Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.

St. Jude Medical, Inc.

Verix Health, Inc.

Covidien LP

Medtronic Vascular, Inc.

Scion Cardio-vascular, Inc.

Ev3 Peripheral, Inc.

Benjamin E Morris

Gregory R Furnish

Todd A Hall

Mark Griffin

Eric E Bielefeld

Michael S H Chu

John B Golden

Yem Chin

Jozef Slanda

John O McWeeney

Mark L Adams

Oscar R Carrillo, Jr

Brian Keith Wells

David W Robertson

David I Freed

Jesse Leonard Farris, Iii

Wayne Johnson

Theodore Paul Dale

John Miser

William C Mers Kelly

James F Schuermann

Simon M Furnish

Valerie J Glazier

Bradley Charles Knippel

Ralph Joseph Thomas

Khoi A Le

William A Reuss, Jr

Gary Jordan

Gregory G Brucker

David A Rahdert

Matthew Pease

Richard J Olson

Brandon G Walsh

Thomas Banks

Adam L Cohen

Gerald M Hubbs

Hacene Bouadi

John Conrad Muskivitch

Russ J Redmond

Indaka Gunasekara

Travis Rowe

Enrique Malaret

David Byrd

Josh Barber

Sava A Chernomordik

Gregory M Ruhf

Josef Vincent Koblish

Shawn Ryan

Russell Francis Durgin

Claude A Vidal

Mark D Wood

Vasily P Abramov

Chau Cao

Eza Koch

Valerie Futral

Michael W Wilson

Molly Phillips-Hungerford

Asela Indaka D Gunasekara

Bryan R Ogle

Michael Goldenbogen

James F Schuerman

Jeffery C Argentine

Greg R Furnish

Melinda Kaye Kovach

Kevin Golebieski

Victor R Blackledge

Darren Galligan

Charles H Whatley, Jr

Wayne Allen Johnson

Cory Celestino

Susan E Clegg

Indi Gunasekara

Michael A Wilson

Jeffrey Clarke

Aleksandr I Nadein

Valerie Futral Maron

Several embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to medical visualization systems that comprise combinations of disposable and reusable components, such as catheters, functional handles, hubs, optical devices, etc. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to features and aspects of an in-vivo visualization system that comprises an endoscope having a working channel through which a catheter having viewing capabilities is routed. the catheter may obtain viewing capabilities by being constructed as a vision catheter or by having a fiberscope or other viewing device selectively routed through one of its channels. The catheter is preferably of the steerable type so that the distal end of the catheter may be steered from its proximal end as it is advanced with the body. A suitable use for the in-vivo visualization system includes but is not limited to diagnosis and/or treatment of the duodenum, and particularly the biliary tree.

In-vivo visualization system

A pulmonary access device comprises an elongated shaft having a proximal shaft section, a bendable shaft section, a distal shaft section, and a distal tip. The pulmonary access device further comprises an elongated sheath having a proximal sheath section, a malleable distal sheath section, and working channel. The working channel is configured for slidably receiving the elongated shaft. The pulmonary access device further comprises a handle assembly including a handle body. The handle body is affixed to a proximal end of the elongated shaft. The handle body is removably affixed to a proximal end of the elongated sheath.

Lung access device

A pulmonary access device comprises an elongated shaft having a proximal shaft section, a bendable shaft section, a distal shaft section, and a channel. The pulmonary access device further comprises a profiled stylet configured for being disposed in the working channel of the elongated shaft, the profiled stylet having a proximal stylet section with a first lateral stiffness profile, an intermediate stylet section having a second lateral stiffness profile less than the first lateral stiffness profile, a distal stylet section, wherein, when the profiled stylet is disposed in the working channel of the elongated shaft, the intermediate stylet section axially aligns with the bendable shaft section. The pulmonary access device further comprises a pull wire affixed to the distal shaft section, such that, when the pull wire is tensioned, the bendable shaft section bends, thereby deflecting the distal shaft section relative to the proximal shaft section.

Vivo visualization system

An introducer with a steerable distal tip section is disclosed. The steerable distal tip section may comprise an articulation support member comprising a laser-cut pattern of symmetrical elongated apertures in which the shape of each aperture is defined by at least three radii, a central radii being the largest and two end radii being smaller. This pattern of apertures can minimize ovaling of the cross-sectional shape of introducer shaft over the length of the deflectable section. The introducer can articulate in multiple planes. A tension pull wire can allow the introducer to resist directional bias.

Introducer with steerable distal tip section

Several embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to medical visualization systems that comprise combinations of disposable and resuable components, such as catheters, functional handles, hubs, optical devices, etc. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to features and aspects of an in-vivo visualization system that comprises an endoscope having a working channel through which a catheter having viewing capabilities is routed. the catheter may obtain viewing capabilities by being constructed as a vision catheter or by having a fiberscope or other viewing device selectively routed through one of its channels. The catheter is preferably of the steerable type so that the distal end of the catheter may be steered from its proximal end as it is advanced with the body. A suitable use for the in-vivo visualization system includes but is not limited to diagnosis and/or treatment of the duodenum, and particularly the biliary tree.

A delivery device for a collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes an operating handle and a catheter assembly. The operating handle may include a housing defining a movement space therein, a carriage assembly moveable in a longitudinal direction within the movement space, a deployment actuator coupled to the housing and rotatable relative to the housing, and a coupling assembly rotationally fixed to the deployment actuator. The catheter assembly may include a first shaft around which a compartment is defined and a distal sheath operatively connected to the carriage assembly. Movement of the carriage assembly in the longitudinal direction in the movement space may move the distal sheath between the closed condition and the open condition. The coupling assembly may have an engaged position in which rotation of the deployment actuator moves the carriage assembly, and a disengaged position in which rotation of the deployment actuator does not move the carriage assembly.

Devices and methods for transcatheter heart valve delivery

Release mechanism for medical device includes a bushing having a proximal end, a distal end and a channel extending therethrough. Plurality of extend proximally from the distal end are biased toward a release configuration in which engagement surfaces at distal ends thereof retract radially into the channel. A core pin insertable through the channel applies a radially expansive pressure to move the arms radially outward to a locking configuration. Engagement surfaces of the first and second arms connect to a retaining surface of a tissue treatment device containing capsule, which extends at an angle relative to the engagement surfaces selected so that a first portion of a force transmitted along an axis of the bushing moves the arms radially inward toward the release configuration before a second portion of the force exceeds a threshold level associated with the removal of a tissue treatment device from gripped tissue.

Release mechanism for hemostasis clip

A devicefor gathering tissue in a patient includes an elongated catheterand a capture assemblyat a distal portion of the catheter. The capture assembly has a closed sideand a doorrotatable between an open condition and a closed condition. The closed sideof the capture assemblyand the doorin the closed condition may collectively define a tissue capturing compartment. Movement of the doorfrom the open condition to the closed condition adjacent the tissue may capture a portionof the tissue in the tissue capturing compartment. A clip may then be applied from the capture assemblyto the captured tissueto hold the tissue substantially in a gathered configuration.

Apparatus and method for heart valve repair

An introducer () with a steerable distal tip section () is disclosed. The steerable distal tip section may comprise an articulation support member comprising a laser-cut pattern of symmetrical elongated apertures in which the shape of each aperture is defined by at least three radii, a central radii being the largest and two end radii being smaller. This pattern of apertures can minimize ovaling of the cross-sectional shape of introducer shaft over the length of the deflectable section. The introducer can articulate in multiple planes. A tension pull wire can allow the introducer to resist directional bias.

A devicefor repairing mitral valve leafletsincludes a jaw mechanismthat may be positioned adjacent a mitral valve leaflet. The jaw mechanismmay move between an open position and a closed position by pivoting a first jaw relativeto a second jaw. The first jawmay include a rivetthat may move from a stored position to an application position projecting away from the first jawwhen the jaw mechanismis moved from the closed to the open position. Closing the jawsabout a valve leafletcauses the rivetto pierce the leaflet. The jaw mechanismmay then be rotated to wind the leafletthereabout and again pierce the leaflet. The rivetmay then be released from the jaw mechanismand the deviceremoved from the patient.

A surgical access assembly for a surgical instrument and/or a surgeon's hand, the assembly including a housing, such as a wound retractor, and a seal body mounted to the housing. The seal body may have a pleated configuration when viewed in cross-section. The seal body may have a first surface and a second surface, the first surface having a plurality of radially-extending first channels and the second surface having a plurality of radially-extending second channels, the plurality of first channels being offset from the plurality of second channels. The seal body may define a substantially centrally disposed opening for reception of a hand/arm or instrument. In addition, the seal body may define one or more additional openings for simultaneous reception of an instrument and a hand.

Pleated seal for surgical hand or instrument access

A method of gathering tissue of a heart valve leafletmay include inserting an elongated catheter assemblyto a position adjacent the heart valve leaflet, the catheter assembly including a capture tooland a tissue support member. The capture tooland the tissue support membermay each be independently moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. Partially retracting the capture toolwith the tissue support memberin the extended position gathers tissueof the heart valve leafletbetween the capture tool and the tissue support member. A clipmay then be applied from the catheter assemblyto the gathered tissueto hold the tissue substantially in a gathered configuration.

An apparatus for gathering of tissue of a heart valve leaflet comprises an elongated member and a grasping assembly movable in the elongated member between a retracted position and an extended position. The grasping assembly includes an actuating arm having a proximal end and a distal end. The grasping assembly is attached to the distal end of the activating arm. The grasping assembly is operable to gather and clamp the tissue of the heart valve leaflet such that clamped tissue has a gathered configuration.

Growing community of inventors

Jeffersonville, IN, United States of America

Benjamin E Morris