Patents by Inventor Lawrence Bullen

Lawrence Bullen 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: 8919392
    Abstract: A container filling assembly includes a plurality of fluid storage containers, and a fluid inlet for supplying a fluid from a fluid source to the containers. A vacuum source creates a vacuum in the containers to draw the fluid into the containers and thereby fill the containers. A connective structure connects the vacuum inlet and the fluid inlet in fluid communication with the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Inventor: Lawrence Bullen
  • Publication number: 20120186692
    Abstract: A container filling assembly includes a plurality of fluid storage containers, and a fluid inlet for supplying a fluid from a fluid source to the containers. A vacuum source creates a vacuum in the containers to draw the fluid into the containers and thereby fill the containers. A connective structure connects the vacuum inlet and the fluid inlet in fluid communication with the containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Lawrence Bullen
  • Patent number: 8016003
    Abstract: A container filling assembly includes a plurality of fluid storage containers, a fluid inlet for supplying a fluid to the containers, a vacuum source for creating a vacuum in the containers to draw the fluid into the containers, and a connective structure for connecting the vacuum source and the fluid source in fluid communication with the containers. Preferably, the container filling assembly is a sterile, closed system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Inventor: Lawrence Bullen
  • Patent number: 7749741
    Abstract: A tissue dissociation device (10) includes a container (12) having a sterile interior for holding the tissue to be dissociated and a liquid medium. The device (10) also includes a dissociation element (54), inside the container (12), for engaging the tissue to cause dissociation of the tissue. The device (10) also includes a resistive element (81), inside the container (12), for resisting movement of the tissue in response to the engagement by the dissociation element (54). Relative motion between and the resulting resistance provided by the resistive element (81) allows the dissociation element (54) to effectively dissociate the tissue. A powered tissue dissociation device includes a power source operatively connected to the dissociation element (54) for causing the dissociation element (54) to move into engagement with the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Lawrence Bullen, Herbert S. Bresler, Daniel A. Kramer
  • Publication number: 20100049086
    Abstract: A biopsy device such as a core sampling biopsy device compatible with use in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) environment by being driven by either a pneumatic rotary motor or a piezoelectric drive motor is disclosed. The core sampling biopsy device obtains a tissue sample, such as a breast tissue biopsy sample, for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The biopsy device may include an outer cannula having a distal piercing tip, a cutter lumen, a side tissue port communicating with the cutter lumen, and at least one fluid passageway disposed distally of the side tissue port. The inner cutter may be advanced in the cutter lumen past the side tissue port to sever a tissue sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: John A. Hibner, Kevin D. Predmore, Lawrence Bullen, Vincent J. Contini, James E. Dversky, Eric R. Navin
  • Patent number: 7611474
    Abstract: A core sampling biopsy device is compatible with use in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) environment by being driven by either a pneumatic rotary motor or a piezoelectric drive motor. The core sampling biopsy device obtains a tissue sample, such as a breast tissue biopsy sample, for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The biopsy device may include an outer cannula having a distal piercing tip, a cutter lumen, a side tissue port communicating with the cutter lumen, and at least one fluid passageway disposed distally of the side tissue port. The inner cutter may be advanced in the cutter lumen past the side tissue port to sever a tissue sample. A cutter drive assembly maintains a fixed gear ratio relationship between a cutter rotation speed and translation speed of the inner cutter regardless of the density of the tissue encountered to yield consistent sample size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Hibner, Kevin D. Predmore, Lawrence Bullen, Vincent J. Contini, James E. Dvorsky, Eric R. Navin
  • Publication number: 20070186992
    Abstract: A container filling assembly includes a plurality of fluid storage containers, a fluid inlet for supplying a fluid to the containers, a vacuum source for creating a vacuum in the containers to draw the fluid into the containers, and a connective structure for connecting the vacuum source and the fluid source in fluid communication with the containers. Preferably, the container filling assembly is a sterile, closed system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Applicant: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Lawrence Bullen
  • Publication number: 20070148756
    Abstract: A tissue dissociation device (10) includes a container (12) having a sterile interior for holding the tissue to be dissociated and a liquid medium. The device (10) also includes a dissociation element (54), inside the container (12), for engaging the tissue to cause dissociation of the tissue. The device (10) also includes a resistive element (81), inside the container (12), for resisting movement of the tissue in response to the engagement by the dissociation element (54). Relative motion between and the resulting resistance provided by the resistive element (81) allows the dissociation element (54) to effectively dissociate the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Lawrence Bullen, Herbert Bresler, Daniel Kramer
  • Publication number: 20060149163
    Abstract: A core sampling biopsy device is compatible with use in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) environment by being driven by either a pneumatic rotary motor or a piezoelectric drive motor. The core sampling biopsy device obtains a tissue sample, such as a breast tissue biopsy sample, for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The biopsy device may include an outer cannula having a distal piercing tip, a cutter lumen, a side tissue port communicating with the cutter lumen, and at least one fluid passageway disposed distally of the side tissue port. The inner cutter may be advanced in the cutter lumen past the side tissue port to sever a tissue sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: John Hibner, Kevin Predmore, Lawrence Bullen, Vincent Contini, James Dvorsky, Eric Navin