Patents Examined by Timothy Edward
  • Patent number: 11969154
    Abstract: An imaging system includes: a solid-state imaging device that transmits an imaging signal of a continuous image that has been captured; and a control device that processes the imaging signal transmitted from the solid-state imaging device, and to control an operation of the solid-state imaging device. The solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel unit that acquires the imaging signal; a register that stores a setting value that defines the operation of the solid-state imaging device; a processing circuit that converts the imaging signal into a digital imaging signal; a frame configuration circuit that generates a serial digital transmission signal that is acquired by embedding a synchronizing signal synchronized with a horizontal synchronizing signal of the captured image in the digital imaging signal as a first serial clock signal; and a data transmission unit that transmits data of the digital transmission signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shuichi Kato
  • Patent number: 11963732
    Abstract: A remote control apparatus (a doctor-side control apparatus) according to an embodiment is provided at a position away from a medical manipulator including an arm to which a medical instrument is attached and is configured to remotely operate the medical manipulator. Each of a plurality of wheels that are provided at a bottom surface of the control apparatus is configured to move a control apparatus main body in a first direction parallel to a floor surface on which the control apparatus main body is placed and in a second direction parallel to the floor surface and orthogonal to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: MEDICAROID CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro Horita, Takahiro Ueda
  • Patent number: 11957310
    Abstract: A medical system includes a plurality of tubes configured to be arranged about a periphery of an insertion device. A lumen of each of the plurality of tubes is configured to receive a medical device. Each of the tubes is configured to be coupled to the periphery of the insertion device and is moveable from a collapsed configuration adjacent the periphery of the insertion device to an expanded configuration further radially outward of the periphery of the insertion device as compared to the collapsed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Bagley, Serena Scott
  • Patent number: 11957306
    Abstract: A distal end frame includes: a first distal end frame member that includes a resin molded product which constitutes a molded interconnect device; a housing chamber that is provided on a distal end side of the first distal end frame member, and is formed of a recessed portion a distal end and one side of which are opened; a second distal end frame member that is composed of the resin molded product constituting the molded interconnect device, and is configured to close the one side of the housing chamber; a signal pattern that is the metal pattern formed in a region including a first joining surface which is a joining surface with the second distal end frame member, on a surface of the first distal end frame member; and a solder material which is configured to join the first distal end frame member and the second distal end frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daichi Kodama, Tomokazu Yamashita, Takuro Horibe, Hiroyuki Motohara
  • Patent number: 11950765
    Abstract: Multi-stage catheter device configured to navigate through complex narrow tissue openings such as lung bronchi pathway openings of 3 millimeters or less. The device comprises a proximal catheter portion containing a hollow torque shaft, with a distal catheter portion connected to the proximal portion by a rotatable coupler connected to this hollow shaft. The distal position of the proximal catheter can be controlled by up to four independently controlled proximal stage steering cables positioned outside of the shaft, and the shaft itself can be used to rotate the distal catheter about the rotatable coupler. The position of the distal end of the distal catheter can be further controlled by up to four independently controlled distal stage steering cables positioned inside of the hollow shaft. The device is tipped by a tool plate, which can be equipped with various sensors and other instruments, connected to the outside via other conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Syncrobotix, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory P. Schmitz
  • Patent number: 11937776
    Abstract: A medical device includes an instrument connector. The instrument connector includes a main body and a coupler fixedly attached to the mail body. The main body includes a first interface for a first operational channel for the medical device. The coupler is configured to receive a portion of a cable assembly including a second interface for a second operational channel for the medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Rumen Deyanov
  • Patent number: 11937782
    Abstract: The invention relates to an endoscope control device including a control body holder, a joystick-like control element for effecting a deflection movement, and at least one control wire guided through the control body holder and transmitting the deflection movement of the control element to an element to be controlled in the endoscope. The control element extends from the control body holder in a proximal direction. The at least one control wire is fixed to the control element in a manner spaced from the control body holder. The control element includes an elastic rod element which is bendable upon actuation of the control element so as to effect a deflection movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Anh Minh Do
  • Patent number: 11937785
    Abstract: To provide an endoscope or the like that can reuse an image sensor or the like. An endoscope includes: an imaging unit including an image sensor and an optical component that forms an image of light incident from a first end surface on the image sensor; a cable inserted into an insertion portion and having a first end connected to the imaging unit; an exterior cylinder covering a connected portion between the imaging unit and the cable; and a distal tip piece in which a housing portion having a shape fitted with a shape of the exterior cylinder is provided and which is arranged at a distal tip of the insertion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiji Ito, Takayoshi Morishima, Kohei Iketani
  • Patent number: 11931006
    Abstract: A bending operation mechanism of an endoscope including: a first pulley configured to pull a first wire by being rotated in a first rotation direction; a second pulley, which is coaxial with the first pulley, configured to pull a second wire by being rotated in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction; and a rotation shaft member including a first protrusion that engages only with the first engagement portion of the first pulley when the rotation shaft member is rotated in the first rotation direction from a neutral position when a bending portion is not bent and a second protrusion that engages only with the second engagement portion of the second pulley when the rotation shaft member is rotated in the second rotation direction from the neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuto Yoshinaga, Tsukasa Ota, Xiongwei Wang
  • Patent number: 11931005
    Abstract: A driving force transmission mechanism for an endoscope includes an insertion portion, an operation portion, an electric motor, an output member, a rotation transmission member, an inside plane, a first plane, a second plane and a third plane configured to come into contact with a proximal end of the output member when at least part of the second plane comes into contact with the inside plane to thereby restrict the rotation transmission member from moving toward the distal end side in the axial direction with respect to the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kimihiko Naito, Hiroaki Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 11931000
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an openable/closable vertebral endoscopic device. The openable/closable vertebral endoscopic device includes an endoscope body including a working channel for providing an access route of a surgical instrument to a diseased area of a human body, the working channel having an open channel formed by opening a portion of the working channel such that a portion of the surgical instrument inserted into the working channel is exposed to the outside; and a cover member provided on the endoscope body to selectively open or close the open channel of the endoscope body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF KOREA INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION, S-MEDION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Sung Kim, Ji Woon Chun, Hyang Mi Oh
  • Patent number: 11925322
    Abstract: A work channel arrangement of an endoscope for guiding medical tools and/or for the through-flow of media. The work channel arrangement has a work channel which is flexible at least in part and extensible relative to the endoscope and which can be moved from a first position, in which the work channel outlet is oriented in the axial direction of the endoscope head, to a second position in which it is extended in the distal direction relative to the first position and in which the work channel outlet is or can be deflected, by means of a guide mechanism, to a predetermined lateral or rearward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventor: Konstantin Bob
  • Patent number: 11918179
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus for endoscope includes an image sensor, a ferrule which is a rectangular parallelepiped having a front surface, a rear surface, and four side surfaces and includes insertion holes and trenches parallel to the insertion holes on respective two side surfaces orthogonal to each other among the four side surfaces, an optical element in which a light emitting region is disposed in a position opposed to the insertion holes, and optical fibers inserted into the insertion holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11918188
    Abstract: There is provided an endoscope in which an operation switch included in the endoscope can be sealed with an airtight structure having a simple structure. A cable (16) of an endoscope (10) has a skin (52) that covers an outer periphery of the cable (16), the skin (52) defines an airtight space (17) inside the cable (16), and an operation switch (50) is disposed in the airtight space (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Wataru Inoue
  • Patent number: 11911005
    Abstract: An endoscopic retraction assist device includes a body comprising opposite proximal and distal end portions and a central portion between the proximal and distal end portions, and a device channel defined in the body. At the central portion of the body, the device channel transitions from a circular portion having a circular cross section or perimeter to an arcuate portion having an elongated arcuate cross section or perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Applied EndoSolutions, LLC
    Inventor: Mohammed A. Qadeer
  • Patent number: 8339287
    Abstract: A device to facilitate a user interface of a computer system utilizing breath includes a body, a user side inlet defined by the body to receive a fluid flow generated by a user, an exhaust opening defined by the body, a conduit positioned between the user side inlet and the one exhaust opening, at least one segment positioned inside the body and one or more contactors positioned to be intermittently in contact with the at least one segment. The contact may occur responsive to the fluid flow generated by the user. The device may include a sensor to react to a movement of the at least one segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Inputive Corporation
    Inventor: Pierre Bonnat
  • Patent number: 8305229
    Abstract: A wireless communication and drill string telemetry system. The communication system is used for communicating information along a drill string between a boring tool and a boring machine. An insulator assembly provides an electrically insulated gap between the drill string communication path and a soil engaging electrode for the electrical return path. A transmitter assembly includes a data transmitter for encoding and transmitting a data signal. A signal coupler couples the data signal to the drill string and provides a controlled electrical connection between the drill string communication path and the soil engaging electrode. The signal coupler comprises a transformer and a current regulating circuit to adjust a voltage across the transformer's primary winding. A receiver assembly is disposed proximate the drilling machine and includes a toroidal pickup coil and a signal processing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael F. Gard
  • Patent number: 8279080
    Abstract: A remote water meter monitoring system is provided. A mesh network-type transceiver unit is coupled to a water meter housing having a water counting mechanism inside to transmit water consumption information as well as other sensor information, such as backflow detection, water pressure, and water metrics (e.g., residual chlorine and temperature) to a central server system via a bridge device and a corresponding mesh network. Mechanical energy from the water flowing through the water meter housing is converted to electrical energy via an energy conversion unit. An electrically powered shut off valve is remote addressable via the transceiver unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Fairfax County Water Authority
    Inventors: Barth Robins Pitchford, William Dudley Pitchford, Robert Paul Simon, C. David Binning, David Lewis Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8269647
    Abstract: A component is deployed into a well on a carrier line that includes an electrical cable. A depth of the component in a well is determined using a time domain reflectometry technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Vladimir Hernandez Solis
  • Patent number: 8264384
    Abstract: A keyboard control circuit for a keyboard having P keys includes an array module that includes P key switches, and a key-matrix having N scan lines that intersect M return lines to form N×M intersections, where P<N×M. The intersections include ghost key positions free of the key switches, and safe key positions being of a number at least equal to P. Each key switch is disposed at a corresponding safe key position. Each ghost key position cooperates with a corresponding group of first, second and third ones of the safe key positions to constitute four corners of a rectangle in the key matrix. A processing unit provides a scan signal to each scan line during a scan period, receives at least one scan line from the return lines in response to operation of at least one key switch, and outputs an input signal corresponding to operation of the at least one key switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignees: Silitek Electronic (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., Lite-On Tehcnology Corp.
    Inventors: Mao-Ta Tsao, Wen-Tong Liu