Patents by Inventor William C. Bruchman

William C. Bruchman 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: 10653518
    Abstract: Methods are presented that provide a thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite material that is suitable for use in prosthetic valves. The composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to prosthetic valve leaflets. The composite material includes more than one porous expanded fluoropolymer layer and an elastomer present in the pores of the porous expanded fluoropolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Bruchman, Paul D. Gassler, Cody L. Hartman, Peter J. Walsh
  • Publication number: 20200138571
    Abstract: Thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite materials are disclosed that are suitable for use in a prosthetic valve for regulating blood flow direction. In one aspect, the leaflet material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as a prosthetic heart valve leaflet. The leaflet material includes a coherent single layer and an elastomer, wherein the elastomer is present in the pores of the porous coherent single layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: William C. Bruchman, Bill R. Finney, Paul D. Gassler, Cody L. Hartman, Peter J. Walsh
  • Patent number: 10639144
    Abstract: Described embodiments are directed toward prosthetic valve leaflets of a particular shape that allows redundant coaptation height in the leaflets when a planar segment is present in each leaflet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Bruchman, Cody L. Hartman
  • Publication number: 20200069418
    Abstract: Thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite materials are disclosed that are suitable for use in a valve for regulating blood flow direction. In one aspect, the composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as a prosthetic heart valve leaflet. The composite material includes a porous polymer membrane and an elastomer or elastomeric material, wherein the elastomer or elastomeric material fills substantially all of the pores of the porous polymer membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: William C. Bruchman, Paul D. Gassler, Cody L. Hartman, Peter J. Walsh
  • Patent number: 10548724
    Abstract: Thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite materials are disclosed that are suitable for use in a prosthetic valve for regulating blood flow direction. In one aspect, the leaflet material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as a prosthetic heart valve leaflet. The leaflet material includes a coherent single layer and an elastomer, wherein the elastomer is present in the pores of the porous coherent single layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: William C Bruchman, Bill R Finney, Paul D Gassler, Cody L Hartman, Peter J Walsh
  • Publication number: 20200000578
    Abstract: Described embodiments are directed toward prosthetic valves having leaflets of a particular shape that improves bending character without requiring a long length valve. In accordance with an embodiment, a prosthetic valve comprises a leaflet frame, a plurality of leaflets that are coupled to the leaflet frame, where each leaflet has a free edge and a base. The base of each leaflet is truncated in which the leaflet in cross section shows a line in an alpha plane onto the leaflet frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: William C. Bruchman, Cody L. Hartman
  • Patent number: 10470878
    Abstract: Thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite materials are disclosed that are suitable for use in a valve for regulating blood flow direction. In one aspect, the composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as a prosthetic heart valve leaflet. The composite material includes a porous polymer membrane and an elastomer, wherein the elastomer fills substantially all of the pores of the porous polymer membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Bruchman, Paul D. Gassler, Cody L. Hartman, Peter J. Walsh, Charles F. White
  • Patent number: 10463478
    Abstract: Described embodiments are directed toward prosthetic valves having leaflets of a particular shape that improves bending character without requiring a long length valve. In accordance with an embodiment, a prosthetic valve comprises a leaflet frame, a plurality of leaflets that are coupled to the leaflet frame, where each leaflet has a free edge and a base. The base of each leaflet is truncated in which the leaflet in cross section shows a line in an alpha plane onto the leaflet frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Bruchman, Cody L. Hartman
  • Publication number: 20190269506
    Abstract: A thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite material is disclosed that is suitable for use in various implanted configurations. The composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as heart pacing lead or heart valve leaflet. The composite material includes at least one porous expanded fluoropolymer membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: William C. Bruchman, Paul D. Gassler, Cody L. Hartman, Peter J. Walsh
  • Publication number: 20190269505
    Abstract: Described embodiments are directed toward prosthetic valves and systems and methods of making prosthetic valves. In accordance with an embodiment, a prosthetic valve comprises and leaflet frame, and outer frame and a film. The leaflet frame has a generally tubular shape defining a plurality of leaflet windows. The outer frame has a generally tubular shape. The leaflet frame is coaxially disposed at least partially within the outer frame. The leaflet frame and outer frame is coupled at least in part by a contiguous portion of the film. At least a portion of the contiguous portion of the film is contained between and coupling the leaflet frame and outer frame operable to prevent relative movement and contact therebetween. The film defines a leaflet extending from each of the leaflet windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Inventors: William C. Bruchman, Daniel A. Crawford, Logan R. Hagaman, Cody L. Hartman
  • Publication number: 20190254815
    Abstract: Described embodiments are directed toward centrally-opening leaflet prosthetic valve devices having a leaflet frame coaxially disposed within a body frame, as well as methods of making the valve devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: William C. Bruchman, Cody L. Hartman
  • Patent number: 10376360
    Abstract: Described embodiments are directed toward centrally-opening leaflet prosthetic valve devices having two frames. A leaflet frame is coaxially disposed within a body frame. The body frame has a tubular shape defining a body frame lumen. The leaflet frame has an annular shape defining a plurality of U-shaped portions each defining a base and a plurality of posts. The leaflet frame is located coaxial with and at least substantially within the body frame lumen. A first film is coupled to the body frame and a second film is coupled to and extends across each of the U-shaped portions defining a leaflet having a free edge. At least one of the first film and second film couples the body frame to the leaflet frame. The leaflets are moveable between an open and closed position with the leaflet free edge of each of the leaflets abutting an adjacent leaflet free edge when in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Bruchman, Cody L. Hartman
  • Publication number: 20190209292
    Abstract: Described embodiments are directed toward centrally-opening, leaflet valve devices and systems for transcatheter delivery having a two-piece valve body as well as methods of making and delivering the two-piece valve devices. A transcatheter valve includes a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The transcatheter valve can further include an everted configuration and a non-everted configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: William C. Bruchman, Cody L. Hartman
  • Patent number: 10342658
    Abstract: A thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite material is disclosed that is suitable for use in various implanted configurations. The composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as heart pacing lead or heart valve leaflet. The composite material includes at least one porous expanded fluoropolymer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Bruchman, Paul D. Gassler, Cody L. Hartman, Peter J. Walsh
  • Patent number: 10321986
    Abstract: Described embodiments are directed toward prosthetic valves and systems and methods of making prosthetic valves. In accordance with an embodiment, a prosthetic valve comprises and leaflet frame, and outer frame and a film. The leaflet frame has a generally tubular shape defining a plurality of leaflet windows. The outer frame has a generally tubular shape. The leaflet frame is coaxially disposed at least partially within the outer frame. The leaflet frame and outer frame is coupled at least in part by a contiguous portion of the film. At least a portion of the contiguous portion of the film is contained between and coupling the leaflet frame and outer frame operable to prevent relative movement and contact therebetween. The film defines a leaflet extending from each of the leaflet windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Bruchman, Daniel A. Crawford, Logan R. Hagaman, Cody L. Hartman
  • Patent number: 10285808
    Abstract: Described embodiments are directed toward centrally-opening, leaflet valve devices and systems for transcatheter delivery having a two-piece valve body as well as methods of making and delivering the two-piece valve devices. A transcatheter valve includes a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The transcatheter valve can further include an everted configuration and a non-everted configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Bruchman, Cody L. Hartman
  • Publication number: 20190133759
    Abstract: A thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite material is disclosed that is suitable for use in various implanted configurations. The composite material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as heart pacing lead or heart valve leaflet. The composite material includes at least one porous expanded fluoropolymer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: William C. Bruchman, Paul D. Gassler, Cody L. Hartman, Peter J. Walsh
  • Publication number: 20180318070
    Abstract: Described embodiments are directed toward prosthetic heart valve leaflets of particular shapes that control bending character. In accordance with an embodiment, a prosthetic heart valve comprises a leaflet frame having a generally tubular shape with attached film. The leaflet frame defines a plurality of leaflet windows. The film defines at least one leaflet extending from each of the leaflet windows. Each leaflet attachment zone on the leaflet frame has substantially the shape of an isosceles trapezoid having two leaflet sides, a leaflet base and a leaflet free edge opposite the leaflet base. The two leaflet sides diverge from the leaflet base, wherein the leaflet base is substantially flat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: William C. Bruchman, Cody L. Hartman
  • Publication number: 20180303611
    Abstract: Described embodiments are directed toward centrally-opening leaflet support devices having a frame and one or more support leaflets coupled to the frame forming a hinge where coupled. The described support leaflets have one or more stiffer regions that facilitate the function of a support leaflet to decrease or prevent prolapse of a native valve leaflet. Methods of making and using such valve devices are also described amongst others.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventor: William C. Bruchman
  • Publication number: 20180221144
    Abstract: Described embodiments are directed toward prosthetic valve leaflets of a particular shape that allows redundant coaptation height in the leaflets when a planar segment is present in each leaflet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: William C. Bruchman, Cody L. Hartman