System for providing an integrated arterial filter into an oxygenator, minimizing added priming volume

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 11471577
  • Patent Number
    11,471,577
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, June 12, 2019
    5 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 18, 2022
    2 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Original Assignees
    • Sorin Group S.r.l.
  • Examiners
    • Zimbouski; Ariana
    Agents
    • Seager, Tufte & Wickhem LLP
Abstract
A blood processing apparatus includes an optional heat exchanger and a gas exchanger disposed within a housing. In some instances, the gas exchanger can include a screen filter spirally wound into the gas exchanger such that blood passing through the gas exchanger passes through the screen filter and is filtered by the spirally wound screen filter a plurality of times.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure pertains generally to arterial filters used in blood perfusion systems and more particularly to arterial filters that are integrated into an oxygenator.


BACKGROUND

Blood perfusion entails encouraging blood through the vessels of the body. For such purposes, blood perfusion systems typically entail the use of one or more pumps in an extracorporeal circuit that is interconnected with the vascular system of a patient. Cardiopulmonary bypass surgery typically requires a perfusion system that provides for the temporary cessation of the heart to create a still operating field by replacing the function of the heart and lungs. Such isolation allows for the surgical correction of vascular stenosis, valvular disorders, and congenital heart defects. In perfusion systems used for cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, an extracorporeal blood circuit is established that includes at least one pump and an oxygenation device to replace the functions of the heart and lungs.


More specifically, in cardiopulmonary bypass procedures oxygen-poor blood, i.e., venous blood, is gravity-drained or vacuum suctioned from a large vein entering the heart or other veins in the body (e.g., femoral) and is transferred through a venous line in the extracorporeal circuit. In some cases, blood is drained inside a reservoir that filters out solid and gaseous emboli, while in other cases such as in mini bypass applications, a relatively small volume venous bubble trap can be used instead of a large volume venous reservoir. The venous blood is pumped to an oxygenator that provides for oxygen transfer to the blood. Oxygen may be introduced into the blood by transfer across a membrane or, less frequently, by bubbling oxygen through the blood. Concurrently, carbon dioxide is removed across the membrane. The oxygenated blood is filtered and then returned through an arterial line to the aorta, femoral, or other artery.


Often, an arterial filter is added to the extracorporeal circuit, after the oxygenator, as a last barrier before the patient, so as to block any solid or gaseous emboli and prevent any such emboli from entering into the aorta of the patient. Recently, arterial filters integrated in the oxygenator have been developed, allowing the reduction of the priming volume of the circuit and decreasing the global haemodilution of the patient. In some cases, excessive haemodilution is one of the major post-operative causes of patient morbidity, and should be avoided.


SUMMARY

In some embodiments, the disclosure is directed to a filter assembly for use in a blood processing apparatus. The filter assembly includes a filter mesh screen having an average pore size of about 20 microns to about 150 microns and a plurality of hollow gas exchange fibers secured to the filter mesh screen. The filter mesh screen is spirally wound to form a filter assembly that is useable as a gas exchanger. Blood flowing between the plurality of hollow gas exchange fibers is filtered by the filter mesh screen.


In some embodiments, the disclosure is directed to a blood processing apparatus that includes an apparatus housing having a blood inlet and a blood outlet, the blood inlet extending into an interior of the apparatus housing. In some embodiments, a heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the blood inlet and is disposed about the blood inlet. A gas exchanger is disposed about the heat exchanger such that an inner surface of the gas exchanger is positioned to receive blood exiting an outer surface of the heat exchanger. In some embodiments, there is no heat exchanger, and the gas exchanger is disposed about the blood inlet. A screen filter is spirally wound through the gas exchanger such that blood passing through the gas exchanger passes through the screen filter and is filtered by the spirally wound screen filter a plurality of times.


While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a blood processing apparatus including an integrated arterial filter in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.



FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of the blood processing apparatus of FIG. 1.



FIG. 1B is an alternate schematic cross-sectional illustration of the blood processing apparatus of FIG. 1.



FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of the blood processing apparatus of FIG. 1.



FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a composite assembly used to form the blood processing apparatus of FIG. 1.



FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a portion of the blood processing apparatus of FIG. 1.



FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a portion of the blood processing apparatus of FIG. 1.



FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a blood processing apparatus including an integrated arterial filter in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.





While the disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure pertains to a blood processing apparatus that combines, in a single structure, an optional heat exchanger, a gas exchanger or oxygenator and an arterial filter. In some embodiments, the term oxygenator with integrated arterial filter may be used to refer to a structure that combines an optional heat exchanger, a gas exchanger and an arterial filter in a unitary device. In some embodiments, an oxygenator may be used in an extracorporeal blood circuit. An extracorporeal blood circuit, such as may be used in a bypass procedure, may include several different elements such as a heart-lung machine, a blood reservoir, as well as an oxygenator.


In some embodiments, by combining the arterial filter with the oxygenator, the tubing set used to create the extracorporeal blood circuit may be reduced in complexity or number of parts and thus may simplify the extracorporeal blood circuit. In some embodiments, this will reduce the priming volume of the extracorporeal blood circuit. To illustrate, for a particular neonatal-sized oxygenator utilizing a separate arterial filter, the priming volume is about 47 milliliters (ml). A similar neonatal-sized oxygenator made in accordance with the disclosure, with an arterial filter integrated within the oxygenator, has a priming volume of about 35 ml. This represents a substantial reduction in priming volume of about 25 percent.



FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a blood processing apparatus or oxygenator 10. While the internal components are not visible in this illustration, the oxygenator 10 may include one or more of a heat exchanger, a gas exchanger and an arterial filter. According to some embodiments, each of the heat exchanger, gas exchanger and arterial filter are integrated into a single structure disposed within a device compartment or housing 12. In some embodiments, as will be discussed, the gas exchanger may include an arterial filter that is integrated into the gas exchanger itself.


According to various embodiments the heat exchanger (if present), the gas exchanger, and the device housing 12 may have a cross-section shaped generally as a circle. Each of the heat exchanger, the gas exchanger and the device housing 12 may have generally the same sectional shape or each may have a different sectional shape.


In some embodiments, a blood inlet 16 extends into the device housing 12. A blood outlet 18 exits the device housing 12. As noted, in some embodiments the oxygenator 10 includes a gas exchanger and thus may include a gas inlet 20 and a gas outlet 22. In some embodiments, the oxygenator 10 includes a heat exchanger and thus may include a heating fluid inlet 24 and a heating fluid outlet 26. While not illustrated, in some embodiments it is contemplated that the oxygenator 10 may include one or more purge ports for eliminating air bubbles entrained within the blood. It is to be understood that the positions of the inlets and outlets are merely illustrative, as other arrangements and configurations are contemplated.



FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of the oxygenator 10, illustrating the relative position of a heat exchanger 232 and a gas exchanger 234. Blood enters the oxygenator 10 via the blood inlet 16 and passes from the blood inlet 16 into a heat exchanger core 216 and then through the heat exchanger 232. Heating and/or cooling fluid may enter through the heating fluid inlet 24, pass through the hollow fibers (not illustrated) forming the heat exchanger 232, and exit the oxygenator 10 via the heating fluid outlet 26. Blood entering the heat exchanger 232 flows around and over the aforementioned hollow fibers and exits the heat exchanger 232. Blood exiting the heat exchanger 232 flows into the gas exchanger 234. Oxygen enters the oxygenator 10 via the gas inlet 20, flows through hollow fibers (not illustrated in this view) within the gas exchanger 234, and exits through the gas outlet 22, carrying carbon dioxide and other gases that diffuse through and out of the hollow fibers. The heated and oxygenated blood can then exit through the blood outlet 18 (FIG. 1).



FIG. 1B is an alternate cross-sectional view of an oxygenator 310, illustrating a gas exchanger 334. The oxygenator 310 does not include a heat exchanger. Blood enters the oxygenator 310 via the blood inlet 16 and passes from the blood inlet 16 into a core 316 and then through the gas exchanger 334. Oxygen enters the oxygenator 310 via the gas inlet 20, flows through hollow fibers (not illustrated in this view) within the gas exchanger 334, and exits through the gas outlet 22, carrying carbon dioxide and other gases that diffuse through and out of the hollow fibers. The heated and oxygenated blood can then exit through the blood outlet 18 (FIG. 1).


In some embodiments, as will be discussed subsequently, the gas exchanger 234 (FIG. 1A) and the gas exchanger 334 (FIG. 1B) incorporate a filtration mechanism that is wound or otherwise disposed within the gas exchanger 234, 334.



FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the oxygenator 10, illustrating the relative arrangement of a heat exchanger 32 and a gas exchanger 34. While FIG. 2 illustrates the oxygenator 10 as including the heat exchanger 32, it will be appreciated that in some embodiments the heat exchanger 32 may be excluded. If there is no heat exchanger 32, a cylindrical core may be provided in its place to provide a support for the gas exchanger 34. In this illustration, other internal components such as the inlets and outlets are not shown, for simplicities sake. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 32 includes a number of hollow fibers through which a heating fluid such as water can flow. The blood may flow around and past the hollow fibers and thus be suitably heated. In some embodiments, the hollow fibers may be polymeric. The hollow fibers are too small to be represented in the drawing. In some cases, metallic fibers may be used within the heat exchanger 32. According to other embodiments, the heat exchanger 32 includes a metal bellows or other structure comprising a substantial surface area (e.g., fins) for facilitating heat transfer with the blood.


In some embodiments the gas exchanger 34 may include a number of hollow fibers through which a gas such as oxygen may flow. The blood may flow around and past the hollow fibers. Due to concentration gradients, oxygen may diffuse through the hollow fibers into the blood while carbon dioxide may diffuse into the hollow fibers and out of the blood. The hollow fibers are too small to be represented in this drawing.


In some embodiments, the gas exchanger 34 (FIG. 2), 234 (FIG. 1A) and 334 (FIG. 1B) includes an arterial filter that is integrated into the gas exchanger 34, 234, 334. FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a composite filter screen assembly 40 that includes a filter screen 42 and a plurality of hollow fibers 44. The schematic illustration is only one of the possibilities for coupling in an assembly a filter mean 42 with a gas exchange fiber mat. In some embodiments, the filter screen 42 may extend along an entire longitudinal length of the assembly. In other embodiments, the filter screen 42 extends longitudinally along only a portion of the longitudinal length of the assembly. In some exemplary embodiments, the screen 42 extends from about 20 to about 80 percent along the longitudinal length of the assembly.


In this illustration, the size of the hollow fibers 44 is blown up out of scale to better illustrate the hollow fibers 44. The filter screen 42, in various embodiments, is a polymeric filter screen having an average pore size, defined as the average distance between adjacent elements, that ranges from about 20 microns to about 150 microns. In various embodiments, the average pore size of the filter screen is from about 60 microns to about 125 microns. In some embodiments, the filter screen 42 can be made from a polypropylene or polyester, although other suitable materials may also be used. In some cases, the filter screen 42, the gas exchange hollow fiber 44 or the whole oxygenator with integrated arterial filter may be coated with a biocompatible material.


The hollow fibers 44 may be polymeric. In some embodiments the hollow fibers are hollow fibers formed from microporous polypropylene or PMP (polymethyl propylene), although other suitable materials may also be used. In some embodiments, the hollow fibers 44 may have an average outer diameter that ranges from about 100 microns to about 1000 microns, and can have an average length corresponding to that of the gas exchanger itself.



FIG. 4 shows the composite assembly 40 rolled over an oxygenator core 52. In some embodiments, the composite assembly 40 can be rolled directly over a heat exchanger. FIG. 5 is similar but also illustrates the housing 12. Optionally, the composite assembly 40 may be rolled over itself in a spiral fashion. In either case, it can be seen that the filter screen 42 is disposed within the gas exchanger 34 in a spiral fashion. As schematically illustrated, the composite assembly 40 is sized such that the composite assembly 40 forms about four complete layers about the oxygenator core 52. It will be appreciated that this is for simplifying the image, as in some embodiments, the composite assembly 40 may be sized to permit about 5 to about 100 complete layers. As blood exits the heat exchanger 32, it will be appreciated that as blood moves radially outwardly, the blood will pass through the filter screen 42 a plurality of times.


It can be seen that the oxygenator core 52 defines a volume 50 that corresponds to the location of the heat exchanger 32. The oxygenator core 52 can be formed of any suitable material, such as any suitable polymeric material, and can have an outer diameter that is in the range of about 10 to about 200 millimeters (mm) and an inner diameter that is in the range of about 5 to about 5-100 mm. In some embodiments, relative dimensions will depend on the patient size and the choice of inner core diameter. While not illustrated in this view, the oxygenator core 52 may include one or more apertures that permit blood to flow from the heat exchanger 32 into the gas exchanger 34. In some embodiments, the oxygenator core 52 may be absent, and thus potting may be used to separate water and gas compartments within the device 10. As discussed above, in some embodiments there is no heat exchanger, and thus the oxygenator core 52 would be empty.



FIG. 6 provides a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a blood processing apparatus 110. The blood processing apparatus 110 includes a blood inlet 116 and a blood outlet 118. Blood entering via the blood inlet 116 passes into a central core 150. In some embodiments, the central core 150 may include a plurality of apertures 152 that permit the blood to exit the central core 150 and move in a radially outward direction. The blood passes through the hollow fibers (not labeled) within a heat exchanger 132. A shell 154 surrounds and defines the heat exchanger 132. In some embodiments, the shell 154 includes a plurality of apertures 156 that permit blood to exit the heat exchanger 132 and flow through the gas exchanger 134 in a radially outward direction. In some embodiments, the blood exiting the gas exchanger 134 collects in an annular collection space 160 before exiting through the blood outlet 118.


Example

To illustrate the advantages in priming volume achieved by incorporating the arterial filter within the gas exchanger, consider the following example. A neonatal oxygenator D100 available from Sorin combined with a neonatal arterial filter D130 available from Sorin has a total priming volume of 47 ml. In comparison, a D100 oxygenator modified to include the inventive arterial filter incorporated within the gas exchanger has a total priming volume of 35 ml. This represents a 25% reduction. The particular dimensions are given in the Table below:
















D100 +
Modified



D130
D100






















core diameter
5.1
cm
5.1
cm



external case diameter
5.87
cm
6.15
cm



internal oxy void volume
21.9
cm3
30.5
cm3



fiber volume
11
cm3
11
cm3



filter screen volume
0
cm3
4.6
cm3



oxy priming volume
10.9
cm3
14.9
cm3



HE + connectors priming
20.1
cm3
20.1
cm3



total oxy priming
31
cm3
35
cm3



external arterial filter priming
16
cm3
0
cm3



Total priming
47
cm3
35
cm3










Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this disclosure also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

Claims
  • 1. A blood processing apparatus comprising: an apparatus housing having a blood inlet and a blood outlet, the blood inlet extending into an interior of the apparatus housing;a core in fluid communication with the blood inlet and disposed about the blood inlet;a gas exchanger disposed about the core such that an inner surface of the gas exchanger is positioned to receive blood exiting an outer surface of the core; anda screen filter spirally wound through the gas exchanger such that blood passing through the gas exchanger passes through the spirally wound screen filter a plurality of times to filter the blood.
  • 2. The blood processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the core comprises a heat exchanger core, and there is a heat exchanger disposed within the heat exchanger core.
  • 3. The blood processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the core comprises a support for the gas exchanger.
  • 4. The blood processing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the screen filter comprises a screen mesh and wherein a plurality of hollow gas exchange fibers are secured to the screen mesh to form a composite assembly, the composite assembly rolled over itself, about the heat exchanger, to form the gas exchanger.
  • 5. The blood processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least some of the hollow gas exchange fibers have an outer diameter ranging from about 100 microns to about 1000 microns.
  • 6. The blood processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an annular space being defined between an outer surface of the screen filter and an interior surface of the apparatus housing such that blood exiting the outer surface of the gas exchanger can collect in the annular space, the annular space in fluid communication with the blood outlet.
  • 7. The blood processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas exchanger is configured to permit gas to flow therethrough in order to add oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the blood passing through the gas exchanger.
  • 8. A blood processing apparatus comprising: an apparatus housing having a blood inlet and a blood outlet, the blood inlet extending into an interior of the apparatus housing;a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the blood inlet and disposed about the blood inlet;a gas exchanger disposed about the heat exchanger such that an inner surface of the gas exchanger is positioned to receive blood exiting an outer surface of the heat exchanger; anda screen filter spirally wound through the gas exchanger such that blood passing through the gas exchanger passes through the screen filter and is filtered by the spirally wound screen filter a plurality of times;wherein a plurality of hollow gas exchange fibers is secured to the screen filter to form a composite assembly, the composite assembly rolled being over itself, about the heat exchanger, to form the gas exchanger.
  • 9. The blood processing apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least some of the hollow gas exchange fibers have an outer diameter ranging from about 100 microns to about 1000 microns.
  • 10. The blood processing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the screen filter includes a screen mesh having an average pore size of about 20 microns to about 150 microns.
  • 11. The blood processing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the screen filter is formed from polypropylene or polyester.
  • 12. The blood processing apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least some of the plurality of hollow gas exchange fibers are formed of polypropylene or polymethyl propylene.
  • 13. The blood processing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality of hollow gas exchange fibers is arranged in a mat structure made of two layers of hollow gas exchange fibers, each layer having hollow gas exchange fibers angled and arranged in a criss-cross configuration.
  • 14. The blood processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the screen mesh has an average pore size of about 20 microns to about 150 microns.
  • 15. The blood processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the screen mesh is formed from polypropylene or polyester.
  • 16. The blood processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least some of the plurality of hollow gas exchange fibers are formed of polypropylene or polymethyl propylene.
  • 17. The blood processing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of hollow gas exchange fibers is arranged in a mat structure made of two layers of hollow gas exchange fibers, each layer having hollow gas exchange fibers angled and arranged in a criss-cross configuration.
  • 18. A blood processing apparatus comprising: an apparatus housing having a blood inlet and a blood outlet, the blood inlet extending into an interior of the apparatus housing;a core in fluid communication with the blood inlet and disposed about the blood inlet;a gas exchanger disposed about the core such that an inner surface of the gas exchanger is positioned to receive blood exiting an outer surface of the core; anda screen filter spirally wound through the gas exchanger such that blood passing through the gas exchanger passes through the screen filter and is filtered by the spirally wound screen filter a plurality of times;wherein the screen filter comprises a screen mesh and wherein a plurality of hollow gas exchange fibers is secured to the screen mesh to form a composite assembly, the composite assembly being rolled over itself, about the core, to form the gas exchanger.
  • 19. The blood processing apparatus of claim 18, wherein the screen mesh has an average pore size of about 60 microns to about 125 microns.
  • 20. The blood processing apparatus of claim 18, wherein the composite assembly forms at least four complete layers surrounding the core.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/121,768, filed Aug. 25, 2016, which is a national stage application of PCT/IT2014/000058, internationally filed Feb. 28, 2014, both of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

US Referenced Citations (92)
Number Name Date Kind
3339341 Murdock et al. Sep 1967 A
3743098 Martinez Jul 1973 A
3957648 Roget et al. May 1976 A
4038190 Baudet et al. Jul 1977 A
4225439 Spranger Sep 1980 A
4229305 Fecondini et al. Oct 1980 A
4597868 Watanabe Jul 1986 A
4639353 Takemura et al. Jan 1987 A
4707268 Shah et al. Nov 1987 A
4758341 Banner Jul 1988 A
4902476 Gordon et al. Feb 1990 A
5120501 Mathewson et al. Jun 1992 A
5169530 Schucker et al. Dec 1992 A
5192439 Roth et al. Mar 1993 A
5192499 Sakai et al. Mar 1993 A
5270004 Cosentino et al. Dec 1993 A
5316724 Mathewson et al. May 1994 A
5338512 Mathewson et al. Aug 1994 A
5514095 Brightbill et al. May 1996 A
5578267 Cosentino et al. Nov 1996 A
5651765 Haworth et al. Jul 1997 A
5674452 Carson et al. Oct 1997 A
5733398 Carson et al. Mar 1998 A
5762868 Leonard Jun 1998 A
5762869 White et al. Jun 1998 A
5817278 Fini et al. Oct 1998 A
5817279 Eilers et al. Oct 1998 A
5830370 Maloney et al. Nov 1998 A
RE36774 Cosentino et al. Jul 2000 E
6105664 Gillbrand et al. Aug 2000 A
6113782 Leonard Sep 2000 A
6241945 Owen Jun 2001 B1
6454999 Farhangnia et al. Sep 2002 B1
6459937 Morgan et al. Oct 2002 B1
6755894 Bikson et al. Jun 2004 B2
6960322 Stringer et al. Nov 2005 B2
7431754 Ogihara et al. Oct 2008 B2
7947113 Ogihara et al. May 2011 B2
7981121 Stegfeldt et al. Jul 2011 B2
8142546 Ogihara et al. Mar 2012 B2
8318092 Reggiani et al. Nov 2012 B2
8388566 Reggiani et al. Mar 2013 B2
8394049 Reggiani et al. Mar 2013 B2
8425838 Mizoguchi et al. Apr 2013 B2
8652406 Reggiani et al. Feb 2014 B2
8685319 Olson et al. Apr 2014 B2
8795220 Reggiani et al. Aug 2014 B2
8865067 Olson et al. Oct 2014 B2
8911666 Mizoguchi et al. Dec 2014 B2
8980176 Reggiani et al. Mar 2015 B2
9162022 Reggiani et al. Oct 2015 B2
9402943 Reggiani et al. Aug 2016 B2
10098994 Silvestri et al. Oct 2018 B2
10159777 Reggiani et al. Dec 2018 B2
10369262 Reggiani Aug 2019 B2
20010033813 Filho et al. Oct 2001 A1
20020039543 Ikeda et al. Apr 2002 A1
20020049401 Ghelli et al. Apr 2002 A1
20030080047 Watkins et al. May 2003 A1
20030111414 Baurmeister et al. Jun 2003 A1
20030175149 Searles et al. Sep 2003 A1
20040149645 Sunohara et al. Aug 2004 A1
20040175292 Ghelli et al. Sep 2004 A1
20040251011 Kudo Dec 2004 A1
20060016743 Ogihara Jan 2006 A1
20070009378 Blicke et al. Jan 2007 A1
20070107884 Sirkar et al. May 2007 A1
20070166190 Ogihara et al. Jul 2007 A1
20070231203 Mizoguchi et al. Oct 2007 A1
20080234623 Strauss et al. Sep 2008 A1
20090018629 Yoshida et al. Jan 2009 A1
20100106072 Kashefi-Khorasani et al. Apr 2010 A1
20100269342 Carpenter et al. Oct 2010 A1
20100272606 Carpenter et al. Oct 2010 A1
20100272607 Carpenter et al. Oct 2010 A1
20110268608 Reggiani et al. Nov 2011 A1
20110268609 Reggiani et al. Nov 2011 A1
20120046594 Reggiani et al. Feb 2012 A1
20120121463 Reggiani et al. May 2012 A1
20120294761 Reggiani et al. Nov 2012 A1
20130142695 Reggiani et al. Jun 2013 A1
20130142696 Reggiani et al. Jun 2013 A1
20140030146 Takeuchi Jan 2014 A1
20140154137 Kashefi Khorasani Jun 2014 A1
20140227133 Reggiani et al. Aug 2014 A1
20150068670 Mizoguchi et al. Mar 2015 A1
20160325036 Silvestri et al. Nov 2016 A1
20160354529 Reggiani et al. Dec 2016 A1
20170072123 Reggiani Mar 2017 A1
20170319767 Zaniboni et al. Nov 2017 A1
20180133388 Mazzoli et al. May 2018 A1
20190091395 Reggiani et al. Mar 2019 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (77)
Number Date Country
1042082 May 1990 CN
1308549 Aug 2001 CN
2511309 Sep 2002 CN
2772515 Apr 2006 CN
1907508 Feb 2007 CN
1914474 Feb 2007 CN
201510571 Jun 2010 CN
101837151 Sep 2010 CN
201978219 Sep 2011 CN
103180032 Jun 2013 CN
103328019 Sep 2013 CN
103547298 Jan 2014 CN
106029118 Oct 2016 CN
19782098 Nov 1999 DE
102007010112 Sep 2008 DE
102010027973 Oct 2011 DE
0170210 Feb 1986 EP
0312125 Apr 1989 EP
0582959 Feb 1994 EP
0895786 Feb 1999 EP
1108462 Jun 2001 EP
1180374 Feb 2002 EP
0876170 Oct 2003 EP
1371381 Dec 2003 EP
1618906 Jan 2006 EP
1834656 May 2010 EP
2420262 Feb 2012 EP
2524712 Nov 2012 EP
2537543 Dec 2012 EP
44-005526 Feb 1969 JP
52-126681 Oct 1977 JP
59-147603 Aug 1984 JP
60-053156 Mar 1985 JP
61-078407 Apr 1986 JP
63-139562 Jun 1988 JP
63-283709 Nov 1988 JP
03-169329 Jul 1991 JP
04-002067 Jan 1992 JP
04-039862 Jun 1992 JP
0439862 Jun 1992 JP
05-177117 Jul 1993 JP
07-088178 Apr 1995 JP
08-168525 Jul 1996 JP
11-508476 Jul 1999 JP
2000-501954 Feb 2000 JP
2000-093510 Apr 2000 JP
3228518 Nov 2001 JP
2002-506692 Mar 2002 JP
3284568 May 2002 JP
2002-306592 Oct 2002 JP
2003-520617 Jul 2003 JP
2003-525736 Sep 2003 JP
2004-216143 Aug 2004 JP
2006-034466 Feb 2006 JP
2007-190218 Aug 2007 JP
2007-244880 Sep 2007 JP
2007-260151 Oct 2007 JP
3992377 Oct 2007 JP
2007-328114 Dec 2007 JP
2009-093659 Apr 2009 JP
2011-047269 Mar 2011 JP
5020111 Sep 2012 JP
2012-239885 Dec 2012 JP
2013-063121 Apr 2013 JP
2015-144857 Aug 2015 JP
2017-510340 Apr 2017 JP
9716213 May 1997 WO
9719714 Jun 1997 WO
9733636 Sep 1997 WO
9947189 Sep 1999 WO
9958171 Nov 1999 WO
2010124087 Oct 2010 WO
2012066439 May 2012 WO
2012133372 Oct 2012 WO
2015104725 Jul 2015 WO
2015107486 Jul 2015 WO
2015128886 Sep 2015 WO
Non-Patent Literature Citations (14)
Entry
European Search Report issued in EP Application No. 10161451, dated Sep. 28, 2010, 5 pages.
European Search Report issued in EP Application No. 10173436, dated Feb. 14, 2011, 7 pages.
European Search Report issued in EP Application No. 10186550, dated Jan. 27, 2011, 7 pages.
European Search Report issued in EP Application No. 10191140, dated Nov. 30, 2011, 8 pages.
European Search Report issued in EP Application No. 12187501, dated Nov. 20, 2013, 6 pages.
European Search Report issued in EP Application No. 13161841, dated Jun. 11, 2013, 6 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in PCT/IB2012/052424, dated Oct. 24, 2012, 17 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in PCT/IB2014/065987, dated Jul. 16, 2015, 10 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in PCT/IB2015/053493, dated Jan. 18, 2016, 13 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in PCT/IT2014/000005, dated Sep. 26, 2014, 9 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in PCT/IT2014/000058, dated Dec. 8, 2014, 14 pages.
International Search Report and Written Opinion received for PCT Patent Application No. PCT/IT2014/000005, dated Sep. 26, 2014, 8 pages.
International Search Report issued in PCT/IB2011/054725, dated Feb. 9, 2012, 12 pages.
Italian Search Report issued in IT Application No. IT MO20140010, completed Sep. 23, 2014, 7 pages.
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20190290821 A1 Sep 2019 US
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 15121768 US
Child 16439019 US