Patents by Inventor Michael E. Miller

Michael E. 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).

  • Patent number: 8246551
    Abstract: An adapter is provided for use with a biopsy device that includes a cutting element having an outer cannula hub removably mounted to a handpiece. The cutting element includes an outer cannula connected to the outer cannula hub and an inner cannula disposed within the outer cannula and attached to the handpiece. The outer cannula hub allows removal of the handpiece and inner cannula from the outer cannula. The adapter includes a base, a cradle moveably mounted to the base and configured to rotatably support the biopsy device therein, and an indexing guide moveable with the cradle having a receptacle within which the outer cannula hub is rotatably received. The cradle and indexing guide are configured to inhibit rotation and axial movement of the biopsy device relative to the cradle, and facilitates removal of the handpiece and inner cannula from the outer cannula, while maintaining registration with the biopsy site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Suros Surgical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Miller, Joseph L. Mark, Ronald L. Hofmann, Terry D. Hardin
  • Publication number: 20120206421
    Abstract: A digital display device includes a display substrate; an array of pixels formed on the display substrate; an array of driving circuits located on the display substrate, each driving circuit electrically connected to one or more pixels for controlling a pixel current provided to each pixel; an array of computing circuits located on the display substrate, each computing circuit including circuits for signal or image processing and for communicating with neighboring computing circuits; a plurality of electrical conductors formed on the display substrate and connected to each of the driving circuits and digital computing circuits, wherein each computing circuit is connected with an electrical conductor to each of its neighbors in the array of computing circuits; and means for providing an image signal connected to one or more of the electrical conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Ronald S. Cok, John W. Hamer, Michael E. Miller
  • Patent number: 8237633
    Abstract: The present invention provides an EL display adapted to receive a three-color input image signal, including three gamut-defining EL emitters for emitting red, green, and blue colored light and two additional EL emitters for emitting at least two additional colors of light, the chromaticity coordinates of the at least two additional colors of light lying inside the gamut and near the Plankian Locus; a structure for providing a display white point; and a controller responsive, to the provided display white point and the input image signal for providing first separate drive signals for the three gamut-defining EL emitters and second separate drive signals for the two additional EL emitters, wherein the respective luminance values corresponding to the second separate drive signals are each a function of the input image signal and the distances between the display white point and the pseudo-blackbody points of the two additional colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Global OLED Technology LLC
    Inventors: Michael E. Miller, Michael L. Boroson
  • Patent number: 8237642
    Abstract: A method for adjusting the intensity values of colored pixels wherein each pixel has a first subpixel, a second subpixel, and a third subpixel, wherein each of the subpixels emits light of a different color and the lifetime of the first subpixel is lower than the lifetimes of the other colored subpixels, comprising: for each pixel, receiving intensity values corresponding to the intensity of each color subpixel in each pixel; and lowering the intensity value of the first subpixel in each pixel and still providing an acceptable pixel color to an observer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Global OLED Technology LLC
    Inventor: Michael E. Miller
  • Patent number: 8232718
    Abstract: A tiled electroluminescent device that improves light-emission uniformity and reduces reflection from ambient light includes a first and a second electroluminescent device tile, a portion of the edge of the first device tile abutted with a portion of the edge of the second device tile leaving a gap between the first and second device tile edges, each device tile including a substrate, having an optical index and a level of transparency, and an electroluminescent diode for emitting light according to a distribution that is substantially Lambertian, whereby light is directed along an oblique angle to the surface of the substrate of the first tile and through the edge of the first device tile; and a filler located in the gap between the abutting edges of the first and second device tiles, the filler having an optical index and a level of transparency matched to the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Global OLED Technology LLC
    Inventors: Ronald S. Cok, John W. Hamer, Michael E. Miller
  • Patent number: 8222804
    Abstract: An area-emissive light-emitting diode (LED) device comprises a substrate having an internal substrate surface, an external substrate surface opposite the internal substrate surface, and a substrate edge; an array of area-emissive LED pixels formed on the internal substrate surface with an edge gap between the substrate edge and the LED pixel on the internal substrate surface nearest the substrate edge; and a light-extraction structure formed in the edge gap and at least partially exterior to the LED pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Global OLED Technology, LLC.
    Inventors: Michael E. Miller, John W. Hamer, Ronald S. Cok
  • Patent number: 8210118
    Abstract: A breading machine for dispensing a coating material onto a food product includes a breading chamber, a continuous conveyor for transporting food products through the breading chamber, a hopper including at least one downspout and a sloped bottom for dispensing coating material onto the food products, a hopper conveyor positioned within the hopper. At least one of an angular position or a vertical position of the hopper conveyor is adjustable to accommodate a variety of free flowing and non-free flowing coating materials. One or more air knives may be positioned in the downspouts to fluidize the coating material to alleviate bridging and/or build-up of the coating material within the downspout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Stacy, Jeffery L. Schoewe, Michael E. Miller, John Joseph Bauer, Jogesh Chandran, Roy Allen Schippel
  • Publication number: 20120162120
    Abstract: Display devices and methods for operating the same are provided. In one embodiment, the display device has an electronic display having an active area for presenting visual content; a housing holding the electronic display and having an opening allowing a person to view a first portion of the active area; and a bezel about the opening, the bezel covering a second portion of the active area and providing a window through which at least a part of the second portion can be viewed. A sensor system senses when a person is close to touching the bezel or when a person is in touch with the bezel and generates a sensor signal; and a controller is operable to adjust the appearance of the active area in the part of the second portion when the controller determines that a person has touched the bezel or is close to touching the bezel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Michael E. Miller, Jerald J. Muszak, Michael J. Telek
  • Patent number: 8207668
    Abstract: A white light-emitting microcavity light-emitting diode device, comprising: a) A reflective electrode and a semi-transparent electrode formed over a substrate and an unpatterned white-light-emitting layer formed between the reflective electrode and the semi-transparent electrode, the reflective electrode, semi-transparent electrode, and unpatterned white-light-emitting layer forming an optical cavity. Either the reflective or semi-transparent electrode is patterned to form independently-controllable light-emitting sub-pixel elements. b) Color filters are formed over a side of the semi-transparent electrodes opposite the unpatterned white light-emitting-layer in correspondence with the independently-controllable light-emitting elements to form colored sub-pixels. At least one independently-controllable light-emitting element has at least two commonly-controlled portions that together emit substantially white light to form a white sub-pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Global OLED Technology LLC
    Inventors: Ronald S. Cok, Paul J. Kane, Michael E. Miller
  • Patent number: 8206315
    Abstract: A system for detecting abnormal tissue in a patient including an introducer cannula having a proximal opening and a distal opening. The system further includes a surgical instrument configured for selective insertion through the cannula. The surgical instrument further includes a tissue cutting opening positioned relative to the distal end of the introducer cannula when fully inserted through the introducer cannula. The system also includes a sensor configured to detect at least one property of the tissue of the patient. The sensor is located at a fixed distance relative to the distal end of the introducer cannula when the surgical instrument is inserted into the introducer cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Suros Surgical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Mark, Michael E. Miller
  • Publication number: 20120154321
    Abstract: Display devices and methods for operating the same are provided. In one embodiment, the display device has an electronic display having an active area for presenting visual content; a housing holding the electronic display and having an opening allowing a person to view a first portion of the active area; and a bezel about the opening, the bezel covering a second portion of the active area and providing a window through which at least a part of the second portion can be viewed. A sensor system senses when a person is close to touching the bezel or when a person is in touch with the bezel and generates a sensor signal; and a controller is operable to adjust the appearance of the active area in the part of the second portion when the controller determines that a person has touched the bezel or is close to touching the bezel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Michael E. Miller, Jerald J. Muszak, Michael J. Telek
  • Patent number: 8202229
    Abstract: A surgical device is disclosed. The surgical device comprises an outer sleeve, a cutting element, a spool, a piston, and a spring. The cutting element extends from the outer sleeve at the distal end of the outer sleeve. The cutting element comprises an outer cannula and an inner cannula. The spool is engaged with the outer cannula. The piston is engaged with the inner cannula. A spring is positioned between the spool and the piston. The spool is translated distally to translate the outer cannula towards the distal end. And the piston translates the inner cannula towards the distal end to sever tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Suros Surgical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Miller, Jake Flagle, Joseph L. Mark, Zachary R. Nicoson
  • Patent number: 8192370
    Abstract: A biopsy apparatus having a disposable cutting element and a reusable handpiece is disclosed. The disposable cutting element includes an inner cannula that defines an inner lumen and terminates in a cutting edge. The inner cannula is slidably disposed within an outer cannula that defines an outer lumen that has a tissue-receiving opening. The inner cannula is driven by a rotary motor and a reciprocating motor. Both motors are constructed of a MRI compatible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Suros Surgical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael E. Miller
  • Patent number: 8187204
    Abstract: A method of using a surgical system that includes an outer cannula is disclosed. The method includes removably mounting a surgical device to an adapter. The adapter is secured to a stage. The surgical device and adapter is positioned at a predetermined location for inserting the outer cannula toward a target site in a body. Once positioned in the body, the outer cannula is fired to the target site. At least one tissue sample is taken using the surgical device and tissue samples are harvested from the surgical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Suros Surgical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Miller, Jake Flagle, Joseph L. Mark, Zachary R. Nicoson
  • Patent number: 8187294
    Abstract: A rotating surgical system is provided that includes a base, a first member rotably engaged with the base, and a second member fixed with said first member such that said first member and said second member rotate together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Suros Surgical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Miller, Charles Butcher
  • Patent number: 8184112
    Abstract: A method of controlling an RGBW electroluminescent display system that receives a three-component input image signal having triplets of intensity values in an image range and a highlight range includes transforming at least one of the triplets having an intensity value within the image range to a four-or-more-component drive signal to produce a luminance less than the sum of the corresponding luminance values of the red, green and blue light-emitting elements and transforming at least one of the intensity values within a triplet having an intensity value within the highlight range to a four-or-more-component drive signal to produce a luminance greater than the sum of the corresponding luminance values of the red, green, and blue light-emitting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Global OLED Technology LLC
    Inventors: Michael E. Miller, Paula J. Alessi, John W. Hamer, Ronald S. Cok
  • Patent number: 8179466
    Abstract: A method of capturing a video of a scene depending on the speed of motion in the scene, includes capturing a video of the scene; determining the relative speed of motion within a first region of the video of the scene with respect to the speed of motion within a second region of the video of the scene; and causing a capture rate of the first region of the video of the scene to be greater than a capture rate of the second region of the video of the scene, or causing an exposure time of the first region to be less than exposure time of the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: John N. Border, Michael E. Miller, Christopher J. White
  • Patent number: 8172771
    Abstract: A tissue sample collection device and method are described and disclosed. The tissue sample collection device has a filter that is removably disposed within a sleeve. The filter has an open proximal end and an internal passageway that is in fluid communication with the open proximal end for the passage of fluids. The filter is substantially impermeable to tissue samples but allows the passage of fluids into the internal passageway at a plurality of spaced apart locations along at least a portion of the filter's length. When used to collect tissue samples, the samples are collected on the exterior surface of the filter. Thus, the filter can be removed from the sleeve, and samples can be removed from the exterior surface of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Suros Surgical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Miller, Terry D. Hardin
  • Patent number: 8167819
    Abstract: A biopsy needle assembly for use in a biopsy gun includes coaxially slidably engaged outer needle and inner needles. The inner needle defines a cavity adjacent its distal end for receiving a tissue sample. A first hub is attached to the proximal end of the inner needle, and a second hub is attached to the proximal end of the outer needle. An elongated pin having a first end and a second end is fixedly attached to the first hub at the first end of the pin. The second end is in sliding contact with the second hub so that the second hub and the pin are slidable relative to each other. A stop engagement is provided between the second end of the pin and the second hub and is configured to prevent disengagement of the outer and inner needles and to maintain a specific physical relationship between the hubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Promex Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael E. Miller, Daniel C. Ireland
  • Patent number: 8167818
    Abstract: A method of relieving vacuum in a biopsy apparatus includes applying vacuum through at least one motor to an inner cannula lumen; providing a continuously open leak path that permits fluid communication between the outer cannula lumen and atmosphere, wherein fluid is drawn from the leak path through the outer cannula; retracting the inner cannula proximally to permit tissue to prolapse into a tissue receiving opening of the outer cannula due to the vacuum; translating the inner cannula distally to sever the prolapsed tissue; aspirating the severed tissue through the inner cannula lumen; and selectively relieving vacuum distally of the severed tissue by retracting the inner cannula proximally to permit the inner cannula lumen to communicate with the respective outer cannula lumen and the leak path while a portion of the biopsy apparatus, including the tissue receiving opening, is positioned within tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Suros Surgical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael E. Miller