Patents Examined by Sara Sass
  • Patent number: 8998862
    Abstract: An artificial Ostomy containment device comprising an implantable intra-abdominal sleeve adapted to interfere with movement of a closure assembly positioned within the sleeve; and a closure assembly comprising a hollow stomal insert sized and shaped to conduct waste content from an intestinal portion in an abdominal cavity through said insert and out of a stoma, and a fixation element coupled to said stomal insert sized and positioned to interfere with said intra-abdominal sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: B. Braun Medical SAS
    Inventors: David Hanuka, Meir Or
  • Patent number: 8998876
    Abstract: An ampoule holder for receiving an ampoule that has a closure element with a radial projection, the ampoule holder including an ampoule seat and a securing member operably coupled to the ampoule seat, wherein the radial projection of the closure element can be arranged between the ampoule seat and securing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG
    Inventors: Annette Drunk, Marius Büttler, Frank Schiffmann, Sara Tretola, Kurt Weber, Ulrich Moser, Jürg Hirschel
  • Patent number: 8993831
    Abstract: Medical implants and methods useful in treating postpartum hemorrhage are disclosed. The implants, in some embodiments, comprise polyurethane foams having advantageous mechanical and other properties selected to promote hemostasis when brought in contact with an inner wall of a uterus. Methods of making and deploying such implants are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Arsenal Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Upma Sharma, Irina Gitlin, Parisa Zamiri, Toby Freyman, Rany Busold, Lee Core, Janet Chie Komatsu, Jennifer Mortensen
  • Patent number: 8992456
    Abstract: A device and system for removing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a CSF space within a patient's body includes a housing adapted for implantation into a subcutaneous body space remote from the CSF space. A fluid pump is mounted inside the device housing. The pump has a pump actuator, a fluid inlet extending through the housing wall and a fluid outlet extending through the housing wall. A battery-powered electric motor is mounted inside the housing and is operatively coupled to the pump actuator. Device control circuitry controls operation of the electric motor. The device control circuitry includes a processor responsive to CSF space pressure signals, outflow pressure signals, and CSF flow rate signals to calculate CSF space pressures, CSF outflow pressures, and CSF removal volumes. A telemetry unit includes a transmitter to wirelessly transmit pump data and a receiver to receive external operational commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: N. Garrett Powell
  • Patent number: 8979812
    Abstract: A stoma pad configured to cooperate with a fluid handing tube comprises a flexible, resilient, soft annular pad having a generally flat bottom surface and a convex annular wall extending upwardly from the bottom surface, and a circular hole extending through the center of the annular wall and the bottom surface. A stoma pad assembly comprises the stoma pad and a retention, support or holding device for securing the stoma pad on a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Galmed
    Inventor: Thomas C. Loescher
  • Patent number: 8974429
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for alerting a user of topical negative pressure therapy apparatus to a full waste canister condition are described, the apparatus comprising a device having vacuum pump means and a waste canister connected to the device and the waste canister operably connected to a wound dressing by aspiration conduit means for aspirating fluid from the wound, the aspiration conduit means, the waste canister and the device providing a fluid flow path therethrough and the vacuum pump means providing fluid flow through the apparatus, the apparatus further comprising fluid flow restriction means in the fluid flow path of said vacuum pump and fluid pressure sensing means upstream and downstream of said fluid flow restriction means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Gordon, Jake Turner, Nathan Wrench, Edward Vernon-Harcourt, David Harris
  • Patent number: 8969650
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bodily fluid-absorbent structure improved so as to facilitate bodily fluids to disperse in a thickness direction of the structure. Core material of a bodily fluid-absorbent structure is formed of an aggregation of fluff wood pulp fibers. The aggregation has a basis mass in a range of 150 to 500 g/m2 and a specific volume in a range of 3 to 20 cc/g. In the aggregation, a relationship between horizontal orientation index IH and specific volume VSP of fluff wood pulp fibers is represented by a formula as follows: IH is less than or equal to ?0.099VSP+2.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Goda, Satoshi Mizutani, Kou Detani
  • Patent number: 8945078
    Abstract: A wearing article having a chassis bent in a crotch region. A diaper is folded along an imaginary lateral center line so that front and rear waist regions are in contact with each other and so that front and rear upper end edges in the regions substantially have the same level with each other. In such a folded state, first folds extending in the longitudinal direction are defined in portions of gasket cuffs which are biased toward the front waist region relative to the imaginary lateral center line. The first folds are defined along lateral edges of core of a liquid absorbent structure, and the gasket cuffs being located outboard of the lateral edges are folded along the first folds onto a garment-facing side of an outer sheet. Second folds which extend in the longitudinal direction are formed in containment cuffs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventor: Shunsuke Takino
  • Patent number: 8915877
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides an implant device for use in an eye with elevated intraocular pressure or glaucoma. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for lowering intraocular pressure and/or treating a condition associated with elevated intraocular pressure using the implant device of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Inventor: Emmett T. Cunningham, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8915894
    Abstract: In various embodiments of the invention, the components can include a hemostatic vacuum cup which can utilize ancillary or self-contained vacuum generation, and a therapeutic agent which is supplied prior, simultaneously or subsequent to the application of a vacuum with the ultimate aim of slowing or arresting the flow of blood in a bodily tissue or organ. The invention relates to a hemostatic vacuum cup which can utilize ancillary or self-contained vacuum generation. The cup produces a hemostatic effect by the physical application of the device upon a traumatized tissue site and through the delivery of an agent, such as one that assists in hemostasis, antinociception, coagulation, sterilization, or other effective wound healing agents including antibiotics, antiseptics and antioxidants. The cup can be adapted to deliver the therapeutic agent, by methods integral to the vacuum cup. The therapeutic agent can be delivered in the form of a sponge, cellulose or other filter material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Meditech Development Incorporated
    Inventors: Neal Marc Lonky, Albert Steve Gurganian
  • Patent number: 8911390
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a multipart fluid system for use in CRRT, wherein the multipart fluid system comprises an anticoagulation fluid and at least one fluid from the group consisting of a dialysis fluid and an infusion fluid. According to the invention the anticoagulation fluid comprises at least 8 mM citrate, and the dialysis fluid and/or infusion fluid comprises 2-8 mM citrate and 1-5 mM total calcium. The present invention further concerns a system for regional citrate anticoagulation in an extracorporeal blood circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventor: Jan Sternby
  • Patent number: 8900173
    Abstract: A blood purification apparatus has a dialyzer (1), an arterial blood circuit (2) with a blood pump (4), a venous blood circuit (3), a dialysis fluid introduction line (L1), a dialysis fluid discharge line (L2), a dialysate infusing line (L8), and a dialysate infusing pump (13). A closed circuit is formed in the flow route of the dialysis fluid on the dialysis fluid introduction line (L1) side including a predetermined part where a collection port (11) is formed. A testing process is performed to confirm the connection of the dialysate infusing line (L8) to the collection port (11) by measuring fluid pressure within the closed circuit while driving the dialysate infusing pump (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Nikkiso Company Limited
    Inventor: Akira Sugioka
  • Patent number: 8894626
    Abstract: A washable diaper having an outer article and an inner liner system detachably coupled to the outer article is disclosed. The inner liner system may include front and back ends and a liner member about a washable article with an absorbent pad positioned therein. The outer article may include front and back ends with opposing side edges extending therebetween. The outer article may include an inner surface with substantially liquid impervious compartments at the front and back ends. The outer article and the inner article may include fastening mechanisms configured to removably couple the inner liner system to the outer article such that at least the front and back ends of the washable article of the inner liner system are substantially secured within the front and back liquid impervious pockets, respectively, when the outer article and inner liner system are assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Sandra C. Beck
  • Patent number: 8894602
    Abstract: Disclosed are lacrimal inserts and their method of use for delivery of medication to the eye. The plug includes a body portion sized to pass through a lacrimal punctum and be positioned within a lacrimal canaliculus of the eyelid and includes means for directional release of medication into the lacrimal fluid. The plug may contain a core, or reservoir, at least partially within the body portion comprising a therapeutic agent that is configured to controlled release into the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventor: Bret A. Coldren
  • Patent number: 8894603
    Abstract: Described here are systems and methods for accessing Schlemm's canal and for delivering an ocular device or fluid composition therein. The ocular devices may maintain the patency of Schlemm's canal without substantially interfering with transmural fluid flow across the canal. The fluid composition may be a viscoelastic fluid that is delivered into the canal to facilitate drainage of aqueous humor by disrupting the canal and surrounding trabeculocanalicular tissues. Tools for disrupting these tissues and minimally invasive methods for treating medical conditions associated with elevated intraocular pressure, including glaucoma, are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sight Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: David Y. Badawi, Daniel O'Keeffe, Paul Badawi
  • Patent number: 8888732
    Abstract: An intraluminal sleeve system is provided, which generally includes an intraluminal sleeve capable of dispensing an active agent to a patient, for example, a metabolic agent or satiety inducing agent. The intraluminal sleeve may be structured to contain the active agent and permit controlled release of the active agent to the patient while the intraluminal sleeve is positioned within the patient's intestine. Methods for treating obesity are also provided which include positioning an intraluminal sleeve in a patient's intestine, the intraluminal sleeve being capable of dispensing an active agent to the patient. In one embodiment, the active agent may be contained in a reservoir and dispensed to a portion of the patient's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph S. Raven, Janel A. Birk
  • Patent number: 8889946
    Abstract: A male incontinence guard includes a liquid permeable topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent body between the topsheet and the backsheet. The guard has a transverse direction and a longitudinal direction and is divided by a transverse dividing line into a front region with a front transverse edge and a rear region with a rear transverse edge. The front region has a greater maximum extension in the transverse direction than the maximum extension of the rear region in the transverse direction, and the longitudinal extension of the rear region is 10-60% of the longitudinal extension of the guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
    Inventors: Kent Hermansson, Carina Hedlund
  • Patent number: 8858487
    Abstract: A blood purification apparatus, during priming, has one end of the fluid infusing line L3 connected at the same location as the connected location of the fluid infusing line L3 during the blood purification treatment process. Determining whether either a pre-fluid infusion, where replenishment fluid is supplied to an arterial air trap chamber 5, or a post-fluid infusion, where the replenishment fluid is supplied to a venous air trap chamber 6, will be performed in the blood purification treatment process. The end of an arterial blood circuit 2 and the end of a venous blood circuit 3 are connected together to communicate fluid. In addition, a blood pump 4 is driven in normal rotation or in reverse rotation direction while the replenishment fluid is supplied from the fluid infusing line L3. The replenishment fluid is discharged from an overflow line 6a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Nikkiso Company Limited
    Inventor: Tomohiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8858880
    Abstract: Treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning of a body by removal of a portion of the blood from the body, placing the portion in an exposure cell, exposing the portion in the cell to light of wave length and intensity that causes dissociation of carbon monoxide from hemoglobin, and returning the portion to the body. The intensity and wave length of the light is sufficient to dissociate a therapeutically-effective amount of carbon monoxide from the hemoglobin in the blood. The blood is circulated from and to the body through a concentric double lumen cannula. The wave lengths of the light are 540 and/or 570 nanometers. The cell exposes the blood to at least 9.5 Joules of dissociative light per milliliter of blood, and least 9.5 Watts of dissociative light per milliliter of blood per second. Oxygen is provided to, and the dissociated carbon monoxide is removed from the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: Mark S. Smyczynski
  • Patent number: 8845604
    Abstract: A portable device (2) for providing a vacuum for medical vacuum treatment of wounds on the body of a person or of an animal has a holding or carrying device (10) with two connecting sections (12, 14) on the housing, which are disposed on the housing part (4) for connection to two connecting sections of a holding or carrying strap on the strap, wherein the holding or carrying strap comprises a third strap-side connecting section, which is spaced apart from the opposing ends of the holding or carrying strap and from the first and second strap-side connecting sections disposed there, and arranged between these ends, for connection to one of the connecting sections on the housing and/or to a strap-side connecting section disposed at the end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Paul Hartmann AG
    Inventors: Pierre Croizat, Axel Eckstein