Patents by Inventor John D. Branch

John D. Branch 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: 6610036
    Abstract: An eye drop dispensing device includes a trough member with a space to receive a cartridge housing enclosing a collapsible bag containing an ophthalmic liquid and comprising a spring finger applying pressure to the bag. The bag includes a wall pierced by a needle coupling the liquid to pump means through a one-way valve. The pump means includes a plunger biased to a resting position establishing a dosage chamber. Actuator means moves the plunger to enlarge the dosage chamber, causing a drop in pressure which draws a predetermined quantity of the liquid through the one-way valve into the dosage chamber. The actuator means then releases the plunger so that it moves to compress the dosage chamber to pump the liquid in the dosage chamber through a second one-way valve to spray the liquid through pinholes formed in a nozzle angled to direct the liquid as eye drops to the user's eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Vista Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Branch, Steven R. Duhamel, Scott O. Ganaja
  • Publication number: 20030032930
    Abstract: An eye drop dispensing device includes a trough member with a space to receive a cartridge housing enclosing a collapsible bag containing an ophthalmic liquid and comprising a spring finger applying pressure to the bag. The bag includes a wall pierced by a needle coupling the liquid to pump means through a one-way valve. The pump means includes a plunger biased to a resting position establishing a dosage chamber. Actuator means moves the plunger to enlarge the dosage chamber, causing a drop in pressure which draws a predetermined quantity of the liquid through the one-way valve into the dosage chamber. The actuator means then releases the plunger so that it moves to compress the dosage chamber to pump the liquid in the dosage chamber through a second one-way valve to spray the liquid through pinholes formed in a nozzle angled to direct the liquid as eye drops to the user's eye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: Vista Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Branch
  • Patent number: 6398766
    Abstract: An eye wash system including a first base member slidable on a second base member from a retracted storage position to an extended operative position. One base member has an eye piece on its front end. The other base member pivotally supports a coupling assembly on which a flexible squeeze bottle is attached. A fluid line from the coupling assembly leads to a spray nozzle mounted on the front end of the other base member. A seal structure on the back side of the eye piece is moved rectilinearly into engagement with the spray nozzle to seal it when the one base member is in its retracted storage position. The bottom wall of the other base member has a resilient tongue with a detent ridge at its free end. Detent grooves on the coupling assembly cooperate with the detent ridge to latch it in the vertical or horizontal positions of the coupling assembly. Modifications of the spray nozzle include means for metering the liquid to be sprayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Vista Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Branch
  • Patent number: 5607410
    Abstract: A vision directed eye wash system includes an eye support for positioning an eye member to be flushed. A reservoir contains a supply of fluid. A tube is coupled at one end to the reservoir and the other end thereof is positioned adjacent the eye support for dispensing fluid from the reservoir into the eye. A mirror is positioned adjacent the reservoir for enabling the user to view the eye member between flushes. The tube may be positioned in a trough interconnecting the reservoir and eye support. The trough is generally of U-shaped cross-sectional configuration and the axis of the trough and the axis of the reservoir are generally perpendicular to each other when the eye member is viewed in the mirror and parallel to each other when the system is closed for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Inventor: John D. Branch