Patents by Inventor Michael J. Wilt

Michael J. Wilt 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: 20250186664
    Abstract: Dialysis systems comprising actuators that cooperate to perform dialysis functions and sensors that cooperate to monitor dialysis functions are disclosed. According to one aspect, such a hemodialysis system comprises a user interface model layer, a therapy layer, below the user interface model layer, and a machine layer below the therapy layer. The user interface model layer is configured to manage the state of a graphical user interface and receive inputs from a graphical user interface. The therapy layer is configured to run state machines that generate therapy commands based at least in part on the inputs from the graphical user interface. The machine layer is configured to provide commands for the actuators based on the therapy commands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2024
    Publication date: June 12, 2025
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael J. Wilt, Todd A. Ballantyne, Jason A. Demers
  • Patent number: 12326421
    Abstract: A circuit for detecting air, a related system, and a related method are provided. The circuit for detecting air includes a receiver connection and an air-detection circuit. The receiver connection is configured to provide a receiver signal. The air-detection circuit is in operative communication with the receiver connection to process the receiver signal to generate a processed signal corresponding to detected air. The air-detection circuit includes one or more active-rectifying elements configured to actively rectify the receiver signal to provide the processed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael J. Wilt, Jason M. Sachs
  • Publication number: 20250177626
    Abstract: A system for detecting whether a vascular access has been interrupted in an arrangement in which two catheters or needles are present in a blood vessel, fistula or graft. A fluid line leading to a pump is connected via a first connector to a first indwelling catheter, and a fluid line leading from a pump is connected via a second connector to a second indwelling catheter. Each connector is equipped with an electrode in contact with the lumen of the connector, the electrodes electrically connected to an electronic circuit that measures the impedance or conductivity of fluid between the first connector and second connectors via a fluid path through the blood vessel, fistula or graft. An electronic controller receives the impedance or conductivity data and processes the data to determine whether a vascular access disconnection has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2025
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dirk A. van der Merwe, Michael G. Norris, Michael A. Baker, Todd A. Ballantyne, Michael J. Wilt
  • Publication number: 20250161544
    Abstract: Dialysis systems are disclosed comprising new fluid flow circuits. Systems may include blood and dialysate flow paths, where the dialysate flow path includes balancing, mixing, and/or directing circuits. Dialysate preparation may be decoupled from patient dialysis. Circuits may be defined within one or more cassettes. The fluid circuit fluid flow paths may be isolated from electrical components. A gas supply in fluid communication with the dialysate flow path and/or the dialyzer able to urge dialysate through the dialyzer and urge blood back to the patient may be included for certain emergency situations. Fluid handling devices, such as pumps, valves, and mixers that can be actuated using a control fluid may be included. Control fluid may be delivered by an external pump or other device, which may be detachable and/or generally rigid, optionally with a diaphragm dividing the device into first and second compartments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2025
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dirk A. van der Merwe, Kevin L. Grant, Michael J. Wilt, Todd A. Ballantyne, Jonathan P. Rosse, Catharine N. Flynn, Brian K. Yee
  • Publication number: 20250122871
    Abstract: A pumping cassette including a housing having at least two inlet fluid lines and at least two outlet fluid lines. At least one balancing pod within the housing and in fluid connection with the fluid paths. The balancing pod balances the flow of a first fluid and the flow of a second fluid such that the volume of the first fluid equals the volume of the second fluid. The balancing pod also includes a membrane that forms two balancing chambers. Also included in the cassette is at least two reciprocating pressure displacement membrane pumps. The pumps are within the housing and they pump the fluid from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet line and pump the second fluid from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2024
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Jason A. Demers, Michael J. Wilt, Kevin L. Grant, James D. Dale, Brian D. Tracey
  • Patent number: 12220507
    Abstract: Dialysis systems are disclosed comprising new fluid flow circuits. Systems may include blood and dialysate flow paths, where the dialysate flow path includes balancing, mixing, and/or directing circuits. Dialysate preparation may be decoupled from patient dialysis. Circuits may be defined within one or more cassettes. The fluid circuit fluid flow paths may be isolated from electrical components. A gas supply in fluid communication with the dialysate flow path and/or the dialyzer able to urge dialysate through the dialyzer and urge blood back to the patient may be included for certain emergency situations. Fluid handling devices, such as pumps, valves, and mixers that can be actuated using a control fluid may be included. Control fluid may be delivered by an external pump or other device, which may be detachable and/or generally rigid, optionally with a diaphragm dividing the device into first and second compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dirk A. van der Merwe, Kevin L. Grant, Michael J. Wilt, Todd A. Ballantyne, Jonathan P. Rosse, Catharine N. Flynn, Brian K. Yee
  • Publication number: 20250018097
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to hemodialysis and similar dialysis systems, including a variety of systems and methods that would make hemodialysis more efficient, easier, and/or more affordable. One aspect of the invention is generally directed to new fluid circuits for fluid flow. In one set of embodiments, a hemodialysis system may include a blood flow path and a dialysate flow path, where the dialysate flow path includes one or more of a balancing circuit, a mixing circuit, and/or a directing circuit. Preparation of dialysate by the preparation circuit, in some instances, may be decoupled from patient dialysis. In some cases, the circuits are defined, at least partially, within one or more cassettes, optionally interconnected with conduits, pumps, or the like. In one embodiment, the fluid circuit and/or the various fluid flow paths may be at least partially isolated, spatially and/or thermally, from electrical components of the hemodialysis system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2024
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael J. Wilt, Jason A. Demers, Kevin L. Grant, Brian D. Tracey, James D. Dale
  • Publication number: 20250009946
    Abstract: A blood circuit assembly for a dialysis unit may include an organizing tray, a pair of pneumatic pumps mounted to the organizing tray for circulating blood received from a patient through a circuit including a dialyzer unit and returned to the patient, an air trap mounted to the organizing tray arranged to remove air from blood circulating in the circuit, a pair of dialyzer connections arranged to connect to the inlet and outlet of a dialyzer unit, and a pair of blood line connectors, one inlet blood line connector for receiving blood from the patient and providing blood to the pneumatic pumps and the other outlet blood line connector for returning blood to the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Kevin L. Grant, James D. Dale, Michael J. Wilt, Jason A. Demers, David E. Collins, Brian D. Tracey, Dean Kamen
  • Patent number: 12171922
    Abstract: Dialysis systems comprising actuators that cooperate to perform dialysis functions and sensors that cooperate to monitor dialysis functions are disclosed. According to one aspect, such a hemodialysis system comprises a user interface model layer, a therapy layer, below the user interface model layer, and a machine layer below the therapy layer. The user interface model layer is configured to manage the state of a graphical user interface and receive inputs from a graphical user interface. The therapy layer is configured to run state machines that generate therapy commands based at least in part on the inputs from the graphical user interface. The machine layer is configured to provide commands for the actuators based on the therapy commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael J. Wilt, Todd A. Ballantyne, Jason A. Demers
  • Publication number: 20240390565
    Abstract: A modular assembly for a portable hemodialysis system may include a dialysis unit, e.g., that contains suitable components for performing hemodialysis, such as a dialyzer, one or more pumps to circulate blood through the dialyzer, a source of dialysate, and one or more pumps to circulate the dialysate through the dialyzer, and a power unit having a housing that contains suitable components for providing operating power to the pumps of the dialysis unit. The power unit may be selectively connected to the dialysis unit and provide power (e.g., pneumatic power in the form of pressure and/or vacuum) to the dialysis unit for the pumps when connected to the dialysis unit, but may be incapable of providing power to the dialysis unit when disconnected from the dialysis unit. The dialysis unit and the power unit are sized and weighted to each be carried by hand by a human.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Jason A. Demers, Michael J. Wilt, Kevin L. Grant, Shannon Prescott, David E. Collins
  • Publication number: 20240376882
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to certain types of reciprocating positive-displacement pumps (which may be referred to hereinafter as “pods,” “pump pods,” or “pod pumps”) used to pump fluids, such as a biological fluid (e.g., blood or peritoneal fluid), a therapeutic fluid (e.g., a medication solution), or a surfactant fluid. The pumps may be configured specifically to impart low shear forces and low turbulence on the fluid as the fluid is pumped from an inlet to an outlet. Such pumps may be particularly useful in pumping fluids that may be damaged by such shear forces (e.g., blood, and particularly heated blood, which is prone to hemolysis) or turbulence (e.g., surfactants or other fluids that may foam or otherwise be damaged or become unstable in the presence of turbulence).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Brian D. Tracey, Larry B. Gray, Jason A. Demers, James D. Dale, N. Christopher Perry, Michael J. Wilt, Scott A. Leonard
  • Publication number: 20240352927
    Abstract: A cassette integrated system. The cassette integrated system includes a mixing cassette, a balancing cassette, a middle cassette fluidly connected to the mixing cassette and the balancing cassette and at least one pod. The mixing cassette is fluidly connected to the middle cassette by at least one fluid line and the middle cassette is fluidly connected to the balancing cassette by at least one fluid line. The at least one pod is connected to at least two of the cassettes wherein the pod is located in an area between the cassettes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2024
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael J. Wilt, Kevin L. Grant, James D. Dale, Jason A. Demers, Brian D. Tracey
  • Patent number: 12066017
    Abstract: A pumping cassette including a housing having at least two inlet fluid lines and at least two outlet fluid lines. At least one balancing pod within the housing and in fluid connection with the fluid paths. The balancing pod balances the flow of a first fluid and the flow of a second fluid such that the volume of the first fluid equals the volume of the second fluid. The balancing pod also includes a membrane that forms two balancing chambers. Also included in the cassette is at least two reciprocating pressure displacement membrane pumps. The pumps are within the housing and they pump the fluid from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet line and pump the second fluid from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Jason A. Demers, Michael J. Wilt, Kevin L. Grant, James D. Dale, Brian D. Tracey
  • Patent number: 12064540
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to hemodialysis and similar dialysis systems, including a variety of systems and methods that would make hemodialysis more efficient, easier, and/or more affordable. One aspect of the invention is generally directed to new fluid circuits for fluid flow. In one set of embodiments, a hemodialysis system may include a blood flow path and a dialysate flow path, where the dialysate flow path includes one or more of a balancing circuit, a mixing circuit, and/or a directing circuit. Preparation of dialysate by the preparation circuit, in some instances, may be decoupled from patient dialysis. In some cases, the circuits are defined, at least partially, within one or more cassettes, optionally interconnected with conduits, pumps, or the like. In one embodiment, the fluid circuit and/or the various fluid flow paths may be at least partially isolated, spatially and/or thermally, from electrical components of the hemodialysis system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael J. Wilt, Jason A. Demers, Kevin L. Grant, Brian D. Tracey, James D. Dale
  • Publication number: 20240269358
    Abstract: Dialysis systems are disclosed comprising new fluid flow circuits. Systems may include blood and dialysate flow paths, where the dialysate flow path includes balancing, mixing, and/or directing circuits. Dialysate preparation may be decoupled from patient dialysis. Circuits may be defined within one or more cassettes. The fluid circuit fluid flow paths may be isolated from electrical components. A gas supply in fluid communication with the dialysate flow path and/or the dialyzer able to urge dialysate through the dialyzer and urge blood back to the patient may be included for certain emergency situations. Fluid handling devices, such as pumps, valves, and mixers that can be actuated using a control fluid may be included. Control fluid may be delivered by an external pump or other device, which may be detachable and/or generally rigid, optionally with a diaphragm dividing the device into first and second compartments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dirk A. van der Merwe, Kevin L. Grant, Michael J. Wilt, Todd A. Ballantyne, Jonathan P. Rosse, Catharine N. Flynn, Brian K. Yee
  • Patent number: 12059516
    Abstract: A blood circuit assembly for a dialysis unit may include an organizing tray, a pair of pneumatic pumps mounted to the organizing tray for circulating blood received from a patient through a circuit including a dialyzer unit and returned to the patient, an air trap mounted to the organizing tray arranged to remove air from blood circulating in the circuit, a pair of dialyzer connections arranged to connect to the inlet and outlet of a dialyzer unit, and a pair of blood line connectors, one inlet blood line connector for receiving blood from the patient and providing blood to the pneumatic pumps and the other outlet blood line connector for returning blood to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Kevin L. Grant, James D. Dale, Michael J. Wilt, Jason A. Demers, David E. Collins, Brian D. Tracey
  • Patent number: 12044229
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to certain types of reciprocating positive-displacement pumps (which may be referred to hereinafter as “pods,” “pump pods,” or “pod pumps”) used to pump fluids, such as a biological fluid (e.g., blood or peritoneal fluid), a therapeutic fluid (e.g., a medication solution), or a surfactant fluid. The pumps may be configured specifically to impart low shear forces and low turbulence on the fluid as the fluid is pumped from an inlet to an outlet. Such pumps may be particularly useful in pumping fluids that may be damaged by such shear forces (e.g., blood, and particularly heated blood, which is prone to hemolysis) or turbulence (e.g., surfactants or other fluids that may foam or otherwise be damaged or become unstable in the presence of turbulence).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Brian D. Tracey, Larry B. Gray, Jason A. Demers, James D. Dale, N. Christopher Perry, Michael J. Wilt, Scott A. Leonard
  • Patent number: 12044228
    Abstract: A cassette integrated system. The cassette integrated system includes a mixing cassette, a balancing cassette, a middle cassette fluidly connected to the mixing cassette and the balancing cassette and at least one pod. The mixing cassette is fluidly connected to the middle cassette by at least one fluid line and the middle cassette is fluidly connected to the balancing cassette by at least one fluid line. The at least one pod is connected to at least two of the cassettes wherein the pod is located in an area between the cassettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael J. Wilt, Kevin L. Grant, James D. Dale, Jason A. Demers, Brian D. Tracey
  • Patent number: 12005169
    Abstract: A modular assembly for a portable hemodialysis system may include a dialysis unit, e.g., that contains suitable components for performing hemodialysis, such as a dialyzer, one or more pumps to circulate blood through the dialyzer, a source of dialysate, and one or more pumps to circulate the dialysate through the dialyzer, and a power unit having a housing that contains suitable components for providing operating power to the pumps of the dialysis unit. The power unit may be selectively connected to the dialysis unit and provide power (e.g., pneumatic power in the form of pressure and/or to vacuum) to the dialysis unit for the pumps when connected to the dialysis unit, but may be incapable of providing power to the dialysis unit when disconnected from the dialysis unit. The dialysis unit and the power unit are sized and weighted to each be carried by hand by a human.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Jason A. Demers, Michael J. Wilt, Kevin L. Grant, Shannon Prescott, David E. Collins
  • Publication number: 20240127945
    Abstract: A method, related system and apparatus are disclosed. The method is implemented by an operative set of processor executable instructions configured for execution by a processor. The method includes the acts of: determining if a monitoring client is connected to a base through a physical connection; establishing a first communications link between the monitoring client and the base through the physical connection; updating, if necessary, the interface program on the monitoring client and the base through the first communications link; establishing a second communications link between the monitoring client and the base using the first communications link; and communicating data from the base to the monitoring client using the second communications link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Todd A. Ballantyne, Brian K. Yee, Michael J. Wilt, Jonathan P. Rosse