Patents Examined by (Jackie) Tan-Uyen T. Ho
  • Methods, systems and devices for non-invasive ventilation including a non-sealing ventilation interface with a free space nozzle feature
    Patent number: 9962512
    Abstract: A system for supplying ventilatory support may include a nasal interface configured to communicate with a patient's nose while allowing the patient to breathe ambient air directly without flowing through the nasal interface. A nozzle may be associated with the nasal interface at a distance from a nose. The nozzle may be connectable to the gas delivery circuit and the gas delivery source. The nozzle may be capable of delivering gas into the nasal passage by creating negative pressure area near the nozzle and a positive pressure area near the entrance to the nose. A combination of gas from the gas delivery source and air entrained from the gas exiting the nozzle may provide ventilatory support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Breathe Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Cipollone, Joey Aguirre, Todd Allum, Darius Eghbal, Anthony D. Wondka
  • Droplet delivery device for delivery of fluids to the pulmonary system and methods of use
    Patent number: 9962507
    Abstract: A droplet delivery device and related methods for delivering precise and repeatable dosages to a subject for pulmonary use is disclosed. The droplet delivery device includes a housing, a reservoir, and ejector mechanism, and at least one differential pressure sensor. The droplet delivery device is automatically breath actuated by the user when the differential pressure sensor senses a predetermined pressure change within housing. The droplet delivery device is then actuated to generate a stream of droplets having an average ejected droplet diameter within the respirable size range, e.g, less than about 5 ?m, so as to target the pulmonary system of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: PNEUMA RESPIRATORY, INC.
    Inventors: Louis Thomas Germinario, John H. Hebrank, Charles Eric Hunter, Jack C. Hunter, Chengjie Li, Christopher W. Maurer
  • Lever adjustment assembly for mask
    Patent number: 9943659
    Abstract: A respiratory interface device is provided that includes a mask (10) and a brace (40) assembly. The mask has a faceplate (12) and a cushion (15), and the brace assembly has a brace body (42) and a lever assembly (44). The brace body is coupled to the mask faceplate, and the lever assembly has at least one lever arm (70) and at least one actuator assembly (72) for each lever arm. The at least one lever arm has a body (76) and a pivot assembly (90). The lever arm body is pivotally coupled to the brace body at the pivot assembly. The lever arm body is structured to move between two positions, a first position, where the lever arm body does not effectively engage a portion of the mask, and a second position, wherein the lever arm body effectively engages a portion of the mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Lauren Patricia Chodkowski
  • Method for storing a respiratory mask and respiratory equipment including a respiratory mask and a storage element
    Patent number: 9943713
    Abstract: Embodiments provide methods for storing a respiratory mask. In one embodiment, the respiratory equipment may include a respiratory mask having a front side and a rear side and a cavity having an opening in the rear side. There may also be provided an inflatable harness adapted to maintain the respiratory mask against the user face, and a storage element comprising a housing In one embodiment, the method may include pulling on the harness on the front side of the respiratory mask in order to place the harness on the respiratory mask in an storage position outside said cavity, and maintaining the harness on the respiratory mask in the storage position and inserting the respiratory mask into the housing of the storage element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Zodiac Aerotechnics
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Libis
  • Nebulizer
    Patent number: 9943654
    Abstract: A nebulizer (1), in particular inhaler, having a pre-installed container (3) is proposed. The nebulizer comprises a securing member (30) preventing fluidic connection or opening of the container in a delivery state. The securing member can be manually opened, removed, released or destroyed by torsioning, by opening along a pre-determined breaking line and/or by means of an actuator (50). This facilitates handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Herrmann, Holger Krenz, Guido Endert, Horst Wergen
  • Nasal prongs for mask system
    Patent number: 9943660
    Abstract: A nasal prong for sealing with a nasal passage of a patient includes a head portion structured to seal and/or sealingly communicate with the patient's nasal passage and a column or stalk structured to interconnect the head portion with a base. The nasal prong is structured to redirect air flow direction, diffuse air flow or create turbulence, and/or orient a prong orifice in order to reduce and/or eliminate air jetting effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: RESMED LIMITED
    Inventors: Karthikeyan Selvarajan, David Rae Gale, Robin Garth Hitchcock, Muditha Pradeep Dantanarayana
  • Tracheostoma valve
    Patent number: 9943657
    Abstract: A tracheostoma valve for attachment to a tracheostoma valve plaster may include a tubular base portion with a proximal opening through which inhaled and exhaled air enters and exits, respectively. A distal lid portion may be arranged distally of the tubular base portion. The distal lid portion may have a distal opening through which inhaled and exhaled air enters and exits, respectively. The tracheostoma valve may have a valve flap member for closing the distal opening via interaction between a front side of the valve flap member and an edge of the distal opening. A valve retaining arm may be included for interaction with the valve flap member to prevent the valve flap member from interacting with the distal opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Atos Medical AB
    Inventor: Jan-Ove Persson
  • Method of optimizing therapy pressure in a breathing therapy machine having an auto-adjust feature
    Patent number: 9937309
    Abstract: An improvement for existing breathing therapy machines which seeks the optimum therapy pressure using an auto-adjust algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: DEVILBISS HEALTHCARE LLC
    Inventor: Joseph J. Boring
  • Stopper device
    Patent number: 9937311
    Abstract: An airway device includes an airway tube having a first end surrounded by a laryngeal cuff which includes a back dorsal portion, a front face portion and a tip portion. The front face portion is shaped to form an anatomical fit over the laryngeal inlet of a patient, and to form a seal with the laryngeal inlet of the patient. The tip portion includes an annular sealing bulge which is adapted to wedge into an upper esophagus region of the patient. The annular sealing bulge improves sealing of the tip of the laryngeal cuff in the upper esophageal region of the patient. The annular sealing bulge is preferably formed from a soft polymeric or other plastics material with a Shore hardness of between 40 and 000 on the A scale, and allows for better sealing with a more variable range of upper esophageal anatomical features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: ASHKAL DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Surinderjit Jassell, Muhammed Nasir
  • Interface appliance carrying one or more sensors detecting parameters related to a flow of fluid delivered through the appliance
    Patent number: 9931484
    Abstract: An interface appliance is configured to deliver a flow of fluid to the airway of a subject. The generation of the flow of fluid may be controlled to provide a therapeutic benefit to the subject. The interface appliance is configured to carry one or more sensors (24) configured to detect one or more parameters related to the flow of fluid on the subject. The one or more parameters may then be used to control the generation and/or delivery of the flow of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Charles Thomas, Stephen Dalton Pittman
  • Detection of periodic breathing during CPAP therapy
    Patent number: 9931483
    Abstract: An improvement to a breathing therapy machine to detect and rate occurrences of periodic breathing and to alter the therapy delivered to a user of the device based on the rating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: DEVILBISS HEALTCARE LLC
    Inventors: Michael Knepper, Robert Joseph Thomas, Wim Martens
  • Systems and methods for determining patient effort and/or respiratory parameters in a ventilation system
    Patent number: 9925345
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems, methods and devices for respiratory support. As one example, a method for respiratory support is described that includes measuring a pressure, providing a measured pressure, measuring an inlet flow and an outlet flow, and providing a measured net flow. A relationship between a first value related to the measured pressure, a second value related to the measured net flow and a third value related to patient effort is used to provide a prediction of patient effort. An interim value is updated based at least in part on the prediction of the patient effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Milenko Masic
  • Patient interface device with a frame assembly having a double-Y supporting structure
    Patent number: 9925349
    Abstract: A patient interface device (2,102) is includes a cushion (6,106) and a frame assembly (60,160) coupled to the cushion, the frame assembly including a main frame member (4,104) and a stiffening structure (62,162) coupled to the main frame member, the stiffening structure having a main arm (64,164), a first Y-portion coupled to a first end of the main arm having first and second front branches extending at upward and downward angles, respectively, from the first end of the main arm, and a second Y-portion coupled to a second end of the main arm having first and second rear branches extending at upward and downward angles, respectively, from the second end of the main arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Gregory John Jablonski
  • Systems and methods for compensating long term sensitivity drift of electrochemical gas sensors exposed to nitric oxide
    Patent number: 9919118
    Abstract: Systems and methods for compensating long term sensitivity drift of catalytic type electrochemical gas sensors used in systems for delivering therapeutic nitric oxide (NO) gas to a patient by compensating for drift that may be specific to the sensors. In at least some instances, the long term sensitivity drift of catalytic type electrochemical gas sensors can be addressed using calibration schedules, which can factor in the absolute change in set dose of NO being delivered to the patient that can drive one or more baseline calibrations. The calibration schedules can reduce the amount of times the sensor goes offline. Systems and methods may factor in actions occurring at the delivery system and/or aspects of the surrounding environment, prior to performing a baseline calibration, and may postpone the calibration and/or rejected using the sensor's output for the calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Mallinckodt Hospital Products IP Limited
    Inventors: Craig R. Tolmie, Jeff Milsap, Jaron M. Acker
  • Fluid trap apparatus
    Patent number: 9919122
    Abstract: A fluid trap is disclosed herein. The fluid trap has a tube connector defining a first interior passageway and a second interior passageway. The tube connector is adapted for connection with a dual lumen tube such that the first interior passageway is in fluid communication with one of the dual lumen and the second interior passageway is in fluid communication with the other of the dual lumen. The fluid trap also includes a reservoir operatively connected to the tube connector. The reservoir is in fluid communication with only one of the interior passageways, and is configured to retain fluid from that passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Vyaire Medical Consumables LLC
    Inventors: Paul Kendrick, Mark Woelfel
  • Air purifier having an electret module
    Patent number: 9913998
    Abstract: An air purifier having an electret module for capturing airborne particles, the electret module including an electret element disposed within a housing and an adhesive layer coupled to the housing to capture airborne particles, whereby the static field of the electret attracts the airborne particles, which subsequently adhere to the adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: ADC TECH INTERNATIONAL LTD
    Inventor: William S. H. Cheung
  • Inhaler
    Patent number: 9913952
    Abstract: This invention relates to an inhaler with a respiration indicator, whereby the inhaler has a chamber wall forming a chamber and a dispensing device for fluidic connection of the chamber to a bodily opening, preferably a nostril, whereby the respiration indicator has a wall section of the chamber wall or is formed in this way, whereby the wall section is designed to indicate a respiratory activity by deformation and/or movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH
    Inventors: Marcus Knell, Guido Endert, Horst Wergen
  • Oxygen concentrator for mechanical ventilation
    Patent number: 9907926
    Abstract: An oxygen concentrator is configured to provide oxygen at either lower pressures or higher pressures. When providing low pressure oxygen, the disclosed oxygen concentrator may be used with a conventional, low pressure oxygen delivery device, such as an oxygen cannula or mask, that is configured to deliver oxygen at approximate source pressures of 5 psig to 8 psig. When providing high pressure oxygen, the disclosed oxygen concentrator may be used with a high pressure oxygen delivery device, such as a low profile nasal cannula, that is configured to deliver oxygen at higher pressures. The disclosed oxygen concentrator is configured to automatically select whether low pressure oxygen or high pressure oxygen should be output to the user based on the type of connector used to couple a delivery device thereto, or based on characteristics of the delivery device itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: SILVERBOW DEVELOPMENT, LLC.
    Inventor: Todd Allum
  • Respiratory interface apparatus
    Patent number: 9901695
    Abstract: A respiratory interface apparatus (6) is provided that includes a patient contacting portion (21) structured to engage a face of the patient, a common chamber (30) fluidly coupled to the patient contacting portion (21), a first control chamber (26), a first flow regulating mechanism (32) provided between the first control chamber (26) and the common chamber (30), a second control chamber (28), and a second flow regulating mechanism (34) provided between the second control chamber (28) and the common chamber (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Michael Edward Colbaugh, Christopher Scott Lucci
  • Patient interface device with tilt angle adjusting mechanism
    Patent number: 9901696
    Abstract: A patient interface device (8) includes a cushion assembly (16) including a nasal cushion member (20), and a frame assembly (14) having frame member (48) having a first arm (54A) and a second arm (54B). The cushion assembly is rotatably coupled to the first and second arm such that the cushion assembly rotates with respect to the frame assembly about an axis extending through the first arm and the second arm. In addition, the frame assembly includes a drive mechanism (50) received and held by the frame member, the drive mechanism being operatively coupled to the cushion assembly such that actuation of the drive mechanism changes a tilt angle of the cushion assembly relative to the frame assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILPS N.V.
    Inventors: Richard Thomas Haibach, Derrick Blake Andrews