Prior art — US Patent 12109384

Analysis of Prior Art Cited in US Patent 12,109,384

Based on the patent details and the family history of US Patent 12,109,384, the following patents are identified as relevant prior art. The analysis focuses on references that were cited during the prosecution of this patent and its parent applications.

1. U.S. Patent No. 11,000,682 B2

Full Citation: Merritt et al., U.S. Patent No. 11,000,682 B2, "Hemostasis valves and methods of use."
Publication Date: May 11, 2021
Filing Date: August 30, 2018
Assignee: Inari Medical, Inc.
Brief Description: This patent is a direct parent to the '384 patent and discloses a hemostasis valve with a pliable elongate member, a reinforcement structure (such as a braided mesh), and a tensioning mechanism. This mechanism uses at least one filament that can be actuated to constrict the elongate member's central lumen, creating a seal. The invention allows for sealing around various-sized medical instruments and is designed for single-handed operation.
Potential Anticipation: As a direct parent in the same patent family, this document does not anticipate the claims of the '384 patent under 35 U.S.C. § 102. Rather, the '384 patent is a continuation, likely with claims directed to a specific embodiment or a different scope of the same core invention. The shared specification and drawings mean the '682 patent discloses all the fundamental elements, but the claims of the '384 patent would have been examined for novelty and non-obviousness over its parent.

2. U.S. Patent No. 9,849,275 B2

Full Citation: Melsheimer, U.S. Patent No. 9,849,275 B2, "Hemostasis valve with constricting braid."
Publication Date: December 26, 2017
Filing Date: May 19, 2014
Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Brief Description: This patent describes a hemostasis valve that includes a tubular sheath and a constricting braid that is mechanically coupled to an actuator. The braid surrounds the sheath. When the actuator is operated, it causes the braid to shorten in length and increase in diameter, or vice versa, to open or close the lumen of the sheath. This mechanism is intended to provide a hemostatic seal around a medical instrument or to seal the valve when no instrument is present.
Potential Anticipation: This patent could be considered highly relevant prior art. It discloses a hemostasis valve that uses a constricting element (a braid) around a tubular member, which is conceptually similar to the reinforcement structure and filament in the '384 patent. The key differences for an examiner would likely have been the specific mechanism of constriction (filament vs. entire braid shortening) and the detailed arrangement of the actuator. The '275 patent potentially anticipates the broader concepts in claims 1 and 20 of the '384 patent, which relate to a valve and delivery system with a tensioning mechanism and a reinforcement structure. The novelty of the '384 patent would depend on the specific implementation of the "at least one filament" and its interaction with the actuator as claimed.

3. U.S. Patent No. 10,799,679 B2

Full Citation: Melsheimer, U.S. Patent No. 10,799,679 B2, "Hemostasis valve with constricting braid."
Publication Date: October 13, 2020
Filing Date: November 28, 2017
Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Brief Description: This patent is a continuation of the '275 patent and further describes a hemostasis valve using a constricting braid around a tubular sheath. It elaborates on the design of the actuator and the mechanical coupling that translates user input into the constriction of the braid to seal the valve's lumen.
Potential Anticipation: Similar to its parent, the '679 patent discloses the core concept of a constricting braid for a hemostasis valve. It would also be considered highly relevant prior art for claims 1 and 20 of the '384 patent. The analysis would again hinge on whether the "filament" and its specific manipulation as described in the '384 patent's claims are distinct from the constricting braid mechanism disclosed in the '679 patent.

4. U.S. Patent No. 8,827,975 B2

Full Citation: Hinchliffe et al., U.S. Patent No. 8,827,975 B2, "Haemostatic valve."
Publication Date: September 9, 2014
Filing Date: July 20, 2010
Assignee: LIMALIN LIMITED
Brief Description: This patent describes a hemostatic valve with a flexible tube that can be squeezed or "pinched" to close its lumen. The mechanism involves a user-operated actuator that applies force to one or more points on the tube's circumference. This action occludes the passage, providing a seal. The design is intended to be simple and effective for controlling bleeding during catheter-based procedures.
Potential Anticipation: This patent discloses the general principle of mechanically constricting a flexible tube to create a hemostatic seal. While it does not specifically mention a "filament" or a "braided mesh," its disclosure of an actuator that collapses a tubular member could be argued to anticipate the broader functional aspects of claims 1, 20, and 29 of the '384 patent. The patentability of the '384 invention over this reference would depend on the novelty of using a filament-based tensioning mechanism as the specific means of constriction, which may be seen as a non-obvious improvement.

5. U.S. Patent No. 9,492,624 B2

Full Citation: Melsheimer, U.S. Patent No. 9,492,624 B2, "Adjustable hemostasis valve."
Publication Date: November 15, 2016
Filing Date: June 10, 2014
Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
Brief Description: This patent discloses an adjustable hemostasis valve featuring a valve body and a compressible seal. The degree of compression on the seal can be adjusted by the user, for example, by rotating a cap. This allows the valve to accommodate instruments of different sizes while maintaining a hemostatic seal. The mechanism does not rely on a filament but rather on direct mechanical compression of a sealing element.
Potential Anticipation: This patent is less likely to anticipate the specific claims of the '384 patent because it describes a different sealing mechanism (direct compression of a seal rather than constriction of a tube by a filament). However, it does disclose an active and adjustable sealing mechanism, which relates to the functional aspects of claims 1 and 20. It would be considered relevant background art but may not directly anticipate the claimed structure involving a filament and reinforcement layer.

*Disclaimer: This analysis is for informational purposes and is based on the provided patent documents. It does not constitute a legal opinion on patent validity or infringement. A thorough patentability analysis would require a comprehensive search and legal interpretation by qualified counsel.