Ronald M Mezera from 17605 Eveleth Ave W, Farmington, MN 55024, age 79, Phone: 952 895-5021

Us Patents

Reducing Cylinder Wear In A Drug Pump
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US Patent:

7798789, Sep 21, 2010
Filed:

May 16, 2007
Appl. No.:

11/749460
Inventors:

James M. Haase - Maplewood MN, US
Ronald L. Mezera - Lake Elmo MN, US
Nicholas R. Whitehead - Hopkins MN, US
Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN
International Classification:

F04B 35/04
F01B 31/00
H02K 7/06
US Classification:

417417, 92173, 310 20
Abstract:

The present invention relates to a method and related apparatus for rotating a piston of a drug pump during the pumping stroke to reduce drug pump wear. The actuator may move a piston that pumps fluid through a pumping channel. In the present invention, the armature includes one or more openings or shapes that cause the actuator, including the armature and the piston, to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the piston during the pumping stroke. Rotation of the actuator member may help to reduce wear to the actuator member and the pump itself caused by repetitive pumping motions.

Residual Energy Recovery In A Drug Delivery Device
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US Patent:

7927326, Apr 19, 2011
Filed:

Apr 27, 2007
Appl. No.:

11/796622
Inventors:

Scott A. Sarkinen - Greenfield MN, US
James M. Haase - Maplewood MN, US
Ronald L. Mezera - Lake Elmo MN, US
Christian Peclat - Neuchatal, CH
Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN
International Classification:

A61M 1/00
H01H 47/00
F04B 17/04
H02J 7/00
US Classification:

6048911, 604152, 361159, 361156, 417411, 307109, 320166
Abstract:

An implantable drug delivery device includes a pump motor that is driven by electrical energy from a storage capacitor. At the end of each pump delivery cycle, electrical energy stored in the pump motor is recovered and returned to the storage capacitor, so that it can be used in subsequent delivery cycles.

End Of Stroke Detection For Electromagnetic Pump
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US Patent:

8007247, Aug 30, 2011
Filed:

May 22, 2007
Appl. No.:

11/805124
Inventors:

Scott A. Sarkinen - Greenfield MN, US
James M. Haase - Maplewood MN, US
Ronald L. Mezera - Lake Elmo MN, US
Christian Michel Peclat - Neuchatel, CH
Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN
International Classification:

F04B 49/06
F04B 43/12
A61M 1/00
US Classification:

417 4411, 417 441, 417 53, 604152
Abstract:

Detection of end of stroke for an electromagnetic pump is performed using, for example, a calculated first flux derivative.

Accumulator For Implantable Infusion Device
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US Patent:

8545484, Oct 1, 2013
Filed:

Oct 18, 2011
Appl. No.:

13/275736
Inventors:

James M. Haase - Maplewood MN, US
Ronald L. Mezera - Lake Elmo MN, US
John M. Gray - Brooklyn Park MN, US
Nicholas R. Whitehead - Hopkins MN, US
Jeffrey P. Bodner - St. Paul MN, US
Brian C. Egan - St. Louis Park MN, US
Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN
International Classification:

A61K 9/22
US Classification:

6048911, 604131, 604151, 604152
Abstract:

An accumulator is employed in an implantable infusion device to provide compliance in the flow path of the device. The accumulator may act to increase the pumping accuracy and repeatability while simultaneously reducing the energy requirements of the device. In one example, the accumulator is arranged at the outlet of a fluid delivery pump of the infusion device. The accumulator includes a cover and a diaphragm biased away from the cover and configured to deflect toward the cover under pressure generated by the therapeutic agent in a flow path of the infusion device. The cover of the accumulator is configured to withstand the pressure generated by the therapeutic agent in the flow path without deforming.

Implantable Drug Delivery Device With Programmable Rate Capacitor Charge Control
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US Patent:

20080269724, Oct 30, 2008
Filed:

Apr 27, 2007
Appl. No.:

11/796604
Inventors:

Scott A. Sarkinen - Greenfield MN, US
James M. Haase - Maplewood MN, US
Ronald L. Mezera - Lake Elmo MN, US
Christian Peclat - Neuchatal, CH
Assignee:

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN
International Classification:

A61M 5/142
US Classification:

6048911
Abstract:

An implantable drug delivery device includes a pump motor that is asserted by drive currents from a storage capacitor. A programmable rate charge control delivers charging current from a battery to the storage capacitor based upon a programmable charge rate value, a minimum battery voltage value, sensed charging current, and sensed battery voltage. When sensed battery voltage droops to below a threshold value, the charge control reduces the charging rate value until other electrical loads within the drug device have been serviced and battery voltage is restored. The charge control also monitors capacitor voltage and provides a charge complete signal to a motor control, which then connects the pump motor to the storage capacitor to produce a pump stroke. Efficiency of charging is enhanced by controlling the charging at a programmable substantially constant rate.

Articulated Actuator For Implantable Pump
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US Patent:

20080312595, Dec 18, 2008
Filed:

Jun 12, 2007
Appl. No.:

11/761673
Inventors:

Ahmed Elmouelhi - Minneapolis MN, US
James M. Haase - Maplewood MN, US
Ronald L. Mezera - Lake Elmo MN, US
Nicholas R. Whitehead - Hopkins MN, US
International Classification:

A61M 1/00
US Classification:

604151
Abstract:

The present invention is an actuator for a piston pump that includes a separately formed piston and armature. The piston and the armature are later assembled together or are inserted into the piston pump in such a manner as to cooperate during pumping. Assembling the piston and the armature as separate components may provide for improved form of the piston component when manufactured separately from the armature, due to, for example, increased simplification of the manufacturing process. In addition, effects of manufacturing the piston and the armature together, such as stress on the piston, may be reduced.

Reduced-Noise Implantable Infusion Device
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US Patent:

20090118711, May 7, 2009
Filed:

Dec 15, 2008
Appl. No.:

12/334985
Inventors:

James M. Haase - Maplewood MN, US
Ronald L. Mezera - Lake Elmo MN, US
Frederick John Gray - Woodland Hills CA, US
Zbynek Struzka - Fribourg, CH
Assignee:

MEDTRONIC, INC. - Minneapolis MN
International Classification:

A61K 9/22
US Classification:

6048911
Abstract:

A drive mechanism for delivery of infusion medium in an implantable medical device includes an inlet for receiving the infusion medium and a piston channel for communication of infusion medium received by the inlet. The piston channel has a distal end and a proximal end. The proximal end is closer to the inlet than the distal end. The drive mechanism further includes a coil surrounding the piston channel and a piston located within the piston channel and moveable axially within the piston channel to drive infusion medium out of the distal end of the piston channel. The mechanism also includes an armature operably coupled to the piston and disposed adjacent the coil. The armature has first and second opposing major surfaces and a plurality of vents extending through the armature from the first major surface to the second major surface. The plurality of vents cumulatively occupy between about 20% and about 40% of the total surface area of the first major surface. Electromagnetic interaction between the armature and the coil cause the piston move in the channel.

Air Tolerant Implantable Piston Pump
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US Patent:

20100152714, Jun 17, 2010
Filed:

Jan 8, 2010
Appl. No.:

12/684436
Inventors:

James M. Haase - Maplewood MN, US
Nicholas R. Whitehead - Hopkins MN, US
Ronald L. Mezera - Lake Elmo MN, US
Assignee:

MEDTRONIC, INC. - Minneapolis MN
International Classification:

A61M 31/00
US Classification:

6048911
Abstract:

An implantable infusion device includes a reservoir for housing an infusion medium and a drive mechanism having an inlet chamber, a piston and a piston channel. The inlet chamber is in fluid communication with the reservoir. The piston channel is in fluid communication with the inlet chamber, and has a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end being closer to the inlet channel than the distal end. The piston is axially moveable within the piston channel to drive infusion medium out of the distal end of the piston channel. The clearance between the piston and the channel is sufficiently small to prevent undissolved gas in the inlet chamber from passing through the clearance. The inlet chamber may be sufficiently large to allow undissolved gas to accumulate without adversely affecting the performance of the infusion device.