W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.

Craig T Nordhausen

Edward H Cully

Michael J Vonesh

Ryan C Patterson

Dennis Raymond Dietz

Clyde Gerald Oakley

David J Messick

Joseph A Huppenthal

Jim H Polenske

Cody L Hartman

Joseph R Armstrong

Mark Joseph Ulm

Eric M Tittelbaugh

Daniel H Todd

Richard W Denny

James Todd Walter

Paul N Latulippe

John L Loewen

Warren Cutright

Michael J Fife

David W Wilson

Curtis J Franklin

Paul A Bielewicz

Thomas L Tolt

Shawn D Quick

Warren J Cutright

A self-expanding implantable medical device formed from one or more non-interlocking filaments. Stents, stent-grafts, occluder devices, and filters are manufactured from one or more filaments utilizing a non-interlocking crossing pattern.

Filament-wound implantable devices

The present invention is directed to a device that permits a permanent aperture to be formed in a wall, or other partition, of an implantable medical device. The present invention maintains the continuity and fluid-retaining properties of the implantable medical device by providing a breachable barrier material fully covering an opening delimited by a deformable framework. The invention is accessed with conventional interventional surgical instruments that disrupt and displace the barrier material. Following disruption of the barrier material, the opening is enlarged with surgical instruments to form a permanent framed aperture in the wall of the implantable medical device. The permanent framed aperture provides fluid communication across the wall of the implantable medical device.

Medical device ameneable to fenestration

The present invention relates to a non-evertable blood filter that divides the transverse cross sectional area of a venous vessel into three annular regions or zones. The inner zone, the region immediately surrounding the longitudinal axis of the vessel, is maintained in a relatively open state with only minimal interference from the members making up the filter device so that blood flow can be maintained at a relatively normal rate. Concentrically surrounding the inner zone is the intermediate zone, to which captured emboli are directed out of the bloodstream passing primarily through the inner zone. Finally, concentrically surrounding the intermediate zone is the outer zone adjacent to the vessel wall. This is also intended to be kept free of emboli, so that emboli in the bloodstream immediately adjacent the vessel wall are directed away from the wall by the filter design and into the intermediate zone, thereby avoiding the accumulation of emboli adjacent the vessel wall that might otherwise result in stenosis. The blood filter is intended primarily for use as an inferior vena cava filter, although it can be made in a range of sizes allowing its use in blood vessels and particularly venous vessels of differing diameters. The filter is preferably removable.

Removable blood conduit filter

An improved catheter is provided. The catheter may include a deflectable member located at a distal end of a catheter body. The deflectable member may comprise an ultrasound transducer array. The deflectable member may be interconnected to the catheter body by a live hinge. The catheter may include a lumen extending from a proximal end of the catheter body to the distal end. The lumen may be used to deliver an interventional device to a point distal to the distal end of the catheter body. The deflectable member may be selectively deflectable in a pivot-like manner through an arc of at least 90 degrees. In embodiments where the deflectable member includes an ultrasound transducer array, the ultrasound transducer array may be operable to image both when aligned with the catheter body and when pivoted relative to the catheter body.

Catheter

An improved catheter is provided. The catheter may include a deflectable member located at a distal end of the catheter. The deflectable member may comprise an ultrasound transducer array. The catheter may include a lumen extending from a proximal end of the catheter to the distal end. The lumen may be used to deliver an interventional device to a point distal to the distal end of the catheter. The deflectable member may be selectively deflectable in a pivot-like manner through an arc of at least 90 degrees. In embodiments where the deflectable member includes an ultrasound transducer array, the ultrasound transducer array may be operable to image both when aligned with the catheter and when pivoted relative to the catheter. When pivoted relative to the catheter, the ultrasound transducer array may have a field of view distal to the distal end of the catheter.

Catheter with deflectable imaging device and bendable electrical conductor

Catheter with deflectable imaging device

An endoprosthesis expansion system having, in combination, a delivery component such as a length of catheter tubing having at its distal end an intermediate sheath component, and an inner tube within the full length of the delivery catheter and intermediate sheath component. The inner tube has a protrusion affixed to its distal end, and an expandable endoprosthesis is fitted in a compacted state about the intermediate sheath, immediately proximal to the protrusion. If the endoprosthesis is a self-expanding endoprosthesis (as is preferred), an exterior constraining sheath is required around the outer surface of the endoprosthesis. Following insertion of the endoprosthesis and delivery system into a body conduit (such as a blood vessel) and transport of the endoprosthesis to the desired site within the body conduit, the endoprosthesis is deployed by axially moving the protrusion against the system, thereby applying a radially directed outward force and causing simultaneous dilatation of the intermediate sheath and disruption of the exterior constraining sheath. Disruption of the exterior constraining sheath, in the case of a self-expanding prosthesis, releases the stored energy in the formerly constrained prosthesis, allowing it to expand and accomplish full deployment against the luminal surface of the body conduit at the desired site.

Endoluminal expansion system

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Parker, CO, United States of America

Craig T Nordhausen