Patents Examined by Dirk R Bass
  • Patent number: 11975133
    Abstract: A dialysis system may include a blood circuit, a cassette, a subsystem having a processor, a sensor, and a blood pumping mechanism, a housing in which the subsystem is arranged, a movable support arranged in the housing and configured to hold the sensor and/or the blood pumping mechanism of the subsystem, a cassette holder configured to removably receive the cassette, and a loading system. The loading system may be configured to move the movable support, e.g. by an axial movement, to a first position and to a second position relatively to the housing while the cassette holder is fixedly arranged in the housing. The loading system may have an electric motor controlled by the processor, a drive assembly coupled to the electric motor, and a guiding assembly configured to cooperate with the drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: NEXTKIDNEY SA
    Inventors: Didier Vecten, Ricardo Allendes, Paul Vescovo
  • Patent number: 11975341
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for separating components of a fluid stream comprising a first centrifugal separator and a further separator; the first centrifugal separator comprising: a support structure and a centrifugal separator unit rotatably mounted on the support structure so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis extending through the centrifugal separator unit; a drive element for driving rotation of the centrifugal separator unit; wherein the centrifugal separator unit comprises a centrifugal separation chamber having an inlet which is connected or connectable to a source of fluid requiring separation, a first outlet for collecting a higher density component of the fluid stream, and a second outlet for collecting a lower density component of the fluid stream; the first outlet being connected or connectable to a first collector for collecting the higher density component and the second outlet being connected or connectable to a second collector for collecting the lower density component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: GM INNOVATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Gerard Melling, Alan Suttie, Brian Loudon, John Elliot
  • Patent number: 11969536
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for therapeutic red blood cell exchange and/or therapeutic plasma exchange. A blood separation device includes a centrifugal separator, a spinning membrane separator drive unit, a pump system, and a controller. Blood is conveyed through a fluid flow circuit into either the centrifugal separator or the spinning membrane separator, which separates out the target blood component (red blood cells, in the case of therapeutic red blood cell exchange, or plasma, in the case of therapeutic plasma exchange). The target blood component is retained in the circuit as a waste product, while a replacement fluid is added to the remaining blood component(s), which is then conveyed to a recipient. In addition to allowing for execution of an exchange procedure using either a centrifugal separator or a spinning membrane separator drive unit, the blood separation device also allows for the use of differently sized spinning membrane separators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin E Kusters, Kyungyoon Min
  • Patent number: 11964088
    Abstract: A dialysis system may include a dialysis machine (e.g., a peritoneal dialysis machine) having a fluid system for delivering fluid (e.g., dialysate) to a patient. The dialysis machine may include at least one processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, may cause the at least one processor to determine volume information for a fluid system of a dialysis machine, wherein the volume information may comprise a patient line volume and an accuracy adjustment volume, and to determine a priming volume to prime the fluid system with a fluid based on the volume information. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc., Debiotech S.A.
    Inventors: Kulwinder S. Plahey, Pierre Thiebaud, John A. Biewer
  • Patent number: 11958062
    Abstract: A multi-stage float sorting device includes a first flotator float-sorting ores mixed with water based on a difference in density, and a second flotator provided with a column extending in a top-down direction, one side of which communicates with the first flotator to receive primary concentrates, and float-sorts the primary concentrates based on a difference in density to obtain secondary concentrates. The second flotator includes a washing water jetting section provided at a top of the column to jet washing water, a gas sparger provided at a bottom of the column to jet an inert gas, and an opening and closing section located between the washing water jetting section and the gas sparger to partition an inside of the column into upper and lower regions, and form an opening for rising secondary concentrates in the column according to a pressure state of the lower region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Bongju Kim, Yongkwon Koh, Jangsoon Kwon
  • Patent number: 11958016
    Abstract: Dialysis devices include a frame defined by a plurality of sidewalls that are impermeable to a sample being dialyzed, a pair of dialysis membranes that are each associated with an opposing face of the plurality of sidewalls such that the plurality of sidewalls and the pair of dialysis membranes define a sample chamber, an outer shell surrounding at least a portion of the pair of dialysis membranes, and a cap selectively associated with the sample chamber. The cap can be selectively associated with the sample chamber via an attachment mechanism that is configured to provide aural and/or haptic feedback when the cap forms a tight association with the sample chamber. The cap can be a sensor cap having one or more probes for measuring at least one property of fluid inside and/or outside the sample chamber and a transmitter for transmitting data captured at the probe(s) to a destination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: Pierce Biotechnology, Inc., Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kay Opperman, Barbara Kaboord, Aaron McBride, Greg Nagy, Sandro Klein, Joanna Geddes
  • Patent number: 11944939
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane element, comprising: a core tube comprising a side face having a plurality of pores; and a hollow fiber membrane group consisting of a plurality of hollow fiber membranes disposed around the core tube, the hollow fiber membrane element being a both open-ended type hollow fiber membrane element in which both ends of the core tube and the plurality of hollow fiber membranes are open. The hollow fiber membrane group includes a first hollow fiber membrane layer composed of a plurality of first hollow fiber membranes disposed so as to surround the core tube and a second hollow fiber membrane layer composed of a plurality of second hollow fiber membranes disposed so as to surround the first hollow fiber membrane layer, and a permeability coefficient of the plurality of first hollow fiber membranes is smaller than a permeability coefficient of the plurality of second hollow fiber membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOBO MC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahito Nakao, Hidehiko Sakurai
  • Patent number: 11939725
    Abstract: A hot-extraction paper consisting substantially of cellulose and manufacturing assistants needed in cellulose and manufacturing assistants needs in cellulose production, such as pH modifiers based on acids and/or bases, the paper comprises exclusively cellulose having fibre lengths of at least 2.0 mm on length-weighted average, more particularly at least 2.5 mm on length-weighted average, and has isotropic extension properties which are substantially equal in machine and cross directions and amount to at least 7.5%, more particularly at least 8.5%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: MONDI AG
    Inventors: Elisabeth Schwaiger, Franz Joebstl, Reinhard Kainz
  • Patent number: 11938451
    Abstract: A method of preparing a graphene-based membrane is provided. The method may include providing a stacked arrangement of layers of a graphene-based material, wherein the layers of the graphene-based material define one or more nanochannels between neighboring layers, and varying an electrical charge on a surface of the layers of the graphene-based material defining the one or more nanochannels to control size selectivity and/or ionic selectivity of the graphene-based membrane. A graphene-based membrane and a method of separating ions from a fluid stream are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: National University of Singapore
    Inventors: Slaven Garaj, Seunghyun Hong
  • Patent number: 11938261
    Abstract: Embodiments are described for treating a fluid, e.g., a biological fluid. The embodiments may include systems, apparatuses, and methods. Embodiments may provide for a flow cell, with a plurality of manipulation elements, through which a fluid is flowed. The fluid may be treated (e.g., exposed to energy) as it moves through the flow cell. In embodiments, the flow cell may be used to inactivate pathogens in the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Terumo BCT Biotechnologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jon A. Dodd, Daniel R. Clement, Dennis J. Hlavinka, Jeremy T. Parsons, Haralambos P. Apostolopoulos
  • Patent number: 11939526
    Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to vent stack lids and associated systems and methods. In particular, several embodiments are directed to vent stack lids having improved sealing properties in a coke processing system. In a particular embodiment, a vent stack lid comprises a first lid portion proximate to and at least partially spaced apart from a second lid portion. The vent stack lid further comprises a first sealing portion coupled to the first lid portion and a second sealing portion coupled to the second lid portion. In several embodiments, the second sealing portion at least partially overlaps the first sealing portion over the space between the first and second lid portions. In further embodiments, at least one of the first or second sealing portions includes layers of tadpole seals, spring seals, rigid refractory material, and/or flexible refractory blanket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SUNCOKE TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventors: Gary Dean West, Chun Wai Choi, Thomas James Hirt
  • Patent number: 11931497
    Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes first and second concentrate sources in selective fluid communication with a medical fluid pumping cassette, the first and second concentrate sources holding first and second peritoneal dialysis concentrates, respectively; a pump actuator configured to cause the medical fluid pumping cassette to pump the first and second concentrates; and a processor and memory configured to (i) determine a cumulative volume of at least one of the first or second peritoneal dialysis concentrates pumped from the medical fluid pumping cassette by the pump actuator, (ii) compare the cumulative volume to a threshold, and (iii) if the cumulative volume is outside of the threshold, modify a subsequent stroke volume of at least one of the first or second pump chambers actuated by the pump actuator in an attempt to cause an updated cumulative volume for the at least one peritoneal dialysis concentrate to be within the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC., BAXTER HEALTHCARE SA
    Inventors: Robert W. Childers, Kurt Holmquist, Peter Hopping
  • Patent number: 11931748
    Abstract: A magnetic density separator comprising a process channel through which in use magnetic process liquid and particles to be separated flow in a flow direction, a magnetization device that is arranged to extend in flow direction along at least one of the walls of the channel so as to in use apply a magnetic field to the process liquid in a separation zone of the channel to establish a cut density of the magnetic process liquid to separate the particles in the process liquid based on their density, a laminator through which the magnetic process liquid is introduced into the channel to flow laminarized in flow direction along the separation zone, and a feed through which a mixture of process liquid and particles to be separated is introduced into the process channel to join the laminarized process liquid, characterized in that the feed includes an entraining device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Urban Mining Corp. B.V.
    Inventors: Peter Carlo Rem, Simon Peter Maria Berkhout
  • Patent number: 11925741
    Abstract: In a blood transfusion system (a blood transfusion kit, a blood transfusion kit for emergency blood transfusion, or a method of using a blood transfusion kit), a flow path through which blood flows is formed using a tube having a channel therein. The flow path includes: a first path that connects an upstream path and a downstream path and has a leukocyte removal filter removing leukocytes at an intermediate position of the channel and a second path that connects the upstream path and the downstream path and bypasses the leukocyte removal filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masatsugu Igarashi
  • Patent number: 11925736
    Abstract: Dialyzer systems can consolidate multiple technologies and functionalities of blood treatment systems in a significantly integrated fashion. For example, this disclosure describes dialyzer systems that include a magnetically driven and magnetically levitating pump rotor integrated into the dialyzer. Such a dialyzer can be used with treatment modules that include a magnetic field-generating pump drive unit. In some embodiments, the dialyzers include pressure sensor chambers with flexible membranes with which corresponding pressure transducers of the treatment modules can interface to detect arterial and/or venous pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignees: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH, Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Massimo Earl Fini, Lynn E. Jensen, Alexander Heide, Dejan Nikolic, Arne Peters, Christoph Wiktor, Marina Wenke, Tommy Huang, Dacey John Ryan, Stefan Kreber, Lothar Leick, Dzhuney Terzi, Hendrik Therre, Manfred Weis, Alain Veneroni, Reinhold Reiter, Michele Marini, Davide Maria Benelli, Brad Yang, Jiunn Teo
  • Patent number: 11918728
    Abstract: A method comprising obtaining a bodily fluid from a subject; contacting the bodily fluid with an adsorbent material comprising a synthetic carbon particle (SCP) to produce a first filtrate having a level of disease mediators (y); contacting the first filtrate with an adsorbent material comprising the SCP and an anion exchange resin where the ratio of SCP to anion exchange resin is from about 0.1:100 to 100:0.1 to produce a second filtrate; contacting the second filtrate with an adsorbent material comprising the SCP and a cation exchange resin where the ratio of SCP to cation exchange resin is from about 1:100 to produce a third filtrate; and administering the third filtrate to the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Immutrix Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Carol A. Rae, Jan Simoni, Grace Simoni, John F. Moeller, Jose A. Diaz-Aunon
  • Patent number: 11918717
    Abstract: A blood purification device includes a device body and a cassette. The cassette includes: a casing that accommodates a removal water receptacle; and pump tube. The device body includes fingers, a driving unit, and a housing. The cassette can be attached to and removed from the housing of the device body so that the pump tubes are positioned between the plurality of fingers and the outer surfaces of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: NIKKISO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Yokoyama, Masato Fujiwara, Hiroshi Nimura
  • Patent number: 11904083
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to various aspects of a procedure for reducing the carbon dioxide content in blood during the treatment of patients. A first aspect of the present disclosure relates to a buffer solution for use in reducing the carbon dioxide content in the blood when treating a patient suffering from pulmonary insufficiency or the complete failure of lung function, wherein the fluid is in gas exchange with a portion of the patient's blood conducted through an extracorporeal circuit. The first aspect of the present disclosure further relates to an apparatus for the extracorporeal reduction of the carbon dioxide content in the blood using said buffer solution. A second aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system for extracorporeal blood treatment, likewise using said buffer solution and the apparatus, and furthermore to a treatment apparatus for extracorporeal blood treatment comprising the aforementioned system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Petra Abel, Jurgen Klewinghaus, Rolf Zander
  • Patent number: 11896752
    Abstract: A dialysis machine configured to carry out a method and a method for draining an extracorporeal fluid circuit utilizing a dialysis machine, wherein the dialysis machine is connected to a dialyzer and said extracorporeal fluid circuit, said extracorporeal fluid circuit comprising an arterial line connectable to a patient, for drawing blood from the patient and a venous line connectable to the patient for returning blood to the patient, the method comprising: after treatment termination from said extracorporeal fluid circuit draining remaining fluid from said extracorporeal fluid circuit through the dialyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventors: Sture Hobro, Roger Nilsson, Olof Jansson, Björn Ericson
  • Patent number: 11896749
    Abstract: Dialyzer systems can consolidate multiple technologies and functionalities of blood treatment systems in a significantly integrated fashion. For example, this disclosure describes dialyzer systems that include a magnetically driven and magnetically levitating pump rotor integrated into the dialyzer. Such a dialyzer can be used with treatment modules that include a magnetic field-generating pump drive unit. In some embodiments, the dialyzers include pressure sensor chambers with flexible membranes with which corresponding pressure transducers of the treatment modules can interface to detect arterial and/or venous pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignees: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH, Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Massimo Earl Fini, Lynn E. Jensen, Dacey John Ryan, Alexander Heide, Dejan Nikolic, Arne Peters