Walter B Stevens

US Patent:

6502574, Jan 7, 2003

Filed:

Nov 14, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/992277

Inventors:

Walter J. Stevens - Woodbury MN
Anja K. Metzger - Stillwater MN
Larry A. Walter - Minneapolis MN
Mark B. Knudson - Shoreview MN
Timothy R. Conrad - Eden Prairie MN

Assignee:

Pi Medical, Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

A61F 556

US Classification:

128848, 602902

Abstract:

A method for treating snoring includes identifying first and second locations disposed on right and left sides, respectively, of a soft palate and separated by an anterior-posterior midline extending centrally positioned on the palate. The first and second locations are linked across the midline by creating a linkage between the first and second locations and through the midline with the linkage having a stiffness greater than a stiffness of untreated tissue naturally residing between the locations.

US Patent:

20020116018, Aug 22, 2002

Filed:

Nov 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/010960

Inventors:

Walter Stevens - Woodbury MN, US
Eunice Chen - Menlo Park CA, US
Jessica Smith - Granite Bay CA, US
Douglas Oguss - Northbrook IL, US
Mary O'Connell - Palo Alto CA, US
Jay Story - Boise ID, US

International Classification:

A61B017/08

US Classification:

606/153000

Abstract:

An anastomosis system and methods for its use in end-to-side anastomoses are provided. The subject anastomosis system includes nesting, first and second structural means which are each tubular in structure and have a lip at at least one end. In performing an end-to-side anastomosis according to the subject invention, the subject anastomosis system is used to stably attach the graft vessel to the side of the host vessel in a manner that provides for fluid communication between the lumens of the graft and host vessels. Also provided are kits that include the subject systems. The subject anastomosis systems and methods find use in a variety of different anastomosis applications, including vascular anastomoses, and particular proximal anastomoses.