Patents by Inventor Joseph W. Higgins

Joseph W. Higgins 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: 20240156488
    Abstract: The present invention comprises at least sensing, monitoring, and display of motor current which is then used in various embodiments of a rotational atherectomy device to determine and/or predict, among other things, treatment progression, treatment completion, optimal rotational speed, optimal advancement or traversal speed during treatment, whether stall appears imminent, and/or reacting to stop motor rotation before a stall occurs. In some embodiments, the determination or prediction results in an automatic, or preprogrammed adjustment by the control unit of the rotational speed of the rotating drive shaft and associated tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2024
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Ellering, Jacob P. Draxler, Matthew W. Tilstra, Joseph P. Higgins
  • Patent number: 11957377
    Abstract: Various embodiments of devices and systems comprising a polymer driveshaft for use in high-speed rotational medical procedures, e.g., atherectomy, are disclosed. Generally, the primary driveshaft for transferring torque and activating rotation of a tool attached thereto, e.g., an abrasive element, is constructed with at least a polymer outer and inner surface. In certain embodiments, the polymer driveshaft may comprise a metallic band for fixed attachment of a structure, e.g., an abrasive element, thereto. Various embodiments may comprise a coupler that connects a drive shaft connected with a prime mover, e.g., a turbine or electric motor, with the polymer drive shaft, the coupler comprising openings through the coupler wall to the inner diameter of the coupler to allow fluid flow to the inner diameter of the coupled polymer drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Preston L. Grothe, Matthew D. Cambronne, Joseph P. Higgins, William F. Kuester, III, Benjamin Haselman, Joshua J. Cranston, Ric A. Gould, Nicholas W. Rydberg
  • Patent number: 11957577
    Abstract: Embodiments of delivery systems, devices and methods for delivering a prosthetic heart valve device to a heart chamber for expanded implementation are disclosed. More specifically, methods, systems and devices are disclosed for delivering a self-expanding prosthetic mitral valve device to the left atrium, with no engagement of the left ventricle, the native mitral valve leaflets or the annular tissue downstream of the upper annular surface during delivery, and in some embodiments with no engagement of the ventricle, mitral valve leaflets and/or annular tissue located downstream of the upper annular surface by the delivered, positioned and expanded prosthetic mitral valve device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: 4C Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Chambers, Gregory G. Brucker, Joseph P. Higgins, Saravana B. Kumar, Jason S. Diedering, Karl A. Kabarowski, Robert J. Thatcher, James E. Flaherty, Jeffrey R. Stone
  • Patent number: 7120680
    Abstract: Mechanisms and techniques operate in a computerized device to provide a network analyzer that identifies a useable network configuration in an existing network configuration. The network analyzer receives a preferred network configuration defining a preferred network topology and analyzes an existing network configuration to produce an existing network topology. The network analyzer then compares the preferred network topology to the existing network topology, for example using a graph matching technique, to identify a useable network configuration within the existing network configuration that most closely supports operation of the preferred network configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Higgins, John F. Ackerley, Ryan S. O'Connell