Patents by Inventor Alan E. Shluzas
Alan E. Shluzas has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 10960144Abstract: A system for injecting includes a syringe body defining a proximal opening and a distal needle interface. The system also includes a plunger member defining a plunger interior and configured to be manually manipulated to insert a stopper member relative to the syringe body, the plunger member. The plunger member includes a needle retention feature disposed in the plunger interior, an energy-storage member disposed in the plunger interior, and an energy-storage member latching member disposed in the plunger interior. The system further includes a needle hub assembly coupled to the distal needle interface of the syringe body. The needle assembly includes a needle having a needle proximal end feature, a hub, and a needle latching member configured to couple the needle to the hub. The needle is at least partially retractable into plunger interior. The needle proximal end feature includes an annular distally facing surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2017Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Credence MedSystems, Inc.Inventors: Alan E. Shluzas, Stephen H. Diaz, John F. Shanley, Scott Segelke, John Merhige
-
Publication number: 20210085891Abstract: A syringe assembly includes a syringe body, needle assembly, retaining clip, gasket, needle latch, and needle hub. The syringe body has a syringe interior, longitudinal axis, proximal and distal ends, and needle attachment interface disposed at the distal end thereof. The gasket is configured to be compressed to provide a liquid-tight seal around an outer diameter of the needle assembly and the distal end of the syringe body. The needle latch assembly includes first and second latching tabs configured to retain the needle assembly in a close state and to be plastically deformed to an open state to release the needle assembly, and a gasket backstop configured to provide a flat surface for compression of the gasket, where the first and second latching tabs are spaced apart from the gasket such that neither of the first and second latching tabs contact the gasket during compression of the gasket.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicant: CREDENCE MEDSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Conor Edward Shanley, Stephen H. Diaz, Alan E. Shluzas, Jeff Tillack
-
Patent number: 10945766Abstract: A polyaxial bone anchor including a housing, a bone screw, and a retainer for pivotably coupling the head of the bone screw to the housing. The retainer is positioned into the bore of the housing and includes a plurality of alternating tabs and slots circumferentially arranged to define a cavity for receiving the head portion of the bone screw therein. The retainer is axially moveable in the housing from a first position in which the head portion is not passable through the lower opening of the retainer to a second position in which the head portion is passable through the lower opening of the retainer.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2020Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc.Inventors: Alan E. Shluzas, Hugh D Hestad
-
Patent number: 10926038Abstract: A system for injecting includes a syringe body defining a proximal opening and a distal needle interface. The system also includes a plunger member defining a plunger interior and configured to be manually manipulated to insert a stopper member relative to the syringe body. The plunger member includes a needle retention feature disposed in the plunger interior, an energy-storage member disposed in the plunger interior, and an energy-storage member latching member disposed in the plunger interior. The system further includes a needle hub assembly coupled to the distal needle interface of the syringe body. The needle assembly includes a needle having a needle proximal end feature, a hub, and a needle latching member configured to couple the needle to the hub. The needle is retractable into plunger interior upon manipulation of the plunger member to actuate the energy-storage member latching member.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2017Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Credence MedSystems, Inc.Inventors: Alan E. Shluzas, Stephen H. Diaz, John F. Shanley, Jeff Tillack, Dan Thayer, Gary Steese-Bradley, Mina M. Leung
-
Patent number: 10926036Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a system for injecting, comprising a syringe body defining an interior medicine chamber; a stopper member configured to be inserted into the interior medicine chamber to contain medicine within the medicine chamber; a plunger member configured to be manually manipulated to insert the stopper member relative to the syringe body; and a needle having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end comprising an anchoring geometry configured to be at least partially inserted into the stopper member such that upon retraction of the stopper member, the needle is pulled proximally along with the stopper to be at least partially contained within the interior medicine chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Credence Medsystems, Inc.Inventors: Alan E. Shluzas, Stephen H. Diaz, John F. Shanley, Jeff Tillack, Dan Thayer, Gary Steese-Bradley
-
Patent number: 10925646Abstract: A polyaxial bone anchor including a housing, a bone screw, and a retainer for pivotably coupling the head of the bone screw to the housing. The retainer is positioned into the bore of the housing and includes a plurality of alternating tabs and slots circumferentially arranged to define a cavity for receiving the head portion of the bone screw therein. The retainer is axially moveable in the housing from a first position in which the head portion is not passable through the lower opening of the retainer to a second position in which the head portion is passable through the lower opening of the retainer.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc.Inventors: Alan E. Shluzas, Hugh D Hestad
-
Patent number: 10912895Abstract: A system for measuring injection of a liquid medicine includes a syringe body having proximal and distal ends, a syringe interior, and a syringe flange at the proximal end thereof. The system also includes a stopper member disposed in the syringe interior. The system further includes a plunger member coupled to the stopper member and configured to be manipulated to insert the stopper member distally in the syringe interior relative to the syringe body. Moreover, the system includes a needle coupled to the syringe body at the distal end thereof. In addition, the system includes a sensor flange removably coupled to a syringe body. The sensor flange includes a sensor to measure an injection characteristic and a processor to analyze the injection characteristic to determine an occurrence of an injection event.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2018Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: CREDENCE MEDSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Stephen H. Diaz, Alan E. Shluzas, John F. Shanley, Jeff Tillack, John Merhige, Frank Litvack, Dan Thayer
-
Patent number: 10912894Abstract: A system for injecting includes a cartridge body defining a proximal opening and a distal needle interface. The system also includes a plunger member defining a plunger interior and configured to be manually manipulated to insert a stopper member relative to the cartridge body. The plunger member includes a needle retention feature disposed in the plunger interior, an energy-storage member disposed in the plunger interior, and an energy-storage member latching member disposed in the plunger interior. The system further includes a needle hub assembly coupled to the distal needle interface of the cartridge body. The needle assembly includes a needle having a needle proximal end feature, a hub, and a needle latching member configured to couple the needle to the hub. The needle is retractable into plunger interior upon manipulation of the plunger member to actuate the energy-storage member latching member.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2017Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: CREDENCE MEDSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Alan E. Shluzas, Mina M. Leung, Stephen H. Diaz, Jeff Tillack
-
Patent number: 10905407Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods suitable for use with procedures performed at least partially percutaneously are provided. In some procedures, two or more access devices for providing access to adjacent surgical locations within a patient are used. Certain embodiments of the access device comprise an elongate body having a distal end with one or more cutouts. The cutouts on adjacent access devices are generally aligned with each other to permit passage of a portion of a fixation element from one access device to the other access device. A fastener with an elongated removable head may be delivered to the surgical site through the access device. After a distal end of the fastener is secured to the surgical site, a portion of the elongated housing is detached from the remainder of the fastener and removed from the patient.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2018Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc.Inventors: Gene P Dipoto, Stephen J Anderson, Alan E. Shluzas
-
Publication number: 20200398000Abstract: An injection system includes a syringe body defining a proximal opening at a proximal end thereof and a distal needle interface at a distal end thereof. The system also includes proximal and distal stopper members disposed in the syringe body, forming respective proximal and distal drug chambers. The system further includes a plunger member configured to be manually manipulated to insert the proximal stopper member relative to the syringe body. Moreover, the system includes a fluid conveying assembly including a penetrating member configured to penetrate the distal stopper member to fluidly couple the proximal and distal drug chambers, a distal exit tube, and a transfer member disposed at least partially around a portion of the penetrating member and defining a fluid passage. A distal end of the penetrating member is disposed in the distal exit tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2020Publication date: December 24, 2020Inventors: Stephen H. Diaz, Gary Steese-Bradley, Alan E. Shluzas, Conor Edward Shanley, Mina M. Leung, Jeff Tillack
-
Patent number: 10864330Abstract: A system for mixing drug products and injecting includes a syringe body, proximal and distal stopper members disposed in the syringe body, a plunger member, and a needle hub assembly coupled to the distal needle interface of the syringe body. The proximal and distal stopper members form a proximal drug chamber between there between and a distal drug chamber between the distal stopper member and a distal end of the syringe body. The plunger member includes a needle retention feature, an energy-storage member, and an energy-storage member latching member all disposed in disposed in a plunger interior. First and second sizes of the respective proximal and distal drug chambers can be modified by movement of the proximal and distal stopper members relative to the syringe body. The needle is at least partially retractable into plunger interior upon manipulation of the plunger member relative to the syringe body.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2017Date of Patent: December 15, 2020Assignee: CREDENCE MEDSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Gary Steese-Bradley, Stephen H. Diaz, Alan E. Shluzas, John F. Shanley, Jeff Tillack, Dan Thayer, John Merhige
-
Publication number: 20200306462Abstract: An injection system includes a molded body member having a body connection member at a distal end thereof. The system also includes a needle hub assembly coupled to the distal end of the injection system body. The needle hub assembly includes a needle hub coupled to the body connection member, a needle coupled to the needle hub, and a barbed band disposed around a proximal end of the needle hub and having a barb. The barbed band allows rotation of the needle hub assembly relative to the body connection member in a first direction, while preventing rotation of the needle hub assembly relative to the body connection member in a second direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventors: Mina M. Leung, Jeff Tillack, Stephen H. Diaz, Alan E. Shluzas
-
Publication number: 20200297389Abstract: A polyaxial bone anchor including a housing, a bone screw, and a retainer for pivotably coupling the head of the bone screw to the housing. The retainer is positioned into the bore of the housing and includes a plurality of alternating tabs and slots circumferentially arranged to define a cavity for receiving the head portion of the bone screw therein. The retainer is axially moveable in the housing from a first position in which the head portion is not passable through the lower opening of the retainer to a second position in which the head portion is passable through the lower opening of the retainer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2020Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventors: Alan E. Shluzas, Hugh D. Hestad
-
Publication number: 20200268973Abstract: A method for preparing a pre-filled multi-chamber injection system includes providing an injection system body, the injection system body defining an open proximal end, a body interior, and an open distal end. The method also includes introducing a first substance into a distal end of the body interior. The method further includes disposing a distal stopper member in the body interior, the distal stopper member and the injection system body defining proximal and distal chambers in the body interior. Moreover, the method includes introducing a second substance into the body interior. In addition, the method includes disposing a proximal stopper member in the body interior. The method also includes inserting an elongate member at least partially into the body interior, the elongate member having a plurality of flow channels for fluidly coupling the proximal and distal chambers. The method further includes coupling a plunger member to the proximal stopper member.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2020Publication date: August 27, 2020Inventors: Jeff Tillack, Alan E. Shluzas, Stephen H. Diaz, Gary Steese-Bradley, John Merhige, Conor Edward Shanley, Mina M. Leung
-
Patent number: 10660823Abstract: An assembly for mixing drug components includes a housing to at least partially hold a first drug component container and a second drug component container. The assembly also includes a transfer member having first and second ends to fluidly couple the respective first and second drug component containers. The assembly further includes a pressure member to fluidly couple the first drug component container to a pressure generation chamber. In addition, the assembly includes an energy storage member to generate pressure in the pressure generation chamber to transfer a fluid from the first drug component container into the second drug component container. Moreover, the assembly includes an exit member to fluidly couple the second drug component container to an exterior of the assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2017Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: CREDENCE MEDSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Alan E. Shluzas, Stephen H. Diaz
-
Publication number: 20200147322Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for injecting includes a syringe body having proximal and distal ends, a syringe interior, and a syringe flange at the proximal end thereof. The system also includes an injectable fluid disposed in the syringe interior. The system further includes a stopper member disposed in the syringe interior. Moreover, the system includes a plunger member coupled to the stopper member. In addition, the system includes a finger flange removably coupled to the syringe flange, the finger flange including a proximally directed screw. The system also includes a rotatable member disposed on the proximally directed screw, the rotatable member defining a rotatable member opening through which the plunger member is disposed and having an elastic latch disposed adjacent the rotatable member opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2019Publication date: May 14, 2020Applicant: CREDENCE MEDSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Stephen H. Diaz, Alan E. Shluzas
-
Publication number: 20200147323Abstract: A system for injecting includes a syringe body having proximal and distal ends, a syringe interior, and a syringe flange at the proximal end thereof. The system also includes an injectable fluid disposed in the syringe interior. The system further includes a finger flange coupled to the syringe flange. Moreover, the system includes a stopper member disposed in the syringe interior. In addition, the system includes a plunger ratchet member coupled to the stopper member. The system also includes a plunger tube disposed coaxially around at least a portion of the plunger ratchet member and operatively coupled thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2019Publication date: May 14, 2020Applicant: CREDENCE MEDSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Conor Edward Shanley, Alan E. Shluzas, Mina M. Leung, Stephen H. Diaz
-
Publication number: 20200061306Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a safety syringe system, comprising: an off-the-shelf syringe assembly comprising a syringe body and a plunger tip; a needle assembly removably coupleable to the distal end of the syringe body such that medicinal fluid may be transferred through a retractable needle coupled to a needle housing comprising the needle assembly upon insertion of the plunger tip relative to the syringe body; and a plunger control assembly coupled to the plunger tip and configured to facilitate manual insertion of the plunger tip relative to the syringe body; wherein upon insertion of the plunger tip to a final insertion state and release of an associated manual insertion load, the plunger tip may be proximally withdrawn, pulling the retractable needle proximally relative to the needle housing to a safe locked and retracted state wherein it is no longer exposed for injection.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2019Publication date: February 27, 2020Applicant: CREDENCE MEDSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Stephen H. Diaz, John F. Shanley, Alan E. Shluzas, Jeff Tillack, Dan Thayer
-
Publication number: 20190374716Abstract: A system for serially injecting liquids includes a syringe body, proximal and distal stopper members disposed in the syringe body, a first liquid in a distal chamber, a second liquid in a proximal chamber, a plunger member, and a needle hub assembly coupled to a distal needle interface of the syringe body. The plunger member includes a needle retention feature disposed in a plunger interior, an energy-storage member disposed in the plunger interior, and an energy-storage member latching member disposed in the plunger interior. The needle assembly includes a needle having a needle proximal end feature, a hub, and a needle latching member configured to couple the needle to the hub. Manipulating the plunger member to insert the proximal stopper member distally relative to the syringe body initially expels the first liquid, then the second liquid. The needle is at least partially retractable into plunger interior.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2019Publication date: December 12, 2019Applicant: CREDENCE MEDSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Stephen H. Diaz, Jeff Tillack, Alan E. Shluzas, John F. Shanley, Dan Thayer, Gary Steese-Bradley, John Merhige
-
Publication number: 20190344021Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a system for injecting, comprising a syringe body defining an interior medicine chamber; a stopper member configured to be inserted into the interior medicine chamber to contain medicine within the medicine chamber; a plunger member configured to be manually manipulated to insert the stopper member relative to the syringe body; a needle having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end comprising an anchoring geometry configured to be at least partially penetrated into the stopper member such that upon retraction of the stopper member, the needle is pulled proximally along with the stopper to be at least partially contained within the interior medicine chamber; and an energy-storing member operatively coupled between the stopper member and the syringe body, the energy-storing member configured to facilitate retraction of the stopper member relative to the syringe body.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2019Publication date: November 14, 2019Applicant: CREDENCE MEDSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Alan E. Shluzas, Stephen H. Diaz, John F. Shanley, Jeff Tillack, Dan Thayer