Patents by Inventor Ernest Balestracci

Ernest Balestracci 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: 6846303
    Abstract: A prefilled syringe of cartridge barrel having a tamper evident closure. Tamper evidence is provided by: a frangible tip seal which is integral with the tapered tip of the barrel; a frangible tip cap covering the tip, the tip seal and a portion of the distal end of the barrel; and an overwrap covering the frangible tip cap and the distal end of the barrel sealed to the distal end of the barrel by a tamper evident seal. The tapered tip is optionally equipped with a luer collar to receive an external luer connector. Alternatively, the tapered tip can be provided with a bore therethrough which can be closed with an elastomeric plug and the external connector can be a tubing conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventors: Michael N. Eakins, Ernest Balestracci, Ernst Schramm, John J. Niedospial Jr.
  • Patent number: 6821268
    Abstract: A tamper evident protective cap for a container having a pharmaceutical or biological fluid. The barrel of the container is equipped with two protuberances. The protective cap consisting of top and bottom portions are connected by a frangible portion. The bottom portion contains two notches to engage the protuberances. Without engaging the protuberances with the notches the protector cap cannot be removed. Upon engaging the protuberances with the notches, the top portion of the protective cap is twistably removed at the frangible area and the content of the container is removed by attaching a luer connector or a syringe equipped with a luer connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventor: Ernest Balestracci
  • Publication number: 20040225258
    Abstract: A tamper evident protective cap for a prefilled syringe having a pharmaceutical or biological fluid is provided. The barrel of the container is equipped with a ring. The protective cap consisting of top and bottom portions are connected by a frangible area. The bottom portion contains a flange to engage the ring. Once the flange is engaged to the ring, the engagement prevents the removal of the tamper evident cap unless the top portion is intentionally separated from the bottom portion at the frangible area. If the top portion is intentionally separated, the bottom portion will remain engaged to the ring and the disengaged top portion will indicate tamper evidence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventor: Ernest Balestracci
  • Publication number: 20040159564
    Abstract: A prefilled syringe of cartridge barrel having a tamper evident closure. Tamper evidence is provided by: a frangible tip seal which is integral with the tapered tip of the barrel; a frangible tip cap covering the tip, the tip seal and a portion of the distal end of the barrel; and an overwrap covering the frangible tip cap and the distal end of the barrel sealed to the distal end of the barrel by a tamper evident seal. The tapered tip is optionally equipped with a luer collar to receive an external luer connector. Alternatively, the tapered tip can be provided with a bore therethrough which can be closed with an elastomeric plug and the external connector can be a tubing conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Michael N. Eakins, Ernest Balestracci, Ernst Schramm, John J. Niedospial
  • Patent number: 6726652
    Abstract: A prefilled syringe of cartridge barrel having a tamper evident closure. Tamper evidence is provided by: a frangible tip seal which is integral with the tapered tip of the barrel; a frangible tip cap covering the tip, the tip seal and a portion of the distal end of the barrel; and an overwrap covering the frangible tip cap and the distal end of the barrel sealed to the distal end of the barrel by a tamper evident seal. The tapered tip is optionally equipped with a luer collar to receive an external luer connector. Alternatively, the tapered tip can be provided with a bore therethrough which can be closed with an elastomeric plug and the external connector can be a tubing conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael N. Eakins, Ernest Balestracci, Ernst Schramm, John J. Niedospial, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20030187403
    Abstract: A tamper evident protective cap for a container having a pharmaceutical or biological fluid. The barrel of the container is equipped with two protuberances. The protective cap consisting of top and bottom portions are connected by a frangible portion. The bottom portion contains two notches to engage the protuberances. Without engaging the protuberances with the notches the protector cap cannot be removed. Upon engaging the protuberances with the notches, the top portion of the protective cap is twistably removed at the frangible area and the content of the container is removed by attaching a luer connector or a syringe equipped with a luer connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventor: Ernest Balestracci
  • Publication number: 20030032923
    Abstract: A prefilled syringe of cartridge barrel having a tamper evident closure. Tamper evidence is provided by: a frangible tip seal which is integral with the tapered tip of the barrel; a frangible tip cap covering the tip, the tip seal and a portion of the distal end of the barrel; and an overwrap covering the frangible tip cap and the distal end of the barrel sealed to the distal end of the barrel by a tamper evident seal. The tapered tip is optionally equipped with a luer collar to receive an external luer connector Alternatively, the tapered tip can be provided with a bore therethrough which can be closed with an elastomeric plug and the external connector can be a tubing conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Michael N. Eakins, Ernest Balestracci, Ernst Schramm, John J. Niedospial
  • Patent number: 6503240
    Abstract: A vial access adapter for withdrawal of a medical fluid contained in a vial which includes a vial access adapter body having a circular top wall with a plurality of vent holes, a circular second wall spaced from the top wall, and a cylindrical side wall which walls define a chamber for holding an anti-bacterial filter. A first spike centrally located in the vial access adapter body extends through the top wall, chamber, and bottom wall, with one end extending above the top wall terminating in a threaded luer connector, while the other end terminates in a sharp point. A flow channel extends through the first spike designed for withdrawal of the medical fluid from the vial. A second spike positioned parallel to the first spike and is integral with the first spike extends from the second wall, one end of which extends into the chamber, and the other end terminates in a sharp point co-joined with the sharp point of the first spike.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Brocco Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Niedospial, Jr., Jacqueline M. Kline, Michael N. Eakins, Ernest Balestracci
  • Patent number: 6485460
    Abstract: A prefilled syringe of cartridge barrel having a tamper evident closure. Tamper evidence is provided by: a frangible tip seal which is integral with the tapered tip of the barrel; a frangible tip cap covering the tip, the tip seal and a portion of the distal end of the barrel; and an overwrap covering the frangible tip cap and the distal end of the barrel sealed to the distal end of the barrel by a tamper evident seal. The tapered tip is optionally equipped with a luer collar to receive an external luer connector. Alternatively, the tapered tip can be provided with a bore therethrough which can be closed with an elastomeric plug and the external connector can be a tubing conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael N. Eakins, Ernest Balestracci, Ernst Schramm, John J. Niedospial, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020133119
    Abstract: A prefilled syringe of cartridge barrel having a tamper evident closure. Tamper evidence is provided by: a frangible tip seal which is integral with the tapered tip of the barrel; a frangible tip cap covering the tip, the tip seal and a portion of the distal end of the barrel; and an overwrap covering the frangible tip cap and the distal end of the barrel sealed to the distal end of the barrel by a tamper evident seal. The tapered tip is optionally equipped with a luer collar to receive an external luer connector. Alternatively, the tapered tip can be provided with a bore therethrough which can be closed with an elastomeric plug and the external connector can be a tubing conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Michael N. Eakins, Ernest Balestracci, Ernst Schramm, John J. Niedospial JR.
  • Patent number: 6240788
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring the breakaway and running forces required to move the plunger from its initial position toward the distal end of the syringe or cartridge barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventor: Ernest Balestracci
  • Patent number: 6206859
    Abstract: A self-aligning reinforced plunger rod and a non-elastomeric plastic plunger insert assembly for use with an elastomeric plunger in a cartridge or syringe barrel, the plunger rod having a first, second, third and fourth sides, a distal end with an end disc, a proximal end with a thumb rest, a central reinforcing disc at the midpoint between the end disc and the thumb rest, and a plunger rod tip integral with the end disc and having a neck portion and a ball portion for engagement with a cavity in the non-elastomeric plastic plunger insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Niedospial, Jr., Ernest Balestracci
  • Patent number: 6193688
    Abstract: A tamper evident protector cap for a pre-filled syringe or cartridge barrel stoppered by an elastomeric closure. The protector cap securely retains the elastomeric closure during in-line processing, handling and shipment. The protector cap includes frangible brackets which on tampering break away from the protector cap evidencing that product integrity might have been jeopardized and the product should not be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest Balestracci, John J. Niedospial, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6190362
    Abstract: Dimensionally stable plunger rod for use with a plunger in a cartridge or syringe barrel for manual or power-assisted withdrawal of fluid from a site or expelling fluid from the cartridge or syringe barrel having: a plunger rod body with a distal and a proximal end; an end disc at the distal end; a threaded member integral with the end disc designed to engage a plunger; a thumb rest at the proximal end; a central disc at the mid point between the end disc and the thumb rest to provide additional reinforcement to the plunger rod; four longitudinal radially extending rectangular vanes connected to the end disc at the distal end, to the central disc at the mid point, and to the thumb rest at the proximal end; two pairs of longitudinal radially extending reinforcing vanes forming two triangular configurations with one of the longitudinal radially extending rectangular vanes on one side of the plunger rod body; and two pairs of longitudinal radially extending reinforcing vanes forming two triangular config
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventor: Ernest Balestracci
  • Patent number: 6176846
    Abstract: Dimensionally stable plunger rod for use with a plunger in a cartridge or syringe barrel for manual or power-assisted withdrawal of fluid from a site or expelling fluid from the cartridge or syringe barrel having: a plunger rod body with a distal and a proximal end: an end disc at the distal end; a threaded member integral with the end disc designed to engage a plunger; a thumb rest at the proximal end; four longitudinal radially extending rectangular vanes connected to the end disc at the distal end, and to the thumb rest at the proximal end; two pairs of longitudinal radially extending reinforcing vanes forming two triangular configurations with one of the longitudinal radially extending rectangular vanes on one side of the plunger rod body; and two pairs of longitudinal radially extending reinforcing vanes forming two triangular configurations with another of the longitudinal radially extending rectangular vanes on the opposite side of the plunger rod body, each of the pairs of the reinforcing vanes
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventor: Ernest Balestracci
  • Patent number: 6142978
    Abstract: A self-aligning reinforced plunger rod and a non-elastomeric plastic plunger insert assembly for use with an elastomeric plunger in a cartridge or syringe barrel, the plunger rod having a first, second, third and fourth sides, a distal end with an end disc, a proximal end with a thumb rest, and a plunger rod tip integral with the end disc and having a neck portion and a ball portion for engagement with a cavity in the non-elastomeric plastic plunger insert. Connecting the end disc and thumb rest there are: four longitudinal radially extending rectangular vanes spaced about 90.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Niedospial, Jr., Ernest Balestracci
  • Patent number: 6105230
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing an elastomeric closure from the tapered tip of a pre-filled syringe or cartridge barrel stoppered at its open end by a slidable plunger; measuring the removal force required to remove the elastomeric closure from the tapered tip of the barrel; and subsequently measuring the breakaway and running forces required to move the plunger from its initial position toward the distal end of the syringe or cartridge barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Bracco Research USA
    Inventor: Ernest Balestracci
  • Patent number: D437050
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Bracco Research USA
    Inventor: Ernest Balestracci
  • Patent number: D432231
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventor: Ernest Balestracci
  • Patent number: D434850
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Bracco Research,USA
    Inventor: Ernest Balestracci