Patents by Inventor Michael Nicholas D'ambra

Michael Nicholas D'ambra 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: 11944540
    Abstract: Described herein are devices and methods for mitral valve repair. The devices and methods implant a plurality of distal anchors at an annulus of the mitral valve (e.g., the posterior annulus) and tension artificial chordae to pull the portion of the annulus toward an opposite edge and inward into the ventricle. This can effectively reduce the size of the orifice and increase coaptation. The delivery devices can be configured to be actuated to form a distal anchor made of a pre-formed knot. The delivery devices deliver the pre-formed knot in an elongate configuration. Actuation of the delivery device causes the pre-formed knot to transition from the elongate configuration to the deployed configuration by approximating opposite ends of a suture coupled to a coiled configuration to form one or more loops. After formation of the knot, the delivery device can be withdrawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: University of Maryland, Baltimore, Harpoon Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nicholas D'ambra, Felino V. Cortez, Jr., James S. Gammie, Peter Wilson, Stephen Epstein, Stephen Cournane, Julie Marie Etheridge, Peter Boyd
  • Publication number: 20220387015
    Abstract: Described herein are devices for approximating targeted tissue by intertwining two or more sutures together. The sutures are attached to the targeted tissue and routed to a twister device. The twister device secures end portions of the sutures and twists them to intertwine the sutures. Controlling the number of twists provides control over the forces applied to the targeted tissue. In conjunction with visualization feedback, real-time adjustments can be made to achieved targeted results, such as elimination of mitral regurgitation when the disclosed methods and apparatus are applied to mitral valve repair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: William Niland, Felino V. Cortez, JR., James S. Gammie, Michael Nicholas D'ambra, Peter Wilson, Stephen Cournane
  • Patent number: 11026672
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatus for approximating targeted tissue by intertwining two or more sutures together. The sutures are attached to the targeted tissue and routed to a twister device. The twister device secures end portions of the sutures and twists them to intertwine the sutures. Controlling the number of twists provides control over the forces applied to the targeted tissue. In conjunction with visualization feedback, real-time adjustments can be made to achieved targeted results, such as elimination of mitral regurgitation when the disclosed methods and apparatus are applied to mitral valve repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignees: Harpoon Medical, Inc., University of Maryland, Baltimore
    Inventors: William Niland, Felino V. Cortez, Jr., James S. Gammie, Michael Nicholas D'ambra, Peter Wilson, Stephen Cournane
  • Publication number: 20200397579
    Abstract: Described herein are devices and methods for mitral valve repair. The devices and methods implant a plurality of distal anchors at an annulus of the mitral valve (e.g., the posterior annulus) and tension artificial chordae to pull the portion of the annulus toward an opposite edge and inward into the ventricle. This can effectively reduce the size of the orifice and increase coaptation. The delivery devices can be configured to be actuated to form a distal anchor made of a pre-formed knot. The delivery devices deliver the pre-formed knot in an elongate configuration. Actuation of the delivery device causes the pre-formed knot to transition from the elongate configuration to the deployed configuration by approximating opposite ends of a suture coupled to a coiled configuration to form one or more loops. After formation of the knot, the delivery device can be withdrawn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Nicholas D'Ambra, Felino V. Cortez, JR., James S. Gammie, Peter Wilson, Stephen Epstein, Stephen Cournane, Julie Marie Etheridge, Peter Boyd
  • Patent number: 10765515
    Abstract: Described herein are devices and methods for mitral valve repair. The devices and methods implant a plurality of distal anchors at an annulus of the mitral valve (e.g., the posterior annulus) and tension artificial chordae to pull the portion of the annulus toward an opposite edge and inward into the ventricle. This can effectively reduce the size of the orifice and increase coaptation. The anchor points of the artificial chordae can be offset from the apex of the heart to achieve a targeted force vector on the annulus. In addition, some embodiments include distal anchors implanted in the posterior leaflet in addition to those at the posterior annulus. This allows differential tensioning to be applied to provide for greater flexibility in treating various configurations of mitral valves to improve coaptation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: University of Maryland, Baltimore, Harpoon Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nicholas D'ambra, Felino V. Cortez, Jr., James S. Gammie, Peter Wilson, Stephen Epstein, Stephen Cournane, Julie Marie Etheridge, Peter Boyd
  • Publication number: 20180360439
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatus for approximating targeted tissue by intertwining two or more sutures together. The sutures are attached to the targeted tissue and routed to a twister device. The twister device secures end portions of the sutures and twists them to intertwine the sutures. Controlling the number of twists provides control over the forces applied to the targeted tissue. In conjunction with visualization feedback, real-time adjustments can be made to achieved targeted results, such as elimination of mitral regurgitation when the disclosed methods and apparatus are applied to mitral valve repair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: William Niland, Felino V. Cortez, JR., James S. Gammie, Michael Nicholas D'ambra, Peter Wilson, Stephen Cournane
  • Publication number: 20180289480
    Abstract: Described herein are devices and methods for mitral valve repair. The devices and methods implant a plurality of distal anchors at an annulus of the mitral valve (e.g., the posterior annulus) and tension artificial chordae to pull the portion of the annulus toward an opposite edge and inward into the ventricle. This can effectively reduce the size of the orifice and increase coaptation. The anchor points of the artificial chordae can be offset from the apex of the heart to achieve a targeted force vector on the annulus. In addition, some embodiments include distal anchors implanted in the posterior leaflet in addition to those at the posterior annulus. This allows differential tensioning to be applied to provide for greater flexibility in treating various configurations of mitral valves to improve coaptation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Nicholas D'ambra, Felino V. Cortez, JR., James S. Gammie, Peter Wilson, Stephen Epstein, Stephen Cournane, Julie Marie Etheridge, Peter Boyd