Thomas R Winston

US Patent:

6394976, May 28, 2002

Filed:

Jan 31, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/495203

Inventors:

Thomas R. Winston - Leawood KS
John M. Neet - Lawrence KS
Jeffery White - Trabuco Canyon CA
John Wardle - San Clemente CA
Diego D. Cueto - Laguna Niguel CA

Assignee:

IntraLuminal Therapeutics, Inc. - Carlsbad CA

International Classification:

A61M 3700

US Classification:

604 9504

Abstract:

A catheter for controlling the advancement of a guide wire includes a catheter body having a central lumen, a first side lumen and a second side lumen. A pair of opposing control wires extend the length of the catheter body through the side lumens. The catheter body includes a proximal portion coupled to a less rigid distal portion. A control handle coupled to the proximal ends of the control wires produces opposing motion of the control wires along the length of the catheter body, causing the distal portion of the catheter body to deflect relative to the proximal portion of the catheter body, thus directing the guide wire. In one embodiment, the control handle includes a guide wire advancement mechanism for controlling the advancement of the guide wire through the catheter.

US Patent:

6463313, Oct 8, 2002

Filed:

Mar 25, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/276379

Inventors:

Thomas R. Winston - Leawood KS 66211
John M. Neet - Lawrence KS 66049

International Classification:

A61B 600

US Classification:

600407, 600478, 356477, 606 15

Abstract:

Guidance systems for guiding a catheter through tissue within a body are described. In one form, the system is implemented in connection with a catheter which includes a catheter body having a optic fibers extending between a first end and a second end thereof. The guidance system is coupled to the catheter body and includes a first optic fiber, a second optic fiber, and a detecting element. The first optic fiber includes a first end and a second end, and is coupled to the catheter body so that the first optic fiber second end is adjacent the catheter second end. The second optic fiber also includes a first end and a second end, and a reference mirror is positioned adjacent the second optic fiber second end. The first optic fiber first end is communicatively coupled to the detecting element and the second optic fiber first end is communicatively coupled to the detecting element. The detecting element is configured to determine interference between a light beam propagating through the first optic fiber and a light beam propagating through the second optic fiber.

US Patent:

6485485, Nov 26, 2002

Filed:

May 3, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/564137

Inventors:

Thomas R. Winston - Leawood KS
John M. Neet - Lawrence KS

Assignee:

IntraLuminal Therapeutics, Inc. - Carlsbad CA

International Classification:

A61B 1818

US Classification:

606 15, 606 7

Abstract:

Expandable laser catheters for utilizing laser energy to remove obstructions from body passages are described. In one embodiment, the laser catheter includes a shaftway having a distal end including a flexible portion configured in a series of radial folds. Multiple optical fibers, configured to transmit laser energy, extend along the shaftway and are attached to the flexible portion. An inflatable, ring-shaped balloon is attached to the catheter within the flexible portion. In use, the catheter is inserted into a body passage such as an artery, and advanced until the distal end is adjacent to an obstruction. The balloon is inflated to expand the flexible portion and to bring the optical fibers nearer the inner wall of the body passage. Laser energy is directed by the optical fibers toward targeted regions of the obstruction. As the catheter is advanced and the process repeated, a core is formed from the obstruction and contained within the flexible portion.

US Patent:

6663621, Dec 16, 2003

Filed:

Jun 24, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/339559

Inventors:

Thomas R. Winston - Leawood KS
John M. Neet - Lawrence KS

Assignee:

Intraluminal Therapeutics, Inc. - Carlsbad CA

International Classification:

A61B 1818

US Classification:

606 15, 606 7, 606 10, 606 13, 606 18, 607 88

Abstract:

Catheters for photoablating plaque build-up in blood vessels are described. In one form, the catheter includes a catheter body having a first group of optic fibers and a second group of optic fibers. The first group of optic fibers is adjacent the second group of optic fibers, and each group of optic fibers includes at least one optic fiber having a first end and a second end. The second ends of the respective optic fibers form a substantially rounded hemispherical catheter head. A control element is coupled to the catheter body and is configured to selectively transmit energy through either the first group of optic fibers, or the second group of optic fibers, or both the first and second groups of optic fibers.

US Patent:

6752800, Jun 22, 2004

Filed:

Feb 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/507519

Inventors:

Thomas R. Winston - Kansas City MO
John M. Neet - Lawrence KS
Jeffery White - Trabuco Canyon CA
John Wardle - San Clemente CA
Diego D. Cueto - Laguna Niguel CA

Assignee:

Intraluminal Therapeutics Inc. - Carlsbad CA

International Classification:

A61M 2501

US Classification:

604528, 604157

Abstract:

A catheter handle for controlling the advancement of a guide wire through a catheter is described. The catheter handle has a distal end to which is coupled a luer lock element, and a proximal end to which a control knob is coupled. The luer lock element is adaptable to allow coupling of the catheter handle to any commonly available commercial catheter. The control knob is coupled to a guide wire advancement mechanism. Movement of the control knob is translated by the advancement mechanism to advancement or braking of the guide wire.

US Patent:

6842639, Jan 11, 2005

Filed:

Mar 30, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/539015

Inventors:

Thomas R. Winston - Leawood KS, US
John M. Neet - Lawrence KS, US
Nicholas Wolfe - Olathe KS, US

Assignee:

Intraluminal Therapeutics, Inc. - Carlsbad CA

International Classification:

A61B 500

US Classification:

600478, 600479, 600505, 356477

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for guiding a guide wire through a blood vessel are described. An exemplary embodiment includes a guide wire coupled to an interferometric guidance system. The interferometric guidance system is configured to provide imaging information of the vessel. The guidance system further includes a flow detection circuit for performing Doppler shift analysis to determine the presence of neovascular channels through an obstruction in the vessel. The neovascular fow information is used by the guide wire operator to guide the guide wire through the obstruction.

US Patent:

6852109, Feb 8, 2005

Filed:

Jun 11, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/166900

Inventors:

Thomas R. Winston - Leawood KS, US
John M. Neet - Lawrence KS, US

Assignee:

Intraluminal Therapeutics, Inc. - Kansas City KS

International Classification:

A61B018/18

US Classification:

606 41

Abstract:

A guide wire assembly includes a guide wire, an optical fiber, and an insulating coating. The guide wire has a distal end, a proximal end, and a bore extending through the wire between the distal and proximal ends. The an optical fiber also includes a distal end and a proximal end and is located within the bore of the guide wire. The optical fiber extends at least between the distal and proximal ends of the guide wire. The insulating coating is around an outside diameter of the guide wire, and is applied such that the distal ends of the guide wire and optical fiber are exposed.

US Patent:

6970732, Nov 29, 2005

Filed:

Oct 7, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/265801

Inventors:

Thomas R. Winston - Leawood KS, US
John M. Neet - Lawrence KS, US

Assignee:

Intraluminal Therapeutics, Inc. - Carlsbad CA

International Classification:

A61B006/00

US Classification:

600407, 600478, 600437, 356477

Abstract:

Guidance systems for guiding a catheter through tissue within a body are described. In one form, the system is implemented in connection with a catheter which includes a catheter body having a optic fibers extending between a first end and a second end thereof. The guidance system is coupled to the catheter body and includes a first optic fiber, a second optic fiber, and a detecting element. The first optic fiber includes a first end and a second end, and is coupled to the catheter body so that the first optic fiber second end is adjacent the catheter second end. The second optic fiber also includes a first end and a second end, and a reference mirror is positioned adjacent the second optic fiber second end. The first optic fiber first end is communicatively coupled to the detecting element and the second optic fiber first end is communicatively coupled to the detecting element. The detecting element is configured to determine interference between a light beam propagating through the first optic fiber and a light beam propagating through the second optic fiber.