American Cyanamid Company

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

Becton Dickinson and Company Limited

Columbia University

Other

United States Surgical Corporation

Burndy, LLC

Omeros Corporation

Onux Medical, Inc.

Advanced Vascular Technologies LLC

William J Allen

Alan Bachman

Scott W Reed

Jeffrey A Stein

Ray Adams

Leland Ray Adams

Gerald M Lemole

Mehmet C Oz

Robert R Steckel

Juan P Umana

Alan Lotvin

Robert E West

Frederick F Ahari

George Jessup

Todd M Chelak

Joseph Grayzel

Jeffrey Grayzel

Fred Karl

John E Burbank, Iii

Howard P Levin

Robert A Rabiner

Howard R Levin

Paul C DiCesare

Lee Griswold

Lawrence A Monahan

John D DeNuzzio

Steven Keith

Phyllis J Palmer

Frederick Karl

Bill Stewart

Gregory A Demopulos

Joseph N Logan

Jonathan B Gabel

G Lawrence Thatcher

Frederick Timothy Karl

Lester F Miller

Arnold Miller

Henry E Holsten

Lawrence Crainich

Amir Ali Sharifi-Mehr

Paul J Mulhauser

Paul Mulhauser

Douglas M Spranger

Michael A DiBiasi

Robert C Savage

Tuan V Nguyen

John A Conners

Richard L Markus

Harold S Terk

Alan B Bachman

Robert J Chapolini

Milton W Brumaghim

Michael Di Biasi

Ernest L Cheh

John F Howard

Scott B Gustafson

Doug Spranger

Matthew Murray

Stephen A DeFonzo

Deborah M Bryan

Frederick T Karl

Julian F Borgia

John D Denuzzio

An apparatus for the repair of a cardiovascular valve has leaflets comprising a grasper capable of grabbing and co-apting the leaflets of the valve. In a preferred embodiment, the grasper has jaws that grasp and immobilize the leaflets, and then a fastener is inserted to co-apt the leaflets. The apparatus is particularly useful for repairing mitral valves to cure mitral regurgitation.

Method and apparatus for circulatory valve repair

A lancing device integrated with a sensing strip and method of making and using the same are provided. A lance and analyte sensing strip are combined in a single, preferably disposable, device. In a preferred embodiment, a slot is provided in a support member so the lance can be engaged by a lance driver and driven into the skin producing a bodily fluid sample from a wound. The sensing area of the sensing strip is adjacent to the wound location reducing dexterity requirements for patients.

Integrated lancet and bodily fluid sensor

The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for the stabilization and fastening of two pieces of tissue. A single device may be used to both stabilize and fasten the two pieces of tissue, or a separate stabilizing device may be used in conjunction with a fastening device. After the pieces of tissue are stabilized, they are fastened together using sutures or clips. One exemplary embodiment of a suture-based fastener comprises a needle connected to a suture. The needle enters the blind side of the tissue and exits the front side. The suture is then tied in a knot to secure the pieces of tissue. One example of a clip-based fastener comprises a spring-loaded clip having two arms with tapered distal ends and barbs. The probe includes a deployment mechanism which causes the clip to pierce and lockingly secure the two pieces of tissue.

Minimally invasive mitral valve repair method and apparatus

A tubular conduit is used to access blood vessels or other structures in the human body. The conduit has a distal tip angled to match the angle of entry into the body and an end contour adapted for the surface of the target vessel or organ. The contour may be curved to match the curve on the outer surface of the vessel or organ. The conduit's angled and contoured distal end may be adapted to engage, and align the conduit with, the surface of the vessel or organ. The conduit bears a longitudinal groove along its lower, inner surface. When the conduit is appropriately aligned, the groove may be used to guide a needle tip to the desired location, for example, the mid-line of the vessel or organ.

Percutaneous access conduit

An instrument for engaging an underlying blood vessel or body structure. The instrument comprises a pair of instrument arms, and an instrument finger extends at an angle from each arm. The distal end of each instrument finger comprises a bottom surface at an angle to the axis of the instrument finger such that it is adapted to rest upon the underlying blood vessel or body structure. In certain embodiments the bottom surfaces are in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of the instrument arms.

Instrument for engaging a body structure

The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for the stabilization and fastening of two pieces of tissue. A single device may be used to both stabilize and fasten the two pieces of tissue, or a separate stabilizing device may be used in conjunction with a fastening device. The stabilizing device may comprise a probe with vacuum ports and/or mechanical clamps disposed at the distal end to approximate the two pieces of tissue. After the pieces of tissue are stabilized, they are fastened together using sutures or clips. One exemplary embodiment of a suture-based fastener comprises a toggle and suture arrangement deployed by a needle, wherein the needle enters the front side of the tissue and exits the blind side. In a second exemplary embodiment, the suture-based fastener comprises a needle connected to a suture. The needle enters the blind side of the tissue and exits the front side. The suture is then tied in a knot to secure the pieces of tissue. One example of a clip-based fastener comprises a spring-loaded clip having two arms with tapered distal ends and barbs. The probe includes a deployment mechanism which causes the clip to pierce and lockingly secure the two pieces of tissue.

An ergonomic hand instrument with a finger grip loop and a thumb grip loop also has a forefinger control surface on at least one of the instrument arms. The control surface may include a proximally facing curved wall surface to receive the distal end of the tip of the user's forefinger. Forward and downward pressure can be applied with the forefinger with improved control and stability.

Ergonomic hand instrument

A medical fastener (), preferably bioabsorbable, is used for repairing torn soft tissue, particularly meniscal tissue (). The fastener () can have an enlarged head () at the proximate end to engage meniscal tissue () adjacent to a tear (), and a pointed distal tip () at the other end to ease insertion of the fastener () into the meniscus (). The shank () of the fastener () bridges across the tear (). Opposite ends of the shank () are secured in the meniscal tissue () by a medical adhesive, preferably bioabsorbable, and preferably at locations remote from the tear () so as not to interfere with healing of the tear (). The fastener () can have a blind bore () opening through the head () of the fastener () and extending through the shank () to a location close to the tip () and generally radial holes () communicating between the bore () and the exterior of the shank (). The medical adhesive can be injected through the bore () for passage outward through the holes ().

Soft tissue repair system

An apparatus for the repair of a cardiovascular valve has leaflets comprising a grasper capable of grabbing and co-apting the leaflets of the valve. In a preferred embodiment the grasper has jaws that grasp and immobilize the leaflets, and then a fastener is inserted to co-apt the leaflets. The apparatus is particularly useful for repairing mitral valves to cure mitral regurgitation.

A spreading instrument includes instrument fingers which can be spread to partially define a cylindrical passage between the instrument fingers. A rounded groove on the interior surface of each instrument finger is tapered lengthwise, becoming shallower towards the distal end of the finger. When the fingers are spread, the opposing grooves partly define a cylindrical passage adapted to receive a tubular structure.

Spreading instrument

Growing community of inventors

Stratford, CT, United States of America

William J Allen