Craig H Nichols

US Patent:

20220305183, Sep 29, 2022

Filed:

Dec 30, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/566428

Inventors:

- Durham NC, US
Craig Nichols - Durham NC, US
Joseph Knight - Durham NC, US
Juan Chiossone - Raleigh NC, US
Peter Lawson - Durham NC, US
Samantha Busch - Indian Land SC, US
Brian Walsh - Charlotte NC, US

International Classification:

A61M 1/36
A61M 39/04
A61M 39/02
A61M 39/00

Abstract:

A cannulation chamber is provided for use with an arteriovenous graft including a flexible conduit. The cannulation chamber comprises an elongated body defining an annular passageway having a longitudinal axis extending between a first end and a second end. The body receives and surrounds the conduit in the passageway. The body comprises a self-sealing material and a cannulation port that exposes the self-sealing material. A flexible resilient elongated back plate is embedded in the body of the cannulation chamber such that the back plate extends generally parallel with and may partially surround the passageway. The back plate is formed of a substantially rigid material such that when a needle is inserted through the cannulation port and the self-sealing material, the needle is inhibited or prevented from extending through the back plate.

US Patent:

20210346585, Nov 11, 2021

Filed:

Jul 19, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/379655

Inventors:

- Durham NC, US
Jeffrey H. Lawson - Durham NC, US
Joseph Knight - Durham NC, US
Craig Nichols - Durham NC, US

International Classification:

A61M 1/36
A61M 39/02
A61B 17/11
A61M 25/06

Abstract:

An apparatus for guiding cannulation with a dialysis needle of an arteriovenous dialysis access graft subcutaneously implanted in a body of a subject. The guiding apparatus comprises an elongated body member comprising a base portion terminating in longitudinal edges, a distance between the longitudinal edges of the base portion being substantially equal to a lateral dimension of the aces graft, and an elongated tubular sleeve defining an pocket having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension configured to receive the body member. The body member is adapted to be received in the pocket of the sleeve for securing adjacent the subcutaneous access graft such that the inner surface of the base portion is aligned with a cannulation point of the graft for guiding location of a needle insertion.

US Patent:

20210322193, Oct 21, 2021

Filed:

Jun 28, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/360880

Inventors:

- Durham NC, US
Joseph Knight - Durham NC, US
Michael Lawson - Durham NC, US
Craig Nichols - Durham NC, US

International Classification:

A61F 2/966

Abstract:

An apparatus is provided for subcutaneous implantation in a patient using a tunneling instrument. The implantation apparatus comprises a vascular graft and a connector adapted to couple a distal end of the tunneling instrument and a proximal end of the graft. The connector comprises a tip, a first end of the tip configured to be received within the proximal end of the graft, a clip for securing the graft to the tip, and a coupler for a rotatable connection of the tip to the tunneling instrument such that the tip is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the coupler to facilitate attachment of the graft to the tunneling instrument. The implantation apparatus may further comprise a removable sheath configured to substantially cover the length of the graft.

US Patent:

20200276430, Sep 3, 2020

Filed:

May 18, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/877054

Inventors:

- Durham NC, US
Joseph Knight - Durham NC, US
Michael Lawson - Durham NC, US
Craig Nichols - Carrboro NC, US

International Classification:

A61M 39/02
A61M 1/30
A61M 1/36

Abstract:

A method for rotatable selection of sites for cannulation of a subcutaneous vascular access vessel comprises the step of providing a template defining an opening for a plurality of zones, each of the plurality of zones configured for receiving a plurality of simultaneous cannulations accessing the vascular access vessel. The outer surface of the template is marked, the marking defining each of the plurality of zones for use as cannulation sites along the vascular access vessel. The template is positioned on the skin of the patient adjacent the subcutaneous vascular access vessel such that the opening aligns with the vascular access vessel, and the marking is used for selecting a first zone for a cannulation site into the vascular access vessel such that the cannulation site in the first zone is spaced from and not adjacent to a second zone used for cannulation immediately previously to the first zone.

US Patent:

20200197205, Jun 25, 2020

Filed:

Dec 20, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/723211

Inventors:

- Durham NC, US
Joseph Knight - Durham NC, US
Michael Lawson - Durham NC, US
Craig Nichols - Durham NC, US

International Classification:

A61F 2/966

Abstract:

An apparatus is provided for subcutaneous implantation in a patient using a tunneling instrument. The implantation apparatus comprises a vascular graft and a connector adapted to couple a distal end of the tunneling instrument and a proximal end of the graft. The connector comprises a tip, a first end of the tip configured to be received within the proximal end of the graft, a clip for securing the graft to the tip, and a coupler for a rotatable connection of the tip to the tunneling instrument such that the tip is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the coupler to facilitate attachment of the graft to the tunneling instrument. The implantation apparatus may further comprise a removable sheath configured to substantially cover the length of the graft.

US Patent:

20180289883, Oct 11, 2018

Filed:

Mar 30, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/941599

Inventors:

- Durham NC, US
Jeffrey H. Lawson - Durham NC, US
Joseph Knight - Durham NC, US
Craig Nichols - Carrboro NC, US

International Classification:

A61M 1/36
A61B 17/11
A61M 25/06
A61M 39/02

Abstract:

An apparatus for guiding cannulation with a dialysis needle of an arteriovenous dialysis access graft subcutaneously implanted in a body of a subject. The guiding apparatus comprises an elongated body member comprising a base portion terminating in longitudinal edges, a distance between the longitudinal edges of the base portion being substantially equal to a lateral dimension of the aces graft, and an elongated tubular sleeve defining an pocket having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension configured to receive the body member. The body member is adapted to be received in the pocket of the sleeve for securing adjacent the subcutaneous access graft such that the inner surface of the base portion is aligned with a cannulation point of the graft for guiding location of a needle insertion.

US Patent:

20180280605, Oct 4, 2018

Filed:

Mar 30, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/941790

Inventors:

- Durham NC, US
Jeffrey H. Lawson - Durham NC, US
Joseph Knight - Durham NC, US
Craig Nichols - Carrboro NC, US

International Classification:

A61M 1/36
A61M 39/02

Abstract:

An arteriovenous dialysis access graft is configured to be implanted in a body of a subject. The arteriovenous dialysis graft comprises a flexible conduit defining a longitudinal flow passageway. The conduit has a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion configured to connect to an artery of the subject and the second end portion configured to connect to a vein of the subject such that blood flows through the longitudinal flow passageway of the conduit from the first end portion to the second end portion. The graft further comprises a first cannulation chamber and a spaced second cannulation chamber with the conduit extending through each of the first chamber and the second chamber. The first chamber is positioned between the first end portion and the second chamber, and the second chamber is positioned between the second end portion and the first chamber. A valve device is positioned between the first cannulation chamber and the second cannulation chamber for controlling fluid flow.