Tracy D Maahs, Age ~54Lake Forest, CA

7601159, Oct 13, 2009

Sep 30, 2004

10/955244

Richard C. Ewers - Fullerton CA,
Tracy D. Maahs - Rancho Santa Margarita CA,
Cang C. Lam - Irvine CA,
Vahid Saadat - Saratoga CA,
Chris Rothe - San Jose CA,

USGI Medical, Inc. - San Clemente CA

A61B 17/03

606139, 606232

Interlocking tissue anchor apparatus and methods are described herein. In creating tissue folds within the body of a patient, a tissue manipulation assembly may generally have an elongate tubular member, an engagement member slidably disposed through the tubular member and a distal end adapted to engage tissue via a helical member, tissue stabilizing members positioned at the tubular member distal end which are adapted to stabilize tissue therebetween, and a delivery tube pivotable about the tissue stabilizer. Anchor assemblies can be delivered via the tissue manipulation assembly into or through the tissue. The anchors can incorporate various temporary interlocking features or spacing elements between one another to ensure that an anchor is not prematurely ejected from the needle assembly. This allows the anchor assembly to be advanced distally as well as withdrawn proximally within a deployment sheath while avoiding inadvertently ejecting an anchor.

2007017, Aug 2, 2007

Jan 27, 2006

11/342288

John Cox - Rancho Santa Margarita CA,
Tracy Maahs - Rancho Santa Margarita CA,
Richard Ewers - Fullerton CA,
Eugene Chen - Carlsbad CA,
Cang Lam - Irvine CA,
Lee Swanstrom - Portland OR,

USGI Medical Inc. - Santa Clara CA

A61B 17/138

128898000

Methods and apparatus for the endoluminal revision of previously performed obesity procedures which have failed are described. One or more endoluminal instruments may be advanced per-orally into the previously formed failed pouch where a number of different procedures can be performed. One or more tissue folds can be formed and secured to reduce the size of the pouch, or the stoma connecting the pouch to the intestinal tract can be reduced in size using endoluminally deployed tissue anchors. These procedures can be performed entirely from within the pouch lumen or upon the exterior surface of the pouch via transgastric entry of the instruments into the peritoneal cavity of a patient. Alternatively, the interior tissue within the pouch can be injured or sclerosed to shrink the pouch lumen. In another alterative, a length of the Roux limb can be shortened endoluminally to create a malabsorptive region.

2013021, Aug 22, 2013

Feb 6, 2013

13/760874

Tracy D. Maahs - Yorba Linda CA,
John A. Cox - San Clemente CA,
Christopher James Earley - San Clemente CA,

USGI Medical, Inc. - San Clemente CA

A61B 17/12

600 37

A surgical method for treating obesity by reducing the size and/or function of the stomach includes forming at least two plications or tissue folds in tissue of a patient using anchor assemblies having a loop. The plications are then optionally allowed to heal. A loop suture or wire is threaded through the loops. The loop suture is then tensioned to draw the plications towards each other. The loop suture is then secured via a knot or a cinch. When the method is performed in the stomach for treatment of obesity, forming the plications reduces the volume of the stomach. Drawing the plications together creates a contracted tissue area which further reduces the volume of the stomach. Additional plications may also be formed and drawn together with the same loop suture, or with a different loop suture.

2013013, May 30, 2013

Jan 23, 2013

13/748302

Tracy D. Maahs - Yorba Linda CA,
Marvin C. Elmer - Rancho Santa Margarita CA,
Richard C. Ewers - Fullerton CA,

USGI Medical, Inc. - San Clemente CA

A61B 17/04

606232

Apparatus and methods optimize anchoring force in securing tissue folds. Over-compression of the tissue directly underlying the anchors is avoided by utilizing tissue anchors having expandable designs configured to minimize contact area between the anchor and tissue. When the anchor is in its expanded configuration, a load is applied to the anchor until it is optimally configured to accommodate a range of deflections while the anchor itself exerts a substantially constant force against the tissue.

2013004, Feb 14, 2013

Aug 28, 2012

13/597072

Tracy D. Maahs - Yorba Linda CA,
Richard C. Ewers - Fullerton CA,
Arvin T. Chang - West Covina CA,
Chris Rothe - San Jose CA,
Eugene C. Chen - Carlsbad CA,
Marvin C. Elmer - Rancho Santa Margarita CA,
Gilbert Madrid - Dana Point CA,
Kabir Gambhir - Encinitas CA,

USGI MEDICAL, INC. - San Clemente CA

A61B 1/05
A61B 1/018

600104

Methods and apparatus for off-axis visualization are described herein. An endoluminal tissue manipulation assembly is disclosed which provides for a stable endoluminal platform and which also provides for effective triangulation of tools. Such an apparatus may comprise an optionally shape-lockable elongate body defining a longitudinal axis and adapted for endoluminal advancement in a patient body, at least one articulatable visualization lumen disposed near or at a distal region of the elongate body, the at least one articulating visualization lumen being adapted to articulate off-axis relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate body, and at least one articulatable tool arm member disposed near or at the distal region of the elongate body, the at least one articulatable tool arm member being adapted to articulate off-axis and manipulate a tissue region of interest.

2012026, Oct 18, 2012

May 9, 2011

13/103936

Eugene G. CHEN - Carlsbad CA,
Tracy D. MAAHS - Yorba Linda CA,
Richard C. EWERS - Fullerton CA,
Lee L. SWANSTROM - Portland OR,

A61B 17/04
A61B 17/10

606139

Devices and methods for laparoscopically repairing a hernia are described. In some embodiments, a laparoscopic instrument is used to deploy one or more tissue anchor assemblies into the edges of the fascia tissue surrounding or adjacent to the hernia defect. The tissue anchor assemblies are used to cause the fascia tissue to be approximated to facilitate the repair procedure, to improve healing, and to reduce the incidence of recurrence.

2012023, Sep 20, 2012

May 30, 2012

13/483371

Sean Mitchell - Oceanside CA,
Richard C. Ewers - Fullerton CA,
Tracy D. Maahs - Yorba Linda CA,

USGI MEDICAL, INC. - San Clemente CA

A61M 25/092

604 9504

An endoluminal surgical instrument has first and second steering controls on a handle. A flexible shaft attached to the handle has a distal steerable end including a first link and a second link separated by a plurality of intermediate links. First and second steering elements, such as pairs of steering wires, are linked to first and second steering controls and to the first and, second links. One or more of the links is pivotable through an angle of at least 30 degrees relative to an adjoining link. The set back position of the second steering elements from the first steering elements, and the pivoting capability of the links allows the steerable end to be steered into a small bend radius. This makes the instrument highly maneuverable for use in endoluminal surgery, such as incision-less surgery of the stomach.

2011024, Oct 6, 2011

Feb 24, 2011

13/034448

Richard C. EWERS - Fullerton CA,
Eugene G. CHEN - Carlsbad CA,
Tracy D. MAAHS - Yorba Linda CA,
John A. COX - San Clemente CA,

USGI Medical, Inc. - San Clemente CA

A61B 17/10

606139

An endoscopic tissue anchor deployment device includes a handle, an elongated shaft defining an internal lumen, and an end effector attached to the distal end of the elongated shaft. A tissue anchor catheter is removably inserted through the lumen of the elongated shaft, the catheter having a tissue anchor assembly that is deployable from its distal end. In some embodiments, the handle includes a pin and track assembly that defines a series of handle actuation steps corresponding to deployment steps for the deployment device end effector and the tissue anchor catheter. In some embodiments, the handle includes a catheter stop member that prevents movement of the tissue anchor catheter under certain circumstances, and a handle stop member that prevents actuation of the handle under certain circumstances.