Patents by Inventor Thomas Bender, II

Thomas Bender, II 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: 11833302
    Abstract: An anesthesia vaporizer system includes a vaporizer reservoir forming a sump chamber that contains liquid anesthetic agent and a fill chamber isolated from the sump chamber configured to receive liquid anesthetic agent from a refill container. A piston is in the sump chamber configured to maintain a constant force on the liquid anesthetic agent in the sump chamber, and a transfer valve is configured to permit the liquid anesthetic agent to flow from the fill chamber to the sump chamber. The vaporizer reservoir has an outlet port that delivers the liquid anesthetic agent from the sump chamber to a vaporizing system that vaporizes the liquid anesthetic agent for delivery to a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Bender, II, Joseph Lacey, Russell Kuzelka, David Wahl
  • Patent number: 11717636
    Abstract: An anesthesia vaporizer system includes a sump chamber, a variable volume reservoir within the sump chamber, and an anesthetic vaporizer. The variable volume reservoir is configured to contain anesthetic agent. A pressurized gas source is connected to the sump chamber and configured to maintain a constant pressure within the sump chamber to compress the variable volume reservoir to force the anesthetic agent through the anesthetic vaporizer, which vaporizes the liquid anesthetic agent for delivery to a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC
    Inventors: Joseph James Lacey, Brady Weigel, Thomas Bender, II
  • Publication number: 20220016385
    Abstract: A system for tracking anesthetic agent in a vaporizer reservoir can include a mass flow sensor configured to measure a flow rate entering or exiting a vaporizer chamber, a gas pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure of a mixed gas provided from the vaporizer chamber, and a processor to calculate a remaining agent time based on at least the gas flow rate, the pressure of the mixed gas, and an anesthetic concentration in the mixed gas. The processor can also provide the remaining agent time for display to a clinician.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Julie Anne Mills, Joseph Lacey, Thomas Bender, II, Russell Kuzelka, David Michael Wahl
  • Patent number: 11154686
    Abstract: A system for tracking anesthetic agent in a vaporizer reservoir includes a mass flow sensor configured to measure a flow rate entering or exiting a vaporizer chamber, a gas pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure of a mixed gas provided from the vaporizer chamber, a gas temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the mixed gas provided from the vaporizer chamber, and an agent time module executable on a processor. The agent time module is configured to calculate a remaining agent time based on at least the gas flow rate, the pressure of the mixed gas, the temperature of the mixed gas, and an anesthetic concentration in the mixed gas. The remaining agent time is then provided for display on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Julie Anne Mills, Thomas Bender, II, Joseph Lacey, Russell Kuzelka, David Michael Wahl
  • Publication number: 20210322694
    Abstract: An anesthesia vaporizer system includes a vaporizer reservoir forming a sump chamber that contains liquid anesthetic agent and a fill chamber isolated from the sump chamber configured to receive liquid anesthetic agent from a refill container. A piston is in the sump chamber configured to maintain a constant force on the liquid anesthetic agent in the sump chamber, and a transfer valve is configured to permit the liquid anesthetic agent to flow from the fill chamber to the sump chamber. The vaporizer reservoir has an outlet port that delivers the liquid anesthetic agent from the sump chamber to a vaporizing system that vaporizes the liquid anesthetic agent for delivery to a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Bender, II, Joseph Lacey, Russell Kuzelka, David Wahl
  • Patent number: 11077268
    Abstract: An anesthesia vaporizer system includes a vaporizer reservoir forming a sump chamber containing a liquid anesthetic agent, a piston that forms a first chamber on a first side of the piston. The vaporizer reservoir has a fill port configured to receive a refill container containing liquid anesthetic agent and to permit flow into the first chamber. A motor moves the piston between a first position and a second position, wherein the volume of the first chamber increases as the piston moves from the first position towards the second position. The liquid anesthetic agent is thereby drawn from the refill container into the first chamber. A transfer valve is configured to permit the liquid anesthetic agent to flow from the first chamber into the sump chamber. An outlet port delivers the liquid anesthetic agent from the sump chamber into a vaporizing system that vaporizes it for delivery to a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Bender, II, Joseph Lacey, Russell Kuzelka, David Wahl
  • Publication number: 20210093826
    Abstract: An anesthesia vaporizer system includes a sump chamber, a variable volume reservoir within the sump chamber, and an anesthetic vaporizer. The variable volume reservoir is configured to contain anesthetic agent. A pressurized gas source is connected to the sump chamber and configured to maintain a constant pressure within the sump chamber to compress the variable volume reservoir to force the anesthetic agent through the anesthetic vaporizer, which vaporizes the liquid anesthetic agent for delivery to a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Joseph James Lacey, Brady Weigel, Thomas Bender, II
  • Publication number: 20190358424
    Abstract: A system for tracking anesthetic agent in a vaporizer reservoir includes a mass flow sensor configured to measure a flow rate entering or exiting a vaporizer chamber, a gas pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure of a mixed gas provided from the vaporizer chamber, a gas temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the mixed gas provided from the vaporizer chamber, and an agent time module executable on a processor. The agent time module is configured to calculate a remaining agent time based on at least the gas flow rate, the pressure of the mixed gas, the temperature of the mixed gas, and an anesthetic concentration in the mixed gas. The remaining agent time is then provided for display on a display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Julie Anne Mills, Thomas Bender, II, Joseph Lacey, Russell Kuzelka, David Michael Wahl
  • Publication number: 20190117921
    Abstract: An anesthesia vaporizer system includes a vaporizer reservoir forming a sump chamber containing a liquid anesthetic agent, a piston that forms a first chamber on a first side of the piston. The vaporizer reservoir has a fill port configured to receive a refill container containing liquid anesthetic agent and to permit flow into the first chamber. A motor moves the piston between a first position and a second position, wherein the volume of the first chamber increases as the piston moves from the first position towards the second position. The liquid anesthetic agent is thereby drawn from the refill container into the first chamber. A transfer valve is configured to permit the liquid anesthetic agent to flow from the first chamber into the sump chamber. An outlet port delivers the liquid anesthetic agent from the sump chamber into a vaporizing system that vaporizes it for delivery to a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Bender, II, Joseph Lacey, Russell Kuzelka, David Wahl
  • Patent number: 9433742
    Abstract: A vaporizer filler includes a fill port. The fill port defines an open interior. The open interior is configured to receive the nozzle of an anesthetic bottle. An agent reservoir is configured to receive and store anesthetic agent. A valve is disposed between the open interior and the agent reservoir. At least one vent extends through the fill port. A method of filling a vaporizer includes inserting the nozzle of a bottle filled with anesthetic agent into a vaporizer filler. At least one vent is occluded from fluid communication. Fluid communication between and open interior and an agent reservoir is opened. Anesthetic agent is poured into an agent reservoir of a vaporizer. Fluid communication is closed between the open interior and the agent reservoir. At least one vent is opened to fluid communication with the open interior. Pressure within the open interior is released through the at least one vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Russell C. Manzke, Thomas Bender, II, David G. Barton, Michael S. Morrissey, Robert Q. Tham
  • Publication number: 20150217080
    Abstract: A vaporizer filler includes a fill port. The fill port defines an open interior. The open interior is configured to receive the nozzle of an anesthetic bottle. An agent reservoir is configured to receive and store anesthetic agent. A valve is disposed between the open interior and the agent reservoir. At least one vent extends through the fill port. A method of filling a vaporizer includes inserting the nozzle of a bottle filled with anesthetic agent into a vaporizer filler. At least one vent is occluded from fluid communication. Fluid communication between and open interior and an agent reservoir is opened. Anesthetic agent is poured into an agent reservoir of a vaporizer. Fluid communication is closed between the open interior and the agent reservoir. At least one vent is opened to fluid communication with the open interior. Pressure within the open interior is released through the at least one vent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Russell C. Manzke, Thomas Bender, II, David G. Barton, Michael S. Morrissey, Robert Q. Tham
  • Patent number: 9061114
    Abstract: A vaporizer filler includes a fill port. The fill port defines an open interior. The open interior is configured to receive the nozzle of an anesthetic bottle. An agent reservoir is configured to receive and store anesthetic agent. A valve is disposed between the open interior and the agent reservoir. At least one vent extends through the fill port. A method of filling a vaporizer includes inserting the nozzle of a bottle filled with anesthetic agent into a vaporizer filler. At least one vent is occluded from fluid communication. Fluid communication between and open interior and an agent reservoir is opened. Anesthetic agent is poured into an agent reservoir of a vaporizer. Fluid communication is closed between the open interior and the agent reservoir. At least one vent is opened to fluid communication with the open interior. Pressure within the open interior is released through the at least one vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Russell C. Manzke, Thomas Bender, II, David G. Barton, Michael S. Morrissey, Robert Q. Tham
  • Publication number: 20130126464
    Abstract: A vaporizer filler includes a fill port. The fill port defines an open interior. The open interior is configured to receive the nozzle of an anesthetic bottle. An agent reservoir is configured to receive and store anesthetic agent. A valve is disposed between the open interior and the agent reservoir. At least one vent extends through the fill port. A method of filling a vaporizer includes inserting the nozzle of a bottle filled with anesthetic agent into a vaporizer filler. At least one vent is occluded from fluid communication. Fluid communication between and open interior and an agent reservoir is opened. Anesthetic agent is poured into an agent reservoir of a vaporizer. Fluid communication is closed between the open interior and the agent reservoir. At least one vent is opened to fluid communication with the open interior. Pressure within the open interior is released through the at least one vent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Russell C. Manzke, Thomas Bender, II, David G. Barton, Michael S. Morrissey, Robert Q. Tham