Vascular Pathways, Inc.

Prs Medical Technologies, Inc.

Vytronus, Inc.

Other

Embolx, Inc.

Robert Brommer

Amir Belson

Gregory Walter Hall

Nikhil Bhat

George Yoseung Choi

Allen J Li

Scott A Daniel

Hira V Thapliyal

David A Gallup

James W Arenson

Michael Eric Gertner

Neil J Sheehan

Trevor M Hannon

Tim Proulx

John P Mohr, Iii

Paul W Mohr

Michael P Allen

Robert J J De Neve

A method for accessing a blood vessel using a catheter insertion device. The catheter insertion device includes a housing, a needle, a catheter, a guidewire, and a thumbwheel. The thumbwheel is rotatably fastened at a front end of the housing and accessible through an opening in the housing. The guidewire is coupled to the thumbwheel such that an axis of rotation of the thumbwheel is perpendicular to the guidewire and rotation of the thumbwheel advances the guidewire through the lumen of the needle. The method includes preparing the catheter insertion device, inserting a tip of the needle and distal end of the catheter into a blood vessel, advancing the guidewire out of the lumen of the needle into the blood vessel by holding the housing and rotating the thumbwheel, furthering the distal end of the catheter over the guidewire, and removing the needle and the guidewire from the catheter.

Intravenous catheter insertion device and method of use

Adjustable mattress assemblies are described in which a mattress incorporates regions where additional pressure reduction is adjustable via pliable fluid bladders filled with a gas or fluid. Such areas of the mattress where additional pressure reduction is desired may include regions of the mattress which support areas of the body which may be particularly susceptible to pressure ulcers such as the heels, sacral regions, etc.

Adjustable mattress assembly

A method for treating a patient using a catheter insertion device. The catheter insertion device includes a housing, a needle, a catheter, a guidewire, and a thumbwheel. The needle extends through the catheter such that a distal end of the needle extends distal of a distal end of the catheter. The guidewire is coupled to the thumbwheel such that rotation of the thumbwheel advances a distal end of the guidewire through a lumen of the needle. The method includes holding the catheter insertion device, inserting the distal end of the needle and catheter into a blood vessel, rotating the thumbwheel to advance the distal end of the guidewire out of the lumen of the needle into the blood vessel, moving the catheter over the guidewire in the blood vessel, and removing the needle and the guidewire from the catheter.

Intravenous catheter insertion device

Apparatus and methods for adjusting a support to a body are described in which a portable support assembly may be worn or used by a bed-stricken or wheel-chair restricted individual around particular regions of the body where pressure ulcers tend to form. The portable support assembly may generally include adjustable supports which conform the assembly to the patient's body and which also help to distribute one or more fluid pad assemblies relative to the body. The support assembly may be incorporated into a design for a wheelchair or a bed.

Independently adjustable support system

A method for treating a patient using a catheter insertion device. The catheter insertion device includes a housing, a needle, a catheter, a guidewire, and an actuator mechanism. The needle is attached to a needle carrier, the catheter is positioned coaxially around the needle such that a distal end of the needle extends distal of a distal end of the catheter, and the guidewire has a distal end positioned in a lumen of the needle. The method includes holding the catheter insertion device, inserting the distal end of the needle and catheter into a blood vessel, advancing the distal end of the guidewire out of the lumen of the needle into the blood vessel, moving the catheter over the guidewire in the blood vessel, and activating the actuator mechanism to simultaneously retract the distal end of the needle and the distal end of the guidewire into the housing.

A catheter insertion device includes a housing, a needle, a catheter, a guidewire, and an actuator mechanism including a biasing member. The needle is attached to a needle carrier having a proximal end disposed in the housing, the needle having an insertion position and a retraction position with respect to the housing. The catheter is positioned coaxially around the needle. The guidewire has a distal end positioned in a lumen of the needle in a withdrawn position, the guidewire being translatable to an advanced position in which the distal end extends distally from a tip of the needle. The guidewire may include a distal end with a coiled configuration. Actuating the actuator mechanism releases the biasing member to simultaneously translate the needle and the guidewire, the needle from the insertion position to the retraction position, and the guidewire from the advanced position to the withdrawn position.

A method for creating a transmural lesion in tissue includes positioning a distal portion of a catheter near the tissue, where an ultrasound transducer is attached to the distal portion and is operatively coupled to a console and processor. The tissue is imaged by energizing the ultrasound transducer at a first power level to produce an ultrasound beam, where the imaging determines a thickness of the tissue, and a gap distance between the ultrasound transducer and the tissue. The tissue is ablated by energizing the ultrasound transducer at a second power level to produce the ultrasound beam. Energy delivered to the tissue during the ablating is controlled, using the processor, where the processor adjusts a speed of the ultrasound beam moving across the tissue based on the thickness and gap distance, to create the transmural lesion.

Methods for imaging and ablating body tissue

A transducer subassembly with combined imaging and therapeutic capabilities is disclosed. The subassembly includes heat sinks that are configured to maintain the transducer at a low operating temperature so that the transducer operates at high efficiency and also can handle a wider range of frequencies. The subassembly is also configured to allow cooling fluid to flow past the transducer element. One heat sink in the subassembly also acts as an acoustic matching layer and another heat sink acts as a backing Alternatively, the second heat sink which acts as a backing is optional. The transducer is configured to transmit at one power level for imaging, and at a second power level for ablating. The transducer may comprise sub-elements transmitting at different power levels. The subassembly may be operated at one power level for imaging and a second power level for ablating.

Systems and methods for imaging and ablating body tissue

A catheter assembly may be provided with a catheter body and an inflatable balloon. The catheter body has a proximal end, a distal end and a balloon inflation lumen. The inflatable balloon is attachable to the distal end of the catheter body. The balloon has an inner surface that at least partially defines an interior volume. The balloon is configured such that the interior volume can be in fluid communication with the inflation lumen of the catheter body to inflate the balloon. The balloon also has a proximal surface and a distal surface. The balloon is provided with a channel that extends through the balloon. The channel is configured to provide fluid communication between the proximal surface of the balloon and the distal surface of the balloon. Other catheter assemblies and methods of use are also disclosed.

Device and methods for transvascular tumor embolization with integrated flow regulation

An intravenous catheter insertion device and method of use are described. The insertion device coordinates movement of an access needle, a coaxial intravenous catheter and a flexible safety guidewire. A vein is punctured with the access needle, then an actuation member on the insertion device is used to advance the safety guidewire into the vein. The safety guidewire allows the access needle and the intravenous catheter to be safely advanced into the vein. Then, the actuation member is actuated to simultaneously withdraw the access needle and the safety guidewire, leaving only the intravenous catheter in the vein. The intravenous catheter is then disconnected from the insertion device and connected to a source of intravenous fluid, medication, etc.

Methods and apparatus for an ablation device used in the treatment of atrial fibrillation comprise an elongate shaft and a positioning mechanism adjacent the distal end of the shaft. The positioning mechanism is adapted to facilitate location of an anatomic structure and also to anchor the elongate shaft adjacent the anatomic structure. The positioning mechanism comprises an electrode for stimulating the anatomic structure as well as sensing electrical signals. Also, an energy delivery element is adjacent the distal end of the shaft and is adapted to stimulate the anatomic structure and create a zone of ablation that blocks abnormal electrical activity thereby reducing or eliminating atrial fibrillation in the patient.

System and method for positioning an elongate member with respect to an anatomical structure

A transducer subassembly with combined imaging and therapeutic capabilities is disclosed. The subassembly includes heat sinks that are configured to maintain the transducer at a low operating temperature so that the transducer operates at high efficiency and also can handle a wider range of frequencies. The subassembly is also configured to allow cooling fluid to flow past the transducer element. One heat sink in the subassembly also acts as an acoustic matching layer and another heat sink acts as a backing. Alternatively, the second heat sink which acts as a backing is optional. The transducer is configured to transmit at one power level for imaging, and at a second power level for ablating. The transducer may comprise sub-elements transmitting at different power levels. The subassembly may be operated at one power level for imaging and a second power level for ablating.

Growing community of inventors

Fremont, CA, United States of America

Robert Brommer