James W May

US Patent:

44199996, Dec 13, 1983

Filed:

Dec 7, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/327785

Inventors:

James W. May - Lincoln MA
Frederick N. Lukash - Lake Success NY
Kenneth H. Cohn - Brookline MA

International Classification:

A61B 502

US Classification:

128691

Abstract:

A method and device for measuring blood flow through a blood vessel within human or animal bodies. It utilizes the principle of energy conversion to heat by myocardial activity, organ metabolism, and laminar frictional flow in blood vessels and measures the heat dissipation through the vessel wall with obstruction to flow. When the device of the invention is placed next to the vessel wall, the output signal correlates blood flow with temperature. With an obstruction to flow, the temperature drops. The device is placed in series proximal and distal to the repaired vessel to be studied. The leads are brought through the skin and attached to a temperature monitor.

US Patent:

54585708, Oct 17, 1995

Filed:

Jan 12, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/180378

Inventors:

James W. May - Lincoln MA

International Classification:

A61M 3100

US Classification:

604 49

Abstract:

A new and improved catheter is disclosed which comprises a tube-like body having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein at least the distal end of the catheter is formed out of a bioabsorbable material, whereby at least the distal end of the catheter will be naturally absorbed by the body after a predetermined period of time has passed so as to eliminated the need for a second, subsequent surgical procedure to remove at least the distal end of the catheter once it is no longer needed. The proximal end of the catheter may or may not be formed out of a bioabsorbable material, and the proximal end of the catheter may be adapted for positioning outside the body, or it may be adapted for positioning subcutaneously within the body.