Patents Examined by Mark K. Han
  • Patent number: 8702663
    Abstract: An eyewash dispensing container to store and deliver an eyewash fluid that is particularly suitable for terminal sterilization. The container includes a base and a locking lid with a tamper indicator. The container is able to be opened quickly and deliver the eyewash fluid directly to an eye of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Niagara Pharmaceuticals Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. Leistner, Ronya Ripenburg, Michael D. Murphy
  • Patent number: 8702379
    Abstract: A blower assembly including a motor, an impeller and a volute that is configured such that an inlet chamber of the volute and an outlet chamber of the volute are divided from one another by an airtight membrane and the membrane is configured to allow the transmission of pressure waves between the inlet and outlet chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: ResMed Limited
    Inventors: Robert Henry Frater, Hamish Alexander Urquhart, Dmitri Anatolievich Doudkine, Barton John Kenyon
  • Patent number: 8677993
    Abstract: A humidification canister for humidifying a breathing gas, the humidification canister includes a fluid supply configured to supply a fluid and a first gas flow path in fluid communication with the fluid supply. A first gas flow path is configured to humidify the breathing gas with the fluid. A second gas flow path at least partially surrounds the first gas flow path. A method of insulating a breathing gas in a humidification canister using a gas is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Vapotherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Felino V. Cortez, Jr., William F. Niland, George McGarrity, Carl Buyer, Kenneth Miller, Peter Boyd
  • Patent number: 8667959
    Abstract: A modular powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) which is comprised of a fan, motor, scroll, and power source mounted within one housing, and which accepts either traditional or conformal filters. Ambient air is drawn into the PAPR module through the attached filter by a fan, which is driven by direct connection to a motor. The pressurized air is then accelerated by an optimized scroll to the outlet in the PAPR housing. The PAPR module can be employed in multiple use configurations. The PAPR module further comprises a removable battery pack module that is easily retained to/removed from the PAPR module, enabling a user to be able to quickly remove a spent battery pack module and install a fresh battery pack module, thereby replacing the batteries within one breath cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Avon Protection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg A. Tilley, James Wilcox, John Patrick Fick
  • Patent number: 8656914
    Abstract: A medical ventilator is coupled to a patient via a hose system to generate a respiratory flow according to a predetermined ventilation mode. The ventilator has a first flow sensor for generating a first sensor signal indicative of an inspiratory flow into the hose system distant from the patient. The hose system has a further flow sensor for generating a further sensor signal indicative of the respiratory flow proximal to the patient. The ventilator has an input for receiving the further sensor signal. The ventilator compares the further sensor signal with an expected sensor signal indicative of the respiratory flow proximal to the patient. The expected sensor signal is determined by a combination of the first sensor signal and the predetermined ventilation mode. The ventilator controls the ventilating in dependence on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Dräger Medical GmbH
    Inventors: Salvador Almagro Frutos, Geert Van Dijk
  • Patent number: 8640704
    Abstract: A flat-fold filtering face piece respirator 10 that comprises a mask body 12 that has a transversely-extending line of demarcation 22 and a longitudinal axis 34. First and second weld patterns 32a, 32b are disposed above and not traversing the line of demarcation on each side of the longitudinal axis 34, respectively. Third and fourth weld patterns 32c, 32d are disposed below and not crossing the line of demarcation 22 on each side of the longitudinal axis 34, respectively. Each of the first, second, third, and fourth weld patterns 32a-32d is a two-dimensional enclosed pattern. This combined weld patterns can provide a mask body that exhibits crush resistance without the need for additional or heavier layers, which may cause higher pressure drops across the filtering structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Scott A. Spoo, Dean R. Duffy, Nhat Ha Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8640703
    Abstract: A flexible patient cassette that can be optimized for different types of breathing circuits, different drive circuits and different patient categories has a first inlet arranged to be connected to a drive circuit, and at least a second inlet arranged to be connected to a patient connector, the first and second inlets being pneumatically connected with each other through a gas conducting passage constituting a patient circuit having a certain volume. The patient cassette has a volume-varying arrangement for varying the patient circuit volume to allow that volume to be varied in dependence of at least one of the type of breathing circuit in which the patient cassette is used; the type of drive circuit to which the patient cassette is connected; the tidal volume of a patient connected to the patient connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Maquet Critical Care AB
    Inventors: Stefan Broborg, Ulrika Bergqvist
  • Patent number: 8616205
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for detecting when respiratory cartridges of a respirator have reached their end-of-service-life. In some instances, two or more respiratory cartridges are removably connectable to a respirator housing, where each of the two or more respiratory cartridges receives ambient air and deliver cleaned air to the respirator housing. One of the respiratory cartridges may be configured to have a lower adsorption capacity than the remaining respirator cartridges. A gas sensor may be situated downstream of the reduced capacity respirator cartridge, and may detect an increased concentration of the targeted gas in the cleaned air delivered by the reduced capacity respiratory cartridge. When detected, an end-of-service-life indication may be provided to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Tobias, Brian Krafthefer
  • Patent number: 8616197
    Abstract: A dose counter system, and a dispensing apparatus having such a dose counter system, for counting activations of a pressurised dispensing container including: a hydraulic system; and a counter; the hydraulic system having a hydraulic cylinder with a primary piston, a secondary piston and a working fluid, wherein the secondary piston is coupled to, or otherwise operates the counter and the primary piston is engaged by, fixed to, coupled to, or otherwise moved by, a pressurised dispensing container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Consort Medical PLC
    Inventor: Richard Warby
  • Patent number: 8607794
    Abstract: An nCPAP device for assisting patient breathing includes a generator body forming an inlet, a chamber, and first and second flow circuits. The chamber directs pressurized gas from the inlet to the flow circuits. The flow circuits each include a nozzle, a channel, and at least one port. The nozzle emits a jet stream into the channel in a direction of a patient side thereof. The port fluidly connects the channel to ambient, and promotes entrainment of ambient air with the jet stream. In some embodiments, the channel forms a ramp feature directing exhaled air toward the jet stream in an angular fashion. The generator body requires reduced driving pressures to achieve target CPAP levels and reduces total imposed WOB as compared to conventional designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: CareFusion 207, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Varga, Geoffrey C. Wise
  • Patent number: 8607784
    Abstract: A powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) assembly and kit therefore has an elongated hollow belt body having open first and second ends and multiple inlet openings along its length for mounting one or more filter canisters, one or more filter canisters for mounting in the inlet openings for supplying purified air to the interior of the belt body, a motor and driven fan assembly having a fan inlet in communication with each filter canister through the hollow belt body and a fan outlet; and a power source operably mounted to the belt body and connected to the motor. The PAPR assembly forms a portion of a belt or bandolier to be worn around the user's waist, back, or other location, and at least the belt body can be made of a flexible rubber material, such as a Butyl and Silicone blend, or any other suitable material to conform the PAPR belt to the user's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Avon Protection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg A. Tilley, James Wilcox
  • Patent number: 8602024
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medicament magazine with a plurality of doses of medicament, wherein the magazine is formed from a single foil strip in which pouches (2) for holding a medicament are formed as depicted in exemplary FIG. 1. The foil strip comprises for transporting the strip openings (4) on at least one side for the engagement of transporting pins. The foil strip has a certain width in the region of the pouches, which is less than the width of the foil in other regions, and the openings are arranged in this broader part of the foil strip. The invention also relates to a method and a device for opening a medicament magazine of this kind, the device preferably being constructed as a segmented wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Wachtel, Johannes Geser, Burkhard Metzger, Michael Spallek, Michael Krueger, Herbert Kunze, Achim Moser, Elmar Mock, Antonino Lanci, Andre Klopfenstein
  • Patent number: 8591486
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for moving fluids from a patient to a canister and lowering or eliminating the bio-burden of the canister. In one instance, a method for removing fluids from a patient includes using reduced pressure to remove fluids from a patient, delivering the fluids into a reduced-pressure conduit and into a fluid reservoir, exposing the fluids removed from the patient to a UV light source to kill pathogens to create disposable fluids, and disposing of the disposable fluids. Other systems, devices, and methods are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Timothy Mark Robinson
  • Patent number: 8591479
    Abstract: A gravity-fed, emergency eyewash station includes a flow regulator in the feed line between the solution bag and the dispensing nozzle to maintain a constant flow rate throughout the entire activation time frame. The flow regulator uses a float valve to variably open and close an orifice that feeds the dispensing nozzle. Solution enters the flow regulator from an orifice at the top and leaves from an opening at the bottom. Solution flowing into and out of the regulator quickly reaches an equilibrium state, resulting in a constant flow rate for the entire activation time frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Allen Boissonneault, Kelli Piotti
  • Patent number: 8585665
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating a wound can include a flexible sheet for sealingly engaging a patient's skin around a wound bed, a drain to be located in the wound bed, a vacuum source connected to the drain, and a flow restriction device to control the flow of fluid through an aperture of the flexible sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Prospera Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Hamid Khosrowshahi
  • Patent number: 8573208
    Abstract: An exhaust assembly (1) adapted for use in a respiratory gas delivery system comprises an exhaust vent, an exhaust gas flow passage, a primary gas flow passage, and a moveable member. The exhaust gas flow passage communicated a flow of exhaust gas from a first end of the exhaust assembly to the exhaust vent. The exhaust vent communicates the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas flow passage to ambient atmosphere. The primary gas flow passage communicates a flow of supply gas from a second end of the exhaust assembly to the first end of the exhaust assembly. The moveable member defines at least a portion of the exhaust gas flow passage and the primary gas flow passage, is operable to isolate the flow of exhaust gas from the flow of supply gas, and is responsive to a pressure differential between the flow of supply gas and the flow of exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Peter Chi Fai Ho
  • Patent number: 8567400
    Abstract: An nCPAP device for assisting patient breathing includes a generator body forming an inlet, a chamber, and first and second flow circuits. The chamber directs pressurized gas from the inlet to the flow circuits. The flow circuits each include a first and second jets, a flow director and an exhaust conduit. The jets emit a jetstream into the flow director in a direction of a patient side thereof. In some embodiments, the flow director forms a first tapered wall section directing inhaled air toward the patient and a second tapered wall section directing exhaled air toward the exhaust conduit. The generator body requires reduced driving pressures to achieve target CPAP levels and reduces total imposed WOB as compared to conventional designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: CareFusion 207, Inc.
    Inventors: Khalid Mansour, Eric Porteous
  • Patent number: 8550078
    Abstract: An assembly structured to inflate a retaining or pressure cuff associated with an artificial airway tube such as an endotracheal and/or tracheotomy tube and concurrently monitor pressure therein including a casing having an interior pressure chamber. A pump assembly is movably connected to the casing and structured to force fluid flow to the retaining cuff through said pressure chamber. An indicator member is disposed within the casing, is visually accessible through casing window, and is variably positionable dependent on and indicative of existing pressure within the retaining cuff. The existing pressure within the pressure chamber is substantially equivalent to that within the retaining cuff thereby facilitating the variable position of the indicator member to indicate pressure within the cuff. A junction is disposed between the casing and an inflation lumen to the restraining cuff and is structured to allow disconnection between the casing and the lumen but prevent reconnection thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Seedlings Life Science Ventures, LLC.
    Inventors: Stephen Jay Lowenstein, Michael R. Cole, Klaus D. Lessnau, Keith Rubin, James M. Sellers
  • Patent number: 8550077
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing ventilation to a patient. An air source is configured to provide pressurized air to a patient through a patient circuit according to a ventilation pattern. At least one sensor is configured to monitor a corresponding physiologic property of the patient. A ventilator control system is configured to calculate an alveolar ventilation value from the monitored physiologic property of the patient, determine at least an optimal frequency for the ventilation pattern from the calculated alveolar ventilation value, and update the ventilation pattern according to the determined optimal frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    Inventors: Robert L. Chatburn, Eduardo Mireles-Cabodevila
  • Patent number: 8546639
    Abstract: A urine suction device improved to achieve quick urine which includes a urine receiver unit and a urine detector unit. The urine detector unit includes a pair of electrode assemblies adapted to output a detection signal as soon as it is wetted with urine. The pair of electrode assemblies is sandwiched between a liquid-pervious first sheet and a liquid-pervious second sheet. The first and second sheets are put flat and joined together along joint zones provided outside respective pairs of opposite side edges of the electrode assemblies. Along the respective joint zones, at least one of the first and second sheets has its thickness locally reduced and the first and second sheets are kept in close contact with each other along the joint zones and in the vicinity of the joint zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Uni-Charm Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Wada, Miou Suzuki