Patents by Inventor Joshua Makower

Joshua Makower 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).

  • Patent number: 5569297
    Abstract: The present invention provides a compression device for selectively applying compressive force to a localized area of interest on the surface of a body that is readily positioned and fastened in place. The device includes a resilient compressible element positioned on a relatively rigid member associated with a clamping frame that at least partially surrounds a limb or other body area of interest. An adjustable closure means is provided for adjustably completing the clamp arrangement to completely enclose said bodily region of interest in a manner that enables the compressible element to be applied to the precise site of interest. The adjustable closure element permits accommodating bodily parts such as limbs of various size and facilitates adjustment of the compressive pressure applied. The device may take a variety of embodiment forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Schneider (USA) Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Makower, Brett Stern
  • Patent number: 5474057
    Abstract: A minimally invasive retractor and dissector for internal surgical use on a patient's body has a tubular support for passing into the patient's body. A proximal end on the tubular support located outside the patient's body is in position to provide access for the surgeon. A distal end on the tubular support located inside the patient's body to provide access within the patient for surgery. A control is located at the proximal end of the tabular support. One or more articulated members are movably positioned relative to the distal end of the tubular support so each of the articulated members allows swinging relative to the distal end. A rotator connects to the proximal end of the tubular support for movement relative to the control. An instrument moves independently of the tubular support when the articulated members and the distal tips cooperatively function on the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Valleylab Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Makower, Lois Fitton, Aaron Sodickson, Bill Gorman
  • Patent number: 5449355
    Abstract: A device for retrograde hole opening through tissue has a member elongate on an axis with a cross section shaped to insert axially through external tissue. A distal and a proximal end on the member respectively enter the tissue during placement and remain outside the tissue for control. A tip at the distal end has a deployable tissue divider with one or more tissue parting elements and each has a splitter. The tissue parting elements are located within the cross sectional dimensions of the member in a storage position and are movable relative to the tip for placement in an exposed position relative to the tip when shifted from storage so that the splitter thereof splits tissue during retrograde extraction along the axis and contact with tissue. Linkage between the proximal end and the deployable tissue divider retains each of the tissue parting elements with its splitter exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Valleylab Inc.
    Inventors: David Rhum, Rodney Wells, Joshua Makower
  • Patent number: 5449375
    Abstract: A method of making a hemostatic plug for placement at a site where hemostatic treatment is indicated. The method comprises rolling a sheet of a hemostatic material a plurality of turns onto a generally cylindrical forming tool to thereby produce a rolled hemostatic plug having an opening therethrough along its longitudinal axis. In addition to employing one sheet of hemostatic material having a single density to form a plug, two sheets of hemostatic material having different densities can be rolled in tandem to each other on the forming tool, with one sheet overlapping an exposed wedge portion of the other sheet. The plugs thus formed can be longitudinally compressed if subsequent longitudinal expansion is desired. A typical placement site for which the plug is preferably employed is a puncture wound wherein an entry penetration of an artery and a tissue channel leading thereto are present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Howmedica Inc.
    Inventors: Claude A. Vidal, Russel J. Redmond, Joshua Makower
  • Patent number: 5380290
    Abstract: A device for providing access to a living body. The device, in one embodiment, includes a slotted needle dimensioned and configured to receive, in fluid tight engagement, a catheter or a guidewire introduced into the needle through the slot. The device, in another embodiment, includes a sharpened, slotted first tube, a second tube piercable by the first tube for receipt therein of at least a potion of both the first tube and the slot, and an elongated element passing into the second tube, through the slot and into the first tube. The device might further include a third tube slidably positioned around the second tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Pfizer Hospital Products Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Makower, Earl H. Slee, Naomi C. Chesler, William J. Gorman, Frank E. Barber
  • Patent number: 5334216
    Abstract: A method of making a hemostatic plug for placement at a site where hemostatic treatment is indicated. The method comprises rolling a sheet of a hemostatic material a plurality of turns onto a generally cylindrical forming tool to thereby produce a rolled hemostatic plug having an opening therethrough along its longitudinal axis. In addition to employing one sheet of hemostatic material having a single density to form a plug, two sheets of hemostatic material having different densities can be rolled in tandem to each other on the forming tool, with one sheet overlapping an exposed wedge portion of the other sheet. The plugs thus formed can be longitudinally compressed if subsequent longitudinal expansion is desired. A typical placement site for which the plug is preferably employed is a puncture wound wherein an entry penetration of an artery and a tissue channel leading thereto are present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Howmedica Inc.
    Inventors: Claude A. Vidal, Russel J. Redmond, Joshua Makower
  • Patent number: 5324306
    Abstract: A puncture seal device for stemming the flow of blood from a punctured blood vessel includes an elongated outer sheath affixed to a generally tubular housing where the housing contains a manually actuable slide which is affixed to a rigid tubular pusher member coaxially disposed within the outer sheath. Also contained within the outer sheath in longitudinal alignment with the pusher and distally thereof is a ring-shaped plug of a hemostatic material. The assembly thus far described may be fitted over a tubular introducer or the body of a catheter and then advanced therealong until the distal end of the outer sheath is proximate a bleeding blood vessel. By actuating the pusher member, the hemostatic plug surrounding the introducer or catheter is ejected from the distal end of the outer sheath and held in abutting relationship to the bleeding blood vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Howmedica, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Makower, Claude A. Vidal, Steven R. LeMott, Rodney E. Wells, Thomas F. Banks
  • Patent number: 5292309
    Abstract: A device for measuring the depth below skin level of a blood vessel that has been punctured in the course of a catheterization or other interventional vascular procedure comprises a tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end portion that is preferably tapered to a small outer diameter. The lumen may have a stepped diameter extending between the proximal and distal ends. A first portion of the lumen is distally located and is of a diameter generally equal to the diameter of a guidewire with which the measuring device is used. The second segment of the lumen is of a substantially larger diameter. A side entry port is made through the wall of the tubular member at the distal base of the larger diameter section of the lumen. Graduated markings on the side wall of the tubular member extend from the side entry port toward the proximal end of the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Schneider (USA) Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Van Tassel, Joshua Makower, Robert J. Thatcher
  • Patent number: 5290310
    Abstract: A puncture seal device for stemming the flow of blood from a punctured blood vessel has an elongated outer sheath affixed to a generally tubular housing where the housing contains a manually actuable slide which is affixed to a rigid tubular pusher member coaxially disposed within the outer sheath. Also contained within the outer sheath in longitudinal alignment with the pusher and distally thereof is a ring-shaped plug of a hemostatic material. The assembly thus far described may be fitted over a tubular introducer or the body of a catheter and then advanced therealong until the distal end of the outer sheath is proximate a bleeding blood vessel. By actuating the pusher member, the hemostatic plug surrounding the introducer or catheter is ejected from the distal end of the outer sheath and held in abutting relationship to the bleeding blood vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Howmedica, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Makower, Claude A. Vidal, Steven R. LeMott, Rodney E. Wells, Thomas F. Banks
  • Patent number: 5207666
    Abstract: A fluid metering device useful in implantable drug delivery systems is coupled between a pressurized fluid source and an outlet conduit to provide discrete flow pulses at a predetermined rate. The metering device consists of a first movable member constrained within a housing and a second movable member retained in a cavity by the first. Alternate positioning of the first member simultaneously fills and empties the cavity in which the second resides, discharging fluid through the conduit. The first movable member can be a planar slider, an axially translatable cylinder or a rotatable cylinder. The second movable member may be a flat shuttle, a sliding bar or a diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Infusaid, Inc.
    Inventors: Samir F. Idriss, Joshua Makower