Patents Assigned to Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
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Publication number: 20250040926Abstract: A device for positioning in the body of an animal, the device comprising a first portion and a second portion that may be positioned in contact with one other, the first portion and the second portion each comprising a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material, such that when the device is positioned in the body of an animal and electric current flows from the first portion to the second portion, heat is generated by electrical resistance at the point of contact between the first portion and the second portion so as to melt regions of the first portion and the second portion, and when the electric current is thereafter terminated, the melted regions of the first portion and the second portion re-solidify so that a weld is formed between the first portion and the second portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2024Publication date: February 6, 2025Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.Inventor: Thomas D. Egan
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Publication number: 20250041015Abstract: A method of aligning a surgical instrument with the instrument sterile adapter for coupling the surgical instrument and an instrument carriage includes inserting the instrument shaft of the surgical instrument into an entry guide held in a fixed relation to the instrument carriage and the instrument sterile adapter, insertion of the instrument shaft into the entry guide constraining the surgical instrument to rotation around a first cylindrical axis of the instrument shaft and axial translation along the first cylindrical axis of the instrument shaft. The method further includes passing the instrument shaft of the surgical instrument through the shaft receiving slot of the instrument sterile adapter.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2024Publication date: February 6, 2025Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Gregory W. Dachs, II, Bruce Michael Schena
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Publication number: 20250040930Abstract: A surgical instrument, such as a tissue sealing instrument, is provided with an end effector having first and second movable jaws that define a gap therebetween in the closed position for clamping, sealing and/or stapling tissue. The jaws are movable relative to each other in the closed position to reduce a thickness of least one portion of this gap. This configuration allows the jaws to be moved closer together to reduce the overall size of the instrument when, for example, the instrument is introduced and retracted through an opening in the patient, or maneuvered within a body cavity. The surgical instrument may also have multiple settings for use with different staple cartridges, while still maintaining a fixed dimension between the two jaws for clamping, stapling and/or sealing tissue, providing a more adaptable surgical instrument that allows the surgeon to use different staple cartridges without having to change surgical instruments.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2024Publication date: February 6, 2025Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventor: Ashley Wellman
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Patent number: 12213753Abstract: A method for providing a visual indication regarding a state of an instrument comprises sensing usage information about the instrument and using a motor to rotate an indicator body from a first position to a second position in response to sensing the usage information meets a predetermined condition. The method further comprises holding the indicator body in the first position or the second position, respectively. In the first position a first portion of the indicator body is visible on an exterior of the instrument and in the second position a second portion is visible. In the first position, the first portion of the indicator body provides a visual indication that the usage information of the instrument does not meet the predetermined condition, and in the second position the second portion of the visual indicator body provides a visual indication that the usage information of the instrument meets the predetermined condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2022Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Donald Alden, Bram Gilbert Antoon Lambrecht
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Patent number: 12213814Abstract: A bifurcated navigation control system defines a path whereby a manipulator cart is to navigate from an initial location to a target location, and identifies a navigation condition associated with a navigation of the manipulator cart along the path. Based on the navigation condition, the bifurcated navigation control system defines a propulsion limitation for the manipulator cart during the navigation of the manipulator cart along the path. The bifurcated navigation control system directs the manipulator cart to navigate along at least part of the path in a bifurcated navigation control mode in which the bifurcated navigation control system is configured to autonomously control a steering of the manipulator cart while allowing operator control of a propulsion of the manipulator cart in accordance with the propulsion limitation. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2020Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Sophia R. Hannaford, Marisa C. Babb, Simon P. DiMaio, Craig Gotsill, Brandon D. Itkowitz, Omid Mohareri, Dinesh Rabindran
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Patent number: 12213662Abstract: A device for positioning in the body of an animal, the device comprising a first portion and a second portion that may be positioned in contact with one other, the first portion and the second portion each comprising a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material, such that when the device is positioned in the body of an animal and electric current flows from the first portion to the second portion, heat is generated by electrical resistance at the point of contact between the first portion and the second portion so as to melt regions of the first portion and the second portion, and when the electric current is thereafter terminated, the melted regions of the first portion and the second portion re-solidify so that a weld is formed between the first portion and the second portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2020Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventor: Thomas D. Egan
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Patent number: 12213755Abstract: Implementations relate to actuated grips for a controller. In some implementations, a controller includes a central member, a grip member coupled to the central member and moveable in a grip degree of freedom, a shaft coupled to the grip member, and an actuator coupled to the shaft and operative to output an actuator force on the shaft. The actuator force causes a grip force to be applied via the shaft to the grip member in the grip degree of freedom.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2023Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Cavalier, Brian Luptak, Gregory W. Dachs, II
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Patent number: 12213757Abstract: A teleoperated system comprises a display, a master input device, and a control system. The control system is configured to determine an orientation of an end effector reference frame relative to a field of view reference frame, determine an orientation of a master input device reference frame relative to a display reference frame, establish an alignment relationship between the master input device reference frame and the display reference frame, and command, based on the alignment relationship, a change in a pose of the end effector in response to a change in a pose of the master input device. The alignment relationship is independent of a position relationship between the master input device reference frame and the display reference frame. In one aspect, the teleoperated system is a telemedical system such as a telesurgical system.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2023Date of Patent: February 4, 2025Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Simon P. DiMaio, Gerard J. Labonville, Kollin M. Tierling
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Publication number: 20250032206Abstract: A grounded virtual portal to interface with a robotic medical system is provided. The system can include an input controller coupled to a first structure via a plurality of linkages. The first structure can be mechanically coupled to a base structure. The input controller can control an object of a medical environment. A head mounted display can be coupled to a second structure extending the base structure. The head mounted display can be configured to render an extended reality environment corresponding to the medical environment. A processor can establish a grounded reference frame for the input controller to be maintained in the extended reality environment rendered via the head mounted display, and configure, based on the plurality of linkages and the grounded reference frame, a force scaler function for bidirectional force delivery between the input controller and the object of the medical environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2024Publication date: January 30, 2025Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Richard Mahoney, Ryan C. Abbott, Mitchell Doughty, Govinda Payyavula, Andrej Simeunovic
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Publication number: 20250032104Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft, a force transmission mechanism disposed at a first end of the shaft, an end effector disposed at a second end of the shaft, an actuation element that extends along the shaft from the force transmission mechanism to the end effector, and an actuation element guide extending along the shaft. The actuation element guide defines a lumen in which the actuation element guide is received. The actuation element guide is compressed into a pre-compressed state along at least a portion of an axial length of the shaft. The actuation element guide can be compressed between first and second blocks of the instrument. The instrument can include a flush tube configured to receive a cleaning fluid, with the actuation element guide being in flow communication with the flush tube to receive the cleaning fluid in the lumen of the actuation element guide.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2024Publication date: January 30, 2025Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Samuel T. Crews, Nicole Kernbaum, Lawrence Kerver, Harsukhdeep Singh Ratia
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Patent number: 12207884Abstract: An exemplary system is configured to obtain anatomical characteristic data representative of a characteristic associated with an anatomical surface to be covered by a physical medical element, the anatomical surface within an internal space of a patient and determine, based on the anatomical characteristic data, a placement guidance parameter set. The placement guidance parameter set may include one or more parameters configured to guide a placement of the physical medical element on the anatomical surface with one or more surgical instruments controlled by a computer-assisted surgical system.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2020Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Azad Shademan, Mahdi Azizian, Daniel Proksch, Pourya Shirazian
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Patent number: 12207895Abstract: A method of operating a manipulator arm comprising a manipulator interface configured to removably couple with and transmit actuation force to a medical instrument includes mounting a cannula to a cannula mount coupled to the manipulator arm; mounting a medical instrument to the manipulator interface; inserting a shaft of the medical instrument through an entry guide mounted to the cannula; rotating the manipulator interface and the medical instrument relative to the cannula mount; and rotating the entry guide relative to the cannula mount about a longitudinal axis of the cannula.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2022Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Thomas G. Cooper, Jeffrey D. Brown, Nicola Diolaiti, Eugene F. Duval, Daniel H. Gomez, Robert E. Holop, Paul E. Lilagan, Anthony K. McGrogan, Craig R. Ramstad
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Patent number: 12207885Abstract: A system for identifying a location of a lumen of a tubular body structure in a patient's body includes a flexible, longitudinally extending probe configured to be inserted through the lumen in the tubular body structure in the patient. A detection system may include an antenna arranged to receive signals from a longitudinally extending detectable portion of the probe. A processing system may process the received signals and identify a longitudinally extending position of the longitudinally extending detectable portion of the probe in a three dimensional reference frame.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2018Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Marc Levesque, Theodore W. Rogers
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Patent number: 12211240Abstract: An illustrative apparatus may identify, within an image frame captured by an image capture system, a signal region that includes pixels having auto-exposure values exceeding an auto-exposure value threshold. The apparatus may adjust, based on the auto-exposure values of the pixels included within the signal region, one or more auto-exposure parameters used by the image capture system to capture an additional image frame. Additionally, the apparatus may determine, based on a size of the signal region within the image frame, whether to change the auto-exposure value threshold. Corresponding apparatuses, systems, and methods for managing auto-exposure of image frames are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2021Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Zhen He, Jeffrey M. DiCarlo, Max J. Trejo
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Patent number: 12207893Abstract: A surgical instrument may comprise a chassis, a shaft coupled to the chassis at the proximal end of the shaft, an end effector coupled to the shaft at the distal end of the shaft, a force transmission mechanism coupled to the chassis, and an actuation element connected between a lever arm of the force transmission mechanism and the end effector. The force transmission mechanism includes a worm drive, and the lever arm comprising a first end and a follower member at the first end of the lever arm, wherein the follower member is engaged with the worm drive and is configured to be driven by the worm drive. Rotational movement of the worm drive imparts translational movement to the actuation element via the lever arm, and the lever arm slides along a generally linear direction relative to the chassis to impart the translational movement to the actuation element.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2021Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Mark A. Diel, Bram Gilbert Antoon Lambrecht
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Patent number: 12211154Abstract: A region-based augmentation system is configured to determine that a viewpoint of a user of a display device is directed within an anchor region of a physical world containing the user. In response, the system directs the display device to present augmented content in an evident manner. The evident manner comprises anchoring the augmented content relative to the viewpoint, such that the augmented content follows the viewpoint as the user moves the viewpoint within the anchor region. The system further determines that the viewpoint is directed outside of the anchor region by the user. In response, the system directs the display device to present the augmented content in a less evident manner. The presenting of the augmented content in the less evident manner comprises presenting the augmented content less visibly than the evident manner and/or unanchoring the augmented content relative to the viewpoint. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2021Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Simon P. DiMaio, Brandon D. Itkowitz, Terrence B. McKenna, III, Govinda Payyavula
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Patent number: 12210665Abstract: A viewpoint optimization system identifies a condition associated with an operating session during which a computer-assisted operation system performs a plurality of operations with respect to a body while an imaging device included within the computer-assisted operation system provides, for display on a display device during the operating session, imagery of the body from a first viewpoint. The viewpoint optimization system defines, based on the identified condition, a second viewpoint for the imaging device that is more optimal than the first viewpoint for an operation included in the plurality of operations. Additionally, the viewpoint optimization system directs the display device to display an indication of the second viewpoint. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2020Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventor: Anthony M. Jarc
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Patent number: 12208520Abstract: A cable-driven device, such as a joint or instrument of a computer-assisted manipulator system, may comprise a capstan mechanism to wind/unwind cables. The capstan mechanism comprises a capstan that has a groove in an outer surface of the capstan to guide the cables, which are routed from a take-up pulley, to spool onto the capstan as the capstan rotates. A guide element is engaged with the groove. The guide element is held translationally stationary relative to the take-up pulley, while there is relative translation between the capstan and both the guide element and the take-up pulley. Thus, as the capstan rotates, the guide element engages with the groove and forces the capstan and the take-up pulley to translate relative to one another. This relative translation of the capstan and the take-up pulley may prevent deviation of a take-up angle of the cable as the cable spools onto the capstan.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2022Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Bram Gilbert Antoon Lambrecht, Thomas G. Cooper, Andrew Cullen Waterbury
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Publication number: 20250025249Abstract: A surgical cannula includes a bowl section; a tube; and an attachment portion extending from the bowl section. The attachment portion is configured to engage with at least one of a cannula sterile adaptor and a cannula mount of a surgical system. The attachment portion extends from the bowl section along a radial direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cannula. The attachment portion tapers in a direction away from the bowl section.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2024Publication date: January 23, 2025Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Allen C. Thompson, Randal P. Goldberg, Dean F. Hoornaert, Tyler J. Morrissette, Bruce M. Schena
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Patent number: 12201484Abstract: A system comprises a processor and a memory having computer readable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to display an image of a surgical environment. The image includes an information icon corresponding to an instrument in the surgical environment. The instructions further cause the system to display an image of a body part of a user. The image of the body part is used to interact with the information icon. The instructions further cause the system to receive a gesture of the body part, via a gesture-based input device registering movement of the body part, to cause the image of the body part to interact with the information icon. The instructions further cause the system to display an information menu in the image of the surgical environment based on the interaction between the image of the body part and the information icon.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2023Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Brandon D. Itkowitz, Simon P. DiMaio, Paul W. Mohr, Theodore W. Rogers