Patents by Inventor Michael Zung

Michael Zung 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: 12089868
    Abstract: Methods of performing an atherectomy using an atherectomy catheter. The atherectomy catheter may include a catheter body, a driveshaft, and a distal tip assembly. The driveshaft may include an annular cutting ring with a distal cutting edge. A long axis of the annular cutting ring can be configured to be parallel to a longitudinal axis of the distal tip assembly when the distal tip assembly is deflected with respect to the catheter body. The methods may include advancing the atherectomy catheter within a vessel lumen; axially moving the driveshaft relative to the catheter body to deflect the distal tip assembly with respect to the catheter body and radially extend the distal cutting edge of the annular cutting ring relative to the distal end of the catheter body; driving the distal cutting edge against a wall of the vessel lumen to remove tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Avinger, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael H. Rosenthal, Michael Zung, Nicholas J. Spinelli, Charles W. McNall, John B. Simpson, John F. Black
  • Patent number: 12053260
    Abstract: A system for imaging a body lumen includes a controller and a display. The controller is configured to connect to a proximal end of a catheter having an optical fiber extending along the length of an elongate catheter body. The controller is further configured to rotate a distal end of the optical fiber from a location near a proximal end of the elongate catheter body, acquire optical coherence tomography (OCT) images using the optical fiber as the distal end of the optical fiber rotates, and determine a rotational lag of the distal end of the optical fiber. The display is configured to display one or more OCT images corrected for the rotational lag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Avinger, Inc.
    Inventors: Maegan K. Spencer, Christopher B. White, Charles W. McNall, Dennis W. Jackson, Michael Zung, Nicholas J. Spinelli, Benjamin Ngo, Evangeline Lumabas, Kin F. Chan, John F. Black, Michael H. Rosenthal, John B. Simpson
  • Publication number: 20240148253
    Abstract: A catheter device for crossing occlusions includes an elongate body, a central lumen extending within the elongate body from the proximal end to the distal end, a rotatable tip at the distal end of the elongate body, and an OCT imaging sensor. The rotatable tip is configured to rotate relative to the elongate body. The OCT imaging sensor includes an optical fiber coupled with the rotatable tip and configured to rotate therewith. A distal end of the elongate body includes one or more markers configured to occlude the OCT imaging sensor as it rotates. A fixed jog in the elongate body proximal to the distal end of the catheter positions the distal end of the catheter at an angle relative to the region of the catheter proximal to the fixed jog and is aligned with the one or more markers on the elongate body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: John B. SIMPSON, Himanshu N. PATEL, Michael ZUNG, Charles W. MCNALL, Priyanshu GUPTA, Maegan K. SPENCER, Christopher B. WHITE, Dennis W. JACKSON, John F. BLACK
  • Publication number: 20240057942
    Abstract: Described herein are catheters for use with Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) that include an optical fiber core having a first refractive index and an interface medium having a second refractive index, where the first and second refractive indexes are mismatched such that receiving electronics configured to receive optical radiation reflected from the reference interface and the target operate in a total noise range that is within 5 dB of the shot noise limit. These OCT catheters may include a silicon die mirror having a reflective coating that is embedded in the interface medium. The optical fiber can be fixed at just the distal end of the catheter, and may be managed within a handle that is attached to the proximal end of the catheter body, and is configured to allow rotation of the both catheter body and the optical fiber relative to the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: John F. BLACK, Maegan K. SPENCER, Michael ZUNG, Charles W. MCNALL, Evangeline LUMABAS, Michael H. ROSENTHAL, John B. SIMPSON
  • Patent number: 11903677
    Abstract: A catheter device for crossing occlusions includes an elongate body, a central lumen extending within the elongate body from the proximal end to the distal end, a rotatable tip at the distal end of the elongate body, and an OCT imaging sensor. The rotatable tip is configured to rotate relative to the elongate body. The OCT imaging sensor includes an optical fiber coupled with the rotatable tip and configured to rotate therewith. A distal end of the elongate body includes one or more markers configured to occlude the OCT imaging sensor as it rotates. A fixed jog in the elongate body proximal to the distal end of the catheter positions the distal end of the catheter at an angle relative to the region of the catheter proximal to the fixed jog and is aligned with the one or more markers on the elongate body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Avinger, Inc.
    Inventors: John B. Simpson, Himanshu N. Patel, Michael Zung, Charles W. McNall, Priyanshu Gupta, Maegan K. Spencer, Christopher B. White, Dennis W. Jackson, John F. Black
  • Patent number: 11839493
    Abstract: Described herein are catheters for use with Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) that include an optical fiber core having a first refractive index and an interface medium having a second refractive index, where the first and second refractive indexes are mismatched such that receiving electronics configured to receive optical radiation reflected from the reference interface and the target operate in a total noise range that is within 5 dB of the shot noise limit. These OCT catheters may include a silicon die mirror having a reflective coating that is embedded in the interface medium. The optical fiber can be fixed at just the distal end of the catheter, and may be managed within a handle that is attached to the proximal end of the catheter body, and is configured to allow rotation of the both catheter body and the optical fiber relative to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: AVINGER, INC.
    Inventors: John F. Black, Maegan K. Spencer, Michael Zung, Charles W. McNall, Evangeline Lumabas, Michael H. Rosenthal, John B. Simpson
  • Publication number: 20230329746
    Abstract: Described herein are atherectomy catheters, systems and methods that include a distal tip region that may be moved laterally so that its long axis is parallel with the long axis of the main catheter body axis. Displacing the distal tip region laterally out of the main catheter body axis exposes an annular blade and opens a passageway for cut tissue to enter a storage region within the catheter. The annular blade may be internally coupled to a drive shaft that rotates the blade, and thus the exposed blade edge may have the same crossing profile (OD) as the rest of the distal end region of the catheter. Also described herein are gear-driven atherectomy devices that may use a cable drive shaft to actuate the annular blade. Both push-to-cut and pull-to-cut variations are described, as are methods for cutting tissue and systems including these atherectomy catheters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Michael H. ROSENTHAL, Michael ZUNG, Nicholas J. SPINELLI, Charles W. MCNALL, John B. SIMPSON, John F. BLACK
  • Patent number: 11717314
    Abstract: Described herein are atherectomy catheters, systems and methods that include a distal tip region that may be moved laterally so that its long axis is parallel with the long axis of the main catheter body axis. Displacing the distal tip region laterally out of the main catheter body axis exposes an annular blade and opens a passageway for cut tissue to enter a storage region within the catheter. The annular blade may be internally coupled to a drive shaft that rotates the blade, and thus the exposed blade edge may have the same crossing profile (OD) as the rest of the distal end region of the catheter. Also described herein are gear-driven atherectomy devices that may use a cable drive shaft to actuate the annular blade. Both push-to-cut and pull-to-cut variations are described, as are methods for cutting tissue and systems including these atherectomy catheters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: AVINGER, INC.
    Inventors: Michael H. Rosenthal, Michael Zung, Nicholas J. Spinelli, Charles W. McNall, John B. Simpson, John F. Black
  • Patent number: 11698236
    Abstract: An example grip safety interlock can include a lower receiver with a trigger assembly, a safety selector having a detent channel, a grip having an internal recess, an extended detent pin having a detent point and an interference abutment surface, a grip safety lever having an interference ledge, and a lever bias spring positioned within the grip, extending between the grip and the grip safety lever. The grip safety lever can be positioned to pivot within the internal recess of the grip, and the extended detent pin can extend within the grip such that the detent point contacts the detent channel of the safety selector. The lever bias spring can push the grip safety lever to a first pivot position such that the interference ledge of the grip safety lever abuts the interference abutment surface of the extended detent pin to prevent movement and rotation of the safety selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Safe Operator Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Zung, John Mark Cobb
  • Publication number: 20220323099
    Abstract: An atherectomy catheter for use in a vessel includes a catheter and a rotatable cutter. The rotatable cutter can be translatable within the catheter to extend the cutter through a window of the catheter or retracted the cutter within the catheter. The catheter can have fixed bend and/or have a shapeable portion configured to facilitate positioning and movement of the cutter. In some cases, the cutter is configured to tilt and/or move radially with respect to the catheter upon translation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: AVINGER, INC.
    Inventors: Himanshu N. PATEL, Michael ZUNG
  • Publication number: 20220273337
    Abstract: Described herein are atherectomy catheters, systems and methods that include longitudinally displaceable drive shafts that drive actuation of one or more cutters at the distal end of the catheter. The catheters described herein may include one or more imaging sensors for imaging before, during or after cutting tissue. In some variations the imaging sensor may be rotated around the perimeter of the catheter independently of the rotation of the cutter. Also describe herein are imaging catheters that may be used without cutters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Himanshu N. PATEL, John B. SIMPSON, Charles W. McNALL, Maegan K. SPENCER, Michael ZUNG, Priyanshu GUPTA, Nicholas J. SPINELLI, Myra L. FABRO, Eduardo SUCGANG, Theodore W. KETAI
  • Patent number: 11406412
    Abstract: An atherectomy catheter includes an elongate flexible catheter body, an elongate deflectable distal tip coupled to the catheter body at a hinge point, a rotatable cutter near the distal end of the catheter body, and a drive shaft extending within the catheter body and configured to rotate the cutter. The atherectomy catheter further includes an optical fiber extending through the drive shaft substantially on-axis with the catheter body and attached to the cutter. The optical fiber is configured to rotate with the drive shaft. The atherectomy catheter further includes a wedge configured to deflect the distal tip away from the catheter body at the hinge point upon axial movement of the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Avinger, Inc.
    Inventors: Priyanshu Gupta, Michael Zung, Charles W. McNall, Himanshu N. Patel, Christina Van
  • Publication number: 20220240860
    Abstract: Described herein are catheters for use with Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) that include an optical fiber core having a first refractive index and an interface medium having a second refractive index, where the first and second refractive indexes are mismatched such that receiving electronics configured to receive optical radiation reflected from the reference interface and the target operate in a total noise range that is within 5 dB of the shot noise limit. These OCT catheters may include a silicon die mirror having a reflective coating that is embedded in the interface medium. The optical fiber can be fixed at just the distal end of the catheter, and may be managed within a handle that is attached to the proximal end of the catheter body, and is configured to allow rotation of the both catheter body and the optical fiber relative to the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: John F. BLACK, Maegan K. SPENCER, Michael ZUNG, Charles W. MCNALL, Evangeline LUMABAS, Michael H. ROSENTHAL, John B. SIMPSON
  • Patent number: 11382653
    Abstract: Described herein are atherectomy catheters, systems and methods that include longitudinally displaceable drive shafts that drive actuation of one or more cutters at the distal end of the catheter. The catheters described herein may include one or more imaging sensors for imaging before, during or after cutting tissue. In some variations the imaging sensor may be rotated around the perimeter of the catheter independently of the rotation of the cutter. Also describe herein are imaging catheters that may be used without cutters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Avinger, Inc.
    Inventors: Himanshu N. Patel, John B. Simpson, Charles W. McNall, Maegan K. Spencer, Michael Zung, Priyanshu Gupta, Nicholas J. Spinelli, Myra L. Fabro, Eduardo Sucgang, Theodore W. Ketai
  • Publication number: 20220183545
    Abstract: A drive assembly for driving an imaging catheter has a rotatable fiber and a rotatable drive shaft. The drive assembly includes a fiber optic rotating junction and a motor configured to rotate the rotatable portion of the fiber optic rotating junction. In some embodiments, the drive assembly includes a sensor configured to detect a rotational position of the fiber optic rotating junction and a processor configured to obtain the detected rotational position and stop the motor only when the fiber optic rotating junction is in a predetermined rotational position. In some embodiments, the motor includes a hollow shaft through which at least a portion of the fiber optic rotating junction extends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Brian Y. TACHIBANA, Charles W. McNALL, Michael ZUNG, Peter Howard SMITH, Brian CHIU, Douglas Joseph Scott BOURNE, Priyanshu GUPTA
  • Publication number: 20220168011
    Abstract: An atherectomy catheter includes an elongate flexible catheter body, a cutter near the distal end of the catheter body, a drive shaft connected to the cutter and extending within the catheter body, an imaging element near the distal end of the catheter body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Himanshu N. PATEL, John B. SIMPSON, Anthony J. FERNANDEZ, Richard R. NEWHAUSER, Priyanshu GUPTA, Michael ZUNG, Wendy Ngo LAM, Maegan K. SPENCER, Peter Howard SMITH, Stephen C. DAVIES, Nicholas J. SPINELLI, Charles W. MCNALL, Theodore W. KETAI, Manish KANKARIA, Mark W. ASKEW, Kent C.B. STALKER
  • Publication number: 20220120525
    Abstract: An example grip safety interlock can include a lower receiver with a trigger assembly, a safety selector having a detent channel, a grip having an internal recess, an extended detent pin having a detent point and an interference abutment surface, a grip safety lever having an interference ledge, and a lever bias spring positioned within the grip, extending between the grip and the grip safety lever. The grip safety lever can be positioned to pivot within the internal recess of the grip, and the extended detent pin can extend within the grip such that the detent point contacts the detent channel of the safety selector. The lever bias spring can push the grip safety lever to a first pivot position such that the interference ledge of the grip safety lever abuts the interference abutment surface of the extended detent pin to prevent movement and rotation of the safety selector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: Safe Operator Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Michael Zung, John Mark Cobb
  • Publication number: 20220095926
    Abstract: A catheter device for crossing occlusions includes an elongate body, a central lumen extending within the elongate body from the proximal end to the distal end, a rotatable tip at the distal end of the elongate body, and an OCT imaging sensor. The rotatable tip is configured to rotate relative to the elongate body. The OCT imaging sensor includes an optical fiber coupled with the rotatable tip and configured to rotate therewith. A distal end of the elongate body includes one or more markers configured to occlude the OCT imaging sensor as it rotates. A fixed jog in the elongate body proximal to the distal end of the catheter positions the distal end of the catheter at an angle relative to the region of the catheter proximal to the fixed jog and is aligned with the one or more markers on the elongate body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: John B. SIMPSON, Himanshu N. PATEL, Michael ZUNG, Charles W. MCNALL, Priyanshu GUPTA, Maegan K. SPENCER, Christopher B. WHITE, Dennis W. JACKSON, John F. BLACK
  • Patent number: 11284839
    Abstract: Described herein are catheters for use with Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) that include an optical fiber core having a first refractive index and an interface medium having a second refractive index, where the first and second refractive indexes are mismatched such that receiving electronics configured to receive optical radiation reflected from the reference interface and the target operate in a total noise range that is within 5 dB of the shot noise limit. These OCT catheters may include a silicon die mirror having a reflective coating that is embedded in the interface medium. The optical fiber can be fixed at just the distal end of the catheter, and may be managed within a handle that is attached to the proximal end of the catheter body, and is configured to allow rotation of the both catheter body and the optical fiber relative to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Avinger, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Black, Maegan K. Spencer, Michael Zung, Charles W. McNall, Evangeline Lumabas, Michael H. Rosenthal, John B. Simpson
  • Patent number: 11284916
    Abstract: An atherectomy catheter includes an elongate flexible catheter body, a cutter near the distal end of the catheter body, a drive shaft connected to the cutter and extending within the catheter body, an imaging element near the distal end of the catheter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Avinger, Inc.
    Inventors: Himanshu N. Patel, John B. Simpson, Anthony J. Fernandez, Richard R. Newhauser, Priyanshu Gupta, Michael Zung, Wendy Ngo Lam, Maegan K. Spencer, Peter Howard Smith, Stephen C. Davies, Nicholas J. Spinelli, Charles W. McNall, Theodore W. Ketai, Manish Kankaria, Mark W. Askew, Kent C. B. Stalker