Patents
US 8381345 B2: Devices for cleaning endotracheal tubes
- Granted
- 2013-02-26
- Filed
- 2010-03-26 application 12748326
- Type
- Utility · 28 claims
- Elsewhere
- Google Patents ↗ · USPTO patent document ↗ · USPTO Patent Center record ↗
Abstract
Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for the cleaning of an endotracheal tube while a patient is being supported by a ventilator connected to the endotracheal tube. According to some embodiments, a mechanically-actuated non-inflatable cleaning device for scraping debris (e.g., biofilm) from an interior wall of an endotracheal tube is provided. In one embodiment, the cleaning device comprises an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end and a mechanically-expandable scaffold positioned along the distal end of the elongated member. In one embodiment, the mechanically-expandable scaffold comprises one or more removal members configured to engage an interior surface of an endotracheal tube when the scaffold is in a radially-expanded position and to remove debris from the interior surface of the endotracheal tube when the device is withdrawn from the endotracheal tube.
Source: PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 (ipg130226.xml).
Assignees
| Assignee | Type | Place | Also on furp.org | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endoclear LLC 24 patents | US company or organization | Petoskey, MI | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Inventors
| Inventor | Place | Patents | Person page | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad E. Vazales | Petoskey, MI | 26 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Arthur Bertolero | Danville, CA | 12 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Ken Watson | Milwaukee, WI | 14 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| James M. Gracy | Harbor Springs, MI | 12 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Clifton P. Colwell | Peoria, AZ | 8 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Craig B. Berky | Milford, OH | 30 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Alan A. Davidner | Claremont, CA | 25 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
CPC categories
| Subclass | Category | First group | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| A61B | Diagnosis; surgery; identification | A61B1/06 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| A61M | Devices for introducing media into, or onto, the body ; devices for transducing body media or for taking media from the body ; devices for producing or ending sleep or stupor | A61M16/04 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| B08B | Cleaning in general; prevention of fouling in general | B08B9/0436 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Cooperative Patent Classification, as currently assigned (one row per subclass).
Assignments and security interests
| Recorded | What | From | To | Reel/frame | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-28 | Release of security interest Release of security interest | JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT signed 2026-07-27 | AVENT, INC. ALPHARETTA, GA AVANOS MEDICAL SALES, LLC ALPHARETTA, GA | 76077/108 | PASDL, file of 2026-09-23 |
| 2026-07-27 | Security interest Security interest Security interest | AVENT, INC. signed 2026-07-27 | GOLUB CAPITAL MARKETS LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT CHICAGO, IL | 76066/888 | PASDL, file of 2026-10-15 |
| 2024-01-25 | Assignment Assignment of assignor's interest | AVENT, INC. signed 2023-09-26 | SUNMED GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC GRAND RAPIDS, MI | 66370/835 | PASDL, file of 2026-10-15 |
| 2023-10-02 | Release of security interest Partial release of security interest in patent collateral | JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT signed 2023-10-02 | AVENT, INC. ALPHARETTA, GA | 65093/494 | PASDL, file of 2026-10-15 |
| 2022-07-14 | Release of security interest Release of security interest | VAZALES, BRAD signed 2022-07-09 | ENDOCLEAR LLC SAN RAMON, CA | 60654/961 | ECORSEXC, file of 2026-09-25 |
| 2022-06-24 | Security interest Security interest Security interest | AVENT, INC. signed 2022-06-24 | JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT CHICAGO, IL | 60441/445 | PASDL, file of 2026-10-15 |
| 2022-02-23 | Assignment Assignment of assignor's interest | ENDOCLEAR LLC signed 2019-09-18 | AVENT, INC. ALPHARETTA, GA | 59073/313 | ECORSEXC, file of 2026-09-25 |
| 2017-05-16 | Assignment Assignment of assignor's interest | GRACY, JAMES M. signed 2010-03-02 VAZALES, BRAD E. signed 2010-03-02 BERKY, CRAIG B. signed 2010-03-04 COLWELL, CLIFTON P. signed 2010-03-04 DAVIDNER, ALAN signed 2010-03-04 BERTOLERO, ARTHUR signed 2010-03-05 WATSON, KEN signed 2010-03-10 | ENDOCLEAR LLC SAN RAMON, CA | 42479/667 | ECORSEXC, file of 2026-09-25 |
| 2013-01-30 | Security interest Security interest Security agreement | ENDOCLEAR, LLC signed 2013-01-28 | VAZALES, BRAD PETOSKEY, MI | 29726/917 | ECORSEXC, file of 2026-09-25 |
Documents recorded with the USPTO Assignment Recordation Branch that list this patent. A security interest is a lender’s claim on the patent as collateral; a release ends it.
USPTO bulk data: PatentsView granted patents, disambiguated (PVGPATDIS) for patents, assignees, inventors, places and CPC categories; the USPTO Patent Assignment Dataset (ECORSEXC) for assignments and security interests. Patents filed in the last 20 years. No claims or full text. Links to other records are by name (and state): EXACT means the identical full name and state; FUZZY means a looser name match, with the confidence shown.