C. R. Bard, Inc.

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Other

David Micky Graves

Andrzej J Chanduszko

William E Parmentier

Robert G Lerdahl

Phillip E Carr

Jo Ann Kelly

Paul Scopton

Michael P Boutillette

David I Freed

M Kevin Richardson

Kevin Richardson

David G Spilka

Robert W Kalis

Daniel O Almazan

Leonard J Decant

Avijit Mukherjee

A blood filter delivery system for delivering a filter into a vein includes an introducer and a push rod with a spline member disposed along the push rod. The spline member has a main body, and first and second boss portions spaced apart along the longitudinal axis to provide a gap for retaining anchor member of the filter during delivery via the introducer.

Embolus blood clot filter and delivery system

A device for winding a filament around a structure disposed concentrically around a distal end of a balloon catheter includes a rotatable holder for retaining a distal end of the balloon catheter, a translatable winding carriage for helically winding the tensioned filament around the balloon catheter distal end, a heater for applying a predetermined amount of heat to a section of the balloon catheter having the filament wound therearound, and a controller for controlling at least the rate of rotation of the holder, the tensioning force applied to the filament, the amount of heat applied by the heater, and the rate of travel of the translatable winding carriage along the longitudinal dimension of the balloon catheter. By use of the device, the balloon is heat set and a predetermined checkering pattern of surface indentations are provided in the structure exterior surface in a single pass.

Checker balloon winding machine

A steerable imaging catheter is provided, including an elongated catheter tube, at least one steering cable extending along the catheter tube to control the movement of the distal end thereof, and a fiber optic cable extending along the catheter tube. The fiber optic cable transmits illumination light from its proximal end to its distal end and transmits an image from its distal end to its proximal end. In one embodiment, two or more steering cables are used, and the catheter tube is configured to have greater flexibility near its distal end than its proximal end so as to concentrate the movement (flexing) of the catheter tube at its distal end. The use of two or more steering cables, together with the catheter tube having varying flexibility, permit better control of the distal end of the catheter tube while reducing undue twisting of the remainder of the catheter tube.

Fiber optic imaging catheter

An implantable vessel filter having an integrated sensing capability for monitoring the condition of the vessel filter. In one variation, the vessel filter comprises a plurality of legs that would themselves perform as a sensor device for detecting distention, which would indicate the presence of a clot or thrombus therein. A passive electrical circuit may be implemented on the vessel filter to receive electromagnetic energy and transmit signals indicative of the condition of the implanted vessel filter. In another variation, a miniaturized sensor is adapted for measuring the strain and/or other physical parameters of the filter legs.

Vascular filter with sensing capability

A device for winding a filament around a structure disposed concentrically around a distal end of a balloon catheter includes a rotatable holder for retaining a distal end of the balloon catheter, a translatable winding carriage for helically winding the tensioned filament around the balloon catheter distal end, a heater for applying a predetermined amount of heat to a section of the balloon catheter having the filament wound therearound, and a controller for controlling at least the rate of rotation of the holder, the tensioning force applied to the filaments the amount of heat applied by the heater, and the rate of travel of the translatable winding carriage along the longitudinal dimension of the balloon catheter. By use of the device, the balloon is heat set and a predetermined checkering pattern of surface indentations are provided in the structure exterior surface in a single pass.

A blood filter delivery system for delivering a filter into a vein includes an introducer and a push rod with a spline member disposed along the push rod. The spline member has a main body, first and second boss portions spaced apart along the longitudinal axis to provide a gap for retaining anchor member of the filter during delivery via the introducer.

A method of using an imaging catheter for activating a photodynamic agent is provided. The method generally includes four steps. First, an imaging catheter including a fiber optic cable is inserted within a body cavity or vessel. The fiber optic cable has a first end (e.g., proximal end) and a second end (e.g., distal end), and is configured to transmit electromagnetic irradiation from its first end to its second end and to transmit an image from its second end to its first end. Second, an image of a site of interest (e.g., the location of an aneurysm) within the body cavity or vessel is observed using the fiber optic cable. Third, a suitable photodynamic agent is applied to the site of interest. Fourth, the fiber optic cable is used to deliver a selected wavelength or wavelength range of electromagnetic energy to the site to thereby activate the photodynamic agent.

Growing community of inventors

Mesa, AZ, United States of America

David Micky Graves