Patents Examined by Benjamin Koo
  • Patent number: 9744341
    Abstract: Retention devices and methods are provided for drug delivery. The device may include a housing configured for intraluminal deployment into a human or animal subject and at least one reservoir contained within the housing. The at least one reservoir may have an actuation end and a release end and contain at least one drug formulation. A plug may be contained within the at least one reservoir and be moveable from the actuation end toward the release end. The device may also include an actuation system operably connected to the actuation end of the at least one reservoir and configured to drive the at least one drug formulation from the reservoir. The device may also include at least one retention member affixed to the housing and movable between a non-stressed position, a deployment position, and a retention position for retaining the device in an intraluminal location in the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: David Mathew Johnson, Martin Sheridan, Scott A. Uhland, Ramkumar Abhishek, Eric Peeters, Timothy J. Curley, Felicia Linn, Philipp H. Schmaelzle
  • Patent number: 9731065
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for insertion in an eye of a patient for aspirating material from the eye in the treatment of an ocular condition, the apparatus comprising a needle disposed at a distal end of the apparatus, an aspiration channel extending from a distal aperture of the needle to a proximal end of the apparatus, and an irrigation sleeve coaxially disposed about the needle. The aspiration channel comprises a proximal portion having a first diameter, a bypass portion having a second diameter and at least one bypass port, and a distal portion having a third diameter. The second diameter is larger than the first diameter. The irrigation sleeve and the needle form an annular irrigation passageway therebetween. The bypass port is shaped and configured to establish fluid communication between the irrigation passageway and the aspiration channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: John Morgan Bourne, John Richard Carpenter
  • Patent number: 9713672
    Abstract: According to preferred embodiments and methods of the present disclosure, a medical injection system employs a single pump for the injection of multiple fluids, rather than employing a pump for each type of fluid, for example, like the prior art system described above. Embodiments of pumps disclosed herein preferably include a disposable pump cartridge configured to be contained within a hull of a medical injection system, wherein the hull may be formed when a pressure plate member is closed against a base plate; and, when the pressure plate member is opened with respect to the base plate, the disposable pump cartridge may be removed and replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: ACIST Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Sidney Donald Nystrom
  • Patent number: 9694125
    Abstract: A medical fluid pumping system that includes a medical fluid pumping machine that includes an actuator and a medical fluid cassette that can be disposed within a cassette enclosure of the medical fluid pumping machine. A member is disposed within a fluid pump chamber of the medical fluid cassette and is magnetically attracted to the actuator such that the member and the actuator can be coupled together when the cassette is disposed within the cassette enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Kulwinder S. Plahey, Robert Matthew Ohline, Sean Farrell, Anthony Thomas Ortega
  • Patent number: 9694146
    Abstract: In the joint mechanism, when connecting a plunger to a piston, after engaging members of a plunger-side engaging region in a retracted state pass through a first engaging wall region of a piston-side engaging region, the engaging members of the plunger-side engaging region come into a projected state in a second engaging wall region and the projected state of the engaging members is fastened by a fast block, and thereby, the plunger-side engaging region engages with the piston-side engaging region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SUGAN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9675460
    Abstract: An implantable medical device for implantation in a mammal joint having at least two contacting surfaces is provided. The medical device comprises; an artificial contacting surface adapted to replace at least the surface of at least one of the mammal's joint contacting surfaces, wherein the artificial contacting surface is adapted to be lubricated, when implanted in said joint. Furthermore the medical device comprises at least one inlet adapted to receive a lubricating fluid from a reservoir, at least one channel at least partly integrated in the artificial contacting surface in connection with the at least one inlet for distributing the lubricating fluid to the surface of the artificial contacting surface. The medical device could be adapted to be operable by an operation device to receive the distributed lubricated fluid from a reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Inventor: Peter Forsell
  • Patent number: 9662460
    Abstract: A disposable syringe for use in a needleless injector includes a tubular body with an open rear end, a closed front end containing an injection orifice, a chamber in the body for receiving a liquid and a plunger slidable in the chamber for pushing the liquid out of the orifice. A tip is provided on the inner end of the plunger for separation from the remainder of the plunger to block the orifice when the plunger is retracted after an injection, whereby the syringe cannot be re-used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: Karim Menassa
  • Patent number: 9662443
    Abstract: An alert device for use with an intravenous drip, comprises two induction ends and a control unit. The control unit comprises a circuit module, an alarm module and a power module. The two induction ends are located on a pipe of the intravenous drip and are contacting with an injection solution inside the pipe. The two induction ends are electrically connected to the control unit by wires. The circuit module detects the induction ends to determine whether the induction ends are in an open-loop status or not. The circuit module connects to the alarm module. The power module supplies power for the control unit. The induction ends uses the injection solution as a conducting means to form an electrically closed loop; when the induction ends do not contact with the injection solution, the induction ends become an open-loop, and thus the alarm module generates alarm signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: Richard Hwang
  • Patent number: 9642969
    Abstract: A stopper includes a main body portion defining an open rearward end configured to receive the plunger rod, an engagement portion provided along an inner circumference of the main body portion configured to engage at least a top portion of the plunger rod, a closed front end forming a flexible roof, and a first perimetrical skirt extending around an outer circumference of the main body portion toward the closed front end of the main body portion. When fluid pressure is increased inside the syringe barrel during an injection, the flexible roof expands in a radial direction toward an inner wall of the syringe barrel, the first perimetrical skirt is forced against the inner wall of the syringe barrel, and an engagement between the plunger rod and the engagement portion forces the main body portion to expand in the radial direction toward the inner wall of the syringe barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Milan Ivosevic, Girum Yemane Tekeste, Andrew Wong, Michael Vincent Quinn, Andrzej Baranski
  • Patent number: 9636275
    Abstract: Apparatuses, kits and methods useful in the storage and delivery of nutritional compositions and other fluids are described. In a general embodiment, an integrated storage and delivery system for nutritional compositions comprises a container defining a chamber, a finish, and a penetrable seal. The finish defines an opening and the penetrable seal separating the chamber from an external environment. A spike assembly is attached to the container. The spike assembly including a cap and a spike. The cap is engaged with the finish of the container and the spike defines a projection having a distal end defining a second opening. The projection is moveable between a first position in which the distal end is adjacent a first side of the penetrable seal and a second position in which the distal end is adjacent a second side of the penetrable seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventors: Greg Langdon Paine, Sandra Lee Gray
  • Patent number: 9629982
    Abstract: A medical device control handle or catheter includes deflection assembly and at least one of the following: a disk actuator, a lever actuator and a ring actuator for actuating additional puller wires in manipulation of multiple features of the medical device or catheter independently of each other. The disk actuator has a common rotational axis with but is rotationally independent of the deflection assembly. The lever actuator has a separate rotational axis. The ring is mounted outside of the control handle and rotatable relative to the control handle to actuate another puller wire for manipulating another feature of the catheter. Each of the disk, lever and ring actuators are of a design that allows existing control handles and catheters to be readily modified to include these actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: BIOSENSE WEBSTER (ISRAEL), LTD.
    Inventors: Dennis C. Caples, Keshava Datta, Rajesh Pendekanti
  • Patent number: 9610405
    Abstract: A medical device includes a first housing portion (FHP) and a second housing portion (SHP) configured to be to be movable relative to each other from a first position to operatively engage at a second position to couple at least one of a drive device and a needle-inserting device supported by one of the FHP and the SHP to a reservoir supported by the other of the FHP and the SHP. Electronic circuitry configured to detect at least one of a first magnetic interaction between a magnet and at least one of a first magnetically attractive material and a first magnet-responsive device and a second magnetic interaction between the magnet and at least one of a second magnetically attractive material and a second magnet-responsive device, and to provide a signal or a change in state in response to detecting at least one of the interactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Ian B. Hanson, Paul F. Bente, IV
  • Patent number: 9610401
    Abstract: An infusion set component of a fluid infusion device and/or a fluid infusion port component for delivery of fluid to a patient is compatible with a cooperating fluid channel module. The fluid channel module includes a body section having coupling features to mate with a base of the component. The fluid channel module also includes an interior fluid flow channel formed within the body section to receive fluid from the fluid infusion device and/or from a syringe or pen delivery device. The fluid channel module also includes a conduit having a first end in fluid communication with the interior fluid flow channel, and having a second end to deliver the fluid to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: David Christopher Antonio, Sumona Nag Adhya, Jose J. Ruelas, Eric Allan Larson
  • Patent number: 9610404
    Abstract: Some embodiments of an infusion pump system include an occlusion detection system to detect when an occlusion exists in the fluid path between the medicine reservoir and the infusion site located, for example, on the user's skin. The occlusion detection system can be configured to self-calibrate in a manner that accounts for changes in environmental conditions, such as ambient temperature, pressure, or the like, so that the occlusion detection system provides reliable feedback to a user as to the occluded or non-occluded state of the medicine flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Bigfoot Biomedical, Inc.
    Inventor: Yaron Rotstein
  • Patent number: 9604005
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for injecting a medium into or underneath the skin with a series of pressure pulses. The device includes a reservoir (1) for the medium, an application unit (10) to inject the medium into or under the skin, a hydraulic high-pressure pump (6) to pump the medium out of the reservoir (1) into the applicator unit (10), and an electronic control unit (11) that is suitable for regulating the applicator unit (10) such that the medium is injected with a series of pressure pulses into or underneath the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventor: Jürgen Stockmar
  • Patent number: 9592341
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for use in a drug delivery device comprising a cartridge holder, the cartridge holder comprising an opening at its distal end, a needle holder and one or more intermediate elements, wherein when the needle holder is mounted to the cartridge holder and the one or more intermediate elements are arranged in the opening of the cartridge holder whereby the size of the free space within the opening is reduced. Furthermore, it relates to a drug delivery device which is comprising such an arrangement and to a method for stabilizing a septum located at the distal end of a medicament cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: SANOFI-AVENTIS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Jugl, Günther Sendatzki, Axel Teucher, Axel Forstreuter, Rainer Dönig
  • Patent number: 9585684
    Abstract: Ultrasound catheter devices and methods provide enhanced disruption of blood vessel obstructions. Generally, ultrasound catheters include an elongate flexible catheter body with one or more lumens, an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the catheter body lumen and, in some embodiments, a guidewire tube extending through the lumen. A distal head for disrupting occlusions is coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member and is positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body. Some embodiments include improved features such as a bend in the catheter body for enhancing positioning and/or advancement of the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Flowcardia, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Nita, Jeff Sarge, Simon Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9585833
    Abstract: A therapeutic agent eluting element includes an elongate body member and one or more therapeutic agents elutable from the body member. The elongate body member is configured to be implanted subcutaneously along side of a therapy delivery element. The elongate body member may be formed from a polymeric material, and the agent eluting element may consist essentially of the body member and the one or more therapeutic agents. The therapeutic agent eluting element may be a part of a system or kit that includes a therapy delivery element and a tunneling tool, such as a dilator, sheath, catheter passer, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas C. Bischoff
  • Patent number: 9550046
    Abstract: A balloon catheter assembly is provided with an outer catheter, an inner catheter, an outer adapter, a balloon and a support sheath, and is configured such that the balloon resides entirely within a predetermined volume having an outer diameter substantially equal to or less than the outside diameter of the distal end of the outer catheter when the balloon is in a deflated configuration. Methods of using and steering the catheter assemblies are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Embolx, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Allen, Greg Halstead
  • Patent number: 9533092
    Abstract: The invention concerns a base part for a medication delivery device, the base part comprising a connection part and a moveable part. The moveable part, which moves relative to the connection part, is capable of guiding fluid paths from a medication delivery port to a first cannula or sensor and a second cannula or sensor. The base part also comprises guiding means which can direct each cannula or sensor to its subcutaneous position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: UNOMEDICAL A/S
    Inventor: Steffen Gyrn