Patents by Inventor Gerald W. Mills

Gerald W. Mills has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8610531
    Abstract: A microcoil is manufactured by rolling a trace unit in such a way as to form at least one winding. The trace unit is comprised of a conductive trace attached to a flexible insulating film. A preferred embodiment of the microcoil contains both a first winding and a second winding electrically connected and spaced apart by ajoining portion. The microcoil may be used for internal magnetic resonance imaging of patient by attaching the microcoil to a catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald W. Mills
  • Publication number: 20120150020
    Abstract: A microcoil is manufactured by rolling a trace unit in such a way as to form at least one winding. The trace unit is comprised of a conductive trace attached to a flexible insulating film. A preferred embodiment of the microcoil contains both a first winding and a second winding electrically connected and spaced apart by ajoining portion. The microcoil may be used for internal magnetic resonance imaging of patient by attaching the microcoil to a catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald W. Mills
  • Patent number: 8146239
    Abstract: A method for forming a microcoil includes attaching a conducting trace of conductive material to a film of insulating material and affixing an attaching trace of conductive material to the film, wherein the attaching trace is electrically isolated from the conducting trace of conductive material. The method also includes operably coupling the attaching trace to a mandrel prior to rolling of the mandrel and rolling the mandrel with the attaching trace attached thereto to circumferentially wrap the conducting trace of conductive material more than one revolution around a longitudinal axis of rolling. The attaching trace remains electrically isolated from the conducting trace after rolling the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald W. Mills
  • Patent number: 8083753
    Abstract: A surgical alignment device is disclosed that is controlled remotely through the use of an actuator, where the actuator in turn controls at least one local adjustment device. The alignment device is suited for neurosurgery, although it is not exclusively limited to neurosurgery. The alignment device includes an insertion guide that is coupled to the local adjustment device, the insertion guide being used to guide a device such as a catheter into a patient. The alignment device may also be coupled to a control module such as a microcomputer that controls the orientation of the insertion guide in response to inputs from the surgeon as to a location of interest within the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew S. Solar, Thomas I. Miller, John David, Raghu Raghavan, Martin Brady, Gerald W. Mills
  • Publication number: 20100263205
    Abstract: A microcoil is manufactured by rolling a trace unit in such a way as to form at least one winding. The trace unit is comprised of a conductive trace attached to a flexible insulating film. A preferred embodiment of the microcoil contains both a first winding and a second winding electrically connected and spaced apart by a joining portion. The microcoil may be used for internal magnetic resonance imaging of patient by attaching the microcoil to a catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald W. Mills
  • Patent number: 7774043
    Abstract: A microcoil is manufactured by rolling a trace unit in such a way as to form at least one winding. The trace unit is comprised of a conductive trace attached to a flexible insulating film. A preferred embodiment of the microcoil contains both a first winding and a second winding electrically connected and spaced apart by a joining portion. The microcoil may be used for internal magnetic resonance imaging of patient by attaching the microcoil to a catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald W Mills
  • Patent number: 7660621
    Abstract: An introducer is described that is coupled to a patient, specifically a patient's skull. The introducer may include an advancer that is remote from the patient, the advancer communicating with the introducer by means of a cable system. The introducer may also include a local position sensor that indicates the position of the primary medical device being introduced. The introducer may also include a frameless reference system that locates the primary medical device relative to a table that the patient is fixed to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: James G. Skakoon, Thomas I. Miller, Matthew S. Solar, Gerald W. Mills, Charles L. Truwit
  • Patent number: 7366561
    Abstract: A surgical alignment device is shown that is controlled remotely through the use of an actuator, where the actuator in turn controls at least one local adjustment device. The alignment device is suited for neurosurgery, although it is not exclusively limited to neurosurgery. The alignment device includes an insertion guide that is coupled to the local adjustment device, the insertion guide being used to guide a device such as a catheter into a patient. The alignment device may also be coupled to a control module such as a microcomputer that controls the orientation of the insertion guide in response to inputs from the surgeon as to a location of interest within the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald W. Mills, Martin Brady, Raghu Raghavan, John David, Thomas I. Miller, Matthew S. Solar
  • Patent number: 7210223
    Abstract: A microcoil is manufactured by rolling a trace unit in such a way as to form at least one winding. The trace unit is comprised of a conductive trace attached to a flexible insulating film. A preferred embodiment of the microcoil contains both a first winding and a second winding electrically connected and spaced apart by a joining portion. The microcoil may be used for internal magnetic resonance imaging of patient by attaching the microcoil to a catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Image-Guided Neurologics, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald W Mills
  • Patent number: 6716215
    Abstract: A medical device is provided comprising a MRI compatible cranial drill having a removable sterilizable drill bit and a sterile barrier. The sterile barrier has an interior portion, a proximal end, a distal end, a proximal opening at the proximal end and an opening at the distal end. The opening at the distal end further comprises an aperture. The drill is insertable into the proximal opening, the aperture being constructed and arranged to seal around the drill bit such that the drill is enclosed in the interior portion of the sterile barrier and only a portion of the sterile drill bit extends exteriorly of the barrier. In one embodiment, the medical device includes a MRI compatible adjustable depth stop which limits and defines depth of penetration of the drill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Image-Guided Neurologics
    Inventors: John David, Matthew S. Solar, Gerald W Mills
  • Publication number: 20020072668
    Abstract: A microcoil is manufactured by rolling a trace unit in such a way as to form at least one winding. The trace unit is comprised of a conductive trace attached to a flexible insulating film. A preferred embodiment of the microcoil contains both a first winding and a second winding electrically connected and spaced apart by a joining portion. The microcoil may be used for internal magnetic resonance imaging of patient by attaching the microcoil to a catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: Image-Guided Neurologics, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald W. Mills
  • Publication number: 20020010479
    Abstract: An introducer is described that is coupled to a patient, specifically a patient's skull. The introducer may include an advancer that is remote from the patient, the advancer communicating with the introducer by means of a cable system. The introducer may also include a local position sensor that indicates the position of the primary medical device being introduced. The introducer may also include a frameless reference system that locates the primary medical device relative to a table that the patient is fixed to.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventors: James G. Skakoon, Thomas I. Miller, Matthew S. Solar, Gerald W. Mills, Charles L. Truwit
  • Publication number: 20010053879
    Abstract: A surgical alignment device is shown that is controlled remotely through the use of an actuator, where the actuator in turn controls at least one local adjustment device. The alignment device is suited for neurosurgery, although it is not exclusively limited to neurosurgery. The alignment device includes an insertion guide that is coupled to the local adjustment device, the insertion guide being used to guide a device such as a catheter into a patient. The alignment device may also be coupled to a control module such as a microcomputer that controls the orientation of the insertion guide in response to inputs from the surgeon as to a location of interest within the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Gerald W. Mills, Martin Brady, Raghu Raghavan, John David, Thomas I. Miller, Matthew S. Solar
  • Patent number: 4029176
    Abstract: A safety system for automatically operated sliding panel doors, specifically elevator doors, having acoustic wave transmitters and receivers arranged in a row along the moving door's leading edge. Short bursts of acoustic energy are projected both in front of the door and to one or both sides so as to "sweep" a three-dimensional space, in and near the door's path, representing a zone of potential danger to persons or objects therein. Reflected energy from persons or objects in the danger zone is usable if it is received, following each transmitted burst, during a prescribed time interval representing combinations of the doorway opening distance and other selected parameters, and usable reflections are converted to a control signal to stop and re-open the doors before they strike the endangered person or object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1977
    Inventor: Gerald W. Mills
  • Patent number: RE30719
    Abstract: A safety system for automatically operated sliding panel doors, specifically elevator doors, having acoustic wave transmitters and receivers arranged in a row along the moving door's leading edge. Short bursts of acoustic energy are projected both in front of the door and to one or both sides so as to "sweep" a three-dimensional space, in and near the door's path, representing a zone of potential danger to persons or objects therein. Reflected energy from persons or objects in the danger zone is usable if it is received, following each transmitted burst, during a prescribed time interval representing combinations of the doorway opening distance and other selected parameters, and usable reflections are converted to a control signal to stop and re-open the doors before they strike the endangered person or object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Inventor: Gerald W. Mills