Wilson-cook Medical Incorporated

Cook Medical Technologies LLC

Tamisha A Clark

Barry H Chilton

John A Karpiel

Melvin Kem Hawkins

Robert D Fanelli

A medical device such as a wire guide has a lubricious and/or therapeutic coating adhered to an etched, carbonaceous polymeric surface, for example a sodium-etched polymer surface. A method for preparing a lubricious and/or therapeutic coating on a medical device includes etching a polymeric portion of the device to create a carbonaceous surface and applying a lubricious and/or therapeutic coating on the etched surface.

Medical device with adherent coating, and method for preparing same

An apparatus and method for coupling a gastroscope ( ) to a gastrostomy feeding tube apparatus ( ) such that both can be introduced together into the alimentary tract, thereby eliminating the need to separately introduce the gastroscope afterward in order to verify that the gastrostomy feeding tube ( ) has been correctly placed within the stomach of the patient. The gastrostomy feeding tube includes a coupling member ( ), such as an elongate tract or thread, that is accessible about the second end ( ) thereof. The elongate tract is drawn through the working channel ( ) of the gastroscope by an engagement member ( ), such as snare, which then allows the distal end ( ) of the gastroscope to be advanced into the end cap ( ) of the feeding tube so that the two can be pulled together into the stomach. In another embodiment, the coupling member comprises an integrated attachment member ( ), such as hook, to which the engaging member can attach.

Percutaneous gastrostomy device and method

The present invention involves a elongated member, such as a wire guide, that is used with in a endoscopic procedure. In one aspect of the invention, the elongate member includes a first system of indicia comprising a scale reference markings that can include numeric indicia, sequentially increasing markers, etc., located at regular increments (e.g., 1 cm) on the distal portion of the elongate member, that permit measurement of structures within a body passage. In one example, an exchange wire guide having a radiopaque marker on the distal portion is positioned under fluoroscopy at a first location, such as the distal point of a stricture, and the scale reference marking on the wire guide that visible in the viewing region of the endoscope is read. The wire guide is partially withdrawn such that the marker corresponds to a second position (e.g., the proximal point of the stricture) and the new scale reference marking is read. The difference is calculated to determine the length of the structure. In a second aspect of the invention, a second system of indicia are included to aid the endoscopist in maintaining the device in position. These indicia, which may include oblique markings, helical striping, or some other closely spaced markings or pattern, help in the detection of longitudinal movement of the device.

Growing community of inventors

Pfafftown, NC, United States of America

Tamisha A Clark