Patents by Inventor Kenneth E. Kasza

Kenneth E. Kasza 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: 8505315
    Abstract: A method and device are provided for the preparation of sterile medical ice slurry, for example having ice loadings of greater than approximately 50%. An integrated-operation ice slurry blender-based production and delivery system methods for monitoring cooling capacity of the produced and delivered slurry. All individual medical ice slurry production and delivery steps are integrated into one tightly coupled precisely sequenced and timed system. The novel procedure and equipment is simple to use and makes sterile slurry, which is ready to deliver to patients, for example, in less than 2 minutes after adding predetermined thermally preconditioned ingredient modules to a blender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Kasza, Farah J. Shareef, Brandon L. Fisher
  • Publication number: 20090255276
    Abstract: A method and device are provided for the preparation of sterile medical ice slurry, for example having ice loadings of greater than approximately 50%. An integrated-operation ice slurry blender-based production and delivery system methods for monitoring cooling capacity of the produced and delivered slurry. All individual medical ice slurry production and delivery steps are integrated into one tightly coupled precisely sequenced and timed system. The novel procedure and equipment is simple to use and makes sterile slurry, which is ready to deliver to patients, for example, in less than 2 minutes after adding predetermined thermally preconditioned ingredient modules to a blender.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Kasza, Farah J. Shareef, Brandon L. Fisher
  • Publication number: 20090125087
    Abstract: Systems for phase-change particulate slurry cooling equipment and methods to induce hypothermia in a patient through internal and external cooling are provided. Subcutaneous, intravascular, intraperitoneal, gastrointestinal, and lung methods of cooling are carried out using saline ice slurries or other phase-change slurries compatible with human tissue. Perfluorocarbon slurries or other slurry types compatible with human tissue are used for pulmonary cooling. And traditional external cooling methods are improved by utilizing phase-change slurry materials in cooling caps and torso blankets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: University of Chicago Office of Technology Transfer
    Inventors: Lance B. Becker, Terry Vanden Hoek, Kenneth E. Kasza
  • Publication number: 20080236186
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing sterile ice slurries for medical cooling applications. The apparatus is capable of producing highly loaded slurries suitable for delivery to targeted internal organs of a patient, such as the brain, heart, lungs, stomach, kidneys, pancreas, and others, through medical size diameter tubing. The ice slurry production apparatus includes a slurry production reservoir adapted to contain a volume of a saline solution. A flexible membrane crystallization surface is provided within the slurry production reservoir. The crystallization surface is chilled to a temperature below a freezing point of the saline solution within the reservoir such that ice particles form on the crystallization surface. A deflector in the form of a reciprocating member is provided for periodically distorting the crystallization surface and dislodging the ice particles which form on the crystallization surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Kasza, John Oras, Hyun Jin Son
  • Patent number: 7422601
    Abstract: Systems for phase-change particulate slurry cooling equipment and methods to induce hypothermia in a patient through internal and external cooling are provided. Subcutaneous, intravascular, intraperitoneal, gastrointestinal, and lung methods of cooling are carried out using saline ice slurries or other phase-change slurries compatible with human tissue. Perfluorocarbon slurries or other slurry types compatible with human tissue are used for pulmonary cooling. And traditional external cooling methods are improved by utilizing phase-change slurry materials in cooling caps and torso blankets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: University of Chicago Office of Technology Transfer
    Inventors: Lance B. Becker, Terry Vanden Hoek, Kenneth E. Kasza
  • Patent number: 7389653
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing sterile ice slurries for medical cooling applications. The apparatus is capable of producing highly loaded slurries suitable for delivery to targeted internal organs of a patient, such as the brain, heart, lungs, stomach, kidneys, pancreas, and others, through medical size diameter tubing. The ice slurry production apparatus includes a slurry production reservoir adapted to contain a volume of a saline solution. A flexible membrane crystallization surface is provided within the slurry production reservoir. The crystallization surface is chilled to a temperature below a freezing point of the saline solution within the reservoir such that ice particles form on the crystallization surface. A deflector in the form of a reciprocating member is provided for periodically distorting the crystallization surface and dislodging the ice particles which form on the crystallization surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Kasza, John Oras, HyunJin Son
  • Patent number: 6962601
    Abstract: Systems for phase-change particulate slurry cooling equipment and methods to induce hypothermia in a patient through internal and external cooling are provided. Subcutaneous, intravascular, intraperitoneal, gastrointestinal, and lung methods of cooling are carried out using saline ice slurries or other phase-change slurries compatible with human tissue. Perfluorocarbon slurries or other slurry types compatible with human tissue are used for pulmonary cooling. And traditional external cooling methods are improved by utilizing phase-change slurry materials in cooling caps and torso blankets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: University of Chicago Office of Technology Transfer
    Inventors: Lance B. Becker, Terry Vanden Hoek, Kenneth E. Kasza
  • Publication number: 20040187512
    Abstract: Systems for phase-change particulate slurry cooling equipment and methods to induce hypothermia in a patient through internal and external cooling are provided. Subcutaneous, intravascular, intraperitoneal, gastrointestinal, and lung methods of cooling are carried out using saline ice slurries or other phase-change slurries compatible with human tissue. Perfluorocarbon slurries or other slurry types compatible with human tissue are used for pulmonary cooling. And traditional external cooling methods are improved by utilizing phase-change slurry materials in cooling caps and torso blankets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Lance B. Becker, Terry Vanden Hoek, Kenneth E. Kasza
  • Patent number: 6547811
    Abstract: Systems for phase-change particulate slurry cooling equipment and methods to induce hypothermia in a patient through internal and external cooling are provided. Subcutaneous, intravascular, intraperitoneal, gastrointestinal, and lung methods of cooling are carried out using saline ice slurries or other phase-change slurries compatible with human tissue. Perfluorocarbon slurries or other slurry types compatible with human tissue are used for pulmonary cooling. And traditional external cooling methods are improved by utilizing phase-change slurry materials in cooling caps and torso blankets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Arch Development Corporation
    Inventors: Lance B. Becker, Terry Vanden Hoek, Kenneth E. Kasza
  • Publication number: 20030066304
    Abstract: Systems for phase-change particulate slurry cooling equipment and methods to induce hypothermia in a patient through internal and external cooling are provided. Subcutaneous, intravascular, intraperitoneal, gastrointestinal, and lung methods of cooling are carried out using saline ice slurries or other phase-change slurries compatible with human tissue. Perfluorocarbon slurries or other slurry types compatible with human tissue are used for pulmonary cooling. And traditional external cooling methods are improved by utilizing phase-change slurry materials in cooling caps and torso blankets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventors: Lance B. Becker, Terry Vanden Hoek, Kenneth E. Kasza
  • Patent number: 6413444
    Abstract: A phase change particulate saline slurry and methods and apparatus are provided for producing phase change particulate saline slurries. One method for producing phase change particulate saline slurries includes the steps of providing a liquid with a set percentage freezing point depressant, such as, a set percentage saline solution; subcooling the saline solution to a freezing point to produce ice particles; and increasing an ice particle concentration under controlled temperature for a period of time to provide a set ice particle concentration for the phase change particulate saline slurry. In another method for producing phase change particulate saline slurries, water and a first set amount of sodium chloride are provided to produce a saline solution. The saline solution is cooled to a set temperature. A selected percentage of chunk ice is added to the saline solution and the chunk ice is broken into ice particles. The ice particles have a small size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: The University of Chicago
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Kasza
  • Patent number: 6244052
    Abstract: A phase change ice particulate perfluorocarbon slurry and a method and apparatus are provided for producing phase change particulate perfluorocarbon slurries. A known amount of perfluorocarbon liquid is provided. A set percentage of a phase change liquid and optionally other additives, such as oxygen or other cell protectants are added to the known amount of perfluorocarbon liquid. The phase change liquid and the perfluorocarbon liquid are mixed to produce an emulsion of small droplets of the phase change liquid in the perfluorocarbon liquid. The emulsion is cooled to produce the phase change particulate perfluorocarbon slurry. A phase change ice particulate perfluorocarbon slurry comprises a known amount of perfluorocarbon liquid and a set percentage of a phase change liquid added to the known amount of perfluorocarbon liquid. An emulsion is formed by the set percentage of a phase change liquid and the known amount of perfluorocarbon liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: The University of Chicago
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Kasza