Patents Examined by Rachel Young
  • Humidifier for a breathing system
    Patent number: 9174016
    Abstract: An in-line humidifier is disposed along the passageway of a breathing system. The humidifier includes a humidification chamber having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a reservoir. The humidifier includes a liquid trap which includes a chamber, a fluid inlet in communication with the liquid trap chamber, and a fluid outlet in communication with the liquid trap chamber. The liquid trap is constructed and arranged to discourage liquid from back-flowing from the humidifier to a source of gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Mark W. Barclay, Kenneth E. Cole
  • Breathing assistance apparatus
    Patent number: 9168350
    Abstract: A breathing assistance apparatus and method of controlling a breathing assistance apparatus is disclosed. Particularly, the breathing assistance apparatus is controlled such that it has a drying cycle to enable drying of the tubing that supplies gases to a user and prevent the harboring of pathogens within the tube. The drying cycle is preferably operated automatically by internal controllers in the apparatus. However, it may be manually activated by pressing a button on the apparatus. The drying cycle is preferably activated at the end of a user's treatment session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Matthew Jon Payton, Kevin Peter O'Donnell, Christopher Simon James Quill, Ian Douglas Makinson, Emily Joy Drake, Craig Karl White, Virginia Louise Glover
  • Delivery devices
    Patent number: 9168341
    Abstract: A delivery device for and method of delivering substance, the delivery device having an outlet member through which substance is in use delivered in an entraining gas flow, and a substance supply unit for supplying substance to be entrained by an entraining gas flow as one or both of a vapor or a fine aerosol mist, wherein the substance supply unit has a flow channel which is fluidly connected to the outlet member, and a substance supporting element for supporting substance, at least a surface of which is in use disposed in the flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: OptiNose AS
    Inventor: Per Gisle Djupesland
  • Vascular compression system
    Patent number: 9168197
    Abstract: A vascular compression system includes a compression garment and a controller for compressing a body part of a person. In some embodiments, the compression garment is a foot cuff or a leg sleeve. The controller inflates compression garment apparatus includes a compression garment and a pressurizer. The pressurizer has instructions for executing cyclic compression cycles for applying intermittent compression therapy to the body part. Each compression cycle includes an inflation phase and a vent phase. At least one of the inflation phases includes a pre-fill step and a therapeutic step. In the pre-fill step, gas pressure in the inflatable chamber may be increased at a reduced rate, and in the therapeutic step, the gas pressure in the inflatable chamber may be increased at a rapid rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Arnaz Malhi, Manish Deshpande, Steve Nardi, Premnarayan Ganapathy, Anmol Nagre
  • Walking assist device
    Patent number: 9161880
    Abstract: In a walking assist device having leg links each connected to a support member through a first joint and having a first link and second link connected to the first link through a second joint, and actuators to be operated to displace the first and second links relative to each other to produce assist forces that assist part of user's body weight to assist the user to walk, it is configured such that a forward protruding amount of the second joint to be protruded with change of an angle between the first and second links about the second joint is changed. With this, it becomes possible to decrease the forward protruding amount to be protruded from the trunk of the user with change of the angle about the second joint, thereby decreasing the inertia force about the vertical axis, while mitigating the unnatural impression of the appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Ashihara, Yoshihisa Matsuoka, Hiroshi Matsuda, Yutaka Hiki, Makoto Shishido
  • Anesthetic breathing apparatus having volume reflector unit with controllable penetration
    Patent number: 9149590
    Abstract: An anesthetic breathing apparatus and system, having a patient circle system for re-breathing exhaled gases by a patient, a volume reflector, a fresh gas delivery line, and a gas sensor unit arranged to measure a gas stream upstream a fresh gas connection and downstream said reflector unit. The gas sensor unit provides a signal for detection of a reflector driving gas (RDG) crossing over the volume reflector during inspiration based on at least one property of the gas stream measured by the gas sensor unit. Appropriate action may be taken based on this measurement, for instance in disclosed methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Mapquet Critical Care AB
    Inventor: Lars Wallén
  • Autotitrating method and apparatus
    Patent number: 9149597
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling the delivery of therapeutic gas delivered to a patient undergoing positive airway pressure therapy is described. The method includes providing a flow of gas to a patient's airway at a pressure, obtaining information from the range of 0 to 25 Hz of the frequency domain of the flow, and adjusting the pressure based on the information. The apparatus includes a blower for providing a flow of gas to a patient's airway at a pressure, a sensor to measure a characteristic of the flow, a controller to obtain information from the range of 0 to 25 Hz of the frequency domain of the characteristic, and a pressure regulator for adjusting the pressure based on the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: FISHER & PAYKEL HEALTHCARE LIMITED
    Inventors: Lewis George Gradon, David Robin Whiting, Andrew Gordon Gerred, Gregory Martyn Smith, Fiona Elizabeth Anderson
  • Aerosolization device
    Patent number: 9144650
    Abstract: An aerosol transfer device for medical aerosol generators includes a body, fluidically coupled to a nebulizer and to a patient interface. An ambient air intake is formed into a lower body. The body is shaped and configured to optimize mixing of ambient air from the ambient air intake and the aerosol generated by the nebulizer, resulting in the formation of an aerosol plume having optimum characteristics for delivery of the aerosol to the patient's pulmonary system, such as the central or deep lung regions. The shape and dimensions of the body are further designed to minimize aerosol deposition, thus improving delivery efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Nektar Therapeutics
    Inventors: James B. Fink, Nani P. Kadrichu
  • Ventilation interface for sleep apnea therapy
    Patent number: 9138553
    Abstract: The ventilation interface for sleep apnea therapy interfaces a ventilation device to the patient's airways. The ventilation interface includes a pair of nasal inserts made from flexible, resilient silicone which are oval shaped in cross-section and slightly tapered from a base proximal the ventilation supply to the distal tip end. A bead flange is disposed about the exterior of each insert at the distal end of the insert. A bleed port for release of exhaled air is defined through a conical vent projecting normally to the path of the incoming air flow, and continues through a nipple extending to the exterior of the air conduit. In one embodiment, a pair of nasal inserts are integral with a nasal cannula body, with bleed ports axially aligned with each insert. In another embodiment, each insert is independently connected to a separate, thin-walled, flexible supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: InnoMed Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Wood
  • Oxygen breathing device with integrated flexible buffer
    Patent number: 9126063
    Abstract: Described is an oxygen breathing device, including a casing, the casing accommodating, in a non-activated condition, an oxygen source, in particular a chemical oxygen generator or an oxygen pressure tank, a starter device for initiating a flow of oxygen out of the oxygen source, a buffer connected to the oxygen source, the buffer being adapted to temporarily store oxygen produced in the oxygen source, at least one oxygen mask connected via an oxygen supply line to the buffer wherein a flexible buffer is provided in the oxygen breathing device and connected to the oxygen source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Zodiac Aerotechnics
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Libis, Gunter Boomgaarden
  • Inhalation therapy device comprising a valve
    Patent number: 9119930
    Abstract: The inhalation therapy device according to the invention comprises a nebulizer chamber which accommodates an aerosol generator that emits aerosol into the nebulizer chamber. A valve that has a valve seat, a resilient valve member and a valve member positioning means is arranged at an opening of the nebulizer chamber. The valve member positioning means can be moved out of a first position and into a second position so as to position the valve member on the valve seat in such a manner that in the first position, the valve member, in a flow-free state, is positioned on the valve seat in a pre-tensioned manner and in a second position, is spaced apart from the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: PARI GmbH Spezialisten für effektive Inhalation
    Inventors: Vera Kreutzmann, Sven Rosenbeiger, Markus Mornhinweg, Frank Kummer, Titus Selzer
  • Nasal delivery device
    Patent number: 9119932
    Abstract: A delivery device (20, 22) for and a method of delivering a substance to the nasal airway (1) of a subject, in particular the posterior region of the nasal airway, the delivery device comprising: a closure unit for causing the closure of the oropharyngeal velum of the subject; and a delivery unit for delivering a gas flow entraining a substance to one of the nostrils of the subject at such a driving pressure as to flow around the posterior margin of the nasal septum and out of the other nostril of the subject, wherein the delivery unit comprises a nosepiece (30, 40, 58, 82, 102, 132) which includes an outlet through which the gas flow is in use delivered to the one nostril and a sealing member for sealing the one nostril to the outlet such as in use to prevent the escape of the gas flow through the one nostril.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: OptiNose AS
    Inventor: Per Gisle Djupesland
  • Breathing assistance apparatus
    Patent number: 9119929
    Abstract: A mask with cushion that has an outer film is disclosed. The film may be self-skinning or a film formed about or glued to the cushion body. In another form the cushion may be formed with at least a portion having a plurality of adjacent voids having a honeycomb-like structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Alastair Edwin McAuley, Ivan Milivojevic
  • Breathing apparatus detection and purging
    Patent number: 9108016
    Abstract: Described are methods for safer nitric oxide delivery, as well as apparatuses for performing these methods. The methods may include detecting the presence or absence of a nasal cannula, and stopping the delivery of nitric oxide or providing an alert if the cannula is disconnected. The methods may also include purging the nasal cannula if it is reconnected after a disconnection or if it is replaced by a new cannula. Other methods pertain to automatic purging of the delivery conduit if the elapsed time between successive deliveries of therapeutic gas exceeds a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: INO Therapeutics LLC
    Inventors: Jaron Acker, Thomas Kohlmann
  • Rolling muscle massager
    Patent number: 9107795
    Abstract: A portable rolling massager is provided that includes a spindle, a roller rotatably mounted on the spindle, and a covering for the roller that features a comfortable surface when applied to the skin and pressure is applied to muscles underlying the skin. Heating and cooling of the cover provides other therapeutic benefits. Storage in the spindle accommodates weights, flashlights, key storage, music devices, and the like. Hand grips having distal ends are designed to provide the ability to massage trigger points that develop in the muscles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Polar Fusion LLC
    Inventor: Spring S. Faussett
  • Methods and systems for gating user initiated increases in oxygen concentration during ventilation
    Patent number: 9089657
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for ventilating a patient. The disclosure describes novel systems and methods for preventing and/or reducing the likelihood of a patient from receiving too much oxygen during a selected limited increase in oxygen concentration for a set period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Gardner Kimm, Dan Graboi
  • Biomechanical protective system
    Patent number: 9078477
    Abstract: A system for biomechanically protecting a person carrying a structure on their back includes a body portion carried about the person's back and shoulders. A shoulder area pad is connected to the body portion and covers a portion of the person's shoulder area. A scapula area pad spaces the structure from the person's spine of the scapula area and covers a portion of the person's back adjacent the spine of the scapula. A para-spinal pad spaces the structure from the person's spinous processes and extends substantially the length of the person's spine, covering a portion of the person's para-spinal musculature. Protection from the structure is also provided by a lateral pad that covers a lateral portion of the person's back, a kidney pad that covers a portion of the person's back to protect the kidneys, and a sacrum pad that covers a portion of the person's sacrum area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Inventor: Wesley J. McAllister
  • Mask cover assembly
    Patent number: 9079051
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mask cover assembly wherein a mask cover body is separably assembled with an exhaust valve and a mask main body, which enables replacement of the aforementioned elements. The mask main body has a semi-spherical cap form and is provided throughout the rim of an inner surface thereof with a face contact cushion member formed by pressing cotton or gauze to have a constant thickness. The mask cover body is configured to enclose the mask main body and is integrally formed at opposite lateral positions thereof with band hanger portions. The exhaust valve body is coupled to an exhaust valve mount of the mask cover body. An exhaust valve cap, an outer filter and a thin rubber plate are axially inserted into the exhaust valve body. Additionally, a coupling member is secured to the mask main body with an inner filter interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Inventor: Jae Jong Woo
  • Breathable gas apparatus with humidifier
    Patent number: 9072860
    Abstract: A flow generator and humidifier construction is described, including a flow generator construction adapted to reduce noise output compared to known flow generators of comparable size. The flow generator includes a chassis forming first and second muffler volumes and a venturi-shaped connection portion, and a metal/polymer composite material blower enclosure which suppresses noise from the blower. The flow generator may be programmed to include a reminder system including a menu from which the user may request a reminder to take specific action, e.g., replace a component, call a physician, and/or enter patient data card, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: ResMed Limited
    Inventors: Perry David Lithgow, Alexander Virr, Duncan Lovel Trevor-Wilson, Andrew Roderick Bath, Michael Thomas Janiak, Dan Kao, Stephen Anthony Lea
  • Aerosol aspirator and aerosol sucking method
    Patent number: 9067029
    Abstract: An aerosol aspirator has a casing (2) with a mouthpiece (8) and an outside air inlet (52), a generation passage (56, 60, 68) extending from the outside air inlet (52) to the mouthpiece (8), a syringe pump (18) arranged within the casing (2) to deliver a solution to a distributing position (A) in the generation passage in a fixed amount each time it is activated, and a tubular heater (58) disposed downstream of the distributing position (A) and forming a part of the generation passage. When a user sucks at the mouthpiece (8), the solution at the distributing position (A) is transferred from the position (A) into the heater (58), and within the heater, atomized, and then turns into an aerosol by condensing in sucked air flow, and the aerosol thus formed is sucked by the user with the air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Hiroshi Sasaki, Kazuhiko Katayama, Morio Yajima