Stephen Moran Mullins

US Patent:

20030034305, Feb 20, 2003

Filed:

Jan 7, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/041898

Inventors:

Douglas Luehmann - Battle Lake MN, US
Johnny Hannah - Timberville VA, US
Stephen Mullins - Lakewood CO, US
John Bielefeld - Prairie Village KS, US

Assignee:

Gambro, Inc.

International Classification:

B01D061/26

US Classification:

210/646000, 137/001000, 210/257200, 210/258000

Abstract:

A water supply sub-system for connection to a main water supply system, in which the sub-system includes: a storage tank having an inlet for connection to the main water supply system, an outlet and an outlet line connecting the outlet of the storage tank to a pump which pumps water from the tank to a sub-system supply line. One or more branch connections are connected to the sub-system supply line. Connectable to the one or more branch connections are one or more high-demand water using devices, such as dialyzer re-use machines. The subsystem may feed water to these high demand devices, and the sub-system and the one or more high demand devices may thus be substantially isolated from the main water supply system so that the high demands thereof will not adversely impact the water supply parameters. Thus, one or more lower demand machines, such as dialysis machines, may be connected to the main line without supply parameter disruption thereto. The sub-system preferably further includes a feedback loop and the storage tank preferably has a spray head disposed therein, the spray head being disposed to spray inlet and/or recirculated feed back water into said storage tank. Among other alternative options, an ultrafiltration device may also be included in the sub-system supply line to ensure the purity of the water circulating through the sub-system.

US Patent:

20040060602, Apr 1, 2004

Filed:

Jul 7, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/615542

Inventors:

Stephen Mullins - Lakewood CO, US
Mark Richers - Brighton CO, US
Robin Williams - Denver CO, US

Assignee:

Gambro, Inc. - Lakewood CO

International Classification:

F16K037/00

US Classification:

137/551000

Abstract:

Systems and/or methods divert a fluid that has reached a preset alarm limit from reaching the point of use. The system may include a valve control unit; and a hydraulic unit operably connected to the valve control unit. The hydraulic unit may have first and second valves and plumbing pieces to connect the first and second valves to each other and the fluid system; the first valve being a normally closed valve that directs water from the fluid system to drain when energized; the second valve is a normally open valve that will turn off flow from the fluid system to the pure water distribution system. The methods may include flowing a fluid through a fluid system which includes a flow control system for preventing a fluid that has reached preset alarm limits from reaching the point of use; sensing when the fluid has reached the preset alarm limits; and signaling the opening of the normally closed valve; and the closing of the normally open valve to divert the fluid from the point of use to a drain.

US Patent:

20040195157, Oct 7, 2004

Filed:

May 12, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/709530

Inventors:

Stephen Mullins - Lakewood CO, US
Douglas Luehmann - Battle Lake MN, US
John Bielefeld - Prairie Village KS, US

Assignee:

GAMBRO, INC. - Lakewood CO

International Classification:

B01D035/14

US Classification:

210/090000, 210/120000, 210/121000, 210/130000, 210/198100, 210/257100

Abstract:

A water supply sub-system for connection to a main water supply system includes a storage tank having an inlet with a flow control valve for connection to the main water supply system. The sub-system may be disconnected from the main system and configured as a closed system for disinfecting the sub-system. An outlet line connects the storage tank to a pump that pumps water from the tank to a sub-system supply line. One or more branch connections may connect the sub-system supply line to high-demand water using devices, such as dialysis machines. The supply line may be a feedback loop. A shunt feedback loop parallel to the feedback loop of the supply line has a pressure control valve that regulates pressure in the supply line feedback loop. A filtration device may also be included to ensure the purity of the water circulating through the sub-system.