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: 20090254040
    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: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: VENETEC INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth
  • Patent number: 7591803
    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: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 7578804
    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 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: 7568484
    Abstract: A system for securing an endo-tracheal tube or other medical article in position upon a patient includes a head contact member, retainer, and attachment members which can be adjustably attached between the head contact member and the retainer. Certain embodiments of the head contact member have a concave shape which follows a portion of the patient's skull and may have a rigid or flexible structure. In certain embodiments, a flexible head contact member includes straps forming a closed loop. In certain embodiment, the attachment members are integral to one or both of the head contact member and the retainer. The attachment member attaches to the retainer which grips the endo-tracheal tube or other medical article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth
  • Patent number: 7563251
    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: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth, Wayne T. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20090145440
    Abstract: A system for securing an endo-tracheal tube or other medical article in position upon a patient includes a head contact member, retainer, and attachment members which can be adjustably attached between the head contact member and the retainer. The retainer may include a bite block. Certain embodiments of the head contact member have a concave shape which follows a portion of the patient's skull and may have a rigid or flexible structure. The attachment member attaches to the retainer which grips the endo-tracheal tube or other medical article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth
  • Publication number: 20090143744
    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: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Wayne T. Mitchell, Richard A. Pluth
  • Publication number: 20090143740
    Abstract: A catheter securement device (100) 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 (100) includes a retainer (120) and at least one anchor pad (110). The retainer (120) has one or more curved ribs (280) into which at least a portion of the medical article is inserted. The retainer (120) includes a spine (145) that extends in a proximal direction from the retainer (120). The spine (145) includes a clip (147) having an abutment surface 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 retainer (120), inhibits longitudinal movement of the medical article in both proximal and distal directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth
  • Publication number: 20090131780
    Abstract: An arm positioning system for a diagnostic procedure such as an MRI can include a positioning block and a retention device (such as a thumb strap). The retention device and the positioning block can be coupled together (e.g. by hook and loop fasteners) to allow them to position a patient's arm in various desired positions. The retention device and positioning block can be composed of materials that do not interfere with the diagnostic device. 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: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Anne C. O'Connor, Steven F. Bierman, Douglas Bates
  • Patent number: 7520870
    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: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Publication number: 20090093766
    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: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth, Wayne T. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7491190
    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: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Wayne T. Mitchell, Richard A. Pluth
  • Publication number: 20090043260
    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: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Publication number: 20090036835
    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: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: Venetec International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven F. Bierman
  • Publication number: 20080262431
    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 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. A track extends in a proximal direction from the dilator. The needle hub slides along at least a portion of the track between a first position and a second position. The device further includes 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Access Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Janelle Anderson, Steven F. Bierman, Wei Huang, Richard A. Pluth
  • Publication number: 20080262430
    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: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: Access Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Janelle Anderson, Michael Tal, Steven F. Bierman
  • Patent number: D594981
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Access Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth
  • Patent number: D600793
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Access Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth
  • Patent number: D601242
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Access Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth
  • Patent number: D601243
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Access Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven F. Bierman, Richard A. Pluth