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: 20110202006
    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, a side fenestration on the elongated body, and a needle hub. The device further includes a dilator disposed on and slideable along the elongated body of the needle and a medical article. The medical article is disposed on and slideable along the dilator. The dilator and the needle form one or more spaces in communication with the side fenestration. At least portions of the dilator and the medical article are configured so as to allow visual determination of the presence of a bodily fluid within the space. The outer surface of the needle and the inner surface of the dilator can include a surfactant. Further, at least one of the needle and dilator can further comprise a vent in communication with the space that allows for the escape of air from the space and inhibits the escape of the bodily fluid from the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: ACCESS SCIENTIFIC, INC.
    Inventors: Steven F Bierman, Richard A Pluth
  • Publication number: 20110202010
    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: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Publication number: 20110178467
    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 suture. An anchoring system for an elongated medical article comprises an anchor pad and a retainer mounted upon the anchor pad. The retainer includes a channel into which the medical article to be retained is placed. The retainer is attached to an anchor pad including an adhesive bottom surface, which can be attached to the patient's skin. A medical article is secured within a channel by retaining at least one axially extending member on the medical article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Wayne T. Mitchell, Richard A. Pluth
  • Patent number: 7967792
    Abstract: A catheter anchoring system is provided to securely anchor to a patient's skin a catheter and fluid supply tube interconnection. The anchoring system comprises a retainer configured to receive a catheter adaptor in a variety of positions. The adaptor interconnects the catheter and the fluid supply tube. In one embodiment the adaptor has a radial recess that circumscribes the adaptor. The anchoring system additionally includes a flexible, adhesive anchor pad which can supports a tube clip, as well as the retainer. The retainer includes a channel that is configured to receive the adaptor in a snap-fit manner. The retainer also includes a plurality of laterally arranged projections that extend from a channel wall and into a channel. Each radial recess is sized to receive and to capture at least a portion of the projection of the retainer so as to inhibit the adaptor from moving within the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 7935084
    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: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 7935083
    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 suture. An anchoring system for an elongated medical article comprises an anchor pad and a retainer mounted upon the anchor pad. The retainer includes a channel into which the medical article to be retained is placed. The retainer is attached to an anchor pad including an adhesive bottom surface, which can be attached to the patient's skin. A medical article is secured within a channel by retaining at least one axially extending member on the medical article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Wayne T. Mitchell, Richard A. Pluth
  • Patent number: 7887515
    Abstract: A catheter anchoring system is provided to securely anchor to a patient's skin a catheter and fluid supply tube interconnection. The anchoring system comprises a retainer configured to receive a catheter adaptor in a variety of positions. The adaptor interconnects the catheter and the fluid supply tube. In one embodiment the adaptor has a radial recess that circumscribes the adaptor. The anchoring system additionally includes a flexible, adhesive anchor pad which can supports a tube clip, as well as the retainer. The retainer includes a channel that is configured to receive the adaptor in a snap-fit manner. The retainer also includes a plurality of laterally arranged projections that extend from a channel wall and into a channel. Each radial recess is sized to receive and to capture at least a portion of the projection of the retainer so as to inhibit the adaptor from moving within the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Publication number: 20110021994
    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, a side fenestration on the elongated body, and a needle hub. The device further includes a dilator disposed on and slideable along the elongated body of the needle and a medical article. The medical article is disposed on and slideable along the dilator. The dilator and the needle form one or more spaces in communication with the side fenestration. At least portions of the dilator and the medical article are configured so as to allow visual determination of the presence of a bodily fluid within the space. The outer surface of the needle and the inner surface of the dilator can include a surfactant. Further, at least one of the needle and dilator can further comprise a vent in communication with the space that allows for the escape of air from the space and inhibits the escape of the bodily fluid from the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: ACCESS SCIENTIFIC, INC.
    Inventors: Janelle Anderson, Steven F. Bierman, Wei Huang, Richard A. Pluth
  • Publication number: 20110009827
    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: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: ACCESS SCIENTIFIC, INC.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth
  • Patent number: 7837655
    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: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Wayne T. Mitchell, Richard A. Pluth
  • Patent number: 7811258
    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: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 7799001
    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: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Publication number: 20100222748
    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: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth, Wayne T. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7785295
    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 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 7762991
    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 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Venetec International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Wayne T. Mitchell, Richard A. Pluth
  • Patent number: D622841
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: D624643
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Access Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth
  • Patent number: D629513
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth, Wayne T. Mitchell
  • Patent number: D629514
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: D630729
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Access Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth