Patents Examined by Anhtuan T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9854970
    Abstract: The present application includes methods, systems and computer readable storage devices for determining a color score for at least a portion of a biological tissue. The subject matter of the application is embodied in a method that includes obtaining a digital image of the biological tissue, and receiving a selection of a portion of the image as an evaluation area. The method also includes determining for each of a plurality of pixels within the evaluation area, a plurality of color components that are based on a Cartesian color space, and determining, from the color components, a hue value in a polar coordinate based color space. The method further includes determining a color value based on the hue value for each of the plurality of pixels, and assigning a color score to the evaluation area based on an average of the color values of the plurality of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary
    Inventors: Reza Dana, Francisco L. Amparo Pulido, Haobing Wang
  • Patent number: 9839480
    Abstract: An adapter assembly is provided for selectively interconnecting a surgical end effector that is configured to perform a function and a surgical device that is configured to actuate the end effector, the end effector including at least one axially translatable drive member, and the surgical device including at least one rotatable drive shaft. The adapter assembly includes at least one drive converter assembly including a drive shaft; a drive coupling nut threadably connected to a distal end portion of the drive shaft; and an axially translatable drive bar connected to the drive coupling nut, wherein rotation of the drive shaft results in axial translation of the drive bar. The drive coupling nut engages 29 teeth of the threaded distal end portion of the drive shaft. The drive coupling nut is manufactured from unreinforced PEEK thermoplastic polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Russell Pribanic, Stanislaw Marczyk
  • Patent number: 9829082
    Abstract: A bending operation system includes an elongated tubular portion including a bending portion, a first linear member and a second linear member which cause the bending portion to bend, and a drive portion which displaces the first linear member and the second linear member. The bending operation system further includes a first displacement detector which acquires a displacement of the first linear member as a first displacement, a second displacement detector which acquires a displacement of the second linear member as a second displacement, and a calculator which calculates operation assist information by use of one or both of the first displacement and the second displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryo Tojo, Jun Hane
  • Patent number: 9826894
    Abstract: An endoscope system including a control section that controls an LED driving section to supply driving currents to LEDs of a plurality of colors to cause the LEDs to emit lights in a frame-sequential manner and a processor that divides a total exposure period in one frame period of the frame-sequential light emission into ratios of light emission periods for each of the respective colors obtained by dividing light amount ratios of the lights of the plurality of colors, which should be received in a CCD, respectively by respective maximum light emission intensities of the LEDs of the plurality of colors and sets respective maximum light emission periods of the LEDs of the plurality of colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Masaki, Yusuke Yabe, Tomoya Takahashi, Masato Toda, Yutaka Shirota, Daisuke Akiyama, Koji Omori
  • Patent number: 9826892
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure may include a medical device comprising an elongate member including a proximal region and a distal region. The elongate member can further include a handle at the proximal region and a tip at the distal region. The tip can include one or more openings, wherein one of the one or more openings at least partially houses an illumination unit. The illumination unit may further comprise a light source, a near-field diffuser proximate to the light source, and a far-field aperture proximate to the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Dresher, Andrew Calabrese
  • Patent number: 9820638
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed medical devices for illuminating and viewing a patient's internal body portion. The device may include an elongated flexible tube including a distal end and a proximal end. The tube defines a channel extending from the proximal end to an aperture at the distal end. An illumination device is housed within the channel and configured to emit a distally directed path of light. A light source is provided at the distal end of the flexible tube and configured to emit a laterally directed path of light. In one embodiment the light source is a organic light emitting diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Cheng
  • Patent number: 9814369
    Abstract: A surgical camera assembly includes a proximal member defining a longitudinal axis and a distal member defining a pointed tip configured to puncture tissue to permit insertion of the surgical camera assembly therethrough. The distal member is pivotably coupled to the proximal member and is movable relative thereto between a first position, wherein the distal member is aligned with the longitudinal axis, and a second position, wherein the distal member is angled off the longitudinal axis. First and second surgical cameras are disposed within the distal member in fixed position and longitudinally-spaced relative to one another. Each of the cameras is oriented to define a viewing area in a direction extending from an outer lateral periphery of the distal member. The cameras are configured to produce video images that are used in conjunction with one another to provide a three-dimensional video image of the internal surgical site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Ashwini K. Pandey
  • Patent number: 9808144
    Abstract: A variable direction of view endoscope is positionable at desired locations within the ear, nose, throat, paranasal sinuses or cranium to accomplish visualization. A method of use includes introducing the variable direction of view endoscope into a nasal cavity with the endoscope adjusted to a first direction of view between about 0 degrees and about 15 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the endoscope. A therapeutic device is introduced into the nasal cavity and the endoscope is adjusted to a second direction of view directed toward the sinus opening or passageway. The method also includes advancing the therapeutic device into or through the sinus opening and viewing at least one of the sinus opening or passageway or the therapeutic device using the endoscope adjusted to the second direction of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Goldfarb, Dominick L. Gatto, Thomas R. Jenkins, Scott J. Baron
  • Patent number: 9801531
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes an image acquisition section, an attention area setting section, and a dimming control section. The image acquisition section acquires a captured image that includes an object image. The attention area setting section sets an attention area within the captured image based on information from the endoscope system. The dimming control section performs a dimming control process that controls the intensity of illumination light based on the attention area set by the attention area setting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasunori Morita, Seigo On, Jumpei Takahashi, Naoya Kuriyama, Keiji Higuchi
  • Patent number: 9795277
    Abstract: A monitor apparatus includes: a display panel that displays a medical image; an as-viewed output terminal capable of outputting a video signal reflecting a same color set value as a color set value reflected in the medical image displayed on the display panel; a communication unit that detects device information regarding an external device connected to the as-viewed output terminal; and a second color setting reflection unit capable of controlling to further change the color set value reflected in the video signal outputted from the as-viewed output terminal based on a detection result of the communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaya Fujita, Masahiro Kudo, Masashi Umemura, Hiroshi Yanagisawa, Hiroshi Higuchi
  • Patent number: 9795285
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including at least one illumination source configured to emit illumination energy and an illumination control system to receive the illumination energy. The illumination control system is configured to control the illumination energy to output a sequence of different illumination wavelengths using the illumination energy. The apparatus also includes a plurality of optical fibers connected to the illumination control system and configured to sequentially output the different illumination wavelengths. Each optical fiber is configured to transmit a different illumination wavelength of the sequence to output the sequence of different illumination wavelengths from the optical fibers toward an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Robertson
  • Patent number: 9788755
    Abstract: Various embodiments of an intubation system include a tracheal tube and an illumination assembly that is removably couplable to a tubular body of the tracheal tube. The tracheal tube may be a double lumen tracheal tube having a first cuff that is adapted to be inflated to seal against the walls of a patient's trachea and a second cuff that is adapted to be inflated to seal against the walls of the patient's bronchial stem. The illumination assembly may have one or more illumination devices that are adapted to produce light within the patient's trachea, the patient's bronchial stem, or both when the illumination assembly is coupled to the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Sarah Hayman, Lockett E. Wood, Christina Kornreich
  • Patent number: 9770216
    Abstract: Methods and systems for navigating to a target through a patient's bronchial tree are disclosed including a bronchoscope, a probe insertable into a working channel of the bronchoscope and including a location sensor, and a workstation in operative communication with the probe and the bronchoscope, the workstation including a user interface that guides a user through a navigation plan and is configured to present a central navigation view including a plurality of views configured for assisting the user in navigating the bronchoscope through central airways of the patient's bronchial tree toward the target, a peripheral navigation view including a plurality of views configured for assisting the user in navigating the probe through peripheral airways of the patient's bronchial tree to the target, and a target alignment view including a plurality of views configured for assisting the user in aligning a distal tip of the probe with the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Andrew E. Brown, David J. Miel, Matthew W. Baker, Dorian Averbuch, Eyal Klein, Oren P. Weingarten
  • Patent number: 9750394
    Abstract: In an endoscope system that obtains a captured image inside of a body cavity by use of an insertion unit of an endoscope apparatus which is inserted into the body cavity of a subject, an oscillator outputs an oscillation pulse signal, and receives a reflected pulse signal. A transmission line is provided along the insertion unit near an envelope of the insertion unit, and transmits a pulse signal output from the oscillator. A time calculating unit and an insertion length calculating unit obtain a time difference between the oscillation pulse signal and the reflected pulse signal on the basis of the oscillation pulse signal output by the oscillator and the reflected pulse signal received by the oscillator, and calculate an insertion length of the insertion unit on the basis of the obtained time difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiro Kumagai, Hidenobu Kubo
  • Patent number: 9750395
    Abstract: An information management apparatus that is used in a capsule endoscope inspection system including a receiving device operated by a built-in rechargeable battery and that is capable of communicating with the receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsuyoshi Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 9737198
    Abstract: The present invention relates, generally, to controlling a steerable instrument having an elongate body. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for sensing the shape of a steerable instrument and controlling the steerable instrument in response to a control signal from a user input device and a shape signal corresponding to the sensed shape of at least a portion of the steerable instrument. The present invention also relates to a system for sensing the shape of a flexible instrument with an optical shape sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith P. Laby, Robert M. Ohline, Christoph M. Pistor, Charles E. Swinehart, Bruce R. Woodley, Amir Belson
  • Patent number: 9723975
    Abstract: A capsule endoscope system includes: a capsule endoscope; a receiving unit that receives an image signal of an object transmitted wirelessly from the capsule endoscope; an image display unit that displays an image based on the image signal received by the receiving unit; a position detection unit that detects a position of the capsule endoscope; and a control unit having a first determination unit that determines whether normal display of the image based on the image signal is possible and having a second determination unit that determines whether normal position detection for the capsule endoscope is possible by the position detection unit. The control unit causes the image display unit to start display of the image based on the image signal when the normal display of the image based on the image signal is possible and the normal position detection for the capsule endoscope is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9723971
    Abstract: Obtaining a surface image captured by an endoscope inserted in a tubular organ associated with a surrounding blood vessel and representing an inner surface of a wall of the organ, generating, from a three-dimensional image representing a three-dimensional area including the organ, an adjacent blood vessel image depicting a portion of the blood vessel adjacent to the wall from a viewpoint in the three-dimensional image corresponding the viewpoint of the surface image, generating, from a three-dimensional image representing a three-dimensional area including a surrounding area of the organ, a surrounding blood vessel image depicting the blood vessel from a viewpoint in the three-dimensional image corresponding the viewpoint of the surface image, and causing the surface image, adjacent blood vessel image, and surrounding blood vessel image to be displayed in this order on a display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Itai
  • Patent number: 9694158
    Abstract: A torque for controlling the advancement and rotation of a right heart catheter during a right heart catheterization procedure. The torque has a casing with a cavity for receiving a core, and a lumen for receiving the right heart catheter. A gripper is disposed within the core to tightly grip the right heart catheter. The core has a plurality of threads that engage teeth of a handle. The handle is attached to the casing at an axis and rotates about the axis during use. The core has an elongated spiraled recess which is engaged by a guide pin attached to the casing and extending within the cavity. When the handle is rotated, the teeth of the handle engage the threads to rotate the core, and the guide pin engages the elongated spiraled recess to move the core laterally, thereby advancing and rotating the right heart catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Ahmad Mohamad Slim
  • Patent number: 9675236
    Abstract: In a minimally invasive surgical system, an image capture unit includes a prism assembly and sensor assembly. The prism assembly includes a beam splitter, while the sensor assembly includes coplanar image capture sensors. Each of the coplanar image capture sensors has a common front end optical structure, e.g., the optical structure distal to the image capture unit is the same for each of the sensors. A controller enhances images acquired by the coplanar image capture sensors. The enhanced images may include (a) visible images with enhanced feature definition, in which a particular feature in the scene is emphasized to the operator of minimally invasive surgical system; (b) images having increased image apparent resolution; (c) images having increased dynamic range; (d) images displayed in a way based on a pixel color component vector having three or more color components; and (e) images having extended depth of field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian E. McDowall