Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Garrettson Ellis Seyfarth Shaw
  • Patent number: 6171484
    Abstract: A flow through bubble trap for fluid flow lines comprises a chamber-defining wall and a flow inlet/outlet tube at least substantially extending through the chamber and open at opposed tube ends to respectively define an inlet and an outlet of the bubble trap. The tube defines a flow inlet port and a flow outlet port within the chamber interior. A flow blocking partition closes the bore of the tube between the flow inlet and outlet ports. Additionally, the chamber defining wall carries a retaining-sealing member for removable, sealing connection with a tube connector of a fluid flow line. The retaining-sealing member is free of fluid flow connection with the interior of the chamber defined by the wall, and thus serves as a seal for connectors on tube ends of a set carrying the bubble trap. Also, the chamber defining wall has a bottom wall that defines a third port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: DSU Medical Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Schnell, David S. Utterberg
  • Patent number: 6156035
    Abstract: An electrocautery probe for penetrating through tissue. The probe comprises a tissue-compatible, flexible sleeve; an exposed electrode carried at one end of the sleeve; a wire connected at one end to the electrode and extending through the sleeve; and an electrical connector attached to the other end of the wire. The connector is suitable for attachment to a source of electrocautery power. The wire is separate from the sleeve, to be removable by pulling from the sleeve when the electrode is cut away or otherwise removed from the sleeve. Thus, the probe can penetrate tissue by electrocautery action to form a tissue tunnel, and the electrode and wire can then be removed, leaving at least a portion of the sleeve in the tissue tunnel to serve as a drainage catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Pioneer Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew N. Songer
  • Patent number: 6117342
    Abstract: An extracorporeal, flow-through bubble trap for blood lines having improved capabilities at high flow rates and with smaller bubbles. The bubble trap comprises a chamber-defining wall, plus a blood inlet and a blood outlet, each extending through the wall to communicate with the interior of the chamber. The blood outlet connects with the chamber interior adjacent the bottom thereof. The chamber interior has a height that is less than 1.6 times the longest horizontal dimension of the chamber interior. As a result of this, blood flow in the bubble trap chamber is substantially horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Medisystems Technology Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Schnell, David S. Utterberg
  • Patent number: 6113062
    Abstract: A squeeze clamp for flexible tubing comprises a strip of plastic which is bent back on itself so that the ends are adjacent to each other. The strip defines a pair of spaced apertures to permit a flexible tube to extend through and be carried by the clamp. First and second latches at the respective ends can hold the clamp in a closed position, or it can spring outwardly into an open position. The apertures extend laterally through a first side edge of the strip, with the apertures thus being each located next to a narrow strip portion connected to wider strip portions on either side of the narrow strip portion. At least one of the narrow strip portions extends laterally outwardly beyond the side edge of the rest of the plastic strip for strengthening of the narrow strip portion, to reduce problems of involuntary twisting or torsion as the clamp is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: DSU Medical Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Schnell, David S. Utterberg