Patents by Inventor Bret C. Millett

Bret C. Millett 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: 20140187982
    Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices are guide-wires that include one or more sensing components and a sensor control module that stores information about the guide-wire. In some instances, the information about the guide-wire stored in the sensor control module is calibration information for a sensing component of the guide-wire. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices are guide-wires that include wireless communication functionality. In some instances, the guide-wires include one or more antennas adjacent a proximal portion of the guide-wire. In some instances, the guide-wires include passive radio frequency devices integrated into the guide-wire. Systems associated with such intravascular devices are disclosed. Methods of using such devices and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Volcano Corporation
    Inventors: Bret C. Millett, Paul Douglas Corl
  • Publication number: 20140183670
    Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices are guide wires that include a capacitive pressure-sensing component disposed at a distal portion of the guide wire. Methods of making such intravascular devices, including various manufacturing and assembling techniques, are disclosed. Systems associated with such intravascular devices and methods of using such devices and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Volcano Corporation
    Inventors: Bret C. Millett, Paul Douglas Corl
  • Publication number: 20140187978
    Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices are guide-wires that include one or more sensing components and a sensor control module that stores information about the guide-wire. In some instances, the information about the guide-wire stored in the sensor control module is calibration information for a sensing component of the guide-wire. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices are guide-wires that include wireless communication functionality. In some instances, the guide-wires include one or more antennas adjacent a proximal portion of the guide-wire. In some instances, the guide-wires include passive radio frequency devices integrated into the guide-wire. Systems associated with such intravascular devices are disclosed. Methods of using such devices and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Volcano Corporation
    Inventors: Bret C. Millett, Paul Douglas Corl
  • Publication number: 20140187920
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating treatment options are disclosed. A method of evaluating a vessel of a patient, comprises: obtaining intravascular data from an intravascular instrument positioned within a vessel of a patient while the intravascular instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel from a first position to a second position; obtaining an angiographic image of the vessel while the intravascular instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel; correlating the intravascular data from the intravascular instrument to locations on the angiographic image; and outputting an enhanced angiographic image of the vessel on a display, the enhanced angiographic image including the angiographic image overlaid with visualizations representing the intravascular data at the correlated locations. Corresponding systems are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: Bret C. Millett, Joe Burnett, Howard David Alpert, Fergus Merritt
  • Publication number: 20140188103
    Abstract: A thermal neuromodulation apparatus, system, and methods for the ablative and non-ablative application of thermal energy to the nerves of a patient are disclosed. The thermal neuromodulation apparatus includes an elongated, hollow body configured to traverse the tortuous intravascular pathways of the renal vasculature and includes an expandable structure bearing electrodes and configured to selectively apply thermal energy via electric fields to the renal nerves through a vessel wall. The thermal neuromodulation apparatus may also include optical-acoustic sensors and an imaging apparatus to obtain data from the treatment area before, during, and after neuromodulation to monitor and/or control the neuromodulation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Volcano Corporation
    Inventor: Bret C. Millett
  • Publication number: 20140180141
    Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices include at least one mounting structure within a distal portion of the device. In that regard, one or more electronic, optical, and/or electro-optical component is coupled to the mounting structure. Methods of making and/or assembling such intravascular devices/systems are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Volcano Corporation
    Inventor: Bret C. Millett
  • Publication number: 20140180139
    Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, side-loading electrical connectors for use with intravascular devices are provided. The side-loading electrical connector has at least one electrical contact configured to interface with an electrical connector of the intravascular device. A first connection piece of the side-loading electrical connector is movable relative to a second connection piece between an open position and a closed position, wherein in the open position an elongated opening is formed between the first and second connection pieces to facilitate insertion of the electrical connector between the first and second connection pieces in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the intravascular device and wherein in the closed position the at least one electrical contact is electrically coupled to the at least one electrical connector received between the first and second connection pieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Volcano Corporation
    Inventors: Bret C. Millett, Ky Huynh, Lonnie Milton
  • Publication number: 20140180143
    Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices include at least one pressure sensing component within a distal portion of the device. In that regard, one or more electrical, electronic, optical, and/or electro-optical pressure-sensing components is secured to an elongated substrate such that the pressure-sensing component is mounted perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the device. In some implementations, the elongated substrate has a cylindrical profile. Methods of making, assembling, and/or using such intravascular devices and associated systems are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Vulcano Corporation
    Inventors: Bret C. Millett, David H. Burkett, Paul Douglas Corl
  • Publication number: 20140180087
    Abstract: Systems and methods for user control over the acquisition, processing, and presentation of medical data are provided. Some embodiments are particularly directed to controlling the display of multi-modality medical data in a multi-modality processing system. In one embodiment, a medical imaging system receives a set of medical data including a first data subset collected using a first sensor and a second data subset collected using a second sensor, where the first sensor and the second sensor are different. A display attribute to be applied to the first data subset independent of the second data subset is received. An instruction is generated that affects the processing of the first data subset based on the display attribute. The first data subset is processed according to the instruction. The processed first data subset is displayed according to the display attribute, and the second data subset is displayed independent of the display attribute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Volcano Corporation
    Inventors: Bret C. Millett, Paul Michael Hoseit
  • Publication number: 20140180142
    Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the intravascular devices include at least one pressure sensing component within a distal portion of the device. In that regard, one or more electrical, electronic, optical, and/or electro-optical pressure-sensing components is secured to an elongated substrate such that the pressure-sensing component is mounted perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the device. In some implementations, the elongated substrate has a cylindrical profile. Methods of making, assembling, and/or using such intravascular devices and associated systems are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Volcano Corporation
    Inventors: Bret C. Millett, David H. Burkett, Paul Douglas Corl
  • Publication number: 20140180032
    Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining and processing data collected using a multi-site intravascular sensing device are provided. Some embodiments are directed to locating a structure within a vessel and performing an examination of the structure once it has been located. In one embodiment, an elongate member has a plurality of sensors and set of measurements is obtained using the plurality of sensors, the set of measurements including at least one measurement from each sensor of the plurality of sensors. The various sensor measurements are compared and a difference in a vascular characteristic is determined from the compared measurements. The location of the structure may be determined based on the adjacent sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Volcano Corporation
    Inventors: Bret C. Millett, Joseph Burnett, Paul Douglas Corl, Paul Michael Hoseit