Patents by Inventor Matthias Vaska

Matthias Vaska 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).

  • Devices and methods for absorbing, transferring and delivering heart energy
    Publication number: 20080183286
    Abstract: A device for altering cardiac performance includes an energy absorbing element which absorbs cardiac pumping energy from at least a portion of the heart. The energy may be delivered to another part of the body, such as another portion of the heart, to perform useful work such as providing blood pumping assistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventor: Matthias Vaska
  • SURGICAL SYSTEM AND PROCEDURE FOR TREATMENT OF MEDICALLY REFRACTORY ATRIAL FIBRILLATION
    Publication number: 20080183168
    Abstract: The invention provides surgical systems and methods for ablating heart tissue within the interior and/or exterior of the heart. A plurality of probes is provided with each probe configured for introduction into the chest for engaging the heart. Each probe includes an elongated shaft having an elongated ablating surface of a predetermined shape. The elongated shaft and the elongated ablating surface of each probe are configured to ablate a portion of the heart. A sealing device affixed to the heart tissue forms a hemostatic seal between the probe and the penetration in the heart to inhibit blood loss therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: James L. Cox, Stephen W. Boyd, Hanson S. Gifford, Matthias Vaska
  • Devices and methods for ablating near AV groove
    Publication number: 20080161705
    Abstract: The invention encompasses a device, system and methods for ablating tissue, where a ablating device includes an elongated shaft having a flexible distal end, and at least one ablation element and at least one electrode detecting electrical signals of the heart, such that a user can assess whether the at least one ablation element is located on a tissue of the atrioventricular (AV) groove of a patient's heart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Podmore, Matthias Vaska
  • Surgical system and procedure for treatment of medically refractory atrial fibrillation
    Patent number: 7387126
    Abstract: The invention provides surgical systems and methods for ablating heart tissue within the interior and/or exterior of the heart. A plurality of probes is provided with each probe configured for introduction into the chest for engaging the heart. Each probe includes an elongated shaft having an elongated ablating surface of a predetermined shape. The elongated shaft and the elongated ablating surface of each probe are configured to ablate a portion of the heart. A sealing device affixed to the heart tissue forms a hemostatic seal between the probe and the penetration in the heart to inhibit blood loss therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Cox, Stephen W. Boyd, Hanson S. Gifford, III, Matthias Vaska, Daniel D. Merrick
  • Methods and devices for ablation
    Patent number: 7338486
    Abstract: An ablating device has a cover which holds an interface material such as a gel. The cover contains the interface material during initial placement of the device. The ablating device may also have a removable tip or a membrane filled with fluid. In still another aspect, the ablating device may be submerged in liquid during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Sliwa, Matthias Vaska, Jonathan L. Podmore, Scott C. Anderson, Gerard Champsaur, John E. Crowe, Stephen A. Morse, Gary Henry Miller
  • Devices and methods for ablating cardiac tissue
    Publication number: 20080045946
    Abstract: An ablation device for ablating epicardial tissue on a heart is disclosed. The device includes an elongated probe having at least one tissue contacting surface for contacting the epicardial tissue. The device also includes a plurality of suction ports and a plurality of ablating elements aligned along at least part of the axis of the elongated probe and coupled with a tissue contacting member. The assembly may optionally include a visualization device to determine the location and depth of transmural lesions. Also disclosed are methods of locating and placing the ablation device and forming transmural lesions on a heart for treatment of cardiac arrythmias.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventor: Matthias Vaska
  • Methods and devices for ablation
    Publication number: 20080045936
    Abstract: An ablating device has a cover which holds an interface material such as a gel. The cover contains the interface material during initial placement of the device. The ablating device may also have a removable tip or a membrane filled with fluid. In still another aspect, the ablating device may be submerged in liquid during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Matthias Vaska, Stephen Boyd, Hanson Gifford, James Cox, Jonathan Podmore, John Crowe, Michael Holzbaur, Timothy Ciciarelli, Drew Hoffmann, Casey Tansey, John Sliwa, Scott Anderson
  • SURGICAL SYSTEM AND PROCEDURE FOR TREATMENT OF MEDICALLY REFRACTORY ATRIAL FIBRILLATION
    Publication number: 20080045935
    Abstract: The invention provides surgical systems and methods for ablating heart tissue within the interior and/or exterior of the heart. A plurality of probes is provided with each probe configured for introduction into the chest for engaging the heart. Each probe includes an elongated shaft having an elongated ablating surface of a predetermined shape. The elongated shaft and the elongated ablating surface of each probe are configured to ablate a portion of the heart. A sealing device affixed to the heart tissue forms a hemostatic seal between the probe and the penetration in the heart to inhibit blood loss therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: James Cox, Stephen Boyd, Hanson Gifford, Matthias Vaska, Daniel Merrick
  • Devices and methods for absorbing, transferring, and delivering heart energy
    Publication number: 20070299296
    Abstract: A device for altering cardiac performance includes an energy absorbing element which absorbs cardiac pumping energy from at least a portion of the heart. The energy may be delivered to another part of the body, such as another portion of the heart, to perform useful work such as providing blood pumping assistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventor: Matthias Vaska
  • Methods and devices for ablation
    Publication number: 20070293855
    Abstract: An ablating device has a cover which holds an interface material such as a gel. The cover contains the interface material during initial placement of the device. The ablating device may also have a removable tip or a membrane filled with fluid. In still another aspect, the ablating device may be submerged in liquid during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: John Sliwa, Matthias Vaska, Jonathan Podmore, Scott Anderson, Gerard Champsaur, John Crowe, Stephen Morse, Gary Miller
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ABLATING TISSUE
    Publication number: 20070293854
    Abstract: A control system alters one or more characteristics of an ablating element to ablate tissue. In one aspect, the control system delivers energy nearer to the surface of the tissue by changing the frequency or power. In another aspect, the ablating element delivers focused ultrasound which is focused in at least one dimension. The ablating device may also have a number of ablating elements with different characteristics such as focal length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Benjamin PLESS, Scott Anderson, Jonathan Podmore, Matthias Vaska, John Crowe, Roxanne Richman, Timothy Ciciarelli, David Gallup, Jack Ulstad
  • Apparatus and method for diagnosis and therapy of electrophysiological disease
    Publication number: 20070282324
    Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and methods for mapping conduction pathways and creating lesions in the heart wall for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. The apparatus may include at least one epicardial ablation probe having a plurality of electrodes for creating a lesion. The apparatus and method facilitate the formation of a lesion which electrically isolates the pulmonary veins from the surrounding myocardium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Matthias Vaska, Stephen Boyd, Hanson Gifford, James Cox
  • Methods and devices for ablation
    Publication number: 20070255276
    Abstract: An ablating device has a cover which holds an interface material such as a gel. The cover contains the interface material during initial placement of the device. The ablating device may also have a removable tip or a membrane filled with fluid. In still another aspect, the ablating device may be submerged in liquid during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: John Sliwa, Matthias Vaska, Jonathan Podmore, Roxanne Richman, Scott Anderson, Gerard Champsaur, John Crowe
  • Surgical system and procedure for treatment of medically refractory atrial fibrillation
    Publication number: 20070191714
    Abstract: The invention provides surgical systems and methods for ablating heart tissue within the interior and/or exterior of the heart. A plurality of probes is provided with each probe configured for introduction into the chest for engaging the heart. Each probe includes an elongated shaft having an elongated ablating surface of a predetermined shape. The elongated shaft and the elongated ablating surface of each probe are configured to ablate a portion of the heart. A sealing device affixed to the heart tissue forms a hemostatic seal between the probe and the penetration in the heart to inhibit blood loss therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: James Cox, Stephen Boyd, Hanson Gifford, Matthias Vaska
  • Methods and devices for ablation
    Publication number: 20070066974
    Abstract: An ablating device has a cover which holds an interface material such as a gel. The cover contains the interface material during initial placement of the device. The ablating device may also have a removable tip or a membrane filled with fluid. In still another aspect, the ablating device may be submerged in liquid during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventors: Matthias Vaska, John Crowe, Gary Miller, Jonathan Podmore, Gerard Champsaur, Drew Hoffman, Casey Tansey
  • Devices and methods for providing cardiac assistance
    Publication number: 20070066862
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cardiac assist device which exerts pressure against the epicardial surface to assist the heart in pumping blood. The device may form a pumping space adjacent to an epicardial ventricular surface and/or an epicardial atrial surface. The cardiac assist device may permit the fluid to come into direct contact with the epicardium. The cardiac assist device may include a flexible jacket which at least partially collapses when fluid is withdrawn from the pumping space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventor: Matthias Vaska
  • Methods and devices for ablation
    Publication number: 20060200119
    Abstract: An ablating device has a cover which holds an interface material such as a gel. The cover contains the interface material during initial placement of the device. The ablating device may also have a removable tip or a membrane filled with fluid. In still another aspect, the ablating device may be submerged in liquid during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Matthias Vaska, John Crowe, Gary Miller, Jonathan Podmore, Gerard Champsaur, Drew Hoffmann, Casey Tansey
  • Methods and devices for ablation
    Publication number: 20060184167
    Abstract: An ablating device has a cover which holds an interface material such as a gel. The cover contains the interface material during initial placement of the device. The ablating device may also have a removable tip or a membrane filled with fluid. In still another aspect, the ablating device may be submerged in liquid during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Matthias Vaska, John Crowe, Gary Miller, Jonathan Podmore, Gerald Champsaur, Drew Hoffman, Casey Tansey
  • Methods and devices for ablation
    Publication number: 20060135954
    Abstract: An ablating device has a cover which holds an interface material such as a gel. The cover contains the interface material during initial placement of the device. The ablating device may also have a removable tip or a membrane filled with fluid. In still another aspect, the ablating device may be submerged in liquid during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Applicant: EPICOR MEDICAL, INC. A Delaware Corporation.
    Inventors: John Sliwa, Matthias Vaska, Jonathan Podmore, Roxanne Richman, Scott Anderson, Gerard Champsaur, John Crowe
  • Methods and devices for ablation
    Patent number: 7052493
    Abstract: The invention is related to methods of sizing an area around the pulmonary veins along an epicardial surface. A sizing element is provided which has a plurality of indicators along its length which is used to size an area around the pulmonary veins. A sizing element is wrapped around the pulmonary veins along an epicardial location. The size of an ablating device is determined by using the indicators on the sizing element. An ablating device is then selected based on this measurement. The ablating device is then attached to the sizing element. The ablating device is then wrapped around the pulmonary veins while manipulating the sizing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Epicor Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthias Vaska, John E. Crowe, Gary Henry Miller, Jonathan L. Podmore, Gerard Champsaur, Drew Hoffman, Casey Tansey