Dennis R Brooks

57493707, May 12, 1998

Jun 7, 1995

8/483478

Dennis L. Brooks - Santa Clara CA
Alfredo G. Bayot - Newark CA
Mina W. B. Chow - San Jose CA
Paul F. Muller - San Carlos CA

Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

A61B 500

128772

A method and system for maintaining the position of a guiding member, such as a guidewire, within a patient's vascular system, particularly within a guiding catheter disposed within the patient's vascular system, while an intravascular catheter slidably mounted on the guiding member is withdrawn and a replacement catheter is advanced over the guiding member. One presently preferred embodiment includes a guiding sheath having an inner lumen extending the length thereof with an engaging device slidably disposed with the guiding sheath. The guidewire engaging device is torqued from its proximal end which extends out of the proximal end of the guiding catheter so that the flexible distal end wraps around the guidewire tightly enough to maintain the position of the guidewire while withdrawing or advancing a catheter over the guidewire. The distal portion of the guidewire engaging device is preferably a pseudoelastic NiTi alloy which is in a stable austenite phase at body temperature (37. degree. C. ) and which exhibits a stress-induced transformation from the austenite phase to a martensite phase.

60397438, Mar 21, 2000

Jul 30, 1997

8/902772

Dignah B. Quiachon - Mountain View CA
Deepak R. Gandhi - San Jose CA
Dennis L. Brooks - Windsor CA
Mir A. Imran - Los Altos Hills CA
Roger J. Guidi - Los Altos CA

Intella Interventional Systems, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

A61F 1100
A61M 2900

606108

A guide wire having a distal extremity with an adjustable support characteristic including a core wire having proximal and distal extremities. The distal extremity has a reduced cross sectional area which is more flexible than the proximal extremity. A tip is secured to the distal extremity of the core wire. A sleeve of superelastic material is disposed coaxially on the distal extremity of the core wire. The sleeve is annealed so that it is relatively flexible at a temperature ranging from 20. degree. to 40. degree. C. and becomes progressively stiffer as temperature increases. The core wire conducts electrical energy to the superelastic sleeve to supply heat to the sleeve and extends from the proximal extremity of the core wire to the sleeve to cause the sleeve to become stiffer to thereby increase the stiffness of the distal extremity of the guide wire. A guide wire is provided having a distal extremity with an adjustable support characteristic which varies from a floppy characteristic to a stiff characteristic.

55073018, Apr 16, 1996

Dec 28, 1994

8/365324

Lawrence D. Wasicek - Sunnyvale CA
Dennis L. Brooks - Santa Clara CA

Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

A61B 500
A61M 2900

128772

A guidewire having a core member with proximal, intermediate and distal sections and a flexible coil on the distal section and a catheter assembly or kit with such guidewire. The proximal section of the core may be substantially longer than the combined lengths of both the intermediate and distal sections and has a diameter which is at least 0. 001 inch greater than the diameter of the intermediate section. The intermediate section has a diameter which is at least 0. 002 inch greater than the diameter of the distal section. Improved pushability and a greater flexibility in the distal and intermediate sections are obtained. A catheter which is used with the guidewire has a proximal section of about 100 cm and a distal section of at least about 15 cm in length and an inner lumen having diameter of at least 0. 003 inch less than the inner diameter of the inner lumen in the proximal section.

56973802, Dec 16, 1997

Jan 11, 1996

8/585885

Dignah B. Quiachon - Mountain View CA
Deepak R. Gandhi - San Jose CA
Dennis L. Brooks - Windsor CA
Mir A. Imran - Los Altos Hills CA
Roger J. Guidi - Los Altos CA

Intella Interventional Systems, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

A61M 2500

128772

A guide wire having a distal extremity with an adjustable support characteristic comprising a core wire having proximal and distal extremities. The distal extremity has a reduced cross sectional area which is more flexible than the proximal extremity. A tip secured to the distal extremity of the core wire. A sleeve of superelastic material is disposed coaxially on the distal extremity of the core wire. The sleeve is annealed so that it is relatively flexible at a temperature ranging from 20. degree. to 40. degree. C. and becomes progressively stiffer as temperature increases. The core wire conducts electrical energy to the superelastic sleeve to supply heat to the sleeve and extends from the proximal extremity of the core wire to the sleeve to cause the sleeve to become stiffer to thereby increase the stiffness of the distal extremity of the guide wire. A guide wire is provided having a distal extremity with an adjustable support characteristic which varies from a floppy characteristic to a stiff characteristic.

59084057, Jun 1, 1999

Jun 16, 1997

8/876999

Mir A. Imran - Los Altos Hills CA
Cecily M. Hillsman - San Jose CA
Deepak R. Ghandi - San Jose CA
Dennis L. Brooks - Windsor CA

Intella Interventional Systems, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

A61M 3100

604 53

A method for performing an angioplasty procedure for treating one or more stenoses in a blood vessel and branches thereof of a patient using a low profile balloon-on-a-wire catheter which has a flexible elongate tubular member with proximal and distal extremities and a removable inflation device removably secured to the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member. The method comprises the steps of inserting the balloon-on-a-wire catheter into the vessel so that the balloon is disposed in a selected stenosis in the vessel. The removable inflation device is placed on the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member so that it is in communication with the lumen in the flexible elongate tubular member. The balloon is inflated to create an enlarged flow passage through the selected stenosis. The removable inflation device is removed from the proximal extremity of the flexible elongate tubular member.

59386231, Aug 17, 1999

Jan 8, 1997

8/780687

Dignah B. Quiachon - Mountain View CA
Robert A. Guziak - Pleasanton CA
Dennis L. Brooks - Windsor CA
Deepak R. Gandhi - San Jose CA
Mir A. Imran - Palo Alto CA
Roger J. Guidi - Los Altos CA

Intella Interventional Systems - Sunnyvale CA

A61B 500

600585

Guide wire for use in a medical procedure and for use with a power supply comprising a solid core wire having proximal and distal extremities. The proximal extremity has a predetermined diameter. At least a portion of the distal extremity has a reduced size with respect to the predetermined diameter. A flexible coil is secured to the distal extremity of the core wire and extends over the portion of the core wire having a reduced size. An actuator member is disposed proximal of the coil and extends along the core wire. Electrical conductors extend from the proximal extremity of the core wire to the actuator member for supplying heat to the actuator member. The actuator member is formed of a temperature activated metal alloy having a Young's modulus of 4. times. 10. sup. 6 to 14. times. 10. sup. 6 psi which increases in stiffness when heat is supplied thereto to increase the stiffness of the guide wire proximally of the coil.

55581013, Sep 24, 1996

Oct 14, 1994

8/324010

Dennis L. Brooks - Santa Clara CA
Alfredo G. Bayot - Newark CA
Mina W. B. Chow - San Jose CA
Paul F. Muller - San Carlos CA

Advanced Cardiovascular System, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

A61B 500

728772

A method and system for maintaining the position of a guiding member, such as a guidewire, within a patient's vascular system, particularly within a guiding catheter disposed within the patient's vascular system, while an intravascular catheter slidably mounted on the guiding member is withdrawn and a replacement catheter is advanced over the guiding member. One presently preferred embodiment includes a guiding sheath having an inner lumen extending the length thereof with an engaging device slidably disposed with the guiding sheath. The guidewire engaging device is torqued from its proximal end which extends out of the proximal end of the guiding catheter so that the flexible distal end wraps around the guidewire tightly enough to maintain the position of the guidewire while withdrawing or advancing a catheter over the guidewire. The distal portion of the guidewire engaging device is preferably a pseudo elastic NiTi alloy which is in a stable austenite phase at body temperature (37. degree. C. ) and which exhibits a stress-induced transformation from the austenite phase to a martensite phase.