Patents by Inventor Kristopher Henry Vietmeier

Kristopher Henry Vietmeier 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: 20240415637
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a support structure and a valve assembly disposed within the support structure, the valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets. Each leaflet is formed from a predetermined leaflet material. Some leaflet materials include a metal body with a plurality of openings. The metal body may be coated with a polymer. Other leaflet materials include natural mammalian tissue subjected to a plastination preservation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2024
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Applicant: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristen T. Morin, Jay Reimer, Keith T. High, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier, Tracee Eidenschink
  • Patent number: 12138163
    Abstract: A heart prosthesis system may include a prosthetic heart valve and a length of suture. The prosthetic heart valve may include a collapsible and expandable stent and a valve assembly mounted within the stent. The stent may have an aortic end, an annulus end, and a plurality of openings arranged circumferentially around the aortic end, the aortic end having a first diameter in an expanded condition. The length of suture may be threaded through the openings such that tension applied to the length of suture in a direction away from the stent may collapse the aortic end of the stent from the first diameter to a second diameter less than the first diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex L. Bloomquist, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier
  • Publication number: 20240341953
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent extending along a longitudinal axis and having an inflow end and an outflow end, the stent including a plurality of cells annularly arranged around the stent in at least one row, the plurality of cells having a first nesting cell adjacent the outflow end of the stent, a first engaging arm disposed within the first nesting cell and being pivotally movable between a loaded condition, a partially-released condition, and a fully-released condition, the first engaging arm and the first nesting cell having a synchronous pivoting movement, and a collapsible and expandable valve assembly disposed within the stent and having a plurality of leaflets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicant: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore Paul Dale, Katherine A. Ahmann, Brian Joseph Perszyk, Mathias Charles Glimsdale, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier
  • Patent number: 11992406
    Abstract: A delivery device is configured for aligning and stabilizing a prosthetic heart valve for deployment in a native heart valve annulus. The device includes a catheter assembly having an inner shaft around which a valve compartment is defined, an outer shaft assembled over the inner shaft and adapted to slide relative to the inner shaft, a distal sheath connected to a distal end of the outer shaft and slidable therewith, an outer tube assembled over the outer shaft, and an alignment and stabilization device having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The outer tube is adapted to slide relative to the outer shaft to selectively cover and uncover the alignment and stabilization device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Caytlin Gale, Gary Erzberger, Kristen T. Morin, Trevor J. Springer, Jaron J. Olsoe, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier
  • Publication number: 20240148502
    Abstract: A delivery device for a collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes an inner shaft, an outer shaft, and a distal sheath. The distal sheath may be disposed distal to the outer shaft and about a portion of the inner shaft to form a compartment with the inner shaft. The compartment may be sized to receive the prosthetic heart valve. The inner shaft and the distal sheath may be movable relative to one another. A spine may extend along the outer shaft, the spine biasing the outer shaft so that the outer shaft tends to bend in a pre-determined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Moore, Daniel J. Klima, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier, Jay Reimer, Peter J. Ness, Ryan Finn, Jeffrey Paul LaPlante, Michael Shane Morrissey
  • Publication number: 20240138980
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart may include an expandable frame and prosthetic leaflets that each have a free edge, an attached edge having a contour, a first flat surface facing toward the frame, and a second flat surface facing away from the frame. A spacer fabric may be attached to each leaflet, the spacer fabric having a first surface, a second surface, and an inner matrix between the first and second surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Ness, Tyler Govek, Daniel J. Klima, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier, Alexander Barrette, William Minion, Janet Glenn
  • Publication number: 20240099832
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a support structure and a valve assembly disposed within the support structure, the valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets. Each leaflet is formed from a predetermined leaflet material. Some leaflet materials include a metal body with a plurality of openings. The metal body may be coated with a polymer. Other leaflet materials include natural mammalian tissue subjected to a plastination preservation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristen T. Morin, Jay Reimer, Keith T. High, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier, Tracee Eidenschink
  • Patent number: 11925556
    Abstract: A delivery device for a collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes an inner shaft, an outer shaft, and a distal sheath. The distal sheath may be disposed distal to the outer shaft and about a portion of the inner shaft to form a compartment with the inner shaft. The compartment may be sized to receive the prosthetic heart valve. The inner shaft and the distal sheath may be movable relative to one another. A spine may extend along the outer shaft, the spine biasing the outer shaft so that the outer shaft tends to bend in a pre-determined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Moore, Daniel J. Klima, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier, Jay Reimer, Peter J. Ness, Ryan Finn, Jeffrey Paul LaPlante, Michael Shane Morrissey
  • Publication number: 20240050630
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a support structure and a valve assembly disposed within the support structure, the valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets. Each leaflet includes a sewing edge and a free edge. The leaflet is formed from a sheet of leaflet material which is processed so that the resulting leaflet has a non-uniform thickness. Various methods may be used to form the leaflet with a non-uniform thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristen T. Morin, Jay Reimer, Keith T. High, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier
  • Patent number: 11883280
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a support structure and a valve assembly disposed within the support structure, the valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets. Each leaflet is formed from a predetermined leaflet material. Some leaflet materials include a metal body with a plurality of openings. The metal body may be coated with a polymer. Other leaflet materials include natural mammalian tissue subjected to a plastination preservation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristen T. Morin, Jay Reimer, Keith T. High, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier, Tracee Eidenschink
  • Publication number: 20230390056
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a prosthetic heart valve system, includes a prosthetic heart valve including a stent, a cuff and a plurality of leaflets, the cuff and the plurality of leaflets forming a valve assembly, and the stent having one or more retention tabs, and a delivery device having an inner shaft and an expandable balloon transitionable between a deflated state and an inflated state, the delivery device having a hub with one or more receivers to accept the one or more retention tabs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Tracee Eidenschink, Michael Shane Morrissey, Peter J. Ness, Daniel J. Klima, Tyler Govek, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier
  • Patent number: 11833273
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a support structure and a valve assembly disposed within the support structure, the valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets. Each leaflet includes a sewing edge and a free edge. The leaflet is formed from a sheet of leaflet material which is processed so that the resulting leaflet has a non-uniform thickness. Various methods may be used to form the leaflet with a non-uniform thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristen T. Morin, Jay Reimer, Keith T. High, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier
  • Publication number: 20230329862
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve may include an expandable stent having a plurality of struts forming cells connected to one another in a plurality of annular rows around the stent, a cuff attached to an annulus section of the stent by cuff sutures that have a plurality of stitches extending through material of the cuff and looping around the struts, and a plurality of leaflets each having a belly attached to the cuff within an interior region of the stent. The leaflets may together have a coapted position occluding the interior region of the stent and an open position in which the interior region is not occluded. The belly of each leaflet may be attached to the cuff by leaflet sutures extending in a path that crosses some of the struts in overlap zones. Those struts may be devoid of the stitches within the overlap zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristen T. Morin, Jay Reimer, Keith T. High, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier
  • Publication number: 20230320848
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve may include an expandable stent, a cuff attached to an annulus section of the stent, and a plurality of leaflets disposed within an interior region of the stent and attached to at least one of the cuff or the stent. The stent may have a plurality of cells connected to one another in a plurality of annular rows around the stent. The leaflets together may have a coapted position occluding the interior region of the stent and an open position in which the interior region is not occluded. Each leaflet may include a primary leaflet material, as well as features that reinforce specific regions of the leaflet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristen T. Morin, Jay Reimer, Keith T. High, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier, Tracee Eidenschink, Yousef F. Alkhatib
  • Publication number: 20230270542
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve for replacing a native valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent having a proximal end and a distal end, the stent being formed of a plurality of struts forming cells. A valve assembly is disposed within the stent, the valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets and a cuff. At least one runner is coupled to a cell and configured to transition from a first configuration to a second configuration when the stent moves from the collapsed condition to the expanded condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Buesseler, Ott Khouengboua, Jane M. Korfe, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier, Saravana B. Kumar
  • Patent number: 11717402
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve may include an expandable stent having a plurality of struts forming cells connected to one another in a plurality of annular rows around the stent, a cuff attached to an annulus section of the stent by cuff sutures that have a plurality of stitches extending through material of the cuff and looping around the struts, and a plurality of leaflets each having a belly attached to the cuff within an interior region of the stent. The leaflets may together have a coapted position occluding the interior region of the stent and an open position in which the interior region is not occluded. The belly of each leaflet may be attached to the cuff by leaflet sutures extending in a path that crosses some of the struts in overlap zones. Those struts may be devoid of the stitches within the overlap zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristen T. Morin, Jay Reimer, Keith T. High, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier
  • Patent number: 11690715
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve may include an expandable stent, a cuff attached to an annulus section of the stent, and a plurality of leaflets disposed within an interior region of the stent and attached to at least one of the cuff or the stent. The stent may have a plurality of cells connected to one another in a plurality of annular rows around the stent. The leaflets together may have a coapted position occluding the interior region of the stent and an open position in which the interior region is not occluded. Each leaflet may include a primary leaflet material, as well as features that reinforce specific regions of the leaflet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristen T. Morin, Jay Reimer, Keith T. High, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier, Tracee Eidenschink, Yousef F. Alkhatib
  • Patent number: 11672652
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve for replacing a native valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent having a proximal end and a distal end, the stent being formed of a plurality of struts forming cells. A valve assembly is disposed within the stent, the valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets and a cuff. At least one runner is coupled to a cell and configured to transition from a first configuration to a second configuration when the stent moves from the collapsed condition to the expanded condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Buesseler, Ott Khouengboua, Jane M. Korfe, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier, Saravana B. Kumar
  • Publication number: 20230090160
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent extending along a longitudinal axis and having an inflow end and an outflow end, the stent including a plurality of cells annularly arranged around the stent in at least one row, the plurality of cells having a first nesting cell adjacent the outflow end of the stent, a first engaging arm disposed within the first nesting cell and being pivotally movable between a loaded condition, a partially-released condition, and a fully-released condition, the first engaging arm and the first nesting cell having a synchronous pivoting movement, and a collapsible and expandable valve assembly disposed within the stent and having a plurality of leaflets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore Paul Dale, Katherine A. Ahmann, Brian Joseph Perszyk, Mathias Charles Glimsdale, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier
  • Publication number: 20230000621
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve may include a stent, a valve assembly disposed within the stent, a flange, and a plurality of anchor arms coupled to the stent. The stent may have collapsed and expanded conditions and inflow and outflow ends. The flange may include a plurality of braided wires and may be coupled to the stent and may be positioned adjacent the inflow end of the stent in the expanded condition of the stent. Each anchor arm may have a first end coupled to the stent adjacent the outflow end of the stent, a second end coupled to the stent adjacent the outflow end of the stent, and center portions extending from the first and second ends toward the inflow end of the stent. The center portions may be joined together to form a tip pointing toward the inflow end of the stent in the expanded condition of the stent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Reimer, Kristopher Henry Vietmeier