Patents by Inventor John Stephens

John Stephens 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: 12350463
    Abstract: A valve for sealing the hub of a sheath assembly is provided. The valve includes a valve body having a solid thickness extending between a proximal surface and a distal surface. A bisecting slot extends across the proximal surface of the valve body and terminates at a depth less than the thickness of the valve body such that a portion of the valve body distally of the slot defines a bridge extending between opposed halves of the valve body such that the distal surface of the valve body is substantially continuous and a central portion of the proximal surface of the valve body is concave and defines a concave proximal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: MEDICAL COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: John Stephens, Kevin E. Sanford, Jeffrey S. Bennett, Burton W. Thomas, W. Shaun Wall, Christian K Peterson
  • Patent number: 11850392
    Abstract: A valve for sealing the hub of a sheath assembly is provided. The valve includes a valve body having a solid thickness extending between a proximal surface and a distal surface. A bisecting slot extends across the proximal surface of the valve body and terminates at a depth less than the thickness of the valve body such that a portion of the valve body distally of the slot defines a bridge extending between opposed halves of the valve body such that the distal surface of the valve body is substantially continuous and a central portion of the proximal surface of the valve body is concave and defines a concave proximal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: MEDICAL COMPONENTS INC.
    Inventors: John Stephens, Kevin E. Sanford, Jeffrey S. Bennett, Burton W. Thomas, W. Shaun Wall, Christian K. Peterson
  • Patent number: 11850393
    Abstract: A valve for sealing the hub of a sheath assembly is provided. The valve includes a valve body having a solid thickness extending between a proximal surface and a distal surface. A bisecting slot extends across the proximal surface of the valve body and terminates at a depth less than the thickness of the valve body such that a portion of the valve body distally of the slot defines a bridge extending between opposed halves of the valve body such that the distal surface of the valve body is substantially continuous and a central portion of the proximal surface of the valve body is concave and defines a concave proximal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: MEDICAL COMPONENTS INC.
    Inventors: John Stephens, Kevin E. Sanford, Jeffrey S. Bennett, Burton W. Thomas, W. Shaun Wall, Christian K. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20230181891
    Abstract: A valve for sealing the hub of a sheath assembly is provided. The valve includes a valve body having a solid thickness extending between a proximal surface and a distal surface. A bisecting slot extends across the proximal surface of the valve body and terminates at a depth less than the thickness of the valve body such that a portion of the valve body distally of the slot defines a bridge extending between opposed halves of the valve body such that the distal surface of the valve body is substantially continuous and a central portion of the proximal surface of the valve body is concave and defines a concave proximal portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: MEDICAL COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: John Stephens, Kevin E. Sanford, Jeffrey S. Bennett, Burton W. Thomas, W. Shaun Wall, Christian K. Peterson
  • Patent number: 11565101
    Abstract: A valve for sealing the hub of a sheath assembly is provided. The valve includes a valve body having a solid thickness extending between a proximal surface and a distal surface. A bisecting slot extends across the proximal surface of the valve body and terminates at a depth less than the thickness of the valve body such that a portion of the valve body distally of the slot defines a bridge extending between opposed halves of the valve body such that the distal surface of the valve body is substantially continuous and a central portion of the proximal surface of the valve body is concave and defines a concave proximal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: MEDICAL COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: John Stephens, Kevin E. Sanford, Jeffrey S. Bennett, Burton W. Thomas, W. Shaun Wall, Christian K. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20220233838
    Abstract: A valve for sealing the hub of a sheath assembly is provided. The valve includes a valve body having a solid thickness extending between a proximal surface and a distal surface. A bisecting slot extends across the proximal surface of the valve body and terminates at a depth less than the thickness of the valve body such that a portion of the valve body distally of the slot defines a bridge extending between opposed halves of the valve body such that the distal surface of the valve body is substantially continuous and a central portion of the proximal surface of the valve body is concave and defines a concave proximal portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: MEDICAL COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: John Stephens, Kevin E. Sanford, Jeffrey S. Bennett, Burton W. Thomas, W. Shaun Wall, Christian K. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20210031024
    Abstract: A valve for sealing the hub of a sheath assembly is provided. The valve includes a valve body having a solid thickness extending between a proximal surface and a distal surface. A bisecting slot extends across the proximal surface of the valve body and terminates at a depth less than the thickness of the valve body such that a portion of the valve body distally of the slot defines a bridge extending between opposed halves of the valve body such that the distal surface of the valve body is substantially continuous and a central portion of the proximal surface of the valve body is concave and defines a concave proximal portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicant: MEDICAL COMPONENTS INC.
    Inventors: John Stephens, Kevin E. Sanford, Jeffrey S. Bennett, Burton W. Thomas, W. Shaun Wall, Christian K. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20210031023
    Abstract: A valve for sealing the hub of a sheath assembly is provided. The valve includes a valve body having a solid thickness extending between a proximal surface and a distal surface. A bisecting slot extends across the proximal surface of the valve body and terminates at a depth less than the thickness of the valve body such that a portion of the valve body distally of the slot defines a bridge extending between opposed halves of the valve body such that the distal surface of the valve body is substantially continuous and a central portion of the proximal surface of the valve body is concave and defines a concave proximal portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicant: MEDICAL COMPONENTS INC.
    Inventors: John Stephens, Kevin E. Sanford, Jeffrey S. Bennett, Burton W. Thomas, W. Shaun Wall, Christian K. Peterson
  • Patent number: 10058089
    Abstract: An electromechanical horn having a generally L-shaped housing containing a sound generating system including a piezoelectric speaker generates a series of short, audible sound signals in a repetitive pattern, the generated sound signals having fundamental frequencies with associated harmonic component frequencies and decibel levels that fall within a frequency range of from about 3 kHz to about 10 kHz, and decibel levels in a range of from about 75 dB to about 115 dB to disperse or deter an aggressive animal in a non-detrimental manner. The lower portion of the horn is configured to be held in the palm of a hand of a user. A strap mounted on the back side of the housing forms a loop that can be grasped by the palm of the user's hand, or extended over the back of the hand, and a depressible thumb button disposed at the back end of the upper portion receives the user's thumb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Inventors: Leah Stephens, John Stephens, Matthew T. Fisher
  • Patent number: 9925348
    Abstract: A system for delivery of a gas to a user has a single tubular nasal cavity component having only two terminal ends: a gas inlet and a gas outlet with a single gas flow path between. The component is configured for insertion into the nostril of a user and maintains the position without adhesive. The nasal cavity component includes a first portion having a first longitudinal axis along the single gas flow path. A proximal end of the first portion is flared outward for insertion into a nostril of a patient. A second portion has a second longitudinal axis, and a gas inlet end to receive gas from a gas supply. A distal end of the second portion intersects a distal end of the first portion in a bend portion, such that the first and second longitudinal axes intersect at an angle of between about 60 and about 80°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: UPODS, LLC
    Inventors: Hugh W. Payton, Campbell C. Cauthen, John Stephens
  • Publication number: 20180015277
    Abstract: A valve for sealing the hub of a sheath assembly is provided. The valve includes a valve body having a solid thickness extending between a proximal surface and a distal surface. A bisecting slot extends across the proximal surface of the valve body and terminates at a depth less than the thickness of the valve body such that a portion of the valve body distally of the slot defines a bridge extending between opposed halves of the valve body such that the distal surface of the valve body is substantially continuous and a central portion of the proximal surface of the valve body is concave and defines a concave proximal portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: John Stephens, Kevin E. Sanford, Jeffrey S. Bennett, Burton W. Thomas, W. Shaun Wall, Christian K. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20160346495
    Abstract: A system for delivery of a gas to a user has a single tubular nasal cavity component having only two terminal ends: a gas inlet and a gas outlet with a single gas flow path between. The component is configured for insertion into the nostril of a user and maintains the position without adhesive. The nasal cavity component includes a first portion having a first longitudinal axis along the single gas flow path. A proximal end of the first portion is flared outward for insertion into a nostril of a patient. A second portion has a second longitudinal axis, and a gas inlet end to receive gas from a gas supply. A distal end of the second portion intersects a distal end of the first portion in a bend portion, such that the first and second longitudinal axes intersect at an angle of between about 60 and about 80°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Hugh W. Payton, Campbell C. Cauthen, John Stephens
  • Patent number: 9504233
    Abstract: An electromechanical horn having a sound generating system including a piezoelectric speaker generates a series of short, audible sound signals in a repetitive pattern, the generated sound signals having fundamental frequencies with associated harmonic component frequencies and decibel levels that fall within a frequency range of greatest hearing sensitivity of the animal to disperse or deter an aggressive animal in a non-detrimental manner. The generated sound signals have fundamental frequencies with associated harmonic component frequencies that fall within a frequency range of from about 3 kHz to about 10 kHz, and decibel levels in a range of from about 75 dB to about 115 dB (SPL) at 1 meter. The horn device can be hand-held, attached to a user's belt or clothing, or removably attached to a bicycle, motorcycle, stroller, or other conveyance or object and can be actuated while attached or quickly removed and actuated when needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Inventors: Leah Stephens, John Stephens
  • Patent number: 9440039
    Abstract: A gas delivery device (1 or 101 or 201) having a substantially U-shaped nasal cavity component (3 or 103 or 203) that fits inside the patient's nostril is in fluid communication with a tubular guidance-stabilization system (8 or 108) that extends from the nasal cavity component (3 or 103 or 203), across the patient's cheek, and over the patient's ear. The tubular guidance-stabilization system (8 or 108) has a flexible wire or flexible strap that is embedded (or otherwise inserted) within the wall (33 or 120 or 220) of the tubular guidance-stabilization system (8 or 108) for the purpose of supporting the integrity of the gas delivery device (1 or 101 or 201) in order to maintain the tubular nasal cavity component (3 or 103 or 203) in the patient's nostril. A stabilization patch (17 or 18 or 118) further secures the tubular guidance-stabilization system (8 or 108) to the cheek and/or behind the ear of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: UPODS, LLC
    Inventors: Hugh W. Payton, Campbell C. Cauthen, John Stephens
  • Publication number: 20150235047
    Abstract: Certain applications, especially legacy applications, try to write to areas of the system that require administrator privileges and hence fail to run successfully for users with lessened privileges. The disclosed system redirects certain file writes, i.e., globally impactful file writes to specific locations that require administrator privileges and would otherwise fail for others users, so as to allow the same file writes to succeed by redirecting them to happen in the context of the user, i.e., in a per-user virtualization location. In particular, virtualization only occurs when the application is actually going to write to the file, not just when file access is requested without an intention of writing to or otherwise actually altering the file. Following virtualization, applications are redirected to use the virtualized files. The system thus allows users to run applications that otherwise would not be enabled, and to maintain a higher level of security when doing so.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Charles T. Lenzmeier, Edward J. Praitis, John Stephens, Michael J. Gallop, RoseMarie FitzSimons
  • Publication number: 20150165151
    Abstract: A gas delivery device (1 or 101 or 201) having a substantially U-shaped nasal cavity component (3 or 103 or 203) that fits inside the patient's nostril is in fluid communication with a tubular guidance-stabilization system (8 or 108) that extends from the nasal cavity component (3 or 103 or 203), across the patient's cheek, and over the patient's ear. The tubular guidance-stabilization system (8 or 108) has a flexible wire or flexible strap that is embedded (or otherwise inserted) within the wall (33 or 120 or 220) of the tubular guidance-stabilization system (8 or 108) for the purpose of supporting the integrity of the gas delivery device (1 or 101 or 201) in order to maintain the tubular nasal cavity component (3 or 103 or 203) in the patient's nostril. A stabilization patch (17 or 18 or 118) further secures the tubular guidance-stabilization system (8 or 108) to the cheek and/or behind the ear of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: UPODS, LLC
    Inventors: Hugh W. Payton, Campbell C. Cauthen, John Stephens
  • Patent number: 8905998
    Abstract: A catheter tunneling adapter including a generally elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end and a through passageway. The proximal end of the adapter is connectable both to a proximal hub of a stylet and subsequently to the distal end of a tunneler. The distal end of the adapter comprises a connector for connecting a plurality of proximal catheter tubes thereto, wherein the proximal end of one tube is affixed within the passageway at the adapter's distal end and the proximal end of the second tube is plugged by a plug extending distally from a free end of an elongate flexible arm that also extends distally of the adapter's distal end, such that the plug is offset laterally therefrom. The flexible arm and the affixed second tube end are deflectable toward the first tube to reduce the profile of the assembly during tunneling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Medical Components, Inc.
    Inventor: John Stephens
  • Patent number: 8795165
    Abstract: A dilator (100) for expanding a vessel incision to assist insertion of a catheter thereinto and having a distal end (104) and a proximal end (106). The dilator has two portions (110,210) that are assembled together at a hinge (112,212) permitting angled-apart proximal ends (122,222) of the two portions at the proximal end (106) to be squeezed together about the hinge which slightly spreads apart the respective distal ends (114,214) of the two portions to enlarge the incision into the vessel. A spring (150) biases apart the proximal ends of the two portions to maintain the two distal ends (114,214) together until pried apart as desired to dilate the vessel incision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignees: Medical Components, Inc., TwinCath, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Schon, Timothy Schweikert, John Stephens
  • Publication number: 20130310765
    Abstract: A sheath assembly includes an elongated hollow sheath body having a proximal body end, a distal body end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal body end and the distal body end. A sheath hub is fixedly connected to the proximal body end and includes a hub proximal end and a hub distal end with a through passage extending from the hub distal end to the hub proximal end and in communication with the hollow sheath body. The sheath hub further defining a valve seat proximate the hub proximal end. A valve is seated in the valve seat and includes a valve body with a bisecting slot extending into a proximal surface of the valve body and terminating at a depth less than the thickness of the valve body such that the remaining portion of the valve body distally of the slot defines a bridge extending between opposed halves of the valve body such that a distal surface of the valve body is substantially continuous, the valve extending across and sealing the through passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventors: John Stephens, Kevin Sanford, Jeffrey S. Bennett, Burton W. Thomas, W. Shaun Wall, Christian K. Peterson
  • Patent number: 8522426
    Abstract: A vented BGA package is reconfigured by first applying a continuous bead of adhesive around the perimeter of the package to seal the gap between the lid and substrate. The continuous bead defines a channel through the pressure relief vents to a polarity through-hole in the lid. The BGA package is reflow soldered to a PWB at an elevated temperature using solder flux, clean or no-clean. The IC die achieves elevated temperature pressure relief through the pressure relief vents along the channel and out the polarity through-hole. After reflow a seal is applied to plug the polarity through-hole. The PWB is washed in an aqueous cleaner solution to remove flux residue. The continuous bead of adhesive and the seal form a cleaner solution barrier that prevents the solution from contacting conductors inside the package. The seal may be removed or left intact depending on the operating environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Robert H. Dennis, Amanda Loehr, Robert E. Morris, Peter D. Patalano, Aaron J. Stein, John Stephens, Harold L. Wieck, Eli Holzman