ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 18 -- United States Patent no. 12,472,343, issued on Nov. 18, was assigned to W. L. Gore & Associates Inc. (Newark, Del.).
"Valve assembly for medical procedures" was invented by David J. Arcaro (Flagstaff, Ariz.), James L. Goepfrich (Flagstaff, Ariz.) and William Wilkie (Flagstaff, Ariz.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The invention relates to a valve used in medical procedures. More specifically the invention relates to an introducer sheath valve used in minimally invasive and conventional surgical procedures. The valve may accommodate a wide range of surgical implement diameters, shapes, and multiple implements without imposing the high frictional forces of known valve...