Patents by Inventor Robert E. Helm

Robert E. Helm 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: 12076507
    Abstract: A device for sealing and securing a catheter at its insertion site in order to provide for optimum safe catheter function, and to achieve maximum catheter longevity/dwell time is described. The sterile seal achieved by this device fully protects the catheter and its insertion site from external contamination. The unique sterile seal also functions to fully stabilize and secure the catheter, thereby minimizing traumatic catheter injury and loss. A means of continuously viewing the insertion site is also provided, as well as mechanisms for maintaining sterility of the sterile chamber that is formed around the catheter insertion site by the integrated sealing and securing device. Together these features allow for improved catheter safety and function, and allow catheters to safely remain in place for an extended period of time. The need to change catheter dressings at intervals is minimized or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: One IV Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Robert E. Helm, Karl Leinsing, Joseph M. Durant
  • Publication number: 20230248945
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods used to seal and secure a medical device at an insertion site are disclosed. The systems include a mating dressing device, a central connector, and a compression lock collar. The mating dressing device includes an adhesive plate portion that forms a first circumferential seal around the insertion site and a mating body portion that the central connector form fits to. The compression lock collar compresses the mating body portion against the central connector to form a second circumferential seal. The systems can also include a segment of intravenous tubing coupled to the central connector and used for application of the mating dressing device and compression lock collar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Robert E. Helm, Gregory A. Helm
  • Publication number: 20200398039
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for sealing a catheter insertion site to maintain sterility. In one aspect of the invention, mounting handle/dressing assemblies and kits are disclosed for creating a sterile sealed environment around a catheter insertion site. For example, the dressings of the present invention can be pre-disposed around a mounting handle and connector. The connector is joined to the proximal end of the catheter and then the dressing can be slid along the mounting handle until it surrounds the insertion site. Once the dressing is adhesively applied to the skin and locked into place by an annular fitting between the dressing and the connector, the handle can be removed and discarded, leaving only the dressing, and catheter connector in place. The catheter connector preferably has a needle-free connector port at its proximal end for connection to IV lines or other infusion devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventor: Robert E. Helm
  • Publication number: 20200330732
    Abstract: Catheter dressing-related devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. The devices may be configured to maintain sterility and to stabilize an inserted catheter to decrease catheter complication and failure rates. The devices may form two circumferential seals around the catheter to partially define a sealed chamber surrounding the catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventor: Robert E. Helm
  • Patent number: 10682507
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for sealing a catheter insertion site to maintain sterility. In one aspect of the invention, mounting handle/dressing assemblies and kits are disclosed for creating a sterile sealed environment around a catheter insertion site. For example the dressings of the present invention can be pre-disposed around a mounting handle and connector. The connector is joined to the proximal end of the catheter and then the dressing can be slid along the mounting handle until it surrounds the insertion site. Once the dressing is adhesively applied to the skin and locked into place by an annular fitting between the dressing and the connector, the handle can be removed and discarded, leaving only the dressing, and catheter connector in place. The catheter connector preferably has a needle-free connector port at its proximal end for connection to IV lines or other infusion devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: One IV Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Robert E. Helm
  • Publication number: 20190247623
    Abstract: A device for sealing and securing a catheter at its insertion site in order to provide for optimum safe catheter function, and to achieve maximum catheter longevity/dwell time is described. The sterile seal achieved by this device fully protects the catheter and its insertion site from external contamination. The unique sterile seal also functions to fully stabilize and secure the catheter, thereby minimizing traumatic catheter injury and loss. A means of continuously viewing the insertion site is also provided, as well as mechanisms for maintaining sterility of the sterile chamber that is formed around the catheter insertion site by the integrated sealing and securing device. Together these features allow for improved catheter safety and function, and allow catheters to safely remain in place for an extended period of time. The need to change catheter dressings at intervals is minimized or eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Robert E. Helm, Karl Leinsing, Joseph M. Durant
  • Publication number: 20160158499
    Abstract: A catheter and dressing assembly is disclosed including a dressing having a distal adhesive plate configured for attachment to a skin region surrounding a catheter insertion site to provide a first circumferential seal around the catheter at the insertion site, a dressing body extending from the adhesive plate and configured to surround a catheter segment external to the insertion site and a proximal sealing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventor: Robert E. Helm
  • Publication number: 20160158523
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for sealing a catheter insertion site to maintain sterility. In one aspect of the invention, mounting handle/dressing assemblies and kits are disclosed for creating a sterile sealed environment around a catheter insertion site. For example the dressings of the present invention can be pre-disposed around a mounting handle and connector. The connector is joined to the proximal end of the catheter and then the dressing can be slid along the mounting handle until it surrounds the insertion site. Once the dressing is adhesively applied to the skin and locked into place by an annular fitting between the dressing and the connector, the handle can be removed and discarded, leaving only the dressing, and catheter connector in place. The catheter connector preferably has a needle-free connector port at its proximal end for connection to IV lines or other infusion devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventor: Robert E. Helm
  • Patent number: 9180275
    Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed herein that generally involve a sterile catheter-dressing system that allows for integrated injection of fluids, e.g., a saline flush, during the process of catheter insertion and sterile dressing placement. Such methods and devices can be used as a fully integrated catheter insertion system, or to convert existing catheter insertion devices and methods into integrated flush and sterile sealing catheter-dressing systems. Such methods and devices can greatly simplify the catheter insertion process, and can allow the reproducible placement of a fully sterile and flushed vascular catheter, as well as the placement of a durably sterile circumferentially sealing and securing dressing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventor: Robert E. Helm