Patents by Inventor Tenny C. Calhoun

Tenny C. Calhoun 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: 20190239872
    Abstract: Devices and methods for locking and/or cutting tethers during a tissue modification procedure are described. In some variations, a tether may be used to tighten or compress tissue by bringing two pieces or sections of the tissue together. The tether, which may be under tension, may be locked to maintain the tension, and excess tether may be severed, using one or more of the devices and/or methods. The devices and/or methods may be used, for example, in minimally invasive procedures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Eugene SERINA, Tenny C. CALHOUN, Stephen C. MEIER, Mariel FABRO, Tiffany Huynh MIRCHANDANI, John TO, Brian TANG
  • Patent number: 9636106
    Abstract: Devices and methods for locking and/or cutting tethers during a tissue modification procedure are described. In some variations, a tether may be used to tighten tissue by bringing two pieces or sections of the tissue together. The tether, which may be under tension, may be locked to maintain the tension, and excess tether may be severed, using one or more of the devices and/or methods. The devices and/or methods may be used, for example, in minimally invasive procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Ancora Heart, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Meier, Eugene Serina, Charles J. Adam, Mariel Fabro, Tammy Y. Tam, John P. Lunsford, Tenny C. Calhoun, Brian Tang, Stephen Olson
  • Patent number: 9072513
    Abstract: Devices and methods used in termination of a tissue tightening procedure are described. Termination includes the cinching of a tether to tighten the tissue, locking the tether to maintain tension, and cutting excess tether. In procedures involving anchors secured to the tissue, the tether is coupled to the anchors and the tissue is tightened via tension applied to the anchors by cinching the tether. In general, the devices and methods can be used in minimally invasive surgical procedures, and can be applied through small incisions or intravascularly. A method for tightening tissue by fixedly coupling a first anchor to a tether and slidably coupling a second anchor to the tether, securing both anchors to the tissue, applying tension to the tether intravascularly, fixedly coupling the tether to the second anchor, and cutting the tether is described. The tissue to be tightened can comprise heart tissue, in particular heart valve annulus tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Guided Delivery Systems Inc.
    Inventors: John To, Niel F. Starksen, Tenny C. Calhoun, Brian Tang
  • Patent number: 8795298
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and kits for tensioning tethers during a tissue modification procedure are described. In some variations, a tether coupled to anchors embedded in tissue may be tensioned to provide a cinching effect that tightens or compresses the tissue by bringing two pieces or sections of the tissue together. In certain variations, the tether may then be locked (e.g., to maintain the tension), and/or excess tether may be severed. The devices, methods, and/or kits may be used, for example, in minimally invasive procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Guided Delivery Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Hernlund, Tenny C. Calhoun, Brian Tang, John To, Clyde Henry Booth, III
  • Publication number: 20140188140
    Abstract: Devices and methods for locking and/or cutting tethers during a tissue modification procedure are described. In some variations, a tether may be used to tighten tissue by bringing two pieces or sections of the tissue together. The tether, which may be under tension, may be locked to maintain the tension, and excess tether may be severed, using one or more of the devices and/or methods. The devices and/or methods may be used, for example, in minimally invasive procedures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: GUIDED DELIVERY SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Stephen C. MEIER, Eugene SERINA, Charles J. ADAM, Mariel FABRO, Tammy Y. TAM, John P. LUNSFORD, Tenny C. CALHOUN, Brian TANG, Stephen OLSON
  • Publication number: 20130304093
    Abstract: Devices and methods for locking and/or cutting tethers during a tissue modification procedure are described. In some variations, a tether may be used to tighten or compress tissue by bringing two pieces or sections of the tissue together. The tether, which may be under tension, may be locked to maintain the tension, and excess tether may be severed, using one or more of the devices and/or methods. The devices and/or methods may be used, for example, in minimally invasive procedures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: GUIDED DELIVERY SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Eugene SERINA, Tenny C. CALHOUN, Stephen C. MEIER, Mariel FABRO, Tiffany Huynh MIRCHANDANI, John TO, Brian TANG
  • Patent number: 8287557
    Abstract: Devices and methods used in termination of a tissue tightening procedure are described. Termination includes the cinching of a tether to tighten the tissue, locking the tether to maintain tension, and cutting excess tether. In procedures involving anchors secured to the tissue, the tether is coupled to the anchors and the tissue is tightened via tension applied to the anchors by cinching the tether. In general, the devices and methods can be used in minimally invasive surgical procedures, and can be applied through small incisions or intravascularly. A method for tightening tissue by fixedly coupling a first anchor to a tether and slidably coupling a second anchor to the tether, securing both anchors to the tissue, applying tension to the tether intravascularly, fixedly coupling the tether to the second anchor, and cutting the tether is described. The tissue to be tightened can comprise heart tissue, in particular heart valve annulus tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Guided Delivery Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John To, Niel F. Starksen, Tenny C. Calhoun, Brian Tang
  • Patent number: 8066766
    Abstract: Devices and methods used in termination of a tissue tightening procedure are described. Termination includes the cinching of a tether to tighten the tissue, locking the tether to maintain tension, and cutting excess tether. In procedures involving anchors secured to the tissue, the tether is coupled to the anchors and the tissue is tightened via tension applied to the anchors by cinching the tether. In general, the devices and methods can be used in minimally invasive surgical procedures, and can be applied through small incisions or intravascularly. A method for tightening tissue by fixedly coupling a first anchor to a tether and slidably coupling a second anchor to the tether, securing both anchors to the tissue, applying tension to the tether intravascularly, fixedly coupling the tether to the second anchor, and cutting the tether is described. The tissue to be tightened can comprise heart tissue, in particular heart valve annulus tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Guided Delivery Systems Inc.
    Inventors: John To, Niel F. Starksen, Tenny C. Calhoun, Brian Tang
  • Patent number: 7883538
    Abstract: Devices and methods used in termination of a tissue tightening procedure are described. Termination includes the cinching of a tether to tighten the tissue, locking the tether to maintain tension, and cutting excess tether. In procedures involving anchors secured to the tissue, the tether is coupled to the anchors and the tissue is tightened via tension applied to the anchors by cinching the tether. In general, the devices and methods can be used in minimally invasive surgical procedures, and can be applied through small incisions or intravascularly. A method for tightening tissue by fixedly coupling a first anchor to a tether and slidably coupling a second anchor to the tether, securing both anchors to the tissue, applying tension to the tether intravascularly, fixedly coupling the tether to the second anchor, and cutting the tether is described. The tissue to be tightened can comprise heart tissue, in particular heart valve annulus tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Guided Delivery Systems Inc.
    Inventors: John To, Niel F. Starksen, Tenny C. Calhoun
  • Publication number: 20100121349
    Abstract: Devices and methods for locking and/or cutting tethers during a tissue modification procedure are described. In some variations, a tether may be used to tighten tissue by bringing two pieces or sections of the tissue together. The tether, which may be under tension, may be locked to maintain the tension, and excess tether may be severed, using one or more of the devices and/or methods. The devices and/or methods may be used, for example, in minimally invasive procedures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Stephen C. Meier, Eugene Serina, Charles J. Adam, Mariel Fabro, Tammy Y. Tam, John P. Lunsford, Tenny C. Calhoun, Brian Tang, Stephen Olson, Ann T. Meier
  • Publication number: 20100094314
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and kits for tensioning tethers during a tissue modification procedure are described. In some variations, a tether coupled to anchors embedded in tissue may be tensioned to provide a cinching effect that tightens or compresses the tissue by bringing two pieces or sections of the tissue together. In certain variations, the tether may then be locked (e.g., to maintain the tension), and/or excess tether may be severed. The devices, methods, and/or kits may be used, for example, in minimally invasive procedures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Jonathan D. HERNLUND, Tenny C. Calhoun, Brian Tang, John To, Clyde Henry Booth, III
  • Publication number: 20100049213
    Abstract: Devices and methods for locking and/or cutting tethers during a tissue modification procedure are described. In some variations, a tether may be used to tighten or compress tissue by bringing two pieces or sections of the tissue together. The tether, which may be under tension, may be locked to maintain the tension, and excess tether may be severed, using one or more of the devices and/or methods. The devices and/or methods may be used, for example, in minimally invasive procedures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: Guided Delivery Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Serina, Tenny C. Calhoun, Stephen Meier, Ann T. Meier, Mariel Fabro, Tiffany Huynh Mirchandani, John To, Brian Tang
  • Publication number: 20080294177
    Abstract: Devices and methods used in termination of a tissue tightening procedure are described. Termination includes the cinching of a tether to tighten the tissue, locking the tether to maintain tension, and cutting excess tether. In procedures involving anchors secured to the tissue, the tether is coupled to the anchors and the tissue is tightened via tension applied to the anchors by cinching the tether. In general, the devices and methods can be used in minimally invasive surgical procedures, and can be applied through small incisions or intravascularly. A method for tightening tissue by fixedly coupling a first anchor to a tether and slidably coupling a second anchor to the tether, securing both anchors to the tissue, applying tension to the tether intravascularly, fixedly coupling the tether to the second anchor, and cutting the tether is described. The tissue to be tightened can comprise heart tissue, in particular heart valve annulus tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: Guided Delivery Systems Inc.
    Inventors: John To, Niel F. Starksen, Tenny C. Calhoun, Brian Tang
  • Publication number: 20080177380
    Abstract: Methods for securing implants to heart tissue are described, where the implants include one or more anchor portions extending from a support. Some variations of the methods may comprise securing an implant to a first region of a tissue in the vicinity of a subannular groove of a heart, where the implant comprises a support and a first anchor portion extending from a first portion of the support. The implant may further comprise a second anchor portion extending from a second portion of the support. Certain variations of the methods may include advancing a catheter to a first region of a tissue in the vicinity of a subannular groove of a heart, and deploying an implant from the catheter to the first region of tissue, where the implant comprises a support and a first anchor portion extending from a first portion of the support. Implants also are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Niel F. Starksen, Mariel Fabro, Karl S. Im, Tenny C. Calhoun