Patents by Inventor Michael E. Zupkofska

Michael E. Zupkofska 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: 9743977
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to a medical device. The medical device may include a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. A positioning mechanism may be disposed adjacent the distal end of the shaft. The positioning mechanism may include an outer member and an inner member coupled to an end-effector. The outer member may be pivotably attached to the distal end of the shaft and the inner member may be pivotably attached to the outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Smith, Eric K. Litscher, Samuel Raybin, John B. Golden, Michael E. Zupkofska
  • Publication number: 20160317334
    Abstract: Methods for assembling a stent delivery system are provided, as well as the stent delivery assemblies and devices formed by such methods. Also provided is a method for loading a stent into a delivery system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: EMILY E. RUSK, STEPHAN P. MANGIN, CLAUDE O. CLERC, MICHAEL E. ZUPKOFSKA
  • Publication number: 20160317332
    Abstract: A method of braiding a stent includes braiding a number of elongate filaments around a mandrel using tensioned braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the tensioned braiding carriers to form a braided stent having atraumatic ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: STEVE LILBURN, PAUL K. NORTON, MICHAEL E. ZUPKOFSKA, LOUIS BEDARD, GLENN HARDING
  • Publication number: 20160287223
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for obtaining a navigating to a targeted biopsy region are disclosed. An example device for navigating to a targeted biopsy region may include an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, an inflation lumen, and a vacuum lumen. An inflatable balloon may be positioned proximal to the distal end of the elongate shaft. The device may further include an ultrasound transducer positioned adjacent to the distal end of the elongate shaft and a power and control unit in electrical communication with the ultrasound transducer. A vacuum source may be in fluid communication with the vacuum lumen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: John A. HINGSTON, Daniel R. QUINN, Steven E. WALAK, Jason MORRELL, Michelle Pham TRAN, Pat S. PHONGSAVANH, Mahfuza AHMED, Paul SMITH, Michael M. BOREK, Gerald FREDRICKSON, Michael E. ZUPKOFSKA, Douglas C. SHEPARD, Gene T. STORBECK, Michael D. SINISI
  • Patent number: 9388517
    Abstract: A method of braiding a stent and associated braided stent. The method includes braiding a number of elongate filaments around a mandrel using tensioned braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the tensioned braiding carriers to form a braided stent having atraumatic ends. The braided stent includes a plurality of filaments being inter-braided at a braiding angle formed at crossing filament locations. The braiding angle may be substantially constant for all of the filament crossing locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Lilburn, Paul K. Norton, Michael E. Zupkofska, Louis Bedard, Glenn Harding
  • Publication number: 20160178519
    Abstract: An example method for obtaining a biopsy sample may include delivering a tumor marker to a patient, guiding a biopsy tool to a desired biopsy region within a patient's body, obtaining a biopsy sample from the desired biopsy region, removing the biopsy sample from the patient's body, and after removing the biopsy sample from the patient's body, scanning the biopsy sample to detect the presence of the tumor marker in the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Michael E. Zupkofska, Mahfuza Ahmed, Michael M. Borek, Gerald Fredrickson, Paul Smith, Douglas C. Shepard, Michael D. Sinisi
  • Publication number: 20160175124
    Abstract: An implantable stent includes a stent retrieval member for repositioning or retrieval of the stent after it has been implanted into a bodily lumen. The stent includes a distensible tubular stent having a tubular structure having a tubular wall defined by an interior surface and an exterior surface and having opposed open ends; and a stent retrieval member comprising an elongate member comprising a generally circular perimetric base and a shaped projection having first and second spaced apart members extending acutely or perpendicularly from the base and connected by an apical portion. Force exerted on the shaped projection causes contraction or expansion of the circular base. The circular base is securably attached to one of the open ends of the stent, and the shaped projection extends longitudinally beyond this open end of the stent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: GARY A. JORDAN, CLAUDE O. CLERC, PAUL K. NORTON, MICHAEL E. ZUPKOFSKA, JOHN J. DAMARATI
  • Publication number: 20160158040
    Abstract: An illustrative stent may comprise an elongated tubular balloon having a first end and a second end and an intermediate region disposed therebetween. The elongated tubular balloon may have an inner wall and an outer wall, the inner wall and the outer wall connected at the first end and the second end to define an enclosed inflation chamber between the inner wall and the outer wall. The stent may further include an inflation valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventor: Michael E. Zupkofska
  • Publication number: 20150327863
    Abstract: A tissue closure device includes a first clip including a first longitudinal element extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end and a first pair of arms extending laterally from the first longitudinal element, the first pair of arms movable between an open configuration in which free ends of the first pair of arms are separated from one another and a closed configuration in which the free ends of the first pair of arms extend toward one another, the first pair of arms being biased toward the closed configuration, and a sliding element extending from a proximal end to a distal end and longitudinally movable relative to the first clip so that when a portion of the sliding element is received between the first pair of arms, the first pair of arms is moved from the biased closed configuration to the open configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Paul SMITH, Michelle FATER, Shawn KERR, Priya KHANCHANDANI, Dylan MURPHY, Kevin WILCOX, Daniel R. QUINN, Michael E. ZUPKOFSKA, Kenny J. KING, Rachael A. RHEAUME, Kerry L. GRANT, John A. HINGSTON, Brian GAFFNEY
  • Patent number: 9155643
    Abstract: A mandrel for manufacturing a stent from a single wire includes a cylindrical member having a plurality of pins at a proximal end region, a plurality of pins at a distal end region, and a plurality of indentations between the proximal pins and the distal pins. These indentations form a helical pattern on the outer surface of the cylindrical member. The single wire is wrapped around every proximal pin and distal pin on the mandrel by following the indentations in the mandrel. The single wire is slid through the indentation under any crossing section of wire and over the next crossing section of wire in an under-over pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Claude Clerc, Alexander Turovsky, Michael E. Zupkofska, Christopher Dubois, Mark Wood, Gary Jordan
  • Publication number: 20150282790
    Abstract: A tissue closure device includes a clip including arms extending from proximal ends connected to one another to distal ends. The clip is biased toward an open configuration in which the distal ends extend away from a longitudinal axis of the clip. The arms are held in a closed configuration in which the arms are moved toward the longitudinal axis via an interior surface of a working channel through which the clip is passed until the clip is moved distally past a distal end of the working channel and permitted to revert to the biased open configuration so that the distal ends are positioned about a portion of tissue surrounding a tissue opening to be closed. The device also includes a locking element movable over the arms to lock the clip in the closed configuration in which the arms are drawn toward one another to grip tissue therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel R. QUINN, Michael E. Zupkofska, Kenny J. King, Rachael A. Rheaume, Kerry L. Grant, John A. Hingston, Brian Gaffney
  • Publication number: 20150238301
    Abstract: A device for causing hemostasis includes a sheet of mesh stretchable between an expanded and a retracted configuration, a size of the sheet in the retracted configuration being selected to cover a target tissue site; a spring mechanism coupled to the mesh, the spring mechanism moving between an expanded configuration and a retracted configuration when the mesh is moved between the expanded and retracted configurations; and a plurality of hooks coupled to the mesh and oriented to extend into tissue to lock the mesh in position when the mesh is placed in a desired position over the target tissue site in the expanded configuration. The hooks are lockingly engaging the target tissue so that, after the hooks have lockingly engaged the tissue, the spring mechanism reverts to the retracted configuration drawing the engaged portions of tissue radially inward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: John Allen Hingston, Daniel Robert Quinn, Michael E. Zupkofska, Kerry L. Grant, Brian Gaffney, Rachael Ann Rheaume, Kenny Joe King, Shawn Kerr, Paul Smith, Michelle Fater, Kevin John Wilcox, Dylan Murphy
  • Publication number: 20140088688
    Abstract: A method of braiding a stent includes braiding a number of elongate filaments around a mandrel using tensioned braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the tensioned braiding carriers to form a braided stent having atraumatic ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Lilburn, Paul K. Norton, Michael E. Zupkofska, Louis Bedard, Glenn Harding
  • Patent number: 8677874
    Abstract: A method of braiding a stent includes braiding a number of elongate filaments around a mandrel using tensioned braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the tensioned braiding carriers to form a braided stent having atraumatic ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Lilburn, Paul K. Norton, Michael E. Zupkofska, Louis Bedard, Glenn Harding
  • Publication number: 20140081382
    Abstract: An open frame prosthesis is formed with looped end terminations at its proximal and distal ends. At one end of the prosthesis, the filaments or strands are welded together in pairs to form strand couplings. A plurality of loop segments are connected to the strand couplings, one loop segment for each pair of adjacent strand couplings. In one version of the prosthesis, strands at the opposite end are bent to form looped ends. In another version, loop segments are connected to pairs of strand couplings at both ends of the prosthesis. The loop segments can be connected to the couplings by welding, fusion bonds, or tubes, which are either crimped or heat shrunk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary J. Leanna, Paul K. Norton, Peter Brady, Dean Molloy, Michael E. Zupkofska
  • Publication number: 20140074220
    Abstract: A prosthesis including a composite wire forming a mesh, the mesh having a variable diameter wherein at least one end region has a larger diameter than a middle portion; the mesh having an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein at least one of the surfaces is covered with silicone; and a retrieval loop positioned at at least one end of the mesh.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Claude O. Clerc, Paul K. Norton, Michael E. Zupkofska, Gary J. Leanna, George Tom Roberts
  • Publication number: 20130269506
    Abstract: A method of braiding a stent includes braiding a number of elongate filaments around a mandrel using tensioned braiding carriers without spooling the filaments to the tensioned braiding carriers to form a braided stent having atraumatic ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Steven H. Lilburn, Paul K. Norton, Michael E. Zupkofska, Louis Bedard, Glenn D. Harding
  • Publication number: 20130190758
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to a medical device. The medical device may include a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. A positioning mechanism may be disposed adjacent the distal end of the shaft. The positioning mechanism may include an outer member and an inner member coupled to an end-effector. The outer member may be pivotably attached to the distal end of the shaft and the inner member may be pivotably attached to the outer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Paul Smith, Eric K. Litscher, Samuel Raybin, John B. Golden, Michael E. Zupkofska
  • Publication number: 20120101564
    Abstract: An open frame prosthesis is formed with looped end terminations at its proximal and distal ends. At one end of the prosthesis, the filaments or strands are welded together in pairs to form strand couplings. A plurality of loop segments are connected to the strand couplings, one loop segment for each pair of adjacent strand couplings. In one version of the prosthesis, strands at the opposite end are bent to form looped ends. In another version, loop segments are connected to pairs of strand couplings at both ends of the prosthesis. The loop segments can be connected to the couplings by welding, fusion bonds, or tubes, which are either crimped or heat shrunk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Gary J. Leanna, Paul K. Norton, Peter Brady, Dean Molloy, Michael E. Zupkofska
  • Patent number: 8109988
    Abstract: An open frame prosthesis is formed with looped end terminations at its proximal and distal ends. At one end of the prosthesis, the filaments or strands are welded together in pairs to form strand couplings. A plurality of loop segments are connected to the strand couplings, one loop segment for each pair of adjacent strand couplings. In one version of the prosthesis, strands at the opposite end are bent to form looped ends. In another version, loop segments are connected to pairs of strand couplings at both ends of the prosthesis. The loop segments can be connected to the couplings by welding, fusion bonds, or tubes, which are either crimped or heat shrunk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary J. Leanna, Paul K. Norton, Peter Brady, Dean Molloy, Michael E. Zupkofska