Patents by Inventor James M. Brugger

James M. Brugger 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).

  • Publication number: 20230241299
    Abstract: A medicament preparation system includes a disposable cartridge with a flow path. Various sensors may be placed on the cartridge to measure qualities of the fluid flowing through the flow path. The sensors are placed in precise locations using various approaches that make manufacturing of the cartridge efficient and repeatable. A drain line that is susceptible to fouling may be preattached and various approaches are used to remove or reduce the fouling. An elastomeric contact can also be present in the medical preparation system and used in a conductivity measurement subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Brugger, Jeffrey H. Burbank, Goetz Friederichs, Scott W. Newell, William J. Schnell, Orlando Soto
  • Patent number: 11701458
    Abstract: A conductivity measurement device includes first and second conductivity measurement flow channels positioned in a fluid circuit and fluidly linked for fluid flow between the first and second conductivity measurement flow channels. A controller having a current source connected to the first and second conductivity channels applies alternating voltages at frequencies that are different, each being respective to one of the first and second conductivity cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Orlando Soto, Joseph Rausa, James M. Brugger, William J. Schnell, Goetz Friederichs, Jeffrey H. Burbank, Joseph E. Turk, Jr., Scott W. Newell, Amanda Wozniak
  • Patent number: 11690941
    Abstract: A method of performing a dialysis treatment includes using a pump and a dialysate supply line to transport peritoneal dialysis fluid, the supply line having a proximal end into which peritoneal dialysis fluid is supplied and from which spend dialysate is withdrawn, and a distal end which is connected to a patient's peritoneal access. The method further includes generating proximal and distal pressure signals using pressure detectors located at both the proximal and distal ends, respectively, of said supply line. During a drain cycle in which spent dialysate is pumped from the patient, the method includes, responsively to the proximal and distal pressure signals, detecting a characteristic of a pressure difference between the distal and proximal ends whose magnitude is determined by a predicted change in dialysate properties, and responsively to the characteristic, generating a signal indicating the change in dialysate properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Burbank, James M. Brugger, Dennis M. Treu, Mark T. Wyeth
  • Publication number: 20230191015
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to extracorporeal blood processing or other processing of fluids. Volumetric fluid balance, a required element of many such processes, may be achieved with multiple pumps or other proportioning or balancing devices which are to some extent independent of each other. This need may arise in treatments that involve multiple fluids. Safe and secure mechanisms to ensure fluid balance in such systems are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: David DESOUZA, Daniel Joseph RUBERY, JR., Dennis M. TREU, Mark T. WYETH, Jerome JAMES, Garrett D. CASEY, James M. BRUGGER, William J. SCHNELL, Jeffrey H. BURBANK, Goetz FRIEDERICHS
  • Patent number: 11679190
    Abstract: Simple-to-use systems, methods, and devices for priming replacement blood treatment devices, for swapping the blood treatment devices out, for replacing swapped-out blood treatment devices, and other related operations are described. In embodiments, a blood treatment device can be primed while a therapy is still running. When the replacement blood treatment device is needed, the therapy can be stopped momentarily (less than a minute) for the rapid and safe swap of the blood treatment device. Blood loss can be minimized. The down time from therapy can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Brugger, David Desouza
  • Patent number: 11654219
    Abstract: A medicament preparation system includes a disposable cartridge with a flow path. Various sensors may be placed on the cartridge to measure qualities of the fluid flowing through the flow path. The sensors are placed in precise locations using various approaches that make manufacturing of the cartridge efficient and repeatable. A drain line that is susceptible to fouling may be preattached and various approaches are used to remove or reduce the fouling. An elastomeric contact can also be present in the medical preparation system and used in a conductivity measurement subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Brugger, Jeffrey H. Burbank, Goetz Friederichs, Scott W. Newell, William J. Schnell, Orlando Soto
  • Publication number: 20230149606
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to extracorporeal blood processing or other processing of fluids. Volumetric fluid balance, a required element of many such processes, may be achieved with multiple pumps or other proportioning or balancing devices which are to some extent independent of each other. This need may arise in treatments that involve multiple fluids. Safe and secure mechanisms to ensure fluid balance in such systems are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. BURBANK, Dennis M. TREU, Daniel Joseph RUBERY, Jr., Scott W. NEWELL, James M. BRUGGER, William J. SCHNELL, William K. WEIGEL, Steven A. WHITE, Mark T. WYETH, Jerome JAMES, David DESOUZA, Joseph E. TURK, Jr., Garrett CASEY
  • Patent number: 11633527
    Abstract: A system for filling multiple sterile containers includes a filter with an inlet port and multiple outlet ports, the outlet ports being pre-attached to sterile containers by respective filling lines of each container. Each container has an interior and each of the respective filling lines are connected to a respective container interior. The respective filling lines are sealed to the outlet ports and the containers such that the container interiors are isolated from an external environment except the inlet port, via the filter, forming a combined interior volume which is sterile. A container that is connectable to an outlet port the system has a bladder, a first tube and a second tube connected to the bladder, and a sterilizing filter. The container, the first tube and the second tube, and the sterilizing filter are sterile before water is flowed through the sterilizing filter into the bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Burbank, James M. Brugger
  • Publication number: 20230112605
    Abstract: A method for measuring pressure includes securing a flow channel to a chassis of a measurement device, the flow channel having a flexible wall with a first mechanical engagement feature presented from an external surface thereof. The method also includes engaging the mechanical engagement feature with a complementary engagement member connected to a force transducer, the securing being effective to immobilize the flow channel relative to the force transducer, and detecting at least one of the position and orientation of the of the flow channel relative to transducer and comparing to at least one of a predefined position and orientation. Further, the method includes generating a signal responsive to the detecting, flowing a fluid through the flow channel, and transmitting forces caused by displacement of the flexible wall through the complementary engagement member to the force transducer. Further, electrical signals are generated responsively to a state of the force transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. BRUGGER, Dennis M. TREU, Jeffrey H. BURBANK, Scott W. NEWELL, William J. SCHNELL, Kenneth E. BUCKLER
  • Patent number: 11607482
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to extracorporeal blood processing or other processing of fluids. Volumetric fluid balance, a required element of many such processes, may be achieved with multiple pumps or other proportioning or balancing devices which are to some extent independent of each other. This need may arise in treatments that involve multiple fluids. Safe and secure mechanisms to ensure fluid balance in such systems are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: David Desouza, Daniel Joseph Rubery, Jr., Dennis M. Treu, Mark T. Wyeth, Jerome James, Garrett D. Casey, James M. Brugger, William J. Schnell, Jeffrey H. Burbank, Goetz Friederichs
  • Patent number: 11529448
    Abstract: A pressure measurement pod for use in blood circuits includes a pressure sensing pod defining a chamber and having a rigid wall portion and an integral flexible wall portion forming a flexible, moveable, fluid-impermeable diaphragm with a first major side thereof facing an interior of the chamber and a second major side opposite the first major side. The second major side faces outwardly away from the chamber, and the pod has ports on sides of the chamber. The internal surfaces of the chamber and ports are shaped such that any contour following the internal surfaces to the outside of one of the ports traces only surfaces characterized by positive or neutral draft angles such that invasive mold portions may be withdrawn through the ports thereby permitting the pressure measurement pod to be molded in a single shot molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Brugger, Dennis M. Treu, Jeffrey H. Burbank, Scott W. Newell, William J. Schnell, Kenneth E. Buckler
  • Publication number: 20220387687
    Abstract: A flow switch device includes a flow switch with four ports oriented at 90 degree intervals around a center of the flow switch. The flow switch is of a type that forms selectable flow passages between ports separated by 90 degrees and blocks flow between ports separated by 180 degrees in each of multiple selected positions. Two of the ports are connected to fixed flow passages and each of the fixed flow passages defines a flow path toward a remote port separated from each of the fixed flow passages by 180 degrees so that each of the fixed flow passages and a respective remote port are positioned in pairs on opposite sides of the flow switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. BRUGGER, William J. SCHNELL, Kenneth E. BUCKLER
  • Publication number: 20220375592
    Abstract: A medical treatment device is configured to be used during a treatment session at a first location and includes a medical treatment component configured to perform at least one of hemodialysis, hemofiltration, and peritoneal dialysis on a patient during the treatment session at the first location. The device also includes a monitoring system configured to receive data from one or more sensors connected to the monitoring system, and to confirm a presence of an authorized helper at the first location. A user interface permits an operator to control functions of the medical treatment component and the monitoring system is configured to perform the presence confirmation automatically and at the predefined time intervals during the treatment session. The monitoring system is also configured to generate an alarm and to cause the medical treatment component to go into a failsafe operational mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. BURBANK, Dennis M. TREU, James M. BRUGGER
  • Publication number: 20220296792
    Abstract: A medicament preparation system includes a disposable cartridge with a flow path. Various sensors may be placed on the cartridge to measure qualities of the fluid flowing through the flow path. The sensors are placed in precise locations using various approaches that make manufacturing of the cartridge efficient and repeatable. A drain line that is susceptible to fouling may be preattached and various approaches are used to remove or reduce the fouling. An elastomeric contact can also be present in the medical preparation system and used in a conductivity measurement subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. BRUGGER, Jeffrey H. BURBANK, Goetz FRIEDERICHS, Scott W. NEWELL, William J. SCHNELL, Orlando SOTO
  • Publication number: 20220288307
    Abstract: A method of making a needle guard includes providing a mold having a portion defining a volume, the volume being a hollow cylinder with non-uniform walls with a pair of slots therein, the slots being open at one end and closed at the other end, the pair of slots having a major portion of constant width. The walls are thicker at the other end than at the one end. The method includes filling the volume with polymer and releasing a molded part from said mold and cooling a molded part resulting from the filling and releasing such that temperature that the widths of the pair of slots is non-uniform after cooling. The needle guard has upper and lower jaws defining a channel and coming together at a hinge. A winged needle can be inserted between the jaws, with the wings of the winged needle passing through slots between the jaws.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. BRUGGER, Christopher D. PIERSON, Steven C. ALFORD
  • Patent number: 11433169
    Abstract: A treatment device system includes a treatment machine for performing a therapy on a patient, the treatment machine including at least one fluid conveyor and a controller, the controller having a first memory, to cause the at least one fluid conveyor to produce a therapeutic fluid by mixing purified water and at least one concentrate. The system also includes a water purifier with an internal central controller, in fluid communication with and providing the purified water to the treatment machine. A wired or wireless control line provides two way communication between the controller of the treatment machine and the internal central controller of the water purifier, the controller of the treatment machine transmitting data via the control line to the internal central controller of the water purifier for control of the water purifier, the data provided based on at least one of the operator inputs received via the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Burbank, James M. Brugger, Dennis M. Treu, Mark T. Wyeth
  • Patent number: 11433170
    Abstract: A treatment device system includes a treatment machine for generating a custom dialysis solution and including at least one fluid conveyor, the treatment machine having a controller, the controller having a first memory, configured to produce the custom dialysis solution by causing the at least one fluid conveyor to mix purified water and at least one concentrate. The system also includes a user interface and a water purifier in fluid communication with and providing the purified water to the treatment machine, the water purifier including an internal central controller, the internal central controller having a second memory, to control preparation of the purified water. A server is communicatively coupled with the treatment machine and a control line provides two way communication between the controller of the treatment machine and the internal central controller of the water purifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Burbank, James M. Brugger, Dennis M. Treu, Mark T. Wyeth
  • Patent number: 11426504
    Abstract: An external support that routes the tubing of a reversing valve in such a manner that connection tubes extend from one end of the device and the treatment device tubes extend from the opposite end. The external support may provide guides that hold the tubing extending from the supported flat rotary switch type of valve so as to keep them from being pinch or kinked thereby ensuring free flow of blood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Brugger, William J. Schnell, Kenneth E. Buckler
  • Publication number: 20220249754
    Abstract: A treatment device system includes a peritoneal dialysis treatment machine for performing a therapy on a patient, the treatment machine including at least one fluid conveyor and a controller, the controller having a first memory, to cause the at least one fluid conveyor to produce a peritoneal dialysis solution by mixing purified water and at least one concentrate. The system also includes a water purifier in fluid communication with and providing the purified water to the treatment machine. A wired or wireless control line provides two way communication between the controller of the treatment machine and the internal central controller of the water purifier, wherein the controller of the treatment machine transmits data via the control line to the internal central controller of the water purifier for control of the water purifier, the data provided based on at least one of the operator inputs received via the user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. BURBANK, James M. BRUGGER, Dennis M. TREU, Mark T. WYETH
  • Patent number: 11406744
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to extracorporeal blood processing or other processing of fluids. Volumetric fluid balance, a required element of many such processes, may be achieved with multiple pumps or other proportioning or balancing devices which are to some extent independent of each other. This need may arise in treatments that involve multiple fluids. Safe and secure mechanisms to ensure fluid balance in such systems are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Burbank, Dennis M. Treu, Daniel Joseph Rubery, Jr., Scott W. Newell, James M. Brugger, William J. Schnell, William K. Weigel, Steven A. White, Mark T. Wyeth, Jerome James, David Desouza, Joseph E. Turk, Jr., Garrett Casey