IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,521,260
Granted Patent B2
US 12,521,260 · App. 17/268,034 · Granted Jan 13, 2026

Releasable knots for medical device delivery

Inventors: Milton C. Cato (Phoenix, AZ); Karl R. Chung (Phoenix, AZ)
Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
A61F2/95A61F2/07A61F2002/9511
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,521,260
App. No.
17/268,034
Granted
Jan 13, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems and methods that include an implantable medical device an actuation line configured to steer the implantable medical device. The apparatuses, systems and methods may also include a releasable knot including portions of a tether to couple the actuation line to the implantable medical device.

Claims (31)

1 . A delivery system comprising:

an implantable medical device;

an actuation line configured to bi-directionally steer the implantable medical device during delivery thereof;

a tether separate from the actuation line and coupled to a portion of the implantable medical device and to the actuation line, wherein the tether is configured to couple the actuation line to the implantable medical device; and

a releasable knot including portions of the tether forming a first loop, a second loop, and a third loop with the third loop arranged through the second loop and the second loop arranged through the first loop and configured to couple the actuation line to the implantable medical device.

2 . The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the first loop is an eyelet formed by a first fold of the tether bonded at an overlapping portion of the first fold of the tether.

3 . The delivery system of claim 2 , wherein the second loop is formed by a second fold of the tether and the third loop is formed by a third fold of the tether.

4 . The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the releasable knot is configured to release in response to tension applied to one end of the tether.

5 . The delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising a fourth loop formed by a portion of the tether arranged through the third loop to form the releasable knot, wherein the first loop is formed by a first fold of the tether, the second loop is formed by a second fold of the tether, the third loop is formed by a third fold of the tether, and the fourth loop is formed by a fourth fold of the tether.

6 . The delivery system of claim 5 , wherein the releasable knot is configured to release in response to tension applied to both ends of the tether.

7 . The delivery system of claim 5 , wherein a first end of the tether is arranged through the first loop, and a second end of the tether is arranged through the fourth loop, and the releasable knot is configured to release in response to tension applied to the second end of the tether.

8 . The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the releasable knot is configured to couple the actuation line to the implantable medical device without tension applied to the tether.

9 . The delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the releasable knot is configured to resist separation between the actuation line and the implantable medical device in response to force applied to the actuation line.

10 . A method of coupling an actuation line to an implantable medical device, the method including:

arranging the actuation line adjacent to the implantable medical device;

routing a tether through an eyelet of the actuation line to fixedly couple the tether to the actuation line, wherein the tether is coupled to the implantable medical device at a proximal end of the implantable medical device; and

forming a releasable knot that includes portions of the tether forming a first loop, a second loop, a third loop, and a fourth loop with the fourth loop arranged through the third loop, the third loop arranged through the second loop, and the second loop arranged through the first loop and configured to couple the actuation line to the implantable medical device at the proximal end of the implantable medical device.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further including visually inspecting the releasable knot to verify that the releasable knot couples the actuation line to the implantable medical device, and the releasable knot fails visual inspection by the releasable knot failing to maintain a knotted configuration and the releasable knot becoming at least partially unlooped.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein forming the releasable knot includes forming the first loop by creating a first fold of the tether and bonding the tether at an overlapping portion of the first fold of the tether.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein forming the releasable knot includes forming a fourth loop with a portion of the tether arranged through the third loop, wherein the first loop is formed by a first fold of the tether, the second loop is formed by a second fold of the tether, the third loop is formed by a third fold of the tether, and the fourth loop is formed by a fourth fold of the tether.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising releasing the releasable knot by applying tension to both ends of the tether.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the releasable knot is configured to resist separation between the actuation line and the implantable medical device in response to force applied to the actuation line.

16 . A delivery system comprising:

an implantable medical device;

a line having an eyelet and a distal end configured to be tensioned by a user;

and

a tether coupled to the implantable medical device and arranged through the eyelet of the line and configured to couple the line to the implantable medical device, wherein when the distal end of the line is tensioned by the user the line is configured to pull the tether and steer the implantable medical device, wherein the tether includes portions having a first loop, a second loop, a third loop, and a fourth loop with the fourth loop arranged through the third loop, the third loop arranged through the second loop, and the second loop arranged through the first loop to define a releasable knot and configured to couple the line to the implantable medical device.

17 . The delivery system of claim 16 , wherein the releasable knot is configured to resist separation between the line and the implantable medical device in response to force applied to the line.

18 . The delivery system of claim 16 , wherein the releasable knot is configured to couple the line to the implantable medical device without tension applied to the tether.

19 . The delivery system of claim 16 , wherein the first loop is formed by a first fold of the tether, the second loop is formed by a second fold of the tether, the third loop is formed by a third fold of the tether, and the fourth loop is formed by a fourth fold of the tether.

20 . The delivery system of claim 19 , wherein the tether is configured to release the loops by applying tension to both ends of the tether.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2021
From: CATO, MILTON C.; CHUNG, KARL R.
To: W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Reel/Frame 055875/0021 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210169669A1 · Jun 10, 2021
References Cited (400)
US 1355373A · Dell · 1920 [cited by applicant]
US 1506432A · Kimmel · 1924 [cited by applicant]
US 1851314A · Knoche · 1932 [cited by applicant]
US 3625451A · Anderson · 1971 [cited by applicant]
US 3915167A · Waterman · 1975 [cited by applicant]
US 3953566A · Gore · 1976 [cited by applicant]
US 4187390A · Gore · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4503569A · Dotter · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4512338A · Balko et al. · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4655246A · Phlipot et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4858810A · Intlekofer et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4990155A · Wilkoff · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5035706A · Giantureo et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5037427A · Harada et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5147370A · Mcnamara et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5211658A · Clouse · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5217486A · Rice et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5221261A · Termin et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5276276A · Gunn · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5325746A · Anderson · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5344427A · Cottenceau et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5491704A · Duron · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5527338A · Purdy · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5554183A · Nazari · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5562726A · Chuter · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5577299A · Thompson et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5693083A · Baker et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5707376A · Kavteladze et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5709704A · Nott et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5713917A · Leonhardt et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5713948A · Uflacker · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5720776A · Chuter et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5725552A · Kotula et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5776141A · Klein et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5776186A · Uflacker · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5782909A · Quiachon et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5843162A · Inoue · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5873906A · Lau et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5904703A · Gilson · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5961546A · Robinson et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 6013093A · Nott et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6015431A · Thornton et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6019785A · Strecker · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6042588A · Munsinger et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6042602A · Wells · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6143021A · Staehle · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6152144A · Esh et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6165195A · Wilson · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6203550B1 · Olson · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6214025B1 · Thistle et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6224627B1 · Armstrong et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6231561B1 · Frazier et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6231581B1 · Shank et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6231589B1 · Wessman et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6264671B1 · Stack et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6273900B1 · Nott et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6302891B1 · Nadal · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6312454B1 · Stoeckel et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6322585B1 · Khosravi et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6328727B1 · Frazier et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6346117B1 · Greenhalgh · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6352561B1 · Leopold et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6451051B2 · Drasler et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6475234B1 · Richter et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6485513B1 · Fan · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6491704B2 · Gifford et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6524335B1 · Hartley et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6527779B1 · Rourke · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6551303B1 · Van et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6551350B1 · Thornton et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6572643B1 · Gharibadeh · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6572646B1 · Boylan et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6689150B1 · Vantassel et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6705563B2 · Luo et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6712836B1 · Berg et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6712842B1 · Gifford et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6730108B2 · Van et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6733521B2 · Chobotov et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6743210B2 · Hart et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6746472B2 · Frazier et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6755854B2 · Gillick et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6827731B2 · Armstrong et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6866669B2 · Buzzard et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6884259B2 · Tran et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6911039B2 · Shiu et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6926732B2 · Derus et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6939352B2 · Buzzard et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6945990B2 · Greenan · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6949113B2 · Van et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6974471B2 · Van et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6994092B2 · Van et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7033368B2 · Rourke · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7044134B2 · Khairkhahan et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7049380B1 · Chang et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7052511B2 · Weldon et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7066951B2 · Chobotov · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7081132B2 · Cook et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7122050B2 · Randall et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7128073B1 · Van et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7147657B2 · Chiang et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7147661B2 · Chobotov et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7169160B1 · Middleman et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7198636B2 · Cully et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7208003B2 · Davis et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7252680B2 · Freitag · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7331992B2 · Randall et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7396359B1 · Derowe et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7419498B2 · Opolski et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7462675B2 · Chang et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7555034B2 · Shin et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7566336B2 · Corcoran et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7572289B2 · Sisken et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7601159B2 · Ewers et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7611528B2 · Goodson et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7655034B2 · Mitchell et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7771455B2 · Ken · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7815591B2 · Levine et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7837724B2 · Keeble et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7846179B2 · Belef et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7887580B2 · Randall et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7938851B2 · Olson et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7976575B2 · Hartley · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7998189B2 · Koelbel et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8029559B2 · Sisken et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8043356B2 · Koelbel et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8048440B2 · Chang et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8062349B2 · Moore et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8080032B2 · Van et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8167927B2 · Chobotov · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8231650B2 · Cully et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8241346B2 · Chobotov · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8241350B2 · Randall et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8252037B2 · Styrc et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8257431B2 · Henderson et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8262671B2 · Osypka · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8273105B2 · Cohen et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8287583B2 · Laduca et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8328861B2 · Martin et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8361135B2 · Dittman · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8394139B2 · Roeder et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8424166B2 · Dorneman et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8449595B2 · Ouellette et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8469990B2 · Mcguckin et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8480725B2 · Rasmussen et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8523897B2 · Van et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8529597B2 · Linder et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8685055B2 · Vantassel et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8690911B2 · Miles et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8834519B2 · Van et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8870947B2 · Shaw · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8968384B2 · Pearson et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 8979919B2 · Goddard et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 8986363B2 · Mchugo et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9060895B2 · Hartley et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9095466B2 · Norris et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9132025B2 · Aristizabal et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9254204B2 · Roeder et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9265596B2 · Shank et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9308349B2 · Rezac et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9351858B2 · Chobotov et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9364359B2 · Crawford · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 9375308B2 · Norris · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9387097B2 · Eblacas · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 9498361B2 · Roeder et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9585743B2 · Cartledge et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9585774B2 · Aristizabal et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9681968B2 · Goetz et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9700701B2 · Benjamin et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9730700B2 · Herbowy et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9770322B2 · Burkart et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9782282B2 · Bloss et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9782284B2 · Hartley et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9877858B2 · Beard et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9937070B2 · Skelton et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9987155B1 · Sondreaal · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 11123174B2 · Burkart et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11324615B2 · Bloss et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 12076227B2 · Burkart et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20010034549A1 · Bartholf · 2001 [cited by examiner]
US 20010037142A1 · Stelter et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 20020007208A1 · Strecker · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020029076A1 · Yee · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020029077A1 · Leopold et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020091439A1 · Baker et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020099431A1 · Armstrong et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020151953A1 · Chobotov et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20030088305A1 · Van et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030098383A1 · Luo et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030149467A1 · Linder et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030181942A1 · Sutton et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20040034366A1 · Van et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040054396A1 · Hartley et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040063805A1 · Pacetti et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040073289A1 · Hartley · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040122503A1 · Campbell et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040138734A1 · Chobotov et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040143315A1 · Bruun et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050038470A1 · Van et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050049667A1 · Arbefeuille et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050070820A1 · Boutillette et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050080476A1 · Gunderson et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050085890A1 · Rasmussen et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050125031A1 · Pipenhagen et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050240257A1 · Ishimaru et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060004433A1 · Greenberg et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060015171A1 · Armstrong · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060058833A1 · Vancamp et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060155366A1 · Laduca et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060198866A1 · Chang et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060254569A1 · Chipman · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060264980A1 · Khairkhahan et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20070016281A1 · Melsheimer · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070066993A1 · Kreidler · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070088424A1 · Greenberg et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070100427A1 · Perouse · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070162048A1 · Quinn et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070167955A1 · Arnault et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070198077A1 · Cully et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070198078A1 · Berra et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070219467A1 · Clark et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070225797A1 · Krivoruhko · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070248640A1 · Karabey et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070249980A1 · Carrez et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070255390A1 · Ducke et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070270891A1 · McGuckin, Jr. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080027529A1 · Hartley et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080039925A1 · Ishimaru et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080114440A1 · Hlavka et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080147111A1 · Johnson et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080178434A1 · Bulanda · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080208329A1 · Bishop et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080269785A1 · Lampropoulos et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080294234A1 · Hartley et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090048656A1 · Wen · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090054723A1 · Khairkhahan et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090062838A1 · Brumleve et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090082844A1 · Zacharias et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090099596A1 · McGuckin et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090099640A1 · Weng · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090112249A1 · Miles et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090171386A1 · Amplatz et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090182405A1 · Arnault De La Menardiere et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090182407A1 · Leanna et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090182411A1 · Irwin et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090204198A1 · Jensen et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090216308A1 · Hartley · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20090259291A1 · Kolbel · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20090299449A1 · Styrc · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100016943A1 · Chobotov · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100023048A1 · Mach · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100057195A1 · Roeder et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100082089A1 · Quadri et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100094394A1 · Beach et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100094401A1 · Kolbel et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100114290A1 · Rasmussen et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100211052A1 · Brown et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100280591A1 · Shin et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110034987A1 · Kennedy · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110040366A1 · Goetz et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110054515A1 · Bridgeman et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110054519A1 · Neuss · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110066221A1 · White et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110094401A1 · Möhringer et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110125252A1 · Goddard et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110130821A1 · Styrc · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110288624A1 · Roeder et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110313503A1 · Berra et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120022630A1 · Wuebbeling · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120022638A1 · Leewood et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120046652A1 · Sokel · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120130473A1 · Norris et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120130474A1 · Buckley · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120130475A1 · Shaw · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120143305A1 · Berra et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120172965A1 · Kratzberg et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120172968A1 · Chuter et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120283773A1 · Van et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120296360A1 · Norris et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120323270A1 · Lee · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130023981A1 · Dierking et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130046371A1 · Greenberg et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130073029A1 · Shaw · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130123896A1 · Bloss et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130138138A1 · Clark et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130158647A1 · Norris et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130178889A1 · Miles et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130245666A1 · Arsen et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130245742A1 · Norris · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130296912A1 · Ottma · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140012303A1 · Heipl · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140046360A1 · Van et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140180385A1 · Majercak · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140194968A1 · Zukowski · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140277412A1 · Bortlein et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140296908A1 · Ottma et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140296909A1 · Heipl et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140379019A1 · Larsen et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150005809A1 · Ayres et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150005810A1 · Center et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150051695A1 · Shaw · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150305749A1 · Alferness · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150313738A1 · Cully et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160256301A1 · Roeder et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160278782A1 · Anderson · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160296352A1 · Ryan et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160331382A1 · Center et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170056153A1 · Mnluan et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170172724A1 · Cartledge et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170181751A1 · Larsen et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170281382A1 · Lostetter et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170367859A1 · Bloss et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180036113A1 · Burkart et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180071123A1 · Arbefeuille et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180071126A1 · Beard et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190321207A1 · Arbefeuille et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190388256A1 · Chung et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20210244553A1 · Wiehn et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220151762A1 · Burkart et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220211525A1 · Bloss et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220395386A1 · Beard et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20240390132A1 · Burkart et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
CN 101554343A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
CN 101780306A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
CN 102413794A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
CN 103347467A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
CN 103930075A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
CN 106102596A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
CN 106344208A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
EP 0664107A1 · 1995 [cited by applicant]
EP 0679372A2 · 1995 [cited by applicant]
EP 1441668B1 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
EP 1915113B1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
EP 1358903B1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
EP 2481381A1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
EP 1474074B1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
EP 2749251B1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
EP 3064173A1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
EP 2956198B1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
EP 3278771A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
FR 2896405A1 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
GB 1355373A · 1974 [cited by applicant]
GB 1506432A · 1978 [cited by applicant]
GB 2344054A · 2000 [cited by applicant]
GB 2448520A · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 08126704A · 1996 [cited by applicant]
JP 09309054A · 1997 [cited by applicant]
JP 2001506902A · 2001 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002503114A · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002518086A · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2003502107A · 2003 [cited by applicant]
JP 2004167239A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
JP 2004188219A · 2004 [cited by applicant]
JP 2007518465A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2011511663A · 2011 [cited by applicant]
JP 2011511693A · 2011 [cited by applicant]
JP 2011516202A · 2011 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014501563A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014501565A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014502180A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014533189A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
WO 9618361A1 · 1996 [cited by applicant]
WO 9748350A1 · 1997 [cited by applicant]
WO 9827894A1 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
WO 9965420A1 · 1999 [cited by applicant]
WO 0013613A1 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
WO 0121109A1 · 2001 [cited by applicant]
WO 0228317A2 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
WO 0334948A1 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
WO 2003101518A1 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
WO 2005070336A1 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO 2005072652A1 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO 2006007389A1 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
WO 2007092354A2 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO 2008047092A1 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
WO 2008063464A2 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
WO 2009102441A1 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
WO 2009126227A2 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
WO 2009148594A1 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010001012A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010024881A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010041038A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010044854A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010063795A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010081041A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010090699A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010105195A2 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2011031981A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO 2011062858A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO 2012068257A2 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO 2012065080A3 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO 2012136984A1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO 2012174254A1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO 2013040431A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO 2013074266A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO 2013137977A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015132668A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2018005779A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 2018165358A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability received for PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2018/049057, mailed on Mar. 11, 2021, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion received for PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2018/049057, mailed on Apr. 23, 2019, 14 pages. [cited by applicant]
Cited By (1)
US 12,708,504