Peter K Kratsch

US Patent:

6343731, Feb 5, 2002

Filed:

Mar 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/813944

Inventors:

Ronald D. Adams - Holliston MA
Lauren O. Main - Somerset MI
Peter K. Kratsch - Sunrise FL
George A. Nunez - Miami FL
Jurgen A. Kortenbach - Miami Springs FL
Matthew S. Solar - Cooper City FL
Gerhard F. Buess - Tübingen-Bebenhausen, DE
Marc O. Schurr - Tübingen, DE

Assignee:

Scimed Life Systems, Inc. - Maple Grove MN

International Classification:

A61B 17068

US Classification:

2271801, 227 19, 2271761, 2271791, 606219

Abstract:

A full-thickness resection system comprises a flexible endoscope and a stapling mechanism, wherein the endoscope is slidably received through at least a portion of the stapling mechanism. The stapling mechanism comprises an anvil and a stapling head mounted to the anvil so that the anvil and the stapling head are moveable with respect to one another between a tissue receiving position and a stapling position and wherein a gap formed between the stapling head and the anvil is larger in the tissue receiving position than it is in the stapling position. A position adjusting mechanism is provided for moving the anvil and the stapling head between the tissue receiving and stapling positions and a staple firing mechanism sequentially fires a plurality of staples from the stapling head across the gap against the anvil and through any tissue received in the gap and a knife cuts a portion of tissue received within the gap. A control unit which remains outside the body is coupled to the stapling mechanism for controlling operation of the position adjusting mechanism and the staple firing mechanism.

US Patent:

6478210, Nov 12, 2002

Filed:

Jan 23, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/055306

Inventors:

Ronald D. Adams - Holliston MA
Lauren O. Main - Somerset MI
Peter K. Kratsch - Sunrise FL
George A. Nunez - Miami FL
Jurgen A. Kortenbach - Miami Springs FL
Matt Solar - Cooper City FL
Gerhard F. Buess - Tübingen-Bebenhausen, DE
Marc O. Schurr - Tübingen, DE

Assignee:

Scimed Life Systems, Inc. - Maple Grove MN

International Classification:

A61B 17068

US Classification:

2271801, 2271752, 2271761, 227 19

Abstract:

A full-thickness resection system comprises a flexible endoscope and a stapling mechanism, wherein the endoscope is slidably received through at least a portion of the stapling mechanism. The stapling mechanism comprises an anvil and a stapling head mounted to the anvil so that the anvil and the stapling head are moveable with respect to one another between a tissue receiving position and a stapling position and wherein a gap formed between the stapling head and the anvil is larger in the tissue receiving position than it is in the stapling position. A position adjusting mechanism is provided for moving the anvil and the stapling head between the tissue receiving and stapling positions and a staple firing mechanism sequentially fires a plurality of staples from the stapling head across the gap against the anvil and through any tissue received in the gap and a knife cuts a portion of tissue received within the gap. A control unit which remains outside the body is coupled to the stapling mechanism for controlling operation of the position adjusting mechanism and the staple firing mechanism.

US Patent:

6605077, Aug 12, 2003

Filed:

Jul 6, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/899041

Inventors:

John Whittier - Miami FL
Peter K. Kratsch - Sunrise FL

Assignee:

SciMed Life Systems, Inc. - Maple Grove MN

International Classification:

A61B 1700

US Classification:

606 1, 606207

Abstract:

An endoscopic instrument having an end effector assembly at a distal end, a flexible member connected to and extending from the end effector assembly and a handle assembly connected to the flexible member. The handle assembly includes a handle member, a nose member and a biasing element. The handle member has an inner bore. The hollow nose member has a shank configured for insertion into the inner bore. The biasing element is located within the inner bore and biases the flexible member relative to the handle member. The handle member may have a keyway or a projection configured for insertion into a keyway, and the nose member may have the other of the keyway or the projection. The flexible member has a retaining element affixed to its proximal end. The flexible member is inserted through the nose member with the retaining element located proximate the proximal end of the nose member and thereby retained between the handle member and the nose member. Relative axial movement between the handle member and the flexible member is minimized.

US Patent:

6743185, Jun 1, 2004

Filed:

Sep 24, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/960317

Inventors:

Jeffrey S. Weber - Miami FL
Gustavo Aguirre - Pembroke Pines FL
Larry Rose - Pembroke Pines FL
Peter K. Kratsch - Sunrise FL

Assignee:

SciMed Life Systems, Inc. - Maple Grove MN

International Classification:

A61B 1000

US Classification:

600564, 600562, 29517, 294695, 606205

Abstract:

A surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, a flexible conduit, and at least one control member axially movable in the flexible conduit. The handle assembly includes a body member configured to be coupled to the flexible conduit. An actuator is movable on the body member. The actuator includes at least one projection member. The assembly further includes a reinforcement tube having an interior passage sized to accommodate the control member. The reinforcement tube includes a least one bend configured to engage the at least one projection member such that movement of the actuator with respect to the body member causes movement of the reinforcement tube. Methods of manufacturing the handle assembly are also disclosed.

US Patent:

6878162, Apr 12, 2005

Filed:

Aug 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/231666

Inventors:

Thomas O. Bales - Coral Gables FL, US
Peter K. Kratsch - Sunrise FL, US
Kenneth E. Perry - Bainbridge Island WA, US

Assignee:

Edwards Lifesciences AG - Horw

International Classification:

A61F002/06

US Classification:

623 115, 623 122

Abstract:

A stent includes a central portion of helically wound undulations formed of struts, cylindrical end portions, and transition zones between the helical portion and the cylindrical portions. According to a first aspect of the invention, the torsional flexibility of the stent is maximized by having bridges connecting adjacent winding be interrupted by the maximum possible number of undulations. In a preferred design, each winding includes nineteen undulations around the circumference, bridges are provided every five undulations. According to a second aspect of the invention, uniform opening of the transition zone is achieved by altering the width, and thereby the flexibility, of a series of struts in accordance with their lengths. Specifically, the long transition zone struts are made wider.

US Patent:

7059331, Jun 13, 2006

Filed:

Sep 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/251192

Inventors:

Ronald D. Adams - Holliston MA, US
George A. Nunez - Miami FL, US
Lauren O. Main - Somerset MI, US
Peter K. Kratsch - Sunrise FL, US
Jurgen A. Kortenbach - Miami Springs FL, US
Matt Solar - Cooper City FL, US
Gerhard F. Buess - Tübingen-Bebenhausen, DE
Marc O. Schurr - Tübingen, DE

Assignee:

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Maple Grove MN

International Classification:

A61B 19/00

US Classification:

128898, 2271801

Abstract:

A full-thickness resection system comprises a flexible endoscope and a stapling mechanism, wherein the endoscope is slidably received through at least a portion of the stapling mechanism. The stapling mechanism comprises an anvil and a stapling head mounted to the anvil so that the anvil and the stapling head are moveable with respect to one another between a tissue receiving position and a stapling position and wherein a gap formed between the stapling head and the anvil is larger in the tissue receiving position than it is in the stapling position. A position adjusting mechanism is provided for moving the anvil and the stapling head between the tissue receiving and stapling positions and a staple firing mechanism sequentially fires a plurality of staples from the stapling head across the gap against the anvil and through any tissue received in the gap and a knife cuts a portion of tissue received within the gap. A control unit which remains outside the body is coupled to the stapling mechanism for controlling operation of the position adjusting mechanism and the staple firing mechanism.

US Patent:

7546939, Jun 16, 2009

Filed:

Apr 25, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/411389

Inventors:

Ronald D. Adams - Holliston MA, US
George A. Nunez - Miami FL, US
Lauren O. Main - Somerset MI, US
Peter K. Kratsch - Sunrise FL, US
Jurgen A. Kortenbach - Miami FL, US
Matt Solar - Cooper City FL, US
Gerhard F. Buess - Tübingen-Bebenhausen, DE
Marc O. Schurr - Tübingen, DE

Assignee:

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Maple Grove MN

International Classification:

A61B 17/068

US Classification:

2271801, 227 19, 2271761, 2271791, 606139, 606219

Abstract:

Described is a full-thickness resection system which includes a control unit coupled to a proximal end of a flexible endoscope. The control unit remains outside of a body when the stapling head is in an operative position within a body lumen. The control unit includes (i) an anvil actuator coupled to an anvil in the stapling head, actuation of the anvil actuator moves the anvil axially relative to a stapling mechanism in the stapling head to compress a folded full-thickness portion of lumenal tissue between the anvil and the stapling mechanism. In addition, the control unit includes (ii) a stapler actuator coupled to the stapling mechanism in the stapling head, actuation of the stapler actuator causing the stapling mechanism to drive staples through the folded lumenal tissue against the anvil. Also, the control unit includes (iii) a tissue cutter actuator coupled to a tissue cutter in the stapling head, actuation of the tissue cutter actuator causing the tissue cutter to resect portions of the folded lumenal tissue.

US Patent:

7896215, Mar 1, 2011

Filed:

Jun 11, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/482574

Inventors:

Ronald D. Adams - Holliston MA, US
George A. Nunez - Miami FL, US
Lauren O. Main - Somerset MI, US
Peter K. Kratsch - Sunrise FL, US
Jurgen A. Kortenbach - Miami Springs FL, US
Matthew Solar - Cooper City FL, US
Gerhard F. Buess - Tübingen-Bebenhausen, DE
Marc O. Schurr - Tübingen, DE

Assignee:

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Maple Grove MN

International Classification:

A61B 17/068

US Classification:

2271801, 227 19, 2271761, 606139, 606219

Abstract:

Described is a full-thickness resection system which includes a control unit coupled to a proximal end of a flexible endoscope. The control unit remains outside of a body when the stapling head is in an operative position within a body lumen. The control unit includes (i) an anvil actuator coupled to an anvil in the stapling head, actuation of the anvil actuator moves the anvil axially relative to a stapling mechanism in the stapling head to compress a folded full-thickness portion of lumenal tissue between the anvil and the stapling mechanism. In addition, the control unit includes (ii) a stapler actuator coupled to the stapling mechanism in the stapling head, actuation of the stapler actuator causing the stapling mechanism to drive staples through the folded lumenal tissue against the anvil. Also, the control unit includes (iii) a tissue cutter actuator coupled to a tissue cutter in the stapling head, actuation of the tissue cutter actuator causing the tissue cutter to resect portions of the folded lumenal tissue.