Patents by Inventor Ken Driver

Ken Driver 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).

  • Publication number: 20230248413
    Abstract: Methods for detecting tubing in a pump assembly of a pump system are provided. For example, a method comprises connecting a power supply to each of a plurality of pump motors of the pump system. Each pump motor of the plurality of pump motors has a power supply cable configured to connect to the power supply and drives a pump head of a plurality of pump heads of the pump system. The method also comprises sensing a motor current from each of the power supply cables, determining whether tubing is loaded in each pump head, and, if tubing is not loaded in a pump head, then disconnecting from the power supply the power supply cable of the pump motor associated with the pump head in which tubing is not loaded. Systems for detecting the presence of tubing within a pump head of a plurality of pump heads also are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Ruoya Wang, Ken Driver
  • Patent number: 11690668
    Abstract: A cooling radiofrequency ablation probe for delivering electrical and thermal energy to tissue of a patient's body is provided. The probe comprises a handle having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a Luer connector. The probe further comprises an extended electrocap assembly interfacing with one end of the handle, and a cable-tubing assembly interfacing with another end of the handle. The cable-tubing assembly includes an electrical cable that terminates at an electrical connector and a dual-lumen fluid tubing that terminates at inlet and outlet fluid connectors. An active tip of the extended electrocap assembly is configured to deliver the electrical and thermal energy to the tissue of the patient's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Avent, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruoya Wang, Ryan Smith, Scott M. Teixeira, Craig F. Steinman, Ken Driver, Samir Merchant
  • Patent number: 11690665
    Abstract: Pump assemblies and systems are provided. For example, a pump assembly comprises a pump head, a bezel surrounding an outer perimeter of the pump head, a motor, and tubing. The bezel comprises a bezel upper side, a bezel lower side opposite the bezel upper side, a bezel inlet side extending from the bezel upper side to the bezel lower side, and a bezel outlet side opposite the bezel inlet side and extending from the bezel upper side to the bezel lower side. The bezel defines an inlet channel on the bezel inlet side and an outlet channel on the bezel outlet side, each of the inlet channel and the outlet channel guiding the tubing into the pump head. An exemplary pump system comprises a plurality of pump assemblies that each supply a fluid to a cooling circuit and a base for supporting the plurality of pump assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Avent, Inc
    Inventors: Ruoya Wang, Michael D. Brown, Jennifer J. Barrett, Kun-Chi Wu, Claire B. Couch, Ken Driver
  • Patent number: 11668295
    Abstract: Pump heads for peristaltic pump assemblies are provided. For example, a pump head for a peristaltic pump comprises an occlusion bed, a rotor guide, a rotor assembly positioned between the occlusion bed and the rotor guide, and a pathway for tubing. The pathway comprises an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a connecting portion that connects the inlet and outlet portions. The inlet portion is defined between the occlusion bed and the rotor guide, the outlet portion is defined between the occlusion bed and the rotor guide, and the connecting portion is defined between the occlusion bed and the rotor assembly. Further, the occlusion bed is movable with respect to the rotor guide and the rotor assembly. In exemplary embodiments, the pump head urges fluid flow through the tubing to supply a cooling fluid to a medical probe assembly for delivering energy to a patient's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Avent, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruoya Wang, Michael D. Brown, Jennifer J. Barrett, Kun-Chi Wu, Claire B. Couch, Ken Driver
  • Patent number: 11589914
    Abstract: A pump system for pumping a coolant fluid for cooled radiofrequency ablation treatment includes a housing having a front, a back, a right side, a left side, a top surface, and a bottom surface, and a plurality of peristaltic pump assemblies. The top surface of the housing includes a central channel between at least two of the peristaltic pump assemblies configured to drain fluid away from the front of the housing. A cooled radiofrequency ablation system additionally includes a pump system and a generator having mating surfaces such that the pump system can sit stably on top of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Avent, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruoya Wang, Michael D. Brown, Jennifer J. Barrett, Kun-Chi Wu, Ken Driver
  • Patent number: 11564731
    Abstract: Methods for detecting tubing in a pump assembly of a pump system are provided. For example, a method comprises connecting a power supply to each of a plurality of pump motors of the pump system. Each pump motor of the plurality of pump motors has a power supply cable configured to connect to the power supply and drives a pump head of a plurality of pump heads of the pump system. The method also comprises sensing a motor current from each of the power supply cables, determining whether tubing is loaded in each pump head, and, if tubing is not loaded in a pump head, then disconnecting from the power supply the power supply cable of the pump motor associated with the pump head in which tubing is not loaded. Systems for detecting the presence of tubing within a pump head of a plurality of pump heads also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Avent, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruoya Wang, Ken Driver
  • Publication number: 20200205874
    Abstract: A pump system for pumping a coolant fluid for cooled radiofrequency ablation treatment includes a housing having a front, a back, a right side, a left side, a top surface, and a bottom surface, and a plurality of peristaltic pump assemblies. The top surface of the housing includes a central channel between at least two of the peristaltic pump assemblies configured to drain fluid away from the front of the housing. A cooled radiofrequency ablation system additionally includes a pump system and a generator having mating surfaces such that the pump system can sit stably on top of the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Ruoya Wang, Michael D. Brown, Jennifer J. Barrett, Kun-Chi Wu, Ken Driver
  • Publication number: 20200208624
    Abstract: Pump heads for peristaltic pump assemblies are provided. For example, a pump head for a peristaltic pump comprises an occlusion bed, a rotor guide, a rotor assembly positioned between the occlusion bed and the rotor guide, and a pathway for tubing. The pathway comprises an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a connecting portion that connects the inlet and outlet portions. The inlet portion is defined between the occlusion bed and the rotor guide, the outlet portion is defined between the occlusion bed and the rotor guide, and the connecting portion is defined between the occlusion bed and the rotor assembly. Further, the occlusion bed is movable with respect to the rotor guide and the rotor assembly. In exemplary embodiments, the pump head urges fluid flow through the tubing to supply a cooling fluid to a medical probe assembly for delivering energy to a patient's body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Ruoya Wang, Michael D. Brown, Jennifer J. Barrett, Kun-Chi Wu, Claire B. Couch, Ken Driver
  • Publication number: 20200205879
    Abstract: Pump assemblies and systems are provided. For example, a pump assembly comprises a pump head, a bezel surrounding an outer perimeter of the pump head, a motor, and tubing. The bezel comprises a bezel upper side, a bezel lower side opposite the bezel upper side, a bezel inlet side extending from the bezel upper side to the bezel lower side, and a bezel outlet side opposite the bezel inlet side and extending from the bezel upper side to the bezel lower side. The bezel defines an inlet channel on the bezel inlet side and an outlet channel on the bezel outlet side, each of the inlet channel and the outlet channel guiding the tubing into the pump head. An exemplary pump system comprises a plurality of pump assemblies that each supply a fluid to a cooling circuit and a base for supporting the plurality of pump assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Ruoya Wang, Michael D. Brown, Jennifer J. Barrett, Kun-Chi Wu, Claire B. Couch, Ken Driver
  • Publication number: 20200205878
    Abstract: Methods for detecting tubing in a pump assembly of a pump system are provided. For example, a method comprises connecting a power supply to each of a plurality of pump motors of the pump system. Each pump motor of the plurality of pump motors has a power supply cable configured to connect to the power supply and drives a pump head of a plurality of pump heads of the pump system. The method also comprises sensing a motor current from each of the power supply cables, determining whether tubing is loaded in each pump head, and, if tubing is not loaded in a pump head, then disconnecting from the power supply the power supply cable of the pump motor associated with the pump head in which tubing is not loaded. Systems for detecting the presence of tubing within a pump head of a plurality of pump heads also are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Ruoya Wang, Ken Driver
  • Publication number: 20200197084
    Abstract: A cooling radiofrequency ablation probe for delivering electrical and thermal energy to tissue of a patient's body is provided. The probe comprises a handle having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a Luer connector. The probe further comprises an extended electrocap assembly interfacing with one end of the handle, and a cable-tubing assembly interfacing with another end of the handle. The cable-tubing assembly includes an electrical cable that terminates at an electrical connector and a dual-lumen fluid tubing that terminates at inlet and outlet fluid connectors. An active tip of the extended electrocap assembly is configured to deliver the electrical and thermal energy to the tissue of the patient's body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Ruoya Wang, Ryan Smith, Scott M. Teixeira, Craig F. Steinman, Ken Driver, Samir Merchant
  • Publication number: 20200188684
    Abstract: A medical introducer is provided for use in locating an energy delivery probe, such as an RF ablation probe, at a target location in tissue. The introducer includes a proximal hub and an elongate cannula having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end connected to the hub. The cannula is formed entirely of an electrically insulating polymer material and includes a tapered distal tip. An RF ablation probe system is also provided that includes an RF ablation probe assembly, a stylet, and the introducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Ruoya Wang, Ryan Smith, Ken Driver, Samir Merchant
  • Publication number: 20150290721
    Abstract: An expansion arbor adapted for use on a rotational arbor core comprising an arbor first end having an arbor first end opening, an arbor second end having an arbor second end opening and being spaced apart from the arbor first end, a substantially cylindrical body that defines a longitudinal axis, and a slit having a slit first end and a slit second end and extending along a portion of the substantially cylindrical body between the arbor first end and the arbor second end. A portion of the substantially cylindrical body adjacent to the slit is adapted to expand radially outward when the rotational arbor core is rotated so as to retain a sanding sleeve on the rotational arbor core. A method comprising placing the expansion arbor on the rotational arbor core, placing the sanding sleeve on the expansion arbor, and rotating the rotational arbor core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Martin A. Rightmire, Ken Driver