Patents by Inventor Kenneth P. Grace

Kenneth P. Grace 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: 5315614
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling laser energy into an optical fiber employs a laser with a concave reflector and a planar reflector, a plano-convex focusing lens and an optical fiber array. A divergent laser beam is emitted from the laser and is focused to a beam waist by the plano-convex lens. Within the beam waist exists a soft focal plane wherein the laser energy is relatively homogeneous across the beam's cross section. An optical fiber array is placed within the beam waist such that the soft focal plane substantially matches the size and shape of the proximal end of the optical fiber array. Thus, laser energy is coupled to the optical fiber array at the soft focal plane within the beam waist at a fluence level below the fluence damage threshold of the optical fiber array and in a relatively homogeneous fashion across the cross section of the optical fiber array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: The Spectranetics Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Grace, Michael B. Donnelly, Dean J. Geraci
  • Patent number: 5267993
    Abstract: A coupler for efficiently coupling a laser light source to a fiberoptic catheter. The coupler contains coding for determining information about the catheter, such as the size of the optical fiber catheter which it is coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: The Spectranetics Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Grace, Facundo Aparicio
  • Patent number: 5263952
    Abstract: A device for terminating a surgical apparatus such as a fiber optic catheter is disclosed. A fiber optic catheter having an outer body, an inner body disposed within the outer body to form an outer lumen therebetween and an inner lumen within the inner body, and optical fibers within the outer lumen is terminated at its distal end with a two-piece tip. An outer band of the tip has one end between the outer body and the optical fibers, while an inner band contacts the ends of the inner body and the optical fibers. The terminal faces of the optical fibers may be angled to increase the surface area illuminated or ablated by the fiber optic catheter. The inner and outer bands may be flared outwardly to increase the surface area affected even more. The inner body may also be extended beyond the terminal face to aid tracking of the catheter. The inner body and inner band may be eccentric to the outer body and outer band so that the catheter may be rotated to ablate a larger vascular area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Spectranetics
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Grace, Roland W. Songer, Dan J. Hammersmark
  • Patent number: 5157750
    Abstract: A coupler for efficiently coupling a laser light source to a fiberoptic catheter. The coupler contains coding for determining information about the catheter, such as the size of the optical fiber catheter which it is coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: The Spectranetics Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Grace, Facundo Aparicio
  • Patent number: 4919508
    Abstract: A coupler for efficiently coupling a laser light source to a fiberoptic catheter. The coupler contains coding for determining information about the catheter, such as the size of the optical fiber catheter which it is coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: The Spectranetics Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Grace, Facundo Aparicio