Wally Steven Buch

6527761, Mar 4, 2003

Oct 27, 2000

09/699302

Peter P. Soltesz - San Jose CA
Robert Kotmel - Burlingame CA
Tony Wondka - Mountain View CA
Michael P. Reilly - Southlake TX
Wally S. Buch - Atherton CA

Pulmonx, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

A61M 3500

604516, 604509

Methods, systems, devices and kits for performing lung volume reduction in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other conditions using and comprising minimally invasive instruments introduced through the mouth (endotracheally) to isolate a target lung tissue segment from other regions of the lung and reduce lung volume. Isolation is achieved by deploying an obstructive device in a lung passageway leading to the target lung tissue segment. Once the obstructive device is anchored in place, the segment can be aspirated through the device. This may be achieved by a number of methods, including coupling an aspiration catheter to an inlet port on the obstruction device and aspirating through the port. Or, providing the port with a valve which allows outflow of gas from the isolated lung tissue segment during expiration of the respiratory cycle but prevents inflow of air during inspiration. In addition, a number of other methods may be used.

6997918, Feb 14, 2006

Mar 4, 2003

10/382131

Peter P. Soltesz - San Jose CA, US
Robert Kotmel - Burlingame CA, US
Tony Wondka - Mountain View CA, US
Michael P. Reilly - Southlake TX, US
Wally S. Buch - Atherton CA, US

Pulmonx - Palo Alto CA

A61M 31/00

604516, 604 48, 604 35, 604 28, 12820716, 12820024, 606108

The present invention provides improved methods, systems, devices and kits for performing lung volume reduction in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or other conditions where isolation of a lung segment or reduction of lung volume is desired. The methods are minimally invasive with instruments being introduced through the mouth (endotracheally) and rely on isolating the target lung tissue segment from other regions of the lung. Isolation is achieved by deploying an obstructive device in a lung passageway leading to the target lung tissue segment. Once the obstructive device is anchored in place, the segment can be aspirated through the device. This may be achieved by a number of methods, including coupling an aspiration catheter to an inlet port on the obstruction device and aspirating through the port. Or, providing the port with a valve which allows outflow of gas from the isolated lung tissue segment during expiration of the respiratory cycle but prevents inflow of air during inspiration. In addition, a number of other methods may be used.

7025773, Apr 11, 2006

May 7, 2001

09/850883

Darin C. Gittings - Sunnyvale CA, US
Alan R. Rapacki - Redwood City CA, US
Dean F. Carson - Mountain View CA, US
David H. Cole - Cupertino CA, US
Keke Lepulu - Redwood City CA, US
Adam Sharkawy - Redwood City CA, US
Gilbert S. Laroya - Santa Clara CA, US
Wally S. Buch - Atherton CA, US

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61B 17/08

606153

Methods and devices for placing a conduit in fluid communication with a target vessel and a source of blood, such as the aorta or a heart chamber. The device may be actuated using one hand to place the conduit. The invention allows air in the conduit to be removed prior to placement of the conduit. The invention deploys the conduit in the target vessel by moving a sheath in a distal direction and then in a proximal direction. A conduit is provided with a reinforcing member to prevent kinking of the conduit, and a structure for preventing blockage of the conduit by tissue. A vessel coupling may be used to secure a conduit to a target vessel so as to preserve native blood flow through the vessel, and the conduit may be placed in fluid communication with a target vessel via a laparoscopic or endoscopic procedure.

7198595, Apr 3, 2007

Mar 26, 2004

10/810134

Anant V. Hegde - Newark CA, US
Wally S. Buch - Atherton CA, US
Halil I. Karabey - San Jose CA, US

Pavad Medical, Inc. - Fremont CA

A61N 1/362

600 16

Cardiac apparatus and methods of using such cardiac apparatus are described. In one embodiment, a cardiac apparatus includes a covering that is configured to at least partially encircle a heart with a first portion of the covering adjacent to a second portion of the covering. The cardiac apparatus also includes an electroactive polymer actuator. A first end of the electroactive polymer actuator is coupled to the first portion of the covering, and a second end of the electroactive polymer actuator is coupled to the second portion of the covering. The second end of the electroactive polymer actuator is oriented such that, upon actuation of the electroactive polymer actuator, the second end of the electroactive polymer actuator extends away from the first end of the electroactive polymer actuator to move the second portion of the covering towards the first portion of the covering.

7578828, Aug 25, 2009

May 19, 2003

10/441256

Darin C. Gittings - Sunnyvale CA, US
Alan R. Rapacki - Redwood City CA, US
Dean F. Carson - Mountain View CA, US
David H. Cole - Cupertino CA, US
Keke Lepulu - Redwood City CA, US
Adam Sharkawy - Redwood City CA, US
Gilbert S. Laroya - Santa Clara CA, US
Wally S. Buch - Atherton CA, US

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61B 17/08

606153

Methods and devices for placing a conduit in fluid communication with a target vessel and a source of blood, such as the aorta or a heart chamber. The device may be actuated using one hand to place the conduit. The invention allows air in the conduit to be removed prior to placement of the conduit. The invention deploys the conduit in the target vessel by moving a sheath in a distal direction and then in a proximal direction. A conduit is provided with a reinforcing member to prevent kinking of the conduit, and a structure for preventing blockage of the conduit by tissue. A vessel coupling may be used to secure a conduit to a target vessel so as to preserve native blood flow through the vessel, and the conduit may be placed in fluid communication with a target vessel via a laparoscopic or endoscopic procedure.

7836888, Nov 23, 2010

Sep 21, 2004

10/946435

Anant V. Hegde - Newark CA, US
George Y. Choi - Redwood City CA, US
Wally S. Buch - Atherton CA, US

Pavad Medical, Incorporated - Hayward CA

A61F 5/56

128848, 602902

A system and device for maintaining and/or creating patency in airways is disclosed. The methods of using the system and device are also disclosed. The system includes a power source that energizes a electro-active polymer implant. The energized polymer implant provides stiffness and shape to the airway, thereby minimizing collapse or deformation of the airway. A method of making the device is also disclosed.

8512360, Aug 20, 2013

Feb 13, 2004

10/778723

A. Adam Sharkawy - Union City CA, US
Dean F. Carson - Mountain View CA, US
Darin C. Gittings - Sunnyvale CA, US
Keke J. Lepulu - Redwood City CA, US
Mark J. Foley - Menlo Park CA, US
Wally S. Buch - Atherton CA, US
Alan R. Rapacki - Redwood City CA, US

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61B 17/08
A61M 5/00

606153, 604284

Methods and devices for placing a target vessel in fluid communication with a source of blood and a target vessel. A conduit includes first portion adapted to be placed in fluid communication with a source of blood, such as a heart chamber, and a second portion adapted to be placed in fluid communication with a target vessel having a lumen, such as coronary artery. The first and second conduit portions are transverse to each other such that the conduit is generally T-shaped. The conduit lies on an exterior of the heart between the blood source and the target vessel and is configured to deliver blood in multiple directions into the lumen of the target vessel. For example, in an occluded coronary artery, blood flows both toward and away from the occlusion. The conduit may be flexible, rigid, collapsible or non-collapsible, and may be formed of synthetic vascular graft material, tissue, or a combination of the two. A conduit delivery device is disclosed for deploying the conduit in a target vessel and perfusing the vessel during such deployment.

20010004699, Jun 21, 2001

Feb 1, 2001

09/776230

Darin Gittings - Sunnyvale CA, US
Wally Buch - Atherton CA, US
Alan Rapacki - Redwood City CA, US

VENTRICA, INC.

A61B017/08

606/153000

Methods and devices for forming an anastomosis utilize a graft vessel secured to a vessel coupling that is fixed to a target vessel without using suture. The vessel coupling may be collapsed for introduction into the target vessel and then expanded to engage the vessel wall. The vessel coupling may be a stent attached to a graft vessel to form a stent-graft assembly. The anastomosis may be carried out to place the graft and target vessels in fluid communication while preserving native proximal flow through the target vessel, which may be a coronary artery. As a result, blood flowing through the coronary artery from the aorta is not blocked by the vessel coupling and thus is free to move past the site of the anastomosis.