William F. Semple, a dentist, was awarded the first US Patent on chewing gum in 1869. His recipe contained powdered chalk.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7831297 | Guide wire torque device A device for gripping a guide wire includes a body portion having an opening therethrough, and has an open position and a closed position. When the device is in the open position the guide wire may be passed through the opening. When the device is in the closed posi... | 11/09/2010 |
| 7747314 | Distal assembly for a medical device Alternative designs, materials and manufacturing methods for guidewires. Some embodiments pertain to a composite guidewire having proximal and distal section, and a connector adapted and configured for permanently joining the proximal section to the distal section. ... | 06/29/2010 |
| 7734332 | Atherectomy system with imaging guidewire Systems and methods of increasing blood flow in a blood vessel with ultraluminal plaque. One disclosed method includes inserting an imaging guidewire into the blood vessel to the intraluminal plaque, propelling a catheter with a working head over the guidewire towar... | 06/08/2010 |
| 7706861 | Guide wire insertion and re-insertion tools and methods of use An insertion tool for use in inserting a guide wire into a guide wire lumen of a catheter for use in a lumen of an endoscope. The insertion tool includes a main body having a main lumen and a funnel-shaped extension connected to and disposed atop the main body. The ... | 04/27/2010 |
| 7493156 | Steerable guide catheter with pre-shaped rotatable shaft A guide catheter employs a retractable inner sheath movably disposed within an open lumen of an outer sheath. The inner sheath includes a pre-formed distal end and an open lumen adapted to receive a payload. The inner sheath is translatable and rotatable relative to... | 02/17/2009 |
| 7438717 | Anesthesia intubating forceps Forceps with a pair of scissor-like arms that are pivotally connected to each other and that continue past the pivot to form a catheter guide. At least two and preferably three bends are disposed in the arms immediately before the pivot, which allow the medical prof... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7351214 | Steerable balloon catheter A steerable balloon catheter including a balloon catheter supported by a steerable guidewire having a deflectable distal tip. The guidewire comprises a longitudinal hypotube and a spring coil attached to the distal end of the hypotube and includes a longitudinally m... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7343195 | Method and apparatus for real time quantitative three-dimensional image reconstruction of a moving organ and intra-body navigation Medical imaging and navigation system including a processor, a medical positioning system (MPS), a two-dimensional imaging system and an inspected organ monitor interface, the MPS including an imaging MPS sensor, the two-dimensional imaging system including an image... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7339341 | Surgical camera robot The present invention is a miniature camera robot which can be placed entirely within an open space such as an abdominal cavity. The instant camera robot has pan and tilt capabilities, an adjustable focus camera, and a support component for supporting the robot body... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7336988 | Multi-photon endoscopy An apparatus includes an optical element, a GRIN lens, and a detector. The optical element has a first optical aperture. The GRIN lens has first and second ends. The first end of the GRIN lens is positioned to receive light from the first optical aperture. The detec... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7302289 | Readable probe array for use A disposable high density optically readable polydeoxynucleotide array with integral fluorescence excitation and fluorescence emission channels is described. The compact array size allows integration into several types of interventional devices such as catheters, gu... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7280863 | System and method for radar-assisted catheter guidance and control A Catheter Guidance Control and Imaging (CGCI) system whereby a magnetic tip attached to a surgical tool is detected, displayed and influenced positionally so as to allow diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to be performed is described. The tools that can be so eq... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7277833 | Modeling of the workspace and active pending behavior of an endscope using filter functions A method is provided for simulating a flexible tube in an environment. The method comprises determining a model of the flexible tube according to a plurality of internal constraints of the flexible tube and a plurality of external constraints of the flexible tube, d... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7264001 | Guidewire exit tool A guidewire exit tool includes a pin that is insertable into a guidewire channel of a rapid exchange-type catheter. The pin has at least one tapered end that urges a guidewire out of a slit in guidewire channel. In one embodiment the exit tool has an oval handle tha... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7259762 | Method and system for automatically transforming CT studies to a common reference frame A method for automatically transforming computed tomography (CT) studies to a common reference frame includes transforming selected CT studies to the common reference frame and generating a statistical atlas via a registration algorithm including a local refinement ... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7222539 | Sensor and guide wire assembly The invention relates to a sensor and guide wire assembly (20) for intravascular measurements of physiological variables in a living body, comprising a core wire (21) and a sensor element (22). The sensor and guide wire assembly (20) comp... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7205768 | Connection lead for an electrical accessory device of an MRI system A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus is provided with one or more electrical accessory devices, for example, catheters (10) or RF body coils (6), which are intended for use during the examination of an object, as well as with a connection lead (13... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7206641 | Mapping probe system for neuromuscular electrical stimulation apparatus An apparatus for use with a cannula includes a rigid rod which is receivable and movable in the cannula throughout a range of operative positions in which inner and outer end portions of the rod extend longitudinally outward from the inner and outer ends of the cann... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7201731 | Treatment device with guidable needle A medical treatment device comprising an elongate probe member having proximal and distal extremities. The elongate probe member has a longitudinal axis and at least one passageway extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity. A guide is mounted in ... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7194297 | Impedance-matching apparatus and construction for intravascular device Intravascular device for matching impedances of portions of an intravascular circuit and limiting RF signal-induced heating of intravascular conductors. An intravascular device includes alternating conductive and dielectric layers and an electrically conductive coil... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7190166 | Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method The present invention provides a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and a magnetic resonance imaging method which improve the imaging efficiency. A preview scan initiator unit is provided for initiating a preview scan for scanning the slice position set prior to p... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7190819 | Image-based medical device localization A method of identifying an elongate medical device in a two-dimensional image of an operating region includes filtering pixels meeting a predetermined intensity requirement for linear scaling, dividing the filtered pixels into groups of contiguous pixels, and select... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7186224 | Side attaching guidewire torque device A guidewire torque device formed from a single piece that may be either molded or machined. The device includes an insertion slot for receiving a guidewire, such that the device does not have to be backloaded over the end of the guidewire. Two rotation slots, provid... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7182725 | Methods and apparatus employing ionizing radiation for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia Method and apparatus are disclosed employing ionizing radiation for forming lines of ablation or lesions in cardiac tissue to treat atrial fibrillation or other electrophysiological problems with the heart. The apparatus may include a catheter in which the radiation... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7176936 | Augmented reality guided instrument positioning with modulated guiding graphics There is provided a method for augmented reality guided instrument positioning. A graphics guide is determined for positioning an instrument. The graphics guide is rendered such that an appearance of at least one portion of the graphics guide is modulated with respe... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7176467 | Systems, methods and apparatus for determining deviation of an x-ray field, a light field and a primary receptor Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which, in some embodiments, an electronic sensor is positioned in the field of projection of an X-ray source, and the electronic sensor measures the deviation between a visible light field and an X-ray field. In so... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7169166 | Active arterial embolization filter Apparatus for collecting emboli flowing in a lumen. A motor has a longitudinal bore, a friction area within the longitudinal bore, and a guide wire disposed within the longitudinal bore. The guide wire and friction area of the motor are sized and adapted to contact ... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7166080 | Wire convertible from over-the-wire length to rapid exchange length Apparatus for use in deploying medical devices. The apparatus includes a wire having a diameter such that the wire can appropriately be used with either a corresponding over-the-wire configured catheter or a rapid-exchange configured catheter. The wire has a locatio... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7166127 | Tissue fastening systems and methods utilizing magnetic guidance Catheter based systems and methods for securing tissue including the annulus of a mitral valve. The systems and methods employ catheter based techniques and devices to plicate tissue and perform an annuloplasty. ... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7141050 | Catheter with a plurality of wire guide access parts A physician access system comprising a catheter for use with an endoscope, the catheter including a wire guide lumen having a plurality of access ports disposed along an intermediate portion thereof to permit the insertion of a wire guide at different locations. The... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7126303 | Robot for surgical applications The present invention provides a micro-robot for use inside the body during minimally-invasive surgery. The micro-robot includes an imaging devices, a manipulator, and in some embodiments a sensor. ... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7122001 | Encapsulated endoscope system in which endoscope moves in lumen by itself and rotation of image of region to be observed is ceased An encapsulated endoscope system in accordance with the present invention comprises: an encapsulated endoscope that rotates to develop a thrust; a controller that moves the encapsulated endoscope in an intended direction of advancement; an imaging unit incorporated ... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7120487 | Catheter system and method for administering regional anesthesia to a patient A catheter system and method is provided for overcoming various problems commonly associated with the application of regional anesthesia. Disclosed herein are several embodiments for providing continuous regional anesthesia. In general, the catheter system includes ... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7116825 | Multilevel chain-and-tree model for image-based decisions A multilevel Chain-And-Tree model provides a framework for an image based decision system. The decision system enables separation of effects of defects within one component from other components within a common subject. The framework provides for linking of structur... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7106892 | Display of image data information A method and workstation for producing a combined image, including information from first and second diagnostic images, identify areas of increased uptake in the second diagnostic image as a region of interest which contains pixels representing the areas of increase... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7101362 | Steerable and shapable catheter employing fluid force A catheter employing fluid force to steer and/or shape the catheter. In one particular implementation, the catheter includes at least one actuating lumen operably associated with the shaft of the catheter. The at least one actuating lumen is in fluid communication w... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7094209 | Method for introducer replacement The invention provides a method for replacing a first introducer, whose distal end is inside a vessel and whose proximal end is outside the skin of a patient, with a second introducer. The method comprises the steps of inserting a guide rod into the first introducer... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7083577 | Guide wire A guide wire having an elongated core wire provided with a tabular distal end portion, and a coiled wire provided on an outer circumference of the core wire, wherein the distal end portion of the core wire is provided with a cutout section or a rased section so that... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7077822 | Stereotactic hypothalamic obesity probe Apparatus and methods for regulating the appetite of an individual suffering from morbid obesity, the apparatus including a plurality of stimulation electrodes arranged longitudinally on at least one electrode support shaft for insertion within the hypothalamus for ... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7073509 | Technique to confirm correct positioning of arterial wall sealing device Methods and systems related to sealing punctures in blood vessels (such as following an angio or PTCA procedure) are disclosed. The position of a distal end of an introducer assembly in tissue is determined using a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor is connected t... | 07/11/2006 |