Patents Examined by Aaron Roane
  • Patent number: 9987090
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure may include an apparatus including an optical fiber having a distal end and configured to emit a beam of energy. The apparatus may also include a first lens coupled to the distal end of the optical fiber and a sheath including a channel and a second lens positioned on a distal region of the sheath. The optical fiber may be disposed within the channel of the sheath to permit relative movement between the first lens and the second lens and thereby adjust a beam of energy that exits the sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Jamie Li
  • Patent number: 9980736
    Abstract: A medical electric tool has a grip portion and a driving portion. The grip portion has a combining protrusion, two combining channels, and a locking device. The combining channels are defined respectively in two sides of the combining protrusion. The locking device is mounted in the combining protrusion and has two locking blocks and two recoil springs. Each locking block has an engaging segment. The engaging segment is formed on one end of the locking block and extends into one of the combining channels. The driving portion is detachably mounted on the combining protrusion on the grip portion and has a bottom face and two engaging ribs. Each engaging rib has an end provided with an engaging hook selectively engaging with the engaging segment of a corresponding one of the locking blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: TECHWAY INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fu-Hsiang Chung, Chen-Chen Cheng, Jui-Heng Lin
  • Patent number: 9968439
    Abstract: A system for treating a cataractous lens of a patient's eye includes a laser source for generating a light beam, a scanning system for deflecting the light beam to form a treatment pattern of the light beam, and a controller operably coupled to the laser source and scanning system and configured to operate the scanner to form the treatment pattern. The treatment pattern is a plurality of cuts in the form two or more different incision patterns for segmenting the lens tissue into a plurality of patterned pieces. The incision pattern includes: a first incision pattern including two or more crossing cut incision planes; and a second incision pattern comprising one or more laser incision each extending along a first length between a posterior and an anterior surface of the lens capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Optimedica Corporation
    Inventors: William Culbertson, Barry Seibel, Neil Friedman, Georg Schuele, Phillip Gooding
  • Patent number: 9956230
    Abstract: A new and novel method for determining post procedural treatment is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for a treating a patient following a surgical procedure on at least one eye comprises determining a depth at which the surgical procedure is to be performed or was performed, and providing instructions for administering medication for a length of time to the at least one eye of the patient, the length of time based at least in part upon the depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Inventor: Michael Mehrdad Mazaheri
  • Patent number: 9949750
    Abstract: Medical devices and methods for using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a tubular member having a lumen defined therein and a proximal end. A shaft may extend through the lumen. The shaft may have a distal end and a proximal end. An end effector may be attached to the distal end of the shaft. A handle may be coupled to the proximal end of the tubular member. The handle may include a base, a first hub member attached to the base, a second hub member coupled to the first hub member, and a cap attached to the second hub member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Man M. Nguyen, Gary S. Kappel, Gerald R. Heller, Lawrence E. Stanton
  • Patent number: 9943375
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a distal portion. A force sensor is operatively mounted on the distal portion. The force sensor includes a wireless package, which wirelessly provides (1) identification information of the surgical instrument and (2) strain data related to the distal portion. A surgical end effector includes a jaw and the distal portion is on a non-contact portion of the jaw. The wireless package includes a surface acoustic wave strain sensor with identification information. The wireless package also includes a small folded antenna electrically coupled to the surface acoustic wave strain sensor with identification information. The identification information includes an identification of a type of surgical instrument and unique identification of the specific surgical instrument in the type of surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Blumenkranz, Brett J. Lockyer
  • Patent number: 9931108
    Abstract: A relocation system for influencing an anatomical structure in relation to an internal surgical site. The system is composed of an elongated member constructed and arranged for insertion into a patient. The elongated member is composed of a plurality of segments interconnected by a plurality of control lines. The plurality of segments having one or more straight segments, one or more deflection segments, which are used to shape and steer the elongated member upon manipulation of at least one of the control lines. This causes the elongated member to deform into any desired shape capable of influencing the anatomical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Inventor: Steven Miller
  • Patent number: 9931106
    Abstract: A medical instrument including a shaft and an actuated structure mounted at a distal end of the shaft can employ a pair of tendons connected to the actuated structure, extending down the shaft, and respectively wound around a capstan in opposite directions. A preload system may be coupled to maintain minimum tensions in the tendons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Kwok Wai Au, Stephen J. Blumenkranz, Giuseppe Maria Prisco
  • Patent number: 9910338
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system may include a housing, one or more lenses, and a scanning system. The housing has an interior region. A lens is disposed within the interior region and transmits a light beam. The scanning system is disposed within the interior region and comprises a number of scanning cells, where each scanning cell comprises an electro-optical (EO) material. The scanning system performs the following for a number of iterations to yield a spot pattern: receive one or more voltages and electrically steer the light beam with the EO material from a current direction to a next direction in response to the voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ronald T. Smith
  • Patent number: 9888974
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for compensate for friction within powered automatic systems, particularly for telesurgery and other telepresence applications. Dynamic friction compensation may comprise applying a continuous load in the direction of movement of a joint, and static friction compensation may comprise applying alternating loads in positive and negative joint actuation directions whenever the joint velocity reading falls within a low velocity range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Gunter D. Niemeyer
  • Patent number: 9877864
    Abstract: A sequential compression and temperature therapy blanket with a plurality of air chambers is disclosed. The air chambers are filled and released by a valve assembly that may be separate from or integrated within the blanket. The temperature therapy blanket includes a fluid bladder for delivering hot and/or cold therapy to a patient. The temperature therapy blanket may also include an air bladder for providing compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: ThermoTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Overton L. Parish, Niran Balachandran, Tony Quisenberry, Clark R. Havis
  • Patent number: 9867687
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided including a handle portion and a body portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument also includes a grasper disposed at a distal end of the body portion, the grasper including an ultraviolet (UV) light mechanism for performing UV tacking of an implant. The implant is positioned between the first and second jaw members of the grasper: (i) to be placed at a surgical site and (ii) to be exposed by a UV light emitted from the UV light mechanism such that the UV tacking of the implant to the surgical site is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Timothy Sargeant
  • Patent number: 9861437
    Abstract: Guided ablation instruments are disclosed for creating lesions in tissue, especially cardiac tissue for treatment of arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation. In one aspect of the invention, a percutaneous catheter is disclosed with an endoscope positionable in the instrument's distal end region to obtain an image. The image allows the clinician to determine whether contact has been achieved (or blood has been cleared from an ablative energy transmission path) before ablation begins or while ablation is occurring. In one embodiment, percutaneous ablation catheters are disclosed having at least one central lumen and one or more balloon structures at the distal end region of the instrument. Also disposed in the distal end region are an illuminating light source and an endoscope capable of collecting sufficient light to relay an image to the user. The instruments can further include an ablation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: CARDIOFOCUS, INC.
    Inventors: Gerald Melsky, Jeffrey M. Arnold, Edward L. Sinofsky, Norman E. Farr
  • Patent number: 9848944
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating an intraosseous nerve. The method includes positioning a hollow shaft through the cortical shell of a vertebral body and into a cancellous bone region of the vertebral body. The hollow shaft includes an annular wall having a longitudinal bore therein, a proximal portion and a distal portion, and a first window extending transversely through the annular wall. An electrosurgical probe is advanced within the longitudinal bore from the proximal portion toward the distal portion. The electrosurgical probe includes a first treatment element at a distal end of the probe, wherein the first treatment element being in electrical connection with a power supply. The first treatment element is slidably disposed within the longitudinal bore so that the first treatment element is advanced radially outward from the window and shaft to affect treatment of the intraosseous nerve within the cancellous bone region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Relievant Medsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey K. Sutton, Thomas P. Ryan, Samit Patel, Richard C. Pellegrino
  • Patent number: 9839557
    Abstract: Graphical user interface system and method for displaying and controlling a surgical device, such as a device used in phacoemulsification procedures, are disclosed. A graphical user interface is displayed on a display screen and includes one or more representations of operating parameters, such as aspiration rate, vacuum, and power that are used to control the surgical device. A parameter is adjusted by moving a portion of a representation from a first location on the display screen to a second location on the display screen to change the operating parameter and control the surgical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventor: Mikhail Boukhny
  • Patent number: 9827041
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for non-continuous circumferential treatment of a body lumen. Apparatus may be positioned within a body lumen of a patient and may deliver energy at a first lengthwise and angular position to create a less-than-full circumferential treatment zone at the first position. The apparatus also may deliver energy at one or more additional lengthwise and angular positions within the body lumen to create less-than-full circumferential treatment zone(s) at the one or more additional positions that are offset lengthwise and angularly from the first treatment zone. Superimposition of the first treatment zone and the one or more additional treatment zones defines a non-continuous circumferential treatment zone without formation of a continuous circumferential lesion. Various embodiments of methods and apparatus for achieving such non-continuous circumferential treatment are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Medtronic Ardian Luxembourg S.a.r.l.
    Inventors: Denise Zarins, Hanson Gifford, III, Mark Deem, Nicolas Zadno, Benjamin J. Clark, Andrew Wu, Kenneth J. Michlitsch
  • Patent number: 9820740
    Abstract: Adapter assemblies are provided for selectively interconnecting a surgical end effector that is configured to perform at least a pair of functions and a surgical device that is configured to actuate the end effector, wherein the end effector includes a first axially translatable drive member and a second axially translatable drive member, and wherein the surgical device includes a first rotatable drive shaft and a second rotatable drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Michael Zemlok, Ryan Williams, Stanislaw Marczyk, Nihir Patel, David Chowaniec
  • Patent number: 9820887
    Abstract: A surgical system includes a laser source to generate a first set of laser pulses; a guiding optic to guide the first set of laser pulses to a target region; a laser controller to generate an electronic representation of a target scan pattern, and to control the guiding optic to scan the first set of laser pulses according to a portion of the target scan pattern to create a first photo-disrupted region in the target region; and a OCT imaging system to generate an image of a portion of the first photo-disrupted region. The laser controller can generate an electronic representation of a modified scan pattern in relation to the image generated by the SS-OCT imaging system, and control the guiding optic to scan a second set of laser pulses according the modified scan pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Alcon LenSx, Inc.
    Inventors: Ilya Goldshleger, Guy Holland, Adam Juhasz, Ronald M. Kurtz, Kostadin Vardin
  • Patent number: 9786203
    Abstract: A medical system that allows a mentor to teach a pupil how to use a robotically controlled medical instrument. The system may include a first handle that can be controlled by a mentor to move the medical instrument. The system may further have a second handle that can be moved by a pupil to control the same instrument. Deviations between movement of the handles by the mentor and the pupil can be provided as force feedback to the pupil and mentor handles. The force feedback pushes the pupil's hand to correspond with the mentor's handle movement. The force feedback will also push the mentor's hand to provide information to the mentor on pupil's movements. The mentor is thus able to guide the pupil's hands through force feedback of the pupil handles to teach the pupil how to use the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Modjtaba Ghodoussi, Darrin R. Uecker, James W. Wright, Amante A. Mangaser, Ranjan Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 9770295
    Abstract: A radiation applicator with a dielectric body (2) surrounding the antenna. The dielectric body (2) is comprised of three sections (3, 4 and 5) with different dielectric constants to provide broad-band matching of the applicator to surrounding material. Washers (10) and (11) are mounted on the antenna to act as reflectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Inventor: Nigel Cronin