Actuated Medical, Inc.

Baylor College of Medicine

Qortek, Inc.

Obvius Robotics, Inc.

Maureen L Mulvihill

Roger B Bagwell

Brian Matthew Park

Paul L Frankhouser

Ryan S Clement

Gabriela Hernandez Meza

Casey A Scruggs

Josue R Crespo

Dana B Mallen

Debora L Demers

Katherine M Erdley

Kevin A Snook

David E Booth

Ryan M Sheehan

Douglas R Dillon

Timothy J Higgins

William E Cohn

Gareth J Knowles

Kenji Uchino

Brian Shea

James Patrick Herlihy

Kenneth Wayne Rennicks

Andrew J Meehan

Jeffrey P Klaus

Gabriela Hernandez Mesa

Brian M Park

An occlusion clearing device for a patient has a housing with a motor(s) that generates repetitive motion, which is reciprocating, rotational or both. A clearing stem including a sheath that has a lumen, wherein aspiration is conducted through the sheath lumen. A wire is located in the sheath lumen and receives repetitive motion from the controller. The sheath terminates in a sheath end having at least one sheath opening. The wire terminates in a wire tip, which may be flat, helical, or tubular. The wire tip is positioned within the sheath end, in proximity to the sheath opening(s), and movement of the wire tip and/or sheath end relative to each other creates shearing forces that break up an adjacent occlusion.

Devices for clearing blockages in artificial and natural lumens

An automatic insertion device and method of using the same is provided. A vibrator and an extender are connected to a penetrating member and are both in electrical communication with a controller. A detector identifies a subcutaneous target for insertion and the insertion angle, distance and trajectory for the penetrating member are calculated. The vibrator provides vibrations to the penetrating member and the extender advances the penetrating member for insertion. The vibrator and extender are in electrical communication with one another during the insertion process and adjustments to the insertion speed are made based on feedback of vibrational load encountered by the vibrator during insertion, and adjustments to the vibrations are made based on feedback of insertion load encountered by the extender during insertion. Iterative samples are taken to constantly adjust the operation of one motor based on the operations and feedback from the other motor.

Device and method for automated insertion of penetrating member

A device for penetrating tissue with reduced force and placing a guidewire is provided. The device includes a driving actuator generating reciprocating motion at less than 20 kHz. A penetrating member having a lumen dimensioned to accommodate a guidewire is provided, and may be coaxial or axially offset from the driving actuator. A coupler mechanically connects the driving actuator and the penetrating member, transferring the reciprocating motion to the penetrating member. At least one frictional member facilitates the movement of the guidewire through the lumen for placement at the target tissue. The frictional member(s) may be operated manually or by a guidewire actuator. A housing including a channel also dimensioned to accommodate the guidewire may also be provided, and may further include the frictional member(s) for facilitating movement of the guidewire. A side port may also be included at the penetrating member or coupler for introduction of the guidewire.

Reduced force device for intravascular access and guidewire placement

An occlusion clearing device and system for removing material from an artificial tube in situ includes a clearing stem having aspiration and irrigation conduits, where the irrigation conduit is disposed interior to, and terminates within the aspiration conduit. Material enters the clearing stem through aspiration, and irrigation is provided within the aspiration conduit to assist in aspiration through the clearing stem. A handset includes aspiration and irrigation tubing connecting to sources therefor, and further includes valves to control the flow through the tubing and conduits. These valves may be operated simultaneously with an actuator located on the handset, which may be done with one hand. A coupler at the operative end allows the clearing stem to gain access to the artificial tube for clearing while maintaining a closed system with a ventilator. Reciprocating motion may be generated and provided to the clearing stem to aid in occlusion removal.

Device for in situ clearing of occlusions in tubing

A device for penetrating tissue is provided that has a driving actuator with a body and motor shaft that is reciprocated. A coupler is attached to the motor shaft, and a key engages the driving actuator and coupler and limits rotational motion of the motor shaft and permits linear motion of the motor shaft. A penetrating member is carried by the coupler, and linear motion of the motor shaft is translated to the penetrating member to linearly reciprocate the penetrating member.

Device and method for less forceful tissue puncture

A device for penetrating tissue with reduced force and placing a guidewire is provided. The device includes a driving actuator generating reciprocating motion. A penetrating member having a lumen dimensioned to accommodate a guidewire is provided. A coupler mechanically connects the driving actuator and the penetrating member to transfer the reciprocating motion to the penetrating member. The penetrating member may be coaxial or axially offset from the driving actuator. At least one frictional member facilitates the movement of the guidewire through the lumen for placement at the target tissue. The frictional member(s) may be operated manually or by a guidewire actuator. A housing may also be provided including a channel also dimensioned to accommodate the guidewire, and may further include the frictional member(s) for facilitating movement of the guidewire. The channel and lumen are aligned to permit placement of the guidewire at the target site.

A device for removing secretions from an artificial tube is provided. The device may include a clearing catheter and a driving mechanism that may apply repetitive motion to the clearing catheter. In another version of the device, the clearing catheter may dispense irrigation fluid and aspirate the irrigation fluid. The clearing catheter may have an irrigation and an aspiration lumen that may both reciprocate with the clearing catheter. In another version a compliant member into which irrigation fluid is located may be present.

Active system for in-situ clearing of secretions and occlusions in tubes

A device for clearing blockages is provided that may have a tube that is slit. The tube may have a lumen. A reciprocating member may be provided and a portion of the reciprocating member may be located within the lumen.

Devices for clearing blockages in small bore in-situ artificial lumens

Devices and methods for the effective clearing of artificial tubes, for example, in-situ clearing of artificial tubes in a living being are covered in this disclosure. The devices and methods provide a controller comprising at least one actuator for generating repetitive motion, and a stem coupled to the at least one actuator. The stem includes at least one fluid source, a conduit member in fluidic communication with the fluid source, and a reciprocating member at least partially disposed within the conduit member and configured to accept the repetitive motion. The fluid source includes a deformable reservoir and/or a port.

Devices and methods for clearing occlusions and for providing irrigation in in-situ artificial and natural lumens

A medical device for reducing the force necessary to penetrate living being tissue using a variety of reciprocating motion actuators. The reciprocating actuator drives a penetrating member, such as a needle, through the tissue at a reduced force while the device detects the passage of the penetrating member through the tissue. Upon passage of the penetrating member through the tissue, a feedback system monitors electromechanical properties of a control signal of the device and automatically modifies control based thereon, e.g., electrical power to the reciprocating actuator is automatically terminated.

Medical tool with electromechanical control and feedback

Devices and methods for the effective clearing of artificial tubes, especially in-situ clearing of artificial tubes in a living being is covered in this disclosure. An elongated clearing member includes either a fixed or an adjustable element that selectively defines the portion of the elongated clearing member that is insertable within the artificial tube. The proximal end of the clearing member is releasably secured to the driving mechanism and the driving mechanisms may comprise a wide variety of repetitive motion drivers such as voice coil motors, piezoelectric actuators, pneumatic actuators, DC motors, etc. These devices/methods may comprise a free-standing console for hands-free operation or may comprise hand-held versions. The distal working end of the clearing member may comprise tips of differing functions, including an irrigation/aspiration feature.

Devices for clearing blockages in in-situ artificial lumens

Devices and methods for the effective clearing of artificial tubes, especially in-situ clearing of artificial tubes in a living being are covered in this disclosure. An elongated clearing member includes either a fixed or an adjustable element that selectively defines the portion of the elongated clearing member that is insertable within the artificial tube. The proximal end of the clearing member is releasably secured to the driving mechanism and the driving mechanisms may comprise a wide variety of repetitive motion drivers such as voice coil motors, piezoelectric actuators, pneumatic actuators, DC motors, etc. These devices/methods may comprise a free-standing console for hands-free operation or may comprise hand-held versions. The distal working end of the clearing member may comprise tips of differing functions, including an irrigation/aspiration feature.

Method for clearing blockages in in-situ artificial lumens

A medical device is provided having reduced penetration force. The device includes a body having a central hollow channel and a piezoelectric transducer received within and secured to the body. The piezoelectric transducer has a hollow portion concentric with the central hollow channel. A tubular member is associated with and in communication with the piezoelectric transducer. The tubular member has at least one open end formed concentric with the central hollow channel and the hollow portion of the piezoelectric transducer, wherein the transducer is adapted for vibrating at a frequency to produce an oscillating displacement of the tubular member.

Growing community of inventors

Bellefonte, PA, United States of America

Maureen L Mulvihill