Patents by Inventor Louise Balfe

Louise Balfe 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: 8979916
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for delivering and deployment of an expandable stent with a protection sheath within a blood vessel is provided. The system comprises a fluid pressure device which is coupled with a retraction device for the protection sheath such that after retraction of the protection sheath the stent is automatically deployed by the fluid pressure device. The advantage of the invention is an easy and simple operation of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises Limited
    Inventors: Randolf Von Oepen, Volker Trosken, Volker Marx, Armin Stopper, Louise Balfe, Lorcan James Coffey
  • Publication number: 20110160847
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for delivering and deployment of an expandable stent with a protection sheath within a blood vessel is provided. The system comprises a fluid pressure device which is coupled with a retraction device for the protection sheath such that after retraction of the protection sheath the stent is automatically deployed by the fluid pressure device. The advantage of the invention is an easy and simple operation of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: ABBOTT LABORATORIES VASCULAR ENTERPRISES, LTD.
    Inventors: Randolf Von Oepen, Volker Trösken, Volker Marx, Armin Stopper, Louise Balfe, Lorcan James Coffey
  • Patent number: 7875067
    Abstract: Apparatus for delivering and deploying an expandable stent having a protection sheath within a blood vessel is provided. The apparatus comprises a fluid pressure device that is coupled with a retraction device for the protection sheath, wherein the stent is automatically deployed by the fluid pressure device after retraction of the protection sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises Limited
    Inventors: Randolf Von Oepen, Volker Trösken, Volker Marx, Armin Stopper, Louise Balfe, Lorcan Coffey
  • Patent number: 7862541
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catheter having a soft distal tip that can be manufactured at lower cost than catheters in the prior art. In one embodiment, the catheter is produced by coupling a soft sleeve to the distal end of a catheter tube. The sleeve may affixed to the catheter tube under temperature and pressure conditions that cause the proximal end of the sleeve to taper against the outer surface of the catheter tube, avoiding or minimizing discontinuities in the insertion profile of the catheter, and that also cause the inner wall of the sleeve to taper against the distal end of the catheter tube, avoiding or minimizing discontinuities in the lumen of the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Jeffrey, Louise Balfe, Lorcan Coffey, Arik Zucker, Kay Unzicker, Zdravkica Dzakula, Ib Joergensen, Randolf von Oepen
  • Patent number: 7815627
    Abstract: The invention includes a catheter having an elongate main body having a proximal section and a distal section. The elongate main body further includes a plurality of stiffening members disposed along the length of the elongate main body. At least one stiffening member includes a plurality of clusters including helical turns or rotations disposed circumferentially about a tubular member and along the length of the cluster. The clusters can be configured to vary flexibility along the length of the tubular member. The catheter can include a sheath having a stationary section and a retractable section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Randolf Von Oepen, Axel Grandt, Lorcan Coffey, Louise Balfe, Andrew Jeffrey, Ib Joergensen, Bodo Quint
  • Publication number: 20080004568
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catheter having a soft distal tip that can be manufactured at lower cost than catheters in the prior art. In one embodiment, the catheter is produced by coupling a soft sleeve to the distal end of a catheter tube. The sleeve may affixed to the catheter tube under temperature and pressure conditions that cause the proximal end of the sleeve to taper against the outer surface of the catheter tube, avoiding or minimizing discontinuities in the insertion profile of the catheter, and that also cause the inner wall of the sleeve to taper against the distal end of the catheter tube, avoiding or minimizing discontinuities in the lumen of the catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Jeffrey, Louise Balfe, Lorcan Coffey, Arik Zucker, Kay Unzicker, Zdravkica Dzakula, Ib Joergensen, Randolf von Oepen
  • Publication number: 20070282367
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catheter for POBA or stent delivery applications. More specifically, the present invention relates to a balloon catheter having a soft distal tip member and methods for manufacturing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Andrew Jeffrey, Louise Balfe, Lorcan Coffey, Arik Zucker, Kay Unzicker, Zdravkica Dzakula
  • Publication number: 20070016132
    Abstract: The invention includes a catheter having an elongate main body having a proximal section and a distal section. The elongate main body further includes a plurality of stiffening members disposed along the length of the elongate main body. At least one stiffening member includes a plurality of clusters including helical turns or rotations disposed circumferentially about a tubular member and along the length of the cluster. The clusters can be configured to vary flexibility along the length of the tubular member. The catheter can include a sheath having a stationary section and a retractable section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Inventors: Randolf Oepen, Axel Grandt, Lorcan Coffey, Louise Balfe, Andrew Jeffrey, Ib Joergensen, Bodo Quint
  • Publication number: 20060142833
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for delivering and deployment of an expandable stent with a protection sheath within a blood vessel is provided. The system comprises a fluid pressure device which is coupled with a retraction device for the protection sheath such that after retraction of the protection sheath the stent is automatically deployed by the fluid pressure device. The advantage of the invention is an easy and simple operation of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventors: Randolf Von Oepen, Volker Trosken, Volker Marx, Armin Stopper, Louise Balfe