Patents by Inventor Clinton S. Vilks

Clinton S. Vilks 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: 7905859
    Abstract: A medication pump includes a housing including an external wall and a plurality of internal adjoining housings, including a first housing enclosing a cartridge. The pump includes a primary vent for venting the medication pump to atmosphere, the primary vent including a primary liquid barrier allowing passage of gas therethrough while preventing passage of liquid therethrough. The pump includes a secondary vent on the first housing, the secondary vent including a secondary liquid barrier allowing passage of gas therethrough to an interior of the housing while preventing passage of liquid therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc.
    Inventors: Gail Beth Bynum, Mark Henry Faust, Jay Gregory Johnson, Clinton S. Vilks, William H. Harm
  • Patent number: 7510544
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a medication pump for use with a medication cartridge that is loaded using a drive rod of the medication pump. In one embodiment, the drive rod includes an interface structure defining a first channel where the first channel has an axial portion disposed parallel to an axis of the drive rod and a locking portion disposed in a circumferential direction around an outer surface of the drive rod. In another embodiment of the invention, the drive rod includes a visual indicator at an interface end of the drive rod, so that when the interface structure of the drive rod is coupled to a plunger of a medication cartridge, the visual indicator will not be seen, to provide a way to check for secure coupling of the drive rod to the plunger. In its embodiment, the outer housing of the medication pump includes a window into a cartridge housing to allow a view of the visual indicator if it is not attached to the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Smiths Medical MD, Inc.
    Inventors: Clinton S. Vilks, Gail Beth Bynum, Mark Henry Faust
  • Patent number: 7033338
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a medication pump, a cartridge for use in a medication pump, a pump cap for use with a medication pump, components of the cartridge and methods of use of these devices. A cartridge includes a plunger having a tab that projects from an interior wall of the plunger. The tab can be used to lock the plunger into engagement with a drive rod of the pump. The drive rod defines a channel for receiving the tab of the plunger, where the channel includes an axial portion disposed parallel to an axis of the drive rod and a locking portion disposed in a circumferential direction around an outer surface of the drive rod. A similar channel structure can be provided on a removable fill rod used while filling the cartridge. The cartridge axially inserted into a cartridge chamber and then is rotated into engagement with the drive rod. The cartridge may also include axial guides at one end that interface with a guides on pump cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Smiths Medical MD, Inc.
    Inventors: Clinton S. Vilks, Gail Beth Bynum, Mark Henry Faust
  • Publication number: 20030161744
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a medication pump, a cartridge for use in a medication pump, a pump cap for use with a medication pump, components of the cartridge and methods of use of these devices. A cartridge includes a plunger having a tab that projects from an interior wall of the plunger. The tab can be used to lock the plunger into engagement with a drive rod of the pump. The drive rod defines a channel for receiving the tab of the plunger, where the channel includes an axial portion disposed parallel to an axis of the drive rod and a locking portion disposed in a circumferential direction around an outer surface of the drive rod. A similar channel structure can be provided on a removable fill rod used while filling the cartridge. The cartridge axially inserted into a cartridge chamber and then is rotated into engagement with the drive rod. The cartridge may also include axial guides at one end that interface with a guides on pump cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Clinton S. Vilks, Gail Beth Bynum, Mark Henry Faust
  • Publication number: 20030163090
    Abstract: Sensors are described that may be provided in a medication pump. A magnetic sensor detects rotation of an element that is rotated by a motor, where a magnet covers a portion of the element. A light sensor may also be provided that detects if a cartridge is present in a cartridge chamber. A medication cartridge includes an opaque area at its open end for use with the light sensor. Methods of using these sensors to operate the pump area also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Michael L. Blomquist, Daniel H. Pommerening, Clinton S. Vilks, Gail Beth Bynum, Mark Henry Faust
  • Patent number: 5414592
    Abstract: In the present invention, a heat transferring arrangement is disclosed for a printed wiring board assembly. A heat conductive panel is provided to be in close proximity to a component side of a printed wiring board. The heat conductive panel further includes flange members, so that the flange members may be forced against a heat conducting surface of a chassis and provide a thermally conductive contact therewith. With this arrangement, heat transfer by radiation from the circuit components to the heat conductive panel is enhanced and thereby permits heat transfer by conduction from the heat conductive panel to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Stout, Clinton S. Vilks