Patents by Inventor Mark W. Hitchins

Mark W. Hitchins 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: 6224577
    Abstract: The present invention provides a plunger for use in a syringe and a syringe comprising such a plunger. The plunger includes a pressure member extending around the circumference of a generally cylindrical body of the plunger. The pressure member is in substantially sealing contact with the plunger body. The pressure member is sufficiently flexible to be forced radially outwardly to exert force upon the inner wall of the syringe as a result of increased fluid pressure upon forward motion of the plunger. The pressure member thereby forms a substantially sealing engagement with the inner wall of the syringe. In one embodiment, the pressure member comprises a flange attached at a rearward portion of the flange to a body of the plunger. The flange extends forward and radially outward to form a circumferential channel between the flange and the body of the plunger. In another embodiment, the pressure member comprises a resilient O-ring seated in a seating formed around the circumference of the body of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Medrad, Inc.
    Inventors: Salvatore J. Dedola, Mark W. Hitchins
  • Patent number: 6189195
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for manufacturing prefilled syringes where at least one of the syringe components is manufactured in at least a class 100 environment. The process includes the steps of manufacturing syringe components, such as the barrel and plunger substrate, within at least a class 100 and MCB-3 environment; manufacturing syringe components, such as the plunger cover and tip seal in an environment less clean than a class 100 environment; decontaminating the plunger cover and tip seal; lubricating at least one of the barrel, plunger substrate, plunger cover and tip seal; assembling the barrel and tip seal to form a barrel/tip seal combination; assembling the plunger cover and plunger substrate to form a plunger; filling the barrel/tip seal combination with a predetermined amount of fluid; and final assembling of the prefilled syringe by inserting the plunger into the barrel/tip seal combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Medrad, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Reilly, Edward J. Rhinehart, Eugene A. Gelblum, Mark W. Hitchins, Michelle Robinson
  • Patent number: 6017330
    Abstract: The plunger systems for use in an injector-actuated syringe of the present invention include a dynamic wedge seal which improves the sealing engagement between the plunger cover and syringe barrel, and flexible capture members extending from the rear surface of the plunger which permit the engagement and disengagement of the plunger from the injector drive means at any plunger position within the syringe. Further, the plunger systems include a contrast saving tip which expells the injection liquid from the syringe tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Medrad, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Hitchins, Edward J. Rhinehart, David M. Reilly, Anthony S. McCoppin, Thomas L. Dufalla, Robert J. Masarik
  • Patent number: 5947935
    Abstract: The present invention provides a connection mechanism adapted to make a releasable connection between a syringe plunger and a drive member of an injector. The drive member is preferably movable in a generally reciprocal linear manner to control movement of the plunger within the syringe. The connection mechanism comprises at least one capture member attached to the plunger. The capture member forms a releasable connection with the drive member upon contact of the drive member during linear forward motion of the drive member when the capture member is rotated relative to the drive member to an engagement position. The capture member is further adapted to disconnect from the drive member upon rotation of the capture member relative to the drive member to a disengagement position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Medrad, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Rhinehart, David M. Reilly, Mark W. Hitchins, Anthony S. McCoppin
  • Patent number: 5944694
    Abstract: The present invention provides prefillable syringes and injectors for use therewith that expand and/or facilitate a variety of medical procedures involving the injection of a liquid medium. In several embodiments, the present syringes and injectors enable the use of current syringe materials at higher pressures than previously attainable or the use of other materials not previously usable with current high pressure-syringe and injector designs. In one embodiment, a syringe comprises an elongated cylindrical main body having a first pair and a second pair of mounting flanges encompassing collectively an arcuate length equal to at least approximately 180.degree. of the circumference of the rear portion of the cylindrical main body for releasably mounting the syringe in a desired position relative to the front wall of the injector housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Medrad, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Hitchins, Edward J. Rhinehart, Robert J. Masarik
  • Patent number: 5873861
    Abstract: The plunger systems for use in an injector-actuated syringe of the present invention include a dynamic wedge seal which improves the sealing engagement between the plunger cover and syringe barrel, and flexible capture members extending from the rear surface of the plunger which permit the engagement and disengagement of the plunger from the injector drive means at any plunger position within the syringe. Further, the plunger systems include a contrast saving tip which expells the injection liquid from the syringe tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Medrad, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Hitchins, Edward J. Rhinehart, David M. Reilly, Anthony S. McCoppin, Robert J. Masarik