Patents Examined by Lynne Anderson
  • Patent number: 10159611
    Abstract: A multiple use absorbent article includes a chassis absorbent unit having a chassis topsheet, a chassis backsheet, and a chassis absorbent core sandwiched between the chassis topsheet and the chassis backsheet. The article also includes an absorbent insert bonded to the chassis absorbent unit, a removable portion of the absorbent insert configured to be selectively removable from the chassis absorbent unit, wherein the absorbent insert includes an insert topsheet, an insert backsheet, and an insert absorbent core sandwiched between the insert topsheet and the insert backsheet. The absorbent insert further includes a line of weakness that provides for separation of the absorbent insert into a removable portion configured to be removed from the chassis absorbent unit, and a resident portion that remains bonded to the chassis absorbent unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarah Austin Kleuskens, Marcille F. Ruman, Stephen D. Franger
  • Patent number: 10159609
    Abstract: A multiple use absorbent article includes a chassis absorbent unit having a chassis topsheet, a chassis backsheet, and a chassis absorbent core sandwiched between the chassis topsheet and the chassis backsheet. The article also includes an absorbent insert bonded to the chassis absorbent unit, a removable portion of the absorbent insert configured to be selectively removable from the chassis absorbent unit. The absorbent insert further includes a line of weakness that provides for separation of the absorbent insert into a removable portion configured to be removed from the chassis absorbent unit, and a resident portion that remains bonded to the chassis absorbent unit, wherein the absorbent insert includes a removal device configured to assist a user in separating the removable portion of the absorbent insert from the chassis absorbent unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Sarah Austin Kleuskens, Marcille F. Ruman, Stephen D. Franger
  • Patent number: 10149963
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided to conduct fluid away from or deliver fluid to an area of a treatment site of a patient's body. In one aspect of the invention, a catheter includes a terminal end with a fluid exchange portion. The terminal end may further include a diffuser. The terminal end may further include a barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Vital 5, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Wade Fallin, Jean-Sebastien Merette, Patrick Michel White
  • Patent number: 10143864
    Abstract: A respirator 10 that has a mask body 12 and a harness 16 has an exhalation valve 23 that includes a valve seat 36 and a flexible flap 42. The valve seat 36 has an orifice 38 and has a noncircular seal surface 40 surrounding the orifice 38. The flexible flap 42 is secured to the valve seat 36 at a centroid of the orifice and has a variable stiffness structure. The variable stiffness structure allows the flap to equally deflect under a given load at different distances from the centroid at the noncircular seal surface. An exhalation valve having this construction may beneficially optimize pressure drop and overall valve performance for applications where valve space may be limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: William A. Mittelstadt
  • Patent number: 10143601
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a disposable diaper which is comfortable to wear. [Solution] This disposable diaper comprises a top sheet (1), a back sheet (2), an absorber (3) and a stretchable sheet (4). The stretchable sheet (4) is composed by having a base material sheet (41) sandwich multiple elastic stretchable members (42) disposed therein in an extended state, said multiple elastic stretchable members (42) being disposed along the width direction of the disposable diaper and spaced apart at intervals in the longitudinal direction. When viewed in the width direction, the stretchable sheet (4) has an overlapping portion (43) which includes a region that overlaps with a part of the absorber (3). In the overlapping portion (43), the multiple elastic stretchable members (42) are disposed continuously along the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignees: OJI NEPIA CO., LTD., OJI HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Sugiyama, Izumi Tashiro, Ikuko Furukawa
  • Patent number: 10143599
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a sanitary napkin that is thin, highly absorbent and has resiliency properties that are selected to provide good comfort potential and at the same time reduce the likelihood of deformation and breaking. In a specific example, the sanitary napkin comprises a cover layer, an absorbent system and a barrier layer. The absorbent system includes an absorbent core and a reinforcement layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Fempro Consumer Products ULC
    Inventors: Jeannine Cardin, Mélanie Farley, Helmut Georgi
  • Patent number: 10137266
    Abstract: A method of detecting dyssynchrony between a patient and a pressure support system includes receiving patient flow data relating to a flow of gas provided to the patient by the pressure support system, receiving an I/E state signal representing a respiratory phase of the patient as determined by the pressure support system, and analyzing the patient flow data and the I/E state signal and declaring a dyssynchrony for a breath based on at least one of the patient flow data and the I/E state signal. The method includes determining whether at least one of a number of predetermined criterion is satisfied based on at least one of the patient flow data and the I/E state signal, and declaring the dyssynchrony for the breath if it is determined that at least one of the number of predetermined criterion is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Benjamin Irwin Shelly, Sankarasubrahmani Uday Shankar, Michael T. Kane, Gregory Delano Matthews, Heather Dawn Ressler
  • Patent number: 10124134
    Abstract: A patient interface mask for use with a breathing assistance apparatus includes a seal that, in use, circumscribes a nose, mouth, or nose and mouth of a patient and defines an interior space of the mask. The mask includes an inlet into the interior space and an outlet from the interior space. A sensor is positioned outside of the interior space and in the path of exit gases exiting the interior space through the outlet. The sensor detects a parameter of the exit gases, such as temperature, humidity or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Nimansha Budhiraja, Nordyn Alami
  • Patent number: 10123915
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a disposable pull-on diaper improved so that the diaper may be conveniently put on the wearer's body. Each of leg side flaps of a crotch panel has an outer side region and an inner side region. In the lowest region of the crotch region, the outer side region and the inner side region respectively have a dimension of at least 10 mm in a transverse direction wherein the inner side region extends in a longitudinal direction and the outer side region extends in the transverse direction from the inner side region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: UNICHARM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hashimoto, Jun Fukasawa, Tetsuo Okubo
  • Patent number: 10123916
    Abstract: A package comprising an interior space and an exterior surface may have a plurality of disposable absorbent articles disposed within the interior space of the package. Each of the disposable absorbent articles may have a topsheet; a backsheet; a substantially cellulose free absorbent core located between the topsheet and the backsheet. The absorbent products may exhibit an In-Bag Stack Height of less about 80 mm as measured according to an In-Bag Stack Height Test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Paul Thomas Weisman, Dean Larry DuVal, Holger Beruda, Peter Dziezok, Axel Krause, Mattias Schmidt, Lutz Stelzig
  • Patent number: 10118005
    Abstract: Provided herein is a delivery system, including: (a) an optical sensor configured to detect data to create a map of a patient bodily surface; and (b) a dispenser operatively associated with the optical sensor and configured to deliver compositions (optionally including cells) to the patient bodily surface based upon the data or map. Methods of forming a tissue on a patient bodily surface of a patient in need thereof are also provided, as are methods, systems and computer program products useful for processing patient bodily surface data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
    Inventors: James J. Yoo, Anthony Atala, Kyle W. Binder, Mohammad Z. Albanna, Weixin Zhao, Dennis Dice, Tao Xu
  • Patent number: 10111786
    Abstract: A tampon applicator assembly includes a barrel and a plunger. The barrel has a proximal opening, a distal opening, and a wall. The wall has an interior surface that defines a channel extending from the proximal opening to the distal opening, and includes a beveled portion that defines the proximal opening. The channel is configured to releasably retain a tampon. The plunger is disposed in the barrel and configured for slidable passage through the channel of the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: First Quality Hygienic, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn W. Brown, Daniel Wade Greenaway, Christopher J. Graham, William J. Henry, Willam M. Child
  • Patent number: 10105504
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas supply system (10) for a patient interface (30) for supplying a flow of pressurized gas to a subject (50), an according patient interface (30) with such a gas supply system (10) and a therapy device with such a gas supply system. The gas supply systems according to the present invention comprise a pump device (55) that has at least one membrane (58) for pumping actuation. This membrane (58) is actuated via an electro-active polymer material (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Mark Metysek, Cornelis Petrus Hendriks, Roland Alexander Van De Molengraaf, Matthew John Lawrenson, Julian Charles Nolan, Melanie Jane Windridge
  • Patent number: 10105500
    Abstract: A dry powder inhaler (DPI) device has a flow passage with a three-dimensional (3D) rod array. The rod array includes multiple rows each having multiple unidirectional rods. The rows are spaced apart along a primary direction of air flow and are staggered. A viewing window to the capsule chamber allows viewing of the capsule's position within the chamber which provides visual feedback of inhalation flow rate to the user during inhalation. The capsule chamber may orient the capsule parallel to a primary direction of air flow or perpendicular to a primary direction of air flow and provide capsule motion in a plane which is perpendicular to the primary direction of air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Virginia Commonwealth University
    Inventors: Phillip Worth Longest, Michael Hindle, Yoen-Ju Son, Srinivas Ravindra Babu Behara, Dale Farkas
  • Patent number: 10092714
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dose indicator for a pressure-actuated metered dose inhaler (pMDI) device. In an embodiment, the dose indicator comprises a chassis element having a viewing portion, a display element located within the chassis element, a resilient deformable element, and an indexing element having an axis, translation of the indexing element along its axis from a first position to a second position causing deformation of the resilient deformable element in the same direction as translation of the indexing element resulting in generally greater displacement of portions of the resilient deformable element nearer to the axis relative to portions thereof further from the axis, the displacement of the portions of the resilient deformable element in the same direction as translation of the indexing element inducing indexing of the display element from a current position to a subsequent position relative to the viewing portion of the chassis element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Adam J Stuart, Peter D Hodson
  • Patent number: 10085894
    Abstract: An absorbent article having a longitudinal centerline, a front region, a crotch region, and a back region. The absorbent article has a main portion, a side portion, and a waist portion. The waist portion has a belt portion that has a front belt portion having elastomeric material and a back belt portion having elastomeric material. The front belt portion has a first elastic section and a second elastic section, each section having force zones. The back belt portion has a third elastic section and a fourth elastic section, each section having force zones. The force zones in the portions alternate between a high force zone and a low force zone in at least one belt portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gary Dean LaVon, Masaharu Nishikawa, Jacob Alan Barnhorst
  • Patent number: 10080493
    Abstract: A method for establishing the refraction of an eye (9) by means of a refractometer (3) is provided, in which the current visual axis (S) of the eye (9) is established before establishing the refraction, the refractometer (3) is aligned with respect to the visual axis (S) of the eye (9) and the refraction is established after the alignment. The visual axis (S) of the eye (9) is established on the basis of the position of a Purkinje image of at least one light source (41, 50) used to illuminate the eye and a relationship between the position of the Purkinje image and the visual axis (S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AG
    Inventor: Peter Reimer
  • Patent number: 10080688
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include wound packing devices and methods of making and using the same. In an embodiment, the invention includes a wound packing device including a plurality of spacing elements capable of absorbing exudate, wherein the surface of the spacing elements resist colonization by microorganisms. The wound packing device can also include a connector connecting the plurality of spacing elements to one another. Other embodiments are also included herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: SURMODICS, INC.
    Inventors: Shawn Fuller, Bryan A. Claseman, Joram Slager, Jeffrey J. Missling, Gary Maharaj, Gary W. Opperman, Nathan A. Lockwood, Robert W. Hergenrother, Charles Olson
  • Patent number: 10082598
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques and configurations for an apparatus to reduce sensor power consumption, in particular, through predictive data measurements by one or more sensors. In one instance, the apparatus may include one or more sensors and a sensor management module coupled with the sensors and configured to cause the sensors to initiate measurements of data indicative of a process in a first data measurement mode, determine a pattern of events comprising the process based on a portion of the measurements collected by the sensors in the first data measurement mode over a time period, and initiate measurements of the data by the one or more sensors in a second data measurement mode. The second data measurement mode may be based on the pattern of events comprising the process. The pattern may indicate a prediction of appearance of events in the process. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Charles Carter Jernigan
  • Patent number: 10076635
    Abstract: A connector system includes a catheter connector port to attach to a urinary catheter, a urine exit port to connect to a urine collection device, an irrigation port to receive an irrigation syringe, and an internal valve. The irrigation port includes a pliable membrane that has a self-sealing opening to allow a tip of the syringe to extend therethrough. The internal valve cooperates with the syringe to shut off flow of fluid to the urine exit port when the syringe is inserted and allow for flow of fluid to the urine exit port when the syringe is removed. A distance between a proximal surface of the membrane and a distal end of the internal valve is such that the tip of the syringe can extend from a proximal end of the self-sealing opening to the distal end of the internal valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Hospi Corporation
    Inventors: Bradford Macy, Jr., Igal Ladabaum