Patents by Inventor Robert Dwaine Butterfield

Robert Dwaine Butterfield 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: 20240366869
    Abstract: An infusion pump for detection of a fluid condition in a flexible tubing is provided. The infusion pump includes a sensor positioned to obtain a value of a tubing force when the tube is received by the infusion pump, a memory storing instructions and a processor. The processor is configured to execute the instructions to generate a force-time curve representative of values of the tubing force obtained by the sensor over time, determine a time-decaying parameter associated with the tubing force characterizing the force-time curve, and determine a fluid pressure value for a fluid in the tube based at least in part on the time-decaying parameter, a material of the tube, a dimension of the tube, and a use history of the tube. A method for using an infusion pump is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventors: Kevin Gregory CAROTHERS, Richard Stor WU, Robert Dwaine BUTTERFIELD, Robert Steven VASKO
  • Patent number: 12070579
    Abstract: A system including a tube and a force sensor coupled to a wall of the tube via a restraining element and configured to obtain a value of a tubing force when the tube is deformed by the restraining element. The system includes a processor to determine parameters for fitting a curve including the value of the tubing force, to determine a fluid pressure value for a fluid in the tube based on the parameters for fitting the curve, and to activate an alarm responsive to the fluid pressure value and to the parameters for fitting the curve when an occlusion condition is identified in the tube. The parameters for fitting the curve comprise at least one time-decaying parameter(s) associated to the tubing force. A method for using the system and a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions to perform the above method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: CAREFUSION 303, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Gregory Carothers, Richard Stor Wu, Robert Dwaine Butterfield, Robert Steven Vasko
  • Patent number: 11896796
    Abstract: A retrograde disposable intravenous (IV) set is disclosed. The IV set includes a diverter housing between upper and lower portions of a fluid line, the diverter housing including a lower end and an upper end extending away from the lower end and the fluid line to a syringe port located in the upper end, and a diverter member within the diverter housing and configured to move within the diverter housing from a first position, at which a first opening through the diverter member forms a first fluid pathway between the upper portion and the lower portion of the fluid line, to a second position, at which the first fluid pathway is blocked and a second fluid pathway is formed between the upper portion of the fluid line and a syringe port. Retrograde infusion may occur when the diverter member is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: CareFusion 303, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Vasko, Stephen J. Bollish, Lawrence Farhat, Daniel Abal, Robert Dwaine Butterfield
  • Patent number: 11850395
    Abstract: A syringe pump can be operated to produce fluid flow from a syringe installed therein. Features of the pump can produce a desired rapid commencement of flow followed by smooth delivery uninterrupted by stiction-induced slowing and acceleration. A stiff drivetrain can facilitate detection of excessive forces indicative of friction at a stopper-wall interface. The motor drive, gearing, and control parameters can enable customized acceleration patterns to determine optimal initial stage advancement to provide fluid delivery. These patterns can minimize or eliminate the delay in commencement of flow by overcoming both mechanical slack remaining and syringe stopper slack. To avoid flow irregularities produced by stiction forces in the stopper further, a mechanical vibration can be provided to the syringe and/or barrel to introduce movement of the stopper-wall interface, reducing the creation of high static friction coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: CAREFUSION 303, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Dwaine Butterfield, Mark Bloom, Daniel Abal, Kevin Gregory Carothers
  • Publication number: 20230410973
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a fluid delivery is disclosed. The system includes a processor and one or more sensors configured to measure one or more fluid state parameters associated with a fluid delivery channel through which a fluid is delivered to an infusion site of a patient. The processor receives fluid information for the fluid and at least one measured fluid state parameter from the sensor, determines at least one expected fluid state parameter for the infusion site based on the fluid information and patient information associated with the patient, and provides a communication at an output device when the at least one measured fluid state parameter deviates from the at least one expected fluid state parameter by more than a threshold deviation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Dwaine BUTTERFIELD, Brian STOCK, Melissa STRAIT, Harry DUDLEY, Stephen ROSENTHAL
  • Publication number: 20230381410
    Abstract: A system including a tube and a force sensor coupled to a wall of the tube via a restraining element and configured to obtain a value of a tubing force when the tube is deformed by the restraining element. The system includes a processor to determine parameters for fitting a curve including the value of the tubing force, to determine a fluid pressure value for a fluid in the tube based on the parameters for fitting the curve, and to activate an alarm responsive to the fluid pressure value and to the parameters for fitting the curve when an occlusion condition is identified in the tube. The parameters for fitting the curve comprise at least one time-decaying parameter(s) associated to the tubing force. A method for using the system and a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions to perform the above method are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Kevin Gregory CAROTHERS, Richard Stor WU, Robert Dwaine BUTTERFIELD, Robert Steven VASKO
  • Patent number: 11771825
    Abstract: A system including a tube and a force sensor coupled to a wall of the tube via a restraining element and configured to obtain a value of a tubing force when the tube is deformed by the restraining element. The system includes a processor to determine parameters for fitting a curve including the value of the tubing force, to determine a fluid pressure value for a fluid in the tube based on the parameters for fitting the curve, and to activate an alarm responsive to the fluid pressure value and to the parameters for fitting the curve when an occlusion condition is identified in the tube. The parameters for fitting the curve comprise at least one time-decaying parameter(s) associated to the tubing force. A method for using the system and a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions to perform the above method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: CAREFUSION 303, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Gregory Carothers, Richard Stor Wu, Robert Dwaine Butterfield, Robert Steven Vasko
  • Patent number: 11636937
    Abstract: A medication delivery monitoring device is disclosed. The device includes a user interface configured to receive input information, and a sensor configured to measure a plurality of fluid state parameters of a fluid delivery channel through which the medication is delivered by a vascular access device (VAD) to an infusion site region of the patient. The device also includes a processor configured to determine a state of the infusion site region based on the plurality of measured fluid state parameters and the input information, and an output device configured to provide a communication regarding the state of the infusion site region. Methods and computer-readable mediums for monitoring medication delivery are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: CAREFUSION 303, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Dwaine Butterfield, Brian Stock, Melissa Strait, Harry Dudley, Stephen Rosenthal
  • Patent number: 11572871
    Abstract: A pumping segment having a low shut-off force is disclosed. The pumping segment includes a tube having an interior surface with at least two notches on opposite sides of the interior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: CareFusion 303, Inc.
    Inventors: Lisa Davis, Robert Dwaine Butterfield
  • Publication number: 20230034662
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the position of a fluid within a fluid source and infusion line coupled to an infusion flow control device are described herein. An exemplary system and method includes sampling fluid pressure upstream of an infusion pump, and calculating fluid pressure slope profiles. By sampling fluid pressure upstream of an infusion pump at discrete intervals and monitoring fluid pressure slope profiles, conditions of fluid flow, including unintentional fluid flow through an infusion line or a defective check valve in an infusion line, are detected, and fluid flow through an infusion pump is controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy W. Vanderveen, Robert Dwaine Butterfield
  • Patent number: 11517671
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the position of a fluid within a fluid source and infusion line coupled to an infusion flow control device are described herein. An exemplary system and method includes sampling fluid pressure upstream of an infusion pump, and calculating fluid pressure slope profiles. By sampling fluid pressure upstream of an infusion pump at discrete intervals and monitoring fluid pressure slope profiles, conditions of fluid flow, including unintentional fluid flow through an infusion line or a defective check valve in an infusion line, are detected, and fluid flow through an infusion pump is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: CAREFUSION 303, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy W. Vanderveen, Robert Dwaine Butterfield
  • Publication number: 20220265924
    Abstract: A system for monitoring upstream flow characteristics for a pump is provided. The system may receive one or more outputs from a fluid level sensor coupled with a pump. The system may detect based on at least the one or more outputs, an abnormal upstream flow condition in the pump, such as a full upstream occlusion in the tube, a partial upstream occlusion in the tube, an empty reservoir, and/or a backflow of the fluid into the drip chamber. The system may adjust, based on the detection of an abnormal upstream flow condition in the pump, operation of the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Nicholas Addiego, Shannon Bailey, Robert Dwaine Butterfield, Denton Davis
  • Patent number: 11351302
    Abstract: A system for monitoring upstream flow characteristics for a pump is provided. The system may receive one or more outputs from a fluid level sensor coupled with a pump. The system may detect based on at least the one or more outputs, an abnormal upstream flow condition in the pump, such as a full upstream occlusion in the tube, a partial upstream occlusion in the tube, an empty reservoir, and/or a backflow of the fluid into the drip chamber. The system may adjust, based on the detection of an abnormal upstream flow condition in the pump, operation of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: CareFusion 303, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Addiego, Shannon Bailey, Robert Dwaine Butterfield, Denton Davis
  • Patent number: 11246981
    Abstract: A device for managing fluid is provided. The device includes: a drip chamber including: an inlet; and outlet; a check valve positioned between the inlet and the outlet, the check valve configured for managing fluid flowing between the inlet and the outlet; and an elastic element. The combination of the check valve and the elastic element limits the extent to which the one way valve may be opened by brief transient pressures appearing at the outlet of the drip chamber. This limiting effect improves the accuracy of fluid delivery in setups such as ‘piggyback’ or Secondary Mode infusions of two fluids using a single pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Carefusion 303, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Dwaine Butterfield
  • Publication number: 20200397987
    Abstract: A system including a tube and a force sensor coupled to a wall of the tube via a restraining element and configured to obtain a value of a tubing force when the tube is deformed by the restraining element. The system includes a processor to determine parameters for fitting a curve including the value of the tubing force, to determine a fluid pressure value for a fluid in the tube based on the parameters for fitting the curve, and to activate an alarm responsive to the fluid pressure value and to the parameters for fitting the curve when an occlusion condition is identified in the tube. The parameters for fitting the curve comprise at least one time-decaying parameter(s) associated to the tubing force. A method for using the system and a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions to perform the above method are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin Gregory CAROTHERS, Richard Stor WU, Robert Dwaine BUTTERFIELD, Robert Steven VASKO
  • Patent number: 10792420
    Abstract: A system including a tube and a force sensor coupled to a wall of the tube via a restraining element and configured to obtain a value of a tubing force when the tube is deformed by the restraining element. The system includes a processor to determine parameters for fitting a curve including the value of the tubing force, to determine a fluid pressure value for a fluid in the tube based on the parameters for fitting the curve, and to activate an alarm responsive to the fluid pressure value and to the parameters for fitting the curve when an occlusion condition is identified in the tube. The parameters for fitting the curve comprise at least one time-decaying parameter(s) associated to the tubing force. A method for using the system and a non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions to perform the above method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: CAREFUSION 383, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Gregory Carothers, Richard Stor Wu, Robert Dwaine Butterfield, Robert Steven Vasko
  • Publication number: 20200256328
    Abstract: A pumping segment having a low shut-off force is disclosed. The pumping segment includes a tube having an interior surface with at least two notches on opposite sides of the interior surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Lisa DAVIS, Robert Dwaine BUTTERFIELD
  • Publication number: 20200254233
    Abstract: A retrograde disposable intravenous (IV) set is disclosed. The IV set includes a diverter housing between upper and lower portions of a fluid line, the diverter housing including a lower end and an upper end extending away from the lower end and the fluid line to a syringe port located in the upper end, and a diverter member within the diverter housing and configured to move within the diverter housing from a first position, at which a first opening through the diverter member forms a first fluid pathway between the upper portion and the lower portion of the fluid line, to a second position, at which the first fluid pathway is blocked and a second fluid pathway is formed between the upper portion of the fluid line and a syringe port. Retrograde infusion may occur when the diverter member is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Robert VASKO, Stephen J. BOLLISH, Lawrence FARHAT, Daniel ABAL, Robert Dwaine BUTTERFIELD
  • Patent number: 10632299
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for intermittent microinfusion. A system may include a pump and an IV set that includes a y-port valve disposed below a pump interface portion of the IV tubing. The y-port valve may include an internal valve member that allows fluid to flow from the pump to a patient when no syringe is attached to the y-port. The internal valve member may be moved by the attachment of a syringe containing the medication to be infused to the y-port such that the fluid pathway from the pump to the patient is blocked and fluid from the syringe can be injected into the IV tubing between the y-port valve and the pump. The pump may retrograde pump the medication into the tubing via the y-port valve and then forward pump the medication to the patient when the syringe is removed from the y-port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: CareFusion 303, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Vasko, Stephen J. Bollish, Lawrence Farhat, Daniel Abal, Robert Dwaine Butterfield
  • Patent number: 10632298
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling the flow of fluids in a fluid infusion system. The system may include first and second fluid containers, first and second tubes coupled to the first and second fluid containers, and an external valve coupled to the second tube and configured to be attached to the first tube. The valve may be configured to shape the first tube to form a valve region which is opened or closed by an actuating element in the valve that is driven by hydrostatic pressure from the second tube. A full second container may generate a pressure that is concentrated through a diaphragm onto a pin which presses on the shaped first tube region, closing it to allow only fluid from the second container to flow. When the fluid level in the second line falls reducing pressure, the pin's force reduces until the first tube is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: CareFusion 303, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Dwaine Butterfield, Scott Hellen, Vaclav Barina, Allison Leigh Barry, Julie Chang, Jeanette M. Liu, Huy Quang Nguyen, Michelle Wei, Samuel A. Derose, Thendral Govindaraj, Samantha Hoang, Andrew L. Marino, Raul Sun Han Chang, Arthur Y. Chang, Deval Gupta