Patents Examined by Mark Wardas
  • Patent number: 8746243
    Abstract: A fluid dispenser device comprising a body (10) provided with a dispenser orifice (15), said device further comprising: an elongate flexible strip (20) supporting a plurality of reservoirs (21) each containing a dose of fluid; reservoir-opening means (80) for opening a respective reservoir on each actuation; first displacement means (30) that can be actuated so as to cause said flexible strip (20) to advance before and/or during and/or after each actuation, so as to bring a full reservoir into register with said reservoir-opening means; and second displacement means (50) for displacing a full reservoir (21) against said opening means (80) each time the device is actuated, the leading end (25) of said flexible strip (20), in the advance direction of said strip, being fastened to a receiver element (500) that is rotatably mounted, said receiver element (500) being adapted to exert a traction force on said elongate strip (20), said device including an abutment element (5000) that is disposed between said first d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Aptar France SAS
    Inventor: Maxime Kirniak
  • Patent number: 8739782
    Abstract: A powder inhaler comprising: a body that is provided with a dispenser orifice; a plurality of reservoirs each containing a dose of powder; a perforator to perforate a predosed reservoir on each actuation; and a dispersion channel including an inlet that is connected to the perforator and that receives the dose of powder from the reservoir, and an outlet connected to the dispenser orifice, the perforator controlled by inhalation, the dispersion channel including two bent channel portions, a first bent channel portion that is connected to said inlet via a first substantially-rectilinear channel portion, and a second bent channel portion connected to the outlet via a second substantially-rectilinear channel portion, the two bent channel portions being interconnected via a third substantially-rectilinear channel portion, the cross-section of the third substantially-rectilinear channel portion being smaller than the cross-section of the first substantially-rectilinear channel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Aptar France SAS
    Inventor: Matthieu Baillet
  • Patent number: 8733354
    Abstract: An oxygen supply device includes: an oxygen tank (10); a pipe (20) which is connected to the oxygen tank; an oxygen mask (30); and a joint (40) which detachably connects the oxygen mask to the pipe, wherein the joint includes a socket (41) provided for the pipe and a plug (42) provided for the oxygen mask, wherein the oxygen mask includes a head attachment portion (31) attached to a head of the user, a pipe body (32) supported by the head attachment portion and having a front end portion extending toward the front side of the head of the user, and a tube (33) connecting a base end portion of the pipe body to the plug (42), and wherein the socket is provided for each component of the pipe, and the plug is connectable to each socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Fukushima O-Two Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 8734426
    Abstract: A drainage catheter includes an elongated tubular member, a locking assembly engaged with a proximal end of the tubular member, and a tension member for drawing a distal end of the tubular member into a desired configuration. The locking assembly includes a connector, a locking arm, and a locking mechanism. The connector has an exterior surface profile that corresponds with an interior surface profile of the locking arm. The locking arm is pivotably attached to the connector to enable pivoting movement of the locking arm between an unlocked position and a locked position whereby the tension member is secured between the locking arm and the connector when the arm is in the locked position. The locking assembly may alternatively comprise a connector and a sliding sleeve or a connector having a clamping element disposed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Mahfuza Ahmed, Tyler J. Bunch, Charles W. Agnew, Kate Duncan, James B. Hunt, Bonita L. Nickless, Nancy L. Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 8701666
    Abstract: An adapter for connecting, in particular, respiratory implements such as tubes, tube extensions, filters, breather bags, or artificial noses to a tube having a particularly conically tapered connector. the adapter has a clamping section that may be fixed to the connector in a frictionally engaged manner. The clamping section of the adapter may be radially expanded from a first clamping position in which the inner diameter of the clamping section is less than the outer diameter of the connector into a second release position in which the inner diameter of the clamping section is greater than the outer diameter of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Medi1one Medical Grosshandels GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Frick, Albrecht Kauffmann
  • Patent number: 8695600
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of providing oxygen rich gas. Oxygen is separated from ambient air with an oxygen separator in discrete pulses, one pulse at a time. The start of the pulse is synchronized with the beginning of an inhalation of a person. The oxygen rich gas in each pulse is separated from the ambient air in real time during a nitrogen adsorption step concurrent with each inhalation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Vbox, Incorporated
    Inventors: Nicholas P. Van Brunt, Theodore W. Jagger, Perry B. Lonnes, John A. Kivisto
  • Patent number: 8677991
    Abstract: A respirator or anesthesia apparatus, for the artificial respiration of a patient, has a gas delivery device, at least one gas line for forming a breathing air line system, at least one gas mixing means with a mixed gas tank and at least two inlet openings with a shut-off member each for separately feeding at least two different gases to be mixed into the mixed gas tank and for subsequently feeding the mixed gas into the breathing air line system. The mixed gas tank is provided with at least two separate outlet openings for releasing the mixed gas from the mixed gas tank and for subsequently feeding it into the breathing air line system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Dräger Medical GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Heesch, Andreas Brandt
  • Patent number: 8671939
    Abstract: A fluid dispenser device comprising: a body (10); a plurality of individual reservoirs (21) each containing a dose of fluid, such as powder, said reservoirs being disposed one behind another on an elongate flexible strip (20); reservoir-opening means (80) comprising a perforator element that is stationary relative to the body; first strip displacement means (30) for causing the elongate flexible strip (20) to advance before and/or after each actuation of the device; and second reservoir-displacement means (50) for displacing a full reservoir (21) against said perforator element for opening said reservoir, said first displacement means including an indexer wheel (30) that is rotatably mounted on said second displacement means (50) and provided with at least one cavity (31) that is adapted to receive a respective reservoir, turning said indexer wheel (30) and thus causing said elongate flexible strip (20) to advance, said first displacement means include an actuator member (3000) that is disposed in coaxial man
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Aptar France SAS
    Inventor: Maxime Kirniak
  • Patent number: 8671934
    Abstract: A nebulizer includes a body, an air channel section and medication reservoir. An air line extends through the air channel section. A venturi nozzle is configured to form at its end a low pressure mixing chamber. A primary suction line extends from the medication reservoir to the low pressure mixing chamber through which medication is drawn upward into the low pressure mixing chamber and mixed with air from the venturi nozzle and nebulized for discharge through a nebulizer outlet. The venturi nozzle, low pressure mixing chamber and air channel section are configured such that at standard temperature and pressure (STP) a differential pressure results in no medication that is drawn upward through the primary suction line for nebulization and discharged the through the nebulizer outlet until a negative inspiratory pressure is created from inhalation by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Pneumoflex Systems, LLC
    Inventors: W. Robert Addington, Stuart P. Miller, Robert E. Stephens
  • Patent number: 8668659
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a finger motion assisting apparatus that can be attached to a user without precise positioning or aligning the mechanism parts and substantially without size-fitting operation caused by physical size difference. According to the finger motion assisting apparatus of the present invention, the wire guide group 30 includes the first wire guide group 31 located on the palm side of the phalanxes 10, and the second wire guide group 32 located on the back side of the phalanxes 10, the wire is fixed to the finger holding member 20 located on the distal phalanx, the wire 40 includes the first wire 41 inserted through the first wire guide group 31, and the second wire 42 inserted through the second wire guide group 32, and the driving unit 53, 54 loosens the second wire 42 when the first wire 41 is pulled, and loosens the first wire 41 when the second wire 42 is pulled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8663132
    Abstract: A system, dressing, and method for providing reduced pressure treatment to a tissue site on a wound bed of a patient includes a variable wound dressing having a variable cover that is pliable at ambient pressure and less-pliable when placed under reduced pressure. The variable wound dressing has a first side and a second, patient-facing side, and in use, a treatment space is formed between the second, patient-facing side of the variable dressing and the wound bed. One or more ports are used to supply reduced pressure within the variable cover and to the wound site. A reduced-pressure subsystem is also included that is operable to supply reduced pressure to the one or more ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry Tab Randolph
  • Patent number: 8627817
    Abstract: An anesthesia device and a process are provided with which a breathing gas, which is present in a breathing circuit and which is especially enriched with an anesthetic, can be removed rapidly and in a cost-effective manner. The breathing circuit comprises an inspiratory breathing gas duct and an expiratory breathing gas duct, for receiving an expired breathing gas, a Y-piece, which is designed as a Y-piece that can be closed, for connecting the inspiratory and expiratory breathing gas ducts with a patient. At least one breathing gas supply system introduces breathing gas into the breathing circuit. A breathing gas outlet duct is provided with a breathing gas outlet valve. A breathing gas reservoir intermediately stores breathing gas. A PEEP valve is arranged upstream of the breathing gas reservoir in the direction of flow of the breathing gas. A breathing gas delivery is arranged downstream of the breathing gas reservoir in the direction of flow of the breathing gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Dräger Medical GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Heesch
  • Patent number: 8591449
    Abstract: A device for storing and dispensing a fluid and fluid energy using continuous analog modification of the total surface area of one or more solid surfaces against which, on one side of such surface(s), the fluid to be stored and dispensed may proximally and forcibly act and against which, on the opposed side of such surface(s), one or more elastic elements may act, withal producing the effect of a substantially constant static pressure across a range of deformation of the elastic element(s), i.e., a piezoequilibrative effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Inventor: Dennis Sheanne Hudson
  • Patent number: 8568376
    Abstract: A disposable absorbent device for collecting urine from an individual is disclosed. The disposable absorbent device can include an absorbent body, having a liquid impermeable, garment-side layer, a liquid impermeable, body-side layer, and an absorbent layer disposed between the garment-side layer and the body-side layer. The absorbent body can be adapted for receiving a penis of a wearer between the body-side layer and the absorbent. The disposable absorbent device can also include a pouch adapted for receiving the scrotum of a wearer extending from the body-side layer. The absorbent device can also include a perimeter seal bonding at least a portion of the garment-side layer, the body-side layer and the pouch together. The perimeter seal can extend continuously, proximate the outer perimeters of the body-side layer and the garment-side layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Envision Product Development Group
    Inventors: Thomas Delattre, David Carson
  • Patent number: 8556836
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a control system for an exoskeleton haptic device, having: a frame structure, to be coupled to the body of a subject; actuators, carried by the frame structure and operable to cause movement of a number of joints of the body; and sensors, coupled to the body to detect first signals indicative of an intention of movement of the subject. The control system is provided with: a feedback stage, controlling a position of the joints based on a reference position; a feedforward stage, controlling a compliance presented by the exoskeleton haptic device to the subject based on the detected first signals; and a combining block, combining outputs from the feedback stage and feedforward stage in order to generate a driving signal for the actuators, thereby imposing a controlled position to the joints. This primary control action may also be integrated with a posture equilibrium control, for controlling postural equilibrium of the subject during the movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Syco di Hedvig Haberl & C.S.A.S.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Menga
  • Patent number: 8555880
    Abstract: A method for controlling the transitions between two different pressures supplied by a breathing therapy device using a transition pressure profile for which the basic shape, the magnitude and the duration may be controlled by a user of the device or the user's therapist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: DeVilbiss Healthcare, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph J. Boring
  • Patent number: 8496003
    Abstract: A wick for an anesthetic evaporator is provided as a dimensionally stable wick body (14) transporting anesthetic by means of capillary force is provided. The wick body comprises a hollow cylinder as well as webs by which a gas-carrying cavity is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Dräger Medical GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Kleinschmidt, Karl-Ludwig Gippert, Thorsten Bruhn, Dirk-Stefan Reichert, Michael Riecke
  • Patent number: 8485186
    Abstract: A method of automatic delivery of appropriate flow rate of oxygen to a person flying in a pressurized aircraft cabin is disclosed. In one embodiment, a first aneroid valve that is responsive to differential gas pressure in a first altitude range is preset to close at a oxygen starting altitude point based on apriori lung capacity test. Further, flow of oxygen is initiated from an oxygen bottle using quarter turn switching regulator connected to the oxygen bottle via a minimum flow area of main valve to output a mixture of the flow of oxygen and aircraft cabin air into a mixing chamber. Furthermore, the first aneroid valve is gradually closed in response to increasing aircraft cabin pressure altitude to stop the pilot flow of oxygen during the first altitude range. Then, main valve is opened upon closing the first aneroid valve to flow pressurized oxygen into the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Engineering Centre India
    Inventor: Anurag H. K Sharma
  • Patent number: 8474448
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved metered dose inhaler utilizing the property of the aerosol canister. The metered dose inhaler includes: a housing body (2); an aerosol canister (3) including a canister body (3a), a valve stem (3b), and a spring urging the valve stem, wherein the valve stem (3b) is held at a fixed position inside the housing body (2), and wherein the canister body (3a) is supported inside the housing body (2) to be depressible against a spring force of the spring; a dose counter (10) including display members (12) and (13) rotatably supported inside the housing body (2), and a control lever (14) swingably supported inside the housing body (2) to rotate the display member (13); and a control cap (20) including a junction member rotatably joined to the control lever (14), and a cap portion (20b) which sheaths the canister body (3a) from a bottom side of the canister body (3a), wherein the control cap (20) causes the control lever (14) to swing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Oi, Shintaro Adachi, Takaaki Nakao
  • Patent number: 8454541
    Abstract: Apparatus for disabled persons, comprising a skid which optionally may be equipped with wheels, to which skid is connected a device for tightening the user's knees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Made For Movement Group AS
    Inventor: Anund Olsen