Patents by Inventor Kenneth Lance Miller

Kenneth Lance Miller 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).

  • Publication number: 20200222110
    Abstract: Surgical devices and related methods are disclosed. An example end effector for a surgical device may include a first jaw, a second jaw, and an articulating mechanism operable to move the first jaw between an open position, an intermediate position, and a closed position. An example articulating mechanism may include a first jaw mount coupled to the first jaw so that movement of the first jaw mount along a path causes rotation and translation of the first jaw mount and the first jaw. A pivotably mounted crank may operably couple an actuator linkage to the first jaw mount so that moving the actuator linkage rotates the crank, and rotation of the crank may move the first jaw mount along the path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: Salvatore Privitera, Kenneth Lance Miller, Melissa Deitzer, Douglas J. Seith, Akiva Kirshner, Sydney Gaynor, Kurtis Klingenberg
  • Publication number: 20190357912
    Abstract: The instant disclosure is directed to devices and methods for deploying a biased occlusion clamp. In addition, the present disclosure includes devices and methods for deploying a biased occlusion clamp using robotics. Moreover, the present disclosure includes devices and methods for reducing the force necessary to open an occlusion clamp without permanently compromising the clamping force of the clamp itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: Salvatore Privitera, Matthew Monti, Adam Harp, Kenneth Lance Miller, Jason Iain Glithero
  • Patent number: 10433854
    Abstract: The instant disclosure is directed to devices and methods for deploying a biased occlusion clamp. In addition, the present disclosure includes devices and methods for deploying a biased occlusion clamp using robotics. Moreover, the present disclosure includes devices and methods for reducing the force necessary to open an occlusion clamp without permanently compromising the clamping force of the clamp itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Lance Miller, Jason Iain Glithero
  • Publication number: 20190216465
    Abstract: A laparoscopic device comprising: (a) a housing operatively coupled to a first control and a second control; (b) an end effector operatively coupled to the first control, the end effector comprising a first component and a second component selectively repositionable with respect to one another within an X-Y plane, the end effector also including a third component selectively repositionable with respect to the second component within an Y-Z plane; (c) a laparoscopic conduit extending between the housing and the end effector; and, (d) an occlusion clip deployment device operatively coupled to the end effector and the second control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: James David Hughett, SR., Keith Edward Martin, Kenneth Lance Miller, Michael Dolgin
  • Publication number: 20190142434
    Abstract: An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus including an inflatable body defining a compression region that is sized and shaped to receive an atrial appendage and a self-sealing valve associated with the inflatable body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventor: Kenneth Lance Miller
  • Patent number: 10238398
    Abstract: A laparoscopic device comprising: (a) a housing operatively coupled to a first control and a second control; (b) an end effector operatively coupled to the first control, the end effector comprising a first component and a second component selectively repositionable with respect to one another within an X-Y plane, the end effector also including a third component selectively repositionable with respect to the second component within an Y-Z plane; (c) a laparoscopic conduit extending between the housing and the end effector; and, (d) an occlusion clip deployment device operatively coupled to the end effector and the second control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: James David Hughett, Sr., Keith Edward Martin, Kenneth Lance Miller, Michael Dolgin
  • Patent number: 10182823
    Abstract: An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus including an inflatable body defining a compression region that is sized and shaped to receive an atrial appendage and a self-sealing valve associated with the inflatable body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth Lance Miller
  • Patent number: 10182824
    Abstract: An occlusion assembly comprising: (a) a tissue occlusion device comprising a first linear clamping portion and a second linear clamping portion, the first and second linear clamping portions oriented to overlap and be parallel to one another in a clamped position, the tissue occlusion device further including a spring concurrently coupled to and interposed by the first and second linear clamping portions to bias the first and second linear clamping portions toward the clamped position; and, (b) an endoscopic rein coupled to the tissue occlusion device and configured to facilitate repositioning of the tissue occlusion device toward an occlusion position where the first and second linear clamping portions are interposed by tissue, where the endoscopic rein includes a flexible wire coupled to the clamping device and configured to facilitate repositioning of the tissue occlusion device toward the occlusion position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Monti, Kenneth Lance Miller, Philip P. Resig, Salvatore Privitera, Jason Iain Glithero, Adam Harp, James David Hughett, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20180317922
    Abstract: An occlusion clamp including: (a) an occlusion tongs including a primary spring coupling a first longitudinal arm to a second longitudinal arm, the first longitudinal arm including a first linear occlusion surface configured to be parallel to and overlap a second linear occlusion surface of the second longitudinal arm, each of the first and second longitudinal arms having a free distal end; and, (b) a secondary spring removably coupled to the occlusion tongs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Kenneth Lance Miller
  • Patent number: 9901351
    Abstract: An occlusion clamp including: (a) an occlusion tongs including a primary spring coupling a first longitudinal arm to a second longitudinal arm, the first longitudinal arm including a first linear occlusion surface configured to be parallel to and overlap a second linear occlusion surface of the second longitudinal arm, each of the first and second longitudinal arms having a free distal end; and, (b) a secondary spring removably coupled to the occlusion tongs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Kenneth Lance Miller
  • Publication number: 20170231639
    Abstract: An atrial appendage occlusion apparatus including an inflatable body defining a compression region that is sized and shaped to receive an atrial appendage and a self-sealing valve associated with the inflatable body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventor: Kenneth Lance Miller
  • Publication number: 20160151072
    Abstract: A laparoscopic device comprising: (a) a housing operatively coupled to a first control and a second control; (b) an end effector operatively coupled to the first control, the end effector comprising a first component and a second component selectively repositionable with respect to one another within an X-Y plane, the end effector also including a third component selectively repositionable with respect to the second component within an Y-Z plane; (c) a laparoscopic conduit extending between the housing and the end effector; and, (d) an occlusion clip deployment device operatively coupled to the end effector and the second control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: James David Hughett, SR., Keith Edward Martin, Kenneth Lance Miller, Michael Dolgin
  • Publication number: 20160151070
    Abstract: An occlusion assembly comprising: (a) a tissue occlusion device comprising a first linear clamping portion and a second linear clamping portion, the first and second linear clamping portions oriented to overlap and be parallel to one another in a clamped position, the tissue occlusion device further including a spring concurrently coupled to and interposed by the first and second linear clamping portions to bias the first and second linear clamping portions toward the clamped position; and, (b) an endoscopic rein coupled to the tissue occlusion device and configured to facilitate repositioning of the tissue occlusion device toward an occlusion position where the first and second linear clamping portions are interposed by tissue, where the endoscopic rein includes a flexible wire coupled to the clamping device and configured to facilitate repositioning of the tissue occlusion device toward the occlusion position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Monti, Kenneth Lance Miller, Philip P. Resig, Salvatore Privitera, Jason Iain Glithero, Adam Harp, James David Hughett, Sr.
  • Patent number: 9282973
    Abstract: A laparoscopic device comprising: (a) a housing operatively coupled to a first control and a second control; (b) an end effector operatively coupled to the first control, the end effector comprising a first component and a second component selectively repositionable with respect to one another within an X-Y plane, the end effector also including a third component selectively repositionable with respect to the second component within an Y-Z plane; (c) a laparoscopic conduit extending between the housing and the end effector; and, (d) an occlusion clip deployment device operatively coupled to the end effector and the second control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: James David Hughett, Sr., Keith Edward Martin, Kenneth Lance Miller, Michael Dolgin
  • Publication number: 20160008001
    Abstract: An occlusion clip comprising: (a) a spring; (b) a first runner including a first open top and a first open end adjacent the first open top, the first runner including a first interior camming surface partially delineating a first interior cavity that is open by way of the first open top and the first open end; (c) a second runner including a second open top and a second open end adjacent the second open top, the second runner including a second interior camming surface partially delineating a second interior cavity that is open by way of the second open top and the second open end, where the spring is configured to be coupled to the first runner and the second runner, where the first interior cavity is configured to receive a first portion of the spring, where the second interior cavity is configured to receive a second portion of the spring, where the first camming surface is configured to engage a first cam of the spring, and where the second camming surface is configured to engage a second cam of the sprin
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Kenneth Lance Miller, Matthew Monti, Todd Frangolis, Nicholas Bailey, Robert M. Trusty
  • Publication number: 20150374380
    Abstract: The instant disclosure is directed to devices and methods for deploying a biased occlusion clamp. In addition, the present disclosure includes devices and methods for deploying a biased occlusion clamp using robotics. Moreover, the present disclosure includes devices and methods for reducing the force necessary to open an occlusion clamp without permanently compromising the clamping force of the clamp itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Applicant: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Lance Miller, Jason Iain Glithero
  • Publication number: 20150173767
    Abstract: An occlusion assembly comprising: (a) a tissue occlusion device comprising a first linear clamping portion and a second linear clamping portion, the first and second linear clamping portions oriented to overlap and be parallel to one another in a clamped position, the tissue occlusion device further including a spring concurrently coupled to and interposed by the first and second linear clamping portions to bias the first and second linear clamping portions toward the clamped position; and, (b) an endoscopic rein coupled to the tissue occlusion device and configured to facilitate repositioning of the tissue occlusion device toward an occlusion position where the first and second linear clamping portions are interposed by tissue, where the endoscopic rein includes a flexible wire coupled to the clamping device and configured to facilitate repositioning of the tissue occlusion device toward the occlusion position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Monti, Kenneth Lance Miller, Philip P. Resig, Salvatore Privitera, Jason Iain Glithero, Adam Harp, James David Hughett, Sr.
  • Patent number: 9017349
    Abstract: The instant disclosure is directed to devices and methods for deploying a biased occlusion clamp. In addition, the present disclosure includes devices and methods for deploying a biased occlusion clamp using robotics. Moreover, the present disclosure includes devices and methods for reducing the force necessary to open an occlusion clamp without permanently compromising the clamping force of the clamp itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: Salvatore Privitera, Matthew Monti, Adam Harp, Kenneth Lance Miller, Jason Iain Glithero, James David Hughett, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20140142597
    Abstract: An occlusion clamp comprising: (a) an occlusion tongs including a primary spring coupling a first longitudinal arm to a second longitudinal arm, the first longitudinal arm including a first linear occlusion surface configured to be parallel to and overlap a second linear occlusion surface of the second longitudinal arm, each of the first and second longitudinal arms having a free distal end; and, (b) a secondary spring removably coupled to the occlusion tongs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Winkler, Kenneth Lance Miller
  • Patent number: 8636754
    Abstract: A clamp assembly comprising: (a) a clamping device biased toward a closed position; (b) a first retainer bar removably coupled to the clamping device; (c) a second retainer bar removably coupled to the clamping device, where the first retainer bar and the second retainer bar are oriented in parallel to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: James David Hughett, Sr., Matthew Monti, Adam Harp, Jason Iain Glithero, Kenneth Lance Miller, Philip P. Resig, Salvatore Privitera