Precision Vascular Systems, Inc.

Sarcos Corp.

Other

Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Kent Backman

Stephen C Jacobsen

Clark C Davis

John A Lippert

David L Wells

David Wells

An apparatus includes an elongate wire (solid or hollow) having a distal end section for detachment and delivery to a target location, the wire also having a discontinuity located rearwardly of the distal end section for rupturing when vibrational energy is applied to the wire, and a vibrational energy source couples to the proximal end of the wire for selectively applying vibrational energy to the wire to travel to the discontinuity and causes detachment of the end section.

Detachable coil for aneurysm therapy

Apparatus and method are disclosed by which a hollow distal end portion of a wire may be deposited at selected sites in body passageways. The apparatus includes an elongate wire (solid or hollow) having a distal end section for detachment and delivery to a target location, the wire also having a discontinuity located rearwardly of the distal end section for rupturing when vibrational energy is applied to the wire. The discontinuities may take the form of cuts formed in the wire, reduced diameter sections in the wire, adhesive, welded or soldered couplings between the wire and the distal end section, or the wire transitioning from the wire to a large mass disposed on the distal end section. A catheter is coupled to or surrounds the elongate wire to deliver therapeutic liquid to a target body location. The apparatus includes a vibrational energy source couplable to the proximal end of the wire for selectively applying vibrational energy to the wire to travel to the discontinuity and cause detachment of the end section.

A device and method for irradiating with a desired radioactive emission the interior walls of blood vessels, body cavities and the like. The device includes a catheter for placement in the blood vessel, body cavity or the like, adapted for disposition adjacent the walls thereof. The distal end of the catheter is preferably configured to expand into a helical coil shape when unconstrained, but may be straightened when constrained within a second catheter. The catheter includes a section which is opaque to the radioactive emissions in question, and a wire slidably disposed therein for threading selectable distances into the catheter. A radioactive source is positioned at the distal end of the wire, and when positioned within the radio-opaque section of the catheter, radioactive emissions arc blocked from reaching adjacent tissue, allowing the radiation source to be safely guided to a target location. Upon reaching the target location, the radioactive source is moved out of the opaque section, and radioactive emissions are allowed to reach adjacent tissue for treatment. The radiation source is preferably retracted through the catheter at a variable rate, so as to vary the radiation exposure level of adjacent tissues.

Radiation exposure device for blood vessels, body cavities and the like

A stent for disposition in a body passageway or duct to maintain the duct walls apart, for example, to allow the flow of fluid therethrough, includes an elongate flexible support wire formed into an annular lattice having a central void, for disposition at a target location in the duct. Also included is an elongate flexible connecting wire joined at a distal end to the annular lattice and having a discontinuity for severing when supplied with a perturbation signal, a balloon catheter having an expandable section disposable in the void of the annular lattice so that when the expandable section is expanded, it forces the annular lattice radially outwardly to contact and hold apart the duct walls, and a fluid supply for supplying fluid to the expandable section of the balloon catheter to cause it to expand. A perturbation signal source is provided for supplying the perturbation signal to the discontinuity of the connecting wire to cause severance thereof.

Stent apparatus and method

Apparatus and method are disclosed by which a distal end portion of a wire may be deposited at selected sites in body passageways. The apparatus includes an elongate wire having a distal end section for detachment and delivery to a target location, the wire also having a discontinuity located rearwardly of the distal end section for rupturing when vibrational energy is applied to the wire. Also included is a vibrational energy source couplable to the proximal end of the wire for selectively applying vibrational energy to the wire to travel to the discontinuity and cause detachment of the end section. The discontinuities may take the form of cuts formed in the wire, reduced diameter sections in the wire, adhesive, welded or soldered couplings between the wire and the distal end section, or the wire transitioning from the wire to a large mass disposed on the distal end section.

Wire device with detachable end

A T-shaped member is pivotally mounted to a support plate, and has first and second shape memory wires attached at first ends thereof to opposing portions of the T-shape. Second opposing free ends of the shape memory wires are secured to the support plate. Electrical current is conducted alternately through the first and second shape memory wires to cause the wires to contract in alternating tandem, to thereby cause the T-shaped member to move between first and second positions. Pivotal movement of the T-shaped member can be used to actuate and/or reactivate a switch device.

Shape memory actuated switching device

A fluid delivery device for delivering fluid from a fluid reservoir to a patient. The device includes an inlet channel in communication with a fluid reservoir and a dosing chamber, and an outlet channel disposed in communication with the dosing chamber. A reciprocating dosing actuator is moveable in a reciprocating motion between first and second positions for alternately (i) transporting a dose of fluid conveyed by the inlet channel into the intermediate dosing chamber, and (ii) ejecting the dose from the dosing chamber through the outlet channel to the patient, respectively.

Growing community of inventors

Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

Kent Backman