Patents by Inventor Thomas O. Bales
Thomas O. Bales 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).
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Publication number: 20210107031Abstract: A battery-powered, modular surgical device comprising an electrically powered surgical instrument that requires a pre-determined minimum amount of electrical energy to complete a surgical procedure, and a power module assembly that has a battery that powers the surgical instrument and has a current state of electrical charge, and a control circuit that is electrically coupled to the battery and the surgical instrument and has a memory and a microprocessor. The microprocessor determines the current state of electrical charge of the battery, compares the current state of electrical charge to the pre-determined minimum amount of electrical energy, permits the battery to discharge if the current state of electrical charge is above the pre-determined minimum amount of electrical energy, and maintains the battery in a non-discharge state if the current state of electrical charge is below the pre-determined minimum amount of electrical energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Inventors: Thomas O. Bales, JR., Derek D. Deville, Kevin W. Smith, Matthew A. Palmer
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Patent number: 10925615Abstract: A recapturable external LAA exclusion clip system includes a clip comprising first and second clip struts, at least one of the struts having a connector interface comprising a first portion of a lock, and a delivery device comprising a handle and an end effector. The handle comprises jaw and lock controls. The end effector is connected to the handle and comprises a clevis and first and second jaws. The jaws are connected to the clevis and operatively connected to the jaw control to actively articulate at least one of the jaws with respect to the other. At least one of the jaws has a connector comprising a second portion of the lock operatively connected to the lock control to removably lock with the first portion of the lock. The first and second portions of the lock have a locked state and are configured to unlock the locked state upon actuation of the lock control.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2020Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Syntheon 2.0, LLCInventors: Derek Dee Deville, Matthew A. Palmer, Richard Cartledge, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., M. Sean McBrayer, William T. Bales, Michael Walter Kirk, William Ragheb, Eric Petersen, Carlos Rivera, Vincent Turturro
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Patent number: 10918392Abstract: An LAA exclusion clip includes first and second clip struts and a bias device. The clip struts together define a heart-proximate side, a heart-distal side, bias and open clip ends, each strut having a tissue-contacting surface disposed opposite one another. The bias device includes a first biasing portion connecting the first and second clip struts, disposed on the heart-proximate side of the clip struts, and crossing over from the first clip strut to the second clip strut at the heart-proximate side of the first and second clip struts adjacent the bias clip end. The bias device includes a second biasing portion connecting the first and second clip struts, disposed on the heart-distal side of the first and second clip struts, and crossing over from the first clip strut to the second clip strut at the heart-distal side of the first and second clip struts adjacent the bias clip end.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Syntheon 2.0, LLCInventors: Derek Dee Deville, Matthew A. Palmer, Richard Cartledge, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., M. Sean McBrayer, William T. Bales, Michael Walter Kirk
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Publication number: 20210038226Abstract: An LAA exclusion system includes a clip comprising first and second separate clip struts, and a bias device comprising spring portions, and a delivery device having clip-contacting ends. The first clip strut has a first proximal end. The second clip strut has a second proximal end adjacent the first proximal end. The clip struts together define a first exterior surface and an opposing second exterior surface. The first spring portion connects the first clip strut to the second clip strut along the first exterior surface and the second spring portion connects the first clip strut to the second clip strut along the second exterior surface. The spring portions define therebetween a strut-securing area at the first and second proximal ends. The clip-contacting ends are configured to removably connect to the proximal ends of the clip struts through the strut-securing area.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2020Publication date: February 11, 2021Applicant: Syntheon 2.0, LLCInventors: William T. Bales, Derek Dee Deville, Matthew A. Palmer, Richard Cartledge, Michael Walter Kirk, Thomas O. Bales, JR., M. Sean McBrayer
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Publication number: 20210022737Abstract: A surgical device comprising a surgical end effector, an actuation assembly having a part operable to move between a first position and a second position, an electrically-powered motor, a transmission mechanically connecting the motor to the part and being operable to selectively displace the part between the first and second positions when the motor is operated, and a manual release mechanically coupled to the transmission to selectively interrupt the transmission and, during interruption, displace the part towards the first position independent of operation of the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Thomas O. Bales, JR., Derek Dee Deville, Carlos Rivera, Matthew A. Palmer
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Patent number: 10874508Abstract: An assembly includes a prosthetic heart valve and a delivery apparatus. The prosthetic heart valve has a plurality of pivotably connected struts and one or more adjustable elements rotatably coupled to the struts. Rotating the adjustable elements in a first direction relative to the struts radially expands the prosthetic heart valve. Rotating the adjustable elements in a second direction relative to the struts radially contracts the prosthetic heart valve. The delivery apparatus includes one or more motors, one or more drive wires coupled to the motors, and a memory. The drive wires are coupled to the adjustable elements of the prosthetic heart valve. The motors are configured to rotate the drive wires and the adjustable elements to expand and contract the prosthetic heart valve. The memory is configured for storing one or more characteristics of the motors, the drive wires, or the prosthetic heart valve.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2017Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences CardiAQ LLCInventors: Richard Cartledge, Kevin W. Smith, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Derek Dee Deville, Korey Kline, Max Pierre Mendez, Matthew A. Palmer, Michael Walter Kirk, Carlos Rivera, Eric Petersen, Sean McBrayer
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Patent number: 10864095Abstract: A stent that has a reduced state, an expanded state, and a delivery state, includes helical windings, a bridge, and a sacrificial bridge. The helical windings define a cylinder with a helical axis including a strut having a straight portion connected to a curved portion, wherein the straight portion aligns with the helical axis. The bridge connects adjacent windings. The sacrificial bridge connects adjacent windings and is configured for removal in the expanded state.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2018Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: ANGIOMED GMBH & CO. MEDIZINTECHNIK KGInventors: Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Charles R. Slater, Scott Jahrmarkt
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Publication number: 20200345375Abstract: A recapturable external LAA exclusion clip system includes a clip comprising first and second clip struts, at least one of the struts having a connector interface comprising a first portion of a lock, and a delivery device comprising a handle and an end effector. The handle comprises jaw and lock controls. The end effector is connected to the handle and comprises a clevis and first and second jaws. The jaws are connected to the clevis and operatively connected to the jaw control to actively articulate at least one of the jaws with respect to the other. At least one of the jaws has a connector comprising a second portion of the lock operatively connected to the lock control to removably lock with the first portion of the lock. The first and second portions of the lock have a locked state and are configured to unlock the locked state upon actuation of the lock control.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2020Publication date: November 5, 2020Applicant: Syntheon 2.0, LLCInventors: Derek Dee Deville, Matthew A. Palmer, Richard Cartledge, Thomas O. Bales, JR., M. Sean McBrayer, William T. Bales, Michael Walter Kirk, William Ragheb, Eric Petersen, Carlos Rivera, Vincent Turturro
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Patent number: 10806331Abstract: A variably-flexible, locking insertion device includes a hollow body having a proximal end with an entrance for receiving an instrument, a distal end with a tip for protrusion of the instrument, and a handle to be gripped by an operator. A device transitions the hollow body between a relatively flexible condition and a relatively stiff condition. Tendons are disposed within the hollow body for maintaining the hollow body in the relatively flexible and relatively stiff conditions, the tendons being neither in tension nor compression when the hollow body is in the relatively stiff condition.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2017Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: Syntheon, LLCInventors: Kevin W. Smith, Derek Dee Deville, Korey Kline, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Matthew A. Palmer, Carlos Rivera
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Patent number: 10799913Abstract: A battery-powered, modular surgical device comprising an electrically powered surgical instrument that requires a pre-determined minimum amount of electrical energy to complete a surgical procedure, and a power module assembly that has a battery that powers the surgical instrument and has a current state of electrical charge, and a control circuit that is electrically coupled to the battery and the surgical instrument and has a memory and a microprocessor. The microprocessor determines the current state of electrical charge of the battery, compares the current state of electrical charge to the pre-determined minimum amount of electrical energy, permits the battery to discharge if the current state of electrical charge is above the pre-determined minimum amount of electrical energy, and maintains the battery in a non-discharge state if the current state of electrical charge is below the pre-determined minimum amount of electrical energy.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2016Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: COVIDIEN LPInventors: Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Derek D. Deville, Kevin W. Smith, Matthew A. Palmer
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Publication number: 20200297362Abstract: A clot removal system comprises a catheter, a vacuum source, and a controller. The catheter comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and controller operating parameters and defines a lumen configured to be filled with a liquid column having a proximal portion. The vacuum source is configured to supply vacuum. The controller is configured to carry out a control pattern of turning on and off the vacuum based upon the controller operating parameters and is configured to receive the controller operating parameters in an automatic response to the catheter being operatively connected to at least one of the vacuum source and the controller and, responsive to the connection, to carry out the control pattern to change a level of vacuum at the distal end of the catheter.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2020Publication date: September 24, 2020Applicant: Syntheon 2.0, LLCInventors: Derek Dee Deville, Matthew A. Palmer, William T. Bales, M. Sean McBrayer, Eric Petersen, Richard Cartledge, Thomas O. Bales, JR., Carlos Rivera
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Patent number: 10751507Abstract: A catheter comprises a heater control supplying power, a handle, a base catheter with lumen and comprising a proximal section and a distal segment, and a variable stiffness element. The element comprises a heater connected to the heater control, coiled at least at the distal segment, and comprising a shaft portion of a first metallic conductive material and a heater portion of a second metallic conductive material. A jacket is disposed about the heater portion. A variable flex sub-assembly between the catheter and jacket comprises a non-conducting braid and a binding material. Without power, the binding material is stiffened. Responsive to heating of the binding material, the binding material softens to increase flexibility of the variable flex sub-assembly at least at the distal segment. Responsive to removing power, the binding material cools and stiffens to decrease flexibility of the variable flex sub-assembly at least at the distal segment.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2018Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: SYN VARIFLEX, LLCInventors: Matthew A. Palmer, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Tyler Bond, Eric Petersen, Derek Dee Deville, William T. Bales, Matthew Weger
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Patent number: 10722253Abstract: A clot removal system includes a catheter having proximal and distal ends and defining a lumen configured to be filled with a liquid column having a proximal portion, a vacuum pump supplying vacuum, a vent container holding vent liquid, a vent valve configured to fluidically communicate with the vent liquid and with the proximal portion of the liquid column at the proximal end of the catheter, a vacuum valve configured to fluidically communicate with the vacuum and with the proximal portion of the liquid column at the proximal end of the catheter, and a controller configured to carry out a pre-determined pattern of opening and closing the vent and vacuum valves to change a level of vacuum at the distal end and, while changing the level of vacuum at the distal end, to substantially prevent forward flow of the liquid at a distal end of the liquid column.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2019Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Syntheon 2.0, LLCInventors: Derek Dee Deville, Matthew A. Palmer, William T. Bales, M. Sean McBrayer, Eric Petersen, Richard Cartledge, Thomas O. Bales, Carlos Rivera
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Publication number: 20200197014Abstract: An LAA exclusion clip includes first and second clip struts and a bias device. The clip struts together define a heart-proximate side, a heart-distal side, bias and open clip ends, each strut having a tissue-contacting surface disposed opposite one another. The bias device includes a first biasing portion connecting the first and second clip struts, disposed on the heart-proximate side of the clip struts, and crossing over from the first clip strut to the second clip strut at the heart-proximate side of the first and second clip struts adjacent the bias clip end. The bias device includes a second biasing portion connecting the first and second clip struts, disposed on the heart-distal side of the first and second clip struts, and crossing over from the first clip strut to the second clip strut at the heart-distal side of the first and second clip struts adjacent the bias clip end.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2020Publication date: June 25, 2020Applicant: Syntheon 2.0, LLCInventors: Derek Dee Deville, Matthew A. Palmer, Richard Cartledge, Thomas O. Bales, JR., M. Sean McBrayer, William T. Bales, Michael Walter Kirk
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Patent number: 10675022Abstract: A surgical device that comprises a tissue compression device that applies a compression force to tissue, a tissue-compression-measurement device having a mechanically-biased switching element disposed in line with the tissue compression device, wherein the tissue-compression-measurement device indicates when an amount of the compression force applied to the tissue reaches a pre-determined optimal compression force, and a feedback controller electrically connected to the tissue-compression-measurement device and receiving the indication from the tissue-compression-measurement device. A staple firing procedure is permitted to be carried out on the compressed tissue only when the feedback controller receives the indication that the pre-determined optimal compression force has been reached.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Ethicon LLCInventors: Kevin W. Smith, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Derek Dee Deville, Carlos Rivera, Matthew A. Palmer
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Patent number: 10624630Abstract: A multiple-fire securing device includes a hollow outer shaft, a reloader, a reloader movement assembly, a rail, and securing structures each defining an inner securing orifice. The reloader longitudinally moves within the outer shaft and has a distal end shaped to temporarily contact one of the securing structures. The rail is disposed within the reloader and has an installing location. The securing structures are disposed on the rail. The reloader movement assembly moves the reloader longitudinally in a distal direction to deliver a first securing structure to the installing location from a first proximal position and moves the reloader proximally away from the installing location without the first securing structure to a position in which the distal end of the reloader temporarily contacts a second one of the securing structures. The second and successive securing structures are moved one at a time to the installing location.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2015Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences AGInventors: Derek Dee Deville, Kevin W. Smith, Michael Walter Kirk, Carlos Rivera, George Nunez, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Korey Kline, Matthew A. Palmer, M. Sean McBrayer, Richard Cartledge, Max Pierre Mendez, Kevin K. Dang, Bryan A. Janish, Manouchehr A. Miraki
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Publication number: 20200093503Abstract: A clot removal system includes a catheter having proximal and distal ends and defining a lumen configured to be filled with a liquid column having a proximal portion, a vacuum pump supplying vacuum, a vent container holding vent liquid, a vent valve configured to fluidically communicate with the vent liquid and with the proximal portion of the liquid column at the proximal end of the catheter, a vacuum valve configured to fluidically communicate with the vacuum and with the proximal portion of the liquid column at the proximal end of the catheter, and a controller configured to carry out a pre-determined pattern of opening and closing the vent and vacuum valves to change a level of vacuum at the distal end and, while changing the level of vacuum at the distal end, to substantially prevent forward flow of the liquid at a distal end of the liquid column.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2019Publication date: March 26, 2020Applicant: Syntheon 2.0, LLCInventors: Derek Dee Deville, Matthew A. Palmer, William T. Bales, JR., M. Sean McBrayer, Eric Petersen, Richard Cartledge, Thomas O. Bales, Carlos Rivera
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Publication number: 20200015889Abstract: A method for operating a catheter provides a mechanical stiffener to a catheter shaft portion, the shaft comprising an inner sheath having a distal end and an outer surface and defining an access lumen extending distally to the distal end and an outer sheath having an inner surface surrounding the inner sheath distally to the distal end, defining an annulus between the outer and inner surfaces, the annulus having a connection at which vacuum applies to the annulus, and having a substantially constant outer diameter over the portion to the distal end. A tool is shaped and sized to pass through the access lumen and past the distal end. The portion is placed in an increased stiffened state by applying vacuum to create a stable base with at least a shaft segment within the anatomy that atraumatically resists reaction forces applied to the shaft by the tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2019Publication date: January 16, 2020Applicant: Syn Variflex, LLCInventors: Kevin W. Smith, Matthew A. Palmer, M. Sean McBrayer, Thomas O. Bales, JR., Derek Dee Deville, Joe Abelleira
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Publication number: 20200008797Abstract: A multiple-firing clip device includes a hollow shaft defining a lateral opening communicating with an environment and a distal shaft portion between the lateral opening and a distal end opening. A shuttle longitudinally moves on the shaft and comprises a shuttle body defining a lumen surrounding the shaft, a snare, and a snare-extender slide defining a snare track to form a snare travel path in which the snare is disposed from the body and through the track and a portion of the body. The slide moves along a given extent defining a slide distance and a distal end and movement of the slide to the distal end shortens the snare travel path to extend the snare portion through the lateral opening, through the distal shaft portion, and distally out from a distal side of the body longer than the given extent to secure a suture with the snare.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2019Publication date: January 9, 2020Inventors: Derek Dee Deville, Kevin W. Smith, Michael Walter Kirk, Carlos Rivera, George Nunez, Thomas O. Bales, JR., Korey Kline, Matthew A. Palmer, M. Sean McBrayer, Richard George Cartledge, Max Pierre Mendez, Kevin K. Dang, Bryan A. Janish, Manouchehr A. Miraki
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Publication number: 20190374356Abstract: An implantable prosthesis designed to transition from a contracted state to an expanded state, including a continuous tubular helical winding and a plurality of bridges. The helical winding includes a plurality of circumferential sections spaced apart along a helical axis, each of the plurality of circumferential sections forming a non-orthogonal helical angle relative to the helical axis. The plurality of bridges connect adjacent circumferential sections, each having a length extending from a first end to a second end on a plane orthogonal to the helical axis, the length being equal to a circumferential offset between the adjacent circumferential sections in both the contracted state and the expanded state. The implantable prosthesis also includes a first annular ring orthogonal to the helical axis, and a first marker having a first end connected to the first annular ring, and a second end coupled to the first end of the helical winding.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2019Publication date: December 12, 2019Inventors: Thomas O. Bales, JR., Scott L. Jahrmarkt, Charles R. Slater, Peter K. Kratsch