Patents Examined by John S. Kim
  • Patent number: 7115205
    Abstract: A system for automatically collecting and separating whole blood into its components is described. The system includes a console, which contains all motors, pumps, sensors, valves and control circuitry, and a unique disposable set that includes a cassette supporting a centrifuge with an improved design, pump interfaces with an improved design, component and solution bags, and tubing. Various processes are implemented using a specific disposable set for each process which allows automatic identification of the process to be performed the console.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Mission Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Robinson, Thomas P. Robinson, Richard D'Elia, Thomas Sahines, Paul Eibe
  • Patent number: 7115206
    Abstract: A method for in-line preparation of liquid for an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus that makes provision for placing a filter in correspondence with each of two successive filtration stations, for carrying out a liquid preparation cycle, for removing the filter, which operates in correspondence with a first filtration station, for placing in correspondence with the first filtration station the filter that operated in correspondence with the second filtration station, for placing a new filter in correspondence with a second filtration station and for launching a new sterile liquid preparation cycle. The invention also provides a device for implementing the described method and an apparatus for extracorporeal blood treatment, which incorporates this device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventors: Jacques Chevallet, Guy Mercier, Laurent Simard
  • Patent number: 7112273
    Abstract: A method and device for adjusting a volumetric flow balancing system for an extracorporeal blood treatment system receives a pressure signal and calculates a compensation factor that is used to adjust the relative flow rates of the volumetrically balanced fluids. For example, in a hemofiltration system, the flow of waste and and replacement fluid may be balanced volumetrically. Ultrafiltrate may be pumped in a bypass circuit in such a system. The rate of ultrafiltrate flow may be adjusted by the compensation signal. The compensation signal may be empirically derived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Nxstage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: William Weigel, Daniel Call, Dennis Treu
  • Patent number: 7108790
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for generating sterile infusion fluid from non-sterile infusion fluid produced by a machine. In one embodiment, the sterile infusion fluid is produced by a sterile fluid generating device that is an ancillary device designed to operate in conjunction with the existing machine. For example, the sterile fluid generating device is used in conjunction with a dialysis machine according to one embodiment resulting in sterile infusion fluid being produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Nephros, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory R. Collins, James Summerton, Edward Spence
  • Patent number: 7097774
    Abstract: The claimed invention refers to a centrifuge intended for processing blood and blood components and with its function based on the effective utilisation of ring type blood processing bags with associated secondary bags and other accessories. The most outstanding feature of the centrifuge, in accordance with the claimed invention, is that its rotor, at the same intended height of the ring bag (22) inner periphery, shows at least three supports (9–11) arranged along this periphery and intended to locate the ring bag's inner strengthened periphery edge on guide holes at the same time as the centrifuge and its rotor is equipped with a joint rotating inner lid (6) which includes a clamp function (7) that clamps ring bag (22) securely along and between supports (9–11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Gambro Inc
    Inventors: Niclas Högberg, Emanuel Hällgren, Peter Pihlstedt
  • Patent number: 7090970
    Abstract: A composition for blood serum or plasma separation which has improved compatibility between a cyclopentadiene oligomer and a phthalic ester and generates no oily ingredient suspending in the blood serum or plasma after centrifugal separation regardless of the conditions for the centrifugal separation; and a vessel for blood examination which contains the composition. The composition for blood serum or plasma separation comprises: a polycyclic hydrocarbon compound having an unsaturated and/or saturated cyclic structure in the molecule and having a solidifying point or pour point of 0° C. or lower; a cyclopentadiene oligomer; and a phthalic ester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Anraku, Ryusuke Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7083719
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for performing peritoneal dialysis are provided. To this end, in part, a medical system is provided that includes (i) a liquid pump; (ii) tubing in communication with the liquid pump; and (iii) at least one processor that operates with the liquid pump to: (a) pump liquid through the tubing, the tubing having an end and a hydrophobic filter at the end, the filter allowing air but not the liquid to escape from the end of the tubing, (b) receive a signal indicating a pressure increase inside the tubing, and (c) cause the pumping to stop when air has been purged substantially from the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Joseph H. Bowman, Jr., Loren M. Lundtveit, Jose Alvaro, Ben Kellam, Don Busby, Bruce Ming-Da Eu
  • Patent number: 7077284
    Abstract: In a bicarbonate container for one-time use with a hemodialysis apparatus which container consists of a bottom part with a trough for containing the bicarbonate, a cover for closing the trough and a two-channel plug-in connector for connection to a dialysis apparatus, the bottom part and the top part include flanges which are joined and form therebetween a conduit channel extending from one end of the container where the plug-in connector is disposed to the other end of the container for conducting liquid supplied through one of the plug-in connector channels through the bicarbonate filling of the trough of the container in which the bicarbonate is disposed to the other channel of the plug-in connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Inventor: Frank Ritter
  • Patent number: 7077956
    Abstract: A device for preparing dialysate for a dialysis machine is provided with a cartridge (9) containing salts (S), a first line (6) for supplying purified water to the cartridge (9) to form a saturated solution in the said cartridge (9), a second lin (7) for supplying the said saturated solution from the cartridge (9) to the first line (6) and for mixing the saturated solution with the purified water and forming the dialysate, and a discharge line (18) for discharging the said saturated solution from the second line (7) and from the said cartridge (9) at the end of the dialysis treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventor: Paolo Rovatti
  • Patent number: 7074191
    Abstract: A method for the non-intrusive measurement of blood pressure in a circuit of a dialysis machine, using a device provided with a sleeve forming a portion of the blood circuit and having at least one part which moves according to the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the sleeve, and with an emitter and a receiver of electromagnetic waves. The method comprising the emission of a beam of electromagnetic waves and the receiving of a beam of electromagnetic waves reflected from the moving part, in order to measure the displacement of the moving part in such a way as to establish a relationship between the position of the moving part and the pressure of the blood circulating in the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventors: Antonio Bosetto, Annalisa Delnevo