Patents by Inventor Dennis M. Treu

Dennis M. Treu 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).

  • Publication number: 20180207342
    Abstract: A method of automatically ensuring against chloramine contamination in purified product water includes supplying input water to the system and purifying the water to generate the purified product water. The purifying includes removing chlorine and chloramine contamination from the water using a carbon filter and supplying chlorine-depleted water to a deionization filter, and deionizing the chlorine-depleted water using said deionization filter. The product water is supplied to a sensor for continuous monitoring of the resistivity of the purified product water by the first sensor, and an alarm is generated indicating possible chloramine breakthrough when the resistivity of the product water falls below a predetermined resistivity level, which is selected to provide a reserve filter capacity before breakthrough would occur. The carbon filter is replaced at least responsively to the alarm to ensure excess capacity of said carbon filter sufficient to prevent chloramine breakthrough in said product water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Goetz FRIEDERICHS, Dennis M. TREU, Jeffrey H. BURBANK, Yuriy N. TATASHIN
  • Publication number: 20180163907
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter includes embodiments of fluid couplings that prevent or discourage misconnection of fluid lines. In embodiments, a coupling device may have multiple male connectors, female connectors, open ports, butt connectors, and plugs that close off various ports and connectors. The coupling device is mated to a matching coupling device only when all the multiple male and female connectors are properly joined and/or sealed by plugs. If any of the connectors is not properly mated to a corresponding one or not sealed by a plug on the opposite connector, the coupling will leak, since the connectors are joined to a furcating channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. BRUGGER, Dennis M. TREU, David S. UTTERBERG
  • Publication number: 20180128698
    Abstract: A pressure measurement pod for blood circuits can include a flexible, moveable, fluid-impermeable diaphragm and can be formed via either a one-shot or a two-shot molding process. A method of manufacturing a pressure measuring device can include providing first and second major mold parts having recesses defining major parts of a housing, and inserting pins in the first and second major mold parts, the pins being shaped to define a flow channel of a molded pressure measuring pod. One of the pins may have a major face that defines an internal surface of a diaphragm. The method may further include closing the first and second major mold parts with the pins therebetween and injection molding a pressure pod housing. Finally, the pressure pod is removed from the mold parts and the pins are withdrawn from the flow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. BRUGGER, Dennis M. TREU, Jeffrey H. BURBANK, Scott W. NEWELL, William J. SCHNELL, Kenneth E. BUCKLER
  • Publication number: 20180104400
    Abstract: An automated peritoneal dialysis system provides both cycler-assisted peritoneal dialysis treatment and also continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The system includes a fluid preparation and treatment device with a concentrate dilution components connected to a source of purified water and medicament concentrate. The treatment device has at least one mixing container connected via a pump and valves to the sources, the valves and the pump mixing and diluting the concentrate to form a medicament. An auxiliary port is provided for attaching a CAPD container and for receiving medicament. A controller is programmed to control the fluid preparation and treatment device to implement one or more cycler-assisted peritoneal dialysis treatment cycles using medicament from the mixing container and also to control the preparation of additional dialysate at the end of the cycler-assisted peritoneal dialysis treatment cycles to dispense additional dialysate through the auxiliary port for use in CAPD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. BURBANK, James M. BRUGGER, Dennis M. TREU, Mark T. WYETH
  • Patent number: 9907897
    Abstract: An automated peritoneal dialysis system provides various features including prescription-driven dialysis fluid preparation, an integrated disposable fluid circuit, and sensor capabilities that allow accurate filing and draining control with high safety margins. Features include a peritoneal fluid circuit with a pressure sensor at either end and methods and devices for using the pressure signals. Other features and embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: NXSTAGE MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Burbank, James M. Brugger, Dennis M. Treu, Mark T. Wyeth
  • Patent number: 9879807
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter includes embodiments of fluid couplings that prevent or discourage misconnection of fluid lines. A coupling device includes multiple male and female connectors that are joined to a common line. The coupling device is mated to a matching coupling device only when all the multiple male and female connectors are property joined. If any of the connectors is not property mated to a corresponding one, the coupling will leak. The coupling devices are made unique by providing an arrangement the connectors, number of connectors, shape of connectors or arrangement of interfering connector parts that ensure that any attempt to improperly couple two fluid lines will result in the incomplete mating of one or more of the connectors and thereby cause leakage of the fluid, failure of the coupling to engage, or otherwise cause the attempt to connect to fail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: NXSTAGE MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: James M. Brugger, Dennis M. Treu, David S. Utterberg
  • Patent number: 9861733
    Abstract: An automated peritoneal dialysis system provides various features including prescription-driven dialysis fluid preparation, an integrated disposable fluid circuit, and sensor capabilities that allow accurate filing and draining control with high safety margins. Features include a peritoneal fluid circuit with a pressure sensor at either end and methods and devices for using the pressure signals. Other features and embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: NXSTAGE MEDICAL INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Burbank, James M. Brugger, Dennis M. Treu, Mark T. Wyeth
  • Patent number: 9835509
    Abstract: A pressure measurement system for use in blood circuits comprised of a pressure sensing pod and a force measurement device. The pressure sensing pod can include a flexible, moveable, fluid-impermeable diaphragm and can be formed via either a one-shot or a two-shot molding process. A mechanical engagement member of the force measurement device engages with a mechanical engagement feature of the diaphragm, and the engagement member is operative to move in concert with movement of the engagement feature of the diaphragm based on pressure variations with the pressure sensing pod. The force measurement device generates and outputs to a processor a signal based on detected force associated with movement of the engagement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: NXSTAGE MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: James M. Brugger, Dennis M. Treu, Jeffrey H. Burbank, Scott W. Newell, William J. Schnell, Kenneth E. Buckler
  • Publication number: 20170312419
    Abstract: Features for protecting against leaks in a fluid circuit are disclosed. In an embodiment, a first indicator of a leak is used to trigger confirmation by blood flow reversal and air detection in the blood circuit. A method for performing a blood treatment includes, at blood treatment machine, pumping blood to a patient through a first blood line. Further, at a controller of the blood treatment machine, a first signal is received, indicating a probability of a leak in the first blood line. Responsively to the first signal, the controller commands a leak verification operation and receives a second signal indicating whether a leak in the first blood line is verified. Further, a leak indicating signal is generated if the second signal indicates a leak is verified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: NXSTAGE MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. BURBANK, Dennis M. TREU, James M. BRUGGER, Daniel Joseph RUBERY, JR.
  • Publication number: 20170304605
    Abstract: A linearly actuated pinch clamp is provided, including a housing, a motor connected to the housing, a mechanical drive unit connected to the motor for converting a rotary motion of the motor to a linear motion and for introducing a mechanical advantage to the motion of the motor, and a pinching element having a body and a pinching surface. The pinching element body is coupled to the mechanical drive unit. In certain versions of the pinch clamp, the pinching element is slidably mounted to the housing such that the pinching element is linearly displaceable by the mechanical drive unit between a first position and a second position where the pinching surface cooperates with a fixed surface to pinch closed a flexible tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: NXSTAGE MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Scott W. NEWELL, Dennis M. TREU, Kenneth E. BUCKLER
  • Publication number: 20170296727
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to extracorporeal blood processing or other processing of fluids. Volumetric fluid balance, a required element of many such processes, may be achieved with multiple pumps or other proportioning or balancing devices which are to some extent independent of each other. This need may arise in treatments that involve multiple fluids. Safe and secure mechanisms to ensure fluid balance in such systems are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. BURBANK, Dennis M. TREU, Daniel J. RUBERY, Scott W. NEWELL, James M. BRUGGER, William J. SCHNELL, William K. WEIGEL, Steve WHITE, Mark T. WYETH, Jerome JAMES, David DESOUZA, Joseph E. TURK, Garrett CASEY
  • Publication number: 20170290970
    Abstract: A medicament preparation system, according to an embodiment, includes a water purification module and a medicament proportioning module. The system is configured to allow convenient and safe use in a home environment or a critical care environment as well as others affording safety, reliability, and a compact form factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicant: NXSTAGE MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Goetz FRIEDERICHS, William WEIGEL, Dennis M. TREU, Jeffrey H. BURBANK, James M. BRUGGER, Keith J. WHEELER, Scott W. NEWELL
  • Publication number: 20170266360
    Abstract: A fluid preparation system has a sealed sterilized fluid circuit with a sealed sterilized container with a conductivity sensor in communication with an interior of said container. Further, at least one sealed connector is adapted for adding fluid to said container, and at least one sealed connector is adapted for removing fluid from said container. The conductivity sensor is contained in a test line in communication with said interior and is adapted to be connected to a source of suction thereby to draw a sample of contents of said container. Furthermore, the test line may have a check valve to prevent ingress of contaminants into said container, and the sealed connector is adapted for adding fluid to said container and may have an inline sterile filter. Furthermore, the system may have a controller that controls pumping actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: NXSTAGE MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. BURBANK, Dennis M. TREU, Goetz FRIEDERICHS, Brian C. GREEN, Christopher S. MCDOWELL, James M. BRUGGER
  • Publication number: 20170232175
    Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis device includes a disposable tubing set that includes a fill line with a patient access connector at one end and a dialysis fluid receiving end opposite the patient access connector end. The device also includes a fill-side pressure measuring sensor attached at the fill end and forming a disposable component of the tubing set and a patient-side pressure measuring sensor located at the fluid receiving end. The patient-side and fill-side pressure measuring sensors are adapted for measuring pressure in the fill line at the respective ends thereof. The device also includes a controller configured to regulate a rate of flow in the fill line responsively to a signal from the at least the patient-side pressure measuring sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. BURBANK, James M. BRUGGER, Dennis M. TREU, Mark T. WYETH
  • Patent number: 9724459
    Abstract: Features for protecting against leaks in a fluid circuit are disclosed. In a first embodiment, a fluid circuit is housed by another fluid circuit that is configured to capture and convey leaks to leak detector. In a second embodiment, a first indicator of a leak is used to trigger confirmation by blood flow reversal and air detection in the blood circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: NXSTAGE MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Burbank, Dennis M. Treu, James M. Brugger, Daniel Joseph Rubery, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20170203026
    Abstract: A method of performing a dialysis treatment includes using a pump and a dialysate supply line to transport peritoneal dialysis fluid, the supply line having a proximal end into which peritoneal dialysis fluid is supplied and from which spend dialysate is withdrawn, and a distal end which is connected to a patient's peritoneal access. The method further includes generating proximal and distal pressure signals using pressure detectors located at both the proximal and distal ends, respectively, of said supply line. During a drain cycle in which spent dialysate is pumped from the patient, the method includes, responsively to the proximal and distal pressure signals, detecting a characteristic of a pressure difference between the distal and proximal ends whose magnitude is determined by a predicted change in dialysate properties, and responsively to the characteristic, generating a signal indicating the change in dialysate properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. BURBANK, James M. BRUGGER, Dennis M. TREU, Mark T. WYETH
  • Publication number: 20170203025
    Abstract: A disposable fluid circuit used in a medical device that performs peritoneal dialysis includes a peritoneal dialysis tubing set that has a connection tube with a connector for a peritoneal catheter at a distal end and a connector configured to connect to a peritoneal cycler at a proximal end. The circuit also includes a pressure pod at the distal end, the pressure pod being of the type that has a flow chamber for carrying a liquid and an air chamber separated from the flow chamber by a diaphragm and an air port in fluid communication with the air chamber. The flow chamber is connected in-line with a lumen of the connection tube and a length of tubing runs from the air-port along the length of the connection tube with a connector at the proximal end configured to connect to a pressure transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. BURBANK, James M. BRUGGER, Dennis M. TREU, Mark T. WYETH
  • Publication number: 20170203024
    Abstract: A method of performing a peritoneal dialysis treatment includes connecting a disposable unit to a source of water. The disposable unit includes at least a first container holding a sterile concentrate containing an osmotic agent, a second container holding a sterile concentrate containing electrolytes, an empty sterile mixing container, and a tubing set with a pre-attached peritoneal fill/drain line. The method also includes receiving a prescription command by a controller, indicating at least the fill volume and desired final concentration of the osmotic agent to be used for a current fill cycle under said treatment, and pumping a quantity of the concentrated osmotic agent that is at least sufficient to achieve the desired final concentration into the mixing container. The contest of the mixing container are mixed, further diluted or concentrated, and then flowed to a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. BURBANK, James M. BRUGGER, Dennis M. TREU, Mark T. WYETH
  • Publication number: 20170203027
    Abstract: A method of performing a peritoneal dialysis treatment includes connecting a disposable unit to a source of water, the disposable unit including at least a first container holding a sterile concentrate containing an osmotic agent, a second container holding a sterile concentrate containing electrolytes, an empty sterile mixing container, and a tubing set with a pre-attached peritoneal fill/drain line. The method further includes receiving a prescription command by a controller, indicating at least the fill volume and desired final concentration of the osmotic agent to be used for a current fill cycle under said treatment, and using the controller, pumping a quantity of the concentrated osmotic agent that is at least sufficient to achieve the desired final concentration into the mixing container. The contents of the mixing container are mixed, further diluted or concentrated, and then flowed to a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. BURBANK, James M. BRUGGER, Dennis M. TREU, Mark T. WYETH
  • Patent number: 9700663
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for preparation of water for various uses including blood treatment are described. In embodiments, fluid is passed either by pump or passively by gravity feed, through various filtration elements from a fluid source to a treatment fluid container. The latter forms a batch that may be used during treatment. Methods and systems for creating multiple-treatment batches are described. Advantages of creating a multitreatment batch include the fact that the burden of treatment preparation can be reduced and the timing of the preparation of the batch can be independent of the treatment time. As described, there are various trade-offs and concerns with this approach which are addressed by the inventive embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: NXSTAGE MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Burbank, Dennis M. Treu, Götz Friederichs, Brian C. Green, Christopher S. McDowell, James M. Brugger