Patents Examined by V. Alexander
  • Patent number: 5562643
    Abstract: A device and method for localized application of a fluid to a small area of skin, which includes an ejection nozzle forming a passage with one or more apertures, a receptacle chamber forming a cavity around the ejection nozzle, the receptacle chamber being configured and affixed to the ejection nozzle such that fluid ejected from the ejection nozzle is capable of being confined within the receptacle chamber, an inflow duct, and an outflow duct. Fluids which may be applied according to the present invention may include escharotic fluids, alpha-hydroxy compounds, exfoliants, cleansing agents, and other medicinal and cosmetic agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Inventor: James B. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5562635
    Abstract: A parenteral device (10) comprising a body (12) having a forward end (26) and a rearward end (34). The forward end (26) is capable of receiving a hollow retractable needle (20) therein so as to project therefrom. The retractable needle (20) is slidable relative to the body (12) and the body (12) also includes a chamber (14) capable of receiving parenteral fluid and capable of being reduced in volume to expel fluid contained therein. The needle (20) is capable of being manually retracted within the body (12) such that the chamber (14) reduces in volume to expel fluid contained therein and such that the needle (20) is retracted to be wholly contained within the body (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Eastland Technology Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Maxwell E. Whisson
  • Patent number: 5562613
    Abstract: A subcutaneous drug delivery device having a driving member for advancing a piston, concentrically enclosed by a cannula, to deliver a drug pellet to a subcutaneous tissue site. The piston has a recessed distal platform upon which the pellet rests for delivery when the distal end of the piston is exposed beyond the cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: InterMED, Inc.
    Inventor: Antoine Kaldany
  • Patent number: 5558636
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of effecting the non-surgical transplant of embryos into the uterus of an animal. The method involves the use of a long tubular gripping instrument having an open forward end and an external gripping formation generally adjacent its forward end. A probe with a long tubular body having an open forward end extends axially inside the gripping instrument. A probing member projects in a generally non-axial direction from the probe body generally adjacent its forward end. The method comprises the steps of inserting the gripping instrument, forward end first, into a cervix of the uterus, and establishing a grip between the walls of the cervix and the external gripping formation on the gripping instrument. While maintaining said grip, the gripping instrument is pulled in a rearward direction to straighten the cervix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventors: Jiewen Li, August Rieke, Billy N. Day, Randall S. Prather
  • Patent number: 5558648
    Abstract: A disposable hollow cylindroid in the form of a cone which wedge impacts an inserted piston-activated medicinal cartridge such that, employing one or two hands, the user can safely aspirate tissue fluid from a patient and inject contained fluid medications via a hollow needle. The leading end of this disposable hollow cylindroid comprises means for stabilizing the hollow needle serving the inserted cartridge. The trailing end is fitted with a separate reusable plunger whose leading end reversibly attaches to the trailing end of the cartridge piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Inventor: Jack W. Shields
  • Patent number: 5558650
    Abstract: A syringe actuation device comprises an elastomeric element that is removably attachable to the outlet tip of a syringe, and to a grip member that allows the elastomeric element to be pulled along the syringe barrel, so as to seat against the distal end of the syringe plunger. In first and second embodiments, the elastomeric element is attached between a grommet, that fits around the outlet tip, and an end cap, having a finger grip, that engages the distal end of the plunger. When the grommet is seated around the outlet tip, and the end cap is engaged against the distal end of the plunger with the plunger in its withdrawn position, the elastomeric element is stretched along the syringe, thereby biasing the plunger toward its inserted position. As the elastomeric element restores itself to its unstretched configuration, it pushes the plunger into the syringe barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: I-Flow Corporation
    Inventor: Charles J. McPhee
  • Patent number: 5558651
    Abstract: A needle and a cover with a needle having an elongate shank and a tip with a sharpened point. The cover is coaxially associated with the elongate shank for movement therealong toward the tip and includes a part for extending beyond the sharpened point when the cover is positioned near the tip. A lock associated with the needle and cover cooperates and holds the cover to prevent axially movement relative to the needle tip after positioning the cover near the tip. The needle and cover may be a part of a catheter assembly having a catheter and an adapter connected to one another for fluid communication and carried coaxially about the needle and hub. The catheter has a bore therethrough sized to surround the elongate shank for movement therewith during insertion and therealong during placement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Crawford, Timothy J. Erskine, Gerald H. Peterson
  • Patent number: 5556379
    Abstract: A process for removing substantially all bone marrow from a large bone and a bone graft produced thereby. A large substantially intact bone is selected and excess cartilage is removed from at least one articulating surface of the bone. An opening is prepared through the cortical layer of the bone to permit access of a vacuum line to the bone cavity. A vacuum line is attached to the bone via the opening for application of vacuum to the bone cavity, and the opening is sealed. A vacuum is applied to draw a first cleaning solution through the bone cavity so as to draw the first solution and solubilized bone marrow through the vacuum line to exit the bone at the opening. The vacuum is discontinued when the bone has been substantially cleaned of bone marrow. Subsequently, a second flushing solution may be drawn through the bone cavity via vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Lifenet Research Foundation
    Inventor: Lloyd Wolfinbarger
  • Patent number: 5554128
    Abstract: A tubular sleeve suitable for connecting a disposable hypodermic syringe to a medicinal vial without exposing the tip of the needle until the syringe is filled and ready for injection. A process of inserting the syringe with a cap covering the needle into the first end of the sleeve, removing the needle cap, inserting the vial cap into the second end of the sleeve which allows the needle to penetrate the stopper in the vial and withdrawing medicament into the syringe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Joseph K. Andonian
    Inventor: Harry S. Hedges
  • Patent number: 5554134
    Abstract: A closure for the outlet end of an ampoule having a neck with an outwardly extending annular projection (30), said closure comprising a holding cap (18;61) with a skirt (35;62) with interior protrusions (38) for engagement behind the annular projection (30) of the neck, which holding cap engages a disc shape part (31) to press it sealingly against the annular projection (30). A locking ring (20;64) on the outer side of the skirt (35;62) locks projections (38) in their engagement position behind the annular projection (30). Resilient fingers (37;65) and recesses (36;66) are provided on either the skirt or the locking ring, the recesses being positioned below the fingers so that the fingers may be pushed into the recesses when the locking ring is passed over the skirt. Either the skirt (35) or the locking ring (64), which part is not provided with the fingers and recesses, is provided with an edge over which the fingers may grip irreversibly when the locking ring is mounted in position on the skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
    Inventor: Frits F. Bonnichsen
  • Patent number: 5549550
    Abstract: A method for dye marking a liquid enteral nutritional product during delivery thereof from a supply container to a feeding tube delivering the nutritional product to the gastrointestinal tract of a patient includes the steps of: (1) providing apparatus such as a formulation chamber, e.g., a drip chamber, connectable to the supply container, with at least one sustained release reservoir containing a physiologically acceptable and dispersible marker dye positioned within the formulation chamber, and, liquid communication means connecting the formulation chamber to the feeding tube of a patient; (2) providing a supply container containing the nutritional product; (3) connecting the formulation chamber to the supply container and the liquid commmunication means to the feeding tube; and (4) flowing the dye-marked nutritional product through the apparatus and into the feeding tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Terrence B. Mazer, Joseph E. Walton, Ronita K. Geckle, Carl J. Piontek, Susan B. Duel, Andre Daab-Krzykowski, Robert L. Joseph, William G. Pierson, Thomas D. Loughrin, Thomas W. Osip
  • Patent number: 5547471
    Abstract: A receptacle (500) is provided for coupling an adaptor (10) having a vial (54) including a beneficial agent to an IV administration set (526). In an embodiment, the receptacle (500) includes an injection site (512) for receiving a cannula (26) from the adaptor (10). A resilient divider (516) separates the receptacle (500) into two sections defined by an upper fitment (508) and a lower fitment (510). A container (520) holding a solution is in fluid communication with the receptacle (500) via an inlet (502). A through bore (518) allows the solution from the container (520) to pass through the resilient divider (516) when the adaptor (10) is removed from the receptacle (500).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Stacey S. Thompson, James McShane, Joseph Wong, Ray W. Wood
  • Patent number: 5545147
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved device for preventing the backing up of a nut on a threaded piston rod in the barrel of a hypodermic syringe at the end of dose administration from such syringe. The preferred device is a pawl mounted on the end of a flexible arm of a nut which cooperates with slots on the inside of a syringe barrel. The nut also has an incline surface at the end which mates with an incline surface in the barrel end. The mating of these surfaces at the end of dose administration forces the pawl into a slot, thereby preventing rotation of the nut in the wrong direction and the concurrent movement of the nut up the piston rod associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company
    Inventor: Dale C. Harris
  • Patent number: 5542933
    Abstract: A valve for controlling the flow of fluids through a cannula or catheter made up of a single block piece in the shape of a backward "7" having a head and a stem. As the stem is raised in relation to the hub of the cannula or catheter, the head blocks any flow through the cannula or catheter; as the stem is lowered, the head retracts allowing the flow to continue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Inventor: Ronald Marks
  • Patent number: 5540666
    Abstract: There is disclosed an injection syringe assembly comprising a cannula module including a two-part cannula shield device having a separate front cap, as well as a latched-in cannula holder in which a cannula is glued. In the mounted state, a plug-like cannula seal is received in the front cap and the cannula holding means is located forwardly of the syringe cone of a syringe body of an injection syringe. It is indirectly fastened to the syringe cone by aid of an elongated fastening portion of the cannula shield device. The cannula shield device includes two predetermined breaking points in order to be able to recognize immediately unauthorized manipulations at the syringe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Immuno Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Barta, Franz Moser, Walter Simonich
  • Patent number: 5538507
    Abstract: A hypodermic needle system that comprises a hub engaging close-fittingly over the end portion of the cylinder of a syringe and coupling means that consists of flexible legs capable of gripping the proximal end of the needle. In another embodiment, the apparatus also comprises a connecting element that is fixedly attached to the needle and is releasably mounted inside the hub, and the coupling means consists of flexible legs capable of gripping the connecting element. As a result of these configurations, the number of components in the hypodermic syringes constructed according to this invention is limited and the products are relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Inventors: Dirk De Kler, Hendrik Diepbrink
  • Patent number: 5536241
    Abstract: Methods and devices for using nitric oxide (NO) to decrease or prevent the contraction of a smooth muscle in a non-respiratory-tract organ of an animal, the organ being one which contains or is surrounded by a biological fluid which is not blood, which method includes the step of introducing an effective amount of NO into the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventor: Warren M. Zapol
  • Patent number: 5533982
    Abstract: Surgical needles are produced from martensitic precipitation-hardening stainless steel and then vacuum heat treated and vacuum cooled to increase its tensile strength while retaining the polished surface of the needle. A needle made by this process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation
    Inventors: Said Rizk, William O. Powers, W. Scott Samsel
  • Patent number: 5533970
    Abstract: A retractable needle syringe includes a barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end and a distal end. An elongate plunger is slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement with the inside surface of the barrel. The plunger includes a distal end, a proximal end and a radially directed projection on its distal end. A movable carrier is positioned in fluid-tight engagement with the inside surface of the barrel. The carrier includes an outside surface, a distal end, a proximal end, and a passageway therethrough in fluid communication with the chamber. The proximal end of the carrier includes an open-ended groove which is sized and shaped to receive the plunger projection. The groove includes an axial portion and a circumferential portion. The plunger is movable axially so that the plunger projection can enter and exit the axial portion of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Howard S. Berger, Robert B. Odell, Sandor Gyure
  • Patent number: 5533979
    Abstract: A thin blade shaped tool for the one-handed removal of a needle from an end of a syringe. The tool has an aperture in the center thereof for slideably mounting the tool on an end portion of the syringe, adjacent the needle, and sides extending outwardly from the syringe for a one-handed removal of said needle with a pair of fingers of a hand which holds the syringe. The sides have spaced apart ends and concave center portions for resting the syringe on a patient or IV line during an alignment of the needle with an injection site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Inventors: Hossein Nabai, Homayoon Rahbari