Patents by Inventor Stephan Thijssen

Stephan Thijssen 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: 20240428904
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for generating, performing, and evaluating virtual clinical trials that include clinic modules to represent real-world operational aspects of trial entities are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may include at least one memory, and logic coupled to the at least one memory. The logic may be configured to generate a plurality of avatars configured to model a health condition associated with a population of patients, and to perform a virtual clinical trial to simulate a course of treatment for the plurality of avatars, the virtual clinical trial to include at least one clinic module associated with at least one event and a probability for the at least one event, the at least one event to model an operational aspect of an entity of the virtual clinical trial. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Applicant: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Doris H. Fuertinger, Alice Topping, Franz Kappel, Stephan Thijssen, Peter Kotanko
  • Patent number: 12106831
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for generating, performing, and evaluating virtual clinical trials that include clinic modules to represent real-world operational aspects of trial entities are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may include at least one memory, and logic coupled to the at least one memory. The logic may be configured to generate a plurality of avatars configured to model a health condition associated with a population of patients, and to perform a virtual clinical trial to simulate a course of treatment for the plurality of avatars, the virtual clinical trial to include at least one clinic module associated with at least one event and a probability for the at least one event, the at least one event to model an operational aspect of an entity of the virtual clinical trial. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Doris H. Fuertinger, Alice Topping, Franz Kappel, Stephan Thijssen, Peter Kotanko
  • Publication number: 20240316253
    Abstract: An apparatus used in analyzing spent dialysate includes: at least one surface configured to accommodate a dialysate drain bag or drain line in a predetermined position; a light source positioned to emit light through the dialysate drain bag or drain line; and a light sensor positioned to sense light emitted by the light source through the dialysate drain bag or drain line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventors: Peter Kotanko, Xia Tao, Mia G. Garbaccio, Jeffrey Hymes, Stephan Thijssen, Nadja Grobe, Leticia M. Tapia Silva, Dinesh K. Chatoth
  • Patent number: 12036344
    Abstract: An apparatus used in analyzing spent dialysate includes: at least one surface configured to accommodate a dialysate drain bag or drain line in a predetermined position; a light source positioned to emit light through the dialysate drain bag or drain line; and a light sensor positioned to sense light emitted by the light source through the dialysate drain bag or drain line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Kotanko, Xia Tao, Mia G. Garbaccio, Jeffrey Hymes, Stephan Thijssen, Nadja Grobe, Leticia M. Tapia Silva, Dinesh K. Chatoth
  • Patent number: 11878098
    Abstract: A method includes: receiving measurements of a blood-related parameter corresponding to a patient undergoing hemodialysis; estimating a value of one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters by applying a vascular refill model based on the received measurements of the blood-related parameter, wherein the one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters are indicative of an effect of vascular refill on the patient caused by the hemodialysis; determining, based on the one or more estimated values of the one or more hemodialysis treatment-related parameters, a hemodialysis treatment-related operation; and facilitating performance of the treatment-related operation. The vascular refill model is a two-compartment model based on a first compartment corresponding to blood plasma in the patient's body, a second compartment based on interstitial fluid in the patient's body, and a semi-permeable membrane separating the first compartment and the second compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Aurelio A. de los Reyes, V, Doris H. Fuertinger, Franz Kappel, Anna Meyring-Wosten, Stephan Thijssen, Peter Kotanko
  • Publication number: 20230352183
    Abstract: Described herein are computer systems and methods for generating, in silico, one or more virtual patients. The one or more virtual patients can be used, for example, to conduct a virtual clinical trial, such as to determine an efficacy of a therapy or medical device. The one or more virtual patients mathematically represent a physiological system in an actual patient for a health condition. Also, the one or more virtual patients can be used, for example, to determine an adverse effect from a therapy or any other deviation from a therapy, or compliance of a patient suffering from a health condition on a therapeutic protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Doris Fuertinger, Franz Kappel, Peter Kotanko, Stephan Thijssen
  • Patent number: 11744930
    Abstract: A hemodialysis system includes: a hemodialysis machine configured to provide hemodialysis treatment to a patient, wherein the hemodialysis treatment includes circulating extracorporeal blood of the patient through an extracorporeal blood circuit; a first oxygen saturation sensor device configured to measure oxygen saturation corresponding to the extracorporeal blood of the patient in the extracorporeal blood circuit; a second oxygen saturation sensor device configured to measure oxygen saturation corresponding to blood flowing within the patient; and at least one controller configured to determine one or more oxygen saturation phase shift (OSPS) values or one or more transcutaneous travel time values corresponding to the patient based on oxygen saturation measurements from the first oxygen saturation sensor device and the second oxygen saturation sensor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Kotanko, Stephan Thijssen, Priscila Preciado, Israel D. Campos, Xia Tao
  • Publication number: 20230238077
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and/or apparatuses may be operative to perform a dialysis process that includes a displacer infusion process. In one embodiment, a method for determining a displacer compound may include constructing a plurality of target protein quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models, one for each of the plurality of binding sites, analyzing a set of candidate compounds using the plurality of QSAR models to determine a set of at least one potential compound with an affinity for binding to each of the plurality of binding sites, and selecting at least one displacer compound from the set of at least one potential compound. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Xia Tao, Vaibhav Maheshwari, Peter Kotanko, Stephan Thijssen, Nadja Grobe
  • Publication number: 20230201438
    Abstract: Compounds, systems, kits, methods, and/or apparatuses may be operative to reduce amyloid beta (A?) peptide in a patient, including a central nervous system (CNS) of the patient and/or a periphery (non-CNS portion) of the patient. In some embodiments, a displacer fluid comprising a A? displacer may be introduced to the patient to bind to a blood protein, such as albumin, that binds A? (for instance, A? peptide or non-plaque A?) in the patient periphery. Binding of the displacer to the blood protein may facilitate more free A? peptide (for instance, A? monomers) in the periphery for clearance via natural processes, such as through the liver or kidneys, and/or artificial processes, such as dialysis. Increased removal of the free A? peptide in the periphery may ultimately lead to less A? peptide in the CNS, which may decrease A? plaque formation in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Xia Tao, Peter Kotanko, Stephan Thijssen, Vaibhav Maheshwari
  • Patent number: 11640846
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and/or apparatuses may be operative to perform a dialysis process that includes a displacer infusion process. In one embodiment, a method for determining a displacer compound may include constructing a plurality of target protein quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models, one for each of the plurality of binding sites, analyzing a set of candidate compounds using the plurality of QSAR models to determine a set of at least one potential compound with an affinity for binding to each of the plurality of binding sites, and selecting at least one displacer compound from the set of at least one potential compound. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Xia Tao, Vaibhav Maheshwari, Peter Kotanko, Stephan Thijssen, Nadja Grobe
  • Patent number: 11623032
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for de-priming processes are described. For example, in one embodiment, an apparatus may include at least one processor and a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory may include instructions that, when executed by the processor, may cause the at least one processor to determine a priming volume of a primer fluid infused into a priming system associated with the patient during a priming phase of the dialysis treatment, cause an ultrafiltration rate of an ultrafiltration pump of the dialysis machine in fluid communication with the patient to be changed from a treatment ultrafiltration rate to a de-priming ultrafiltration rate to remove the priming volume over a de-priming time period, and cause, after the de-priming time period, the ultrafiltration rate of the ultrafiltration pump to be changed back the treatment ultrafiltration rate. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Kotanko, Stephan Thijssen
  • Patent number: 11565028
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses for determining an estimated cardiac output for a patient during dialysis treatment are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may include a memory and logic coupled to the memory. The logic may be configured to determine an upper body oxygen consumption for a patient, determine, during a dialysis process: a hemoglobin concentration and a venous oxygen saturation measured via an optical blood monitor operably coupled to an extracorporeal circuit of a dialysis system performing the dialysis process; an arterial oxygen saturation measured via a pulse oximeter operably coupled to the extracorporeal circuit; an arterial-venous oxygen content difference based on the arterial oxygen saturation and the venous oxygen saturation; and an upper body blood flow (UBBF) as (upper body oxygen consumption)/(arterial-venous oxygen content difference), and determine a treatment recommendation based on the upper body blood flow. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Kotanko, Stephan Thijssen, Israel Campos, Hanje Zhang
  • Patent number: 11426503
    Abstract: Techniques and systems for determining an arteriovenous (AV) fistula maturation in a patient may include detecting a first series of oxygen saturation levels of the patient at a central venous catheter (CVC) associated with a first series of hemodialysis treatments prior to the AV fistula implantation are described. The AV fistula may then be implanted in the patient. A second series of oxygen saturation levels of the patient at the CVC associated with a second series of hemodialysis treatments may be detected. The second series of oxygen saturation levels may be compared to a stable threshold mature AV fistula oxygen saturation level. Among other determinations from the comparison, in response to one or more of the second series of oxygen saturation levels meeting or exceeding the stable threshold mature AV fistula oxygen saturation level, determining the AV fistula is mature. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Kotanko, Stephan Thijssen, Hanjie Zhang, Israel Campos
  • Publication number: 20220270719
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for generating, performing, and evaluating virtual clinical trials that include clinic modules to represent real-world operational aspects of trial entities are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may include at least one memory, and logic coupled to the at least one memory. The logic may be configured to generate a plurality of avatars configured to model a health condition associated with a population of patients, and to perform a virtual clinical trial to simulate a course of treatment for the plurality of avatars, the virtual clinical trial to include at least one clinic module associated with at least one event and a probability for the at least one event, the at least one event to model an operational aspect of an entity of the virtual clinical trial. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Doris H. Fuertinger, Alice Topping, Franz Kappel, Stephan Thijssen, Peter Kotanko
  • Patent number: 11419966
    Abstract: A system includes a device having a blood side, a solution side, and a semipermeable membrane structurally configured for diffusion of one or more solutes therethrough. The system also includes a first extracorporeal circuit having one or more first fluid connectors for connecting the blood side of the device to the vascular system of a first animal, a second extracorporeal circuit including one or more second fluid connectors for connecting the solution side of the device to the vascular system of a second animal, a first pump in fluid communication with at least one of the first and second extracorporeal circuits, and a driver mechanically coupled to the first pump, the driver configured to drive the first pump using energy from an energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Kotanko, Stephan Thijssen
  • Publication number: 20220241476
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for determining patient dialysis profiles, for example, of peritoneal transport status or disease progression, are described. For example, in one embodiment, a method of determining a patient profile of a dialysis patient may include obtaining a volume of fluid associated with the dialysis patient, generating patient information via fluorescence analysis of the patient fluid, and determining the patient profile based on evaluating the patient information with a profile library, the patient profile comprising at least one of a peritoneal transport status classification or a disease progression. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Peter Kotanko, Xia Tao, Nadja Grobe, Gabriela Dias, Zahin Haq, Stephan Thijssen
  • Publication number: 20220152282
    Abstract: An apparatus used in analyzing spent dialysate includes: at least one surface configured to accommodate a dialysate drain bag or drain line in a predetermined position; a light source positioned to emit light through the dialysate drain bag or drain line; and a light sensor positioned to sense light emitted by the light source through the dialysate drain bag or drain line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Peter Kotanko, Xia Tao, Mia G. Garbaccio, Jeffrey Hymes, Stephan Thijssen, Nadja Grobe, Leticia M. Tapia Silva, Dinesh K. Chatoth
  • Patent number: 11295866
    Abstract: Described herein are computer systems and methods for generating, in silico, one or more virtual patients. The one or more virtual patients can be used, for example, to conduct a virtual clinical trial, such as to determine an efficacy of a therapy or medical device. The one or more virtual patients mathematically represent a physiological system in an actual patient for a health condition. Also, the one or more virtual patients can be used, for example, to determine an adverse effect from a therapy or any other deviation from a therapy, or compliance of a patient suffering from a health condition on a therapeutic protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Doris Fuertinger, Franz Kappel, Peter Kotanko, Stephan Thijssen
  • Patent number: 11282590
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for generating, performing, and evaluating virtual clinical trials that include clinic modules to represent real-world operational aspects of trial entities are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may include at least one memory, and logic coupled to the at least one memory. The logic may be configured to generate a plurality of avatars configured to model a health condition associated with a population of patients, and to perform a virtual clinical trial to simulate a course of treatment for the plurality of avatars, the virtual clinical trial to include at least one clinic module associated with at least one event and a probability for the at least one event, the at least one event to model an operational aspect of an entity of the virtual clinical trial. Other embodiments are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Doris H. Fuertinger, Alice Topping, Franz Kappel, Stephan Thijssen, Peter Kotanko
  • Patent number: 11273243
    Abstract: A system includes a dialyzer having a blood side and a dialysate side, a first extracorporeal circuit including one or more first fluid connectors structurally configured to connect the blood side of the dialyzer to the vascular system of a kidney patient, and a second extracorporeal circuit including one or more second fluid connectors structurally configured to connect the dialysate side of the dialyzer to the vascular system of a healthy animal. The present teachings may thus include a system where hemodialysis is performed using a healthy animal (e.g., a person with normal kidney function) to help remove harmful solutes from, and provide helpful solutes to, a kidney patient. In this manner, the healthy animal is “virtually donating” its kidney function to the kidney patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Kotanko, Stephan Thijssen