DR. PAUL A KURTH, M.D.
Osteopathic Medicine at Via Alicia, Santa Barbara, CA

2009018, Jul 23, 2009

Jan 22, 2008

12/017766

Paul A. Kurth - Santa Barbara CA, US
Andrew W. Armour - Swarthmore PA, US

Pressure Products Medical Supplies, Inc. - Santa Barbara CA

A61M 25/09

604161

A method comprises the steps of inserting a microneedle or micropuncture device into a body cavity to achieve a micropuncture into the cavity while reducing tissue trauma at a puncture site. A stepped or tapered guidewire having a reduced diameter distal portion is telescopically disposed through the inner diameter of the microneedle or Micropuncture device. A proximal portion of the guidewire has a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the microneedle or Micropuncture device and extends to a proximal end of the guidewire. The proximal portion is adapted for guiding a larger diameter instrument into and through the vascular system. The microneedle or micropuncture device is withdrawn from the micropuncture while leaving the distal portion of the guidewire extending through the micropuncture. The microneedle or micropuncture device is removed from the guidewire without removing the microneedle or Micropuncture device over the proximal end of the guidewire. As a result, tissue trauma at the puncture site is substantially reduced.

2010027, Oct 28, 2010

Apr 22, 2009

12/428077

Paul A. Kurth - Santa Barbara CA, US
Andrew W. Armour - Swathmore PA, US

Pressure Products Medical Supplies Inc. - Santa Barbara CA

A61M 25/10, A61M 25/095

6041031, 604 9601

A balloon catheter, for use with an introducer, includes an outer catheter, a telescopically disposed resilient inner catheter and a high-aspect, distal, inflatable balloon having one end of the balloon coupled to the inner catheter and an opposing end of the balloon coupled to the outer catheter. The balloon is joined at its corresponding ends to the corresponding inner and outer catheters, so that the balloon, when inflated, buckles and twists the inner catheter inside the outer catheter. This creates forces which automatically return the balloon to the wrapped configuration when deflated. The balloon diameter to length aspect ratio is equal to or greater than 1. The balloon is wrapped around the self adjusting inner catheter extended from the outer catheter when the balloon is deflated so that the outer and inner catheters with the deflated balloon fit and are disposable through the introducer.

7963947, Jun 21, 2011

Jan 16, 2008

12/015097

Paul Kurth - Santa Barbara CA, US
Andrew W. Armour - Swarthmore PA, US

Pressure Products Medical Supplies, Inc. - San Pedro CA

A61M 5/178

60416408, 604159

Apparatus, system, and methods for introducing a sharp tip of a transseptal guidewire through a hub of a transseptal needle and into a lumen of a transseptal needle are provided. The apparatus includes a holder that contains the transseptal guidewire and a shield coupled to the holder. The shield has a wall defining a lumen that accommodates the sharp tip of the transseptal guidewire. The cross-sectional shape of the wall is substantially constant along at least a portion of its length and sized to fit within the lumen of the transseptal needle, thereby inhibiting contact between the sharp tip of the transseptal guidewire and the hub of the transseptal needle when the wall of the shield is positioned to extend into the lumen of the transseptal needle. The lumen of the shield has a substantially constant cross-sectional area along at least a portion of its length and an outer surface of the wall of the shield is cylindrical along the same length.

2006016, Jul 20, 2006

Dec 20, 2005

11/314376

Seth Worley - Lancaster PA, US
Paul Kurth - Santa Barbara CA, US

A61B 19/00

606129000

An introducer used for access to the coronary sinus from the right subclavian vein has a body and a distal tip, a hemostatic valve, a side arm and a side arm valve coupled to the hemostatic valve. The body is coupled to valve. The introducer comprises at least one straight proximal section; and at least two curved sections with opposite curvature. The straight and curved sections collectively have a length and shape to dispose the distal tip at or near the coronary sinus when accessed from the right subclavian vein. The introducer may further comprise a straight section between the two curved sections. In another set of embodiments the proximal straight and curved sections lie in a common plane. In still another set of embodiments the curved sections lie in planes which are angularly oriented with respect to each other so that the introducer is three-dimensional.

2006012, Jun 15, 2006

Aug 28, 2003

10/526288

Paul Kurth - Santa Barbara CA, US

A61N 1/05

607119000

An apparatus for facilitating implantation of a pacemaker lead into the vasculature of the coronary sinus of a human heart comprises a flexible guidewire for endovascular disposition; a flexible elongate tool having at least one lumen defined therethrough for telescopic disposition of the flexible guidewire therein, the elongate tool being telescopically disposed over the flexible guidewire; and a straightening wire for telescopic disposition into the elongate tool, the straightening wire for urging the elongate tool into a more straightened shape, which is sufficiently straightened to provide increased ease of telescopic disposition of the pacemaker lead over either the first or straightening wire. In one embodiment the elongate tool includes at least two lumens defined therein to allow simultaneous telescopic disposition of the first and straightening wire therein. It is also contemplated that the elongate tool may have only lumen defined therein.

2007010, May 3, 2007

Aug 7, 2006

11/462953

Seth Worley - Lancaster PA, US
Paul Kurth - Santa Barbara CA, US

A61N 1/05

607119000

A pacemaker lead () is implanted by using a two anchor system. One anchor () to first secure the position of an introducer () through which the pacemaker lead will be implanted, and a second anchor () used for implanting the distal tip of the pacemaker lead (). Examples of the anchors included various types of mechanical anchors or mechanical anchor combinations such as a suction anchor, a barbed needle, or a needle and balloon combination. The anchors can be used in the pericardial space in the heart by disposing an elongate instrument into the venous system of the heart; puncturing the venous system at a predetermined position; disposing the elongate instrument into the pericardial space at a predetermined location in the pericardial space; and implanting a pacemaker lead at the predetermined position.

2005013, Jun 23, 2005

Oct 28, 2004

10/977139

Paul Kurth - Santa Barbara CA, US
Seth Worley - Lancaster PA, US

A61N001/05

607116000

A method of exchanging vascular introducers comprises the steps of telescopically disposing a guide into a first introducer having a first inner diameter, removing the first introducer from the guide, telescopically disposing a second introducer having a second inner diameter different than the first inner diameter over the guide, and removing the guide. A kit for exchanging cardiac introducers through which a pacemaker lead has been introduced comprises a removable first introducer which is endovascularly implanted into a heart, a guide telescopically disposable into the first introducer, and a second introducer telescopically disposable over the guide to assume the position of the first introducer in the heart.

2006000, Jan 12, 2006

Nov 17, 2003

10/497763

Paul Kurth - Santa Barbara CA, US
Seth Worley - Lancaster PA, US

A61N 1/05

607119000

A pacemaker lead () is implanted by using a two anchor system. One anchor () to first secure the position of an introducer () through which the pacemaker lead will be implanted, and a second anchor () used for implanting the distal tip of the pacemaker lead (). Examples of the anchors include various types of mechanical anchors or mechanical anchor combinations such as a suction anchor, a barbed needle, or a needle and balloon combination. The anchors can be used in the pericardial space in the heart by disposing an elongate instrument into the venous system of the heart; puncturing the venous system at a predetermined position; disposing the elongate instrument into the pericardial space at a predetermined location in the pericardial space; and implanting a pacemaker lead at the predetermined position.

2007004, Mar 1, 2007

Jun 22, 2006

11/473956

Malcolm Mackley - Cambridge, GB
Bart Hallmark - Grundisburgh, GB
Paul Kurth - Santa Barbara CA, US

A61F 11/00

606108000, 604164050

The invention is a medical apparatus comprising a separable introducer, sheath, catheter, cannula, or needle, each having a wall and a length; and at least one capillary defined within the wall of a hub or along the length of the introducer, sheath, catheter, cannula, or needle to provide a corresponding zone of separation therein. The invention is also a method of separating the wall of a hub or along the length of the introducer, sheath, catheter, cannula, or needle using a capillary defined tear zone.

8500697, Aug 6, 2013

May 14, 2008

12/152377

Paul Kurth - Santa Barbara CA, US
Andrew W. Armour - Swarthmore PA, US

Pressure Products Medical Supplies, Inc. - San Pedro CA

A61M 5/178, A61M 25/00, A61B 5/00

60417003, 600585, 60416401

A transseptal guidewire and methods for perforating the intra-atrial septum of the heart are disclosed. The transseptal guidewire has an elongated body, an end section biased in a curved configuration to define a proximal curve, and a distal section biased in a curved configuration to define a distal curve, the distal curve being oriented in a direction generally opposite that of the proximal curve.