Patents by Inventor James D. Dale

James D. Dale 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: 9795728
    Abstract: An enclosure for containing a portable hemodialysis unit includes a housing suitable to support components for performing hemodialysis including a dialyzer, one or more pumps to circulate blood through the dialyzer, a source of dialysate, and one or more pumps to circulate the dialysate through the dialyzer. The housing may have a front panel at which blood circuit connections and dialysate fluidic connections are located, e.g., blood line connections for patient blood access, connections for a reagent supply, dialyzer connections for both blood flow and dialysate, etc. The enclosure may also include a pair of vertical, side-by-side doors hingedly mounted to the housing. With the doors in the closed position, access to the patient access and dialysate fluidic connections may be blocked, and the doors may allow for the retention of heat in the housing suitable for disinfection during a disinfection cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Kevin L. Grant, James A. Demers, James D. Dale, Arun D. Chawan, David E. Collins
  • Publication number: 20170296803
    Abstract: An occlusion assembly for compressing a pair of collapsible tubes comprises a frame comprising a tubing guide configured for positioning the collapsible tube. The occlusion assembly also comprises a tubing occluder mounted to the frame with an occluding member constructed and positioned to controllably occlude or release occlusion of the collapsible tube. A door mounted to the frame is positioned to cover at least a portion of the collapsible tube and tubing occluder when closed and provide user access when open. The assembly includes a retainer mechanism engaged by the door when the door is closed to permit operation of the tubing occluder when the door is closed and retain the tubing occluder in a non-occluding configuration when the door is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Kevin L. Grant, Brett A. Rudolf, James D. Dale, Jesse T. Bodwell
  • Patent number: 9724458
    Abstract: A drain cassette for a dialysis unit has a fluid channel between venous and arterial connection ports, and a valve may controllably open and close fluid communication between a drain outlet port and the venous connection port or the arterial connection port. A blood circuit assembly and drain cassette may be removable from the dialysis unit, e.g., by hand and without the use of tools. A blood circuit assembly may include a single, unitary member that defines portions of a pair of blood pumps, control valves, channels to accurately position flexible tubing for an occluder, an air trap support, and/or other portions of the assembly. A blood circuit assembly engagement device may assist with retaining a blood circuit assembly on the dialysis unit, and/or with removal of the assembly. An actuator may operate a retainer element and an ejector element that interact with the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Kevin L. Grant, Michael J. Wilt, Brian D. Tracey, Brett A. Rudolf, David E. Collins, Lisa A. Gustin, James D. Dale, Jesse T. Bodwell
  • Publication number: 20170216516
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for regulating fluid flow are disclosed. An apparatus for infusing fluid into a patient includes a housing, a tube-contact member, a rotating arm, and a tube-retention cover. The housing has an opening on a front side of the housing. The opening is sized to receive a drip chamber having an inlet tube and an outlet tube. The tube-contact member contacts one of the inlet tube and the output tube of the drip chamber when inserted into the opening. The rotating arm is coupled to the tube-contact member and is configured to rotate along an axis. The tube-retention cover is configured to close when the drip chamber is initially loaded into the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: James D. Dale, Stephen L. Fichera, Larry B. Gray, Dean Kamen, Matthew J. Lanigan, Frederick Morgan, Dirk A. van der Merwe, Brian H. Yoo
  • Patent number: 9700711
    Abstract: An occlusion assembly for compressing a pair of collapsible tubes comprises an occluding member for each tube. Each occluding member is forced into an occluding position by a spreader positioned within a space between the occluding members that slides along a side of each occluding member causing a tube-contacting portion of each occluding member to compress the collapsible tubes. A main spring may be included that urges the spreader toward the distal ends of the occluding members and into an occluding position. The spreader may be moved against the biasing force of the main spring into a non-occluding position near the proximal ends of the occluding members either manually through a button and linkage assembly coupled to the spreader, or by an automatic actuator coupled to the spreading element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Kevin L. Grant, Brett A. Rudolf, James D. Dale, Jesse T. Bodwell
  • Patent number: 9700660
    Abstract: A pumping cassette including a housing having at least two inlet fluid lines and at least two outlet fluid lines. At least one balancing pod within the housing and in fluid connection with the fluid paths. The balancing pod balances the flow of a first fluid and the flow of a second fluid such that the volume of the first fluid equals the volume of the second fluid. The balancing pod also includes a membrane that forms two balancing chambers. Also included in the cassette is at least two reciprocating pressure displacement membrane pumps. The pumps are within the housing and they pump the fluid from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet line and pump the second fluid from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Jason A. Demers, Michael J. Wilt, Kevin L. Grant, James D. Dale, Brian D. Tracey
  • Patent number: 9677554
    Abstract: A cassette integrated system. The cassette integrated system includes a mixing cassette, a balancing cassette, a middle cassette fluidly connected to the mixing cassette and the balancing cassette and at least one pod. The mixing cassette is fluidly connected to the middle cassette by at least one fluid line and the middle cassette is fluidly connected to the balancing cassette by at least one fluid line. The at least one pod is connected to at least two of the cassettes wherein the pod is located in an area between the cassettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael J. Wilt, Kevin L. Grant, James D. Dale, Jason A. Demers, Brian D. Tracey
  • Publication number: 20170157310
    Abstract: A medical treatment system, such as peritoneal dialysis system, may include control and other features to enhance patient comfort and ease of use. For example, a peritoneal dialysis system may include a control system that can adjust the volume of fluid infused into the peritoneal cavity to prevent the intraperitoneal fluid volume from exceeding a pre-determined amount. The control system can adjust by adding one or more therapy cycles, allowing for fill volumes during each cycle to be reduced. The control system may continue to allow the fluid to drain from the peritoneal cavity as completely as possible before starting the next therapy cycle. The control system may also adjust the dwell time of fluid within the peritoneal cavity during therapy cycles in order to complete a therapy within a scheduled time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Jacob W. Scarpaci, Robert J. Bryant, JR., Geoffrey P. Spencer, David J. Hibbard, James D. Dale, John M. Kerwin, Andrew S. Coll, David A. Beavers, David W. McGill, Simon C. Helmore
  • Patent number: 9649418
    Abstract: A pump cassette is disclosed. The pump cassette includes housing. The housing includes at least one fluid inlet line and at least one fluid outlet line. Also, the cassette includes at least one reciprocating pressure displacement membrane pump within the housing. The pressure pump pumps at least one fluid from the fluid inlet line to at least one of the fluid outlet line. Also, the cassette includes at least one mixing chamber within the housing. The mixing chamber is fluidly connected to the fluid outlet line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Jason A. Demers, Michael J. Wilt, Kevin L. Grant, James D. Dale, Brian D. Tracey
  • Publication number: 20170128652
    Abstract: A fluid handling cassette, such as that useable with an automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) cycler device or other infusion apparatus, may include a generally planar body having at least one pump chamber formed as a depression in a first side of the body and a plurality of flowpaths for a fluid that includes a channel. A patient line port may be arranged for connection to a patient line and be in fluid communication with the at least one pump chamber via at least a first one of said flowpaths, and an optional membrane may be attached to the first side of the body over the at least one pump chamber. In one embodiment, the membrane may have a pump chamber portion with an unstressed shape that generally conforms to the depression of the at least one pump chamber in the body and is arranged to be movable for movement of the fluid in a useable space of the at least one pump chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: David W. McGill, James D. Dale, Simon C. Helmore, Richard J. Lanigan, Jason A. Demers, Dean Kamen
  • Publication number: 20170130705
    Abstract: A pump cassette is disclosed. The pump cassette includes a housing having at least, one fluid inlet line and at least one fluid outlet line. The cassette also includes at least one reciprocating pressure displacement membrane pump within the housing. The pressure pump pumps a fluid from the fluid inlet line to the fluid outlet line. A hollow spike is also included on the housing as well as at least one metering pump The metering pump is fluidly connected to the hollow spike on the housing and to a metering pump fluid line. The metering pump fluid line is fluidly connected to the fluid outlet line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Jason A. Demers, Michael J. Wilt, Kevin L. Grant, James D. Dale, Brian D. Tracey
  • Publication number: 20170112989
    Abstract: An enclosure for containing a portable hemodialysis unit includes a housing suitable to support components for performing hemodialysis including a dialyzer, one or more pumps to circulate blood through the dialyzer, a source of dialysate, and one or more pumps to circulate the dialysate through the dialyzer. The housing may have a front panel at which blood circuit connections and dialysate fluidic connections are located, e.g., blood line connections for patient blood access, connections for a reagent supply, dialyzer connections for both blood flow and dialysate, etc. The enclosure may also include a pair of vertical, side-by-side doors hingedly mounted to the housing. With the doors in the closed position, access to the patient access and dialysate fluidic connections may be blocked, and the doors may allow for the retention of heat in the housing suitable for disinfection during a disinfection cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Applicant: DEKA PRODUCTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: KEVIN L. GRANT, JASON A. DEMERS, JAMES D. DALE, ARUN D. CHAWAN, DAVID E. COLLINS
  • Publication number: 20170100533
    Abstract: Disclosed are hemodialysis and similar dialysis systems including fluid flow circuits. Hemodialysis systems may include a blood flow path, and a dialysate flow path including balancing, mixing, and/or a directing circuits. Preparation of dialysate may be decoupled from patient dialysis. Circuits may be defined within one or more cassettes. The fluid circuit and/or the various fluid flow paths may be isolated from electrical components. A gas supply may be provided that, when activated, is able to urge dialysate through the dialyzer and blood back to the patient. Such a system may be useful during a power failure. The hemodialysis system may also include fluid handling devices, such as pumps, valves, mixers, etc., actuated using a control fluid. The control fluid may be delivered to the fluid handling devices using a detachable external pump. The fluid handling devices may have a spheroid shape with a diaphragm dividing it into two compartments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael J. Wilt, Jason A. Demers, Kevin L. Grant, Brian D. Tracey, James D. Dale
  • Patent number: 9555179
    Abstract: Disclosed are hemodialysis and similar dialysis systems including fluid flow circuits. Hemodialysis systems may include a blood flow path, and a dialysate flow path including balancing, mixing, and/or a directing circuits. Preparation of dialysate may be decoupled from patient dialysis. Circuits may be defined within one or more cassettes. The fluid circuit and/or the various fluid flow paths may be isolated from electrical components. A gas supply may be provided that, when activated, is able to urge dialysate through the dialyzer and blood back to the patient. Such a system may be useful during a power failure. The hemodialysis system may also include fluid handling devices, such as pumps, valves, mixers, etc., actuated using a control fluid. The control fluid may be delivered to the fluid handling devices using a detachable external pump. The fluid handling devices may have a spheroid shape with a diaphragm dividing it into two compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael J. Wilt, Jason A. Demers, Kevin L. Grant, Brian D. Tracey, James D. Dale
  • Patent number: 9550018
    Abstract: A pump cassette is disclosed. The pump cassette includes a housing having at least, one fluid inlet line and at least one fluid outlet line. The cassette also includes at least one reciprocating pressure displacement membrane pump within the housing. The pressure pump pumps a fluid from the fluid inlet line to the fluid outlet line. A hollow spike is also included on the housing as well as at least one metering pump The metering pump is fluidly connected to the hollow spike on the housing and to a metering pump fluid line. The metering pump fluid line is fluidly connected to the fluid outlet line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Jason A. Demers, Michael J. Wilt, Kevin L. Grant, James D. Dale, Brian D. Tracey
  • Patent number: 9539379
    Abstract: An enclosure for containing a portable hemodialysis unit includes a housing suitable to support components for performing hemodialysis including a dialyzer, one or more pumps to circulate blood through the dialyzer, a source of dialysate, and one or more pumps to circulate the dialysate through the dialyzer. The housing may have a front panel at which blood circuit connections and dialysate fluidic connections are located, e.g., blood line connections for patient blood access, connections for a reagent supply, dialyzer connections for both blood flow and dialysate, etc. The enclosure may also include a pair of vertical, side-by-side doors hingedly mounted to the housing. With the doors in the closed position, access to the patient access and dialysate fluidic connections may be blocked, and the doors may allow for the retention of heat in the housing suitable for disinfection during a disinfection cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Kevin L. Grant, Jason A. Demers, James D. Dale, Arun D. Chawan, David E. Collins
  • Publication number: 20170000938
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to hemodialysis and similar dialysis systems, including a variety of systems and methods that would make hemodialysis more efficient, easier, and/or more affordable. One aspect of the invention is generally directed to new fluid circuits for fluid flow. According to one aspect, a blood pump is configured to pump blood to a dialyzer of a hemodialysis apparatus, the blood pump comprising a pneumatically actuated or controlled reciprocating diaphragm pump. In an embodiment, the diaphragm of the pump comprises a flexible membrane formed or molded to generally conform to a curved inner wall of a pumping chamber or control chamber of the pump, wherein the diaphragm is pre-formed or molded to have a control side taking a convex shape, so that any elastic tension on the diaphragm is minimized when fully extended into a control chamber of the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael J. Wilt, James D. Dale, Brian D. Tracey, Kevin L. Grant, Jason A. Demers
  • Publication number: 20160287859
    Abstract: Described herein are the occlusion assemblies configured to facilitate the opening and closing by occlusion of flexible tubing. In particular embodiments, the occlusion assemblies are associated with or form part of a medical infusion device, such as a hemodialysis device, peritoneal dialysis device, plasmapheresis device, etc., and may be controllably and automatically operated to facilitate fluid handling by such devices. The occlusion assemblies may be designed to position and immobilized the tubing and may include a frame or other support feature providing tubing guides and/or configured for attachment to or integration with a fluid handling assembly of a device of which they are part or with which they are used. The occlusion assemblies comprise a tubing occluder, which may be a mechanism constructed and positioned to apply a force to the tube(s) associated with the occlusion assembly to occlude the tubes and to release the force to allow the tubes to open for fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin L. Grant, Brett A. Rudolf, James D. Dale, Jesse T. Bodwell
  • Publication number: 20160245277
    Abstract: A system and method for pumping fluid using a pump cassette is disclosed. The system includes a control assembly for operating the pump cassette. A force assembly having a movable member is capable of applying force to the pump cassette to press the pump cassette against the control assembly. The movable member may be an expandable member, such as a bladder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Richard J. Lanigan, James D. Dale
  • Patent number: D773916
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Benjamin W. Jones, Jr., Jacob W. Scarpaci, James D. Dale, James M. Sibona, David E. Collins