Patents by Inventor John Pittinger

John Pittinger 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: 12653937
    Abstract: An apheresis system at least partially defines a chamber and includes centrifuge that is movable between lock and unlock states. The centrifuge includes a base, cover, lock assembly, and latch assembly. The cover engages the base and defines slots. The lock assembly is coupled to the base and rotates between latched and unlatched states. The lock assembly includes tabs and a protrusion. The tabs are in the slots of the cover. The protrusion at least partially defines a receptacle. The latch assembly is coupled to the base and includes a lever and engagement component attached thereto. In the latched state, the protrusion engages the engagement component to reduce or prevent rotation of the lock assembly. In the unlatched state, the lock assembly can rotate. In the lock state, the tabs are at least partially within the slots. In the unlock state, the cover is movable with respect to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: Terumo BCT, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Hake, Mark E. Hillam, John Pittinger, Bruce Ellingboe, Peter O'Brien, Dennis Bebie, Hong Duc Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20260153438
    Abstract: Methods and systems configured to measure content of a target substance in a fluid sample using a refractometer including a light source and a light sensor. A method includes: calibrating the refractometer by identifying a calibration pixel pattern of first pixels of the light sensor illuminated by light from the light source that has reflected off a sensing surface of a container including a reference fluid having a known reference density; identifying a blood pixel pattern of second pixels of the light sensor illuminated by light from the light source that has reflected off the sensing surface when the fluid sample is present in the container; identifying a pixel shift distance along the light sensor from the calibration pixel pattern to the fluid pixel pattern; and determining the content of the target substance in the fluid sample based on the pixel shift distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2024
    Publication date: June 4, 2026
    Inventors: John PITTINGER, Dennis J. HLAVINKA, Thomas J. FELT
  • Patent number: 12599710
    Abstract: A method includes detecting a beginning of a donation process; in response to detecting the beginning of the donation process, providing an output; determining an amount of time remaining for the donation process; in response to detecting the amount of time remaining for the donation process, updating the output; detecting a loss in pressure; in response to detecting the loss in pressure, updating the output; detecting an ending of the donation process; and in response to detecting the ending of the donation process, updating the output. The donation process may include a plasma donation using an apheresis machine. The detecting the beginning of the donation process may include detecting a flow of fluid. The output may include one or more of a light and a sound. The output may be provided on a side of an apheresis machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: Terumo BCT, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie Lynne St. George, John Pittinger
  • Publication number: 20250360258
    Abstract: A method includes detecting a condition including one or more of a change in flow of a fluid and a change in a composition of the fluid, issuing an alarm in response to the condition detected, lowering a flow rate; and attempting to restart process and increase the flow rate. The change in flow may include a change in pressure. The change in flow may be associated with a collapsed vein. The change in flow of the fluid may include detecting that the flow rate has fallen below a threshold. The change in the composition may be associated with a color. Thee change in the composition may include using a color sensor to detect one or more of a red, a green, and a blue reflection or transmission to detect red blood cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2025
    Publication date: November 27, 2025
    Inventors: John PITTINGER, Stephanie Lynne ST. GEORGE, Taylor POLODNA, Bruce ELLINGBOE, Charles L. HAKE, Evan Christopher PROVAN
  • Publication number: 20250352712
    Abstract: A method includes: detecting an alarm event associated with an apheresis system; retrieving a graphical presentation output based on the alarm event detected; and rendering the graphical presentation output to a graphical user interface of the apheresis system. In the method, the alarm event can be related to one or more factors, such as: a temperature; a pressure; a flow rate; a color of fluid; and an excessive amount of received plasma. The alarm event can be detected when one of the factors crosses a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2025
    Publication date: November 20, 2025
    Inventors: Stephanie Lynne ST. GEORGE, John PITTINGER
  • Publication number: 20250332328
    Abstract: A method for in-line sampling for a medical device includes prompting an operator of a medical device to establish a fluid communication between a fluid component collection set as received by the medical device and a sample system for sample collection, where the medical device prohibits removal of the fluid component collection set or a component thereof from fluid communication with the medical device until sample collection using the sample system is complete and the establishing of fluid communication between the fluid component collection set includes prompting the medical device to interpret a code disposed on an exterior-facing surface of the sample tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2025
    Publication date: October 30, 2025
    Inventors: Thomas J. FELT, John PITTINGER, Dennis J. HLAVINKA
  • Publication number: 20250328337
    Abstract: A method includes detecting a startup of an apheresis machine; in response to detecting start up, transmitting data to a server; determining, based on the data, whether software of the apheresis machine is current; receiving, in response to the data, a response from the server; and preventing usage of apheresis machine if the response indicates the software is not current. The data transmitted to the server may include one or more of a data log, a firmware version identifier, and an error log. The response may include a lockout signal. The response may include a software update. The software update may include a firmware update. The method may include automatically initiating installation of the software update. The method may include ceasing prevention of usage of the apheresis machine following installation of the software update.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2025
    Publication date: October 23, 2025
    Inventors: Stephanie Lynne ST. GEORGE, John Pittinger
  • Publication number: 20250322945
    Abstract: A method for monitoring, analyzing, and adjusting performance of an individual medical device includes collecting, by the individual medical device, performance data of the individual medical device, identifying, by the individual medical device, the at least one variable using the collected performance data, analyzing, by the individual medical device, the at least one variable by comparing the at least one variable to a predetermined threshold, and if the at least one variable is not as expected, at least one of alerting, by the individual medical device, an operator of the individual medical device and adjusting, by the individual medical device, one or more operating parameters for the individual medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2024
    Publication date: October 16, 2025
    Inventor: John PITTINGER
  • Patent number: 12379916
    Abstract: A method includes detecting a startup of an apheresis machine; in response to detecting start up, transmitting data to a server; determining, based on the data, whether software of the apheresis machine is current; receiving, in response to the data, a response from the server; and preventing usage of apheresis machine if the response indicates the software is not current. The data transmitted to the server may include one or more of a data log, a firmware version identifier, and an error log. The response may include a lockout signal. The response may include a software update. The software update may include a firmware update. The method may include automatically initiating installation of the software update. The method may include ceasing prevention of usage of the apheresis machine following installation of the software update.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: Terumo BCT, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie Lynne St. George, John Pittinger
  • Publication number: 20250041492
    Abstract: A shelfing structure for use during the precipitation of one or more components from a composite includes a support and one or more expression plates movably coupled to the support, where each of the one or more expression plates is movable between a first position and a second position, and each of the one or more expression plates is configured to receive one or more bags of a bag assembly. A method for separating one or more components from a composite may include positioning the shelfing structure holding one or more bag assemblies in an environment having a thawing temperature. Each of the one or more bag assemblies may include a first bag including the composite in a frozen state and a second bag configured to receive the one or more components. The shelfing structure may be configured to hold the second bag above the first bag in each instance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Dennis HLAVINKA, John PITTINGER
  • Publication number: 20240358906
    Abstract: A method for collection blood component using a medical system includes receiving, by the medical system, data associated with an individual subject, the data associated with the individual subject including a subject's initial hematocrit; identifying, by the medical system, a subject-specific pure component amount to be collected by the medical system, the subject-specific pure component amount to be collected by the medical system determined using the subject hematocrit, a total blood volume for the subject, and a targeted change in hematocrit; and performing, using the medical system, a component donation process to collect the identified subject-specific pure component amount to be collected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Inventors: John PITTINGER, Thomas J. Felt
  • Publication number: 20230310728
    Abstract: A method includes initiating one or more pumps of an apheresis machine, detecting a flow of fluid through the apheresis machine, detecting the flow of fluid is below a predetermined threshold, and in response to detecting the flow of fluid is below the predetermined threshold, adjusting a rate of the one or more pumps of the apheresis machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Taylor POLODNA, Stephanie Lynne ST. GEORGE, John PITTINGER
  • Publication number: 20230285644
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, with an apheresis system, data associated with a donor; determining, based on the data associated with a donor, an identification of the donor; receiving, with the apheresis system, data associated with a blood component collection set; receiving, with the apheresis system, data associated with a plasma collection bottle; and performing, with the apheresis system, a plasma donation process based on the identification of the donor, the data associated with the blood component set, and the data associated with the plasma collection bottle. Receiving the data associated with the donor may include scanning, with a scanner, an image. The scanner is disposed on the apheresis system and the image may include one of a one-dimensional barcode or a two-dimensional barcode. The data associated with the donor may be displayed on a user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: John PITTINGER, Justin BROUSSARD, Stephanie Lynne ST. GEORGE
  • Publication number: 20230289173
    Abstract: A method includes detecting a startup of an apheresis machine; in response to detecting start up, transmitting data to a server; determining, based on the data, whether software of the apheresis machine is current; receiving, in response to the data, a response from the server; and preventing usage of apheresis machine if the response indicates the software is not current. The data transmitted to the server may include one or more of a data log, a firmware version identifier, and an error log. The response may include a lockout signal. The response may include a software update. The software update may include a firmware update. The method may include automatically initiating installation of the software update. The method may include ceasing prevention of usage of the apheresis machine following installation of the software update.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Stephanie Lynne ST. GEORGE, John PITTINGER
  • Publication number: 20230285652
    Abstract: A method includes detecting a beginning of a donation process; in response to detecting the beginning of the donation process, providing an output; determining an amount of time remaining for the donation process; in response to detecting the amount of time remaining for the donation process, updating the output; detecting a loss in pressure; in response to detecting the loss in pressure, updating the output; detecting an ending of the donation process; and in response to detecting the ending of the donation process, updating the output. The donation process may include a plasma donation using an apheresis machine. The detecting the beginning of the donation process may include detecting a flow of fluid. The output may include one or more of a light and a sound. The output may be provided on a side of an apheresis machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Stephanie Lynne ST. GEORGE, John PITTINGER
  • Publication number: 20230285642
    Abstract: A separation assembly for an apheresis system includes a first media bag, a second media mag, a vessel, and a separation set. The first media bag contains a first fluid medium. The second media bag contains a second fluid medium. The vessel is configured to contain a third fluid medium. The separation set includes a first tube and a second tube. The first tube has a first fitting that is configured to be coupled to the first media bag. The first tube defines a first length. The second tube has a second fitting that is configured to be coupled to the second media bag. The second tube defines a second length different from the first length. The separation set may further includes a third tube is configured to be coupled to the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Tanner LADTKOW, Leah HENDRICKS, John PITTINGER
  • Patent number: D1021953
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Terumo BCT, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie L. St. George, John Pittinger, Albert Winsman
  • Patent number: D1033455
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Terumo BCT, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie L. St. George, John Pittinger, Albert Winsman
  • Patent number: D1033468
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Terumo BCT, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephanie L. St. George, John Pittinger
  • Patent number: D1048411
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Terumo BCT, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Ellingboe, David Gibbons, Charles L. Hake, Mark Hillam, Peter O'Brien, Anne Baker Oram, Drew Parker, John Pittinger, Taylor Polodna, Evan C. Provan, Dennis Bebie, Davis Benz, Pierre R. Emeric