Patents by Inventor Joseph M. Messana

Joseph M. Messana 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).

  • System for determining blood flow rate in a vessel using diverted flow measurements
    Patent number: 6709414
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining the performance of a vessel, such as a hemodialysis access, which communicates blood between two locations of a patient. A conduit, such as an external dialysis circuit or an intravascular catheter, is provided in fluid communication with the vessel, and has a diversion point for diverting blood from the vessel into the conduit. The system further includes means for determining a flow rate of the diverted blood through the conduit. A first sensor in communication with the vessel generates at least one signal that is a function of a blood flow rate in the vessel downstream from the diversion point, wherein the downstream flow rate depends on the determined conduit flow rate and the performance of the vessel can be determined based on the signal. In addition, a processor can be provided in communication with the first sensor for determining a flow rate in the vessel upstream from the diversion point from the signal and the conduit flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: William F. Weitzel, Jonathan M. Rubin, Joseph M. Messana
  • System for determining blood flow rate in a vessel using diverted flow measurements
    Publication number: 20030167030
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining the performance of a vessel, such as a hemodialysis access, which communicates blood between two locations of a patient. A conduit, such as an external dialysis circuit or an intravascular catheter, is provided in fluid communication with the vessel, and has a diversion point for diverting blood from the vessel into the conduit. The system further includes means for determining a flow rate of the diverted blood through the conduit. A first sensor in communication with the vessel generates at least one signal that is a function of a blood flow rate in the vessel downstream from the diversion point, wherein the downstream flow rate depends on the determined conduit flow rate and the performance of the vessel can be determined based on the signal. In addition, a processor can be provided in communication with the first sensor for determining a flow rate in the vessel upstream from the diversion point from the signal and the conduit flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: William F. Weitzel, Jonathan M. Rubin, Joseph M. Messana
  • System and method for determining blood flow rate in a vessel
    Patent number: 6575927
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining the performance of a vessel, such as a hemodialysis access, which communicates blood between two locations of a patient. A conduit, such as an external dialysis circuit or an intravascular catheter, is provided in fluid communication with the vessel, and has a diversion point for diverting blood from the vessel into the conduit. The system further includes means for determining a flow rate of the diverted blood through the conduit. A first sensor in communication with the vessel generates at least one signal that is a function of a blood flow rate in the vessel downstream from the diversion point, wherein the downstream flow rate depends on the determined conduit flow rate and the performance of the vessel can be determined based on the signal. In addition, a processor can be provided in communication with the first sensor for determining a flow rate in the vessel upstream from the diversion point from the signal and the conduit flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: William F. Weitzel, Jonathan M. Rubin, Joseph M. Messana