Patents Examined by Brooke M Matney
  • Patent number: 8317751
    Abstract: An injection device (110) is provided which includes a syringe (122) having a discharge nozzle (118). The syringe is movable between a retracted position in which the discharge nozzle is contained within the housing and an extended position in which the discharge nozzle extends from the housing. A trigger (114) is activatable to allow the contents of the syringe to be discharged through the discharge nozzle. There is also a releasable locking mechanism (116) which, when engaged, prevents the trigger from moving into an active position. The trigger includes a first portion (150) having a cut-out (152) which extends from a first end of the trigger in a direction substantially parallel to the first axis (101). The releasable locking mechanism includes a protrusion (154) along a second axis (181) for communicating with the first portion of the trigger when the releasable locking mechanism is engaged and for communicating with the cut-out when the releasable locking mechanism is disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Rosemary Louise Habeshaw, Jonathan Hogwood
  • Patent number: 8298171
    Abstract: After pressing a part of the exterior of a body of an administration instrument against a body region of a patient to which a drug solution is to be administered, an injection needle that is housed in the instrument body is automatically protruded from the body to insert the needle into the body region, and further, the injection needle being inserted into the body region is automatically housed in the instrument body to remove the needle from the body region. Thereby, the pain of the patient during needle insertion and needle removal is reduced, and administration at a constant speed is possible during injection of the drug solution. Furthermore, even when two kinds of drug solutions or a dissolving and mixing type drug solution are/is used, mixing can be easily and reliably carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tokumi Ishikawa, Tokumi Baba
  • Patent number: 8052645
    Abstract: An auto-injector for injecting a fluid medicament into a patient from a pre-filled syringe requires a disposable cassette that is selectively engageable with the reusable injector. The syringe is latched onto the cassette, and the cassette is then engaged with the injector. Activation of the injector causes a first motor to move the syringe so its needle is extended from a concealed position inside the cassette for injection of the medicament. A second motor on the injector is then activated to expel fluid medicament from the syringe. Then, the first motor is again activated to withdraw the syringe into the cassette for disposal of the cassette/syringe after an injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Avant Medical Corp.
    Inventors: John B. Slate, Richard J. Koerner, Corey M. Magers, Michael W. Burk
  • Patent number: 8021323
    Abstract: The invention relates to needle-free apparatus that can be used to augment soft tissue. More specifically, the needle-free injectors of the present invention allow injection of more viscous materials such as collagen, hyaluronic acid, and other polymers that are useful as dermal fillers. The needle-free injectors of the present invention allow injection of such materials to fill the undesired lines, wrinkles, and folds of a patient. The present invention also relates to kits comprising such needle-free injectors and a quantity of dermal filling material. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of augmenting soft tissue using needle-free apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Anubhav Arora, Samir Mitragotri, Ahmet Tezel
  • Patent number: 7985197
    Abstract: A therapeutic-substance carrying/administering appliance includes a cylindrical outer sheath; a slide member installed in the cylindrical outer sheath to be slidable therein; and a sheet supporting member, connected to a distal end of the slide member and made of a resilient material, for supporting a sheet-shaped therapeutic substance. The sheet supporting member is held in a flat unrolled shape in a free state in which the sheet supporting member projects outwardly from a distal end of the cylindrical outer sheath. When the sheet supporting member is in the free state, sliding the slide member in a retracting direction causes the sheet supporting member to contact the distal end of the cylindrical outer sheath, and subsequently further moving the slide member in the retracting direction causes the sheet supporting member to be retracted into the cylindrical outer sheath while being deformed into a tubular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignees: Hoya Corporation, Tokyo Women's Medical University
    Inventors: Masanori Maeda, Hidenori Takushima, Teruo Okano, Masayuki Yamato, Hiroshi Iseki, Ryoichi Nakamura, Takamasa Onuki, Masato Kanzaki, Takashi Suzuki, Shigeru Nagai
  • Patent number: 7985206
    Abstract: A catheter anchoring assembly includes a permeable adhesive strip, a platform for securing the catheter, and a flowable adhesive layer. The flowable adhesive layer adhesively secures the platform to the adhesive strip. The flowable adhesive is applied to one side of the strip with a skin-contacting adhesive on the opposite side of the strip. The flowable adhesive layer and strip are configured so that the flowable adhesive is spaced from the skin-contacting adhesive or, at the very least, is prevented from penetrating the skin-contacting adhesive. The flowable adhesive layer and strip also permit the assembly to be very flexible and, thus, comfortable for a patient to wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Cary Dikeman, Chris Winsor, Steve A. Cash, Larry C. Smith
  • Patent number: 7985207
    Abstract: An implantable device (1) for injecting fluid and/or for tapping fluid, the device having a housing (3) provided with a puncture zone (4) able to be transpierced by a hollow needle (5) for injecting fluid into and/or tapping fluid from a chamber (3A) provided inside the housing (3). The implantable device has a puncture zone (4) made up of at least first and second superposed flexible membranes (6, 7) mounted to be free, at least locally, relative to each other, to allow the membranes, at least locally, to move along each other, so that, once the needle (5) has been removed, the orifice formed by the needle (5) is sliced into first and second sub-orifices (6A, 7A) substantially not coinciding so as to impart a substantially leaktight property to the puncture zone (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Compagnie Europeenne d'Etude et de Recherche de Dispositifs pour l'Implantation par Laparoscopie
    Inventor: Pascal Paganon
  • Patent number: 7985202
    Abstract: An infusion device includes a pump forming front and rear chambers for receiving medicaments therein. The medicaments supplied from the two chambers are respectively transmitted into an elastic reservoir forming first and second lumens through first and second passageways. Then, the medicaments are infused into a person through a catheter which defines one passageway toward the human body. The first passageway is in fluid communication with the front chamber and second lumen. The second passageway is in fluid communication with the rear chamber, the first lumen, and the second lumen. By making the diameter of a second hole which connects the first lumen and second lumen smaller than a first hole which connects the first passageway and the first lumen, the medicament from the second chamber can be infused into patient with a low concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Inventors: Nan Li, Shuqun Cheng, Hao Li
  • Patent number: 7981075
    Abstract: A needleless injection device used for intradermal, subcutaneous and intramuscular injections is disclosed. The device includes a pyrotechnic gas generator, at least one piston, a reserve of liquid active principle and an injection nozzle. The generator includes a pyrotechnic charge composed of a central energetic material that is surrounded by a second peripheral energetic material. The entire outer surface of the central energetic material contacts the inner surface of the peripheral energetic material. The two energetic materials have different rates of combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Crossject
    Inventors: Patrick Alexandre, Bernard Brouquieres, Philippe Gautier, Christiane Reynaud
  • Patent number: 7955303
    Abstract: An injection device including casing with a reservoir for an injectable product, an operating button which can be moved relative to the casing in a dosing direction which increases the dosage and in a correcting direction to set a product dosage, a conveying member for delivering the dosage set, a slip coupling comprising a latching element and a co-operating latching element which latch to each other in a latching engagement and couple the operating button to the casing in a positive and non-positive fit in discrete latching positions during a movement in the dosing direction or the correcting direction, and a spring member which opposes the movement of the operating button in at least one of the directions with a spring force, wherein the latching element or co-operating latching element are shaped such that in the latching engagement they offer a lower resistance to the movement in the at least one of the directions than to the movement in the other direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG
    Inventors: Stefan Burren, Philippe Kohlbrenner, Juergen Wittmann, Martin Wittwer
  • Patent number: 7938805
    Abstract: An apparatus to control blood flow through an intravenous catheter in accordance with the present invention may include an intravenous catheter adapter and a blood control valve. The blood control valve may be retained within a hollow interior region of the intravenous catheter adapter, and may include a resilient outer shell and an inner valve portion extending inwardly therefrom. The inner valve portion may include a slit configured to open, coin-purse style, upon radially compressing the resilient outer shell. In some embodiments, a compression feature may be integrated into the intravenous catheter adapter to radially compress the resilient outer shell. A Luer device, for example, may be inserted into the intravenous catheter adapter to translate the blood control valve to a position substantially corresponding to the compression feature, thereby actuating the compression feature to open the slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Weston F. Harding, Austin Jason McKinnon
  • Patent number: 7931614
    Abstract: The invention in general relates to various injection systems and devices that can be used, for example, in needleless injection systems for human, and for domestic and farm animals. In certain embodiments, the invention provides an injection system comprising: an injector defining a first cavity in fluid communication with an orifice configured for needleless injection; a housing defining a second cavity, the housing different than the injector; a first movable member between the first cavity and the second cavity, wherein the first movable member is configured to transfer a fluid from the second cavity to the first cavity; and wherein the first movable member is configured to be substantially stationary until the first movable member is moved by a propellant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Valeritas, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Gonnelli, David Lipson, Vasu Nishtala, Ciro Dimeglio
  • Patent number: 7922710
    Abstract: A wire station is disclosed for securing and managing multiple wire members used in a catheter system. The wire management system includes means for securing the proximal portion of two wire members in a spatially separate arrangement. The wire station of the present invention additionally provides a physician with the flexibility of either directly attaching the wire station of the present invention to the catheter system directly, or positioning the wire station at a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Tracee E. J. Eidenschink, Richard C. Mattison
  • Patent number: 7914495
    Abstract: A 3-way stopcock for medical use is described and includes a body or nucleus (1) wherein a principal arm (2) and two secondary arms (3, 3?) converge and a plug or stopper (4) acting inside the body or nucleus (1). According to the invention, the two secondary arms (3, 3?) present initial curved flexible segments (3a, 3?a) having a high elastic index, which respectively extend into parallel final distal segments (3b, 3?b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Gobat Suministros Medicos, S.L.
    Inventor: Vicente Gomez Amor
  • Patent number: 7914496
    Abstract: A ribbed seal for use in endoscopic surgery is intended to be incorporated into a cannula assembly to limit the escape of insufflation gasses from a body cavity by forming a fluid-tight seal around an instrument inserted through the cannula assembly. The ribbed seal includes a relatively flat, disk shaped elastomeric overmold portion having a central aperture sized slightly smaller than the instrument such that the aperture must expand to accommodate the instrument. Molded together with the elastomeric overmold is an array of slender ribs disposed about the aperture. The ribs are designed to be relatively flexible under lateral loads. This allows the seal to bend easily as the surgical instrument is inserted through the aperture thereby maintaining a low insertion and glide force. On the other hand, the ribs are designed to be relatively rigid when loaded axially. This rigidity provides robust radial support for the instrument inserted through the center of the array of ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventors: Oivind Brockmeier, Jared Alden Judson, Kenneth Allen Focht
  • Patent number: 7909798
    Abstract: A percutaneous peel-away vascular introducer that includes an elongated tubular sheath having opposed proximal and distal ends, and a pair of diametrically opposed peel lines that extend along the length of the sheath from the proximal end thereof to the distal end thereof, wherein the diametrically opposed peel lines have an axially extending pitch. The introducer further includes a pair of spreadable handles associated with the proximal end of the sheath for splitting the sheath along the peel lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Oscor Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas P. Osypka
  • Patent number: 7905858
    Abstract: An economical yet effective apparatus and associated method heats and pressurizes a fluid-filled bag of the type used in a surgical setting. The apparatus includes an inner sealed flexible jacket including a sodium acetate solution and activator button therein operative to heat the fluid-filled bag. An outer sealed flexible jacket adjacent to the inner jacket includes a gas inlet for inflation thereof thereby applying pressure to the fluid-filled bag through the heated inner jacket during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Inventor: John Temple
  • Patent number: 7901380
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a surgical portal apparatus for use during a minimally invasive procedure. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a housing and a portal member extending distally from the housing, defining a longitudinal axis. The apparatus also has an iris seal including a plurality of leaf members, disposed within the housing. The leaf members are adapted for pivoting relative to the housing, to control the dimensioning of a passage in response to the insertion of a surgical object. The leaf members are not directly linked to each other to provide for off-axis movement of the surgical object. The apparatus further includes an actuation mechanism, including a motor and a sensor, operatively connected to the leaf members and adopted for movement upon the introduction of the surgical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP
    Inventor: Adam J. Ross
  • Patent number: 7901386
    Abstract: A liquid transfusing tube and a liquid transfusing tube set in which a liquid transfusing line can be extended readily and quickly. The liquid transfusing tube comprises a flexible tube constituting the liquid transfusing channel, a connector provided at one end part of the tube, and a pointed bottle needle provided at the other end part of the tube and being connected to the side of a liquid transfusing bag containing a liquid being transfused. A roller klemme and a drip tube are provided in the middle of the tube. The connector has two female connectors, a male connector, and an operating lever and the communication pattern between the inner cavity of the female connector and that of the female connector or that of the male connector can be selected by means of the operating lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Hishikawa, Takayuki Yokota
  • Patent number: 7896844
    Abstract: An insertion head for medical or pharmaceutical applications includes a base having a lower side which can be positioned on organic tissue; an insertion means movably mounted by the base and insertable into the tissue; where the insertion means is movable relative to the base from a protective position in which a free end of the insertion means is short of the lower side of the base, into an insertion position in which the free end protrudes beyond the lower side; a handle which projects from the base and includes a first handle component and a second handle component movable relative to the base and the first handle component; and a coupling that transmits a movement of the second handle component into a movement of the insertion means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics International AG
    Inventors: Christian Thalmann, Simon Scheurer