Patents Examined by Jeffrey Lipitz
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Patent number: 8968278Abstract: Disposable loading units (DLUs) configured for mounting to a robotic arm for performing at least one surgical task are presented. Each DLU includes an attachment platform having at least one connector for engaging at least one connector on a distal end of the robotic arm for connecting the DLU to the robotic arm, a head portion connected to the attachment platform at one end and configured for housing an electromechanical actuation assembly therein, and at least one surgical tool member extending from the head portion and operatively associated with the electromechanical actuation assembly for controlling the operation and movement of the at least one surgical tool member. The at least one surgical tool member may include a cutting assembly, an aortic hole punch assembly, a lasing assembly, a coring assembly, or a vascular suturing assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: H. Jonathan Tovey, Keith Ratcliff, Kenneth E. Toso, Peter W. J. Hinchliffe
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Patent number: 8951188Abstract: An element for transmitting pushing and pulling forces as well as torque having a straight configuration and a bent configuration comprises a base plate, an end plate and bellows arranged between the base plate and the end plate. The base plate and the end plate are connected with a connecting element. A plurality of washers is arranged within the bellows, the washers having a tronconical shape at at least one of their major surfaces. The washers are in mutual contact with each other or with the base plate or the end plate respectively, both in the straight configuration and the bent configuration, such that element can transmit pushing and pulling forces both in the straight configuration and the bent configuration without substantially changing the length of the element.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2010Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: University of DundeeInventor: J. Duncan S. Martin
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Patent number: 8944601Abstract: The invention relates to a contact glass for ophthalmic surgery. Said glass comprises a lens body that is held in a frame and a front lens surface that is designed to be placed against the eye. According to the invention, the front lens surface is concave and follows a surface curvature (K) and an annular gap is formed at the edge of the front lens surface between the lens body and the frame, said gap being used to apply a negative pressure in order to fix the contact glass to the eye. The frame is designed to follow the contour of an imaginary continuation of the surface curvature (K), or at least does not project beyond the latter.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2006Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AGInventors: Dirk Muehlhoff, Elke Ebert, Karsten Festag, Uwe Wolf, Dirk Preuss, Mark Bischoff, Gregor Stobrawa, Dietmar Steinmetz, Steffen Dubnack
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Patent number: 8945105Abstract: A handpiece can treat biological tissue using electromagnetic radiation, which can be substantially fluorescent light. The handpiece includes a source of electromagnetic radiation and a waveguide. The waveguide is adjacent the source, receives electromagnetic radiation from the source, and delivers the electromagnetic radiation to the biological tissue. The handpiece also includes a system for circulating a fluorescent substance through the waveguide. The fluorescent substance is capable of modulating at least one property of the electromagnetic radiation.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2013Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Inventor: Morgan Lars Ake Gustavsson
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Patent number: 8940034Abstract: A combination therapy pad that includes a first layer and a second layer operatively coupled to the first layer. A fiber-optic array is disposed between the first layer and the second layer. A third layer is operatively coupled to the first layer. The third layer includes a vacuum tube in fluid communication with a vacuum source and a therapeutic fluid tube in fluid communication with a therapeutic fluid source. The third layer provides at least one of vacuum therapy and therapeutic fluid treatment to a wound area.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2013Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: ThermoTek, Inc.Inventor: Tony Quisenberry
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Patent number: 8936377Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary illumination device for enhancing the brightness of wavelength converting element. The illumination device includes a wavelength converting element operable for receiving light from a light source at a first wavelength range and converting the light to a second wavelength range. The wavelength converting element includes a first face, a second face opposite the first face, and a side edge extending between the first and second faces. A reflective optical element is arranged adjacent the side edge of the wave converting element. The reflective optical element is configured to reflect light in at least the first wavelength range toward the wavelength converting element.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2010Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.Inventors: Michael James Papac, Christopher Horvath
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Patent number: 8936593Abstract: An improved procedure for performing liposuction is obtained by utilizing a needle that includes a laser source conductor with one end of the needle being configured for insertion into a target adipose skin volume and the other end being coupled to a laser source. The needle may include one or more channels for extracting the treated adipose area. A vacuum source can be used in the extraction of the treated adipose. Further, the first end of the needle may include a cap or end-piece that reduces the build up of carbon deposits. A temperature sensor may be used as input to adjust the laser power and prevent over exposure.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2013Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: Syneron Medical Ltd.Inventors: Haim Epshtein, Boris Vaynberg
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Patent number: 8932278Abstract: A laser skin treatment process and system. The system includes features for producing a first laser beam of long pulse duration and a second laser beam of short pulse duration and a skin cooler for cooling the surface of a region of skin. The system is designed to utilize the first laser beam for heating a volume of skin tissue below the cooled surface region to a temperature to produce skin tissue modification but below skin tissue damage threshold. This volume of skin tissue is called a “thermal cavity”. The second laser beam is divided into a plurality of separate laser beams that are directed through separate optical fibers and via separate paths through skin tissue to a single tiny volume of skin tissue within the thermal cavity to produce in that tiny volume mechanical damage. This tiny volume is called an energy droplet. Thus tiny regions of tissue are damaged while minimizing or preventing any significant damage to adjacent tissue.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2011Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Inventors: Nikolai Tankovich, Alexei Lukashev
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Patent number: 8915907Abstract: A method for removing tattoos using two laser beams and a multi-photon process is disclosed. A 0.1 to 100 nsec pulse secondary laser beam focused to 108 W/cm2 creates a temporary channel from the skin surface to the tattoo pigment. A 100 fsec pulse main laser beam is then guided through the channel to the pigment and focused to sufficient intensity, i.e., 1012 W/cm2 or more, to initiate a multi-photon process that breaks up the pigment, disrupting its light reflecting properties. The channel allows the main laser beam unobstructed passage to the pigments, resulting in efficient use of the main laser. The pigment fragments escape through the temporary channel or diffuse into the blood stream. A suitably configured Ti/Sapphire laser beam is split into two components, with an uncompressed component used as the secondary laser beam, and a compressed component as the main laser beam.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2013Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Inventor: Szymon Suckewer
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Patent number: 8888764Abstract: In one embodiment, an insertion axis of a robotic manipulator is provided, the insertion axis including a base link operably coupled to a distal end of a manipulator arm, and a carriage link movably coupled to the base link along a lengthwise axis, the carriage link including a remote printed circuit assembly and transceiver for wirelessly communicating with a main printed circuit assembly external to the insertion axis. A robotic surgical system including such an insertion axis and a method for wireless communication in the system are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2013Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Roman L. Devengenzo, Alan Loh
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Patent number: 8876808Abstract: An ophthalmic laser system generating a first beam at a wavelength suitable for performing selective laser trabeculoplasty and selectively generating a second beam at a wavelength suitable for performing secondary cataract surgery procedures. The laser system is able to select between directing the first beam or the second beam to the eye of a patient. The first beam is suitably generated at 1064 nm from a Nd:YAG laser and the second beam is frequency doubled to 532 nm in a KTP doubling crystal.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2014Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Ellex Medical Pty LtdInventors: Dmitri Feklistov, Malcolm Plunkett
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Patent number: 8864752Abstract: A medical robotic system having non-ideal actuator-to-joint linkage characteristics, includes a control system including a proximal control loop with actuator sensor feedback to control dynamic response of an actuator coupled to a distal joint which in turn, is coupled to an end effector to provide a degree of freedom movement of the end effector, a distal control loop with distal joint sensor feedback and feedforward to the actuator to ensure steady-state convergence of the distal joint position, and an end effector control loop with end-point sensor feedback to control the end effector position to reach a commanded end effector position.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2013Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Nicola Diolaiti, David Q. Larkin, Thomas G. Cooper, Bruce M. Schena
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Patent number: 8864750Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method for adjusting the orientation of a first external fixator support member relative to a second external fixator support member, wherein a plurality of adjustable struts connect the first and second external fixator support members. The method include providing a programmable tool, and storing, in a memory unit of the tool, instructions for adjusting the length of each of the plurality of adjustable struts to a desired length. The method further includes receiving identification information corresponding to a first adjustable strut and retrieving, from the memory unit, the instructions for adjusting the length of the first adjustable strut. The method also includes activating an actuator of the tool to adjust the length of the first adjustable strut according to the retrieved instructions. Various embodiments of the programmable tools are also included in the present disclosure.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2009Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for ChildrenInventors: John D. Ross, Mikhail L. Samchukov, Alexander M. Cherkashin, John G. Birch
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Patent number: 8864824Abstract: A method is provided for increasing the depth of focus of an eye of a patient. A visual axis of the eye is aligned with an instrument axis of an ophthalmic instrument. The ophthalmic instrument has an aperture through which the patient may look along the instrument axis. A first reference target is imaged on the instrument axis at a first distance with respect to the eye. A second reference target is imaged on the instrument axis with the ophthalmic instrument at a second distance with respect to the eye. The second distance is greater than the first distance. Movement is provided such that the patient's eye is in a position where the images of the first and second reference targets appear to the patient's eye to be aligned. A mask comprising a pin-hole aperture having a mask axis is aligned with the instrument axis such that the mask axis and the instrument axis are substantially collinear.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2006Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: AcuFocus, Inc.Inventors: Thomas A. Silvestrini, Bruce A. Christie, Kevin F. Hahnen
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Patent number: 8864751Abstract: A robotic control system is placed in clutch mode so that a slave manipulator holding a surgical instrument is temporarily disengaged from control by a master manipulator in order to allow manual positioning of the surgical instrument at a surgical site within a patient. Control systems implemented in a processor compensate for internally generated frictional and inertial resistance experienced during the positioning, thereby making movement more comfortable to the mover, and stabler from a control standpoint. Each control system drives a joint motor in the slave manipulator with a saturated torque command signal which has been generated to compensate for non-linear viscous forces, coulomb friction, cogging effects, and inertia forces subjected to the joint, using estimated joint angular velocities, accelerations and externally applied torques generated by an observer in the control system from sampled displacement measurements received from a sensor associated with the joint.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2010Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Giuseppe Maria Prisco, David Q. Larkin, William C. Nowlin
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Patent number: 8845704Abstract: The present invention provides methods of using electromagnetic radiation in the visible portion of the spectrum to modulate mitochondrial function in the treatment of various conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, hypoxia and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and sensory disorders of the extremities.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Clarimedix Inc.Inventors: John Dunning, Vivian Dullien, Robert O. Poyton, Richard Samuel Murdoch
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Patent number: 8834455Abstract: The invention relates to an attachment adapter for attaching additional functions to a surgical tool. The attachment adapter provides a joint or a coupling between two instruments, e.g. a surgical tool and a navigation marker. The attachment adapter comprises an attachment body for attaching a surgical tool to the attachment adapter and a mounting seat with a mechanical coupling for fastening an add-on device to the attachment adapter. The attachment body comprises an elongate part adapted to receive the winding of a line and provided with at least two legs adapted to fit in an astride position on an elongate part of a surgical tool. It also comprises a line securing means adapted for securing a line, wound around the attachment body to join the attachment adapter to the surgical tool, in a locking position.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2010Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Sonowand ASInventor: Atle Kleven
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Patent number: 8828021Abstract: A robotic catheter system is provided. The catheter system includes a housing, and the housing has a sidewall and a longitudinal axis. The catheter system includes a recess formed in the sidewall of the housing and a drive mechanism supported by the housing. The drive mechanism is configured to impart movement to a catheter device. The catheter system includes a first channel configured to receive a catheter device, and the first channel has a opening located within the recess.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2009Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Corindus, Inc.Inventors: Tal Wenderow, Thomas Bromander, James J. Kennedy, III, Stanley O. Thompson, Jon B. Taylor, Jeffrey Lightcap
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Patent number: 8790383Abstract: A method of light therapy includes non-invasive, intra-cranial administration of bright light via the ear canal of a subject by using a light intensity of 0.7-12 lumens, and a treatment time of 1-15 minutes. A medical device including radiation elements for directing the light via the ear canal for use in the light therapy is described.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2013Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Valkee OyInventors: Antti Aunio, Juuso Nissila
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Patent number: 8784407Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for removing hair. The hair removal system comprises a hair detection device and a hair removal device (20; S3) operatively coupled to the hair detection device, wherein the hair detection device comprises an imaging device comprising a first image sensor (12; S1) which is constructed and arranged to detect an image of a part of a skin (30) to be treated, and a control unit (18) adapted to discern, in the image, a hair (32) on the part of the skin (30), and operatively coupled to the hair removal device (20; S3) so as to control its operation, characterized by preventing means coupled to the control unit (18) and being adapted to disable the hair detection device or the hair removal device during a preventing period after the control unit has discerned the respective hair for the first time.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2009Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.Inventors: Bart Willem Jan Spikker, Rieko Verhagen, Robbert Adrianus Maria Van Hal, Natallia Eduardauna Uzunbajakava, Aleksey Kharin, Bastiaan Wilhelmus Maria Moeskops