Patents by Inventor Steven F. Bierman

Steven F. Bierman 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: 20080249476
    Abstract: An anchoring system 10 secures a catheter 8 to the body of a patient and arrests axial movement of the catheter 8 without meaningfully impairing fluid flow through the catheter 8. The anchoring system 10 includes an anchor pad 12 that adheres to the patient's skin and supports a retainer 20. The retainer 20 includes interengaging structure that moves the retainer 20 between an open and a closed position. When in the open position, the retainer 20 can receive a portion of the catheter 8 and be subsequently moved to the closed position. Advantageously, the interengaging structure allows the retainer 20 to receive catheters 8 of various sizes. In some embodiments the interengaging structure includes a latch mechanism 80 having an angled opening 104 and a strap 24. The angled opening 104 is configured to receive the strap 24 when the retainer 20 is in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth
  • Publication number: 20080154208
    Abstract: An anchoring system secures a catheter to the body of a patient and arrests axial movement of the catheter without meaningfully impairing fluid flow through the catheter. The anchoring system includes an anchor pad that adheres to the patient's skin and supports a retainer. The retainer includes interacting structure with a cooperating keeper and latch that releasably moves the retainer between an open and a closed position. When in the open position, the retainer can receive a portion of the catheter and be subsequently moved to the closed position. The retainer further includes one or more retention mechanisms that inhibit axial movement of the catheter relative to the retainer when the catheter is secured therein. In one mode, the retainer includes interacting structure with a keeper and latch. The keeper selectively cooperates with the latch to secure the retainer in a closed position where the cover is generally over to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 7354421
    Abstract: A medical article securement device holds a medical article in position upon the body of a patient and can be used to inhibit lateral and longitudinal motion of the medical article. The securement device includes a retainer with a base and at least one post, and at least one cap. The cap is attached to the base of the retainer by a flexible connection, and can be placed into either a covered or uncovered configuration with respect to the post. The cap includes a recess which can receive a protrusion at the end of the post of the retainer. By placing the post through an appropriate opening in the medical article to be retained and then securing the medical article to the retainer by placing the cap into the covered position over the post, longitudinal and lateral motion of the medical article is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 7316679
    Abstract: A releasable medical device connector comprises a connector fitting with a spin nut which connects to an adaptor. The connector fitting has at least one radially extending member with a variable radius cross section. The spin nut is disposed upon the connector fitting proximal of the radially extending member and is both axially slidable and rotatable upon the elongated body of the connector fitting. A screw thread within a proximal portion of the spin nut is used to secure the tapering portion of the connector fitting to an external thread disposed upon the adaptor. To release the connector, the spin nut is unscrewed from the adaptor and slid so that a distal receptacle of the spin nut engages the radially extending member of the connector fitting. With the spin nut and connector fitting engaged, the medical line can be released from the adaptor by twisting and pulling upon the spin nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 7247150
    Abstract: An anchoring system includes a simply-structured device which permits a portion of a catheter tube or similar medical article to be easily anchored to a patient, desirably without the use of tape or needles and suturing. A unitary retainer desirably includes a base connected to a cover by way of a flexible hinge. The retainer is attached to a flexible anchor pad including an adhesive bottom surface, which can be attached to the patient's skin. A catheter is secured to a fitting, which in turn mounts to the retainer. Mounting the fitting to the retainer can be accomplished by inserting posts of the retainer through holes of the fitting, or by mounting the fitting within a channel defined by mounting structures integral to the retainer. The cover is then positioned over the base, by bending the flexible hinge, and latched to the base. Several embodiments of the latching mechanism are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 7223256
    Abstract: A medical line securement device holds a medical article such as a connector fitting for a catheter or a catheter adaptor in position upon the body of a patient and inhibits axial motion of the medical article. The securement device includes a retainer with a base and a cover. The cover is hinged to the base such that it may be moved between an open and closed position. The base and cover each have a groove which cooperate when the cover is in the closed position to form a channel through the retainer. The medical article includes an elongated body which is received within the groove of the retainer, the elongated body lying between at least a pair of regions of larger radius of the medical article. By receiving the portion of the elongated body of the medical article between the regions of larger radius, axial motion of the medical article through the groove is inhibited. The retainer may also include one or more slots to receive any radial projections of the medical article within the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 7153291
    Abstract: A securement device includes a simply-structured retention mechanism that permits a portion of a catheter hub or a similar medical article to be easily anchored to a patient, without the use of tape or needles and suturing. A unitary retainer desirably includes a base defining a locator mechanism. The locator mechanism interacts with a fitting of the medical device so as to position the medical device relative to the retainer. The locator mechanism also desirably guides the medical device fitting into contact with an adhesive member mounted on an outer surface of the retainer. In one form, the locator mechanism includes one or more posts that engage mating holes defined in the medical device fitting. In other forms, the locator mechanism includes a cradle defining an arcuate channel to receive a convex surface of the medical device, or a recess shaped to matingly receive the fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 7018362
    Abstract: An anchoring system for securing a dialysis catheter to a patient comprises an anchor pad and a retainer. The anchor pad is attached to the skin of the patient by an adhesive layer on one side of the pad. The retainer is disposed upon the surface of the anchor pad opposite the adhesive layer and includes a base and a cover and a adhesive spot. A groove upon the base is arranged to receive a Y-site portion of a dialysis catheter where the lumens merge distal to the insertion site. A post also protrudes from the base to the cover at a position which will be disposed between the two distal branches of the dialysis catheter. The cover closes over the base, securing the Y-site between the groove and the post. Closing the cover also places at least a portion of the catheter in contact with the adhesive spot. This contact between the retainer, adhesive spot and catheter thereby inhibits inadvertent motion of the catheter upon the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth, Wayne T. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7014627
    Abstract: A catheter securement device holds a medical article such as a catheter hub or a connector fitting in position upon the body of a patient and at least inhibits longitudinal movement of the medical article. The securement device includes a retainer and at least one anchor pad. The retainer forms a central channel into which at least a portion of the medical article is inserted. The retainer includes at least one abutment that can abut against a contact point or surface on the medical article. The abutment, in conjunction with a second abutment and/or a tapering shape of the central channel, inhibits motion of the medical article in proximal and distal directions through the central channel. For this purpose, the abutment surface(s) can lie either within or outside the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 6979320
    Abstract: An anchoring system includes a simply-structured device which permits a portion of a catheter or similar medical article to be easily anchored to a patient, desirably without the use of tape or needles and suturing. The anchoring system desirably includes a retainer and an anchor pad. The retainer is sized and configured to accept and retain a section of a catheter within the anchoring system and desirably includes a pair of posts and a clip. The posts are sized and configured to releasably accept holes formed in the catheter or catheter fitting. The clip is sized and configured to releasably accept a portion of the catheter. The anchor pad secures the retainer to a patient's skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 6972003
    Abstract: An anchoring system for an elongated medical article comprises an anchor pad and a retainer mounted upon the anchor pad. The retainer includes a base, a cover, and a compressible member including a receptacle into which the medical article to be retained is placed. When the cover is closed, the medical article is secured within the receptacle by the pressure of the compressible member and the cover upon the medical article. One or more biasing members act upon the compressible member to increase the frictional forces acting on the retained section of the medical article. The receptacle may form a channel that follows a curved path through the retainer. The retainer may also include guide extensions to support the medical article along a transverse bend toward the skin of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth, Wayne T. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6951550
    Abstract: An anchoring system secures a catheter to the body of a patient and arrests axial movement of the catheter without meaningfully impairing fluid flow through the catheter. The anchoring system includes an anchor pad that adheres to the patient's skin and supports a retainer. The retainer includes interacting structure with a cooperating keeper and latch that releasably moves the retainer between an open and a closed position. When in the open position, the retainer can receive a portion of the catheter and be subsequently moved to the closed position. The retainer further includes one or more retention mechanisms that inhibit axial movement of the catheter relative to the retainer when the catheter is secured therein. In one mode, the retainer includes interacting structure with a keeper and latch. The keeper selectively cooperates with the latch to secure the retainer in a closed position where the cover is generally over to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 6948500
    Abstract: A system for securing an endo-tracheal or other tube in position upon a patient includes a head pad and securing members which can be adjustably attached to the head pad. The head pad is configured to support the head of a patient in a supine position. The head pad includes a number of slits formed in each lateral side of the head pad, such that a securing member can be threaded through any one of the slits. The securing member is configured to be releasably and adjustably attachable to the lateral sides of the head pad by being secured to itself via hook and loop fastener portions disposed upon the member. The opposite end of the securement member can include an adhesive layer or other mechanism for attachment of the end of the member to the endo-tracheal tube or other medical article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 6929625
    Abstract: An anchoring system includes a simply-structured device which permits a portion of a catheter tube or similar medical article to be easily anchored to a patient, desirably without the use of tape or needles and suturing. A unitary retainer desirably includes a base connected to a cover by way of a flexible hinge. The retainer is attached to a flexible anchor pad including an adhesive bottom surface, which can be attached to the patient's skin. A catheter is secured to a fitting, which in turn mounts to the retainer. Mounting the fitting to the retainer can be accomplished by inserting posts of the retainer through holes of the fitting, or by mounting the fitting within a channel defined by mounting structures integral to the retainer. The cover is then positioned over the base, by bending the flexible hinge, and latched to the base. Several embodiments of the latching mechanism are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 6866652
    Abstract: A medical line securement device allows for inspection, repositioning, replacement and servicing of a medical line without removing an adhesive patch attached to the neonate's skin, thereby saving the thin and fragile skin of the neonate. The securement device provides a releasable attachment between the adhesive anchor patch, which is attached to the neonate, and a coupler of the securement device, which is attached to the medical line. The patch has a base, a fastening element, and an adhesive layer that attaches to the skin of a medical patient. The coupler attaches to the medical line. By this configuration, the patch and coupler cooperate to retain and releasably secure a medical line to the patient. The device is particularly adapted for use in connection with neonates and provides a small securement surface to fit onto the small body locations of a neonate. The securement device consequently can be used to couple different types of catheters or tubes at different locations on the neonates body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: D503977
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: D528206
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: D552732
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth
  • Patent number: D563552
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth
  • Patent number: D577437
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F Bierman, Richard A. Pluth