Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090105805 | ENDOVASCULAR GRAFT FOR PROVIDING A SEAL WITH VASCULATURE - A graft provided with a flexible sealing member to substantially prevent blood from leaking between the graft a lumen into which the graft is placed. In one embodiment, the flexible sealing member may be pressed against the vascular wall by an outwardly biased spring means attached to the sealing member. In other embodiments, the sealing member may be self-positioning upon deployment of the graft. The sealing member also may be formed into the shape of a toroid, which may be filled with thrombogenic material causing blood permeating into the toroid-shaped space to coagulate therein and hold the sealing member in place. It is also contemplated that the sealing member be formed from tufts of frayed yarn protruding circumferentially from the outer surface of the graft. A method of manufacturing such tufted yarn sealing members is also disclosed. | 04-23-2009 |
20090299462 | ENDOVASCULAR GRAFT INCLUDING SUBSTRUCTURE FOR POSITIONING AND SEALING WITHIN VASCULATURE - An endovascular graft having an improved positioning mechanism capable of positioning and securing a bifurcated graft into a bifurcated vessel described. The graft can include a sleeve affixed to graft that is used in combination with a contralateral wire loop for placement of the graft within vasculature. The graft may include a structure for post deployment positioning into the bifurcated aneurysm area. Furthermore, the endovascular graft may be configured to form a sealing pocket that expands with induced fluid pressure and prevents fluid leaks at an attachment site. | 12-03-2009 |
20110087247 | TISSUE LIGATION DEVICES AND CONTROLS THEREFOR - Described here are devices for closing one or more tissues, and handles for controlling these devices. Generally, the devices described here comprise a snare loop assembly, wherein the snare loop assembly comprises a snare and a suture loop, and a handle for controlling the snare loop assembly. In some variations the snare loop assembly may comprise a retention member that may releasably connect the suture loop to the snare. In other variations the devices comprise one or more force-reducing suture locks to help prevent the suture loop from inadvertently disengaging from the snare loop assembly. In still other variations, the excess-suture management features. The handles described here may be configured to remove excess suture from a suture loop, and may also be configured to release the suture loop from the snare loop assembly. | 04-14-2011 |
20110213413 | ANEURYSM SENSING DEVICES AND DELIVERY SYSTEMS - A system for gaining access to an interventional site within vasculature through a vessel wall or other structure such as that of a medical device. An apparatus is provided to accomplish a sealed worksite as are sensor delivery systems including sealable sensor devices that are adapted to be placed at the interventional site. | 09-01-2011 |
20110257643 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REGULATING TISSUE WELDER JAWS - A surgical apparatus and methods for severing and welding tissue, in particular blood vessels. The apparatus includes an elongated shaft having a pair of relatively movable jaws at a distal end thereof. A first heating element on one of the jaws is adapted to heat up to a first temperature and form a welded region within the tissue, while a second heating element on one of the jaws is adapted to heat up to a second temperature and sever the tissue within the welded region. The first and second heating elements may be provided on the same or opposite jaws. A control handle provided on the proximal end of the elongated shaft includes controls for opening and closing the jaws, and may include an actuator for sending current through the first and second heating elements. The first and second heating elements may be electrically connected in series, and the first heating element may be bifurcated such that it conducts about one half of the current as the second heating element. A force-limiting mechanism provided either within the control handle, in the elongated shaft, or at the jaws limits the pressure applied to the tissue by the jaws to ensure that the tissue is severed and the ends effectively welded within a short amount of time. | 10-20-2011 |
20110282250 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR TREATING ATRIAL FIBRILLATION - Described here are systems and methods for affecting tissue within a body to form a lesion. Some systems comprise tissue-affecting devices, devices that guide the advancement of the tissue-affecting elements to a target tissue region, devices that locate and secure tissue, and devices that help position the tissue-affecting devices along the target tissue. The methods described here comprise advancing a first tissue-affecting device to a first surface of a target tissue, advancing a second tissue-affecting device to a second surface of the target tissue, and positioning the first and second devices so that a lesion may be formed in the tissue between them. In some variations, the devices, systems, and methods described here are used to treat atrial fibrillation by ablating fibrillating tissue from an endocardial surface and an epicardial surface of a heart. Methods of closing, occluding, and/or removing the left atrial appendage are also described. | 11-17-2011 |
20120095434 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PERICARDIAL ACCESS - Devices and methods for accessing the pericardial space of a heart are described here. Access devices may generally comprise a tissue-engaging member, a tissue-piercing member, and a guide element. The access device may be introduced to the surface of a pericardium, where the tissue-engaging member may be deployed to engage a portion of the pericardium without engaging the epicardial surface of the heart. Once the access device has engaged the pericardium, the device may manipulate the pericardium to increase the distance between a portion of the pericardium and the epicardial surface of the heart. Once a sufficient space has been created, the tissue-piercing member may be advanced to pierce the pericardium and enter the pericardial space. The guide element may then be introduced into the pericardial space to provide an access pathway to the heart for other devices. | 04-19-2012 |
20120316550 | TISSUE WELDING AND CUTTING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A surgical apparatus includes an elongated shaft having a pair of relatively movable jaws at a distal end thereof. A first heating element on one of the jaws is adapted to heat up to a first temperature and form a welded region within the tissue, while a second heating element on one of the jaws is adapted to heat up to a second temperature and sever the tissue within the welded region. The first and second heating elements may be provided on the same or opposite jaws. A control handle provided on the proximal end of the elongated shaft includes controls for opening and closing the jaws, and may include an actuator for sending current through the first and second heating elements. The first and second heating elements may be electrically connected in series. | 12-13-2012 |
20130018373 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REGULATING TISSUE WELDER JAWS - A surgical apparatus and methods for severing and welding tissue, in particular blood vessels. The apparatus includes an elongated shaft having a pair of relatively movable jaws at a distal end thereof. A first heating element on one of the jaws is adapted to heat up to a first temperature and form a welded region within the tissue, while a second heating element on one of the jaws is adapted to heat up to a second temperature and sever the tissue within the welded region. The first and second heating elements may be provided on the same or opposite jaws. A control handle provided on the proximal end of the elongated shaft includes controls for opening and closing the jaws, and may include an actuator for sending current through the first and second heating elements. The first and second heating elements may be electrically connected in series, and the first heating element may be bifurcated such that it conducts about one half of the current as the second heating element. A force-limiting mechanism provided either within the control handle, in the elongated shaft, or at the jaws limits the pressure applied to the tissue by the jaws to ensure that the tissue is severed and the ends effectively welded within a short amount of time. | 01-17-2013 |
20130123902 | MODULAR GRAFT COMPONENT JUNCTIONS - The present invention embodies an endovascular graft having an attachment frame connection mechanism that allows placement of the main body component in vasculature in combination with limb components. Various limb component-to-main body component attachment mechanisms are provided which ensure a reliable bond while facilitating a smaller delivery profile. | 05-16-2013 |
20130144311 | TISSUE LIGATION DEVICES AND TENSIONING DEVICES THEREFOR - Described here are closure devices and methods for ligating tissue, such as the left atrial appendage, and tensioning devices and mechanism for actuating these devices. The tensioning mechanisms and devices may allow a user to apply one or more predetermined forces to a suture or other portion of the closure devices. The closure devices may comprise a suture loop releasably attached to a snare loop assembly, and a tensioning mechanism or device may be configured to tighten the suture loop and/or release the suture loop from the snare loop assembly | 06-06-2013 |
20140114337 | PERICARDIAL ACCESS DEVICES AND METHODS - Described here are devices and methods for accessing the pericardial space. The access devices may include a piercing member such as a needle and a proximal shoulder having a contact surface for contacting the pericardium as the piercing member pierces the pericardium. In some instances, the distance between the piercing member and the proximal shoulder may be adjustable. | 04-24-2014 |
20140194876 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REGULATING TISSUE WELDER JAWS - A surgical apparatus and methods for severing and welding tissue, in particular blood vessels. The apparatus includes an elongated shaft having a pair of relatively movable jaws at a distal end thereof. A first heating element on one of the jaws is adapted to heat up to a first temperature and form a welded region within the tissue, while a second heating element on one of the jaws is adapted to heat up to a second temperature and sever the tissue within the welded region. The first and second heating elements may be provided on the same or opposite jaws. A control handle provided on the proximal end of the elongated shaft includes controls for opening and closing the jaws, and may include an actuator for sending current through the first and second heating elements. The first and second heating elements may be electrically connected in series, and the first heating element may be bifurcated such that it conducts about one half of the current as the second heating element. A force-limiting mechanism provided either within the control handle, in the elongated shaft, or at the jaws limits the pressure applied to the tissue by the jaws to ensure that the tissue is severed and the ends effectively welded within a short amount of time. | 07-10-2014 |
20140276985 | TISSUE LIGATION DEVICES AND METHODS THEREFOR - Described here are closure devices and methods for ligating tissue, such as the left atrial appendage. The closure devices may comprise a snare loop assembly comprising a snare and a suture loop releasably attached thereto. The snare may be releasable from an elongate body of the closure device. In some instances, the closure device may comprise one or more markers to allow a user to determine whether the snare loop assembly is twisted. | 09-18-2014 |
20140336676 | TISSUE LIGATION DEVICES AND METHODS THEREFOR - Described here are closure devices and methods for ligating tissue, such as the left atrial appendage. The closure devices may comprise a snare loop assembly comprising a snare and a suture loop releasably attached thereto, and a snare control. The closure devices may further comprise one or more reference markings, wherein the relative positioning between a portion of the snare control and the reference markings provides an indication of the diameter of the snare loop assembly. In some variations, when the snare loop assembly is closed around a tissue such as the left atrial appendage, the measured diameter of the snare loop assembly may help a user determine whether the snare loop assembly has been properly positioned relative to the tissue, as well as the approximate size that a suture loop may have when released from the snare loop assembly. | 11-13-2014 |