Alcon Research, Ltd.

Applied Medical Resources Corporation

Shurflo Pump Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Novartis Ag

The Mardikian Family Trust

Shurflo Pump Mfg. Company, Inc.

Raffi S Pinedjian

Charles C Hart

John R Brustad

Nabil Hilal

Boun Pravong

Payam Adlparvar

Bruno Dacquay

Casey Lind

Thomas Gagliano

Robert Sanchez

Wassim R Aliahmad

Canh T Tran

Kevin J Carlson

Edward D Pingleton

Cesario Pereira Dos Santos

Albert A Mardikian

Timothy C Ryan

Robert Joseph Sanchez, Jr

James C Foster

Christopher J Taylor-McCune

Dustin Jacob Bouch

William V Stucker

Cesario Dos Santos

Alfonso O Macias

Aaron Delaby

A method of manufacturing an articulating ophthalmic surgical probe includes providing a cannula having an outer diameter of 20 Ga or less and a slotted tip, permanently attaching a pull wire to the slotted tip, permanently attaching a metal anchor to a distal end of the pull wire, positioning a weld pin within a handle assembly that is sized to fit within a single hand, and welding the metal anchor to the weld pin within the handle assembly.

Manufacturing an articulating ophthalmic surgical probe

Disposable injection devices are disclosed herein. In an exemplary arrangement, the disposable injection device comprises an annular sleeve, a predetermined pre-injection quantity of a substance configured for selective injection, and a temperature control element. The annular sleeve at least partially defines a dispensing chamber therein. The predetermined pre-injection quantity of the substance configured for selective injection is disposed within the dispensing chamber. The temperature control element is operably connected to the dispensing chamber, and is configured to selectively heat the substance to a predetermined temperature. The substance expands from the pre-injection quantity at the predetermined temperature to an injection quantity whereby the injection quantity is greater than a volume defined by the dispensing chamber. In this manner, a predetermined minimum quantity of the substance is self-expelled from the dispensing chamber.

Method and apparatus for drug delivery

An injection device assembly includes a dispensing chamber housing and a plunger. The dispensing chamber housing is coupled to a needle. The dispensing chamber housing has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface partially defines a dispensing chamber for holding a quantity of a substance. A dosage of a substance is cast into the dispensing chamber housing or cast onto a plunger that is inserted into the dispensing chamber housing.

Drug casting

An ophthalmic injection system has a tip segment attachable to and removable from a limited reuse assembly. The tip segment has a dispensing chamber housing, a plunger, a needle, a temperature control device, a thermal sensor, and a first housing at least partially enclosing the dispensing chamber housing, the temperature control device and the plunger. The limited reuse assembly has an actuator with a shaft, a power source for providing power to the actuator, a controller for controlling the actuator, a mechanical linkage interface, and a second housing at least partially enclosing the power source, the controller, and the actuator. The mechanical linkage interface is coupled to the actuator shaft and has a mating surface on one end. The substance is injected after the temperature of the substance is altered.

Ophthalmic injection system

An ophthalmic injection device includes a dispensing chamber housing with an inner surface that partially defines a dispensing chamber for holding a substance, a plunger fluidly sealed to the interior surface of the dispensing chamber housing, and a needle fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber. A temperature control device partially surrounds the dispensing chamber housing and alters a temperature of the substance. A piston is coupled to the plunger at one end and to a spring at the other end. The spring provides a force to drive the piston and the plunger. An actuator is coupled to the lockout bar with which a button is configured to interface. The actuator moves the lockout bar when the substance reaches a temperature, thereby allowing the button to be activated so that the spring provides the force to drive the plunger. An incorporated stop whose measurements may vary allow the expelled dosage to vary accordingly.

Spring driven ophthalmic injection device with safety actuator lockout feature

A charging base has a generally C-shaped housing and a charging element. The generally C-shaped housing has an upper part and a lower part. The upper part has an upper surface substantially parallel to a lower surface and an opening extending from the upper surface to the lower surface. The opening has a first width and a second width. A notch is located at the intersection of the first width and the second width. The lower part has a beveled surface generally parallel to and beneath the lower surface of the upper part. The charging element, which provides power to recharge a battery, is located beneath the beveled surface of the lower part. The opening and notch are configured to hold a rechargeable assembly alternately in a first charging position and a second ready position

Easy cleaning C-shaped charging base

A method of manufacturing a kink resistant sheath includes the steps of coating a wire with a plastic material to form an inner tube, placing a braid over the inner tube, applying a spring reinforcement over the braid and applying a second layer of plastic material over the assembly to form an outer tube of a braided reinforced sheath. The plastic material is preferably polyurethane but may be a thermoplastic, thermoset or any plastic material having hard and/or soft durometer.

Kink-resistant access sheath and method of making same

A drainage catheter is adapted to drain fluid from the body cavity through a body conduit and includes an elongate tube and a retention member disposed at the distal end of the elongate tube. The retention member is adapted for movement between a low-profile state facilitating insertion of the catheter and a high-profile state facilitating retention of the catheter in its operative position. A woven mesh forms at least a portion of one of the tube and the retention member. The woven mesh can be formed of filaments heat-settable so that the catheter automatically moves to the high-profile state. Insertion of the catheter can be facilitated using a stylet which can be removed after insertion to permit the catheter to automatically return to its high-profile state.

Drainage catheter having an expandable retention member

The trocar system includes a cannula insertable through a body wall using an obturator having a distal tip. A traction tread disposed interiorly of the obturator inverts at the distal tip and extends proximally along the outer surface of the obturator or cannula. At the distal tip the tread can facilitate parting rather than cutting the tissue. Along the outer surface, the tread can engage the tissue to pull it proximally along the advancing obturator. This produces counter forces which can result in a net proximal force facilitating distention of the abdominal wall and separation of the abdominal wall from internal organs. The traction tread can be axially and/or radially continuous. An associated method of operation includes the steps of contacting the body wall with the traction tread at the distal tip, and engaging the body wall with the traction tread along wall portions facing the outer surface.

Traction trocar apparatus and method

A releasable mechanism such as a cap is adapted for use with an access sheath having an elongate tube and a handle structure disposed at a proximal end of the tube. The releasable mechanism is sized and configured to fit the handle structure, which is shaped like the bell of a horn, to further facilitate use with surgical instrumentation. The releasable mechanism may operate as a separate cap that snaps onto the handle structure to provide access pathways to the sheath. The releasable mechanism may also be disposed at a proximal end of a surgical instrument to be introduced into the access sheath such that it may be interlocked with the sheath. In a method of manufacturing a kink-resistant sheath, a wire is initially coated with a plastic material, the coated wire is then wrapped around a mandrel forming a plurality of windings, and the wound coated wire is heated until the plastic material melts and bonds the windings to form a wire-reinforced sheath. The plastic material is preferably polyurethane but may be a thermoplastic, a thermoset or any plastic material having hard and/or soft durometer. The wound coated wire may be heated by capturing the windings within a shrink tube or compressing the windings in a mold and heating the windings until the sheath is formed. In another aspect of the invention, a mandrel is used as part of an extrusion process. In another aspect of the invention, another coating or outside layer could be formed over the spring reinforcement by dipping in a solvent based solution. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a braid such as a polyester braid may be used instead of or in addition to the coil spring to form a kink-resistant sheath.

A self-retracting step assembly is attached to a swimming platform provided on the rear of the hull of a boat. The self-retracting step assembly includes a ladder comprising a series of telescoping tubes which enable its extension and retraction. The step assembly including the ladder assembly are attached to the swimming platform in a position in which the ladder is capable of extending into the water wherein the watercraft or boat floats. The telescoping ladder assembly can be extended and placed from a normally horizontal position into an inclined position wherein at least the last step of the ladder reaches the water. The energy for extending the ladder is supplied by a human user. The step assembly includes a motor or mechanical means for storing the energy used for extending the ladder. The ladder assembly is locked into the extended and inclined position by an improved mechanism that is located within the assembly attached to the swimming platform. Retraction of the ladder assembly is triggered by a change in the angle of the ladder relative to the water, said change being triggered by force of the water relative to the ladder when the watercraft or boat moves. The energy utilized for the retraction is preferably the stored energy of the extension, or it can be supplied by a motor.

Self-retracting lockable step-assembly for boats

Preferred embodiments of the invention have a nozzle assembly capable of controlling pressure of comestible fluid exiting the nozzle assembly, a refrigeration system in which refrigerant pressure and temperature is controllable to enable comestible fluid temperature control, heat exchangers cooling comestible fluid in the nozzles, an ultraviolet sterilization system for sterilizing interior and exterior system locations, and a hand held comestible fluid dispenser capable of cooling and selectively dispensing one of several comestible fluids. Fluid pressure and velocity can be reduced for improved dispensing by a valve movable through a number of closed positions and/or by a diffuser in the nozzle. A purging and priming valve assembly with or without associated sensors can be employed for manual or automatic system purging and priming and for fluid temperature control.

Comestible fluid dispensing apparatus and method

Preferred embodiments of the invention have a nozzle assembly capable of controlling pressure of comestible fluid exiting the nozzle assembly, a refrigeration system in which refrigerant pressure and temperature is controllable to enable comestible fluid temperature control, heat exchangers cooling comestible fluid in the nozzles, an ultraviolet sterilization system for sterilizing interior and exterior system locations, and a hand held comestible fluid dispenser capable of cooling and selectively dispensing one of several comestible fluids. Fluid pressure and velocity can be reduced for improved dispensing by a valve movable through a number of closed positions prior to opening and/or by a diffuser in the nozzle having an increasing cross sectional area upstream of a nozzle portion having a relatively constant cross sectional area. A purging and priming valve assembly with or without associated sensors can be employed for manual or automatic system purging and priming and for fluid temperature control.

Rapid comestible fluid dispensing apparatus and method employing a diffuser

A pump comprising a housing, a diaphragm mounted in the housing, a pumping member or members, and a drive, preferably a wobble plate drive, for driving the pumping member or members on intake and discharge strokes. The wobble plate is preferably mounted on a ball bearing and includes a snap retainer assembly to retain the bearing in place without force fitting. The wobble plate preferably defines one or more open ended chambers in which the pumping member or members are placed. The annular zone or zones of the diaphragm which flex when driven by the wobble plate drive to provide the pumping action are configured to increase efficiency and/or to reduce wear.

Growing community of inventors

Fountain Valley, CA, United States of America

Raffi S Pinedjian