Patents by Inventor Rob Taft

Rob Taft 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: 10918478
    Abstract: A crimping system for a prosthetic heart valve comprises an elongate rigid body and a radially flexible, tubular sock. The body has an inner lumen extending along a central longitudinal axis between an insertion end and an outlet end. The inner lumen has a greater diameter at the insertion end than at the outlet end. The sock is configured to receive a radially compressible prosthetic heart valve in a radially expanded state within the sock and to pull the valve through the inner lumen of the rigid body from the insertion end to the outlet end with the sock being positioned between an outer surface of the valve and an inner surface of the rigid body. The valve is radially compressed by the inner surface of the rigid body as the sock pulls the valve along the longitudinal axis toward the outlet end of the lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
    Inventors: Rob Taft, Travis Zenyo Oba
  • Patent number: 10010412
    Abstract: Embodiments of crimping devices for crimping stented prosthetic valves and other medical devices from a larger, expanded diameter to a smaller, crimped diameter are disclosed. Some crimping devices utilize a conical surface extending out-of-plane from the direction of crimping, where motion of the conical surface in the out-of-plane direction causes in-plane radially crimping. Other crimping devices comprise a funnel-shaped rigid body having a tapered inner lumen that compresses a medical device moving therethrough. Some funnel-shaped embodiments have slotted sides that allow portions of the medical device to project therethrough. Other funnel-shaped embodiments are used with a tubular sock to pull the medical device through the tapered lumen. Other crimping devices utilize rotating rollers that compress a medical device while the medical device spins between the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
    Inventors: Rob Taft, Travis Zenyo Oba
  • Publication number: 20170348097
    Abstract: A crimping system for a prosthetic heart valve comprises an elongate rigid body and a radially flexible, tubular sock. The body has an inner lumen extending along a central longitudinal axis between an insertion end and an outlet end. The inner lumen has a greater diameter at the insertion end than at the outlet end. The sock is configured to receive a radially compressible prosthetic heart valve in a radially expanded state within the sock and to pull the valve through the inner lumen of the rigid body from the insertion end to the outlet end with the sock being positioned between an outer surface of the valve and an inner surface of the rigid body. The valve is radially compressed by the inner surface of the rigid body as the sock pulls the valve along the longitudinal axis toward the outlet end of the lumen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
    Inventors: Rob Taft, Travis Zenyo Oba
  • Publication number: 20130210123
    Abstract: A biomaterial handling device is described that will provide for functionality for performing both IVF procedures and washing techniques in a single device. Disclosed embodiments provide increased protection to biomaterial samples during processing and handling. Embodiments of the invention reduce labor intensive processes for both IVF and washing treatments and address reduced risks of contamination of biological samples by providing an increasingly sterile environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: JOAN MALCOLM, Shannon Byers, Rob Taft, Paul C. Sabin, Andrew David Zdeblick, Ivan Goryachev
  • Publication number: 20130030418
    Abstract: Embodiments of crimping devices for crimping stented prosthetic valves and other medical devices from a larger, expanded diameter to a smaller, crimped diameter are disclosed. Some crimping devices utilize a conical surface extending out-of-plane from the direction of crimping, where motion of the conical surface in the out-of-plane direction causes in-plane radially crimping. Other crimping devices comprise a funnel-shaped rigid body having a tapered inner lumen that compresses a medical device moving therethrough. Some funnel-shaped embodiments have slotted sides that allow portions of the medical device to project therethrough. Other funnel-shaped embodiments are used with a tubular sock to pull the medical device through the tapered lumen. Other crimping devices utilize rotating rollers that compress a medical device while the medical device spins between the rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
    Inventors: Rob Taft, Travis Z. Oba