Patents by Inventor John C. Huculak
John C. Huculak 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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Publication number: 20240131269Abstract: Injector devices and methods for using them to deliver medicament into a patient's body, e.g., sub-retinally within an eye, are provided. The injector includes a cartridge including a piston slidably disposed within an interior for delivering medicament within the interior through an outlet, and a driver including a plunger coupled to the piston, a source of pressurized fluid, and an actuator member for opening a flow path at least partially between the source and the plunger to advance the plunger and piston to deliver medicament from the interior. One or more sensors are operatively coupled to the plunger to measure displacement of the plunger, a processor is coupled to the sensor(s) for analyzing sensor signals to measure volume of medicament delivered from the interior, and an output device, e.g., one or more LEDs or speakers, provide outputs related to the volume of medicament delivered.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2023Publication date: April 25, 2024Inventors: John C. Huculak, Jack R. Auld, Hien Nguyen, Tammo Heeren, Matthew McCawley, Eric Anderfaas, John C. Dunne, JR.
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Publication number: 20230355430Abstract: Injector devices and methods for using them to deliver medicament into a patient's body, e.g., sub-retinally within an eye, are provided. The injector includes an injector cannula having a soft injector tip. A retractable tip protector tube is slidably disposed on the flow cannula between an extended position in which the tip protector tube covers the entire injector tip, and a retracted position in which the tip protector tube is retracted proximally thereby exposing at least part of the injector tip. Accordingly, the tip protector tube protects the injector tip from being damaged while advancing the injector tip to a target injection site.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2023Publication date: November 9, 2023Inventors: Jack R. Auld, Matthew Flowers, Tammo Heeren, Hien Nguyen, John C. Huculak, Eric Anderfaas
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Patent number: 11738154Abstract: Injector devices and methods for using them to deliver medicament into a patient's body, e.g., sub-retinally within an eye, are provided. The injector includes a cartridge including a piston slidably disposed within an interior for delivering medicament within the interior through an outlet, and a driver including a plunger coupled to the piston, a source of pressurized fluid, and an actuator member for opening a flow path at least partially between the source and the plunger to advance the plunger and piston to deliver medicament from the interior. One or more sensors are operatively coupled to the plunger to measure displacement of the plunger, a processor is coupled to the sensor(s) for analyzing sensor signals to measure volume of medicament delivered from the interior, and an output device, e.g., one or more LEDs or speakers, provide outputs related to the volume of medicament delivered.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: ALTAVIZ, LLCInventors: John C. Huculak, Jack R. Auld, Hien Nguyen, Tammo Heeren, Matthew McCawley, Eric Anderfaas, John C. Dunne, Jr.
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Patent number: 11701254Abstract: Injector devices and methods for using them to deliver medicament into a patient's body, e.g., sub-retinally within an eye, are provided. The injector includes an injector cannula having a soft injector tip. A retractable tip protector tube is slidably disposed on the flow cannula between an extended position in which the tip protector tube covers the entire injector tip, and a retracted position in which the tip protector tube is retracted proximally thereby exposing at least part of the injector tip. Accordingly, the tip protector tube protects the injector tip from being damaged while advancing the injector tip to a target injection site.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: ALTAVIZ, LLCInventors: Jack R. Auld, Matthew Flowers, Tammo Heeren, Hien Nguyen, John C. Huculak, Eric Anderfaas
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Publication number: 20210154046Abstract: Injector devices and methods for using them to deliver medicament into a patient's body, e.g., sub-retinally within an eye, are provided. The injector includes an injector cannula having a soft injector tip. A retractable tip protector tube is slidably disposed on the flow cannula between an extended position in which the tip protector tube covers the entire injector tip, and a retracted position in which the tip protector tube is retracted proximally thereby exposing at least part of the injector tip. Accordingly, the tip protector tube protects the injector tip from being damaged while advancing the injector tip to a target injection site.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2020Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Jack R. Auld, Matthew Flowers, Tammo Heeren, Hien Nguyen, John C. Huculak, Eric Anderfaas
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Publication number: 20210113327Abstract: An intraocular lens inserter can include a drive device with controllable advance motion. The drive device may include an actuator device and an energy device. The actuator device may include a piston rod that uses the advance motion to push an intraocular lens from a cartridge for insertion into an eye of an animal. The energy device may act upon the actuator device to generate the advance motion. The actuator device may include a dampening medium to control the advance motion, such as by controllably dampening the advance motion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Inventors: Jack R. Auld, John C. Huculak, Matthew Douglas Mccawley, Matthew Braden Flowers
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Publication number: 20210069426Abstract: Injector devices and methods for using them to deliver medicament into a patient's body, e.g., sub-retinally within an eye, are provided. The injector includes a cartridge including a piston slidably disposed within an interior for delivering medicament within the interior through an outlet, and a driver including a plunger coupled to the piston, a source of pressurized fluid, and an actuator member for opening a flow path at least partially between the source and the plunger to advance the plunger and piston to deliver medicament from the interior. One or more sensors are operatively coupled to the plunger to measure displacement of the plunger, a processor is coupled to the sensor(s) for analyzing sensor signals to measure volume of medicament delivered from the interior, and an output device, e.g., one or more LEDs or speakers, provide outputs related to the volume of medicament delivered.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2020Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: John C. Huculak, Jack R. Auld, Hien Nguyen, Tammo Heeren, Matthew McCawley, Eric Anderfaas, John Dunne
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Publication number: 20210001037Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for delivering fluid into a patient's body. In an exemplary embodiment, the device may include a syringe cartridge and a syringe driver that may be coupled to the cartridge. The cartridge may include a housing including a proximal end, a distal end, and defining an interior, the cartridge further including a piston slidably disposed within the interior for delivering fluid within the interior through a port in the distal end. The driver may include a plunger for advancing the piston within the interior of the housing, a source of pressurized fluid, a valve, and an actuator member coupled to the valve for selectively opening a flow path from the source to the plunger to control flow of the pressurized fluid to advance the plunger to deliver fluid from the interior of the housing at a desired rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2020Publication date: January 7, 2021Inventors: Jack R. Auld, Matthew Flowers, Matthew McCawley, John C. Huculak, Andrew Scheiber, James Lescoulie
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Patent number: 10716892Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for delivering fluid into a patient's body. In an exemplary embodiment, the device may include a syringe cartridge and a syringe driver that may be coupled to the cartridge. The cartridge may include a housing including a proximal end, a distal end, and defining an interior, the cartridge further including a piston slidably disposed within the interior for delivering fluid within the interior through a port in the distal end. The driver may include a plunger for advancing the piston within the interior of the housing, a source of pressurized fluid, a valve, and an actuator member coupled to the valve for selectively opening a flow path from the source to the plunger to control flow of the pressurized fluid to advance the plunger to deliver fluid from the interior of the housing at a desired rate.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2017Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: ALTAVIZ, LLCInventors: Jack R. Auld, Matthew Flowers, Matthew McCawley, John C. Huculak, Andrew Scheiber, James Lescoulie
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Patent number: 10434010Abstract: A gas mixture apparatus includes a measurement control system, an activation system, a pressurized chamber with one or more gases, and a mixing chamber. The apparatus can also include additional pressure regulation control systems. The gas mixture apparatus can be used to introduce and automatically perform the steps to achieve a desired concentration of the one or more gases contained in the pressurized chamber. The gas mixture apparatus can include the pressurized chamber within the apparatus itself such that no external devices are necessary for introducing the one or more gases into the mixing chamber.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: Alcon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.Inventors: Jack R. Auld, John C. Huculak, Christopher L. McCollam
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Patent number: 10182906Abstract: An intraocular lens inserter can include an energy storage portion, an actuator portion that provides temperature compensation, and a lens support portion. The energy storage portion can include a compressible energy storage device, such as a compressible fluid, springs, and other devices. The inserter can include an actuator portion operating with a substantially incompressible fluid. The actuator can be configured to provide an operator with control over the release of pressurized fluid so as to move a plunger for the discharge of a lens from an intraocular lens cartridge, discharge of the lens being limited based at least in part on pressure feedback from the pressurized fluid due temperature increases.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2015Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Alcon Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.Inventors: Jack R. Auld, John C. Huculak, Matthew McCawley, Matthew Flowers
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Patent number: 10029052Abstract: A self-contained apparatus and corresponding methods are provided for delivering viscous fluids in a controlled manner, such as delivering a viscous fluid in a surgical setting. The self-contained apparatus can include a motion following pressure regulator that allows for linear control of a regulated pressure. The regulated pressure can be used for dispensing a viscous fluid from a syringe that is coupled to the self-contained apparatus. The pressure regulator regulates a pressure derived from a pressurized fluid reservoir located at least partially within a housing of the apparatus. This allows the viscous fluid to be delivered using pressure to provide a driving force greater than a force easily delivered manually, while still allowing a surgeon to retain fine control over the rate of viscous fluid delivery.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: ALTAVIZ LLCInventors: Jack R Auld, John C Huculak, Matthew McCawley
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Patent number: 10010408Abstract: An intraocular lens inserter can include a drive device with controllable advance motion. The drive device may include an actuator device and an energy device. The actuator device may include a piston rod that uses the advance motion to push an intraocular lens from a cartridge for insertion into an eye of an animal. The energy device may act upon the actuator device to generate the advance motion. The actuator device may include a dampening medium to control the advance motion, such as by controllably dampening the advance motion.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2015Date of Patent: July 3, 2018Assignee: Alcon Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.Inventors: Jack R. Auld, John C. Huculak, Matthew Douglas McCawley, Matthew Braden Flowers
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Publication number: 20170325995Abstract: A gas mixture apparatus includes a measurement control system, an activation system, a pressurized chamber with one or more gases, and a mixing chamber. The apparatus can also include additional pressure regulation control systems. The gas mixture apparatus can be used to introduce and automatically perform the steps to achieve a desired concentration of the one or more gases contained in the pressurized chamber. The gas mixture apparatus can include the pressurized chamber within the apparatus itself such that no external devices are necessary for introducing the one or more gases into the mixing chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2017Publication date: November 16, 2017Inventors: Jack R. Auld, John C. Huculak, Christopher L. McCollam
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Publication number: 20170312422Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for delivering fluid into a patient's body. In an exemplary embodiment, the device may include a syringe cartridge and a syringe driver that may be coupled to the cartridge. The cartridge may include a housing including a proximal end, a distal end, and defining an interior, the cartridge further including a piston slidably disposed within the interior for delivering fluid within the interior through a port in the distal end. The driver may include a plunger for advancing the piston within the interior of the housing, a source of pressurized fluid, a valve, and an actuator member coupled to the valve for selectively opening a flow path from the source to the plunger to control flow of the pressurized fluid to advance the plunger to deliver fluid from the interior of the housing at a desired rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Inventors: Jack R. Auld, Matthew Flowers, Matthew McCawley, John C. Huculak, Andrew Scheiber, James Lescoulie
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Patent number: 9764088Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for filling syringes, e.g., for use during pneumatic retinopexy or other medical procedures. In one embodiment, the system includes a housing carrying a gas canister including an outlet communicating with a fluid path extending from the outlet to a syringe cavity. A syringe includes a barrel receivable in the syringe cavity such that a port of the barrel communicates with the fluid path. An actuator is provided on the housing for selectively opening the outlet of the gas canister to deliver gas therein along the fluid path into the interior of the barrel, thereby causing the plunger to move from a distal position to a proximal position.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2014Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: ALTAVIZ, LLCInventors: John C. Huculak, Jack R. Auld, Christopher L. McCollam, James Lescoulie
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Patent number: 9693895Abstract: A gas mixture apparatus includes a measurement control system, an activation system, a pressurized chamber with one or more gases, and a mixing chamber. The apparatus can also include additional pressure regulation control systems. The gas mixture apparatus can be used to introduce and automatically perform the steps to achieve a desired concentration of the one or more gases contained in the pressurized chamber. The gas mixture apparatus can include the pressurized chamber within the apparatus itself such that no external devices are necessary for introducing the one or more gases into the mixing chamber.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2013Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Altaviz, LLCInventors: Jack R. Auld, John C. Huculak, Christopher L. McCollam
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Patent number: 9505505Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical system for filling a syringe with a retinal tamponading gas is disclosed. The system includes a surgical console having a user interface, a computer, first and second bottles containing pressurized retinal tamponading gases, and a port for fluidly coupling to an automatic gas filling consumable including a syringe. A user selects a particular retinal tamponading gas via the user interface, and the system fills the syringe.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2014Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Novartis AGInventors: Mark A. Hopkins, John C. Huculak, Denis P. Turner
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Publication number: 20160325054Abstract: A self-contained apparatus and corresponding methods are provided for delivering viscous fluids in a controlled manner, such as delivering a viscous fluid in a surgical setting. The self-contained apparatus can include a motion following pressure regulator that allows for linear control of a regulated pressure. The regulated pressure can be used for dispensing a viscous fluid from a syringe that is coupled to the self-contained apparatus. The pressure regulator regulates a pressure derived from a pressurized fluid reservoir located at least partially within a housing of the apparatus. This allows the viscous fluid to be delivered using pressure to provide a driving force greater than a force easily delivered manually, while still allowing a surgeon to retain fine control over the rate of viscous fluid delivery.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2016Publication date: November 10, 2016Inventors: JACK R. AULD, John C. Huculak, Matthew McCawley
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Patent number: 9393370Abstract: A self-contained apparatus and corresponding methods are provided for delivering viscous fluids in a controlled manner, such as delivering a viscous fluid in a surgical setting. The self-contained apparatus can include a motion following pressure regulator that allows for linear control of a regulated pressure. The regulated pressure can be used for dispensing a viscous fluid from a syringe that is coupled to the self-contained apparatus. The pressure regulator regulates a pressure derived from a pressurized fluid reservoir located at least partially within a housing of the apparatus. This allows the viscous fluid to be delivered using pressure to provide a driving force greater than a force easily delivered manually, while still allowing a surgeon to retain fine control over the rate of viscous fluid delivery.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2013Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: ALTAVIZ LLCInventors: Jack R Auld, John C Huculak, Matthew McCawley