Patents by Inventor Don J VerLee

Don J VerLee 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).

  • Medicine delivery system
    Patent number: 6953455
    Abstract: A medicine delivery system (10) implantable into a human or animal body includes a medicine delivery unit (14) and a control unit (12). A membrane (26) seals the delivery opening (22) of a medicine compartment (18) and is pre-stressed by an amount less than the predetermined elastic deformation and rupture point limits of the membrane (26). A release element (28) associated with compartment (18) causes the membrane (26) to be stressed beyond the deformation and rupture point limits in response to a control signal (78). Release element (28) ruptures the membrane (26) along a predetermined rupture pattern to permit a first membrane portion (35), forming a hinged lid, to separate from a second membrane portion (37) along the predetermined rupture pattern while remaining attached to the second membrane portion at a hinge (39).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Hospira, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven T. Cho, Keith Cromack, James Jara-Almonte, Don J VerLee
  • Medicine delivery system
    Publication number: 20040024382
    Abstract: A medicine delivery system (10) implantable into a human or animal body includes a medicine delivery unit (14) and a control unit (12). A membrane (26) seals the delivery opening (22) of a medicine compartment (18) and is pre-stressed by an amount less than the predetermined elastic deformation and rupture point limits of the membrane (26). A release element (28) associated with compartment (18) causes the membrane (26) to be stressed beyond the deformation and rupture point limits in response to a control signal (78). Release element (28) ruptures the membrane (26) along a predetermined rupture pattern to permit a first membrane portion (35), forming a hinged lid, to separate from a second membrane portion (37) along the predetermined rupture pattern while remaining attached to the second membrane portion at a hinge (39).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Steven T. Cho, Keith Cromack, James Jara-Almonte, Don J. VerLee