W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Alliedsignal Inc.

Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.

Craig W Irwin

James D Silverman

Edward H Cully

Tyson J Skelton

Harry Lester Kington

Ted R Farnsworth

James L Schienle

Edward A Rubin

Ho T Fang

Evan Honeyfield

Jacob B Munger

Donna J Chase

James T Sublett

Allan J Rodrigue

Richard E Annati

The present disclosure comprises devices, systems, and methods having an inverted sheath configured to cover, and in some instances constrain, a medical device and to retract through eversion, thus enabling the deployment of medical device at the treatment site. A constraining sheath can evert hydraulically. A constraining sheath can be configured to neck down a medical device to achieve a lower delivery profile. Furthermore, a constraining sheath can comprise a balloon to expand or positionally or structurally adjust a medical device.

Evertable sheath devices, systems, and methods

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward implantable medical devices that include a frame and a tubular member attached to the frame. The tubular member includes one or more fibrils or a strength in alignment with one or more struts of the frame.

Matched stent cover

A medical device frame including an undulating frame element defining a series of peaks each defining a longitudinal splay angle, circumferential cant angle, or combinations thereof. In some examples, the series of peaks are non-overlapping when the frame is in an expanded configuration and overlap when the frame is in the collapsed configuration. The longitudinal splay angle and/or circumferential cant angle may remain relatively unchanged between the expanded and collapsed configurations (e.g., within about 15%).

Expansion members for implantable devices and associated systems and methods

An implantable device delivery system is disclosed. The delivery system includes a constraining member situated between an interior layer and an exterior layer of a cover. The interior layer of the cover is disposed about an implantable medical device, and the exterior layer of the cover extends over a portion of the interior layer. The cover is generally tapered to minimize deployment forces. The constraining member is disposed about a portion of the interior layer and operates to constrain the implantable device to a delivery configuration. The cover and the constraining member are generally configured to be removed concurrently during deployment of the implantable device.

Implantable medical device constraint and deployment apparatus

An implantable medical device deployment system is disclosed that employs both a sheath element and a constraint member to protect implantable medical devices during delivery in a body while providing simple, accurate, and reliable device deployment. The delivery system is configured so that loading and deployment forces are not directly related to device diameter, length, or design, thus allowing a more universal delivery system across various delivered device configurations and product lines. The deployment system can provide numerous benefits, include better protection for drug-coated implantable devices.

The current invention employs tubes that can be constrained and expanded by either axial or torsional strain. By torsionally displacing the tube in a direction counter to the biased helices and angularly displacing the lower angle helix to an angle equal to, but opposite, the starting angle, the tube is expanded diametrically with no significant change in length after expansion of the tube. These tubes find utility in medical and non medical applications.

Self constraining radially expandable medical devices

The current invention discloses tubes that can be constrained and expanded by either axial or torsional strain. By torsionally displacing the tube in a direction counter to the biased helices and angularly displacing the lower angle helix to an angle equal to, but opposite, the starting angle, the tube is expanded diametrically with no significant change in length after expansion of the tube. These tubes find utility in medical and non medical applications.

A deployment sheath for medical devices is provided that includes one or more pleats in its pre-deployment state that are allowed to open during deployment so as to facilitate easier device deployment and sheath removal. Preferably, the sheath is removed by everting it over itself during the delivery process. By orienting the pleats along the length of the sheath, preferably helically around the sheath, the sheath undergoes a predictable enlargement during deployment so as to relieve friction of the everted sheath sliding along itself during deployment. This allows the sheath to be removed with less tension than previous everting sheath constructions and assures more accurate device placement in a patient.

Pleated deployment sheath

An improved integral composite cable jacket or tubing is disclosed wherein a fluoropolymer fiber array is disposed between a first and second elastomer jacket layer. At least one of the elastomer jacket layers is comprised of silicone. The first and second elastomer jacket layers are bonded together through predetermined open spaces defined by the fiber array.

Fluoropolymer fiber reinforced integral composite cable jacket and tubing

A transition assembly for directing the gas flow from a combustor to an axial turbine includes a transition liner having a shroud disposed about its outer surface and abutting thereto at a plurality of points to defining a plurality of cooling air passages therebetween. The downstream end of the assembly is circumscribed by the first stage stator and extends axially to just upstream of the first stage turbine rotor. At this end a plurality of circumferentially spaced struts are mounted between the liner and the shroud to define a plurality of axially facing nozzles which are angled to impart a pre-swirl to the cooling air exiting therefrom.

Combustor-to-turbine transition assembly

Non-destructive evaluation of a ceramic nozzle is accomplished by generating a thermal gradient across the nozzle while it is mounted in a test rig. The thermal gradient is then measured and compared to a preselected gradient that is representative of the harshest condition to which the nozzle will be exposed during its operating life. The thermal gradient is adjusted until it approximates the preselected gradient. The nozzle is then observed for any cracks which reveal a weakness in the ceramic.

Thermal testing of ceramic components using a thermal gradient

A stator vane assembly for a gas turbine engine that includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced ceramic vanes, each of which has an inner and outer ceramic shroud, and a ceramic post extending from one of the shrouds, and a metallic platform having a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses. The posts are inserted into a metallic sleeve and then brazed. The brazed sleeves are then mounted in the recesses. A method for assembling these components to form the stator assembly is also described.

Growing community of inventors

Parks, AZ, United States of America

Craig W Irwin