Christopher C Knowlton

US Patent:

8057503, Nov 15, 2011

Filed:

Jan 24, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/019183

Inventors:

Timothy L. Fitzgerald - Grand Rapids MI, US
Michael P. Ashbrook - Grand Rapids MI, US
John D. Hall - Grand Rapids MI, US
Kenneth R. Jonkman - Marne MI, US
Christopher C. Knowlton - Grand Rapids MI, US

Assignee:

Trinity Health-Michigan - Grand Rapids MI

International Classification:

A61M 29/00

US Classification:

606198, 606191

Abstract:

A vessel occluder is disposed inside a principal blood vessel for occluding tributary blood vessels inside the principal blood vessel while still allowing blood to flow through the principal vessel. The vessel occluder includes a support structure and associated membrane that can be collapsed for insertion into the principal vessel. Once inserted at the desired location the support structure is allowed to expand, forcing the membrane to contact the inner walls of the vessel with sufficient force to occlude the openings of the tributary vessels.