Patents by Inventor Ronald C. Brown

Ronald C. Brown 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: 7083588
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for perfusing ischemic myocardium, and optionally, for reducing the load on a patient's left ventricle, are provided using a inlet conduit having an inlet end configured for insertion into an oxygenated blood source, including without limitation, the left atrium, left ventricle, aorta, pulmonary vein, subclavian artery, brachiocephalic artery, radial artery or femoral artery, coupled to an outlet conduit having an outlet end configured for insertion into the coronary venous vasculature via the coronary ostium. The inlet conduit may include a stylet or elastomeric sleeve that facilitates placement, while the outlet conduit may include a valve for limiting a peak pressure attained in the coronary venous system. A motor-driven or hydraulically-actuated pump optionally may be coupled in the flow path, and control circuitry provided to control the pump with a user selected duty cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Ascher Shmulewitz, John Burton, Robert S. Bley, Roy Singfatt Chin, Ronald C. Brown, Robert L. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 6903299
    Abstract: A resistance welding tip assembly having a welding tip support to which a welding tip is secured. A sleeve is constructed of an electrical insulating material, such as ceramic, and the sleeve includes a throughbore along a preset axis. The sleeve is slidably mounted to the welding tip support along the preset axis between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the welding tip support. A compression spring disposed between the welding tip support and the sleeve urges the sleeve towards its extended position. The welding tip extends through the sleeve throughbore and is of the same size and cross-sectional shape as the sleeve. Furthermore, when the sleeve is in its extended position, a free end of the welding tip is recessed within the sleeve throughbore. Conversely, when the sleeve is in its retracted position, the free end of the welding tip is adjacent a free end of the sleeve and accessible for a welding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: D. J. Livingston & Company, INc.
    Inventor: Ronald C. Brown
  • Publication number: 20040238500
    Abstract: A resistance welding tip assembly having a welding tip support to which a welding tip is secured. A sleeve is constructed of an electrical insulating material, such as ceramic, and the sleeve includes a throughbore along a preset axis. The sleeve is slidably mounted to the welding tip support along the preset axis between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the welding tip support. A compression spring disposed between the welding tip support and the sleeve urges the sleeve towards its extended position. The welding tip extends through the sleeve throughbore and is of the same size and cross-sectional shape as the sleeve. Furthermore, when the sleeve is in its extended position, a free end of the welding tip is recessed within the sleeve throughbore. Conversely, when the sleeve is in its retracted position, the free end of the welding tip is adjacent a free end of the sleeve and accessible for a welding operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Ronald C. Brown
  • Patent number: 6573470
    Abstract: A weld gun includes internal, external and structural devices that dissipate heat generated at electrode tips without requiring a continuous external source coolant. The internal devices utilize heat pipes within the electrodes to transfer heat to secondary heat removal features. A heat capacity on the weld gun contacts external heat sinks to directly conduct heat away from the weld gun after a completed weld cycle. Alternatively, the heat sink, the heat pipe and the secondary heat removal features are combined structurally on the weld gun arm by forming the arm from a plurality of plates separated by an air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: DCT, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald C. Brown, Gregory J. Korshurba, Arthur C. Mason, Stephen D. Tracey, James Bronce Henderson, III, John K. Baysore
  • Patent number: 6359249
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved resistance weld-based gun assembly for use in an electric welding system without a need for plant-provided air and water-cooling circulation systems. In one aspect of the invention, a resistance-based force controller measures the resistance of a secondary circuit of the weld gun, the combined resistance of the secondary circuit in parallel with the circuit formed by the workpieces and opposing electrodes when sandwiched between the electrodes, and calculates the resistance of the workpieces. The measured resistance is compared to a predetermined resistance and the sandwiching force of the electrodes incrementally adjusted until the resistance of the workpieces is acceptable. The invention also relates to a closed loop coolant system having a coolant line, a coolant contained within the coolant line, a heat exchanger, and a mechanical coolant pump. One possible pump comprises an elastic bladder dependent upon the state change of the coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: DCT, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald C. Brown, Steven D. Tracey, Joseph L. Miller
  • Patent number: 5736085
    Abstract: A process for forming the tips on catheters is described in which the catheter is placed on a mandrel and molded in a mold. The mandrel may then be removed and a second mandrel inserted. The second mandrel having a larger diameter and adapted to contact inner surface of the mold to thereby cut any flash formed at the end of the catheter and separate the flash from the catheter tip. Alternatively, the mandrel and catheter are inserted into the mold to mold the outer surface of the catheter thereafter removed and inserted into a die to punch the flash from the tip of the catheter material. The punch process may be carried out by either the same mandrel or a second mandrel adapted to the purpose of cutting or punching the flash from the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald C. Brown, Joseph J. Chang, Dennis Bialecki
  • Patent number: 4846812
    Abstract: A tubular cannula has distal and proximal end portions, a central passageway from the distal end portion of the proximal portion and a transition section connecting the distal and proximal end portions. The proximal end portion has larger inner and outer diamters and has thicker walls than does the distal end portion. The diameter difference and thickness are effectuated in a gradual manner in a transition section. The cannula is constructed of a material that softens on being inserted into a living body and/or contacted with an aqueous medium. The cannula combines kink resistance external of the living body with the advantages of a softening and generally swellable catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Menlo Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack M. Walker, Ronald C. Brown, Joseph R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4772267
    Abstract: An improvement is set forth in a peripheral IV catheter assembly which comprises a needle hub having proximal and distal ends and a central bore having a flashback chamber, blood in said chamber being observable through said needle hub. A needle extends from the distal end of the bore. A catheter hub fits about the needle and has its proximal end held by the distal end of the needle hub. A cannula fits about the needle with its proximal end engaged with the distal end of the catheter hub. A flashback plug has proximal and distal ends. Its distal end can engage with the proximal end of the needle hub in blocking relation to the needle hub bore. A protector has a proximal end engagable with the distal end of the needle hub with the passage about the catheter hub, the needle and the cannula. The improvement comprises wherein the distal end of the protector is engageable with the proximal end of the needle hub with the central passage in the protector in flow communication with the central bore in the needle hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Menlo Care, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald C. Brown
  • Patent number: 4771177
    Abstract: A point source for calibrating a gamma camera uses the nuclide cerium-141. The source is disposed in a shuttered, shielded housing. The shutter is incrementally advanceable to expose, over time, an increasing portion of the area of the source to maintain a relatively constant gamma ray flux therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Ronald C. Brown
  • Patent number: D321379
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Inventor: Ronald C. Brown
  • Patent number: D381373
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Inventor: Ronald C. Brown