Origin Medsystems, Inc.

Prolifix Medical, Inc.

Timothy B McFann

John W Davis

Kathy M Mah

James D Passafaro

Ronald G Williams

David J Kupiecki

John Conrad Muskivitch

Greg R Patterson

Roger W Perkins

Joan Huynh

The present invention comprises a guidewire having a compressible guide section capable of deflecting a catheter to abut a lumen wall. The compressible guide section exerts an outward radial force while it is at least partially compressed within a lumen. The guide section permits a physician to precisely locate a catheter within a body lumen and adjust a catheter tip orientation to be directed to a particular side of a body lumen. A method is disclosed for properly matching a guidewire and a catheter to operate together in the present invention, along with a force measuring instrument to assist in measuring a catheter's resistance force value. This method and systems of the present invention involve determining the exact force relationship between the compressible guide section and the resistance of the catheter in vitro.

Guidewire for precision catheter positioning

The present invention relates to a guidewire having a shaped three dimensional guide section. In the preferred embodiment the guide section is helical, and exerts an outward radial force on a lumen the guidewire is constrained in. The outward radial force can be measured or calculated according to methods of the present invention. Also described is a system comprising a guidewire and catheter where the force the catheter exerts on a body lumen can also be calculated. Apparatus and methods of making the guidewire are also disclosed, as well as alternative embodiments of the guidewire.

Guidewire for positioning a catheter against a lumen wall

Mechanical retractors for bluntly dissecting tissue at a remote surgical site include extendable elements disposed near the distal end of an elongated cannula body with direct mechanical linkage to manual actuators disposed near the proximal end of the cannula body. Individual extendable elements may be arranged in symmetrical or asymmetrical configurations about the central axis of the body for selectively bluntly dissecting bodily tissue in patterns of greater diversity than merely omni-radially as provided by conventional pressurizable balloon tip cannulas.

Method and apparatus for tissue dissection

Mechanical retractors for bluntly dissecting tissue at a remote surgical site include extendable element disposed near the distal end of an elongated cannula body with direct mechanical linkage to manual actuators disposed near the proximal end of the cannula body. Individual extendable elements may be arranged in symmetrical or asymmetrical configurations about the central axis of the body for selectively bluntly dissecting bodily tissue in patterns of greater diversity than merely omni-radially as provided by conventional pressurizable balloon tip cannulas.

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Redwood City, CA, United States of America

Timothy B McFann