Patents Examined by Benjamin Koo
  • Patent number: 9066847
    Abstract: Drug storage and dispensing devices for dispensing dosage forms to the oral mucosa of a patient are disclosed. The drug storage and dispensing device is a single dose applicator or a device which includes a means to retard or prevent saliva and/or moisture ingress such that the drug dosage forms in the device remain dry prior to administration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: AceIRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew I. Poutiatine, Charles Rampersaud, Bruce Edwards, Edmond Chiu, Stelios Tzannis, Pamela Palmer, William Kolosi, Sascha Retailleau
  • Patent number: 9050414
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for mixing of therapeutic agents before and/or during the localized application of the therapeutic agents. Most preferably, the present invention provides systems and methods for mixing of therapeutic agents before and/or during administration of the agents within a biological lumen. Various embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for inducing a mixing state in the therapeutic agents, thereby inducing and/or maintaining homogeneity of the agents before and/or during localized delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Leo Schoenle, Cassandra Ann Piippo Svendsen, Kristina Tibesar Jensen, Mark B. Oreschnick, Alyson M. Borrell
  • Patent number: 9033936
    Abstract: Medicament delivery device comprising relatively movable housing parts, a medicament container, a proximal plunger rod part and distal plunger rod part in threaded engagement with each other, wherein said proximal plunger rod part is movably arranged in relation to said housing part sand in contact with a stopper of said medicament container, a lever pivotally attached to said housing parts and to the distal plunger rod part. The housing parts are ergonomically shaped having a grip-size for achieving a full hand grip and wherein said distal housing part and said proximal housing part are operably interconnected to each other through said lever such that a relative movement of said housing parts is capable of operating the lever for setting and injecting a dose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SHL Group AB
    Inventor: Anders Holmqvist
  • Patent number: 9022985
    Abstract: An access assembly includes a housing defining a longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal opening therethrough, a cannula extending distally from the housing and in fluid communication with the longitudinal opening and a seal member mounted within the longitudinal opening of the housing. The seal member is configured to receive an instrument therethrough in substantial sealed relation therewith. The housing is adapted to move in at least a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis whereby the seal member maintains the substantial sealed relation relative to the instrument as the instrument in manipulated. The housing may be flexible and capable of deflection relative to the longitudinal axis. The housing may comprise an elastomeric material in whole or in part. The seal member may be integrally formed with the housing. The housing may include at least one flexible ring portion and possibly a plurality of ring portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Russell Heinrich, Michael Bettuchi
  • Patent number: 9022976
    Abstract: A handle assembly is provided for use in navigating a deformable shaft within a body. The assembly includes a first guide member defining first and second linear channels and a second guide member configured for rotation relative to the first guide member. First and second connectors are disposed within, and movable within, the first and second linear channels along first and second parallel axes, respectively, and are configured for coupling to first and second steering wires, respectively. The assembly includes means, such as a flexible coupling connected to the second guide member and the connectors, for translating rotation of the second guide member into linear movement of the first connector in a first axial direction and linear movement of the second connector in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction such that the first and second steering wires move in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.
    Inventor: Troy T. Tegg
  • Patent number: 9017393
    Abstract: A releasable top cap system for a delivery device having an emergency release includes a top cap having a top portion and a bottom portion releasably attached to the top portion, the bottom portion having two adjacent side portions. A cannula is positioned distal to the top cap having a proximal end and a distal end. A connector is attached to the proximal end of the cannula. A pair of wire components extend throughout the length of the cannula. Each wire component has a distal end and a proximal end. The proximal end of each wire component is attached to the male luer lock component and the distal end of each wire component is attached to the side portions of the top cap assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Jacqueline Farag
  • Patent number: 9011383
    Abstract: A self-illuminating endogastric tube which simplifies the correct placement of the distal end of the endogastric tube within the gastrointestinal tract of a patient. A self-illuminating stylet which simplifies the correct placement of the distal end of an endogastric tube within the gastrointestinal tract of a patient. A method of placing the distal end of an endogastric tube within the gastrointestinal tract of a patient that does not expose the patient to radiation, or that limits the amount of radiation exposure to less than the amount associated with standard methods of placing the distal end of an endogastric tube within the gastrointestinal tract of a patient. A method of confirming the correct placement of an endogastric tube that does not expose the patient to radiation, or that limits the amount of radiation exposure to less than the amount associated with standard methods of placing an endogastric tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Loma Linda University
    Inventors: Janeth C. Ejike, Shamel Abd-Allah
  • Patent number: 8992476
    Abstract: Automatic injection device includes a housing, a syringe, a plunger, and a syringe carrier. The housing includes a barrel. The barrel includes an elongated window to allow viewing of contents inside the housing. The syringe is disposed within the housing and has a reservoir. The plunger is at least partially disposed within the syringe and includes a visual indicator. The syringe carrier is disposed within the housing and configured to contain the syringe and displace the syringe within the housing between a first position and a second position. The syringe carrier can have at least one opening and at least one pair of legs defining at least a portion of the at least one opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: AbbVie Inc.
    Inventors: Sherwin S. Shang, Joseph F. Julian, Chuan Li, Eduard N. Tsvirko, Edwin Chim, Shubha Chethan Somashekar, Esra Ozdaryal
  • Patent number: 8974521
    Abstract: An implant having a preferably hollow cylindrical main structure comprising a large number of continuous openings and a coating which releases at least one pharmaceutically active substance. To attain a better distribution of the pharmaceutically active substance, at least 20% of the cross-sectional area, preferably at least 50% of the cross-sectional area, of at least a portion of the openings in a predetermined section of the main structure is covered with the coating which releases at least one pharmaceutically active substance. Furthermore, a system composed of a catheter and such an implant, a simple method for manufacturing such an implant or such a system is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Biotronik AG
    Inventors: Tobias Diener, Elisabeta Burean, Matthias Fringes
  • Patent number: 8977344
    Abstract: An injection catheter for infusing therapeutic and diagnostic agents into the heart comprises a catheter body and a tip section mounted at the distal end of the catheter body. A needle control handle is provided at the proximal end of the catheter body. An injection needle extends through the tip section, catheter body, and needle control handle. The injection needle is longitudinally slidable within the tip section so that its distal end can extend beyond the distal end of the tip section upon suitable manipulation of the needle control handle. The catheter further comprises an electrode lead wire having a first end electrically connected to the injection needle and a second end electrically connected to a suitable monitoring apparatus or to a source of ablation energy. The injection needle can thus be used for mapping or ablation in addition to introducing therapeutic and diagnostic agents into the heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Biosense Webster, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean M. Ponzi, Asher Holzer, Shlomo Ben-Haim
  • Patent number: 8968259
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a resettable drive mechanism for use in a drug delivery device. The drug delivery device is having a distal direction and a proximal direction. The drive mechanism comprises a drive rack engaged with a drive gear, a piston rack engaged with a piston gear and coupling means for coupling the drive gear with the piston gear. In a first state of the drive mechanism, the drive gear and the piston gear are coupled and the piston rack moves in distal direction when the drive rack is moved in distal direction. In a second state of the drive mechanism, the drive gear and the piston gear are decoupled and the piston rack is moveable in proximal direction for resetting the drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Veasey, George Cave, Christopher Jones, Garen Kouyoumjian, Catherine Anne Macdonald
  • Patent number: 8956325
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a microfluidic pumping device having a piezoelectric member positioned above a displaceable membrane. A voltage is applied across the piezoelectric member causing the piezoelectric member to displace the membrane. Displacement of the membrane increases and decreases pressure in a cavity that is below the membrane. The increases and decreases in pressure actuate cantilevered check valve members to facilitate unidirectional liquid flow through the pumping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Michele Palmieri
  • Patent number: 8939945
    Abstract: A lead screw (5) with a screw thread (6) is arranged in a body (1) along an axis (4) and coupled to a lead screw nut (7) with a drive feature (8), so that the lead screw is helically rotatable in the lead screw nut. The lead screw and the lead screw nut are provided with stop features (9) interfering with a rotation of the lead screw in the lead screw nut when a force is applied to the lead screw in an axial direction. The lead screw nut has a surface area facing a guide feature (10) of the body. This surface area has a slope (12) varying around the axis. The assembly interacts such that the lead screw nut rotates in one rotational direction when a force is applied to the lead screw in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Veasey, David Plumptre, Christopher Jones, Garen Kouyoumjian, Catherine Anne MacDonald
  • Patent number: 8932621
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to implantable medical devices which include at least one mesh and at least one film attached to the mesh along different portions of the mesh creating at least one aperture between the mesh and the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Joshua Stopek, Amin Elachchabi, Daniel Broom
  • Patent number: 8911397
    Abstract: Various embodiments concern an introducer sheath assembly comprising a tubular sheath member having a deflectable distal end portion and a sheath member lumen, and a handle assembly including a steering mechanism for deflecting the distal end portion of the sheath member. The distal end portion of the sheath member can deflect in different directions along a plane by selective tension in one of two pull wires. The selective tension can be caused by selective proximal or distal axial translation of a shuttle assembly relative to the tubular sheath member. The selective proximal or distal axial translation can be controlled by selective clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of a control knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. O'Donnell, Steven T. Onishi
  • Patent number: 8914103
    Abstract: An apparatus having a thin film battery includes: a device electrically operating and including a substrate; and the thin film battery for supplying power to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Rocket Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Nam-In Kim, Myoung-Woo Chung, Seung-Gyu Lim, Kwang-Suk Kim
  • Patent number: 8900189
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to devices, systems and methods for increasing the accuracy of delivery of a fluid/drug in a fluid/drug delivery device/system. In some embodiments, a fluid infusion device is provided for delivering a drug into the body of a user, and includes at least one housing, a reservoir, a plunger and a drive-screw, where the drive-screw includes a first end and a second end, the first end being configured to operatively connect to the plunger. The device may further include a driving mechanism comprising at least a motor and one or more gears, where the one or more gears include a rotating sleeve configured for engagement with the second end of the drive-screw, a controller for at least controlling operation of the driving mechanism, and a support casing configured to substantially support the rotating sleeve and enable substantially free rotation of the rotating sleeve therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Ofer Yodfat, Shai Ben-David, Yair Dan
  • Patent number: 8888741
    Abstract: A balloon catheter comprises an outer shaft having a distal end, an inner shaft situated therein to form an annular fluid line and projecting beyond the distal end of the outer shaft, and a balloon which is dilatable under the influence of a fluid introduced through the fluid line under pressure. At its proximal end the balloon is attached in a fluid-tight manner to the distal end region of the outer shaft at a first attachment zone, and at its distal end is attached in a fluid-tight manner to the distal end region of the inner shaft at a second attachment zone. Between the attachment zones, in the undilated state the balloon is placed in longitudinal folds along its length. The balloon, at least at its distal end, has an untapered design with a thin wall thickness (d) which is essentially unchanged over the length of the balloon, and the longitudinal folds extend into the attachment zone at that location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Biotronik Vi Patent AG
    Inventors: Arthur Brunner, Adrian Blaser, Matthias Wesselmann, Patrice Bachmann
  • Patent number: 8864709
    Abstract: In a medical liquid supply device, a control unit controls a liquid supply driver so that a liquid flows from the liquid supply driver in a liquid supply path regardless of whether a liquid-supply ON mode is selected. All of the liquid flowing from the liquid supply driver flows into a communication path when the liquid-supply ON mode is not selected. At least a part of the liquid flowing from the liquid supply driver does not flow into the communication path and is thereby supplied from a distal end of the liquid supply path when the liquid-supply ON mode is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Tsunetaka Akagane, Satoshi Honma
  • Patent number: 8852145
    Abstract: Inline liquid drug medical devices for use with a source of physiological fluid and a medicinal vessel for liquid drug reconstitution and administration purposes. The inline liquid drug medical devices include a housing having a longitudinal device axis, a rotary flow control member and a vial adapter for transposing the flow control member from an initial first flow control position for liquid drug reconstitution purposes to a second flow control position for liquid drug administration purposes. The inline liquid drug medical devices include a syringe port and a drug dispensing port co-axial with the device axis. The rotary flow control member is rotatable about an axis of rotation co-axial with the syringe port and the drug dispensing port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: MEDIMOP Medical Projects, Ltd.
    Inventors: Igor Denenburg, Nimrod Lev, Moshe Gilboa