Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

University of Virginia Patent Foundation

Covidien LP

Kypheze, Inc.

David F Kallmes

Waleed Brinjikji

Gerald R Hankins

Gregory A Helm

Brady Hatcher

Randy Beyreis

Mary E Jensen

Bradley J Erickson

Daniel J Blezek

Xiaojiang Yang

The disclosure includes a balloon guiding sheath including an elongated sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, an inner tube and an outer tube both extending between the proximal end and the distal end, an access port located adjacent the proximal end, a distal port located adjacent the distal end, and a working lumen extending through the elongated sheath between the access port and the distal port. The balloon guiding sheath may include an inflatable balloon located on an outer surface of the elongated sheath adjacent the distal end, and at least one vent hole located between an outer surface of the elongated sheath and an inner surface of the inflatable balloon. The at least one vent hole may be configured to allow media to flow from the inflatable balloon to an external portion outside the balloon guiding sheath.

Internal carotid artery thrombectomy devices and methods

A balloon guiding sheath may include an elongated sheath comprising a proximal end, a distal end, an inner tube, an outer tube surrounding the inner tube, an access port located adjacent the proximal end, a distal port located adjacent the distal end, and a working lumen extending between the access port and the distal port. The balloon guiding sheath may also include an inflatable balloon located on an outer surface of the elongated sheath adjacent the distal end. The balloon guiding sheath may also include a textured surface located along an outer portion of the outer tube and located beneath the inflatable balloon. The elongated sheath may be sized and configured to enable direct insertion into vasculature of a patient through an arteriotomy in at least one of a carotid artery or a vertebral artery to position the inflatable balloon at a target site.

Balloon guiding sheath having a textured surface

A needle-mounted balloon system can include a cannula and a stylet. The cannula may include a handle and an outer sheath, and the outer sheath may be configured to retract and expose at least a portion of an expandable member. The stylet may include a stylet needle and a sharp distal tip portion. The stylet needle may be used to insert the system into a body structure, after which the stylet may be disengaged from the cannula. The expandable member may then be exposed and inflated to create a space in the body structure. Filler material may be injected through the cannula to the open space in an effort to stabilize an injured or otherwise destabilized portion of the body structure.

Bone expansion systems and methods

A balloon guiding sheath may include an elongated sheath comprising a proximal end, a distal end, an inner tube, an outer tube surrounding the inner tube, an access port, a distal port, and a working lumen extending through an interior portion of the elongated sheath between the access port and the distal port. The balloon guiding sheath may also include an inflatable balloon located on an outer surface of the elongated sheath adjacent the distal end. The balloon guiding sheath may include a plurality of inflation holes extending through a side wall of the elongated sheath. The elongated sheath may be sized and configured to enable direct insertion into a patient's vasculature through an arteriotomy in at least one of a femoral artery and vertebral artery to position the inflatable balloon at a target site.

Balloon guiding sheath having an inflation trough

Devices and methods for creating space within a body structure for therapeutic purposes include an expandable member disposed on the distal end portion of a catheter. Such devices and methods can be used, for example, for creating space within bone, and for injecting a filler material such as cement into the space to strengthen, repair, or otherwise enhance the bone structure.

Bone expansion devices and methods

A computer-aided system identifies aneurysm suspects in 3D image datasets. The system takes the raw image dataset as input and assigns one or more points of interest (POIs) in the image data. The system determines one or more features for each POI and identifies one or more aneurysm suspects from among the assigned POIs based on the determined features.

Computer-aided detection (CAD) of intracranial aneurysms

A method and system for fusing a region in the spine involve the use of at least one guide tube to pass instruments and substances into the spinal region in a minimally invasive manner. In the preferred practice of the method, a guide tube is anchored to a vertebra and the guide tube is moved to thereby position the vertebra. A steerable drilling tool is passed through the guide tube and steered into position to abrade at least a portion of an intervertebral disc and thereby create a cavity in the disc. A flowable substance is passed into the cavity and permitted to solidify to establish fusion in the cavity. Optionally, an uninflated balloon is inserted into the cavity and the balloon is filled with the flowable substance to contain the flowable substance.

Method and system for fusing a spinal region

A method and system for fusing a region in the spine involve the use of at least one guide tube ( ) to pass instruments and substances into the spinal region in a minimally invasive manner. In the preferred practice of the method, a guide tube is anchored to a vertebra and the guide tube is moved to thereby position the vertebra. A steerable drilling tool ( ) is passed through the guide tube and steered into position to abrade at least a portion of an intervertebral disc, thereby creating a cavity in the disc. A flowing substance is passed into the cavity and permitted to solidify to establish fusion in the cavity. Optionally, an uninflated balloon ( ) is inserted into the cavity and the balloon is filled with the flowing substance to contain the flowing substance.

A method for occluding aneurysms or peripheral blood vessels is provided which allows for isovolumetric, isobaric delivery of occluding agents to aneurysms or peripheral blood vessels, wherein the aneurysms or peripheral blood vessels are isolated from the general circulation until the occluding agent has stabilized or until occlusion is effected. In particular, a double balloon method for occluding aneurysms or peripheral blood vessels is disclosed wherein a first balloon is inserted into the aneurysm or peripheral blood vessel to deliver an occluding agent, and a second balloon is placed such that it substantially covers the neck of the aneurysm or peripheral blood vessel to substantially seal the aneurysm or peripheral blood vessel from the general circulation. Additionally, an aneurysm or peripheral blood vessel comprising a double balloon configuration useful for occluding aneurysms or peripheral blood vessels is disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, MN, United States of America

David F Kallmes