Patents by Inventor Huntly D. Millar

Huntly D. Millar 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: 4966148
    Abstract: A method and assembly for inserting one or more diagnostic sensors into a biological fluid vessel for diagnosing the condition of the vessel or fluid. Different types of diagnostic sensors, such as pressure, velocity, pH, temperature, or infusion catheter, are particularly adapted for use with a steerable guidewire for selective positioning in the vessel. In one application, the method is used in coronary diagnosis, to determine the pressure gradient or other fluid characteristics across a coronary valve or stenosis in the coronary arterial tree. In this method, a guiding catheter is percutaneously inserted with its distal end proximate the ostium. A guidewire is inserted through the guiding catheter and subselective positioned in a region of interest in the coronary arterial tree. Multiple diagnostic sensors are then threaded down the guidewire and positioned in the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: Millar Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Huntly D. Millar
  • Patent number: 4957111
    Abstract: A steerable catheter having a Doppler crystal at the tip to measure the velocity of blood in vivo--and inferentially the blood flow. The catheter includes two passageways, one passageway being exposed to the blood stream with the other passageway containing the electrical leads to the Doppler crystal. The one passageway is dimensioned for receiving a wire guide for accurately manipulating the catheter. Preferably, the catheter incorporates an inflatable angio-balloon operable to distend the blood vessel in the region of a stenosis. Thus, blood flow can be determined in the region of the stenosis before and/or after the vessel is distended. The passageways are preferably defined by a pair of generally concentric tubes with the Doppler crystal doughnut-shaped and sealingly disposed at the tip of the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: Pfizer Hospital Products Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Huntly D. Millar
  • Patent number: 4920967
    Abstract: An invasive, fluid velocity measuring wire guide particularly adapted and of a size (less than 0.030 inch) for subselective placement in the coronary arterial tree, which includes a Doppler mechanism for determining the blood flow velocity in the region of the distal end of the wire guide. Although the wire guide is particularly adapted for diagnosing coronary arterial disease subselectively; it is of such a size and manipulability to be useful in other blood flow and biological fluid flow analyses. Preferably, the wire guide is flexible and steerable for precise placement. The wire guide includes an elongated wire member having a Doppler crystal attached in longitudinal alignment at its distal end. Electrical leads extend from the Doppler crystal along the wire member to the appropriate test equipment for measuring the fluid flow velocity in the region of the Doppler crystal. Preferred embodiments of the Doppler means include piezoelectric crystals and piezoelectric polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Pfizer Hospital Products Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Cliff N. Cottonaro, Scott M. Evans, David R. Pflueger, Huntly D. Millar
  • Patent number: 4901731
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for sensing in vivo the fluid pressure differential between spaced locations in a biological fluid vessel using a single pressure transducer. The transducer has a deformable member mounted to a housing; a conduit extends within the housing with one end opening at a location spaced from the transducer and the other end opening adjoining the inner surface of the member. With the housing inserted in the biological fluid vessel, the outer surface of the deformable member is exposed to the fluid pressure adjacent the member, while the inner surface is exposed to the fluid pressure within the conduit. The deformable member flexes in response to the fluid pressure differential across the member, which is a direct measure of the fluid pressure differential between spaced-apart locations in the fluid-filled vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Millar Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Huntly D. Millar
  • Patent number: 4850358
    Abstract: A method and assembly for inserting a plurality of sensors into a biological fluid vessel for diagnosing the condition of the vessel or fluid. A pressure sensor is described which is particularly adapted for use with a steerable guidewire for selective positioning in the vessel. In one application, the method is used in coronary diagnosis, to determine the pressure gradient across a coronary valve or stenosis in the coronary arterial tree. In this method, a guiding catheter is percutaneously inserted with its distal end proximate the ostium. A guidewire is inserted through the guiding catheter and subselectively positioned in a region of interest in the coronary arterial tree. Multiple pressure sensors are then threaded down the guidewire and positioned in the region of interest. Advantageously, such pressure sensors are approximately 3 French in diameter, allowing multiple sensors to be threaded through the guiding catheter and positioned in the small arteries of the coronary arterial tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Millar Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Huntly D. Millar
  • Patent number: 4771782
    Abstract: A method and assembly for inserting a plurality of sensors into a biological fluid vessel for diagnosing the condition of the vessel or fluid. A pressure sensor is described which is particularly adapted for use with a steerable guidewire for selective positioning in the vessel. In one use, the method is used in coronary diagnosis, to determine the pressure gradient across a coronary valve or stenosis in the coronary arterial tree. In this method, a guiding catheter is percutaneously inserted with its distal end proximate the ostium. A guidewire is inserted through the guiding catheter and subselectively positioned in a region of interest in the coronary arterial tree. Multiple pressure sensors are then threaded down the guidewire and positioned in the region of interest. Advantageously, such pressure sensors are approximately 3 French in diameter, allowing multiple sensors to be threaded through the guiding catheter and positioned in the small arteries of the coronary arterial tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Millar Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Huntly D. Millar
  • Patent number: 4771788
    Abstract: An invasive, fluid velocity measuring wire guide particularly adapted and of a size (less than 0.030 inch) for subselective placement in the coronary arterial tree, which includes a Doppler mechanism for determining the blood flow velocity in the region of the distal end of the wire guide. Although the wire guide is particularly adapted for diagnosing coronary arterial disease subselectively; it is of such a size and manipulability to be useful in other blood flow and biological fluid flow analyses. Preferably, the wire guide if flexible and steerable for precise placement. The wire guide includes an elongated wire member having a Doppler crystal attached in longitudinal alignment at its distal end. Electrical leads extend from the Doppler crystal along the wire member to the appropriate test equipment for measuring the fluid flow velocity in the region of the Doppler crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Pfizer Hospital Products Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Huntly D. Millar
  • Patent number: 4665925
    Abstract: A steerable catheter having a Doppler crystal at the tip to measure the velocity of blood in vivo--and inferentially the blood flow. The catheter includes two passageways, one passageway being exposed to the blood stream with the other passageway containing the electrical leads to the Doppler crystal. The one passageway is dimensioned for receiving a wire guide for accurately manipulating the catheter. Preferably, the catheter incorporates an inflatable angio-balloon operable to distend the blood vessel in the region of a stenosis. Thus, blood flow can be determined in the region of the stenosis before and/or after the vessel is distended. The passageways are preferably defined by a pair of generally concentric tubes with the Doppler crystal doughnut-shaped and sealingly disposed at the tip of the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: Pfizer Hospital Products Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Huntly D. Millar
  • Patent number: 4175566
    Abstract: A catheter fluid-velocity flow probe is disclosed which has greater sensitivity and which dissipates less heat during operation than flow probes heretofore constructed. These significant results are achieved by providing two electromagnets in the probe to generate two separate magnetic fields. Each electrode is positioned between the poles of an electromagnet in the region of highest magnetic flux density of each electromagnet. The electromagnets are reduced in size, and a tubing may be inserted in the central portion of the probe during construction. This tubing permits the attachment of additional measuring devices to the distal end of the probe to permit multiple measurements in a fluid to be made simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Assignee: Millar Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Huntly D. Millar