Patents Examined by Theodore Stigell
  • Patent number: 9841012
    Abstract: A linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor includes a piston slidably received within a chamber of a cylinder assembly and a mover positioned in a driving coil. The linear compressor also includes features for coupling the piston to the mover such that motion of the mover is transferred to the piston during operation of the driving coil and for reducing friction between the piston and the cylinder during motion of the piston within the chamber of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: David G. Beers
  • Patent number: 9833603
    Abstract: A septum for a port is provided, the septum having a top wall and a side wall. The side wall can include a pressure-activated valve element for regulating the flow of fluid across the valve. The curvature of the side wall and the geometry of the sidewall and the housing can be tailored to bias the valve element to open at different pressures during infusion and aspiration. The side wall can also include an extended portion that can function as a suture wing for securing the port within a port pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventors: Marcia Nardone, Damon Casiello
  • Patent number: 9827374
    Abstract: An injector device includes an injector body that receives a syringe; and an injection assembly being configured to dispense medicament from the syringe in a dispensation step. Certain types of injector devices include a sudden completion indicator that indicates when the injection is completed. Certain types of injector devices are configured to dispense two different medicament formulations having different viscosities from syringes without making any changes to the injector devices other than to switch out the syringes. Certain types of injector devices include safety arrangements that inhibit firing of the injector device until front and rear housing assemblies are disposed in predetermined rotational and axial positions relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: TEVA PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED
    Inventor: Toby Cowe
  • Patent number: 9822620
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a plunger for use in a pumping system. The plunger can include a cylindrical plunger body that is adapted to be coupled to a drive rod. The plunger body can define an aperture configured to receive pumped fluids. The aperture can define an inner diameter of the plunger body. The plunger body can include a leading end having a tapered portion configured to direct solids into the aperture. The tapered portion can be tapered from the inner diameter toward an outer diameter of the plunger body to form a tip aligned with the outer diameter. The tapered portion can include two or more different degrees of taper along a length of the tapered portion. The plunger body can further include a rear end coupleable to a traveling valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Muth Pump LLC
    Inventor: Garold M. Muth
  • Patent number: 9814866
    Abstract: A flushable valve which has unidirectional flushing can be used to flush a lumen of a stent, catheter and/or tubing. By flushing the stent, catheter and/or tubing, particulates or residue that can block or impede the flow of fluid out of the stent, catheter and/or tubing can be overcome thereby facilitating continued drainage. An automatic flushable valve eliminates manual manipulation of the device. In an embodiment of the invention, a back pressure sensor can be used to detect when the flow through the stent, catheter and/or tubing has become impeded and activates a flushing cycle. In an embodiment of the invention, a leak detector can be used to detect when an operation has caused the flush device to leak. In various embodiments of the invention, the back pressure sensor and the leak detector can be used to detect that the flush device is operating under normal conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Inventor: Gaurav K Goswami
  • Patent number: 9814863
    Abstract: A catheter securement device adapted to be adhesively mounted to the skin of a patient to secure a catheter in place, the device having a flexible, thin, sheet-like base member with a distal edge and a midportion, and a releasable, flexible, thin, sheet-like retention member comprising a fixed end, a releasable end, a and a distal edge, wherein the distal edge of the retention member is offset from the distal edge of the base member to define an uplift focus area in the midportion of the base member, such that upward pull on the catheter is transferred to the midportion of the base member to preclude the base member from being peeled from the patient's skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: TIDI Securement Products, LLC
    Inventors: Kurt Kyvik, Arthur Parkhurst, Brian William Tait
  • Patent number: 9814827
    Abstract: A system for delivering to a patient a slurry which includes a fluid and a material that is non-dissolvable or immiscible in the fluid. The system includes a container adapted to contain the slurry and a supernate of the slurry, a syringe adapted to contain the slurry after dilation with the supermate, a fluid path between the syringe and the contents of the container, the fluid path including a needle at least partially disposed within the contents of the container, a plunger disposed in the syringe and adapted to create pressure in the syringe to cause a dilated slurry to flow into the syringe through the fluid path, and a fluidizing systen associated with the container and comprising a holder adapted to move the needle within the container to affect dilation of the slurry with a portion of the supernate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: BAYER HEALTHCARE LLC
    Inventors: Arthur E Uber, III, David M Griffiths, David M Reilly, Alan D Hirschman, Kevin P Cowan, Mark Trocki
  • Patent number: 9814830
    Abstract: Some embodiments of an infusion pump device may include a drive system that accurately and incrementally dispenses fluid from the pump device in a controlled manner. Particular embodiments of the drive system may include a rotational motor that is coupled to a string member, which is used to adjust a pawl relative to a ratchet body. In such circumstances, the drive system can provide a reliable and compact infusion pump device that accurately dispenses the desired volume of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Bigfoot Biomedical, Inc.
    Inventors: Morten Mernoe, Mitchell Wenger, James Causey, Todd Kirschen
  • Patent number: 9808581
    Abstract: An injection device includes a housing, a plunger, a drive gear and a release trigger. The plunger includes a leadscrew and a cap attached thereto where, in use, the cap engages a bung of a cartridge containing medicament. The drive gear within the housing engages with the leadscrew such that rotation of the drive gear around the leadscrew drives the plunger axially through the housing towards the bung. The trigger includes a locking ring having generally axially extending teeth for engaging with corresponding teeth on the drive gear. The trigger is generally axially movable between an engaged position where the teeth are engaged and prevent rotation of the drive gear, and a disengaged position where the teeth are disengaged and enable rotation of the drive gear. Movement of the trigger between the disengaged and engaged position causes counter-rotation of the drive gear and retracts the plunger away from the bung.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: OWEN MUMFORD LIMITED
    Inventors: Jerry Marshall, Jakub Tomaszewski
  • Patent number: 9810210
    Abstract: The invention provides a peristaltic pump. The pump has a cavity for receiving a rotor and a flexible conduit, the rotor engaging the flexible conduit to displace fluid therein. A conduit retainer mechanism is provided for engaging the flexible conduit to assist with retention of the conduit in the cavity against displacement resulting from engagement between the conduit and the rotor. The conduit retainer mechanism including first and second jaws opposite to one another, defining between them a passageway for receiving the conduit, wherein one of the first and second jaws are spring biased to resiliently engage the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: CAPMATIC LTEE
    Inventor: Loris Bassani
  • Patent number: 9803634
    Abstract: An axial piston pump may comprise a valve plate assembly including a plurality of valve plates rotatably disposed adjacent to each other and configured to control the flow of fluid between a piston chamber and inlet and outlet port passages. The piston pump may also comprise a swashplate arrangement that is capable of being angled in two different directions to be used in combination with the valve plate assembly. A fixed displacement axial piston pump may also comprise the valve plate assembly disclosed herein in which pressure transitions are facilitated in the same fashion, but without the variable of changing swashplate angles which control pump flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. May
  • Patent number: 9803493
    Abstract: A turbine bearing and seal assembly is disclosed. The turbine bearing and seal assembly may have a turbine cartridge. The turbine cartridge may have a compressor end and a turbine end opposite the compressor end. The turbine bearing and seal assembly may also have a bearing attached to the turbine cartridge. The bearing may be disposed between the compressor end and the turbine end. The turbine bearing and seal assembly may further have a seal collar attachable to a shaft. The seal collar may be disposed within the turbine cartridge adjacent the turbine end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary R. Svihla, Raji Rexavier, Joshua D. Schueler
  • Patent number: 9795289
    Abstract: A light for use with an oral anesthesia syringe that is received into a passageway of a barrel of the light. When the syringe is received into a first opening in a proximal end of the barrel's passageway, the needle of the syringe extends through a second opening at the proximal end of the barrel. At least one lamp and preferably a plurality of lamps at the distal end of the barrel illuminate the needle and the interior of a patient's mouth. A battery is included in the light for powering the lamps. The insertion of the syringe into the barrel may a pair of contacts to cause the battery to power the lamps, or the battery may be removed to remove power from the lamps. A disposable integrated syringe and light combination is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventors: M. Wade Clayton, Jimmy E. Brown
  • Patent number: 9795508
    Abstract: Systems, processes, and articles of manufacture may be used to perform ocular infusion. In particular implementations, a system for ocular infusion may include a length of flexible tubing and a tip adapted to be inserted into an eye. The flexible tubing may be adapted to convey an ocular infusion fluid and include a plurality of coils set in at least a portion thereof. The ocular tip may be coupled to a first end of the flexible tubing and adapted to convey ocular infusion fluid from the flexible tubing into an eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jose Lopez
  • Patent number: 9790935
    Abstract: An example pressure-driven metered mixing dispensing pump includes a housing, a fluid inlet, a piston disposed in the housing at least partially defining first, second and third chambers, the first and second chambers each in fluid communication with the third chamber, the piston to, in response to first fluid entering the first chamber via the fluid inlet, move in a first direction to decrease the volume of the second chamber thereby ejecting second fluid from the second chamber into the third chamber, a spring to move the piston in a second direction to decrease the volume of the first chamber thereby ejecting at least some of the first fluid from the first chamber into the third chamber thereby mixing the at least some of the first fluid and the second fluid to form a mixture, and an outlet to discharge the mixture from the third chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew C. Parsons, Robert J. Pinkowski, Nicholas E. Righetti, Ricardo N. Schiesser
  • Patent number: 9790946
    Abstract: An exhaust pump includes: a cylindrical rotating member; an outer cylindrical fixed member; an inner cylindrical fixed member a helical inner thread groove exhaust passage provided between the cylindrical rotating member and the inner cylindrical fixed member; connecting opening portions that are opened in the cylindrical rotating member and that lead a part of gas existing in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the cylindrical rotating member towards the inner thread groove exhaust passage. A gap between an upstream end of the connecting opening portions and lowermost stage rotor blades provided at the outer periphery of the cylindrical rotating member which is located upstream of the connecting opening portions has a dimension equal to or greater than a dimension that enables insertion, into the gap, of a tool for opening the connecting opening portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Edwards Japan Limited
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Ohtachi, Yasushi Maejima, Tsutomu Takaada
  • Patent number: 9789278
    Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a catheter, a collar, and an extension tube assembly. The catheter includes a leading end portion and a trailing end portion. The collar is supported on the trailing end portion of the catheter. The extension tube assembly includes a first section and a second section, each section independent of the other section and including a substantially rigid body portion and a compressible extension tube portion. The body portion of each of the first and second sections is independently engageable with the trailing end portion of the catheter. The collar is configured to engage the first and second sections of the extension tube assembly to secure the extension tube assembly to the trailing end portion of the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Kurt Haggstrom, Robert Frechette
  • Patent number: 9789272
    Abstract: The present application discloses a bridle device and a method of placing a bridle on a person using the bridle device. In one exemplary embodiment, the bridle device comprises a retrieval portion and a delivery portion. The delivery portion has a retrieval member and a retrieval magnet attached to the retrieval member. The delivery portion has a delivery member and a delivery magnet that is movable relative to a distal portion of the delivery member. In certain embodiments, the delivery portion has a delivery tube and a delivery magnet attached to a flexible elongated member received in the delivery tube. The delivery magnet is movable relative to a distal portion of the delivery tube and both poles of the delivery magnet are exposed outside of the delivery tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Medical Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Allison Slaga, Matthew Thompson
  • Patent number: 9782574
    Abstract: An applicator (100) for applying a microneedle device to a skin surface. The applicator can include a microneedle device (106), a housing (102), and a connecting member (110). The connecting member can be configured to allow the microneedle device to move between: (i) a first position in which at least a portion of the microneedle device extends beyond the housing; and (ii) a second position in which the microneedle device is recessed within the housing when a threshold application force is applied to the microneedle device in a direction substantially perpendicular with respect to the microneedle device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Ryan P. Simmers
  • Patent number: 9784252
    Abstract: A hydrostatic radial piston machine includes a radial cylinder block with cylinder bores which extend from an outer circumferential surface of the radial cylinder block into an interior of the radial cylinder block; a number of pistons which corresponds to the number of cylinder bores; a cam ring, and ends of the pistons which face away from the radial cylinder piston block are supported movably on an inner circumferential surface of the radial cylinder block during a rotation of the radial cylinder block; two control plate elements which extend respectively with a face oriented towards the radial cylinder block towards a central plane of the radial cylinder block, which central plane is perpendicular to the rotation axis. Each control plate element includes a bearing portion in which radially acting forces are transferable to a respective mating surface in the housing or housing cover mounted in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Inventor: Juergen Berbuer