Simon Nguyen

US Patent:

7604608, Oct 20, 2009

Filed:

Jan 14, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/345078

Inventors:

Henry Nita - Redwood City CA, US
Jeff Sarge - Fremont 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, 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, in some embodiments, a guidewire tube extending through the lumen. A distal head for disrupting occlusions is coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member and is positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body. Some embodiments include improved features such as a bend in the catheter body for enhancing positioning and/or advancement of the catheter.

US Patent:

7621902, Nov 24, 2009

Filed:

Aug 24, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/466835

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:

A61M 31/00

US Classification:

604500, 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:

7621929, Nov 24, 2009

Filed:

Jul 11, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/179829

Inventors:

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

Assignee:

FlowCardia, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

A61B 17/32

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:

7955293, Jun 7, 2011

Filed:

Aug 23, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/466738

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:

8062566, Nov 22, 2011

Filed:

Jul 25, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/493430

Inventors:

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

Assignee:

Flowcardia, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

B28B 11/18
B28B 17/00
A61H 1/00
A61H 1/02
A61G 5/00
A61M 25/00

US Classification:

264162, 29DIG 19, 601 2, 604523, 604530

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.

US Patent:

8152753, Apr 10, 2012

Filed:

Aug 7, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/537959

Inventors:

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

Assignee:

FlowCardia, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

A61B 17/20

US Classification:

604 22, 606159

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, in some embodiments, a guidewire tube extending through the lumen. A distal head for disrupting occlusions is coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member and is positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body. Some embodiments include improved features such as a bend in the catheter body for enhancing positioning and/or advancement of the catheter.

US Patent:

8308677, Nov 13, 2012

Filed:

Jun 3, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/153359

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:

8496669, Jul 30, 2013

Filed:

Dec 21, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/004984

Inventors:

Henry Nita - Redwood Shores CA, US
Simon Nguyen - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

FlowCardia, Inc. - Tempe AZ

International Classification:

A61B 17/22

US Classification:

606128, 604 22

Abstract:

An ultrasound catheter has an elongate flexible catheter body having a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, and an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body. The ultrasound transmission member has a proximal end that is coupled to a separate ultrasound generating device, and a distal tip that is attached to the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member and which is located at the distal end of the catheter body. The ultrasound transmission member is directly attached to the catheter body and/or to a guidewire tube either directly or via an attachment device. The catheter has an additional radiopaque marker positioned on the distal end the catheter.