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).

  • Publication number: 20200164200
    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: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Ralph L. Sonderegger, Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Weston F. Harding, Olivia Hu, Bart D. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20200155808
    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: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Bin Wang, Bart D. Peterson, Ralph L. Sonderegger
  • Publication number: 20200155809
    Abstract: A compliant catheter adapter may include a catheter adapter body formed of a compliant material. The catheter adapter body may have a generally elongate shape and an inner chamber. The catheter adapter body may include a compression resistant septum disposed toward the proximal end of the catheter adapter body. The compression resistant septum may have a lumen configured to receive an elongate object. The compression resistant septum may also be coupled to a compression cap that imparts a compression force on the compression resistant septum such that the lumen narrows and seals when the elongate object is removed from the lumen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Bart D. Peterson, Bin Wang, Olivia Hu, Neville Chia
  • Patent number: 10646648
    Abstract: An intravenous delivery system may operate by gravity feed, and may have a liquid source containing a liquid, a drip unit that receives the liquid from the liquid source, and tubing that receives the liquid from the drip unit for delivery to a patient. A flow rate sensor may be used to measure a flow rate of liquid through the intravenous delivery system, and may generate a flow rate signal indicative of the flow rate. A controller may receive the signal, and may compare the flow rate with a desired flow rate. If the flow rate is more or less than the desired flow rate, the controller may transmit a control signal to a flow rate regulator. The flow rate regulator may receive the control signal and, in response, modify the flow rate to bring the flow rate closer to the desired flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: S. Ray Isaacson, Weston F. Harding, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Austin Jason McKinnon, Milan Ivosevic
  • Patent number: 10639455
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Bart D. Peterson, Bin Wang, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Tyler Warner
  • Publication number: 20200109786
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Olivia Hu, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Shaun Staley
  • Publication number: 20200101265
    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 adjacent to 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: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Bart D. Peterson, Stephen T. Bornhoft, Neville Chia, Siddharth Singh, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Bin Wang
  • Patent number: 10589082
    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: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Ralph L. Sonderegger, Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Weston F. Harding, Olivia Hu, Bart D. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20200038634
    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: October 14, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Garrison, Bart D. Peterson, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Nathan Mitchell
  • Patent number: 10549073
    Abstract: A compliant catheter adapter may include a catheter adapter body formed of a compliant material. The catheter adapter body may have a generally elongate shape and an inner chamber. The catheter adapter body may include a compression resistant septum disposed toward the proximal end of the catheter adapter body. The compression resistant septum may have a lumen configured to receive an elongate object. The compression resistant septum may also be coupled to a compression cap that imparts a compression force on the compression resistant septum such that the lumen narrows and seals when the elongate object is removed from the lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Bart D. Peterson, Bin Wang, Olivia Hu, Neville Chia
  • Patent number: 10549072
    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: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Bin Wang, Bart D. Peterson, Ralph L. Sonderegger
  • Publication number: 20200023124
    Abstract: An infusion device includes a base for removably coupling to a fluid deliver device, a needle hub supporting an introducer needle and a catheter for delivering a substance to a patient. The infusion device includes a needle shield for covering the introducer needle after inserting the catheter into the patient. The needle shield includes a leg with a latching tab to couple to the coupling of the base until the legs spring outward to release the coupling. The legs have inwardly extending overlapping arms with an aperture receiving the introducer needle. A spring guard is formed on the needle shield and is spring biased inwardly toward the introducer needle to contact the arms. The introducer needle is retracted to release the arms allowing the arms to spring outwardly to disengage from the coupling of the base and to enable spring guard to spring inwardly to cover the tip of the introducer needle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Ralph L. SONDEREGGER, Sr.
  • Patent number: 10525237
    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 adjacent to 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: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Bart D. Peterson, Stephen T. Bornhoft, Neville Chia, Siddharth Singh, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Bin Wang
  • Publication number: 20200001050
    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: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Garrison, Bart D. Peterson, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Thomas Solosko, Stephen Bornhoft, Marty Stout, Carl Ellis
  • Publication number: 20190388615
    Abstract: An infusion device (10) includes one or more of automatic insertion and retraction of an introducer needle (40) and catheter (28), introducer needle safety and extension set. The device (10) can further comprise a top-push button (16) activation feature, a side-push button (402) activation feature or a rotary-button (412) activation feature, and one or more of a manual interlock of an outer barrel and base, and a manual interlock for an extension set top and base. Packaging (500) for an integrated and/or removable inserter with activation button protection is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Ralph L. Sonderegger, Weston F. Harding
  • Patent number: 10434250
    Abstract: An infusion device (10) includes one or more of automatic insertion and retraction of an introducer needle (40) and catheter (28), introducer needle safety and extension set. The device (10) can further comprise a top-push button (16) activation feature, a side-push button (402) activation feature or a rotary-button (412) activation feature, and one or more of a manual interlock of an outer barrel and base, and a manual interlock for an extension set top and base. Packaging (500) for an integrated and/or removable inserter with activation button protection is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Ralph L. Sonderegger, Weston F. Harding
  • Publication number: 20190298221
    Abstract: A device for magnetizing a tissue-penetrating medical device is disclosed including a housing having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a magnetic field generator contained within the distal portion of the housing and a tissue penetrating subassembly including a hub and a tissue penetrating medical device having a proximal end and a distal end. The hub is detachably connected to the distal portion of the housing and the proximal end of tissue penetrating medical device extends proximally from the hub such that the proximal end of the tissue penetrating medical device is exposed to the magnetic field to magnetize the distal end of the tissue penetrating medical device. Methods of magnetizing tissue-penetrating medical devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventor: Ralph L. Sonderegger
  • Patent number: 10357636
    Abstract: An IV access device can include a needle hub having an angled paddle grip to facilitate insertion of the catheter at a low angle. The angled paddle grip can also minimize any interference that an extension tube or stabilization platform may cause during insertion. By employing an angled paddle grip, the catheter can be inserted while maintaining the stabilization platform in an orientation that is substantially parallel to the patient's skin. Also, in cases where the extension tube may run parallel with the stabilization platform, the angled paddle grip can prevent the extension tube from extending into the patient's skin during insertion. This will prevent the stabilization platform and/or the extension tube from catching on the patient's skin or otherwise inhibiting a smooth insertion of the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Ralph L. Sonderegger, Bart D. Peterson, Jonathan Karl Burkholz
  • Publication number: 20190209809
    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: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: S. Ray Isaacson, Jeffrey C. O'Bryan, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Marc Weimer, Lawrence Trainer, Seth R. Strand
  • Patent number: D884885
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Olivia Hu, Ralph L. Sonderegger, Shaun Staley