Patents by Inventor Jenn-Hann Wang
Jenn-Hann Wang 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: 7670550Abstract: A method of sterilizing an article includes placing the article into a chamber containing an inner atmosphere and exhausting the inner atmosphere to lower pressure in the chamber. Hydrogen peroxide vapor is present in the chamber during at least a portion of the step of exhausting the inner atmosphere. Exhaustion of the inner atmosphere is terminated and additional hydrogen peroxide is admitted into the chamber. Hydrogen peroxide vapor contacts the article for a sufficient period to effect sterilization of the article.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2005Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.Inventors: Szu-Min Lin, Paul T. Jacobs, Jenn-Hann Wang, James P. Kohler, Richard Jed Kendall, Harold R. Williams, Robert Lukasik
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Patent number: 7563329Abstract: A method for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical instrument, includes the steps of placing the instrument in a cleaning chamber; placing a soil standard in the cleaning chamber; cleaning the instrument and the soil standard with a cleaning solution; and detecting whether soil remains on said soil standard. The soil standard includes two substantially parallel substrates separated with two substantially equal thickness spacers, wherein a gap is formed between the two substrates with soil in the gap.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2005Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: Ethicon Inc.Inventors: Szu-Min Lin, Paul T. Jacobs, Jenn-Hann Wang, Robert C. Platt, Peter C. Zhu
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Publication number: 20090149728Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for detecting an analyte in blood. The apparatus is particularly suited for bringing a sensor into direct contact with blood in vivo. The apparatus comprises a sensor that detects the presence of an analyte and an assembly means. The assembly means has a sensor end, wherein the sensor end of the assembly means is affixed to the sensor, and the assembly means is adapted for coupling with a venous flow device. By coupling with a venous flow device, the assembly means brings the sensor into direct contact with blood flowing through the venous flow device. Examples of venous flow devices that bring the sensor into direct contact with the blood of a subject include, but are not limited to, intravenous catheters and external blood loops, such as are used in extra corporeal membrane oxygenation or hemodialysis.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2008Publication date: June 11, 2009Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.Inventors: Nannette M. Van Antwerp, Bradley J. Enegren, John J. Mastrototaro, Rajiv Shah, Udo Hoss, Yanan Zhang, Jenn-Hann Wang, Kent L. Clark
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Patent number: 7468033Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for detecting an analyte in blood. The apparatus is particularly suited for bringing a sensor into direct contact with blood in vivo. The apparatus comprises a sensor that detects the presence of an analyte and an assembly means. The assembly means has a sensor end, wherein the sensor end of the assembly means is affixed to the sensor, and the assembly means is adapted for coupling with a venous flow device. By coupling with a venous flow device, the assembly means brings the sensor into direct contact with blood flowing through the venous flow device. Examples of venous flow devices that bring the sensor into direct contact with the blood of a subject include, but are not limited to, intravenous catheters and external blood loops, such as are used in extra corporeal membrane oxygenation or hemodialysis.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2004Date of Patent: December 23, 2008Assignee: Medtronic MiniMed, Inc.Inventors: Nannette M. Van Antwerp, Bradley J. Enegren, John J. Mastrototaro, Rajiv Shah, Udo Hoss, Yanan Zhang, Jenn-Hann Wang, Kent L. Clark
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Patent number: 7252800Abstract: A chemical vapor sterilization process is enhanced by concentrating a germicide via exploitation of the difference between the vapor pressures of the germicide and its solvent. A diffusion restriction can be placed into the diffusion path to assist this process and the path then opened to provide rapid diffusion of the thus concentrated germicide.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2003Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.Inventors: Paul T. Jacobs, Szu-Min Lin, Jenn-Hann Wang, James P. Kohler, Richard Jed Kendall, Anahid Gamsarian
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Patent number: 7246627Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical device includes a cleaning chamber for receiving and cleaning the instrument with a cleaning liquid, a receiving well within the cleaning chamber, a removable soil standard receivable within the receiving well whereby to be exposed to the cleaning process within the cleaning chamber; and a soil detector coupled to the cleaning chamber and adapted to provide an indication of the amount of the soil on the soil standard while the soil standard is received within the receiving well.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.Inventors: Paul T. Jacobs, Jenn-Hann Wang, Szu-Min Lin
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Publication number: 20070014691Abstract: A sterilization system includes a sterilization chamber, a vacuum pump associated with the sterilization chamber, a vaporizer in association with the sterilization chamber, a sterilant distillation system associated with the chamber, a source of sterilant solution associated with the vaporizer and with the sterilant distillation system, and a control system which has programmed therein a first cycle in which the sterilant is admitted to the sterilization chamber at a first concentration, and a second cycle in which sterilant is concentrated in the sterilant distillation system to a second concentration, higher than the first concentration and from there admitted into the sterilization chamber and wherein the first and second cycles are selectable.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2006Publication date: January 18, 2007Inventors: Szu-Min Lin, Paul Jacobs, Jenn-Hann Wang, James Kohler, Jed Kendall, Harold Williams, Robert Lukasik
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Publication number: 20060219261Abstract: A method for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical instrument, includes the steps of placing the instrument in a cleaning chamber; placing a soil standard in the cleaning chamber; cleaning the instrument and the soil standard with a cleaning solution; and detecting whether soil remains on said soil standard. The soil standard includes two substantially parallel substrates separated with two substantially equal thickness spacers, wherein a gap is formed between the two substrates with soil in the gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2005Publication date: October 5, 2006Inventors: Szu-Min Lin, Paul Jacobs, Jenn-Hann Wang, Robert Platt, Peter Zhu
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Publication number: 20060052745Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for detecting an analyte in blood. The apparatus is particularly suited for bringing a sensor into direct contact with blood in vivo. The apparatus comprises a sensor that detects the presence of an analyte and an assembly means. The assembly means has a sensor end, wherein the sensor end of the assembly means is affixed to the sensor, and the assembly means is adapted for coupling with a venous flow device. By coupling with a venous flow device, the assembly means brings the sensor into direct contact with blood flowing through the venous flow device. Examples of venous flow devices that bring the sensor into direct contact with the blood of a subject include, but are not limited to, intravenous catheters and external blood loops, such as are used in extra corporeal membrane oxygenation or hemodialysis.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2004Publication date: March 9, 2006Inventors: Nannette Van Antwerp, Bradley Enegren, John Mastrototaro, Rajiv Shah, Udo Hoss, Yanan Zhang, Jenn-Hann Wang, Kent Clark
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Publication number: 20050244297Abstract: A method of sterilizing an article includes placing the article into a chamber containing an inner atmosphere and exhausting the inner atmosphere to lower pressure in the chamber. Hydrogen peroxide vapor is present in the chamber during at least a portion of the step of exhausting the inner atmosphere. Exhaustion of the inner atmosphere is terminated and additional hydrogen peroxide is admitted into the chamber. Hydrogen peroxide vapor contacts the article for a sufficient period to effect sterilization of the article.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2005Publication date: November 3, 2005Inventors: Szu-Min Lin, Paul Jacobs, Jenn-Hann Wang, James Kohler, Richard Kendall, Harold Williams, Robert Lukasik
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Patent number: 6811659Abstract: Disclosed is a method for microelectrogravimetrically depositing an electroactive species onto an electrode or a plurality of electrodes comprising dispensing a solution containing the electroactive species from a microdispenser to form a hanging drop of the solution and contacting the electrode with the hanging drop of the solution, wherein the electrode is electrically coupled with the microdispenser to form an electrochemical cell, and applying a potential to the electrochemical cell. The application of the potential effects deposition of the electroactive species onto the electrode. The method of the invention eliminates the need for immersion of the electrode in a bath, reduces the volume of solution required by a factor of at least 10-100, and avoids uneven depletion of various components of the solution over successive applications.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2001Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: MiniMed, Inc.Inventors: David J. Vachon, Jenn-Hann Wang
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Publication number: 20040170527Abstract: A method for sterilizing a device, includes the following steps: placing the article into a chamber containing an inner atmosphere; placing a solution comprising hydrogen peroxide and water into fluid communication with the chamber, the solution having a ratio of hydrogen peroxide to water; vaporizing the solution in the inner atmosphere to form water vapor and hydrogen peroxide vapor; selectively drawing water vapor from the chamber to increase a ratio of hydrogen peroxide to water in the chamber; and contacting the article with the hydrogen peroxide vapor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2004Publication date: September 2, 2004Inventors: Paul T. Jacobs, Szu-Min Lin, Jenn-Hann Wang
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Patent number: 6673313Abstract: A method for sterilizing the interior of a diffusion restricted area by introducing a sterilant in a chamber, condensing the vapor, reducing the pressure in the chamber to revaporize the condensed vapor, and maintaining the device in the chamber until the device is sterilized. The sterilant has a vapor pressure less than the vapor pressure of water and is preferably hydrogen peroxide. The pressure in the chamber while maintaining the device in the chamber may be held constant, varied, or increased. Plasma may additionally be introduced into the chamber to improve the rate of sterilization.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2002Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.Inventors: Jenn-Hann Wang, Szu-Min Lin, Paul T. Jacobs
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Publication number: 20030235511Abstract: A chemical vapor sterilization process is enhanced by concentrating a germicide via exploitation of the difference between the vapor pressures of the germicide and its solvent. A diffusion restriction can be placed into the diffusion path to assist this process and the path then opened to provide rapid diffusion of the thus concentrated germicide.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2003Publication date: December 25, 2003Inventors: Paul T. Jacobs, Szu-Min Lin, Jenn-Hann Wang, James P. Kohler, Richard Jed Kendall, Anahid Gamsarian
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Patent number: 6656426Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for sterilization of medical instruments by concentrating a sterilant such as hydrogen peroxide inside of a sterilization chamber and sterilizing articles therewith. The sterilant is concentrated by removing more water from the sterilization chamber than peroxide.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1999Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.Inventors: Jenn-Hann Wang, Paul Jacobs, Szu-Min Lin
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Patent number: 6627150Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for sterilization of medical instruments by concentrating a sterilant such as hydrogen peroxide inside of a sterilizer and sterilizing articles therewith. This concentrating process is monitored by determining the concentrations of water and peroxide in the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1999Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.Inventors: Jenn-Hann Wang, Paul Jacobs, Szu-Min Lin
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Publication number: 20030164182Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a cleaning process for a medical device includes a cleaning chamber for receiving and cleaning the instrument with a cleaning liquid, a receiving well within the cleaning chamber, a removable soil standard receivable within the receiving well whereby to be exposed to the cleaning process within the cleaning chamber; and a soil detector coupled to the cleaning chamber and adapted to provide an indication of the amount of the soil on the soil standard while the soil standard is received within the receiving well.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2002Publication date: September 4, 2003Inventors: Paul T. Jacobs, Jenn-Hann Wang, Szu-Min Lin
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Patent number: 6599471Abstract: A method for determining and sterilizing a load in a sterilization chamber. A small amount of sterilant is introduced into the sterilization chamber and the concentration of sterilant is measured. The load of equipment to be sterilized is determined from the concentration of sterilant, and more sterilant is added, if necessary, based on the load. The process is repeated, if necessary, until the load is sterilized. The sterilant is preferably hydrogen peroxide, and the concentration of hydrogen peroxide is preferably determined by a spectrophotometric method in the infrared or ultraviolet regions. By monitoring the sterilant concentration and adding more as needed, the equipment in the chamber can be sterilized efficiently without exposing it to high concentrations of sterilant which could damage the equipment or leave too much residual on the equipment.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2001Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.Inventors: Paul T. Jacobs, Szu-Min Lin, Jenn-Hann Wang
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Patent number: 6589481Abstract: Various forms of apparatus and methods for pretreating and sterilizing a lumen with a peroxide solution prior to sterilization of the interior of the lumen by exposing the lumen to reduced pressure and, optionally, plasma in a sterilization chamber. The pretreatment is preferably done before placing the lumen in the sterilization chamber. The method also includes exposure of the exterior of the lumen to peroxide vapor to sterilize the exterior of the lumen. Pretreatment of the interior of the lumen with liquid peroxide greatly improves the efficiency of sterilization of the interior. Exposure of the lumen to plasma reduces the time required for sterilization.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1998Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.Inventors: Szu-Min Lin, Paul T. Jacobs, Jenn-Hann Wang, Alfredo M Choperena
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Publication number: 20030113477Abstract: A device, and its production method, the device has a substrate and a coating composition, the coating composition being formed by the gas phase or plasma polymerization of a gas comprising at least one organic compound or monomer. The polymerization is carried out using a pulsed discharge having a duty cycle of less than about ⅕, in which the pulse-on time is less than about 100 msec and the pulse-off time is less than about 2000 msec. The duty cycle can also be varied, thus the coating composition can be gradient layered accordingly. The device has a coating composition which is uniform in thickness, pin-hole free, optically transparent in the visible region of the magnetic spectrum, permeable to oxygen, abrasive resistant, wettable and biologically non-fouling.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2002Publication date: June 19, 2003Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: Richard B. Timmons, Jenn-Hann Wang, Charles R. Savage, Yuliang Wu