Patents by Inventor Paul F. Bente, IV

Paul F. Bente, IV 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).

  • Publication number: 20130338584
    Abstract: A delivery device includes first and second housing portions that selectively engage and disengage. A reservoir on one housing portion operatively engages a drive device and/or a needle inserting device on the other housing portion. Upon proper engagement of the housing portions, the reservoir operatively couples to the drive device and/or the needle inserting device. A first magnet on the first housing portion and a second magnet (or a magnetically-attractive material) on the second housing portion are positioned to magnetically interact with each other, upon operative engagement of the housing portions. A third magnet on the second housing portion may be opposed to the first magnet to help align the housing portions for connection. A magnet-responsive device may be on one or both housing portions to detect alignment and/or connection of the housing portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Paul MOUNCE, Melissa D. NORTON, Paul F. BENTE, IV, Ian B. HANSON, Sheldon B. MOBERG, Paul H. KOVELMAN
  • Publication number: 20130255400
    Abstract: Apparatus are provided for sensor assemblies and related medical devices. An embodiment of a sensor assembly includes a beam and a sensing element disposed on the beam. The sensor assembly also includes a structure to prevent deflection of the beam when a force applied to the sensor assembly is greater than a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Paul F. Bente, IV, Pablo Vazquez, Ian B. Hanson, Afshin Bazargan
  • Publication number: 20130253422
    Abstract: A fluidic media detection system for detecting a presence of fluidic media includes a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user; a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion, the second housing portion for supporting a reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media; a fluid conduit supported by one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion for providing fluid communication between the reservoir and the user when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged; and at least one interactive element, positioned near a portion of the fluid conduit, that interacts with the fluidic media when the fluidic media is present in the fluid conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian B. Hanson, Paul F. Bente, IV
  • Publication number: 20130237916
    Abstract: A fluid pathway assembly includes a needle insertion mechanism, a fluid conduit, and a fluid pathway connection. The fluid pathway assembly may further include a drug container to hold a drug fluid prior to initiation of the injection. The assembly may include a carrier disposed along at least a portion of the fluid pathway assembly, and/or a drug container. The fill-finish cartridge functions to retain the components of the fluid pathway assembly in a sterile condition, while allowing for easy integration of the fluid pathway assembly and the drug container into a standard fill-finish process. Methods of constructing a cartridge, filling a drug container included in a cartridge, and incorporating the same into a drug delivery device are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventors: Ian B. Hanson, Paul F. Bente, IV, Sean M. O'Connor, Matthew J. Clemente, Ryan M. Agard, Nicholas J. Ciccarelli
  • Patent number: 8529553
    Abstract: A delivery device includes first and second housing portions that selectively engage and disengage. A reservoir on one housing portion operatively engages a drive device and/or a needle inserting device on the other housing portion. Upon proper engagement of the housing portions, the reservoir operatively couples to the drive device and/or the needle inserting device. A first magnet on the first housing portion and a second magnet (or a magnetically-attractive material) on the second housing portion are positioned to magnetically interact with each other, upon operative engagement of the housing portions. A third magnet on the second housing portion may be opposed to the first magnet to help align the housing portions for connection. A magnet-responsive device may be on one or both housing portions to detect alignment and/or connection of the housing portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Paul Mounce, Melissa D. Norton, Paul F. Bente, IV, Ian B. Hanson, Sheldon B. Moberg, Paul H. Kovelman
  • Patent number: 8512288
    Abstract: A delivery device includes a durable housing portion and a separable disposable portion that selectively engage and disengage from each other. The disposable housing portion secures to the patient-user and may be disposed of after it has been in use for a prescribed period. Components that normally come into contact with a patient-user or with infusion medium are supported by the disposable housing portion, while the durable housing portion supports other components such as electronics and a drive device. A reservoir is supported by the disposable housing portion and has a moveable plunger that operatively couples to the drive device, when the disposable and durable housing portions are engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheldon B. Moberg, Ian B. Hanson, Paul F. Bente, IV, Ruth Marie Tieck, Julian D. Kavazov, Christopher G. Griffin, Colin A. Chong, Mark D. Holt, R. Paul Mounce
  • Patent number: 8474332
    Abstract: Apparatus are provided for sensor assemblies and related medical devices. An embodiment of a sensor assembly includes a beam and a sensing element disposed on the beam. The sensor assembly also includes a structure to prevent deflection of the beam when a force applied to the sensor assembly is greater than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic Minimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Bente, IV, Pablo Vazquez, Ian B. Hanson, Afshin Bazargan
  • Patent number: 8475432
    Abstract: An infusion medium delivery system, device and method for delivering an infusion medium to a patient-user, includes a needle inserter device and method for inserting a needle and/or cannula into a patient-user to convey the infusion medium to the patient-user. The needle inserter device and method operate to insert a needle and cannula into a patient-user's skin and automatically withdraw the needle from the patient-user, leaving the cannula in place and in fluid flow communication with a reservoir. The delivery device may include a base portion and a durable portion connectable to the base portion, and wherein the base portion can be separated from the durable portion and disposed of after one or more specified number of uses. The base portion supports the reservoir and the needle inserter device, while the durable portion supports a drive device for selectively driving the infusion medium out of the reservoir and into the needle and/or cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Sheldon B. Moberg, Paul F. Bente, IV, Bradley J. Enegren, Christopher G. Griffin, Ian B. Hanson, Julian D. Kavazov, R. Paul Mounce, William H. Stutz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8444607
    Abstract: A delivery device includes first and second housing portions that selectively engage and disengage. A reservoir on one housing portion operatively engages a drive device and/or a needle inserting device on the other housing portion. Upon proper engagement of the housing portions, the reservoir operatively couples to the drive device and/or the needle inserting device. A first magnet on the first housing portion and a second magnet (or a magnetically-attractive material) on the second housing portion are positioned to magnetically interact with each other, upon operative engagement of the housing portions. A third magnet on the second housing portion may be opposed to the first magnet to help align the housing portions for connection. A magnet-responsive device may be on one or both housing portions to detect alignment and/or connection of the housing portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Paul Mounce, Melissa D. Norton, Robert M. Guezuraga, Bradley J. Enegren, Paul F. Bente, IV, Ian B. Hanson, Julian D. Kavazov, Christopher G. Griffin, Sheldon B. Moberg, Mark D. Holt, Susie E. Maule, Paul H. Kovelman
  • Patent number: 8435209
    Abstract: A medical device includes a first housing portion (FHP) and a second housing portion (SHP) configured to be to be movable relative to each other from a first position to operatively engage at a second position to couple at least one of a drive device and a needle-inserting device supported by one of the FHP and the SHP to a reservoir supported by the other of the FHP and the SHP. Electronic circuitry configured to detect at least one of a first magnetic interaction between a magnet and at least one of a first magnetically attractive material and a first magnet-responsive device and a second magnetic interaction between the magnet and at least one of a second magnetically attractive material and a second magnet-responsive device, and to provide a signal or a change in state in response to detecting at least one of the interactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian B. Hanson, Paul F. Bente, IV
  • Publication number: 20130066274
    Abstract: A user-initiated fluid pathway connection includes: a connection hub, a piercing member, a sterile sleeve, and a drug container having a cap, a pierceable seal, a barrel, and a plunger seal, wherein the piercing member is initially retained within the sterile sleeve between the connection hub and the pierceable seal of the drug container. The connection hub may include an internal aperture within the connection hub which functions as a flow restrictor and wherein a piercing member is connected to one end of the internal aperture and a fluid conduit is connected to another end of the internal aperture. A drug delivery pump with integrated sterility maintenance features includes a housing, upon which an activation mechanism, an insertion mechanism, a fluid pathway connection as described above, a power and control system, and a drive mechanism connected to a drug container are mounted. Methods of assembly and operation are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: UNITRACT SYRINGE PTY LTD
    Inventors: Sean M. O'Connor, Ian B. Hanson, Paul F. Bente, IV, Rajan Ramaswamy, Daniel S. Codd, Scott W. Beaver, Kevin L. Bokelman, John C. Love
  • Publication number: 20130060233
    Abstract: An insertion mechanism for a drug pump includes an insertion mechanism housing; a manifold guide; an insertion biasing members initially held in an energized state; a retraction biasing member and a hub connected to a proximal end of a needle, wherein the retraction biasing member is held initially in an energized state between the hub and the manifold guide; and a manifold having a septum and a cannula, wherein the annular space between the septum and the cannula defines a manifold header. The needle and cannula are inserted into the body of a user by the insertion biasing member(s), after which only the needle is retracted. Retraction of the needle may open a fluid pathway from the manifold header to the body through the cannula. A drug delivery pump includes an activation mechanism, a drive mechanism, a fluid pathway connection, and the insertion mechanism. Assembly and operation methods are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: UNITRACT SYRINGE PTY LTD
    Inventors: Sean M. O'Connor, Robert Decker, Gautam N. Shetty, Mark A. DeStefano, Ian B. Hanson, Paul F. Bente, IV
  • Publication number: 20130060196
    Abstract: A drive mechanism having integrated status indication includes a drive housing, a status switch interconnect, a drive biasing member, a piston, and a drug container having a cap, a pierceable seal, a barrel, and a plunger seal, wherein the drive biasing member is configured to bear upon an interface surface of the piston. Drive mechanism may include an incremental status stem having a stem interconnect, wherein the stem resides within the drive housing and the piston, and wherein the stem has an interconnect which engages one or more contacts on the piston to provide incremental feedback. A drug delivery pump with integrated status indication includes a housing and an assembly platform, upon which an activation mechanism, an insertion mechanism, a fluid pathway connection, a power and control system, and the drive mechanism having a drug container may be mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Sean M. O'Connor, Kevin Bokelman, Ian B. Hanson, Paul F. Bente, IV
  • Patent number: 8377002
    Abstract: A medical device system may include a set of housing portions, which includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion, and a third housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from each of the first housing portion and the second housing portion. Each of one or more fluid conduits may provide a fluid path between a user and one or more reservoirs, for containing fluidic media, supported by at least one of the third housing portion and a selected one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion. A drive device supported by the third housing portion may be configured to transfer fluidic media between one of the one or more reservoirs and the user via the fluid conduit in a case where the third housing portion is operatively engaged with one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian B. Hanson, Paul F. Bente, IV
  • Patent number: 8308679
    Abstract: A delivery system for delivering fluidic media may include a second housing configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user. One of the housing portions may support a reservoir for containing fluidic media and a plunger head moveable within the reservoir. A drive device may be supported by the other of the housing portions for coupling with the reservoir upon the housing portions being operatively engaged. A first interactive element may be supported on the first housing portion for interacting with a second interactive element supported on the second housing portion. Circuitry may be configured to detect an interaction between the interactive elements and configured to provide a signal or a change in state in response to the housing portions being operatively engaged and an interaction between the interactive elements being detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian B. Hanson, Paul F. Bente, IV
  • Patent number: 8277415
    Abstract: A delivery device includes a durable housing portion and a separable disposable portion that selectively engage and disengage from each other. The disposable housing portion secures to the patient-user and may be disposed of after it has been in use for a prescribed period. Components that normally come into contact with a patient-user or with infusion medium are supported by the disposable housing portion, while the durable housing portion supports other components such as electronics and a drive device. A reservoir is supported by the disposable housing portion and has a moveable plunger that operatively couples to the drive device, when the disposable and durable housing portions are engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Paul Mounce, Melissa D. Norton, Robert M. Guezuraga, Bradley J. Enegren, Paul F. Bente, IV, Ian B. Hanson, Julian D. Kavazov, Christopher G. Griffin, Sheldon B. Moberg, Mark D. Holt, Susie E. Maule, Paul H. Kovelman
  • Publication number: 20120215163
    Abstract: A fluidic media detection system for detecting a presence of fluidic media includes a first housing portion adapted to be carried by a user; a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from the first housing portion, the second housing portion for supporting a reservoir having an interior volume for containing fluidic media; a fluid conduit supported by one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion for providing fluid communication between the reservoir and the user when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are operatively engaged; and at least one interactive element, positioned near a portion of the fluid conduit, that interacts with the fluidic media when the fluidic media is present in the fluid conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Ian B. Hanson, Paul F. Bente, IV
  • Publication number: 20120172803
    Abstract: A delivery system for delivering fluidic media to a user having a second housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from a first housing portion, the first housing portion and the second housing portion configured to be slidable relative to each other to operatively engage each other; and a fluid connector supported by one the housing portions in a position to engage a reservoir supported by an other of the housing portions in a case where the first housing portion and the second housing portion are slid relative to each other to operatively engage each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Ian B. Hanson, Paul F. Bente, IV
  • Publication number: 20120096953
    Abstract: Apparatus are provided for sensor assemblies and related medical devices. An embodiment of a sensor assembly includes a beam and a sensing element disposed on the beam. The sensor assembly also includes a structure to prevent deflection of the beam when a force applied to the sensor assembly is greater than a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Paul F. BENTE, IV, Pablo VAZQUEZ, Ian B. HANSON, Afshin BAZARGAN
  • Publication number: 20120095400
    Abstract: A medical device system may include a set of housing portions, which includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion, and a third housing portion configured to be selectively operatively engaged with and disengaged from each of the first housing portion and the second housing portion. Each of one or more fluid conduits may provide a fluid path between a user and one or more reservoirs, for containing fluidic media, supported by at least one of the third housing portion and a selected one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion. A drive device supported by the third housing portion may be configured to transfer fluidic media between one of the one or more reservoirs and the user via the fluid conduit in a case where the third housing portion is operatively engaged with one of the first housing portion and the second housing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Ian B. HANSON, Paul F. Bente, IV