Patents by Inventor Paul DiCarlo

Paul DiCarlo 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).

  • Publication number: 20060100693
    Abstract: Medical devices may be made of shape-memory materials portions of which have been heat treated to exhibit spatial variations in the stiffness of the material. Devices including stents, vena cava filters and guidewires may be constructed from such materials. Devices may also be made from shape-memory materials which have been locally heat treated such that the superelasticity of the treated portion is destroyed while the remainder of the shape-memory material can transition between the martensitic and austenitic states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Steven Walak, Paul DiCarlo
  • Publication number: 20060089635
    Abstract: A tissue ablation probe is provided. The probe comprises a proximal electrode element, which includes a proximal electrode stem and a deployable proximal electrode array, and a distal electrode element, which includes a distal electrode stem and a deployable distal electrode array. The probe is configured, such that a majority of electrical energy conveyed between the proximal and distal electrode elements is conveyed between distal termini of the electrode arrays, whereas a relatively small amount of the electrical energy is conveyed between the electrode stems. One or more of the electrodes on the arrays may be optionally insulated to further enhance the electrical characteristics of the arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Applicant: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kimbolt Young, Steve Anderson, Paul DiCarlo, Jeffrey Zerfas
  • Patent number: 6997947
    Abstract: Medical devices may be made of shape-memory materials portions of which have been heat treated to exhibit spatial variations in the stiffness of the material. Devices including stents, vena cava filters and guidewires may be constructed from such materials. Devices may also be made from shape-memory materials which have been locally heat treated such that the superelasticity of the treated portion is destroyed while the remainder of the shape-memory material can transition between the martensitic and austenitic states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Walak, Paul DiCarlo
  • Patent number: 6994722
    Abstract: A device for improving fixation and sealing of a prosthetic component when implanted in a body lumen during laparoscopic, endovascular, or open surgical procedures. In one embodiment, the prosthetic component comprises a graft having a hem defining an interior space. Enclosed within the space is an absorbent cord. The cord expands as it comes in contact with body fluids. The expansion due to the absorbed fluids forms a seal closely following the irregular shape of the lumen and improves fixation at the junction of the body lumen and the prosthetic component. Hem and cord arrangement also used to improve fixation of one prosthetic component to another in a modular graft. In another embodiment, an attachment tab has one part affixed to the outer periphery of the graft and another part attached to an area adjacent to the body lumen upon implantation, to resist forces tending to move the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul DiCarlo
  • Patent number: 6964661
    Abstract: A vessel occlusion system includes one or more ablation elements that, when activated, is configured for at least partially closing a vessel segment of a patient. The vessel occlusion system further includes a sensor assembly that is configured for generating feedback indicative of a state of closure of the vessel segment, and an automated longitudinal translator configured for longitudinally translating the one or more ablation elements based on the feedback from the sensor assembly. The one or more ablation elements may be associated with a catheter member that slides within the catheter sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Boston Scientific SciMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. Rioux, Paul DiCarlo
  • Publication number: 20050238870
    Abstract: Embolization, as well as related compositions and methods, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventors: Marcia Buiser, Paul DiCarlo, Thomas Casey, Erin McKenna, Robert Rioux
  • Publication number: 20050234443
    Abstract: A medical probe kit and method of treating abnormal tissue within a patient is provided. The kit comprises a cannula having a shaft, a lumen extending through the cannula shaft, and a first ablation electrode disposed on the distal end of the cannula shaft. The cannula may have a handle mounted to the proximal end of the cannula shaft, and an optional fluid delivery port on the handle in fluid communication with the cannula lumen. The kit further comprises an ablation probe configured to be removably disposed within the delivery cannula lumen. The ablation probe has a shaft and a second ablation electrode disposed on a distal end of the probe shaft, wherein the first and second ablation electrodes are arranged in a bipolar configuration. Preferably, the ablation probe is slidable relative to the delivery cannula, whereby the distance between the first and second ablation electrodes can be adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventors: Robert Rioux, Paul DiCarlo, Steve Anderson
  • Publication number: 20050203505
    Abstract: A tissue ablation probe, system, and method are provided. The ablation probe comprises an elongated member, an ablative element mounted on the distal end of the elongated member, and at least one thermoelectric device mounted to the member in thermal communication with the ablative element. The system may include the ablation probe, thermal control circuitry for controlling the thermal effect of the thermoelectric device, and an ablation source for suppying ablation energy to the ablative element. A plurality of circumferentially distributed thermoelectric devices can be provided, so that radial tissue sectors can be selectively affected by independently controlling the thermal effect of the thermoelectric devices. In one embodiment, the thermoelectric device(s) can be used to cool a heat ablative element. In another embodiment, the thermoelectric device(s) can be used to heat an ablative element, thereby forming a heat ablative element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Joseph Megerman, Paul DiCarlo
  • Publication number: 20050196449
    Abstract: Embolization, as well as related particles, compositions, and methods, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Dicarlo, Thomas Casey, Stephan Mangin
  • Patent number: 6929626
    Abstract: An intraluminally placeable tubular device includes an elongate hollow tubular member having a luminal surface and an exterior surface defining a wall portion therebetween. The hollow tubular member has an open proximal end and an opposed distal end. The wall portion has sufficient self-supporting rigidity to permit the device to be advanced through a body lumen during intraluminal placement. The tubular member includes yarns interconnected in a pattern defining opposed interior and exterior textile surfaces. At least one of the textile surfaces is the body fluid-contacting luminal surface or the body lumen-contacting exterior surface. A textile infusion and/or a textile aspiration valve is also provided. A percutaneously or orificially placeable catheter with such textile valves is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul DiCarlo, Christopher J. Elliott, William J. Shaw, Brett Haarala
  • Publication number: 20050171489
    Abstract: A pressure activated valve comprises a valve housing defining a lumen for receiving bodily fluids therein and a flexible membrane disposed in the valve housing. The flexible membrane includes a slit extending therethrough so that the flexible membrane may be moved between an open and a closed configuration based on fluid pressure within the lumen. A nonthrombogenic coating may be formed on fluid contacting surfaces of the flexible membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Karla Weaver, Paul DiCarlo
  • Publication number: 20050171510
    Abstract: A pressure actuated valve, comprises a flow chamber having an inlet and an outlet and a resilient membrane extending across the flow chamber to selectively impede passage of a fluid between the inlet and the outlet. The membrane includes at least one slit formed therein so that, when a fluid pressure to which the membrane is subjected is at least a predetermined threshold level, edges of the at least one slit separate to permit fluid flow therethrough. The at least one slit has a first curvature in a surface plane of the membrane and a second curvature along a thickness of the membrane to impart a rotational velocity component to a flow of fluid therethrough relative to a centerline of the flow chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Paul DiCarlo, Karla Weaver
  • Publication number: 20050171490
    Abstract: A pressure activated valve for medical applications comprises a housing having a lumen extending therethrough from a proximal end to a distal end thereof and a flow control membrane extending across the lumen to control flow therethrough, the flow control membrane including a mounting portion at which the flow control membrane is coupled to the housing and a lumen occluding portion having a slit extending therethrough so that, when the lumen occluding portion is subjected to a pressure of at least a predetermined threshold level, the lumen occluding portion moves from a closed configuration in which flow through the lumen is prevented to an open configuration in which flow is permitted and wherein a thickness of the mounting portion is greater than a thickness of the lumen occluding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Karla Weaver, Paul DiCarlo
  • Publication number: 20050171488
    Abstract: A pressure actuated valve for controlling the flow of fluid through a medical device, the valve comprises a housing including a lumen extending therethrough and a flow control membrane extending across the lumen to control the flow of fluid through the lumen. The membrane includes a plurality of slits extending therethrough so that, when the membrane is acted upon by a pressure of at least a threshold magnitude, the slits open to permit flow through the lumen and, when not acted upon by a pressure of at least the predetermined magnitude, the slits are maintained closed by a biasing force applied thereto by the membrane to prevent flow through the lumen. Each of the slits extends between end portions thereof along a curve wherein a distance between a first end portion of a first one of the slits and a first end portion of a second one of the slits is a minimum distance between the first and second slits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Karla Weaver, Paul DiCarlo
  • Publication number: 20050171525
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a catheter, a conductive element and a balloon. The catheter has a lumen. The conductive element is disposed along the catheter. The balloon has an interior in fluid communication with the lumen of the catheter. The balloon is formed of a conductive material conductively coupled to the conductive element. The balloon has a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Robert Rioux, Paul DiCarlo
  • Publication number: 20050165288
    Abstract: A system for treating breast tissue includes a cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, the distal end configured for insertion into a breast duct such that the lumen is in fluid communication with the breast duct, and a tissue diagnostic device disposed within the lumen. A system for treating breast tissue includes a cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, the distal end configured for insertion into a breast duct such that the lumen is in fluid communication with the breast duct, an imaging device for providing imaging functionality to the cannula, and an energy delivery device secured to, or slidably disposed within the lumen of, the cannula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Applicant: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Rioux, Paul DiCarlo
  • Publication number: 20050124914
    Abstract: Medical instruments and methods of using the instruments are described. In some embodiments, a medical instrument includes a housing, a stylet having a portion in the housing, and a cannula having a portion in the housing. The stylet has a portion in the housing and is movable between a first extended position and a first retracted position. The stylet is configured to rotate when moved from the first retracted position to the first extended position. The cannula coaxially receives the stylet and is movable between a second extended position and a second retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Dicarlo, David Cooke
  • Publication number: 20050095428
    Abstract: Embolic compositions and methods of delivering the compositions are disclosed. In some embodiments, the embolic compositions include a shape memory material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Dicarlo, Robert Rioux, James Tobin, Barbara Bell, Thomas Casey, William Shaw
  • Publication number: 20050027349
    Abstract: An endoluminal graft is wrapped axially upon itself to form a low profile, which facilitates endoluminal delivery. Apparatus and systems for making and using such grafts are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Nancy Usiak, Paul DiCarlo, Robert Rioux, Kristian DiMatteo, James Weldon, Shubhang Mishra
  • Publication number: 20050020965
    Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to a target site within a body includes an outer tubular body, an inner tubular body slidably disposed within the outer tubular body, a substance delivery port located on the inner tubular body, and an electrode secured to the outer tubular body. The delivery port can be used to deliver a medical substance to the target site, and the electrode can be used to seal an access channel leading to the treatment site, thereby substantially preventing migration of material from the delivery site. In order to minimize the profile of the apparatus, a braided conductor can extend through the wall of the outer tubular body, thereby providing a means for delivering electrical energy to the electrode, while strengthening the wall of the outer tubular body to minimize the risk of rupture during delivery of the substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: Scimed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Rioux, Steve Anderson, Paul DiCarlo