Medical fluid compounding systems with coordinated flow control

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 12350233
  • Patent Number
    12,350,233
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, December 8, 2022
    2 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 8, 2025
    2 months ago
  • Inventors
    • Fister; Philipp Marc
  • Original Assignees
  • Examiners
    • Maust; Timothy L
    Agents
    • Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP
Abstract
A system for compounding precise amounts of fluid from one or more source containers into at least one target container is described. The fluid can be drawn from the one or more source containers via an intermediate measuring container such as a syringe pump actuated by a stepper motor or other electronic motor. A system controller can use a measured back EMF value of the motor to determine a pressure within a syringe pump, and control the operation of the motor based at least in part on the determined pressure. The determined pressures of a plurality of syringe pumps can be used to optimize the speed at which the syringe pumps dispense fluid from the source containers while avoiding an overpressure condition which can compromise a compounding process and damage one-way valves within the system.
Description
BACKGROUND
Technical Field

Some embodiments in this specification relate generally to devices and methods for transferring fluid and specifically to devices and methods for transferring medical fluids.


Related Technology

In some circumstances it can be desirable to transfer one or more fluids between containers. In the medical field, it is often desirable to dispense fluids in precise amounts and combinations. Current fluid transfer devices and methods in the medical field suffer from various drawbacks, including potential operational failures or inefficiencies due to the viscosity of at least one of the component fluids of a mixture.


SUMMARY

In some embodiments, an electronically controlled compounding system can be provided to transfer fluids from a plurality of source containers to a target container. The compounding system can include a plurality of fluid transfer stations, each of the plurality of fluid transfer stations comprising an electric motor and a pump functionally connected to the electric motor. The pump can be actuatable via the electric motor to transfer fluid between a source container and an outlet line in fluid communication with the pump. The compounding system can include a mixing manifold in fluid communication with the outlet lines of each of the plurality of fluid transfer stations, the mixing manifold comprising an outlet connector configured to be placed in fluid communication with a target container. The compounding system can include an electronic controller configured to receive information from each of the plurality of electric motors indicative of a measured back electromotive force (EMF) voltage during operation of the electric motors and control the operation of the plurality of electric motors based at least in part on the received information indicative of the measured back EMF voltages.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments of the invention will now be discussed in detail with reference to the following figures. These figures are provided for illustrative purposes only, and the embodiments are not limited to the subject matter illustrated in the figures.



FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of an automated system for transferring precise amounts of fluid.



FIG. 2 schematically shows an embodiment of an automated system for compounding mixtures of precise amounts of fluid.



FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an example of an automated compounding system for transferring fluid having multiple transfer stations.



FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a multiple-source compounder which utilizes multiple syringe pumps to draw fluid from attached source containers and compound the drawn fluid in a target container.



FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an example embodiment of a method 700 of calculating pressure in a syringe pump based upon a measured back EMF voltage.



FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an example embodiment of a method 800 of estimating an operating pressure of a compounder comprising a plurality of syringe pumps based upon measured back EMF voltages.



FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating an example embodiment of a method 900 of adjusting dispensing parameters for a compounding process based at least in part on measured back EMF voltages from a plurality of syringe pumps.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is now directed to certain specific example embodiments of the disclosure. In this description, reference is made to the drawings wherein like parts are designated with like numerals throughout the description and the drawings. Nothing in this specification is essential or indispensable; any component, structure, feature, material, method, and/or step can be used separately or omitted. All components, structures, features, materials, methods, and steps that are illustrated and/or described in this specification in separate embodiments can be combined or used separately.


In many circumstances, precise mixtures of fluids are dispensed into a single container in a desired volume, or to provide a desired mixture. For example, a total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solution can be used in an enteral feeding process, and can be provided to a patient via a feeding tube. In order to address the nutritional needs of a particular patient, a precise TPN mixture can be prescribed by a medical practitioner to provide a specific mix of component, such as amino acids, dextrose, and lipids, in a desired ratio and quantity. In some embodiments, a wide range of TPN solutions can be provided by combining a number of source solutions in specific ratios and volumes.


The dispensation and mixture of solutions such as a TPN solution can be at least partially automated through the use of a compounder or other dispensing mechanism which can dispense solutions or other fluids from one or more source containers into one or more target containers. Embodiments of compounders and other dispensing mechanisms can allow for precise, automated dispensation or compounding of a solution such as a TPN solution.


In some circumstances fluid is transferred from a source container to a target container. In some instances, it can be desirable to transfer precise amounts of a fluid such as a medication or solution into the target container. For example, in some embodiments a solution can be stored in a comparatively large container, and a precise dosage amount of the solution can be extracted and transferred to a target device so that a desired dose of the solution can be delivered to a patient. In some embodiments, fluid from multiple source containers can be combined, or compounded, into a single target container. For example, in some embodiments a mixture of solutions can be created in the target container, or a concentrated solution can be combined with a diluent in the target container. To achieve the desired proportions of fluids, it can be desirable to precisely measure the amounts of fluids transferred into the target container. Also, precisely controlling the operation of the fluid transfer process can reduce the amount of fluid wasted (e.g., through improper mixture of the solution in the source container, or backflow into one or more source containers or other components of a compounder or mixing device). Reduction of waste is desirable because in some instances the fluid being transferred can be expensive. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide a fluid transfer device for transferring precise amounts of fluid from one or more source containers into one or more target containers.



FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of an automated fluid transfer system 100. The system 100 can include a housing 102 enclosing a controller 104 and a memory module 106. The system 100 can also include a user interface 108, which can be, for example, external to the housing 102. The user interface 108 can also be integrated into the housing 102 in some cases. The user interface 108 can include, for example, a display, a keypad, and/or a touch screen display. The user interface 108 can be configured to receive instructions from the user, for example, regarding the amounts of fluid to be transferred and the types of fluids to be transferred. The user interface can also be configured to provide information to the user, such as error messages, alerts, or instructions (e.g., to replace an empty source container). The system 100 can also include a system for obtaining information from a machine-receivable source, such as a bar code scanner 110 or a near-field communication device (e.g., an RFID) in communication with the controller 104. Although in the embodiment shown, the controller 104 and memory module 106 are contained within the housing 102, a variety of other configurations are possible. For example, controller 104 can be external to the housing 102, and can be, for example contained within a second housing which also contains the user interface 108. In some embodiments, the system 100 can include a communication interface 105 configured to receive information (e.g., instructions) from a remote source such as a terminal or an automated management system, etc. In some embodiments, the communication interface can also send information (e.g., results or alerts) to the remote source. In some embodiments, the system 100 does not include a communication interface 105 and does not communicate with a remote source.


The system 100 can include multiple transfer stations 112a-c. In the embodiment shown, the system 100 includes three transfer stations 112a-c, but a different number of transfer stations can be used. For example, in some embodiments, the system can include a single transfer station. In other embodiments, the system can include two, four, five, six, seven, eight, or more transfer stations depending on the number of different fluid types the system is designed to handle and the amount of fluid to be transferred.


Each transfer station 112a-c can include a fluid source container 114a-c, which can be, for example, a medical vial or other suitable container such as a bag, a bottle, or a vat, etc. Although many embodiments disclosed herein discuss using a particular type of source container as the source container, it will be understood the other containers can be used even when not specifically mentioned. In some embodiments, each of the source containers 114a-c can contain a unique fluid, providing a variety of fluids that the user can select for transfer. In other embodiments, two or more of the source containers 114a-c can contain the same fluid. In some embodiments, the source containers 114a-c include machine-receivable sources, such as bar codes, that identify the types of fluid contained therein. The bar codes can be scanned by the scanner 110 so that the identities of the fluids contained by source containers 114a-c can be stored within memory module 106. In some embodiments, the fluid transfer stations 112a-c are configured to transfer precise amounts of fluid from source containers 114a-c to target containers 116a-c, which can be, for example IV bags. It will be understood that in various embodiments described herein, a different type of target connector or destination container can be used instead of an IV bag (e.g., a syringe, a bottle, a vial, etc.) even when not specifically mentioned.


In some embodiments the fluid can first be transferred from source containers 114a-c to intermediate measuring containers 118a-c so that a precise amount of fluid can be measured. The intermediate measuring containers 118a-c can be, for example, syringes. After being measured, the fluid can be transferred from intermediate measuring containers 118a-c to the target containers 116a-c. In some embodiments, one or more of the transfer stations 112a-c can include one or more pairs of male and female fluid connectors configured to be attached to each other to selectively permit the passage of fluid. When fluid transfer is completed, the connectors can be detached or disconnected. In some embodiments, the connectors can be configured to automatically close. The fluid module can be removed while retaining substantially entirely or entirely all of the remaining interior fluid within the respective connectors and the rest of the fluid module, thus permitting the transfer to occur in a substantially entirely or entirely closed system, thereby diminishing the risk of damage caused by liquid or vapor leakage from the fluid module after disconnection and from the fluid source and the fluid destination after disconnection.


In some embodiments, the system 100 can be configured to be compatible with a variety of sizes of syringes. For example, larger volume syringes can be used to transfer larger volumes of fluid in shorter amounts of time. Smaller volume syringes can be used to increase the accuracy and precision with which amounts of fluid can be transferred. In some embodiments, the syringes can include a machine-receivable source, such as a bar code, which identifies the volume of the syringe. The bar code can be scanned by a bar code scanner 110, so that the sizes of the syringes used by the different transfer stations 112a-c can be stored within memory module 106 for use by the controller 104.


In some embodiments, connectors 120a-c connect the source containers 114a-c, the intermediate containers 118a-c, and the target containers 116a-c. In some embodiments, the connectors 120a-c can include first check valves (not shown) configured to allow fluid to flow from the source containers 114a-c into the connector 120a-c, and block fluid from flowing connector 120a-c into the source containers 114a-c, as shown by single-headed arrows. The connectors 120a-c can also include second check valves (not shown) configured to allow fluid to flow from connectors 120a-c into target containers 116a-c, but block fluid from flowing from target containers 116a-c into connectors 120a-c, as shown by single-headed arrows. In some embodiments, the connectors 120a-c can be in two-way fluid communication with the intermediate containers 118a-c, as shown by double-headed arrows.


In some embodiments, the system 100 can include mounting modules 122a-c for mounting the transfer stations 112a-c onto the housing 102. For example, in some embodiments the mounting modules 122a-c can be configured to securely receive intermediate measuring containers 118a-c as shown in FIG. 1. The system 100 can also include motors 124a-c, which can be for example, contained within housing 102. The motors 104a-c can be configured to actuate the plungers on the syringes 118a-c to draw fluid into the syringes and to dispel fluid therefrom. The motors 124a-c can be in communication with the controller 104, and can receive actuation instructions from the controller 104. The motors 124a-c can also provide signals to the controller 104 indicative of the current operational state of the motors 124a-c, as discussed in greater detail below.


In some embodiments, the system can include fluid detectors 126a-c configured to detect a presence or absence of fluid in connectors 120a-c. The fluid detectors 126a-c can be in communication with the controller 104 so that when the detectors 126a-c detect an absence of fluid in connectors 120a-c, indicating that source fluid containers 114a-c have run dry, they can send a signal to controller 104 that a source container 114a-c needs to be replaced. The fluid detectors 126a-c can be for example an infrared LED and photo detector, or other type of electronic eye, as will be discussed in more detail below. In the embodiment shown, fluid detectors 126a-c are shown connected to connectors 128a-c, but other configurations are possible. For example, fluid detectors 126a-c can be connected to fluid source containers 114a-c themselves.


In some embodiments, the system 100 can include compatibility mechanisms 127a-c for ensuring that an approved connector 120a-c has been placed in communication with the system 100 to ensure the accuracy of the amount of fluid transferred. The compatibility mechanisms 127a-c can be, for example, a specifically shaped mounting feature configured to correspond to a portion of the connector 120a-c.


In some embodiments, the system 100 can include source adapters 129a-c configured to receive the source containers 114a-c and removably connect to the connectors 120a-c. Thus, when a source container 114a-c runs out of fluid, the empty source container 114a-c and its corresponding adapter 129a-c can be removed and replaced without removing the associated connector 120a-c from the system 100. In some embodiments, source adapters 129a-c can be omitted, and the source containers 114a-c can be directly received by the connectors 120a-c.


In some embodiments the system 100 can include sensors 128a-c for detecting the presence of target containers 116a-c. Sensors 128a-c can be in communication with the controller 104 so as to prevent the system 100 from attempting to transfer fluid when no target container 116a-c is connected. A variety of sensor types can be used for sensors 128a-128c. For example, sensors 128a-c can be weight sensors or infrared sensors or other form of electronic eye. In some embodiments, weight sensors 128a-c can also be used to measure the weight of the target containers 116a-c after fluid has been transferred. The final weight of a target container 116a-c can be compared to an expected weight by the controller 104 to confirm that the proper amount of fluid was transferred into the target container 116a-c. Sensors 128a-c can be a variety of other sensor types, for example sensor pads or other sensor types able to detect the presence of target containers 116a-c.



FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a system 200 for automated precise transfer of fluids. System 200 can be the same as or similar to the system 100 in some regards. Some features shown in FIG. 1, such as the adapters 129a-c and compatibility mechanisms 127a-c, are not shown specifically in the system 200, but it will be understood that system 200 can include corresponding features. The system 200 can include a housing 202, a controller 204, a memory 206, a user interface 208, a scanner 210, and a communication interface 205, similar to those describe above in connection with the system 100. System 100 is configured to transfer individual fluids from the source containers 114a-c to target containers 116a-c. System 200, on the other hand, is configured to transfer and combine fluids from source containers 214a-c into a common target container. Thus, system 200 can be used for compounding mixtures of fluids. In some embodiments, a single system can be configured both for compounding mixtures of fluids and for the transfer of individual fluids from a single-source container to a single-target container. For example, a system containing six fluid transfer stations can be configured so that transfer stations 1-3 are dedicated to compounding mixtures of fluids into a single common target container, while fluid transfer stations 4-6 can be configured to each transfer fluid from a single source container to a single target container. Other configurations are possible. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the system 200 can include sensors 228a-c for detecting whether or not the connectors 220a-c are connected to the common target container 216. The system 200 can also include a sensor for detecting the presence of the common target container 216. In some embodiments, the sensor can measure the weight of the common target container 216 and can report the weight to the controller 104. The controller 104 is then able to compare the final weight of the common target container with an expected weight to confirm that the common target container was filled with the correct amount of fluids.


In some embodiments, a system 200 can be a TPN compounder, such as a total parenteral nutrition (TPN) compounder for providing a customized TPN solution from a plurality of source solutions.



FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an automated system 300 for transferring fluid. Any component, structure, material, method, and/or step that is illustrated and/or described in connection with FIG. 3 can be used with or instead of any component, structure, material, method, and/or step that is illustrated and/or described in any other embodiment in this specification or known in the art. The automatic system 300 can be similar to or the same as the other automated fluid transfer systems (e.g., 100, 200) disclosed herein. The system 300 can include a base housing 302, and six transfer stations 304a-f, located on a front side of the base housing 302. In some embodiments, the system 300 can include a different number of transfer stations 304a-f (e.g., one, two, four, five, eight, or more transfer stations). In some embodiments, the transfer stations 304a-f can be distributed on multiple sides of the base housing 302. Transfer stations 304b-f are shown in an empty state having no syringe attached thereto. Transfer station 304a is shown having a syringe 306 and a connector 308 attached thereto. During operation, a source container (see FIG. 4) can be attached to the top of the connector 308 and an IV bag (not shown) can be placed in fluid connection with the connector 308 so that fluid can be transferred from the fluid source container to the syringe 306 and then from the syringe 306 into the IV bag, as discussed in greater detail elsewhere herein. Also, during operation, some or all of the transfer stations 304a-f can be equipped similarly to transfer station 304a. In some embodiments, multiple transfer stations 304a-f can operate simultaneously. In some embodiments, multiple transfer stations 304a-f can be placed in fluid communication with a single IV bag so that fluid from multiple fluid source containers can be combined into a single IV bag. In some embodiments, one or more of the transfer stations 304a-f can include a dedicated IV bag so that fluid from only a single transfer stations can be transferred into the dedicated IV bag.


The transfer station 304a can include an auxiliary housing 310 connected to the base housing 302. The transfer station 304a can also include a top connector piece 312 attached to the base housing 302 above the auxiliary housing 310, and a bottom connector piece 314 attached to the base housing 302 below the auxiliary housing 310. The top connector piece 312 and the bottom connector piece 314 can extend out a distance past the auxiliary housing 310, and a pair of guiding shafts (not shown) can extend vertically between the top connector piece 312 within the auxiliary housing 310 and the bottom connector piece 314. A middle connector piece (not shown) can be attached to the shafts. The transfer station 304a can include an actuator 332 configured to retract and advance the plunger 334 of the syringe 306. In the embodiment shown, the actuator 332 includes an actuator base 336.


In some embodiments, a motor (not shown) is located inside the auxiliary housing 310. The motor can be an electric motor, a pneumatic motor, a hydraulic motor, or other suitable type of motor capable of moving the actuator 332. In some embodiments, the motor can be a piston type motor. In some embodiments, the motor is contained within the base housing 302 rather than in the auxiliary housing 310. In some embodiments, each transfer station 304a-f has an individual motor dedicated to the individual transfer station 304a-f. In some embodiments, one or more of the transfer stations 304a-f share a motor, and in some embodiments, the system 300 includes a single motor used to drive all the transfer stations 304a-f. The motor can drive the shafts 338a-b downward out of the auxiliary housing 310, which in turn drives the rest of the actuator 332 downward causing the plunger 334 to retract from the syringe body 324 to draw fluid into the syringe. The motor can drive the rest of the actuator 332 upward, causing the plunger 334 to advance into the syringe 306 to expel fluid from the syringe.


The system 300 can include a controller, for controlling the operations of the transfer stations 304a-f. The controller can start and stop the motor(s) of the system 300 to control the amount of fluid that is transferred from the fluid source container to the IV bag at each transfer station 304a-f. The controller can be one or more microprocessors or other suitable type of controller. The controller can be a general purpose computer processor or a special purpose processor specially designed to control the functions of the system 300. The controller can include, or be in communication with, a memory module that includes a software algorithm for controlling the operations of the system 300. The controller can be contained within the base housing 302. In some embodiments, the controller can be external to the base housing 302, and can be for example the processor of a general purpose computer that is in wired or wireless communication with components of the system 300.


In some embodiments, any transfer station 304a can include a sensor configured to determine when the liquid in the source container has run out. If the plunger 334 is retracted to draw fluid into the syringe 306 when the fluid source container contains no more fluid, air is drawn out of the fluid source container and travels into the connector 308 toward the syringe. Air can also be drawn into the connector 308 when the fluid source container still contains a small amount of fluid, but the fluid level is low enough that air is drawn out of the fluid source container along with the fluid (e.g., as an air bubble). In some embodiments, the sensor can detect air in the connector 308. For example, the sensor can be an infrared light source (e.g., an LED) and a photodetector, or other form of electric eye.


As shown in FIG. 3, the system 300 can include a user interface 392 for receiving information and commands from the user and for providing information to the user. The user interface 392 can be part of an external unit, or it can be integrated into or attached to the base housing 302. The user interface 392 can include, for example, a touch screen display. The user interface 392 can be in wired or wireless communication with the controller. In some embodiments, a cable connects the external unit to the base housing 302 and provides a communication link between the user interface 392 and the controller. In some embodiments, the controller can be contained in the external unit along with the user interface 392 and the controller can send and receive signals to and from components (e.g., the motors) of the system 300 through the cable. The user interface 392 can be configured to receive instructions from the user regarding the amounts of fluids to be transferred by the transfer stations 304a-304f. The user interface 392 can deliver the instructions to the controller to be stored in a memory and/or used to actuate the motor(s) to transfer the desired amount of fluids.


In some embodiments, the system 300 can include a communication interface. The communication interface can be configured to provide a communication link between the controller and a remote source, such as a remote terminal or an automated management system. The communication link can be provided by a wireless signal or a cable or combination of the two. The communication link can make use of a network such as a WAN, LAN, or the internet. In some embodiments, the communication interface can be configured to receive input (e.g., fluid transfer commands) from the remote source and can provide information (e.g., results or alerts) from the controller to the remote source. In some embodiments, the remote source can be an automated management system which can coordinate actions between multiple automated fluid transfer systems (e.g., 100, 200, and 300).


The system 300 can also include a device for receiving information from a machine-receivable source, such as a bar code scanner 398 or other device, in communication with the controller and/or memory. The bar code scanner 398 can be used to provide information about the system 300 to the controller and/or the memory. For example, the syringe 306 can include a bar code that identifies the size and type of the syringe 306. The user can scan the syringe 306 with the bar code scanner 398 and then scan a bar code associated with the transfer station 304a to inform the controller of the size of the syringe 306 that is attached to the transfer station 304a. Different sizes of syringes can hold different volumes of fluid when their plungers are withdrawn by the same distance. Thus, when the controller is tasked with filling the syringe 306 with a predetermined amount of fluid, the controller can determine how far the plunger is to be withdrawn to fill the particular type of syringe with the predetermined amount of fluid. The fluid source containers (not shown) can also include bar codes that indicate the type of fluid contained therein. The user can scan a fluid source container and then scan the bar code associated with the particular transfer station the fluid source container is to be installed onto. Thus, the controller can be aware of what fluids are controlled by which transfer stations to facilitate automated transfer of fluids. Other components of the system 300 can also include bar codes readable by the bar code scanner 398 for providing information about the components to the controller and/or memory. In some embodiments, the user interface 392 can be configured to allow the user to input data relating to the size of the syringe 306, the type of fluid contained in a fluid bag, etc. instead of using the bar code scanner 398.



FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a multiple-source compounder which utilizes multiple syringe pumps to draw fluid from attached source containers and compound the drawn fluid in a target container. The compounder 400 includes a plurality of source containers 414a, 414b, and 414c, each of which can contain a fluid such as a component solution of a TPN solution. In the illustrated embodiment, three source containers are shown, although in other embodiments, any suitable number of source containers can be used. Each of the source containers 414a, 414b, and 414c is in fluid communication, via a respective connector 408a, 408b, or 408c, with a respective intermediate measuring container such as one of syringe pumps 406a, 406b, or 406c. Any description or illustration of a syringe pump in this specification can alternatively be substituted or replaced with any other suitable type of medical pump, including but not limited to a peristaltic pump, an elastomeric pump, and/or a bladder pump.


In the illustrated embodiment, the connectors 408a, 408b, and 408c are two-way check valve connectors. In other embodiments, however, the intermediate measuring containers can include distinct inlet and outlet connectors, or any other suitable connectors.


In the illustrated embodiment, the intermediate measuring containers are syringe pumps 406a, 406b, and 406c, which can include a syringe which can be controlled by a linear actuation mechanism which engages a portion of the syringe to control the translation of the plunger within the syringe. The syringe pumps 406a, 406b, and 406c can be releasably coupled to a linear actuation mechanism via a driving component such as the actuator 332 of the transfer station 308a of FIG. 3.


In some embodiments, the driving component can be linearly translated through the use of a stepper motor which drives a ball screw nut to move the driving component, but a wide variety of other suitable mechanical linkages can be used in other embodiments. The driving component, or another connecting portion moveable along with the driving component, can engage a portion of the perfusion syringe to cause the plunger to be moved relative to the remainder of the perfusion syringe, increasing or decreasing the volume of the interior chamber defined by the syringe to operate one of the syringe pumps 406a, 406b, or 406c.


Fluid can be drawn from the source container 414a into the body of the syringe pump 406a by controlling the actuator mechanism of the syringe pump 406a to withdraw the plunger of the syringe pump 406a. A source check valve 456a is disposed within the connector 408a along the fluid path between the source container 414a and the syringe pump 406a. The source check valve 456a can include any suitable check valve, such as a duckbill check valve as illustrated in FIG. 6A, although in other embodiments, any other suitable check valve or one-way valve can be used. The source check valve 456a of the connector is oriented to permit fluid to be drawn from the source container 414a into the body of the syringe pump 406a when the syringe plunger is withdrawn, but prevent backflow from the syringe pump 406a into the source container 414a when the syringe plunger is depressed.


Once a desired amount of fluid has been drawn into the interior of the syringe pump 406a, the syringe plunger may be depressed by linearly translating the driving component in the opposite direction to reduce the volume of the interior of the syringe pump 406a, forcing fluid out of the syringe pump 406a. The fluid is prevented from backflowing into the source container 414a by the orientation of source check valve 456a, but permitted to flow through the target check valve 458a due to the opposite orientation of the target check valve 458a. After passing through the target check valve 458a, the fluid flows through outlet line 450a towards a mixing manifold 460 in fluid communication with each of outlet lines 450a, 450b, and 450c.


The mixing manifold 460 may be removably placed, via manifold connector 462, in fluid communication with a target container 416 via a luer connection or any other suitable mechanical connection which allows the target container 416, or a length of tubing extending therefrom, to be releasably connected to the manifold connector 462. A luer connection such as the manifold connector 462, downstream of the manifold 460, can have a smaller bore than the surrounding tubing, and may function as an overall bottleneck to the compounder system 400.


A wide variety of connector designs can be used to control the fluid exchange between the source containers, the syringe pumps, and the outlet lines. For example, the connector system can include one or more one-way valves placed in appropriate locations in fluid communication respectively with a source container, a syringe pump, and an outlet line. Flow of fluid and air throughout the connector can be constrained through a plurality of check valves disposed throughout the connector.


As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of output lines such as outlet lines 450a, 450b, and 450c flow into the manifold 460. A flow constraining component downstream of the manifold 460, such as a luer manifold connection 462 or another component downstream of mixing manifold 460 of the compounder 400, may serve as a bottleneck for the compounder. If the flow rate of the compounded solution is constrained by the manifold connector 462 or another downstream component, the pressure within the system may increase, putting increased pressure on the target check valves 458a, 458b, and 458c. If the pressure exceeds a failure threshold of the target check valves 458a, 458b, and 458c, one or more of the target check valves 458a, 458b, and 458c may fail, allowing backflow from the adjacent output line back through the target check valve and towards the connected syringe pump.


For example, if operational pressure in one of the syringe pumps 406a, 406b, or 406c is sufficiently high, the downstream line pressure at or beyond the manifold connector 462 may cause failure of one or more of the target check valves 458a, 458b, and 458c connected to another syringe pump. Such a pressure increase may occur, for example, when the fluid being dispensed has a viscosity sufficiently high that the fluid cannot be freely dispensed at the rate at which the syringe plunger of the syringe pump is being depressed. In particular, components of a TPN solution, such as a lipid emulsion solution, may have a comparatively high viscosity in comparison to other pharmaceutical fluids.


This backflow can affect the current compounding process, causing less solution to be dispensed than intended, as some fluid can flow back into a syringe pump intended to be in an empty state. This backflow can also affect subsequent compounding processes, causing the backflowed solution to be dispensed in addition to the desired dispensed amount. Even if these errors are caught by other means, such as by measuring the weight of the dispensed fluid in the source container, this can result in wasted time and material if an additional compounding process is required to provide a replacement solution.


Such pressure spikes, and the corresponding backflow, can be minimized or prevented by constraining the rate at which fluid is dispensed from the syringe pumps. However, an overly cautious approach may result in unnecessarily limiting the overall speed of the compounding processes. Given sufficient experience, an operator can manually optimize the various dispensing channels for the particular fluids and solutions being dispensed therefrom. Such optimization is the result, however, of experience and trial and error. Incorporation of sensors into the perfusion syringes or other disposable components of the compounder to detect an overpressure condition or the resulting pressure-induced backflow or valve failure may increase the cost and complexity of the system.


In some embodiments, the operating conditions of a stepper motor driving a syringe pump may be monitored during operation of the syringe pump in order to obtain a measurement of the torque of the motor without the need for the inclusion of additional sensors.


Electric motors such as a stepper motor operate by generating rotating electromagnetic fields using stator coils. This allows precise control over the position and speed of the stepper motor. During operation of a stepper motor through the generation of a driving electromotive force (EMF), the rotation of the rotor relative to the stator coils generates a back EMF opposing the driving EMF. The back EMF is proportional to the angular velocity of the motor, and is affected by the load on the motor. When the motor is unloaded, the back EMF will be almost equal to the driving EMF, as the motor only needs to work to overcome friction. When driven with a sinusoidal signal, the load angle in an unloaded state will be almost zero. As the load increases, the back EMF will drop, and the load angle will shift as the power is required to overcome the load.


For a stepper motor with known or measured mechanical properties, such as a given torque constant, the measured back EMF voltage can be used in conjunction with the driving voltage to calculate the torque output of the motor. The measured torque being applied to a linear actuator, such as a ball screw nut, can be used to calculate the linear force applied by the linear actuator as a function of the application of the measured torque. In turn, the applied force can be used to calculate the pressure within a syringe pump based upon the dimensions of the syringe pump.



FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating an example embodiment of a method 700 of calculating pressure in a syringe pump based upon a measured back EMF voltage. At block 705, the back EMF voltage of an electric motor of a syringe pump is measured. In some embodiments, control circuitry of the electric motor can be used to output a signal indicative of the measured back EMF voltage. In some embodiments, such a back EMF voltage signal may be received over a wired or wireless connection by a controller of the syringe pump.


At block 710, the measured back EMF voltage or a received signal indicative of the measured back EMF voltage is used to determine the torque applied by the electric motor. In some embodiments, this calculation may be performed within the control circuitry of the electric motor, and the control circuity may output a signal indicative of the torque of the electric motor. In some embodiments, such a torque signal may be received over a wired or wireless connection by a controller of the syringe pump. In other embodiments, the controller may calculate the torque applied by the electric motor based on a received back EMF voltage signal. This calculation may be performed based on mechanical parameters of the motor, which may be inputted or programmed manually, provided in a lookup table, or may be determined through a calibration process, such as by driving the electric motor against a mechanical stop.


At block 715, the determined torque is used to determine the pressure within the syringe pump based upon the parameters of the syringe pump, such as the mechanical properties of the linear actuator and the cross-sectional size of the syringe. In some embodiments, the force applied by the linear actuator on the syringe plunger may be determined, e.g., based upon the dimensions of the ball screw nut or other cam structure of the linear actuator. The applied force may then be used to calculate the pressure within the syringe pump based upon the cross-sectional dimensions of the syringe.


As described with respect to FIG. 3, a bar code or other identifying information may be provided on a syringe to identify the syringe, and to provide information regarding the properties of the syringe. With the dimensions of the syringe known, such as the cross-sectional dimensions of the syringe interior, the linear displacement of the syringe plunger may be correlated to the corresponding volumetric change in the internal dimensions of the syringe. This allows the determination of the linear displacement of the plunger required to fill the syringe pump with a desired volume of fluid, and to dispense the same.


In some embodiments, the signal indicative of the back EMF may be used to directly determine the pressure within the syringe pump, and discrete intermediate steps of determination of torque being applied by the motor and/or the force being applied on the syringe plunger can be omitted. This determination of the pressure within the syringe may be performed periodically throughout the operation of the syringe. In particular, the pressure may be monitored when the syringe plunger is being depressed to expel fluid contained within the syringe through the target check valve and into the outlet line towards the mixing manifold.


At block 720, the determined pressure can be compared to at least one threshold pressure. In some embodiments, the comparison may be only to an upper pressure threshold. If the determined pressure within the syringe exceeds the upper pressure threshold, the process may move to a block 725, where the driving speed of the syringe pump may be lowered, as discussed in greater detail below. If the determined pressure remains below the upper threshold pressure, the driving speed of the syringe pump may be left at its current speed, and the process may optionally return to block 705 and periodically repeat the process 700 during operation of the syringe pump.


In some embodiments, the process may move to a block 730, where the determined pressure may optionally be compared to a lower pressure threshold. In some embodiments, the lower pressure threshold may be less than the upper pressure threshold, while in other embodiments, the lower pressure threshold may be equal to the upper pressure threshold. If the determined pressure remains above the lower threshold pressure, in addition to remaining below the upper threshold pressure, the driving speed of the syringe pump may be left at its current speed, and the process may optionally return to block 705 and periodically repeat the process 700 during operation of the syringe pump. If the determined pressure is below the lower threshold pressure, a determination can be made that the syringe pump could operate at a higher driving speed without generation of a pressure spike which would impact the operation of the compounder. The process may optionally move to a block 735, where the driving speed of the syringe pump may be increased, as discussed in greater detail below.


If the process moves to block 720 or 730, an appropriate adjustment to the driving speed of the syringe plunger may be made. In some embodiments, the driving speed may be adjusted by a predetermined increment or percentage, or adjusted between one of a number of predetermined speeds. In some embodiments, the speed adjustment may be based at least in part on the magnitude of the difference between the determined pressure and the threshold pressure, with larger adjustments being made when the determined pressure is significantly different beyond the threshold pressure to which it is compared. As discussed in greater detail below, the speed adjustments may also be based at least in part on the operational state and determined pressure of other syringe pumps. In some embodiments, sufficiently large pressure differentials may trigger an error state due to possible clogs or blockage within the compounder system.


As described above, an experienced operator may, through trial and error, develop knowledge of suitable operating speeds for various source solutions, allowing the hand optimization of the operating speed of the various syringe pumps. However, if the viscosity of a given source solution is unknown, or is different than anticipated for any reason, an operator may in some instances default to a slower operating speed than necessary, as a precautionary measure which reduces the overall throughput of the compounder. Alternately, the operator may set the operating speed too high, and cause compounding errors due to pressure spikes which result in overall waste and delay.


In some embodiments, the pressure at another location in the compounding system may be estimated based on the determined pressure within one or more syringe pumps. For example, an average of the determined pressures within the operating syringe pumps may be used as an estimate of the pressure at a downstream location such as a manifold connector.



FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an example embodiment of a method 800 of estimating an operating pressure of a compounder comprising a plurality of syringe pumps based upon measured back EMF voltages. At block 805, the back EMF voltages of the electric motors of a plurality of syringe pumps are measured. These back EMF voltages can be measured substantially simultaneously, although in other embodiments periodic staggered measurements may also be made, depending on the length of the sampling cycle.


At block 810, the pressures within each of the plurality of syringe pumps are determined based upon received signals indicative of the measured back EMF voltages. As discussed with respect to FIG. 7, this determination can in some embodiments include a discrete intermediate step of determining the torque being applied by the motor and/or the force being applied to the syringe plunger. In some embodiments, the pressure can be directly determined from the measured back EMF voltage based at least in part upon the dimensions of the syringe.


At block 815, the pressure at a manifold luer connector or other bottleneck downstream of the syringe pumps may be estimated based at least in part on the determined pressures within a plurality of syringe pumps. In some embodiments, this estimate may be an average of the determined pressures within the plurality of syringe pumps currently dispensing fluid into the outlet lines. In other embodiments, the estimate may also be based at least in part on the dimensions or other characteristics of the syringe pumps and/or other components of the compounder system.


The estimated pressure can, like the determined pressure within the syringes, be compared to upper and/or lower threshold pressures in respective blocks 820 and 830, and the results of that comparison used to control or adjust the operation of one or more of the syringe pumps of the compounder. If the estimated pressure exceeds an upper threshold pressure, the process may move to a block 825 where the driving speeds of one or more syringe pumps are decreased. If the estimated pressure is below a threshold pressure, which may be different than the upper threshold pressure, the process may move to a block 835 where the driving speeds of one or more syringe pumps are increased. These adjustments can change, improve, modify, and/or optimize the dispensing routine to avoid overpressure situations while increasing where possible the dispensing rates of certain component fluids.


In an embodiment in which multiple syringe pumps are simultaneously operating, the operating parameters of the various syringe pumps may be changed, improved, modified, and/or optimized to reduce the overall compounding time for a given compounding process while avoiding overpressure events which can cause backflow and/or valve damage. In some embodiments, dispensing parameters for a given mixture may be adjusted or optimized based upon back EMF voltage measurements of a plurality of syringe pumps. The use of back EMF voltage measurements provides a method of monitoring and optimizing a compounding process that is sensorless or that lacks a sensor independent from a measurement of the EMF voltage. This monitoring and optimization can be accomplished without requiring modifications to or increases in the cost of disposable components, such as the disposable syringes of the syringe pumps.



FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating an example embodiment of a method 900 of adjusting dispensing parameters for a compounding process based at least in part on measured back EMF voltages from a plurality of syringe pumps. At block 905, a compounding process begins, the compounding process including dispensation of fluids from a plurality of source containers into a single target container using a plurality of syringe pumps. The dispensing parameters for compounding process can include both a total amount of each component solution to be dispensed, as well as a rate parameter controlling the speed at which the fluid in a given channel is dispensed. For example, the rate parameter may include a gravimetric or volumetric rate at which a given component solution is to be dispensed, and may include an actuator speed such as an angular velocity of a driving stepper motor or other rotary motor, or a linear rate at which a ball nut screw or other linear actuator drives a syringe plunger. In other embodiments, the dispensing parameters may be defined, for example, through an actuator speed and actuation duration.


In some embodiments, the dispensing parameters may be calculated by a controller of the compounder based on information regarding a prescribed target compound and source fluids or solutions to be compounded. In some embodiments, information regarding the prescribed target compound and/or the source solutions may be manually input by an operator. In other embodiments, information regarding the prescribed target component and/or the source solutions may be electronically retrieved, such as from a database. The initial dispensing parameters may be adjusted by an operator prior to initiation of the compounding process.


At block 910, the pressures within the syringe pumps currently dispensing fluid into the outlet lines are determined based at least in part on measured back EMF voltages of the motors driving the syringe pumps. In some embodiments, the determined pressures within the individual active syringe pumps are also used to estimate a pressure elsewhere within the compounder system, such as at or downstream of a mixing manifold, where a luer connector or other component can serve as a bottleneck.


At block 915 the determined and/or estimated pressure measurements are compared to one or more pressure threshold values. This comparison can be done to determine, for example, whether the initial dispensing parameters run a risk of an overpressure condition which could impact the operation of the compounding process. This comparison can also be done, however, to determine whether the current dispensing parameters can be safely adjusted to optimize the compounding process, such as by reducing the time remaining in the dispensing process.


If the determined and/or estimated pressure measurements exceed a pressure threshold value, the process moves to a block 920 where one or more of the initial dispensing parameters can be adjusted to reduce or eliminate a risk of an overpressure condition. In some embodiments, the dispensing conditions may be adjusted to reduce a risk of an overpressure condition, such as by reducing the flow rate of the syringe pumps with the highest determined pressure. In other embodiments, however, the dispensing conditions may be adjusted to optimize the compounding process while reducing the estimated pressure at a bottleneck location within the system, or maintaining the estimated pressure at a bottleneck location below a desired threshold value.


In such an embodiment, a remaining amount of a given source solution to be transferred may be taken into account in adjusting the dispensing parameters. Priority may be given to maintaining a high flow rate for the channels which have the largest volumes of fluid remaining to be dispensed, or with the largest amount of time remaining for active operation of a syringe. In some embodiments, the flow rate may be maintained at a high level even if the determined pressure within the syringe pumps for those channels is higher than the syringe pumps for other channels with less volume remaining to be dispensed. A reduction in flow rate of other channels with less remaining volume to be dispensed may reduce the overall estimated pressure at a bottleneck location within the compounder output tubing. This reduction in estimated pressure can allow for the maintenance of higher flow rate of, for example, a more viscous source solution with a large amount of remaining volume to be dispensed, by reducing the flow rate of one or more less viscous source solutions with smaller amounts of remaining volume to be dispensed.


If the determined and/or estimated pressure measurements do not exceed the pressure threshold value, the process can move to a block 925 where one or more of the initial dispensing parameters can be adjusted to optimize the compounding process. The remaining amount of source solution to be transferred via each of the channels of the compounder in use may be taken into account, and the flow rate adjusted upwards in channels which have the largest volume of fluid remaining to be dispensed. The process can return to the block 910, where the pressures within the syringe pumps currently dispensing fluid into the outlet lines are determined based at least in part on measured back EMF voltages of the motors driving the syringe pumps using the updated dispensing parameters. The dispensing parameters can be iteratively updated in this manner to arrive at an optimized set of dispensing parameters while monitoring the determined and/or estimated pressure measurements to avoid overpressure conditions.


By prioritizing the dispensing of the source solutions with the largest amounts of volume remaining to be dispensed, the overall dispensing time of the compounding process can be reduced, while the determined and/or estimated pressure measurements within the syringe pumps and elsewhere within the compounder output tubing can be continually monitored during an iterative adjustment process in a manner which does not require the inclusion of dedicated pressure sensors within portions of the compounder system, such as the syringes and tubing, which may be disposable.


Using a method such as the sensorless iterative method 900, an optimized set of dispensing parameters may be determined starting from a baseline default set of dispensing parameters which does not require any knowledge of the viscosity of the particular source solutions being used in a given recipe. In other embodiments, however, the initial dispensing parameters need not be a default baseline, but may be manually or automatically adjusted based on information regarding the source solutions or based on the experience of the operator, and may be further optimized using an iterative process such as the processes described herein. If such adjusted initial dispensing parameters may lead to an overpressure event, the monitoring of the pressures within the compounder can quickly identify and correct for the risk of an overpressure event.


Although many features of the embodiments shown in the Figures are specifically called out and described, it will be understood that additional features, dimensions, proportions, relational positions of elements, etc. shown in the drawings are intended to make up a part of this disclosure even when not specifically called out or described. Although forming part of the disclosure, it will also be understood that the specific dimensions, proportions, relational positions of elements, etc. can be varied from those shown in the illustrated embodiments.


Embodiments have been described in connection with the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the foregoing embodiments have been described at a level of detail to allow one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the devices, systems, etc. described herein. A wide variety of variation is possible. Components, elements, and/or steps may be altered, added, removed, or rearranged. Additionally, processing steps may be added, removed, or reordered. While certain embodiments have been explicitly described, other embodiments will also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art based on this disclosure.


Some aspects of the systems and methods described herein can advantageously be implemented using, for example, computer software, hardware, firmware, or any combination of software, hardware, and firmware. Software can comprise computer executable code for performing the functions described herein. In some embodiments, computer-executable code is executed by one or more general purpose computers. However, a skilled artisan will appreciate, in light of this disclosure, that any module that can be implemented using software to be executed on a general purpose computer can also be implemented using a different combination of hardware, software, or firmware. For example, such a module can be implemented completely in hardware using a combination of integrated circuits. Alternatively or additionally, such a module can be implemented completely or partially using specialized computers designed to perform the particular functions described herein rather than by general purpose computers.


While certain embodiments have been explicitly described, other embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art based on this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the invention is intended to be defined by reference to the claims as ultimately published in one or more publications or issued in one or more patents and not simply with regard to the explicitly described embodiments.

Claims
  • 1. An electronically controlled compounding system configured to transfer fluids from a plurality of source containers to a target container, the system comprising: a plurality of fluid transfer stations, each of the plurality of fluid transfer stations comprising: an electric motor; anda pump functionally connected to the electric motor, the pump actuatable via the electric motor to transfer fluid between a source container and an outlet line in fluid communication with the pump;a mixing manifold in fluid communication with the outlet lines of each of the plurality of fluid transfer stations, the mixing manifold comprising an outlet connector configured to be placed in fluid communication with a target container; andan electronic controller configured to receive information from each of the plurality of electric motors indicative of a measured back electromotive force (EMF) voltage during operation of the electric motors and to control the operation of the plurality of electric motors based at least in part on the received information indicative of the measured back EMF voltages.
  • 2. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more pumps of the plurality of fluid transfer stations is a syringe pump.
  • 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the electronic controller is configured to determine a pressure within the syringe pumps of each of the plurality of fluid transfer stations based at least in part on the received information indicative of the measured back EMF voltage of the electric motor of the fluid transfer station.
  • 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the electronic controller is configured to control the operation of an electronic motor based at least in part on the determined pressure within the syringe pump functionally connected to the electric motor.
  • 5. The system of claim 3, wherein the electronic controller is configured to estimate a pressure at the outlet connector of the mixing manifold based at least in part on the determined pressures within the plurality of syringe pumps.
  • 6. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more pumps of the plurality of fluid transfer stations is a peristaltic pump.
  • 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the electric motor comprises control circuity configured to measure the back EMF voltage during operation of the electric motor and transmit an output signal indicative of the back EMF voltage.
  • 8. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of fluid transfer stations additionally comprises: a source check valve disposed between the pump of the fluid transfer station and a source inlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with a source container; anda target check valve disposed between the pump of the fluid transfer station and the outlet line.
  • 9. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of fluid transfer stations additionally comprises a connector configured to place the pump of the fluid transfer station in fluid communication with the outlet line and the source container, and wherein each of the source check valve and the target check valve are disposed within the connector.
  • 10. The system of claim 3, wherein the electronic controller is configured to compare the determined pressure within the syringe pumps of each of the plurality of fluid transfer stations to a threshold pressure in order to identify an overpressure condition.
  • 11. An electronically controlled compounding system configured to compound fluids drawn from a plurality of source containers in desired proportions in a destination container, the system comprising: a plurality of syringe pumps, each syringe pump of the plurality of syringe pumps comprising a plunger movable relative to a body of the syringe pump;a plurality of motors, each of the plurality of motors being configured to control the position of a linear actuator mechanism configured to be connected to one of the plurality of syringe pumps to control the position of the plunger of the syringe pump; andan electronic controller configured to control the operation of each of the plurality of motors to cause the plurality of syringe pumps to dispense fluids drawn from a plurality of source containers in desired proportions into a destination container, the electronic controller configured to receive information from each of the plurality of motors regarding a back electromotive force (EMF) voltage of the motor and control the operation of each of the plurality of motors based at least in part on the received information regarding the back EMF voltages of the plurality of motors.
  • 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the system further comprises: a plurality of outlet lines, each of the plurality of outlet lines in fluid communication with one of the plurality of syringe pumps via a destination check valve; anda manifold connector in fluid communication with each of the plurality of outlet lines, wherein the controller is configured to estimate a pressure at the manifold connector based at least in part on the received information regarding the back EMF voltages of the plurality of motors.
  • 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the electronic controller is configured to: determine the pressure in each of the syringe pumps based at least in part on the information regarding the back EMF voltages of the plurality of motors; andestimate the pressure at the manifold connector based at least in part on the determined pressure in each of the syringe pumps.
  • 14. The system of claim 12, wherein the electronic controller is configured to control the operation of the plurality of motors based on a set of dispensing parameters, and wherein the electronic controller is configured to update the set of dispensing parameters based at least in part on the estimated pressure at the manifold connector.
  • 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the electronic controller is configured to update the set of dispensing parameters to reduce a completion time of a compounding process while maintaining the estimated pressure at the manifold connector below a threshold pressure.
  • 16. A method of adjusting dispensing parameters of a multichannel compounder, the method comprising: beginning a compounding process to combine fluids dispensed from a plurality of source containers into a single target container using a plurality of syringe pumps, each syringe pump in fluid communication with a mixing manifold and one of the plurality of source containers, each of the plurality of syringe pumps comprising a driving motor, the driving motors being controlled according to an initial set of driving parameters;during the compounding process, determining pressures within each of the plurality of syringe pumps based on a measured back electromotive force (EMF) voltage; andduring the compounding process, updating the initial set of driving parameters based at least in part on the determined pressure within each of the plurality of syringe pumps.
  • 17. The method of claim 16, wherein updating the initial set of driving parameters comprises reducing a driving speed of at least one of the plurality of syringe pumps.
  • 18. The method of claim 17, wherein reducing a driving speed of at least one of the plurality of syringe pumps comprises reducing a driving speed of a syringe pump having the highest determined pressure of the plurality of syringe pumps.
  • 19. The method of claim 16, wherein updating the initial set of driving parameters comprises increasing a driving speed of at least one of the plurality of syringe pumps.
  • 20. The method of claim 19, wherein increasing a driving speed of at least one of the plurality of syringe pumps comprises increasing a driving speed of a syringe pump having the largest remaining amount of fluid to be dispensed.
RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/288,491, filed on Dec. 10, 2021, and entitled, “MEDICAL FLUID COMPOUNDING SYSTEMS WITH COORDINATED FLOW CONTROL,” the entire contents of are hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification for all that it discloses.

US Referenced Citations (1603)
Number Name Date Kind
3401337 Beusman et al. Sep 1968 A
3484681 Grady, Jr. et al. Dec 1969 A
3699320 Zimmerman et al. Oct 1972 A
3727074 Keller et al. Apr 1973 A
3731679 Wilhelmson et al. May 1973 A
3768084 Haynes Oct 1973 A
3770354 Tsuruta et al. Nov 1973 A
3778702 Finger Dec 1973 A
3806821 Niemeyer et al. Apr 1974 A
3838565 Carlyle Oct 1974 A
3854038 McKinley Dec 1974 A
3886459 Hufford et al. May 1975 A
3890554 Yoshitake et al. Jun 1975 A
3894431 Muston et al. Jul 1975 A
3898637 Wolstenholme Aug 1975 A
3901231 Olson Aug 1975 A
3909693 Yoshitake et al. Sep 1975 A
3910701 Henderson Oct 1975 A
3911343 Oster Oct 1975 A
3919608 Usami et al. Nov 1975 A
3921622 Cole Nov 1975 A
3930404 Ryden, Jr. Jan 1976 A
3933431 Trujillo et al. Jan 1976 A
3935876 Massie et al. Feb 1976 A
3944963 Hively Mar 1976 A
3966358 Heimes et al. Jun 1976 A
3971980 Jungfer et al. Jul 1976 A
3974681 Namery Aug 1976 A
3974683 Martin Aug 1976 A
3985467 Lefferson Oct 1976 A
3990444 Vial Nov 1976 A
3997888 Kremer Dec 1976 A
4005724 Courtot Feb 1977 A
4014206 Taylor Mar 1977 A
4038982 Burke Aug 1977 A
4039269 Pickering Aug 1977 A
4048474 Olesen Sep 1977 A
4049954 Da Costa Vieira et al. Sep 1977 A
4055175 Clemens et al. Oct 1977 A
4057228 Völker et al. Nov 1977 A
4068521 Cosentino et al. Jan 1978 A
4078562 Friedman Mar 1978 A
4089227 Falgari et al. May 1978 A
4094318 Burke Jun 1978 A
4105028 Sadlier et al. Aug 1978 A
4114144 Hyman Sep 1978 A
4151845 Clemens May 1979 A
4155362 Jess May 1979 A
4173224 Marx Nov 1979 A
4181610 Shintani et al. Jan 1980 A
4183244 Kohno et al. Jan 1980 A
4195515 Smoll Apr 1980 A
4210138 Jess et al. Jul 1980 A
4213454 Shim Jul 1980 A
4217993 Jess et al. Aug 1980 A
4240294 Grande Dec 1980 A
4240438 Updike et al. Dec 1980 A
4244365 McGill Jan 1981 A
4256437 Brown Mar 1981 A
4261356 Turner et al. Apr 1981 A
4264861 Radu et al. Apr 1981 A
4265240 Jenkins May 1981 A
4270532 Franetzki et al. Jun 1981 A
4277226 Archibald et al. Jul 1981 A
4278085 Shim Jul 1981 A
4280495 Lampert Jul 1981 A
4282872 Franetzki et al. Aug 1981 A
4286202 Clancy et al. Aug 1981 A
4290346 Bujan Sep 1981 A
4291692 Bowman et al. Sep 1981 A
4292405 Mascoli Sep 1981 A
4298357 Permic Nov 1981 A
4308866 Jeliffe Jan 1982 A
4312341 Zissimopoulos Jan 1982 A
4319568 Tregoning Mar 1982 A
4322201 Archibald Mar 1982 A
4323849 Smith Apr 1982 A
4324662 Schnell Apr 1982 A
4328800 Marx May 1982 A
4328801 Marx May 1982 A
4333045 Oltendorf Jun 1982 A
4343316 Jespersen Aug 1982 A
4344429 Gupton et al. Aug 1982 A
4346707 Whitney et al. Aug 1982 A
4360019 Portner et al. Nov 1982 A
4366384 Jensen Dec 1982 A
4367736 Gupton Jan 1983 A
4370983 Lichtenstein et al. Feb 1983 A
4373527 Fischell Feb 1983 A
4379452 DeVries Apr 1983 A
4381005 Bujan Apr 1983 A
4384578 Winkler May 1983 A
4385247 Satomi May 1983 A
4391598 Thompson Jul 1983 A
4392849 Petre et al. Jul 1983 A
4394862 Shim Jul 1983 A
4395259 Prestele et al. Jul 1983 A
4397194 Soltz Aug 1983 A
4399362 Cormier et al. Aug 1983 A
4407659 Adam Oct 1983 A
4411651 Schulman Oct 1983 A
4418565 St. John Dec 1983 A
4432699 Beckman et al. Feb 1984 A
4432761 Dawe Feb 1984 A
4432762 Dawe Feb 1984 A
4443218 Decant, Jr. et al. Apr 1984 A
4444546 Pazemenas Apr 1984 A
4447191 Bilstad et al. May 1984 A
4447224 Decant, Jr. et al. May 1984 A
4453931 Pastrone Jun 1984 A
4457751 Rodler Jul 1984 A
4463301 Moriguchi et al. Jul 1984 A
4464170 Clemens Aug 1984 A
4467654 Murakami et al. Aug 1984 A
4468222 Lundquist Aug 1984 A
4468601 Chamran et al. Aug 1984 A
4469481 Kobayashi Sep 1984 A
4475666 Bilbrey et al. Oct 1984 A
4475901 Kraegen et al. Oct 1984 A
4477756 Moriguchi Oct 1984 A
4479760 Bilstad et al. Oct 1984 A
4480218 Hair Oct 1984 A
4480483 McShane Nov 1984 A
4483202 Ogua et al. Nov 1984 A
4487601 Lindemann Dec 1984 A
4492909 Hartwig Jan 1985 A
4496346 Mosteller Jan 1985 A
4498843 Schneider et al. Feb 1985 A
4501531 Bilstad et al. Feb 1985 A
4504263 Steuer Mar 1985 A
4507112 Hillel Mar 1985 A
4510266 Eertink Apr 1985 A
4515584 Abe et al. May 1985 A
4519792 Dawe May 1985 A
4521212 Ruschke Jun 1985 A
4525163 Slavik et al. Jun 1985 A
4526568 Clemens et al. Jul 1985 A
4526574 Pekkarinen Jul 1985 A
4529401 Leslie et al. Jul 1985 A
4533350 Danby et al. Aug 1985 A
4543955 Schroeppel Oct 1985 A
4551134 Slavik et al. Nov 1985 A
4553958 LeCocq Nov 1985 A
4559036 Wunsch Dec 1985 A
4559037 Franetzki et al. Dec 1985 A
4559044 Robinson Dec 1985 A
4559454 Kramer Dec 1985 A
4565500 Jeensalute et al. Jan 1986 A
4583981 Urquhart et al. Apr 1986 A
4587473 Turvey May 1986 A
4607520 Dam Aug 1986 A
4617014 Cannon et al. Oct 1986 A
4624661 Arimond Nov 1986 A
4627835 Fenton, Jr. Dec 1986 A
4633878 Bombardieri Jan 1987 A
4634426 Kamen Jan 1987 A
4634427 Hannula et al. Jan 1987 A
4636144 Abe et al. Jan 1987 A
4637813 DeVries Jan 1987 A
4645489 Krumme Feb 1987 A
4648869 Bobo, Jr. Mar 1987 A
4652260 Fenton, Jr. et al. Mar 1987 A
4658244 Meijer Apr 1987 A
4668216 Martin May 1987 A
4668945 Aldrovandi et al. May 1987 A
4673334 Allington et al. Jun 1987 A
4673389 Archibald et al. Jun 1987 A
4676776 Howson et al. Jun 1987 A
4677359 Enami et al. Jun 1987 A
4678979 Hori Jul 1987 A
4678998 Muramatsu Jul 1987 A
4679562 Luksha Jul 1987 A
4683428 Gete Jul 1987 A
4685903 Cable et al. Aug 1987 A
4690673 Blomquist Sep 1987 A
4691153 Nishimura Sep 1987 A
4692145 Weyant Sep 1987 A
4696671 Epstein et al. Sep 1987 A
4697129 Enami et al. Sep 1987 A
4702675 Aldrovandi et al. Oct 1987 A
4705506 Archibald et al. Nov 1987 A
4710106 Iwata et al. Dec 1987 A
4714462 DiDomenico Dec 1987 A
4714463 Archibald et al. Dec 1987 A
4718576 Tamura et al. Jan 1988 A
4720636 Benner Jan 1988 A
4722224 Scheller et al. Feb 1988 A
4722734 Kolin Feb 1988 A
4731051 Fischell Mar 1988 A
4731057 Tanaka et al. Mar 1988 A
4737711 O'Hare Apr 1988 A
4739346 Buckley Apr 1988 A
4741732 Crankshaw et al. May 1988 A
4741736 Brown May 1988 A
4748857 Nakagawa Jun 1988 A
4751445 Sakai Jun 1988 A
4756706 Kerns et al. Jul 1988 A
4758228 Williams Jul 1988 A
4763525 Cobb Aug 1988 A
4764166 Spani et al. Aug 1988 A
4764697 Christiaens Aug 1988 A
4769001 Prince Sep 1988 A
4776842 Franetzki et al. Oct 1988 A
4781687 Wall Nov 1988 A
4784576 Bloom et al. Nov 1988 A
4785184 Bien et al. Nov 1988 A
4785799 Schoon et al. Nov 1988 A
4785969 McLaughlin Nov 1988 A
4786800 Kamen Nov 1988 A
4789014 DiGianfilippo Dec 1988 A
4797655 Orndal et al. Jan 1989 A
4803389 Ogawa et al. Feb 1989 A
4803625 Fu et al. Feb 1989 A
4818186 Pastrone et al. Apr 1989 A
4820281 Lawler Apr 1989 A
4821558 Pastrone et al. Apr 1989 A
4828545 Epstein et al. May 1989 A
4828693 Lindsay May 1989 A
4829448 Balding et al. May 1989 A
4838856 Mulreany et al. Jun 1989 A
4838857 Strowe et al. Jun 1989 A
4840542 Abbott Jun 1989 A
4842584 Pastrone et al. Jun 1989 A
4845487 Frantz et al. Jul 1989 A
4846792 Bobo et al. Jul 1989 A
4850805 Madsen et al. Jul 1989 A
4851755 Fincher Jul 1989 A
4854324 Hirschman et al. Aug 1989 A
4856339 Williams Aug 1989 A
4857048 Simons et al. Aug 1989 A
4857050 Lentz et al. Aug 1989 A
4858154 Anderson et al. Aug 1989 A
4863425 Slate et al. Sep 1989 A
4865584 Epstein et al. Sep 1989 A
4869722 Heyman Sep 1989 A
4874359 White et al. Oct 1989 A
4881413 Georgi et al. Nov 1989 A
4882575 Kawahara Nov 1989 A
4884013 Jackson et al. Nov 1989 A
4884065 Crouse et al. Nov 1989 A
4886422 Takeuchi et al. Dec 1989 A
4898576 Philip Feb 1990 A
4898578 Rubalcaba, Jr. Feb 1990 A
4906103 Kao Mar 1990 A
4908017 Howson et al. Mar 1990 A
4908019 Urquhart et al. Mar 1990 A
4910475 Lin Mar 1990 A
4919595 Likuski et al. Apr 1990 A
4919596 Slate et al. Apr 1990 A
4925444 Orkin et al. May 1990 A
4927411 Pastrone et al. May 1990 A
4930358 Motegi et al. Jun 1990 A
4936820 Dennehey Jun 1990 A
4936828 Chiang Jun 1990 A
4938079 Goldberg Jul 1990 A
4943279 Samiotes et al. Jul 1990 A
4946439 Eggers Aug 1990 A
4947856 Beard Aug 1990 A
4950235 Slate et al. Aug 1990 A
4950244 Fellingham Aug 1990 A
4959050 Bobo, Jr. Sep 1990 A
4966579 Polaschegg Oct 1990 A
4968941 Rogers Nov 1990 A
4972842 Korten et al. Nov 1990 A
4976687 Martin Dec 1990 A
4978335 Arthur, III Dec 1990 A
4979940 Lapp et al. Dec 1990 A
4981467 Bobo et al. Jan 1991 A
5000663 Gorton Mar 1991 A
5000739 Kulisz et al. Mar 1991 A
5006050 Cooke et al. Apr 1991 A
5010473 Jacobs Apr 1991 A
5014714 Millay et al. May 1991 A
5014798 Glynn May 1991 A
5018945 D'Silva May 1991 A
5026348 Venegas Jun 1991 A
5028857 Taghezout Jul 1991 A
5032112 Fairchild et al. Jul 1991 A
5034004 Crankshaw Jul 1991 A
5035143 Latimer et al. Jul 1991 A
5040699 Gangemi Aug 1991 A
5041086 Koenig et al. Aug 1991 A
5043706 Oliver Aug 1991 A
5045069 Imparato Sep 1991 A
5049047 Polaschegg et al. Sep 1991 A
5052230 Lang Oct 1991 A
5053747 Slate et al. Oct 1991 A
5055761 Mills Oct 1991 A
5056992 Simons Oct 1991 A
5058161 Weiss Oct 1991 A
5059171 Bridge Oct 1991 A
5063603 Burt Nov 1991 A
5064412 Henke et al. Nov 1991 A
5078683 Sancoff et al. Jan 1992 A
5084663 Olsson Jan 1992 A
5084828 Kaufman et al. Jan 1992 A
5088981 Howson et al. Feb 1992 A
5096385 Georgi et al. Mar 1992 A
5097505 Weiss Mar 1992 A
5100380 Epstein et al. Mar 1992 A
5102392 Sakai et al. Apr 1992 A
5103211 Daoud et al. Apr 1992 A
5104374 Bishko et al. Apr 1992 A
5108367 Epstein et al. Apr 1992 A
5109850 Blanco et al. May 1992 A
5116203 Nartwick et al. May 1992 A
5116312 Blakenship et al. May 1992 A
5116316 Sertic May 1992 A
5123275 Daoud et al. Jun 1992 A
5124627 Okada Jun 1992 A
5125499 Saathoff et al. Jun 1992 A
5131816 Brown Jul 1992 A
5132603 Yoshimoto Jul 1992 A
5153827 Coutre et al. Oct 1992 A
5158441 Aid Oct 1992 A
5161222 Montejo et al. Nov 1992 A
5174472 Raque et al. Dec 1992 A
5176631 Koenig Jan 1993 A
5176646 Kuroda Jan 1993 A
5179340 Rogers Jan 1993 A
5180287 Natwick et al. Jan 1993 A
5181910 Scanlon Jan 1993 A
5186057 Everhart Feb 1993 A
5188603 Vaillancourt Feb 1993 A
5190522 Wocicki et al. Mar 1993 A
5191795 Fellingham et al. Mar 1993 A
5192340 Grant et al. Mar 1993 A
5194796 Domeki et al. Mar 1993 A
5198776 Carr Mar 1993 A
5200090 Ford Apr 1993 A
5205819 Ross et al. Apr 1993 A
5206522 Danby et al. Apr 1993 A
5207642 Orkin et al. May 1993 A
5211626 Frank et al. May 1993 A
5213573 Sorich et al. May 1993 A
5215450 Tamari Jun 1993 A
5216597 Beckers Jun 1993 A
5219099 Spence et al. Jun 1993 A
5219327 Okada Jun 1993 A
5221268 Barton et al. Jun 1993 A
5229713 Bullock et al. Jul 1993 A
5232476 Grant Aug 1993 A
5233571 Wirtschafter Aug 1993 A
5237309 Frantz et al. Aug 1993 A
5242406 Gross et al. Sep 1993 A
5242408 Jhuboo et al. Sep 1993 A
5243982 Möstl et al. Sep 1993 A
5244463 Cordner, Jr. et al. Sep 1993 A
5244568 Lindsay et al. Sep 1993 A
5254096 Rondelet et al. Oct 1993 A
5256155 Yerlikaya et al. Oct 1993 A
5256156 Kern et al. Oct 1993 A
5256157 Samiotes et al. Oct 1993 A
5260665 Goldberg Nov 1993 A
5257206 Hanson Dec 1993 A
5267980 Dirr et al. Dec 1993 A
5274316 Evans et al. Dec 1993 A
5276610 Maeda et al. Jan 1994 A
5280728 Sato et al. Jan 1994 A
5283510 Tamaki et al. Feb 1994 A
5287851 Beran et al. Feb 1994 A
5292306 Wynkoop et al. Mar 1994 A
5295967 Rondelet et al. Mar 1994 A
5298021 Sherer Mar 1994 A
5303585 Lichte Apr 1994 A
5304126 Epstein et al. Apr 1994 A
5304216 Wallace Apr 1994 A
5308333 Skakoon May 1994 A
5317506 Coutre et al. May 1994 A
5319363 Welch et al. Jun 1994 A
5319979 Abrahamson Jun 1994 A
5321392 Skakoon et al. Jun 1994 A
5325170 Bornhop Jun 1994 A
5325728 Zimmerman et al. Jul 1994 A
5328460 Lord et al. Jul 1994 A
5330634 Wong et al. Jul 1994 A
5333497 Braend et al. Aug 1994 A
5336051 Tamari Aug 1994 A
5338157 Blomquist Aug 1994 A
5342298 Michaels Aug 1994 A
5343734 Maeda et al. Sep 1994 A
5343885 Grant Sep 1994 A
5346466 Yerlikaya et al. Sep 1994 A
5356378 Doan et al. Oct 1994 A
5359271 Husher Oct 1994 A
D352778 Irvin et al. Nov 1994 S
5364346 Schrezenmeir Nov 1994 A
5366346 Danby Nov 1994 A
5368562 Blomquist et al. Nov 1994 A
5374865 Yoshimura et al. Dec 1994 A
5376070 Purvis et al. Dec 1994 A
5378231 Johnson et al. Jan 1995 A
5382232 Hague et al. Jan 1995 A
5383369 Khuri-Yakub et al. Jan 1995 A
5389071 Kawahara et al. Feb 1995 A
5389078 Zalesky et al. Feb 1995 A
5392638 Kawahara Feb 1995 A
5394732 Johnson et al. Mar 1995 A
5395320 Padda et al. Mar 1995 A
5399171 Bowman et al. Mar 1995 A
5406954 Tomita Apr 1995 A
5408326 Priestley Apr 1995 A
5415528 Ogden et al. May 1995 A
5417119 Smoll May 1995 A
5417222 Dempsey et al. May 1995 A
5417395 Fowler et al. May 1995 A
5418443 Kikuchi May 1995 A
5421208 Packard et al. Jun 1995 A
5423748 Uhala Jun 1995 A
5423749 Merte et al. Jun 1995 A
5423759 Campbell Jun 1995 A
5428284 Kaneda et al. Jun 1995 A
5429485 Dodge Jul 1995 A
5429601 Conley Jul 1995 A
5429602 Hauser Jul 1995 A
5431627 Pastrone et al. Jul 1995 A
5434508 Ishida Jul 1995 A
5437624 Langley et al. Aug 1995 A
5444316 Ohya et al. Aug 1995 A
5444378 Rogers Aug 1995 A
5445621 Poli et al. Aug 1995 A
5450758 Smoll Sep 1995 A
5451881 Finger Sep 1995 A
5455423 Mount et al. Oct 1995 A
5455851 Chaco et al. Oct 1995 A
5463906 Spani et al. Nov 1995 A
5464392 Epstein et al. Nov 1995 A
5465082 Chaco Nov 1995 A
5469851 Lipschutz Nov 1995 A
5473948 Moss et al. Dec 1995 A
5480294 Di Perna et al. Jan 1996 A
5482438 Anderson et al. Jan 1996 A
5485408 Blomquist Jan 1996 A
5486286 Peterson et al. Jan 1996 A
5489265 Montalvo et al. Feb 1996 A
5495566 Kwatinetz Feb 1996 A
5496273 Pastrone et al. Mar 1996 A
5505696 Miki Apr 1996 A
5505828 Wong et al. Apr 1996 A
5507288 Bocker et al. Apr 1996 A
5507412 Ebert et al. Apr 1996 A
5520637 Pager et al. May 1996 A
5522798 Johnson et al. Jun 1996 A
5522799 Furukawa Jun 1996 A
5527630 Nagata Jun 1996 A
5533389 Kamen et al. Jul 1996 A
5537853 Finburgh et al. Jul 1996 A
5542040 Chang et al. Jul 1996 A
5545140 Conero et al. Aug 1996 A
5547470 Johnson et al. Aug 1996 A
5551850 Williamson et al. Sep 1996 A
5554013 Owens et al. Sep 1996 A
5554115 Thomas et al. Sep 1996 A
5558638 Evers et al. Sep 1996 A
5562615 Nassif Oct 1996 A
5563486 Yamamoto et al. Oct 1996 A
5572105 Nojima et al. Nov 1996 A
5573502 LeCocq et al. Nov 1996 A
5583280 Mo et al. Dec 1996 A
5584667 Davis Dec 1996 A
5584806 Amano Dec 1996 A
5586868 Lawless et al. Dec 1996 A
5590653 Aida et al. Jan 1997 A
5594786 Chaco et al. Jan 1997 A
5600073 Hill Feb 1997 A
5601420 Warner et al. Feb 1997 A
5609575 Larson et al. Mar 1997 A
5609576 Voss Mar 1997 A
5611784 Barresi et al. Mar 1997 A
5616124 Hague et al. Apr 1997 A
5620312 Hyman et al. Apr 1997 A
5620608 Rosa et al. Apr 1997 A
5626140 Feldman et al. May 1997 A
5626151 Linden May 1997 A
5626563 Dodge et al. May 1997 A
5627443 Kimura et al. May 1997 A
5628309 Brown May 1997 A
5628731 Dodge et al. May 1997 A
5630710 Tune et al. May 1997 A
5634896 Bryant et al. Jun 1997 A
5637095 Nason et al. Jun 1997 A
5640075 Brasseur et al. Jun 1997 A
5640150 Atwater Jun 1997 A
5643212 Coutre et al. Jul 1997 A
5648710 Ikeda Jul 1997 A
5649536 Ogura et al. Jul 1997 A
5651775 Walker et al. Jul 1997 A
5657000 Ellingboe Aug 1997 A
5658133 Anderson et al. Aug 1997 A
5658250 Blomquist et al. Aug 1997 A
5659234 Cresens Aug 1997 A
5661245 Svoboda et al. Aug 1997 A
5662612 Niehoff Sep 1997 A
5665065 Colman et al. Sep 1997 A
5669877 Blomquist Sep 1997 A
5672154 Sillén et al. Sep 1997 A
5672832 Cucci et al. Sep 1997 A
5681285 Ford et al. Oct 1997 A
5681286 Niehoff Oct 1997 A
5685844 Marttila Nov 1997 A
5685866 Lopez Nov 1997 A
5687717 Halpern et al. Nov 1997 A
5689229 Chaco et al. Nov 1997 A
5691613 Gutwillinger Nov 1997 A
5695464 Viallet Dec 1997 A
5695473 Olsen Dec 1997 A
5697899 Hillman et al. Dec 1997 A
5697916 Schraga Dec 1997 A
5712795 Layman et al. Jan 1998 A
5713856 Eggers et al. Feb 1998 A
5714691 Hill Feb 1998 A
5718562 Lawless et al. Feb 1998 A
5718569 Holst Feb 1998 A
5720721 Dumas et al. Feb 1998 A
5722417 Rudolph Mar 1998 A
5728074 Castellano et al. Mar 1998 A
5728948 Bignell et al. Mar 1998 A
5733257 Stemby Mar 1998 A
5733259 Valcke et al. Mar 1998 A
5734464 Gibbs Mar 1998 A
5738659 Neer et al. Apr 1998 A
5743856 Oka et al. Apr 1998 A
5744027 Connell et al. Apr 1998 A
5744929 Miyazaki Apr 1998 A
5745378 Barker et al. Apr 1998 A
5752813 Tyner et al. May 1998 A
5752918 Fowler et al. May 1998 A
5752919 Schrimpf May 1998 A
5755691 Hilborne May 1998 A
5758643 Wong et al. Jun 1998 A
5761072 Bardsley, Jr. et al. Jun 1998 A
5764034 Bowman et al. Jun 1998 A
5766155 Hyman et al. Jun 1998 A
5772635 Dastur et al. Jun 1998 A
5778256 Darbee Jul 1998 A
5781442 Engleson et al. Jul 1998 A
5782805 Meinzer et al. Jul 1998 A
5788669 Peterson Aug 1998 A
5788674 McWilliams Aug 1998 A
5789923 Shimoyama et al. Aug 1998 A
5792069 Greenwald et al. Aug 1998 A
5793211 Shimoyama et al. Aug 1998 A
5795327 Wilson et al. Aug 1998 A
5798934 Saigo et al. Aug 1998 A
5800387 Duffy et al. Sep 1998 A
5803712 Davis et al. Sep 1998 A
5803917 Butterfield Sep 1998 A
5805455 Lipps Sep 1998 A
5807322 Lindsey et al. Sep 1998 A
5810770 Chin et al. Sep 1998 A
5813972 Nazarian et al. Sep 1998 A
5814004 Tamari Sep 1998 A
5814015 Gargano et al. Sep 1998 A
5816779 Lawless et al. Oct 1998 A
5822715 Worthington et al. Oct 1998 A
5827179 Lichter et al. Oct 1998 A
5827223 Butterfield Oct 1998 A
5832448 Brown Nov 1998 A
5836910 Duffy et al. Nov 1998 A
5841261 Nojima et al. Nov 1998 A
5841284 Takahashi Nov 1998 A
5843035 Bowman Dec 1998 A
5848971 Fowler et al. Dec 1998 A
5850344 Conkright Dec 1998 A
5857843 Leason et al. Jan 1999 A
5864330 Haynes Jan 1999 A
5865805 Ziemba Feb 1999 A
5867821 Ballantyne et al. Feb 1999 A
5871465 Vasko Feb 1999 A
5872453 Shimoyama et al. Feb 1999 A
5875195 Dixon Feb 1999 A
5882300 Malinouskas et al. Mar 1999 A
5882339 Beiser et al. Mar 1999 A
5885245 Lynch et al. Mar 1999 A
5889379 Yanagi et al. Mar 1999 A
5891051 Han et al. Apr 1999 A
5894209 Takagi et al. Apr 1999 A
5897493 Brown Apr 1999 A
5897498 Canfield, II et al. Apr 1999 A
5898292 Takemoto et al. Apr 1999 A
5899665 Makino et al. May 1999 A
5901150 Jhuboo et al. May 1999 A
5904666 DeDecker et al. May 1999 A
5904668 Hyman et al. May 1999 A
5905207 Schalk May 1999 A
5906598 Giesier May 1999 A
5910252 Truitt et al. Jun 1999 A
5915240 Karpf Jun 1999 A
5920263 Huttenhoff et al. Jul 1999 A
5923159 Ezell Jul 1999 A
5924074 Evans Jul 1999 A
5927349 Martucci Jul 1999 A
5932119 Kaplan et al. Aug 1999 A
5932987 McLoughlin Aug 1999 A
5935099 Peterson et al. Aug 1999 A
5935106 Olsen Aug 1999 A
5938634 Packard Aug 1999 A
5938636 Kramer et al. Aug 1999 A
5941846 Duffy et al. Aug 1999 A
5944660 Kimball et al. Aug 1999 A
5947911 Wong et al. Sep 1999 A
5954527 Jhuboo et al. Sep 1999 A
5954696 Ryan et al. Sep 1999 A
5956023 Lyle et al. Sep 1999 A
5956501 Brown Sep 1999 A
5957885 Bollish et al. Sep 1999 A
5957890 Mann et al. Sep 1999 A
5971594 Sahai et al. Oct 1999 A
5973497 Bergk et al. Oct 1999 A
5975081 Hood et al. Nov 1999 A
5989222 Cole et al. Nov 1999 A
5990838 Burns et al. Nov 1999 A
5991525 Shah et al. Nov 1999 A
5993393 Ryan et al. Nov 1999 A
5994876 Canny et al. Nov 1999 A
5997476 Brown Dec 1999 A
6000828 Leet Dec 1999 A
6003006 Colella et al. Dec 1999 A
6003388 Oeftering Dec 1999 A
6012034 Hamparian et al. Jan 2000 A
6017318 Gauthier et al. Jan 2000 A
6017493 Cambron Jan 2000 A
6021392 Lester et al. Feb 2000 A
6023977 Langdon et al. Feb 2000 A
6024539 Blomquist Feb 2000 A
6027441 Cantu Feb 2000 A
6028412 Shine et al. Feb 2000 A
6032676 Moore Mar 2000 A
6033561 Schoendorfer Mar 2000 A
6036017 Bayliss, IV Mar 2000 A
6068612 Bowman May 2000 A
6068615 Brown et al. May 2000 A
6073106 Rozen et al. Jun 2000 A
6077246 Kullas et al. Jun 2000 A
6083206 Molko Jul 2000 A
6089104 Chang Jul 2000 A
6104295 Gaisser et al. Aug 2000 A
6110152 Kovelman Aug 2000 A
6110153 Davis Aug 2000 A
RE36871 Epstein et al. Sep 2000 E
6120459 Nitzan et al. Sep 2000 A
6122536 Sun et al. Sep 2000 A
6142008 Cole et al. Nov 2000 A
6150942 O'Brien Nov 2000 A
6157914 Seto et al. Dec 2000 A
6158288 Smith Dec 2000 A
6158965 Butterfield et al. Dec 2000 A
6159147 Lichter et al. Dec 2000 A
6159186 Wickham et al. Dec 2000 A
6164921 Moubayed et al. Dec 2000 A
6168561 Cantu Jan 2001 B1
6178827 Feller Jan 2001 B1
6182667 Hanks et al. Feb 2001 B1
6186141 Pike et al. Feb 2001 B1
6189105 Lopes Feb 2001 B1
6192752 Blaine Feb 2001 B1
6195589 Ketcham Feb 2001 B1
6202711 Martucci Mar 2001 B1
6203528 Deckert Mar 2001 B1
6208107 Maske et al. Mar 2001 B1
6212936 Meisberger Apr 2001 B1
6213972 Butterfield Apr 2001 B1
6231320 Lawless et al. May 2001 B1
6234176 Domae et al. May 2001 B1
6236326 Murphy et al. May 2001 B1
6237398 Porat et al. May 2001 B1
6241704 Peterson et al. Jun 2001 B1
6248067 Causey, III et al. Jun 2001 B1
6250132 Drzewiecki Jun 2001 B1
6259355 Chaco et al. Jul 2001 B1
6259587 Sheldon et al. Jul 2001 B1
6261065 Nayak Jul 2001 B1
6262946 Khuri-Yakub et al. Jul 2001 B1
6267559 Mossman et al. Jul 2001 B1
6267725 Dubberstein et al. Jul 2001 B1
6269340 Ford et al. Jul 2001 B1
6270455 Brown Aug 2001 B1
6271813 Palalau Aug 2001 B1
6277072 Bardy Aug 2001 B1
6277099 Strowe et al. Aug 2001 B1
6280380 Bardy Aug 2001 B1
6280391 Olson et al. Aug 2001 B1
6280408 Sipin Aug 2001 B1
6283761 Joao Sep 2001 B1
6285155 Maske et al. Sep 2001 B1
6312378 Bardy Nov 2001 B1
6322516 Masuda et al. Nov 2001 B1
6330351 Yasunaga Dec 2001 B1
6336053 Beatty Jan 2002 B1
6337675 Toffolo et al. Jan 2002 B1
6345539 Rawes et al. Feb 2002 B1
6347553 Morris et al. Feb 2002 B1
6349740 Cho et al. Feb 2002 B1
6358225 Butterfield Mar 2002 B1
6358387 Kopf-Sill et al. Mar 2002 B1
6362591 Moberg Mar 2002 B1
6385505 Lipps May 2002 B1
6386050 Yin et al. May 2002 B1
6394958 Bratteli et al. May 2002 B1
6396583 Clare May 2002 B1
6398760 Danby Jun 2002 B1
6405076 Taylor et al. Jun 2002 B1
6408679 Kline-Schoder et al. Jun 2002 B1
6413238 Maget Jul 2002 B1
6416291 Butterfield et al. Jul 2002 B1
6418334 Unger et al. Jul 2002 B1
6418535 Kulakowski et al. Jul 2002 B1
6445053 Cho Sep 2002 B1
6456245 Crawford Sep 2002 B1
6457346 Kline-Schoder et al. Oct 2002 B1
6463785 Kline-Schoder et al. Oct 2002 B1
6467331 Kline-Schoder et al. Oct 2002 B1
6468242 Wilson et al. Oct 2002 B1
6475178 Krajewski Nov 2002 B1
6481980 Vandlik Nov 2002 B1
6482158 Mault Nov 2002 B2
6482185 Hartmann Nov 2002 B1
6485263 Bryant et al. Nov 2002 B1
6485418 Yasushi et al. Nov 2002 B2
6485465 Moberg et al. Nov 2002 B2
6487916 Gomm et al. Dec 2002 B1
6489896 Platt Dec 2002 B1
6494694 Lawless et al. Dec 2002 B2
6494831 Koritzinsky Dec 2002 B1
6497680 Holst et al. Dec 2002 B1
6503221 Briggs Jan 2003 B1
6512944 Kovtun et al. Jan 2003 B1
6516667 Broad et al. Feb 2003 B1
6517482 Eiden et al. Feb 2003 B1
6519569 White et al. Feb 2003 B1
6529751 Van Driel et al. Mar 2003 B1
6531708 Malmstrom Mar 2003 B1
6539315 Adams et al. Mar 2003 B1
6540672 Simonsen et al. Apr 2003 B1
6544212 Galley et al. Apr 2003 B2
6544228 Heitmeier Apr 2003 B1
6558125 Futterknecht May 2003 B1
6558351 Steil et al. May 2003 B1
6562012 Brown et al. May 2003 B1
6564825 Lowery et al. May 2003 B2
6565509 Say et al. May 2003 B1
6568416 Tucker et al. May 2003 B2
6572542 Houben et al. Jun 2003 B1
6572545 Knobbe et al. Jun 2003 B2
6572576 Brugger et al. Jun 2003 B2
6578422 Lam et al. Jun 2003 B2
6578435 Gould et al. Jun 2003 B2
6581117 Klein et al. Jun 2003 B1
RE38189 Walker et al. Jul 2003 E
6585675 O'Mahony et al. Jul 2003 B1
6589229 Connelly et al. Jul 2003 B1
6589792 Malachowski Jul 2003 B1
6599281 Struys et al. Jul 2003 B1
6599282 Burko Jul 2003 B2
6602191 Quy Aug 2003 B2
6605072 Struys et al. Aug 2003 B2
6606047 Börjesson et al. Aug 2003 B1
6609047 Lipps Aug 2003 B1
6615674 Ohnishi Sep 2003 B2
6616633 Butterfield et al. Sep 2003 B1
6617564 Ockerse et al. Sep 2003 B2
6618916 Eberle et al. Sep 2003 B1
6622542 Derek Sep 2003 B2
6622561 Lam et al. Sep 2003 B2
D481121 Evans Oct 2003 S
6629449 Kline-Schoder et al. Oct 2003 B1
6634233 He Oct 2003 B2
6640246 Gardy, Jr. et al. Oct 2003 B1
6641533 Causey, III et al. Nov 2003 B2
6641541 Lovett et al. Nov 2003 B1
6648861 Platt et al. Nov 2003 B2
6652455 Kocher Nov 2003 B1
6653937 Nelson et al. Nov 2003 B2
6659980 Moberg et al. Dec 2003 B2
D485356 Evans Jan 2004 S
6685668 Cho et al. Feb 2004 B1
6685678 Evans et al. Feb 2004 B2
6689069 Bratteli et al. Feb 2004 B2
6689091 Bui et al. Feb 2004 B2
6692241 Watanabe et al. Feb 2004 B2
6716004 Vandlik Apr 2004 B2
6719535 Rakestraw et al. Apr 2004 B2
6721582 Trepagnier et al. Apr 2004 B2
6722211 Ciobanu et al. Apr 2004 B1
6725200 Rost Apr 2004 B1
6725721 Venczel Apr 2004 B2
6731989 Engleson et al. May 2004 B2
6732595 Lynnworth May 2004 B2
6738052 Manke et al. May 2004 B1
6740072 Starkweather et al. May 2004 B2
6741212 Kralovec et al. May 2004 B2
6748808 Lam et al. Jun 2004 B2
6749403 Bryant et al. Jun 2004 B2
6752787 Causey, III et al. Jun 2004 B1
6753842 Williams et al. Jun 2004 B1
6759007 Westberg Jul 2004 B1
6760643 Lipps Jul 2004 B2
6768920 Lange Jul 2004 B2
6773412 O'Mahony Aug 2004 B2
6780156 Haueter et al. Aug 2004 B2
6783328 Lucke et al. Aug 2004 B2
6785573 Kovtun et al. Aug 2004 B2
6786885 Hochman et al. Sep 2004 B2
6789426 Yaralioglu et al. Sep 2004 B2
6790198 White et al. Sep 2004 B1
6793625 Cavallaro et al. Sep 2004 B2
6801227 Bocionek et al. Oct 2004 B2
6805671 Stergiopoulos et al. Oct 2004 B2
6807965 Hickle Oct 2004 B1
6809653 Mann et al. Oct 2004 B1
6813964 Clark et al. Nov 2004 B1
6814547 Childers Nov 2004 B2
6824528 Faries Nov 2004 B1
6830558 Flaherty et al. Dec 2004 B2
6840113 Fukumura et al. Jan 2005 B2
6846161 Kline Jan 2005 B2
6852094 Beck Feb 2005 B2
6852104 Blomquist Feb 2005 B2
6854338 Khuri-Yakub et al. Feb 2005 B2
6857318 Silber et al. Feb 2005 B1
6869425 Briggs et al. Mar 2005 B2
6873268 Lebel et al. Mar 2005 B2
6883376 He Apr 2005 B2
6885881 Leonhardt Apr 2005 B2
6887216 Hochman et al. May 2005 B2
6898301 Iwanaga May 2005 B2
6907361 Molenaar Jun 2005 B2
6907792 Ohnishi Jun 2005 B2
6915170 Engleson et al. Jul 2005 B2
6920795 Bischoff et al. Jul 2005 B2
6923763 Kovatchev et al. Aug 2005 B1
6928338 Buchser et al. Aug 2005 B1
6929619 Fago et al. Aug 2005 B2
6929751 Bowman Aug 2005 B2
6932114 Sparks Aug 2005 B2
6932796 Sage et al. Aug 2005 B2
6935192 Sobek et al. Aug 2005 B2
6936029 Mann et al. Aug 2005 B2
6941005 Lary et al. Sep 2005 B2
6942636 Holst et al. Sep 2005 B2
6945954 Hochman et al. Sep 2005 B2
6958705 Lebel et al. Oct 2005 B2
6964204 Clark et al. Nov 2005 B2
6973374 Ader Dec 2005 B2
6974437 Lebel et al. Dec 2005 B2
6975922 Duncan et al. Dec 2005 B2
6978779 Haveri et al. Dec 2005 B2
6979326 Mann et al. Dec 2005 B2
6981960 Cho et al. Jan 2006 B2
6984218 Nayak et al. Jan 2006 B2
6985768 Hemming et al. Jan 2006 B2
6985870 Martucci et al. Jan 2006 B2
6986347 Hickle Jan 2006 B2
6986753 Bui Jan 2006 B2
6997905 Gillespie, Jr. et al. Feb 2006 B2
6997920 Mann et al. Feb 2006 B2
7006005 Nazarian et al. Feb 2006 B2
7017623 Tribble et al. Mar 2006 B2
7021148 Kuhn Apr 2006 B2
7025743 Mann et al. Apr 2006 B2
7029455 Flaherty Apr 2006 B2
7029456 Ware et al. Apr 2006 B2
7059184 Kanouda et al. Jun 2006 B2
7060059 Keith et al. Jun 2006 B2
7069793 Ishikawa et al. Jul 2006 B2
7072725 Bristol et al. Jul 2006 B2
7074209 Evans et al. Jul 2006 B2
7080557 Adnan Jul 2006 B2
7082843 Clark et al. Aug 2006 B2
7087444 Wong et al. Aug 2006 B2
7092796 Vanderveen Aug 2006 B2
7092797 Gaines et al. Aug 2006 B2
7093502 Kupnik et al. Aug 2006 B2
7096729 Repko et al. Aug 2006 B2
7103419 Engleson et al. Sep 2006 B2
7104763 Bouton et al. Sep 2006 B2
7104769 Davis Sep 2006 B2
7108680 Rohr et al. Sep 2006 B2
7109878 Mann et al. Sep 2006 B2
7115113 Evans et al. Oct 2006 B2
7117041 Engleson et al. Oct 2006 B2
7137964 Flaherty Nov 2006 B2
7141037 Butterfield et al. Nov 2006 B2
7152490 Freund, Jr. et al. Dec 2006 B1
7154397 Zerhusen et al. Dec 2006 B2
7161488 Frasch Jan 2007 B2
7162290 Levin Jan 2007 B1
7162927 Selvan et al. Jan 2007 B1
7171277 Engleson et al. Jan 2007 B2
7174789 Orr et al. Feb 2007 B2
7185288 McKeever Feb 2007 B2
7197943 Lee et al. Apr 2007 B2
7201734 Hickle Apr 2007 B2
7204823 Estes et al. Apr 2007 B2
7206715 Vanderveen et al. Apr 2007 B2
7213009 Pestotnik May 2007 B2
7220240 Struys et al. May 2007 B2
7229430 Hickle et al. Jun 2007 B2
7230529 Ketcherside Jun 2007 B2
7232430 Carlisle Jun 2007 B2
7238164 Childers et al. Jul 2007 B2
7247154 Hickle Jul 2007 B2
7253779 Greer et al. Aug 2007 B2
7254425 Lowery et al. Aug 2007 B2
7258534 Fathallah et al. Aug 2007 B2
7267664 Rizzo Sep 2007 B2
7267665 Steil et al. Sep 2007 B2
7272529 Hogan et al. Sep 2007 B2
7278983 Ireland et al. Oct 2007 B2
7291123 Baraldi et al. Nov 2007 B2
7293461 Gimdt Nov 2007 B1
7294109 Lovett et al. Nov 2007 B2
7296482 Schaffer et al. Nov 2007 B2
7300418 Zaleski Nov 2007 B2
7305883 Khuri-Yakub et al. Dec 2007 B2
7327273 Hung et al. Feb 2008 B2
7338470 Katz Mar 2008 B2
7347836 Peterson et al. Mar 2008 B2
7347854 Shelton et al. Mar 2008 B2
7354420 Steil et al. Apr 2008 B2
7356382 Vanderveen Apr 2008 B2
7360999 Nelson et al. Apr 2008 B2
7364562 Braig et al. Apr 2008 B2
7367942 Grage et al. May 2008 B2
7369948 Ferenczi et al. May 2008 B1
7384410 Eggers et al. Jun 2008 B2
7397166 Morgan et al. Jul 2008 B1
7398183 Holland et al. Jul 2008 B2
7399277 Saidara et al. Jul 2008 B2
7402153 Steil et al. Jul 2008 B2
7402154 Mendez Jul 2008 B2
7407489 Mendez Aug 2008 B2
7414534 Kroll et al. Aug 2008 B1
7415895 Kurisaki et al. Aug 2008 B2
7426443 Simon Sep 2008 B2
7430675 Lee et al. Sep 2008 B2
7447566 Knauper et al. Nov 2008 B2
7447643 Olson Nov 2008 B1
7452190 Bouton et al. Nov 2008 B2
7454314 Holland et al. Nov 2008 B2
7471994 Ford et al. Dec 2008 B2
7477997 Kaplit Jan 2009 B2
7482818 Greenwald et al. Jan 2009 B2
7483756 Engleson et al. Jan 2009 B2
7490021 Holland et al. Feb 2009 B2
7491187 Van Den Berghe et al. Feb 2009 B2
7503903 Carlisle et al. Mar 2009 B2
7517332 Tonelli et al. Apr 2009 B2
7523401 Aldridge Apr 2009 B1
7545075 Huang et al. Jun 2009 B2
7556616 Fathallah et al. Jul 2009 B2
7561986 Vanderveen et al. Jul 2009 B2
7571024 Duncan et al. Aug 2009 B2
7605730 Tomioka et al. Oct 2009 B2
7645258 White et al. Jan 2010 B2
7654127 Krulevitch et al. Feb 2010 B2
7657443 Crass Feb 2010 B2
7668731 Martucci et al. Feb 2010 B2
7678048 Urbano et al. Mar 2010 B1
7693697 Westenskow et al. Apr 2010 B2
7699806 Ware et al. Apr 2010 B2
7705727 Pestotnik Apr 2010 B2
7766873 Moberg et al. Aug 2010 B2
7775126 Eckhardt Aug 2010 B2
7775127 Wade Aug 2010 B2
7785284 Baralsi et al. Aug 2010 B2
7785313 Mastrototaro Aug 2010 B2
7786909 Udupa et al. Aug 2010 B2
7806886 Kanderian, Jr. et al. Oct 2010 B2
7826981 Goode, Jr. et al. Nov 2010 B2
7847276 Carlisle Dec 2010 B2
7860583 Condurso et al. Dec 2010 B2
7871394 Halbert et al. Jan 2011 B2
7876443 Bernacki Jan 2011 B2
7895053 Holland et al. Feb 2011 B2
7895882 Carlisle Mar 2011 B2
7896834 Smisson, III Mar 2011 B2
7896842 Palmroos et al. Mar 2011 B2
7905710 Wang et al. Mar 2011 B2
7933780 de la Huerga Apr 2011 B2
7945452 Fathallah et al. May 2011 B2
7976508 Hoag Jul 2011 B2
7981073 Mollstam Jul 2011 B2
7981082 Wang et al. Jul 2011 B2
7998134 Fangrow Aug 2011 B2
8002736 Patrick et al. Aug 2011 B2
8034020 Dewey Oct 2011 B2
8038593 Friedman et al. Oct 2011 B2
8065161 Howard et al. Nov 2011 B2
8067760 Carlisle Nov 2011 B2
8075514 Butterfield et al. Dec 2011 B2
8075546 Carlisle et al. Dec 2011 B2
8078983 Davis et al. Dec 2011 B2
8121857 Galasso et al. Feb 2012 B2
8149131 Blomquist Apr 2012 B2
8175668 Nabutovsky et al. May 2012 B1
8177739 Cartledge et al. May 2012 B2
8180440 McCombie et al. May 2012 B2
8185322 Schroeder et al. May 2012 B2
8197444 Bazargan et al. Jun 2012 B1
8219413 Martinez et al. Jul 2012 B2
8221395 Shelton et al. Jul 2012 B2
8226597 Jacobson et al. Jul 2012 B2
8231578 Fathallah et al. Jul 2012 B2
8234128 Martucci et al. Jul 2012 B2
8271106 Wehba et al. Sep 2012 B2
8287514 Miller et al. Oct 2012 B2
8291337 Gannin et al. Oct 2012 B2
8313308 Lawless et al. Nov 2012 B2
8317698 Lowery Nov 2012 B2
8317750 Ware et al. Nov 2012 B2
8317752 Cozmi et al. Nov 2012 B2
8318094 Bayandorian et al. Nov 2012 B1
8340792 Condurso et al. Dec 2012 B2
8347731 Genosar Jan 2013 B2
8359338 Butterfield et al. Jan 2013 B2
8361021 Wang et al. Jan 2013 B2
8378837 Wang et al. Feb 2013 B2
8388598 Steinkogler Mar 2013 B2
8398616 Budiman Mar 2013 B2
8403908 Jacobson et al. Mar 2013 B2
8409164 Fangrow Apr 2013 B2
8449524 Braig et al. May 2013 B2
8469942 Kow et al. Jun 2013 B2
8477307 Yufa et al. Jul 2013 B1
8494879 Davis et al. Jul 2013 B2
8504179 Blomquist Aug 2013 B2
8517990 Teel et al. Aug 2013 B2
8518021 Stewart et al. Aug 2013 B2
8522832 Lopez et al. Sep 2013 B2
8523797 Lowery et al. Sep 2013 B2
8539812 Stringham et al. Sep 2013 B2
8543416 Palmroos et al. Sep 2013 B2
8577692 Silkaitis et al. Nov 2013 B2
8622990 Estes et al. Jan 2014 B2
8630722 Condurso et al. Jan 2014 B2
8665214 Forutanpour et al. Mar 2014 B2
8666769 Butler et al. Mar 2014 B2
8700421 Feng et al. Apr 2014 B2
8706233 Su et al. Apr 2014 B2
8721584 Braithwaite et al. May 2014 B2
8728020 Caleffi et al. May 2014 B2
8758306 Lopez et al. Jun 2014 B2
8761906 Condurso et al. Jun 2014 B2
8768719 Wehba et al. Jul 2014 B2
8771251 Ruchti et al. Jul 2014 B2
8792981 Yudovsky et al. Jul 2014 B2
8821432 Unverdorben Sep 2014 B2
8823382 Rondoni et al. Sep 2014 B2
8857269 Johnson et al. Oct 2014 B2
8858185 Johnson et al. Oct 2014 B2
8905965 Mandro et al. Dec 2014 B2
8964185 Luo et al. Feb 2015 B1
9005150 Ware et al. Apr 2015 B2
9026370 Rubalcaba et al. May 2015 B2
9084855 Ware et al. Jul 2015 B2
9114217 Sur et al. Aug 2015 B2
9134735 Lowery et al. Sep 2015 B2
9134736 Lowery et al. Sep 2015 B2
9138526 Ware et al. Sep 2015 B2
9190010 Vik et al. Nov 2015 B2
9240002 Hume et al. Jan 2016 B2
9272089 Jacobson et al. Mar 2016 B2
9316216 Cook Apr 2016 B1
9333291 Jacobson et al. May 2016 B2
9381296 Arrizza et al. Jul 2016 B2
9393362 Cozmi et al. Jul 2016 B2
9468718 Hung et al. Oct 2016 B2
9498583 Sur et al. Nov 2016 B2
9545475 Borges et al. Jan 2017 B2
9707341 Dumas, III et al. Jul 2017 B2
9764087 Peterfreund et al. Sep 2017 B2
9852265 Treacy et al. Dec 2017 B1
9883987 Lopez Feb 2018 B2
9943269 Muhsin et al. Apr 2018 B2
9995611 Ruchti et al. Jun 2018 B2
10022498 Ruchti et al. Jul 2018 B2
10046112 Oruklu et al. Aug 2018 B2
10089055 Fryman Oct 2018 B1
10099009 Anderson et al. Oct 2018 B1
10166328 Oruklu et al. Jan 2019 B2
10342917 Shubinsky et al. Jul 2019 B2
10430761 Hume et al. Oct 2019 B2
10463788 Day Nov 2019 B2
10549248 Brown et al. Feb 2020 B2
10578474 Ruchti et al. Mar 2020 B2
10596316 Dumas, III et al. Mar 2020 B2
10635784 Rubalcaba, Jr. et al. Apr 2020 B2
10656894 Fryman May 2020 B2
10682102 Declerck Jun 2020 B2
10709885 Janders et al. Jul 2020 B2
10850024 Day et al. Dec 2020 B2
10874793 Oruklu et al. Dec 2020 B2
11004035 Hume et al. May 2021 B2
D923050 Kataoka et al. Jun 2021 S
11029911 Fryman Jun 2021 B2
D928840 Amit et al. Aug 2021 S
11090431 Dumas, III et al. Aug 2021 B2
D931884 Bryant et al. Sep 2021 S
11135360 Jacobson et al. Oct 2021 B1
11246985 Gylland et al. Feb 2022 B2
11298456 Shubinsky et al. Apr 2022 B2
11324888 Shubinsky et al. May 2022 B2
11344668 Sileika et al. May 2022 B2
11344673 Lindo et al. May 2022 B2
11376361 Ruchti et al. Jul 2022 B2
11378430 Ruchti et al. Jul 2022 B2
11395875 Rubalcaba, Jr. et al. Jul 2022 B2
11433177 Oruklu et al. Sep 2022 B2
20010007636 Butterfield Jul 2001 A1
20010014769 Bufe et al. Aug 2001 A1
20010015099 Blaine Aug 2001 A1
20010016056 Westphal et al. Aug 2001 A1
20010032099 Joao Oct 2001 A1
20010037060 Thompson et al. Nov 2001 A1
20010041869 Causey et al. Nov 2001 A1
20010044731 Coffman et al. Nov 2001 A1
20020003892 Iwanaga Jan 2002 A1
20020007116 Zatezalo et al. Jan 2002 A1
20020013545 Soltanpour et al. Jan 2002 A1
20020013551 Zaitsu et al. Jan 2002 A1
20020015018 Shimazu et al. Feb 2002 A1
20020018720 Carlisle et al. Feb 2002 A1
20020029776 Blomquist Mar 2002 A1
20020031838 Meinhart et al. Mar 2002 A1
20020032583 Joao Mar 2002 A1
20020040208 Flaherty et al. Apr 2002 A1
20020044059 Reeder et al. Apr 2002 A1
20020045806 Baker, Jr. et al. Apr 2002 A1
20020082728 Mueller et al. Jun 2002 A1
20020083771 Khuri-Yakub et al. Jul 2002 A1
20020085952 Ellingboe et al. Jul 2002 A1
20020087115 Hartlaub Jul 2002 A1
20020093641 Ortyn et al. Jul 2002 A1
20020095486 Bahl Jul 2002 A1
20020099282 Knobbe et al. Jul 2002 A1
20020099334 Hanson et al. Jul 2002 A1
20020143580 Bristol et al. Oct 2002 A1
20020147389 Cavallaro et al. Oct 2002 A1
20020152239 Bautista-Lloyd et al. Oct 2002 A1
20020168278 Jeon et al. Nov 2002 A1
20020173703 Lebel et al. Nov 2002 A1
20020183693 Peterson et al. Dec 2002 A1
20030009244 Engleson Jan 2003 A1
20030013959 Grunwald et al. Jan 2003 A1
20030018289 Ng et al. Jan 2003 A1
20030018308 Tsai Jan 2003 A1
20030025602 Medema et al. Feb 2003 A1
20030028082 Thompson Feb 2003 A1
20030030001 Cooper et al. Feb 2003 A1
20030045840 Burko Mar 2003 A1
20030050621 Lebel et al. Mar 2003 A1
20030060688 Ciarniello et al. Mar 2003 A1
20030060765 Campbell et al. Mar 2003 A1
20030065537 Evans Apr 2003 A1
20030065589 Giacchetti Apr 2003 A1
20030073954 Moberg et al. Apr 2003 A1
20030079746 Hickle May 2003 A1
20030083583 Kovtun et al. May 2003 A1
20030091442 Bush et al. May 2003 A1
20030104982 Wittmann et al. Jun 2003 A1
20030106553 Vanderveen Jun 2003 A1
20030125662 Bui Jul 2003 A1
20030130616 Steil Jul 2003 A1
20030135087 Hickle et al. Jul 2003 A1
20030136193 Fujimoto Jul 2003 A1
20030139701 White et al. Jul 2003 A1
20030140928 Bui et al. Jul 2003 A1
20030141981 Bui et al. Jul 2003 A1
20030143746 Sage, Jr. Jul 2003 A1
20030144878 Wilkes et al. Jul 2003 A1
20030158508 DiGianfilippo Aug 2003 A1
20030160683 Blomquist Aug 2003 A1
20030163789 Blomquist Aug 2003 A1
20030173408 Mosher, Jr. et al. Sep 2003 A1
20030186833 Huff et al. Oct 2003 A1
20030187338 Say et al. Oct 2003 A1
20030200116 Forrester Oct 2003 A1
20030204274 Ullestad et al. Oct 2003 A1
20030204416 Acharya Oct 2003 A1
20030212364 Mann et al. Nov 2003 A1
20030212379 Bylund et al. Nov 2003 A1
20030216682 Junker Nov 2003 A1
20030217962 Childers et al. Nov 2003 A1
20030233071 Gillespie, Jr. et al. Dec 2003 A1
20040030277 O'Mahony et al. Feb 2004 A1
20040047736 Nose et al. Mar 2004 A1
20040057226 Berthou et al. Mar 2004 A1
20040064342 Browne et al. Apr 2004 A1
20040073125 Lovett et al. Apr 2004 A1
20040073161 Tachibana Apr 2004 A1
20040077996 Jasperson et al. Apr 2004 A1
20040082908 Whitehurst Apr 2004 A1
20040082918 Evans et al. Apr 2004 A1
20040104271 Martucci et al. Jun 2004 A1
20040119753 Zencke Jun 2004 A1
20040120825 Bouton et al. Jun 2004 A1
20040128162 Schlotterbeck et al. Jul 2004 A1
20040128163 Goodman et al. Jul 2004 A1
20040133166 Moberg et al. Jul 2004 A1
20040145114 Ippolito et al. Jul 2004 A1
20040147034 Gore et al. Jul 2004 A1
20040149823 Aptekar Aug 2004 A1
20040152970 Hunter et al. Aug 2004 A1
20040158193 Bui et al. Aug 2004 A1
20040167464 Ireland et al. Aug 2004 A1
20040167465 Kohler Aug 2004 A1
20040167804 Simpson Aug 2004 A1
20040172222 Simpson et al. Sep 2004 A1
20040172283 Vanderveen Sep 2004 A1
20040172289 Kozic et al. Sep 2004 A1
20040172301 Mihai et al. Sep 2004 A1
20040172302 Martucci et al. Sep 2004 A1
20040176984 White et al. Sep 2004 A1
20040181314 Zaleski Sep 2004 A1
20040193025 Steil et al. Sep 2004 A1
20040193325 Bonderud Sep 2004 A1
20040193328 Butterfield et al. Sep 2004 A1
20040204638 Diab et al. Oct 2004 A1
20040204673 Flaherty et al. Oct 2004 A1
20040220517 Starkweather et al. Nov 2004 A1
20040225252 Gillespie et al. Nov 2004 A1
20040225409 Duncan et al. Nov 2004 A1
20040232219 Fowler Nov 2004 A1
20040253123 Xie et al. Dec 2004 A1
20040254434 Goodnow et al. Dec 2004 A1
20040254513 Shang et al. Dec 2004 A1
20050021006 Tonnies Jan 2005 A1
20050021297 Hartlaub Jan 2005 A1
20050022274 Campbell et al. Jan 2005 A1
20050038680 McMahon Feb 2005 A1
20050055242 Bello et al. Mar 2005 A1
20050055244 Mullan et al. Mar 2005 A1
20050065465 Lebel et al. Mar 2005 A1
20050075544 Shapiro et al. Apr 2005 A1
20050096593 Pope et al. May 2005 A1
20050099624 Staehr May 2005 A1
20050107923 Vanderveen May 2005 A1
20050108057 Cohen et al. May 2005 A1
20050119597 O'Mahony et al. Jun 2005 A1
20050119914 Batch Jun 2005 A1
20050131739 Rabinowitz et al. Jun 2005 A1
20050137522 Aoki Jun 2005 A1
20050143864 Blomquist Jun 2005 A1
20050145010 Vanderveen et al. Jul 2005 A1
20050171503 Van Den Berghe et al. Aug 2005 A1
20050171815 Vanderveen Aug 2005 A1
20050177045 Degertekin et al. Aug 2005 A1
20050177096 Bollish et al. Aug 2005 A1
20050182306 Sloan Aug 2005 A1
20050182355 Bui Aug 2005 A1
20050182366 Vogt et al. Aug 2005 A1
20050187515 Varrichio et al. Aug 2005 A1
20050192529 Butterfield et al. Sep 2005 A1
20050192557 Brauker et al. Sep 2005 A1
20050197554 Polcha Sep 2005 A1
20050197621 Poulsen et al. Sep 2005 A1
20050209563 Hopping et al. Sep 2005 A1
20050209793 Yamada Sep 2005 A1
20050224083 Crass Oct 2005 A1
20050235732 Rush Oct 2005 A1
20050238506 Mescher et al. Oct 2005 A1
20050240305 Bogash et al. Oct 2005 A1
20050273059 Mernoe et al. Dec 2005 A1
20050277890 Stewart et al. Dec 2005 A1
20050279419 Tribble et al. Dec 2005 A1
20060002799 Schann et al. Jan 2006 A1
20060009727 O'Mahony et al. Jan 2006 A1
20060009734 Martin Jan 2006 A1
20060042633 Bishop et al. Mar 2006 A1
20060047270 Shelton Mar 2006 A1
20060053036 Coffman et al. Mar 2006 A1
20060064020 Burnes et al. Mar 2006 A1
20060064053 Bollish et al. Mar 2006 A1
20060079768 Small et al. Apr 2006 A1
20060079831 Gilbert Apr 2006 A1
20060100746 Leibner-Druska May 2006 A1
20060100907 Holland et al. May 2006 A1
20060106649 Eggers et al. May 2006 A1
20060116639 Russell Jun 2006 A1
20060117856 Orr et al. Jun 2006 A1
20060117867 Froehlich et al. Jun 2006 A1
20060122867 Eggers et al. Jun 2006 A1
20060135939 Brown Jun 2006 A1
20060135940 Joshi Jun 2006 A1
20060136095 Rob et al. Jun 2006 A1
20060136271 Eggers et al. Jun 2006 A1
20060140798 Kutsuzawa Jun 2006 A1
20060143051 Eggers et al. Jun 2006 A1
20060173260 Gaoni et al. Aug 2006 A1
20060173406 Hayes et al. Aug 2006 A1
20060181695 Sage, Jr. Aug 2006 A1
20060187069 Duan Aug 2006 A1
20060190302 Eggers et al. Aug 2006 A1
20060195022 Trepagnier et al. Aug 2006 A1
20060200007 Brockway et al. Sep 2006 A1
20060200369 Batch et al. Sep 2006 A1
20060211404 Cromp et al. Sep 2006 A1
20060224140 Junker Oct 2006 A1
20060224141 Rush et al. Oct 2006 A1
20060224181 McEwen et al. Oct 2006 A1
20060226088 Robinson et al. Oct 2006 A1
20060226089 Robinson et al. Oct 2006 A1
20060226090 Robinson et al. Oct 2006 A1
20060229918 Fotsch et al. Oct 2006 A1
20060235353 Gelfand et al. Oct 2006 A1
20060255149 Retter et al. Nov 2006 A1
20060258985 Russell Nov 2006 A1
20060260416 Sage et al. Nov 2006 A1
20060264895 Flanders Nov 2006 A1
20060266128 Clark et al. Nov 2006 A1
20060270971 Gelfand et al. Nov 2006 A1
20060271286 Rosenberg Nov 2006 A1
20060272421 Frinak et al. Dec 2006 A1
20060275142 Bouton et al. Dec 2006 A1
20070015972 Wang et al. Jan 2007 A1
20070036511 Lundquist et al. Feb 2007 A1
20070060796 Kim Mar 2007 A1
20070060871 Istoc Mar 2007 A1
20070060872 Hall et al. Mar 2007 A1
20070060874 Nesbitt et al. Mar 2007 A1
20070062250 Krulevitch et al. Mar 2007 A1
20070065363 Dalal et al. Mar 2007 A1
20070078314 Grounsell Apr 2007 A1
20070083152 Williams, Jr. et al. Apr 2007 A1
20070084286 Ajay et al. Apr 2007 A1
20070084288 Thomas et al. Apr 2007 A1
20070088271 Richards Apr 2007 A1
20070088333 Levin et al. Apr 2007 A1
20070093753 Krulevitcvh et al. Apr 2007 A1
20070094045 Cobbs et al. Apr 2007 A1
20070094046 Cobbs et al. Apr 2007 A1
20070100222 Mastrototaro et al. May 2007 A1
20070100665 Brown May 2007 A1
20070112298 Mueller et al. May 2007 A1
20070118405 Campbell et al. May 2007 A1
20070129618 Goldberger et al. Jun 2007 A1
20070142822 Remde Jun 2007 A1
20070156452 Batch Jul 2007 A1
20070156456 McGillin et al. Jul 2007 A1
20070179436 Braig et al. Aug 2007 A1
20070180916 Tian et al. Aug 2007 A1
20070191817 Martin Aug 2007 A1
20070197963 Griffiths Aug 2007 A1
20070214003 Holland et al. Sep 2007 A1
20070215545 Bissler et al. Sep 2007 A1
20070233035 Wehba et al. Oct 2007 A1
20070233049 Wehba et al. Oct 2007 A1
20070240497 Robinson et al. Oct 2007 A1
20070250339 Mallett et al. Oct 2007 A1
20070255250 Moberg et al. Nov 2007 A1
20070257788 Carlson Nov 2007 A1
20070267945 Sudol Nov 2007 A1
20070270747 Remde Nov 2007 A1
20070274843 Vanderveen et al. Nov 2007 A1
20070289384 Sakai et al. Dec 2007 A1
20080009684 Corsetti et al. Jan 2008 A1
20080028868 Konzelmann et al. Feb 2008 A1
20080033361 Evans et al. Feb 2008 A1
20080039777 Katz et al. Feb 2008 A1
20080048211 Khuri-Yakub et al. Feb 2008 A1
20080058773 John Mar 2008 A1
20080060448 Wiest et al. Mar 2008 A1
20080065420 Tirinato et al. Mar 2008 A1
20080071210 Moubayed et al. Mar 2008 A1
20080071496 Glascock Mar 2008 A1
20080071580 Marcus et al. Mar 2008 A1
20080077116 Dailey et al. Mar 2008 A1
20080091466 Butler et al. Apr 2008 A1
20080097288 Levin et al. Apr 2008 A1
20080097289 Steil et al. Apr 2008 A1
20080097317 Alholm et al. Apr 2008 A1
20080098798 Riley et al. May 2008 A1
20080119822 Knauper May 2008 A1
20080125701 Moberg et al. May 2008 A1
20080139907 Rao et al. Jun 2008 A1
20080145249 Smisson Jun 2008 A1
20080169044 Osborne et al. Jul 2008 A1
20080172030 Blomquist et al. Jul 2008 A1
20080184784 Dam Aug 2008 A1
20080188789 Galavotti et al. Aug 2008 A1
20080188796 Steil et al. Aug 2008 A1
20080208484 Butterfield et al. Aug 2008 A1
20080214919 Harmon et al. Sep 2008 A1
20080221521 Getz et al. Sep 2008 A1
20080221522 Moberg et al. Sep 2008 A1
20080262469 Bristol et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080269663 Arnold et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080269714 Mastrototaro et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080269723 Mastrototaro et al. Oct 2008 A1
20080275384 Mastrototaro et al. Nov 2008 A1
20080300572 Rankers et al. Dec 2008 A1
20090001908 Shubinsky et al. Jan 2009 A1
20090005703 Fasciano Jan 2009 A1
20090006061 Thukral et al. Jan 2009 A1
20090006129 Thukral Jan 2009 A1
20090006133 Weinert Jan 2009 A1
20090015824 Shubinsky et al. Jan 2009 A1
20090043171 Rule Feb 2009 A1
20090054743 Stewart Feb 2009 A1
20090054754 McMahon et al. Feb 2009 A1
20090069743 Krishnamoorthy et al. Mar 2009 A1
20090077248 Castellucci et al. Mar 2009 A1
20090082676 Bennison Mar 2009 A1
20090088731 Campbell et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090097029 Tokhtuev et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090099866 Newman Apr 2009 A1
20090105636 Hayter et al. Apr 2009 A1
20090112155 Zhao Apr 2009 A1
20090114037 Smith May 2009 A1
20090119330 Sampath et al. May 2009 A1
20090124963 Hogard et al. May 2009 A1
20090124964 Leach et al. May 2009 A1
20090126825 Eliuk et al. May 2009 A1
20090131861 Braig et al. May 2009 A1
20090135196 Holland et al. May 2009 A1
20090143726 Bouton et al. Jun 2009 A1
20090144025 Bouton et al. Jun 2009 A1
20090144026 Bouton et al. Jun 2009 A1
20090149743 Barron et al. Jun 2009 A1
20090156922 Goldberger et al. Jun 2009 A1
20090156975 Robinson et al. Jun 2009 A1
20090177146 Nesbitt et al. Jul 2009 A1
20090177188 Steinkogler Jul 2009 A1
20090177248 Roberts Jul 2009 A1
20090177769 Roberts Jul 2009 A1
20090178485 Thomas et al. Jul 2009 A1
20090183147 Davis et al. Jul 2009 A1
20090192367 Braig et al. Jul 2009 A1
20090198347 Kirzinger Aug 2009 A1
20090205426 Balschat et al. Aug 2009 A1
20090209938 Aalto-Setala Aug 2009 A1
20090209945 Lobl et al. Aug 2009 A1
20090212966 Panduro Aug 2009 A1
20090221890 Saffer et al. Sep 2009 A1
20090223294 Thomas et al. Sep 2009 A1
20090227939 Memoe et al. Sep 2009 A1
20090264720 Torjman et al. Oct 2009 A1
20090270810 DeBelser Oct 2009 A1
20090270833 DeBelser Oct 2009 A1
20100022988 Wochner Jan 2010 A1
20100280430 Caleffi et al. Jan 2010 A1
20100036310 Hillman Feb 2010 A1
20100056992 Hayter Mar 2010 A1
20100057042 Hayter Mar 2010 A1
20100069892 Steinbach et al. Mar 2010 A1
20100077866 Graboi et al. Apr 2010 A1
20100079760 Bernacki Apr 2010 A1
20100094251 Estes et al. Apr 2010 A1
20100106082 Zhou Apr 2010 A1
20100114027 Jacobson et al. May 2010 A1
20100121170 Rule May 2010 A1
20100121415 Skelton et al. May 2010 A1
20100130933 Holland et al. May 2010 A1
20100131434 Magent et al. May 2010 A1
20100141460 Tokhtuev et al. Jun 2010 A1
20100147081 Thomas et al. Jun 2010 A1
20100152554 Steine et al. Jun 2010 A1
20100160854 Gauthier Jun 2010 A1
20100168535 Robinson et al. Jul 2010 A1
20100177375 Seyfried Jul 2010 A1
20100185142 Kamen et al. Jul 2010 A1
20100185182 Alme et al. Jul 2010 A1
20100198034 Thomas et al. Aug 2010 A1
20100198182 Lanigan et al. Aug 2010 A1
20100198183 Lanigan et al. Aug 2010 A1
20100211002 Davis Aug 2010 A1
20100212407 Stringham et al. Aug 2010 A1
20100212675 Walling et al. Aug 2010 A1
20100217154 Deshmukh et al. Aug 2010 A1
20100217621 Schoenberg Aug 2010 A1
20100271218 Hoag et al. Oct 2010 A1
20100271479 Heydlauf Oct 2010 A1
20100273738 Valcke et al. Oct 2010 A1
20100292634 Kircher Nov 2010 A1
20100295686 Sloan et al. Nov 2010 A1
20100298765 Budiman et al. Nov 2010 A1
20100312039 Quirico et al. Dec 2010 A1
20100317093 Turewicz et al. Dec 2010 A1
20100317952 Budiman et al. Dec 2010 A1
20100318025 John Dec 2010 A1
20110000560 Miller et al. Jan 2011 A1
20110001605 Kiani et al. Jan 2011 A1
20110004186 Butterfield Jan 2011 A1
20110009797 Kelly et al. Jan 2011 A1
20110028885 Eggers et al. Feb 2011 A1
20110046558 Gravesen et al. Feb 2011 A1
20110062703 Lopez et al. Mar 2011 A1
20110064612 Franzoni et al. Mar 2011 A1
20110071464 Palerm Mar 2011 A1
20110071844 Cannon et al. Mar 2011 A1
20110072379 Gannon Mar 2011 A1
20110077480 Bloom et al. Mar 2011 A1
20110078608 Gannon et al. Mar 2011 A1
20110099313 Bolanowski Apr 2011 A1
20110105983 Kelly et al. May 2011 A1
20110106561 Eaton, Jr. et al. May 2011 A1
20110107251 Guaitoli et al. May 2011 A1
20110137241 DelCastillo et al. Jun 2011 A1
20110144595 Cheng Jun 2011 A1
20110152770 Diperna et al. Jun 2011 A1
20110160649 Pan Jun 2011 A1
20110162647 Huby et al. Jul 2011 A1
20110172918 Tome Jul 2011 A1
20110175728 Baker, Jr. Jul 2011 A1
20110190598 Shusterman Aug 2011 A1
20110190694 Lanier et al. Aug 2011 A1
20110218514 Rebours Sep 2011 A1
20110264006 Ali Oct 2011 A1
20110264043 Kotnick et al. Oct 2011 A1
20110282321 Steil et al. Nov 2011 A1
20110313390 Roy et al. Dec 2011 A1
20110319728 Petisce et al. Dec 2011 A1
20110320049 Chossat et al. Dec 2011 A1
20120025995 Moberg et al. Feb 2012 A1
20120059234 Barrett et al. Mar 2012 A1
20120068001 Pushkarsky et al. Mar 2012 A1
20120083760 Ledford et al. Apr 2012 A1
20120089411 Srnka et al. Apr 2012 A1
20120095433 Hungerford et al. Apr 2012 A1
20120123322 Scarpaci et al. May 2012 A1
20120143116 Ware et al. Jun 2012 A1
20120180790 Montgomery Jul 2012 A1
20120185267 Kamen et al. Jul 2012 A1
20120191059 Cummings et al. Jul 2012 A1
20120194341 Peichel et al. Aug 2012 A1
20120203177 Lanier Aug 2012 A1
20120222774 Husnu et al. Sep 2012 A1
20120226350 Rudser et al. Sep 2012 A1
20120245525 Pope et al. Sep 2012 A1
20120259278 Hayes et al. Oct 2012 A1
20120310204 Krogh et al. Dec 2012 A1
20120323212 Murphy Dec 2012 A1
20130006666 Schneider Jan 2013 A1
20130009551 Knapp Jan 2013 A1
20130012880 Blomquist Jan 2013 A1
20130012917 Miller et al. Jan 2013 A1
20130032634 McKirdy Feb 2013 A1
20130041342 Bernini et al. Feb 2013 A1
20130044111 VanGilder et al. Feb 2013 A1
20130110538 Butterfield et al. May 2013 A1
20130150766 Olde et al. Jun 2013 A1
20130150821 Bollish et al. Jun 2013 A1
20130184676 Kamen et al. Jul 2013 A1
20130197930 Garibaldi et al. Aug 2013 A1
20130201482 Munro Aug 2013 A1
20130218080 Peterfreund et al. Aug 2013 A1
20130116649 Kouyoumjian et al. Sep 2013 A1
20130253430 Kouyoumjian et al. Sep 2013 A1
20130253946 Broselow Sep 2013 A1
20130274576 Amirouche et al. Oct 2013 A1
20130281965 Kamen et al. Oct 2013 A1
20130291116 Homer Oct 2013 A1
20130296823 Melker et al. Nov 2013 A1
20130296984 Burnett et al. Nov 2013 A1
20130318158 Teng et al. Nov 2013 A1
20130322201 Hitchcock et al. Dec 2013 A1
20130345658 Browne et al. Dec 2013 A1
20130345666 Panduro et al. Dec 2013 A1
20140067425 Dudar et al. Mar 2014 A1
20140145915 Ribble et al. May 2014 A1
20140180711 Kamen et al. Jun 2014 A1
20140224829 Capone et al. Aug 2014 A1
20140267563 Baca et al. Sep 2014 A1
20140303754 Nixon et al. Oct 2014 A1
20150025453 Ledford et al. Jan 2015 A1
20150033073 Yang et al. Jan 2015 A1
20150065988 Holderle et al. Mar 2015 A1
20150168958 Downie et al. Jun 2015 A1
20150265765 Yavorsky et al. Sep 2015 A1
20150338340 Jiang et al. Nov 2015 A1
20150371004 Jones Dec 2015 A1
20160042264 Borges et al. Feb 2016 A1
20160110088 Vik et al. Apr 2016 A1
20160144101 Pananen May 2016 A1
20160151560 Toro et al. Jun 2016 A1
20160151562 Magers et al. Jun 2016 A1
20160151601 Cardelius et al. Jun 2016 A1
20160158437 Biasi et al. Jun 2016 A1
20160193604 McFarland et al. Jul 2016 A1
20160253460 Kanada Sep 2016 A1
20160339167 Ledford et al. Nov 2016 A1
20170043089 Handler Feb 2017 A1
20170132867 Berg et al. May 2017 A1
20170354941 Brown et al. Dec 2017 A1
20180018440 Sugawara Jan 2018 A1
20180300994 Nelson et al. Oct 2018 A1
20190282757 Gylland et al. Sep 2019 A1
20200113784 Lopez et al. Apr 2020 A1
20200238007 Day Jul 2020 A1
20210170101 Cavendish, Jr. et al. Jun 2021 A1
20210260283 Oruklu et al. Aug 2021 A1
20210295263 Hume et al. Sep 2021 A1
20210397396 Fryman Dec 2021 A1
20220031943 Dumas, III Feb 2022 A1
20220176037 Jacobson et al. Jun 2022 A1
20220296806 Shubinsky et al. Sep 2022 A1
20220305200 Gylland et al. Sep 2022 A1
20220331518 Shubinsky et al. Oct 2022 A1
20220362463 Lindo et al. Nov 2022 A1
20230010290 Oruklu et al. Jan 2023 A1
20230058662 Ruchti et al. Feb 2023 A1
20230058894 Ruchti et al. Feb 2023 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (182)
Number Date Country
2013216679 Sep 2013 AU
PI0704229-9 Nov 2009 BR
2 113 473 Mar 1993 CA
2 551 817 Jul 2005 CA
107106042 Aug 2017 CN
31 12 762 Jan 1983 DE
34 35 647 Jul 1985 DE
35 30 747 Mar 1987 DE
37 20 664 Jan 1989 DE
38 27 444 Feb 1990 DE
197 34 002 Sep 1998 DE
199 01 078 Feb 2000 DE
198 40 965 Mar 2000 DE
198 44 252 Mar 2000 DE
199 32 147 Jan 2001 DE
102 49 238 May 2004 DE
103 52 456 Jul 2005 DE
0 282 323 Sep 1988 EP
0 291 727 Nov 1988 EP
0 319 272 Jun 1989 EP
0 319 275 Jun 1989 EP
0 335 385 Oct 1989 EP
0 337 092 Oct 1989 EP
0 341 582 Nov 1989 EP
0 370 162 May 1990 EP
0 387 724 Sep 1990 EP
0 429 866 Jun 1991 EP
0 441 323 Aug 1991 EP
0 453 211 Oct 1991 EP
0 462 405 Dec 1991 EP
0 501 234 Sep 1992 EP
0 516 130 Dec 1992 EP
0 519 765 Dec 1992 EP
0 643 301 Mar 1995 EP
0 683 465 Nov 1995 EP
0 431 310 Jan 1996 EP
0 589 439 Aug 1998 EP
0 880 936 Dec 1998 EP
0 954 090 Nov 1999 EP
0 960 627 Dec 1999 EP
1 174 817 Jan 2002 EP
1 177 802 Feb 2002 EP
1 197 178 Apr 2002 EP
1 500 025 Apr 2003 EP
1 813 188 Aug 2007 EP
1 490 131 Dec 2007 EP
2 062 527 May 2009 EP
2 228 004 Sep 2010 EP
2 243 506 Oct 2010 EP
2 381 260 Oct 2011 EP
254513 Oct 1981 ES
2 717 919 Sep 1995 FR
2 121 971 Jan 1984 GB
2 303 706 Feb 1997 GB
2 312 022 Oct 1997 GB
2 312 046 Oct 1997 GB
01-301118 Dec 1989 JP
01-308568 Dec 1989 JP
04-231966 Aug 1992 JP
07-502678 Mar 1995 JP
07-289638 Nov 1995 JP
11-128344 May 1999 JP
2000-111374 Apr 2000 JP
2000-510575 Aug 2000 JP
2000-515716 Nov 2000 JP
2001-356034 Dec 2001 JP
2002-506514 Feb 2002 JP
2002-131105 May 2002 JP
2003-038642 Feb 2003 JP
2003-050144 Feb 2003 JP
2005-021463 Jan 2005 JP
2005-524081 Mar 2005 JP
2006-517423 Jul 2006 JP
2007-071695 Mar 2007 JP
2007-518471 Jul 2007 JP
2007-520270 Jul 2007 JP
2007-275106 Oct 2007 JP
2008-249400 Oct 2008 JP
4322661 Jun 2009 JP
2009-148592 Jul 2009 JP
2010-063767 Mar 2010 JP
5716879 Mar 2015 JP
WO 84000690 Mar 1984 WO
WO 84000894 Mar 1984 WO
WO 90007942 Jul 1990 WO
WO 91000113 Jan 1991 WO
WO 91016087 Oct 1991 WO
WO 91016416 Oct 1991 WO
WO 93004284 Mar 1993 WO
WO 95016200 Jun 1995 WO
WO 95031233 Nov 1995 WO
WO 96008755 Mar 1996 WO
WO 96025186 Aug 1996 WO
WO 96028209 Sep 1996 WO
WO 96041156 Dec 1996 WO
WO 97010013 Mar 1997 WO
WO 97030333 Aug 1997 WO
WO 98004304 Feb 1998 WO
WO 98012670 Mar 1998 WO
WO 98014234 Apr 1998 WO
WO 98019263 May 1998 WO
WO 98044320 Oct 1998 WO
WO 98056441 Dec 1998 WO
WO 99015216 Apr 1999 WO
WO 99051003 Oct 1999 WO
WO 99052575 Oct 1999 WO
WO 00013580 Mar 2000 WO
WO 00013726 Mar 2000 WO
WO 00041621 Jul 2000 WO
WO 01014974 Mar 2001 WO
WO 01033484 May 2001 WO
WO 02005702 Jan 2002 WO
WO 02009795 Feb 2002 WO
WO 02027276 Apr 2002 WO
WO 02066101 Aug 2002 WO
WO 02087664 Nov 2002 WO
WO 03006091 Jan 2003 WO
WO 03053498 Jul 2003 WO
WO 03093780 Nov 2003 WO
WO 2004035115 Apr 2004 WO
WO 2004060455 Jul 2004 WO
WO 2004070556 Aug 2004 WO
WO 2004070994 Aug 2004 WO
WO 2004112579 Dec 2004 WO
WO 2005018716 Mar 2005 WO
WO 2005030489 Apr 2005 WO
WO 2005036447 Apr 2005 WO
WO 2005057175 Jun 2005 WO
WO 2005065146 Jul 2005 WO
WO 2005065749 Jul 2005 WO
WO 2005082450 Sep 2005 WO
WO 2005118015 Dec 2005 WO
WO 2006016122 Feb 2006 WO
WO 2006022906 Mar 2006 WO
WO 2007000426 Jan 2007 WO
WO 2007033025 Mar 2007 WO
WO 2007035567 Mar 2007 WO
WO 2007087443 Aug 2007 WO
WO 2008004560 Jan 2008 WO
WO 2008019016 Feb 2008 WO
WO 2008053193 May 2008 WO
WO 2008059492 May 2008 WO
WO 2008063429 May 2008 WO
WO 2008067245 Jun 2008 WO
WO 2008088490 Jul 2008 WO
WO 2008134146 Nov 2008 WO
WO 2009016504 Feb 2009 WO
WO 2009023406 Feb 2009 WO
WO 2009023407 Feb 2009 WO
WO 2009023634 Feb 2009 WO
WO 2009039203 Mar 2009 WO
WO 2009039214 Mar 2009 WO
WO 2009049252 Apr 2009 WO
WO 2009127683 Oct 2009 WO
WO 2009141504 Nov 2009 WO
WO 2010017279 Feb 2010 WO
WO 2010075371 Jul 2010 WO
WO 2010099313 Sep 2010 WO
WO 2010114929 Oct 2010 WO
WO 2010119409 Oct 2010 WO
WO 2010124127 Oct 2010 WO
WO 2010135646 Nov 2010 WO
WO 2010135654 Nov 2010 WO
WO 2010135670 Nov 2010 WO
WO 2010135686 Nov 2010 WO
WO 2010148205 Dec 2010 WO
WO 2011017778 Feb 2011 WO
WO 2011080188 Jul 2011 WO
WO 2011109774 Sep 2011 WO
WO 2012042763 Apr 2012 WO
WO 2012082599 Jun 2012 WO
WO 2012108910 Aug 2012 WO
WO 2012167090 Dec 2012 WO
WO 2013036854 Mar 2013 WO
WO 2013096769 Jun 2013 WO
WO 2015134478 Sep 2015 WO
WO 2017051271 Mar 2017 WO
WO 2017144366 Aug 2017 WO
WO 2019092680 May 2019 WO
WO 2020214717 Oct 2020 WO
WO 2022020184 Jan 2022 WO
WO 2022125471 Jun 2022 WO
Non-Patent Literature Citations (59)
Entry
Abbott Laboratories, “LifeCare® 5000, Plum®: Concurrent Flow Infusion System with DataPort™”, System Operating Manual, Version 1.6, Jul. 1998, pp. 76.
Alaedeen et al., “Total Parenteral Nutrition-Associated Hyperglycemia Correlates with Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation and Hospital Stay in Septic Infants”, Journal of Pediatric Surgery, Jan. 2006, vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 239-244.
Alaris® Medical Systems, “Signature Edition® Gold—Single & Dual Channel Infusion System”, San Diego, CA, USA, date unknown, but believed to be at least as early as Nov. 29, 2008, pp. 2-88 & 2-91.
Allegro, “3955—Full-Bridge PWM Microstepping Motor Drive”, Datasheet, 1997, pp. 16.
Aragon, Daleen RN, Ph.D., CCRN, “Evaluation of Nursing Work Effort and Perceptions About Blood Glucose Testing in Tight Glycemic Control”, American Journal of Critical Care, Jul. 2006, vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 370-377.
Baxter, “Baxter Receives 510(k) Clearance for Next-Generation SIGMA Spectrum Infusion Pump with Master Drug Library” Press Release, May 8, 2014, pp. 2. <http://web.archive.org/web/20160403140025/http://www.baxter.com/news-media/newsroom/press-releases/2014/05_08_14_sigma.page>.
Bequette, Ph.D., “A Critical Assessment of Algorithms and Challenges in the Development of a Closed-Loop Artificial Pancreas”, Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, Feb. 28, 2005, vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 28-47.
Bequette, B. Wayne, Ph.D., “Analysis of Algorithms for Intensive Care Unit Blood Glucose Control”, Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, Nov. 2007, vol. 1, No. 6, pp. 813-824.
Binder et al., “Insulin Infusion with Parenteral Nutrition in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants with Hyperglycemia”, Journal of Pediatrics, Feb. 1989, vol. 114, No. 2, pp. 273-280.
Bode et al., “Intravenous Insulin Infusion Therapy: Indications, Methods, and Transition to Subcutaneous Insulin Therapy”, Endocrine Practice, Mar./Apr. 2004, vol. 10, Supplement 2, pp. 71-80.
Buhrdorf et al., “Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers and their Application”, Proceedings of the IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium, Feb. 2001, vol. 2, pp. 933-940.
Cannon, MD et al., “Automated Heparin-Delivery System to Control Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time”, Circulation, Feb. 16, 1999, vol. 99, pp. 751-756.
“CareAware® Infusion Management”, Cerner Store, as printed May 12, 2011, pp. 3, <https://store.cerner.com/items/7>.
Chen et al., “Enabling Location-Based Services on Wireless LANs”, The 11th IEEE International Conference on Networks, ICON 2003, Sep. 28-Oct. 1, 2003, pp. 567-572.
Cheung et al., “Hyperglycemia is Associated with Adverse Outcomes in Patients Receiving Total Parenteral Nutrition”, Diabetes Care, Oct. 2005, vol. 28, No. 10, pp. 2367-2371.
Coley et al., “Performance of Three Portable Infusion-Pump Devices Set to Deliver 2 mL/hr”, American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, Jun. 1, 1997, vol. 54, No. 11, pp. 1277-1280.
“Continually vs Continuously”, <https://web.archive.org/web/20090813092423/http://www.diffen.com/difference/Continually_vs_Continuously>, as accessed Aug. 13, 2009 in 4 pages.
“CritiCore® Monitor: Critical Fluid Output and Core Bladder Temperature Monitor”, BARD Urological Catheter Systems, Advertisement, 2005, pp. 2.
Daimiwal et al., “Wireless Transfusion Supervision and Analysis Using Embedded System”, IEEE, 2010 International Conference ICBBT, China, Apr. 2010, pp. 56-60.
Davidson et al., “A Computer-Directed Intravenous Insulin System Shown to be Safe, Simple, and Effective in 120,618 h of Operation”, Diabetes Care, Oct. 2005, vol. 28, No. 10, pp. 2418-2423.
“Decision of the Administrative Council of Oct. 16, 2013 Amending Rule 135 and 164 of the Implementing Regulations to the European Patent Convention (CA/D 17/13)”, Official Journal EPO Nov. 2013, Nov. 2013, pp. 503-506. <http://archive.epo.org/epo/pubs/oj013/11_13/11_5033.pdf>.
“Decision of the Administrative Council of Oct. 27, 2009 Amending the Implementing Regulations to the European Patent Convention (CA/D 20/09)”, Official Journal EPO Dec. 2009, Dec. 2009, pp. 582-584. <http://archive.epo.org/epo/pubs/oj009/12_09/12_5829.pdf>.
Diabetes Close Up, Close Concerns AACE Inpatient Management Conference Report, Consensus Development Conference on Inpatient Diabetes and Metabolic Control, Washington, D.C., Dec. 14-16, 2003, pp. 1-32.
“Differential Pressure Transmitter, Series PD-39 X”, SensorsOne Ltd., Advertisement, Dec. 2005, pp. 2.
Dunster et al., “Flow Continuity of Infusion Systems at Low Flow Rates”, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Oct. 1995, vol. 23, No. 5, pp. 5.
Fogt et al., Development and Evaluation of a Glucose Analyzer for a Glucose-Controlled Insulin Infusion System (Biostator®), Clinical Chemistry, 1978, vol. 24, No. 8, pp. 1366-1372.
“Froth”, <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/froth>, as accessed May 13, 2015 in 1 page.
Goldberg et al., “Clinical Results of an Updated Insulin Infusion Protocol in Critically Ill Patients”, Diabetes Spectrum, 2005, vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 188-191.
Halpern et al., “Changes in Critical Care Beds and Occupancy in the United States 1985-2000: Differences Attributable to Hospital Size”, Critical Care Medical, Aug. 2006, vol. 34, No. 8, pp. 2105-2112.
Hospira, “Plum A+™ Infusion System” as archived Dec. 1, 2012, pp. 2. <www.hospira.com/products_and_services/infusion_pumps/plum/index>.
Hospira, “Plum XL™ Series Infusion System” Technical Service Manual, Feb. 2005, Lake Forest, Illinois, USA, pp. i-vii, 5-14, 8-3.
Ilfeld et al., “Delivery Rate Accuracy of Portable, Bolus-Capable Infusion Pumps Used for Patient-Controlled Continuous Regional Analgesia”, Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Jan.-Feb. 2003, vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 17-23.
Ilfeld et al., “Portable Infusion Pumps Used for Continuous Regional Analgesia: Delivery Rate Accuracy and Consistency”, Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Sep.-Oct. 2003, vol. 28, No. 5, pp. 424-432.
International Search Report and Written Opinion received in PCT Application No. PCT/US2022/081123, dated Mar. 9, 2023 in 12 pages.
JMS Co., Ltd., “Infusion Pump: OT-701”, Tokyo, Japan, 2002, pp. 4.
Kim, M.D., et al., “Hyperglycemia Control of the Nil Per Os Patient in the Intensive Care Unit: Introduction of a Simple Subcutaneous Insulin Algorithm”, Nov. 2012, Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, vol. 6, No. 6, pp. 1413-1419.
Kutcher et al., “The Effect of Lighting Conditions on Caries Interpretation with a Laptop Computer in a Clinical Setting”, Elsevier, Oct. 2006, vol. 102, No. 4, pp. 537-543.
Lamsdale et al., “A Usability Evaluation of an Infusion Pump by Nurses Using a Patient Simulator”, Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 49th Annual Meeting, Sep. 2005, pp. 1024-1028.
Logan et al., “Fabricating Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers with a Novel Silicon-Nitride-Based Wafer Bonding Process”, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control, May 2009, vol. 56, No. 5, pp. 1074-1084.
Magaji et al., “Inpatient Management of Hyperglycemia and Diabetes”, Clinical Diabetes, 2011, vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 3-9.
Mauseth et al., “Proposed Clinical Application for Tuning Fuzzy Logic Controller of Artificial Pancreas Utilizing a Personalization Factor”, Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, Jul. 2010, vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 913-922.
Maynard et al., “Subcutaneous Insulin Order Sets and Protocols: Effective Design and Implementation Strategies”, Journal of Hospital Medicine, Sep./Oct. 2008, vol. 3, Issue 5, Supplement 5, pp. S29-S41.
Merry et al., “A New, Safety-Oriented, Integrated Drug Administration and Automated Anesthesia Record System”, Anesthesia & Analgesia, Aug. 2001, vol. 93, No. 2 pp. 385-390.
Microchip Technology Inc., “MTA11200B; TrueGauge™ Intelligent Battery Management I.C.”, <https://www.elektronik.ropla.eu/pdf/stock/mcp/mta11200b.pdf>, 1995, pp. 44.
Moghissi, Etie, MD, FACP, FACE, “Hyperglycemia in Hospitalized Patients”, A Supplement to ACP Hospitalist, Jun. 15, 2008, pp. 32.
Nuckols et al., “Programmable Infusion Pumps in ICUs: An Analysis of Corresponding Adverse Drug Events”, Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2007, vol. 23, Supp. 1, pp. 41-45.
Pretty et al., “Hypoglycemia Detection in Critical Care Using Continuous Glucose Monitors: An in Silico Proof of Concept Analysis”, Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, Jan. 2010, vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 15-24.
Saager et al., “Computer-Guided Versus Standard Protocol for Insulin Administration in Diabetic Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery”, Annual Meeting of the American Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists, Oct. 13, 2006.
Sebald et al., “Numerical Analysis of a Comprehensive in Silico Subcutaneous Insulin Absorption Compartmental Model”, 31st Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Sep. 2-6, 2009, pp. 3901-3904.
SGS-Thomson Microelectronics, “L6219—Stepper Motor Drive”, Datasheet, Dec. 1996, pp. 10.
SGS-Thomson Microelectronics, “PBL3717A—Stepper Motor Drive”, Datasheet, Apr. 1993, pp. 11.
Simonsen, Michael Ph.D., POC Testing, New Monitoring Strategies on Fast Growth Paths in European Healthcare Arenas, Biomedical Business & Technology, Jan. 2007, vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 1-36.
Smith, Joe, “Infusion Pump Informatics”, CatalyzeCare: Transforming Healthcare, as printed May 12, 2011, pp. 2.
Tang et al., “Linear Dimensionality Reduction Using Relevance Weighted LDA”, Pattern Recognition, 2005, vol. 38, pp. 485-493, <http://staff.ustc.edu.cn/˜ketang/papers/TangSuganYaoQin_PR04.pdf>.
Thomas et al., “Implementation of a Tight Glycaemic Control Protocol Using a Web-Based Insulin Dose Calculator”, Anaesthesia, 2005, vol. 60, pp. 1093-1100.
Van Den Berghe, M.D., Ph.D., et al., “Intensive Insulin Therapy in Critically Ill Patients”, The New England Journal of Medicine, Nov. 8, 2001, vol. 345, No. 19, pp. 1359-1367.
Van Den Berghe, M.D., Ph.D., et al., “Intensive Insulin Therapy in the Medical ICU”, The New England Journal of Medicine, Feb. 2, 2006, vol. 354, No. 5, pp. 449-461.
Westbrook et al., “Errors in the Administration of Intravenous Medications in Hospital and the Role of Correct Procedures and Nurse Experience”, BMJ Quality & Safety, 2011, vol. 20, pp. 1027-1034.
Zakariah et al., “Combination of Biphasic Transmittance Waveform with Blood Procalcitonin Levels for Diagnosis of Sepsis in Acutely Ill Patients”, Critical Care Medicine, 2008, vol. 36, No. 5, pp. 1507-1512.
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20230181419 A1 Jun 2023 US
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
63288491 Dec 2021 US