IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,376,978
Granted Patent B2
US 12,376,978 · App. 18/334,302 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Methods and technology for creating connections and shunts between vessels and chambers of biologic structures

Inventors: Robert S. Schwartz (Inver Grove Heights, MN); Stanton J. Rowe (Newport Coast, CA); Robert C. Taft (Orange, CA); Glen Rabito (Lake Forest, CA); Alexander Siegel (Aliso Viejo, CA); Joseph Passman (Costa Mesa, CA)
Assignee: NXT Biomedical, LLC
A61F2/958A61F2/82A61F2/9522
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,376,978
App. No.
18/334,302
Granted
Aug 5, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Devices and methods of treating conditions cause or exacerbated by excessive fluid pressures or retentions, such as pulmonary hypertension, that involves shunting excessive fluid pressure from one bodily chamber or vessel to another bodily chamber or vessel.

Claims (18)

1. A method for treating a medical condition in a circulatory system of a human comprising:

puncturing a superior vena cava and a pulmonary artery;

connecting the superior vena cava and the pulmonary artery; and,

diverting part of a blood flow from the pulmonary artery into the superior vena cava and allowing the blood flow into a right atrium of a heart.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the puncturing the pulmonary artery comprises puncturing a right pulmonary artery.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the puncturing of the pulmonary artery comprises puncturing a main pulmonary artery branch.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the medical condition is pulmonary hypertension.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising initially collecting pre-diversion hemodynamics test results.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein puncturing the superior vena cava and the pulmonary artery further comprises activating and advancing radio frequency wire from the superior vena cava into the pulmonary artery.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein connecting the superior vena cava and the pulmonary artery comprises deploying a shunt across a puncture site of the superior vena cava and the pulmonary artery.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the deploying the shunt comprises deploying a flared end of the shunt in the pulmonary artery.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the deploying the shunt comprises deploying a flared end of the shunt in the superior vena cava.

10. A method according to claim 7 , wherein the shunt is a covered stent.

11. A method according to claim 7 , wherein the shunt is a balloon expandable stent.

12. A method according to claim 7 , connecting the superior vena cava and the pulmonary artery comprises creating either a spaced apart tubular connection or a flush connection between the superior vena cava and the pulmonary artery.

13. A method for treating a medical condition in a circulatory system of a human comprising:

connecting a superior vena cava and a pulmonary artery by creating either a spaced apart tubular connection or a flush connection between the superior vena cava and the pulmonary artery; and,

diverting part of a blood flow from the pulmonary artery into the superior vena cava and allowing the blood flow into a right atrium of a heart.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2026
From: NXT BIOMEDICAL, LLC
To: EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 074374/0978 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2026
From: SCHWARTZ, ROBERT S.; ROWE, STANTON J.; TAFT, ROBERT C.; RABITO, GLEN; SIEGEL, ALEXANDER; PASSMAN, JOSEPH
To: NXT BIOMEDICAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 074144/0308 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 16576704 · Sep 19, 2019
Provisional Application 62802656 · Feb 7, 2019
Provisional Application 62779380 · Dec 13, 2018
Provisional Application 62747649 · Oct 18, 2018
Provisional Application 62733533 · Sep 19, 2018
Related Publication 20230320877A1 · Oct 12, 2023
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