Patents by Inventor James E. Flatt
James E. Flatt 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).
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Patent number: 11918233Abstract: A tool for use with a surgical robotic manipulator that comprises an energy applicator including a shaft extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft has an axial-force receiving surface. A tool assembly comprises a support structure to support the energy applicator, an axial connector assembly arranged to engage and releasably lock the energy applicator to the support structure in a locked state, a drive system coupled to the support structure to rotatably drive the shaft of the energy applicator about the axis, a collet assembly cooperating with the axial connector assembly and configured to apply a force to the axial-force receiving surface of the energy applicator in the locked state, and a reference surface. The force includes an axial component directing the energy applicator proximally into continuous contact with the reference surface in the locked state.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.Inventor: James E. Flatt
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Publication number: 20240008940Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes a robotic arm comprising a plurality of links and joints, an end effector, and a mounting assembly for coupling the end effector and the robotic arm. The mounting assembly includes a robot mount associated with the robotic arm and an end effector mount associated with the end effector. The mounting assembly also includes a sterile barrier assembly including a coupling and kinematic couplers. A first lock assembly releasably secures the coupling to the robot mount and a second lock assembly releasably secures the end effector mount to the coupling. A tensioner associated with either mount is movable between a first position and a second position such that the kinematic couplers engage with, and provide a kinematic coupling between, the mounts through the sterile barrier assembly to constrain six degrees of freedom of movement between the mounts.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2023Publication date: January 11, 2024Applicant: MAKO Surgical Corp.Inventors: James E. Flatt, Robert Dodde, Jonathan Boyer, Larry Douglas O'Cull, Victor Soto
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Publication number: 20230397916Abstract: A Surgical attachment for a surgical handpiece. The surgical attachment includes a housing for coupling to the surgical handpiece. A driving member is disposed within the housing. The driving member is rotatable about an axis and transfers torque from the handpiece to a surgical accessory tool. The driving member has a drive portion with shoulders that define a bore. Flats extend from the shoulders to engage corresponding flats of the surgical accessory tool. A lock assembly is coupled to the driving member. The lock assembly includes a retainer positioned behind the shoulders of the drive portion of the driving member. The retainer is biased into the bore to engage the surgical accessory tool. The retainer may be permitted to move outwardly from the axis to allow decoupling of the surgical accessory tool in response to sliding of a collar in an axial direction relative to the driving member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2023Publication date: December 14, 2023Applicant: Stryker CorporationInventor: James E. Flatt
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Patent number: 11806096Abstract: A mounting system for coupling first and second surgical components. The mounting system comprises a first mounting portion associated with the first surgical component, a second mounting portion associated with the second surgical component and comprising a tensioner movable between a first position and a second position, and a sterile barrier assembly. The sterile barrier assembly comprises a coupling configured to releasably secure to the first mounting portion and to releasably receive the second mounting portion when the tensioner of the second mounting portion is in the first position, and a plurality of kinematic couplers configured to engage the mounting portions and arranged to provide a kinematic coupling between the mounting portions through the sterile barrier assembly to constrain six degrees of freedom of movement between the surgical components when the tensioner of the second mounting portion is in the second position.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2019Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.Inventors: James E. Flatt, Robert Dodde, Jonathan Boyer, Larry Douglas O'Cull, Victor Soto
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Publication number: 20230100361Abstract: A mounting system includes a first mounting portion associated with an arm of a surgical robot and a second mounting portion associated with an end effector for the surgical robot. The first mounting portion includes a body, a cover plate fixed to the body, and receptacles defined in the cover plate and each receptacle defining a contact surface. The second mounting portion is releasably coupled to the first mounting portion and supports an interface with kinematic couplers to engage the contact surfaces of the receptacles of the first mounting portion and to provide a kinematic coupling between the first and second mounting portions to constrain six degrees of freedom between the arm and the end effector. The mounting system includes a preloading mechanism with a tensioner rotatable between a tensioned position and an untensioned position to clamp the first and second mounting portions together.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Applicant: Stryker CorporationInventors: James E. Flatt, Douglas A. Staunton, Matthew B. Pastrick
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Publication number: 20230008973Abstract: A sensor system includes a first member that extends along a rotational axis and has a surface disposed circumferentially about the rotational axis. A conductive element is disposed on the surface of the first member and disposed about the rotational axis. A second member extends along the rotational axis. A rotational position between the first member and the second member is adjustable. A target is mounted to and rotatable with the second member and is movable relative to the second member between first and second positions. The target is spaced apart from the conductive element in both the first and second positions and is spaced further from the conductive element in the second position compared to the first position. The conductive element detects a change in movement of the target from the first position to the second position for any rotational position between the first member and the second member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2022Publication date: January 12, 2023Applicant: MAKO Surgical Corp.Inventors: James E. Flatt, Philip Robert Woods, Cory J. Welch, Mark A. Wasserman
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Patent number: 11504203Abstract: A sterile barrier assembly, mounting system, and method for kinematically coupling first and second surgical components together through the sterile barrier assembly so that positioning is repeatable and deterministic.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2019Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Stryker CorporationInventors: James E. Flatt, Douglas A. Staunton, Matthew B. Pastrick
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Patent number: 11292135Abstract: A sensor system includes a first member extending along a rotational axis and having a surface disposed circumferentially about the axis. The sensor system further includes a conductive element fixed to the first member and disposed on the surface and about the rotational axis and a second member extending along the axis. A rotational position between the first member and the second member is adjustable. The sensor system further includes a target mounted to and rotatable with the second member and being movable relative to the second member between first and second positions. The target is spaced apart from the conductive element in both the first and second positions and is closer to the conductive element in the second position compared to the first position. The conductive element is configured to sense the target in the second position for any rotational position between the first member and the second member.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2019Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.Inventors: James E. Flatt, Philip Robert Woods, Cory J. Welch, Mark A. Wasserman
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Publication number: 20220087754Abstract: An interlocking collet system includes an attachment comprising first and second attachment surfaces spaced from one another and a collet. The collet comprises a housing configured to extend along an axis. The housing defines a bore for selectively disposing and retaining the attachment therein in an installed position. First and second locking members are disposed within the bore and are moveable. At least one bias member is disposed within the bore and is arranged to position the first locking member in a first position in which the first locking member is configured to contact the first attachment surface. The at least one bias member is arranged to position the second locking member in a second position in which the second locking member is configured to contact the second attachment surface. The first and second locking members are configured to exert opposing axial forces on the attachment.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2021Publication date: March 24, 2022Applicant: MAKO Surgical Corp.Inventors: Jonathan P. Boyer, James E. Flatt
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Publication number: 20220079604Abstract: A tool for use with a surgical robotic manipulator that comprises an energy applicator including a shaft extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft has an axial-force receiving surface. A tool assembly comprises a support structure to support the energy applicator, an axial connector assembly arranged to engage and releasably lock the energy applicator to the support structure in a locked state, a drive system coupled to the support structure to rotatably drive the shaft of the energy applicator about the axis, a collet assembly cooperating with the axial connector assembly and configured to apply a force to the axial-force receiving surface of the energy applicator in the locked state, and a reference surface. The force includes an axial component directing the energy applicator proximally into continuous contact with the reference surface in the locked state.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2021Publication date: March 17, 2022Applicant: MAKO Surgical Corp.Inventor: James E. Flatt
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Patent number: 11253330Abstract: A tool for use with a surgical robotic manipulator that comprises an energy applicator including a shaft extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft has a retention surface and an ejection surface. A tool assembly comprises a support structure to support the energy applicator and an axial connector assembly arranged to engage and releasably lock the energy applicator to the support structure in a locked state via the retention surface. The tool assembly is also configured to apply an ejection force to the energy applicator to provide a tactile indication to the user that the energy applicator is not fully engaged by the axial connector assembly if a suitable force is not provided by the user to overcome the ejection force and place the energy applicator in the locked state.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2019Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.Inventor: James E. Flatt
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Patent number: 11202642Abstract: Disclosed herein is a tool assembly for use with an energy applicator having a shaft extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end. The tool assembly comprises a support structure to support the energy applicator, and a connector assembly arranged to engage and releasably lock the energy applicator to the support structure in a locked state. A drive system is coupled to the support structure and is configured to rotatably drive the shaft of the energy applicator about the axis. The drive system comprises a counterweighted clutch assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2019Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.Inventor: James E. Flatt
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Publication number: 20200170724Abstract: A mounting system for coupling first and second surgical components. The mounting system comprises a first mounting portion associated with the first surgical component, a second mounting portion associated with the second surgical component and comprising a tensioner movable between a first position and a second position, and a sterile barrier assembly. The sterile barrier assembly comprises a coupling configured to releasably secure to the first mounting portion and to releasably receive the second mounting portion when the tensioner of the second mounting portion is in the first position, and a plurality of kinematic couplers configured to engage the mounting portions and arranged to provide a kinematic coupling between the mounting portions through the sterile barrier assembly to constrain six degrees of freedom of movement between the surgical components when the tensioner of the second mounting portion is in the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2019Publication date: June 4, 2020Applicant: MAKO Surgical Corp.Inventors: James E. Flatt, Robert Dodde, Jonathan Boyer, Larry Douglas O'Cull, Victor Soto
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Publication number: 20200093555Abstract: A tool for use with a surgical robotic manipulator that comprises an energy applicator including a shaft extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft has a retention surface and an ejection surface. A tool assembly comprises a support structure to support the energy applicator and an axial connector assembly arranged to engage and releasably lock the energy applicator to the support structure in a locked state via the retention surface. The tool assembly is also configured to apply an ejection force to the energy applicator to provide a tactile indication to the user that the energy applicator is not fully engaged by the axial connector assembly if a suitable force is not provided by the user to overcome the ejection force and place the energy applicator in the locked state.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2019Publication date: March 26, 2020Applicant: MAKO Surgical Corp.Inventor: James E. Flatt
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Publication number: 20200030045Abstract: Disclosed herein is a tool assembly for use with an energy applicator having a shaft extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end. The tool assembly comprises a support structure to support the energy applicator, and a connector assembly arranged to engage and releasably lock the energy applicator to the support structure in a locked state. A drive system is coupled to the support structure and is configured to rotatably drive the shaft of the energy applicator about the axis. The drive system comprises a counterweighted clutch assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Applicant: MAKO Surgical Corp.Inventor: James E. Flatt
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Publication number: 20190366550Abstract: A sensor system includes a first member extending along a rotational axis and having a surface disposed circumferentially about the axis. The sensor system further includes a conductive element fixed to the first member and disposed on the surface and about the rotational axis and a second member extending along the axis. A rotational position between the first member and the second member is adjustable. The sensor system further includes a target mounted to and rotatable with the second member and being movable relative to the second member between first and second positions. The target is spaced apart from the conductive element in both the first and second positions and is closer to the conductive element in the second position compared to the first position. The conductive element is configured to sense the target in the second position for any rotational position between the first member and the second member.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2019Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: James E. Flatt, Philip Robert Woods, Cory J. Welch, Mark A. Wasserman
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Patent number: 10456207Abstract: A tool for use with a surgical robotic manipulator that comprises an energy applicator including a shaft extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft has an axial-force receiving surface. A tool assembly comprises a support structure to support the energy applicator, an axial connector assembly arranged to engage and releasably lock the energy applicator to the support structure in a locked state, a drive system coupled to the support structure to rotatably drive the shaft of the energy applicator about the axis, a collet assembly cooperating with the axial connector assembly and configured to apply a force to the axial-force receiving surface of the energy applicator in the locked state, and a reference surface. The force includes an axial component directing the energy applicator proximally into continuous contact with the reference surface in the locked state.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.Inventor: James E. Flatt
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Publication number: 20190290379Abstract: A sterile barrier assembly, mounting system, and method for kinematically coupling first and second surgical components together through the sterile barrier assembly so that positioning is repeatable and deterministic.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Applicant: Stryker CorporationInventors: James E. Flatt, Douglas A. Staunton, Matthew B. Pastrick
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Patent number: 10357324Abstract: A sterile barrier assembly, mounting system, and method for kinematically coupling first and second surgical components together through the sterile barrier assembly so that positioning is repeatable and deterministic.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2016Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: STRYKER CORPORATIONInventors: James E. Flatt, Douglas A. Staunton, Matthew B. Pastrick
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Publication number: 20180110572Abstract: A tool for use with a surgical robotic manipulator that comprises an energy applicator including a shaft extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft has an axial-force receiving surface. A tool assembly comprises a support structure to support the energy applicator, an axial connector assembly arranged to engage and releasably lock the energy applicator to the support structure in a locked state, a drive system coupled to the support structure to rotatably drive the shaft of the energy applicator about the axis, a collet assembly cooperating with the axial connector assembly and configured to apply a force to the axial-force receiving surface of the energy applicator in the locked state, and a reference surface. The force includes an axial component directing the energy applicator proximally into continuous contact with the reference surface in the locked state.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventor: James E. Flatt