Patents by Inventor Thomas P. Castellano

Thomas P. Castellano 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: 6223786
    Abstract: An apparatus for mixing medication and filling an ampule of a needle-less injector suitable for injecting liquid medication includes a reagent holder and a diluent holder. The regent holder is for containing a reagent, and the diluent holder is for containing a diluent. The diluent holder also includes a diluent plunger rod. The reagent holder is coupled to the diluent holder to provide fluid communication between the reagent holder and the diluent holder. The diluent plunger rod is depressed to load the diluent from the diluent holder into the reagent holder to mix with the reagent to produce the liquid medication for filling the ampule. The reagent holder may further include a reagent plunger rod. After the reagent and the diluent are mixed in the reagent holder to produce the liquid medication, the reagent plunger rod is depressed to load the liquid medication back into the diluent holder for filling the ampule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Pen Jet Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas P. Castellano
  • Patent number: 6156008
    Abstract: An injection site detecting device is for detecting a suitable site for injecting liquid medication through a skin surface of a patient with an injector. The injection site locating device includes a sensor to detect and give an indication of a suitable injection site to minimize creation of subdermal hematomas from injection of the liquid medication by the injector. In particular, the sensor is a temperature sensor that detects the presence of high and/or low blood flows and indicates that a suitable injection site is over the low blood flow. The sensor indicates a suitable injection site by changing color due to changes in temperature or by providing a sound signal due to changes in temperature. Generally, low blood flows representing suitable injection sites are detected by a stable temperature in the range of 92.0 to 95.5.degree. Fahrenheit, and high blood flows representing an unsuitable injection site are detected by a stable temperature in the range of 95.6 to 99.0.degree. Fahrenheit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventor: Thomas P. Castellano
  • Patent number: 6080130
    Abstract: A needle-less injector suitable for injecting liquid medication through a skin surface of a patient include a housing, a driver, a pop valve and a trigger. The housing containing the liquid medication and a gas storage chamber containing a gas. The driver that forces the medication out of the housing at a sufficient speed to pierce the skin surface of the patient. The pop valve is mounted in the housing to seal the gas in the housing. The resistance sensitive trigger is coupled to the pop valve and is used to release the pop valve, such that it pops open into the gas storage chamber of the housing, to release the gas to activate the driver to force the liquid medication out of the housing. The resistance sensitive trigger is activated upon application of a predetermined amount of pressure to the resistance sensitive trigger that is opposed by a predetermined amount of resistance from the skin surface of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Inventor: Thomas P. Castellano
  • Patent number: 6063053
    Abstract: An improved medication delivery device is a pen sized instrument that is powered by compressed inert gas. The needle-less injector device contains pre-filled and pre-measured medication dosages. The injector device has a pre-filled and self-contained compressed gas for providing pressure to inject the medication into the skin surface without the use of a needle. The injector device has a pressure sensitive deployment mechanism which insures proper seating of the injector face against the skin surface before medication delivery is accomplished. The needle-less injector device assures safe use by inexperienced operators (including children) under adverse conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Visionary Medical Products Corp. Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Castellano, Robert Schumacher
  • Patent number: 5925021
    Abstract: A medication delivery device, such as a pen-type injector, jet injector, medication pump, inhaler, spray or the like has a microprocessor coupled to the device that records the date, the time, and the amount of each medication administration. The microprocessor may also be coupled to a display to indicate the amount of medication to be administered. The medication delivery device can also be coupled with a blood characteristic monitor to analyze characteristics of the blood. This provides a single, all-in-one device that performs a variety of functions, and requires only a minimum of space. The medication delivery device may also use a disposable needle that substantially eliminates or reduces bleeding from an opening in the skin at the injection site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Visionary Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Castellano, Robert Schumacher
  • Patent number: 5891092
    Abstract: A medication delivery device for delivering medication using a piercing member. The medication delivery device includes a housing, a piercing member holder, a delivery actuator and a sealing diaphragm. The housing is for holding medication to be delivered, and includes a piercing member end and a delivery actuator end. The piercing member holder is coupled to the housing at the piercing member end and is adapted to secure the piercing member to the housing. The piercing member holder includes a sealing member that contacts the housing, a slideable protective cover coupled to the sealing member that slides over and contains the piercing member after a delivery of medication is delivered, and a disabling member for holding the piercing member, which is coupled to the housing at the piercing member end and configured to contact the sealing member to form a sealed passage for medication contained in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Visionary Medical Products Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas P. Castellano
  • Patent number: 5851198
    Abstract: An improved medication delivery device is a pen sized instrument that is powered by compressed inert gas. The needle-less injector device contains pre-filled and pre-measured medication dosages. The injector device has a pre-filled and self-contained compressed gas for providing pressure to inject the medication into the skin surface without the use of a needle. The injector device has a pressure sensitive deployment mechanism which insures proper seating of the injector face against the skin surface before medication delivery is accomplished. The needle-less injector device assures safe use by inexperienced operators (including children) under adverse conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Visionary Medical Products Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas P. Castellano, Robert Schumacher
  • Patent number: 5820602
    Abstract: A medication injection mechanism, for delivering a dosage of medication from a medication cartridge having a piston, includes a two-piece drive shaft, a rachet mechanism, and a drive mechanism. The two-piece drive shaft includes a plunger portion and a drive portion. The plunger portion has an end that contacts the piston of the medication cartridge, ratchet teeth disposed on the sides of the plunger portion that define a thickness of the plunger portion, and an opening to provide a passage through the plunger portion of the two-piece drive shaft. The drive portion is formed by rails that are coupled together by a connector that passes through the opening in the plunger portion so that the drive portion is coupled to the plunger portion, and can move relative to the plunger portion. Each of the rails forming the drive portion has threads on a surface that extend beyond the defined thickness of the plunger portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Visionary Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul H. Kovelman, Thomas P. Castellano
  • Patent number: 5730723
    Abstract: An improved medication delivery device is a pen sized instrument that is powered by compressed inert gas. The needle-less injector device contains pre-filled and pre-measured medication dosages. The injector device has a pre-filled and self-contained compressed gas for providing pressure to inject the medication into the skin surface without the use of a needle. The injector device has a pressure sensitive deployment mechanism which insures proper seating of the injector face against the skin surface before medication delivery is accomplished. The needle-less injector device assures safe use by inexperienced operators (including children) under adverse conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Visionary Medical Products Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Castellano, Robert Schumecher
  • Patent number: 5728074
    Abstract: A medical injection device, such as a pen-type injector has a microprocessor coupled to the injector that records the date, the time, and the amount of each injection. The microprocessor may also be coupled to a display to indicate the amount of medication to be injected. The medical injection device can also be coupled with a blood characteristic monitor to analyze characteristics of the blood. This provides a single, all-in-one device that performs a variety of functions, and requires only a minimum of space. The medical injection device may also use a disposable needle that substantially eliminates or reduces bleeding from an opening in the skin at the injection site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Visionary Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Castellano, Robert Schumacher
  • Patent number: 5593390
    Abstract: A medication delivery device, such as a pen-type injector, jet injector, medication pump, inhaler, spray or the like has a microprocessor coupled to the device that records the date, the time, and the amount of each medication administration. The microprocessor may also be coupled to a display to indicate the amount of medication to be administered. The medication delivery device can also be coupled with a blood characteristic monitor to analyze characteristics of the blood. This provides a single, all-in-one device that performs a variety of functions, and requires only a minimum of space. The medication delivery device may also use a disposable needle that substantially eliminates or reduces bleeding from an opening in the skin at the injection site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Visionary Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Castellano, Robert Schumacher
  • Patent number: 5536249
    Abstract: A medical injection device, such as a pen-type injector has a microprocessor coupled to the injector that records the date, the time, and the amount of each injection. The microprocessor may also be coupled to a display to indicate the amount of medication to be injected. The medical injection device can also be coupled with a blood characteristic monitor to analyze characteristics of the blood. This provides a single, all-in-one device that performs a variety of functions, and requires only a minimum of space. The medical injection device may also use a disposable needle that substantially eliminates or reduces bleeding from an opening in the skin at the injection site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Visionary Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Castellano, Robert Schumacher
  • Patent number: 5009291
    Abstract: An actuator is described for a disc brake system of the type which includes a piston whose front end is pressed against a disc by pressured hydraulic fluid that is applied to the rear of the piston and that is prevented from leaking by an elastomeric seal extending around the middle of the piston, which minimizes heating of the seal and hydraulic fluid. The piston is hollow, and has internal walls near its forward end forming a sealed chamber containing sodium. The piston has fins on its outside around the sodium-containing container. A hollow space between the rear wall of the piston and the sodium-filled chamber contains a vacuum. Applicant finds that the temperature rise of the seal and hydraulic fluid is greatly reduced by these arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignee: Industrial Material Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas P. Castellano
  • Patent number: 4553468
    Abstract: A machinegun pistol is described, which can be reliably switched between semi and full automatic modes by an operator holding the gun in a natural two-hand grip. The gun includes a bolt (20, FIG. 1) and a firing pin device 22 that each slide longitudinally, a trigger assembly with a primary sear (28) that is depressed by the trigger for semiautomatic operation, and an auto control member (34) that can be depressed to switch to full automatic operation. When the control member is depressed, it connects a secondary sear (36) with the primary sear. The bolt carries a cam (40) that can depress the secondary sear (36) when the bolt moves forward, to thereby repeatedly depress the primary sear (28) when the two sears are connected during automatic operation. The control member (34) is operated by depressing it into the frame, to avoid errors in the heat of battle. The depressable control member (34, FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: Nathan Mandel
    Inventors: Thomas P. Castellano, Nathan Mandel
  • Patent number: 4421009
    Abstract: A machine gun pistol is described, which can be reliably switched between semi and full automatic modes by an operator holding the gun in a natural two-hand grip. The gun includes a bolt (20, FIG. 1) and a firing pin device (22) that each slide longitudinally, a trigger assembly with a primary sear (28) that is depressed by the trigger for semiautomatic operation, and an auto control member (34) that can be depressed to switch to full automatic operation. When the control member is depressed, it connects a secondary sear (36) with the primary sear. The bolt carries a cam (40) that depresses the secondary sear (36) every time the bolt moves forward, to thereby repeatedly depress the primary sear (28) when the two sears are connected during automatic operation. The control member (34) is operated by depressing it into the frame, to avoid errors in the heat of battle. The depressable control member (34, FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Inventors: Thomas P. Castellano, Nathan Mandel
  • Patent number: 4222240
    Abstract: An improvement in a turbocharged engine of the type that includes an exhaust turbine driven by exhaust gases from the cylinders of the engine, and which drives a compressor located along an inlet conduit leading to the engine to supply compressed air to the cylinder. The improved system includes a recirculating passage which can carry compressed air from a point along the inlet conduit downstream of the compressor, back to a point along the inlet conduit which is upstream from the compressor turbine, to recirculate the air. A valve located along the recirculating passage, is operated by sensors detecting when the engine is operated at high loads, to then open the valves to cause recirculation of the air pumped by the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1980
    Inventor: Thomas P. Castellano