis valve is disclosed herein. The hemostasis valve may include an inner bushing, a rotation sleeve, an elastomeric sleeve, and a biasing element. The rotation sleeve may extend about the inner bushing and be rotationally displaceable relative to the inner bushing. The elastomeric sleeve may include a first end operably coupled to the inner bushing, a second end operably coupled to the rotation sleeve, and an iris valve portion. Rotation of the rotation sleeve relative to the inner bushing may cause the iris valve to transition from an open state to a closed state. The biasing element may act between the rotation sleeve and inner bushing to bias the iris valve towards at least one of a closed state or an open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Whiting, Werner Hafelfinger, Neal L. Eigler, John L. Wardle
  • Publication number: 20110054405
    Abstract: A hemostasis valve is disclosed herein. The hemostasis valve may include an inner bushing, a rotation sleeve, an elastomeric sleeve, and a biasing element. The rotation sleeve may extend about the inner bushing and be rotationally displaceable relative to the inner bushing. The elastomeric sleeve may include a first end operably coupled to the inner bushing, a second end operably coupled to the rotation sleeve, and an iris valve portion. Rotation of the rotation sleeve relative to the inner bushing may cause the iris valve to transition from an open state to a closed state. The biasing element may act between the rotation sleeve and inner bushing to bias the iris valve towards at least one of a closed state or an open state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: PACESETTER, INC.
    Inventors: James S. Whiting, Werner Hafelfinger, Neal L. Eigler, John L. Wardle
  • Patent number: 7890186
    Abstract: An anchoring device and a delivery method thereof can effectively provide a means for securing an implant to a wall of an internal organ within a patient in a variety of clinical applications. In one embodiment, an anchoring device used to retain a cardiac pressure measurement device is provided. The device is implanted in the body by deforming it to a small cross section profile, sliding it through a low profile delivery device and ejecting from the delivery device at a targeted site. The anchoring mechanism, when ejected from the delivery device, reverts back to pre-formed configuration and engages opposite sides of an organ wall, thereby anchoring the implant in the organ wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Wardle, Neal L. Eigler
  • Publication number: 20110022057
    Abstract: A transfer guidewire assembly configured to manipulate an implanted elongate body includes a flexible elongate portion, such as a guidewire, and coupler. The flexible elongate body has a proximal end and a distal end attached to the coupler. The coupler can include a catheter and/or a handle. The handle can include a screw. The coupler is configured to be removably attached to the end of an implanted elongate body, for example, by forming an interference fit with the outside diameter of the implanted body. A method for transferring an end of an implanted medical component from first site to a second site within a patient, such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, and/or sensor lead, etc., includes inserting a guidewire into the body at the first site and externalizing the guidewire at the second site. A proximal portion of the implanted component near the first site and is attached to the guidewire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: PACESETTER, INC.
    Inventors: Neal L. Eigler, James S. Whiting, John L. Wardle, Werner Hafelfinger, Apratim Dixit
  • Publication number: 20100204709
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to eluting coils having a relaxed coiled state and a straightened state that may be deployed at a fixed location within a patient's body and may accurately dispense and distribute fluids and or dissolvable substances at site specific locations of the body. Some embodiments of eluting elements are configured to be subsequently retrieved from a delivery site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventor: John L. Wardle
  • Patent number: 7731705
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to eluting coils having a relaxed coiled state and a straightened state that may be deployed at a fixed location within a patient's body and may accurately dispense and distribute fluids and or dissolvable substances at site specific locations of the body. Some embodiments of eluting elements are configured to be subsequently retrieved from a delivery site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Inventor: John L. Wardle
  • Patent number: 7678081
    Abstract: Systems and methods for penetrating a tissue membrane to gain access to a target site are disclosed. In some examples, systems and methods for accessing the left atrium from the right atrium of a patient's heart are carried out by puncturing the intra-atrial septal wall. One embodiment provides a system for transseptal cardiac access that includes a guiding catheter, an access catheter and a guidewire. The access catheter may include a tissue penetration member disposed within a housing wherein the tissue penetration member is substantially contained within the housing when in a retracted configuration. When the distal end of the access catheter is disposed adjacent the septal wall, the user can initiate an actuator switch, which may be in a proximal portion of the system, to cause the tissue penetration member to extend through the septal wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Whiting, Neal Eigler, John L. Wardle
  • Publication number: 20080195146
    Abstract: Surgical coils for marking, anchoring, stapling and suturing that can be implanted in the body by deforming it to a small cross section profile and then sliding it through a low profile delivery device then deploying from an embodiment of a delivery device at a targeted site. Embodiments of surgical coils when deployed revert back to a coiled configuration and circle tissue at the target site. Can be deployed about attachment members, such as suture lines, marker lines and the like for anchoring same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: John L. Wardle
  • Patent number: 7149587
    Abstract: An anchoring device and a delivery method thereof can effectively provide a means for securing an implant to a wall of an internal organ within a patient in a variety of clinical applications. In one embodiment, an anchoring device used to retain a cardiac pressure measurement device is provided. The device is implanted in the body by deforming it to a small cross section profile, sliding it through a low profile delivery device and ejecting from the delivery device at a targeted site. The anchoring mechanism, when ejected from the delivery device, reverts back to pre-formed configuration and engages opposite sides of an organ wall, thereby anchoring the implant in the organ wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Pacesetter, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Wardle, Neal L. Eigler
  • Patent number: 7115052
    Abstract: Sport ball training devices and methods for releasably holding a tennis ball or other sport ball at an appropriate height for the practice of striking the ball, either directly or indirectly with a racket or the like. An embodiment may have a support device with a base and an adjustable vertical tubular assembly for the support of a transverse arm from which a ball sling is suspended. A retainer member of the ball sling circumferentially holds a sport ball. An embodiment of the retainer member may be made from an elastometric material that lightly squeezes the ball with sufficient force to restrain it, but releases easily when the ball is hit so that the trajectory of the ball is not affected by the presence of the retainer member nor is the racquet significantly affected by the presence of the ball sling generally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Pro Tennis Training, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Wardle, James M. Jensen