Patents by Inventor Kristofer Langheinrich

Kristofer Langheinrich 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).

  • Steerable surgical snare
    Patent number: 8690891
    Abstract: Apparatus, assemblies, and methods for capturing objects within a body are disclosed. A surgical snare device includes a steerable deflection portion with a steerable distal tip. An interface is linked to the steerable deflection portion to selectively manipulate the distal tip. A snare loop disposed at the distal tip can have a length that remains substantially constant as the distal tip is deflected and the snare loop moves in concert with the distal tip. The distal tip may deflect up to at least one-hundred eighty degrees, while the snare loop moves a corresponding amount. A method includes extending a snare through a body lumen and to a location near an object. The snare may have a loop that changes positions while maintaining the same length. The loop may be placed around an object and then used to retrieve the object from the body lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Collin George Cowley, Creighton Ralph Petty, Alexander David Snyder, Andrew Steven Hansen, Tyler David Rees, Kristofer Langheinrich
  • STEERABLE SURGICAL SNARE
    Publication number: 20120004666
    Abstract: Apparatus, assemblies, and methods for capturing objects within a body are disclosed. A surgical snare device includes a steerable deflection portion with a steerable distal tip. An interface is linked to the steerable deflection portion to selectively manipulate the distal tip. A snare loop disposed at the distal tip can have a length that remains substantially constant as the distal tip is deflected and the snare loop moves in concert with the distal tip. The distal tip may deflect up to at least one-hundred eighty degrees, while the snare loop moves a corresponding amount. A method includes extending a snare through a body lumen and to a location near an object. The snare may have a loop that changes positions while maintaining the same length. The loop may be placed around an object and then used to retrieve the object from the body lumen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
    Inventors: Collin George Cowley, Creighton Ralph Petty, Alexander David Snyder, Andrew Steven Hansen, Tyler David Rees, Kristofer Langheinrich