Patents by Inventor Lynn M. Zwiers

Lynn M. Zwiers 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: 20090326390
    Abstract: Pressure and oxygen saturation monitoring devices and systems are disclosed. The devices, or portions thereof, can be implanted within a subject for monitoring blood pressure and oxygen saturation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Andres Belalcazar, Justin R. Van Hee, Lynn M. Zwiers, Jennifer L. Pavlovic
  • Patent number: 7481774
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments present improved catheters with physiological sensors. In one embodiment, the catheter includes, generally, a pressure transducer/electronics assembly connected to a pressure transmission catheter. The pressure transmission catheter includes a hollow tube made from a low compliance material. The distal end of the hollow tube is filled with a gel-like material or plug which acts as a barrier between the catheter liquid and the target fluid. The hollow tube is partially filled with a low viscosity liquid and is in fluid communication with the gel-like material and the pressure transducer. The pressure of the target fluid is transmitted to the liquid in the hollow tube through the gel-like material and/or the wall of the distal tip and is fluidically transmitted to the pressure transducer. The pressure transmission catheter may be inserted into a vessel lumen or into a lumen of a therapeutic or diagnostic catheter for biomedical applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Transoma Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Brockway, Lynn M. Zwiers, Perry A. Mills, Mark J. Drexler
  • Patent number: 7464602
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for sensing pressure are disclosed. One disclosed pressure measuring device comprises a pressure transmission catheter including a stem portion and a sheath fixed to the stem portion. The disclosed sheath comprises a wall defining a cavity that is in fluid communication with a stem lumen defined by the stem portion. The disclosed sheath has a first transverse extent and a second transverse extent that is different from the first transverse extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Transoma Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Lynn M. Zwiers, Gregg Lichtscheidl, Eric Rudie
  • Patent number: 7425200
    Abstract: An implantable sensor device, such as a pressure monitor, is implanted in the left ventricle (LV), in other heart chambers, or elsewhere, from which it wirelessly communicates pressure information to a remote communication device. The sensor device can be implanted using a placement catheter, an endoscope, or a laparoscope. The device can be secured entirely within the LV or heart wall, such as by using a corkscrew, a helical anchor, a harpoon, a threaded member, a hook, a barb, a fastener, a suture, or a mesh or coating for receiving fibrous tissue growth. The implantable sensor device provides less invasive chronic measurements of left ventricular blood pressure or other physical parameters. The wireless communication techniques include radio-telemetry, inductive coupling, passive transponders, and using the body as a conductor (referred to as “intracorporeal conductive communication” or a “personal area network”). Data from the receiver is downloadable into a computer for analysis or display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Transoma Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Brockway, Perry Alton Mills, Lynn M. Zwiers
  • Publication number: 20080039897
    Abstract: A pressure sensing device includes a body portion, a pressure transmitting port, and an electrical lead. The body portion includes transducing electronics within a housing that is shaped about a longitudinal axis. The housing has a coating thereon that promotes tissue growth to anchor the housing within a ventricular septum. The pressure transmitting port is located at a distal longitudinal end of the body portion such that a ventricle pressure being sensed is transmitted through the port and to the transducing electronics when the body portion is anchored in the ventricular septum. The electrical lead is connected to the transducing electronics and exits from a proximal longitudinal end of the body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Stanley E. Kluge, Scott Thomas Mazar, Eric N. Rudie, Lynn M. Zwiers
  • Publication number: 20080000303
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for sensing pressure are disclosed. One disclosed pressure measuring device comprises a pressure transmission catheter including a stem portion and a sheath fixed to the stem portion. The disclosed sheath comprises a wall defining a cavity that is in fluid communication with a stem lumen defined by the stem portion. The disclosed sheath has a first transverse extent and a second transverse extent that is different from the first transverse extent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: Transoma Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Lynn M. Zwiers, Gregg Lichtscheidl, Eric Rudie
  • Patent number: 6659959
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments present improved catheters with physiological sensors. In one embodiment, the catheter includes, generally, a pressure transducer/electronics assembly connected to a pressure transmission catheter. The pressure transmission catheter includes a hollow tube made from a low compliance material. The distal end of the hollow tube is filled with a gel-like material or plug which acts as a barrier between the catheter liquid and the target fluid. The hollow tube is partially filled with a low viscosity liquid and is in fluid communication with the gel-like material and the pressure transducer. The pressure of the target fluid is transmitted to the liquid in the hollow tube through the gel-like material and/or the wall of the distal tip and is fluidically transmitted to the pressure transducer. The pressure transmission catheter is capable of being inserted into a vessel lumen or inserted into a lumen of a therapeutic or diagnostic catheter for biomedical applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Transoma Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Brockway, Lynn M. Zwiers, Perry A. Mills, Mark J. Drexler
  • Publication number: 20030195428
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments present improved catheters with physiological sensors. In one embodiment, the catheter includes, generally, a pressure transducer/electronics assembly connected to a pressure transmission catheter. The pressure transmission catheter includes a hollow tube made from a low compliance material. The distal end of the hollow tube is filled with a gel-like material or plug which acts as a barrier between the catheter liquid and the target fluid. The hollow tube is partially filled with a low viscosity liquid and is in fluid communication with the gel-like material and the pressure transducer. The pressure of the target fluid is transmitted to the liquid in the hollow tube through the gel-like material and/or the wall of the distal tip and is fluidically transmitted to the pressure transducer. The pressure transmission catheter is capable of being inserted into a vessel lumen or inserted into a lumen of a therapeutic or diagnostic catheter for biomedical applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Data Sciences International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Brockway, Lynn M. Zwiers, Perry A. Mills, Mark J. Drexler
  • Publication number: 20020138009
    Abstract: An implantable sensor device, such as a pressure monitor, is implanted in the left ventricle (LV), in other heart chambers, or elsewhere, from which it wirelessly communicates pressure information to a remote communication device. The sensor device can be implanted using a placement catheter, an endoscope, or a laparoscope. The device can be secured entirely within the LV or heart wall, such as by using a corkscrew, a helical anchor, a harpoon, a threaded member, a hook, a barb, a fastener, a suture, or a mesh or coating for receiving fibrous tissue growth. The implantable sensor device provides less invasive chronic measurements of left ventricular blood pressure or other physical parameters. The wireless communication techniques include radio-telemetry, inductive coupling, passive transponders, and using the body as a conductor (referred to as “intracorporeal conductive communication” or a “personal area network”).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: DATA SCIENCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Brian P. Brockway, Perry Alton Mills, Lynn M. Zwiers
  • Patent number: 6409674
    Abstract: An implantable sensor device, such as a pressure monitor, is implanted in the left ventricle (LV), in other heart chambers, or elsewhere, from which it wirelessly communicates pressure information to a remote communication device. The sensor device can be implanted using a placement catheter, an endoscope, or a laparoscope. The device can be secured entirely within the LV or heart wall, such as by using a corkscrew, a helical anchor, a harpoon, a threaded member, a hook, a barb, a fastener, a suture, or a mesh or coating for receiving fibrous tissue growth. The implantable sensor device provides less invasive chronic measurements of left ventricular blood pressure or other physical parameters. The wireless communication techniques include radio-telemetry, inductive coupling, passive transponders, and using the body as a conductor (referred to as “intracorporeal conductive communication” or a “personal area network”).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Data Sciences International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Brockway, Perry Alton Mills, Lynn M. Zwiers
  • Publication number: 20020065472
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments present improved catheters with physiological sensors. In one embodiment, the catheter includes, generally, a pressure transducer/electronics assembly connected to a pressure transmission catheter. The pressure transmission catheter includes a hollow tube made from a low compliance material. The distal end of the hollow tube is filled with a gel-like material or plug which acts as a barrier between the catheter liquid and the target fluid. The hollow tube is partially filled with a low viscosity liquid and is in fluid communication with the gel-like material and the pressure transducer. The pressure of the target fluid is transmitted to the liquid in the hollow tube through the gel-like material and/or the wall of the distal tip and is fluidically transmitted to the pressure transducer. The pressure transmission catheter is capable of being inserted into a vessel lumen or inserted into a lumen of a therapeutic or diagnostic catheter for biomedical applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: Data Sciences International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Brockway, Lynn M. Zwiers, Perry A. Mills, Mark J. Drexler
  • Patent number: 6296615
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments present improved catheters with physiological sensors. In one embodiment, the catheter includes, generally, a pressure transducer/electronics assembly connected to a pressure transmission catheter. The pressure transmission catheter includes a hollow tube made from a low compliance material. The distal end of the hollow tube is filled with a gel-like material or plug which acts as a barrier between the catheter liquid and the target fluid. The hollow tube is partially filled with a low viscosity liquid and is in fluid communication with the gel-like material and the pressure transducer. The pressure of the target fluid is transmitted to the liquid in the hollow tube through the gel-like material and/or the wall of the distal tip and is fluidically transmitted to the pressure transducer. The pressure transmission catheter is capable of being inserted into a vessel lumen or inserted into a lumen of a therapeutic or diagnostic catheter for biomedical applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Data Sciences International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Brockway, Lynn M. Zwiers, Perry A. Mills, Mark J. Drexler
  • Patent number: D415053
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Data Sciences International, Inc.
    Inventor: Lynn M. Zwiers