Patents by Inventor Steve Martone

Steve Martone 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).

  • Endoscopic sheath assemblies having longitudinal expansion inhibiting mechanisms
    Patent number: 6793661
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for inhibiting longitudinal expansion of a body portion of an endoscopic sheath during inflation of an inflatable member are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sheath assembly includes a body portion adapted to encapsulate a distal end of an insertion tube, and an inflatable member coupled to the body portion and adapted to be inflated radially outwardly from the body portion. The sheath assembly further includes an expansion-inhibiting mechanism coupled to at least one of the inflatable member and the body portion. The expansion-inhibiting mechanism advantageously inhibits a longitudinal expansion of the body portion during inflation of the inflatable member. The expansion-inhibiting mechanism may assume a variety of embodiments, including, for example, a non-compliant member, a longitudinally-stretched portion, a reinforcing spring member, a pressure relief device, or a suitable detent mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Vision Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Hamilton, Mark S. Landman, Steve Martone, Timothy J. Mulhern
  • Endoscopic sheath assemblies having longitudinal expansion inhibiting mechanisms
    Publication number: 20030083547
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for inhibiting longitudinal expansion of a body portion of an endoscopic sheath during inflation of an inflatable member are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sheath assembly includes a body portion adapted to encapsulate a distal end of an insertion tube, and an inflatable member coupled to the body portion and adapted to be inflated radially outwardly from the body portion. The sheath assembly further includes an expansion-inhibiting mechanism coupled to at least one of the inflatable member and the body portion. The expansion-inhibiting mechanism advantageously inhibits a longitudinal expansion of the body portion during inflation of the inflatable member. The expansion-inhibiting mechanism may assume a variety of embodiments, including, for example, a non-compliant member, a longitudinally-stretched portion, a reinforcing spring member, a pressure relief device, or a suitable detent mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Bruce Hamilton, Mark S. Landman, Steve Martone, Timothy J. Mulhern