Henry K Nita

US Patent:

6454737, Sep 24, 2002

Filed:

Jun 25, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/344766

Inventors:

Henry Nita - Mission Viejo CA
Timothy Mills - Belvedere Tiburon CA

Assignee:

Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61B 1720

US Classification:

604 22

Abstract:

An ultrasonic device and method for removing obstructive matter from an anatomical structure or passageway (e. g. , blood vessel). The device comprises an elongate pliable catheter having a distal tip member attached to the distal end thereof, and an ultrasound transmission member which extends longitudinally therethrough to carry ultrasound from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal tip member. The distal tip member has a concave indentation formed in the distal surface thereof, and at least one inlet passageway extending therethrough in communication with a catheter lumen to facilitate suctioning of severed matter which becomes located within the concave indentation of the distal tip. The device may further incorporate means for infusing fluid (e. g. , irrigation fluid, medicaments) separately or concurrently with the aspiration of the severed obstructive matter.

US Patent:

6454757, Sep 24, 2002

Filed:

Sep 2, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/388794

Inventors:

Henry Nita - Mission Viejo CA
Timothy C. Mills - Corona Del Mar CA

Assignee:

Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61M 3100

US Classification:

604517, 604 22, 604500, 604515, 601 2, 606169

Abstract:

A method for treating obstructions of tubular anatomical passageways of the urinary tract, including the urethra and fallopian tubes, provides inserting an ultrasonic catheter device into an anatomical passageway, passing ultrasound to the distal end of the catheter and infusing liquid infusate to the distal end of the catheter to expel it through lateral fluid outflow apertures at a rate which will cause fluidic dilation of the anatomical passageway.

US Patent:

6494891, Dec 17, 2002

Filed:

Dec 30, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/474953

Inventors:

Wayne E. Cornish - Fallbrook CA
Robert C. Esselstein - Fallbrook CA
Sepehr Fariabi - Fremont CA
Henry Nita - Mission Viejo CA

Assignee:

Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61B 1732

US Classification:

606169, 604 22

Abstract:

The ultrasonic angioplasty transmission wire has regions of reduced cross-sectional diameter to improve flexibility of the ultrasonic angioplasty transmission wire and to compensate for degradation of longitudinal displacement due to acoustic losses along the length of the ultrasonic angioplasty transmission wire. One or more constraining members are disposed on the ultrasonic angioplasty transmission wire at one or more of the regions of reduced cross-sectional diameter where transverse vibration of ultrasonic energy transmitted by the ultrasound transmission wire is amplified, to constrain transverse vibration at these areas to reduce stress and reduce fracturing, while allowing longitudinal movement. The transmission wire has an elongated shaft including, in atomic percent, from about 28 to about 52 percent nickel, from about 48 to about 52 percent titanium, and up to about 20 percent of at least one alloying element selected from the group consisting of palladium, chromium, and hafnium.

US Patent:

6524299, Feb 25, 2003

Filed:

Apr 9, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/838685

Inventors:

Quang Q. Tran - Fremont CA
Marlowe Patterson - Milpitas CA
Henry Nita - Milpitas CA
Paul C. Slaikeu - Hayward CA

Assignee:

Target Therapeutics, Inc. - Fremont CA

International Classification:

A61M 2500

US Classification:

604523

Abstract:

This invention is to a minimally invasive surgical device. In particular, the invention relates to an infusion catheter which may be used in cardiovascular and endovascular procedures to deliver diagnostic, therapeutic, or vasoocclusive agents to a target site accessible through the vasculature. The device is a flow-directed infusion catheter having a variety of sections of different flexibilities with tapered junctions between those sections. The inventive catheter is directed to that target site by a flow of blood to the site.

US Patent:

6689086, Feb 10, 2004

Filed:

Jul 29, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/363778

Inventors:

Henry Nita - Mission Viejo CA
Timothy Mills - Belvedere Tiburon CA
Robert Siegel - Venice CA

Assignee:

Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61B 1720

US Classification:

604 22, 604500, 604508, 606128, 606169, 601 2

Abstract:

An ultrasound delivery catheter equipped and configured for concurrent delivery of drugs or therapeutic agents. The catheter comprises an elongate pliable catheter body having an ultrasound delivery member or wire extending longitudinally therethrough. A drug/therapeutic agent infusion lumen also extends longitudinally through the body of the catheter and opens distally through one or more outflow apertures at or near the distal end of the catheter body. The drug/therapeutic agent outflow apertures are preferably positioned and configured to cause the drug or therapeutic agent to flow in direction(s) non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter. The delivery of ultrasound through the catheter, concurrent with infusion of drug or therapeutic agent therethrough, will cause the drug or therapeutic agent to be disseminated or dispersed by the ultrasonic vibration or movement at the distal end of the catheter.

US Patent:

6942677, Sep 13, 2005

Filed:

Feb 26, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/375903

Inventors:

Henry Nita - Redwood City CA, US
Jeff Sarge - Fremont CA, US
Simeon Nguyen - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Flowcardia, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

A61B017/20

US Classification:

606169, 604 22

Abstract:

Ultrasound catheter devices and methods of the present invention generally provide for ablation and/or disruption of vascular occlusions. An ultrasound transmission member, such as a wire, transmits vibrational energy from an ultrasound transducer to a distal head of the catheter to disrupt vascular occlusions. At least one absorber member is disposed on or around the ultrasound transmission wire at a location adjacent the sonic connector of the catheter. The absorber member absorbs heat, vibrations, and/or the like from the ultrasound transmission wire at or near the area where the transmission wire is coupled with the sonic connector. The absorptive function typically slows the process of wear and tear on the transmission wire, thus extending the useful life of the ultrasound catheter.

US Patent:

7137963, Nov 21, 2006

Filed:

Aug 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/229371

Inventors:

Henry Nita - Redwood City CA, US
Jeff Sarge - Fremont CA, US
Martinos Tran - Tracy CA, US
Simon Nguyen - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Flowcardia, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

A61B 17/20

US Classification:

604 22

Abstract:

Ultrasound catheter devices and methods provide enhanced disruption of blood vessel obstructions. Generally, an ultrasound catheter includes an elongate flexible catheter body with one or more lumens. An ultrasound transmission member or wire extends longitudinally through the catheter body lumen and, in many embodiments, a guide wire tube also extends through the same lumen. A distal head is fixed to or otherwise mechanically coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member or wire and is positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body. Although the distal end of the catheter body overlaps the distal head, the distal head is not directly affixed to the distal end of the catheter body. Thus, the distal tip may move freely, relative to the distal end of the catheter body when ultrasonic energy is applied through the ultrasound transmission member. Such a freely floating distal head enhances the efficiency of an ultrasound catheter, enabling the catheter to ablate calcific occlusions and increasing the useful life of the ultrasound transmission member and catheter.

US Patent:

7220233, May 22, 2007

Filed:

Apr 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/410617

Inventors:

Henry Nita - Redwood City CA, US
Jeff Sarge - Fremont CA, US
Simeon Nguyen - San Jose CA, US
Richard Spano - Gilroy CA, US

Assignee:

FlowCardia, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

A61H 1/00

US Classification:

601 2, 600437, 600439, 600459, 601 3

Abstract:

Ultrasound catheter devices and methods provide enhanced disruption of blood vessel obstructions. Generally, ultrasound catheters include an elongate flexible catheter body with one or more lumens, an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the catheter body lumen and a distal head coupled with the transmission member and positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body for disrupting occlusions. Improved features of ultrasound catheters include prevention of independent rotation of the ultrasound transmission member, a safety anchor for the distal head, a one-piece transmission member/distal head and the like.