Patents Assigned to UNL Holdings LLC
  • Patent number: 10220148
    Abstract: An automatic mixing device, an actuating device having integrated plunger and configured to be removably mounted to the automatic mixing device, and a retractable syringe having the automatic mixing device are provided. The actuating device has an initially compressed spring and a trigger member that is rotatable to initiate spring decompression to drive depression of a mixing plunger seal of the automatic mixing device. Another seal located in an outer chamber of the mixing device is capable of axial movement upon depression of the mixing plunger, from a first position in sealing engagement with one or more apertures in an inner barrel to a second position intermediate the apertures and vents in an outer barrel. This allows depression of the mixing plunger to force a first substance from the outer chamber through the apertures to mix with a second substance in an inner chamber of the inner barrel. The mixed substance in the inner barrel is then delivered by the syringe with subsequent needle retraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: UNL Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Robert E. Johannesson, Peter J. Dungar, Molly M. Weaver, Flora Felsovalyi
  • Patent number: 10213556
    Abstract: A dose control mechanism for a syringe includes an engaging screw thread arrangement between an exterior surface of a plunger and a longitudinally extending channel of a housing. The engaging screw thread arrangement includes at least one thread segment and a pitch guide including a variable pitch thread. At least a portion of the longitudinally extending channel of the housing including one of the pitch guide and the at least one thread segment, and the plunger includes the other of the pitch guide and the at least one thread segment. The plunger resides at least partially within the housing with the at least one thread segment engaged with the pitch guide. An accurate dose drug delivery syringe includes such a dose control mechanism, a barrel, a plunger seal, and a barrel adapter assembly having a barrel tip and a needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: UNL Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Nathaniel Ryan Young, Lou Castagna, Gary Richardson, Gautam N. Shetty
  • Patent number: 10213562
    Abstract: A replaceable needle assembly is provided for a retractable, prefilled syringe comprising a barrel having a mounting member and a plunger, whereby the retractable needle can be replaced by a user without affecting the retraction mechanism. The replaceable needle assembly comprises a needle fitted to a retractable needle mount and a needle retainer. The needle mount is removably, screw-threadedly mountable to the mounting member of the barrel. The needle retainer comprises a plurality of fingers that releasably engage the retractable needle to thereby prevent inadvertent retraction of the retractable needle before engagement by the plunger. The plunger comprises a plunger seal comprising an outer member and an inner member that engages the needle for spring-driven retraction. At the end of retraction, a lock is formed between the plunger and barrel to prevent re-use of the syringe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: UNL Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Craig Stephen Thorley, Joseph Hermes Kaal, Christopher Charles Rafferty, Ian Johnson, Eric Siu, Andrew Reade
  • Patent number: 10195363
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide for a syringe and a retraction plunger assembly configured to accept various retractable needle assemblies, which are capable of cooperating to provide a retraction safety syringe. In particular, the syringe includes a barrel and a retraction plunger assembly comprising a control unit attached to a plunger and releasably engaged to a housing, and at least one biasing means disposed within the plunger assembly. Upon completion of dose delivery via a retractable needle, the control unit disengages from housing and the biasing member retracts the plunger and a connected needle into the barrel. Various elements are configured to prevent further use of the syringe. The control unit can be used to control a rate of needle retraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: UNL Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Robert Scott Russo, Daniel A. Heinsbergen
  • Patent number: 10166336
    Abstract: An actuation mechanism for an automatic injector includes a first actuation spring, a first actuation pill, a second actuation spring, and a second actuation pill. In an initial configuration the first actuation spring resides in a compressed, energized state substantially within an upper portion of first actuation pill and the second actuation spring resides in a compressed, energized state between the first actuation pill and the second actuation pill. An automatic injector includes a housing, an activation mechanism, an actuation mechanism, and a syringe cartridge having a plunger and a needle assembly. A retractable syringe may be utilized as a syringe cartridge, such as a prefilled retractable syringe with integrated safety features which retract the needle after use. The automatic injector may be utilized to inject the needle, deliver a drug treatment, and activate retraction of the needle. Methods of assembly and operation are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: UNL Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Katlin M. Lumme, Philip A. Weaver, Joseph Hermes Kaal, Christopher Charles Rafferty, Craig Stephen Thorley, Joel M. Ondrejicka
  • Patent number: 10159808
    Abstract: A barrel adapter mountable to a syringe barrel includes a barrel tip, a biasing member, a locking mechanism, and a needle assembly. A safety syringe includes a barrel, a plunger assembly, and a barrel adapter. The needle assembly includes a needle, a needle hub, and a needle seal. The needle is configured to pass-through the needle assembly, locking mechanism, biasing member, and barrel tip such that, at one end the needle is within the barrel and at another end the needle passes through an aperture in the barrel tip. The barrel may be substantially cylindrical, having along its longitudinal axis a distal end for drug injection, a proximal end for injection control, and at least a portion of the barrel interior for drug containment. The barrel adapter provides needle retraction mechanisms to the barrel to form a safety syringe. Methods of assembling, manufacturing, and using such syringes are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: UNL Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Masoud Samandi, Christian P. Brandt, Paul D. Goebel
  • Patent number: 10130768
    Abstract: A combination plunger, a mixing device and a mixing syringe including the same are provided. The mixing syringe includes concentric outer and inner barrels that form an outer chamber, the inner barrel having an inner chamber. The combination plunger includes a mixing plunger and a delivery plunger and a biasing means. The mixing plunger is slidably located in the outer chamber and translated by coordinated depression of the delivery plunger to transfer a first substance from the outer chamber to mix with a second substance in the inner chamber. After the mixing stage is complete, the delivery plunger is disengaged from the mixing plunger and permitted, such as by rotation, to be further depressed in the axial direction to deliver fluid contents of the mixing syringe to a recipient. The mixing syringe needle is then retracted as result of engagement by the delivery plunger and activation of the biasing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: UNL Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Peter J. Dungar, Molly M. Weaver, Philip A. Weaver, Katlin M. Lumme, Robert E. Johannesson
  • Patent number: 10092693
    Abstract: A controlled delivery drive mechanism includes a drug container having a barrel and a plunger seal; a drive housing within which at least initially partially resides a piston having an interface surface and a drive rack; and a power spring. The piston is configured to contact and axially translate the plunger seal within barrel. The mechanism may be configured to convert rotational movement of a drive pinion to axial translation of the drive rack, or to convert axial force of a linear power spring into torsional motion of a drive pinion. A regulating mechanism meters the drive pinion such that the piston is axially translated at a controlled rate. The drug container may contain a drug fluid within a drug chamber for drug delivery at a controlled rate. The regulating mechanism may be an escapement regulating mechanism. A drug delivery pump includes such controlled delivery drive mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: UNL Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Ian B. Hanson, Scott Beaver, Paul F. Bente, IV, Kevin Bokelman, Mark Majette
  • Patent number: 10092708
    Abstract: A plunger, a needle assembly and a retractable syringe comprising same are provided. The plunger comprises a plunger member and a plunger outer having a lock spring that prevents or impedes movement of the plunger member after needle retraction. The plunger further comprises another locking member for engaging the barrel to prevent or impede further movement of the plunger outer after delivery of fluid contents. The plunger member has a plunger seal which engages a retractable needle of the needle assembly for retraction. The retractable needle comprises a cannula and needle body with a plurality of fluid channels that co-operate with a fluid conduit of the plunger seal to efficiently direct fluid to the cannula. A needle retainer comprises a plurality of barbed arms releasably coupled to the needle body, whereby an ejector with tabs facilitates release of the retractable needle from the needle retainer to allow compressed spring-driven retraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: UNL Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Craig Stephen Thorley, Joseph Hermes Kaal, Richard Sokolov, Ernesto Hueso, Huw Wallis, Scott Chad, Christopher Dunn
  • Patent number: 10046115
    Abstract: An automatic injector includes a housing having a guide, a drive control mechanism, a transmission assembly, a motor, and an energy source. The housing may further include a cartridge cover. A drive control mechanism includes a drive screw, a cartridge carrier, a plunger carrier, and one or more control transfer instruments, such as a puck or cylinder. The drive screw interfaces and connects with the plunger carrier. The automatic injector is configured to accept a variety of syringes as cartridges for drug delivery. The cartridges may be ejected from the injector and safely disposed after use, making the injector a reusable automatic injector. The reusable automatic injector may further include one or more sensors, such as a cartridge sensor and a patient sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: UNL Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Bokelman, George M. Wohlhieter, Thomas F. McGee, Arthur G. Marlin, Stefanie A. Hurowitz, David R. Jansen, Ellen Ni Chathail
  • Patent number: 9999727
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: UNL Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Sean M. O'Connor, Kevin Bokelman, Ian B. Hanson, Paul F. Bente, IV
  • Patent number: 9987421
    Abstract: A cannula for administration of a medicine to a target location includes a tube with at least one nodule disposed along the circumferential surface and spaced at a defined distance from the distal end of the tube. An arrangement for delivery of a medicine to a target location includes the cannula and a pump fluidly coupled to the cannula. The distal end of the cannula may be inserted into a target location until the nodule reaches a surface that limits a depth of penetration before delivery of the medication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: UNL Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Robert Decker, Gautam N. Shetty, Devin Sell
  • Patent number: 9987419
    Abstract: A controlled delivery drive mechanism includes a drive housing, a piston, and a biasing member initially retained in an energized state and is configured to bear upon an interface surface of the piston. The piston is configured to translate a plunger seal and a barrel. A tether is connected between the piston and the winch drum to restrain the free expansion of the biasing member and the free axial translation of the piston upon which the biasing member bears upon. The drive mechanism may further include a gear assembly having a motor configured to drive the gear assembly to release the tether from the winch drum. The metering of the tether by the motor controls the rate or profile of drug delivery to a user. A drug delivery pump includes such a controlled delivery drive mechanism. A control system may be utilized to control the desired drug delivery rate/profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: UNL Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Ian B Hanson, Paul F Bente, Kevin Bokelman, John C Love
  • Patent number: 9821118
    Abstract: An automatic mixing device, an actuating device removably mounted to the automatic mixing device and a retractable syringe having the automatic mixing device are provided. The actuating device has an initially compressed spring and a trigger member that initiates spring decompression to drive depression of a mixing plunger of the automatic mixing device. A seal located in the outer chamber is capable of axial movement upon depression of the mixing plunger, from a first position in sealing engagement with one or more apertures in an inner barrel to a second position intermediate the apertures and vents in an outer barrel. This allows depression of the mixing plunger to force a first substance from the outer chamber through the apertures to mix with a second substance in an inner chamber of the inner barrel. The mixed substance in the inner barrel is then delivered by the syringe with subsequent needle retraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: UNL Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Katlin M. Adlon, Philip A. Weaver, Peter J. Dungar
  • Patent number: 9814832
    Abstract: A drive mechanism includes a housing, a piston adapted to impart movement to a plunger seal within a drug container, a plurality of biasing members disposed in parallel, and a retainer. The biasing members are disposed to release energy to cause movement of the piston from a retracted first position to the extended second position, the piston bearing against the plunger seal to dispense medicine. The retainer is disposed to maintain the biasing members in the energized position and to release the biasing members to permit the piston to dispense the medicine. The drive mechanism may also include an end-of-dose indicator to identify at least one of when the sleeve assembly is disposed subjacent a window in the housing, the relative motion of the sleeve assembly with reference to the window or another reference component, the stoppage of such motion, and the rated or change of rate of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: UNL Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Ryan M. Agard, Ian B. Hanson, Nicholas J. Ciccarelli, Sean M. O'Connor, Kevin Bokelman, Paul F. Bente, IV
  • Patent number: 9802030
    Abstract: A fluid pathway connection includes a piercing member, a connection hub, and a sliding pierceable seal, wherein the sliding pierceable seal is configured to move from a first position, where the piercing member is initially retained within a sterile cavity between the connection hub and the sliding pierceable seal, to a second position, where the pierceable seal has been penetrated by the piercing member. A filter may be utilized to enclose the sterile cavity from the outside environment. The fluid pathway connection may further be configured to move to a third position where one or more interconnects and/or one or more corresponding contacts are permitted to transmit a signal to the user. Such fluid pathway connections may be integrated into a drug container having a barrel and a plunger seal. A drug delivery pump includes such integrated fluid pathway connections and drug containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: UNL Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Matthew J. Clemente, Ian B. Hanson, Paul F. Bente, IV, Ryan M. Agard, Nicholas J. Ciccarelli
  • Patent number: 9757527
    Abstract: Barrel adapters for safety syringes include a barrel and a plunger assembly adapted to move within the barrel, a barrel tip adapted to be sealingly engaged with a distal end of the barrel and a needle retraction mechanism barrel having a needle subassembly and an actuator subassembly. The needle subassembly includes a needle, and a needle-over-mold (NOM) through which the needle extends. The needle subassembly is disposed at least partially within the barrel tip, and adapted to move from an injection position in which the needle extends from a distal end of the barrel tip to a retracted position in which the needle is disposed within at least one of the barrel tip or the barrel. The actuator subassembly includes a needle seal, a push-bar, and an actuator surface. The needle retraction mechanism barrel includes a biasing member and an actuable locking arrangement. A syringe includes such barrel adapters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: UNL Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Kevin L. Bokelman, Eduardo Ho, Robert Scott Russo, Brandon J. McKee, John W. Carosi, Christian P. Brandt, Jyoti Gupta, Ramin Mojdehbakhsh
  • Patent number: 9750885
    Abstract: Plunger sub-assemblies for automatic injectors include a plunger outer having one or more engagement prongs, a plunger inner having one or more engagement slots which correspond with the engagement prongs of the plunger outer, and a retraction biasing member. The retraction biasing member is retained in a first energized state between the plunger outer and plunger inner when the engagement prongs of the plunger outer are releasably engaged with the engagement slots of the plunger inner. The one or more engagement prongs are capable of flexing substantially radially to release from engagement with the engagement slots of the plunger inner to permit the retraction biasing member to expand from the first energized state to a second expanded state. An automatic injector having a plunger sub-assembly includes a housing, an activation mechanism, and a plunger sub-assembly at least partially mounted within a syringe cartridge having a needle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: UNL Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Philip A. Weaver, Katlin M. Lumme