Patents by Inventor Ulrich Rankers

Ulrich Rankers 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: 8663201
    Abstract: An infusion system that includes a controller device and a communication system to provide for two-way communication between the controller device and an infusion device that controls delivery of fluids to a user's body. Either the controller device or the infusion device may be integrated with a characteristic determining device in a single housing. The housing, in turn, may include a test-strip receptacle and an illuminator disposed so as to illuminate an area covering the receptacle and a test-strip inserted therein. The illuminator may be configured to be activated automatically when a test strip is inserted into the receptacle, selectively by the user via a button, key, or similar mechanism, and/or when the ambient light level, measured, e.g., with a light sensor, falls below a predetermined intensity. The illuminator may be a LED emitting white light, and may provide illumination at various levels of intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Medtronic Minimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Hill, Ulrich Rankers, Sheldon B. Moberg, Daniel Chan Chiu
  • Publication number: 20120010562
    Abstract: An infusion system that includes a controller device and a communication system to provide for two-way communication between the controller device and an infusion device that controls delivery of fluids to a user's body. Either the controller device or the infusion device may be integrated with a characteristic determining device in a single housing. The housing, in turn, may include a test-strip receptacle and an illuminator disposed so as to illuminate an area covering the receptacle and a test-strip inserted therein. The illuminator may be configured to be activated automatically when a test strip is inserted into the receptacle, selectively by the user via a button, key, or similar mechanism, and/or when the ambient light level, measured, e.g., with a light sensor, falls below a predetermined intensity. The illuminator may be a LED emitting white light, and may provide illumination at various levels of intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: MICHAEL A. HILL, Ulrich Rankers, Sheldon B. Moberg, Daniel Chan Chiu
  • Publication number: 20110009725
    Abstract: A medical device system includes a portable (patient-worn or patient-carried) medical device that can automatically initiate certain e-commerce and/or advertisement presentation features in response to the detection of one or more triggering events. A triggering even may, for example, be associated with the monitoring of the operation or status of the medical device, the operation or status of the medical device system, a medical condition of the patient, treatment of the patient, and/or the preferences of the patient or user. In one application, the medical device is an insulin infusion pump and the user is automatically prompted to purchase, order, or otherwise obtain replaceable or replenishable items associated with the operation of the insulin infusion pump, such as a continuous glucose sensor, an infusion set, or an insulin reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. HILL, Ulrich RANKERS
  • Publication number: 20110009724
    Abstract: A medical device system includes a portable (patient-worn or patient-carried) medical device that can automatically initiate certain e-commerce and/or advertisement presentation features in response to the detection of one or more triggering events. A triggering even may, for example, be associated with the monitoring of the operation or status of the medical device, the operation or status of the medical device system, a medical condition of the patient, treatment of the patient, and/or the preferences of the patient or user. In one application, the medical device is an insulin infusion pump and the user is automatically prompted to purchase, order, or otherwise obtain replaceable or replenishable items associated with the operation of the insulin infusion pump, such as a continuous glucose sensor, an infusion set, or an insulin reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. HILL, Ulrich RANKERS
  • Publication number: 20110010257
    Abstract: A medical device system includes a portable (patient-worn or patient-carried) medical device that can automatically initiate certain e-commerce and/or advertisement presentation features in response to the detection of one or more triggering events. A triggering even may, for example, be associated with the monitoring of the operation or status of the medical device, the operation or status of the medical device system, a medical condition of the patient, treatment of the patient, and/or the preferences of the patient or user. In one application, the medical device is an insulin infusion pump and the user is automatically prompted to purchase, order, or otherwise obtain replaceable or replenishable items associated with the operation of the insulin infusion pump, such as a continuous glucose sensor, an infusion set, or an insulin reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. HILL, Ulrich RANKERS
  • Publication number: 20110009813
    Abstract: In a medical device having a display element, a method of providing an intuitive graphical display of patient data begins by obtaining measurement data corresponding to values of a physiological characteristic measured over a period of time. The method continues by rendering a graphical representation of a portion of the measurement data on the display element, resulting in a display of the values of the physiological characteristic measured during a first interval of the period of time. Thereafter, the method processes a user-initiated display panning command and, in response to the user-initiated display panning command, dynamically pans the graphical representation while updating the portion of the measurement data. Thereafter, the method renders a display of the values of the physiological characteristic measured during a second interval of the period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventor: Ulrich RANKERS
  • Publication number: 20100249530
    Abstract: A method of providing bolus dosage recommendations for diabetics includes receiving an image of a meal to be consumed by a user. The image is analyzed to identify at least one food item in the image. A bolus dosage recommendation is calculated based on the identified at least one food item in the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Ulrich Rankers, Andrew Michael Bryan, Eric S. Chen
  • Publication number: 20100010330
    Abstract: A monitor device for a fluid infusion system and its operating, display, and data processing characteristics are described herein. One embodiment of the monitor device is used in an insulin infusion system having an insulin infusion pump and a continuous glucose sensor transmitter. The monitor device is configured as a wireless bedside monitor that wirelessly receives status data from a device in the fluid infusion system, such as the infusion pump or the sensor transmitter. The monitor device supports a number of user interface features, alarm/alert features, and graphical display features, where such features enhance the overall operation and user-friendliness of the monitor device. For example, the monitor device can generate status icons that graphically indicate the time remaining for an exhaustible operating quantity of a device in the infusion system (e.g., a battery charge, a fluid reservoir volume, or a calibration or replacement period).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Ulrich Rankers, Bradley J. Enegren, Rebecca K. Gottlieb, Jino Han, Kris R. Holtzclaw, Peter I. Hong, Emilian Istoc, John J. Mastrototaro, Sheldon B. Moberg, Cary Talbot, Gary L. Williams, Arieh S. Halpern
  • Publication number: 20090227873
    Abstract: A method for visualizing data in an ultrasound probe system in which a display is arranged in a housing of an ultrasound probe in a position in which it is visible and the display is controlled to display data relating to a transducer of the probe and/or the probe. By providing a display on connection with the housing of the ultrasound probe, the user can view functional parameters of the transducer or transducer settings and probe settings while maintaining the transducer in a common field of view with the patient or object being examined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Robert Mesaros, Ulrich Rankers
  • Publication number: 20090227855
    Abstract: An infusion system that includes a controller device and a communication system to provide for two-way communication between the controller device and an infusion device that controls delivery of fluids to a user's body. Either the controller device or the infusion device may be integrated with a characteristic determining device in a single housing. The housing, in turn, may include a test-strip receptacle and an illuminator disposed so as to illuminate an area covering the receptacle and a test-strip inserted therein. The illuminator may be configured to be activated automatically when a test strip is inserted into the receptacle, selectively by the user via a button, key, or similar mechanism, and/or when the ambient light level, measured, e.g., with a light sensor, falls below a predetermined intensity. The illuminator may be a LED emitting white light, and may provide illumination at various levels of intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. Hill, Ulrich Rankers, Sheldon B. Moberg, Daniel Chan Chiu
  • Publication number: 20080300572
    Abstract: A monitor device for a fluid infusion system and its operating, display, and data processing characteristics are described herein. One embodiment of the monitor device is used in an insulin infusion system having an insulin infusion pump and a continuous glucose sensor transmitter. The monitor device is configured as a wireless bedside monitor that wirelessly receives status data from a device in the fluid infusion system, such as the infusion pump or the sensor transmitter. The monitor device supports a number of user interface features, alarm/alert features, and graphical display features, where such features enhance the overall operation and user-friendliness of the monitor device. For example, the monitor device can generate status icons that graphically indicate the time remaining for an exhaustible operating quantity of a device in the infusion system (e.g., a battery charge, a fluid reservoir volume, or a calibration or replacement period).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC MINIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Ulrich Rankers, Bradley J. Enegren, Rebecca K. Gottlieb, Jino Han, Kris R. Holtzclaw, Peter I. Hong, Emilian Istoc, John J. Mastrototaro, Sheldon B. Moberg, Cary Talbot, Gary L. Williams, Arieh S. Halpern
  • Publication number: 20040068185
    Abstract: A cart-borne ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system includes an image display which is mounted on an articulating mechanism on the cart. The articulating mechanism enables the image display to be moved relative to the cart from a nominal centered and forward-facing position to the side of the cart and to be rotated toward the side of the cart. The image display can also be articulated to face upward or downward from its nominal position. The image display includes a handle mounted on the front of the display which can be gripped by the user to move the display rotationally, forward and back, left and right, and to face upward or downward. Either a CRT display or a flat panel display can be articulated in this manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Elizabeth A. Marshall, Daryl E. Schilke, Ulrich Rankers
  • Patent number: 6663569
    Abstract: A cart-borne ultrasound system is described which includes a portable cart holding the electronic circuitry of the ultrasound system, a control panel for controlling the ultrasound system, and a display. The control panel is supported by an articulating mechanism which enables the control panel to be raised and lowered to accommodate operators of different height, and enables the control panel to move toward and away from the user to accommodate users in the sitting or standing positions. In a preferred embodiment the articulating mechanism comprises a parallelogram-shaped linkage which also maintains a constant angle of inclination of the control panel as it is raised and lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Jay Wilkins, Robert Mesaros, Yas Matsui, Randall Dean Lord, John Russell Murkowski, William Hollman, Ulrich Rankers
  • Publication number: 20030220564
    Abstract: A cart-borne ultrasound system is described which includes a portable cart holding the electronic circuitry of the ultrasound system, a control panel for controlling the ultrasound system, and a display. The control panel is supported by an articulating mechanism which enables the control panel to be raised and lowered to accommodate operators of different height, and enables the control panel to move toward and away from the user to accommodate users in the sitting or standing positions. In a preferred embodiment the articulating mechanism comprises a parallelogram-shaped linkage which also maintains a constant angle of inclination of the control panel as it is raised and lowered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Jay Wilkins, Robert Mesaros, Yas Matsui, Randall Dean Lord, John Russell Murkowski, William Hollman, Ulrich Rankers
  • Patent number: D444777
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation
    Inventors: Roland Bird, Theo van het Hof, Wick Thijssen, Andrew Franklin Hartmann, Lisa Yong, Ulrich Rankers, Leo Pekelharing, Baltazar Franco, Fernando M. Serpa
  • Patent number: D434747
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation
    Inventors: Roland Bird, Theo van het Hof, Wick Thijssen, Andrew Hartmann, Lisa Yong, Ulrich Rankers, Leo Pekelharing, Baltazar Franco, Fernando Serpa