| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| 7338441 |
Superelastic/shape memory tissue stabilizers and surgical instruments |
March 4, 2008 |
| A surgical instrument is used for temporary use in a medical procedure in a mammalian body. The surgical instrument is configured to be changed between two shapes upon application of one or both of heating and cooling. The instrument includes a first member, a second member having a |
| 7229431 |
Rapid exchange catheter with stent deployment, therapeutic infusion, and lesion sampling feature |
June 12, 2007 |
| A catheter is insertable into a vessel within a mammalian body. The catheter includes a tubular body, at least one channel extending along the tubular body, and a central lumen. The tubular body includes an exterior surface, a first end and a second end, and defines a length between |
| 7217284 |
Apparatus and methods for treating tissue |
May 15, 2007 |
| Apparatus and methods are provided for thermally and/or mechanically treating tissue, such as valvular structures, to reconfigure or shrink the tissue in a controlled manner. The apparatus comprises a catheter in communication with an end effector which induces a temperature rise in an |
| 7182771 |
Vascular couplers, techniques, methods, and accessories |
February 27, 2007 |
| A coupler is configured to connect a first tubular vessel to an aperture in a second tubular vessel. The coupler includes one or more radially extending members and a substantially nonmetallic tubular member. The substantially nonmetallic tubular member include an outer wall, an inner |
| 7178218 |
Method of fabricating, artificial limbs incorporating superelastic supports |
February 20, 2007 |
| The invention is directed to a method of fabricating an artificial limb. The method includes the steps of: cutting one or more superelastic materials to a desired length, forming the superelastic material into a desired resting configuration of an artificial limb using a fixture that |
| 7172590 |
Tissue heating device and RF heating method with tissue attachment feature |
February 6, 2007 |
| A tissue cutting device includes a catheter with a window at its distal tip for admitting tissue into a catheter compartment. A cylindrical cartridge in the compartment has a cutting edge that supports an electrically conductive cutting element, e.g. a band or wire. The cutting eleme |
| 7083631 |
Percutaneous bypass graft and securing system |
August 1, 2006 |
| A bypass graft incorporates fixation mechanisms at its opposite ends, for securing these ends to different locations along a blood vessel, or alternatively to different locations wherein one of the locations is a different vessel or an organ defining a cavity. Mechanical fixation fea |
| 7025776 |
Arteriotomy closure devices and techniques |
April 11, 2006 |
| An arterial closure system includes an arterial closure device ("ACD") and a deployment tool. The arterial closure device includes a first member forming an enlargement around the circumference of the arterial closure device and being configured to be received against an outer surface of |
| 6972031 |
Exterior stent and its use |
December 6, 2005 |
| A stent apparatus and its use is provided comprising a substantially tubular member with an inside surface and an outside surface; and a securing element for securing the tubular member to the exterior of a body lumen. The method for implanting the stent to the exterior of a body lumen |
| 6936024 |
Percutaneous transmyocardial revascularization (PTMR) system |
August 30, 2005 |
| Percutaneous transmyocardial revascularizaton systems are disclosed for creating thin, linear incisions through the endocardium and partially into the myocardium. The systems mitigate the deficiencies of current approaches that position a distal tip channeling mechanism against the e |
| 6916035 |
Athletic devices and other devices with superelastic components |
July 12, 2005 |
| A racket includes a handle section, a head section, and a connecting section positioned between the handle section and the head section. One or more of the handle section, the head section, and the connecting section include a superelastic metal. The racket, other athletic devices and ot |
| 6887249 |
Positioning systems for sutureless anastomosis systems |
May 3, 2005 |
| Anastomosis systems include fittings and compression mechanisms for effecting end-end or end-side couplings of biological or synthetic bypass grafts to vessel locations. The fittings are tubular and surround end regions of the graft. In some applications an end region of the graft is |
| 6887192 |
Heart support to prevent ventricular remodeling |
May 3, 2005 |
| This is a support device that prevents, reduces, and delays remodeling of diseased cardiac tissue, and also decreases the impact of such remodeling on collateral tissue is disclosed. The invention further reinforces abnormal tissue regions to prevent over-expansion of the tissue due to |
| 6872204 |
Tissue cutting catheter and RF cutting method |
March 29, 2005 |
| A tissue cutting device includes a catheter with a window at its distal tip for admitting tissue into a catheter compartment. A cylindrical cartridge in the compartment has a cutting edge that supports an electrically conductive cutting element, e.g. a band or wire. The cutting element a |
| 6852132 |
Artificial limbs incorporating superelastic supports |
February 8, 2005 |
| A method of using an artificial limb includes mounting an artificial limb to a body part, applying a force to the artificial limb to deflect the artificial limb from a first position in a first direction, and removing the force, whereby the artificial limb moves to the first position. Th |
| 6843795 |
Anastomotic connector for sutureless anastomosis systems |
January 18, 2005 |
| Anastomosis systems include fittings and compression mechanisms for effecting end--end or end-side couplings of biological or synthetic bypass grafts to vessel locations. The fittings are tubular and surround end regions of the graft. In some applications an end region of the graft is |
| 6740101 |
Sutureless anastomosis systems |
May 25, 2004 |
| Anastomosis systems include fittings and compression mechanisms for effecting end-end or end-side couplings of biological or synthetic bypass grafts to vessel locations. The fittings are tubular and surround end regions of the graft. In some applications an end region of the graft is |
| 6726696 |
Patches and collars for medical applications and methods of use |
April 27, 2004 |
| The invention relates to applying a patch to a tissue surface within a mammalian body that includes retaining the patch to a deployment device, advancing the deployment device to the tissue surface, pressing the patch against the tissue surface, and manipulating the deployment device to |
| 6718656 |
Shoes and braces with superelastic supports |
April 13, 2004 |
| Described are shoes, orthodic appliances, and anatomic braces containing superelastic support members for enhanced performance. The superelastic supports provide dynamic response to deflection. As such, the superelastic supports incorporated in the soles of shoes enhance walking, running |
| 6652544 |
Percutaneous bypass graft and securing system |
November 25, 2003 |
| A bypass graft incorporates fixation mechanisms at its opposite ends, for securing these ends to different locations along a blood vessel, or alternatively to different locations wherein one of the locations is a different vessel or an organ defining a cavity. Mechanical fixation fea |
| 6648901 |
Anastomosis systems |
November 18, 2003 |
| An end-side anastomosis system including a fitting comprising: a base for attachment to a graft, said base be configured to form a seal with an opening in a host vessel wall; a leading petal having a cross-section with a radius of curvature approximating a radius of curvature of the host |
| 6648900 |
Anastomosis systems |
November 18, 2003 |
| An end-side anastomosis system including a fitting including a base for attachment to a graft, the base be configured to form a seal with an opening in a host vessel wall a leading petal having a cross-section with a radius of curvature approximating a radius of curvature of the host |
| 6632196 |
Dual balloon catheter and method of use |
October 14, 2003 |
| A balloon catheter includes an elongate pliable catheter tubing with a dilatation balloon fixed to the catheter tubing near its distal end. The dilatation balloon includes a first wall for dividing the balloon into a plurality of dilatation compartments adjacent one another and arranged |
| 6626899 |
Apparatus and methods for treating tissue |
September 30, 2003 |
| Apparatus and methods are provided for thermally and/or mechanically treating tissue, such as valvular structures, to reconfigure or shrink the tissue in a controlled manner. The apparatus comprises a catheter in communication with an end effector which induces a temperature rise in an |
| 6599302 |
Aortic aneurysm treatment systems |
July 29, 2003 |
| A system and components for treating aortic aneurysms includes a reinforcing graft and fittings for securing the graft to a host vessel and to branch vessels, for example the iliac and renal arteries. Combinations of fittings and rings or other compression mechanisms secure vessels or |
| 6540761 |
Tissue cutting/tissue removing device with vacuum feature |
April 1, 2003 |
| A tissue cutting device includes a catheter with a window at its distal tip for admitting tissue into a catheter compartment. A cylindrical cartridge in the compartment has a cutting edge that supports an electrically conductive cutting element, e.g. a band or wire. The cutting element a |
| 6494889 |
Additional sutureless anastomosis embodiments |
December 17, 2002 |
| This invention is related to devices and systems for creating sutureless anastomoses. In particular, this invention is related to devices for deploying and securing the ends of bypass grafts designed to provide a fluid flow passage between at least two vessels or tubular structures. A |
| 6361559 |
Thermal securing anastomosis systems |
March 26, 2002 |
| A sutureless anastomosis systems for securing a bypass graft to a host vessel or other tubular structure including a bypass graft and fitting. A compression mechanism may be used with the system for attachment of the bypass graft to the fitting. An electrode is connected to the fitting a |
| 6293955 |
Percutaneous bypass graft and securing system |
September 25, 2001 |
| A bypass graft incorporates fixation mechanisms at its opposite ends, for securing these ends to different locations along a blood vessel, or alternatively to different locations wherein one of the locations is a different vessel or an organ defining a cavity. Mechanical fixation fea |
| 6241724 |
Systems and methods for creating lesions in body tissue using segmented electrode assemblies |
June 5, 2001 |
| A multiple electrode array for ablating tissue carries at least two electrode segments that are circumferentially spaced from each other. Insulation electrically isolates the separated electrode segments from each other. Signal wires attached to the separated electrode segments conve |
| 6217585 |
Mechanical stent and graft delivery system |
April 17, 2001 |
| A deployment device for stents and grafts includes a catheter, an expansion framework or cage near the catheter distal end, and a means for controlling expansion from a proximal end of the catheter. The cage is formed of a plurality of elongate strands coupled at opposite ends to the |
| 6149681 |
Radially expanding prostheses and systems for their deployment |
November 21, 2000 |
| A resilient graft construction incorporates a structural layer formed of a resilient body compatible metal or polymer, and a fluid impervious layer of graft material secured to the structural layer. The structural layer includes an elongate longitudinal primary section, and secondary sec |
| 6074351 |
Variable curve electrophysiology catheter |
June 13, 2000 |
| An electrode tip assembly attachable to the end of a catheter for supporting a tip electrode for percutaneous insertion into a living body having a steering mechanism includes an elongated body bendable in response to external forces to steer the tip electrode. The body is connected |
| 6063318 |
Method of forming a catheter body from tubing segments |
May 16, 2000 |
| A method of bonding sections of a catheter body together in abutting relationship including the steps of providing a temperature resistance polymeric sleeve, which sleeve preferably has a spirally wound metallic wire imbedded between its inner and outer diameters. The sleeve is inser |
| 5989276 |
Percutaneous bypass graft and securing system |
November 23, 1999 |
| A bypass graft incorporates fixation mechanisms at its opposite ends, for securing these ends to different locations along a blood vessel, or alternatively to different locations wherein one of the locations is a different vessel or an organ defining a cavity. Mechanical fixation fea |
| 5944689 |
Variable curve electrophysiology catheter |
August 31, 1999 |
| An electrode tip assembly attachable to the end of a catheter for supporting a tip electrode for percutaneous insertion into a living body having a steering mechanism includes an elongated body bendable in response to external forces to steer the tip electrode. The body is connected |
| 5928191 |
Variable curve electrophysiology catheter |
July 27, 1999 |
| An electrode tip assembly attachable to the end of a catheter for supporting a tip electrode for percutaneous insertion into a living body having a steering mechanism includes an elongated body bendable in response to external forces to steer the tip electrode. The body is connected |
| 5902291 |
Spring assembly for catheter |
May 11, 1999 |
| A catheter having a proximal portion and a distal portion terminating in a distal tip, is provided with a spring assembly contained within its distal tip portion for providing a bias against side to side deflection of the distal tip. The assembly preferably includes a central wire having |
| 5871523 |
Helically wound radio-frequency emitting electrodes for creating lesions in body tissue |
February 16, 1999 |
| A device for ablating tissue within the body has an element with an energy emitting region helically wound about and along the axis of the element. The element emits energy to create a lesion in body tissue. A sheath of a non-energy emitting material is movable over the region to adjust |
| 5865801 |
Multiple compartmented balloon catheter with external pressure sensing |
February 2, 1999 |
| A balloon catheter includes an elongate pliable catheter tubing with a dilatation balloon fixed to the catheter tubing near its distal end. The dilatation balloon includes a first wall for dividing the balloon into a plurality of dilatation compartments adjacent one another and arranged |
| 5860920 |
Systems for locating and ablating accessory pathways in the heart |
January 19, 1999 |
| Systems and methods sense electrical events about a selected annulus region of the heart to identify the location of an accessory pathway. The systems and methods establish a contact site between heart tissue along the selected annulus and a multi-electrode array having a generally circu |
| 5855552 |
Catheter having ring electrodes secured thereon |
January 5, 1999 |
| A catheter having an elongated polymeric body with hollow encircling ring electrodes thereon and a method of forming the same are provided by the invention. Ring electrodes are each connected to an external electrical circuit by wires extending through the lumen, the wires each passing |
| 5833604 |
Variable stiffness electrophysiology catheter |
November 10, 1998 |
| A catheter supporting a tip electrode for percutaneous insertion into a living body having a steering mechanism that includes an elongated body bendable in response to external forces to steer the tip electrode. An axially movable stiffening member, preferably in the form of a sleeve or |
| 5673695 |
Methods for locating and ablating accessory pathways in the heart |
October 7, 1997 |
| Systems and methods sense electrical events about a selected annulus region of the heart to identify the location of an accessory pathway. The systems and methods establish a contact site between heart tissue along the selected annulus and a multi-electrode array having a generally circu |
| 5665062 |
Atherectomy catheter and RF cutting method |
September 9, 1997 |
| An atherectomy device includes a catheter with a window at its distal tip for admitting tissue into a catheter compartment. A cylindrical cartridge in the compartment has a cutting edge that supports an electrically conductive cutting element, e.g. a band or wire. The cutting element and |
| 5637090 |
Multiple electrode element for mapping and ablating heart tissue |
June 10, 1997 |
| Systems and methods sense electrical events in heart tissue to identify the location of an arrhythmogenic focus for ablation. The systems and methods establish a contact site between heart tissue and a curvilinear electrode array. The systems and methods monitor signals representing elec |
| 5573522 |
Spring assembly for catheter |
November 12, 1996 |
| A catheter having a proximal portion and a distal portion terminating in a distal tip, is provided with a spring assembly contained within its distal tip portion for providing a bias against side to side deflection of said distal tip. The assembly preferably includes a central wire havin |
| 5569221 |
Catheter component bond and method |
October 29, 1996 |
| A method of bonding sections of a catheter body together in abutting relationship including the steps of providing a temperature resistant polymeric sleeve, which sleeve preferably has a spirally wound metallic wire imbedded between its inner and outer diameters. The sleeve is insert |
| 5545193 |
Helically wound radio-frequency emitting electrodes for creating lesions in body tissue |
August 13, 1996 |
| A device for ablating tissue within the body has an element with an energy emitting region helically wound about and along the axis of the element. The element emits energy to create a lesion in body tissue. A sheath of a non-energy emitting material is movable over the region to adjust |
| 5524337 |
Method of securing ring electrodes onto catheter |
June 11, 1996 |
| A catheter having an elongated polymeric body with hollow encircling ring electrodes thereon and a method of forming the same are provided by the invention. Ring electrodes are each connected to an external electrical circuit by wires extending through the lumen, the wires each passing |
