Patents by Inventor Paul V. Suhocki

Paul V. Suhocki 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: 5800444
    Abstract: A medical device especially adapted to remove biological material (e.g., fibrin sheath) from the distal end of a patient-internal catheter includes a tubular element, a central wire positioned within the tubular element and a snare wire attached at one end to the central wire so as to form an acute angle therewith, and at its other end to the tubular member. The snare wire includes a proximally extending segment which follows a course of about 360.degree. about the distal end of the tubular member, and thus may be positioned adjacent the catheter's distal end. By effecting relative rotation between the central wire and the tubular member (for example, by rotating the central wire about its longitudinal axis while maintaining the tubular member stationary) will cause the snare wire segment to wrap around the catheter's distal end. Thereafter, manipulation of the device so as to advance the wrapped snare wire segment in a distal direction will strip the biological material from the distal end of the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Mark T. Ridinger, Paul V. Suhocki
  • Patent number: 5643281
    Abstract: Medical devices have a snare loop for removing patient-internal material, for example, a fibrin sheath which may form at the distal end of a venous catheter, and may be inserted intraluminally through the catheter during a medical procedure. The snare loop is capable of retroflexing in a proximal direction when extended beyond the distal end of the catheter so that the snare loop encircles the catheter's distal region. Such retroflexing may be accomplished by incorporating at least one pair of bend regions in the guide wire which are axially spaced-apart from one another. These bend regions will cause the shape-memory guide wire to flex upon advancement of the device beyond the distal end of the venous catheter so that the snare loop is capable of retroflexing around the catheter's distal end. Alternatively, a number of proximally directed struts having one end attached to the distal end of the guide wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Paul V. Suhocki, Mark T. Ridinger
  • Patent number: 5556380
    Abstract: A medical device especially adapted to remove biological material (e.g., fibrin sheath) from the distal end of a patient-internal catheter includes a tubular element, a central wire positioned within the tubular element and a snare wire attached at one end to the central wire so as to form an acute angle therewith, and at its other end to the tubular member. The snare wire includes a proximally extending segment which follows a course of about 360.degree. about the distal end of the tubular member, and thus may be positioned adjacent the catheter's distal end. By effecting relative rotation between the central wire and the tubular member (for example, by rotating the central wire about its longitudinal axis while maintaining the tubular member stationary) will cause the snare wire segment to wrap around the catheter's distal end. Thereafter, manipulation of the device so as to advance the wrapped snare wire segment in a distal direction will strip the biological material from the distal end of the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Mark T. Ridinger, Paul V. Suhocki