Patents Examined by Sara Sass
  • Patent number: 9339594
    Abstract: The evacuation system employs a piston to deliver fluid for irrigating and aspirating a body cavity, such as a bladder. A pivotal screen is disposed across the flow path of the fluid to move out of the fluid flow path during irrigation of the bladder and to move back into the flow path during aspiration of the bladder. The screen screens out particulate matter from the return flow for depositing into the container of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventors: Anthony Solazzo, Michael J. Vaillancourt
  • Patent number: 9333115
    Abstract: A drainage device for implantation in an eye of a patient to treat an ocular condition is disclosed. The drainage device includes a housing, a multi-compartment flow control chamber, and a membrane. The housing includes an entrance port and an exit port connected by a fluid flow passageway. The membrane is disposed between the fluid flow passageway and the multi-compartment flow control chamber, which includes a first compartment and a second compartment in fluid communication with each other. The first and second compartments are structurally arranged to limit contact of gas with the membrane, which is disposed between the fluid flow passageway and first compartment. The membrane is configured to affect flow through the fluid flow passageway by deflecting in response to pressure in the flow control chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventor: Cesario P. Dos Santos
  • Patent number: 9320645
    Abstract: The invention is a device and a method for delivering a dose of a pharmaceutical agent to the eye. The device and method provide a safe and effective way to instill a specified dose of the agent to the eye virtually independent of gravity and posture. The device includes a filter matrix in which the fluid capture and release properties can be modified. The filter matrix is attached to a flexible handle with an impermeable or semipermeable membrane there between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Inventors: Terry Glasser, Spencer Obie
  • Patent number: 9308118
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclose a urine collection device. In one embodiment, a urine collection device includes a neck and a collection bag. The collection bag includes a main body disposed below the neck. The main body extends laterally away from the neck and is continuous with the neck. The urine collection device further includes a retention band that is disposed in an upper region of the neck. The retention band is formed from and circumscribes the upper region of the neck. The retention band includes a first fastening mechanism disposed on a first portion of the neck and a second fastening mechanism disposed on a second portion of the neck. The first fastening mechanism is configured to releasably mate with the second fastening mechanism when the first portion of the neck is overlapped with the second portion of the neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Inventor: Charles B. Dupree
  • Patent number: 9282967
    Abstract: A method of implanting and securing an implantable flow connector in a body of a patient for providing communication of a first space within the body of the patient with a second space within the body of the patient. The method includes providing a flow connector having a lumen having a first orifice and a second orifice, inserting a retention device into the first space within the body, subsequently inserting the flow connector through an opening in the retention device so the second portion of the flow connector extends into the first space within the body and placing the second space within the body over the retention device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Bioconnect Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Paris, Adam Dakin, Jr., Todd Polk, Mahesh Krishnamoorthy, Jin Park, Michael Longo, Peter Hinchiffe
  • Patent number: 9271863
    Abstract: A body waste collecting device includes a collecting pouch and an adhesive wafer for attachment to the body. The adhesive wafer has a backing layer, at least one intermediate layer of adhesive, a skin facing layer of adhesive, and a film layer. The intermediate layer of adhesive and the skin facing layer of adhesive include liquid impermeable, moisture permeable soft adhesives, and the film layer is positioned between the skin facing layer of adhesive and the intermediate layer of adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Coloplast A/S
    Inventors: Esben Stroebech, Mads Lykke, Anders Bach
  • Patent number: 9227043
    Abstract: A catheter assembly for inserting in a fluid filled space in a body includes a main body having a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is positionable within the fluid filled space and the second end portion is adapted to extend outward from the fluid filled space when the first end portion is positioned within the fluid filled space. The catheter assembly also includes a catheter tip that is connected to the second end portion. The catheter tip includes a housing having a cavity defined therein. The catheter tip also includes a rotating element positioned within the cavity. The rotating element is configured to rotate within the cavity to facilitate movement of the first end portion of the main body within the fluid filled space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Eric Leuthardt, Guy Genin, Matthew Smyth, David Limbrick, Daniel Moran, Lihong Wang, Aaron McLaughlin, Alexander Yang, Manish Shah, Devon Haydon, Sam Stone, Michael Winek, Richard L. Marcus
  • Patent number: 9173760
    Abstract: Several gastrointestinal surgery procedures are effective as treatments for metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Minimally invasive procedures including intra-luminal gastrointestinal implants have been proposed to mimic the anatomical, physiological and metabolic changes achieved by these procedures. Many of these designs include long sleeve like elements that prevent contact of food with the walls of the small intestine. It is desirable to have simple delivery systems that can place these implants under endoscopic guidance. However, in order to anchor these sleeve elements safely and reliably, the inventors have previously disclosed anchoring means that anchor the sleeves at the junctions of the stomach and the intestine or the stomach and esophagus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: MetaModix, Inc.
    Inventors: Kedar R. Belhe, Paul J. Thompson, Alexander D. Grafov, Werner Schwarz
  • Patent number: 9168179
    Abstract: A reduced-pressure system for treating a tissue site on a patient includes a distribution manifold that adheres to a tissue site to allow retention without external support. The distribution manifold includes a porous member and a tissue-fixation element. The tissue-fixation element maintains the porous member substantially adjacent to the tissue site while a sealing member is applied. In one instance, the tissue-fixation element is a soluble adhesive that partially covers either the tissue-facing side of the porous member or a tissue-facing side of a fluid-permeable substrate layer that is on the tissue-facing side of the porous member. Other systems, distributions manifolds, and methods are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: KCI Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Mark Robinson, Tyler Simmons, Colin John Hall, Jeanette Losole
  • Patent number: 9155608
    Abstract: A device for isolating tissue in the digestive tract including a biocompatible portion having a surface sized to cover the tissue to be isolated and also includes a plurality of micro-anchors attached to the biocompatible portion and extending from the surface, the micro-anchors sized to penetrate the mucosa of the tissue. A method for isolating tissue in the digestive tract in which an isolation element is delivered to a desired location in the digestive system; the isolation element having fixed thereto a plurality of micro-anchors. The method also includes attaching the isolation element to tissue at the desired location by causing the micro-anchors to penetrate the mucosa of the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Inventors: David Blaeser, Dale Spencer
  • Patent number: 9144522
    Abstract: An incontinence article in pants form for receiving bodily excretions, includes an abdominal section, a back portion and a crotch portion which extends in the longitudinal direction between the abdominal and back sections and is undetachably joined in overlapping regions to the abdominal portion and the back portion, wherein the abdominal portion and the back portion are connected to one another on both sides at the lateral seam regions forming a closed waist opening. The crotch portion extends with the long end thereof on the abdominal side and with the long end thereof on the back side to a respective imaginary line L1 or L2 which is parallel to the transverse direction, wherein the lines L1 and L2 divide the abdominal portion and the back portion into a respective first abdominal or back sub-region remote from the leg opening and a respective second stomach or back sub-region near the leg opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: PAUL HARTMANN AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Ostertag
  • Patent number: 9144635
    Abstract: A bulb syringe has a hollow spheroidal bulb which is split into two separate hemispheroidal portions transaxially defining an upper portion and a lower portion. The separate hemispheroidal portions are joined at a transaxial juncture of the upper and lower portions, and are able to be separated for disinfecting and later rejoined. One of the upper and lower portions extends into an elongated tubular spout terminating at an opening which is in communication with an interior volume of the spheroidal bulb. The tip of the spout is able to be positioned within the nostrils of an infant or small child. The two portions may be joined by molded-in mechanical threads or by an external circumferential strip with barbs that penetrate overlapping walls of the bulb at the joint between upper and lower portions but does not fully puncture the bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: IBIZ INNOVATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Glen Kaplan, Candice Koehler
  • Patent number: 9126006
    Abstract: A subdural drainage system includes (a) a subdural drainage device having an opening formed therethrough, said subdural drainage device having an upper portion, a body portion, and a lower portion; (b) a housing having an upper portion and lower portion, with said housing connected to said subdural drainage device; said housing movable between (i) a first configuration and (ii) a second configuration; and (c) a stylet positioned inside said housing, said stylet having an upper portion and a lower portion and configured such that said stylet is moved between (i) a withdrawn position with said stylet withdrawn from a portion of said subdural evacuation port device, and (ii) an extended position with said stylet extending through said subdural drainage device such that blockages are disrupted in the subdural drainage device when said housing is moved between said first and second housing configurations; and (d) an external drain opening formed on either said subdural drainage device or said housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
    Inventors: Charles L. Branch, John P. Eickman
  • Patent number: 9119773
    Abstract: There is provided methods for administering a toroidal pharmaceutical composition to a subject. The method includes dispensing a toroidal pharmaceutical composition, and allowing the toroidal pharmaceutical composition to contact a target organ of the subject, thereby administering the toroidal pharmaceutical composition. There are additionally provided toroidal aerosol delivery systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Hugh Smyth, Matthew Herpin
  • Patent number: 9101533
    Abstract: A needle safety guard device adapted to attach to a liquid container is provided. The device includes a disk-shaped shield having a medial opening connected with a radial opening between two radial edges. The device also includes a substantially U-shaped holder having two sidewalls coupled substantially perpendicular to the disk-shaped shield along the two radial edges, and a top cover connecting to the two sidewalls and extending from the shield above the radial opening. The U-shaped holder includes a wedged protrusion and a curved protrusion extending from each of the two sidewalls, the curved protrusion being between the top cover and the wedged protrusion for blocking a cap of the liquid container from moving toward the medial opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Inventors: Bruce Hedgepeth, Roger Huckfeldt, Cindy Lowe, Martin Reuter, Matt Price, Keela Davis, Rahul Eapen
  • Patent number: 9067004
    Abstract: A portable assembly for processing red blood cells RBCs including a disposable blood collection set including a blood bag, an anaerobic storage bag and an oxygen and/or oxygen and carbon dioxide depletion device disposed between the blood collection bag and anaerobic storage bag. The portable assembly further provides for a gas circulation device in fluid communication with the oxygen or oxygen and carbon dioxide depletion device. The gas circulation device includes a pressure source that is able circulate flushing gas through the depletion device as RBCs pass from the blood collection bag, through the depletion device and into the anaerobic storage bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: New Health Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Tatsuro Yoshida, Paul Vernucci
  • Patent number: 9060920
    Abstract: A clamp for a blood bag system includes a protrusion section which presses a tube, a locking section having a first engagement section and a second engagement section that form therebetween an engagement groove in which the protrusion section is positioned and by which engagement can be made, a first engagement release section which releases an engaged state between the first engagement section and the protrusion section; and a second engagement release section which releases an engaged state between the second engagement section and the protrusion section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Hirabuki
  • Patent number: 9023013
    Abstract: A urinary catheter kit is provided. The catheter kit includes a catheter with a flared end and a package provided with interior protrusions for cooperating with the flared end of the catheter. The largest outer diameter of the flared end of the catheter is slightly larger than the smallest diameter of the package at the protrusions. Thereby, the protrusions will function as a backstop for the catheter. The rigidity of the catheter at the flared end is selected so that—depending on the angle of the flared end—the flared end will be able to flip over if it is subjected to a force over a predetermined level. Thereby the catheter will be able to be entered back into the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Coloplast A/S
    Inventors: Lars Olav Schertiger, Kim Becker
  • Patent number: 9023004
    Abstract: In an absorptive article, fitting performance is improved by following the shape and movement of a body, and wrinkles in a blood discharge opening corresponding portion are eliminated and wearing comfort is improved by separating movement of each part from each other so that the blood discharge opening corresponding portion is not affected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Daio Paper Corporation
    Inventor: Mihoko Kuramochi
  • Patent number: 9017277
    Abstract: An implantable dialysis device with a related medical system for intracorporeal dialysis and ultrafiltration of blood, and methods of use are described. The medical system includes an extracorporeal module, a cutaneous module, and an implantable module. Features of the implantable module facilitate delivery and flow of blood and dialysate through the medical system. A filter pack within the implantable module performs dialysis and ultrafiltration of blood. System cleansing is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: SuPing Lyu, Thomas Edward Meyer, Mark Fredrick Daniels, Bryant J. Pudil