Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Kay, Jr.

Thomas A. Kay, Jr. 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: 9629653
    Abstract: A catheter includes a catheter body defining first and second lumens, and a wire having first and second segments each with a greater stiffness, and a middle segment with a lesser stiffness. The wire is in an elastically deformed access state where the middle segment extends from an opening to the first lumen to an opening to the second lumen and forms a smaller loop. The wire is adjustable via sliding the first and second segments in opposed directions to an elastically deformed treatment state where the first segment extends from the opening to the first lumen to the opening to the second lumen and forms a larger loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventors: David C. Lentz, Thomas A. Kay, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160263354
    Abstract: A hybrid wire guide is comprised of a distal segment of nitinol wire welded to a proximal segment of stainless steel wire. The stainless steel wire includes a flex transition segment that terminates at the weld, and defines a plurality of flexibility enhancing voids distributed in a pattern along a centerline so that a flexibility of the flex transition segment changes toward a match of a flexibility of the nitinol wire over a tracking segment that extends distally from the weld. The respective shapes of the flexibility enhancing voids change responsive to the flexure of the flex transition segment away from a straight configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Nathaniel Irwin, James C. Elsesser, Logan Cage, Thomas Kay, JR., James C. Merk
  • Patent number: 9108026
    Abstract: A spring action medical device includes a spring that may propel a hammer component in a distal direction when the spring is released from a loaded state. When propelled forward by the spring, the hammer component makes contact with a distal tip of the medical device. The distal tip may then transfer a force to an external object, such as an occlusion in a body lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Deckard, Michael W. Hardert, Thomas A. Kay, Jr., William F. Moore, James C. Elsesser, David C. Lentz, Jeffry S. Melsheimer
  • Publication number: 20150127032
    Abstract: A catheter includes a catheter body defining first and second lumens, and a wire having first and second segments each with a greater stiffness, and a middle segment with a lesser stiffness. The wire is in an elastically deformed access state where the middle segment extends from an opening to the first lumen to an opening to the second lumen and forms a smaller loop. The wire is adjustable via sliding the first and second segments in opposed directions to an elastically deformed treatment state where the first segment extends from the opening to the first lumen to the opening to the second lumen and forms a larger loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: David C. Lentz, Thomas A. Kay, JR.
  • Publication number: 20130066299
    Abstract: A wire guide grabbing mechanism includes an elongate mandrel having a proximal and distal mandrel end, and a grabber irreversibly attached to the mandrel. The grabber includes a plurality of struts arranged in a reticulated pattern and a plurality of openings defined by the plurality of struts. The grabber is adjustable between an expanded configuration at which the plurality of struts are spread out relative to one another and a contracted configuration at which the plurality of struts are condensed, such that a wire guide may be enmeshed by the grabber in the contracted configuration. Related methodology is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: COOK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Kay, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120165850
    Abstract: A spring action medical device includes a spring that may propel a hammer component in a distal direction when the spring is released from a loaded state. When propelled forward by the spring, the hammer component makes contact with a distal tip of the medical device. The distal tip may then transfer a force to an external object, such as an occlusion in a body lumen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Deckard, Michael W. Hardert, Thomas A. Kay, JR., William F. Moore, James C. Elsesser, David C. Lentz, Jeffry S. Melsheimer
  • Publication number: 20110160680
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a medical surgical device and specifically a wire guide for percutaneous placement within a body lumen. The wire guide includes an elongated mandrel having sufficient flexibility and kink resistance and a cannula having a stiffness greater than the mandrel stiffness for sufficient pushability. The mandrel extends through the cannula and has a portion extending distal thereto to form a distal tip of the wire guide. The wire guide can further include a slotted cannula to improve the flexibility of the wire guide at the proximal portion of the wire guide. The slots can be arranged in various patterns for increased flexibility along the longitudinal length of the cannula, as well as increased circumferential flexibility along the wire guide. The mandrel may also have a proximally tapered portion to improve the flexibility of the wire guide at the proximal portion of the wire guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: Cook Incorporated
    Inventors: Logan M. Cage, Aaron Weeks, Thomas A. Kay, JR., James C. Elsesser
  • Patent number: 7617596
    Abstract: The described embodiments relate to electronic devices. One exemplary device includes a pair of sidewall components extending between respective top portions and bottom portions, the bottom portions lying in a plane that extends between the bottom portions. The device also includes a bottom component joined with and extending between the bottom portions, wherein the bottom component has a non-loaded disposition relative to the plane and a loaded disposition relative to the plane, and wherein at least a portion of the bottom component is closer to the plane in the loaded disposition than in the non-loaded disposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Paily T. Varghese, Robert J. Hastings, Thomas A. Kay, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7282640
    Abstract: The described embodiments relate to electronic devices. One exemplary device includes a pair of sidewall components extending between respective top portions and bottom portions, the bottom portions lying in a plane that extends between the bottom portions. The device also includes a bottom component joined with and extending between the bottom portions, wherein the bottom component has a non-loaded disposition relative to the plane and a loaded disposition relative to the plane, and wherein at least a portion of the bottom component is closer to the plane in the loaded disposition than in the non-loaded disposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Paily T. Varghese, Robert J. Hastings, Thomas A. Kay, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5415256
    Abstract: A torque-limiting clutch brake is provided that has an inner collar which splines to a transmission gearbox input shaft. An intermediate coupling member fits around and engages the inner collar. A friction generating resilient wave washer is disposed between the intermediate coupling member and an outer housing. The outer housing includes two covers, within which the components are contained and the resilient wave washer is partially compressed. Friction generated by the resilient wave washer conditionally couples the outer housing to the intermediate coupling member and inner collar until torque on the device exceeds a certain threshold, at which point the clutch brake slips to prevent damage. The components are made up of separable semicircular sections which can be split apart to facilitate removal and installation of the clutch brake without lowering and disassembling the vehicle transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Diebel Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Peter J. Weigand, William A. Smith, Thomas A. Kay, Jr., Hugh R. Harris