Scimed Life Systems, Inc.

Integ, Inc.

Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

Restore Medical, Inc.

Pi Medical, Inc.

Larry A Walter

Joel R Racchini

Mark B Knudson

Thomas J Holman

Timothy R Conrad

Anja Metzger

Brian J Erickson

Richard G Cornelius

Kurt D Krueger

John R Frigstad

John P Sopp

Jeffrey Allen McBroom

Frank A Musbach

Walter J Stevens

Dale F Schmaltz

Dmitriy Prudnikov

Douglas C Lee

Gary Kostur

Jeffrey A Mcbroom

The invention provides a rotational atherectomy device having a flexible, elongated, rotatable drive shaft with an abrasive section comprising an enlarged diameter section of the drive shaft or, alternatively, a solid abrasive crown which may be attached to the drive shaft. The device further comprises a proximal and/or a distal counterweight attached to the drive shaft, spaced from the abrasive section wherein each counterweight has its center of mass offset from the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to stimulate orbital motion by the abrasive section. When placed within an artery against stenotic tissue and rotated at sufficiently high speeds (e.g., in the range of about 20,000 rpm to about 200,000 rpm) the orbiting nature of the abrasive section causes such section to rotate as to open the stenotic lesion to a diameter substantially larger than the resting outer diameter of the abrasive section.

Rotational atherectomy device with counterweighting

Implant delivery tool

A method for treating snoring includes identifying first and second locations disposed on right and left sides, respectively, of a soft palate and separated by an anterior-posterior midline extending centrally positioned on the palate. The first and second locations are linked across the midline by creating a linkage between the first and second locations and through the midline with the linkage having a stiffness greater than a stiffness of untreated tissue naturally residing between the locations.

Lateral stiffening snoring treatment

A needle and a membrane to receive fluid from the needle. The needle deposits fluid in a transfer area of the membrane which is spaced from a test area of the membrane. At the transfer area, the needle is positioned with an axis of the needle orthogonal to the transfer area.

Needle assembly for fluid sampler

A temporary stent for supporting a region of a vessel in a body comprising a composite stent portion and an actuator portion and methods for the use and manufacture thereof. The composite stent portion is comprised of an elongate perfusable vessel supporting portion adapted to be configurable between a reduced size for placement in the vessel and removal therefrom and an expanded size for structurally supporting the vessel and perfusable end portions connected to and forming ends of the vessel supporting portion and adapted to allow fluid flow therethrough. The composite stent portion is comprised of a plurality of resilient metallic wires coated with a polymeric material to provide stability for both lifting and maintaining a vessel. A method is disclosed for deployment of the composite stent to maintain vessel patency during occurrence of an intimal flap, vasoconstriction or vasospasm.

Temporary stent and methods for use and manufacture

An over-the-wire catheter and method of making such a catheter having a first tubular member defining a first lumen and a second tubular member defining a second lumen joined to and coextending with the exterior of the first tubular member to define a catheter shaft. The first and second tubular members being formed independently of one another or of different materials. A balloon is joined to the distal end of the catheter shaft where it is in fluid communication with the first lumen. A flexibility control member may be joined to and coextend with the first and second tubular members.

Over-the-wire balloon catheter

Growing community of inventors

Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Larry A Walter