Randy Grishaber

Principal Consultant & Founder

CO-INVENTOR ON THE FOLLOWING USPTO ISSUED PATENTS

 

1.  Patent foramen ovale closure method (#9,861,347) January 2018

The present invention relates to devices for closing a passageway in a body, for example a patent

foramen ovale (PFO) in a heart, and related methods of using such closure devices for closing the

passageway. The method includes introducing a mechanical closure device into an atrium of the heart

and transeptally deploying the closure device across the interatrial septum to provide proximation of

the septum secundum and septum primum.

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2.  Single disc occlusionary patent foramen ovale closure device (#8,945,179) February 2015

Described are method and device for closing a passageway in a body, for example a patent foramen

ovale (PFO) in a heart, and related methods of using such closure devices for closing the passageway.

The method includes locating a distal end of a closure device adjacent to the passageway. The closure

device may include a closure line with proximal and distal ends, an expandable tissue anchor located

along the distal end of the closure line, and an expandable occluder member located along the

proximal end of the closure line. The expandable tissue anchor is deployed into tissue adjacent to the

passageway. The expandable occluder member is deployed adjacent to the passageway such that the

expandable occluder member substantially covers the second opening to the passageway.

 

3.  Flexible stent having protruding hinges (#8,920,489) December 2014

The present invention relates to tissue-supporting medical devices and drug delivery systems, and

more particularly to tubular flexible stents that are implanted within a body lumen of a living animal

or human to support the organ, maintain patency and/or deliver drugs or agents. The tubular flexible

stent has a cylindrical shape defining a longitudinal axis and includes a helical section having of a

plurality of longitudinally oriented strut members and a plurality of circumferentially oriented hinge

members connecting circumferentially adjacent strut members to form a band. The band is wrapped

about the longitudinal axis in a substantially helical manner to form a plurality of helical windings. At

least one connector member extends between adjacent windings.

 

4.  Patent foramen ovale closure device with steerable delivery system (#8,834,562) September 2014

The present invention relates to a delivery system for delivering a device for closing a passageway

in a body, for example a patent foramen ovale (PFO) in a heart. The delivery system has an elongate

member having a proximal and distal end. A deflectable needle assembly having luminal and

abluminal surfaces is slideably engaged within the elongate member. An actuator is slideabley

engaged within the elongate member and attached to the needle tip assembly such that translational

movement of the actuator causes deflection of the deflectable needle assembly.

 

5.  Patent foramen ovale closure device (#8,777,984) July 2014

A device and method for deploying a mechanical closure device for closing a passageway in a body, for

example a patent foramen ovale (PFO) in a heart. The deployment device has a first tubular structure

having proximal and distal ends. A second tubular structure is substantially coaxial to and slideably

engaged within the first tubular structure. The second tubular structure has a first substantially linear

shape when constrained within the first tubular structure, and a second curvilinear shape when

telescopically extended from the distal end of the first tubular structure. A third tubular structure is

substantially coaxial to and slideably engaged within the second tubular structure. The third tubular

structure is configured to provide sufficient rigidity to push the mechanical closure device from the

distal end of the second tubular structure, and provide sufficient flexibility to assume a curvilinear

shape when deflected by the second tubular structure.

 

6.  Patent foramen ovale closure device (#8,579,933) November 2013

A device for deploying a mechanical closure device for closing a passageway in a body, for example

a patent foramen ovale (PFO) in a heart. The deployment device has a first tubular structure having

proximal and distal ends. A second tubular structure is substantially coaxial to and slideably engaged

within the first tubular structure. The second tubular structure has a first substantially linear shape

when constrained within the first tubular structure, and a second curvilinear shape when telescopically

extended from the distal end of the first tubular structure. A third tubular structure is substantially

coaxial to and slideably engaged within the second tubular structure. The third tubular structure is

configured to provide sufficient rigidity to push the mechanical closure device from the distal end of

the second tubular structure, and provide sufficient flexibility to assume a curvilinear shape when

deflected by the second tubular structure.

 

7.  Intraluminal medical device having asymetrical members of unequal length (#8,551,154) October 2013

This invention relates generally to expandable intraluminal medical devices for use within a body

passageway or duct, and more particularly to an optimized stent having asymmetrical strut and loop

members, wherein at least one pair adjacent radial strut members have unequal axial lengths.

 

8.  Steerable catheter system (#8,388,572) March 2013

This invention relates to devices for navigating passageways in a body, and in particular, to a

steerable catheter that can be used to navigate the tortuous anatomy of a body's vasculature. In

one embodiment of the invention the deflectable catheter comprises an inner catheter body having

a first strut spine member and a cantilevered second strut tang member. An outer catheter body

is cooperatively associated with the second strut tang member and an actuator is cooperatively

associated with the first strut spine member. The actuator is slideably engaged within the outer

catheter body.

 

9.  Single disc intraluminal fixation patent foramen ovale closure device (#8,308,759) November 2012

A device and method for deploying a mechanical closure device for closing a passageway in a body,

for example a patent foramen ovale (PFO) in a heart. The single disc mechanical closure device is

comprise of a distal and proximal anchor constrained by a closure line to facilitate mechanical closure

by bringing the distal and proximal anchors into close proximity along the closure line.

 

10.  Steerable catheter system (#7,771,388) August 2010

This invention relates to devices for navigating passageways in a body, and in particular, to a

steerable catheter that can be used to navigate the tortuous anatomy of a body's vasculature. In

one embodiment of the invention the deflectable catheter comprises an inner catheter body having

a first strut spine member and a cantilevered second strut tang member. An outer catheter body

is cooperatively associated with the second strut tang member and an actuator is cooperatively

associated with the first strut spine member. The actuator is slideably engaged within the outer

catheter body.

 

11.  Systems and methods for fatigue testing stents (#7,363,821) April 2008

Systems and methods for fatigue testing one or more stents based on measured electrical resistance

levels of each stent. Pairs of lead lines from an ohmmeter are connected to a respective stent.

The respective stent is mounted onto an expander having an interior tapered portion into which a

correspondingly tapered expansion pin is received. Cyclic loading strains are applied to the respective

stent as an expansion pin is inserted into a corresponding one of the expanders. Stent fracture or

failure occurs when cyclic loading exceeds the stents architectural and material capacity. Such fracture

fatigue or failure is identified by increased electrical resistance levels. Resistance may be continuously

monitored to more readily identify the onset of fatigue or failure. The expansion pins extend from a

movable plate, and the expanders comprise a part of corresponding stations that extend from a fixed

plate.