Patents Examined by Catherine Serke
  • Patent number: 6302870
    Abstract: Apparatus for injecting fluids into the walls of blood vessels, body cavities, and the like, includes a plurality of laterally flexible needles disposed in a catheter for exit either out the distal end of the catheter or the catheter or through corresponding side openings in the catheter. In the latter case, the terminal ends of the needles would be curved laterally, with each terminal end being positioned in a respective side opening so that when the needles were moved forwardly in the catheter, the terminal ends of the needles would move laterally out the respective openings to pierce a vessel or cavity wall adjacent to which the catheter was positioned. Hilts positioned near the terminal ends of the needles serve to control the depth of penetration of the needles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Precision Vascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Jacobsen, Clark C. Davis
  • Patent number: 6302867
    Abstract: A kit for disposing of a contaminated I.V. needle and delivering adhesive wound dressings to a patient with preferably a single gloved hand includes an adhesive mounting substrate to attach the apparatus to an available surface. An adhesive needle sheath carrier extends from the base of the apparatus for securing a needle and needle sheath for disposal following use. To the base of the apparatus are releasably adhered a wound barrier and taping strips to aid in securing a catheter to a patient. Tabs are provided on the wound barrier and taping strips to facilitate their removal from the base of the apparatus. The apparatus allows a medical technician to insert a catheter into a patient and maintain pressure on the catheter at the wound site with one hand, while disposing of the contaminated needle and then securing the catheter with wound dressings, all with preferably a single gloved other hand, thereby reducing the incidence of infection or injury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventors: William S. Brown, Jr., Benjamin C. Brown
  • Patent number: 6296621
    Abstract: The present invention provides a receptacle used in a passive drug delivery system. The receptacle includes first flow path for supplying along a fluid conduit a medical liquid, second flow path for introducing the medical liquid into a container containing a beneficial agent, third flow path for delivering a mixed solution containing the medical liquid and agent, and a guide valve for controlling the flow path by closing or opening the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Kouichirou Masuda, Kazumasa Maeda, Haruki Kazama, Brian J. Gorman
  • Patent number: 6293924
    Abstract: A dilatation or other similar catheter for intraluminal use which has an elongated shaft and an inflatable member or section on the distal extremity of the catheter shaft which has multiple working sections, a first working section which elastically expands upon inflation to a first pressure within a first pressure range and a second working section which elastically expands upon inflation to a second pressure within a second pressure range which is at least in part higher than the first pressure range. The first working section may be inflated to secure the catheter within the body lumen and then the second working section may be inflated to dilatate the body lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Celso Jacinto Bagaoisan, Ketan P. Muni
  • Patent number: 6293929
    Abstract: A wound irrigation apparatus comprising a fillable fluid delivery member, a fluid channel, and a splash shield for use in wound irrigation is disclosed. The splash shield is a three-dimensional shield positionable about a wound to protect medical personnel from the back splash resulting from wound irrigation and is at least partially flexible and compliant for shaping the shield to fit the unique shape or dimension of a wound. The flexible peripheral edge of the splash shield also prevents damage to the wound if the shield should come in contact with the wound. The shield may also be structured to provide selective angular adjustment of fluid delivery to the wound. The shield of the present invention generally comprises a shield member and a hub positioned through the surface of the shield member to direct fluid to a wound. The shield member may be structured to provide selective angular positioning of the hub to selectively direct fluid to the wound site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Inventors: Steven M. Smith, Mark A. Christensen, Philip M. Triolo, Deborah K. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 6290694
    Abstract: An external medical drainage system is provided which has a slide interface between a mounting assembly to a pole, and a disposable drip assembly and a stopcock which snap-fits to the mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes a clamp which is fastenable to the pole, and a support rail affixed to the clamp and which has a longitudinal slot that defines an open-face elongated channel. The drip assembly includes a key adjustably positionable within the channel, a graduated cylinder supported by the key, a drainage bag fluidly connected to the graduated cylinder, tubing extending from the graduated cylinder opposite the drainage bag, and a stopcock associated with the tubing and fixed to a clip. The stopcock clip snap-fits into clip-accepting notches of the clamp. A portion of the key disposed within the channel has a cross-sectioned configuration substantially matching the cross section of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Inventors: Derek J. Harper, Lawrence L. Hampton
  • Patent number: 6290670
    Abstract: A device for removing pathological centers is therefore proposed which consists of a supply capillary (11) with a supply channel (14), wherein the supply channel (14) has at its distal end a throttle and is operatively connected to the discharge channel (13) of the discharge capillary (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Andreas Pein Medizintechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Pein
  • Patent number: 6287282
    Abstract: A protective sleeve and adaptor hub combination for retrofitting conventional medical syringes so that the syringe needle may be completely enclosed in the protective sleeve following use of the syringe. The protective sleeve is typically made of polypropylene plastic whereas the adaptor hub which fits in the protective sleeve is made of a harder material Such as polycarbonate. The adaptor hub has internal male threads of hardness suitable for penetrating and cutting female thread grooves in the relatively soft material of a nozzle end of a medical syringe during relative rotation of the protective sleeve and adaptor hub combination and the syringe. Once connected, the hub and sleeve cannot be removed from the syringe. The protective sleeve also has internal spiral tracks and the hub has external follower projections engaged in the tracks for guiding movement of the adaptor hub in the protective sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Creative Plastic Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Jean M. Bonaldo, James C. Hagin
  • Patent number: 6287270
    Abstract: A combined device having a reservoir for venous blood and a reservoir for cardiotomy blood is disclosed. The device is characterized in that the venous reservoir is separated from the cardiotomy reservoir by a partition which includes a plurality of apertures. The apertures are in fluid communication with a plurality of ducts and passageways which are configured to provide various modes of operation depending upon whether, for the particular surgical conditions, it is desired to mix venous and cardiotomy blood, or to isolate those blood pools from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Dideco, S.p.A.
    Inventor: Massimo Fini
  • Patent number: 6287279
    Abstract: Universal safety syringe having a protective cap, a cylinder, a plunger and a cannula mounted on a cannula base, it being the case that the cannula base is designed such that it can be pushed firmly against a stop in the protective cap, that the protective cap, which can be pushed externally onto a cone, corresponding to a Luer cone, of the cylinder, is provided with a narrowed section, which is provided on the inside of the cap, in front of a recess designed for receiving the cannula base, and delimits the push on travel, that a recess which receives a cannula base is provided with an undercut which prevents the cannula base from being removed in the forward direction, and with an undercut of which the effect can be overcome by the cone being widened from the inside and which is provided for safeguarding the cannula stop from being pushed in unintentionally during insertion of the syringe, and it also being the case that the plunger is designed with a section which widens the cone cylindrically and with a mu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Siekmann GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Siekmann
  • Patent number: 6283937
    Abstract: An irrigation/aspiration apparatus for aspirating and discharging drainage from a surgical site by a surgical device to which an aspiration tube is being connected, the apparatus comprising, a suction pump which produces suction pressure through the aspiration tube, a chamber provided between the surgical device and the suction pump in communication with the aspiration tube, and an expansible and contractible gaseous-filed bag which is filled with gas and provided within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Nidek Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Takamatsu, Kiyoshi Makihara
  • Patent number: 6283941
    Abstract: This invention is a single-use syringe (10) having a rd-like plunger (14) and made with a plurality of frusto-conical or bead-like ratchet teeth (28). A radially resilient, spring locking clip (40) dangles on the ratchet portion of the plunger. The location of the clip determines the maximum dosage which can be administered by the syringe. Aspirating gaps (114) can be provided on the plunger rod to allow selective aspiration prior to loading and dispensing medication. In use, a first withdrawal of the plunger with respect to the barrel (12) allows, for aspiration, then medication can be drawn into the cavity of the barrel since the cam tooth (83) of the locking spring clip glides, by radial flexing, over the surface of the ratchet teeth and, yet, the locking spring is maintained in relative position along the barrel by outwardly directed contact points embedding into the interior sidewall of the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Univec Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Schoenfeld, David Shonfeld
  • Patent number: 6280420
    Abstract: A retractable and extendable medical needle protective shield which provides opportunity for accessing and reaccessing a medical needle and associated sharpened needle tip and recovering the needle and tip for safety between accesses. The shield includes a needle guide which assures the needle tip is untouched by any part of the shield as the shield is displaced to cover and uncover the needle. A releasible latch is provided to guard against inadvertent removal of the protective shield between accesses. An unreleasible latch is also provided to secure the shield relative to the latch preparatory to final disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Specialized Health Products
    Inventors: F. Mark Ferguson, Mark Nelson, David L. Thorne, Gale Thorne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6277109
    Abstract: An external medical drainage system is provided which has a slide interface between a mounting assembly and a disposable drip assembly. The mounting assembly is generally reusable and the drip assembly disposable. The mounting assembly includes a clamp which is fastenable to the pole, and a support rail affixed to the clamp and which has a longitudinal slot that defines an open-face elongated channel. The drip assembly includes a key adjustably positionable within the channel, a graduated cylinder supported by the key, a drainage bag fluidly connected to the graduated cylinder, and tubing extending from the graduated cylinder opposite the drainage bag. A portion of the key disposed within the channel has a cross-sectioned configuration substantially matching the cross section of the channel. The key extends through the slot, but the channel is configured such that the support rail provides means for restricting the key to longitudinal movement within the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Inventors: Derek J. Harper, Lawrence L. Hampton
  • Patent number: 6277099
    Abstract: A medication delivery pen includes a housing having an actuator disposed in the proximal end of the housing for setting and administering a dosage of medication, a medication-containing cartridge assembly having a cartridge with a pierceably sealed distal end, an open proximal end removably attachable to the distal end of the housing, and a piston in sliding, fluid tight engagement within the cartridge. A drive mechanism is coupled between the actuator and the cartridge to exert an axial force on the piston to inject the set dosage of medication. The actuator triggers the drive mechanism to administer the injection of medication held in the cartridge and a processor is coupled to the actuator to determine a value equal to the dosage set by the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Strowe, John E. Burbank, III, Jay D. Packman, Robert C. Uschold, Antonio A. Bendek
  • Patent number: 6277096
    Abstract: A digital fluid delivery and aspiration apparatus with a mechanical de-amplifier for the delivery or removal of discrete volumes of fluidic material from a surgical site. The apparatus has a syringe with a plunger designed to be powered by a pneumatic air supply system. A ratcheting mechanism attached to a pneumatic piston by a mechanical linkage causes the plunger of the syringe to inject discrete doses of the fluidic material into the surgical site or remove discrete amounts of fluidic material from the surgical site. The mechanical linkage increases the force provided to the plunger by the movement of the piston and also de-amplifies the movement of the piston into a lesser movement of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Medical Instrument Development Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Julian M. Cortella, Carl C.T. Wang
  • Patent number: 6277102
    Abstract: An injection device and method of forming an injection device. The injection device includes a unitary molded body including a cylindrical wall partially defining a syringe chamber a nose offset from the cylindrical wall to define the forward end of a needle housing positioned on one side of the cylindrical wall. The adjoining portions of the nose and the cylindrical wall having a passage formed therethrough for the flow of fluid from the chamber to the nose. The passage is concealed behind the skirt of the nose. A plunger is slidably disposed in the chamber. A sheath is spaced from the nose and cylindrical wall to define a needle housing. A needle carriage is slidably disposed in the needle housing, and is movable to a forward position with the needle extending through the aperture in the front end of the nose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Inventor: Brian D. Carilli
  • Patent number: 6273868
    Abstract: Apparatus for milking a human breast comprising a breast cup, collecting means connected to the breast cup, a vacuum source, at least one source of pressurized fluid, and a regulating device. The breast cup includes a generally conical portion and a generally cylindrical portion connected to the part is the conical portion which is smallest in diameter The breast cup includes first and second stimulating members for stimulating the nipple and an area of the breast, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Mamma Lactans AS
    Inventor: Tone Nordvik
  • Patent number: 6273871
    Abstract: A catheter introducer is disclosed having a splittable introducer and an introducer needle. The splittable introducer includes a pair of wings and a tray with an open top extending from the proximal end of the introducer cannula between the wings to lead the distal end of a long, thin and flexible medical device into the open proximal end of the splittable introducer cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Bryan G. Davis, Mark A. Crawford, Glade H. Howell
  • Patent number: 6261271
    Abstract: An anti-infective medical article has chlorhexidine bulk distributed throughout a polyurethane base layer and may have a coating layer on the base layer. The coating layer may be chlorhexidine permeated into the surface or it may be an antibiotic, antithrombogenic agent or a polymeric surface layer laminated onto the base layer. The invention includes a method for preparing the article wherein a homogeneous melt of polymer and chlorhexidine is prepared by twin screw compounding and the melt is extruded to give a medical article having bulk distributed chlorhexidine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Donald D. Solomon, M. Parke Byron