Patents by Inventor Steve Kruse

Steve Kruse 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).

  • Prosthetic heart valve including stent structure and tissue leaflets, and related methods
    Patent number: 8353954
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes an annular stent having annularly spaced commissure portions. The tips of the commissure portions are preferably covered with fabric, and then additional fabric covers that fabric and the remainder of the stent, both inside and out (possibly also including a sewing ring insert at or near the base or inflow edge). The fabric is then covered by a layer of tissue, again both inside and out. A single sheet of additional tissue is mounted around the outside of the previously assembled components. This additional tissue forms the leaflet portions of the valve. The leaflet portions of the additional tissue are shaped by contact with a shaped mandrel, and the tissue of the structure is subjected to fixation (e.g., cross-linking) to produce a completed valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Cai, Peter Nicholas Braido, Bob Allan, Paul Edward Ashworth, Steve Kruse
  • Prosthetic heart valve including stent structure and tissue leaflets, and related methods
    Publication number: 20080147179
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes an annular stent having annularly spaced commissure portions. The tips of the commissure portions are preferably covered with fabric, and then additional fabric covers that fabric and the remainder of the stent, both inside and out (possibly also including a sewing ring insert at or near the base or inflow edge). The fabric is then covered by a layer of tissue, again both inside and out. A single sheet of additional tissue is mounted around the outside of the previously assembled components. This additional tissue forms the leaflet portions of the valve. The leaflet portions of the additional tissue are shaped by contact with a shaped mandrel, and the tissue of the structure is subjected to fixation (e.g., cross-linking) to produce a completed valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Chad Cai, Peter Nicholas Braido, Bob Allan, Paul Edward Ashworth, Steve Kruse, Lise LaChance