Patents by Inventor Nicholas R. Vitale

Nicholas R. Vitale 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: 10245175
    Abstract: Systems for maintaining a vacuum in a patient's oral cavity comprises an oral device, a vacuum control system, and an assembly including first and second tubes for connecting the vacuum control system to the oral device. The oral device has an internal plenum, and a vacuum is drawn in the plenum by a vacuum pump connected by a first tube of the tubular assembly. The vacuum is maintained by an air source which is connected to the plenum by the second tube of the tubular assembly. By maintaining a constant circulating air bleed through the oral device and the connecting tubes, saliva may be removed from the system and collected in a saliva trap located before the vacuum pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: SOMNICS, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan Podmore, Nicholas R. Vitale, John Edwards Crowe, Matthias Vaska
  • Patent number: 9763759
    Abstract: A saliva collector comprises a reservoir, a bubble barrier, and a membrane, where the bubble barrier and membrane are arranged in tandem on a flow path from an inlet to an outlet on the reservoir. Air aspirated from a patient's oral cavity enters the reservoir through the inlet, passes through the bubble barrier to remove foam and bubbles, passes through the membrane to remove entrained liquid saliva, and passes out through the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Apnicure, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Vitale, Kenneth Mejia, Michael C. Holzbaur, John Edwards Crowe, Jonathan L. Podmore
  • Publication number: 20170087004
    Abstract: Systems for maintaining a vacuum in a patient's oral cavity comprises an oral device, a vacuum control system, and an assembly including first and second tubes for connecting the vacuum control system to the oral device. The oral device has an internal plenum, and a vacuum is drawn in the plenum by a vacuum pump connected by a first tube of the tubular assembly. The vacuum is maintained by an air source which is connected to the plenum by the second tube of the tubular assembly. By maintaining a constant circulating air bleed through the oral device and the connecting tubes, saliva may be removed from the system and collected in a saliva trap located before the vacuum pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Jonathan Podmore, Nicholas R. Vitale, John Edwards Crowe, Matthias Vaska
  • Patent number: 9549795
    Abstract: Systems for maintaining a vacuum in a patient's oral cavity comprises an oral device, a vacuum control system, and an assembly including first and second tubes for connecting the vacuum control system to the oral device. The oral device has an internal plenum, and a vacuum is drawn in the plenum by a vacuum pump connected by a first tube of the tubular assembly. The vacuum is maintained by an air source which is connected to the plenum by the second tube of the tubular assembly. By maintaining a constant circulating air bleed through the oral device and the connecting tubes, saliva may be removed from the system and collected in a saliva trap located before the vacuum pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: ApniCure, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Podmore, Nicholas R. Vitale, John Edwards Crowe, Matthias Vaska
  • Publication number: 20160262859
    Abstract: A saliva collector comprises a reservoir, a bubble barrier, and a membrane, where the bubble barrier and membrane are arranged in tandem on a flow path from an inlet to an outlet on the reservoir. Air aspirated from a patient's oral cavity enters the reservoir through the inlet, passes through the bubble barrier to remove foam and bubbles, passes through the membrane to remove entrained liquid saliva, and passes out through the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Vitale, Kenneth Mejia, Michael C. Holzbaur, John Edwards Crowe, Jonathan L. Podmore
  • Patent number: 9387118
    Abstract: An oral device for temporary placement in a patient's oral cavity includes a base, a tongue-engaging member and a tongue pocket. Partial vacuums are separately drawn through the tongue-engaging member and the tongue pocket in order to advance and control the position of the tongue in order to clear the patient's airway to reduce sleep apnea or treat other conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: ApniCure, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthias Vaska, Jonathan L. Podmore, Nicholas R. Vitale, Michael C. Holzbaur, John Edwards Crowe, Sean Christopher Daniel
  • Patent number: 9375541
    Abstract: A saliva collector comprises a reservoir, a bubble barrier, and a membrane, where the bubble barrier and membrane are arranged in tandem on a flow path from an inlet to an outlet on the reservoir. Air aspirated from a patient's oral cavity enters the reservoir through the inlet, passes through the bubble barrier to remove foam and bubbles, passes through the membrane to remove entrained liquid saliva, and passes out through the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Apnicure, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Vitale, Kenneth Mejia, Michael R. Holzbaur, John Edwards Crowe, Jonathan L. Podmore
  • Publication number: 20150157433
    Abstract: Systems for maintaining a vacuum in a patient's oral cavity comprises an oral device, a vacuum control system, and an assembly including first and second tubes for connecting the vacuum control system to the oral device. The oral device has an internal plenum, and a vacuum is drawn in the plenum by a vacuum pump connected by a first tube of the tubular assembly. The vacuum is maintained by an air source which is connected to the plenum by the second tube of the tubular assembly. By maintaining a constant circulating air bleed through the oral device and the connecting tubes, saliva may be removed from the system and collected in a saliva trap located before the vacuum pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Jonathan PODMORE, Nicholas R. VITALE, John Edwards CROWE, Matthias VASKA
  • Publication number: 20150107603
    Abstract: A saliva collector comprises a reservoir and a flow path from an inlet to an outlet on the reservoir. Air aspirated from the patient's oral cavity passes through an antechamber before reaching the reservoir. The antechamber is shaped to promote the collapse of any bubbles, allowing liquid saliva to drop from the antechamber to the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Jonathan L. PODMORE, John Edwards CROWE, Nicholas R. VITALE, Michael C. Holzbaur
  • Patent number: 8979823
    Abstract: Systems for maintaining a vacuum in a patient's oral cavity comprises an oral device, a vacuum control system, and an assembly including first and second tubes for connecting the vacuum control system to the oral device. The oral device has an internal plenum, and a vacuum is drawn in the plenum by a vacuum pump connected by a first tube of the tubular assembly. The vacuum is maintained by an air source which is connected to the plenum by the second tube of the tubular assembly. By maintaining a constant circulating air bleed through the oral device and the connecting tubes, saliva may be removed from the system and collected in a saliva trap located before the vacuum pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Apnicure, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Podmore, Nicholas R. Vitale, John Edwards Crowe, Matthias Vaska
  • Publication number: 20140360509
    Abstract: A saliva collector comprises a reservoir and a flow path from an inlet to an outlet on the reservoir. A heating element is disposed along the flow path. The heating element applies heat to force bubbles and foam present in the air aspirated from a patient's oral cavity to collapse. The collapsed bubbles and foam evaporate or drain into the reservoir bottom as liquid saliva.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Jonathan L. PODMORE, John Edwards CROWE, Nicholas R. VITALE, Francisco DE LA PAZ, JR., Robert Curtis LOVELACE, Payne McQueen MONTGOMERY, Thomas Duncan KOZLOWSKI
  • Publication number: 20140053849
    Abstract: An oral device for temporary placement in a patient's oral cavity includes a base, a tongue-engaging member and a tongue pocket. Partial vacuums are separately drawn through the tongue-engaging member and the tongue pocket in order to advance and control the position of the tongue in order to clear the patient's airway to reduce sleep apnea or treat other conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: ApniCure, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthias Vaska, Jonathan L. Podmore, Nicholas R. Vitale, Michael C. Holzbaur, John Edwards Crowe, Sean Christopher Daniel
  • Publication number: 20140014112
    Abstract: A saliva collector comprises a reservoir, a bubble barrier, and a membrane, where the bubble barrier and membrane are arranged in tandem on a flow path from an inlet to an outlet on the reservoir. Air aspirated from a patient's oral cavity enters the reservoir through the inlet, passes through the bubble barrier to remove foam and bubbles, passes through the membrane to remove entrained liquid saliva, and passes out through the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Apnicure, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Vitale, Kenneth Mejia, Michael R. Holzbaur, John Edwards Crowe, Jonathan L. Podmore
  • Patent number: 8387620
    Abstract: An oral device for temporary placement in a patient's oral cavity includes a base, a tongue-engaging member and a tongue pocket. Partial vacuums are separately drawn through the tongue-engaging member and the tongue pocket in order to advance and control the position of the tongue in order to clear the patient's airway to reduce sleep apnea or treat other conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Apnicure, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthias Vaska, Jonathan L. Podmore, Nicholas R. Vitale, Michael C. Hozbaur, John Edwards Crowe, Sean Christopher Daniel
  • Publication number: 20120199135
    Abstract: Systems for maintaining a vacuum in a patient's oral cavity comprises an oral device, a vacuum control system, and an assembly including first and second tubes for connecting the vacuum control system to the oral device. The oral device has an internal plenum, and a vacuum is drawn in the plenum by a vacuum pump connected by a first tube of the tubular assembly. The vacuum is maintained by an air source which is connected to the plenum by the second tube of the tubular assembly. By maintaining a constant circulating air bleed through the oral device and the connecting tubes, saliva may be removed from the system and collected in a saliva trap located before the vacuum pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: ApniCure, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Podmore, Nicholas R. Vitale, John Edwards Crowe, Matthias Vaska
  • Patent number: 7947234
    Abstract: A handheld multichannel pipette includes multiple fluid-handling nozzles and a rotary adjustment mechanism for adjusting the width of a pattern of nozzles while maintaining equal spacing between pairs of nozzles. Embodiments of the adjustable-spacing multichannel pipette include an adjustable stop mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Rainin Instrument, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth P. O'Connell, Nicholas R. Vitale
  • Publication number: 20090104079
    Abstract: A handheld multichannel pipette includes multiple fluid-handling nozzles and a rotary adjustment mechanism for adjusting the width of a pattern of nozzles while maintaining equal spacing between pairs of nozzles. Embodiments of the adjustable-spacing multichannel pipette include an adjustable stop mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: Rainin Instrument, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth P. O'Connell, Nicholas R. Vitale