Patents Assigned to Saunders Midwest LLC
  • Publication number: 20210136328
    Abstract: An endoscopic grabber includes a proximal housing, a distal assembly, a flexible shaft extending between the proximal housing and the distal assembly, a flexible member within the flexible shaft having a distal end portion connected to the distal assembly and a proximal end portion connected to the proximal housing, and a camera within the distal assembly. A distal end portion of the flexible member is movably disposed within the distal assembly. A proximal end portion of the flexible member is connected to an actuator within the proximal housing. Actuation of the proximal end portion moves the distal end portion of the flexible member such that one or more elongate arms extending from the distal end portion deforms to form part of a grabber. The camera is configured to capture an image including a tip portion of the elongate arm. The elongate arms are configured to grab a target object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: Saunders Midwest LLC
    Inventors: Michael R. BARTHEL, Douglas A. SPITLER, Dennis W. GILLOGLY, Li FENG
  • Publication number: 20200383557
    Abstract: An endoscopic grabber apparatus includes a proximal housing, a distal assembly, a flexible shaft extending between the proximal housing and the distal assembly, a flexible member within the flexible shaft having a distal end portion connected to the distal assembly and a proximal end portion connected to the proximal housing, and a camera within the distal assembly. A distal end portion of the flexible member is movably disposed within the distal assembly. A proximal end portion of the flexible member is connected to an actuator within the proximal housing. Actuation of the proximal end portion moves the distal end portion of the flexible member such that a protrusion extending from the distal end portion deforms to form part of a grabber. The camera is configured to capture an image including a tip portion of the protrusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: Saunders Midwest LLC
    Inventors: Walter J. SEDLACEK, Douglas A. SPITLER, Michael R. BARTHEL, Fule ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20190160568
    Abstract: A marker apparatus includes a housing, a current controller that is electrically connected to an electrode, a pad connected to the electrode for retaining an electrolytic fluid, and a removable cover. The removable cover retains an insulated stencil to an outer surface of the pad. The insulated stencil defines at least one permeable portion therein and a portion of the outer surface of the pad adjoins the at least one permeable portion. The at least one permeable portion can be formed as at least one opening defined through the insulated stencil, in which the portion of the outer surface of the pad extends into the at least one opening. The current controller provides an electric current from the electrode through the at least one permeable portion that is electrically connected to an object to be marker. The marker apparatus can include an on-board reservoir of electrolytic fluid and an actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: Saunders Midwest LLC
    Inventors: Walter J. SEDLACEK, Douglas A. SPITLER, Michael R. BARTHEL, Champin CHOU
  • Patent number: D854833
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Saunders Midwest LLC
    Inventors: Dennis W. Gillogly, Walter J. Sedlacek, Douglas A. Spitler, Michael R. Barthel