Nxstage Medical, Inc.

C. R. Bard, Inc.

Kenneth Everett Buckler

James M Brugger

Dennis M Treu

Scott W Newell

Jeffrey H Burbank

William J Schnell

William K Weigel

Martin J Weinstein

David Farias De Souza

Alfred P Intoccia

Joseph A Hoell, Jr

Charles L Stanley

Joseph John Raneri

Bulent Sert

Eric Zoglio

M Dominika Kulinski

Frank B McFall

Ven Ramen

A method for measuring pressure includes securing a flow channel to a chassis of a measurement device, the flow channel having a flexible wall with a first mechanical engagement feature presented from an external surface thereof. The method also includes engaging the mechanical engagement feature with a complementary engagement member connected to a force transducer, the securing being effective to immobilize the flow channel relative to the force transducer, and detecting at least one of the position and orientation of the of the flow channel relative to transducer and comparing to at least one of a predefined position and orientation. Further, the method includes generating a signal responsive to the detecting, flowing a fluid through the flow channel, and transmitting forces caused by displacement of the flexible wall through the complementary engagement member to the force transducer. Further, electrical signals are generated responsively to a state of the force transducer.

Pressure measurement devices, methods, and systems

A flow switch device includes a flow switch with four ports oriented at 90 degree intervals around a center of the flow switch. The flow switch is of a type that forms selectable flow passages between ports separated by 90 degrees and blocks flow between ports separated by 180 degrees in each of multiple selected positions. Two of the ports are connected to fixed flow passages and each of the fixed flow passages defines a flow path toward a remote port separated from each of the fixed flow passages by 180 degrees so that each of the fixed flow passages and a respective remote port are positioned in pairs on opposite sides of the flow switch.

Flow reversing device

A line mount includes a treatment machine having a housing and one or more magnets or ferromagnetic elements mounted thereon, a line holder having at least one complementary one of magnets and ferromagnetic elements such as to cause the line holder to be attachable magnetically to the housing. The one or more magnets or ferromagnetic elements being numbered and arranged to permit the line holder to be supported thereby in multiple positions and orientations relative to the housing.

Line holder

A method of controlling flow through a flexible tube includes providing a pinch clamp mechanism including a pinching element and a pinching surface configured to apply a force on the flexible tube when the flexible tube is positioned between the pinching element and the pinching surface. The method also includes displacing the pinching element relative to the pinching surface with a mechanical drive unit and biasing the pinching element toward the pinching surface with a spring.

Pinch clamp devices, methods, and systems

A pressure measurement pod for use in blood circuits includes a pressure sensing pod defining a chamber and having a rigid wall portion and an integral flexible wall portion forming a flexible, moveable, fluid-impermeable diaphragm with a first major side thereof facing an interior of the chamber and a second major side opposite the first major side. The second major side faces outwardly away from the chamber, and the pod has ports on sides of the chamber. The internal surfaces of the chamber and ports are shaped such that any contour following the internal surfaces to the outside of one of the ports traces only surfaces characterized by positive or neutral draft angles such that invasive mold portions may be withdrawn through the ports thereby permitting the pressure measurement pod to be molded in a single shot molding process.

An external support that routes the tubing of a reversing valve in such a manner that connection tubes extend from one end of the device and the treatment device tubes extend from the opposite end. The external support may provide guides that hold the tubing extending from the supported flat rotary switch type of valve so as to keep them from being pinch or kinked thereby ensuring free flow of blood.

A tube clamp closes a flexible tube by applying a pinching force to walls of the flexible tube. The clamp includes a housing connected to a circular flange, the circular flange including a tubular wall surrounding a central bore and including at least one slot in the tubular wall sized to accept the flexible tube. A pinching element is positioned inside the central bore and is rotatable about a central axis of the circular flange. The pinching element includes a pinching projection that has a cross-sectional shape bound by a partial circle, and the partial circle has a radius substantially same as an inner radius of the tubular wall.

A pressure measurement pod for blood circuits can include a flexible, moveable, fluid-impermeable diaphragm and can be formed via either a one-shot or a two-shot molding process. A method of manufacturing a pressure measuring device can include providing first and second major mold parts having recesses defining major parts of a housing, and inserting pins in the first and second major mold parts, the pins being shaped to define a flow channel of a molded pressure measuring pod. One of the pins may have a major face that defines an internal surface of a diaphragm. The method may further include closing the first and second major mold parts with the pins therebetween and injection molding a pressure pod housing. Finally, the pressure pod is removed from the mold parts and the pins are withdrawn from the flow channel.

A linearly actuated pinch clamp is provided, including a housing, a motor connected to the housing, a mechanical drive unit connected to the motor for converting a rotary motion of the motor to a linear motion and for introducing a mechanical advantage to the motion of the motor, and a pinching element having a body and a pinching surface. The pinching element body is coupled to the mechanical drive unit. In certain versions of the pinch clamp, the pinching element is slidably mounted to the housing such that the pinching element is linearly displaceable by the mechanical drive unit between a first position and a second position where the pinching surface cooperates with a fixed surface to pinch closed a flexible tube.

A pressure measurement system for use in blood circuits comprised of a pressure sensing pod and a force measurement device. The pressure sensing pod can include a flexible, moveable, fluid-impermeable diaphragm and can be formed via either a one-shot or a two-shot molding process. A mechanical engagement member of the force measurement device engages with a mechanical engagement feature of the diaphragm, and the engagement member is operative to move in concert with movement of the engagement feature of the diaphragm based on pressure variations with the pressure sensing pod. The force measurement device generates and outputs to a processor a signal based on detected force associated with movement of the engagement member.

Devices can use various features to prevent the disconnection of connectors used in medical treatments. For example, a disconnection prevention member can have ends which hold luer connectors such that a male luer connector is prevented from separating from a female luer connector. The member can thus prevent disconnection of luer connectors that are incompletely mated.

Fluid line connector safety device

Devices having various features to prevent the disconnection of connectors used in medical treatments are disclosed. The devices can prevent disconnection of luer connectors that are incompletely mated.

A port spike for medical fluid containers, such as infusate bags, for example, provides two ports to permit recirculation of fluids within the container. The recirculating flow allows bubbles to settle out which can't happen effectively if the flow is sucked out immediately after entering the container. The spike provides two openings inside the container which prevent such short-circuit flow by ensuring that fluid entering the container is not greatly affected by the suction zone of the flow leaving the container.

Dual access spike for infusate bags

A heat exchanger is provided which may be used in an integrated blood oxygenator and heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has a plurality of wave shaped sinusoidal channels on one or both sides. The heat exchanger has a cap attached at the upper end. The heat exchanger is disposed within a housing. The bottom end of the heat exchanger is bonded to the bottom end of the housing, and the upper end of the heat exchanger with the cap attached is spaced apart from the upper end of the housing. A liquid inlet and outlet are in fluid communication with the inner surface of the heat exchanger. A blood inlet and outlet are in fluid communication with the outer surface of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be used with a blood oxygenating chamber. The blood oxygenating chamber contains a plurality of permeable hollow fibers which oxygenate blood flowing through the blood oxygenating chamber. The blood oxygenating chamber is in fluid communication with the outer surface of the heat exchanger and the blood outlet.

Growing community of inventors

Methuen, MA, United States of America

Kenneth Everett Buckler