Michael George Fourkas

US Patent:

6648879, Nov 18, 2003

Filed:

Sep 14, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/953464

Inventors:

James Joye - Monte Sereno CA
Keith Burger - San Francisco CA
Michael Fourkas - Menlo Park CA
Timothy Holland - Los Gatos CA

Assignee:

Cryovascular Systems, Inc. - Los Gatos CA

International Classification:

A61B 1818

US Classification:

606 21, 128898

Abstract:

Improved devices, systems, and methods for inhibiting hyperplasia in blood vessels provide controlled and safe cryotherapy treatment of a target portion within a body lumen of a patient. One embodiment of the cryotherapy catheter comprises a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end with a cooling fluid supply lumen and an exhaust lumen extending therebetween. A first balloon is disposed near the distal end of the catheter body in fluid communication with the supply and exhaust lumens. A second balloon is disposed over the first balloon with a barrier therebetween.

US Patent:

6652492, Nov 25, 2003

Filed:

Jul 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/911131

Inventors:

Paul Bell - Fremont CA
Doug Izuno - Orinda CA
Michael G. Fourkas - Menlo Park CA

Assignee:

Endovascular Technologies, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61M 5178

US Classification:

60416701, 604537, 604248, 60416705

Abstract:

A large-diameter sheath and assembly for use in introducing a catheter or other medical device into a vessel of the body of a patient. The sheath comprises an elongate sheath tube formed of a flexible material which has proximal and distal extremities and a passage extending therethrough of a predetermined maximum diameter. The sheath tube may either be expandable, with the distal extremity folded longitudinally to a smaller folded diameter, or of a constant diameter. If expandable, the sheath tube may be self-expanding or may be reinforced with a self-expanding wire or expandable stents. A backflow adapter is secured to the proximal extremity of the elongate sheath tube.

US Patent:

6808520, Oct 26, 2004

Filed:

Mar 1, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/798019

Inventors:

Michael G. Fourkas - Menlo Park CA
Steven G. Baker - Sunnyvale CA
David H. Mitchell - Cupertino CA

Assignee:

Endovascular Technologies, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61M 2500

US Classification:

604526, 604524, 604537, 604264, 60416409, 60416706

Abstract:

A sheath for use in introducing a catheter or other medical instrument into a vessel in the body of a patient. The sheath includes an elongate sheath tube formed of a flexible material which has proximal and distal extremities and a passage extending therethrough A backflow adapter is secured to the proximal extremity of the elongate sheath tube. The backflow adapter has a central opening therein in registration with the passage in the sheath tube. A normally closed primary valve is disposed in the central opening of the backflow adapter and is movable le to an open position. A normally open secondary valve, movable to a closed position, may be configured in the backflow adapter proximal the sheath tube and distal the primary valve. The primary and secondary valves when open permit a catheter or other medical instrument to be inserted into the sheath.

US Patent:

20080312644, Dec 18, 2008

Filed:

Jun 14, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/763372

Inventors:

Michael Fourkas - Sunnyvale CA, US
Steven Walak - Natick MA, US
Kurt Geitz - Sudbury MA, US
Kristine Tatsutani - Redwood City CA, US

Assignee:

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Maple Grove MN

International Classification:

A61B 18/02

US Classification:

606 22

Abstract:

Cryogenic tissue ablation instruments for treating body tissue include an elongate flexible body with a proximal supply port for coupling with a pressurized coolant (e.g., liquid NO), a supply lumen in fluid communication with the proximal supply port, and an expandable cryogenic balloon carried on a distal portion of the elongate body, the balloon having a wall defining an interior of the balloon. A dispersion member coupled to or otherwise formed out of a distal end portion of the elongate body has an interior lumen in fluid communication with or otherwise comprising a portion of the supply lumen, the dispersion member having one or more coolant dispersion apertures in fluid communication with the balloon interior and sized and located with respect to the balloon wall such that a pressurized flowable coolant in the supply lumen will enter the balloon interior through the one or more apertures in the form of a liquid spray that contacts and provides (through rapid evaporation) substantially uniform cooling of an interior wall surface of a treatment region of the balloon.

US Patent:

20120259322, Oct 11, 2012

Filed:

Dec 22, 2009

Appl. No.:

13/255101

Inventors:

Michael Fourkas - Los Altos Hills CA, US
Ronald Williams - Menlo Park CA, US
Punit Govenji - Los Altos Hills CA, US
Byron Reynolds - Gilroy CA, US
Phillip Olsen - Plymouth MN, US

International Classification:

A61B 18/02
A61F 7/12

US Classification:

606 21, 607105

Abstract:

A systems and methods for controlling temperature in a cryogenic device includes providing a device having a probe and a heater element. A distal region of the probe is engaged with the target region. Measuring and recording current temperature of a proximal region of the probe and time of the measurement is used to determine slope of a temperature curve defined by two points. The first point is defined by the current temperature and time of measurement and a second point is defined by a previous measurement of proximal region temperature and time of measurement. When the slope is less than a slope threshold value a treatment flag is activated, treatment start time is recorded and the proximal region is heated with the heater element. Heating is discontinued and the treatment flag is deactivated after elapsed treatment time exceeds a duration threshold value.

US Patent:

20120265278, Oct 18, 2012

Filed:

Dec 22, 2009

Appl. No.:

13/255102

Inventors:

Michael Fourkas - Sunnyvale CA, US
Ronald Williams - Menlo Park CA, US
Punit Govenji - Los Altos Hills CA, US
Byron Reynolds - Gilroy CA, US

International Classification:

A61F 7/12
A61F 7/00

US Classification:

607105, 607104

Abstract:

A system for treating tissue in a patient includes a body having a cooling fluid supply path and a tissue piercing probe in fluid communication with the cooling fluid supply path. The probe extends distally from the body and is insertable into the tissue through the patient's skin. A cooling fluid source is fluidly coupled with the probe such that when cooling is initiated, cooling fluid flows in the probe thereby cooling the probe and any adjacent tissue. A heater element is in thermal engagement with the cooling fluid source and a power source provides power to the heater element thereby heating the cooling fluid. The power source has sufficient power to heat the cooling fluid to at least a desired temperature but has insufficient power to heat the cooling fluid above a critical temperature which results in rupture of the cooling fluid source.

US Patent:

20120310226, Dec 6, 2012

Filed:

Jul 30, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/562150

Inventors:

Michael Fourkas - Sunnyvale CA, US
Steven Walak - Natick MA, US
Kurt Geitz - Sudbury MA, US
Kristine Tatsutani - Redwood City CA, US

Assignee:

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC. - Maple Grove MN

International Classification:

A61B 18/02

US Classification:

606 21, 606 23

Abstract:

A cryogenic tissue ablation instrument includes an elongate flexible body with a proximal supply port for coupling with a pressurized coolant, a supply lumen in communication with the proximal supply port, and an expandable balloon carried on the elongate body. A dispersion member coupled to the elongate body has an interior lumen in communication with the supply lumen, the dispersion member having one or more coolant dispersion apertures sized and located such that a pressurized flowable coolant will enter the balloon interior in the form of a liquid spray that contacts and provides substantially uniform cooling of the balloon.

US Patent:

61970166, Mar 6, 2001

Filed:

Jul 6, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/346036

Inventors:

Michael G. Fourkas - Menlo Park CA
Steven G. Baker - Sunnyvale CA
David H. Mitchell - Cupertino CA

Assignee:

Endovascular Technologies, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

A61M 2516

US Classification:

604537

Abstract:

A large-diameter expandable sheath for use in introducing a catheter or other medical instrument into a vessel in the body of a patient. The expandable sheath comprises an elongate sheath tube formed of a flexible material which has proximal and distal extremities and a passage extending therethrough of a maximum predetermined diameter. The distal extremity of the elongate sheath tube is folded longitudinally to a smaller folded diameter. The sheath tube may be self-expanding or may be reinforced with a self-expanding wire or expandable stents. A backflow adapter is secured to the proximal extremity of the elongate sheath tube. The backflow adapter has a central opening therein in registration with the passage in the sheath tube. A normally closed primary valve is disposed in the central opening of the backflow adapter and is movable to an open position. A normally open secondary valve, movable to a closed position, may be configured in the backflow adapter proximal the sheath tube and distal the primary valve.