Patents Examined by Wynn Wood Coggins
  • Patent number: 6120492
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for percutaneously accessing an implanted port use an access cannula which is periodically introduced to an aperture on the implanted port so that the cannula passes through the same tissue tract. It has been found that repeated passage of the cannula through the same tissue tract reduces patient trauma, with minimized bleeding, reduction in sensitivity. The tract may be initially formed by percutaneously placing a penetrating element through intact skin to the port and leaving the element in place for a time sufficient to created the tract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Vasca, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles David Finch, Jeffrey H. Burbank, James M. Brugger
  • Patent number: 6120478
    Abstract: There is disclosed herein a single use syringe (1) having a container section (2), a valve section (4) and a hollow needle (4a). The valve section (4) contains a one-way valve (40) which allows fluid to flow in only one direction through the valve section (4). The single use syringe (1) may also be provided with locking means to prevent the separation of the container section (2) from the valve section (4). There is also disclosed herein packaging (16, 17) and a carry case (10, 11) in which to store and transport the single use syringe (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventors: Ian Marshall Moore, Colin Campbell Marshall Moore
  • Patent number: 6120491
    Abstract: A polymer with a hydrolytically labile backbone and having the structure: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.9 is an alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl group with up to 18 carbon atoms having a pendent carboxylic acid group or the benzyl ester thereof;R.sub.12 is an alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl group with up to 18 carbon atoms having a pendent carboxylic acid ester group selected from straight and branched alkyl and alkylaryl esters containing up to 18 carbon atoms and ester derivatives of biologically and pharmaceutically active compounds covalently bonded thereto, provided that the ester group is not a benzyl group or a group that is removed by hydrogenolysis;each R.sub.7 is independently an alkylene group containing up to four carbon atoms;A is selected from: ##STR2## wherein R.sub.8 is selected from saturated and unsaturated, substituted and unsubstituted alkyl, aryl and alkylaryl groups containing up to 18 carbon atoms;k is between about 5 and about 3,000; andx and f independently range from zero to less that one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: The State University Rutgers
    Inventors: Joachim B. Kohn, Durgadas Bolikal, George L. Brode, Sylvie I. Ertel, Shuiyun Guan, John E. Kemnitzer
  • Patent number: 6120494
    Abstract: A cannula assembly for insertion in a blood vessel includes a cannula and a dilator. The cannula has a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. The dilator, which is telescopically received in the lumen of the cannula, includes proximal and distal ends, a passage extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a dilator tip disposed at the distal end. The cannula assembly further includes a needle and a guide wire disposed within the passage of the dilator. The dilator tip has an opening formed therein for receiving one of the needle and guide wire. The dilator tip is configured to limit insertion of the needle in the blood vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Jonkman
  • Patent number: 6120482
    Abstract: A needle guard assembly is provided for mounting to the hub of a needle assembly. The needle guard assembly includes a guide that is engageable on the hub. An elongate U-shaped cover is hingedly mounted to the guide and can be rotated from a first position where the needle cannula is substantially surrounded by the U-shaped walls of the cover into a second position where the needle cannula is exposed for use. The needle guard assembly further includes a slide that is slidably engaged in the guide and movable from a first position where the slide cooperatively engages the cover for completely surrounding the needle cannula to a second position where the slide is spaced proximally from the cover, thereby permitting the cover to rotate into its second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Sandor Szabo
  • Patent number: 6117117
    Abstract: A bifurcated catheter assembly is provided for treating bifurcated vessels. The bifurcated catheter assembly comprises an elongate main catheter shaft having a stiffer proximal portion, a more flexible distal portion, and a pair of branch catheters attached to the distal portion. An expandable member is located on each of the branch catheters. The balloons are held together to provide a low profile as the device is advanced over the tracking guide wire. Upon reaching the bifurcated vessel, the balloons are separated and are advanced over separate guide wires into separate branches of the bifurcated vessel. The bifurcated catheter assembly can be used to dilate a stenoses or deliver and implant a Y-shaped stent in the bifurcation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin M. Mauch
  • Patent number: 6117107
    Abstract: A safety syringe for intravenous injection with a guided plunger is provided that comprises a barrel, a needle unit, and a plunger. An outlet is eccentrically disposed on the top of the barrel. The needle unit includes a needle and a spindle shaped needle holder mounted inside the outlet. A connecting stem has an arrowhead shaped mortise disposed under the spindle shaped needle holder. A plunger has a plunger head on the top thereof with an arrowhead shaped tenon eccentrically disposed thereon. A supporting plate disposed under the plunger head has two guide notches matched with two longitudinal guide strips inside the barrel, so that the arrowhead shaped tenon aligns with the needle unit. After completion of the injection, the arrowhead shaped tenon and the needle unit are connected together, the needle unit can then be pulled into the barrel and subsequently deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventor: Long-Hsiung Chen
  • Patent number: 6119036
    Abstract: A conducting silicone matrix incorporating a suspension of a drug in ionized and non-ionized phases in an emulsion of a hydrophobic polymer. In one version, the drug is prepared as a concentrated aqueous suspension incorporated in a silicone matrix with a silicone surfactant. An electrolyte may be incorporated into the silicone matrix for increasing its conductivity. When a current is applied, the drug in individual globules in the drug suspension migrates away from the electrode and becomes concentrated at the distal side of the globules eventually resulting in an increase in the drug concentration distal to the electrode and adjacent to the skin and thereby resulting in transfer of the active drug through the skin. This system provides a matrix with minimal electroendosmotic flow that is current efficient and provides a drug reservoir that can last for several days during application of the drug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
    Inventor: Loyd V. Allen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6117109
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for removing fatty tissue underlying a patient's epidermis (e.g., blepharoplasty, brow lifts, eyelid shortening procedures, and the like). These methods include positioning one or more active electrode(s) and one or more return electrode(s) in close proximity to a target site on an external body surface of the patient. A high frequency voltage difference is applied between the active and return electrode(s), and the active electrode(s) are translated across the external body surface to create an incision therein. The bipolar configuration controls the flow of current to within and around the distal end of the probe, which minimizes tissue necrosis and the conduction of current through unwanted paths in the patient. The residual heat from the electrical energy also provides simultaneous hemostasis of severed blood vessels, which increases visualization and improves recovery time for the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew R. Eggers, Philip E. Eggers, Ronald A. Underwood, Stephen M. Brunell, Hira V. Thapliyal
  • Patent number: 6117103
    Abstract: A multi-drug intravenous infusion apparatus which comprises a plurality of vials containing drugs to be provided to a patient; a fluid container containing fluid to be mixed with the drugs; conduit mechanism for leading drugs from the vials, mixed with the fluid from the container, to mechanism for introducing the drugs with the fluid into the patient's body, the conduit mechanism comprising: a main section, a plurality of individual sections, each comprising at least a collapsible portion, connected to the vials and to the main sections, a terminal section connected to the main section and the mechanism for introducing the drugs with the fluid into the patient's body, and a fluid section leading fluid from the fluid container to the terminal section; a switching unit comprising a plurality of switches, each one associated with one of the individual sections, wherein each switch is capable of either blocking the drug flow in the associated section by exerting pressure whereby to collapse the collapsible porti
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Medun Ltd.
    Inventors: Grigory N. Tverskoy, Leonid Lipetsker, Evgeny Voronov, Roman Struzer
  • Patent number: 6117124
    Abstract: A brand new device and a method to do arteriographies which allow simultaneous angioplasties by using a catheter and a balloon capable of copying the narrowed portion of the artery under study, providing the contrast required to view the artery via a contrasting medium which is circumscribed within the diagnosis balloon and which is not in relationship with the patient's tissue; therefor, the catheter has a diagnosis balloon which may be filled with the contrasting medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventor: Juan Carlos Parodi
  • Patent number: 6117115
    Abstract: A medical tubing and slide clamp set is disclosed for use with a medical infusion pump designed for operation with a preselected medical tubing set having predetermined size and functional characteristics. The medical tubing and slide clamp includes a preselected medical tubing set having predetermined size and function characteristics. An opaque slide clamp is provided with a grasping end and a longitudinal clamp plate extending from the grasping end. The longitudinal clamp plate defines a clamp slot with a wide open portion sized for receiving the preselected medical tubing without closing the tubing, a narrow open portion sized for closing the tubing and a transition portion interconnecting the narrow and wide portions. A plurality of orifices are formed along the longitudinal clamp plate at predetermined locations arranged according to the size and functional characteristics of the medical tubing set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: B. Braun Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger J. Hill, James H. Monti, Jr., David J. Harrison
  • Patent number: 6117114
    Abstract: A valve adapted to actuators with various tolerances by having a flexible axial wall extend inwardly from an input of a housing containing a plurality of stationary and longitudinally extending ribs and by having the flexible axial wall surroundingly engage each inserted actuator, regardless of tolerance variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventor: Joseph R. Paradis
  • Patent number: 6113570
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for utilizing a combination of ultrasonic energy and an echo contrast agent containing microbubbles, for substantially dissolving blood clots or other fistula obstructions. One embodiment of the present invention alternatively utilizes a selected dose of thrombolytic agent in combination with an echo contrast agent, for enhancing the thrombolytic action of a thrombolytic agent and removing a thrombosis from a fistula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Coraje, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Siegel, Robert E. Carter
  • Patent number: 6113566
    Abstract: Ultraviolet (UV) blood irradiation apparatus for the in vitro irradiation of blood wherein an irradiation station receives blood and irradiates blood passing through the station and a substantially planar, tube-like, elliptically-shaped body made of a material that transmits UV wavelengths in the range of 2,000 and 12,000 angstroms and an input and an output port at opposite ends thereof for respectively inputing and outputing blood, respectively; a UV source generating a low heat output whereby the irradiation station does not require cooling; a peristaltic pump receiving blood from an animal or human and pumping it through the irradiation station and returning the blood to the animal or human after passage through the irradiation station; power control switches for respectively turning power on/off from a source of electric power, and electrically connected to the pump and the source for activating/deactivating the pump and the UV source, respectively; a housing in which the irradiation station, pump and po
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Foundation for Blood Irradiation Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Schleicher
  • Patent number: 6113569
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for performing liposuction in which the reciprocal motion of the cannula during the operation is automated. The apparatus includes a housing, a cannula and reciprocating arrangement to provide the motion for the cannula. In one arrangement, the suction being applied to the cannula to remove fatty tissue has the negative pressure created by the suction applied to the cannula to reciprocate it. In a second embodiment, a permanent magnet piston attached to the cannula is reciprocated by the use of electromagnets which simultaneously change polarity to apply a reciprocating force to the permanent magnet piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Very Inventive Physicians
    Inventor: Hilton Becker
  • Patent number: 6110152
    Abstract: A cartridge for containing a fluid and for use with an electronic delivery device, includes a cartridge housing for holding the fluid, and information providing source. The information providing source is coupled to the cartridge housing to operatively couple with the electronic delivery device to provide predetermined information regarding the cartridge to the electronic delivery device. For example, the information providing source may be a set of wires and contacts, or contact bands, that provide the predetermined information to electronic delivery device by producing a binary code. Alternatively, the information providing source is a bar code that provides the predetermined information to electronic delivery device by reading of the bar code. The cartridge may be used in a system that includes an electronic delivery device, such as an electronic pen-type injector and/or infusion pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: MiniMed Inc.
    Inventor: Paul H. Kovelman
  • Patent number: 6110149
    Abstract: The present invention relates to syringes for apportioning set doses from an ampoule has a dose setting and injection mechanism comprising a dose setting member which may be moved in one direction to set a dose and in the opposite direction to inject the set dose. A piston advancing mechanism comprises a piston rod and a piston rod drive, and the dose setting and injection mechanism is coupled to the piston advancing mechanism through a unidirectional coupling transmitting only movement of the dose setting member in the dose injecting direction to the piston rod drive. Operation of an air shot button enables influence on the piston advancing mechanism to advance the piston to expel an adjustable fixed volume. The air shot button is either coupled to the piston rod drive through a unidirectional coupling through which the piston rod is advanced when the air shot button is pressed, or it moves the end stop for an injection button so that this button may be pressed beyond its normal depressed end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
    Inventors: Christian Peter Klitgaard, Steffen Hansen, Gabriel J.o slashed.rgensen
  • Patent number: 6110139
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for performing retrograde perfusion, especially during cardiopulmonary bypass operations, including dedicated pediatric scaled apparatus for retrograde perfusion of an adult human organ, organ system, or limb, especially the brain, employing small scale oxygenators and heat exchangers such as are designed for pediatric surgery; also including methods and apparatus for retrograde cerebral perfusion, using nonselective infravalvular cannulation of the superior vena cava, estimating the efficacy of cerebral perfusion by monitoring fluid flow across a valve of an internal jugular vein, modification of inflow pressure and administration of pharmacologic agents, and increasing fluid flow into a brain by occlusion of an inferior vena cava distal to its junction with an azygos vein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Inventor: Paul Gerhard Loubser
  • Patent number: 6110141
    Abstract: A breast pump for pumping milk from a woman's breast comprises a breast hood to be applied onto the woman's breast. A suction chamber communicates with said breast hood, and a suction pump communicates with the suction chamber. A milk collecting vessel or other space receives the milk that is pumped from the woman's breast. Between said suction chamber and the milk collecting means is a check valve. In communication with the suction chamber and the suction pump is an overflow protection for protecting the suction pump from being flooded by an excess of milk. The overflow protection comprises an valve housing elongated along a longitudinal axis. The housing has two opposing end walls, a first one of which including an entrance opening nearer to the suction chamber, the second end wall defining an outlet opening nearer to the suction pump. Within the valve housing is an elongated valve body movable along the longitudinal axis of the housing and is provided with an impact surface opposite the entrance opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Nuesch Logistik
    Inventor: Hansueli Nuesch