Patents Examined by Benjamin Koo
  • Patent number: 10010706
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to apparatus, assemblies, combinations, and methods for infusing fluids by hollow microneedles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bernard A. Gonzalez, Scott A. Burton, Jia Hu, Chin-Yee Ng, Ryan Patrick Simmers, Thomas J. Gilbert, Sean M. Burke, Robert A. Harkins, Larry A. Schleif
  • Patent number: 9993595
    Abstract: A user-wearable patch pump system for delivery of insulin or other medicament can include a patch pump having a reusable drive unit and a replaceable and refillable cartridge. The cartridge can selectively attach to and be detached from the drive unit. The cartridge can initially be inserted onto the drive unit in a first orientation at an angle to the drive unit and then be rotated to align the cartridge with the drive unit and lock the cartridge in place on the drive unit to form the patch pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Michaud, Philip Lamb, Michael Fitzgibbons
  • Patent number: 9987471
    Abstract: An inflation device including a handle mechanism configured to selectively engage and disengage threads within the device. In some instances the threads are configured to couple a plunger to a syringe body. The handle mechanism may be configured to (1) provide a mechanical advantage and (2) change the location and direction of the input force, thereby making the device easier to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Lampropoulos, Brian Stevens, William Padilla, Gregory R. McArthur
  • Patent number: 9981087
    Abstract: Automatic injection device includes a housing, a syringe, a plunger, and a syringe carrier. The housing includes a barrel. The barrel includes an elongated window to allow viewing of contents inside the housing. The syringe is disposed within the housing and has a reservoir. The plunger is at least partially disposed within the syringe and includes a visual indicator. The syringe carrier is disposed within the housing and configured to contain the syringe and displace the syringe within the housing between a first position and a second position. The syringe carrier can have at least one opening and at least one pair of legs defining at least a portion of the at least one opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: AbbVie Inc.
    Inventors: Sherwin S. Shang, Joseph F. Julian, Chuan Li, Eduard N. Tsvirko, Edwin Chim, Shubha Chethan Somashekar, Esra Ozdaryal
  • Patent number: 9981114
    Abstract: A winged injection needle including an injection needle main body, a base that supports the base end of the injection needle main body and wings that protrude from the base toward the left and right sides to function as handles, the wings being constructed with plate members that are freely foldable through hinge sections so that in the folded state, they protrude from the base toward the left and right sides to function as handles, while in the expanded state, they extend from the base along the injection needle main body toward the leading edge of the injection needle to function as a safety cover that covers the injection needle main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: FORCE ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takanori Imai, Hiroshi Hirota
  • Patent number: 9956331
    Abstract: A device for expressing human breast milk has a breast shield for bearing against a mother's breast, a vacuum pump for generating a vacuum, a line which connects the vacuum pump to the breast shield and is intended for transmitting the vacuum generated to the breast shield, and a chamber. The line ends on the pump side in a first port of the chamber. The chamber has a second port for connection to a milk collecting container. The two ports in the chamber are connected to each other in terms of fluid communication. During the expressing operation, the line forms a milk line for transporting breast milk expressed in the breast shield to the chamber and from the chamber to the milk collecting container. The pump can be designed to be quiet and small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: MEDELA HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Beda Weber, Etienne Furrer, André Schlienger, Brian H. Silver, Daniela Wäckerlin, Armin Felber
  • Patent number: 9943649
    Abstract: Automatic injection device includes a housing, a syringe, a plunger, and a syringe carrier. The housing includes a barrel between a first end and a second end. The barrel includes an elongated window to allow viewing of contents inside the housing. The syringe is disposed within the housing and has a reservoir. The plunger is at least partially disposed within the syringe and includes a visual indicator. The syringe carrier is disposed within the housing and configured to contain the syringe and displace the syringe within the housing between a first position and a second position. The syringe carrier can be substantially transparent. The syringe carrier can have first and second legs and an extension disposed therebetween, and at least a portion of the extension can be configured to align with the window and the reservoir when the syringe carrier is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: AbbVie Inc.
    Inventors: Sherwin Shang, Eduard Tsvirko, Edwin Chim, Shubha Chethan Somashekar, Esra Ozdaryal, Joseph F. Julian, Chuan Li
  • Patent number: 9943439
    Abstract: A combination of an irrigation sleeve 20 and a phacoemulsification needle 22. The irrigation sleeve 20 has a proximal end 32 and a distal end 30, the proximal end for attachment to a surgical handpiece. The phacoemulsification needle 22 has a proximal end 26, a distal end 24, and a lumen 38 spanning a length of the needle 22 from the proximal end 26 to the distal end 24. The needle proximal end 26 is for connection to the surgical handpiece, and the needle 22 has structure 44 proximate the needle distal end 24 for retaining the sleeve distal end 30 near the needle distal end 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated
    Inventors: James T. Perkins, Anthony K. Lewis
  • Patent number: 9931469
    Abstract: An auto-injector device for administering a liquid pharmaceutical composition, in which an end-user can select between doses that the device is capable of delivering. The end-user choices that translate into the selected doses can be based on end-user perceived severity of symptoms, end-user weight and other such factors. In some embodiments the auto-injector is configured to administer the one chosen dose only. In other embodiments, the auto-injector can deliver second and subsequent doses up to full dose of the pharmaceutical composition disposed in the injector. The auto-injector can provide visual, audio, and tactile feedback, alone or in combination, to the user to indicate the dose selected, instructions for use, and when the dose has been administered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd.
    Inventors: Adam M. Shain, Rajesh Kumar, Anil Namboodiripad
  • Patent number: 9931470
    Abstract: An auto-injector device for administering a liquid pharmaceutical composition, in which an end-user can select between doses that the device is capable of delivering. The end-user choices that translate into the selected doses can be based on end-user perceived severity of symptoms, end-user weight and other such factors. In some embodiments the auto-injector is configured to administer the one chosen dose only. In other embodiments, the auto-injector can deliver second and subsequent doses up to full dose of the pharmaceutical composition disposed in the injector. The auto-injector can provide visual, audio, and tactile feedback, alone or in combination, to the user to indicate the dose selected, instructions for use, and when the dose has been administered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd.
    Inventors: Rajesh Kumar, Anil Namboodiripad
  • Patent number: 9901727
    Abstract: A connector includes a housing having a flow path through which liquid passes, and a male connector connecting portion having a substantially circular tube hole communicating with the flow path; and a valve formed of an elastic material and adapted to block the male connector connecting portion of the housing. The valve includes a top surface exposed from the male connector connecting portion, a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, and a slit opened at least on the top surface or the bottom surface. The housing includes a stopping portion configured to be engaged with a tip end of a male connector to define an insertion length of the male connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ueda, Yasunobu Zushi, Kouhei Taoka
  • Patent number: 9889273
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for an endovascular catheter that can be inserted within tortuous body anatomies and then selectively stiffened and fixed in place. In a particular embodiment, this stiffness is reversible. The stiffness or a comparable mechanical characteristic of the catheter assembly may be adjusted to a relatively low value during insertion (so that it easily navigates a guide wire or the like), and then subsequently adjusted to a relatively high value in situ to keep the catheter assembly substantially fixed in place (i.e., during delivery of an interventional device).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward H. Cully, Jeffrey B. Duncan, Benjamin M. Trapp
  • Patent number: 9883968
    Abstract: An injector apparatus comprises an elongate structure having one or more openings positionable near a penetrable barrier of an implantable device so as to receive fluid of the implantable device. The apparatus comprises a needle and a sheath extending over at least a portion of the needle. The elongate structure may comprise a distal tip to penetrate tissue and the penetrable barrier, and a distal opening near the tip to release therapeutic fluid into the implantable chamber. In many embodiments the distal tip, the distal opening, and the plurality of openings are separated from a stop that engages a tissue of the patient and limit penetration depth such that the distal opening and the plurality of openings are located along an axis of the implantable device to increase an efficiency of the exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: ForSight Vision4, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren Doud, Randolph E. Campbell, Signe Erickson, K. Angela MacFarlane, Mike Barrett, Christina Skieller, David Batten, Greg Stine, Eugene de Juan, Jr., Douglas Sutton, Kathleen Cogan Farinas
  • Patent number: 9878091
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for delivery of a drug to a recipient. In some embodiments, the delivery apparatus may unseal a drug containing reservoir. In some embodiments, the delivery rate may be controlled and/or adjustable. Optionally the apparatus may be disposable. Optionally, the apparatus may have a low profile and/or be wearable and/or attachable to the recipient. Optionally, discharge of the drug and/or unsealing of the reservoir may be driven by a plunger moving parallel to the base of the apparatus. Optionally, the apparatus may release a hypodermic needle into the recipient. Optionally, release of the hypodermic needle may be in a direction non-parallel and/or orthogonal to the direction of movement of the plunger. Optionally, prior to release, the hypodermic needle may be preserved in an aseptic state by a needle opening septum sealing a needle opening. Optionally, upon release, the hypodermic needle may pierce the needle opening septum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: MEDIMOP Medical Projects Ltd.
    Inventor: Oz Cabiri
  • Patent number: 9870492
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting information related to a drug reservoir. The method includes transmitting energy at a coded material disposed on a drug reservoir, where the energy has at least one predefined characteristic. The coded material identifies information related to the drug reservoir. The coded material modifies the energy and emits the modified energy to a receiver. The method further includes receiving at the receiver the modified energy. The method further includes determining information related to the drug reservoir based on the modified energy as the drug reservoir is loaded into a drug delivery device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: SANOFI-AVENTIS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Shane Alistair Day, Barry Yates, Richard James Vincent Avery
  • Patent number: 9827374
    Abstract: An injector device includes an injector body that receives a syringe; and an injection assembly being configured to dispense medicament from the syringe in a dispensation step. Certain types of injector devices include a sudden completion indicator that indicates when the injection is completed. Certain types of injector devices are configured to dispense two different medicament formulations having different viscosities from syringes without making any changes to the injector devices other than to switch out the syringes. Certain types of injector devices include safety arrangements that inhibit firing of the injector device until front and rear housing assemblies are disposed in predetermined rotational and axial positions relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: TEVA PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED
    Inventor: Toby Cowe
  • Patent number: 9814830
    Abstract: Some embodiments of an infusion pump device may include a drive system that accurately and incrementally dispenses fluid from the pump device in a controlled manner. Particular embodiments of the drive system may include a rotational motor that is coupled to a string member, which is used to adjust a pawl relative to a ratchet body. In such circumstances, the drive system can provide a reliable and compact infusion pump device that accurately dispenses the desired volume of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Bigfoot Biomedical, Inc.
    Inventors: Morten Mernoe, Mitchell Wenger, James Causey, Todd Kirschen
  • Patent number: 9808581
    Abstract: An injection device includes a housing, a plunger, a drive gear and a release trigger. The plunger includes a leadscrew and a cap attached thereto where, in use, the cap engages a bung of a cartridge containing medicament. The drive gear within the housing engages with the leadscrew such that rotation of the drive gear around the leadscrew drives the plunger axially through the housing towards the bung. The trigger includes a locking ring having generally axially extending teeth for engaging with corresponding teeth on the drive gear. The trigger is generally axially movable between an engaged position where the teeth are engaged and prevent rotation of the drive gear, and a disengaged position where the teeth are disengaged and enable rotation of the drive gear. Movement of the trigger between the disengaged and engaged position causes counter-rotation of the drive gear and retracts the plunger away from the bung.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: OWEN MUMFORD LIMITED
    Inventors: Jerry Marshall, Jakub Tomaszewski
  • Patent number: 9795508
    Abstract: Systems, processes, and articles of manufacture may be used to perform ocular infusion. In particular implementations, a system for ocular infusion may include a length of flexible tubing and a tip adapted to be inserted into an eye. The flexible tubing may be adapted to convey an ocular infusion fluid and include a plurality of coils set in at least a portion thereof. The ocular tip may be coupled to a first end of the flexible tubing and adapted to convey ocular infusion fluid from the flexible tubing into an eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jose Lopez
  • Patent number: 9764100
    Abstract: A system for controlling temperature of intravenous fluids includes a thermal treatment device and a temperature sensing device to measure a temperature of the fluid flowing through the sensor. The temperature sensing device may simultaneously collect two temperature measurements. For example, the sensing device may include sensors that measure the temperature of the fluid at two disparate locations along the medical fluid line. Additionally, the sensors may measure the temperature of the fluid within the medical fluid line, as well as the ambient temperature outside of the line. The thermal treatment device includes a conduit configured to have a nonlinear flow path through the device. The thermal treatment device thermally treats fluid within the conduit to a desired temperature or range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Medical Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Durward I. Faries, Jr., Tarry Faries, Bruce R. Heymann, David Davis, Raymond Tsang