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).

  • Patent number: 8465458
    Abstract: A 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 distal, longitudinal movement of the medical article. The securement device includes a retainer and at least one anchor pad. The retainer includes an abutment wall and a slot. The slot has a labyrinth shape leading to a cradle part of the slot. At least a portion of the medical article is inserted into the cradle part through the slot. The abutment wall includes at least one abutment that abuts against a contact point or surface on the medical article to inhibit distal, longitudinal movement of the medical article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Publication number: 20130123704
    Abstract: An access device places a medical article within a body space of a patient. The device has a needle that includes an elongated body and a needle hub. The device further includes a dilator and a medical article. A track can extend in a proximal direction from the dilator. The needle hub can slide along at least a portion of the track between a first position and a second position. The device can further include a locking mechanism operably disposed between the track and the needle hub so as to inhibit further axial movement of the needle in the proximal direction when the needle hub is in the second position. The device can further include a guidewire that can bend such that the guidewire can both pass through the needle hub at one end and attach to the needle hub at another end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: ACCESS SCIENTIFIC, INC.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth
  • Patent number: 8398599
    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: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 8394065
    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: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 8366678
    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: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth, Wayne T. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 8357124
    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: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 8343088
    Abstract: A device and method for treating an occluded infection collection along the digestive tract with a stent delivered to an appendix, diverticulum or other anatomical structure of the digestive tract. A device and method to remove an obstruction from an occluded infection collection along the digestive tract with an obstruction removal device delivered to an appendix, diverticulum or other anatomical structure of the digestive tract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventors: Douglas Bates, Steven F Bierman
  • Publication number: 20120316500
    Abstract: An access device for placing a medical article within a body space includes a needle, a dilator, and a medical article. The needle can include an elongated needle body with a distal end and a hub from which the needle body extends. The elongated needle body can include at least one side fenestration and an outer diameter. The dilator can be slideably disposed on the needle body and include a dilator hub and an elongated dilator shaft that extends from the dilator hub. The dilator shaft can include at least one side fenestration in communication with the needle side fenestration. The dilator shaft can also include an inner diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the needle. The medical article can include a tubular section and a hub. The tubular section can be disposed on the dilator and define a space between the medical article and the dilator in communication with the needle side fenestration through the dilator side fenestration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: ACCESS SCIENTIFIC, INC.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth
  • Publication number: 20120283640
    Abstract: An access device places a medical article within a body space of a patient. The device has a needle that includes a needle body and hub. The device further includes a dilator coaxially disposed and slideable over the needle body and a medical article. A viewing space is disposed between the dilator and the medical article with at least one passageway or conduit connecting the viewing space with the interior bore of the needle body. The passageway is defined at least in part by openings through the sides of the needle and dilator. At least a portion of the conduit or passageway can be defined by one or more grooves between the needle and dilator. The device can further include a guidewire and an interlock between the guidewire and the needle and/or dilator. The device can further include one or more stops disposed between the guidewire and the needle and/or dilator to limit the extent to which the guidewire can be moved (e.g., advanced) relative to the needle or inhibit such relative movement (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: ACCESS SCIENTIFIC, INC.
    Inventors: Janelle Anderson, Michael Tal, Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 8298191
    Abstract: A method of securing a medical article to the body of a patient is disclosed in which an anchoring device comprising an anchor and a retainer is used. The retainer is attached to an upper surface of the anchor and comprises a base, a cover and a post. The base is disposed on the upper surface of the anchor and the cover is connected to the base so as to move between an open and a closed position. When the cover is in the closed position, it lies above at least part of the base. The post is attached movably to either the base or the cover and is arranged so as to lie at least partially between the cover and the base when the cover is in the closed position. When securing a medical article, the cover is placed in the open position and the medical article placed onto the retainer. The cover may then be closed over the medical article and the anchoring device attached to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F Bierman, Wayne T Mitchell, Richard A Pluth
  • Patent number: 8282606
    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: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 8277420
    Abstract: A securement device for securing a medical article includes two supports extending from a base. Lever arms extend from each of the supports. One or both of the lever arms include a channel portion. The lever arms are pivotable about the ends of the supports to define an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the lever arms extend generally upwardly from the supports. In the closed position, the lever arms extend generally downwardly from the supports, and the channel portion or portions at least partially surround the medical article. As the lever arms move from the open position to the closed position, they exert an outward force on the ends of the supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth
  • Patent number: 8246583
    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 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Publication number: 20120184915
    Abstract: An anchoring system for securing a dialysis catheter to a patient comprises an anchor pad and 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, a cover, and an adhesive spot. A groove upon the base is arranged to receive a Y-site portion of a dialysis catheter. 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 places the catheter in contact with the adhesive spot. This contact between the retainer, adhesive spot and catheter inhibits inadvertent motion of the catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth, Wayne T. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 8211063
    Abstract: An anchoring system includes a 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 suture. The anchoring system comprises an anchor pad and a retainer mounted upon the anchor pad. The retainer includes at least one clip forming at least a portion of a central channel and that moves generally in a lateral direction to capture the medical article to be retained. In certain embodiments, the clip moves in lateral and transverse directions between closed and open positions. The medical article is secured within the central channel. The channel may have a straight or tapering shape depending on the medical article to be retained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth
  • Publication number: 20120152261
    Abstract: An arm positioning system for a diagnostic procedure, such as an MRI, can include a positioning block and a retention device. The retention device and the positioning block can be coupled together to position a patient's arm in various desired positions. The retention device and positioning block also can be configured to accommodate left and right arms and variation among arm, hand, and digit sizes of patients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Anne C. O'Connor, Steven F. Bierman, Douglas Bates
  • Patent number: 8202251
    Abstract: An access device places a medical article within a body space of a patient. The device has a needle that includes an elongated body and a needle hub. The device further includes a dilator and a medical article. A track can extend in a proximal direction from the dilator. The needle hub can slide along at least a portion of the track between a first position and a second position. The device can further include a locking mechanism operably disposed between the track and the needle hub so as to inhibit further axial movement of the needle in the proximal direction when the needle hub is in the second position. The device can further include a guidwire that can bend such that the guidewire can both pass through the needle hub at one end and attach to the needle hub at another end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Access Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth
  • Publication number: 20120143140
    Abstract: An anchoring system provides secure attachment between a portion of a medical article and a body of a patient. The anchoring system comprises a securement device and a first fitting attached to the medical article, the first fitting having a first configuration. Embodiments of the anchoring system also comprise a second fitting attached to the medical article. The second fitting has a second configuration that differs from the first. The securement device includes a mounting surface for attaching the securement device to the patient's body and a receiving area. The receiving area is oriented so as to face away from the patient's body, and includes retainer mechanisms that are capable of engaging one or both of the first and second fittings, which have different configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth, Wayne T. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 8192402
    Abstract: An access device places a medical article within a body space of a patient. The device has a needle that includes a needle body and hub. The device further includes a dilator coaxially disposed and slideable over the needle body and a medical article. A viewing space is disposed between the dilator and the medical article with at least one passageway or conduit connecting the viewing space with the interior bore of the needle body. The passageway is defined at least in part by openings through the sides of the needle and dilator. At least a portion of the conduit or passageway can be defined by one or more grooves between the needle and dilator. The device can further include a guidewire and an interlock between the guidewire and the needle and/or dilator. The device can further include one or more stops disposed between the guidewire and the needle and/or dilator to limit the extent to which the guidewire can be moved (e.g., advanced) relative to the needle or inhibit such relative movement (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Access Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Janelle Anderson, Michael Tal, Steven F. Bierman
  • Publication number: 20120065590
    Abstract: A sheath can include a sheath body and a sheath hub. The sheath body can have a generally flexible tubular structure, a proximal end, and a distal end. The sheath body can further define a longitudinal axis. The sheath hub can attach to the proximal end of the sheath body and define a longitudinal axis generally aligned with the axis of the sheath body. The sheath body and sheath hub can also form a central cavity along their respective axes. The sheath hub can include two plates: a flexible plate and a rigid plate. The rigid plate can have a relief generally centered on the sheath body's axis. Advantageously, the flexible plate and rigid plate can overlap to substantially seal the central cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: ACCESS SCIENTIFIC, INC.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth