Patents by Inventor Thomas F. Fangrow

Thomas F. Fangrow 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: 20190070405
    Abstract: An example of a method of enabling medical fluid transfer between a source container and a destination container can comprise the steps of providing a closed-system fluid transfer module comprising a first closeable, resealable medical connector and a second closeable, resealable medical connector, a multidirectional fluid control valve with a driving interface configured to interface with an electromechanical driver of an electronic medical fluid transfer device, and an intermediate container or an intermediate pumping region; and instructing a user to couple the closed-system fluid transfer module to the electronic medical fluid transfer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventor: Thomas F. Fangrow
  • Patent number: 10201476
    Abstract: According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, an adaptor configured to couple with a sealed vial can include a connector interface. The adaptor can include one or more access channels (e.g., passages). In some cases the one or more access channels are in fluid communication with the connector interface. The adaptor can include a piercing member. The piercing member can include a regulator channel. The adaptor can include a regulator assembly. The regulator assembly can include a first regulator inlet. In some cases, the regulator includes a second regulator inlet. One or more of the first and second regulator inlets can include a filter configured to filter fluid passing into and/or out of the respective regulator inlets. One or more valves can be positioned between the first and/or second regulator inlets and the piercing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: ICU Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Fangrow
  • Publication number: 20190038886
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a luer connector comprising a housing having a hollow bore therethrough, a first end, and a second end, a male luer tip supported by the housing configured to rotate with respect to the housing, the luer tip having a first open end and a passageway through the luer tip in fluid communication with the first open end, and a substantially rigid internal member extending into the passageway of the luer tip toward the first open end of the luer tip. In some embodiments, at least one of the luer tip and the internal member can be axially moveable between a first closed position and a second open position relative to the other of the luer tip and the internal member. Further, the luer tip and the internal member can cooperate such that rotation of the luer tip in a first direction relative to the housing increases an axial displacement between the first open end of the luer tip and an end portion of the internal member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas F. Fangrow, Bruce Hubrecht, Harold Anderson, Christopher Lopez
  • Patent number: 10195413
    Abstract: A medical connector for use in a fluid pathway includes a substantially transparent housing having a proximal end with a proximal opening and a distal end with a distal opening, and a cavity extending therebetween. The connector provides a substantially visible fluid flow path extending through a substantial portion of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: ICU Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: George A. Lopez, Thomas F. Fangrow, Bob Foret
  • Patent number: 10188849
    Abstract: An example of a method of enabling medical fluid transfer between a source container and a destination container can comprise the steps of providing a closed-system fluid transfer module comprising a first closeable, resealable medical connector and a second closeable, resealable medical connector, a multidirectional fluid control valve with a driving interface configured to interface with an electromechanical driver of an electronic medical fluid transfer device, and an intermediate container or an intermediate pumping region; and instructing a user to couple the closed-system fluid transfer module to the electronic medical fluid transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ICU Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Fangrow
  • Publication number: 20190001114
    Abstract: Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a medical connector with an internal cavity with an internal closure system having a dome valve configured to resist retrograde fluid flow caused by various sources, including patient activity and fluid administration activity. A proximal closure system with a seal member and a moveable plug are also located within the internal cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventor: Thomas F. Fangrow
  • Publication number: 20190000717
    Abstract: A vial adaptor can include a connector interface and/or a piercing member. The vial adaptor can include a regulator assembly. The regulator assembly can include a regulator base, a regulator nest coupled with the regulator base, and/or a storage chamber formed at least partially by one or both of the regulator base and regulator nest. The regulator assembly can include a cover connected to one or both of the regulator base and regulator nest and fitted around a radially outward portion of one or both of the regulator base and regulator nest. In some cases, the regular assembly includes a flexible enclosure connected to the regulator nest and configured to transition between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration. In some cases, the flexible enclosure is inhibited from transitioning to the expanded configuration prior to removal or modification of the cover from the regulator assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventor: Thomas F. Fangrow
  • Patent number: 10156306
    Abstract: A connector system for medical fluid includes a male connector and a female connector that have a closed configuration when detached from one another. The first end of the male connector is configured to mate with a first end of the female connector. When the male connector is coupled with the female connector, complementary structures engage to move seals away from ports in the male connector and the female connector, opening a fluid pathway through the connectors. The mating ends of the connectors are not exposed to the medical fluid when the connectors are coupled so that when the connectors are disconnected, the mating ends are substantially free of residual medical fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: ICU Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Fangrow
  • Publication number: 20180333568
    Abstract: A medical connector includes a housing with a central axis, a hollow bore, and a narrowed passage. The connector further includes a rigid valve member configured to move along the axis of the connector as the connector moves between an open and closed configuration. The connector includes a resilient member coupled to the valve member and the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas F. Fangrow, JR.
  • Patent number: 10117807
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a vial adaptor comprises a housing configured to couple the adaptor with a vial, an access channel, a regulator channel, and a regulator assembly. The access channel is configured to facilitate withdrawal of fluid from the vial when the adaptor is coupled to the vial. The regulator channel is configured to facilitate a flow of a regulating fluid from the regulator assembly to compensate for changes in volume of a medical fluid in the vial. In some embodiments, the regulator assembly includes a flexible member configured to expand and contract in accordance with changes in the volume of the medical fluid in the vial. In some embodiments, the flexible member is substantially free to expand and contract. In some embodiments, the flexible member is not partly or completely located in a rigid enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: ICU MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Fangrow
  • Publication number: 20180289942
    Abstract: A soft grip medical connector comprises a housing with an upstream end, a downstream end and a lumen extending through a central portion thereof. A flexible member comprises a valve portion integrally formed with a sleeve portion. The valve portion is positioned within a section of the housing and is configured to control a flow of fluid through the housing lumen. The sleeve is inverted to envelope at least a portion of the outer surface of the housing. In some embodiments the gripping portion is integrally formed with the valve portion. In some embodiments, the connector is also generally configured to create a positive pressure in a catheter lumen upon removal of a syringe or other medical device from the upstream end of the connector. Methods of making a medical fluid connector generally comprise forming a valve member with a sleeve extending there from, and assembling the valve, sleeve and housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas F. Fangrow
  • Publication number: 20180280240
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a vial adaptor for removing liquid contents from a vial comprises a piercing member and a bag. The bag can be contained within the piercing member such that the bag is introduced to the vial when the vial adaptor is coupled with the vial. In some embodiments, the bag expands within the vial as liquid is removed from the vial via the adaptor, thereby regulating pressure within the vial. In other embodiments, a vial comprises a bag for regulating pressure within the vial as liquid is removed therefrom. In some embodiments, a vial adaptor is coupled with the vial in order to remove the liquid. In some embodiments, as the liquid is removed from the vial via the adaptor, the bag expands within the vial, and in other embodiments, the bag contracts within the vial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas F. Fangrow, John M. Seifert
  • Patent number: 10086188
    Abstract: Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a medical connector having a backflow resistance module configured to prevent fluid from being drawn into the connector when a backflow inducing event occurs. In some embodiments, the backflow resistance module can include a variable-volume chamber configured to change in volume in response to a backflow-inducing event and a check valve configured to resist backflow. In some embodiments, the medical connector can include a fluid diverter configured to direct fluid flowing through the medical connector into the variable volume chamber to prevent fluid stagnation therein. In some embodiments, the medical connector includes a body member, a base member, a seal member, a support member, and a valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: ICU Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Fangrow
  • Publication number: 20180272117
    Abstract: An example of a method of enabling medical fluid transfer between a source container and a destination container can comprise the steps of providing a closed-system fluid transfer module comprising a first closeable, resealable medical connector and a second closeable, resealable medical connector, a multidirectional fluid control valve with a driving interface configured to interface with an electromechanical driver of an electronic medical fluid transfer device, and an intermediate container or an intermediate pumping region; and instructing a user to couple the closed-system fluid transfer module to the electronic medical fluid transfer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas F. Fangrow
  • Publication number: 20180250195
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a vial adaptor comprises a housing configured to couple the adaptor with a vial, an access channel, a regulator channel, and a regulator assembly. The access channel is configured to facilitate withdrawal of fluid from the vial when the adaptor is coupled to the vial. The regulator channel is configured to facilitate a flow of a regulating fluid from the regulator assembly to compensate for changes in volume of a medical fluid in the vial. In some embodiments, the regulator assembly includes a flexible member configured to expand and contract in accordance with changes in the volume of the medical fluid in the vial. In some embodiments, the flexible member is substantially free to expand and contract. In some embodiments, the flexible member is not partly or completely located in a rigid enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas F. Fangrow
  • Patent number: 10046154
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a luer connector comprising a housing having a hollow bore therethrough, a first end, and a second end, a male luer tip supported by the housing configured to rotate with respect to the housing, the luer tip having a first open end and a passageway through the luer tip in fluid communication with the first open end, and a substantially rigid internal member extending into the passageway of the luer tip toward the first open end of the luer tip. In some embodiments, at least one of the luer tip and the internal member can be axially moveable between a first closed position and a second open position relative to the other of the luer tip and the internal member. Further, the luer tip and the internal member can cooperate such that rotation of the luer tip in a first direction relative to the housing increases an axial displacement between the first open end of the luer tip and an end portion of the internal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: ICU Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Fangrow, Bruce Hubrecht, Harold Anderson, Christopher Lopez
  • Publication number: 20180207063
    Abstract: Some embodiments disclosed herein related to a device for transferring precise amounts of fluid from at least one source container to at least one target container. In some embodiments, the fluid is first transferred from the source container (e.g., a vial) through a connector to an intermediate measuring container (e.g., a syringe). In some embodiments air can pass through an air inlet and enter the vial to compensate for the volume of fluid withdrawn from the vial. An air check valve or a bag or a filter can prevent the fluid from escaping through the air inlet. The precisely measured amount of fluid can then be transferred from the intermediate measuring container to the target container (e.g., an IV bag). In some embodiments the connector can include a source check valve and a target check valve to direct fluid first from the source container to the intermediate measuring container and then from the intermediate measuring container to the target container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: George A. Lopez, Thomas F. Fangrow, Peter Leissling, Matthias Janssen
  • Publication number: 20180172190
    Abstract: A connector system for medical fluid includes a male connector and a female connector that have a closed configuration when detached from one another. The first end of the male connector is configured to mate with a first end of the female connector. When the male connector is coupled with the female connector, complementary structures engage to move seals away from ports in the male connector and the female connector, opening a fluid pathway through the connectors. The mating ends of the connectors are not exposed to the medical fluid when the connectors are coupled so that when the connectors are disconnected, the mating ends are substantially free of residual medical fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas F. Fangrow
  • Publication number: 20180161244
    Abstract: Fluid transfer systems are disclosed that can be configured to transfer precise amounts of fluid from a source container to a target container. The fluid transfer system can have multiple fluid transfer stations for transferring fluids into multiple target containers or for combining different types of fluids into a single target container to form a mixture. The fluid transfer system can include a pump and a destination sensor, such as a weight sensor. The fluid transfer system can be configured to flush remaining fluid out of a connector to reduce waste, using air or a flushing fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: George A. Lopez, Thomas F. Fangrow
  • Patent number: D837983
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: ICU Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Fangrow