Patents by Inventor Nick Pliam

Nick Pliam 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).

  • Cardiac visualization devices and methods
    Patent number: 7534204
    Abstract: Devices and methods for facilitating transvascular, minimally invasive and other “less invasive” surgical procedures generally include a sheath with an expandable balloon at the distal end, an inflation lumen for expanding the balloon, and a device passage lumen for allowing passage of one or more surgical instruments. The sheath is configured to house at least one visualization device such that an optical element of the device is positioned to view the surgical site. In some embodiments, instruments may be passed through the sheath, with the distal balloon partially or fully circumscribing or encircling the instruments. Any suitable instrument(s) may be passed through sheaths of the invention, such as a surgical clip applier for repairing a heart valve, an ablation member for treating atrial fibrillation, one or more pacemaker leads, a coronary sinus access device or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Guided Delivery Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Niel F. Starksen, Nick Pliam, Rodolfo A. Morales, John To
  • CARDIAC VISUALIZATION DEVICES AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20080228032
    Abstract: Devices and methods for facilitating transvascular, minimally invasive and other “less invasive” surgical procedures generally include a sheath with an expandable balloon at the distal end, an inflation lumen for expanding the balloon, and a device passage lumen for allowing passage of one or more surgical instruments. The sheath is configured to house at least one visualization device such that an optical element of the device is positioned to view the surgical site. In some embodiments, instruments may be passed through the sheath, with the distal balloon partially or fully circumscribing or encircling the instruments. Any suitable instrument(s) may be passed through sheaths of the invention, such as a surgical clip applier for repairing a heart valve, an ablation member for treating atrial fibrillation, one or more pacemaker leads, a coronary sinus access device or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: Guided Delivery Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Niel F. Starksen, Nick Pliam, Rodolfo A. Morales, John To
  • Cardiac visualization devices and methods
    Publication number: 20050119523
    Abstract: Devices and methods for facilitating transvascular, minimally invasive and other “less invasive” surgical procedures generally include a sheath with an expandable balloon at the distal end, an inflation lumen for expanding the balloon, and a device passage lumen for allowing passage of one or more surgical instruments. The sheath is configured to house at least one visualization device such that an optical element of the device is positioned to view the surgical site. In some embodiments, instruments may be passed through the sheath, with the distal balloon partially or fully circumscribing or encircling the instruments. Any suitable instrument(s) may be passed through sheaths of the invention, such as a surgical clip applier for repairing a heart valve, an ablation member for treating atrial fibrillation, one or more pacemaker leads, a coronary sinus access device or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Applicant: GUIDED DELIVERY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Niel Starksen, Nick Pliam, Rodolfo Morales, John To