Deka Products Limited Partnership

Heartport, Inc.

Pathways Medical Corporation

Other

Medtronic Vascular, Inc.

Cordis Corporation

Aptus Endosystems, Inc.

Corazon Technologies, Inc.

Philip R Houle

Lee R Bolduc

William T Larkins

James R Gannoe

Hanson S Gifford, Iii

John Henry Stevens

Lee Bolduc

Daniel C Rosenman

Stephen W Boyd

Brian S Donlon

Nitin Patil

Dean Kamen

Larry B Gray

Robert Manning

Valentine Faust

Richard J Lanigan

Brent Richard Constantz

Alex T Roth

Gilbert S Laroya

Scott H Miller

Jerome B Riebman

Andrew L Chiang

Guidewires having conductive elements are described where in one variation, the guidewire may be formed by disposing an insulative layer upon a surface of the guidewire core, and printing one or more conductive traces directly upon a surface of the insulative layer.

Guidewire assembly and method of making

Guidewire assembly

Method of forming a guidewire assembly

Systems and methods introduce and deploy prosthesis into a blood vessel or hollow body organ by intra-vascular access. The prosthesis is secured in place by fasteners which are implanted by an applier that is also deployed by intra-vascular access. The applier is configured to permit controlled, selective release of the fastener in a step that is independent of the step of implantation.

Systems and methods for attaching a prosthesis within a body lumen or hollow organ

Devices, systems and methods support tissue in a body organ for the purpose of restoring or maintaining native function of the organ. The devices, systems, and methods do not require invasive, open surgical approaches to be implemented, but, instead, lend themselves to catheter-based, intra-vascular and/or percutaneous techniques.

Devices, systems, and methods for supporting tissue and/or structures within a hollow body organ

Fluid delivery devices having a porous applicator, as well as methods for using the same in the highly localized delivery of fluid to a target site, are provided. The subject devices have a porous applicator through which fluid must flow in order to contact the target delivery site. The subject devices find use in a variety of fluid delivery applications in which the localized delivery of a fluid to a target site is desired. Also provided are systems and kits that include the subject fluid delivery devices.

Localized fluid delivery having a porous applicator and methods for using the same

Systems for anastomosing a first hollow tissue structure to a second hollow tissue structure are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, such a system comprises at least one tissue securing member adapted to secure the first and second hollow tissue structures together, and a device for applying the tissue securing member to the tissue structures. The tissue securing member is preferably configured to pass through only one of the tissue structures, and is movable from a first configuration to a second configuration which results in a compressive force being applied to the tissue structures. The systems are particularly useful for performing anastomosis of blood vessels in heart surgery.

System for performing vascular anastomoses

A method of treatment of congestive heart failure comprises the steps of introducing an aortic occlusion catheter through a patient's peripheral artery, the aortic occlusion catheter having an occluding member movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position; positioning the occluding member in the patient's ascending aorta; moving the occluding member from the collapsed shape to the expanded shape after the positioning step; introducing cardioplegic fluid into the patient's coronary blood vessels to arrest the patient's heart; maintaining circulation of oxygenated blood through the patient's arterial system; and reshaping an outer wall of the patient's heart while the heart is arrested so as to reduce the transverse dimension of the left ventricle. The ascending aorta may be occluded and cardioplegic fluid delivered by means of an occlusion balloon attached to the distal end of an elongated catheter positioned transluminally in the aorta from a femoral, subclavian, or other appropriate peripheral artery.

Minimally-invasive devices and methods for treatment of congestive heart failure

A valve ( ) for use in controlling the flow of IV fluid from a source to a patient. A cassette may include along the fluid passage through the cassette, first and second membrane-based valves ( ) on either side of a pressure-conduction chamber ( ), and a stopcock-type valve ( ). The stopcock valve is preferably located downstream of the second membrane-based valve ( ), which is preferably located downstream of the pressure-conduction chamber ( ). The membrane defining the valving chamber of the second membrane-based valve ( ) is preferably large and resilient, so that the valving chamber( ) may provide a supply of pressurized intravenous fluid to the patient, when the valve ( ) is closed and the stopcock valve ( ) provides a restriction downstream of the valve ( ). The pressure-conduction chamber ( ) preferably has a membrane ( ) that is stable in the empty-chamber position but relatively unstable in the filled-chamber position.

Valve for intravenous-line flow-control system

A cassette for use in controlling the flow of IV fluid from a patient to a source. The cassette may include along the fluid passage through the cassette, first and second membrane-based valves ( ) on either side of a pressure-conduction chamber ( ), and a stopcock-type valve ( ). The stopcock valve is preferably located downstream of the second membrane-based valve ( ), which is preferably located downstream of the pressure-conduction chamber ( ). The membrane defining the valving chamber of the second membrane-based valve ( ) is preferably large and resilient, so that the valving chamber ( ) may provide a supply of pressurized intravenous fluid to the patient, when the valve ( ) is closed and the stopcock valve ( ) provides a restriction downstream of the valve ( ). The pressure-conduction chamber ( ) preferably has a membrane ( ) that is stable in the empty-chamber position but relatively unstable in the filled-chamber position.

Cassette for intravenous-line flow-control system

Microsurgical instruments for performing extremely small-scale, minimally-invasive microsurgery such as thoracoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting. The instruments utilize a symmetrical, forcep-like actuator which provides extremely precise actuation and control of the instrument and which mimics the feel of instruments used in conventional open surgical procedures. The instruments generally include a pair of coaxially arranged shafts, an end-effector at the distal ends of the shafts, and an actuator at the proximal ends of the shafts. The actuator includes a pair of arms pivotally coupled to one of the outer and inner shafts, and a pair of links pivotally coupled at one end to the arms, and at a second end to the other of the shafts. The links are coupled to a proximal portion of the arms to maximize mechanical advantage and reduce interference. The actuator may be easily adapted for either pull-type or push-type actuation, and for either outer shaft or inner shaft translation. The actuator is provided with a locking mechanism for fixing the relative position of the shafts to maintain the end-effector in a closed position. The locking mechanism includes rigid catches that are engaged upon actuation of the actuator and are disengaged upon further actuation of the actuator. The end-effectors may have a variety of configurations, including needle drivers, forceps, scissors, and clip appliers.

Endoscopic microsurgical instruments

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Philip R Houle