Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.

Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

Other

Flowserve Management Company

Frank E Manning

Charles R Peterson

Howard Graham

John Arthur Simpson

Wayne E Cornish

Michael Plattner

William Earl Webler, Jr

William E Webler, Jr

Ryan Grandfield

Gary Hague

Ronald L Grace

Darryl L Durkee

William R DeWeert

An intravascular guide wire having two core materials joined together without the use of a connector tube or sleeve, the core materials being stainless steel and psuedoelastic metal alloy, nitinol. The core materials are joined to each other through an intermediate transition piece made essentially of nickel, which is welded on either side to the two core materials. In a multi-segment intravascular guide wire, discrete, high modulus and medium modulus core portions of different materials are welded to a shapeable, low modulus distal core portion made of a third material having a flattened, shapeable section at a most distal end that is not welded to but made from the distal core portion, so the flattened, shapeable section can be deformed to create a steerable tip. Processes such as simultaneous resistance and friction welding can be used to join the core portions.

Guide wire with core having welded wire segments

Catheter or guidewire mounted automatic vessel occlusion and fluid dispersion devices that expand to occlude or partially occlude a vessel when a fluid is flowing in the catheter or guidewire, and that automatically collapse when fluid flow is stopped. Each occlusion device has an elastic skeleton covered with a flexible cover coupled thereto and may have a hole(s) or openings in its distal or proximal end thereof to allow controlled flow through the desired end of the occlusion device. The fluid may be a flush fluid for enabling or improving the performance of imaging devices and image enhancing fluids, of treatment fluids for localized treatment of a vessel or tissues in communication with the vessel and/or of the transmission of energy to the vessel wall and adjacent tissues. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Catheter mounted automatic vessel occlusion and fluid dispersion devices

A guide catheter includes an outer guide having an open lumen and a longitudinal pre-stress line extending between a distal end and a proximal end of the outer guide. The outer guide has a longitudinal stiffness that facilitates transmission of forces and prevention of kinking during steering of the outer guide within cardiac vasculature and structures. An inner guide has an open lumen and is movably displaceable within the open lumen of the outer guide. At least a distal end of the outer guide and inner guide are dimensioned for passage into the patient's coronary sinus. A guide handle is connected to the proximal end of the outer guide and includes a longitudinal pre-stress line separable into at least two sections such that guide handle separation splits the outer guide along the longitudinal pre-stress line at the proximal end of the outer guide.

Telescoping guide catheter with peel-away outer sheath

An intravascular guide wire having two core materials joined together without the use of a connector tube or sleeve, the core materials being stainless steel and pseudoelastic metal alloy, nitinol. The core materials are joined to each other through an intermediate transition piece made essentially of nickel, which is welded on either side to the two core materials. In a multi-segment intravascular guide wire, discrete, high modulus and medium modulus core portions of different materials are welded to a shapeable, low modulus distal core portion made of a third material having a flattened, shapeable section at a most distal end that is not welded to but made from the distal core portion, so the flattened, shapeable section can be deformed to create a steerable tip. Processes such as simultaneous resistance and friction welding can be used to join the core portions.

A guide catheter employs a retractable inner sheath movably disposed within an open lumen of an outer sheath. The inner sheath includes a pre-formed distal end and an open lumen adapted to receive a payload. The inner sheath is translatable and rotatable relative to the outer sheath. The inner sheath conforms to the outer sheath shape until it is distally extended beyond the outer sheath. The outer sheath contains a steering tendon that can be used to adjustably deflect the outer sheath. The guide catheter further includes a proximally attached guide handle. A steering handle can be pivotably connected to the guide handle. The steering handle is connected to the steering tendon and can apply a tensile force to the steering tendon for adjustably deflecting the outer sheath. A catheter according to the present invention provides an improved system for locating and cannulating cardiac venous structures, particularly the coronary sinus via the right atrium.

Steerable guide catheter with pre-shaped rotatable shaft

Methods of using a guide catheter employ a retractable inner guide movably disposed within an open lumen of a splittable outer guide. The outer guide includes a longitudinal pre-stress line extending from distal to proximal ends. The inner guide includes an open lumen adapted to receive a payload. The inner guide is translatable and rotatable relative to the outer guide. The guide catheter further includes a proximally attached guide handle which is separable into at least two sections. Separation of the guide handle splits the proximal end of the outer guide. Proximal outer guide retraction continues the splitting of the outer guide along the longitudinal pre-stress line.

Methods of using a telescoping guide catheter with peel-away outer sheath

A guide catheter employs a retractable inner guide movably disposed within an open lumen of a splittable outer guide. The outer guide includes a longitudinal pre-stress line extending from distal to proximal ends. The inner guide includes an open lumen adapted to receive a payload. The inner guide is translatable and rotatable relative to the outer guide. The guide catheter further includes a proximally attached guide handle which is separable into at least two sections. Separation of the guide handle splits the proximal end of the outer guide. Proximal outer guide retraction continues the splitting of the outer guide along the longitudinal pre-stress line.

Methods of accessing a destination vessel involve use of a catheter having an outer guide and an inner guide. The outer guide includes an outer guide lumen, a distal end, a proximal end, and a predetermined deflection location proximate the distal end. The inner guide includes an inner guide lumen, a pre-formed distal end, and a proximal end. An access method can involve axially displacing the inner guide beyond the distal end of the outer guide, axially rotating the inner guide relative to the outer guide, and changing a bend angle at the predetermined deflection location of the outer guide to direct the pre-formed distal end of the inner guide for finding and cannulating the destination vessel. A payload can be delivered into the destination vessel via the inner guide, or via the outer guide upon removal of the inner guide.

Methods of using a deflectable telescoping guide catheter

A catheter employs an inner guide with a pre-formed distal tip, an outer guide with a predetermined deflection location, and a proximal actuator. The inner guide can be longitudinally extended and axially rotated relative to the outer guide. The proximal actuator can adjustably change a bend angle of the predetermined deflection location. The catheter can be deployed with the inner guide retracted inside the distal end of the outer catheter. The extensible and rotatable inner catheter can be combined with the adjustable bend angle of the outer guide to provide an improved system for accessing and cannulating venous structures.

Deflectable telescoping guide catheter

A heat exchanger for heat exchange between a working fluid and a coolant having an inner casing, an outer casing, and an annular space formed therebetween. A tube bundle including at least one tube formed into a helical coil is located within the annular space. End plates are removably secured and sealed to the ends of the outer casing. Bulkhead fittings are mounted in openings of the end plates to seal the tube ends which pass through the end plates. The bulkhead fittings are sized to permit the end plates to be moved off of the bulkhead fittings in a direction away from the helical coil. The tube bundle may also include a separating plate extending longitudinally between the coils of two tubes within the tube bundle creating two separate passages through which coolant may flow. External tubes may be connected at the tube ends, outside of the outer casing and the end plates, such that the working fluid flows in a parallel single-pass flow or a series double-pass flow through the annular space. A method for servicing the heat exchanger includes disconnecting the heat exchanger from a fluid delivery tube and a fluid return tube, removing the end plates off of the bulkhead fittings in a direction away from the helical coil, removing the inner and outer casings off of the tube bundle, and servicing the tube bundle.

Method of servicing a helical coil heat exchanger with removable end

Helical coil heat exchanger with removable end plates

An improved muzzleloading firearm tool 65 which facilitates the accelerated reloading of muzzleloading firearms. Such tool comprises of a body 10, for the containment of any type of muzzleloading projectile and powder and a plunger assembly which has incremental graduation marks 48 to facilitate the accelerated reloading of the tool 65 itself and when such plunger 22 is depressed it injects charge and projectile into the bore of the firearm. The tool 65 will facilitate the loading of pistols and rifles, is water resistant, and has a bore alignment feature. The tool 65 is attached directly to the firearm rendering the tool 65 in a static state of accessibility and readiness, and lends equilibrium to the firearm while aiming.

Growing community of inventors

Valley Center, CA, United States of America

Frank E Manning