Patents
US 9962233 B2: Body-inserted tube cleaning
- Granted
- 2018-05-08
- Filed
- 2015-08-03 application 14816356
- Type
- Utility · 18 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 for the purpose of increasing the available space for airflow or to prevent the build up of materials that may constrict airflow or be a potential nidus for infection. In one embodiment, a method for cleaning endotracheal tubes comprises inserting a cleaning device within an endotracheal tube while a cleaning member is in a compressed position, radially expanding the cleaning member to an expanded position within the endotracheal tube, and withdrawing the cleaning device from the endotracheal tube with the cleaning member in the expanded position.
Source: PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 (ipg180508.xml).
Assignees
| Assignee | Type | Place | Also on furp.org | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endoclear LLC 24 patents | US company or organization | San Ramon, CA | 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 | |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2022-06-24 | 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 |
| 2017-05-17 | Assignment Assignment of assignor's interest | GRACY, JAMES M. signed 2010-03-02 VAZALES, BRAD E. signed 2010-03-02 DAVIDNER, ALAN signed 2010-03-04 BERTOLERO, ARTHUR signed 2010-03-05 WATSON, KEN signed 2010-03-10 | ENDOCLEAR LLC SAN RAMON, CA | 42490/359 | 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.