Other

Microvena Corporation

Aga Medical Corporation

Frank T Kotula

Kurt Amplatz

Timothy J Claude

Curtis Amplatz

Rudy A Mazzocchi

Daniel J Ferlic

Marvin E Hilgemann

A collapsible medical device and associated methods for occluding an abnormal opening in, for example, a body organ, wherein the medical device is shaped from a heat treatable metal fabric. The metal fabric is formed from a plurality of metal strands and is heat treated within a mold in order to substantially set a desired shape of the device. The medical device includes a fastener for attaching to the end of a guide wire or delivery catheter, wherein the shape of the medical device is formed such that the fastener is attached to the metal fabric within a recess formed in the shape of the medical device. A medical device having a preselected shape is delivered through a catheter or the like for deployment in a desired channel or opening in a patient's body. The medical device may be shaped, for example, to occlude an ASD, PDA, or a VSD.

Percutaneous catheter directed occlusion devices

The present invention provides a method of forming a medical device and medical devices which can be formed in accordance with the method. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of a) providing a metal fabric formed of a plurality of strands formed of a metal which can be heat treated to substantially set a desired shape; b) deforming the metal fabric to generally conform to a surface of a molding element; c) heat treating the metal fabric in contact with the surface of the molding element to substantially set the shape of the fabric in its deformed state; and d) removing the metal fabric from contact with the molding element. The resulting metal fabric will define a medical device which can be collapsed for passage through a catheter or the like for deployment in a channel of a patient's body. Medical devices made in accordance with this method can have varying structures.

Percutaneous catheter directed intravascular occlusion devices

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a mechanical thrombus maceration device which includes a flexible shaft adapted to be guided along a vascular path and rotated within a vascular channel; a rotor affixed to the shaft adjacent the distal end thereof for rotation therewith; drive means for rotating the shaft; and a rotor housing within which the rotor rotates. The rotor housing of this embodiment comprises a generally cylindrical wall substantially surrounding the rotor and having at least one port formed therein, the port or ports being positioned about the housing such that when a fluid (e.g. blood) is ejected through the ports within a vascular channel, the housing will tend to deflect toward one side of the vascular channel to permit the device to be steered during deployment. In another embodiment of the invention, the device includes an elongate, flexible shaft adapted to be guided along a vascular path and which is rotatable within a vascular channel; a plurality of rotors spaced from one another along the shaft and attached to the shaft for rotation therewith; drive means for rotating the shaft; and a rotor housing enclosing at least one of the rotors.

Mechanical thrombus maceration device

The present invention provides a safe, reliable means of breaking down a thrombus with rotating blades into particles which are fine enough to be left in the vascular system without any significant risk of forming additional thrombi. The thrombectomy device also includes ports to ensure that the rotating blades of the device do not directly contact the walls of the vessel, but rather remain substantially centered within the vessel.

Self-centering mechanical medical device

The present invention provides a snare for intravascular use having an elongate proximal member and a loop-shaped distal segment oriented at an angle to the adjacent portion of the proximal member. The snare may be formed of a superelastic shape memory alloy, which permits the distal segment to be collapsed for passage through a catheter and yet automatically open into its original, unrestrained configuration upon emerging from the distal tip of the catheter.

Snare-type probe

A medical catheter introducer and hemostasis valve assembly consists of a sheath having an elongated tube defining a conduit, a housing disposed at the proximal end of the sheath and further defining a conduit and an orifice, and a flexible elongated dilator sized for insertion through the hub and sheath conduit. The dilator has a tapered distal tip end and defines an axial conduit and an annular ridge having distally- and proximally-directed inclined surfaces. The sheath, when assembled with the dilator, has its distal end immediately adjacent the proximally-directed inclined surface of the ridge. A hemostasis valve for sealing the conduit is disposed in alignment with the conduit, and defines an aperture for passage of dilator and ridge therethrough in sealing engagement, into the conduit, and seals when the dilator is removed. The valve has a housing defining an orifice of a first diameter, and a valve element of a second diameter, greater than the first diameter. The valve is disposed within the orifice and is subject to externally-applied, radially directed forces that cause the valve to assume a dome-shape formation, with a convex surface disposed against the pressure of fluids within the body. As the introducer assembly is introduced into a body over a guidewire extending via a puncture opening into a vessel, the dilator and sheath flex to follow the guidewire, and the tapered end of the dilator and the distally-directed inclined surface of the ridge act to dilate the flesh about the opening to facilitate passage of the sheath. The introducer and valve may be used alone, or respectively with valves or introducers of other design. A base for attachment of the introducer to the patient is also described.

Medical introducer and valve assembly

The present invention provides a combined needle and dilator comprising a needle having a head with an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the body of the needle and a dilating sheath carried about the needle and abutting the rearward needle portion of the needle head. The dilating sheath has a front portion with an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the needle head to define, with the head, a generally smooth surface; a body portion with an outer diameter greater than that of the front portion; and a tapered portion disposed between the front and body portions. The tapered portion has an outer surface smoothly merging into the outer surfaces of the front portion and the body portion.

Combined needle and dilator apparatus

A mammography apparatus with a cylindrical section, reciprocating slot grid centered on an axis through a source of x-ray radiation. The slot grid includes a plurality of x-ray radiation absorbing lamellae disposed parallel to and aligned radially from the axis. Adjacent pairs of lamellae define air spaced gaps between the members of the pair. The ratio of the height of each of an adjacent pair of lamellae to the width of the respective defined gap being at least 7:1. The slot grid is set in a travel centered on the axis through the x-ray source. The x-ray source is provided with a predetermined staggered turn on and turn off circuit preventing interspace density artifacts.

Mammography apparatus

A device for performing percutaneous puncture treatment of a patient includes an elongate radiolucent plastic handle with a central portion and two opposite elongated end portions. A hollow radiopaque needle has a hub at its proximal end which is releasably mounted in the central portion of the handle so that the needle is perpendicular to an axis through the end portions. The distal end of the needle has a puncturing tip. An internal fluid passage in the needle is open to the tip and the hub so that fluid may be drained from a patient's body through the passage when the needle is inserted in the patient's body. The needle and central portion of the handle are aligned under a field of view of a fluoroscope. The handle is held by the grips which are outside of the field of view of the fluoroscope. While the doctor continuously monitors progress of the needle on the fluoroscope, the puncturing tip is inserted through the skin and moved to an internal location for aspiration of fluid. Medical personnel are safely outside of the field of view of the fluoroscope during the entire process.

Device and method for fluoroscope-monitored percutaneous puncture

A herbicide dispensing apparatus utilizes an upright frame attached to a cultivator or other moveable farm vehicle and carries a pair of downwardly angled herbicide applicator arms which overlie a row crop and diverge laterally outwardly from the row. Wicking means is attached to the arms and conveys herbicide outwardly along each arm and applies it by contact to unwanted plants in the path of the arms. The arms are swingably received in sockets in the frame and pivot toward and away from each other so as to adjust the distance of separation between the ends of the arms so that such ends terminate over spaces between adjacent rows of crop, permitting excess herbicide to drop harmlessly into such spaces. A pair of tubes extend from a herbicide reservoir to the applicator arms, and metering clamps are positioned on each tube and cooperate with flow stabilizers within each tube to closely control the rate of herbicide flow through each tube.

Growing community of inventors

Maple Grove, MN, United States of America

Frank T Kotula