Patents by Inventor Michael W. Howlett

Michael W. Howlett 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: 20140248182
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are disinfecting caps that can be used to cover and disinfect both a male medical connector and needleless injection site when not in use or when disconnected from each other. The caps contain a disinfecting agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Catheter Connections, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Solomon, F. Mark Ferguson, Robert Hitchcock, Steven Bandis, James V. Mercer, Michael W. Howlett
  • Publication number: 20140248181
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are disinfecting caps that can be used to cover and disinfect both a male medical connector and needleless injection site when not in use or when disconnected from each other. The caps contain a disinfecting agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Catheter Connections, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Solomon, F. Mark Ferguson, Robert Hitchcock, Steven Bandis, James V. Mercer, Michael W. Howlett
  • Publication number: 20140135739
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are disinfecting caps that can be used to cover and disinfect both a male medical connector and needleless injection site when not in use or when disconnected from each other. The caps contain a disinfecting agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Catheter Connections, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Solomon, F. Mark Ferguson, Robert Hitchcock, Steven Bandis, James V. Mercer, Michael W. Howlett
  • Patent number: 8647308
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are disinfecting caps that can be used to cover and disinfect a male luer post of a medical connector. The caps are configured to engage threads of the connector. The caps contain a disinfecting agent within an absorbent pad disposed in a chamber of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Catheter Connections, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Solomon, F. Mark Ferguson, Robert Hitchcock, Steven Bandis, James V. Mercer, Michael W. Howlett
  • Patent number: 8641681
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are disinfecting caps that can be used to cover and disinfect a male luer post of a medical connector when not in use or when disconnected from its female connector counterpart. The caps are configured to engage threads of the connector. The caps contain a disinfecting agent disposed in a chamber of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Catheter Connections, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Solomon, F. Mark Ferguson, Robert Hitchcock, Steven Bandis, James V. Mercer, Michael W. Howlett
  • Publication number: 20130338644
    Abstract: Caps can be used to cover and disinfect medical connectors. Some caps can create a seal with the medical connectors to prevent antiseptic from entering a fluid paths defined by a connector. Support members can aid in creating or maintaining the seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicants: The University of Utah Research Foundation, Catheter Connections, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald D. Solomon, Steven Bandis, James V. Mercer, Michael W. Howlett, Robert Hitchcock, James Paul Kennedy, Richard Lasher
  • Patent number: 8523830
    Abstract: Caps can be used to cover and disinfect a male protrusion portion of a medical connector. Some caps can create a seal with the male protrusion to prevent antiseptic from entering a lumen the protrusion. A biasing element can aid in creating or maintaining the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignees: Catheter Connections
    Inventors: Donald D. Solomon, F. Mark Ferguson, Robert Hitchcock, Steven Bandis, James Mercer, Michael W. Howlett
  • Publication number: 20130150714
    Abstract: A vascular access device ultrasound guidance system which provides a novel ultrasound imaging head interface for vessel access. The system comprises a fitted basket/VAD guide for attachment to a hand held ultrasound transducer. The VAD guide, being integrally molded to the fitted basket, comprises a releasible guide assembly for a VAD needle guide. In addition, the needle guide assembly comprises means for anchoring the VAD to a patient's skin following successful insertion. A magnetic needle guide system is disclosed. A fluid sampling device which integrates needle guidance and, safety needle capture in a single guide head is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: Michael W. Howlett, James Victor Mercer
  • Patent number: 8328767
    Abstract: Caps can be used to cover and disinfect a male protrusion portion of a medical connector. Some caps can create a seal with the male protrusion to prevent antiseptic from entering a lumen the protrusion. A biasing element can aid in creating or maintaining the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignees: Catheter Connections, Inc., The University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Donald D. Solomon, F. Mark Ferguson, Robert Hitchcock, Steven Bandis, James V. Mercer, Michael W. Howlett
  • Patent number: 8197749
    Abstract: Illustrative pairs of caps are disclosed, each of the caps being sized and shaped to provide a protective union about a separated medical connector. A pair of caps can include a male cap and a female cap, each of which is configured to be coupled to the other cap in an assembly. The assembly is sealed until the caps are separated for use, thereby maintaining sterility of the internal surfaces of the caps. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: The University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Michael W. Howlett, James V. Mercer
  • Patent number: 8177761
    Abstract: Illustrative pairs of caps are disclosed, each of the caps being sized and shaped to provide a protective union about a separated medical connector. The pair of caps comprises an assembly that includes a male cap and a female cap. The assembly is sealed until the caps are separated for use, thereby maintaining sterility of the internal surfaces of the caps. One or more absorbent pads may be impregnated with an antiseptic agent and positioned within the pair of caps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: The University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Michael W. Howlett, James V. Mercer
  • Publication number: 20100076370
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing controlled pressure-flow pulses which purge a catheter system with turbulent flow flushing. Accomplishment of such controlled pressure-flow pulses is provided by a variety of inventive devices including a special plunger rod for a conventional syringe, other interactive parts for conventional syringes, an in-line catheter attachable device which automatically generates the controlled pressure-flow pulses and also single pulse, digitally operated devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Infusion Advancements, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael W. Howlett, James V. Mercer, Amelio Paolucci
  • Publication number: 20090062766
    Abstract: A pair of nestable caps are disclosed, each of the caps being sized and shaped to provide a protective union about a separated medical connector. The pair comprises a male cap and a female cap, each of which is configured to be adjoined to a complimentary cap to form a nested pair. The nested pair is sealed until separated for use, thereby maintaining sterility of the internal surfaces of the nested pair. One of the caps may have a fluid chamber joined thereto filled with medicine or antiseptic. The cap can have a channel extending therethrough to provide fluid communication between the fluid chamber and a fluid pathway. The fluid chamber can be adapted to diffuse the fluid into the fluid pathway over time, or the fluid chamber can be adapted to dispense the fluid out of the fluid chamber without reflux.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Michael W. Howlett, James V. Mercer
  • Publication number: 20090008393
    Abstract: A pair of nestable caps are disclosed, each of the caps being sized and shaped to provide a protective union about a separated medical connector. The pair comprises a male cap and a female cap, each of which is configured to be adjoined to a complimentary cap to form a nested pair. The nested pair is sealed until separated for use, thereby maintaining sterility of the internal surfaces of the nested pair. One of the caps may have a fluid chamber joined thereto filled with medicine or antiseptic. The cap can have a channel extending therethrough to provide fluid communication between the fluid chamber and a fluid pathway. The fluid chamber can be adapted to diffuse the fluid into the fluid pathway over time, or the fluid chamber can be adapted to evacuate the fluid out of the fluid chamber without reflux.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Michael W. Howlett, James V. Mercer
  • Publication number: 20080177250
    Abstract: A pair of nestable caps are disclosed, each of the caps being sized and shaped to provide a protective union about a separated medical connector. The pair comprises a male cap and a female cap, each of which is configured to be adjoined to a complimentary cap to form a nested pair. The nested pair is sealed until separated for use, thereby maintaining sterility of the internal surfaces of the nested pair. An absorbent pad may be impregnated with antiseptic agent and enclosed within the pair to further enhance resulting sterility of each cap as it is used about a medical connector. One of the caps can include a scrubbing chamber having a disposable liner, a pad, and an antiseptic agent. Further, a pliable tube containing a frangible capsule may be coupled to one of the caps to provide antiseptic solution internal to the caps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Michael W. Howlett, James V. Mercer