Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Milner

Thomas E. Milner 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: 8267518
    Abstract: Provided are systems operable to effect a temporary change in a modulation transfer function (MTF) of a target imaging system. The systems include a light source operable to produce light for transient propagation onto at least a portion of the target imaging system, a power source in operative communication with the light source and configured to effect the production of light from the light source, and a transmission unit in operative communication with the light source and configured to propagate the produced light onto at least a portion of the target imaging system. The propagated light is configured for absorbance by the portion of the target imaging system; the absorbance causes an increase in temperature and a change in a refractive index profile of at least the portion of the imaging system. The change in refractive index profile produces a temporary change in the MTF of the imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: The Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Ashley J Welch, Rebecca L. Vincelette, Henry Grady Rylander, III, Thomas E. Milner
  • Publication number: 20120184847
    Abstract: A novel contrast mechanism for diagnosing diseased tissue using Ultrasound, Doppler Ultrasonography, Optical Coherence Tomography, or optical Doppler tomography coupled with an externally applied temporally oscillating high-strength magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicants: Volcano Corporation, The Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Marc D. FELDMAN, Thomas E. MILNER, Junghwan OH
  • Publication number: 20120136259
    Abstract: A polarization sensitive spectral interferometer apparatus and method for analyzing a sample by optical energy reflected from the sample. The polarization sensitive spectral interferometer apparatus and method determines polarization properties of the sample by optical energy reflected from the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicants: Volcano Corporation, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Thomas E. MILNER, Nathaniel J. KEMP, Eunha KIM
  • Publication number: 20120136238
    Abstract: A novel contrast mechanism for imaging blood flow using magneto-motive optical Doppler tomography (MM-ODT), Optical Coherence Tomography, and Ultrasound. MM-ODT, OCT, and ultrasound combined with an externally applied temporally oscillating high-strength magnetic field detects erythrocytes moving according to the field gradient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventor: Thomas E. Milner
  • Patent number: 8162834
    Abstract: A novel contrast mechanism for diagnosing diseased tissue using Ultrasound, Doppler Ultrasonography, Optical Coherence Tomography, or optical Doppler tomography coupled with an externally applied temporally oscillating high-strength magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Marc D. Feldman, Thomas E. Milner, Jung-Hwan Oh
  • Patent number: 8125648
    Abstract: A polarization sensitive spectral interferometer apparatus and method for analyzing a sample. The polarization sensitive spectral interferometer apparatus and method determines polarization properties of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Thomas E. Milner, Nathaniel J. Kemp, Eunha Kim
  • Publication number: 20120013914
    Abstract: A method and a system for Uniform Frequency Sample Clocking to directly sample the OCT signal with a temporally-non-linear sampling clock derived from a k-space wavemeter on the external sample clock input port of a digitizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: VOLCANO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathaniel J. Kemp, Roman Kuranov, Austin Broderick McElroy, Thomas E. Milner
  • Publication number: 20120010603
    Abstract: Tissue optical clearing devices for subsurface photodisruption and methods of use generally comprise an energy source in conjunction with mechanical optical clearing for the creation of high precision surface and subsurface photodisruption and/or photoablation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: Dermalucent, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas E. Milner, Joseph Neev
  • Patent number: 8049900
    Abstract: A method and a system for Uniform Frequency Sample Clocking to directly sample the OCT signal with a temporally-non-linear sampling clock derived from a k-space wavemeter on the external sample clock input port of a digitizer. The Uniform Frequency Sample Clocking comprises at least one Pathway, which includes characterizing the swept light source, creating a digital representation of the waveform based from the characterization data, and generating a clock signal using a waveform generator to output the clock signal to a digitizer external clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Volcano Corporation
    Inventors: Nathaniel J. Kemp, Roman Kuranov, Austin Broderick McElroy, Thomas E. Milner
  • Patent number: 8036732
    Abstract: A novel contrast mechanism for imaging blood flow using magneto-motive optical Doppler tomography (MM-ODT), Optical Coherence Tomography, and Ultrasound. MM-ODT, OCT, and ultrasound combined with an externally applied temporally oscillating high-strength magnetic field detects erythrocytes moving according to the field gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventor: Thomas E. Milner
  • Patent number: 7983737
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for the detection of cells and/or compositions using optical coherence tomography. The systems and methods comprise a plurality of magnets for applying a plurality of distinct magnetic field strengths to the cells and/or compositions and a phase sensitive optical coherence tomographic imaging modality for detecting the cells and/or compositions while same are disposed in the presence of at least one of the plurality of distinct magnetic field strengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas Systems
    Inventors: Marc D. Feldman, Thomas E. Milner, Jung-Hwan Oh, Mehmet Cilingiroglu
  • Patent number: 7983736
    Abstract: Disclosed are improved methods and compositions for use in light-based in vivo imaging and treatment. The techniques described involve the use of low-scattering, oxygen-carrying blood substitutes in imaging and treatment methods, including OCT imaging. The invention has particular advantages in imaging within the cardiovascular system and highly vascularized or oxygen-dependent tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Joseph W. Villard, Thomas E. Milner, Marc D. Feldman, Jeehoon Kim, Gregory L. Freeman
  • Publication number: 20110152771
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotating catheter tip for optical coherence tomography based on the use of an optical fiber that does not rotate, that is enclosed in a catheter, which has a tip rotates under the influence of a fluid drive system to redirect light from the fiber to a surrounding vessel and the light reflected or backscattered from the vessel back to the optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicants: Board of Regents, The University of Texas Systsem, Volcano Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Milner, Marc D. Feldman, Jung-Hwan Oh, Shaochen Chen, Paul Castella
  • Publication number: 20110137124
    Abstract: An Optical imaging catheter that balances optical aberrations and allows recording of high quality optical images while relaxing the requirement of a fluid occupying the space between the prism and the inner sheath of the catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: Volcano Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Milner, Nathaniel J. Kemp
  • Publication number: 20110112409
    Abstract: The invention is a rotating tip catheter-imaging probe where electromagnetic energy is delivered to the distal end of a catheter and converted to mechanical energy using a light drive apparatus. The mechanical energy is then used to rotate a mirror that redirects light in fixed pattern on a sample. The rotating element of the light drive apparatus contains vanes, which rotate about an axis and positioned with bearings to minimize friction. A chamber encompasses the rotating element and is set to a vacuum pressure. The rotational speed of the catheter tip can be controlled by varying the optical power delivered to the vanes, the vacuum pressure in the chamber, or by a braking mechanism applied to the rotating element. The vanes may be shaped in a particular geometry to increase forces on the vanes from thermally driven gas flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Thomas E. Milner, Nathaniel J. Kemp
  • Publication number: 20110077528
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneous hemoglobin reflectivity measurement and OCT measurement, thrombus detection and treatment, and OCT flushing. A first optical energy for OCT and a second optical energy for hemoglobin may be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Volcano Coproration
    Inventors: Nathaniel J. Kemp, Thomas E. Milner, Christopher E. Banas, Vincent J. Burgess, Paulina M. Margolis
  • Publication number: 20110009701
    Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein is related to a system for optical coherence tomographic imaging of turbid (i.e., scattering) materials utilizing multiple channels of information. The multiple channels of information may be comprised and encompass spatial, angle, spectral and polarization domains. More specifically, the embodiments disclosed herein is related to methods and apparatus for utilizing optical sources, systems or receivers capable of providing (source), processing (system) or recording (receiver) a multiplicity of channels of spectral information for optical coherence tomographic imaging of turbid materials. In these methods and apparatus the multiplicity of channels of spectral information that can be provided by the source, processed by the system, or recorded by the receiver are used to convey simultaneously spatial, spectral or polarimetric information relating to the turbid material being imaged tomographically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Marc D. Feldman, Thomas E. Milner, Jung Hwan Oh, Eunha Kim, Karthik Kumar, Chris Condit, Robert Grant, Nate Kemp, Jeehyun Kim, Shaochen Chen, Li-Hsin Han
  • Patent number: 7853316
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotating catheter tip for optical coherence tomography based on the use of an optical fiber that does not rotate, that is enclosed in a catheter, which has a tip rotates under the influence of a fluid drive system to redirect light from the fiber to a surrounding vessel and the light reflected or backscattered from the vessel back to the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignees: Board of Regents, the University of Texas System, Volcano Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Milner, Marc D. Feldman, Jung-Hwan Oh, Shaochen Chen, Paul Castella
  • Patent number: 7844321
    Abstract: The invention is a rotating tip catheter-imaging probe where electromagnetic energy is delivered to the distal end of a catheter and converted to mechanical energy using a light drive apparatus. The mechanical energy is then used to rotate a mirror that redirects light in fixed pattern on a sample. The rotating element of the light drive apparatus contains vanes, which rotate about an axis and positioned with bearings to minimize friction. A chamber encompasses the rotating element and is set to a vacuum pressure. The rotational speed of the catheter tip can be controlled by varying the optical power delivered to the vanes, the vacuum pressure in the chamber, or by a braking mechanism applied to the rotating element. The vanes may be shaped in a particular geometry to increase forces on the vanes from thermally driven gas flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Board of Regents, the University of Texas System
    Inventors: Thomas E. Milner, Nathaniel J. Kemp
  • Publication number: 20100298716
    Abstract: Disclosed are improved methods and compositions for use in light-based in vivo imaging and treatment. The techniques described involve the use of low-scattering, oxygen-carrying blood substitutes in imaging and treatment methods, including OCT imaging. The invention has particular advantages in imaging within the cardiovascular system and highly vascularized or oxygen-dependent tissues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: Board of Regents, the University of Texas System
    Inventors: Joseph W. Villard, Marc D. Feldman, Thomas E. Milner, JeeHyun Kim, Gregory L. Freeman