Patents by Inventor Heike GRUEN
Heike GRUEN 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: 11951289Abstract: A piston having a longitudinal axis and opposing proximal and distal axial ends is manufactured by a method including molding a partially formed piston body and then molding the piston. The partially formed piston body is molded by placing a first rubber sheet and an inert film between die plates of a first forming tool, vulcanizing the first rubber sheet and the inert film between the die plates of the first forming tool, and blanking out the partially formed piston body from the first rubber sheet and the inert film. The piston is then molded by placing the partially formed piston body into a second forming tool, placing a second rubber sheet into the second forming tool, vulcanizing the second rubber sheet and the partially formed piston body together, and blanking out the piston from the second rubber sheet at a trim edge spaced apart from the inert film.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey M. Laubach, Jurgen Brinkhues, Heike Gruen, Joel Worman, Xia Zhao, Jason Mattia
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Patent number: 11919208Abstract: A method of manufacturing a medical component includes molding a first member of the medical component from an elastomeric material. The first member includes a first end defined by a closed base wall, an opposing second end which is an open end, a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, and an internal recess to receive at least one electronic device. The method further includes positioning the electronic device within the recess of the first member to form an assembly, such that the electronic device is received in an inverted open cavity defined by the sidewall. The method further includes applying a protective film on the second end of the first member, such that the protective film covers an exposed surface of the electronic device. In addition, the method includes overmolding the assembly with the elastomeric material to form the medical component having the electronic device embedded therein.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.Inventors: Kerry Drake, Heike Gruen, Jeffrey M. Laubach, Martin McGarry, Jason Krizan, Patrick Dowling, Joel Worman
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Patent number: 11607498Abstract: A piston to be provided within an inner wall of a barrel of a pharmaceutical syringe for dispensing medicament retained in the barrel is described. The piston includes a body defining a central face, a cylindrical portion, and an annular curved portion between the cylindrical portion and the central face portion. The piston also includes an inert film enclosing the central face portion and at least a part of the annular curved portion. The cylindrical portion and the part of the annular curved portion are together configured to maintain a fluid-tight seal with the inner wall of the barrel. A pharmaceutical syringe is described for dispensing a medicament includes a barrel configured to retain the medicament and the piston.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2022Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey M. Laubach, Jurgen Brinkhues, Heike Gruen, Joel Worman, Xia Zhao, Jason Mattia
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Publication number: 20230045058Abstract: A method of manufacturing a medical component includes molding a first member of the medical component from an elastomeric material. The first member includes a first end defined by a closed base wall, an opposing second end which is an open end, a sidewall extending between the first and second ends, and an internal recess to receive at least one electronic device. The method further includes positioning the electronic device within the recess of the first member to form an assembly, such that the electronic device is received in an inverted open cavity defined by the sidewall. The method further includes applying a protective film on the second end of the first member, such that the protective film covers an exposed surface of the electronic device. In addition, the method includes overmolding the assembly with the elastomeric material to form the medical component having the electronic device embedded therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Inventors: Kerry DRAKE, Heike GRUEN, Jeffrey M. LAUBACH, Martin MCGARRY, Jason KRIZAN, Patrick DOWLING, Joel WORMAN
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Patent number: 11478962Abstract: A method of manufacturing a medical component includes preparing a first sheet of an elastomeric material, arranging at least one electronic device in the first sheet of elastomeric material to obtain an elastomeric preform, and arranging the elastomeric preform in a mold and molding the elastomeric preform therein to cure the elastomeric material and form the medical component having the at least one electronic device embedded therein.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2018Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.Inventors: Kerry Drake, Heike Gruen, Jeffrey M. Laubach, Martin McGarry, Jason Krizan, Patrick Dowling, Joel Worman
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Publication number: 20220288320Abstract: A piston having a longitudinal axis and opposing proximal and distal axial ends is manufactured by a method including molding a partially formed piston body and then molding the piston. The partially formed piston body is molded by placing a first rubber sheet and an inert film between die plates of a first forming tool, vulcanizing the first rubber sheet and the inert film between the die plates of the first forming tool, and blanking out the partially formed piston body from the first rubber sheet and the inert film. The piston is then molded by placing the partially formed piston body into a second forming tool, placing a second rubber sheet into the second forming tool, vulcanizing the second rubber sheet and the partially formed piston body together, and blanking out the piston from the second rubber sheet at a trim edge spaced apart from the inert film.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: Jeffrey M. LAUBACH, Jurgen BRINKHUES, Heike GRUEN, Joel WORMAN, Xia ZHAO, Jason MATTIA
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Publication number: 20220288321Abstract: A piston to be provided within an inner wall of a barrel of a pharmaceutical syringe for dispensing medicament retained in the barrel is described. The piston includes a body defining a central face, a cylindrical portion, and an annular curved portion between the cylindrical portion and the central face portion. The piston also includes an inert film enclosing the central face portion and at least a part of the annular curved portion. The cylindrical portion and the part of the annular curved portion are together configured to maintain a fluid-tight seal with the inner wall of the barrel. A pharmaceutical syringe is described for dispensing a medicament includes a barrel configured to retain the medicament and the piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Inventors: Jeffrey M. LAUBACH, Jurgen BRINKHUES, Heike GRUEN, Joel WORMAN, Xia ZHAO, Jason MATTIA
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Patent number: 11369742Abstract: A pharmaceutical syringe piston having a longitudinal axis includes a body having a central face portion with a first outer circumference and maximum first diameter. A cylindrical sealing portion proximate the central face portion has first and second axial ends and a wall extending therebetween. The wall has a second outer circumference and a second diameter essentially constant along the longitudinal axis between the first and second axial ends of the cylindrical sealing portion and is larger than the maximum first diameter. An annular curved portion has a maximum outer diameter less than the second diameter and connects the first axial end of the cylindrical sealing portion to the first outer circumference. An inert film encloses the central face portion and at least part of the annular curved portion and has an outer boundary between the first axial end of the cylindrical sealing portion and the first outer circumference.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2019Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey M. Laubach, Jurgen Brinkhues, Heike Gruen, Joel Worman, Xia Zhao, Jason Mattia
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Publication number: 20210086410Abstract: A method of manufacturing a medical component includes preparing a first sheet of an elastomeric material, arranging at least one electronic device in the first sheet of elastomeric material to obtain an elastomeric preform, and arranging the elastomeric preform in a mold and molding the elastomeric preform therein to cure the elastomeric material and form the medical component having the at least one electronic device embedded therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2018Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Kerry DRAKE, Heike GRUEN, Jeffrey M. LAUBACH, Martin MCGARRY, Jason KRIZAN, Patrick DOWLING, Joel WORMAN
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Publication number: 20190381249Abstract: A pharmaceutical syringe piston having a longitudinal axis includes a body having a central face portion with a first outer circumference and maximum first diameter. A cylindrical sealing portion proximate the central face portion has first and second axial ends and a wall extending therebetween. The wall has a second outer circumference and a second diameter essentially constant along the longitudinal axis between the first and second axial ends of the cylindrical sealing portion and is larger than the maximum first diameter. An annular curved portion has a maximum outer diameter less than the second diameter and connects the first axial end of the cylindrical sealing portion to the first outer circumference. An inert film encloses the central face portion and at least part of the annular curved portion and has an outer boundary between the first axial end of the cylindrical sealing portion and the first outer circumference.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2019Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventors: Jeffrey M. LAUBACH, Jurgen BRINKHUES, Heike GRUEN, Joel WORMAN, Xia ZHAO, Jason MATTIA
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Patent number: 10258744Abstract: A pharmaceutical syringe piston having a longitudinal axis includes a body having a central face portion with a first outer circumference and maximum first diameter. A cylindrical sealing portion proximate the central face portion has first and second axial ends and a wall extending therebetween. The wall has a second outer circumference and a second diameter essentially constant along the longitudinal axis between the first and second axial ends of the cylindrical sealing portion and is larger than the maximum first diameter. An annular curved portion has a maximum outer diameter less than the second diameter and connects the first axial end of the cylindrical sealing portion to the first outer circumference. An inert film encloses the central face portion and at least a part of the annular curved portion and has an outer boundary between the first axial end of the cylindrical sealing portion and the first outer circumference.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2013Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey M. Laubach, Jurgen Brinkhues, Heike Gruen, Joel Worman, Xia Zhao, Jason Mattia
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Publication number: 20160082193Abstract: A pharmaceutical syringe piston having a longitudinal axis includes a body having a central face portion with a first outer circumference and maximum first diameter. A cylindrical sealing portion proximate the central face portion has first and second axial ends and a wall extending therebetween. The wall has a second outer circumference and a second diameter essentially constant along the longitudinal axis between the first and second axial ends of the cylindrical sealing portion and is larger than the maximum first diameter. An annular curved portion has a maximum outer diameter less than the second diameter and connects the first axial end of the cylindrical sealing portion to the first outer circumference. An inert film encloses the central face portion and at least a part of the annular curved portion and has an outer boundary between the first axial end of the cylindrical sealing portion and the first outer circumference.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2013Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: Jeffrey M. LAUBACH, Jurgen BRINKHUES, Heike GRUEN, Joel WORMAN, Xia ZHAO, Jason MATTIA