Patents by Inventor Ralph L. Sonderegger

Ralph L. Sonderegger 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: 12257405
    Abstract: An IV catheter system may have a catheter component with a catheter hub, a cannula extending distally from the catheter hub, and a push feature protruding outwardly from the catheter hub. The IV catheter system may also have a needle component with a needle hub, a needle extending distally from the needle hub along an axis, and a grip extending from the needle hub, generally parallel to the axis, with a pull feature. In the insertion configuration, the needle may be positioned within the cannula and the distal end of the needle hub may be seated in a needle port of the catheter hub. In the fluid delivery configuration, the needle may be positioned outside the catheter hub. The push and pull features may be positioned to facilitate manipulation with a single hand to move the IV catheter system from an insertion configuration to a fluid delivery configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Bart D. Peterson, Huibin Liu, Stephen T. Bornhoft, Weston F. Harding, Young Zhang, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Bin Wang
  • Patent number: 12257406
    Abstract: A catheter system may include a catheter hub, a septum disposed within the catheter hub, a catheter tube extending from the catheter hub, a needle hub, and an introducer needle secured within the needle hub. The catheter hub may include a push tab and one or more ribs, which may extend outwardly from an upper surface of the catheter hub. The ribs may be shorter in height than the push tab and/or may be generally parallel to the push tab. The introducer needle may include a flashback notch. In response to insertion of the introducer needle into vasculature, blood may flow into the introducer needle, through the flashback notch, and into a flashback chamber disposed between the septum and the catheter tube. The flashback chamber may be disposed distal to the push tab and the ribs, which may improve visualization of the flashback chamber by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Michael Garrison, Bart D. Peterson, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Thomas Solosko, Stephen T. Bornhoft, Marty Stout, Carl Ellis
  • Patent number: 12251528
    Abstract: A catheter device to visually identify a blood vessel may include a cannula. The cannula may include a distal tip, an elongated tubular shaft, and an inner lumen formed by the elongated tubular shaft. The cannula may also include an optical fiber, which may be disposed within the inner lumen of the cannula. The optical fiber may include a distal end and a proximal end. The optical fiber may be configured to emit light from the distal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: S. Ray Isaacson, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Jonathan Karl Burkholz
  • Patent number: 12194269
    Abstract: A pinch clamp for use in occluding intravenous tubing or other similar tubing can include patient comfort features and/or lateral disengagement prevention features. These features can also be designed in a manner that allows the pinch clamps to be more easily manufactured. A pinch clamp can include a first arm that is coupled to a second arm by hinges. Each of the first and second arms can form a clamping surface that are aligned when the first arm is positioned overtop the second arm. The first arm can include opposing openings and the second arm can include opposing tabs which insert through the openings when the first arm is positioned overtop the second arm. The retaining tabs interface with the openings to prevent the first arm from separating from the second arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Ralph L. Sonderegger, Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Weston F. Harding, Olivia Hu, Bart D. Peterson
  • Patent number: 12171977
    Abstract: Pinch clamps are provided which generate positive displacement while also preventing rebound. To prevent rebound while providing positive displacement, the upper and lower clamping surfaces may be configured to form a pinch profile along which the tubing is compressed with the pinch point being formed at the distal end of the pinch profile. To further prevent rebound, the lower arm of the pinch clamp can include blocking ribs that interface with the upper clamping surface to prevent distal travelling of the pinch point even if the upper arm is forced into an over-engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Olivia Hu, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Shaun Staley
  • Patent number: 12076509
    Abstract: Catheter systems comprising independent fluid paths are disclosed. The catheter systems can include a catheter adapter that has a catheter hub with a chamber. A catheter extends from a distal end of the catheter hub and is in fluid communication with the chamber. A stabilization platform with a first wing and a soft push tab are also part of the catheter hub. The catheter system includes a needle hub with a needle that slidably fits within the catheter. In an insertion configuration, a proximal extension of the catheter hub is removably coupled within a distal opening of the needle hub. After the catheter is placed, the needle hub is retracted from the catheter adapter to slidably remove the needle from the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Bin Wang, Bart D. Peterson, Ralph L. Sonderegger
  • Publication number: 20240277973
    Abstract: An IV catheter system may have a catheter component and a needle component. The catheter component may have a catheter hub, a cannula extending distally from the catheter hub, and a push feature extending outward from the catheter hub. The push feature may have an outer surface that receives contact from a digit to move the IV catheter system from an insertion configuration, in which the needle is within the cannula, to a fluid delivery configuration, in which the needle is outside the catheter hub. The needle component may have a needle hub and a needle extending distally from the needle hub along an axis. The push feature may be formed of a flexible material that causes the push feature, in response to pressure exerted on the outer surface by a dressing securing the catheter component to a patient, to deflect the outer surface toward the cannula axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2024
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Garrison, Bart D. Peterson, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Nathan Mitchell
  • Patent number: 11998719
    Abstract: A sealed fluid transfer device comprised of tubing, a proximal fitting, and a distal needle assembly is provided. The needle assembly includes a needle hub secured to a needle cannula. A cantilevered actuator arm extends outwardly from the needle hub having an actuator button at its free end. The needle assembly is disposed in a barrel and can move from a distal position, where the needle is exposed, to a proximal position, where the needle is shielded. The barrel includes a septum which seals the barrel. A spring is disposed in the barrel for propelling the needle assembly to the proximal position. The barrel includes an aperture that receives the actuator button for locking the spring in a compressed condition. Depression of the actuator button enables the spring to propel the needle assembly into its proximal position. A safety mechanism prevents inadvertent depression of the actuator button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: S. Ray Isaacson, Ralph L. Sonderegger
  • Publication number: 20240157096
    Abstract: A catheter system may include a catheter assembly and a needle assembly. The catheter assembly may include a catheter adapter, which may include a distal end, a proximal end, a lumen, and a side port. The catheter assembly may include a catheter extending from the distal end of the catheter adapter and an extension tube. A distal end of the extension tube may be integrated with the side port of the catheter adapter. The needle assembly may include a needle safety element, which may be disposed within the safety housing or the catheter adapter. The needle assembly may include a guidewire advancement device coupled to the safety housing or the catheter adapter, and an introducer needle having a proximal end coupled to the guidewire advancement device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2023
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: S. Ray Isaacson, Weston F. Harding, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Edwin Jeyaseelan A., Mukilan Balamurugan
  • Publication number: 20240148964
    Abstract: An infusion system having an integrated inserter and infusion set (10) for containing and placing a flexible catheter (40), and a retractable introducer needle (26), wherein the catheter (40) is isolated from movement after placement. The integrated inserter and infusion set (10) includes a hub (20), having a user push button (30) to activate the device for catheter (40) placement. An adhesive liner (34) can be provided to cover an adhesive layer (36), such as pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA), on the bottom of the device (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Victor Politis, Gary Searle, Mark Guarraia, Joseph Gordon, Dave Zitnick, Sharon Mulligan, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Thomas G. Kluck, Joshua D. Horvath, Charles G. Hwang
  • Patent number: 11964117
    Abstract: An IV catheter system may have a catheter component and a needle component. The catheter component may have a catheter hub, a cannula extending distally from the catheter hub, and a push feature extending outward from the catheter hub. The push feature may have an outer surface that receives contact from a digit to move the IV catheter system from an insertion configuration, in which the needle is within the cannula, to a fluid delivery configuration, in which the needle is outside the catheter hub. The needle component may have a needle hub and a needle extending distally from the needle hub along an axis. The push feature may be formed of a flexible material that causes the push feature, in response to pressure exerted on the outer surface by a dressing securing the catheter component to a patient, to deflect the outer surface toward the cannula axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Michael Garrison, Bart D. Peterson, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Nathan Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20240058590
    Abstract: A catheter assembly may include a catheter adapter, a septum housing, and a septum. The catheter adapter may include a distal end, a proximal end, an inner wall extending between the distal end and the proximal end, and a lumen formed by the inner wall. The septum housing may include one or more protrusions and may be secured to the inner wall by one or more of the following: an interference fit between the one or more protrusions and the inner wall, a snap fit between the one or more protrusions and the inner wall, and bonding between the one or more protrusions and the inner wall. The septum may be at least partially disposed within the septum housing and configured to at least substantially seal the lumen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Daniel Kirk Hyer, Bin Wang, Tyler Warner, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Eric Davis, Carl Ellis
  • Publication number: 20240024634
    Abstract: An integrated intravenous catheter includes a catheter adapter having a catheter and an inlet, with the catheter configured to be inserted into a patient's vasculature, a needle-free connector comprising a first port, a second port positioned opposite the first port, and a side port positioned the first port and the second port, with the second port including a valve member, intermediate tubing extending between the inlet of the catheter adapter and the first port of the needle-free connector, and extension tubing extending from the side port of the needle-free connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Erica E. Neumann, Evan Barbour VandenBrink, Ralph L. Sonderegger, John M. Lackey, Benjamin P. Hopwood, Jonathan Karl Burkholz
  • Patent number: 11872356
    Abstract: A medical instrument or device, such as a catheter, has echogenic properties, in addition to or as an alternative to radiopaque properties, to facilitate detection of the medical instrument or device during medical procedures using suitable imaging methods, such as ultrasound imaging and/or x-ray imaging methods. In example embodiments, an example catheter has a relatively increased radiopacity and echogenicity to facilitate a clinician with detecting the catheter with ultrasound imaging and/or x-ray imaging methods to assist the clinician with the insertion, placement, and/or maintenance of the catheter, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: S. Ray Isaacson, Jeffrey C. O'Bryan, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Marc Weimer, Lawrence Trainer, Seth R. Strand
  • Publication number: 20230390533
    Abstract: An IV access device can include a needle hub that incorporates a flash chamber. The flash chamber can be used to provide visual confirmation of proper catheter placement within a vein. The flash chamber can include a path-defining structure to facilitate identifying whether blood is continually flowing into the flash chamber. The flash chamber may also be removable from the needle hub. In some cases, the needle hub may include a paddle grip that facilitates insertion of the catheter and separation of the needle hub from the catheter adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Bart D. Peterson, Bin Wang, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Tyler Warner
  • Publication number: 20230364391
    Abstract: Provided herein is a dressing for use with a catheter assembly, including a base defining a perimeter and an interior, the base comprising a bottom surface configured to contact skin of a patient and comprising a first opening in the perimeter, and a cover portion attached to the base and configured to cover a site of a catheter insertion, the cover portion comprising a second opening, the second opening configured to align with the first opening in the base when the dressing is applied to a patient’s skin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Dorien Gemma Butter, Erica E. Neumann, Benjamin P. Hopwood, John M. Lackey, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Jonathan Karl Burkholz
  • Publication number: 20230338725
    Abstract: Pinch-style clamps can be designed for use in clamping or occluding plastic tubing, such as intravenous tubing. These pinch clamps can include a soft, polymer material applied to various surfaces of the pinch clamp to prevent abrasion or irritation to the patient, increase friction between the pinch clamp and the user operating said pinch clamp, increase friction between engaged surfaces of the pinch clamp to prevent premature or unintended disengagement of the clamp, or increase friction between the outer surfaces of the tubing and the clamping surfaces of the clamp. Various features or components can be employed to prevent lateral disengagement of the pinch clamp. A pinch clamp may also be configured with rounded outer edges to enhance patient comfort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Bart D. Peterson, Bin Wang, Marty Stout, Olivia Hu, Weston F. Harding, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Kelvin Chai, Lionel Wang
  • Patent number: 11793986
    Abstract: A catheter assembly may include a catheter adapter, a septum housing, and a septum. The catheter adapter may include a distal end, a proximal end, an inner wall extending between the distal end and the proximal end, and a lumen formed by the inner wall. The septum housing may include one or more protrusions and may be secured to the inner wall by one or more of the following: an interference fit between the one or more protrusions and the inner wall, a snap fit between the one or more protrusions and the inner wall, and bonding between the one or more protrusions and the inner wall. The septum may be at least partially disposed within the septum housing and configured to at least substantially seal the lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Daniel Kirk Hyer, Bin Wang, Tyler Warner, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Eric Davis, Carl Ellis
  • Publication number: 20230330392
    Abstract: A blood draw device for delivery of a probe into a patient's vascular system, the blood draw device including a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, and an advancement wheel, wherein the advancement wheel is operably coupled to the probe to advance and retract the probe based on a direction of rotation of the advancement wheel. The blood draw device also includes an advancement stop member, wherein the advancement stop member is positionable by a user via an interface portion external to the housing and is configured to selectively limit rotation of the advancement wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Weston F. Harding, John M. Lackey, Erica E. Neumann, Megan S. Scherich, Yiping Ma, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Taylor Matthew Eley, Justin G. Hortin
  • Patent number: D1034971
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Olivia Hu, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Shaun Staley