Patents by Inventor Michael L. Kvalo

Michael L. Kvalo 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: 5795342
    Abstract: An ocular irrigation device including an engaging member engageable with an eyelid to hold the eyelid open, a source of fluid, and a fluid dispenser operatively associated with the source of fluid and slidably connected to the engaging member. The fluid dispenser is arcuately-shaped and has a plurality of fluid-dispensing orifices positionable under an eyelid to provide fluid directly under the eyelid at multiple arcuately-spaced locations. The engaging member includes a wire formed into an arcuate portion that is positionable under an eyelid. The fluid dispenser is positionable in spaced relation relative to the engaging member such that the engaging member can engage and hold one eyelid open and the fluid dispenser can engage and hold the opposing eyelid open. The fluid dispenser includes an opening for allowing visual and/or physical access to the eye when the orifice is positioned under the eyelid. The sliding member can include raised portions for improving frictional engagement with the sliding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Eye-Deal Ocular Safety Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. Shapiro, Michael L. Kvalo
  • Patent number: 5163947
    Abstract: A needle spacer is disclosed for use with a biopsy needle assembly of the type which is coupled to a driving unit to effect movement of the needle assembly. The needle spacer maintains the biopsy needle assembly in a predetermined operational relationship until after the needle assembly is coupled to the driving unit. In the preferred embodiment, the needle spacer prevents the lid of the driving unit from being closed while the needle spacer is still in place on the needle assembly, thereby eliminating the possibility that the physician will forget to remove the spacer prior to firing the instrument. In a first alternate embodiment, the needle spacer is configured to interfere with movement of the needles within the driving unit while the spacer is still in place so that if the physician attempts to fire the instrument with the needle spacer still in place, the needles will not advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: C. R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Kvalo, Larry A. Roberts
  • Patent number: 4955385
    Abstract: A procedure for targeting body cavity stones for shockwave treatment including positioning a target-defining catheter mounted balloon adjacent a stone, inflating the balloon with air, focusing a shockwave generator by ultrasound on the target balloon and area immediately adjacent thereto, and deflating the target balloon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: C. R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael L. Kvalo, Culley C. Carson
  • Patent number: 4863432
    Abstract: A catheter assembly is provided to facilitate taping of the emplaced catheter onto the patient's body. The assembly comprises a catheter extending distally from a catheter hub. The hub has a hub axis co-axially aligned with the catheter and provided with a pair of opposed wings integral with the hub. Each of the wings having a proximal edge and a distal edge are such that a portion of at least one of these edges forms an acute angle with the axis of the hub of from about 35.degree. to about 55.degree. whereby the taping operation of the wings to the patient's body may be facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Critikon, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Kvalo
  • Patent number: 4548161
    Abstract: A milk weight metering apparatus (10) is disclosed which uses a standard glass milk weigh jar (14) which is suspended from a load cell weight measuring unit (15). A hydraulic output line (16) extends from the weight measuring unit (15) to a pressure transducer (17) at a position remote from the cow being milked, preferably outside the milking parlor. As milk accumulates within the milk weigh jar (14) greater pressure is provided on fluid sealed within a chamber defined by a load cell body (55) and a diaphragm (63), which pressure is transmitted through the hydraulic line (16) to the pressure transducer. The change in weight of the suspended weigh jar (14) after the milk has been accumulated therein will be proportional to the change in the pressure in the hydraulic line (16), allowing the weight, and thereby the volume, of the milk from the cow to be determined and recorded. The production from the cow may also be correlated with the cow's identity and the time of milking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1985
    Assignee: Germania Dairy Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Rolf W. Reisgies, Michael L. Kvalo