Patents by Inventor Paul F. Gründeman
Paul F. Gründeman 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).
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Patent number: 6740028Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for performing beating heart surgery, in which a single articulating arm supports multiple suction pods. Once the suction pods are applied to the heart surface, tightening a cable fixes the arm in place. Then, the suction pods may be spread apart from each other to tighten the surface of the cardiac tissue lying between the suction pods. In one embodiment, fixation of the arm as well as the spreading apart of the suction pods may occur concurrently or almost concurrently through the tensioning of a single cable. Additional embodiments of the method, system and its components are shown.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2002Date of Patent: May 25, 2004Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Eric Boone, Jack Goodman, John D. Hall, Vincent J. Testa, Eric Vroegop, William G. O'Neill, Cornelius Borst, Hendricus J. Mansvelt-Beck, Paul F. Gründeman
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Patent number: 6464630Abstract: A method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue. In particular, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of heart tissue to thereby permit surgery on a coronary vessel in that area without significant deterioration of the pumping function of the beating heart. The local area of heart tissue is immobilized to a degree sufficient to permit minimally invasive or micro-surgery on that area of the heart. The present invention features a suction device to accomplish the immobilization. The suction device is coupled to a source of negative pressure. The suction device has a series of suction ports on one surface. Suction through the device causes suction to be maintained at the ports. The device further is shaped to conform to the surface of the heart. Thus, when the device is placed on the surface of the heart and suction is created, the suction through the ports engages the surface of the heart.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2000Date of Patent: October 15, 2002Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Cornelius Borst, Hendricus J. Mansvelt Beck, Paul F. Gründeman, Erik W. L. Jansen
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Patent number: 6464629Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for performing beating heart surgery, in which a single articulating arm supports multiple suction pods. Once the suction pods are applied to the heart surface, tightening a cable fixes the arm in place. Then, the suction pods may be spread apart from each other to tighten the surface of the cardiac tissue lying between the suction pods. In one embodiment, fixation of the arm as well as the spreading apart of the suction pods may occur concurrently or almost concurrently through the tensioning of a single cable. Additional embodiments of the method, system and its components are shown.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1999Date of Patent: October 15, 2002Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Eric Boone, Jack Goodman, John D. Hall, William G. O'Neill, Vincent J. Testa, Eric Vroegop, Cornelius Borst, Hendricus J. Mansvelt-Beck, Paul F. Gründeman
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Patent number: 6394948Abstract: A method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue. In particular, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of heart tissue to thereby permit surgery on a coronary vessel in that area without significant deterioration of the pumping function of the beating heart. The local area of heart tissue is immobilized to a degree sufficient to permit minimally invasive or micro-surgery on that area of the heart. The present invention features a suction device to accomplish the immobilization. The suction device is coupled to a source of negative pressure. The suction device has a series of suction ports on one surface. Suction through the device causes suction to be maintained at the ports. The device further is shaped to conform to the surface of the heart. Thus, when the device is placed on the surface of the heart and suction is created, the suction through the ports engages the surface of the heart.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2000Date of Patent: May 28, 2002Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Cornelius Borst, Hendricus J. Mansvelt Beck, Paul F. Gründeman, Erik W. L. Jansen
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Patent number: 6364826Abstract: A method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue. In particular, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of heart tissue to thereby permit surgery on a coronary vessel in that area without significant deterioration of the pumping function of the beating heart. The local area of heart tissue is immobilized to a degree sufficient to permit minimally invasive or micro-surgery on that area of the heart. The present invention features a suction device to accomplish the immobilization. The suction device is coupled to a source of negative pressure. The suction device has a series of suction ports on one surface. Suction through the device causes suction to be maintained at the ports. The device further is shaped to conform to the surface of the heart. Thus, when the device is placed on the surface of the heart and suction is created, the suction through the ports engages the surface of the heart.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1999Date of Patent: April 2, 2002Assignee: Medtronic, inc.Inventors: Cornelius Borst, Hendricus J. Mansvelt Beck, Paul F. Gründeman, Erik W. L. Jansen
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Patent number: 6350229Abstract: A method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue. In particular, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of heart tissue to thereby permit surgery on a coronary vessel in that area without significant deterioration of the pumping function of the beating heart. The local area of heart tissue is immobilized to a degree sufficient to permit minimally invasive or micro-surgery on that area of the heart. The present invention features a suction device to accomplish the immobilization. The suction device is coupled to a source of negative pressure. The suction device has a series of suction ports on one surface. Suction through the device causes suction to be maintained at the ports. The device further is shaped to conform to the surface of the heart. Thus, when the device is placed on the surface of the heart and suction is created, the suction through the ports engages the surface of the heart.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2000Date of Patent: February 26, 2002Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Cornelius Borst, Hendricus J. Mansvelt Beck, Paul F. Gründeman, Erik W. L. Jansen
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Patent number: 6334843Abstract: A method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue. In particular, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of heart tissue to thereby permit surgery on a coronary vessel in that area without significant deterioration of the pumping function of the beating heart. The local area of heart tissue is immobilized to a degree sufficient to permit minimally invasive or micro-surgery on that area of the heart. The present invention features a suction device to accomplish the immobilization. The suction device is coupled to a source of negative pressure. The suction device has a series of suction ports on one surface. Suction through the device causes suction to be maintained at the ports. The device further is shaped to conform to the surface of the heart. Thus, when the device is placed on the surface of the heart and suction is created, the suction through the ports engages the surface of the heart.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2000Date of Patent: January 1, 2002Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Cornelius Borst, Hendricus J. Mansvelt Beck, Paul F. Gründeman, Erik W. L. Jansen
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Patent number: 6328688Abstract: A method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue. In particular, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of heart tissue to thereby permit surgery on a coronary vessel in that area without significant deterioration of the pumping function of the beating heart. The local area of heart tissue is immobilized to a degree sufficient to permit minimally invasive or micro-surgery on that area of the heart. The present invention features a suction device to accomplish the immobilization. The suction device is coupled to a source of negative pressure. The suction device has a series of suction ports on one surface. Suction through the device causes suction to be maintained at the ports. The device further is shaped to conform to the surface of the heart. Thus, when the device is placed on the surface of the heart and suction is created, the suction through the ports engages the surface of the heart.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.Inventors: Cornelius Borst, Hendricus J. Mansvelt Beck, Paul F. Gründeman, Erik W. L. Jansen