John Marcel Ely

US Patent:

56770618, Oct 14, 1997

Filed:

Jan 16, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/587320

Inventors:

John L. Ely - Austin TX
Axel D. Haubold - Liberty Hill TX
Michael R. Emken - Austin TX
James A. Accuntius - Georgetown TX

Assignee:

Medtronic Carbon Implants, Inc. - Austin TX

International Classification:

B32B 900
C01B 3100

US Classification:

428408

Abstract:

Pure unalloyed pyrocarbons having wear resistance suitable for use in pyrocarbon-coated heart valve components and having mechanical properties, such as flexural strength and toughness, superior to commercial silicon-alloyed pyrocarbons are deposited in fluidized bed coaters. Coating conditions are carefully controlled so as to maintain a precise bed size within a defined coating enclosure which will assure a substantially constant surface deposition temperature that in turn assures deposition of homogenous unalloyed pyrocarbons having these improved mechanical properties.

US Patent:

56413246, Jun 24, 1997

Filed:

Jan 23, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/589864

Inventors:

Jack C. Bokros - Austin TX
John L. Ely - Austin TX
Michael R. Emken - Austin TX
Axel D. Haubold - Liberty Hill TX
T. Scott Peters - Georgetown TX
Jonathan C. Stupka - Austin TX
C. Thomas Waits - Pflugerville TX

Assignee:

Medical Carbon Research Institute, LLC - Austin TX

International Classification:

A61F 224

US Classification:

623 2

Abstract:

A bileaflet heart valve incorporates a pivot arrangement that minimizes resistance to downstream blood flow in the open position yet has prompt response and therefore minimal regurgitation upon flow reversal. A valve body having an axially curved entrance that smoothly joins a generally cylindrical body of extended axial length provides excellent fluid flow characteristics when combined with leaflets that can assume orientations perfectly aligned with the downstream flow of blood. Identical flat leaflets can assume a parallel orientation in the fully open position during downstream blood flow or can assume other low energy positions. Flat ears, which extend laterally from opposite surfaces of the leaflets, interengage with cavities of unique design having upstream and downstream lobes separated by an intermediate throat portion defined by inward and outward fulcrums. The downstream lobes may be designed to facilitate movement to the parallel orientation or to cause the leaflets to optionally prerotate toward the closed position. As soon as reverse flow begins, upstream displacement of the leaflets causes the ears to contact straight camming surfaces located upstream of the outward fulcrums which, in combination with the fulcrums and a downwardly directed, concave surface at the upstream end of the upstream lobe, positively guide each leaflet through efficient closing which ends in substantially rotational movement.

US Patent:

57726949, Jun 30, 1998

Filed:

May 16, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/441809

Inventors:

Jack C. Bokros - Austin TX
John L. Ely - Austin TX
Michael R. Emken - Austin TX
Axel D. Haubold - Liberty Hill TX
T. Scott Peters - Georgetown TX
Jonathan C. Stupka - Austin TX
C. Thomas Waits - Pflugerville TX

Assignee:

Medical Carbon Research Institute L.L.C. - Austin TX

International Classification:

A01F 224

US Classification:

623 2

Abstract:

A prosthetic heart valve is shown which incorporates a valve body design and leaflet pivot arrangements that minimize turbulence and shear stresses having a tendency to generate thrombosis. A valve body having an axially curved entrance that is smoothly joined to a generally cylindrical body of extended axial length provides excellent fluid flow characteristics when combined with leaflets that can assume orientations perfectly aligned with the downstream flow of blood. By constructing such a pyrocarbon valve body which receives a metal ring at an appropriate location, suture rings that permit the tissue annulus to directly contact the exterior surface of the cylindrical valve body are accommodated.

US Patent:

55452167, Aug 13, 1996

Filed:

May 16, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/441791

Inventors:

Jack C. Bokros - Austin TX
John L. Ely - Austin TX
Michael R. Emken - Austin TX
Axel D. Haubold - Liberty Hill TX
T. Scott Peters - Georgetown TX
Jonathan C. Stupka - Austin TX
C. Thomas Waits - Pflugerville TX

Assignee:

Medical Carbon Research Institute, LLC - Austin TX

International Classification:

A61F 224

US Classification:

623 2

Abstract:

A bileaflet heart valve is shown which incorporates a pivot arrangement that minimizes resistance to downstream blood flow in the open position yet has prompt response and therefore minimal regurgitation upon flow reversal. The valve employs a pair of identical flat leaflets that can assume a precisely parallel orientation in the fully open position at or near peak downstream blood flow or can alternatively assume other low energy positions. As the downstream flow of blood slows near the end of a pumping stroke, downstream displacement of the leaflets results in their prerotation toward the closed position orientation, all being controlled by the interengagement of flat ears, which extend laterally from opposite surfaces of the leaflets, and receiving cavities of unique design. The cavities include upstream and downstream lobes separated by an intermediate throat portion defined by inward and outward fulcrums. As soon as reverse flow begins, upstream displacement of the leaflets causes the ears to contact straight camming surfaces located upstream of the outward fulcrums which, in combination with the fulcrums and a downwardly directed, concave surface at the upstream end of the upstream lobe, positively guide each leaflet through efficient closing which ends in substantially rotational movement.

US Patent:

60620757, May 16, 2000

Filed:

Dec 30, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/224816

Inventors:

Joseph P. Ritz - Austin TX
Axel D. Haubold - Liberty Hill TX
John L. Ely - Austin TX

Assignee:

Medical Carbon Research Institute, LLC - Austin TX

International Classification:

G01M 1900
A61F 224

US Classification:

73168

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for proof testing an assembled mechanical heart valve prosthesis having a valve body and at least one movable occluder wherein at least one of the components has a surface of nonmetallic crystalline material, such as pyrocarbon, in which microcrack growth may occur. The assembled valve prosthesis is subjected to fluid loading with the occluder in the closed position so as to create omnidirectional pressure of at least 20 psig therewithin on the downstream side of the occluder. During fluid loading of the assembled valve, acoustic monitoring is carried out using a transducer to detect sounds that are indicative of crack nucleation and/or incremental crack extension, based upon a predetermined fail-pass criterion. Any valve prosthesis wherein sounds of a greater magnitude are detected is rejected.

US Patent:

59084529, Jun 1, 1999

Filed:

Feb 20, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/027358

Inventors:

Jack C. Bokros - Austin TX
John L. Ely - Austin TX
Michael R. Emken - Austin TX
Axel D. Haubold - Liberty Hill TX
T. Scott Peters - Georgetown TX
Jonathan C. Stupka - Austin TX
C. Thomas Waits - Pflugerville TX

Assignee:

Medical Carbon Research Institute, LLC - Austin TX

International Classification:

A61F 224

US Classification:

623 2

Abstract:

A prosthetic heart valve is shown which incorporates a valve body design and leaflet pivot arrangements that minimize turbulence and shear stresses having a tendency to generate thrombosis. A valve body having an axially curved entrance that is smoothly joined to a generally cylindrical body of extended axial length provides excellent fluid flow characteristics when combined with leaflets that can assume orientations perfectly aligned with the downstream flow of blood. By constructing such a pyrocarbon valve body which receives a metal ring at an appropriate location, suture rings that permit the tissue annulus to directly contact the exterior surface of the cylindrical valve body are accommodated.

US Patent:

55144101, May 7, 1996

Filed:

Sep 8, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/303064

Inventors:

John L. Ely - Austin TX
Axel D. Haubold - Liberty Hill TX
Michael R. Emken - Austin TX
James A. Accuntius - Georgetown TX

Assignee:

Carbon Implants, Inc. - Austin TX

International Classification:

B05D 724
B05D 302
B05D 304

US Classification:

427 224

Abstract:

Pure unalloyed pyrocarbons having wear resistance suitable for use in pyrocarbon-coated heart valve components and having mechanical properties, such as flexural strength and toughness, superior to commercial silicon-alloyed pyrocarbons are deposited in fluidized bed coaters. Coating conditions are carefully controlled so as to maintain a precise bed size within a defined coating enclosure which will assure a substantially constant surface deposition temperature that in turn assures deposition of homogenous unalloyed pyrocarbons having these improved mechanical properties.