Patents by Inventor Paul A. Merritt

Paul A. Merritt 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: 11980537
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the intravascular treatment of clot material within a blood vessel of a human patient are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, positioning a distal portion of a catheter proximate to the clot material within the blood vessel. The method can further include coupling a pressure source to the catheter via a tubing subsystem including a valve or other fluid control device and, while the valve is closed, activating the pressure source to charge a vacuum. The valve can then be opened to apply the vacuum to the catheter to thereby aspirate at least a portion of the clot material from the blood vessel and into the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Inari Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Merritt, Jacqueline Macias, Brian Michael Strauss, Thomas Tu, John Coleman Thress, Paul Lubock
  • Patent number: 11974909
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the intravascular treatment of clot material within a blood vessel of a human patient are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, positioning a distal portion of a catheter proximate to the clot material within the blood vessel. The method can further include coupling a pressure source to the catheter via a tubing subsystem including a valve or other fluid control device and, while the valve is closed, activating the pressure source to charge a vacuum. The valve can then be opened to apply the vacuum to the catheter to thereby aspirate at least a portion of the clot material from the blood vessel and into the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Inari Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Merritt, Jacqueline Macias, Brian Michael Strauss, Thomas Tu, John Coleman Thress, Paul Lubock
  • Patent number: 11974910
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the intravascular treatment of clot material within a blood vessel of a human patient are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, positioning a distal portion of a catheter proximate to the clot material within the blood vessel. The method can further include coupling a pressure source to the catheter via a tubing subsystem including a valve or other fluid control device and, while the valve is closed, activating the pressure source to charge a vacuum. The valve can then be opened to apply the vacuum to the catheter to thereby aspirate at least a portion of the clot material from the blood vessel and into the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Inari Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Merritt, Jacqueline Macias, Brian Michael Strauss, Thomas Tu, John Coleman Thress, Paul Lubock
  • Patent number: 11969333
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the intravascular treatment of clot material within a blood vessel of a human patient are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, positioning a distal portion of a catheter proximate to the clot material within the blood vessel. The method can further include coupling a pressure source to the catheter via a tubing subsystem including a valve or other fluid control device and, while the valve is closed, activating the pressure source to charge a vacuum. The valve can then be opened to apply the vacuum to the catheter to thereby aspirate at least a portion of the clot material from the blood vessel and into the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Inari Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Merritt, Jacqueline Macias, Brian Michael Strauss, Thomas Tu, John Coleman Thress, Paul Lubock
  • Patent number: 11969331
    Abstract: Systems and methods for the intravascular treatment of clot material within a blood vessel of a human patient are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, positioning a distal portion of a catheter proximate to the clot material within the blood vessel. The method can further include coupling a pressure source to the catheter via a tubing subsystem including a valve or other fluid control device and, while the valve is closed, activating the pressure source to charge a vacuum. The valve can then be opened to apply the vacuum to the catheter to thereby aspirate at least a portion of the clot material from the blood vessel and into the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Inari Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Merritt, Jacqueline Macias, Brian Michael Strauss, Thomas Tu, John Coleman Thress, Paul Lubock
  • Patent number: 8667665
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present inventions sets forth a method for decreasing a temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) of a MEMS resonator. The method comprises lithographically defining slots in the MEMS resonator beams and filling the slots with a compensating material (for example, an oxide) wherein the temperature coefficient of Young's Modulus (TCE) of the compensating material has a sign opposite to a TCE of the material of the resonating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: SiTime Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Merritt Hagelin, Charles Grosjean
  • Patent number: 8511509
    Abstract: Enclosure for storing sensitive materials are disclosed. They may be in a special container (1), sealed and purged, replacing the internal atmosphere with an inert purge gas, and leaving the sealed container slightly pressurized. By hinging a lid or door (5) to the container via hinges (12, 13), the respective parts of which can move relative to one another translationally, at least when the door or lid (1) is in the closed position, and in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the door or lid, much improved sealing may be achieved. The invention also relates to methods used to deliver and duct the purge gas within the container to ensure good purge gas delivery and mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Roylan Developments Limited
    Inventor: Paul Merritt
  • Publication number: 20120295384
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present inventions sets forth a method for decreasing a temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) of a MEMS resonator. The method comprises lithographically defining slots in the MEMS resonator beams and filling the slots with a compensating material (for example, an oxide) wherein the temperature coefficient of Young's Modulus (TCE) of the compensating material has a sign opposite to a TCE of the material of the resonating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Paul Merritt Hagelin, Charles Grosjean
  • Patent number: 8234774
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method for decreasing a temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) of a MEMS resonator. The method comprises lithographically defining slots in the MEMS resonator beams and filling the slots with oxide. By growing oxide within the slots, the amount of oxide growth on the outside surfaces of the MEMS resonator may be reduced. Furthermore, by situating the slots in the areas of large flexural stresses, the contribution of the embedded oxide to the overall TCF of the MEMS resonator is increased, and the total amount of oxide needed to decrease the overall TCF of the MEMS resonator to a particular target value is reduced. As a result, the TCF of the MEMS resonator may be reduced in a manner that is more effective relative to prior art approaches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: SiTime Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Merritt Hagelin, Charles Grosjean
  • Publication number: 20100108683
    Abstract: Enclosure for storing sensitive materials are disclosed. They may be in a special container (1), sealed and purged, replacing the internal atmosphere with an inert purge gas, and leaving the sealed container slightly pressurised. By hinging a lid or door (5) to the container via hinges (12, 13), the respective parts of which can move relative to one another translationally, at least when the door or lid (1) is in the closed position, and in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the door or lid, much improved sealing may be achieved. The invention also relates to methods used to deliver and duct the purge gas within the container to ensure good purge gas delivery and mixing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: Roylan Developments Limited
    Inventor: Paul Merritt
  • Publication number: 20090158566
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method for decreasing a temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) of a MEMS resonator. The method comprises lithographically defining slots in the MEMS resonator beams and filling the slots with oxide. By growing oxide within the slots, the amount of oxide growth on the outside surfaces of the MEMS resonator may be reduced. Furthermore, by situating the slots in the areas of large flexural stresses, the contribution of the embedded oxide to the overall TCF of the MEMS resonator is increased, and the total amount of oxide needed to decrease the overall TCF of the MEMS resonator to a particular target value is reduced. As a result, the TCF of the MEMS resonator may be reduced in a manner that is more effective relative to prior art approaches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Paul Merritt Hagelin, Charles Grosjean
  • Publication number: 20090160581
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method for decreasing a temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) of a MEMS resonator. The method comprises lithographically defining slots in the MEMS resonator beams and filling the slots with oxide. By growing oxide within the slots, the amount of oxide growth on the outside surfaces of the MEMS resonator may be reduced. Furthermore, by situating the slots in the areas of large flexural stresses, the contribution of the embedded oxide to the overall TCF of the MEMS resonator is increased, and the total amount of oxide needed to decrease the overall TCF of the MEMS resonator to a particular target value is reduced. As a result, the TCF of the MEMS resonator may be reduced in a manner that is more effective relative to prior art approaches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Paul Merritt Hagelin, Charles Grosjean
  • Patent number: 7545237
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a serrated tooth actuator for driving MEMS resonator structures. The actuator includes a fixed drive electrode having a serrated tooth surface opposing a MEMS resonator arm also having a serrated tooth surface, where the MEMS resonator arm is configured to rotate towards the drive electrode when an AC signal is applied to the drive electrode. Such a configuration permits higher amplitude signals to be applied to the drive electrode without the performance of the actuator being compromised by nonlinear effects. In addition, the serrated tooth configuration enables a sufficiently high actuating force to be maintained even though the distance traversed by the MEMS resonator arm during operation is quite small. Further, the serrated configuration allows a MEMS resonator system to withstand larger fluctuations in voltage and larger substrate stresses without experiencing a substantial shift in resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: SiTime Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Merritt Hagelin, David Raymond Pedersen
  • Patent number: 7545238
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a serrated tooth actuator for driving MEMS resonator structures. The actuator includes a fixed drive electrode having a serrated tooth surface opposing a MEMS resonator arm also having a serrated tooth surface, where the MEMS resonator arm is configured to rotate towards the drive electrode when an AC signal is applied to the drive electrode. Such a configuration permits higher amplitude signals to be applied to the drive electrode without the performance of the actuator being compromised by nonlinear effects. In addition, the serrated tooth configuration enables a sufficiently high actuating force to be maintained even though the distance traversed by the MEMS resonator arm during operation is quite small. Further, the serrated configuration allows a MEMS resonator system to withstand larger fluctuations in voltage and larger substrate stresses without experiencing a substantial shift in resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: SiTime Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Merritt Hagelin, David Raymond Pedersen
  • Patent number: 7545239
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a serrated tooth actuator for driving MEMS resonator structures. The actuator includes a fixed drive electrode having a serrated tooth surface opposing a MEMS resonator arm also having a serrated tooth surface, where the MEMS resonator arm is configured to rotate towards the drive electrode when an AC signal is applied to the drive electrode. Such a configuration permits higher amplitude signals to be applied to the drive electrode without the performance of the actuator being compromised by nonlinear effects. In addition, the serrated tooth configuration enables a sufficiently high actuating force to be maintained even though the distance traversed by the MEMS resonator arm during operation is quite small. Further, the serrated configuration allows a MEMS resonator system to withstand larger fluctuations in voltage and larger substrate stresses without experiencing a substantial shift in resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: SiTime Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Merritt Hagelin, David Raymond Pedersen
  • Publication number: 20080290494
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present inventions relate to devices, systems and/or methods of encapsulating and fabricating electromechanical structures or elements, for example, accelerometer, gyroscope or other transducer (for example, pressure sensor, strain sensor, tactile sensor, magnetic sensor and/or temperature sensor), filter or resonator. The fabricating or manufacturing microelectromechanical systems of the present invention, and the systems manufactured thereby, employ backside substrate release and/or seal or encapsulation techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Markus Lutz, Aaron Partridge, Paul Merritt Hagelin
  • Patent number: 7443258
    Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present inventions relate to oscillator systems which employ a plurality of microelectromechanical resonating structures, and methods to control and/or operate same. The oscillator systems are configured to provide and/or generate one or more output signals having a predetermined frequency over temperature, for example, (1) an output signal having a substantially stable frequency over a given/predetermined range of operating temperatures, (2) an output signal having a frequency that is dependent on the operating temperature from which the operating temperature may be determined (for example, an estimated operating temperature based on a empirical data and/or a mathematical relationship), and/or (3) an output signal that is relatively stable over a range of temperatures (for example, a predetermined operating temperature range) and is “shaped” to have a desired turn-over frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: SiTime Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Merritt Hagelin
  • Publication number: 20080150654
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a serrated tooth actuator for driving MEMS resonator structures. The actuator includes a fixed drive electrode having a serrated tooth surface opposing a MEMS resonator arm also having a serrated tooth surface, where the MEMS resonator arm is configured to rotate towards the drive electrode when an AC signal is applied to the drive electrode. Such a configuration permits higher amplitude signals to be applied to the drive electrode without the performance of the actuator being compromised by nonlinear effects. In addition, the serrated tooth configuration enables a sufficiently high actuating force to be maintained even though the distance traversed by the MEMS resonator arm during operation is quite small. Further, the serrated configuration allows a MEMS resonator system to withstand larger fluctuations in voltage and larger substrate stresses without experiencing a substantial shift in resonant frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Paul Merritt Hagelin, David Raymond Pedersen
  • Publication number: 20080150656
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a serrated tooth actuator for driving MEMS resonator structures. The actuator includes a fixed drive electrode having a serrated tooth surface opposing a MEMS resonator arm also having a serrated tooth surface, where the MEMS resonator arm is configured to rotate towards the drive electrode when an AC signal is applied to the drive electrode. Such a configuration permits higher amplitude signals to be applied to the drive electrode without the performance of the actuator being compromised by nonlinear effects. In addition, the serrated tooth configuration enables a sufficiently high actuating force to be maintained even though the distance traversed by the MEMS resonator arm during operation is quite small. Further, the serrated configuration allows a MEMS resonator system to withstand larger fluctuations in voltage and larger substrate stresses without experiencing a substantial shift in resonant frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Paul Merritt Hagelin, David Raymond Pedersen
  • Patent number: D574825
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Devlin Electronics Limited
    Inventors: Martin J. Baker, John Paisley, Tim Waterman, Tony Tamasauskas, Alan Bale, Paul Merritt, Bruce Hutchison