Patents by Inventor Mark E. Rentschler

Mark E. Rentschler 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: 11730928
    Abstract: An overtube assembly for use with an elongate medical tool includes an overtube including a flexible tubular body having a proximal end and distal end. The flexible tubular body includes a split extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The overtube assembly further includes an inflatable balloon coupled to a distal portion of the flexible tubular body. The flexible tubular body is disposable over a section of the elongate medical tool by inserting the elongate medical tool through the split.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignees: ASPERO MEDICAL, INC., THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, A BODY CORPORATE
    Inventors: Mark E. Rentschler, Steven Edmundowicz, William Laybourn, Randall N. Allard, Jason Morton
  • Patent number: 11577056
    Abstract: Medical devices including balloons and balloons are provided that include an elongate body and an inflatable balloon defining a longitudinal axis, the inflatable balloon being attached to and partially surrounding at least a section of the elongate body. The medical device further includes a plurality of protrusions extending from the inflatable balloon. When the inflatable balloon is in an unstrained state, each of the plurality of protrusions extends in a first transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis. In certain implementations, the inflatable balloon may also be configured to collapse such that, when in a collapsed state, an untextured portion of the inflatable balloon extends to a radius and the plurality of protrusions does not extend beyond the radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: ASPERO MEDICAL, INC., THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
    Inventors: Mark E. Rentschler, Randall N. Allard
  • Publication number: 20220240762
    Abstract: An overtube assembly for use with an elongate medical includes a flexible tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, the flexible tubular body including a tube split extending longitudinally from the proximal end to the distal end. The flexible tubular body defines each of a primary lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end and accessible through the tube split and a secondary lumen separate from the primary lumen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Mark E. Rentschler, Allison B. Lyle, Jeffrey P. Castleberry
  • Publication number: 20220211449
    Abstract: Implementations include herein are visual navigation strategies and systems for lumen center tracking comprising a high-level state machine for gross (i.e., left/right/center) region prediction and curvature estimation and multiple state-dependent controllers for center tracking, wall-avoidance and curve following. This structure allows a navigation system to navigate even under the presence of significant occlusion that occurs during turn navigation and to robustly recover from mistakes and disturbances that may occur while attempting to track the lumen center. This system comprises a high-level state machine for gross region prediction, a turn estimator for anticipating sharp turns, and several lower level controllers for heading adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventors: Mark E. Rentschler, Gregory Formosa, Joseph M. Prendergast, Mitchell J. Fulton
  • Publication number: 20210307589
    Abstract: A medical device includes an elongate body and an inflatable balloon attached to and partially surrounding at least a section of the elongate body. The inflatable balloon is selectively inflatable between a deflated state and an inflated state. Engagement between the balloon and a physiological lumen is provided, in part, by multiple protrusions extending from the inflatable balloon and having various physical and functional characteristics. In certain implementations, the balloon may be configured to exhibit various separation forces by applying different strains to the balloon, such as by varying the degree to which the balloon is inflated or deflated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a Body Corporate
    Inventors: Mark E. Rentschler, Steven A. Edmundowicz, Karl Johannes
  • Patent number: 11089944
    Abstract: A medical device includes an elongate body and an inflatable balloon attached to and partially surrounding at least a section of the elongate body. The inflatable balloon is selectively inflatable between a deflated state and an inflated state. Engagement between the balloon and a physiological lumen is provided, in part, by multiple protrusions extending from the inflatable balloon and having various physical and functional characteristics. In certain implementations, the balloon may be configured to exhibit various separation forces by applying different strains to the balloon, such as by varying the degree to which the balloon is inflated or deflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado
    Inventors: Mark E. Rentschler, Karl Johannes, Steven A. Edmundowicz
  • Publication number: 20200352424
    Abstract: A self-propelled semi- or fully-autonomous robotic endoscope device is provided that include multi-degrees of freedom movement and may be sensor-enabled for colonoscopy procedures. The device may include two independently controlled motors configured to drive micro-pillared treads above and below the device, allowing for 2-degrees of freedom (DOF) skid-steering even in a collapsed lumen. The robotic device contains similar functionality of a traditional endoscope, such as a camera, adjustable LEDs, channels for insufflation and irrigation, and a tool port for common endoscopy instruments (e.g., forceps, snares, etc.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventors: Mark E. Rentschler, Gregory Formosa, Joseph M. Prendergast
  • Publication number: 20200276417
    Abstract: An overtube assembly for use with an elongate medical tool includes an overtube including a flexible tubular body having a proximal end and distal end. The flexible tubular body includes a split extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The overtube assembly further includes an inflatable balloon coupled to a distal portion of the flexible tubular body. The flexible tubular body is disposable over a section of the elongate medical tool by inserting the elongate medical tool through the split.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicants: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a Body Corporate, Aspero Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Rentschler, Steven Edmundowicz, William Laybourn, Randall N. Allard, Jason Morton
  • Publication number: 20200215310
    Abstract: Medical devices including balloons and balloons are provided that include an elongate body and an inflatable balloon defining a longitudinal axis, the inflatable balloon being attached to and partially surrounding at least a section of the elongate body. The medical device further includes a plurality of protrusions extending from the inflatable balloon. When the inflatable balloon is in an unstrained state, each of the plurality of protrusions extends in a first transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis. In certain implementations, the inflatable balloon may also be configured to collapse such that, when in a collapsed state, an untextured portion of the inflatable balloon extends to a radius and the plurality of protrusions does not extend beyond the radius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventors: Mark E. Rentschler, Randall N. Allard
  • Publication number: 20190216297
    Abstract: A medical device includes an elongate body and an inflatable balloon attached to and partially surrounding at least a section of the elongate body. The inflatable balloon is selectively inflatable between a deflated state and an inflated state. Engagement between the balloon and a physiological lumen is provided, in part, by multiple protrusions extending from the inflatable balloon and having various physical and functional characteristics. In certain implementations, the balloon may be configured to exhibit various separation forces by applying different strains to the balloon, such as by varying the degree to which the balloon is inflated or deflated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a Body Corporate
    Inventors: Mark E. Rentschler, Karl Johannes, Steven A. Edmundowicz
  • Patent number: 7339341
    Abstract: The present invention is a miniature camera robot which can be placed entirely within an open space such as an abdominal cavity. The instant camera robot has pan and tilt capabilities, an adjustable focus camera, and a support component for supporting the robot body. In particular embodiments, the camera robot further contains a light source for illumination and a handle to position the camera robot. A system and method for using the instant camera robot are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
    Inventors: Dmitry Oleynikov, Shane M. Farritor, Mark E. Rentschler, Stephen R. Platt, Jason Dumpert
  • Publication number: 20020154947
    Abstract: A road safety marker assembly having a road safety marker and a drive wheel supporting at least a portion of the road safety marker above a road surface to permit movement of the road safety marker assembly relative to the road surface. A motor is drivingly connected to the drive wheel for driving the drive wheel to self-propel the assembly relative to the road surface. In one embodiment, the road safety marker assembly includes a receiver for receiving a control signal. The motor is electrically connected to the receiver and is responsive to the signal to drive rotation of the drive wheel to move the assembly relative to the road surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Applicant: The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
    Inventors: Shane M. Farritor, Mark E. Rentschler, Jeremy L. Elder