Patents by Inventor Sean Caffey

Sean Caffey 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: 20130276974
    Abstract: Embodiments of method of manufacturing an implantable pump, including providing an upper layer comprising a dome structure for housing a drug chamber and a cannula in fluid communication with the drug chamber, providing a middle deflection layer adjacent the drug chamber, providing a bottom layer comprising electrolysis electrodes, and bonding the upper layer, middle deflection layer, and bottom layer to form the pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Changlin Pang, Fukang Jiang, Jason Shih, Sean Caffey, Mark S. Humayun, Yu-Chong Tai
  • Patent number: 8529538
    Abstract: Embodiments of an implantable electrolytic pump include a first expandable diaphragm and a second flexible diaphragm, and first and second chambers each for containing a fluid, wherein the first expandable diaphragm separates the first and second chambers and provides a fluid barrier therebetween, and the second chamber is formed between the first expandable diaphragm and the second flexible diaphragms. The pump may further include electrolysis electrodes within the first chamber for causing generation of a gas therein and to thereby expand the expandable diaphragm so that fluid is forced from the second chamber into a cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: MiniPumps, LLC
    Inventors: Changlin Pang, Fukang Jiang, Jason Shih, Sean Caffey, Mark Humayun, Yu-Chong Tai
  • Patent number: 8486278
    Abstract: Embodiments of method of manufacturing an implantable pump, including providing an upper layer comprising a dome structure for housing a drug chamber and a cannula in fluid communication with the drug chamber, providing a middle deflection layer adjacent the drug chamber, providing a bottom layer comprising electrolysis electrodes, and bonding the upper layer, middle deflection layer, and bottom layer to form the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: MiniPumps, LLC
    Inventors: Changlin Pang, Fukang Jiang, Jason Shih, Sean Caffey, Mark Humayun, Yu-Chong Tai
  • Publication number: 20130090676
    Abstract: A surgical sizer for creating a tissue pocket for an implantable medical device may include a replica of the device and a (preferably ergonomic) handle portion, optionally with marking features that facilitate marking the tissue for precise implant placement and alignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventors: Michelle L. Journey, Jason Shih, Sean Caffey, Gregory Harbers
  • Publication number: 20130018412
    Abstract: Surgical introducers aid surgeons in the implantation of medical devices. The introducer provides support and an even distribution of force for ease of insertion and prevention of damage to the medical device while protecting the tissue into which the device is implanted. A representative embodiment includes or consists of a locking device, a pair of forceps, a specially configured and/or angled head with a seat for the device to be implanted, and a gripping area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Michelle Journey, Sean Caffey, Mark Humayun, John Huculak
  • Patent number: 8348897
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a tool is employed in filling a drug-delivery device. The tool may include, for example, a needle that is admitted through a fill port of the drug-delivery device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: MiniPumps, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Shih, Changlin Pang, Fukang Jiang, Sean Caffey, Mark Humayun, Yu-Chong Tai, Raymond Peck
  • Publication number: 20120323218
    Abstract: Embodiments of an implantable electrolytic pump include an electrolysis chamber, a drug chamber and an osmosis chamber, the osmosis chamber having a first portion in contact with the drug chamber and a second portion exposed to facilitate contact with a surrounding fluid. The pump further includes a cannula for conducting liquid from the drug chamber and electrolysis electrodes within the electrolysis chamber for causing generation of a gas therein, the electrolysis and drug chambers being in contact such that gas electrolysis within electrolysis chamber forces fluid from the drug chamber into the cannula, contact between the drug chamber and the osmosis chamber permitting fluid admitted into the osmotic chamber from the surrounding fluid to offset volume loss from the drug chamber and prevent buildup of vacuum pressure thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Changlin Pang, Fukang Jiang, Jason Shih, Sean Caffey, Mark Humayun, Yu-Chong Tai
  • Publication number: 20120316540
    Abstract: A spiral-coil antenna conforming to a non-planar contour is deployed, in various embodiments, in an implantable device for controllably ejecting fluid into an anatomic region. The antenna facilitates wireless communications with the implantable device and external charging thereof. In one implementation, the device has a non-planar contour and the spiral coil defines a non-planar surface conforming to the non-planar contour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Jeffrey Brennan, Sean Caffey, Michelle Journey, Fukang Jiang
  • Publication number: 20120296423
    Abstract: Advances in filling apparatus, handheld tools, surgical techniques and intraoperative biometry for implanting and adjusting an accommodative liquid lens are disclosed. The lens may be attached to or retained within a handheld surgical tool, which can be fluidly connectable to a filling console to fill the lens with a liquid. In various embodiments, a filling console facilitates aspirating liquid out of the lens in order to ensure the absence of residual bubbles and filling of the lens with fluid during surgery, as well as during post-operative adjustments to the lens. Actuated by the surgeon, the filling console can aspirate fluid from the lens and inject fluid into the lens following insertion thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Sean Caffey, Charles DeBoer, Mark Humayun, Yu-Chong Tai
  • Publication number: 20120277733
    Abstract: Embodiments of an implantable electrolytic pump include a first expandable diaphragm and a second flexible diaphragm, and first and second chambers each for containing a fluid, wherein the first expandable diaphragm separates the first and second chambers and provides a fluid barrier therebetween, and the second chamber is formed between the first expandable diaphragm and the second flexible diaphragms. The pump may further include electrolysis electrodes within the first chamber for causing generation of a gas therein and to thereby expand the expandable diaphragm so that fluid is forced from the second chamber into a cannula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Changlin Pang, Fukang Jiang, Jason Shih, Sean Caffey, Mark Humayun, Yu-Chong Tai
  • Patent number: 8285328
    Abstract: Drug pump devices may be remotely controlled and/or reprogrammed by a smartphone or other wireless handheld device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: MiniPumps, LLC
    Inventors: Sean Caffey, Po-Ying Li, Jeffrey Brennan
  • Publication number: 20120234433
    Abstract: A tool for refilling an implantable pump having at least one reservoir. The tool includes a plurality of independent fluid channels; a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with a first one of the fluid channels; at least one pump fluidly coupled to the fluid channels, the at least one pump and the independent fluid channels differing from each other in number, wherein (i) a pump is configured to apply positive pressure to the first fluid channel so as to drive fluid from the fluid reservoir therethrough, and (ii) a pump is configured to apply negative pressure to the second fluid channel; and a connector for removably connecting the fluid channels to the at least one reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Jason Shih, Sean Caffey, Mark Humayun, Fukang Jiang, Changlin Pang, Raymond Peck, Yu-Chong Tai
  • Patent number: 8231608
    Abstract: Embodiments of an implantable electrolytic pump include a first expandable diaphragm and a second flexible diaphragm, and first and second chambers each for containing a fluid, wherein the first expandable diaphragm separates the first and second chambers and provides a fluid barrier therebetween, and the second chamber is formed between the first expandable diaphragm and the second flexible diaphragms. The pump may further include electrolysis electrodes within the first chamber for causing generation of a gas therein and to thereby expand the expandable diaphragm so that fluid is forced from the second chamber into a cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: MiniPumps, LLC
    Inventors: Changlin Pang, Fukang Jiang, Jason Shih, Sean Caffey, Mark Humayun, Yu-Chong Tai
  • Patent number: 8231609
    Abstract: Embodiments of an implantable electrolytic pump include an electrolysis chamber, a drug chamber and an osmosis chamber, the osmosis chamber having a first portion in contact with the drug chamber and a second portion exposed to facilitate contact with a surrounding fluid. The pump further includes a cannula for conducting liquid from the drug chamber and electrolysis electrodes within the electrolysis chamber for causing generation of a gas therein, the electrolysis and drug chambers being in contact such that gas electrolysis within electrolysis chamber forces fluid from the drug chamber into the cannula, contact between the drug chamber and the osmosis chamber permitting fluid admitted into the osmotic chamber from the surrounding fluid to offset volume loss from the drug chamber and prevent buildup of vacuum pressure thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: MiniPumps, LLC
    Inventors: Changlin Pang, Fukang Jiang, Jason Shih, Sean Caffey, Mark Humayun, Yu-Chong Tai
  • Publication number: 20120041427
    Abstract: Electrolytically driven drug pump devices may be configured so as to ensure sustained contact of the electrolysis electrodes with the electrolyte, thereby improving the reliability and/or pump capacity of the devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: MiniPumps, LLC
    Inventors: SEAN CAFFEY, Po-Ying Li, Yu-Chong Tai, Mark Humayun, Alice Lai, Jason Shih, Michelle Journey
  • Publication number: 20120016244
    Abstract: The present invention employs image intensification for medical procedures within the human body. Methods and systems of the invention utilize infrared radiation (e.g. greater than about 750 nm) illumination and visualization of a surgical treatment area Preferred methods and systems of the invention incorporate use of an infrared radiation visualization system which may be known as “night vision” systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Doheny Eye Institute
    Inventors: Sean Caffey, Mark Humayun
  • Publication number: 20120016299
    Abstract: A miniaturized drug pump can actively dispense fluid at a controlled (or controllable) flow rate emerging at or near the distal tip of a catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: MiniPumps, LLC
    Inventor: SEAN CAFFEY
  • Publication number: 20110282331
    Abstract: A combination includes an OCT system, an optical instrument, optics defining an optical path from the optical instrument to a target, and secondary optics for coupling the OCT system to the optical path. This combination permits simultaneous operation of the OCT system and the optical instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: oProbe, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Brennan, Mark Humayun, Sean Caffey
  • Publication number: 20110282190
    Abstract: A probe assembly includes a forward-imaging optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe having a field of view and an instrument, adjacent to the probe, for performing manipulations at least within the OCT field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: oProbe, LLC
    Inventors: Sean Caffey, Jeffrey Brennan, Mark Humayun
  • Publication number: 20110282191
    Abstract: An electrode carrier includes multiple electrodes, each electrode having a contact located at a different position along a distal end of the carrier, and multiple optical fibers, each associated with one of the electrodes and having an end face proximate to the contact of the associated electrode. Each optical fiber end face may capture optical information from tissue adjacent to the associated contact. The electrode carrier may be used for interfacing with an OCT system and a neural signal system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: oProbe, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Brennan, Mark Humayun, Sean Caffey