Patents by Inventor Stephen M. Mullins

Stephen M. Mullins 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: 6861033
    Abstract: A water supply sub-system for connection to a main water supply system includes a storage tank having an inlet with a flow control valve for connection to the main water supply system. The sub-system may be disconnected from the main system and configured as a closed system for disinfecting the sub-system. An outlet line connects the storage tank to a pump that pumps water from the tank to a sub-system supply line. One or more branch connections may connect the sub-system supply line to high-demand water using devices, such as dialysis machines. The supply line may be a feedback loop. A shunt feedback loop parallel to the feedback loop of the supply line has a pressure control valve that regulates pressure in the supply line feedback loop. A filtration device may also be included to ensure the purity of the water circulating through the sub-system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Gambro, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Mullins, Douglas A. Luehmann, John D. Bielefeld
  • Publication number: 20040195157
    Abstract: A water supply sub-system for connection to a main water supply system includes a storage tank having an inlet with a flow control valve for connection to the main water supply system. The sub-system may be disconnected from the main system and configured as a closed system for disinfecting the sub-system. An outlet line connects the storage tank to a pump that pumps water from the tank to a sub-system supply line. One or more branch connections may connect the sub-system supply line to high-demand water using devices, such as dialysis machines. The supply line may be a feedback loop. A shunt feedback loop parallel to the feedback loop of the supply line has a pressure control valve that regulates pressure in the supply line feedback loop. A filtration device may also be included to ensure the purity of the water circulating through the sub-system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: GAMBRO, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Mullins, Douglas A. Luehmann, John D. Bielefeld
  • Publication number: 20040060602
    Abstract: Systems and/or methods divert a fluid that has reached a preset alarm limit from reaching the point of use. The system may include a valve control unit; and a hydraulic unit operably connected to the valve control unit. The hydraulic unit may have first and second valves and plumbing pieces to connect the first and second valves to each other and the fluid system; the first valve being a normally closed valve that directs water from the fluid system to drain when energized; the second valve is a normally open valve that will turn off flow from the fluid system to the pure water distribution system. The methods may include flowing a fluid through a fluid system which includes a flow control system for preventing a fluid that has reached preset alarm limits from reaching the point of use; sensing when the fluid has reached the preset alarm limits; and signaling the opening of the normally closed valve; and the closing of the normally open valve to divert the fluid from the point of use to a drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Gambro, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Mullins, Mark E. Richers, Robin Williams
  • Publication number: 20030034305
    Abstract: A water supply sub-system for connection to a main water supply system, in which the sub-system includes: a storage tank having an inlet for connection to the main water supply system, an outlet and an outlet line connecting the outlet of the storage tank to a pump which pumps water from the tank to a sub-system supply line. One or more branch connections are connected to the sub-system supply line. Connectable to the one or more branch connections are one or more high-demand water using devices, such as dialyzer re-use machines. The subsystem may feed water to these high demand devices, and the sub-system and the one or more high demand devices may thus be substantially isolated from the main water supply system so that the high demands thereof will not adversely impact the water supply parameters. Thus, one or more lower demand machines, such as dialysis machines, may be connected to the main line without supply parameter disruption thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Applicant: Gambro, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Luehmann, Johnny W. Hannah, Stephen M. Mullins, John D. Bielefeld