Emory University

Atrionix, Inc.

Ev3 Santa Rosa, Inc.

University of California

Other

Edwards Lifesciences Ag

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

Mitralife

Jonathan Jason Langberg

Michael D Lesh

James Clayton Peacock, Iii

Erik Van Der Burg

Michael R Ross

Michael Peter Ross

Andreas Bollmann

Michael Shane Lloyd

David B De Lurgio

Erik Van Der Berg

An accessory for changing the timbre of a stringed instrument is provided, comprising a body having a vertical opening and a horizontal slot formed in the bottom surface from one edge into the vertical opening; an adjustment rod within the horizontal slot; and a dampener within the vertical opening associated with at least one string of the stringed instrument to which the accessory is attached. The adjustment rod has an upwardly angled inner end within the vertical opening in the body. The dampener comprises a dampener body; a soft fabric covering a top surface; and a bottom surface having a horizontal groove with a downwardly angled top surface matching the angle of the angle of the adjustment rod. Moving the adjustment rod inwardly moves the dampener upward and applies pressure to the string; moving the adjustment rod outwardly moves the dampener downward and reduces the pressure on the string.

Attachable accessory for changing the timbre of a stringed instrument

Technologies are disclosed herein for a low impedance detection system. The detection system includes an electrical insulation and an impedance measurement device. The impedance measurement device can be used to test the impedance of the system when the barrier is placed between the user of the barrier and a source of electrical power. In a defibrillation system, a rescuer can place the barrier over the patient. An electrical power source can deliver electrical shocks to the patient. The impedance measurement device can monitor impedances of the system across various frequencies to detect electrical conditions that might be harmful to the rescuer.

Electrical safety system

An implantable device is positioned within the coronary sinus and tightened around the mitral annulus to reduce mitral valve regurgitation. The device carries at least one electrode, in electronic communication with a cardiac rhythm management device.

Percutaneous mitral annuloplasty with cardiac rhythm management

A minimally invasive method of performing mitral annuloplasty is disclosed. An implantable device is positioned within the coronary sinus and tightened around the mitral annulus. Mitral valve regurgitation is monitored before, during, and/or after the tightening step. An on-going drug therapy may be determined, taking into account post-implantation hemodynamic function.

Percutaneous mitral annuloplasty with hemodynamic monitoring

A mitral annuloplasty and left ventricle restriction device is designed to be transvenously advanced and deployed within the coronary sinus and in some embodiments other coronary veins The device places tension on adjacent structures, reducing the diameter and/or limiting expansion of the mitral annulus and/or limiting diastolic expansion of the left ventricle. These effects may be beneficial for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Transluminal mitral annuloplasty

This invention is a circumferential ablation device assembly which is adapted to forming a circumferential conduction block in a pulmonary vein. The assembly includes a circumferential ablation element which is adapted to ablate a circumferential region of tissue along a pulmonary vein wall which circumscribes the pulmonary vein lumen, thereby transecting the electrical conductivity of the pulmonary vein against conduction along its longitudinal axis and into the left atrium. The circumferential ablation element includes an expandable member with a working length that is adjustable from a radially collapsed position to a radially expanded position. An equatorial band circumscribes the outer surface of the working length and is adapted to ablate tissue adjacent thereto when actuated by an ablation actuator. The equatorial band has a length relative to the longitudinal axis of the expandable member that is narrow relative to the working length, and is also substantially shorter than its circumference when the working length is in the radially expanded position. A pattern of insulators may be included over an ablation element which otherwise spans the working length in order to form the equatorial band described. The expandable member is also adapted to conform to the pulmonary vein in the region of its ostium, such as by providing a great deal of radial compliance or by providing a taper along the working length which has a distally reducing outer diameter. A linear ablation element is provided adjacent to the circumferential ablation element in a combination assembly which is adapted for use in a less-invasive 'maze'-type procedure in the region of the pulmonary vein ostia in the left ventricle.

Circumferential ablation device assembly

A mitral annuloplasty and left ventricle restriction device is designed to be transvenously advanced and deployed within the coronary sinus and in some embodiments other coronary veins. The device places tension on adjacent structures, reducing the diameter and/or limiting expansion of the mitral annulus and/or limiting diastolic expansion of the left ventricle. These effects may be beneficial for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

A pacing lead that is useful for transvenous pacing of the left ventricle, particularly in patients with congestive heart failure. The pacing lead includes a tapered body of reduced diameter at its distal end, and at least one electrode positioned in the area of the thin distal end of the tapering body. A floppy coil is attached as an integral part of the tapered body, or provided as a separate component, to serve as a guidewire for steering the pacing lead. Also provided with is a sheath delivery system for delivery of the pacing lead into the coronary sinus or a distal cardiac vein. The delivery system includes a J-tipped guidewire insertable into the right atrium or right ventricle from a cephalic or subclavian vein, a sheath with preformed curve, and a dilator, wherein the sheath, with the dilator positioned therein, is advancable over the guidewire placed into the right ventricle, the guidewire and dilator thereafter removable to cannulate the ostium of the coronary sinus or a distal cardiac vein, and provide guidance for a pacing lead advancable through the sheath into the coronary sinus.

Cardiac pacing lead and delivery system

A left ventricle restriction device is designed to be transvenously advanced and deployed within the coronary sinus and in some embodiments other coronary veins. The device places tension on adjacent structures, reducing the diameter and/or limiting diastolic expansion of the left ventricle. This may be beneficial for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Endoluminal ventricular retention

Percutaneous mitral annuloplasty and cardiac reinforcement

The present invention relates to a tissue ablation device assembly which is adapted to form a conduction block along a length of tissue between two predetermined locations along the left atrial wall. The assembly comprises an ablation element on an elongated ablation member that is coupled to each of two delivery members, wherein the delivery members are adapted to controllably position and secure the ablation element along the length of tissue between the predetermined locations. A linear lesion in the tissue between the predetermined locations is then formed by actuation of the ablation element. The invention further provides that the ablation member may slideably engage one or two delivery members such that an adjustable length of the ablation element along the ablation member may be extended externally from the engaged delivery member and along a length of tissue.

Tissue ablation system and method for forming long linear lesion

This invention is a circumferential ablation device assembly which is adapted to forming a circumferential conduction block in a pulmonary vein. The assembly includes a circumferential ablation element which is adapted to ablate a circumferential region of tissue along a pulmonary vein wall which circumscribes the pulmonary vein lumen, thereby transecting the electrical conductivity of the pulmonary vein against conduction along its longitudinal axis and into the left atrium. The circumferential ablation element includes an expandable member with a working length that is adjustable from a radially collapsed position to a radially expanded position. An equatorial band circumscribes the outer surface of the working length and is adapted to ablate tissue adjacent thereto when actuated by an ablation actuator. The equatorial band has a length relative to the longitudinal axis of the expandable member that is narrow relative to the working length, and is also substantially shorter than its circumference when the working length is in the radially expanded position. A pattern of insulators may be included over an ablation element which otherwise spans the working length in order to form the equatorial band described. The expandable member is also adapted to conform to the pulmonary vein in the region of its ostium, such as by providing a great deal of radial compliance or by providing a taper along the working length which has a distally reducing outer diameter. A linear ablation element is provided adjacent to the circumferential ablation element in a combination assembly which is adapted for use in a less-invasive &ldquo;maze&rdquo;-type procedure in the region of the pulmonary vein ostia in the left ventricle.

A mitral annuloplasty and LV restriction device is designed to be transvenously advanced and deployed within the coronary sinus and in some embodiments other coronary veins. The device places tension on adjacent structures, reducing the diameter and/or limiting expansion of the mitral annulus and/or limiting diastolic expansion of the left ventricle. These effects may be beneficial for patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Growing community of inventors

Atlanta, GA, United States of America

Jonathan Jason Langberg