Novostent Corporation

Trivascular, Inc.

Gerald Ray Martin

Eric W Leopold

Alexander Arthur Lubinski

W Patrick Stephens

Michael Hogendijk

Christopher P Cheng

John Peckham

James Richard Watson

Gilbert S Laroya

Rainier Betelia

Isaac J Zacharias

Michael Waldo

Eric Hsiang Yu

Mary Ann Parker, Legal Representative

Edward A Estrada

Stuart Huangyee Lin

Patrick W Stephens

Described is an inflatable implant suitable for placement in the human body and left there for an indeterminate and potentially lengthy period of time. The implant includes at least one bladder wall. The bladder wall will define at least one fillable volume and may form more than one independent fillable volumes. The wall and filler material may be selected to deliver treatment materials to the locale of the implant site or to remove amounts of harmful materials from such a region. The implant may, with an appropriate filler material or bladder wall material, be used in cooperation with an appropriate radio frequency (RF) source to cause the increase of a localized internal temperature and a resulting tissue change such as coagulation, ablation, or the like. Methods of using the implant are also described.

Inflatable implant

Described is an inflatable implant suitable for placement in the human body and left there for an indeterminate and potentially lengthy period of time. The implant is one that has a low profile when introduced into the body and a larger profile when it is inflated with one or more filler materials. Depending upon design and use choices the delivered implant may be removable and adjustable in situ in size, position, location, form, and rigidity. Indeed, in some variations, the design of the implant may be such that it may be removed at a potentially fairly lengthy time after implantation. The implant includes at least one bladder wall that generally is at least partially non-elastic (or unexpandable) after the preselected size is reached. The bladder wall will define at least one fillable volume and may form more than one independent fillable volumes. The bladder wall, in some variations, may be partially elastic or expandable to permit adjustment of implant size or configuration after or during delivery. The implant may be used as a supporting structure in a variety of differing body tissues and structures, e.g., in the spine or as a prosthetic in plastic surgery. The implant may also be used in conjunction with other components (often having a springed bias) as a source of movement in controlling the opening of a lumen or duct, that is to say, as a type of on-off valve or as a controlled flow valve. The implant may be used as an occludant within, or adjacent to, a variety of natural or abnormal anatomical body openings, e.g., vascular and genital lumina, aneurysms, ducts, septal defects, fistulae, esophagus, etc. The wall and filler material may be selected to deliver treatment materials the locale of the implant site or to remove amounts of harmful materials from such a region. The implant may, with an appropriate filler material or bladder wall material, be used in cooperation with an appropriate radio frequency (RF) source to cause the increase of a localized internal temperature and a resulting tissue change such as coagulation, ablation, or the like. Methods of using the implant are also described.

An implantable vascular prosthesis is provided for use in a wide range of applications wherein at least first and second helical sections having alternating directions of rotation are coupled to one another. The prosthesis is configured to conform to a vessel wall without substantially remodeling the vessel, and permits accurate deployment in a vessel without shifting or foreshortening.

Vascular prosthesis and methods of use

A catheter assembly includes a catheter, including an inner member and a sheath, extending from a handle. The handle includes a housing, a braking assembly, a carriage and a carriage driver. The braking assembly comprises a braking element within the housing interior and a braking element rotator. The carriage comprises at least one carriage braking surface engaging the braking element. The carriage driver, such as a spring, biases the carriage towards the proximal end of the handle. The inner member has a proximal end secured to the housing. The sheath has a proximal end secured to the carriage. Rotating the braking element causes the carriage to move proximally as the carriage braking surface slides along the braking element. This causes the sheath to move proximally relative to the inner member.

Catheter assembly with user-assisting handle

A vascular prosthesis comprises generally tubular body placeable in contracted and expanded states and has an axial length and a circumferential dimension in the expanded state. The body includes a series of circumferential elements having first lengths. First and second connectors have connector lengths and join alternating ends of adjacent circumferential elements. The first length plus the connector lengths joined thereto equal a total circumferential length. Each connector length is between 2.5% and 25% of the total circumferential length. Adjacent circumferential elements and connectors extending therefrom are separated by a stress relief slot having a relief slot length of more than 50% and less than 95% of the total circumferential length. The stress relief slots have narrow width portions over a majority of the relief slot lengths, the narrow width portions having lateral dimensions of no greater than about 3 mm.

Vascular prosthesis with stress relief slots

Vascular prosthesis with alternating helical sections

A delivery system and method for delivering a bifurcated intracorporeal device. The delivery system comprises a shaft having a distal section supporting a primary support member positioned to be disposed within at least a primary portion of the bifurcated intracorporeal device and a secondary support member extending within a secondary portion of the bifurcated intracorporeal device. At least one belt is configured to be circumferentially disposed about a portion of the secondary support member so to at least partially constrain the secondary portion of the bifurcated intracorporeal device. A tube defining a lumen is secured relative to the secondary support member. A release member is configured to engage and releasably secure the belt in a constraining configuration. The release member extends through at least a portion of the tube lumen such that the release member is accessible adjacent a proximal end of the tube.

Delivery system and method for bifurcated graft

Stent

A delivery system for an implantable vascular prosthesis is provided for a vascular prosthesis including at least first and second helical sections having alternating directions of rotation that are coupled to one another at apices. The delivery system includes an elongate body, a plurality of retainers and an outer sheath. The plurality of retainers are configured to temporarily retain a plurality of inner wound apices of the vascular prosthesis. The outer sheath is configured to retain the vascular prosthesis in a contracted state on the elongate body.

Growing community of inventors

Redwood City, CA, United States of America

Gerald Ray Martin