Patents Examined by Jenna Zhang
  • Patent number: 9623174
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an implantable pump includes a cannula. The pump (e.g., the cannula thereof) may include, for example, flow sensors, pressure sensors, filters, and/or other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: MINIPUMPS, LLC
    Inventors: Changlin Pang, Jason Shih, Fukang Jiang, Sean Caffey, Mark Humayun, Yu-Chong Tai
  • Patent number: 9616201
    Abstract: A venous access catheter is combined with a needle, guidewire, and actuator where the needle is disposed coaxially over the guidewire and the catheter is disposed coaxially over the needle. A hub at a proximal end of the access catheter includes a wiping element to clean blood from the needle and guidewire as they are removed and a side port to allow connection of fluids after the access catheter is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Vascular Pathways, Inc.
    Inventor: Amir Belson
  • Patent number: 9616175
    Abstract: The invention relates to an injection device (100, 200, 300) which is capable of resisting proximal movements of a piston rod (107, 207, 307) relative to a housing (102, 202, 302), when the piston rod (107, 207, 307) is subjected to proximally directed forces below a threshold magnitude, and of allowing reversible proximal movements of the piston rod (107, 207, 307) relative to the housing (102, 202, 302), when the piston rod (107, 207, 307) is subjected to proximally directed forces of or above the threshold magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
    Inventors: Lars Morten Bom, Christian Peter Enggaard, Brian Ostergaard, Jacob Kollerup Jensen
  • Patent number: 9597053
    Abstract: Methods for setting up, maintaining and operating a radiopharmaceutical infusion system, that includes a radioisotope generator, are facilitated by a computer of the system. The computer includes pre-programmed instructions and a computer interface, for interaction with a user of the system, for example, in order to track contained volumes of eluant and/or eluate, and/or to track time from completion of an elution performed by the system, and/or to calculate one or more system parameters for quality control, and/or to perform purges of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Hidem, Aaron M. Fontaine, Janet L. Gelbach, Patrick M. McDonald, Kathryn M. Hunter
  • Patent number: 9597445
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling fluid flow provided by an apparatus to a patient's eye during a surgical procedure. The method includes automatically adjusting an irrigation fluid source to a predetermined height during the surgical procedure using the apparatus, receiving a request either that the irrigation fluid source be moved to a different height from the predetermined height or that a manual adjustment mode be entered, and ceasing automatic adjusting and requiring manual adjustment of the height of the irrigation fluid source until the surgical procedure is completed or an indication received to resume automatic height adjustment of the irrigation fluid source. As an alternative, fluid flow rate or intraocular pressure may be maintained, and the design may include making adjustments to default values in other modes based on the adjustment made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Abbott Medical Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Catherine P. Ha, Wayne S. Wong, Michael J. Claus
  • Patent number: 9592336
    Abstract: A medical device is provided comprising a transcutaneous device unit and a reservoir unit. The transcutaneous device unit comprises a transcutaneous device for transporting a fluid through a skin portion of a subject, and a mounting surface adapted for application to the skin of the subject. The reservoir unit comprises a reservoir adapted to contain a fluid drug, the reservoir comprising an outlet means allowing the transcutaneous device to be arranged in fluid communication with an interior of the reservoir, and an expelling assembly for expelling a fluid drug out of the reservoir and through the skin of the subject via the transcutaneous device. The transcutaneous device unit and the reservoir unit further comprise coupling means allowing the reservoir unit to be secured to the transcutaneous device unit in the situation of use. By this arrangement a two-unit system is provided which can be used in a convenient and cost-effective manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
    Inventors: Ole Christian Nielsen, Jim Radmer, Jan Harald Preuthun
  • Patent number: 9586027
    Abstract: A retractable needle catheter insertion device is provided with a cannula and a needle positioned within the cannula to assist with insertion of the cannula. After insertion of the cannula into a patient, the needle can retract into a protective sleeve that contains the needle in order to reduce the chance that a medical practitioner will be inadvertently stuck by a used needle. The needle is carried by a needle support that is slidably disposed within the sleeve. A spring biases the needle support and needle toward a retracted position, and the device also includes an activation hub that works in conjunction with the needle support to control retraction of the needle. The retraction may be activated manually by the medical practitioner or may be activated automatically. A modular system and method of manufacturing is also provided in which catheters having either manually or automatic retraction can be manufactured using common parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Medline Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Dante A. Tisci, David S. Noskowicz
  • Patent number: 9572933
    Abstract: Described herein is an extravasation tester that pinches an infusion line closed between a wheel and a platen, and then peristaltically withdraws fluid into the infusion line as the wheel is rolled away from a puncture site. Extravasation is determined to have occurred if little or no blood appears in a sight chamber positioned near the puncture site when a test fluid is withdrawn into the infusion line from the puncture site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventors: Shawn Grannell, Donald E. Gillespie
  • Patent number: 9561335
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, devices, and methods for delivering distending media to an organ of a patient with a dispensing device for acquiring an image of the organ while distended. In one embodiment, an insufflating device comprises a controller for detecting a pressure level of the distending media within an organ of a patient, wherein the controller is configured to signal an operator to acquire an image of the organ when the pressure level is within a predetermined pressure range for a predetermined period of time. Further, the insufflating device comprises a valve assembly in communication with the controller and in fluid communication between the source of distending media and the organ of the patient, wherein the valve assembly is configured to adjust a flow rate of the distending media delivered to the organ of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventors: Allyson Barish, Jeffrey B. Cushner, Christopher R. Stebbins
  • Patent number: 9561333
    Abstract: A medicament dispensing mechanism is disclosed that is configured to eject successive doses of the medicament from a medicament chamber. An embodiment of the dispensing mechanism includes a housing and a plunger rod configured for ejecting the doses of medicament from the chamber. The dispensing mechanism further includes an actuation mechanism that comprises a trigger associated with the housing and having a ready and a fired position with respect thereto. The trigger is configured for manipulation by a user for successive movement in a generally axial dosing motion from the ready position to the fired position in which the trigger is associated with the plunger rod to cause the plunger rod to eject one of the doses of a predetermined volume and a resetting motion from the fired position to the ready position that comprises axial rotation, wherein the trigger is uncoupled from the plunger rod during the resetting motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Antares Pharma, Inc.
    Inventors: Janice L. Cox, Matthew H. Rust, Thomas E. Kramer, Peter A. Hoeft
  • Patent number: 9561095
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for filler injection. The apparatus includes a processor; a body sensor to provide body patient data to the processor; and an injector to inject a filler into a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Inventors: Phi Nguyen, Loc Phan, Bao Tran, Thuan Nguyen, Duy Bui
  • Patent number: 9539399
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety syringe (100) having a hollow barrel (1), plunger (2) and a detachable needle support (4), characterized in that the safety syringe (100) includes; a) a piston gasket (3) interference fit with the plunger head (7) of the plunger (2); b) a plurality of bone structures (6) provided at the barrel head (1a) of the hollow barrel (1) to temporarily engage and support the needle support (4); c) a plurality of slots (8) longitudinally disposed at one substantial distal end of the needle support (4); and d) stoppers (5) provided at the barrel head (1a); wherein a fluid is injected by a first stroke of the plunger (2) under normal load; and an additional load is applied to the plunger (2) to compress the piston gasket (3) so that the plunger head (7) of the plunger (2) travels further to break the bone structures (6) for subsequent retraction of the needle support (4) on a second stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA, SELIA-TEK MEDICAL SDN.BHD
    Inventors: Abd.Rahim Abu.Talib, Adi Azriff Basri, Siti Zuraifah Mohd.Zabidi, Mohd Salleh Yahaya, Khairi Mat.Isa
  • Patent number: 9533098
    Abstract: The invention relates to an injection device including an injector and an ampoule unit for the needle-free injection of a medium. A needle-free injection device has a first chamber with an interior that opens into a nozzle, and has a second chamber with an interior that is separated from the interior of the first chamber. The interiors of the two chambers are connectable to each other, thus allowing a mixing and/or reaction of the media located in the chambers. In the first chamber, a powdery medium can be accommodated, and in the second chamber, a fluid medium is can be accommodated. The fluid medium can be transported into the first chamber for the mixing/reaction of the two media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: PAINLESS TECH GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Stormer-Talleur, Stephan Theuer, Dirk Schulz, Benedikt Lenzner
  • Patent number: 9504815
    Abstract: A venous access port assembly having a housing base with a discharge stem, a septum, and a cap. An interior reservoir is defined by a well in the housing base and the bottom surface of the septum, and a passageway extends from the reservoir through the discharge stem. The cap is secured to the housing base and securely retains the septum in the assembly, compressing an annular flange of the septum against a septum seat of the housing base. Horizontal ribs on the interior of the cap snap into complementary grooves on the side wall of the housing base to mechanically lock together the cap and housing base during curing of the solvent bonding agent. The cap is mechanically secured and bonded to the housing base. Crush ribs on the interior surface of the cap, precisely center the cap about the housing base during assembly and compensating for manufacturing tolerances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Medical Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond Bizup
  • Patent number: 9504809
    Abstract: A catheter with a balloon element is provided with ribs under the balloon element so as to prevent the balloon from being attached to the shaft of the catheter to an extent where the balloon is difficult to inflate. The number of ribs can be any number above 3, but 6 to 16 ribs are preferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Coloplast A/S
    Inventor: Nielsen Rud Bo
  • Patent number: 9504807
    Abstract: A valvuloplasty catheter has a dog-bone shaped balloon with semi-compliant smaller diameter waist and non-compliant larger diameter bulbous end regions. The balloon centers across the valve with the waist adjacent to the annulus. One bulbous region serves to hyperextend the valve leaflets and the other assists in stabilizing the balloon position to reduce migration. The semi-compliant waist increases in diameter as fluid enters the balloon until it comes into contact with the valve annulus. The pressure within the balloon per unit of volume delivery has a greater slope after contact with the annulus than before resulting in a change in slope for the pressure versus volume curve. The diameter of the balloon and annulus are determined at this inflection point when the balloon contacts the annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: InterValve, Inc.
    Inventors: William Drasler, Wes Pedersen, Mark Ungs
  • Patent number: 9498571
    Abstract: A nitric oxide delivery device includes a housing that is permeable to nitric oxide. The surface of the housing is modified to detect surface charge or pH (e.g., due to cell adhesion). A working electrode (which is a copper-containing conductive material or a base material coated with a copper-containing conductive material) is positioned inside of the housing. A reference/counter electrode is also positioned inside of the housing, and is electrically isolated from the working electrode. A source of nitrite ions is to be contained within the housing such that it is in contact with the working electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Lajos Hofler, Mark E. Meyerhoff, Dipankar Koley
  • Patent number: 9480785
    Abstract: An example of a nitric oxide delivery device includes a medium, a working electrode in contact with the medium, and a reference/counter electrode in contact with the medium and electrically isolated from the working electrode. The medium includes a source of nitrite ions and a Cu(II)-ligand complex. A nitric oxide permeable material separates the medium from an external environment that is to contain blood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Mark E. Meyerhoff, Lajos Hofler, Dipankar Koley, Hang Ren
  • Patent number: 9474868
    Abstract: A single-use syringe assembly is disclosed which includes a syringe body defining a fluid reservoir and including an engagement surface, a plunger assembly including a plunger rod and a sealing member supported on a distal end of the plunger rod, and a releasable member having a proximal end releasably positioned within a sealing member throughbore and a distal end configured to engage the engagement surface of the syringe body when the sealing member is moved to the advanced position. The proximal end of the releasable member being configured to seal the sealing member throughbore. The releasable member is configured such that a force required to remove the distal end of the releasable member from engagement with the engagement surface of the syringe body is greater than the force required to disengage the proximal end of the releasable member from the sealing member throughbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Christopher Buder, Kurt E. Green
  • Patent number: 9440026
    Abstract: An autoinjection device includes a main body in the front end of which is slideably mounted a drawer or front body portion. The drawer can be opened to remove or insert a syringe. Closing the drawer while pressing a multifunction button primes the drive mechanism by latching it against trigger latch. Pressing the button gain while urging the front end causes the drawer to release the trigger latch. After the injection the drawer shrouds the used needle and can be released only by pressing the button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: OWEN MUMFORD LIMITED
    Inventor: Robert Michael Wozencroft