Ken A Litzie

US Patent:

6537495, Mar 25, 2003

Filed:

Dec 23, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/472093

Inventors:

Ronald Cambron - Laguna Hills CA
Francis Vijay - Lake Forest CA
Richard Knight - Huntington Beach CA
Ken Litzie - Irvine CA

Assignee:

Edwards Lifesciences LLC

International Classification:

A61M 114

US Classification:

422 45, 604 614, 604 616, 604 401, 128DIG 3

Abstract:

A vacuum-assisted venous drainage reservoir for cardiopulmonary bypass surgery with both hard and soft shell reservoirs. The system utilizes a wall vacuum or other source of negative pressure to create a negative pressure via a regulator within a sealed hard shell reservoir, or within a sealed housing surrounding a soft shell reservoir. The addition of a negative pressure in the venous return line enables the use of smaller cannulas suitable for minimally invasive surgery. The reservoir need not be positioned well below the patient as in conventional gravity venous drainage configurations, thus adding flexibility to the operating room layout and enabling a reduction in the extracorporeal blood prime volume needed. In one embodiment, a flexible membrane in the hard shell reservoir expands to contact the blood surface and reduce blood/air interactions. In another embodiment, a moisture trap is provided between the source of vacuum and hard shell reservoir to reduce environmental contamination.

US Patent:

8038638, Oct 18, 2011

Filed:

Apr 2, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/695584

Inventors:

Craig P. Roberts - Carlsbad CA, US
Ken Litzie - Tustin CA, US

Assignee:

Hemolife Medical, Inc. - San Clemente CA

International Classification:

A61M 1/34
B01D 61/14
B01D 61/18
B01D 24/00
B01D 29/00
B01D 37/00
B01D 15/00

US Classification:

604 504, 210201, 210203, 210295, 210435, 21050034, 21050035, 210503, 210645, 210646, 210660, 210679, 604 401, 604 501

Abstract:

An extracorporeal circuit for removing toxins from the blood and plasma volume control in patients suffering from sepsis and renal failure. The extracorporeal circuit disclosed herein comprises a plasma filter, a toxin removal device and optionally a hemofilter that minimizes electrolyte and protein depletion from the treated plasma while effectively removing both free and protein-bound toxins. The toxin removal device comprises adsorbent materials selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, ion exchange resins and non-ionic exchange resins and the adsorbent materials are coated with albumin. Also provided are associated methods for treating patients suffering from sepsis and renal failure using the disclosed extracorporeal circuit and toxin removal device.

US Patent:

20050281809, Dec 22, 2005

Filed:

Jun 20, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/157344

Inventors:

Craig Roberts - Carlsbad CA, US
Ken Litzie - Tustin CA, US

International Classification:

A61K039/395
B01D011/00

US Classification:

424140100, 210645000

Abstract:

An extracorporeal circuit for removing toxins from the blood and plasma volume control in patients suffering from sepsis and renal failure. The extracorporeal circuit disclosed herein comprises a plasma filter, a toxin removal device and optionally a hemofilter that minimizes electrolyte and protein depletion from the treated plasma while effectively removing both free and protein-bound toxins. Also provided are associated methods for treating patients suffering from sepsis and renal failure using the disclosed extracorporeal circuit and toxin removal device.

US Patent:

53725832, Dec 13, 1994

Filed:

Nov 25, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/981794

Inventors:

Craig P. Roberts - San Marcos CA
Frank J. McManus - Escondido CA
Ken Litzie - Irvine CA

Assignee:

Cardiopulmonary Specialities, Inc. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

A61M 2500

US Classification:

604 51

Abstract:

A bone marrow infuser has an intraosseous cannula, a hand driver, and a pointed stylet attached to the hand driver. The hand driver can mechanically couple with the intraosseous cannula so that the stylet point protrudes from an opening at the end of the intraosseous cannula. A method of bone marrow infusion has a first step of puncturing the skin with the point of the stylet, a second step of embedding the cannula into the bone, a third step of removing the stylet from the cannula and attaching the catheter to the cannula, a fourth step of applying pressure to compress the skin, flesh, and bone, and a final step of infusing fluids into the bone marrow.

US Patent:

48043656, Feb 14, 1989

Filed:

Feb 13, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/014926

Inventors:

Ken Litzie - Irvine CA
Craig P. Roberts - Dallas TX

Assignee:

C. R. Bard - Murray Hill NJ

International Classification:

A61M 500
A61M 103

US Classification:

604 4

Abstract:

A cannula assembly suitable for rapid, closed-chest cannulation of the cardiopulmonary system to an extracorporeal bypass machine through punctures in the femoral veins and arteries is disclosed. The assembly comprises a conduit made of a smooth, flexible, thin-walled material and capable of longitudinal insertion through these vessels by use of an associated "introducer" and conventional guide wire. The conduit has adequate hemodynamic flow capacity and sufficient unsupported hoop strength to resist collapse from suctional and vasoconstrictive forces during use.

US Patent:

60174935, Jan 25, 2000

Filed:

Sep 26, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/938058

Inventors:

Ronald Cambron - Laguna Hills CA
Francis Vijay - Lake Forest CA
Richard Knight - Huntington Beach CA
Ken Litzie - Irvine CA

Assignee:

Baxter International Inc. - Deerfield IL

International Classification:

A61M 114
A61M 3700

US Classification:

422 44

Abstract:

A vacuum-assisted venous drainage reservoir for cardiopulmonary bypass surgery with both hard and soft shell reservoirs. The system utilizes a wall vacuum or other source of negative pressure to create a negative pressure via a regulator within a sealed hard shell reservoir, or within a sealed housing surrounding a soft shell reservoir. The addition of a negative pressure in the venous return line enables the use of smaller cannulas suitable for minimally invasive surgery. The reservoir need not be positioned well below the patient as in conventional gravity venous drainage configurations, thus adding flexibility to the operating room layout and enabling a reduction in the extracorporeal blood prime volume needed. In one embodiment, a flexible membrane in the hard shell reservoir expands to contact the blood surface and reduce blood/air interactions. In another embodiment, a moisture trap is provided between the source of vacuum and hard shell reservoir to reduce environmental contamination.

US Patent:

45403996, Sep 10, 1985

Filed:

Feb 1, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/463057

Inventors:

Ken Litzie - Walnut CA
Craig P. Roberts - Hermosa Beach CA

International Classification:

A61M 103

US Classification:

607 4

Abstract:

A closed emergency heart bypass system is disclosed herein for extra-corporeal blood circulation use which employs a minimum of components arranged in a series relationship. The components include a non-occlusive blood pump aspirating venous blood from an appropriate cannula for introduction to an oxygenator and a bubble-trapping device followed by return to a patient's body via an arterial cannula. Tubing interconnects the components and a bypass loop selectively joins the tubing adjacent to the venous and arterial cannulas for air displacement during initial pump priming and tube purging. Arterial blood can be accessed for sampling and for distal limb perfusion and a blood flow and monitoring console may be included in the system.