Roger J Elgas

6497841, Dec 24, 2002

Jul 22, 1997

08/898559

Neil D. Plotkin - Pasadena CA
Roger J. Elgas - Anaheim CA
Robert F. Gremel - Huntington Beach CA
Robert V. Worrell - Lake Forest CA

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61M 114

422 46, 422 44, 422 45, 604 613

A heat exchanger, or the heat exchanger component of a multi-function device, comprising a polymeric heat transfer material. The heat exchanger exhibits reduced voltage-induced breakdown of the polymeric material, which can lead to cross-contamination of the two fluids. Either or both of two approaches may be employed. The first approach modifies the polymeric material to increase its resistance to breakdown. The second approach employs at least one electrical bridge between the fluids in the two sides of the heat exchanger, thus placing the two fluids into electrical equilibrium.

6524267, Feb 25, 2003

Sep 18, 2001

09/954787

Robert F. Gremel - Huntington Beach CA
Roger J. Elgas - Anaheim Hills CA

Medtronic, Inc. - Brooklyn Park MN

A61M 3700

604 609, 604 401, 604 501, 210436, 422 44, 422 48

The need for a venous reservoir in a heart-lung machine is obviated by using a vacuum-purged negative-pressure air filter in the venous return line ahead of the main blood pump. The purging vacuum for the venous air filter can also be used to purge air from the cardiotomy reservoir if a backflow-preventing valve is used on the venous air filter.

6579257, Jun 17, 2003

Sep 21, 1999

09/400135

Roger J. Elgas - Anaheim Hills CA
Michael P. Petersen - Eden Prairie MN

Medtronic, Inc. - Brooklyn Park MN

A61M 3100

604 67

Retrograde flow in an extracorporeal blood circuit using a centrifugal blood pump is prevented by passing the blood line through a normally-closed powered occlusion clamp, and opening the clamp in response to powering of the pump or, preferably, in response to the sensing of forward blood flow in the extracorporeal circuit.

6613279, Sep 2, 2003

Aug 31, 1999

09/386245

Roger J. Elgas - Anaheim Hills CA
Robert F. Gremel - Huntington Beach CA

Medtronic, Inc. - Brooklyn Park MN

A61M 114

422 45, 604 614

Blood mixing in fiber-wound oxygenators is improved by inserting at least one layer of a planar apertured mat between selected layers of wound gas-exchange fibers.

6638479, Oct 28, 2003

Oct 11, 1999

09/416146

Roger J. Elgas - Anaheim Hills CA
Robert F. Gremel - Huntington Beach CA

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61M 114

422 45, 604 401

The efficiency of a hollow fiber wound oxygenator is improved by varying the packing density of the fiber bundle in a direction longitudinal and/or circumferential of the core.

6918887, Jul 19, 2005

Dec 19, 2002

10/324176

Robert F. Gremel - Huntington Beach CA, US
Roger J. Elgas - Anaheim Hills CA, US

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61M037/00

604 609, 604 611, 604 615, 604319, 210120

The need for a venous reservoir in a heart-lung machine is obviated by using a vacuum-purged negative-pressure air filter in the venous return line ahead of the main blood pump. The purging vacuum for the venous air filter can also be used to purge air from the cardiotomy reservoir if a backflow-preventing valve is used on the venous air filter.

59067411, May 25, 1999

Jan 11, 1996

8/585324

Roger J. Elgas - Anaheim Hills CA
Robert F. Gremel - Huntington Beach CA
Robert Cushing Hamlen - St. Paul MN

Medtronic, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

B01D 3500
B01D 6300

210455

A blood outlet manifold is provided for a membrane-type blood oxygenator made of a plurality of micro-porous fibers. The fibers have first and second ends wound into a generally cylindrical bundle. The blood outlet manifold comprises a generally cylindrical vessel having a first annular wall dimensioned to snugly overly an exterior surface of the oxygenator fiber bundle. The vessel further has a flared portion including a second annular wall radially spaced from an end portion of the exterior surface of the oxygenator fiber bundle adjacent to the second ends of the fibers. An annular blood collection chamber is defined between the exterior surface of the oxygenator fiber bundle and the second annular wall for receiving blood flowing radially outwardly from around the fibers of the oxygenator fiber bundle. A seal is provided between the end portion of the oxygenator fiber bundle and the second annular wall. A blood outlet nozzle extends from the flared portion of the vessel and has a hollow interior communicating with the blood collection chamber.

56267592, May 6, 1997

Aug 1, 1994

8/284057

William B. Krantz - Boulder CO
Robert R. Bilodeau - Old Towne ME
Roger J. Elgas - Lakewood CO
Marc E. Voorhees - Arvada CO

Regents of the University of Colorado - Boulder CO

A61M 114
B01D 6100
C02F 144

210645

A medical device and method for affecting mass transfer between blood and a fluid. In one application, this mass transfer is an oxygenation of the blood. Generally, a membrane which separates the blood and fluid is moved in a predetermined manner and in a direction which is substantially parallel to that of the primary direction of the flow to augment the mass transfer efficiency/rate. Importantly, this movement of the membrane is relative to the blood mass transfer boundary layer which steepens or increases the oxygen concentration gradient and decreases the thickness of the blood mass transfer boundary layer and thereby improves upon the mass transfer efficiency/rate of oxygen into the blood.