Sarah L Robbins

US Patent:

20140039358, Feb 6, 2014

Filed:

Aug 1, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/956407

Inventors:

Peter S. McKinnis - West Lafayette IN, US
Sarah Robbins - Lafayette IN, US
Neal E. Fearnot - West Lafayette IN, US

International Classification:

A61N 7/02

US Classification:

601 3, 601 2

Abstract:

Systems and methods for treating a blood clot positioned within a blood vessel are disclosed. In one embodiment, a balloon member is positioned on a distal end region of a catheter and an ultrasound emitting element is positioned within the balloon member and arranged for actively emitting ultrasound. In some exemplary embodiments, the disclosure provides a multi-wall balloon member and a multi-lumen catheter with at least one and/or all cavities of the balloon member arranged for heat transfer with the ultrasound emitting element. The disclosure also provides catheter arrangements with an ultrasound emitting element arranged to heat tissue adjacent to the balloon member. Additionally, in some embodiments, at least one and/or all walls of the balloon member have apertures arranged to release a therapeutic agent such as a thrombolytic drug.

US Patent:

20200289091, Sep 17, 2020

Filed:

Mar 24, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/827977

Inventors:

- West Lafayette IN, US
Yun Zhou - Eden Prairie MN, US
Sarah Robbins - Lafayette IN, US
Neal E. Fearnot - West Lafayette IN, US

Assignee:

Muffin Incorporated - West Lafayette IN

International Classification:

A61B 8/00
A61B 8/08
A61B 8/12

Abstract:

There are disclosed embodiments of devices and methods for imaging the inside of a body part, particularly a blood vessel. In particular embodiments, a catheter has a tip chamber, within which is an ultrasound transducer mounted on a pivot mechanism, a motor for turning the transducer, and an implement for pivoting the transducer. Examples of such an implement are a linear motor, a shaft or filament, and the pivot mechanism may be biased to return to a base position when the implement is not pivoting the transducer. In other embodiments, a mirror reflecting ultrasound signals from the transducer may be rotated and/or pivoted, using similar mechanisms.

US Patent:

20170042508, Feb 16, 2017

Filed:

Jul 28, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/221729

Inventors:

- West Lafayette IN, US
Neal E. Fearnot - West Lafayette IN, US
Sarah Robbins - Lafayette IN, US
Yun Zhou - West Lafayette IN, US
Peter S. McKinnis - Carrboro NC, US
Marc C. Buhrmester - Dayton IN, US

Assignee:

Muffin Incorporated - West Lafayette IN

International Classification:

A61B 8/00
A61B 8/12

Abstract:

Disclosed are embodiments of devices and methods for imaging the inside of a body part, such as a blood vessel. In particular embodiments, a catheter has a chamber within which is a transducer. A wire guide channel extends throughout the length of the catheter. The transducer is rotatable about the wire guide channel and the transducer is driven by a cable or other device that is connected to a motor which is located outside the catheter. In one form, a torque cable connects the transducer to the motor. In other embodiments, a pusher piece having a plurality of lumens is positioned in the catheter. Each of the lumens is sized to receive a cable, wire, and/or flushing fluid. The lumens maintain the orientation and separation of the cables, wires, and/or to flushing fluid.

US Patent:

20160000405, Jan 7, 2016

Filed:

Sep 15, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/854163

Inventors:

- West Lafayette IN, US
Sarah Robbins - Lafayette IN, US
Peter S. McKinnis - Carrboro NC, US
Yun Zhou - West Lafayette IN, US
Neal E. Fearnot - West Lafayette IN, US

International Classification:

A61B 8/00
A61B 8/12

Abstract:

There are disclosed embodiments of devices and methods for imaging the inside of a body part, particularly a blood vessel. In particular embodiments, a catheter has a tip chamber, within which is an ultrasound transducer mounted on a pivot mechanism, a motor for turning the transducer, and an implement for pivoting the transducer. Examples of such an implement are a linear motor, a shaft or filament, and the pivot mechanism may be biased to return to a base position when the implement is not pivoting the transducer. In other embodiments, a mirror reflecting ultrasound signals from the transducer may be rotated and/or pivoted, using similar mechanisms.

US Patent:

20150250451, Sep 10, 2015

Filed:

May 22, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/719367

Inventors:

- West Lafayette IN, US
Peter S. McKinnis - West Lafayette IN, US
Sarah Robbins - Lafayette IN, US
Yun Zhou - West Lafayette IN, US

International Classification:

A61B 8/00
A61B 8/12

Abstract:

There are disclosed embodiments of devices and methods for ultrasound imaging, for example of the inside of a body part such as a blood vessel. In particular embodiments, a catheter has a tip chamber, within which is an ultrasound transducer mounted on a pivot mechanism, a motor for turning the transducer, and an implement for pivoting the transducer. Examples of such an implement are a second motor operating a shaft or a filament, and the pivot mechanism may be biased to return to a base position when the implement is not pivoting the transducer. In other embodiments, a mirror reflecting ultrasound signals from the transducer may be rotated and/or pivoted, using similar mechanisms.

US Patent:

20150216503, Aug 6, 2015

Filed:

Apr 10, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/683235

Inventors:

- West Lafayette IN, US
Peter S. McKinnis - West Lafayette IN, US
Sarah Robbins - Lafayette IN, US
Yun Zhou - West Lafayette IN, US

International Classification:

A61B 8/00
A61B 8/12

Abstract:

Among other things, there is disclosed structure and methods for registering images obtained through internal (e.g. intravascular) ultrasound devices. Embodiments of a device with a rotating ultrasound beam is provided, with a wall of the device being anisotropic in ultrasound passage. As examples, a cable opaque to ultrasound is attached along the wall of the device, so that the ultrasound beam at the location of the cable is blocked, reflected or scattered. As another example, a thin film of metallic material is placed on or in the wall to allow a portion of the beam to be blocked or attenuated. The imaging system recognizes the changes to the signals made by the anisotropic wall, and registers successive images according to those changes.

US Patent:

20150094595, Apr 2, 2015

Filed:

Sep 30, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/501746

Inventors:

- West Lafayette IN, US
Sarah Robbins - Lafayette IN, US
Peter S. McKinnis - West Lafayette IN, US
Yun Zhou - West Lafayette IN, US
Neal E. Fearnot - West Lafayette IN, US

International Classification:

A61B 8/00
A61B 8/08
A61M 25/09
A61B 8/12
A61B 1/018

US Classification:

600467

Abstract:

Disclosed are embodiments of devices and methods for imaging the inside of a body part, such as a blood vessel. In particular embodiments, a catheter has a chamber within which is a transducer. A wire guide channel extends throughout the length of the catheter. The transducer is rotatable around the wire guide channel.

US Patent:

20140276076, Sep 18, 2014

Filed:

Mar 14, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/211885

Inventors:

- West Lafayette IN, US
Yun Zhou - West Lafayette IN, US
Sarah Robbins - Lafayette IN, US
Neal E. Fearnot - West Lafayette IN, US

International Classification:

A61B 8/00

US Classification:

600459, 600437

Abstract:

There are disclosed embodiments of devices and methods for imaging the inside of a body part, particularly a blood vessel. In particular embodiments, a catheter has a tip chamber, within which is an ultrasound transducer mounted on a pivot mechanism, a motor for turning the transducer, and an implement for pivoting the transducer. Examples of such an implement are a linear motor, a shaft or filament, and the pivot mechanism may be biased to return to a base position when the implement is not pivoting the transducer. In other embodiments, a mirror reflecting ultrasound signals from the transducer may be rotated and/or pivoted, using similar mechanisms.