Endovascular Instruments, Inc.

Evi Corporation

Reger Medical Development, Inc.

Reger Medical Inc.

Vincent A Reger

Gregory N Nordgren

Mark Plaia

Thomas L Kelly

LeRoy E Groshong

A catheter atherotome and method for its use for performing partial atherectomy in an artery and thereby enlarging the lumen effectively available for blood flow through the artery. Several blades are mounted at a distal end of a catheter, in a helical basket configuration and spaced angularly apart from one another about the associated ends of two concentric sheaths in such a way that longitudinal and rotary relative movement of the sheaths selectively bows the blades arcuately outwardly into a cutting position or draws the blades flat into alignment with the sheaths. The blades have sharpened cutting edges extending helically and directed toward the catheter's proximal end when the blades are bowed. Partial removal of an atheroma is effected by manually pulling the basket knife past an atheroma with the basket blades in their outwardly bowed cutting positions, with the speed, force, and amount of expansion of the blades determined by the operator. Removal of cut-away pieces of atherosclerotic plaque material is accomplished either by pull-back of a balloon embolectomy catheter or by use of a latex membrane enshrouding the spiral wire blades to trap the shavings within the membrane.

Method of enlarging a lumen of an artery

Methods of artificially lining a vessel, especially an artery, of a medical patient to address the existence of a flow-inhibiting atheroma and to significantly alleviate the probability of restenosis, and the resulting products.

Anti-stenotic method and product for occluded and partially occluded

A method of enlarging the lumen of a vessel is disclosed, by which an access opening or passageway is provided to the vessel, a head is inserted through the opening and advanced to a constriction within the vessel. The head engages, severs, and removes plaque. A vascular graft lining is inserted into the vessel and to the site of enlargement where it is secured within the vessel at the site of enlargement.

Method for increasing blood flow in vessels

A method of restoring lost blood flow capacity to an artery is disclosed. The artery is enlarged by enlarging the flow path of a plaque-ridden segment of the artery using a plaque-removing instrument. The instrument is introduced through a small arteriotomy located remote from the segment. Next, a vascular lining is inserted through the small arteriotomy to a position co-extensive with the segment where the lining is secured.

Method of restoring reduced or absent blood flow capacity

Anti-stenotic method for occluded and partially occluded arteries

Method of restoring reduced or absent blood flow capacity in an artery

A novel, long lasting prosthetic heart valve compatible with implantation in a human natural heart valve annulus. The prosthetic heart valve comprises a trileaflet heart valve apparatus which in form, dimension, and function resembles a human trileaflet heart valve, but which is formed of synthetic resinous material. A seamless supporting frame capable of annular deformation and limited perimetric expansion during each heartbeat is totally enveloped in an essentially biologically inert cylindrical cover to form a cusp supporting stent for the valve leaflet apparatus. The free top and bottom edges of the cylindrical cover are disposed on the exterior of the stent and everted outward to provide at least one sewing ring. Valve embodiments comprise aortic and mitral implantable valves. For the aortic implant, the outwardly everting free sewing ring forming edges are separated by circumferentially disposed compressible and expandable material which provides a pliable, compliant interface between the valve and the natural valve annulus at the implanting site. In one embodiment, the synthetic trileaflet heart valve apparatus is formed by a unicast mold. In another embodiment, the heart valve apparatus is formed from a cylinder of synthetic resinous material. Valve sewing ring covers can be selectively impregnated with antibiotic medicants to substantially eliminate early post implant infection. Use of non-thrombogenic biochemically inert materials in a valve apparatus which mimics operation of a natural heart valve essentially eliminates the need for long term administration of anticoagulants.

Growing community of inventors

Portland, OR, United States of America

Vincent A Reger