Michael J Burk

US Patent:

6406456, Jun 18, 2002

Filed:

Jun 8, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/590857

Inventors:

John B. Slate - San Diego CA
Michael W. Burk - San Marcos CA
Lanny A. Gorton - San Diego CA

Assignee:

Avant Drug Delivery Systems, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

A61M 530

US Classification:

604 68, 604176

Abstract:

An injector for the intra-muscular, subcutaneous, or intra-dermal delivery of a fluid medicament to a patient includes a cylindrical member which has a closed end and an open end, and which is formed with a compartment between these two ends. An injection tube extends from the closed end through the cylindrical member and into the compartment. A suction pump is connected in fluid communication with the compartment to create a partial vacuum in the compartment when the open end of the cylindrical member is held against the skin of the patient. Due to this vacuum, skin of the patient is drawn into the compartment to position the tip of the injection tube against the skin. Also, skin that is adjacent the tip is drawn by the vacuum into the compartment. This stabilizes the skin around the injection tube tip and thereby minimizes any movement of skin relative to the tip during an injection of fluid medicament into the patient.

US Patent:

6645169, Nov 11, 2003

Filed:

Sep 20, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/665849

Inventors:

John B. Slate - San Diego CA
Michael W. Burk - San Marcos CA
Lanny A. Gorton - San Diego CA

Assignee:

Avant Drug Delivery Systems, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

A61M 530

US Classification:

604 68, 604 70, 604140

Abstract:

A method for injecting a fluid medicament into a patient uses a syringe having a plunger that can be advanced into the syringe chamber. As the plunger is advanced, the medicament is expelled from the chamber through an injection tube that extends from the chamber. Preferably, the injection tube is formed as a cone-shaped funnel with a taper of generally decreasing radius in a distal direction. The steps for the method include creating a gas pocket in the distal portion of the injection tube. Then, as the plunger is advanced into the chamber to accelerate the fluid medicament through the injection tube, the gas pocket allows the accelerating fluid medicament to gain momentum. The change in this momentum as the fluid medicament collides with the skin will generate an impulse force that is manifested as an initial pressure spike. This pressure spike creates a hole in the skin of the patient as the fluid medicament exits the tube. Further advancement of the plunger into the chamber maintains a substantially constant infusion pressure for injecting the fluid medicament through the hole and into the patient.

US Patent:

6652483, Nov 25, 2003

Filed:

Jun 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/892366

Inventors:

John B. Slate - San Diego CA
Michael W. Burk - San Marcos CA
Lanny A. Gorton - San Diego CA

Assignee:

Avant Drug Delivery Systems, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

A61M 530

US Classification:

604 68, 604 72

Abstract:

A device for providing medication for injection by a jet injector includes a cassette which connects an injector system to a reservoir. The cassette forms a fluid pathway at an interface of a cassette lower body and a cassette upper body. The cassette also forms an impulse chamber with a nozzle leading therefrom. The fluid pathway interconnects the reservoir with the impulse chamber. The medication flows from the reservoir along the fluid pathway and into the impulse chamber. Force from an impulse generator drives the fluid medicament from the impulse chamber through the nozzle, out an orifice in a tip of the nozzle, and into the skin of a patient. To prevent the pressure waves generated by the jet injector from breaking a glass cartridge in the reservoir, the fluid pathway is blocked, using a series of right angles or valves.

US Patent:

6669664, Dec 30, 2003

Filed:

Sep 7, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/949484

Inventors:

John B. Slate - San Diego CA
Michael W. Burk - San Marcos CA
Lanny A. Gorton - San Diego CA

Assignee:

Avant Drug Delivery Systems, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

A61M 530

US Classification:

604 68

Abstract:

A vacuum control system for a jet injector includes a power source and vacuum pump for creating suction at the injector tip. The injector includes a drive bar to expel medicament into the patient. Before injection the drive bar and an inner barrel are separated from each other, and at the end of the injection the drive bar contacts the inner barrel. A user operable switch that is moveable between an ON position and an OFF position is also provided. The power source, vacuum pump, drive bar, inner barrel and user operable switch are all electrically connected via an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit is configured to activate the vacuum pump when the user operable switch is in the ON position and the drive bar is separated from the inner barrel, and to deactivate the vacuum pump when the drive bar contacts the inner barrel.

US Patent:

6817986, Nov 16, 2004

Filed:

Apr 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/123870

Inventors:

John B. Slate - San Diego CA
Michael W. Burk - San Marcos CA
Lanny A. Gorton - San Diego CA

Assignee:

Avant Medical Corp. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

A61M 530

US Classification:

604 68, 604115, 604176, 128DIG 1

Abstract:

An integral data logging system for a jet injector includes at least one electrical switch that changes state (e. g. from OFF to ON) during an injection procedure. The switch(es) are connected to an electrical circuit having a microprocessor, a clock and an electronic memory. When a switch changes state, this information along with the applicable date and time is recorded in the electronic memory. A communications link is provided to upload the stored data to a remote computer for subsequent manipulation and analysis to determine compliance with a prescribed dosing regimen. In one implementation, the injection duration is logged by using a trigger release switch and an end-of-stroke switch. The end-of-stroke switch is configured to change state after the drive bar of the injector transits through the injector tube. The injection duration is indicative of dose amount and can be used to distinguish between valid and invalid injections.

US Patent:

7217253, May 15, 2007

Filed:

Sep 12, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/662001

Inventors:

John B. Slate - San Diego CA, US
Michael W. Burk - San Marcos CA, US
Lanny A. Gorton - San Diego CA, US

Assignee:

Avant Medical Corp. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

A61M 5/30

US Classification:

604 68, 604 72

Abstract:

A device and two-step sequential method for providing medication for injection and infusion by a jet injector includes a cassette which connects an injector system to a reservoir. The cassette forms a fluid pathway at an interface of a cassette lower body and a cassette upper body. The cassette also forms an impulse chamber with a nozzle leading therefrom. The fluid pathway interconnects the reservoir with the impulse chamber. The medication flows from the reservoir along the fluid pathway and into the impulse chamber. Force from an impulse generator drives the fluid medicament from the impulse chamber through the nozzle, out an orifice in a tip of the nozzle, and into the skin of a patient. To prevent the pressure waves generated by the jet injector from damaging a glass reservoir, the fluid pathway is formed with pressure attenuators.

US Patent:

8012120, Sep 6, 2011

Filed:

Sep 13, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/855018

Inventors:

John B. Slate - San Diego CA, US
Michael W. Burk - San Marcos CA, US

Assignee:

Avant Medical Corp. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

A61M 31/00

US Classification:

604 67, 604 65, 604505

Abstract:

A system and method to automatically initiate an injection procedure of a medicament into a patient. In the system, a delivery assembly includes an injector for infusing the medicament into the patient. Further, the system includes a monitor for detecting a parameter characteristic of the procedure, for instance, a pressure indicative of a partial vacuum between the injector and the injection site, a pressure exerted by the patient against the delivery assembly, a conductance, a capacitance, or an optical blood reading. Also, the system includes a timer for determining compliance of the parameter within a predetermined range during a first time interval. In response to the timer, an actuator initiates the injection procedure at the expiration of the first time interval. Further, the actuator may stop the injection procedure if the parameter is outside the predetermined range during a second time interval.

US Patent:

8052645, Nov 8, 2011

Filed:

Jul 23, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/178447

Inventors:

John B. Slate - San Diego CA, US
Richard J. Koerner - San Diego CA, US
Corey M. Magers - Encinitas CA, US
Michael W. Burk - San Marcos CA, US

Assignee:

Avant Medical Corp. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

A61M 37/00

US Classification:

604154, 604131

Abstract:

An auto-injector for injecting a fluid medicament into a patient from a pre-filled syringe requires a disposable cassette that is selectively engageable with the reusable injector. The syringe is latched onto the cassette, and the cassette is then engaged with the injector. Activation of the injector causes a first motor to move the syringe so its needle is extended from a concealed position inside the cassette for injection of the medicament. A second motor on the injector is then activated to expel fluid medicament from the syringe. Then, the first motor is again activated to withdraw the syringe into the cassette for disposal of the cassette/syringe after an injection.