CHARLES KILLIS TAYLOR
Pilots at Ft Mason, San Francisco, CA

5894843, Apr 20, 1999

Feb 20, 1996

8/603758

Federico J. Benetti - Rosario, AR
Charles S. Taylor - San Francisco CA
Ivan Sepetka - Los Altos CA
Amr Salahieh - Campbell CA
Robert C. Glines - Cameron Park CA
William N. Aldrich - Redwood City CA
Brent Regan - Davis CA
John J. Frantzen - Copperopolis CA

Cardiothoracic Systems, Inc. - Portola Valley CA

A61B 1900

128898

The invention is methods and devices which a surgeon may use to stabilize the beating heart during a surgical procedure on the heart. Pursuant to the invention, a stabilizing device is introduced through an opening in the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart. By contacting the heart with the device and by exerting a stabilizing force on the device, the motion of the heart caused by the contraction of the heart muscles is effectively eliminated such that the heart is stabilized and the site of the surgery moves only minimally if at all. Typically, in separate steps, the surgeon contacts the heart with the stabilizing device, assesses the degree of movement of the anastomosis site, and exerts a force on the stabilizing device such that the contraction of the beating heart causes only minimal excess motion at the surgery site. By fixing the position of the stabilizing device in a configuration where the motion of the beating heart is effectively eliminated, the surgeon is able to stabilize the beating heart for the duration of the procedure. The stabilizing device may be attached to a rigid support or may be attached to a semi-rigid support which is rendered motionless mechanically, chemically, or by human intervention.

6308104, Oct 23, 2001

Jun 22, 1999

9/338303

Charles S. Taylor - San Francisco CA
Robert G. Matheny - Carmel IN
Dwight P. Morejohn - Davis CA

Cardiothoracic Systems, Inc. - Cupertino CA

A61N 105, A61N 118

607118

A method and apparatus for facilitating coronary surgery on the beating heart wherein the vagus nerve is electrically stimulated to purposely temporarily stop or substantially reduce the beating of the heart under precisely controlled conditions. The apparatus controllably applies the electrical stimulus to preselected locations along the vagus nerve and thus to preselected nerve branches related to the heart. The apparatus includes several clip and probe configurations for establishing electrical contact with the vagus nerve. Such purposely caused temporary stoppage or substantial reduction of the beating of the heart facilitates procedures such as suturing of an anastomosis which would otherwise be more difficult because of the motion induced by the beating heart.

2008016, Jul 3, 2008

Feb 29, 2008

12/074181

Charles S. Taylor - San Francisco CA, US
Michael V. Morejohn - San Jose CA, US

A61F 2/00

600 16, 600 37

Methods and devices for passively assisting the cardiac function of the heart are disclosed. A method of increasing the cardiac output of a heart includes providing a site of surgical access to the portion of the heart to be restrained, reducing the cardiac expansion of the portion of the heart to be restrained, and maintaining the reduction of cardiac expansion of the portion of the heart to be restrained for a substantial amount of time. Cardiac assist devices for increasing the cardiac output of the heart are disclosed comprising a reinforcing portion configured to contact a portion of the heart tissue wherein the reinforcing portion restricts the expansion of the portion of the heart tissue. The reinforcing portion can be a number of structures, including pads, frames, straps, and other retaining means for limiting cardiac expansion of the portion of the heart tissue to be retained.

5769870, Jun 23, 1998

Feb 20, 1996

8/603415

Amr Salahieh - Campbell CA
Charles S. Taylor - San Francisco CA
Alfredo R. Cantu - Fremont CA
Ivan Sepetka - Los Altos CA
Robert G. Matheny - Carmel IN

Cardiothoracic Systems, Inc. - Cupertino CA

A61M 2900

606198

A plurality of embodiments of a distal perfusion device are disclosed, which device facilitates anastomosis constructions by maintaining a dry anastomosis site while simultaneously maintaining blood flow distally in the blood vessel to prevent ischemia and reduce overall patient trauma. The perfusion device is configured for installation into a blood vessel such as a left anterior descending coronary artery through an incision therein, to which is to be grafted a distal end of a blood vessel such as an internal mammary artery. The device includes a central member of selected configuration and material, terminating at either end thereof in respective selectively tapered end members. A lumen extending through the central member and end members, and selected perforations in the end members, maintain blood flow through the perfusion device. A selected portion or portions of the device's outer circumference fit snugly within the artery in the regions beyond and/or at the anastomosis site, to maintain the latter free of blood. Several methods for deploying and removing respective embodiments of the device also are illustrated.

5871496, Feb 16, 1999

Apr 10, 1997

8/835675

Richard S. Ginn - San Jose CA
Hani Shennib - Quebec, CA
Charles S. Taylor - San Francisco CA
Ivan Sepetka - Los Altos CA

Cardiothoracic Systems, Inc. - Cupertino CA

A61B 1700

606190

A surgical instrument is configured to aid in performing a procedure of detaching an internal mammary artery (IMA) and the like, from the connecting tissues and side branch vessels which surround the artery in its native location, wherein the detaching procedure is preliminary to the performing of a coronary artery bypass grafting procedure and wherein the IMA is detached via a minimally invasive thoracotomy. To this end, an elongated slender rod includes a handle at its proximal end and an artery engaging loop, arc, fork configuration, or hook at its distal working end. Embodiments may incorporate electrosurgical capability or electrical insulation. A surgeon thus has means for harvesting an intact and undamaged graft vessel from its native location through a minimally invasive incision with enhanced speed, visibility, and freedom of motion.

4940062, Jul 10, 1990

May 26, 1988

7/199099

Hilary J. Hampton - Santa Clara CA
John W. Gaiser - Mountain View CA
Charles S. Taylor - San Francisco CA
Timothy R. Machold - Moss Beach CA

Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

A61M 2500

128772

The invention is directed to a guiding member for vascular catheters, particularly dilatation catheters for angioplasty procedures having a deflectable tip. The guiding member generally includes an elongated core wire having a tapered distal portion, a coil encasing at least part of the tapered distal portion of a core wire. The coil has an expanded section, and a reference member disposed therein which is secured to the coil proximally and distally of the expanded coil section. The core wire is secured to the coil at a location distally of the expanded section but proximally to the distal tip of the coil. Relative axial movement between the core wire and the coil causes expansion or contraction of the expanded coil section which results in tip deflection.

7699774, Apr 20, 2010

Aug 30, 1999

09/385812

Charles S. Taylor - San Francisco CA, US
William N. Aldrich - Redwood City CA, US
Federico J. Benetti - Santa Fe, AR
Richard S. Ginn - San Jose CA, US
Dwight P. Morejohn - Davis CA, US
Brent Regan - Davis CA, US
Eugene E. Reis - San Jose CA, US
Ivan Sepetka - Los Altos CA, US
William F. Witt - Palo Alto CA, US

Maquet Cardiovascular LLC - San Jose CA

A61B 17/02, A61M 29/00

600217, 606198

An access platform having a first and a second blade interconnected to a spreader member that laterally drives the blades apart or together and a sternal pad interconnected to a blade. The superior blade is pivotally coupled to the spreader member such that it naturally rises as the blades are separated. Alternatively, a vertical displacement member is operably interconnected to a blade and the spreader member and is used to vertically displace the interconnected superior blade and, thus, increase a surgeon's working space and visual access for the dissection of an internal mammary artery. A tissue retractor is interconnected to the blades to draw the soft tissue around an incision away from the surgeon's working area.

5709693, Jan 20, 1998

Feb 20, 1996

8/650153

Charles Taylor - San Francisco CA

Cardiothoracic System, Inc. - Cupertino CA

A61B 1704

606145

An automated stitching device having a "C"-shaped arcuate needle which is incrementally advanced in a circular path. A toggle and drive plate arrangement is used to drive the needle, and a one-way clutch mechanism is used to engage and permit incremental advancement of the needle along its circular path. The "C"-shaped arcuate needle is mounted and driven at the distal end of an elongated shaft. The stitching device is particularly suited for microsurgery, laparoscopic surgery, and various less invasive surgical procedures, and particularly for the suturing of blood vessels including during cardiac bypass surgery.