Patents by Inventor Helmut Reul

Helmut Reul 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: 4846830
    Abstract: A cardiac valve prosthesis in which each closing body has a skeleton line which is curved in the area of the swivel axis. The curved area is followed by a rectilinear area, thus causing a linear cross sectional enlargement in the outlet region of the passage formed by the closing bodies. The opening and closing behavior of the cardiac valve becomes more stable, deadwater ares and vortex formation are largely avoided and natural blood flow is substantially undeviated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: B. Braun Melsungen AG
    Inventors: Martin Knoch, Helmut Reul, Gunter Rau
  • Patent number: 4831065
    Abstract: An antithrombogenic, non-calcifying, and elastic material on a basis of polyurethane, characterized by the addition of fatty-acid esters and optionally by the further addition of cross-linking agent that react with water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Beiersdorf Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hanns Pietsch, Holger Kartheus, Hans-Joachim Holtzmann, Gunther Sachau, Helmut Reul
  • Patent number: 4799930
    Abstract: A cardiac valve prosthesis in which the inner area of the valve ring has an internal cross section continuously decreasing in flow direction. The valve ring is shaped like a nozzle, and flow disruption occurs only at the nozzle end, allowing a concentric flow discharge. Vortex formation at the jet boundary and inside the flow is inhibited. As a result, flow resistance is reduced and blood damage is minimized. A flushing channel traverses the joint cavity in order to avoid deposits of blood particles in the valvular joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: B. Braun Melsungen AG
    Inventors: Martin Knoch, Helmut Reul, Gunter Rau
  • Patent number: 4778461
    Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis for replacing the aortic valve or the pulmonary valve, consisting of a support ring with at least two commissure supports in each case and flexible cusps, is characterized in that the height of the support ring including the commissure supports is less than the total height of the heart valve prosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Beiersdorf AG
    Inventors: Hanns Pietsch, Holger Kartheus, Hans-Joachim Holtzmann, Gunther Sachau, Helmut Reul
  • Patent number: 4775378
    Abstract: A cardiac valve prosthesis having an S-shaped curve of the closing body along the skeleton line. The inlet area and the outlet area are oriented toward the flow direction, while the opening force is exclusively effective in the central region behind the swivel axis. The S-shaped geometry favors the formation of a stable, closed vortex on the suction side of the closing body with a resultant reduction of deadwater in the aorta ascendens and a more favorable closing behavior. The aortic wall is less stressed, the aorta ascendens is better washed out, and pressure loss in the area of the opening angle is relatively low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: B. Braun Melsungen AG
    Inventors: Martin Knoch, Helmut Reul, Gunter Rau
  • Patent number: 4643732
    Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis with a valve housing in the form of a ring and a curved valve which is mounted within the housing and which is hinged to the valve ring by means of a flat flexible small lug which, if appropriate, is drawn in one region through a slot in the valve ring, is characterized in that the valve and the ring each consist of two rigidly joined halves fitting respectively onto or into each other, and the end portions of the small lug in the form of a short strip are embedded "sandwich"-like between the valve halves on one side and between the ring halves on the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Beiersdorf Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hanns Pietsch, Holger Kartheus, Helmut Reul
  • Patent number: 4291420
    Abstract: An artificial, triple-lobed semilunar valve is disclosed for replacing the aortic or pulmonary valve in the heart. The valve includes a flexible suture ring which conforms to the shape of the aortic root and three flexible pockets which are mounted within the suture ring. When fluid flows through the suture ring in one direction, the pockets bend outwards to the vessel wall and lie free-floating in the fluid, thereby permitting fluid to flow through the valve. However, when the fluid begins to flow in the opposite direction, the pockets open and contact one another to close the valve thereby preventing fluid flow in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1981
    Assignee: Medac Gesellschaft fur Klinische Spezialpraparate mbH
    Inventor: Helmut Reul
  • Patent number: 4263680
    Abstract: A prosthetic closure device to replace a human heart valve, in particular the mitral or tricuspid valve, comprises an annular valve body, around the periphery of which a suture ring is provided for attaching the valve body to the heart tissue, and a valve member located in the valve body. The valve member is in the form of a spherical segment having a diameter of 1.058 D.sub.ri and comprising part of the surface of a hollow sphere having a diameter of 2D.sub.ri, where D.sub.ri is the smallest inner diameter of the valve body. The valve member is hinged to the valve body by means of a flap formed integrally with the valve member and which projects through a slot in the valve body, where it is secured by the suture ring, to form a hinge. The inner surface of the valve body narrows conically in the direction of inflow and subsequently widens to provide an annular seating for the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1981
    Assignee: Beiersdorf, AG
    Inventors: Helmut Reul, Ernst-Wilhelm Muller
  • Patent number: 4218783
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve has a tubular valve housing, a suture ring, and a membrane-like gate supported within the housing. The flexible membrane is generally elliptical in shape and is fastened in the housing along half its periphery. Flexure of the membrane moves it between an open position which permits blood flow through the housing and a closed position which blocks the flow path of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1980
    Assignee: Dr. E. Fresenius, Chem.-Pharm. Industrie KG
    Inventors: Helmut Reul, Dhanjoo N. Ghista
  • Patent number: 3966358
    Abstract: A pump assembly is disclosed which includes a pump which is externally controlled to vary with time the volume and/or the pressure of fluid pumped therethrough. A memory unit is programmed to provide a desired volume-time and/or pressure-time characteristic. The output of the memory is utilized to drive the pump to provide the aforementioned pump characteristics. Provision is made for appropriately modifying the stored program in accordance with preselected parameters so that the pump can, for example, operate in conjunction with an artificial heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1976
    Assignee: Medac Gesellschaft fur Klinische Spezialpraparate mbH
    Inventors: Horst Peter Heimes, Helmut Reul