Freeman G Chambers

US Patent:

20060276889, Dec 7, 2006

Filed:

Jun 7, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/147797

Inventors:

Freeman Chambers - Irvine CA, US
Lawrence Zysman - Irvine CA, US

International Classification:

A61F 2/24
D05B 23/00

US Classification:

623002170, 623901000, 112475080, 112063000

Abstract:

A system and method for assembling a prosthetic heart valve, including a procedure for tightly wrapping fabric around a heart valve support stent. The support stent typically includes alternating cusps and commissures that create a highly contoured undulating outflow edge. The system includes a mandrel for retaining tension without manual assistance in a tubular length of fabric wrapped over the support stent. The mandrel may include an inner clamping mechanism for holding the first end of the fabric tube, a pedestal tube on which the support stent rests and through which the fabric tube passes, and an outer clamping mechanism for holding the free end of the fabric tube. The inner and outer clamping mechanisms include discrete clamps spaced apart 120 from each other that pull the fabric only in the cusps of the support stent. The inner clamping mechanism, outer clamping mechanism, and pedestal are relatively axially movable. Once the fabric is retained over the support stent, the mandrel may be placed in a chuck of a sewing machine system for automatically forming the seam. A small shuttle with bobbin thread reciprocates within a channel inside of the support stent and cooperates with the sewing machine needle to form a lock-stitch in the fabric tube. The mechanization of the fabric covering procedure greatly enhances manufacturing throughput and reduces ergonomic strain on workers.

US Patent:

20090105752, Apr 23, 2009

Filed:

Oct 22, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/975868

Inventors:

Harry Shonteff - San Francisco CA, US
Freeman Grant Chambers - Irvine CA, US

International Classification:

A61B 17/06
A61B 17/04

US Classification:

606223, 606228

Abstract:

The present invention discloses an apparatus for a hypodermic stitching needle, one in which the hypodermic hollow tube has an insert slot for a thread insertion, thread which extends through the inside hypodermic tubular channel to a beveled tip. The hollow needle channel protects the suture from tear and the needle tip provide increased thread control to the needle user.

US Patent:

20090223426, Sep 10, 2009

Filed:

Mar 3, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/380686

Inventors:

Harry Shonteff - San Francisco CA, US
Freeman Grant Chambers - Irvine CA, US

International Classification:

D05B 1/00

US Classification:

112169

Abstract:

The present invention discloses a micro sewing device for percutaneous, endoscopic, laporscopic and minimally invasive surgical procedures for suturing in very small internal body spaces. The device is of cylindrically specific design to provide suturing in the small spaces available.