St. Jude Medical, Inc.

Ethicon, Gmbh

Closure Medical Corporation

Thomas G Schoon

Gregory Hake

Jack Goodman

Eric S Buchanan

Thomas A Shepard

John Mott Goodman

Bob Allan

Kimberly A Anderson

John Fritz Otte

M William Mirsch, Iii

Michael J Girard

Kurt D Krueger

Jeffrey A Popowski

Jyue Boon Lim

William R Holmberg

Deborah A Loch

Gary G Rushmeyer

James P Arneberg

A dispensing device configured to operate with an adhesive backed mesh and backing film for tissue bonding is disclosed. The dispensing device provides for low-friction, low force pay-out of a desired length of an adhesive backed mesh to a wound site. The device prevents or eliminates distortion of the mesh prior to application to the wound site, and includes means for reducing or eliminating binding during use. The dispensing device is configured to operate in a 'forward' mode (substrate to which mesh is applied passes beneath applicator after mesh is applied) to provide essentially an unobstructed view of the wound site during use.

Flexible material dispenser

Mesh dispenser

This invention generally relates to a method of dispensing an adhesive material using an applicator comprising: a body having a cavity; at least one breaking member integral with the body and having a surrounding gap, the breaking member deflectable into the cavity and having a first engagement member; an annular housing movable with respect to the body and having a second engagement member complementary with the first engagement member, the first and the second engagement members being cooperatively engageable; a reservoir secured to body and having applicator means; a retaining member between the body and reservoir; and a frangible container of adhesive material disposed within the cavity; moving the annular housing relative to the body from a first position to a second position where the engagement members are cooperatively engaged; deflecting the breaking members and breaking the frangible container; and squeezing the reservoir and dispensing adhesive material.

Method for dispensing a polymerizable monomer adhesive

An applicator device for dispensing a polymerizable adhesive material comprising a body portion comprising a closed proximal end and an open distal end providing a cavity sized to accept a frangible container having a polymerizable adhesive material; at least one breaking member at least partially deflectable into the cavity; an annular housing movable with respect to the body portion; and a reservoir secured to the open distal end of the body portion, the reservoir further comprising an applicator; wherein the annular housing is movable relative to the body portion from a first position to a second position to deflect at least a portion of the breaking member into the cavity.

Dispenser with a frangible container and a rotating breaking member, for dispensing a polymerizable monomer adhesive

Holders for releasably holding annuloplasty rings prior to and during the implantation of the rings employ any of a variety of features relating to such things as holder shape, handle attachment structures, securement of a ring to the holder, and release of the ring from the holder.

Systems and methods for holding annuloplasty rings

Dispenser

Improved sizers and markers include a cylindrical section and a handle extending from the cylindrical section. The cylindrical section has a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of an aortic heart valve prosthesis. The cylindrical section can include a marking element configured to mark tissue at fixed positions relative to the cylindrical section. Marking can be performed with a variety of techniques.

Aortic heart valve prosthesis sizer and marker

A driver tool drives multiple fasteners simultaneously through the outer ring of a heart valve component into the surrounding tissue annulus of a heart. The driver tool includes two stacked satellite gear layers that drive flexible shafts that simultaneously drive the fasteners into tissue surrounding the heart valve component. The flexible shafts from the second drive gear layer can pass through gaps between satellite gears in the first drive gear layer. The number of fasteners is increased while maintaining the mechanical advantage of the tool and the size of the tool, and reducing the concentration of stress in the tissue annulus.

Driver tool with multiple drive gear layers for heart prosthesis fasteners

Improved tools for visualizing, sizing and/or marking include a prosthesis template with a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of an aortic heart valve prosthesis. In preferred embodiments, the prosthesis template has an annulus end and a sinotubular junction end wherein the diameter at the annulus end is less than the diameter at the sinotubular junction end. The prosthesis template can include a marking element configured to mark tissue at particular positions relative to the prosthesis template. Marking can be performed with a variety of techniques.

Aortic heart valve prosthesis implantation tool

A holder is provided for carrying a prosthetic ring which allows for manipulation and handling of the ring during implantation in a heart. The holder includes a holder body configured to fit the ring. A boss extends around the holder body. A backing lip extends from a proximal end of the boss and has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the boss. A shoulder tab extends only partially around the distal end of the boss and extends beyond a diameter of the boss. The prosthetic ring mates with the boss and the backing lip to thereby hold the prosthetic ring.

Prosthetic ring holder

An annuloplasty ring and support assembly includes a ring support that has a peripheral wall with a peripheral shoulder surface, and a flange extending at generally right angles to the shoulder surface. The flange is removed or terminated in a selected portion of the peripheral wall so that the shoulder surface is unobstructed and provides a backing support against which a cutting force will be reacted when the annuloplasty ring is cut.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar, MN, United States of America

Thomas G Schoon