Patents by Inventor Donald Hill

Donald Hill 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: 20180266678
    Abstract: A burner including a body having an air inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end. A gas supply tube is disposed in the body and includes an air swirler and a nozzle at an end thereof. A plurality of outer gas spuds are disposed radially outwardly of the burner outlet, the outer gas spuds including a tube and a spud tip having a first set of openings that are directed generally parallel to an axis of the tube of the outer gas spuds and a second set of openings that are directed at an angle of at least ten degrees to the axis of the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: James Justin FEESE, Robert Bruce HARTMAN, Jacob Mitchell MILLER, Daniel Donald HILL, JR., Matthew Louis CURCIO
  • Publication number: 20180243488
    Abstract: In one general aspect, a cuff for attachment to a heart includes an attachment component configured to engage a blood pump to attach the cuff to the blood pump and a sewing ring for attachment to the heart. The sewing ring is coupled to the attachment component, and the attachment component and the sewing ring each define a central opening configured to admit an inflow cannula of a blood pump. The sewing ring comprises a member that provides rigidity to flatten a portion of a myocardium of the heart when the cuff is attached to the heart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Justin Aaron Callaway, Cori G. Pierce, Julien Duhamel, Kevin Bourque, J. Donald Hill, Terry Barnes, Dustin Seth West, Peter Gazarra, III
  • Publication number: 20180216818
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for treating exhaust from a solid fuel combustion system such as a furnace or boiler and includes combusting a material in the combustion chamber and separating fly ash and char from a flue gas stream. The separated fly ash and char mixture is then separated further by separating smaller ash particles from larger char particles. The larger char particles are then reduced in size by a reducing device such as a grinder or crusher. Char particles that have been reduced in size by the grinder or crusher are then reinjected into the combustion chamber for re-burning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas A. GIAIER, Daniel Donald HILL, JR., Jacob Mitchell MILLER
  • Publication number: 20180200422
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for securing a driveline to a portion of skin are disclosed herein. The driveline can connect an external controller to an implantable blood pump. The skin anchor can include a driveline capture portion. The driveline capture portion can receive the driveline and fix a position of the driveline with respect to the driveline capture portion. The driveline capture portion includes: a driveline receiver that can receive the driveline; and a driveline anchor that can engage the driveline to fix the position of the driveline with respect to the driveline receiver. The skin anchor can include a force distribution portion. The force distribution portion can engage a portion of skin and fix a position of the portion of skin with respect to the force distribution portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: John Duc Nguyen, John Donald Hill, Fabian Franco, Chris Eskildsen, David Gary Eldridge, Carine Hoarau, Yi-Ren Woo, John J. Hagerty, Pete Cardamone
  • Patent number: 9981076
    Abstract: In one general aspect, a cuff for attachment to a heart includes an attachment component configured to engage a blood pump to attach the cuff to the blood pump and a sewing ring for attachment to the heart. The sewing ring is coupled to the attachment component, and the attachment component and the sewing ring each define a central opening configured to admit an inflow cannula of a blood pump. The sewing ring comprises a member that provides rigidity to flatten a portion of a myocardium of the heart when the cuff is attached to the heart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: TC1 LLC
    Inventors: Justin Aron Callaway, Cori G. Pierce, Julien Duhamel, Kevin Bourque, J. Donald Hill, Terry Barnes, Dustin Seth West, Peter Gazzara, III
  • Publication number: 20180110514
    Abstract: A coupling system includes an applicator tool and an attachment ring mounted on the applicator tool. Clips are contained within the applicator tool and are deployed through the attachment ring in order to anchor the attachment ring to biological tissue. When deployed, tips of the clips follow a curved trajectory through an annular cuff of the attachment ring and through the underlying tissue. The tips loop back out of the tissue and to a location where they are later trapped or clamped by the attachment ring. While the tips are trapped or clamped, the applicator tool cinches the clips by pulling rear segments of the clips. Thereafter, the applicator tool disconnects from the attachment ring which remains anchored to the tissue and serves as a coupling for a cannula. The cannula can have movable lock members that secure it to the attachment ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: Thoratec Corporation
    Inventors: Carine Hoarau, Steven H. Reichenbach, J. Donald Hill, George Hsu, Andrew R. Miller, James Badia, Nina Boiadjieva, Shuo-Hsiu Chang, Philip Haarstad, Olga M. Stanescu, Stephen Kenneth Sundquist
  • Patent number: 9848870
    Abstract: A coupling system includes an applicator tool and an attachment ring mounted on the applicator tool. Clips are contained within the applicator tool and are deployed through the attachment ring in order to anchor the attachment ring to biological tissue. When deployed, tips of the clips follow a curved trajectory through an annular cuff of the attachment ring and through the underlying tissue. The tips loop back out of the tissue and to a location where they are later trapped or clamped by the attachment ring. While the tips are trapped or clamped, the applicator tool cinches the clips by pulling rear segments of the clips. Thereafter, the applicator tool disconnects from the attachment ring which remains anchored to the tissue and serves as a coupling for a cannula. The cannula can have movable lock members that secure it to the attachment ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: THORATEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carine Hoarau, Steven H. Reichenbach, J. Donald Hill, George Hsu, Andrew R. Miller, James Badia, Nina Boiadjieva, Shuo-Hsiu Chang, Philip Haarstad, Olga M. Stanescu, Stephen Kenneth Sundquist
  • Publication number: 20170321563
    Abstract: An alignment tool for use in a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a clamp portion, a component engagement portion and an arm portion that extends between the clamp portion and the component engagement portion. The clamp portion establishes a fixed datum surface for positioning a component within the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Ryan Edward LeBlanc, Kevin J. Cummings, Christopher St. Mary, Donald A. Hill
  • Patent number: 9326851
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically fixing sutures used in the surgical replacement of a heart valve, including a first cylinder having a first end and a second end and an interior surface and an exterior surface, and first means for securing fixing suture formed on the exterior surface adjacent to the second end of the first cylinder. The apparatus also includes a second cylinder having second means for securing fixing suture formed on an interior surface of the second cylinder, such that the second means corresponds to and fixedly engages the first means for securing fixing suture, and the first means and the second means secure fixing sutures therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Inventors: J. Donald Hill, Geoff Briggs, Michael Sims, Cameron Dale Hinman
  • Publication number: 20150368852
    Abstract: Clothes driers include a cabinet, a rotatable drum mounted inside the cabinet, and one or more vibration dumpers mounted to the rotatable drum. The vibration dampers may be mounted inside the drum, between baffles and the drum. The vibration dampers may be attached to the rotatable drum, such that a largest dimension of the vibration dampers extends in a direction of length of the rotatable drum. The vibration dumpers may be configured to shift acoustic energy generated at the front of the drum toward the rear of the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Anthony Lee Rockwell, Donald Hill, Kevin Herreman, Phillip J. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20150343124
    Abstract: A coupling system includes an applicator tool and an attachment ring mounted on the applicator tool. Clips are contained within the applicator tool and are deployed through the attachment ring in order to anchor the attachment ring to biological tissue. When deployed, tips of the clips follow a curved trajectory through an annular cuff of the attachment ring and through the underlying tissue. The tips loop back out of the tissue and to a location where they are later trapped or clamped by the attachment ring. While the tips are trapped or clamped, the applicator tool cinches the clips by pulling rear segments of the clips. Thereafter, the applicator tool disconnects from the attachment ring which remains anchored to the tissue and serves as a coupling for a cannula. The cannula can have movable lock members that secure it to the attachment ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Carine Hoarau, Steven H. Reichenbach, J. Donald Hill, George Hsu, Andrew R. Miller, James Badia, Nina Boiadjieva, Shuo-Hsiu Chang, Philip Haarstad, Olga M. Stanescu, Stephen Kenneth Sundquist
  • Patent number: 9158704
    Abstract: A computer system using virtual memory provides hybrid memory access either through a conventional translation between virtual memory and physical memory using a page table possibly with a translation lookaside buffer, or a high-speed translation using a fixed offset value between virtual memory and physical memory. Selection between these modes of access may be encoded into the address space of virtual memory eliminating the need for a separate tagging operation of specific memory addresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Arkaprava Basu, Mark Donald Hill, Michael Mansfield Swift
  • Publication number: 20150273124
    Abstract: In one general aspect, a cuff for attachment to a heart includes an attachment component configured to engage a blood pump to attach the cuff to the blood pump and a sewing ring for attachment to the heart. The sewing ring is coupled to the attachment component, and the attachment component and the sewing ring each define a central opening configured to admit an inflow cannula of a blood pump. The sewing ring comprises a member that provides rigidity to flatten a portion of a myocardium of the heart when the cuff is attached to the heart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Justin Aron Callaway, Cori G. Pierce, Julien Duhamel, Kevin Bourque, J. Donald Hill, Terry Barnes, Dustin Seth West, Peter Gazzarra, III
  • Patent number: 9125648
    Abstract: A coupling system includes an applicator tool and an attachment ring mounted on the applicator tool. Clips are contained within the applicator tool and are deployed through the attachment ring in order to anchor the attachment ring to biological tissue. When deployed, tips of the clips follow a curved trajectory through an annular cuff of the attachment ring and through the underlying tissue. The tips loop back out of the tissue and to a location where they are later trapped or clamped by the attachment ring. While the tips are trapped or clamped, the applicator tool cinches the clips by pulling rear segments of the clips. Thereafter, the applicator tool disconnects from the attachment ring which remains anchored to the tissue and serves as a coupling for a cannula. The cannula can have movable lock members that secure it to the attachment ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Thoratec Corporation
    Inventors: Carine Hoarau, Steven H. Reichenbach, J. Donald Hill, George Hsu, Andrew R. Miller, James Badia, Nina Boiadjieva, Shuo-Hsiu Chang, Philip Haarstad, Olga M. Stanescu, Stephen Kenneth Sundquist
  • Publication number: 20150209046
    Abstract: A system for performing vascular surgery includes a first retractor blade and a second retractor blade and a fulcrum device. The first retractor blade includes a first grasping bar, and the second retractor blade comprises a second grasping bar. The first retractor blade and the second retractor blade are adapted to engage opposing edges of a subcostal incision in a patient. The fulcrum device includes a first fulcrum slot and a second fulcrum slot formed through opposing edges of the fulcrum device. The first fulcrum slot is adapted to receive the first grasping bar and the second fulcrum slot is adapted to receive the second grasping bar, such that the fulcrum device is adapted to apply leverage from the first retractor blade and the second retractor blade to spread the edges of the incision and to allow access to a chest cavity of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventor: J. Donald Hill
  • Patent number: 8828033
    Abstract: A system for performing vascular surgery includes a first retractor blade and a second retractor blade and a fulcrum device. The first retractor blade includes a first grasping bar, and the second retractor blade comprises a second grasping bar. The first retractor blade and the second retractor blade are adapted to engage opposing edges of a subcostal incision in a patient. The fulcrum device includes a first fulcrum slot and a second fulcrum slot formed through opposing edges of the fulcrum device. The first fulcrum slot is adapted to receive the first grasping bar and the second fulcrum slot is adapted to receive the second grasping bar, such that the fulcrum device is adapted to apply leverage from the first retractor blade and the second retractor blade to spread the edges of the incision and to allow access to a chest cavity of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Inventors: J. Donald Hill, Geoffrey Briggs, Michael Sims, John Cvinar, Andy H. Levine, Eric May, John Meade
  • Publication number: 20140208064
    Abstract: A computer system using virtual memory provides hybrid memory access either through a conventional translation between virtual memory and physical memory using a page table possibly with a translation lookaside buffer, or a high-speed translation using a fixed offset value between virtual memory and physical memory. Selection between these modes of access may be encoded into the address space of virtual memory eliminating the need for a separate tagging operation of specific memory addresses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Arkaprava Basu, Mark Donald Hill, Michael Mansfield Swift
  • Publication number: 20120221021
    Abstract: A coupling system includes an applicator tool and an attachment ring mounted on the applicator tool. Clips are contained within the applicator tool and are deployed through the attachment ring in order to anchor the attachment ring to biological tissue. When deployed, tips of the clips follow a curved trajectory through an annular cuff of the attachment ring and through the underlying tissue. The tips loop back out of the tissue and to a location where they are later trapped or clamped by the attachment ring. While the tips are trapped or clamped, the applicator tool cinches the clips by pulling rear segments of the clips. Thereafter, the applicator tool disconnects from the attachment ring which remains anchored to the tissue and serves as a coupling for a cannula. The cannula can have movable lock members that secure it to the attachment ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Carine Hoarau, Steven H. Reichenbach, J. Donald Hill, George Hsu, Andrew R. Miller, James Badia, Nina Boradjieva, Shuo-Hsiu Chang, Phillip Haarstad, Olga M. Stanescu, Stephen Kenneth Sundquist
  • Publication number: 20120065475
    Abstract: A system for performing vascular surgery includes a first retractor blade and a second retractor blade and a fulcrum device. The first retractor blade includes a first grasping bar, and the second retractor blade comprises a second grasping bar. The first retractor blade and the second retractor blade are adapted to engage opposing edges of a subcostal incision in a patient. The fulcrum device includes a first fulcrum slot and a second fulcrum slot formed through opposing edges of the fulcrum device. The first fulcrum slot is adapted to receive the first grasping bar and the second fulcrum slot is adapted to receive the second grasping bar, such that the fulcrum device is adapted to apply leverage from the first retractor blade and the second retractor blade to spread the edges of the incision and to allow access to a chest cavity of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: J. Donald Hill, Geoffrey Briggs, Michael Sims, John Cvinar, Andy H. Levine, Eric May, John Meade
  • Patent number: 7927343
    Abstract: A system for performing vascular surgery includes a first retractor blade and a second retractor blade and a fulcrum device. The first retractor blade includes a first grasping bar, and the second retractor blade comprises a second grasping bar. The first retractor blade and the second retractor blade are adapted to engage opposing edges of a subcostal incision in a patient. The fulcrum device includes a first fulcrum slot and a second fulcrum slot formed through opposing edges of the fulcrum device. The first fulcrum slot is adapted to receive the first grasping bar and the second fulcrum slot is adapted to receive the second grasping bar, such that the fulcrum device is adapted to apply leverage from the first retractor blade and the second retractor blade to spread the edges of the incision and to allow access to a chest cavity of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Inventors: J. Donald Hill, Geoffrey Briggs, John Cvinar, Andy H. Levine, Eric May, John Meade, Michael Sims