Patents by Inventor Donald J. Propp

Donald J. Propp has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6733508
    Abstract: An umbilical cord clamp cutter includes first and second handle portions including a grasping end and a cutting end. The cutting end includes a notch having a beveled cutting edge disposed proximate the terminus of the cutting end. A connector pivotably connects the handle portions between the grasping and cutting ends whereby the notches oppose one another. Movement of the grasping ends toward one another causes the cutting end notches to slide past one another capturing an umbilical cord clamp allowing the umbilical cord clamp to be cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Tri-State Hospital Supply Corp.
    Inventors: Donald J. Propp, Gary A. Gillis
  • Publication number: 20030181944
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a pair of elongated members joined together by a box hinge. The box hinge is formed of a slot in the first member having substantially flat, generally parallel sides and a hinge portion in the second member. The hinge portion of the second member conforms to the generally flat surfaces of the slot and is generally the same width as that of the second member on either side of the box hinge. The width of the first elongated member is larger than the width of the second elongated member at either end of the box hinge portion. The transitional slope of the side surfaces of the second elongated member is nearly flat between the box hinge portion, the handle end portion, and the working tip portion. The unique construction of the box hinge creates a snag-free surface that allows for the use of the instrument for tasks such as suturing without the suturing thread snagging on the instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: Tri-State Hospital Supply Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. Propp, Gary A. Gillis
  • Patent number: 6364832
    Abstract: A vaginal lateral walls retractor for use with a vaginal speculum to retract the vaginal lateral walls during vaginal/cervical examinations includes a generally tubular sleeve having cross-sectional dimensions that allow the sleeve to fit in between blades of the speculum while the blades are inserted and opened within a vagina. The sleeve retracts the vaginal lateral walls that have pushed in under the inserted and opened speculum blades. The cross-sectional dimension also provides an inside working area for examination and sampling of the vagina and cervix area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Tri-State Hospital Supply Corporation
    Inventor: Donald J. Propp
  • Patent number: 6351852
    Abstract: A head-cleansing cap having an outer fluid-impervious layer and an inner fluid-holding layer that is equal to or greater than the size of the outer layer. The outer fluid-impervious layer has a peripheral edge defining an opening for receiving a person's head. The inner layer is connected to the outer layer along the peripheral edge of the outer layer and may also be connected to the outer layer at one or more points spaced away from the peripheral edge of the outer layer. The inner layer is saturated with a rinse-free cleaning solution. In use, the head is massaged through the cap to release the cleaning solution onto the head of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Tri-State Hospital Supply Corporation
    Inventor: Donald J. Propp
  • Patent number: 6123683
    Abstract: A pill delivery apparatus for administering pills or parts thereof into a body cavity. The apparatus includes a flexible conduit having a grasping end and a delivery end. The delivery end releasably holds a pill to be administered into the body cavity. A slide wire is disposed within the conduit for slidable movement therein. The slide wire has a ramming end adjacent the delivery end. The slide wire also has a handle end extending beyond the grasping end of the flexible conduit. The pill is loaded into the delivery end of the conduit when the ramming end is moved away from the delivery end. The pill is unloaded into the body cavity by moving the slide wire until the ramming end engages the pill and forces the pill out of the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Tri-State Hospital Supply Corporation
    Inventor: Donald J. Propp
  • Patent number: 5975897
    Abstract: An oral suctioning swab includes a rigid plastic tube of an elongated shape having first and second ends and a bend therebetween. A suctioning thumb control is bonded to the tube first end and a soft resilient tubular tip is bonded to said tube second end. A foam sleeve is bonded over the tube second end and soft resilient tubular tip such that the soft resilient tubular tip extends beyond the foam sleeve thereby avoiding any radial aspiration through the foam sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Tri-State Hospital Supply Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. Propp, Gary A. Gillis
  • Patent number: 5919146
    Abstract: A urine sampling device includes a urine collection vessel having an open end. A cap member seals the vessel open end. The cap member includes a vent to allow air displacement during fluid sampling. A connector element including a hollow piercing element is in fluid communication with the cap member. The urine sampling device is useable in combination with a urine drainage and collection device including a source tube having inlet and outlet ends for receiving and communicating urine. The source tube includes a pierceable connector for receiving the piercing element and is disposed between the source tube inlet and outlet ends. A fluid metering device including an inlet and an outlet is connected to the source tube outlet allowing gravitational fluid flow from the source tube into the metering device. A valve disposed between the pierceable connector and fluid metering device controls the gravitational fluid flow into the metering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Tri-State Hospital Supply Corp.
    Inventor: Donald J. Propp
  • Patent number: 5725515
    Abstract: A urine sampling and bladder drainage system includes a tubing set having first, second, and third tube portions. Each tube portion has a first and second end, the first end of each tube portion being connected to and in communication with the first ends of the other two tube portions. A urinary catheter is connected to the second end of the first tube portion to permit inflow of urine into the tubing set during catheterization. A drainage device is connected to the second end of the second tube portion to permit collection of urine from the tubing set during draining. A removable sampling device independent of flow communication with the drainage device is connectable to the second end of the third tube portion to permit collection of urine from the tubing set during sampling. A first and second clamp at an intermediate location of the second and third tube portions respectively control urine flow through the tube portions to selectively communicate urine for draining or sampling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Tri-State Hospital Supply Corporation
    Inventor: Donald J. Propp
  • Patent number: 5616138
    Abstract: A urine drainage and collection device includes a tubing set having first, second, and third tube portions. Each tube portion has a first and second end. The first end of each tube portion is connected to and in communication with the first ends of the other two tube portions. A fluid metering device is connected to the second end of the second tube portion and permits introduction of fluid from the tubing set into the metering device. A receptacle in spaced fluid communication with the fluid metering device receives fluid from the metering device. An independent sampling device is in fluid communication with the second end of the third tube portion permits collection of fluid from the tubing set for sampling. A first flow control at an intermediate location of the second tube portion controls fluid flow through the second tube portion. A second flow control at an intermediate location of the spaced fluid communication between the metering device and receptacle controls fluid outflow from the metering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Tri State Hospital Supply Corporation
    Inventor: Donald J. Propp
  • Patent number: 5538132
    Abstract: A compact, low-cost laminar disposable package and manufacture therefor, for use in surgical procedures. Such packages are used by medical personnel as convenient magnetic receptacles and use stations to receive medical sharps at point of use and, upon closure, the packages guard against chance loss of needles and other sharps while also guarding against injuries incidental to the disposal of surgical-medical sharps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Tri-State Hospital Supply Corp.
    Inventors: Donald J. Propp, Jerry H. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5282794
    Abstract: An improved, universally adaptable, medical intermediate connector having a large tubular opening at one end and a through passage running the length thereof, the body of the connector having a rectilinear cross section with plural planar sidewalls, one of the sidewalls having an extension with projecting fastening knobs and at least one of the sidewalls having a window therethrough, a resilient flexible and elongate strap selectively and adjustably attachable to the knobs and selectively extendable therefrom and returnable to the attachment knobs under tension. A cannula is secured to the body on the axis thereof and projects into the large tubular opening for communicating engagement with a septum inserted guidably into the tubular opening at one end and penetrable by the cannula. A luer socket is an axial extension of the body and communicates with the cannula via the passageway on the axis of the intermediate connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Tri-State Hospital Supply Corporation
    Inventor: Donald J. Propp
  • Patent number: 5215529
    Abstract: A medical connector (10) disclosed comprises a first connector member (10) having an elongated hollow introducer needle (14). The introducer needle (14) has first and second end portions (16,18) and first and second spaced openings (20,22) to the hollow of needle (14) between the end portions (16,18). A second connector member (28) is connectable with the first connector member (12). The second connector member (28) includes a flashback chamber (30) having a rubber septum (32) and also a catheter tip (34) mounted thereon. The introducer needle (14) is axially movable through the rubber septum (32), flashback chamber (30), and catheter tip (34) to establish an opening in a patient's vein for placement of the catheter (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Tri-State Hospital Supply Corporation
    Inventors: Charlie B. Fields, Donald J. Propp
  • Patent number: 4056741
    Abstract: A ceramic crystal transducer is connected to a direct current supply in series with a pair of transistors. A pair of independent multivibrator oscillators are connected, each controlling one of the transistors. Each oscillator establishes a rectangular wave and is provided with a continuously adjustable resistor for controlling the output frequency of the corresponding oscillator. The one oscillator is constructed to produce a frequency and a voltage to excite the crystal at the order of the natural resonant frequency and to thereby produce an audio output signal. The second multivibrator oscillator selectively controls the second transistor to control the on/off or pulsing rate of the tone related audible signal. The crystal is pulsed at the output rate of the tone oscillator and vibrates at the fundamental frequency of the rectangular wave as well as harmonics to either side of such fundamental frequency to produce a full and pleasant sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1977
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Hoerz, Donald J. Propp