Patents by Inventor Ralf Kaufmann

Ralf Kaufmann 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: 20230366759
    Abstract: A catheter device comprises a measuring device for measuring a force effect on the catheter device. The measuring device comprises an elastically deformable transducer body with a plurality of transducer portions and a sensor device arranged on the transducer body. The transducer portions form at least one pair of adjacent transducer portions, which are connected to each other via a connecting portion and are movable relative to each other with deformation of the connecting portion. The sensor device is designed to measure a force effect between the transducer portions of the at least one pair of adjacent transducer portions. The transducer body is made of a glass material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: VascoMed GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Kaufmann, Frank Rehberger, Flavien Kressmann
  • Patent number: 11759112
    Abstract: A catheter device for placing a sensor device comprises a shaft and a coupling device, arranged at the shaft, for coupling the catheter device to the sensor device comprising at least one bracket element. The coupling device comprises a coupling element and a locking element adjustable with respect to the coupling element, wherein the coupling element comprises at least one engagement section with which the at least one bracket element of the sensor device can be brought in engagement, wherein the locking element is designed, in a coupled position, to block the at least one bracket element at the at least one engagement section, and is adjustable with respect to the coupling element so as to release the at least one bracket element for detachment from the at least one engagement section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ralf Kaufmann
  • Publication number: 20200390341
    Abstract: A catheter device for placing a sensor device comprises a shaft and a coupling device, arranged at the shaft, for coupling the catheter device to the sensor device comprising at least one bracket element. The coupling device comprises a coupling element and a locking element adjustable with respect to the coupling element, wherein the coupling element comprises at least one engagement section with which the at least one bracket element of the sensor device can be brought in engagement, wherein the locking element is designed, in a coupled position, to block the at least one bracket element at the at least one engagement section, and is adjustable with respect to the coupling element so as to release the at least one bracket element for detachment from the at least one engagement section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventor: Ralf Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 10667933
    Abstract: A delivery system is equipped with a self expanding stent for implantation into a blood vessel, in particular in the region of the aortic arch. The stent has a hollow cylindrical body which is radially compressed for implantation. A pull-back sheath which surrounds the stent and which radially compresses it is also provided for positioning and releasing the stent in the blood vessel. The pull-back sheath has a highly flexible front section which surrounds the stent and which maintains said stent in its compressed state, and has further a more rigid rear section which is connected to the front section and which is designed to transmit torsional and traction forces to the front section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: JOTEC GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Kaufmann, Hardy Mueller, Rainer Lesmeister, Michael Braun, John Geis
  • Publication number: 20190117299
    Abstract: An ablation catheter with a catheter shaft, an ablation electrode that is arranged at the distal end of the catheter shaft, a microelectrode that is arranged on a surface of the ablation electrode, and a lead element that has an electrically conductive connection with the microelectrode. The lead element is surrounded by an insulating material so that the lead element is electrically insulated from the ablation electrode. At least sections of the insulating material with the lead element are arranged on the surface of the ablation electrode. The lead element is fastened by tensioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventor: RALF KAUFMANN
  • Patent number: 9833317
    Abstract: Catheter devices provide for rolling movement between the inner and outer catheter tubes with a roller assembly in a radial gap between the inner and outer catheter tubes. Devices of the invention are particularly useful in minimally invasive implantations, such as the implantation of a vascular implant. A particular application is interventional catheter-assisted aortic valve implantation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Biotronik AG
    Inventor: Ralf Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 9592364
    Abstract: A catheter comprising a steering cable anchor, which is preferably disposed at the distal end of the catheter, and a steering cable. In order to obtain a reliable connection between the steering cable anchor and the steering cable, which is also suitable for use in MRI, a substantially dumbbell-shaped element is disposed between the steering cable anchor and the steering cable and connects the steering cable anchor to the steering cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: VascoMed GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Kaufmann, Siegfried Schreiber, Paul Rath-Prazak
  • Publication number: 20150272735
    Abstract: Catheter devices provide for rolling movement between the inner and outer catheter tubes with a roller assembly in a radial gap between the inner and outer catheter tubes. Devices of the invention are particularly useful in minimally invasive implantations, such as the implantation of a vascular implant. A particular application is interventional catheter-assisted aortic valve implantation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventor: Ralf Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 9011432
    Abstract: An irrigation catheter device, in particular an ablation catheter, including a catheter body in which a central lumen extends from a proximal region into a distal region, wherein a large number of irrigation channels extend away from the lumen, the outlet openings of which out of the catheter body are distributed across the distal end region thereof, wherein sensors are assigned to the central lumen and/or the individual irrigation channels for pressure measurement and/or to measure the flow velocity, to which evaluation means are connected, which are designed to determine the open or closed state of a portion of the irrigation channels on the basis of measured values registered by the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: VascoMed GmbH
    Inventors: Kevin Boomsma, Andreas Kiefer, Ralf Kaufmann, Ingo Weiss, Stefan Knorr
  • Patent number: 8876886
    Abstract: A braided stent to be implanted in a blood vessel comprises a hollow body which is stretchable in its longitudinal direction and whose circumferential surface is formed by a braid of a multiplicity of filamentary elements which, in the expanded state of the braided stent, intersect a plane, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, at a braiding angle. The braided stent has a smaller braiding angle in a central portion than in its distal and proximal portions which adjoin the central portion in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Jotec GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Kaufmann, Thomas Bogenschuetz
  • Patent number: 8668729
    Abstract: A stent for implantation in a blood vessel is disclosed, especially in the region of the aortic arch. The stent is comprising rings which are disposed successively in the stent's longitudinal direction and which are made up of meandering circumferential supports. The stent further comprises a prosthesis material which is fixed to the rings and which connects them, thereby forming a hollow cylindrical body with a jacket which is substantially closed on the circumference thereof. At least one connecting support is provided between the last ring and the penultimate ring at the proximal end of the stent and connects these two rings to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Jotec GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Kaufmann, Rainer Lesmeister, Hardy Müller, Michael Braun, John Geis
  • Patent number: 8608736
    Abstract: Apparatus are provided for performing a procedure within a patient's body that include a tubular member including proximal and distal ends, a central axis or region extending therebetween, and a distal portion extending distally from an intermediate portion to the distal end. One or more accessory lumens and a steering element lumen extend between the proximal and distal ends, the steering element lumen offset from the central region within the distal portion such that a steering plane intersects the steering element lumen and the central axis. The distal portion includes a core member extending between the intermediate portion and the distal end, and stabilization elements embedded in the core member adjacent the accessory lumen and defining a stabilization plane that intersects the steering plane at a location offset from the central region, e.g., closer to the accessory lumen than the steering element lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: VascoMed GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Kaufmann, Stephen A. Leeflang, Christian S. Eversull, Wolfgang Geistert
  • Patent number: 8043353
    Abstract: An insertion system with a self-expanding braided stent (11) for implantation in a blood vessel has an outer sleeve (12) with a distal end (14) and a proximal end. An inner sleeve (16) arranged in the outer sleeve (12) is displaceable relative to the latter and protrudes, with a handling section, from the proximal end of the outer sleeve (12). Moreover, at the distal end (15), there is a tip (18) which is securely connected to a stent support (24) on which the braided stent (11) is arranged in its loaded state. The stent support (24) is arranged to be displaceable relative to the inner sleeve (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: JOTEC GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Kaufmann, Berthold Hauser
  • Publication number: 20110257649
    Abstract: An electrode for an electrophysiological ablation catheter including an electrode body extending along a longitudinal axis, the electrode body including an electrode outer surface for emitting high-frequency signals and/or for measuring physiological signals, a first attachment point on a first end, at which the electrode is attached to a first catheter shaft, an irrigation lumen extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and through which cooling agent may be directed out of the first catheter shaft and into the electrode, and which forms an opening at the first end of the electrode body, the opening connected to a lumen of the first catheter shaft, and at least one cooling-agent passage connected to the irrigation lumen, the cooling-agent passage situated at an angle to the longitudinal axis and forming first and second openings in the electrode outer surface, through which the cooling agent may be released into the surroundings, as cooling-agent flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: VASCOMED GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Geistert, Martin Erben, Andreas Kiefer, Ralf Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 8002820
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a marker element (1) for marking one or more boundaries of a section of a stent (2) with a mesh (20), the marker element (1) including a radiopaque material and being fitted on a device (5) for the delivery of the self-expanding stent (2) into a body vessel, the device (5) including a tubular element (6) which is inserted through the stent (2). The marker element (1) between the stent (2) and the tubular element (6) can slide on the tubular element (6) and engages detachably into the mesh (20) of the stent (2). The invention further concerns a device (5) for the delivery of a self-expanding stent (2) into a body vessel which is fitted with a marker element (1) of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Jotec GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 7985250
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for inserting a self-expanding stent into a body vessel. The device comprises a tube, a pushing element and a grip having a housing via which the pushing element is secured on the grip. Further, the device comprises a stent carrier and a moveable element, the latter of which is guided in the housing of the grip and is coupled to the pushing element. Moving the movable element in the proximal direction effects a movement of the pushing element in the distal direction and a movement of the tube in the proximal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: JOTEC GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Kaufmann, Stefan Derkvist, Berthold Hauser
  • Publication number: 20090216307
    Abstract: A braided stent to be implanted in a blood vessel comprises a hollow body which is stretchable in its longitudinal direction and whose circumferential surface is formed by a braid of a multiplicity of filamentary elements which, in the expanded state of the braided stent, intersect a plane, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, at a braiding angle. The braided stent has a smaller braiding angle in a central portion than in its distal and proximal portions which adjoin the central portion in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: JOTEC GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Kaufmann, Thomas Bogenschuetz
  • Publication number: 20090030496
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for inserting a self-expanding stent into a body vessel. The device comprises a tube, a pushing element and a grip having a housing via which the pushing element is secured on the grip. Further, the device comprises a stent carrier and a moveable element, the latter of which is guided in the housing of the grip and is coupled to the pushing element. Moving the movable element in the proximal direction effects a movement of the pushing element in the distal direction and a movement of the tube in the proximal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Ralf Kaufmann, Stefan Derkvist, Berthold Hauser
  • Publication number: 20080288043
    Abstract: An insertion system with a self-expanding braided stent (11) for implantation in a blood vessel has an outer sleeve (12) with a distal end (14) and a proximal end. An inner sleeve (16) arranged in the outer sleeve (12) is displaceable relative to the latter and protrudes, with a handling section, from the proximal end of the outer sleeve (12). Moreover, at the distal end (15), there is a tip (18) which is securely connected to a stent support (24) on which the braided stent (11) is arranged in its loaded state. The stent support (24) is arranged to be displaceable relative to the inner sleeve (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Ralf Kaufmann, Berthold Hauser
  • Publication number: 20080051870
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a marker element (1) for marking one or more boundaries of a section of a stent (2) with a mesh (20), the marker element (1) including a radiopaque material and being fitted on a device (5) for the delivery of the self-expanding stent (2) into a body vessel, the device (5) including a tubular element (6) which is inserted through the stent (2). The marker element (1) between the stent (2) and the tubular element (6) can slide on the tubular element (6) and engages detachably into the mesh (20) of the stent (2). The invention further concerns a device (5) for the delivery of a self-expanding stent (2) into a body vessel which is fitted with a marker element (1) of this type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Ralf Kaufmann