Patents by Inventor Don Millerd

Don Millerd 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: 8747361
    Abstract: A device and method for positioning a catheter to establish a fluid access site into the vasculature of a patient includes a luer assembly having a cannula or catheter, a shuttle assembly having a stylet for stiffening the catheter, and a holder assembly having an actuator for providing controlled retraction into a handle. The safety catheter comprises a flash window that allows a clinician to view when the vasculature of a patient has been properly accessed and to confirm that the stylet has been fully retracted into a safe position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Milaghi Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Millerd, Hooman Asbaghi
  • Publication number: 20130296826
    Abstract: A device and method for positioning a catheter to establish a fluid access site into the vasculature of a patient includes a luer assembly having a cannula or catheter, a shuttle assembly having a stylet for stiffening the catheter, and a holder assembly having an actuator for providing controlled retraction into a handle. The safety catheter comprises a flash window that allows a clinician to view when the vasculature of a patient has been properly accessed and to confirm that the stylet has been fully retracted into a safe position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Don Millerd, Hooman Asbaghi
  • Patent number: 8500699
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a syringe, a needle, and a guard is described. In some versions, the apparatus may comprise an adapter and a biasing element. The biasing element may be used to urge the guard in a distal direction. In some versions, the apparatus may comprise a spring in communication with the guard. In some versions, the apparatus may comprise a passive release mechanism. In some versions, the apparatus may comprise an adapter that has a hinge. The hinge may be used to engage the guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: MedPro Safety Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Don Millerd
  • Patent number: 8403893
    Abstract: A method involving a syringe, a pre-filled cartridge, a needle, a guard, and a release mechanism is described. The method may involve inserting the cartridge into the syringe. In some versions, the method may involve releasing the guard to cover a portion of the needle. In some versions, the method may involve the release retaining the guard in a retracted position. In some versions, the release may be operable to be actuated to release the guard. In some versions, the guard may be extended and locked once extended to cover the needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: MedPro Safety Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Don Millerd
  • Patent number: 8398608
    Abstract: A device for expelling a fluid through a needle mounted on a hub includes an elongated luer member that has a distal portion dimensioned to engage the needle hub to provide fluid communication between the luer member and the needle. An adapter anchors the luer member within the device. Slidingly mounted on the adapter is a cylindrical-shaped inverted plunger that is movable thereon between an advanced position and a withdrawn position. A needle guard is biased by a biasing member to extend distally from the luer member when the plunger is in the advanced position. The guard is selectively engageable with the plunger to be retracted to expose the distal portion of the luer member for fluid engagement with the needle hub when the plunger is moved to the withdrawn position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: MedPro Safety Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Don Millerd
  • Patent number: 8333738
    Abstract: A method of using a syringe and a flexible member is described. In some versions, the method may involve providing a syringe, a needle, a pre-filled cartridge, an adapter, a flexible member, a biasing element, and a guard. The method may involve retaining the guard, releasing the guard by actuating the flexible member to translate the guard in the distal direction to cover the needle, and locking the guard. In some versions, the flexible member may have a first and second position for actuation. In some versions, the flexible member may engage and disengage the guard to retain and release the guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: MedPro Safety Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Don Millerd
  • Publication number: 20120283641
    Abstract: A device and method for positioning a catheter to establish a fluid access site into the vasculature of a patient includes a luer assembly having a cannula or catheter, a shuttle assembly having a stylet for stiffening the catheter, and a holder assembly having an actuator for providing controlled retraction into a handle. The safety catheter comprises a flash window that allows a clinician to view when the vasculature of a patient has been properly accessed and to confirm that the stylet has been fully retracted into a safe position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Don Millerd, Hooman Asbaghi
  • Publication number: 20120283698
    Abstract: A device for expelling a fluid through a needle mounted on a hub includes an elongated luer member that has a distal portion dimensioned to engage the needle hub to provide fluid communication between the luer member and the needle. An adapter anchors the luer member within the device. Slidingly mounted on the adapter is a cylindrical-shaped inverted plunger that is movable thereon between an advanced position and a withdrawn position. A needle guard is biased by a biasing member to extend distally from the luer member when the plunger is in the advanced position. The guard is selectively engageable with the plunger to be retracted to expose the distal portion of the luer member for fluid engagement with the needle hub when the plunger is moved to the withdrawn position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventor: Don Millerd
  • Patent number: 8246599
    Abstract: A device for expelling a fluid through a needle mounted on a hub includes an elongated luer member that has a distal portion dimensioned to engage the needle hub to provide fluid communication between the luer member and the needle. An adapter anchors the luer member within the device. Slidingly mounted on the adapter is a cylindrical-shaped inverted plunger that is movable thereon between an advanced position and a withdrawn position. A needle guard is biased by a biasing member to extend distally from the luer member when the plunger is in the advanced position. The guard is selectively engageable with the plunger to be retracted to expose the distal portion of the luer member for fluid engagement with the needle hub when the plunger is moved to the withdrawn position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: MedPro Safety Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Don Millerd
  • Patent number: 8216187
    Abstract: A device and method for positioning a catheter to establish a fluid access site into the vasculature of a patient includes a luer assembly that incorporates the catheter. Also included is a shuttle assembly that has a stylet for stiffening the catheter. In combination, the stiffened catheter and the shuttle assembly are held on a handle by the interaction of the luer assembly with the handle. Once the stiffened catheter is inserted into the vasculature, the luer assembly is separated from the handle and from the stylet, and is left in place. With this separation, the shuttle assembly is also released to be repositioned and concealed within the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Millaghi Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Millerd, Hooman A. Asbaghi
  • Patent number: 8216188
    Abstract: A device and method for positioning a catheter to establish a fluid access site into the vasculature of a patient includes a luer assembly having a cannula or catheter, a shuttle assembly having a stylet for stiffening the catheter, and a holder assembly having an actuator for providing controlled retraction into a handle. The safety catheter comprises a flash window that allows a clinician to view when the vasculature of a patient has been properly accessed and to confirm that the stylet has been fully retracted into a safe position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventors: Don Millerd, Hooman Asbaghi
  • Patent number: 8157771
    Abstract: A device for expelling fluid from a pre-filled vial includes a hollow needle that is axially mounted on a syringe body. A guard, also mounted on the syringe body, is moveable between a first position wherein it is held to expose a distal portion of the needle and a second position wherein, after being released, it covers the distal portion. In operation, the vial is engaged in fluid communication with the needle, and it is then advanced on the syringe body. During this advancement, fluid is expelled from the vial through the needle, and the vial releases the guard for its movement from the first to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: MedPro Safety Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Don Millerd
  • Patent number: 8062265
    Abstract: A device for selectively protecting a needle includes an adapter holding the needle and a guard engaging the adapter for relative movement therebetween. Further, the device includes a means for guiding movement between the adapter and the guard. Structurally, the guiding means includes a ā€œVā€ shaped slot in the guard and a radially-extending boss on the adapter. The boss is received in the slot to limit relative movement between the guard and the adapter. Specifically, in a first position of the device, the boss is in a first leg of the slot and the needle partially extends beyond the guard. In a second position, the boss is held at the apex of the slot and the needle fully extends beyond the guard. In a third position, the boss is in the second leg of the slot and the needle is retracted into the guard to protect the needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventor: Don Millerd
  • Publication number: 20110166528
    Abstract: A device and method for positioning a catheter to establish a fluid access site into the vasculature of a patient includes a luer assembly having a cannula or catheter, a shuttle assembly having a stylet for stiffening the catheter, and a holder assembly having an actuator for providing controlled retraction into a handle. The safety catheter comprises a flash window that allows a clinician to view when the vasculature of a patient has been properly accessed and to confirm that the stylet has been fully retracted into a safe position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Don Millerd, Hooman Asbaghi
  • Publication number: 20100331781
    Abstract: A device and method for positioning a catheter to establish a fluid access site into the vasculature of a patient includes a luer assembly that incorporates the catheter. Also included is a shuttle assembly that has a stylet for stiffening the catheter. In combination, the stiffened catheter and the shuttle assembly are held on a handle by the interaction of the luer assembly with the handle. Once the stiffened catheter is inserted into the vasculature, the luer assembly is separated from the handle and from the stylet, and is left in place. With this separation, the shuttle assembly is also released to be repositioned and concealed within the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Don Millerd, Hooman A. Asbaghi
  • Publication number: 20100292655
    Abstract: An apparatus having a syringe body, a plunger, a guard, a biasing member, a needle, and a release mechanism is described. In some versions, the release mechanism may include a flexible hinge mechanism. In some versions, the guard may have a retracted position and an extended position in communication with the flexible hinge mechanism. In some versions, the guard may have a first position and a second position in communication with a release mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventor: Don Millerd
  • Publication number: 20100262121
    Abstract: A method involving a syringe, a pre-filled cartridge, a needle, a guard, and a release mechanism is described. The method may involve inserting the cartridge into the syringe. In some versions, the method may involve releasing the guard to cover a portion of the needle. In some versions, the method may involve the release retaining the guard in a retracted position. In some versions, the release may be operable to be actuated to release the guard. In some versions, the guard may be extended and locked once extended to cover the needle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventor: Don Millerd
  • Publication number: 20100262086
    Abstract: An apparatus involving a syringe body, a needle, a guard, a biasing element, and a pre-filled cartridge is described. In some versions, the guard is able to move distally as a result of the movement of the pre-filled cartridge. In some versions, the biasing element is a spring. The spring may aid in the distal movement of the guard. In some versions, as the guard extends in the distal direction, the guard covers a portion of the needle. As the guard extends to cover a portion of the needle, the guard may help prevent accidental sticking from the needle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventor: Don Millerd
  • Publication number: 20100262085
    Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a fluid involving a syringe body, a needle, a guard, a biasing element, and a plunger is described. In some versions, the plunger may comprise a pre-filled cartridge. The pre-filled cartridge itself may therefore act as a plunger. In some versions, the needle may be in communication with the syringe body. The pre-filled cartridge may be operable to distally advance within the syringe body. During the advancement of the pre-filled cartridge, a fluid in the pre-filled cartridge may be released and the guard may be distally extended to cover at least a portion of the needle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventor: Don Millerd
  • Publication number: 20100262122
    Abstract: A method involving a syringe, a plunger, a needle, and a guard is described. The method may comprise the guard moving and/or translating within the syringe. In some versions, the plunger may be inserted into a syringe body of the syringe. The plunger may be moved within the syringe body. In some versions, the guard may have a retracted position, and the guard may travel axially within the syringe body. In some versions, the guard may translate within the syringe body such that it touches the skin of the patient. In some versions, the guard may cover the needle by axial translation within the syringe body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventor: Don Millerd