Patents Examined by Andrew Gilbert
  • Patent number: 9333301
    Abstract: An I.V. flush syringe assembly includes a barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber for retaining fluid, an open proximal end and a distal end with a passageway therethrough in fluid communication with the chamber. An elongate plunger having a proximal end, a distal end and a stopper is slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement with the inside surface of the barrel for drawing fluid into and out of the chamber by movement of the stopper relative to the barrel. The plunger includes anti-reflux structure for minimizing stopper deflection when fluid has been delivered from the chamber and the stopper is being forced against the distal end of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Thomas A. Alheidt, Tracy Ray Hottovy, James J. Timko
  • Patent number: 9327096
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluid delivery enables navigation through tortuous, spatially restricted body anatomy to access narrow diameter body lumens for the continuous delivery of fluids, including therapeutic fluids, to the lumen in an atraumatic manner that avoids damage to the body lumen. The fluid delivery device can have a flexible conduit having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending along an interior of the flexible conduit providing a fluid flow path between the proximal and distal ends, where the lumen transitions into a micro-lumen exiting through a port through which a high concentration of fluid injected into the lumen exits laterally out along an image viewable zone at the distal end of the flexible conduit. The flexible conduit has a maximum outer diameter sized sufficient to navigate narrow diameter body lumens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Atrium Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Steve A. Herweck, Ronit R. Furman
  • Patent number: 9320565
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various catheter and catheter systems that are useful in ablating tissue that is also subject to surface perfusion, for example blood flow across and/or through tissue. A representative embodiment of a catheter useful with the present invention includes an anemometer located on an exterior surface of the distal portion of the catheter. The anemometer is thermally isolated from the distal tip to permit the anemometer to measure the cooling effect of surface perfusion. The ablation catheter may include thermal insulation to insulate the anemometer from the distal tip. Alternatively, and/or in addition, the anemometer may be positioned proximally of the distal tip. The catheter may include one or more temperature sensors thermally coupled to the distal tip to measure the temperature of the distal tip. The distal tip may include one or more spiral grooves, or one or more holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Clinton W. Schneider, John P. Gerhart
  • Patent number: 9320570
    Abstract: A system for performing an interventional medical procedure is disclosed. The system includes a treatment device having a treatment portion, a localization system, and a means for defining a boundary about the treatment portion relative to location data point. The system may further be configured to provide a response when a portion of the treatment device enter or leaves a defined boundary, region, or range. Methods for performing interventional medical procedures that, among other things, reduce or prevent collateral damage to non-target regions are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric S. Olson
  • Patent number: 9320647
    Abstract: Injection devices for delivering pharmaceutical formulations into the eye are described. The devices may be integrated to include features that allow safe and atraumatic manipulation of the devices with one hand. For example, accurate placement, including proper angulation, of the device on the eye and injection of a pharmaceutical formulation into the eye can be performed using one hand. The devices may also include improved safety features. For example, the devices may include an actuation mechanism that controls the rate and depth of injection into the eye. Some devices include a dynamic resistance component capable of adjusting the amount of pressure applied to the eye surface. Related methods and systems comprising the devices are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: OcuJect, LLC
    Inventors: Leonid E. Lerner, Igor Shubayev
  • Patent number: 9314511
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for delivering therapy for a cardiac disorder, wherein the system comprises a source for supplying a protein formulation containing a protein that is otherwise deficient in cardiac cells in a patient with a cardiac disorder, and a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end for delivering the protein formulation to the pericardial sac region of a human heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: John G. Keimel
  • Patent number: 9301739
    Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a syringe includes a handle portion and a cradle. A clip is provided for connecting the plungers of two or more syringes, and two or more syringes are operated by placing one in the cradle and attaching the clip to the plungers for simultaneous operation of the plungers. The handle portion also forms a cavity for storing the clips. The apparatus is preferably used in combination with an applicator tip that combines the outputs from the two or more syringes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Harvest Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Wesley H. Verkaart
  • Patent number: 9302055
    Abstract: A medical device attachable to the front of a conventional syringe and having a hub assembly selectively attachable to the syringe, a nose projecting forwardly from the hub assembly, a rearwardly biased needle retraction mechanism seated inside the nose, a retractable needle projecting forwardly of the nose, and a fluid flow path from the fluid chamber through the hub assembly, nose, needle retraction assembly and needle, wherein the needle is retracted into the nose and a retraction tube external to the syringe by rotating the syringe relative to the nose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Retractable Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J Shaw, Mark Small, Ni Zhu
  • Patent number: 9295826
    Abstract: Implantable physiological shunt systems and related fluid flow control devices and accessories for use therewith. Devices, systems and methods relating to implantable medical fluid flow control devices, rotors and magnets with increased resistance to inadvertent setting changes. Devices, systems and methods relating implantable medical fluid flow control devices, rotors and magnets which provide improved magnetic coupling to fluid flow control device accessories such as adjustment tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic Xomed, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Jeff Bertrand, Lori Speckman, Manfred Karl Luedi, Chun Man Alan Leung, Lawrence Hampton, Deep Shah
  • Patent number: 9295778
    Abstract: A pump for administering an agent to a patient includes a housing, a motor, a gearbox, a sensor, and a controller. The motor may be coupled to housing. The gearbox is operatively connected to said motor. The sensor senses a rotation of said motor. The controller acts to control operation of said motor and monitor the quantity of said agent delivered to said patient. The pump also includes a pump assembly such that the pump is configured such that the pump assembly may be interchangeable from a syringe pump assembly and a peristaltic pump assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Larry B. Gray, Jesse T. Bodwell, John M. Kerwin, Michael J. Baier, Dirk A. van der Merwe
  • Patent number: 9283368
    Abstract: Cap and cleaning devices antiseptically maintain patient fluid line access valves to minimize the risk of infection via catheters. The devices have a cap that may contain a dry pad impregnated with an antimicrobial agent. The cap covers the access portion of the access valve when not in use. The devices have a hood that contains a wet pad impregnated with a cleaning solution and, optionally, an antimicrobial agent. The wet pad cleans the access portion of the access valve prior to and optionally, after the access valve is utilized to access the patient fluid line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Minh Quang Hoang, Jonathan Karl Burkholz
  • Patent number: 9283325
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a medicament delivery device comprising a housing (10,12), capable of containing a medicament container (14), a plunger rod (18) and a drive member (34) arranged to said plunger rod and capable of acting on said plunger rod (18) for moving it in the proximal direction of the device for expelling a dose of medicament from said medicament container (14), a dose and drive setting mechanism (52) comprising a dose setting member (56) operably connected to a force member (82) such that setting of a dose causes said force member (82) to be energized. The intermediate member (68) is configured to interact with a dose setting sleeve (50) through a first unidirectional connection (64, 62), configured to interact with said drive member (34) through a second unidirectional connection (70, 72), and configured to interact with a dose drive sleeve (76) through a third connection (74,78).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SHL Group AB
    Inventor: Anders Karlsson
  • Patent number: 9283367
    Abstract: Cap and cleaning devices antiseptically maintain patient fluid line access valves to minimize the risk of infection via catheters. The devices have a cap that may contain a dry pad impregnated with an antimicrobial agent. The cap covers the access portion of the access valve when not in use. The devices have a hood that contains a wet pad impregnated with a cleaning solution and, optionally, an antimicrobial agent. The wet pad cleans the access portion of the access valve prior to and optionally, after the access valve is utilized to access the patient fluid line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Minh Quang Hoang, Jonathan Karl Burkholz
  • Patent number: 9277969
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for enabling user preview and control of the size and shape of an electromagnetic energy field used in a surgical procedure. The disclosed system includes a selectively activatable source of microwave surgical energy in the range of about 900 mHz to about 5 gHz in operable communication with a graphical user interface and a database. The database is populated with data corresponding to the various surgical probes, such as microwave ablation antenna probes, that may include a probe identifier, the probe diameter, operational frequency of the probe, ablation length of the probe, ablation diameter of the probe, a temporal coefficient, a shape metric, and the like. The probe data is graphically presented on the graphical user interface where the surgeon may interactively view and select an appropriate surgical probe. Three-dimensional views of the probe(s) may be presented allowing the surgeon to interactively rotate the displayed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Joseph D. Brannan, Kyle R. Rick
  • Patent number: 9265570
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises an end effector including a pair of jaw members configured to move with respect to one another between an open configuration and a closed configuration for clamping tissue. At least one jaw member includes an elongate cam slot extending in a longitudinal direction over a substantial a length a tissue clamping surface of the at least one jaw member. A plurality of electrically isolated, and longitudinally spaced electrodes is supported by the tissue clamping surface and is configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue. A reciprocating member engages the elongate cam slot and is extendable to a sealing position with respect to each of the electrodes to define a predetermined gap distance between a particular electrode and an opposing tissue clamping surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: David N. Heard
  • Patent number: 9259260
    Abstract: A fluid evacuation device is attachable to a hand-held instrument to provide the hand-held instrument with fluid evacuation capabilities. The fluid evacuation device includes a nozzle, a hose mount, and an evacuation hose. The nozzle has a receptacle that receives a portion of a hand-held instrument therein. The distal end of the nozzle has an opening therein through which fluid may be drawn into the nozzle. The fluid can pass through a flow region in the nozzle. The hose mount extends from the nozzle and connects the hose to the nozzle. The hose mount includes a passageway through which the fluid can pass from the flow region into the evacuation hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Megadyne Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Darcy W. Greep, Chad S. Frampton
  • Patent number: 9248077
    Abstract: A cap and rigid bottle converts an expressed milk syringe from an open system to a closed system. The cap is in fluid communication between a breast pump and breast cup. The rigid bottle is attached to the bottom of the cap and the syringe is captured inside the bottom under the cap in a sealed environment. The pump provides varying positive vacuum to the cap and through the cap to the breast cup. Milk is drawn by the vacuum into the cap and flows by gravity down into the syringe. A passage between the interior of the syringe and the interior of the bottle equalizes pressure and allows the syringe to fill while maintaining a closed system, allowing a piston in the syringe to remain stationary. The closed system protects a mother's milk being pumped into a milk collecting syringe from air born contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: LIMERICK, INC.
    Inventors: Patricia A. Kelly, Joan P. Ortiz, Leslie Beckwith
  • Patent number: 9242034
    Abstract: A dialysis system includes a dialysis machine including at least one fluid pump, and an autoconnection mechanism including a moveable holder; a plurality of pierceable connectors each held by the moveable holder of the autoconnection mechanism, each of the pierceable connectors in fluid communication with a source of medical fluid; a plurality of spikes each held fixed by the dialysis machine, each of the spikes in fluid communication with a disposable component that is positioned and arranged to operate with the at least one fluid pump; and wherein the moveable holder is moved automatically by the autoconnection mechanism, so that (i) the spikes pierce the pierceable connectors and (ii) the sources of medical fluid can communicate with the disposable component positioned and arranged to operate with the at least one fluid pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Robert W. Childers, Patrick Lee, Andrey Kopychev, Douglas Reitz, Rodolfo Roger, John F. Steck
  • Patent number: 9233238
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a pelvic treatment system and method are provided. The present invention can include one or more drug eluting darts or barbs that are lodged into the wall and will elute the drug over a desired time period (weeks, months for example) to treat OAB, BPH, tissue weaknesses, or other disorders or diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: AMS Research Corporation
    Inventors: John Jason Buysman, Brian P. Watschke
  • Patent number: 9233200
    Abstract: A split-tip catheter for placement within the vasculature of a patient and for use in hemodialysis or other suitable procedures. In one embodiment, the split-tip catheter includes a catheter body defining a first lumen and a second lumen, and a split distal region extending from a distal end of the catheter body. The split distal region includes an arterial segment defined by an outer wall enclosing an arterial segment lumen, the arterial segment lumen in fluid communication with the catheter body first lumen, and a venous segment defined by an outer wall enclosing a venous segment lumen, the venous segment lumen in fluid communication with the catheter body second lumen, the venous segment outer wall extending from the catheter body distal end to a distal nose portion. The distal nose portion may taper distally from a first outer perimeter to a second outer perimeter smaller than the first outer perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin S. Gregersen, Ryan T. Moehle, Ryan C. Patterson