Patents by Inventor Frank L. Hedmann
Frank L. Hedmann 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).
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Patent number: 9907898Abstract: A method is provided of monitoring the leak tightness of a plurality of pneumatically or hydraulically actuated actuators of a machine, in particular a plurality of valve actuators of a medical treatment machine, in which pressure is exerted on the actuators in different combinations during operation of the machine. A common pressure drop occurring during a stationary operating phase at the actuators on which pressure is exerted in the respective combination is measured for a plurality of different combinations of actuators on which pressure is exerted. A respective leak tightness value is determined for individual actuators and/or groups of actuators, with the pressure drop measured for those combinations and in which the respective actuator and/or the respective group of actuators on which pressure is exerted being accounted for in the leak tightness value. A machine, in particular a medical treatment machine, is configured to effect the valve actuator monitoring.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2014Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHALND GMBHInventors: Frank L. Hedmann, Stephan Klatte
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Patent number: 9867921Abstract: A medical device having a heater with at least one heating element which has mains voltage applied to it by a heating control unit. The heating control unit includes a monitoring arrangement and a switching arrangement. The monitoring arrangement can recognize the zero crossings of the mains voltage, and the switching arrangement can switch the at least one heating element on or off in the zero crossing. The heating control unit controls the power of the heating by switching on and off of one or more half cycles of the mains AC voltage.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2017Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbHInventors: Frank L. Hedmann, Sven Sebesta, Ulrich Wernicke
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Publication number: 20170189600Abstract: A medical device having a heater with at least one heating element which has mains voltage applied to it by a heating control unit. The heating control unit includes a monitoring arrangement and a switching arrangement. The monitoring arrangement can recognize the zero crossings of the mains voltage, and the switching arrangement can switch the at least one heating element on or off in the zero crossing. The heating control unit controls the power of the heating by switching on and off of one or more half cycles of the mains AC voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2017Publication date: July 6, 2017Inventors: Frank L. Hedmann, Sven Sebesta, Ulrich Wernicke
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Patent number: 9555181Abstract: A medical device having a heater with at least one heating element which has mains voltage applied to it by a heating control unit. The heating control unit includes a monitoring arrangement and a switching arrangement. The monitoring arrangement can recognize the zero crossings of the mains voltage, and the switching arrangement can switch the at least one heating element on or off in the zero crossing. The heating control unit controls the power of the heating by switching on and off of one or more half cycles of the mains AC voltage.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2014Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbHInventors: Frank L. Hedmann, Sven Sebesta, Ulrich Wernicke
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Patent number: 9302040Abstract: A method that includes conveying overheated dialysate through a cassette in a manner to reduce the temperature of the overheated dialysate, and a dialysis system including a control unit configured to cause overheated dialysate to be conveyed through a cassette in a manner to reduce the temperature of the overheated dialysate.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2013Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbHInventors: Frank L. Hedmann, Stephan Klatte
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Publication number: 20150141909Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for checking and/or monitoring the leak tightness of a plurality of pneumatically or hydraulically actuated actuators of a machine, in particular a plurality of valve actuators of a medical treatment machine, wherein pressure is exerted on the actuators in different combinations during the operation of the machine, wherein the common pressure drop occurring during a stationary operating phase at the actuators on which pressure is exerted in the respective combination is measured for a plurality of different combinations of actuators on which pressure is exerted, and wherein a respective leak tightness value is determined for individual actuators and/or groups of actuators with the pressure drop which is measured for those combinations and in which the respective actuator and/or the respective group of actuators on which pressure is exerted being taken into said leak tightness value.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2014Publication date: May 21, 2015Inventors: Frank L. HEDMANN, Stephan KLATTE
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Patent number: 8950241Abstract: A method is provided of monitoring the leak tightness of a plurality of pneumatically or hydraulically actuated actuators of a machine, in particular a plurality of valve actuators of a medical treatment machine, in which pressure is exerted on the actuators in different combinations during operation of the machine. A common pressure drop occurring during a stationary operating phase at the actuators on which pressure is exerted in the respective combination is measured for a plurality of different combinations of actuators on which pressure is exerted. A respective leak tightness value is determined for individual actuators and/or groups of actuators, with the pressure drop measured for those combinations and in which the respective actuator and/or the respective group of actuators on which pressure is exerted being accounted for in the leak tightness value. A machine, in particular a medical treatment machine, is configured to effect the valve actuator monitoring.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbHInventors: Frank L. Hedmann, Stephan Klatte
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Patent number: 8914156Abstract: A method is provided for the control of valves for flow path control, in particular in a medical treatment machine, having a plurality of processes for the manufacture of flow paths by control of a group of valves, with each process claiming a group of valves suitable for its carrying out for itself so that other processes cannot change the switching state of these valves and with each process itself making a decision on the release of the valves claimed by it. In addition, a method is provided for monitoring the then current and/or scheduled state of a plurality of valves in the flow path control, determining the connections resulting from the switching state of the valves, and comparing the resulting connections with a predetermined number of non-permitted connections.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2014Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbHInventors: Frank L. Hedmann, Stephan Klatte
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Patent number: 8784359Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis (PD) system that includes a disposable PD cassette including a base having a substantially planar portion and a dome-shaped protrusion extending from the substantially planar portion and a flexible membrane attached to the base and covering a recessed region of the dome-shaped protrusion to form a pumping chamber between the flexible membrane and the recessed region of the dome-shaped protrusion. The system also includes a PD machine including a deck and a door hinged from one side to the deck. The door and the deck can cooperate to form a cassette compartment, and the door has a cylindrical recess positioned to receive the dome-shaped protrusion of the base of the disposable PD cassette when the disposable PD cassette is disposed in the cassette compartment and the door is closed.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2011Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Kulwinder S. Plahey, Frank L. Hedmann, Stephan Klatte, Thomas Irvin Folden
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Publication number: 20140200720Abstract: A method is provided for the control of valves for flow path control, in particular in a medical treatment machine, having a plurality of processes for the manufacture of flow paths by control of a group of valves, with each process claiming a group of valves suitable for its carrying out for itself so that other processes cannot change the switching state of these valves and with each process itself making a decision on the release of the valves claimed by it. In addition, a method is provided for monitoring the then current and/or scheduled state of a plurality of valves in the flow path control, determining the connections resulting from the switching state of the valves, and comparing the resulting connections with a predetermined number of non-permitted connections.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2014Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBHInventors: Frank L. HEDMANN, Stephan KLATTE
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Publication number: 20140180200Abstract: A medical device having a heater with at least one heating element which has mains voltage applied to it by a heating control unit. The heating control unit includes a monitoring arrangement and a switching arrangement. The monitoring arrangement can recognize the zero crossings of the mains voltage, and the switching arrangement can switch the at least one heating element on or off in the zero crossing. The heating control unit controls the power of the heating by switching on and off of one or more half cycles of the mains AC voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2014Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbHInventors: Frank L. Hedmann, Sven Sebesta, Ulrich Wernicke
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Patent number: 8634964Abstract: A method for the control of valves for flow path control, in particular in a medical treatment machine, having a plurality of processes for the manufacture of flow paths by control of a group of valves, with each process claiming a group of valves suitable for its carrying out for itself so that other processes cannot change the switching state of these valves and with each process itself making a decision on the release of the valves claimed by it. In addition, a method is provided for monitoring the then current and/or scheduled state of a plurality of valves in the flow path control, determining the connections resulting from the switching state of the valves, and comparing the resulting connections with a predetermined number of non-permitted connections.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2009Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbHInventors: Frank L. Hedmann, Stephan Klatte
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Publication number: 20130310736Abstract: A method that includes conveying overheated dialysate through a cassette in a manner to reduce the temperature of the overheated dialysate, and a dialysis system including a control unit configured to cause overheated dialysate to be conveyed through a cassette in a manner to reduce the temperature of the overheated dialysate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbHInventors: Frank L. Hedmann, Stephan Klatte
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Patent number: 8350195Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the heating of a solution, such as a dialysis solution, to a desired temperature includes heating the solution presented in a bag. The heating is effected with a heater system, which includes a heater, by means of a two-step control. The temperature forming the lower switch-on threshold of the heater and the temperature forming the upper switch-off threshold of the heater vary.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbHInventors: Frank L. Hedmann, Stephan Klatte
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Publication number: 20110196289Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis (PD) system that includes a disposable PD cassette including a base having a substantially planar portion and a dome-shaped protrusion extending from the substantially planar portion and a flexible membrane attached to the base and covering a recessed region of the dome-shaped protrusion to form a pumping chamber between the flexible membrane and the recessed region of the dome-shaped protrusion. The system also includes a PD machine including a deck and a door hinged from one side to the deck. The door and the deck can cooperate to form a cassette compartment, and the door has a cylindrical recess positioned to receive the dome-shaped protrusion of the base of the disposable PD cassette when the disposable PD cassette is disposed in the cassette compartment and the door is closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2011Publication date: August 11, 2011Applicant: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE HOLDINGS, INC.Inventors: Kulwinder S. Plahey, Frank L. Hedmann, Stephan Klatte, Thomas I. Folden
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Patent number: 7935074Abstract: A portable peritoneal dialysis apparatus having a side-hinged, inclined door for enclosing a disposable cassette that seals tightly shut using air pressure which imposes a safety interlock, a cassette with its inlet/outlet tube exclusively along the lower edge so that the connected lines can hang straight, a circumferential channel defined in the cassette, and a pneumatic system for sealing the membranes of both the pump chamber diaphragms and the pressure sensor diaphragms in the cassette to the respective mating pistons and pressure sensors in the cycler. In addition a system for draining patient line fluid to an empty solution bag is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2006Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Kulwinder S. Plahey, Frank L. Hedmann, Stephan Klatte, Thomas I. Folden
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Publication number: 20110000902Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the heating of solutions, preferably dialysis solutions, to a wanted desired temperature, wherein a solution presented in a bag is heated on a heater system including a heater by means of a two-step control. In accordance with the present invention, the temperature forming the lower switch-on threshold of the heater and the temperature forming the upper switch-off threshold of the heater vary.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2009Publication date: January 6, 2011Inventors: Frank L. Hedmann, Stephan Klatte
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Publication number: 20100331768Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for checking and/or monitoring the leak tightness of a plurality of pneumatically or hydraulically actuated actuators of a machine, in particular a plurality of valve actuators of a medical treatment machine, wherein pressure is exerted on the actuators in different combinations during the operation of the machine, wherein the common pressure drop occurring during a stationary operating phase at the actuators on which pressure is exerted in the respective combination is measured for a plurality of different combinations of actuators on which pressure is exerted, and wherein a respective leak tightness value is determined for individual actuators and/or groups of actuators with the pressure drop which is measured for those combinations and in which the respective actuator and/or the respective group of actuators on which pressure is exerted being taken into said leak tightness value.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2009Publication date: December 30, 2010Inventors: Frank L. Hedmann, Stephan Klatte
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Publication number: 20100319780Abstract: The present invention includes a method for the control of valves for flow path control, in particular in a medical treatment machine, having a plurality of processes for the manufacture of flow paths by control of a group of valves, with each process claiming a group of valves suitable for its carrying out for itself so that other processes cannot change the switching state of these valves and with each process itself making a decision on the release of the valves claimed by it. The invention furthermore includes a method for the monitoring of the then current and/or scheduled state of a plurality of valves in the flow path control, in particular in a medical treatment machine, having the steps: determining the then current and/or scheduled switching state of the valves; determining the connections resulting from the switching state of the valves; comparing the resulting connections with a predetermined number of non-permitted connections.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2009Publication date: December 23, 2010Inventors: Frank L. Hedmann, Stephan Klatte
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Publication number: 20100222735Abstract: A portable peritoneal dialysis apparatus having (1) a hinged door for enclosing a disposable cassette that seals tightly shut using air pressure; (2) accurate pressure sensing of pressures applied to the patient through an enclosure in the disposable cassette; (3) two pumps that can operate separately or in tandem actuated by two separate stepper motors; and (4) a touch screen user interface where indicia of the operating mode is always visible along with indicia for the other possible operating modes and the mode can be changed by touching one of these indicia.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2010Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE HOLDINGS, INC.Inventors: Kulwinder S. Plahey, Frank L. Hedmann, Stephan Klatte, Thomas I. Folden