Medtronic, Inc.

Exonix Corporation

Depuy Synthes Products, Inc.

Micrus Design Technology, Inc.

Vascon LLC

Exonix Research Corporation

Micrus Endovascular Corporation

Plexus Corporation

Neich Medical Co., Ltd.

Exonic Corporation

Oscar Jimenez

Roberto Echarri

Francisco Jose Barreras, Sr

Guillermo Echarri

John E Kast

Mark E Schommer

James E Riekels

Kenneth Verduin

Francisco J Barreras

David P Olson

William C Phillips

Charles Edward Peters

Andrew L Schmeling

Vincent Cutolo

The method for making a reinforced balloon for a balloon catheter involves blending a polymer with a nano composite to form a composite matrix, extruding a parison from the composite matrix, blow molding the parison into a balloon and orienting the nano composite generally axially with respect to the balloon. The balloon formed has a high strength for resisting bursting. The nano composite may be carbon nanotubes, nano-ceramic fibers or a nano clay.

Method for making a reinforced balloon with composite materials

The intravascular catheter has two segments; a proximal segment with high stiffness and a distal segment with lower stiffness. The catheter can also have an intermediate segment of lower stiffness than the proximal segment and higher stiffness than the distal segment. The catheter comprises a polymeric inner tube, a reinforcing inner jacket which is spirally wound over the inner tube and which becomes progressively softer from a proximal end to a distal end, and a polymeric outer sheath extruded over the inner jacket according to the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,624. The reinforcing jacket comprises helical coiled wires or fibers of various materials and layers wound over the inner tube in order to provide improved multi-axial mechanical properties, such as torque, compression, tension and anti-kinking characteristics. Stainless steel, carbon, glass, platinum, platinum/tungsten or palladium wire in either oval, round or flat geometry are used together with single or dual layers to achieve a graduated stiffness with the reinforcing jacket being stiffer at a proximal end and softer at a distal end. Methods for making the catheter and for annealing ends of the wound wire are also disclosed.

Double helix reinforced catheter

A rechargeable implantable medical device with a magnetic shield placed on the distal side of a secondary recharging coil to improve charging efficiency is disclosed. The rechargeable implantable medical device can be a wide variety of medical devices such as neuro stimulators, drug delivery pumps, pacemakers, defibrillators, diagnostic recorders, cochlear implants. The implantable medical device has a secondary recharging coil carried over a magnetic shield and coupled to electronics and a rechargeable power source carried inside the housing. The electronics are configured to perform a medical therapy. Additionally a method for enhancing electromagnetic coupling during recharging of an implantable medical device is disclosed, and a method for reducing temperature rise during recharging of an implantable medical device is disclosed.

Method of charging an implantable medical device

The implantable, electrically operated medical device system comprises an implanted radio frequency (RF) receiving unit (receiver) incorporating a back-up rechargeable power supply and an implanted, electrically operated device, and an external RF transmitting unit (transmitter). RF energy is transmitted by the transmitter and is coupled into the receiver which is used to power the implanted medical device and/or recharge the back-up power supply. The back-up power supply within the receiver has enough capacity to be able to, by itself, power the implanted device coupled to the receiver for at least 24 hours during continual delivery of medical therapy. The receiver is surgically implanted within the patient and the transmitter is worn externally by the patient. The transmitter can be powered by either a rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery. In a first mode of operation, the transmitter will supply power, via RF coupled energy, to operate the receiver and simultaneously recharge the back-up power supply. In a second mode of operation, the receiver can, automatically or upon external command from the transmitter, acquire its supply of power exclusively from the back-up power supply. Yet, in a third mode of operation, the receiver can, automatically or upon command from the transmitter, alternatively acquire its supply of power from either, RF energy coupled into the receiver or the internal back-up power supply.

RF coupled, implantable medical device with rechargeable back-up power source

A rechargeable implantable medical device with a magnetic shield placed on the distal side of a secondary recharging coil to improve charging efficiency is disclosed. The rechargeable implantable medical device can be a wide variety of medical devices such as neuro stimulators, drug delivery pumps, pacemakers, defibrillators, diagnostic recorders, cochlear implants. The implantable medical device has a secondary recharging coil carried over a magnetic shield and coupled to electronics and a rechargable power source carried inside the housing. The electronics are configured to perform a medical therapy. Additionally a method for enhancing electromagnetic coupling during recharging of an implantable medical device is disclosed, and a method for reducing temperature rise during recharging of an implantable medical device is disclosed.

Implantable medical device and electrical stimulation device with magnetic shield

A rechargeable implantable medical device with an external recharging coil carried on the medical device proximal face. The recharging coil can be attached to the medical device housing physically, or chemically, or a combination of both physically and chemically. The recharging coil electrically couples through housing electrical feedthroughs to electronics configured to perform a therapy and a rechargeable power source both carried inside the medical device housing. Additionally methods for attaching the external recharging coil to an implantable medical device are disclosed. The rechargeable implantable medical device can be a medical devices such as a neuro stimulators, drug delivery pumps, pacemakers, defibrillators, diagnostic recorders, cochlear implants, and the like.

Implantable medical device with external housing for a recharging coil

The balloon catheter comprises a plastic tubing, a balloon fused to one end portion of said tubing, and the balloon being made of a polymer and on of a carbon nano-tube material, a nano-clay material or a nano-ceramic fiber material.

External power source, charger, system and method for transcutaneous energy transfer. An implantable medical device has a first housing having operational componentry for providing the therapeutic output. A secondary housing is mechanically coupled to the first housing having a secondary coil operatively coupled to the componentry, the secondary coil capable of receiving energy from the external source. A magnetically shielding material is positioned between the secondary coil and the first housing. An external power source has an external housing. A primary coil carried in the external housing, the primary coil being capable of inductively energizing the secondary coil when the housing is externally placed in proximity of the secondary coil with a first surface of the housing positioned closest to the secondary coil, the first surface of the housing being thermally conductive surface. An energy absorptive material carried within the external housing.

External power source, charger and system for an implantable medical device having thermal characteristics and method therefore

The balloon catheter comprises a plastic tubing, a balloon fused to one end portion of said tubing, and the balloon being made of a polymer and one of a carbon nano-tube material, a nano-clay material or a nano-ceramic fiber material.

Angioplasty super balloon fabrication with composite materials

The catheter assembly comprises a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end and a thermoresponsive distal tip portion fixed to the distal end of the catheter.

Catheter with thermoresponsive distal tip portion

A rechargeable implantable medical device with a magnetic shield placed on the distal side of a secondary recharging coil to improve recharging efficiency is disclosed. The rechargeable implantable medical device can be a wide variety of medical devices such as neuro stimulators, drug delivery pumps, pacemakers, defibrillators, diagnostic recorders, and cochlear implants. The implantable medical device has a secondary recharging coil carried over a magnetic shield and coupled to electronics and a rechargeable power source carried inside the housing. The electronics are configured to perform a medical therapy. Additionally a method for enhancing electromagnetic coupling during recharging of an implantable medical device is disclosed, and a method for reducing temperature rise during recharging of an implantable medical device is disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Coral Gables, FL, United States of America

Oscar Jimenez