Steven J Kim

US Patent:

6338725, Jan 15, 2002

Filed:

Sep 23, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/158777

Inventors:

George D. Hermann - Los Gatos CA
Kirsten Freislinger - Menlo Park CA
Steven W. Kim - Cupertino CA
Jay A. Lenker - Laguna Beach CA
Michael A. Evans - Palo Alto CA

Assignee:

Medtronic AVE, Inc. - Santa Rosa CA

International Classification:

A61M 3700

US Classification:

604 9504, 604 9601, 60416401, 60416701, 604523, 604537, 604912

Abstract:

A catheter introducing system includes an introducer catheter comprising a flexible sheath having a hemostasis valve and an obturator having a steering mechanism operated by a proximal actuator handle. The catheter introducer system will usually be introduced with the obturator inside of the flexible sheath so that the obturator can effect steering by laterally deflecting the distal end of the combined sheath and obturator. Such catheter introducing systems are particularly useful for large diameter sheaths which are not readily introduced over guide wires. A first exemplary hemostasis valve comprises a compressed foam insert having an axial lumen therein. A second exemplary hemostasis valve comprises an elastomeric insert which receives and seals over the catheter.

US Patent:

6355060, Mar 12, 2002

Filed:

Oct 15, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/421202

Inventors:

Jay A. Lenker - Los Altos Hills CA
Michael A. Evans - Palo Alto CA
Steven W. Kim - Sunnyvale CA
Brian Glynn - Sunnyvale CA
Gwendolyn A. Watanabe - Mountain View CA

Assignee:

Medtronic AVE, Inc. - Santa Rosa CA

International Classification:

A61F 200

US Classification:

623 134, 6041031

Abstract:

A delivery catheter for a radially compressible tubular prosthesis comprises an elongate shaft slidably received within a tubular cover. The prosthesis is carried within a plurality of elongate, relatively hard runners, and is restrained in a radially compressed configuration by the cover. After introducing the catheter to a desired target location within a body lumen, the prosthesis may be released by proximally retracting the cover. The runners may optionally remain disposed about the prosthesis to be retracted separately, or, alternatively, the runners retract proximally with the cover as the prosthesis slides over the hard runner surfaces.

US Patent:

6379319, Apr 30, 2002

Filed:

Oct 27, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/179737

Inventors:

John Garibotto - Palo Alto CA
Steven W. Kim - San Jose CA
Jason Whitt - San Francisco CA
J. Christopher Flaherty - Los Altos CA
Joshua Makower - Los Altos CA
Motoya Hayase - Palo Alto CA
John Chang - Santa Clara CA

Assignee:

Transvascular, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

A61B 500

US Classification:

600585

Abstract:

Devices and methods for achieving directed placement of guidewires or other flexible rails over which other catheters or other devices may be introduced to a targeted location. A guidewire directing device includes a lumen extending between a proximal end and a distal peripheral opening for directing a guidewire laterally from the device, and may have a deflecting member with a predetermined deflection angle in the lumen adjacent the peripheral opening. A snaring device is also provided that includes one or more lumens through which a snare or other grasping member is directed for releasably capturing or coupling to a guidewire. The snaring and target guidewire devices may include cooperating end effectors for releasably coupling or securing the devices together. The devices may be used for directing, snaring and/or manipulating one or more guidewires between two blood vessels connected by an interstitial channel, for example, to âflossâ a guidewire through the coronary arterial and venous systems between two percutaneous entry sites and/or to bypass a lesion in a vessel using proximal and distal interstitial channels communicating with an adjacent vessel.

US Patent:

6432127, Aug 13, 2002

Filed:

Nov 14, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/970694

Inventors:

Steven Kim - San Jose CA
J. Christopher Flaherty - Los Altos CA
Jason Brian Whitt - San Francisco CA
Theodore C. Lamson - Pleasanton CA
Joshua Makower - Los Altos CA

Assignee:

TransVascular, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

A61F 206

US Classification:

623 111, 606198

Abstract:

Implantable connector devices which are useable to maintain fluidic connection between, or approximation of, openings formed in adjacent natural or prosthetic anatomical conduits (or adjacent openings formed in a single anatomical conduits). These connector devices generally comprise a plurality of radially expandable annular members having one or more elongate strut members extending therebetween. Initially, the device is mountable on or within a delivery catheter while in a radially compact configuration. After the delivery catheter has been inserted into the body, the device is caused to transition to a radially expanded configuration whereby it becomes implanted within the body so as to maintain the desired fluidic connection between, or the desired approximation of, the anatomical conduit(s).

US Patent:

6576009, Jun 10, 2003

Filed:

Feb 11, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/502942

Inventors:

Timothy J. Ryan - Los Gatos CA
Michael A. Evans - Palo Alto CA
Jay A. Lenker - Los Altos Hills CA
Kirsten Freislinger - Menlo Park CA
Steven W. Kim - Sunnyvale CA
Allan R. Will - Atherton CA

Assignee:

Medtronic AVE, Inc. - Santa Rosa CA

International Classification:

A61F 206

US Classification:

623 135, 623 127

Abstract:

The present invention provides modular bifurcated intraluminal tubular prostheses, particularly stents and stent-grafts, for the treatment of disease conditions, particularly aneurysms. Modular sections of the prostheses, or âprosthetic modules,â may be selectively assembled to form a prosthesis having characteristics which are tailored to the specific requirements of the patient, including branch angle and branch lumen sizes which match the patients vascular geometry. A Y-connector prosthetic module structure provides support and separation for each of the adjacent branching lumens. Radiopaque markers on the prostheses promote alignment between prosthetic modules and with the body lumen system.

US Patent:

6605047, Aug 12, 2003

Filed:

Sep 10, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/954792

Inventors:

Sascha Zarins - San Jose CA
Steven Kim - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Vivant Medical, Inc. - Mountain View CA

International Classification:

A61B 1000

US Classification:

600562, 606116, 604116

Abstract:

An apparatus for delivering subcutaneous cavity marking devices. More particularly, the delivery devices may be used with biopsy systems permitting efficient placement of a biopsy marker within a cavity. The device may include an intermediate member which assists in deployment of the marking device. The devices may also include a deployment lock to prevent premature deployment of a biopsy marker. The invention may further include the capability to match an orientation of a biopsy probe which has been rotated upon procurement of a biopsy sample.

US Patent:

6613081, Sep 2, 2003

Filed:

Aug 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/933295

Inventors:

Steven W. Kim - San Jose CA
Joshua Makower - Los Altos CA
J. Christopher Flaherty - Los Altos CA

Assignee:

Transvascular, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

International Classification:

A61F 206

US Classification:

623 115

Abstract:

A plastically deformable stent for implantation within a body passage includes a plurality of cylindrical segments, and a plurality of connectors extending between adjacent segments. Each segment has an alternating pattern of curvilinear elements extending about its circumference, including first and second sets of curvilinear elements having different resistances to expansion, and preferably defining âUâ shapes with alternating lengths that are connected to one another to define a substantially sinusoidal pattern. The connectors define a sinusoidal shape adapted to extend and compress axially substantially evenly when the adjacent segments are subjected to bending. The stent may be delivered on a device including an elongate member with a nose cone, an expandable member, and a proximal shoulder thereon, and an outer sheath for slidably receiving the elongate member therein. The outer sheath and/or nose cone may have perfusion holes for allowing continued perfusion of fluid during stent delivery. The device may be used in a method for implanting a stent within a curved region of a body passage, particularly for creating and/or maintaining a channel connecting a vein to an adjacent artery, preferably in the coronary system.

US Patent:

6752154, Jun 22, 2004

Filed:

Aug 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/935477

Inventors:

Thomas J. Fogarty - Portola Valley CA 94028
David B. Willis - Palo Alto CA
Thomas A. Howell - Palo Alto CA
George D. Hermann - Portola Valley CA
Peter M. Wilson - Foster City CA
Elizabeth M. Bush - Fremont CA
Steven W. Kim - San Jose CA
Roman Turovskiy - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Thomas J. Fogarty - Portola Valley CA

International Classification:

A61B 1900

US Classification:

128899, 606116, 600434

Abstract:

This invention is an improved tissue localizing device for fixedly yet removably marking a volume of tissue containing a suspect region for excision. This invention also encompasses methods for deployment of the localizing device and its excision along with the marked tissue volume. At least one locator element is deployed into tissue and assumes a predetermined curvilinear shape to define a tissue border containing a suspect tissue region along a path. The locator element path preferably encompasses the distalmost portion of the tissue volume without penetrating that volume. Multiple locator elements may be deployed to further define the tissue volume along additional paths defining the tissue volume border that do not penetrate the volume. Other localization wire embodiments of the invention are disclosed in which the tissue volume may be penetrated by a portion of the device. Polar and tangential deployment configurations as well as a locator element that may be cold-formed by a die in the distal portion of the deployment tube into a permanent arcuate shape are also disclosed.