Patents by Inventor Kenneth L. Glinz
Kenneth L. Glinz 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).
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Patent number: 11219464Abstract: A low-cost contour cuff for surgical tourniquet systems comprises: a sheath containing an inflatable bladder, the sheath having an arcuate shape, an outer surface and a centerline equidistant between first and second side edges; a securing strap non-releasably attached to the outer surface and formed of substantially inextensible material having a shape that is predetermined and substantially flat, wherein the strap includes a bending portion near a first strap end and a fastening portion near a second strap end, and wherein the bending portion is adapted to allow twisting of the bending portion out of the substantially flat shape to facilitate positioning of the fastening portion into any of a plurality of positions in the substantially flat shape; and fastening means for releasably attaching the fastening portion of the securing strap to the outer surface whenever the sheath is curved into a position for surrounding a limb.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2018Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: Western Clinical Engineering Ltd.Inventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Kenneth L. Glinz, Tom Yu Chia Lai
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Patent number: 10646231Abstract: An apparatus for intermittent vascular occlusion based on a personalized tourniquet pressure (PTP) includes a dual-purpose tourniquet cuff having an inflatable bladder, a sensor module having a pulsation sensor communicating pneumatically with the inflatable bladder for sensing and characterizing pressure pulsations indicative of a distal occlusion pressure (DOP) to identify a minimum pressure at which penetration of blood past the cuff is stopped, a PTP estimator responsive to the pulsation sensor for producing an estimate of a PTP, wherein the estimate of the PTP is a function of the DOP, an effector module communicating pneumatically with the inflatable bladder for maintaining pressure in the bladder near the PTP during a first time period and for maintaining pressure in the bladder near a second level of pressure during a second time period, and a controller selectively operating the inflatable bladder in conjunction with the sensor module and the effector module.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2018Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Western Clinical Engineering Ltd.Inventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Jeswin Jeyasurya, Kenneth L. Glinz
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Patent number: 10646232Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for regulating tourniquet cuff pressure to restrict blood flow penetration past the cuff based on a personalized restrictive pressure (PRP). The system includes mechanisms for estimating a limb occlusion pressure (LOP) by determining a minimum pressure at which arterial blood penetration past an applied tourniquet cuff is stopped and measuring a pulsation characteristic associated with the LOP. Thereafter, the system establishes a PRP by determining a second pressure that restricts but does not stop arterial blood penetration past the cuff and that corresponds to a second pulsation characteristic differing by a percentage from the pulsation characteristic associated with the LOP. During a limb-activity time period, the system maintains pressure in the applied tourniquet cuff near the PRP, thereby restricting but not stopping arterial blood penetration past the cuff during the activity time period.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2015Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Western Clinical Engineering Ltd.Inventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Jeswin Jeyasurya, Kenneth L. Glinz
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Publication number: 20180193029Abstract: An apparatus for intermittent vascular occlusion based on a personalized tourniquet pressure (PTP) includes a dual-purpose tourniquet cuff having an inflatable bladder, a sensor module having a pulsation sensor communicating pneumatically with the inflatable bladder for sensing and characterizing pressure pulsations indicative of a distal occlusion pressure (DOP) to identify a minimum pressure at which penetration of blood past the cuff is stopped, a PTP estimator responsive to the pulsation sensor for producing an estimate of a PTP, wherein the estimate of the PTP is a function of the DOP, an effector module communicating pneumatically with the inflatable bladder for maintaining pressure in the bladder near the PTP during a first time period and for maintaining pressure in the bladder near a second level of pressure during a second time period, and a controller selectively operating the inflatable bladder in conjunction with the sensor module and the effector module.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2018Publication date: July 12, 2018Inventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Jeswin Jeyasurya, Kenneth L. Glinz
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Publication number: 20180140306Abstract: A low-cost contour cuff for surgical tourniquet systems comprises: a sheath containing an inflatable bladder, the sheath having an arcuate shape, an outer surface and a centerline equidistant between first and second side edges; a securing strap non-releasably attached to the outer surface and formed of substantially inextensible material having a shape that is predetermined and substantially flat, wherein the strap includes a bending portion near a first strap end and a fastening portion near a second strap end, and wherein the bending portion is adapted to allow twisting of the bending portion out of the substantially flat shape to facilitate positioning of the fastening portion into any of a plurality of positions in the substantially flat shape; and fastening means for releasably attaching the fastening portion of the securing strap to the outer surface whenever the sheath is curved into a position for surrounding a limb.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 2, 2018Publication date: May 24, 2018Applicant: Western Clinical Engineering Ltd.Inventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Kenneth L. Glinz, Tom Yu Chia Lai
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Publication number: 20180116679Abstract: A low-cost contour cuff for surgical tourniquet systems comprises: a sheath containing an inflatable bladder, the sheath having an arcuate shape, an outer surface and a centerline equidistant between first and second side edges; a securing strap non-releasably attached to the outer surface and formed of substantially inextensible material having a shape that is predetermined and substantially flat, wherein the strap includes a bending portion near a first strap end and a fastening portion near a second strap end, and wherein the bending portion is adapted to allow twisting of the bending portion out of the substantially flat shape to facilitate positioning of the fastening portion into any of a plurality of positions in the substantially flat shape; and fastening means for releasably attaching the fastening portion of the securing strap to the outer surface whenever the sheath is curved into a position for surrounding a limb.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2017Publication date: May 3, 2018Applicant: Western Clinical Engineering Ltd.Inventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Kenneth L. Glinz, Tom Yu Chia Lai
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Patent number: 9931126Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for regulating tourniquet cuff pressure based on a personalized tourniquet pressure (PTP) to facilitate safe performance of surgical and medical procedures. The apparatus includes a dual-purpose tourniquet cuff adapted to encircle a region of a patient to provide both a sensor during a first time period and an effector during a second time period. An effector module communicates pneumatically with an inflatable bladder of the cuff for maintaining pressure in the bladder near a PTP during the second time period to safely stop penetration of arterial blood past the cuff. A pulsation sensor that communicates pneumatically with the inflatable bladder during the first time period senses and characterizes pressure pulsations that are indicative of penetration of arterial blood into the region of a patient encircled by the cuff.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2015Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: Western Clinical Engineering Ltd.Inventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Jeswin Jeyasurya, Kenneth L. Glinz
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Patent number: 9814467Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for regulating tourniquet cuff pressure based on a personalized tourniquet pressure (PTP) to facilitate safe performance of a surgical procedure. The apparatus includes a dual-purpose tourniquet cuff adapted to encircle a region of a patient limb to provide both a sensor during a pre-surgical time period and an effector during a surgical time period. An effector module communicates pneumatically with an inflatable bladder of the cuff for maintaining pressure in the bladder near a PTP during the surgical time period to safely stop penetration of arterial blood past the cuff. A pulsation sensor that communicates pneumatically with the inflatable bladder during the pre-surgical time period senses and characterizes pressure pulsations that are indicative of penetration of arterial blood into the region of the limb encircled by the cuff.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Western Clinical Engineering Ltd.Inventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Jeswin Jeyasurya, Kenneth L. Glinz
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Publication number: 20170112504Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for regulating tourniquet cuff pressure to restrict blood flow penetration past the cuff based on a personalized restrictive pressure (PRP). The system includes mechanisms for estimating a limb occlusion pressure (LOP) by determining a minimum pressure at which arterial blood penetration past an applied tourniquet cuff is stopped and measuring a pulsation characteristic associated with the LOP. Thereafter, the system establishes a PRP by determining a second pressure that restricts but does not stop arterial blood penetration past the cuff and that corresponds to a second pulsation characteristic differing by a percentage from the pulsation characteristic associated with the LOP. During a limb-activity time period, the system maintains pressure in the applied tourniquet cuff near the PRP, thereby restricting but not stopping arterial blood penetration past the cuff during the activity time period.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2015Publication date: April 27, 2017Inventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Jeswin Jeyasurya, Kenneth L. Glinz
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Patent number: 9480481Abstract: A tourniquet cuff includes a first sheet, a second sheet, and a seal joining the first sheet and second sheet to form an inflatable bladder. A securing strap is attached to the cuff. The cuff encircles the limb so that the bladder overlaps upon itself. A stiffener fits inside the bladder and sized to extend substantially the length of the bladder but not the entire bladder length, and to fit completely within the seal. A tubular port is connected to the bladder for directing gas into the bladder from a tourniquet instrument to which the port may be releasably connected, and a cuff marking weld is located on an outer surface of the cuff, having a shape selected to form a symbol or indicia that is visible to a user.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2013Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Western Clinical Engineering Ltd.Inventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Kenneth L. Glinz, Allen J. Upward
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Publication number: 20160008005Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for regulating tourniquet cuff pressure based on a personalized tourniquet pressure (PTP) to facilitate safe performance of a surgical procedure. The apparatus includes a dual-purpose tourniquet cuff adapted to encircle a region of a patient limb to provide both a sensor during a pre-surgical time period and an effector during a surgical time period. An effector module communicates pneumatically with an inflatable bladder of the cuff for maintaining pressure in the bladder near a PTP during the surgical time period to safely stop penetration of arterial blood past the cuff. A pulsation sensor that communicates pneumatically with the inflatable bladder during the pre-surgical time period senses and characterizes pressure pulsations that are indicative of penetration of arterial blood into the region of the limb encircled by the cuff.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2015Publication date: January 14, 2016Inventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Jeswin Jeyasurya, Kenneth L. Glinz
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Publication number: 20160008006Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for regulating tourniquet cuff pressure based on a personalized tourniquet pressure (PTP) to facilitate safe performance of surgical and medical procedures. The apparatus includes a dual-purpose tourniquet cuff adapted to encircle a region of a patient to provide both a sensor during a first time period and an effector during a second time period. An effector module communicates pneumatically with an inflatable bladder of the cuff for maintaining pressure in the bladder near a PTP during the second time period to safely stop penetration of arterial blood past the cuff. A pulsation sensor that communicates pneumatically with the inflatable bladder during the first time period senses and characterizes pressure pulsations that are indicative of penetration of arterial blood into the region of a patient encircled by the cuff.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2015Publication date: January 14, 2016Applicant: Western Clinical Engineering Ltd.Inventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Jeswin Jeyasurya, Kenneth L. Glinz
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Patent number: 9039730Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for regulating tourniquet cuff pressure based on a personalized tourniquet pressure (PTP) to facilitate safe performance of a surgical procedure. The apparatus includes a dual-purpose tourniquet cuff adapted to encircle a region of a patient limb to provide both a sensor during a pre-surgical time period and an effector during a surgical time period. An effector module communicates pneumatically with an inflatable bladder of the cuff for maintaining pressure in the bladder near a PTP during the surgical time period to safely stop penetration of arterial blood past the cuff. A pulsation sensor that communicates pneumatically with the inflatable bladder during the pre-surgical time period senses and characterizes pressure pulsations that are indicative of penetration of arterial blood into the region of the limb encircled by the cuff.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2014Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Western Clinical Engineering, Ltd.Inventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Jeswin Jeyasurya, Kenneth L. Glinz
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Patent number: 9011483Abstract: A surgical tourniquet cuff that includes a stabilizer component that facilitates application of an overlapping cuff around the limb of a patient. The stabilizer is fixed to the cuff, and requires no tying or similar user manipulation to secure the overlapping cuff in alignment with the underlying cuff. The stabilizer improves the stability of the inflated cuff to prevent sideways shifting motion of overlapping cuff portions as the cuff is applied to the limb. The stabilizer also provides a handle mechanism to enable the user to snugly apply the overlapping cuff around the patient's limb while the overlapping portions remain properly aligned along their long axes. The stabilizer is designed to also facilitate attaching together two tourniquet cuffs end-to-end, with respective bladders overlapping and in proper alignment so that those attached cuffs can be used as a single, extended surgical cuff applied around a patient's limb.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2010Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Western Clinical Engineering, Ltd.Inventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Kenneth L. Glinz
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Publication number: 20130289612Abstract: A low-cost contour cuff for surgical tourniquet systems comprises: a sheath containing an inflatable bladder, the sheath having an arcuate shape, an outer surface and a centerline equidistant between first and second side edges; a securing strap non-releasably attached to the outer surface and formed of substantially inextensible material having a shape that is predetermined and substantially flat, wherein the strap includes a bending portion near a first strap end and a fastening portion near a second strap end, and wherein the bending portion is adapted to allow twisting of the bending portion out of the substantially flat shape to facilitate positioning of the fastening portion into any of a plurality of positions in the substantially flat shape; and fastening means for releasably attaching the fastening portion of the securing strap to the outer surface whenever the sheath is curved into a position for surrounding a limb.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Inventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Kenneth L. Glinz, Allen J. Upward
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Publication number: 20130245673Abstract: A tourniquet cuff includes a first sheet, a second sheet, and a seal joining the first sheet and second sheet to form an inflatable bladder. A securing strap is attached to the cuff. The cuff encircles the limb so that the bladder overlaps upon itself. A stiffener fits inside the bladder and sized to extend substantially the length of the bladder but not the entire bladder length, and to fit completely within the seal. A tubular port is connected to the bladder for directing gas into the bladder from a tourniquet instrument to which the port may be releasably connected, and a cuff marking weld is located on an outer surface of the cuff, having a shape selected to form a symbol or indicia that is visible to a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2013Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: WESTERN CLINICAL ENGINEERING LTD.Inventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Kenneth L. Glinz, Allen J. Allen
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Patent number: 8480842Abstract: A low-cost contour cuff for surgical tourniquet systems comprises: a sheath containing an inflatable bladder, the sheath having an arcuate shape, an outer surface and a centerline equidistant between first and second side edges; a securing strap non-releasably attached to the outer surface and formed of substantially inextensible material having a shape that is predetermined and substantially flat, wherein the strap includes a bending portion near a first strap end and a fastening portion near a second strap end, and wherein the bending portion is adapted to allow twisting of the bending portion out of the substantially flat shape to facilitate positioning of the fastening portion into any of a plurality of positions in the substantially flat shape; and fastening means for releasably attaching the fastening portion of the securing strap to the outer surface whenever the sheath is curved into a position for surrounding a limb.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Western Clinical Engineering Ltd.Inventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Kenneth L. Glinz, Allen J. Upward
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Patent number: 8425551Abstract: A disposable tourniquet cuff for encircling a patient's limb includes first and second sheets; a gas-tight peripheral seal joining the first sheet to the second sheet around a perimeter of those sheets to form an inflatable bladder within the perimeter. A stiffener fits inside the bladder and is sized to extend substantially the length of the bladder and to fit completely within the peripheral seal. The stiffener is separate from the second sheet and the stiffener surface is welded to the first sheet at a location within the bladder and away from the peripheral seal. A tubular port is provided for directing gas into the bladder from a tourniquet instrument to which the port may be connected. The port defines a passageway therethrough and includes a flange made of a thermoplastic polymer that is compatible for welding the flange to the first sheet.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2012Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Western Clinical Engineering, LtdInventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Kenneth L. Glinz, Allen J. Upward
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Publication number: 20120215253Abstract: A surgical tourniquet cuff that includes a stabilizer component that facilitates application of an overlapping cuff around the limb of a patient. The stabilizer is fixed to the cuff, and requires no tying or similar user manipulation to secure the overlapping cuff in alignment with the underlying cuff. The stabilizer improves the stability of the inflated cuff to prevent sideways shifting motion of overlapping cuff portions as the cuff is applied to the limb. The stabilizer also provides a handle mechanism to enable the user to snugly apply the overlapping cuff around the patient's limb while the overlapping portions remain properly aligned along their long axes. The stabilizer is designed to also facilitate attaching together two tourniquet cuffs end-to-end, with respective bladders overlapping and in proper alignment so that those attached cuffs can be used as a single, extended surgical cuff applied around a patient's limb.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2010Publication date: August 23, 2012Applicant: WESTERN CLINICAL ENGINEERING LTD.Inventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Kenneth L. Glinz
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Patent number: D847344Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2017Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: Western Clinical Engineering Ltd.Inventors: James A. McEwen, Michael Jameson, Kenneth L. Glinz, Jeswin Jeyasurya, Tom Yu Chia Lai