Patents by Inventor Christopher Brian Locke

Christopher Brian Locke 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: 12279932
    Abstract: A releasable medical drape, and systems and methods having the same, includes at least a liquid-impermeable, vapor-permeable layer, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and a soft-gel layer having a plurality of apertures. The soft-gel layer is configured to be disposed adjacent to a tissue site. A portion of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer extends through the plurality of apertures in the soft-gel layer to contact the tissue site. The soft-gel layer forms a good seal with the tissue site and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer extending through the plurality of apertures forms a firm—but releasable—coupling with the tissue site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Timothy Mark Robinson, Li Yao
  • Patent number: 12274823
    Abstract: In some illustrative examples, a bridge suitable for treating a tissue site may include a bridge sealing member and one or more bridge wicking layers. The bridge sealing member may extend along a length of the bridge, and may define an internal passageway in fluid communication between a receiving end of the bridge and a transmitting end of the bridge. The one or more bridge wicking layers may be disposed within the internal passageway of the bridge sealing member. Other apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Justin Alexander Long, Benjamin Locke, Benjamin Andrew Pratt, Thomas Alan Edwards, Timothy Mark Robinson
  • Patent number: 12268835
    Abstract: This disclosure describes devices, systems, and methods related to a connection point of a therapy system which includes light switchable adhesive and is configured to be switched by light provided by and/or via one or more components of the therapy system. An example of a connection point is an interface between two tubes of therapy system. An example of light provided to the exemplary connection point is light provided to one of the two tubes such that the light travels to the connection point, via at least the one tube, to switch the light switchable adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Timothy Mark Robinson
  • Patent number: 12268836
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for irrigating a tissue site are described. The system can include a tissue interface and a sealing member configured to be placed over the tissue site to form a sealed space, and a negative-pressure source fluidly coupled to the sealed space. The system includes an irrigation valve having a housing, a piston disposed in the housing, a fluid inlet to fluidly couple a fluid inlet chamber to a fluid source, and a fluid outlet to fluidly couple a fluid outlet chamber to the sealed space. A piston passage extends through the piston and fluidly couples the fluid inlet chamber and the fluid outlet chamber, and a biasing member is coupled to the piston to bias the irrigation valve to a closed position. The negative-pressure source is configured to move the piston between the closed position and an open position to draw fluid to the sealed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy Mark Robinson, Christopher Brian Locke, James A. Luckemeyer
  • Patent number: 12239747
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of a wound dressing layer. The wound dressing layer may include an open-cell foam. The foam may have a 50% compression force deflection of not more than about 4.8 kPa. The foam may also have a density of at least 24 kg/m3. The foam may exhibit a density increase of a factor of at least 12 at about ?75 mmHg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Timothy Mark Robinson
  • Publication number: 20250065114
    Abstract: A system and method for therapeutic electrical stimulation of a wrist. A flexible band is secured around the wrist. The flexible band supports an electrode carrier, including a set of electrodes, one of which is in physical contact with a dorsal side of the wrist and a second of which is in physical contact with a ventral side of the wrist. A stimulation module is in electrical communication with the electrode carrier and includes signal generation circuitry that generates an electrical stimulation signal as a direct current pulse at a frequency between 10 kHz and 50 kHz. Control circuitry sequentially activates different subsets of electrodes to act as a signal source or a signal sink for the electrical stimulation signal. The electrodes are configured to deliver electrical stimuli to the arm or wrist for exciting a median, radial or ulnar nerve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: John CROSSON, Herminio LLEVAT, Christopher Brian LOCKE
  • Patent number: 12233198
    Abstract: A wound therapy system and method for clearing fluids from a conduit includes a wound dressing apparatus, a pneumatic pump, a valve, and a controller. The wound dressing apparatus is fluidly coupled to a wound, the pump, and the valve. The controller is configured to determine a volume of instillation fluid that has been delivered to the wound, to operate the pneumatic pump and the valve to apply a negative pressure to the wound dressing apparatus to purge a first portion of the instillation fluid, and to operate the pneumatic pump and the valve during a purge operation to deliver a volume of air through the wound dressing apparatus that is approximately equal to or greater than the volume of instillation fluid to purge a second portion of the instillation fluid from the wound dressing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventor: Christopher Brian Locke
  • Patent number: 12226289
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of a dressing for treating a tissue site may include a fluid transport layer, an offloading layer, and a liquid deflector. The offloading layer may be in fluid communication with the fluid transport layer, and the offloading layer may include a force offloading region and a target region. The liquid deflector may be positioned between the fluid transport layer and the offloading layer. The liquid deflector may be configured to deflect a liquid from the tissue site into contact with the target region of the offloading layer. The target region may be configured to expand for offloading forces at the tissue site. Other dressings, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Timothy Mark Robinson
  • Patent number: 12220301
    Abstract: This disclosure includes wound dressings (18) and systems (10) with therapeutic gas and negative pressure sources for incision management. The dressing, which are configured to be coupled to tissue to facilitate delivery of oxygen to the tissue, comprise a manifold configured to permit communication of oxygen to the tissue the manifold (46) defining: a plurality of gas passageways (50); and a plurality of openings (62), one or more of which comprises a length (66) and a width (70) that is at least 50 percent less than the length; and a gas-occlusive layer (86) configured to be disposed over the manifold and coupled to the tissue such that an interior volume containing the manifold is defined between the gas-occlusive layer and the tissue and the gas-occlusive layer limits escape of oxygen from the interior volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Justin Alexander Long, Christopher Brian Locke, Kristine M. Kieswfetter
  • Patent number: 12220302
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a dressing assembly may include a dressing bolster, an interface seal, and a base layer. The dressing bolster may include a first side, a second side, and a periphery. The interface seal may be coupled at the periphery of the dressing bolster. The base layer may include a base layer flange configured to be coupled to the dressing and to extend beyond the periphery of the dressing bolster. The dressing assembly may be suitable for treating a tissue site with reduced pressure and for creating an apposition force between a first portion of the tissue site and a second portion of the tissue site. Other systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Pratt, Christopher Brian Locke, Timothy Mark Robinson
  • Patent number: 12186159
    Abstract: A cover for protecting a tissue site may comprise a shell layer, an adhesive disposed on the shell layer, and a contact layer disposed adjacent to the adhesive. The contact layer may have a first pattern of apertures and bridges, and the shell layer may have a second pattern of apertures overlaying the bridges. In some examples, the adhesive may have a bond strength that is greater than the tensile modulus of the shell layer. The contact layer may have an open area of about 40 percent to about 50 percent of the total area of the contact layer. A release liner may be disposed adjacent to the contact layer. Perforations through the shell layer and the contact layer can define a sacrificial segment configured to be separated from the shell layer and the contact layer. A handling bar may be coupled to the sacrificial segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Timothy Mark Robinson
  • Patent number: 12178598
    Abstract: A therapy system for treating a tissue site with negative-pressure therapy and/or fluid instillation therapy in response to information received from a diagnostic module is described. The therapy system may include a dressing, a negative-pressure source, a container, and a diagnostic module. The dressing be placed on the tissue site, and the negative-pressure source may be fluidly coupled to the dressing. The container may be fluidly coupled to the dressing and to the negative-pressure source to receive fluid from the tissue site. The diagnostic module may be exposed to gas associated with the fluid from the tissue site. The diagnostic module may comprise a sensor configured to detect a condition of the tissue site and to generate an output based on the detected condition. The sensor may be configured to detect a volatile organic compound. The diagnostic module may be positioned on the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Richard Daniel John Coulthard, Timothy Mark Robinson
  • Patent number: 12171931
    Abstract: Connection pads for coupling fluid-instillation and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) apparatuses to wound dressing, and methods and wound dressings for breaching a drape after coupling a wound dressing to a fluid-instillation and/or NPWT apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Colin John Hall, Aidan Marcus Tout, Paul S. Slack, Thomas Paul Lawhorn, Timothy Mark Robinson
  • Publication number: 20240408272
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides multivalent cation alginate (e.g., calcium alginate) string wound filler compositions suitable for negative pressure wound therapy. In particular, wound filler compositions are well-suited to filling in complex wound sites, retain porosity when compressed under negative pressure, and resorbable/dispersible if left in contact with the wound beyond 7 days.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Timothy Mark ROBINSON, Christopher Brian LOCKE
  • Patent number: 12161793
    Abstract: A negative pressure wound treatment (NPWT) system including a NWPT therapy unit and a wound dressing configured to overlay a wound bed. The NPWT system includes a first length of tubing comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the first length of tubing coupled to the NWPT therapy unit and the second end of the first length of tubing having a first coupling half, as well as a second length of tubing having a first end and second end, the first end of the second length of tubing coupled to the wound dressing and the second end of the second length of tubing having a second coupling half. The NPWT system includes an inline filter comprising a sintered polymer and a superabsorbent material, and an inline coupling, wherein the inline coupling is configured to operably couple and de-couple the NPWT therapy unit and wound dressing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy Mark Robinson, Christopher Brian Locke, Colin J. Hall
  • Patent number: 12156786
    Abstract: A medical drape for use with a reduced pressure system for providing reduced pressure to a tissue site is described. In some embodiments, the drape may include a flexible film, and an adhesive layer coupled to the flexible film. The adhesive layer may include a first adhesive disposed on a first portion of the flexible film in a first pattern. The first adhesive can be configured to secure the flexible film proximate to the tissue site. The adhesive layer generally includes a second adhesive disposed on a second portion of the flexible film in a second pattern. The second adhesive can be configured to seal the flexible film proximate to the tissue site. The first pattern and the second pattern are preferably registered so that the first portion and the second portion are offset to cover substantially different portions of the flexible film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Timothy Mark Robinson, Christopher Brian Locke
  • Publication number: 20240382347
    Abstract: Provided herein is a system and method for trauma-free application and removal of light deactivated adhesive drapes. One aspect provides a system comprising a drape, at least one photosensitive adhesive portion having a release agent, and at least one acrylic and/or polyurethane adhesive portion, where the system is adapted to be coupled to a tissue site and released therefrom upon or after exposure to an external stimulus such as certain wavelengths of light. The system may have a removable blocking layer to prevent the photosensitive adhesive from being exposed to deactivation wavelengths prematurely. Another aspect provides a method for application and removal of a drape using by removing the removable blocking layer and applying light to the drape to deactivate the photosensitive adhesive portion and promote easy, clean, and less painful removal of the drape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Brian LOCKE, David WHYTE
  • Patent number: 12144922
    Abstract: A customizable wound treatment system for treating multiple zones of a wound includes a dressing configured for use with a first zone and a second zone of a wound that includes a first foam layer placed over the first zone, a second foam layer placed over the second zone, a first drape layer disposed over the first foam layer and beneath the second foam layer, and a second drape layer disposed over the second foam layer. The customizable wound treatment system includes a negative pressure source pneumatically coupled to the first foam layer and the second foam layer and operable to create a negative pressure at the first zone and the second zone and a fluid instillation pump fluidly coupled to the first foam layer and configured to instill a treatment fluid to the first zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher A. Carroll, Christopher Brian Locke, Shannon C. Ingram, Justin Rice
  • Patent number: 12138380
    Abstract: New and useful systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing negative-pressure therapy with instillation of topical treatment solutions are described. An apparatus may comprise an exudate container, a solution source, and a pneumatically-actuated instillation regulator. The instillation regulator may be coupled to the exudate container and to the solution source, and negative pressure from a negative-pressure source can actuate the instillation regulator. In some embodiments, a negative-pressure source may be configured for a negative-pressure interval and a venting interval, and the instillation regulator can be configured to draw instillation solution from the solution source during a negative-pressure interval and to instill the solution to a dressing during a venting interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Andrew Pratt, Christopher Brian Locke, James Killingworth Seddon
  • Patent number: 12127916
    Abstract: An evaporative bridge dressing that may be used with negative-pressure treatment of tissue. The evaporative bridge dressing may have one or more fluid transfer layers comprised of high-density wicking material enclosed between layers of film having high moisture-vapor transfer rates to reduce liquid storage and minimize pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
    Inventors: Christopher Brian Locke, Justin Alexander Long, Benjamin Locke, Benjamin Andrew Pratt, Thomas Alan Edwards