Patents by Inventor Barry Neil Fulkerson

Barry Neil Fulkerson 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: 11525798
    Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring fluid levels and electrolyte levels used in a dialysis machine. A receptacle, configured to receive a container, comprises a plurality of curved side panels and a base to form a cylindrical shaped cavity for receiving a container. Each panel includes a conductive material on its inner surface and, optionally, a shielding on its outer surface. An electronics component housed within, or near, the receptacle drives the capacitive process and interprets generated data to determine fluid levels and compositions. An alternate receptacle includes one or two coils wrapped about the container and uses induction to determine fluid level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Neil Fulkerson, Gregory Hayes Gengarelly, Tam Nolan
  • Patent number: 11439738
    Abstract: An extracorporeal blood processing system comprises a plastic molded compact manifold that supports a plurality of molded blood and dialysate fluidic pathways along with a plurality of relevant sensors, valves and pumps. A disposable dialyzer is connected to the molded manifold to complete the blood circuit of the system. The compact manifold is also disposable in one embodiment and can be detachably installed in the dialysis machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Patrick Robinson, Charles E. Clemens, David Jacob Mishelevich, James Roswell Braig, Barry Neil Fulkerson, Daniele Ghidoli, Russell Thomas Joseph
  • Patent number: 11318248
    Abstract: The specification discloses a portable dialysis machine having a detachable controller unit and base unit with an improved reservoir heating system. The controller unit includes a door having an interior face, a housing with a panel, where the housing and panel define a recessed region configured to receive the interior face of the door, and a manifold receiver fixedly attached to the panel. The base unit has a reservoir with an internal pan and external pan, separated by a space that holds a heating element. The heating element is electrically coupled to electrical contacts attached to the external surface of the external pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Neil Fulkerson, Alec Huang, Brian Thomas Kelly, Tam Nolan
  • Patent number: 11224841
    Abstract: The present application discloses novel systems for conducting the filtration of blood using manifolds. The manifolds integrate various sensors and have fluid pathways formed therein to direct fluids from various sources through the requisite blood filtration or ultrafiltration system steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Neil Fulkerson, Russell T. Joseph
  • Patent number: 11187572
    Abstract: A load suspension and weighing system for a removable reservoir unit of a portable dialysis machine includes a centrally located flexure assembly. The flexure assembly includes magnets and a number of flexure rings which allow for movement of the magnets about a fixed circuit board. Sensors in the circuit board sense changes in the magnetic field as the magnets move in relation to the circuit board. The magnetic field changes produce a voltage output which is used by a processor to generate weight calculations. The top of the flexure assembly is attached to the interior of the dialysis machine. The entirety of the reservoir unit is suspended by a first internal frame that is attached to the bottom of the flexure assembly. Having a single flexure assembly positioned above the reservoir unit provides more accurate weight measurements while also preventing damage to the assembly from water spillage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Neil Fulkerson, Joe Fazio, Alec Huang, Brian Thomas Kelly, Tam Nolan, Mark Smith
  • Patent number: 11169137
    Abstract: The present specification discloses a dialysis system having a reservoir module with a reservoir housing defining an internal space, a surface located within the internal space for supporting a container that contains dialysate, and a conductivity sensor located within the internal space, where the conductivity sensor has a coil, a capacitor in electrical communication with the coil, and an energy source in electrical communication with the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Neil Fulkerson, Mark Smith
  • Patent number: 11110214
    Abstract: The present specification provides a dialysate management system for generating, weighing, and heating a dialysate fluid during a dialysis treatment. The dialysate management system includes a container and base enclosure. A bottom surface of the container rests within the base enclosure, which is configured to weigh the fluid in the container and measure its conductivity. The fluid may be heated using a heater integrated into the base enclosure or positioned in-line with a fluid pathway. The base of the container is preferably sloped and positioned within the internal volume of the container is a disposable prescription bag having a predefined quantity of prescription compositions that dissolve when water is poured into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Neil Fulkerson, Brian Thomas Kelly
  • Patent number: 11071811
    Abstract: The specification discloses a portable dialysis machine having a detachable controller unit and base unit. The controller unit includes a door having an interior face, a housing with a panel, where the housing and panel define a recessed region configured to receive the interior face of the door, and a manifold receiver fixedly attached to the panel. The base unit has a planar surface for receiving a container of fluid, a scale integrated with the planar surface, a heater in thermal communication with the planar surface, and a sodium sensor in electromagnetic communication with the planar surface. Embodiments of the disclosed portable dialysis system have improved structural and functional features, including improved modularity, ease of use, and safety features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Neil Fulkerson, James Roswell Braig, David J Mishelevich, Charles Clemens, Clark Berg Foster, Martin Hering, Jan Brian Zwierstra, Russell Thomas Joseph, Victor Gura, Thomas Robinson, Milan Trcka, Daniele Ghidoli, Frank Isackson, Mark Forrest Smith
  • Patent number: 10987460
    Abstract: The present specification describes a modular, portable hemofiltration system, for providing improved clearance levels of blood toxins, which includes at least one roller pump that is designed and operated to generate a rapidly varying pressure profile of fluid within at least a blood circuit of the hemofiltration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Neil Fulkerson, Nhan Viet Pham, Alec Huang
  • Publication number: 20210001033
    Abstract: The application is directed to an extracorporeal blood processing system capable of using dialysate to prime the system. A plastic molded compact manifold supports molded blood and dialysate fluidic pathways along with relevant sensors, valves and pumps. The compact manifold is also disposable in one embodiment and can be detachably installed in the dialysis machine. A two-way valve in the manifold is used to direct the dialysate flow through the blood circuit to prime the circuit for use in treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Barry Neil Fulkerson, Martin Hering, Frank Isackson
  • Publication number: 20200406193
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a dialysis unit that is modular and portable, with improved functionality. In one embodiment, the dialysis system comprises a top unit that is detachably affixed to a base that comprises a reservoir for fluid storage. Among numerous other features, the portable, modular dialysis system of the present invention has improved power door locking, zoned leak detection, fluid handling, and mechanical design features that enable improved modularity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Barry Neil Fulkerson, Martin Hering, Mark F. Smith, Jan B. Zwierstra
  • Publication number: 20200397971
    Abstract: An extracorporeal blood processing system comprises a plastic molded compact manifold that supports a plurality of molded blood and dialysate fluidic pathways along with a plurality of relevant sensors, valves and pumps. A disposable dialyzer is connected to the molded manifold to complete the blood circuit of the system. The compact manifold is also disposable in one embodiment and can be detachably installed in the dialysis machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Patrick Robinson, Charles E. Clemens, David Jacob Mishelevich, James Roswell Braig, Barry Neil Fulkerson, Daniele Ghidoli, Russell Thomas Joseph
  • Publication number: 20200390958
    Abstract: The present specification discloses a portable dialysis system comprising a mechanism that allows the user to accurately position an air bubble in a venous line, so that it can be safely removed. When an air bubble is detected, the system automatically runs the blood pump in a direction such that the air bubble is placed close to the extraction point on the venous line, from where it can safely be removed using a needleless syringe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: John Arrizza, John Erik Michael Palmroos, Ernesto Trillanes de la Fuente, Nhan Viet Pham, Barry Neil Fulkerson
  • Patent number: 10857281
    Abstract: The specification discloses a portable dialysis machine having a detachable controller unit and base unit. The controller unit includes a door having an interior face, a housing with a panel, where the housing and panel define a recessed region configured to receive the interior face of the door, and a manifold receiver fixedly attached to the panel. The manifold includes diaphragms adapted to minimize the dead space between the dialysis machine pins and improve responsivity. The base unit has a planar surface for receiving a container of fluid, a scale integrated with the planar surface and a heater in thermal communication with the container. Embodiments of the disclosed portable dialysis system have improved structural and functional features, including improved modularity, ease of use, and safety features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Neil Fulkerson, Alec Huang, Brian Thomas Kelly
  • Patent number: 10850017
    Abstract: The present specification describes systems and methods for detecting an occlusion in a tubing carrying a patient's blood through a manifold and into a dialyzer in a dialysis system. A controller measures pressures value of the blood at a predetermined point after exiting the manifold and before entering the dialyzer, calculates a historical running average, calculates a weighted sum of the most recent pressure values, and determines whether to trigger an occlusion alarm based on a function of the historical running average and the weighted sum of the most recent pressure values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Neil Fulkerson, Nhan Viet Pham, Alec Huang
  • Publication number: 20200326324
    Abstract: The present specification discloses a dialysis system having a reservoir module with a reservoir housing defining an internal space, a surface located within the internal space for supporting a container that contains dialysate, and a conductivity sensor located within the internal space, where the conductivity sensor has a coil, a capacitor in electrical communication with the coil, and an energy source in electrical communication with the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Barry Neil Fulkerson, Mark Smith
  • Patent number: 10786616
    Abstract: The present specification discloses a portable dialysis system comprising a mechanism that allows the user to accurately position an air bubble in a venous line, so that it can be safely removed. When an air bubble is detected, the system automatically runs the blood pump in a direction such that the air bubble is placed close to the extraction point on the venous line, from where it can safely be removed using a needleless syringe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Fresnius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: John Arrizza, John Erik Michael Palmroos, Ernesto Trillanes de la Fuente, Jr., Nhan Viet Pham, Barry Neil Fulkerson
  • Patent number: 10758868
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a dialysis unit that is modular and portable, with improved functionality. In one embodiment, the dialysis system comprises a top unit that is detachably affixed to a base that comprises a reservoir for fluid storage. Among numerous other features, the portable, modular dialysis system of the present invention has improved power door locking, zoned leak detection, fluid handling, and mechanical design features that enable improved modularity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Neil Fulkerson, Martin Hering, Mark F. Smith, Jan B. Zwierstra
  • Patent number: 10758662
    Abstract: The application is directed to an extracorporeal blood processing system capable of using dialysate to prime the system. A plastic molded compact manifold supports molded blood and dialysate fluidic pathways along with relevant sensors, valves and pumps. The compact manifold is also disposable in one embodiment and can be detachably installed in the dialysis machine. A two-way valve in the manifold is used to direct the dialysate flow through the blood circuit to prime the circuit for use in treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Neil Fulkerson, Martin Hering, Frank Isackson
  • Patent number: 10758661
    Abstract: An extracorporeal blood processing system comprises a plastic molded compact manifold that supports a plurality of molded blood and dialysate fluidic pathways along with a plurality of relevant sensors, valves and pumps. A disposable dialyzer is connected to the molded manifold to complete the blood circuit of the system. The compact manifold is also disposable in one embodiment and can be detachably installed in the dialysis machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Patrick Robinson, Charles E. Clemens, David Jacob Mishelevich, James Roswell Braig, Barry Neil Fulkerson, Daniele Ghidoli, Russell Thomas Joseph