Patents by Inventor Joel A. Willhite

Joel A. Willhite 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: 20240003584
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The method includes measuring a temperature and controlling a compressor of the HVAC system. The temperature is measured by a temperature sensor located between a metering device of the HVAC system and an evaporator coil of the HVAC system. The temperature is representative of a refrigerant temperature. The refrigerant temperature is a temperature of a refrigerant fluid flowing from the metering device to the evaporator coil. The compressor is controlled by control circuitry that is configured to perform the controlling in a dehumidify mode based, at least in part, on a value of a humidity parameter of air of an airflow through an evaporator coil and a reheat coil, where the value is determined using the temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Joel A. Willhite, Qianghua Q. Zhou, Wei Luo, Chad Daniel Bowers, Min Kevin Liang, Justen Grubb, Lane A. Liudahl
  • Patent number: 11717342
    Abstract: Provided is a medical device comprising an inner tubular member, an outer tubular member having a distal end and an open window disposed at the distal end, a first electrode and/or a second electrode disposed at the distal end of the outer tubular member, and a cannulated plunger or armature or shaft configured to drive the inner tubular member to cut tissue in cooperation with the open window of the outer tubular member. The first electrode and the second electrode may be configured to provide RF energy needed for a surgical operation and may be configured to be substantially symmetrical or asymmetrical along a longitudinal axis of the outer tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel A. Willhite, Ahmad Alsaffar, Kevin C. Edwards
  • Patent number: 11189979
    Abstract: Provided is a power pack comprising an AC power connector configured to be connectable to an outside AC power source; a rectification and filtering unit configured to be in electronic communication with the AC power connector; a controlling unit; and a medical device connector configured to be connectable to a medical device, the medical device connector configured to be in electronic communication with the controlling unit, wherein the power pack is configured to be capable of detecting a connection of the medical device with the power pack and also capable of demonstrating the connection through an outside indicator disposed on the exterior of the power pack once the medical device is connected to the power pack through the medical device connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Gyrus Acmi, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel A. Willhite, David C. Church, Rodney Loyd
  • Publication number: 20200323582
    Abstract: Provided is a medical device comprising an inner tubular member, an outer tubular member having a distal end and an open window disposed at the distal end, a first electrode and/or a second electrode disposed at the distal end of the outer tubular member, and a cannulated plunger or armature or shaft configured to drive the inner tubular member to cut tissue in cooperation with the open window of the outer tubular member wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to provide RF energy needed for surgical operation and wherein the first and the second electrodes may be configured to be symmetrical or substantially symmetrical along a longitudinal axis of the outer tubular member or wherein the first electrode is configured to cover the open window of the outer tubular member and extended to one side of the outer tubular member and the second electrode is configured to be disposed on the other side of the outer tubular member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Joel A. Willhite, Ahmad Alsaffar, Kevin C. Edwards
  • Publication number: 20200121346
    Abstract: Provided is a medical device comprising: a solenoid; a permanent magnet having a lumen extending therethrough, the permanent magnet configured to be axially movable within the solenoid; a cannulated shaft configured to run through the lumen of the permanent magnet; an inner tubular member having an open distal end; and an outer tubular member having a distal end and an open window disposed at the distal end, wherein the permanent magnet is configured to reciprocate the cannulated shaft when the solenoid is in electrical communication with a power source, and wherein the open distal end of the inner tubular member and the open window of the outer tubular member are configured to form a cutting tool during an operation of the medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Joel A. Willhite, David C. Church, Ahmad Alsaffar, Jay A. Casey
  • Publication number: 20190393660
    Abstract: Provided is a power pack comprising an AC power connector configured to be connectable to an outside AC power source; a rectification and filtering unit configured to be in electronic communication with the AC power connector; a controlling unit; and a medical device connector configured to be connectable to a medical device, the medical device connector configured to be in electronic communication with the controlling unit, wherein the power pack is configured to be capable of detecting a connection of the medical device with the power pack and also capable of demonstrating the connection through an outside indicator disposed on the exterior of the power pack once the medical device is connected to the power pack through the medical device connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Joel A. Willhite, David C. Church, Rodney Loyd
  • Publication number: 20190298403
    Abstract: A cutting instrument comprising: an outer tube; an inner tube rotatably disposed within the outer tube; the inner tube comprising an opening having a leading edge and a trailing edge; and the outer tube comprising a window having a leading edge and a trailing edge; at least one of the leading edge of the opening, the trailing edge of the opening, the leading edge of the window and the trailing edge of the window comprising a canted edge; and the window of the outer tube being adapted to be completely blocked by the inner tube during a phase of the rotation of the inner tube within the outer tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Joel A. Willhite, Kevin C. Edwards
  • Patent number: 10321929
    Abstract: A cutting instrument comprising: an outer tube; an inner tube rotatably disposed within the outer tube; the inner tube comprising an opening having a leading edge and a trailing edge; and the outer tube comprising a window having a leading edge and a trailing edge; at least one of the leading edge of the opening, the trailing edge of the opening, the leading edge of the window and the trailing edge of the window comprising a canted edge; and the window of the outer tube being adapted to be completely blocked by the inner tube during a phase of the rotation of the inner tube within the outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel A. Willhite, Kevin C. Edwards
  • Publication number: 20150327881
    Abstract: A cutting instrument comprising: an outer tube; an inner tube rotatably disposed within the outer tube; the inner tube comprising an opening having a leading edge and a trailing edge; and the outer tube comprising a window having a leading edge and a trailing edge; at least one of the leading edge of the opening, the trailing edge of the opening, the leading edge of the window and the trailing edge of the window comprising a canted edge; and the window of the outer tube being adapted to be completely blocked by the inner tube during a phase of the rotation of the inner tube within the outer tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Joel A. Willhite, Kevin C. Edwards
  • Patent number: 8297237
    Abstract: A high inertance liquid piston engine-compressor that is lightweight, portable and for use with pneumatically actuated devices that may have periods of inactivity between periods of pneumatic use. The engine-compressor provides a power generation system that is for use with mobile or portable devices which need a portable long lasting energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventors: Eric J. Barth, Joel A. Willhite
  • Publication number: 20100252009
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a high inertance liquid piston engine-compressor and method of use thereof. The high inertance engine-compressor is light weight, portable and for use with pneumatically actuated devices that may have periods of inactivity between periods of pneumatic use. The present invention provides a power generation system that is for use with mobile or portable devices which need a portable long lasting energy source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Eric J. Barth, Joel A. Willhite
  • Patent number: D806492
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Gyrus ACMI, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel A. Willhite