| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080203076 | Method and Apparatus for Heating an Object - Rapid heating of a surface of an object is achieved by moving the surface of the object proximate to one or more flexible baffles. The one or more flexible baffles are in fluid communication with a pressurized and heated flow of air. The one or more baffles are arranged to contact the surface of the object in the absence of the flow of air. The flow of air creates a gap between the one or more flexible baffles and the adjacent portions of the surface. The flow of air traveling through the gap heats these portions of the surface with a high thermal transfer efficiency. Objects to be heated may include substantially two-dimensional planar objects such as thin plates, as well as three-dimensional objects such as cylinders. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080223475 | Method for securing objects using wires - The invention controls the break-off point of twisted wires to predictably break at the edge of the tightening tool. This is achieved by slightly weakening the wire at this point, using the pressure of the tightening tool and the shape of the jaw to introduce a controlled weak point. The tool creates uniform and strong twisted wire joints. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080226694 | Method for introducing superhydrophobic articles into the human body - An article to be inserted into the human body has a superhydrophobic surface. The superhydrophobic surface is coated with a water soluble thin but durable protective coat. One positioned inside the body the coating is rapidly dissolved by the blood or other fluids and exposes the superhydrophobic surface. To coat article the water based coating is mixed with a liquid capable of wetting the superhydrophobic surface but is still dissolvable or at least miscible in the coating. As an example, a glucose or sucrose solution in water is mixed with alcohol and used to coat the surface. After water and alcohol evaporation, a durable protective coat of sugar remains. After the coated article is inserted into the body, the coating is rapidly dissolved and absorbed by the body. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080269546 | Self-acting urethral valve - The invention emulates the operation of a healthy urethra by providing a valve with a large differential between the opening pressure and the closing pressure. The differential is achieved by using a snap action created by the action of the urine flow on a force that drops off rapidly with displacement. A preferred way to achieve such as force is by using permanent magnets. The valve is installed simply by insertion into the urethra and can easily be removed. No surgical procedure is involved. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20090025592 | REGISTERING PRINTING SLEEVE SEGMENTS - A printing sleeve ( | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090031579 | MICRO-STRUCTURED DRYING FOR INKJET PRINTERS - A dryer operable in close proximity to and in series with an inkjet printhead comprises a heat source and an air bearing structure on one side of the predetermined path and having a pressurized air inlet and an air outlet adjacent to the drying position of the receiver medium. Air flow from the air bearing structure outlet forms an air bearing for the receiver medium. A microporous filter positioned at the outlet and being adapted to convert the air flow from the outlet to a diffuse flow, the microporous filter being formed of an inner layer of very fine screen for optimum air diffusion and an outer layer of courser woven screen to add rigidity and protection from scuffing. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090062875 | Miniature defibrillator - A miniature implanted defibrillator ignites an explosive charge when it senses an erratic heart rhythm. The defibrillator can be delivered percutaneously into the heart or can be implanted in the vicinity of the heart via minimally invasive surgery. The shock created by the exploding charge defibrillates the heart. Single use and multiple use devices are possible. The same principle can be used for a disposable external defibrillators. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090076597 | System for mechanical adjustment of medical implants - A system for mechanically adjusting medical implants uses an external coil to set up a magnetic field. The magnetic field causes an actuator inside the implant to move in small steps, allowing fine adjustment. The element responding to the magnetic field can be magnetostrictive or SMA based. Large motions are made up from small steps by using two one-way clutches allowing the active element to move small increments in one direction. For SMA based devices, short burst of AC magnetic field are used. For magnetostrictive devices short pulse of unipolar magnetic field are used. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090093890 | Precise control of orthopedic actuators - An actuator is implanted inside the body and attached to a bone. The actuator is controlled from outside the body using a changing magnetic field or creating mechanical motion of the tissue. The changing field is used to create power inside the actuator and precisely control its operation without requiring a transdermal connection. The power generated inside actuator can also be used to transmit data to the outside. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090131930 | MEDICAL DEVICE FOR USE IN BODILY LUMENS, FOR EXAMPLE AN ATRIUM - A device positionable in a cavity of a bodily organ (e.g., a heart) may discriminate between fluid (e.g., blood) and non-fluid tissue (e.g., wall of heart) to provide information or a mapping indicative of a position and/or orientation of the device in the cavity. Discrimination may be based on flow, or some other characteristic, for example electrical permittivity or force. The device may selectively ablate portions of the non-fluid tissue based on the information or mapping. The device may detect characteristics (e.g., electrical potentials) indicative of whether ablation was successful. The device may include a plurality of transducers, intravascularly guided in an unexpanded configuration and positioned proximate the non-fluid tissue in an expanded configuration. Expansion mechanism may include helical member(s) or inflatable member(s). | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090192441 | Liposuction system - A surgical tool such as a liposuction cannula is equipped with a sensor at the tool tip. The sensor continuously analyzes the type of tissue in contact with the tip based on the electrical properties of the tissue. When encountering a tissue type that should not be disturbed, the action of the surgical tool is stopped automatically. When used for liposuction, the cannula is mechanically decoupled from the handle when the wrong type of tissue is detected thus minimizing the inertia of the part that needs to be stopped. Besides electrical sensing, other sensors, such as mechanical or ultrasonic, can be used at the tip of the surgical tool or cannula to differentiate between tissue types | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090204180 | System for implanting a microstimulator - A system for implanting a microstimulator uses an insulated electrical conductor connected to an electrical stimulator and fed through a metal hypodermic needle to locate the best position for stimulation, followed by the insertion of a metal encased micro stimulator. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090207494 | Laparoscopic camera - The lens at the tip of a laparoscopic camera is kept clean by creating a compartment in front of it pressurized by CO | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090210035 | System for powering medical implants - A medical implant is powered by inductive coupling to a transmitter utilizing a large number of frequencies in order to minimize the amount of electromagnetic interference at any single frequency. The frequencies are generated by a resonant circuit rapidly tunable by changing the inductance. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090259089 | Expandable catheter for delivery of fluids - A multi lumen catheter is made from a number of thin walled flexible tubes bonded together to form an inner lumen. The inner lumen can withstand vacuum when the outside tubes are pressurized. During insertion the tubes are compressed and collapsed. The tubes expand by the pressure of the pumped fluid. At the point the catheter enters the body the expansion is restricted to a smaller diameter than the rest of the catheter. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090259301 | Detector for abnormal conditions inside body - An implant capable of sensing pressure, force, pH level or any other condition releases a chemical into the body when a pre-set limit is exceeded. The chemical is chosen to be detectable by the person without the need of any external equipment. Typical chemicals are dyes causing coloration visible to the person or chemicals causing a mild and clearly identified reaction such as odor, taste, or unique sensation. The released chemical can have therapeutic effects as well. The invention is particularly suitable for detection of abnormal increase of internal pressure in order to monitor stent grafts. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090275832 | Lithotripsy system with automatic 3D tracking - A lithotripsy system capable of 3D tracking monitors the acoustic reflection from the stone in order to focus the shock wave on the stone regardless of shock wave displacement or stone movement. The tracking and focusing is based on a phased array concept, allowing the lithotripsy head to remain stationary and well coupled to the body. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090275866 | Lithotripsy system with automatic 3D tracking - A lithotripsy system capable of 3D tracking monitors the acoustic reflection from the stone in order to focus the shock wave on the stone regardless of shock wave displacement or stone movement. The tracking and focusing is based on a phased array concept, allowing the lithotripsy head to remain stationary and well coupled to the body. An alternate shock wave steering is based on refraction by a variable liquid wedge. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090287304 | Medical Device for Constricting Tissue or a Bodily Orifice, for example a mitral valve - A medical apparatus positionable in a cavity of a bodily organ (e.g., a heart) may constrict a bodily orifice (e.g., a mitral valve). The medical apparatus may include tissue anchors that are implanted in the annulus of the orifice. The tissue anchors may be guided into position by an intravascularly or percutaneously deployed anchor guiding frame. Constriction of the orifice may be accomplished by cinching a flexible cable attached to implanted tissue anchors. The medical device may be used to approximate the septal and lateral (clinically referred to as anterior and posterior) annulus of the mitral valve in order to move the posterior leaflet anteriorly and the anterior leaflet posteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation and eliminate mitral regurgitation. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20100010565 | Extended range wireless muscular and neural stimulation - Miniature implanted muscle, nerve and brain stimulators are powered by inductive coupling to a large coil which is preferably placed under the bed. Preferably the operation of the system is controlled by a programmable timer to operate when the user is resting or asleep. Two coils operated at two different positions can be used simultaneously to avoid spots with no signal. When the system is used to reduce angina pains, the pulsation is synchronized to the cardiac rhythm by picking up the electro-cardiac signals. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100010612 | Lumen diameter and stent apposition sensing - A stent balloon is provided with two conductive rings, created by a thin metallized coating deposited directly on the balloon, adjacent to the ends of the stent. The impedance between those rings and the body of the patient is measured at different AC frequencies. As the balloon approaches the vessel wall the impedance increases rapidly. Once the balloon forms full contact with vessel wall the impedance increases slowly. The changing impedance provides a guide for optimal apposition of the stent. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100056978 | Externally adjustable blood flow valve - A valve installed in a blood vessel can be externally adjusted over a wide range of flow rates. Such a valve can be incorporated in an AV shunt or AV fistula to allow large flow during dialysis and small flow at all other times. The valve can be activated by finger pressure, hypodermic needle or by an electromagnetic field. The valve is shaped like a Venturi tube with round cross section and smooth diameter transition to minimize blood damage and clotting. Hemodynamic properties are further enhanced by keeping the part coming in contact with the blood a single continuous tubing. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100087836 | Surgical Instrument and Method for Tensioning and Securing a Flexible Suture - A surgical instrument may be used to apply tension to a flexible suture to close and secure a broken or cut bone (e.g. a sternum following a sternotomy). The device preferably applies an adjustable tension to the flexible suture in order to secure the bone together. Multiple instruments may be used together to ensure the desired tension is applied to the entire bone structure being secured with the flexible sutures. Once the desired tension is achieved, the device preferably provides a mechanism to apply a uniform twist to the flexible suture to lock the flexible suture in place and maintain the tension previously achieved. The device may automatically cut the flexible suture, or the flexible suture may be cut by the surgeon once the twisting action has been performed. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100125225 | System for selective ultrasonic ablation - The invention can selectively heat a diseased area, such as a tumor, in the body while minimizing heating of healthy surrounding tissue. This is done by exposing the undesired tissue to a scanning focused ultrasound beam arriving from different angular directions at different times, all directions passing through the undesired tissue. The system can scan the target area with low power ultrasound, and then activate the higher power over the selected target areas. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100125271 | System for treating undesired body tissue - The invention can selectively heat a diseased area or undesired tissue in the body while minimizing heating to the healthy area and surrounding tissue. This is done by exposing the undesired tissue to a scanning focused microwave beam arriving from different directions, all directions passing through the undesired tissue. The invention is particularly useful for heating tissues in which the undesired tissue has reduced blood flow. The undesired area will heat up rapidly while the healthy tissue will be cooled by the blood flow. This is particularly effective for treating emphysema because of the low mass of the lungs and the high blood flow. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100163130 | PRESSURE WAVE GENERATOR AND CONTROLLER FOR GENERATING A PRESSURE WAVE IN A MEDIUM - An apparatus for generating a pressure wave in a medium is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of pressure wave generators having respective moveable pistons, the pistons having respective control rods connected thereto. The apparatus also includes a plurality of transducers coupled to the medium and means for causing the pistons of respective ones of the plurality of the pressure wave generators to be accelerated toward respective ones of the plurality of transducers. The apparatus further includes means for causing restraining forces to be applied to respective control rods to cause respective pistons to impact respective transducers at respective desired times and with respective desired amounts of kinetic energy such that the respective desired amounts of kinetic energy are converted into a pressure wave in the medium. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100222789 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CLOSING HOLES IN TISSUE - A device for closing holes in tissue is delivered via a catheter to the inside of a body lumen such as a heart. An elastic barbed clip is expanded, pulled into the tissue and released, pulling the tissue with it. The operation is fully reversible. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100272238 | Sysstem for reduction of exposure to X-ray Radiation - To reduce X-ray exposure, an area of interest is selected in the image. The image of the selected area is updated frequently, comparable to rate of updates used today for the whole image. The rest of the image is updated at a significantly lower rate. Since the area of interest normally is a small part of the overall area, the total exposure is reduced significantly. A movable X-ray shield placed near the X-ray source blocks the radiation from areas outside the area of interest. The shield automatically retracts when the complete image is updated. The area of interest can be selected by the user or automatically selected based on activity in the image. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20110022166 | MEDICAL DEVICE FOR CONSTRICTING TISSUE OR A BODILY ORIFICE, FOR EXAMPLE A MITRAL VALVE - A medical apparatus positionable in a cavity of a bodily organ (e.g., a heart) may constrict a bodily orifice (e.g., a mitral valve). The medical apparatus may include tissue anchors that are implanted in the annulus of the orifice. The tissue anchors may be guided into position by an intravascularly or percutaneously deployed anchor guiding frame. Constriction of the orifice may be accomplished by cinching a flexible cable attached to implanted tissue anchors. The medical device may be used to approximate the septal and lateral (clinically referred to as anterior and posterior) annulus of the mitral valve in order to move the posterior leaflet anteriorly and the anterior leaflet posteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation and eliminate mitral regurgitation. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110034823 | Lumen diameter and stent apposition sensing - A stent balloon is provided with two conductive rings, created by a thin metallized coating deposited directly on the balloon, adjacent to the ends of the stent. The impedance between those rings and the body of the patient is measured at different AC frequencies. As the balloon approaches the vessel wall the impedance increases rapidly. Once the balloon forms full contact with vessel wall the impedance increases slowly. The changing impedance provides a guide for optimal apposition of the stent. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110075805 | X-ray system - To reduce X-ray exposure while improving image quality, an area of interest is selected in the image. The image of the selected area is updated frequently, comparable to rate of updates used today for the whole image. The rest of the image is updated at a significantly lower rate. Since the area of interest normally is a small part of the overall area, the total exposure is reduced significantly. A fast X-ray shutter, placed near the X-ray source, blocks the radiation from areas outside the area of interest. The shutter automatically retracts when the complete image is updated. The area of interest can be selected by the user or automatically selected based on activity in the image. Since most of the exposures are taken at a reduced collimation angle, limited by the area of interest, the area of interest is imaged at reduced scatter and better quality. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110082538 | MEDICAL DEVICE, KIT AND METHOD FOR CONSTRICTING TISSUE OR A BODILY ORIFICE, FOR EXAMPLE, A MITRAL VALVE - A device, kit and method may include or employ an implantable device (e.g., annuloplasty implant) and a tool operable to implant such. The implantable device is positionable in a cavity of a bodily organ (e.g., a heart) and operable to constrict a bodily orifice (e.g., a mitral valve). The tissue anchors may be guided into precise position by an intravascularly or percutaneously deployed anchor guide frame of the tool and embedded in an annulus of the orifice. Constriction of the orifice may be accomplished via a variety of structures, for example by cinching a flexible cable or via a anchored annuloplasty ring, the cable or ring attached to the tissue anchors. The annuloplasty ring may be delivered in an unanchored, generally elongated configuration, and implanted in an anchored generally arch, arcuate or annular configuration. Such may approximate the septal and lateral (clinically referred to as anterior and posterior) annulus of the mitral valve, to move the posterior leaflet anteriorly and the anterior leaflet posteriorly, thereby improving leaflet coaptation to eliminate mitral regurgitation. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110086579 | WATERJET CUTTING SYSTEMS, INCLUDING WATERJET CUTTING SYSTEMS HAVING LIGHT ALIGNMENT DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - Various embodiments of waterjet cutting systems are described herein. In one embodiment, a waterjet cutting system includes a high-pressure water source and a waterjet cutting head coupled to the high-pressure water source via a high-pressure water supply. The waterjet cutting head has an orifice and a mixing tube. The orifice forms a waterjet from the high-pressure water. The mixing tube has an inlet aperture through which the waterjet enters the mixing tube, an exit aperture through which waterjet exits the mixing tube, and a passage between the inlet and exit apertures. The waterjet cutting system further includes a light alignment device operably coupled to the waterjet cutting head. In one aspect of this embodiment, the light alignment device is configured to generate a light beam that enters the mixing tube through the inlet aperture, passes through the passage, and exits the mixing tube through the exit aperture. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110087203 | SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING DIASTOLIC DYSFUNCTION - An elastic structure is introduced percutaneously into the left ventricle and attached to the walls of the ventricle. Over time the structure bonds firmly to the walls via scar tissue formation. The structure helps the ventricle expand and fill with blood during the diastolic period while having little affect on systolic performance. The structure also strengthens the ventricular walls and limits the effects of congestive heart failure, as the maximum expansion of the support structure is limited by flexible or elastic members. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110125172 | AUTOMATIC ATHERECTOMY SYSTEM - An automatic atherectomy system uses a rotary burr at the tip of a catheter as a sensing device, in order to measure both electrical conductivity and permittivity of surrounding tissue at multiple frequencies. From these parameters it is determined which tissue lies in different directions around the tip. A servo system steers the catheter tip in the direction of the tissue to be removed. In non-atherectomy applications the rotary burr can be replaced with any desired tool and the system can be used to automatically steer the catheter to the desired position. The steering may be done hydraulically, by pressurizing miniature bellows located near the catheter tip. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110172658 | MEDICAL DEVICE FOR USE IN BODILY LUMENS, FOR EXAMPLE AN ATRIUM - A device positionable in a cavity of a bodily organ (e.g., a heart) may discriminate between fluid (e.g., blood) and non-fluid tissue (e.g., wall of heart) to provide information or a mapping indicative of a position and/or orientation of the device in the cavity. Discrimination may be based on flow, or some other characteristic, for example electrical permittivity or force. The device may selectively ablate portions of the non-fluid tissue based on the information or mapping. The device may detect characteristics (e.g., electrical potentials) indicative of whether ablation was successful. The device may include a plurality of transducers, intravascularly guided in an unexpanded configuration and positioned proximate the non-fluid tissue in an expanded configuration. Expansion mechanism may include helical member(s) or inflatable member(s). | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110202052 | System for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia - The disclosed system improves urine flow by increasing the inside diameter of the urethra going through the prostate by eroding the urethral wall, rather than by reducing the prostate volume. This is done by a specially designed IRE electrode, which limits the penetration depth of the electric field to the urethral wall. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110238105 | VIVO INFLATABLE STRUCTURES, FOR EXAMPLE TO EXPAND STENTS - Multi-balloon catheter structures that are able to move with respect to one another may provide superior compliance in tortuous passages to, for example, perform angioplasty and/or expand stents. Two or more balloons may be inflated to equal pressures. A length of the balloons may be sufficiently longer than a length of a stent to accommodate axial movement of the balloons. One or more balloons may be lubricous or carry a lubricant. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20120042797 | APPARATUS FOR PREPARING A PRINTING SLEEVE - An apparatus for preparing a printing sleeve ( | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120158016 | AUTOMATIC ATHERECTOMY SYSTEM - An automatic atherectomy system uses a rotary burr at the tip of a catheter as a sensing device, in order to measure both electrical conductivity and permittivity of surrounding tissue at multiple frequencies. From these parameters it is determined which tissue lies in different directions around the tip. A servo system steers the catheter tip in the direction of the tissue to be removed. In non-atherectomy applications the rotary burr can be replaced with any desired tool and the system can be used to automatically steer the catheter to the desired position. The steering may be done hydraulically, by pressurizing miniature bellows located near the catheter tip. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120215095 | X-Ray radiation reduction system - By exposing the ROI at full exposure and full frame rate while exposing the area outside the ROI with low exposure and up to full frame rate an overall reduction in X-Ray radiation is achieved. The resultant image has slightly lower resolution outside the ROI but better resolution (as compared to standard fluoroscopy practices) in the ROI because of reduced scattering. Different exposures are supplied to different parts of the image by using a fast shutter in conjunction with the exposure control. | 08-23-2012 |
| 20120271096 | Disposable blood pump and catheter - A blood pump for cardiac assist is made up from a catheter having a collapsible outer delivery tube and an inner suction tube that can be collapsible as well. The diameter of the tubing is reduced at the entry point to the body an a hole in the side of the delivery tube provides blood flow to the organs downstream from the catheter insertion point. The catheter is connected to an elastic tubing loop which forms a peristaltic pump when stretched over rotating arms equipped with rollers. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20130023751 | Water retention monitoring - The water contents of the tissue is measured by placing part of the body, such as the arm or ankle, between two capacitive electrodes and calculating the water contents based on the dielectric properties of the tissue. The device is shaped like a bracelet or hinged clip. When placed over part of the body the hinge position is measured to normalize the reading for the tissue thickness. The device can alert the user of water retention, and can also contact the physician directly via a wireless link. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130041405 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CLOSING HOLES IN TISSUE - A device for closing holes in tissue is delivered via a catheter to the inside of a body lumen such as a heart. An elastic barbed clip is expanded, pulled into the tissue and released, pulling the tissue with it. The operation is fully reversible. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130184705 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INTRA-CARDIAC MAPPING AND ABLATION - An intra-cardiac mapping system is based on locating the ports through which blood flows in or out the heart chambers. For many procedures, such as ablation to cure atrial fibrillation, locating the pulmonary veins and the mitral valve accurately allows to perform a Maze procedure. The location of the ports and valves is based on using the convective cooling effect of the blood flow. The mapping can be performed by a catheter-deployed expandable net or a scanning catheter. The same net or catheter can also perform the ablation procedure. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130184706 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INTRA-CARDIAC MAPPING AND ABLATION - An intra-cardiac mapping system is based on locating the ports through which blood flows in or out the heart chambers. For many procedures, such as ablation to cure atrial fibrillation, locating the pulmonary veins and the mitral valve accurately allows to perform a Maze procedure. The location of the ports and valves is based on using the convective cooling effect of the blood flow. The mapping can be performed by a catheter-deployed expandable net or a scanning catheter. The same net or catheter can also perform the ablation procedure. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130226148 | Mixing syringe - A movable mixing disc is inserted into a regular syringe. The mixing disc has a small hole covered by a fine screen, allowing only saline solution to get behind the disc. When the plunger of the syringe is pressed, the saline solution emerges from the mixing disc hole as a high velocity jet, stirring up the settled particles. As the ejection continues, the mixing disc is pushed forward by the plunger in order to eliminate any unused volume. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130238089 | METHOD FOR ANCHORING A MITRAL VALVE - An artificial mitral valve is anchored in the left atrium by placing the valve between the annulus of the natural mitral valve and an artificial annulus. The artificial annulus is formed by inserting a tool into the coronary sinus, and adjusting the tool to force the wall of the left atrium to form an annulus above the artificial valve, this locking it in place and forming a hemostatic seal. | 09-12-2013 |
| 20130345797 | MEDICAL DEVICE, KIT AND METHOD FOR CONSTRICTING TISSUE OR A BODILY ORIFICE, FOR EXAMPLE, A MITRAL VALVE - A device, kit and method may employ an implantable device (e.g., annuloplasty implant) and a tool to implant such. The implantable device is positionable in a cavity of a bodily organ (e.g., a heart) and operable to constrict a bodily orifice (e.g., a mitral valve). Tissue anchors are guided into precise position by an intravascularly deployed anchor guide frame and embedded in an annulus. Constriction of the orifice may be accomplished via a variety of structures, for example by cinching a flexible cable or anchored annuloplasty ring, the cable or ring attached to the tissue anchors. The annuloplasty ring may be delivered in a generally elongated configuration, and implanted in an anchored generally arch, arcuate or annular configuration. Such may move a posterior leaflet anteriorly and an anterior leaflet posteriorly, improving leaflet coaptation to eliminate mitral regurgitation. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140135913 | METHOD FOR ANCHORING A MITRAL VALVE - An artificial mitral valve is anchored in the left atrium by placing the valve between the annulus of the natural mitral valve and an artificial annulus. The artificial annulus is formed by inserting a tool into the coronary sinus, and adjusting the tool to force the wall of the left atrium to form an annulus above the artificial valve, this locking it in place and forming a hemostatic seal. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140213894 | MEDICAL DEVICE FOR USE IN BODILY LUMENS, FOR EXAMPLE AN ATRIUM - A device positionable in a cavity of a bodily organ (e.g., a heart) may discriminate between fluid (e.g., blood) and non-fluid tissue (e.g., wall of heart) to provide information or a mapping indicative of a position and/or orientation of the device in the cavity. Discrimination may be based on flow, or some other characteristic, for example electrical permittivity or force. The device may selectively ablate portions of the non-fluid tissue based on the information or mapping. The device may detect characteristics (e.g., electrical potentials) indicative of whether ablation was successful. The device may include a plurality of transducers, intravascularly guided in an unexpended configuration and positioned proximate the non-fluid tissue in an expanded configuration. Expansion mechanism may include helical member(s) or inflatable member(s). | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140214028 | MEDICAL DEVICE FOR USE IN BODILY LUMENS, FOR EXAMPLE AN ATRIUM - A device positionable in a cavity of a bodily organ (e.g., a heart) may discriminate between fluid (e.g., blood) and non-fluid tissue (e.g., wall of heart) to provide information or a mapping indicative of a position and/or orientation of the device in the cavity. Discrimination may be based on flow, or some other characteristic, for example electrical permittivity or force. The device may selectively ablate portions of the non-fluid tissue based on the information or mapping. The device may detect characteristics (e.g., electrical potentials) indicative of whether ablation was successful. The device may include a plurality of transducers, intravascularly guided in an unexpanded configuration and positioned proximate the non-fluid tissue in an expanded configuration. Expansion mechanism may include helical member(s) or inflatable member(s). | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140254303 | MIXING SYRINGE - A movable mixing disc may be utilized in connection with a syringe. The mixing disc may comprise a hole which may be covered by a fine screen or coupled to a porous member, allowing only certain elements of a solution to pass through the mixing disc. Actuation of a plunger of the syringe may cause liquid to emerge from the mixing disc hole as a high velocity jet or other turbulent flow, stirring up any settled particles on a distal side of the mixing disc. As the ejection continues, the mixing disc may be pushed forward by the plunger in order to eliminate any unused volume. Also, the mixing disc may be moved forward by virtue of a pressure difference created by a pressure drop across the mixing disc, such as a pressure drop created as the plunger is displaced to induce fluid flow across the mixing disc. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20150045660 | MEDICAL DEVICE FOR USE IN BODILY LUMENS, FOR EXAMPLE AN ATRIUM - A device positionable in a cavity of a bodily organ (e.g., a heart) may discriminate between fluid (e.g., blood) and non-fluid tissue (e.g., wall of heart) to provide information or a mapping indicative of a position and/or orientation of the device in the cavity. Discrimination may be based on flow, or some other characteristic, for example electrical permittivity or force. The device may selectively ablate portions of the non-fluid tissue based on the information or mapping. The device may detect characteristics (e.g., electrical potentials) indicative of whether ablation was successful. The device may include a plurality of transducers, intravascularly guided in an unexpanded configuration and positioned proximate the non-fluid tissue in an expanded configuration. Expansion mechanism may include helical member(s) or inflatable member(s). | 02-12-2015 |
| 20150080902 | SURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND METHOD FOR TENSIONING AND SECURING A FLEXIBLE SUTURE - A surgical instrument may be used to apply tension to a flexible suture to close and secure a broken or cut bone (e.g. a sternum following a sternotomy). The device preferably applies an adjustable tension to the flexible suture in order to secure the bone together. Multiple instruments may be used together to ensure the desired tension is applied to the entire bone structure being secured with the flexible sutures. Once the desired tension is achieved, the device preferably provides a mechanism to apply a uniform twist to the flexible suture to lock the flexible suture in place. The instrument preferably decreases the upward tension applied to the flexible sutures over the duration of the application of twisting. The device may automatically cut the flexible suture, or the flexible suture may be cut by the surgeon once the twisting action has been performed. | 03-19-2015 |
