Team Medical, LLC

Baxter Corporation Englewood

Valleylab, Inc.

Baxa Corporation

Surginetics, Inc.

Abbott Laboratories Corporation

Faulding Inc.

Olichney, Michael Dickson

Hutchins IV, Loren Havener

Michael Dickson Olichney

Warren Paul Heim

James L Brassell

Brian William Ward

James Robert Hutchison

Joseph V Ranalletta

Roy Sven Hovland

Yuriy Konstantinovich Umanskiy

Tammy Stultz

Loren Havener Hutchins

Joshua Nathan Aumiller

Emery S Rose

Jeffery Jonathan Rau

Robert B Stoddard

Gregory Walter Hall

Alan Broadwin

Michael S Klicek

James Anthony McCrea

David Lee Holien

Jon Paul Page

Stephen Norman Donnigan

Robert Mitchell Clark

Michael A Beaty

Cari Lyn Heffner

John D Rohrbough

Steve K Kele

Arlan J Reschke

Bandele Jeffrey-Coker

Alexander S Kreizman

Richard Wayne LeVaughn

Tammy Lynn Stultz

Joseph Vincent Ranalletta

Loren Havener Hutchins Iv

James Robert Hutchison Iii

James Mccrea

An apparatus and method for gripping a syringe utilizes four gripping members advanceable in different corresponding directions toward a predetermined axis to supportably engage a barrel of a syringe at corresponding circumferentially offset locations. A first motor may be utilized for co-driven advancement of the gripping members in tandem in the different corresponding directions toward the predetermined axis, and for retraction of the gripping members. The gripping members may include corresponding rollers, wherein a single one of the rollers may be rotated in an automated manner during supportive engagement of a syringe by the gripping members. A second motor may be utilized for driven rotation of the single roller. The disclosed embodiments may be utilized for supportive engagement of syringes having a range of syringe diameters.

Syringe gripping apparatus and method

A syringe tip cap is provided for use with an automatic syringe loading apparatus. The cap includes a body having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and having a first end and an opposite second end. The first end is defined by at least one generally 'V'-shaped ramp on each of two sides of the exterior surface.

Tip cap for automatic syringe filling apparatus

A source fluid inlet for an automated filling device. The source fluid inlet may comprise features that limit engagement and/or disengagement of a source fluid tubing set from a port in the source fluid inlet except when the port is disposed in a predetermined load position. In turn, engagement and/or disengagement of the source fluid tubing may be selectively allowed to assist in reduction of interconnection errors of one or more source fluid sources. The source fluid inlet may selectively position a source fluid tubing set in a fill position to facilitate fluid communication with a receptacle to be filled (e.g., a syringe). The source fluid inlet further comprises one or more mechanisms for engagement and/or retention of a cap disposed on a syringe.

Source fluid inlet assembly for automated filling device

A medical liquid filling system and associated methods are provided, the system comprising a disposable and a drive system. The disposable includes a tubular member and a piston slidably disposed within the tubular member for retraction and advancement within at least a first portion of the tubular member. The disposable may include a seal member for sealing the first portion of the tubular member and may be interconnected to the piston for co-movement therewith. The drive system may include a piston drive member selectively interconnectable to the piston for driven advancement and retraction of the piston within the tubular member. The drive system may be interconnected to a controller, which may be operable to automate or semi-automate various filling operations. A user interface may be interconnected to the controller for providing input of various system operation parameters, which may be communicated to the controller to facilitate automated or semi-automated operation of the filing system.

Automated medical liquid filling system and method

A medical liquid filling system and associated methods are provided, the system comprising a disposable and a drive system. The disposable includes a tubular member and a piston slidably disposed within the tubular member for retraction and advancement within at least a first portion of the tubular member. The disposable may include a seal member for sealing the first portion of the tubular member and may be interconnected to the piston for co-movement therewith. The drive system may include a piston drive member selectively interconnectable to the piston for driven advancement and retraction of the piston within the tubular member. The drive system may be interconnected to a controller, which may be operable to automate or semi-automate various filling operations. A user interface may be interconnected to the controller for providing input of various system operation parameters, which may be communicated to the controller to facilitate automated or semi-automated operation of the filling system.

An improved insulating layer for electrosurgical instruments and its use for electrosurgical instruments for reducing smoke generation at a surgical site is disclosed. The insulating layer may include a ceramic material that is substantially sealed with a coating comprising substantially of a material based on polydiorganosiloxanes or derivatives thereof that have been cured. Such an insulating layer may advantageously include one or more insulating materials with pores that have been sealed so as to prevent biological materials from entering the pores with such sealing material preferably containing one or more of silicate materials or materials that form silicates. Heat sinks may be included in various embodiments to establish a thermal gradient away from functional portions of the instrument.

Electrosurgical instrument

A surgical system that applies electrical energy to obtain predetermined surgical effects while improving the control of the application of the energy that is supplied by electrosurgical generators. In one embodiment, a surgical assembly interfaces with and receives power from an electrosurgical generator for executing a first electrosurgical procedure. This surgical assembly may employ a shunt circuit between its power and return lines for providing in effect a voltage limitation and/or to allow a constant power electrosurgical generator to execute an at least substantially constant voltage electrosurgical technique. The electrosurgical assembly may also include a return coupler for directing energy from the patient back to the electrosurgical generator, which in turn may include a dielectric material which interfaces with the patient and which at least initially conveys the return energy via one or more electric fields versus conduction.

Electrosurgical mode conversion system

An improved electrosurgical instrument and method is disclosed for reducing smoke generation at a surgical site. The electrosurgical instrument comprises a metal body having an outer insulating layer to reduce thermal/electrical discharge from non-functional portions of the instrument. In one aspect of the invention, an insulating layer having a thermal conductance of about 1.2 W/cm &deg; K and a dielectric withstand strength of at least about 50 volts is employed. Such insulating layer may advantageously comprise silicon and/or carbon. In another aspect of the invention, the metal body is provided to have a thermal conductivity of at least about 0.35 W/cm&deg; K, and may advantageously comprise a metal selected from the group: gold, silver, aluminum, copper tantalum, tungsten, columbium and molybdenum. In yet a further aspect, the metal body may include an intermediate layer that defines a peripheral edge portion of reduced cross-section (e.g., about 0.001 inches thick or less) for electrosurgical signal transmission. Such intermediate layer may comprise a metal having a melting point of at least about 2600&deg; F. Heat sink means may be included in various embodiments to establish a thermal gradient away from functional portions of the instrument (i.e., by removing heat from the metal body). In one embodiment, the heat sink means may comprise a phase change material that changes from a first phase to a second phase upon absorption of thermal energy from the metal body.

An improved electrosurgical instrument and method is disclosed for reducing smoke generation at a surgical site. The electrosurgical instrument comprises a metal body having an outer insulating layer to reduce thermal/electrical discharge from non-functional portions of the instrument. In one aspect of the invention, an insulating layer having a thermal conductance of about 1.2 W/cm,&deg; K and a dielectric withstand strength of at least about 50 volts is employed. Such insulating layer may advantageously comprise silicon and/or carbon. In another aspect of the invention, the metal body is provided to have a thermal conductivity of at least about 0.35 W/cm&deg; K, and may advantageously comprise a metal selected from the group: gold, silver, aluminum, and copper. Heat sink means may be included in various embodiments to establish a thermal gradient away from functional portions of the instrument (i.e., by removing heat from the metal body). In one embodiment, the heat sink means may comprise a phase change material that changes from a first phase to a second phase upon absorption of thermal energy from the metal body.

An electrosurgical system is disclosed that applies electrical energy to obtain a predetermined surgical effect, while also reducing eschar deposits on a working surface of an electrosurgical instrument, producing an eschar deposit which is easily removed from the working surface and/or facilitating removal of eschar deposits during a cleaning procedure. Such benefits may be realized by providing a negative bias on the working surface relative to a return path to source during electrosurgical procedures and/or during a cleaning procedure which may include contacting the working surface with an electrically conductive liquid. To reduce smoke generation at a surgical site, the electrosurgical instrument may comprise a metal body having an outer insulating layer to reduce thermal/electrical discharge from non-functional portions of the instrument. An insulating layer having a thermal conductance of about 1.2 W/cm,&deg; K and a dielectric withstand strength of at least about 50 volts may be employed. Such insulating layer may advantageously comprise silicon and/or carbon. The metal body may be provided to have a thermal conductivity of at least about 0.35 W/cm&deg; K, and may advantageously comprise a metal selected from the group: gold, silver, aluminum, and copper. Heat sink means may be included in various embodiments to establish a thermal gradient away from functional portions of the instrument (i.e., by removing heat from the metal body).

Electrosurgical system

Indwelling catheter valve

An ultrasonic oscillator drives a tool at a set frequency. An amplitude control runs the oscillator to set the vibration level. A frequency regulator joins the amplitude and the oscillator. A control feedback loop, in the frequency regulator, keeps handpiece linear dynamics. An operational transconductance amplifier, in the oscillator, governs gain of the loop. A circuit connects to the control to retard the rate of current application over time to the amplifier. The circuit has switching to either retard the rate or reset for start up. The amplifier is a current output device with current directly proportional to the bias current and input voltage with bias as gain change for the loop. The circuit limits the bias to the amplifier to modify frequency response and output current. A capacitor delays application of the bias to the amplifier. Replaceable tools of various lengths or shapes positioned along an axis vibrate for surgery at the frequency and a wave length. Tools longer than one wavelength and of configurations tuned to oscillate around the frequency resonate as a function of their material, length and configuration. A flue surrounds the tool and has a hollow elongate semi rigid central body about an axis with a funnel, at one end thereof and a nozzle, at the other to direct annular irrigant/coolant flow therethrough. The funnel and nozzle are resilient. Reinforcing ridges, inside the nozzle, act to maintain concentricity between the flue and nozzle tip and channel irrigant thereabout.

Ultrasonic surgical handpiece and an energy initiator

An ultrasonic and electrosurgical handpiece housing has an axis, a distal end, a proximal end and a passage defined by an inside wall. A piezo stack has elements carried along a plane generally transverse to the axis. A retainer for the elements has distal, intermediate and proximal portions. The distal portion has a fastener; the proximal portion has a threaded shoulder bolt. The stack about the shoulder has an energy input and a reference output positioned axially apart from one another. An insulating sleeve about the bolt is between central openings of the elements and the bolt. A pair of insulators about the bolt has the stack therebetween; one insulator is between the plane and the stack and the other is near the threads. The intermediate portion attaches to the housing at the plane with decoupling and sealing. An irrigation channel conveys fluid. The drive energy input, the feedback signal and the reference outputs are insulated by the sleeve and pair from the bolt. A washer against the insulator and about the threads applies axial but not torsion to the insulator when a clamping nut on the threads holds components on the bolt. The clamping nut is in circuit with electrosurgical energy as the reference return for electrosurgery. A tool fastens to a connector for transmitting axial vibrations in the form of a predefined stroke at a tip thereof.

Piezo ultrasonic and electrosurgical handpiece

An apparatus and method are disclosed for effecting compounding of parenteral admixture solutions, and recirculation with the admixture solution being formed. The apparatus includes a pump cassette configured for operative association with a pump driver, whereby one or more selected source solutions are delivered through the pump cassette to an associated admixture container. After pumping of each source solution, the present method contemplates that the admixture being formed is recirculated through the pump cassette, thereby diluting any source solution in the cassette and associated tubing. In this manner, the possible mixture of incompatible source solutions, resulting in formation of precipitate, is desirably avoided.

Solution pumping system including disposable pump cassette

Growing community of inventors

Aurora, CO, United States of America

Michael Dickson Olichney