Patents by Inventor Robert J. Thatcher

Robert J. Thatcher 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: 11957577
    Abstract: Embodiments of delivery systems, devices and methods for delivering a prosthetic heart valve device to a heart chamber for expanded implementation are disclosed. More specifically, methods, systems and devices are disclosed for delivering a self-expanding prosthetic mitral valve device to the left atrium, with no engagement of the left ventricle, the native mitral valve leaflets or the annular tissue downstream of the upper annular surface during delivery, and in some embodiments with no engagement of the ventricle, mitral valve leaflets and/or annular tissue located downstream of the upper annular surface by the delivered, positioned and expanded prosthetic mitral valve device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: 4C Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Chambers, Gregory G. Brucker, Joseph P. Higgins, Saravana B. Kumar, Jason S. Diedering, Karl A. Kabarowski, Robert J. Thatcher, James E. Flaherty, Jeffrey R. Stone
  • Publication number: 20200276013
    Abstract: Embodiments of delivery systems, devices and methods for delivering a prosthetic heart valve device to a heart chamber for expanded implementation are disclosed. More specifically, methods, systems and devices are disclosed for delivering a self-expanding prosthetic mitral valve device to the left atrium, with no engagement of the left ventricle, the native mitral valve leaflets or the annular tissue downstream of the upper annular surface during delivery, and in some embodiments with no engagement of the ventricle, mitral valve leaflets and/or annular tissue located downstream of the upper annular surface by the delivered, positioned and expanded prosthetic mitral valve device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Chambers, Gregory G. Brucker, Joseph P. Higgins, Saravana B. Kumar, Jason S. Diedering, Karl A. Kabarowski, Robert J. Thatcher, James E. Flaherty, Jeffrey R. Stone
  • Publication number: 20200222179
    Abstract: Embodiments of delivery systems, devices and methods for delivering a prosthetic heart valve device to a heart chamber for expanded implementation are disclosed. More specifically, methods, systems and devices are disclosed for delivering a self-expanding prosthetic mitral valve device to the left atrium, with no engagement of the left ventricle, the native mitral valve leaflets or the annular tissue downstream of the upper annular surface during delivery, and in some embodiments with no engagement of the ventricle, mitral valve leaflets and/or annular tissue located downstream of the upper annular surface by the delivered, positioned and expanded prosthetic mitral valve device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Chambers, Gregory G. Brucker, Joseph P. Higgins, Saravana B. Kumar, Jason S. Diedering, Karl A. Kabarowski, Robert J. Thatcher, James E. Flaherty, Jeffrey R. Stone
  • Patent number: 10653523
    Abstract: Embodiments of delivery systems, devices and methods for delivering a prosthetic heart valve device to a heart chamber for expanded implementation are disclosed. More specifically, methods, systems and devices are disclosed for delivering a self-expanding prosthetic mitral valve device to the left atrium, with no engagement of the left ventricle, the native mitral valve leaflets or the annular tissue downstream of the upper annular surface during delivery, and in some embodiments with no engagement of the ventricle, mitral valve leaflets and/or annular tissue located downstream of the upper annular surface by the delivered, positioned and expanded prosthetic mitral valve device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: 4C Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Chambers, Gregory G. Brucker, Joseph P. Higgins, Saravana B. Kumar, Jason S. Diedering, Karl A. Kabarowski, Robert J. Thatcher, James E. Flaherty, Jeffrey R. Stone
  • Publication number: 20180256329
    Abstract: Devices and methods for supplementing and/or replacing native cardiac valve functionality, e.g., the mitral valve with a single prosthetic leaflet. An exemplary device is directed to dysfunctional mitral valves. In some cases, the entire device, including the single prosthetic leaflet, will be arranged entirely above the dysfunctional mitral valves and, therefore, disposed entirely within the left atrium. In other cases, the valve support and/or single prosthetic leaflet may extend a distance into the annulus between the left atrium and left ventricle. In some cases, the device will not physically interact with the native leaflets. In other cases, the device may physically interact with the native leaflets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Chambers, Saravana B. Kumar, Joseph P. Higgins, Robert J. Thatcher, Jason S. Diedering, Jeffrey R. Stone
  • Publication number: 20180200049
    Abstract: Embodiments of delivery systems, devices and methods for delivering a prosthetic heart valve device to a heart chamber for expanded implementation are disclosed. More specifically, methods, systems and devices are disclosed for delivering a self-expanding prosthetic mitral valve device to the left atrium, with no engagement of the left ventricle, the native mitral valve leaflets or the annular tissue downstream of the upper annular surface during delivery, and in some embodiments with no engagement of the ventricle, mitral valve leaflets and/or annular tissue located downstream of the upper annular surface by the delivered, positioned and expanded prosthetic mitral valve device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Chambers, Gregory G. Brucker, Joseph P. Higgins, Saravana B. Kumar, Jason S. Diedering, Karl A. Kabarowski, Robert J. Thatcher, James E. Flaherty, Jeffrey R. Stone
  • Patent number: 8632557
    Abstract: The invention provides a rotational atherectomy system, device and method having, in various embodiments, a flexible, elongated, rotatable drive shaft with at least one eccentric abrading head attached thereto, wherein the abrading head comprises at least one groove thereon. The eccentric grooved abrading comprises a tissue removing surface—typically an abrasive surface and/or at least one groove. Preferably the eccentric enlarged abrading head has a center of mass spaced radially from the rotational axis of the drive shaft, facilitating the ability of the device to open the stenotic lesion to a diameter substantially larger than the outer diameter of the enlarged abrading head when operated at high speeds. The groove(s) provide improved efficacy in the abrasion of non-calcified and/or soft tissue as well as provide a means for breaking the hydraulic wedge between the abrading head and the stenotic tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Thatcher, Paul A. Koehn, Joseph S. Czyscon
  • Patent number: 8597313
    Abstract: The invention provides a rotational atherectomy device having, in various embodiments, a flexible, elongated, rotatable drive shaft with at least one flexible eccentric enlarged abrading head attached thereto. In other embodiments, the eccentric abrading head is not flexible or partially flexible. At least part of the eccentric enlarged cutting head has a tissue removing surface—typically an abrasive surface. In certain embodiments, the abrading head will be at least partially hollow. When placed within an artery against stenotic tissue and rotated at sufficiently high speeds the eccentric nature of the enlarged cutting head causes the cutting head and drive shaft to rotate in such a fashion as to open the stenotic lesion to a diameter substantially larger than the outer diameter of the enlarged cutting head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Thatcher, Paul J. Robinson
  • Publication number: 20100292720
    Abstract: The invention provides a rotational atherectomy system, device and method having, in various embodiments, a flexible, elongated, rotatable drive shaft with at least one eccentric abrading head attached thereto, wherein the abrading head comprises at least one groove thereon. The eccentric grooved abrading comprises a tissue removing surface—typically an abrasive surface and/or at least one groove. Preferably the eccentric enlarged abrading head has a center of mass spaced radially from the rotational axis of the drive shaft, facilitating the ability of the device to open the stenotic lesion to a diameter substantially larger than the outer diameter of the enlarged abrading head when operated at high speeds. The groove(s) provide improved efficacy in the abrasion of non-calcified and/or soft tissue as well as provide a means for breaking the hydraulic wedge between the abrading head and the stenotic tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert J. Thatcher, Paul A. Koehn, Joseph S. Czyscon
  • Publication number: 20090012548
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for maximizing efficiency of tissue removal from body passageways is provided. A rotational atherectomy device comprises, inter alia, an elongated, flexible and rotatable drive shaft with an enlarged cutting surface disposed thereon, guide wire and catheter. The distal end of catheter may have a cutting surface cleaner, either attached thereto or integrated therein. The cleaner may be outwardly radially flexible and biased against the drive shaft. The cleaner may be opened to accommodate the enlarged cutting surface for cleaning particles trapped therein as a consequence of abrading as it is either advanced distally over the drive shaft and/or the drive shaft is retracted proximally toward the cleaner to accommodate the diameter of the enlarged cutting section. The cleaner comprises an inner surface having an abrasive surface for mechanically scraping and dislodging material trapped in the enlarged cutting head tissue removing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Thatcher, Paul J. Robinson
  • Publication number: 20080306498
    Abstract: The invention provides a rotational atherectomy device having, in various embodiments, a flexible, elongated, rotatable drive shaft with at least one flexible eccentric enlarged abrading head attached thereto. In other embodiments, the eccentric abrading head is not flexible or partially flexible. At least part of the eccentric enlarged cutting head has a tissue removing surface—typically an abrasive surface. In certain embodiments, the abrading head will be at least partially hollow. When placed within an artery against stenotic tissue and rotated at sufficiently high speeds the eccentric nature of the enlarged cutting head causes the cutting head and drive shaft to rotate in such a fashion as to open the stenotic lesion to a diameter substantially larger than the outer diameter of the enlarged cutting head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Thatcher, Paul J. Robinson
  • Patent number: 5292309
    Abstract: A device for measuring the depth below skin level of a blood vessel that has been punctured in the course of a catheterization or other interventional vascular procedure comprises a tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end portion that is preferably tapered to a small outer diameter. The lumen may have a stepped diameter extending between the proximal and distal ends. A first portion of the lumen is distally located and is of a diameter generally equal to the diameter of a guidewire with which the measuring device is used. The second segment of the lumen is of a substantially larger diameter. A side entry port is made through the wall of the tubular member at the distal base of the larger diameter section of the lumen. Graduated markings on the side wall of the tubular member extend from the side entry port toward the proximal end of the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Schneider (USA) Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Van Tassel, Joshua Makower, Robert J. Thatcher