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: 20130190777
    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: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: James David Hughett, SR., Keith Edward Martin, Kenneth Lance Miller, Michael Dolgin
  • Publication number: 20120123445
    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: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: James David Hughett, SR., Matthew Monti, Adam Harp, Jason Iain Glithero, Kenneth Lance Miller, Philip P. Resig, Salvatore Privitera
  • Publication number: 20120109161
    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: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Salvatore Privitera, Matthew Monti, Adam Harp, Kenneth Lance Miller, Jason Iain Glithero, James David Hughett, SR.
  • Patent number: 8029528
    Abstract: An instrument guide and method for use. An elongate flexible body has a proximal end and a distal end. The elongate body has two portions, one or more resilient than the other. A distal pocket is positioned adjacent the distal end of the elongate flexible body. An anchor is provided to attach the guide to a surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Lance Miller, Salvatore Privitera, James David Hughett, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7951147
    Abstract: A novel surgical clamp having a pair of jaws, which may be used to ablate or create leisons in tissue. In embodiment, the jaws have an articulated position wherein the jaws are separated and not parallel to one another, an opened position wherein the jaws are separated and substantially parallel to one another, and a closed position wherein the jaws are adjacent and substantially parallel to one another. One or more of the jaws can articulate independent of the other jaw. Other embodiments are described in the attached specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: Salvatore Privitera, James David Hughett, Sr., Kenneth Lance Miller
  • Publication number: 20100286688
    Abstract: Ablation devices comprising elongated flexible members that are repositioned to at least partially surround tissue to be ablated. The exemplary ablation instruments utilize rigid or semi-rigid devices that are either affixed to the flexible member or repositionable along the flexible member. The clamping and ablating surfaces include electrodes or other means for delivering ablation energy. The electrodes may be brought into proximity with each other so as to provide a uniform force profile across the tissue to be ablated. In such a circumstance, once the tissue between the clamping and ablating surfaces is compressed, the electrodes are activated to create an ablation lesion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: James David Hughett, SR., Salvatore Privitera, Keith Edward Martin, Kenneth Lance Miller
  • Publication number: 20100114287
    Abstract: The present application discloses a tissue marker that may be permanently applied to cardiac (or other) tissue by means such as, but not limited to, a minimally-invasive procedure to allow for pre- and post-op lesion site testing, with the marker also preferably being radiopaque to facilitate post-op imaging. More specifically, the marker may preferably comprise or include an electrode as part of an integrated assembly. The marker may be mounted on the tissue with a suitable tissue retention member for securing the marker in place. The disclosed examples include one or more tissue retention members, and in an exemplary embodiment comprises a pair of clips for securing the assembly to a target tissue. Each retention member or clip has a conductive lead with an electrically conductive surface in the form of a patch associated therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Salvatore Privitera, James R. Edgerton, David J. Drachman, R. Scott Robinson, Kenneth Lance Miller
  • Publication number: 20100010489
    Abstract: A novel surgical clamp having a pair of jaws, which may be used to ablate or create leisons in tissue. In embodiment, the jaws have an articulated position wherein the jaws are separated and not parallel to one another, an opened position wherein the jaws are separated and substantially parallel to one another, and a closed position wherein the jaws are adjacent and substantially parallel to one another. One or more of the jaws can articulate independent of the other jaw. Other embodiments are described in the attached specification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Salvatore Privitera, James David Hughett, SR., Kenneth Lance Miller
  • Patent number: 7582086
    Abstract: A novel surgical clamp having a pair of jaws, which may be used to ablate or create leisons in tissue. In embodiment, the jaws have an articulated position wherein the jaws are separated and not parallel to one another, an opened position wherein the jaws are separated and substantially parallel to one another, and a closed position wherein the jaws are adjacent and substantially parallel to one another. One or more of the jaws can articulate independent of the other jaw. Other embodiments are described in the attached specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: AtriCure, Inc.
    Inventors: Salvatore Privitera, James David Hughett, Sr., Kenneth Lance Miller