Phillip G Miller

US Patent:

6969345, Nov 29, 2005

Filed:

Dec 5, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/729599

Inventors:

Jal S. Jassawalla - Orinda CA, US
Phillip J. Miller - Berkeley CA, US
David H. LaForge - Kensington CA, US
Tofy Mussivand - Navan, CA

Assignee:

World Heart Corporation - Ontario

International Classification:

A61N001/362

US Classification:

600 16

Abstract:

A pumping system for assisting either or both ventricles of the heart. In one embodiment, separate devices are provided for each ventricle. In another embodiment, one device provides both right and left pumping. The pumping system is small, efficient, atraumatic, and fully implantable. In addition, the pumping system can provide pulsatile flow during systole. The ventricular assist device includes an actuator plate between a pair of serially connected pumping chambers that operate in a two-stroke mode, specifically a power stroke and a transfer stroke. The ventricular assist device also includes an electromagnetic drive system that provides adjustment to the pump pressure according to the current through an electromagnet. For the pumping system, springs provide a “spring force” on the actuator plate that is towards the high-pressure pump chamber. The bias force allows the springs to store and deliver energy from the electromagnetic drive system to provide better utilization of the pump components, and to reduce the pump size and consumption of electricity.

US Patent:

7059250, Jun 13, 2006

Filed:

Jul 1, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/609865

Inventors:

Gerrit T. Sutherland - White Plains MD, US
Phillip J. Miller - Issue MD, US
Harold W. Sandusky - Fulton MD, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

F42C 19/12

US Classification:

102205, 10220214

Abstract:

Molten droplets of a metal fuel, such as aluminum, are dispersed into air or water for a reaction releasing energy for military or other purposes. In one warhead embodiment, a cylinder of solid metal is disposed within a ceramic heat insulator; heaters of thermite-like material are embedded in the metal; and an explosive dispersing charge is disposed around or at one end of the cylinder. On activation, the heaters are ignited to melt the metal, and the charge then detonated to disperse droplets of the molten metal. In a related embodiment, the metal and heaters are within a containment having an atomizing nozzle at one end and, oppositely of the metal from the nozzle, a piston and gas generator. When the metal is melted, the gas generator is activated to expel molten metal droplets from the nozzle. The fuel may be pressed particles heated below the melting point and then dispersed by a charge providing enough heat to melt the particles; may be a single component, fuel-rich thermite compound; and may include droplet surface tension reducing additives.

US Patent:

7584702, Sep 8, 2009

Filed:

May 27, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/151187

Inventors:

Gerrit T. Sutherland - White Plains MD, US
Phillip J. Miller - Issue MD, US
Harold W. Sandusky - Fulton MD, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

F42B 12/44

US Classification:

102363, 102357

Abstract:

Molten droplets of a metal fuel, such as aluminum, are dispersed into air or water for a reaction releasing energy for military or other purposes. In one warhead embodiment, a cylinder of solid metal is disposed within a ceramic heat insulator; heaters of thermite-like material are embedded in the metal; and an explosive dispersing charge is disposed around or at one end of the cylinder. On activation, the heaters are ignited to melt the metal, and the charge then detonated to disperse droplets of the molten metal. In a related embodiment, the metal and heaters are within a containment having an atomizing nozzle at one end and, oppositely of the metal from the nozzle, a piston and gas generator. When the metal is melted, the gas generator is activated to expel molten metal droplets from the nozzle. The fuel may be pressed particles heated below the melting point and then dispersed by a charge providing enough heat to melt the particles; may be a single component, fuel-rich thermite compound; and may include droplet surface tension reducing additives.

US Patent:

8245640, Aug 21, 2012

Filed:

May 12, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/454487

Inventors:

Gerrit T. Sutherland - White Plains MD, US
Phillip J. Miller - Issue MD, US
Harold W. Sandusky - Fulton MD, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

F42C 19/12

US Classification:

102205, 102363

Abstract:

Molten droplets of a metal fuel, such as aluminum, are dispersed into air or water for a reaction releasing energy for military or other purposes. In one warhead embodiment, a cylinder of solid metal is disposed within a ceramic heat insulator; heaters of thermite-like material are embedded in the metal; and an explosive dispersing charge is disposed around or at one end of the cylinder. On activation, the heaters are ignited to melt the metal, and the charge then detonated to disperse droplets of the molten metal. In a related embodiment, the metal and heaters are within a containment having an atomizing nozzle at one end and, oppositely of the metal from the nozzle, a piston and gas generator. When the metal is melted, the gas generator is activated to expel molten metal droplets from the nozzle. The fuel may be pressed particles heated below the melting point and then dispersed by a charge providing enough heat to melt the particles; may be a single component, fuel-rich thermite compound; and may include droplet surface tension reducing additives.

US Patent:

20060287568, Dec 21, 2006

Filed:

Jun 9, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/450004

Inventors:

Jal Jassawalla - Orinda CA, US
Phillip Miller - Berkeley CA, US
David LaForge - Kensington CA, US

International Classification:

A61M 1/12

US Classification:

600016000

Abstract:

A ventricular assist device (VAD) for assisting either or both heart ventricles. The VAD pumps blood between an inlet and an outlet. The VAD includes a bearingless electromagnetic drive unit comprising an armature disposed between two cores, a compressible sac, valves, and a frame. The armature moves toward the sac in an eject stroke for expelling blood therefrom to the outlet. An energy storage element is preferably included and adapted to store and release energy from the drive unit. The armature is decoupled from the compressible chamber after completion of the eject stroke such that the armature retracts. Following retraction, the sac is passively filled with blood from the inlet and the energy stored in the storage element during retraction is delivered during the eject stroke. The device preferably has two cores with coils wound around each core's center section or legs. Alternatively, one of the cores is coil-less.

US Patent:

20080045777, Feb 21, 2008

Filed:

Aug 23, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/449973

Inventors:

Jal Jassawalla - Orinda CA, US
Phillip Miller - Berkeley CA, US
David LaForge - Kensington CA, US

International Classification:

A61M 1/10

US Classification:

600016000

Abstract:

An electromagnetic drive for use in a ventricular assist device. The electromagnetic drive provides adjustment to the device pressure according to the current through an electromagnet. The device includes a pair of U-shaped cores, each having a center section and two legs; one or more coils, each wound around a selected U-shaped core that, when electrically energized, generate a magnetic flux and define one or more pairs of magnetic poles each having a polar axis; and an armature between the U-shaped cores having two non-magnetic ends and a permanent magnet therebetween for generating a magnet force on the armature resulting from the attraction of the magnet to the U-shaped cores when the coils are not electrically energized. The drive geometry reduces lateral instability and device size and increases magnetic efficiency and linearity. Preferably, a coil is wound around each center section. Alternatively, the coils are wound around the legs.

US Patent:

47563028, Jul 12, 1988

Filed:

Nov 20, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/933490

Inventors:

Peer M. Portner - Kensington CA
Jal S. Jassawalla - San Francisco CA
Phillip J. Miller - Berkeley CA

Assignee:

Novacor Medical Corporation - Oakland CA

International Classification:

A61B 1900

US Classification:

128 1D

Abstract:

A heart-assist system and a method for operating same are described in which a pump is connected to a ventricle to receive output therefrom. An actuator operates to cause the pump to conduct a fill cycle in which it receives output from the ventricle to which it is connected, and to conduct an eject cycle in which the contents of the pump are expelled. The time of initiation of at least one of the fill cycle and the eject cycle is varied in relation to systole of the ventricle to which the pump is connected to thereby vary the loading of the ventricle. Several techniques for detecting termination of systole are described including a compliant stop on the pump.

US Patent:

6264601, Jul 24, 2001

Filed:

Apr 2, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/285933

Inventors:

Jal S. Jassawalla - Orinda CA
David H. LaForge - Kensington CA
Phillip J. Miller - Berkeley CA

Assignee:

World Heart Corporation - Oakland CA

International Classification:

A61M 112

US Classification:

600 16

Abstract:

An implantable ventricular assist device (VAD) has a small size to provide full-implantable capabilities. The VAD has two variable-volume chambers and an actuator for expelling blood from the chambers in sequence and to a common outlet, thus operating as a positive-displacement pump. The variable-volume chambers may be flexible sacs and the pump is operable at a substantially continuous flow, such as during the systolic phase of the assisted ventricle. A method of operation includes operating the pump at a first frequency during systole and a second lower frequency during diastole. The VAD pump includes a pair of coils housed within a frame and disposed in a spaced relationship to generate a coil flux through a pair of poles. A plate including an armature and a magnet is disposed within the frame such that the armature is between the poles and the magnet is between the coils. Gaps are defined between the armature and each of the poles and the coil flux displaces the armature across the gap.